Mushoku Impact

With no demonstrably better options available, Paul and the girls decided to shack up in a hostel operated by the Adventurer's Guild. The room was a complete mess, looking like it hadn't been cleaned in months, but it was nothing Magic couldn't solve. Far more troublesome was the fact that the beds were little more than straw covered in a thin monster hide.
Fortunately for Paul and the rest, they didn't have to pull out their bedrolls and sleeping bags. The moment Paul commented on the less-than-stellar accommodations, Ganyu calmly suggested, "There isn't a lot of space, but I can transform into my Qilin form and let everyone sleep on my back."
As tempting as Ganyu's suggestion was, Paul didn't immediately accept it. He wanted to, but he felt compelled to question, "And what about you? It would be pretty messed up if we got to sleep comfortably while you were made to sleep on the ground..."
Adopting a squinty-eyed smile, Ganyu unhesitantly replied, "Thank you for your concern. However, I actually enjoy sleeping on the earth. Back in Teyvat, I would often find a warm stone or a clearing in the forest to relax. Qilins have a strong connection to nature, so I have absolutely no qualms about sleeping on the ground."
Though he scratched the back of his head out of awkwardness, Paul didn't try to convince Ganyu further. Instead, he said, "Thanks, Ganyu. I'm sure I speak for everyone here when I say I appreciate your kindness and consideration..."
While everyone else either nodded their heads or offered polite words of gratitude, Venti joined the conversation with all the finesse of a wrecking ball as she asked, "How are we going to have sex? I don't mind abstaining for a day or two, but I'll wither and turn into a skeleton if I have to abstain for three whole years..."
Before Ganyu could even think to suggest it was okay to have sex on her back, Paul interjected to say, "We'll worry about things like that when they matter. For now, our focus should be on getting our bearings and deciding the best course of action. If you're that..."
Interrupting his chastizing of Venti, Paul smacked his head and shouted, "The IOF! Duh...!"
Thinking Paul was going to lock her away in the IOF against, a wry smile &nbsp;marred Venti's face as she said, "It was just a joke...mostly...maybe fifty percent..."
Shaking his head, Paul grinned as he said, "We can use the IOF to have sex. I've done it in the past, and it gives us the greatest privacy. The only problem is..."
Shifting his attention to Lilia and Ghislaine, Paul's smile gained a hint of wryness as he added, "Not everyone can enter..."
In an effort to make up for her earlier comment, it was Venti who said, "I'm sure you'll figure something out. Besides, it's not like you have to do it with everyone, every night. Now that we're in a region like the Demon Continent, a bit of restraint is to be expected."
Unable to resist the urge, Xinyan flatly replied, "That's pretty rich coming from you..."
Poking out her tongue, Venti responded with a playful wink before adding, "At the very least, I imagine it will be difficult to go at it for seven to eight hours like we usually do. Speaking of routines..."
Shifting her gaze to Paul, Venti asked, "What are you going to do about your training? Also, how are we expected to spend our time? I don't mind if we all stick together, but distance makes the heart grow fonder. If we're around each other 24/7, tensions are bound to build."
Nodding her head in approval, Jean appended, "Lady Barbatos is correct. One of our priorities should be establishing a garrison of sorts, a place we can deploy from and return to if we're ever separated or need to split our forces."
Offering a nod of his own, Paul revealed, "I already considered that. The Demon Continent is a place I've been looking forward to visiting for a long time, so we've got four, well, more like three options available to us..."
Holding up his index finger, Paul explained, "If Roxy had come with us, I would have suggested we stay in the Migurd Village near the Capital City, Rikarisu. One of my motivations for coming to the Demon Continent was to track down the former Demon Empress, Kishirika Kishrisu, so I figured starting near her former castle made sense..."
Raising a second finger, Paul added, "Roxy was pretty insistent about me not meeting her parents without her, so our second-best option is to head to Wind Port, the largest and southernmost town in the Demon Continent. It's the most developed city on the Continent and functions as the central hub for Merchants and Adventurers. The only downside is that it's host to a sizeable human population and is widely regarded as the most corrupt and lawless city in the world. As for the third option..."
Adopting a wry smile, Paul revealed, "When I was younger, long before I gained access to the Intersection of Fate, I seriously considered seeking out the Demon Lord that grants strength, Atoferatofe Raibaku. She has a habit of kidnapping strong and talented people, imprisoning and training them for ten years before giving them a few years off. Most people don't come back, but those that stay make up one of the most powerful military forces in the world. With Atofe's strength exceeding even the second and third generation North Gods, she was the best option if I wanted to grow powerful..."
"The problem is that Atofe is known to be a complete musclehead with little to no inhibitions. She is also immortal to the point of being able to regenerate from apparent disintegration, so, while it remains an option, going to Fort Necross as a group probably isn't the wisest option..."
Holding up his fourth and final finger, Paul's smile regained its vigor as he said, "The last one is something I'm not entirely sure of. You see, there is a borderline omniscient Demon Lord by the name of Betobe who records all knowledge in the world. And I mean 'all' knowledge. Anything that has been written down, be it a confidential letter or a personal journal, can be found within his Library."
Blinking in surprise, Eula asked, "How is that possible? If such a Demon Lord existed, I can't fathom how humanity could weather multiple wars against Demonkind. They couldn't possibly rely on word of mouth to relay information..."
Nodding his head, Paul replied, "Yeah, I know what you mean. When I was researching the Laplace Campaign and the histories of the Great Human-Demon Wars, many things didn't add up. Most people, at least nowadays, simply believe Kishirika was an idiot. However, if that were true, how could she wage war for a combined total of more than 1800 years if she was half as inept as people make her out to be?"
Shaking his head, Paul speculated, "Considering how much Laplace was able to accomplish in a comparably short period, my guess is that most of the information about the First and Second Great Human-Demon Wars is entirely made up. Wars don't last a thousand years when there are Mages capable of leveling mountains and swordsmen fast enough to cross entire Continents in hours. As for Demon Lord Betobe...I'm reasonably sure that most people simply aren't aware of his existence."
Shifting his attention to his side, Paul asked, "Ganyu, mind handing me the map of the Demon Continent?"
Without hesitation, Ganyu reached into her pouch and pulled out a fairly detailed map of the Demon Continent. The Adventurer's Guild had D-Rank Adventurers constantly gathering information to try and forecast the next Miasma outbreak, so maps of the Demon Continent were readily available and updated frequently.
After spreading out the map for everyone to see, Paul pointed near the exact center, a peculiar green 'lake' that covered hundreds of thousands of square kilometers.
"For those of you who aren't up to date on the Demon Continent's terrain and features, this green splotch isn't a lake. It's a giant Slime colony, and, if my theory is correct, the location of the Labyrinth Library, Demon Lord Betobe's home..."
Asking the question everyone was thinking, Xinyan inquired, "What makes you think that...?"
Adopting a fairly cheeky smile, Paul replied, "Because the true identity of Demon Lord Betobe, the most mysterious and enigmatic Demon Lord...is a Slime. More accurately, he is the Slime God."
"Ah..."
Nodding his head, Paul maintained his smile as he added, "Slimes are E-Rank monsters by default, but they are immediately elevated to S-Rank once they form a colony. Like Goblins, Slime Colonies can rapidly expand to consume entire nations if allowed to grow unchecked. Yet, despite this fairly common knowledge, this particular Slime Colony exists as a feature on maps dating back to the Laplace War. Ordinary Slime Colonies sweep across vast swaths of land, consuming everything in their wake. This one, however, just sort of minds its own business..."
Understanding what Paul was getting at, Jean remarked, "It's certainly suspicious, but it doesn't explain why Kishirika or Laplace would simply ignore such a useful Demon Lord. In war, information is arguably even more important than the war potential of both armies. If one side knew what the other was up to at all times, they would have a nigh-absolute advantage..."
Shrugging his shoulders, Paul adopted a mock helpless expression as he asked, "What do you want me to say? I know for a fact that Demon Lord Betobe exists. As for why the Demon Empress and Laplace didn't make use of him during their respective campaigns, that's a question you would have to ask them. The only reasons I could come up with were that they either didn't know about him, or they were unaware of his power. I mean, he is a Slime. Most Slimes are regarded as monsters, wholly incapable of thought. As far as I know, Demon Lord Betobe is the only sapient Slime in the entire world."
Adopting a slightly apologetic expression, Jean lowered her head and said, "Sorry...I didn't mean to-"
Raising his brows, Paul interrupted Jean's apology, asking, "Seriously, Jean? You haven't done anything meriting an apology, and I'm not angry with you or anything. I simply don't have all the answers. That's kind of the whole reason I want to try searching for Betobe's library. If we could convince him to let us browse his collection, we would have that absolute advantage you were referring to. I mean, just imagine what someone like Ningguang could do with the personal diaries and ledger of every King and Queen..."
Giving voice to the thoughts of nearly everyone present, Xinyan uttered a faint, "Yikes..."
Nodding his head, Paul parroted, "Yikes, indeed..." before adding, "The problem is gaining access to the Library. I know of one surefire method, but that involves encountering the Dragon God, Orsted. So long as he doesn't kill us on the spot, I'm fairly certain I could convince him to take us there. If not me, Ningguang definitely could..."
Immediately shooting down such an idea, Ei stated, "We should avoid an encounter with Dragon God until I have acquired my fifth, preferably sixth Constellation. At the very least, you should not be the one to meet him..."
Though he was more than willing to wait, Paul shook his head and shot back, "If I sent someone on behalf, he would never trust us. Orsted is a 'very' superstitious person. The only way to deal with someone like that is by laying everything bare. So, if and when he appears before us, do me a favor and try not to attack him immediately. I understand that might be your best chance to defeat him, but there is a real possibility we'll need his help if we're to complete our objective..."
Nodding her head, albeit reluctantly, Ei replied, "Very well...if that is your command, I will abide it. However-"
"Leave it at that. Orsted isn't a murderer. Unless we give him a reason to kill us, he is more likely to investigate and interrogate us than try to kill me outright. We just need to make it unambiguous that we're not his enemies, and he could very well become our greatest ally..."
As Paul was more familiar with the specifics of Mushoku Tensei and the people who inhabited it, Ei only hesitated for a moment before nodding her head a second time and replying, "Understood..."
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"I have an idea."
Though she didn't think Paul's suggestions were bad, Venti couldn't help asking, "Why don't we occupy a Labyrinth or have Ganyu bring over Zhongli to construct a fortress. I mean, if we're going to be here for a few years, we may as well make a place for ourselves."
Blinking in surprise, Paul replied, "That's...actually not a terrible idea? It would definitely give us some privacy..."
Since Labyrinths/Dungeons formed in regions where Mana was abundant, the Demon Continent exceeded even the Begaritt Continent when it came to the number of Dungeons it possessed. The primary difference between the two was that most Labyrinths/Dungeons in the Demon Continent were located and destroyed fairly quickly. The Adventurer's Guild tried to deter people from doing so, but the temptation of looting a Dungeon's Treasury and Core were too tempting for most Demons to resist.
"The only problem with that suggestion is that we're foreigners. To further complicate matters, I'm technically a foreign dignitary. Even if we found a Dungeon in an area unclaimed by a Demon Lord, attempting to claim it for ourselves could cause an international incident. There is also the Guild to consider. They get pretty testy when individuals or organizations attempt to monopolize the resources of a Dungeon."
"Hmmm..."
As her actual intention was to secure a place where they could have some 'privacy,' Venti strained the hamster wheels in her brain to suggest, "Can't we just ally with a specific tribe or Demon Lord? With the resources at our disposal, it shouldn't be difficult to convince one of the declining tribes to join hands with us."
"..."
Unable to resist the urge, Paul tilted his head to the side and asked, "Who are you, and what did you do with the original Venti...?"
Furrowing her brows in a pretend pout, Venti flatly replied, "Rude." before adopting a broad smile, puffing out her chest, and reminding, "I am a God, you know~?"
"Anyways..."
Shifting his attention to the rest of the group, Paul asked, "What do you girls think? I did want to experiment further with my Dendro Vision, so allying with a Demon Lord or doing something like what we did back in Sharia could be worth a shot."
Though she nodded her head as if to agree, Jean cautioned, "I approve of Lord Barbatos's suggestion. However, unless the Demon Lord we ally with is powerful enough to function as a deterrent, any improvements we make to the region will draw intrigue, greed, and eventually resentment."
Shrugging his shoulders, Paul flatly replied, "That's life. There will always be people who envy what others possess. We'll just create a stringent set of rules to punish anyone that comes looking for trouble. It's as simple as that. The real question is, who do we ally with...?"
Looking around the room, Paul was unsurprised to find everyone staring back at him in silence. A few of them had read books related to the Demon Continent, but it had never been their primary focus or interest. Ganyu had intended to study up on it in the months leading up to their expedition, but their sudden and unexpected departure had caught her off guard.&nbsp;
Regurgitating the only names she was familiar with, Venti questioned, "How about Bagura Hagura, Kishi Kishi, or Ato-whatever-her-name-is?"
Though he smiled wryly at Venti's manner of addressing Kishirika and Atoferatofe, Paul didn't disregard her question. Venti was in a rare, 'big brain' kind of state, so he mulled over the possibilities before replying, "I think we could work something out with Bagura Hagura, but I'm not sure how Atofe would respond. Once she learns we're in the Demon Continent, it's pretty much guaranteed she'll come looking for us. As for Kishirika..."
Recalling how Kishirika was always wandering around like a pauper, Paul muttered, "I'm not entirely sure? I think she would agree if we helped her, but she doesn't really bring much to the table. In fact, she could invite a catastrophe unto us if we're not careful..."
As the image of a six-armed, incredibly tall demon with violet hair and jet black skin entered his mind, Paul's expression morphed into a frown as he remembered Kishirika's relationship with Badigadi and, more importantly, the latter's affiliation with Hitogami. He owed the self-proclaimed Human God a favor, and, near the end of the original series, he repaid said favor by revealing his status as the Fighting God and taking on a group of King, Emperor, and even God-Ranked individuals with relative ease...
Shaking such thoughts from his mind, Paul said, "For now, let's just get some rest. We can continue this discussion once we find our footing and better understand the situation. Planning too far ahead when we've only just arrived might blind us to other options that exist."
Nodding her head in approval, Eula stated, "I concur." before suggesting, "We should come up with a guard rotation. I volunteer for the first watch."
"Sounds good," replied Paul. "Cities in the Demon Continent don't exactly calm down come night time, so having a night watch is a good idea. As for our usual nightly activities...we'll shelve them for the time being."
With Paul staring in her direction, a soft chuckle emanated from Venti's throat before she subsequently slumped her head and shoulders. After all the feedback she supplied, she kind of expected a reward. Fortunately for her, Paul saw through her thoughts, so, once everyone was getting ready for bed, she ended up being his little spoon as they all snuggled together atop Ganyu's back...
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After a remarkably calm and relaxing night, Paul and the girls checked out of their room before heading westward toward the harbor.
Unlike a traditional port, which possessed numerous piers and wharves for loading and unloading ships, the port of Kurasuma was more like a city that had expanded into a frozen sea. There weren't even any merchant ships present. Instead, there were thousands of roughshod, house-like boats that had been moored together and trapped in ice.
After offering a street urchin a Green Ore Coin to show them the way to Bagura Hagura's residence, Paul and the girls soon found themselves at the entrance to a floating restaurant that was shaped like a laughing pig sitting on its rump and holding its belly. Paul had initially thought it was a giant statue, but it turned out to be Bagura Hagura's actual residence.
Though they were somewhat reluctant to enter the remarkably fragrant restaurant through an opening in the giant pig's crotch, Paul and the girls eventually made their way inside to discover it was surprisingly empty. It was decorated with countless trinkets from a myriad of cultures, but the tables were almost entirely unoccupied.
Noticing Paul's group enter, a fairly plump woman with a pig-like snout, strangely alluring blue eyes, and wavy blonde wearing a barmaid's outfit approached to remark, "You lot are a long way from home. Come to get a taste of Lord Bagura's cuisine, I wager?"
Nodding his head in affirmation, Paul replied, "I'm a bit of a gourmand, so I've always wanted to sample Demon Lord Bagura Hagura's cuisine. Does he accept walk-ins, or do we need to schedule an appointment...?"
Making a circle with her index finger and thumb, the woman replied, "No need for meaningless things like that. So long as you can pay, you're free to eat here as often as you want. Just know that the cheapest appetizer is five Green Ore Coins. You don't have to pay until the end, but..."
Adopting an unabashedly predatory smile, the pig-faced woman looked the girls up and down as she added, "Failure to do so could lead to you becoming ingredients in one of Lord Bagura's dishes..."
Furrowing his brows, Paul was tempted to point out that the agreement between Milishion and the Demon Continent prohibited the consumption of human meat, but he doubted the upper rungs of Demon society cared about such things. That same covenant granted Demons the right to live within human settlements and pass uninhibited through human territories, but that sure as hell wasn't upheld...
Holding up a large pouch of GOC, Paul's expression turned serious as he replied, "It shouldn't be a problem. Just know that if your establishment tries to scam us, even the weakest member of my Party is a Saint..."
Though the Demon Continent didn't use the same metrics as humans to determine strength, the pig-faced woman's eyes briefly widened before narrowing as she asked, "Is that a threat?"
Adopting a predatory smile of his own, Paul answered, "You gave us the courtesy of a warning. It's only natural we do the same..."
"Hmmm..."
Instead of being offended by Paul's words, the pig-faced woman gave an approving nod as she remarked, "Well said. I thought you were still a little green when I first saw you, but I guess you've accumulated a fair amount of experience despite your youthful appearances."
Since most Demons could live for hundreds of years, Paul didn't challenge the pig-faced woman's words. Given her appearance, there was a chance she was somehow related to the Demon Lord. Since the latter was easily more than three thousand years old, the fairly mature-looking Demoness in front of him was likely in her hundreds.
Lending credibility to Paul's thoughts, the woman began to turn around as she said, "Come this way. My father likes to greet and converse with new guests before serving them."
Nodding his head, Paul replied, "Sure." before exchanging glances with Ei, Jean, and Ganyu. They had already agreed to forgo eating within Bagura's restaurant as there was a chance the food could be drugged or poisoned. It wasn't too likely, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
Noticing some of Paul's companions staying behind, the pig-faced woman commented, "Pretty clever. However, just entering this place with a group has already placed a massive target on your back. People won't bother to confirm whether or not this is your first visit. The only people who can eat here are the extremely rich."
Unconcerned about ordinary Demons targetting them, Paul just smiled as he said, "That explains why most of the tables are empty..."
As those words left his mouth, Paul shifted his gaze to the only table that was occupied. There, a relatively handsome man with pointed ears, ashen skin, raven black hair, and carmine eyes surrounded by pitch-black sclera was observing his group with a smile. He was dressed similarly to a Noble while the two nearly identical women accompanying him were dolled up like victorian era dolls.
Like the man, the two women also had pointed ears, but their hair was silver, and their skin was more pale than ashen. Looking into their ruby red eyes caused a sense of incongruency to fill Paul's mind, so it wasn't difficult to recognize which species the trio belonged to.
Following Paul's gaze, the pig-faced woman warned, "There is to be no fighting within Lord Bagura's restaurant. I know of the enmity between humans and Vampires, but you'll have to wait until you leave before killing one another."
Noticing that the woman was speaking more to the trio of vampires than his group, a wry smile developed across Paul's face. While it was true that Vampires were remarkably powerful, their Ancestor, the Demon Lord Vlad Draculea, had been slain near the end of the Laplace War. After that, the most prominent Vampire clans had slaughtered one another in a civil war, so most of the surviving Vampires were cowards who had hidden to avoid the massacre or thralls that had lost their masters.
Though it all but guaranteed the trio of Vampires would be paying him and his Party a visit, Paul replied, "Don't worry. I'm not one of those crazy bastards from the Milis Church's Anti-Demon Faction. Unless they go out of their way to antagonize me, I have no reason to hunt down a bunch of Vampires minding their own business."
With senses that far exceeded those of a human, the male Vampire's smile faded the moment he heard Paul's words. Since they lacked a Lord, Vampires were one of the few races that continued to openly predate on humans. They viewed humanity as little more than cattle, so, hearing his potential meal insinuate he was in a position to do the 'hunting,' the proud Vampire didn't even try to suppress his disdain...
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After registering themselves at the Guild, Paul exchanged 3 AGC for 270 GOC after a 10% exchange commission.&nbsp;
Unlike the currency of the Asura Kingdom, which used refined metals such as copper, silver, gold, and platinum, the Demon Continent used literal stone, scrap iron, iron, and green crystals that resembled decently sized emeralds. If converted directly, it would take a hundred Stone Coins to equal a single Asura Copper Coin, which, in turn, was equivalent to the second-highest denomination of Demon Continent currency, an Iron Coin.
With 270 Green Ore Coins in his possession, it wasn't an exaggeration to say Paul was one of the wealthiest people in the city. Even A and S-Rank Parties would only earn a few dozen GOC from high-ranking commissions. As a result, the Guild Receptionist, an insectoid woman with the head and features of a bee, needed approval from the Guild Master just to approve the exchange.
Fortunately for Paul, most Demons didn't really care about anyone but themselves. They were beings that could live for hundreds of years but preferred to live from one moment to the next, wholly unconcerned for what the future might hold. For this reason, their civilization only ever advanced when a reasonably powerful Demon King appeared to whip them into shape. In the absence of such an individual, the majority of Demons lived out their entire lives fighting, having fun, and fucking to their heart's content.
Without bothering to ask how Paul and his Party had managed to arrive at Kurasuma, the Guild Master, a muscular man with grey skin, six eyes, and large tusks, simply confirmed the Asura Gold Coins were legitimate before advising Paul to be careful. Most Demons weren't foolish enough to cause a scene within the territory of a Demon Lord, but the allure of hundreds of Green Ore Coins was too much. After all, a reasonably powerful D-Ranker would only earn around 5-10 GOC per year, depending on how often they risked their lives. If they could obtain hundreds with a single, well-placed shiv, they wouldn't hesitate.
After thanking the Guild Master for his 'friendly' advice, Paul and the girls spent several hours roaming around and sampling the foods of various street vendors. At each location, Paul would ask the girls for their opinion before recording their responses in a small journal. The King had asked him to conduct a survey and gather information on the Demon Continent, so he figured he might as well record details about the culture and cuisine of each city they passed through.
With the sun beginning its descent, Paul raised his head toward the sky as he suggested, "We should find a place to stay for the night and see about meeting with the Demon Lord tomorrow morning. We can also discuss our short and long-term plans for exploring the Demon Continent. We're going to be here a while, so we might as well use this as an opportunity to boost our Adventurer and Party Ranks to S. Any complaints?"
Though most of the girls just shook their heads, Venti raised her hand and asked, "Will we have the opportunity to explore on our own? I can detect the aroma of delicious food and alcohol on the wind. It would be a shame to leave without giving each a try."
Furrowing his brows, Paul replied, "We'll talk about it once we find a place to stay. However, given the distinctly different 'aesthetics' of Demons, I'm not against splitting up into smaller groups. Just never wander off on your own. Human slaves are a rare and highly sought-after commodity in many regions of the Demon Continent..."
Though Venti could probably level the entirety of Kurasuma if she wanted, it wasn't even remotely difficult to imagine her getting drunk and drugged by a group of kidnappers. Most demons regarded humans as peculiar and outlandish-looking creatures, regardless of their attractiveness, but there were always exceptions. As a rule of thumb, the more a Demon resembled a human, the more likely they were to prey upon them.
Increasing, rather than lessening Paul's concerns, Venti puffed out her chest in a way that threatened to weaponize the buttons of her blouse as she proclaimed, "Worry not! When it comes to bar crawling and gathering information from pubs, there are none beneath the heavens that can claim to be my equal~!"
"..." x 5
While making a mental note to ensure Venti never wandered far from his side, Paul said, "Let's go. I doubt we'll be able to find anything luxurious, but it shouldn't be worse than camping outside."
With everyone nodding their heads in agreement, Paul surprised Venti by grabbing her hand and pulling her along as he led the search for a place to stay. His actions confused her at first, but that didn't prevent her from clinging tightly to his arm and resting her head against his shoulder with a goofy smile on her face...
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"Kishishi, what's this? Those monsters have finally come to the Demon Continent~?"
Though she was several hundred kilometers to the East of Kurasuma, a youthful-looking Demoness with pale skin, voluminous purple hair, and goat-like horns was currently eyeing Paul and his Party with a glowing, violet-purple eye. In place of an ordinary pupil, it had a dark purple swirl that appeared to spin as she alternated her gaze between Paul, Ei, and Venti.
As the petite Demoness strained her eye to peer at Ei, the violet-haired Archon narrowed her eyes and looked toward her. Seeing this, the purple-haired Demoness adopted a toothy grin that revealed rows of razor-sharp teeth as she noted, "Whoa. This one's pretty sharp. And those eyes...they emit a type of energy I've never sensed before..."
Seemingly annoyed by her own words, a deep frown developed across the little girl's face before she spontaneously shouted, "Aaaaaaaagh! Just who do you think you are!? Demon Eyes are supposed to be my gimmick!"
Stamping her feet like a child throwing a tantrum, the loose black shorts the girl was wearing began to slide down her diminutive frame. She was nearly three hundred years old, but her body was completely bereft of a woman's charm. Her outfit also consisted of garments she had picked up at random, so many mistook her for a young Succubus that had escaped slavery due to her skimpy appearance, wrist shackles, and the large metal collar around her neck.
Noticing several people staring at her, an embarrassed look briefly marred the young Demoness' face before she abruptly adopted a shark-toothed grin, struck a pose, and shouted, "Your parents may have given you eyes, but staring isn't free, you know!? If you still wish to gaze upon the majesty of this noble and beautiful Kishirika Kishirisu, then empty your pockets...!"
Hearing the young girl's proclamation, many of the Demons that had been observing her either laughed or exhaled amused chuckles before going about their business. It wasn't rare for young Demons, especially girls, to pretend they were the former Demon Empress, so they just assumed the little girl puffing out her non-existent chest was the same.
Seeing her spectators disperse, the young Demoness, none other than the actual Kishirika Kishirisu, clicked her tongue. It used to be that all Demons, even those just meeting her for the first time, would recognize her greatness. They would gather en masse at the site of her resurrection, obey her every whim, and rally behind any cause she saw fit. Now, ever since Laplace has 'experimented' on her, even her fiance and former allies didn't give her the attention she deserved. She was the Demon Empress, Kishirika Kishirisu, dammit...!
As the image of Laplace appeared in her mind, Kishirika shivered as a sudden and intense urge to vomit welled from her stomach. Fortunately, it had been several months since her last meal, so there was nothing for her to vomit!
"Kishishishi~"
Amused by her own thoughts, Kishirika snickered in her characteristically impish manner. Then, with nothing better to do, she pointed towards the West and shouted, "To the port city of Kurasuma...!" before marching off with bold steps. If a human or a beast person were to witness this scene, they would see that most of the Demons she passed along the way paid absolutely no attention to her. Everything about her stood out like a sore thumb, but she marched through the crowd like she was invisible...
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Interrupting the search for a place to stay, Ei surprised Paul by revealing, "Someone was spying on us. They were too far away for me to determine their location, but I'm absolutely certain we were being watched."
Furrowing his brows, Paul asked the most pressing question, "Are they an enemy...?"
Pursing her lips, Ei adopted a thoughtful expression as she tried to recall the intent contained within the gaze. In the end, she shook her head and answered, "I'm not sure, but I believe they were merely curious. It didn't feel like they had any ill intentions."
"Hmmm..."
Though the image of a purple-haired loli immediately popped into his mind, Paul seriously doubted they would draw the attention of Kishirika this soon into their exploration of the Demon Continent. It was far more likely to be someone related to Atofe, the blue-skinned Demon Lord who grants strength. Her fortress, Fort Necross, was located roughly 600km from Kurasuma, and she was known for taking an interest in powerful, or, at the very least, unique people. If she had an informant with the Guild, Paul could easily imagine Atofe appearing to try and kidnap them...she was, after all, infamous for 'collecting' people she found interesting...
"Well, if they have Demon Eyes of Clairvoyance or something similar, there's not a lot we can do to prevent them from spying on us. For now, we just need to stay on our toes and continue with our original plan. If it turns out they do have malicious intentions toward us, we'll just need to defeat or cut them down. It's that simple."
Nodding her head in both understanding and approval, Ei stated, "Leave it to me." in a confident tone. Ever since she had measured her skill against Reida, the only enemies she was still concerned about were Hitogami, Perugius, Orsted, the Death God, and Gal. However, based on what she had heard from Paul, Ei was fairly confident she could defeat the latter...
Seeing through Ei's thoughts, at least a little, Paul adopted a smile and mused, "How reliable..." before shifting his attention to the rest of the group and adding, "Well, no sense in standing around here. We still need to find a place before it gets too dark. Shall we...?"
With everyone nodding in approval, Paul led the way as they resumed their search for a place to stay. Most of the places they passed were bars and taverns that were barebones to the point of being considered hovels. Paul didn't mind spending the night in one, but he was sure there had to be at least one proper Inn in the city...
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As news of Water King Vuldar's death finally began to circulate through the Capital, a public outcry occurred as people, egged on by the Faction supporting the First Prince, called for Paul's imprisonment. A few outright demanded his execution, but they were silenced by the groups pointing out the insensibility of killing one 'Water King' to avenge another.
Paul wasn't yet aware of it, but Reida, or, more accurately, the King had pinned the blame for Vuldar's death squarely on his head. He wanted to keep the capabilities of Ei a secret, so even though he was nowhere near the level of an actual Water King, Paul was already being regarded as the youngest in history. He had even been given an official title, one which the King hoped would tie him to Asura for the foreseeable future. Thus, on the ninth day of the seventh month of Armored Dragon King Year 401, the legend of the King's Greatsword, Paul Greyrat, was born...
Much to the chagrin of the First Prince, his Faction, and several powers lurking behind the scenes...
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Chapter 149: MI149: Choosing a Path