Mushoku Impact

After returning his attention to the food he was preparing, Bagura asked, "So, what does your King want from me?"
Shaking his head, Paul replied, "As far as I'm aware, nothing in particular. That's why I mentioned I was only 'technically' an Envoy. The truth is that my being here was an excuse to get me out of the Kingdom for a few years. If I can gather information and befriend a few Demon Lords, that's just a bonus."
"Ah...politics. I'm personally a moderate, so I don't mind working together with humans. I just 'prefer' to mind my own business. So, unless you have an offer to make, don't involve me in your Kingdom's affairs."
Adopting a sly smile, Paul asked, "What about personal or private affairs? I actually came here to make you an offer, one unrelated to the politics of the Asura Kingdom. At least not directly."
Catching Paul a little off guard, Bagura replied, "Not interested." in a curt tone. Then, before Paul could attempt to convince him, he explained, "It's only a matter of time before Lady Atoferatofe comes to 'collect' or kill you. Any promises you make before completing her Trial or earning the right to roam freely are meaningless. Come back in ten years."
"..."
Understanding the kind of person Atofe was supposed, even though they had yet to meet, Paul didn't blame Bagura for not wanting to get involved with his group before they had received her blessing. Instead, he asked, "Mind if I ask what De&mdash;Lady Atoferatofe's Power Level is...?"
Since it wasn't a secret he had been asked to protect, Bagura readily revealed, "Her base Power Level is only around 300, but she is a pure-blooded member of the Immortal Demon Tribe. Unless you have access to Holy or Lightning Magic, there isn't much you can do against her. She will just regenerate and then beat you until you are half or fully dead."
Noticing that Bagura hadn't mentioned Atofe's 'latent' Power Level, Paul asked, "What about her maximum power output? I know she's supposed to be as strong, if not stronger, than the current North God. I'm guessing she's around 500?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Bagura left Paul feeling a little speechless as he revealed, "The second value is a reflection of a person's maximum output. Pure-blooded members of the Immortal Demon Tribe regenerate stamina and Mana nearly as fast as they use it. Because of that, the Demon Eyes of Power Perception can't quantify the upper limits of their power. It just shows as a bunch of question marks."
"..."
Though he was tempted to ask more, Paul ultimately just shook his head and said, "Some other time, then." before turning to leave the kitchen. He half-expected Bagura to stop him and ask what his offer was, but the pig-faced Demon Lord promptly started humming a tune as he focused on the dishes he was preparing...
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After leaving Demon Lord Bagura Hagura's restaurant, Paul and the girls made their way to the Guild. He assumed other Demon Lords would have a similar response to the former's, so, after discussing it over their meal, Paul decided they might as well take a job from the Guild and head in the direction of Fort Necross. If Atoferatofe and her forces were going to hunt them regardless, they might as well take the fight to her.&nbsp;
With such thoughts in mind, Paul picked up a few repeatable Quests that, according to the Receptionist, could be handed in at virtually any location throughout the Demon Continent. Demons depended on monster parts for everything from medicine to clothing, equipment, construction, and food, so demand for certain materials almost always outweighed supply.
Similar to what he had done back in Sharia, Paul elected to purchase a wagon rather than relying on Ganyu ferrying them everywhere. She would be the one pulling the wagon, her suggestion, but the important thing was that they would be exploring the region rather than simply flying over it.
Fortunately for Paul, the traders of the Demon Continent were, somewhat ironically, a lot more 'honest' than the human Merchants Paul had met in the past. The Demon Continent functioned on 'free market' principles, so the competition between merchants was pretty intense. Thus, if you were open about what you wanted, it was possible to drive the price of an item down quite a bit by pitting multiple merchants against one another.
Instead of messing around by trying to play the market, Paul purchased a six-wheeled wagon with bows formed from the ribs of a giant snake and a canopy formed from a multi-colored patchwork of monster hide. Back in the Asura Kingdom, such a wagon would have cost tens of AGC, but here in the Demon Continent, Paul merely needed to hand over thirty-six Green Ore Coins to procure a durable wagon capable of enduring rough terrain.
Though they could have left immediately after procuring a wagon, Paul still wanted to explore Kurasuma and sample its cuisine. Spices were also one of the most plentiful resources in the Demon Continent, so Paul went around purchasing them in bulk in preparation for his trip. Ganyu's pouch had a capacity of several hundred kilograms, so they could make a small fortune if they transported them to the Asura Kingdom. Instead, Paul set aside a few samples to turn over to the King while the bulk was set aside for their journey.&nbsp;
As attractive as the notion of establishing a trade route and making a fortune was, Paul had long turned over such things to Ningguang. She already had intentions of establishing a sea route between the Central and Demon Continent, so he didn't want to step on her toes. After all, a significant portion of the wealth she accumulated invariably ended up in his pockets or the IOF...
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Five days into their stay in Kurasuma, Paul was returning from a food run with Ganyu and Ei when an even he had been expecting finally occurred. A youthful-looking, scantily clad Demoness with inordinately long, violet-purple hair, goat-like horns, and apparent heterochromia appeared on the route they were using to return to their hostel. She didn't try to block their path or anything, but she was clearly there to observe them.
Though he was half-tempted to simply ignore her and see what she would do, a wry smile developed across Paul's face as he held up his hand and said, "Yo. I was wondering when you would show up."
Adopting a fairly cheeky, sharp-toothed smile, the diminutive Demoness responded with a question, specifically, "You recognize me? I don't think we've ever met, though...?"
Maintaining his wry smile, Paul asked, "How could I not recognize the 'Great Demon Empress,' Kishirika Kishirisu? Violet-purple hair, goat-like horns, and multi-colored eyes aren't exactly common traits to possess."
Tilting her head to the side, Kishirika seemed to be considering Paul's words before spontaneously replying, "I suppose not! Bwahahahaha~!"
Without Paul needing to ask, Ganyu retrieved the 'gift' Paul had prepared in the event he crossed paths with Kishirika. It likely would have been far more effective if she was starving, but that didn't stop him from proferring forth a corked jar resembling a thick mason jar.
Unable to restrain her curiosity, Kishrika's left eye suddenly rolled forward to reveal a flowery pattern as she asked, "Hmmmm? What's this supposed to be? Some kind of jam...?"
Shaking his head, Paul revealed, "It's a special seasoning created by one of my companions. I don't know the exact ingredients, but it combines the sweetness of the papaw fruit with the spiciness of a pepper that was only recently cross-bred in the Strife Zone. Its spiciness kicks like a horse, but it greatly-"
Before Paul could finish his explanation, Kishirika surprised him, Ei, and even Ganyu by popping the cork and attempting to chug the bright red, molasses-like contents. She had already confirmed it wasn't poisonous, so she decided to give it a taste rather than hearing Paul talk it up like a merchant trying to broker a deal.
Instead of trying to stop Kishirika's actions, Paul just smiled wryly as the diminutive Demoness's eyes lit up like stars. The sauce's flavor profile was remarkably similar to the mango habanero sauce Paul had enjoyed eating on wings in his previous life. However, because Xiangling was the one to produce it, it also had the properties of warming the body and increasing a person's resistance to frigid temperatures. Since Kishirika had a habit of walking around in clothes that barely qualified as outerwear, Paul figured it would suit the pauper-like Empress well.
Though her reaction was a little more extreme than he expected, Paul waited patiently for Kishirika to consume the entire sixteen-ounce jar of sauce. This wasn't an exaggeration, either, as the moment he thought she was just about finished, Kishirika extended her inordinately long tongue to lick clean the interior of the jar...
Finished with the almost candy-like sauce, Kishirika exhaled a contended, "Pwaaaaaah~!" before unashamedly releasing a burp and declaring, "That was scrumptious! It wasn't even remotely spicy, but we never expected a human to know what real spice was! Bwahahahaha~!"
As she had once died after consuming a pitch-black pepper colloquially known as the 'Death Pepper,' Kishirika couldn't help laughing in the face of Paul's special sauce. She did feel an abnormal warmth permeating her body, but it didn't appear to be the result of a drug or an aphrodisiac, so she didn't mind. In fact, it made the frigid temperatures of Kurasuma feel rather pleasant.&nbsp;
Since there was a fairly high chance that Kishirika would spontaneously scurry off, Paul surprised her with a 32oz jar of the same substance. Her eyes immediately lit up, but instead of asking for it, she placed her hands on her hips and declared, "Your offering has satisfied us. Tell me, human boy, what is it you desire? So long as it's within our power, we shall grant you a single wish...!"
Instead of immediately responding to Kishirika's words, Paul took note of the fact that no one was really paying attention to them despite the fact they were conversing with a 'very' conspicuous Demoness shouting about granting wishes. His training had instilled in him the habit of paying close attention to his surroundings, so it was more than a little uncanny seeing people spontaneously ignoring them.
Though he had already prepared his request years prior, Paul's expression turned serious as he asked, "I can ask for anything...?"
While exaggeratedly nodding her head, Kishirika replied, "So long as it's within our power, we will grant any request you may have...!"
Returning a nod of his own, Paul pointed directly at Kishirika as he said, "I desire your wisdom and cooperation. My companions and I have recently begun a survey of the Demon Continent, so who better to show us around than its once and future ruler?"
As her original intention was to bestow Paul or one of his allies a Demon Eye after he made some grandiose request she couldn't possibly hope to fulfill, Kishirika suddenly found herself in a bit of a pickle. The 'wording' of Paul's request was such that she might very well be obligated to support or assist him for the rest of his life. After all, the 'wisdom' she possessed spanned tens of thousands of years. He couldn't possibly learn everything she had to teach in a single lifespan...
Since Kishirika was just staring at him with a broad smile on her face, Paul returned one of his own as he cheekily inquired, "Is my request not 'within your power' to grant...?"
Realizing she had been played, Kishirika abruptly erupted into laughter. She didn't know how much Paul knew about her circumstances, but it was clear he knew something. He was far from the first human to seek her out, but he was the first to actually 'recognize' her. Thus, even though she was more than a little annoyed about being 'tricked,' she didn't mind following him for a few decades.
"So be it! This Great Demon Empress, Kishirika Kishirisu, shall act as your guide...!"
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With Paul providing her extra Papaw Sauce, Kishirika was relatively well behaved until the group reached the hostel. There, she took one look at the group of girls present before staring back at Paul and inquiring, "So, what exactly are you?"
Confused by Kishirika's question, Paul questioned, "What do you mean? I already told you who I was and where I came from."
"Yeah, and?" replied Kishirika. "Normal humans aren't able to absorb the essence of other creatures. And then there're these girls. Except for that cat woman and the girl in the glasses, everyone here appears to be some kind of Spirit. However, I know the names and identities of every Ancient, Great, and High Spirit. You can't simply create new ones out of thin air, so where did these come from...?"
Though he was tempted to ask for clarification regarding his ability to 'absorb the essence of other creatures,' Paul retorted, "You're supposed to be providing me with wisdom, not asking questions. I don't mind telling you, but we would first have to draft something more official than a simple verbal agreement..."
Crossing her arms and puffing out her nonexistent chest, Kishirika adopted an unabashedly cheeky smile as she stated, "Wisdom is the reflection of a person's experiences. To pass it on to another, you first need to understand their situation and the type of person they are. If you just offer advice arbitrarily, it can lead to disagreements, conflicts, and all sorts of unpleasantries. After all, everyone has their own way of viewing and interpreting the world around them. So tell me, Paul Greyrat. How do you view this world...?"
Not expecting such a response from what many considered a comic relief character, Paul found himself at a momentary loss for words. As a result, Venti was able to remark, "It seems we've picked up an interesting ally to accompany us on our journey~."
Shifting her attention to Venti, Kishirika's left eye spun like a slot machine before landing on a luminous green iris with a reticle-like pattern. It was a little creepy to witness, but Venti just smiled and mused, "That won't work on us~."
Snorting through her nose, Kishirika replied, "Yeah, I know. That's one of the things that's been bothering me. The energy you're constituted from is something different from Mana. As far as I know, you shouldn't even be able to exist, much less be as powerful as you are."
Returning her attention to Paul, Kishirika added, "I'm guessing you're their anchor to this world. Your body possesses the same energy within it, but you're also able to use Mana and something...different. If you didn't lack a Blessing and have this world's imprint on you, I would have assumed you were summoned here from someplace else."
Instead of answering Kishirika's speculation, Paul shrugged his shoulders and replied, "Who knows?" before questioning, "Have you met someone who was summoned from another world? I've never heard of anyone like that..."
Though his statement wasn't even remotely true, Paul also wasn't lying as he didn't regard the girls he had summoned from the IOF in the same light as the people he assumed Kishirika was talking about.
Unsurprised by Paul's words, Kishirika nodded her head as she adopted a disgusted expression and stated, "That's because there is someone doing everything in their power to conceal the truth. But yeah, I've met plenty of people summoned from other worlds. Most of them have raven-black hair and sharp eyes, so they are pretty conspicuous."
As the image of a certain Water God entered his mind, Paul couldn't help remarking, "You speak as if black hair is..."
Realizing that the only human he had ever met with black hair was Reida, Paul's words gradually trailed off. Most humans in the world of Mushoku Tensei had what could best be described as Western European features, specifically brown hair and brown eyes. There were a few exceptions, but they almost always had some kind of mixed heritage.
"Well, I'll be damned..."
Playing off of Paul's words, Kishirika remarked, "You're not wrong. With the sort of power you possess, it's only a matter of time before you catch the attention of the being concealing the secrets of this world. Once that happens, your only options are to resist or be played to death. Usually a combination of both."
Since there was no way Hitogami hadn't taken notice of him at this point, Paul surprised Kishirika quite a bit by firmly stating, "I'm not afraid of that imposter."
With her eyes glistening with excitement, a tremendous smile developed across Kishirika's face as she exclaimed, "I knew it! You're someone who has seen the 'truth,' aren't you!? Do you possess some kind of foresight!? Is that how you're able to recognize me!?"
Confused by Kishirika's words, Paul asked, "What do you mean? Does it have something to do with the fact everyone was ignoring you...?"
Nodding her head rapidly, Kishirika replied, "That bastard Laplace did something weird to me! I'm not entirely sure what, but he stole something very, very precious from me. Since then, even my closest allies and most trustworthy Generals have all but shunned me! Tell me what you know...!"
If not for Ei appearing to block her path, Kishirika would have jumped up to grab Paul's collar. The only other person she could talk to about things like this was Badi, but Kishirika was convinced he was actively avoiding her. He had consumed a mysterious potion that made him immune to her Demon Eyes, and he only ever appeared when she reincarnated, when she was kept as a slave, or when she got close to another man. The rest of the time, he wasn't even in the Demon Continent, leaving her to wander around and fend for herself despite the fact they were engaged to be wed for the twenty-ninth time...
Though he was a little surprised by the visible desperation in Kishirika's eyes, Paul gestured for Ei to stand down as he said, "Relax. We're going to be travel companions for a while, so we'll have plenty of time to talk about all kinds of things. As for what I know...well, let's just say more than most, but less than I should. I could give you exact details, but I would need to know you're someone I can trust."
Snorting through her nose, Kishirika stopped referring to him second-hand and outright stated, "If you're worried about Hitogami snooping around in my head, then don't. He hasn't appeared in my dreams in the past four thousand years. Even if he did, his power isn't to peer into a person's memories but look into their futures. To activate that power, he first needs to establish a connection with them, so even if you did reveal everything you knew to me right now, he wouldn't be able to peer back at this moment to learn what we discussed. More importantly, anyone who has been made his Apostle cannot refute it. So believe me when I tell you I am neither his Apostle nor will I ever trust that bastard a second time..."
Turning her attention to the rest of Paul's group, Kishirika asked, "What about you girls? Are any of you the Apostle of the Human God...?"
Out of consideration for the information Kishirika had provided, Paul decided to reveal a bit of his hand, stating, "The energy you're able to sense but unable to identify is known as Elemental Energy. It not only makes people unsusceptible to Hitogami's influence but prevents him from snooping around in areas where the concentration is high. Everyone here is either comprised of Elemental Energy, in possession of an artifact that grants them the ability to manipulate it, or grew up in an environment saturated by it. Unless they infiltrated from the outside, it's impossible for a member of my group to be one of Hitoshit's Apostles."
"Hitoshit...?"
Hearing Paul replace the 'god' part of Hitogami's name with 'shit,' a smile wide enough to display the majority of her razor-sharp teeth developed across Kishirika's face. It was difficult for her to believe Paul's words, but a boisterous laugh emanated from her throat as she held her stomach and repeated, "Hitoshit! Hitoshit! That's a perfect name for that shitty bastard! Bwahahahahahahaha~!"
Wiping away a tear from her eye, Kishirika suppressed her laughter long enough to reveal, "You should already be aware of this, but I'm afflicted by a curse that compels me to keep my word. If you're willing to tell me what you know, I can swear never to reveal it to another. At least not in this lifetime."
Though he had assumed Kishirika's propensity for keeping her word was simply a quirk of her character, Paul nodded his head and replied, "Sure. Now that we've revealed this much, our fates are more or less bound to one another. Let's shake on it."
Staring at Paul's outstretched hand, Kishirika was momentarily confused before she readily accepted his handshake. Paul couldn't help taking note of how tiny her hand was, but he summarily dismissed it, stating, "I can't reveal my source, but I have foreknowledge of this world and aspects of its future. That includes information related to certain individuals, yourself included."
Becoming increasingly more excited as Paul spoke, Kishrika asked the question at the forefront of her mind, specifically, "Then do you know my 'true' identity?"
Returning a smile of his own, Paul nodded his head and revealed, "I can't remember their names, but you are the daughter of the Demon God and the former Demon Empress. You-"
"I knew it! I knew it! I knew it...!"
Interrupting Paul's words, a frenzied expression appeared on Kishirika's face as she balled her hands into fists and trembled due to a mixture of rage and excitement. She had memories of being brought to the Human World long ago and being left in the care of Necross Lacross, the father of Atoferatofe and Badigadi. The Immortal Demon Clan were the most fierce and dedicated supporters of the Demon God's bloodline, yet, whenever Kishirika brought up their shared past, Badi just laughed it off while Atofe didn't even recognize her despite witnessing her growing from a child into an adult multiple times.
Hearing Paul support what she had begun to doubt herself, Kishirika felt a rush of adrenaline coursing through her veins. She seriously doubted that Paul could help her reclaim the past she had lost, but it was impossible to describe just how elated she felt to meet someone who knew the 'truth' of her existence.
Seeing Kishirika hunched over and lost in her own little world, Paul smiled wryly and waited for her to return to reality. When she did, she caught him a little off guard by asking, "Do you plan to defeat Laplace...?"
After collecting himself, Paul replied, "Yeah, though I might not be the one to do it. My only real goals are to stay alive and become powerful enough to protect the people I care about. Beyond that, I kind of just do whatever I feel like doing at any given moment..."
Unable to resist the urge, Venti cheekily replied, "By that, he means us~."
Deadpanning in response to Venti's words, Paul was tempted to smack her upside the head before Kishirika surprised him for the umpteenth time by questioning, "Is that how you're able to absorb the essence of others? Through sex...?"
Since Kishirika had brought it up again, Paul couldn't help asking, "What do you mean by that? I know I grow stronger the more I have sex, but I am unaware of the...specifics."
Adopting an incredulous expression, Kishirika asked, "How am I supposed to know if you don't? All I know is that your 'essence' is no longer strictly human. There are traces of the Beast Race, a multitude of Spirits, several humans, and even a Migurdian within you. Based on what I can 'see,' you should have blue hair, cat ears, and a tail. Yet, despite that, you appear to be a perfectly normal human...at least on the surface."
Instead of responding to Kishirika's observations, Paul looked down at the Dendro Vision embedded into his belt. He didn't doubt Kishirika could see things he couldn't, so the only explanation he could think of was the influence of the Visions and the Intersection of Fate...
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Upon entering the kitchen, the first thing Paul noticed was a variety of different meats dangling from the ceiling. The second thing he noticed was the three-meter tall pig-faced Demon wearing an outfit that was a mix between a chef and a butcher.
Looking towards Paul's group, the pig-faced Demon narrowed his eyes as he asked, "Dinner or diner?"
With the same predatory smile she had revealed earlier, the pig-faced woman answered, "Diner." before looking toward Paul and adding, "For now..."
Nodding his head, the pig-faced man placed down his cooking utensils before using his apron to wipe his hands. At the same time, he turned toward the group and said, "The names Bagura Hagura. Some call me the Plundering King, while others call me the Food God. When feasting at my restaurant, you can refer to me as Lord Bagura or Chef. Now, what're your names, and what is your favorite meat, fish, and vegetable?"
Taking the lead, Paul answered, "Paul Greyrat. My favorite meat is fried chicken, my favorite fish is Springnight Carp, and my favorite vegetable is Cave Celtus."
Following after Paul, Xinyan replied, "The name's Xinyan. As for my three favorites...uh..."
Catching herself before she could say pork, Xinyan's smile twitched at the edges as she stated, "I like chicken, grilled sea bream, and thorn radish..."&nbsp;
Narrowing his eyes, Bagura said, "It's not good to lie..." in a deep, gravelly voice.
While positioning himself before Bagura and Xinyan, Paul's expression was a mask of calm as he said, "She likes pork. Is that going to be an issue?"
Raising his brows, Bagura asked, "Why would it be?" before adding, "We have a meat locker filled with cured pork. Pigs are a hell of a lot easier to raise than cattle."
Without waiting for Paul to respond, Bagura shifted his attention to Eula, asking, "What about you, lass?"
Maintaining a calm and dignified expression, Eula calmly replied, "My name is Eula Lawrence, and I'm not particularly fond of meat. I prefer simple foods and sweets. As for my favorite fish and vegetable, I enjoy arctic char and glacier peas."
"Hoooo...seems your expression and hair color aren't the only icy things about you. Very interesting..."
With Bagura directing his attention toward her, Venti gave a somewhat theatrical bow as she mused, "My name is Venti, Venti Barbatos. As for my favorite meat and fish, I have none. I do not believe in harvesting lives to sustain myself when the bounty of nature is more than enough."
"Hmmm...boring..."
As he wasn't particularly fond of vegetarians, Bagura didn't bother asking Venti for clarification on her favorite foods. Instead, he turned to Lilia and said, "Out with it."
"Oh...I beg your pardon..."
After half a life of servitude, Lilia couldn't help folding her hands across her lap and bowing as she said, "My name is Lilia...my favorites are dried beef, speckled bass, and cave potato..."
"Hmmm...simple tastes, and all from the Central Continent. You must have been a servant or a peasant back in the human Kingdoms..."
Before Lilia could nod her head, Bagura shifted his attention to the final person present, Ghislaine. In response, she flatly replied, "I like meat." as if it was the only thing that mattered.
Adopting a sharp-toothed smile, Bagura slapped his round belly and half-shouted, "I've never met a Beast Person who didn't! Bwahahahaha~!"
Interrupting the Demon Lord's laughter, Paul tossed over the pouch he had been carrying. As even the weaker Demon Lords were around the level of a renowned Saint in terms of capabilities, Bagura effortlessly snatched it out of the air, asking, "What's this...?" despite knowing what it was from the sound and weight.
"A hundred Green Ore Coins. Rather than paying after the fact and risking an incident, I figured I may as well settle the tab in advance. If you could limit the food and drinks to that amount, you'd be doing us both a favor..."
"Hooo...?"
Opening the pouch, Bagura confirmed the contents before slipping the pouch into one of his pockets and saying, "You've come prepared. That's good."
Shifting his attention to his daughter, Bagura added, "Leone, show our guests to table five. Today's service will be complimentary, so don't go overboard."
Nodding her head in understanding, Leone replied, "Understood, Chef." before turning to Paul's group and adding, "Please, follow me."
With Paul and company following behind her, Leone waited until they had departed the kitchen to remark, "It appears you weren't jesting about the strength of your Party. My father wouldn't ordinarily ask us to provide free service..."
Adopting a faint smile, Paul playfully mused, "I guess the rumors about me have yet to reach the Demon Continent. Back in the Asura Kingdom, I was known as the youngest Sword and Water Saint in history. I still have a long way to go, but I'm competent enough to defend myself."
Shaking her head, Leone flatly replied, "Things like that are completely meaningless. You would need to be an Emperor, at the very least, for my father to respect you..."
Shifting her attention to Venti, Leone narrowed her blue eyes despite the former smiling and waving in response.&nbsp;
Understanding what Leone was trying to say, the smile on Paul's face turned wry as he remarked, "You're pretty perceptive..."
Shaking her head a second time, Leone explained, "My father disdains people who arbitrarily restrict their palate and isn't shy about expressing it. If an ordinary person were to show up claiming to be a vegetarian, he would give them a tongue lashing before force-feeding them a variety of meats..."
"Ah..."
"Anyways, this is table five. Your food should be out within thirty minutes to an hour. Drinks are on the house, and appetizers include pretzels, fried potatoes, and pickled plums."
"Sound's good," replied Paul. "So long as it doesn't take us over budget, we'd like to try each of them."
Nodding her head, Leone replied, "Give me a minute or two." before walking off towards a fully stocked bar. As for Paul, he told the girls to be on their guard before making his way towards the entrance, not to leave, per se, but to check if Ei, Jean, and Ganyu were standing outside.
Finding the three girls standing over a trio of severely beaten bodies, a wry smile spread across Paul's face as he remarked, "I figured something like this would happen..."
Adopting a wry smile of her own, Jean explained, "These people possess an ability similar to the Demon Eyes of Affection. As for their strength..."
"They were pushovers, I know. True Vampires don't have black sclera, and they can regenerate from most physical injuries. These idiots are probably just thralls."
Walking over to the male Vampire, Paul picked him up by the hair, staring into the man's severely bruised face as he asked, "Did you just try to lure away my women while I was distracted...?"
"Please...have mercy..."
"..."
Instead of acting based purely on his emotions, Paul looked toward Jean, Ei, and Ganyu to see what they had to say. Under normal circumstances, Jean would have suggested they turn the trio over to the authorities, but the Demon Continent didn't really have a system of law. It was generally left to the reigning Demon Lord to decide the fates of people who made trouble in their territory.
While Jean wasn't quite sure what to do, Ei's expression was icier than the sea beneath them as she said, "Affording mercy to people who attempt to control and manipulate others goes against the natural order. If we spare them now, hundreds, if not thousands of people may suffer in the future..."
Though he nodded his head in affirmation and approval, Paul shifted his attention to Ganyu to see what she had to say. To his surprise, she, very calmly, suggested, "A quick death could be considered a mercy..."
Since she possessed the ability to sense peoples' auras, Ganyu could feel the profound hatred radiating from the trio of Vampires. If their positions were reversed, she had little doubt the Vampires would revel and indulge in their suffering.
With even Ganyu condemning them, Paul looked into the significantly less swollen face of the Vampire and said, "Mercy it is..." before activating the Elemental Burst of his Dendro Vision. He was curious to see how it would work on a floating platform, so he paid close attention as a mist formed of grass-green energy surged out of him before rapidly coalescing beneath the trio of Vampires.
Just as the Vampires sensed the danger they were in, spear-like vines covered in blood-red thorns erupted from the mass of Dendo Energy, piercing their hearts and raising them several meters into the air before rapidly draining their fluids.
Though he felt a sensation of intense heat and adrenaline filling his body, Paul's expression was cold as he watched the trio of Vampires dry up into desiccated corpses. He had no mercy for rapists and people who willfully attempted to manipulate others. Thus, even though he disliked killing, he didn't bat an eye as the dried-up corpses dissolved into ash, followed by the disappearance of his vines. At least not at first...
Turning to Jean, Ei, and Ganyu, Paul's expression softened as he mused, "There goes my appetite..."
Since Jean and Ei didn't really know what to say, Ganyu stepped forward to give Paul a firm hug as she replied, "You didn't do anything wrong..." in a soothing tone.
"Mmm..."
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After convincing Jean to replace him at the table, Paul eventually returned to the kitchen alongside Ei and Ganyu. Leone tried to stop him, but the profoundly deep voice of Bagura promptly called out to let them through.
Without diverting his attention from the food he was preparing, Bagura asked, "Finally decided to get to the point~?" in a gravelly yet sing-song tone of voice.
Nodding his head, Paul replied, "I should have mentioned this sooner, but I'm technically a Special Envoy of the Asura Kingdom. The King has asked me to conduct a survey of the Continent and meet with the ruling Demon Lords."
"Hooooo...that would explain the number of monsters in your entourage. I guess that makes you this generation's Heroes...?"
Though he was tempted to shake his head and refute Bagura's question outright, Paul eventually forced a smile and replied, "Something like that." Demons had a weird obsession with the concept of Heroes, even going as far as to issue challenges to those who wished to become them. Thus, at least for the time being, he didn't mind playing the part.
Noticing Paul's hesitation, Bagura peered back over his shoulder to reveal that his previously red eyes had shifted to icy blue in color. He clearly had a type of Demon Eyes, but Paul had no idea which until he said, "You've a long way to go before you can call yourself a Hero, kid..."
Unable to suppress his curiosity, Paul tilted his head slightly and asked, "Demon Eyes of Power Perception...?"
Adopting a sharp-toothed smile, Bagura replied, "You're well informed." before returning his attention to the stove. Then, before Paul could ask, he revealed, "You have a Power Level of 108 over 309. Just to put that in perspective, my Power Level is 161 over 318, while someone like Laplace, at least during the war, had a Power Level of 666 over 935. If you really want to call yourself a Hero, you still have a long way to go..."
With his leaf-green eyes sparkling with interest, Paul asked, "What do the two numbers mean? I'm guessing current level and latent potential...?"
Unsurprised by Paul's questions, Bagura calmly replied, "The first value is your current Power Level while the latter is what you're capable of when going all out. Potential is impossible to determine as it changes based on an individual's mentality, convictions, and effort..."
Turning back to face Paul, or, more accurately, Ei, Bagura added, "That little monster standing next to you has a Power Level of 519 over 624. So tell me, what is someone with two Gods in their Party doing in the service of another...?"
Understanding that Bagura was referring to both Venti and Ei, the smile on Paul's face turned somewhat wry as he replied, "It's complicated. Let's just say we all have things we want to protect..."
Craning one of his incredibly bush brows, the smile on Bagura's pig-like face broadened as he playfully remarked, "There it is. Your power might be lacking, but you've got that annoying way of speaking down. I wonder how many people this generation of Heroes will slaughter just to protect a few? Bwahahahahaha~!"
Though the content of his words was rather dark, Bagura didn't seem all that concerned by the potential massacre of his people. It had been a few hundred years since the last war between humanity and demonkind, so it was nearing time for another...
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Chapter 152: MI152: A Not-so-Unexpected Encounter