Mushoku Impact

Seeing Paul staring at his Vision, Kishirika couldn't help asking what it was. When he explained it to her, she asked if she could try and analyze it before returning it to him and flatly stating, "That's a neat little trinket, but I don't think it has anything to do with your ability to absorb the essence of others."
Looking toward Venti, Ei, Jean, Eula, Xinyan, and Ganyu, Paul asked, "Any ideas? Or is it something you can't tell me until I figure it out on my own?"
Speaking on behalf of the group, Jean shook her head and assured, "This is the first we're hearing about this. Before now, all we knew was that you grew stronger the more you had sex. Like you, we assumed it was related to your heritage. If it's something 'more,' we're as in the dark as you."
Incapable of restraining her curiosity, Kishirika promptly inquired, "Oh? Is there something special about your heritage...?"
Adopting a wry smile, Paul replied, "It's rumored that the Greyrat Houses are descended from a powerful Succubus, potentially even Lilith herself."
Placing her finger on her chin, Kishirika adopted a thoughtful pose as she offhandedly remarked, "I do recall Lilith being enslaved and falling in love with her captors. However, while it's stated that Succubi have the power to absorb the essence of other creatures, they specifically absorb vitality and feed on positive emotions. Besides, as far as I can tell, your 'core' is human. If you do possess Lilith's blood, it's extremely thin; nowhere near enough to lead to a mutation."
Shrugging his shoulders, Paul helplessly replied, "Well, that's that, then. If my lineage has nothing to do with it, I have no other ideas."
Sensing no falsehoods within Paul's words, Kishirika offered a shrug of her own before arguing, "Well, it's not like it matters where it originated. The important thing is what you do with it. If your power functions as I suspect, you could become a chimera that possesses the strengths of all races. That's something not even Laplace could achieve."
As intriguing as the notion was, Paul couldn't help asking, "Are you sure? If that was true, shouldn't I possess the enhanced olfactory senses of a beast person?"
Shaking her head, Kishirika retorted, "You might have if you had absorbed their essence completely. Instead, your power seems to be taking a tiny, almost inconsequential portion of a person's essence and incorporating it into your own. That's actually a good thing, as the 'essence' we're talking about is essentially a person's soul. If you absorbed all of it, I imagine the people you slept with would dry up and dissolve into ash."
"..."
Taking advantage of Paul's silence, Kishirika added, "Right now, I'd say you have about 3-4% of a typical beast person's essence. Even if your senses of smell and hearing have improved, I doubt you would be able to notice unless they experienced a sudden and drastic increase."
Though he was still reeling from the revelation that he was effectively absorbing people's souls, Paul managed an understanding, "Ah..." when he heard Kishirika's explanation. If it was true that his senses had only improved by 3-4%, likely over a period of two years, there was no way he would notice.
Exhaling a deeply profound sigh, Paul dryly muttered, "Once again, I find myself in a position where I need to fuck to grow stronger..."
With everyone else, even Venti, falling silent, it was left to Kishirika to ask, "What's your problem? Their libido is one of the defining characteristics of humanity. If anything, you should be happy. You have an army of Spirits at your disposal and an ability that will allow you to rule the world if you feel so inclined. No one is forcing you to use it maliciously, so be glad it wasn't someone else who obtained your gifts. Just imagine such an ability in the hands of your greatest enemy."
Prompted by Kishirika's words, Paul briefly envisioned what someone like &nbsp;Prince Grabell or Darius would do in his place.&nbsp;
It wasn't pretty.
Shaking such thoughts from his mind, Paul forced a smile and said, "I see what you mean. Still, I can't help feeling it's 'wrong' to make use of such an ability. That won't stop me from doing so, but...yeah..."
Demonstrating a rare moment of compassion, Kishirika's expression and tone softened as she said, "If it's any consolation, I can't sense anything wrong with the human girl and beast person in your Party. Everyone else has a kind of 'fractured' essence, but I don't think that has anything to do with your power. It's more like they're...incomplete."
Unable to suppress his shock, Paul's expression revealed his disbelief as he remarked, "You're ridiculous perceptive. How the hell did someone like you lose a war...?"
Adopting a scowl, Kishirika groaned, "Uuuuugh. Did you really have to ask such an insensitive question?"
Before Paul could even think to apologize, Kishirika flared up and violently exclaimed, "We didn't lose, okay!? That bastard Hitogami betrayed us! We Demons were just minding our own business and doing our best to rebuild our society when that bastard convinced humans to declare war on us! All we wanted was to secure a place for ourselves, but so-called Heroes kept coming to attack us, labeling us monsters and slaughtering my people...!"
Raising his hands in a gesture of mock surrender, Paul replied, "It wasn't my intention to upset you..."
Flaring up even further, Kishirika shouted, "I'm not upset! I'm furious...!" with an expression to match. "That bastard convinced humanity that all the other races were trying to encroach on their territory when it was his actions that forced us into the Human World! In the wake of the so-called Great Human-Demon War, do you know what happened? Well, I'll tell you! Humanity went on to declare war on every single other race, forcing even the most peaceful and pacifistic among them beneath their heel! When I finally revived, what was-"
Since Kishirika was flaring up right in front of him, Paul felt compelled to pat her head. When he did, she immediately fell silent, the fury in her expression turning to confusion and then annoyance as she asked, "What do you think you're doing...?"
While continuing to pat the diminutive Demoness's surprisingly soft hair, Paul stated, "You have every right to be mad. However, we're here to kick Hitoshit's ass. You don't need to flare up at us."
Snorting literal plumes of steam from her nose, Kishirika smacked away Paul's hand as she said, "I'll believe it when I see it. For now, you should focus on gathering your strength. At your current level, you wouldn't even be able to defeat Laplace, much less the people ranked above him on the Seven Great Powers."
Revealing a bit of his future knowledge, Paul said, "We have more than a hundred years until Laplace's revival. By then, even my kids will be able to give him a run for his money."
With a clearly interested expression on her face, Kishirika asked, "Is that something you've 'seen?' If not, I suggest you not underestimate Laplace. That man managed to conquer the Demon Continent and nearly take over the entire world in a hundred years, all while he was preoccupied with his research. This time around, I doubt he'll be nearly as lackadaisical..."
Since he knew Orsted and Perugius both had their sights set on Laplace, Paul just smiled and said, "It won't be an issue. Trust me."
Sensing no falsehoods in Paul's words, a rather vicious smile developed across Kishirika's face as she said, "Well if that's the case, you can count on me even more. Hitoga-Hitoshit and Laplace are at the top of the list of people I hate. If it's to ensure their defeat, there is nothing I wouldn't do."
Though he understood and appreciated the sentiment behind Kishirika's words, Paul replied, "Helping us locate specific people and providing us with information is more than enough. I'm not going to ask you to fight or anything."
Catching Paul a little off guard, Kishirika replied, "Good, because I suck at it! Bwahahahaha~!" Then, before he could chuckle alongside her, she left him feeling sucker-punched by adding, "I'll let you absorb my essence." in a firm, decisive tone.
Without needing to consider his response, Paul shook his head and said, "No thanks. You might be three hundred years old, but you're even more underdeveloped than a Migurdian. Besides, even if it's only a matter of time before we have to fight your fiance, I'd rather not have him showing up in the Fighting God Armor and hunting me to the ends of the world..."
Raising her brows, Kishirika remarked, "Hoooooo~? You even know about Badi's status as the Fighting God?"
Without waiting for Paul's response, Kishirika stated, "Well, no matter. I've already made up my mind, so just be grateful and accept it...!"
As Kishirika reached for his belt, Paul instinctually chopped the top of her stone-like cranium. He had held back quite a bit, so Kishirika wasn't even remotely injured as she looked up at him with a pissed-off expression and exclaimed, "Just who do you think you're hitting!?"
Adopting an annoyed expression of his own, Paul retorted, "A lecherous little brat who doesn't understand the meaning of the word no...!"&nbsp;
With her left eye twitching and her shark-like teeth bared, Kishirika practically growled, "You cheeky little..."
Standing his ground, Paul's expression became more severe than it had ever been as he stated, "I'm serious. I might have been willing if you were at least as developed as a Miguardian, but your current appearance is far too immature. I might be a pervert, but I still have my principles."
Realizing Paul wasn't going to back down, Kishirika clicked her tongue and crossed her arms in deliberation. She wasn't enthused by the notion of sleeping with a human, but, even if it would only increase his chances by a single percent, she would let Paul consume her very flesh if it meant defeating Laplace and Hitogami.
Believing she had come up with a solution, a devious smile developed across Kishirika's face as she looked up at the frowning Paul and said, "If my appearance is the only problem, there are plenty of ways to remedy it. If your Vision really does permit you to live for hundreds of years without issue, you should have plenty of vitality to spare. You certainly have more than enough Mana..."
Furrowing his brows even further, Paul asked, "What are you suggesting?"
Bringing her hands up to her face, Kishirika pretended to be bashful by cradling her cheeks and replying, "Jeez...do I really need to spell it out for you~?"
Interrupting the moment Paul attempted to answer, Kishirika burst into laughter, shouting, "Get your head out of the gutter! Its blood! Blood, you idiot! What, did you think I was just going to ask you to shoot it out on my face!? Bwahahahahahaha~!"
Balling his right hand into a fist, Paul barely suppressed the urge to smack Kishirika's head as he asked, "Blood can help you grow?"
Getting her laughter under control, Kishirika replied, "It's a little, well, a lot more complicated than that. You see, the act of drawing, or, in this case, sucking fresh blood, serves as the foundation for Blood Magic rituals. I'm not particularly fond of the taste of blood, but if your Vision functions the way you suggested, I should be able to accelerate my growth quite a bit by absorbing your excess Mana and vitality."
Before Paul could even consider a response of his own, Jean interjected to inquire, "And what if your actions cause irreversible harm? Paul already refused your offer twice. You shouldn't keep pressing him."
Furrowing her brows, Kishirika gave Jean a quick, narrow-eyed once-over before stating, "Your Master is capable of making his own decisions. You should just continue standing off to the side and observing."
Shaking his head, Paul stated, "No, Jean's right. While I trust in the power of the Visions, meddling with Blood Magic when it's not even necessary is just extreme."
Though she was a little annoyed that Paul sided with a Spirit over her, the daughter of the Demon God and the Great Demon Empress, Kishirika just shrugged her shoulders and said, "Fine. We'll go with Plan C."
Without bothering to explain, Kishirika dropped to her knees and held out her hands like a pauper begging for alms as she said, "Try and aim for my hands." with a no-nonsense expression on her face...
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After a series of minor, headache-inducing incidents, everyone was preparing for bed when Kishirika plunged face-first into Ganyu's fur and remarked, "Wow, such fine fur. Just what kind of creature are you...?"
Answering in Ganyu's stead, Paul explained, "She's a Qilin, also known as an Illuminated Beast."
"Hooooo~? I've heard of Qilins before. Aren't they the result of a Dragon breeding with a horse? I've never heard of one possessing cloud-like fur."
"Well, you have now," replied Paul before sprawling out on Ganyu's fur and adding, "Quiet down and try to get some rest. We'll be departing early in the morning..."
Ignoring Paul's remark, a mischievous grin developed across Kishirika's face as she mused, "You're pretty popular, ain'tcha?" in response to Venti and Xinyan snuggling up next to him.
Smiling wryly, Paul replied, "Something like that..." before drawing the two beauties closer and exchanging goodnight kisses. Then, despite Kishirika observing him with an impish expression on her face, Paul closed his eyes and tried to get some sleep. It had been a surprisingly tiring day...
Seeing Paul stop at kissing, Kishirika clicked her tongue before sprawling out and making fur-angels atop Ganyu's back. She was a type of Demon that didn't require sleep, so she wasn't even remotely tired. If not for her agreement with Paul, she would be out drinking and partying until sunrise. It sure as hell beat spending the night alone...
...
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With the evening passing in a blink for some and painstakingly slow for others, Paul and Party arose a few hours before dawn to prepare for their departure. They had already triple-checked their supplies and equipment, but rather than immediately departing the city, Paul had Ganyu draw their wagon to the outside of an apparel store so he could purchase Kishirika an outfit closer to what a fledgling Adventurer might wear.
Upon learning that they were shopping for her, a shark-toothed smile developed across Kishirika's face as she remarked, "You provide me with nourishment, drink, and now clothing? You won't be satisfied until I owe you an unpayable debt, huh~?"
While resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Paul replied, "Consider this one a freebie. Though I've become pretty desensitized to such things, I'd rather not be seen traveling with a half-naked brat who still has her baby fat..."
Instead of taking offense to Paul's words, Kishirika issued one of her characteristic laughs before exclaiming, "How rude! But at least you're honest! Bwahahahahaha~!"
Taking advantage of Paul's words, Kishirika began grabbing every piece of clothing she found even remotely interesting. She intended to teach Paul a lesson by burning a hole in his pocket. Unfortunately for her, Paul's private reserves made him one of the wealthiest individuals in the entire world, much less the Demon Continent. He could buy out the whole store for less than a tenth of what it would cost him to purchase an outfit from the IOF...
Seeing Paul foot the bill for dozens of outfits without even flinching, a bead of sweat formed on Kishirika's brow. Had he not offered to pay for them in advance, she would have put herself into a bit of a predicament due to her myriad of Curses.
Waiting until they were no longer in earshot of the shop owner and his assistants, Kishirika gestured for Paul to bend down so she could ask, "Just how wealthy are you...?" in an audibly nervous tone.
Instead of revealing the actual amount in his possession, Paul replied, "Enough to establish a small to medium-sized nation...?"
After her eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, Kishirika's expression morphed into one of disgust as she remarked, "Ugh...don't tell me you're planning to establish a colony or something in the Demon Continent? We don't need humans meddling in our affairs..."
"Uh...not exactly?"
With Kishirika's expression resembling someone that had swallowed a bug, Paul's smile became wry as he explained, "If anything, I would end up sponsoring someone like you or Atofertofe. I don't even enjoy human politics, so I'm not going to go out of my way to meddle in the affairs of the Demon Continent. Someone I know might, but I won't let her get too carried away..."
Hearing Paul mention supporting her or Atofe, the disgust in Kishirika's expression gave way for a shark-toothed smile as she playfully remarked, "You're either being facetious or a complete idiot. How do you expect to stay detached from Demon Continent politics when you plan to entangle yourself with two of the most influential Demons in existence? And don't even get me started on the implications of you 'sponsoring' either of us..."
Shaking her head in mock admonition, Kishirika theatrically shrugged her shoulders as she added, "Well, not like it matters. With your current forces and wealth, you can already be regarded as a world power. Just try not to stab us in the back too early, okay?"
Furrowing his brows, Paul insisted, "I'm not the type to stab people in the back..."
Adopting an even broader smile, Kishirika replied, "And that's what makes 'Heroes' so dangerous. Those with treacherous natures are relatively easy to predict. Those with virtuous or benevolent characters are a ticking time bomb as it only takes a single significant event or trauma to turn them into complete monsters. I've seen it happen time and against, especially when the Hero in question 'simply' wishes to protect something or someone. But who knows, maybe you're the exception? Bwahahaha~!"
"..."
Though he felt like he was being obstinate, Paul shook his head and said, "Even if someone targetted the people I wished to protect, my retribution would end with them. If I were the type that didn't care about the consequences of his actions, the Asura Kingdom would be on the verge of ruin by now..."
Without needing to consider her response, Kishirika firmly stated, "Then you're either fooling yourself, or you don't have anything you truly wish to protect. When people lose the things that are truly precious to them, they don't react with cold logic or concern themselves with what others might lose. Still, it's a good thing that you've at least considered how you might respond. If that Vision functions as you claimed, it's only a matter of time before you lose something precious."
"..."
Realizing there was nothing he could say to oppose the logic of a being that had lived for well over ten thousand years, Paul promptly decided to let the matter rest. This version of Kishirika was a lot less 'comedic' than the version he had witnessed on-screen and read about in his previous life. She certainly acted the fool, but you only had to converse with her for more than a few minutes to glimpse the unfathomable life experience she had accumulated.
Understanding that Paul was backing down the moment he averted his eyes and looked towards the shop entrance, Kishirika's smile gained a mischievous overtone as she questioned, "Are you regretting asking for my wisdom?"
Shaking his head, Paul answered, "Not really. If anything, it's a relief to know you're not a complete idiot. In most of the 'glimpses' I got of you, you either in trouble or causing it..."
Crossing her arms over her non-existent breasts, Kishirika snickered in a 'Kishishishi~' fashion before commenting, "It's been less than a day, and you're already becoming more brazen. Though I suppose that's the kind of mentality you would need to consider 'sponsoring' a former and future Demon Empress! Bwahahahaha~!"
Smiling wryly, Paul was about to suggest they return to the others when Kishirika's expression suddenly became serious. Then, in a tone filled with solemnity, she said, "I'm only going to say this once, so listen carefully. I am bound by a series of Curses, two of which combine to make me reliant on others and obligated to repay debts. Those same Curses more or less prohibit me from making requests or taking care of myself, so you'll need to consider that if others attempt to approach me or if you choose to give me something..."
Though he was briefly confused by Kishirika's words, Paul's expression became equally serious as he asked, "You're unable to refuse people's assistance...?"
Nodding her head, Kishirika maintained her serious expression as she answered, "That's right. So for every piece of food or drink you give me, you need to preface it with something like 'this is free' or 'I don't expect a reward.' If you forget, I'll have no choice but to compensate you."&nbsp;
Furrowing his brows even further, Paul was about to ask why Kishirika was revealing such a dangerous piece of information when the answer readily appeared in his mind. It was pretty much the only way she could ask him to protect and not take advantage of her. It also gave him a pretty good idea...
Removing the ruby ring his father had given him to detect poisons, Paul proferred it toward Kishirika and said, "Here, take this. It will glow in the presence of most toxins. In exchange, I ask that you become our friend, relying on us without thoughts of having to repay our's or anyone else's kindness. Unless, of course, you want to..."
Surprised by Paul's words, Kishirika's eyes became as round as saucers. When she first saw him pull off the ring, she half-expected him to propose to her. Instead, Paul had effectively freed her without asking for anything substantial in return...
Accepting the ring from Paul's hand, Kishirika felt a giddiness swelling from the pit of her stomach as she muttered, "You...do you realize what you've done?" in a trembling tone.
Shrugging his shoulders, Paul said, "I honestly hate forcing people to do things against their will. I also doubt you'll cross me so long as we're after that shitty god's head. That buys me at least a hundred or two years be-"
Interrupting before Paul could finish, Kishirika raised her head to reveal an enormous grin as she pointed at his face and declared, "I've decided! You will battle Badi for my hand in marriage! It might only be for a single lifetime, but there's no way I can just let you go after this! Become mine, Paul Greyrat...!"
Before Paul could refuse, Kishirika waggled her finger from side-to-side and said, "As I said, I've already made my decision. Besides, it was only ever a matter of time before Badi attempted to kill you. That man likes to play the part of an approachable and easy-going person, but he is highly vindictive and prone to jealousy! You said it yourself, right? He was bound to hunt you to the ends of the world at some point! And don't even get me started on what he would do to your women! Bwahahahahahaha~!"
"..."
Seeing Paul's grim expression, Kishirika controlled her laughter and said, "I'm serious. I've had this Curse for more than four thousand years, and you're the first to offer an exchange that grants me even a semblance of freedom. Also, Badi and I can't be wed until that shitty God is dealt with. I mean, we've literally been engaged twenty-nine times. Something's got to give eventually."
Suppressing his sigh, Paul surprised Kishirika by answering, "Fine. Just don't blame me for 'cheating' during our battle. My death would cause some serious problems for a lot of people, so I can't afford to fight such a monster fairly..."
Instead of reacting negatively to Paul's words, Kishirika snickered and said, "That's fine by me. After all, I would also be pretty inconvenienced if you died. As the person who established the 'contract' between us, it will persist so long as you live. That means you're forbidden from dying for at least a hundred&mdash;no, make that five hundred years, okay~?"
Though five hundred years sounded a little excessive, Paul had no idea how long it would take his group to defeat Hitogami. He vaguely recalled that Orsted's time loops lasted two hundred years, so, unless something unexpected happened, they should be able to defeat him shortly after the battle with Laplace.
Shrugging his shoulders, Paul replied, "Sure. I mean, I can't do anything about it if I'm killed, so I don't mind making such a promise. Just keep in mind that you're far from the only woman I'll be sharing a bed with..."
Offering a shrug of her own, Kishirika retorted, "Isn't that to be expected? Even Atofe's husband married eight others. That's one of the privileges of possessing a power others can't hope to oppose. With your unique power, I honestly wouldn't be surprised if you took a wife from every race."
"Ah..."
Recalling Kishirika's speculations about his apparent ability, Paul would be lying if he said he hadn't considered something similar. He wasn't going to go around fucking literal animals and monsters, but there were quite a few humanoids with racial traits, special abilities, and unique powers he could benefit from. Kishirika's Myriad Demon Eyes and Atofe's immortality were good examples...
Seeing the possessing glimmer in Paul's eyes, a snicker emanated from Kishirika's throat as she playfully mused, "We'll make a Demon out of you yet~."
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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...
...
..
.

Chapter 154: MI154: Complications