Mushoku Impact

Bursting out from one of the apparel shop's changing rooms, Kishirika spun around excitedly as she exclaimed, "Da-daaaan~! How do I look~?"
Opening his eyes from where he was perched, leaning against a wall, Paul remarked, "Not bad. Pretty cute."
Puffing out her non-existent chest, now protected by a brown breastplate, Kishirika said, "I would have preferred beautiful or sexy, but I can't deny my current form is a work in progress. Getting my horns in and out of this hood will be annoying, though..."
In place of her skimpy black tube top, loose black hotpants, and belted black leggings, Kishirika now wore a black and white top that resembled a vest with medium-length sleeves, black monster-hide shorts, a studded black belt with a skull motif, black riding boots, and a stylish beige cloak. The outfit left much of her midriff, back, and thighs exposed, but there wasn't much Kishirika could do about that as she had ebony protrusions that jutted out from her ribs and thighs. They were apparently sensory organs, much like the goat-like horns on her head, so Kishirika preferred to keep them exposed as covering them would be like an average person wearing a blindfold.&nbsp;
If there was one thing Paul felt justified complaining about, it was the fact Kishirika was wearing the same fashion of undergarments as before. He had asked her to wear something a little more 'appropriate,' but she opted for a black v-string thong that was better suited to a seasoned Succubus than a prepubescent Demon Empress...
Shaking such thoughts from his mind, Paul said, "We should get going. It's a long journey from here to Fort Necross."
While continuing to fiddle with her hood, Kishirika remarked, "Not really. If you didn't insist on traveling via carriage, we could reach it within a day or two, easy. Even in my current form, I could run from here to the Southern tip of the Demon Continent in three or four days. The same journey would take more than a month via carriage."
Shrugging his shoulders, Paul retorted, "What, you in a hurry? The Demon Continent might not be the most scenic place in the world, but it's good to take things slow every now and again."
Catching Paul a little off guard, Kishirika bared her sharp-like teeth as she replied, "Am I in a hurry? Shouldn't that be obvious?"
Approaching close enough that she had to crane her head back to stare up at Paul, Kishirika added, "You're currently very weak. Sure, you might be strong enough to swagger about most Kingdoms as if you own them, but you would be helpless without that posse of girls to protect you. So yes, I am in a hurry. A hurry to see you get some sense knocked into you so you can grow stronger under Atofe's tutelage."
"..."
Exhaling through his nose, the smile faded from Paul's face as he quietly replied, "Right..." He knew better than anyone he was still weak, but even with the revelation of his ability to absorb the essence of other people, he still needed time to grow.&nbsp;
Unamused by Paul's lackluster response, Kishirika planted a surprisingly heavy punch to his gut as she exclaimed, "Be more spirited! You'll never get stronger offering such a meek response! Be bold! Be assertive! Be a man...!"
With his left eye twitching slightly, Paul rubbed the pit of his stomach and replied, "People don't need to run around shouting to be considered bold and assertive. Just wait until you mature a bit, and I'll show you..."
"Hoooo~?"
Linking her thumbs through the elastic band of her black thong, Kishirika popped it like a rubber band against her skin as she teased, "You talk a big game for someone who had to relocate to another room just to shoot one out into a cup. Appearances aside, I'm more than twenty times your age in my present form. Chronologically, I'm closer to eight, maybe nine hundred times older than you. Acting shy because I look like a child is just senseless. What can you show me that I haven't seen?"
Resisting the urge to grab Kishirika's horns and shake her by the head, Paul's expression morphed into a flawless deadpan as he flatly replied, "It's a matter of principle..."
Leaving Paul no ground to stand on, Kishirika retorted, "Says the guy who knocked someone up shortly after his tenth birthday. You're unbelievably full of yourself at times; you know that?"
Without waiting for Paul's response, Kishirika stepped past him and made her way outside. She didn't particularly mind Paul behaving like a brat, but she couldn't forgive close-mindedness and double-standards. If Paul was going to continue making a big deal about her appearance, she was going to get really annoyed, really quickly.
Following Kishirika with his eyes, various thoughts crossed Paul's mind before he ultimately shook his head and muttered, "Whatever..." in a tired voice. This was far from the first, and he doubted it would be the last time someone pointed out the contradictions in his worldview. But what was he supposed to do? If he didn't have any inhibitions whatsoever, he wouldn't even be human anymore, much less a man...
Lines had to be drawn somewhere...
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Emerging from the shop not too long after Kishirika, Paul was surprised to find Ghislaine with a bruised right eye and Ganyu, now in her human form, checking on her.
Though it was pretty obvious what must have transpired, Paul's brows furrowed as he looked around for Kishirika and said, "It hasn't even been two minutes. What did I miss...?"
With a wry smile on her face, Jean explained, "Kishirika came outside and asked if Ghislaine wanted a Demon Eye. When Ghislaine answered in the affirmative, Kishirika then asked her to bend over-"
Shaking his head, Paul clarified, "What I meant to ask was, where is that little imp? Please don't tell me she ran off..."
With an even wrier smile on her face, Jean answered, "That appears to be the case. Before departing, she said she had something important to take care of before bounding onto the roof and fleeing to the East. Would you like us to give chase?"
Shaking his head, Paul said, "Forget it. If I had to guess, this is her way of 'protecting' us. She'll likely pop up of her own accord when it's convenient for her..."
Making his way over to Ghislaine, Paul couldn't help hissing when he saw how swollen her eye was. She didn't appear to be in any meaningful pain, but it looked like she had gone ten rounds with a south-paw Heavyweight Champion. More importantly, her iris was far from the vibrant green Paul had been anticipating...
Instead of immediately asking what kind of Demon Eye Ghislaine had received, Paul's expression softened as he asked, "Are you okay...?" in a genuinely concerned tone.
Nodding her head, Ghislaine calmly replied, "It surprised me at first, but it didn't hurt. Instead, it feels numb."
Adopting a faint smile, Paul softly remarked, "Well, that's good..." before reaching up to pat Ghislaine on the head. Her ears and tail twitched as he did so, but she made no attempts to stop him.
Retracting his hand, Paul asked, "Any idea what eye she gave you? As far as I'm aware, you should have had the Demon Eye of Magic Power lurking in your right eye. This is one I don't recognize..."
Chalking up Paul's remark to his apparent future sight, Ghislaine reached up to touch her glowing, crimson red-eye as she revealed, "She didn't tell me the name, only that it would save your life if I stayed near you."
"..."
Exhaling a sigh, Paul muttered, "Of course..." before shaking his head in exasperation, adopting a wry smile, and adding, "Looks like we have even more reasons to stick together."
Adopting a smile of her own, Ghislaine offered a curt, "Nn." as the tip of her cat-like tail swayed from side-to-side. The more she learned about Paul and his mysterious abilities, the more she felt it was her 'obligation' to protect him. She had even started to believe he was the 'Hero' that her people had been expecting for generations...
Though he was tempted to continue patting Ghislaine's head, Paul defied the urge as he looked toward the half-loaded carriage filled with clothes. He was a little annoyed that Kishirika had run off after they purchased so many things for her, but, considering this was the first time she had been 'free' in thousands of years, he couldn't really blame her.&nbsp;
Turning to Ganyu, Paul said, "Don't worry about Ghislaine. Based on what I remember, the bruising should fade on its own in a few hours. Let's head out."
Folding her hands over her lap, Ganyu bowed ever so slightly as she softly replied, "As you will." in her characteristically calm and composed voice. Then, in a flash of icy blue light, she reverted to her Qilin form and bounded over to the front of the carriage. Her transformation garnered a suitable amount of attention, but very few stuck around to gawk as Paul went about attaching Ganyu's harness, a duty that was his alone...
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After confirming that Paul and his Party weren't giving chase, Kishirika popped up from the monster burrow she had hidden in a few hundred meters outside the city, remarking, "At least he's sensible when it comes to things like this..."
While wiping away the dust from her freshly purchased clothes, a faint smile developed across Kishirika's face as she caught sight of the ring on her left ring finger. She usually didn't care about such trinkets, but the ring Paul had gifted her was an exception as it symbolized her newly acquired freedom and, to a lesser extent, their engagement.
Resisting the impulsive urge to bite the ring to test its hardness, Kishirika shifted her gaze to the East, her left eye swirling like a counter-clockwise vortex as a futuristic-looking castle appeared within her vision. Now that Paul had granted her a semblance of freedom, there was a possibility she would be able to enter her castle. It was a long shot, but it was necessary if she wanted to help Paul meet Betobe...
"Let's just hope that pain in the ass Guardian is willing to listen to me..."
Without further comment or so much as looking back in the direction of Paul and his Party, Kishirika broke off into a somewhat comical-looking run. Despite this, her speed was fast enough to leave a prominent trail of dirt behind her, as, even in her current form, she could sprint upwards of 120km/h without feeling even remotely tired. At that pace, she could run from Kurasuma to the Capital City of Rikarisu in just under fourteen hours, take care of her personal matters, and still catch up to Paul and his Party before they reached Fort Necross.
Unless something got in her way, there was no way Kishirika would miss witnessing Paul suffer a beating at Atofe's hands...
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Far from the location of Kurasuma, quite literally on the opposite end of the world, a young man with long, windswept black hair and dark red eyes was standing stalwartly atop a hill located next to a small, isolated village near the heart of the Begarrit Continent.
Despite his youthful appearance, the man had been perched atop the hill for more than seventy years. He had received a prophecy long ago that a legendary creature known as a Behemoth would appear near the village, so, even though several generations of villagers had come and gone, the 'young' man waited patiently for the beast's arrival. Instead, a youthful-looking woman with dark hair, bronzed skin, and strange white markings covering her face and arms was about to interrupt his inordinately long wait with an entirely new prophecy...
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Though their journey was made exponentially easier due to Ganyu casting an enchantment that gave the carriage shock-absorption properties, Paul would be lying if he said he wasn't bored. Venti and Xinyan helped to keep everyone's spirits high by singing songs and playing their instruments, but the journey was a lot less 'exciting' than he had anticipated.
When they had initially set out, Paul expected large groups, potentially even hordes of monsters, to assail them. Instead, they had to go out of their way to track down prey as Ei's aura, even when heavily suppressed, was more than enough to scare away the average beast.&nbsp;
To pass the time and alleviate their boredom, Paul had come up with a game that involved Ghislaine trying to 'attack' the carriage while he, Eula, and Xinyan defended it. Her speed had exploded ever since she obtained an Anemo Vision, so it was excellent training for people whose techniques revolved around the Water God School.
"I don't think so...!" shouted Xinyan as she moved like a red and caramel-colored blur to intercept one of Ghislaine's attacks. Her arms were devoid of any noticeable muscles, and her body was incredibly lithe, but she was able to swing around a Claymore nearly as long as she was tall to deflect Ghislaine's attack.
Instead of allowing herself to be forced back, Ghislaine flipped her body the moment Xinyan repelled her. In the same motion, she gathered bright green Anemo Energy around her feet to create a cushion of air, using it as a springboard to bound back with even greater speed.
Borrowing a word from Paul's vocabulary, Xinyan exclaimed, "Shit...!" as she barely managed to pull her sword across her body. Obtaining her fifth Constellation had drastically increased her speed and strength, but years of neglect had left her swordsmanship more than a little rusty.
Before Xinyan could smash into the wind barrier formed by Venti, Paul intercepted her comparably tiny frame as Eula dashed past them to repel Ghislaine. When she did, the latter immediately leaped, bounced, and flipped backward to create some distance as she had learned the hard way that her skills weren't quite up to par with Eula's.
"Too slow...!"
Taking advantage of the fact Ghislaine was briefly in the air, the muscles of her thighs appeared to swell before she propelled herself forward with extreme speed, her body low and nearly parallel to the ground.
Instead of landing where Eula was expecting, Ghislaine created another cushion of air that allowed her to change direction without landing on the ground. She managed to leap over Eula, but the latter was able to change direction nearly as quickly, meeting her head-on as she attempted to turn around and initiate a strike.
Despite being blessed with strength and senses that far surpassed other members of the Beast Race, Ghislaine was forced to grit her teeth under the strain of Eula's blow. The Sword God Style focused on overwhelming your opponent with extreme speed, so it was the worst among the Three Schools regarding defense and receiving blows.
With Ghislaine's feet sinking into the ground, Eula took advantage of her opponent's reduced mobility and recently acquired blind spot by twisting her body to land a graceful yet powerful kick to the former's right side. It felt like kicking a tree trunk, but the power behind the blow was enough to send Ghislaine crashing and rolling to the side before she caught herself and bounded to her feet.
Though she was annoyed by Eula's 'underhanded' tactics, Ghislaine didn't blame her for taking advantage of her newly acquired eyepatch. Instead, she darted past Eula to catch up to the carriage, which, since the start of the 'game,' had been moving forward at a steady pace of around 60km/h.
Matching Ghislaine's speed, Eula was able to keep her body between the former and the carriage until she abruptly activated her Elemental Ability, bounding high into the sky as Anemo Energy began to gather around her body like a Tempest.
Clicking her tongue, Eula raced to join Paul and Xinyan before Ghislaine reached the peak of her ascent and descended toward the carriage like a luminous green meteor. This was a combination of her Elemental Ability, which allowed her to create up to three air cushions in quick succession, and her Elemental Burst, an ability that surrounded her body in a tornado-like swirl of Anemo Energy that allowed her to penetrate massive boulders while simultaneously protecting her from attacks.
Though Venti could dissipate the Anemo Energy swirling around Ghislaine with relative ease, she opted to continue tuning her lute as Paul, Eula, and Xinyan stood their ground against the seemingly unstoppable attack. This wasn't the first time they had seen Ghislaine's Elemental Burst, so Xinyan and Eula leaped into the violent tempest without fear while Paul used his Dendro Vision to create a steel-like wall from vines thicker than his waist.
Ignoring the wounds it left on their bodies, Xinyan and Eula read the flow of Ghislaine's attack and sliced through the thinner sections of the wind barrier. Neither of their attacks was able to impact Ghislaine's body, but they were able to shave away at her momentum before being flung away.
As Ghislaine's attack impacted Paul's impromptu barrier, briefly stopping her in place, Xinyan and Eula landed on the ground and charged back at her. At the same time, Paul exhaled a breath, his expression calm even though cracks were quickly appearing across the barrier separating him from Ghislaine's fierce attack.
Though they were ultimately sent flying a second time, the efforts of Eula and Xinyan had a noticeable effect on the Anemo Energy swirling around Ghislaine's body. By the time she managed to pierce Paul's barrier, most of the energy had dissipated into motes of green light, leaving behind a disoriented Ghislaine to perform a swift yet completely silent attack that Paul calmly backstepped before changing direction and stepping into the gap between her body and blade.
Since he obviously wouldn't cut down one of his lovers, Paul ended the fight by knocking away Ghislaine's blade. The Sword of Silence created a powerful vacuum in its wake, so even if he unleashed his counter after the fact, the apparent lack of friction and almost magnetic pull of Ghislaine's attack allowed him to reach his maximum speed in an instant.
Despite anticipating Paul's counter, Ghislaine could not hold onto her sword. She did her best, but all she got for her trouble was an intense jolt of pain, followed by a familiar numbness as she instinctually wrapped her powerful arms around Pual's body.
Smiling wryly, Paul asked, "Didn't we agree the battle ended when you lost your weapon...?"
With a completely serious expression on her face, Ghislaine nodded her head and replied, "I know. I'm just a little annoyed right now..."
Without giving Paul a chance to respond, Ghislaine gave him a mighty bear hug that raised him from the ground and caused the bones in his back and arms to crack loudly. Ghislaine's form had 'softened' over the past few months, but her raw power had continued to increase under the influence of her Vision and a full-body exercise routine that involved feats of acrobatics no ordinary human could hope to emulate.
Discarding his sword, Paul responded to Ghislaine's bear hug by forcing a smile and grabbing her ass. Her tail briefly straightened as he did so, but she didn't immediately release his body. Instead, she flatly remarked, "I'm not in heat right now..."
Maintaining his smile, Paul began to massage Ghislaine's firm yet pliant ass as he replied, "I am well aware. But that doesn't make your ass any less springy. I could squeeze these cheeks all day..."
"..."
Though it wasn't the sort of praise most women fished for, Ghislaine's tail began to sway in response to Paul's words. She often felt self-conscious due to her height and somewhat muscular appearance, so it always made her happy to hear Paul 'compliment' her features.
With Ghislaine invariably releasing her hold on him, Paul took advantage of the situation to press his face into her breasts. She had sprouted up to 198cm over the past couple of months, roughly six and a half feet tall, so her breasts were the perfect height to nuzzle without needing to pick her up.
Instead of attempting to stop Paul's actions, Ghislaine reached up to envelop his shoulders and caress the back of his head. She knew the exchange wouldn't last long, especially with the carriage continuing to move further away from them, so she wanted to savor it while it lasted.
"You two sure seem to be having fun."
After healing her wounds and retrieving Ghislaine's sword, Xinyan made her way over alongside Eula. The latter had reached Paul and Ghislaine first, but she just stood stoically off to the side rather than interrupting the duo's moment of intimacy.
Pulling his face from Ghislaine's increasingly soft breasts, Paul wriggled his eyebrows and asked, "Jealous~?" in a playful tone.
Without missing a beat, Xinyan replied, "A little." before haphazardly tossing over Ghislaine's sword. The latter managed to catch it with ease, but she had to let go of Paul to do so.&nbsp;
Adopting one of his characteristically wry smiles, Paul spread his arms in an attempt to coax Xinyan into them. In response, she playfully rolled her eyes and said, "Maybe later. We should hurry and catch up to the others."
As if prompted by Xinyan's words, the horizon suddenly darkened before a large explosion assailed them with intense light and a powerful tremor. Then, before they could even process what happened, a dark purple tear erupted from the center of the explosion, seemingly cutting it in two.
After a moment of pause, Paul, Xinyan, Ghislaine, and Eula immediately ran towards the site of destruction with grim expressions and weapons drawn. They reached their destination in seconds, but even that was too slow as Ei had effectively ended the fight the moment it began.
Seeing the proud and noble Archon standing over the bisected body of a middle-aged man with silvery hair, a full beard, red eyes, and nearly pitch-black armor, a hint of incredulity appeared in Paul's expression as he remarked, "That's one of Atofe's men."
Hearing Paul's remark, the silver-haired man directed a stern and slightly venomous glare toward him as he questioned, "Who gave you the right to refer to our Master in such a casual manner?"
Seemingly oblivious to the fact he had been cut in half at the waist, the man attempted to right himself until Ei placed the tip of her sword at his forehead, stating, "Stay down." in a cold, bone-chilling tone.
"Hmmm..."
Though he looked like he had a lot to say, the somewhat elderly-looking man remained on the ground, his entrails slowly but visibly retracting into his body. It was a disgusting and incredibly disconcerting sight to behold, but Paul did his best not to let it bother him as he asked, "Is this the only enemy that appeared? If I'm not mistaken, there should be four of them."
Answering in Ei's stead, Venti calmly explained, "There was a featureless fellow with transparent blue skin, but he split into several smaller versions of himself before fleeing in multiple directions~."
Unsurprised by Venti's response, Paul exhaled a sigh and remarked, "As I thought..."
Believing the middle-aged man to be one of Atofe's 'Four Heavenly Kings,' Paul stated, "Unless I'm mistaken, this man is Moore, the Silver Lion. The one that ran off should be Aldrich, the Devourer. He has a slime-like body, so he is impervious to most physical attacks and is able to split himself at will."
As they had already been briefed on the Four Heavenly Kings, none of Paul's companions were too surprised by his words. Even Moore didn't so much as bat an eye. Instead, he remarked, "You're well-informed." before falling silent as Ei narrowed her eyes at him...
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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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Chapter 156: MI156: Personal Matters