Mushoku Impact

After guiding Paul through a short passageway connecting to a largely barren treasure vault, Kishirka activated the room's security features as she complained, "I really hate that woman..."
Without having to ask who Kishirika was referring to, Paul replied, "She isn't as bad as you make her out to be..." while looking around the massive chamber. It wasn't nearly as spacious as the throne room, but it was large enough to accommodate team sports such as basket and volleyball.
Not wanting to ruin the mood by talking about Zhongli, Kishirka 'snuck' up behind Paul and linked her arms around his muscular shoulders. He was taller than she was, but her rapidly developing Mana reserves allowed her to levitate as if she were practically weightless.
With her voluminous breasts pressing into Paul's back, Kishirika used her inordinately long tongue to lick the nape of his neck before raising her head to whisper into his ear, her voice a sensual purr as she said, "If you desire power, you know what you must do..."
As much as he enjoyed the sensation against his back, Paul's expression morphed into a conflicted glower as he asked, "What happened to waiting until I defeated Badigadi...?"
Instead of answering Paul's question directly, Kishirika brought her lips to his ear as she whispered, "One of your problems is that you're constantly receiving things from others. To obtain what you truly desire, you need to be willing to 'take' it. That's the only way to avoid feeling pressured by the burdens of others...you must take them upon yourself willingly..."
Releasing her hold on Paul's body, Kishirika began to float away from him with narrowed, seductive eyes. When he turned to face her, she bared her shark-like teeth and added, "No one, not even that shitty god, knows the final course of fate. Time is like a river with infinite breadth. We might not be able to resist its merciless flow, but we affect our final destination with every decision we make. Those who choose to go with the flow only have themselves to blame when they invariably collide with a rock..."
Finished with what she had to say, Kishirika turned away and sprouted a pair of dark purple, bat-like wings. Her maximum speed was limited in an enclosed space, but she was confident she could evade Paul for at least an hour or two. Instead, she nearly dislocated her own shoulder as Paul's hand abruptly closed around her wrist the moment she turned away.
Though he managed to hold onto Kishirika's wrist, Paul nearly blacked out as the buxom Demoness's initial burst of speed was enough to produce a sonic boom. He instinctually protected himself with Touki, but there were a few terrifying moments when he felt like he was falling backward due to his inability to correct his posture and look straight ahead...
Fortunately for Paul, Kishirika quickly realized something was wrong when she saw his head tilted back much further than was typically possible. It was her first time witnessing such a phenomenon, but she was pretty sure he had managed to dislocate his skull.
Grabbing the sides of Paul's head, Kishirika held it upright and said, "You better regenerate. I don't want to die over something as stupid as a game of cat and mouse..."
As she was well aware of what Zhongli and the others would do to her if Paul lost his life, Kishirika was paler than usual. She was confident Paul's regeneration could fix things, but she also knew that injuries to the head and neck were lethal for most humans.
Surprising even himself, Paul could feel the muscles in his neck move of their own accord, followed by a feeling of something 'shifting' as his skull popped back into place. His neck felt incredibly sore, almost like he had swallowed a bunch of ice cubes, but it was a hell of a lot better than not feeling anything at all...
Forcing a smile, Paul tried to speak but found himself momentarily unable to. Fortunately, his smile was more than enough to relieve the Demoness clutching the sides of his face.&nbsp;
Exhaling a sigh of relief, Kishirika released her hold on Paul's head before adopting a wry smile as she said, "Your regenerative abilities are coming along nicely..."
Though it pained him quite a bit, Paul couldn't help chuckling in response to Kishirika's attempt at lightening the mood. Then, taking advantage of their close proximity, he wrapped his arms around her and dryly croaked, "Got...cha..."
"Huh?"
As she was still aback by what happened moments prior, Kishirika was momentarily confused by Paul's words and actions. When things finally clicked, her smile widened to its limits as she replied, "So it would seem! Now, the real question is, what do 'you' want to do?"
With his neck and throat recovering rapidly, Paul's voice was nearly back to normal as he tightened his hold on Kishirika's body and replied, "I want to be the strongest...strong enough to tear down the broken system that's made this world into a playground for a psychopath...strong enough to set the world on a new path..."
Though she had been asking what Paul wanted to do with her specifically, Kishirika readily joined him in his digression, reiterating, "Individual power isn't what shapes the world...it's authority. Even if you went around killing those who disagreed with you, it wouldn't 'fix' things. You need to be able to inspire, to give hope to those who remain. Without a light to guide them forward, humans are quick to lose their way and succumb to the darkness &nbsp;lingering within the depths of their subconscious minds..."
Narrowing his eyes, Paul appended, "Not just humans...the only way this world can prosper is if everyone works together. I won't allow people to continue pushing the narrative that one race is superior to another...we all have our strengths and weaknesses..."
Amused by the prospect, Kishirika snickered through her teeth before adopting a serious expression and stating, "The other races won't be so quick to forgive what humanity has done. Neither will the vast majority of humans be willing to admit they did something wrong. That's one of the frustrating things about short-lived races...they readily benefit from the crimes perpetrated by their forebears, deny personal responsibility since they weren't present, yet expect every other race to continue paying the price to uphold their way of life. The thing that annoys me the most is that they're right...it's nonsensical to hold people accountable for crimes they had no hand in committing..."
Though she hated to admit it, Kishirika's long life had forced her to come to terms with the fact she couldn't blame people in the present for things their ancestors had done hundreds, if not thousands of years prior. One of the most fundamental characteristics of humanity was its ability to adapt and change over a remarkably short period. This made them exceptionally easy to influence, but it also severed their connection to the past in a way other races couldn't hope to emulate.&nbsp;
Seeing hope in Paul, a human with the capacity to live forever, Kishirika's smile broadened as she stated, "What you hope to achieve is something that will require multiple generations. However, it wouldn't even take one for the tensions between the races to render your actions moot...are you certain this is what you desire?"
Shaking his head, Paul admitted, "I honestly have no fucking clue. I don't know the best path forward, so all I can do is keep trying until something sticks. All I know with absolute certainty is that I have a beautiful woman in my arms and that I want to make the world a better place for everyone, not just humans. I'll have to figure out the rest as I go..."
Unable to contain herself, Kishirika smiled broadly and issued one of her characteristic snickers. She also had no idea how to achieve Paul's goals, so she couldn't really blame him for needing to 'figure things out.' Instead, she leaned into him and teased, "I know where you can start..."
Narrowing his eyes, Paul moved his hands from Kishirika's waist to her butt as he said, "I would have already started if your bodysuit wasn't in the way..."
"Oh~? Is that a fact~?"
Putting Paul on the spot, Kishirika's dark-purple bodysuit abruptly 'melted' off her body, pooling beneath their feet before moving away from them as if it were alive.&nbsp;
Suppressing the numerous questions in his mind, Paul released Kishirika's body and attempted to discard his equipment. As he fumbled around with his belt, Kishirika gave him a playful wink before turning around and taking off like a rocket as she shouted, "You better hurry~! Your little speech got me hot and bothered, but this isn't a twenty-four-hour operation. My front door closes in an hour~!"
Though the thought of vaulting around the treasure room in his birthday suit made him cringe, Paul readily chased after Kishirika the moment he stripped away his pants...
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Located less than a hundred kilometers off the coast of the Biheiriru Kingdom was the ancestral home of the Ogres, colloquially known as Ogre Island. Its actual name was Onigashima, but, as it was largely cut off from the rest of the world, most people simply knew it as the island where Ogres originated.
Situated on one of the larger islands making up the archipelago was a small human population consisting of unique individuals with olive-brown skin, black hair, and almond-shaped eyes. Most humans couldn't imagine sharing the same land as a bunch of 'monsters,' but those who grew up in Onigashima viewed things differently. After all, rather than suffering under the Ogres' tyranny, they were being protected...
Several hundred meters above the secret human settlement was a large building resembling a multi-tiered pagoda. Within sat two muscular men, one possessing blood-red skin, pointed ears, and a large horn. As for the other, he had obsidian-black skin, violet hair fastened into a wild ponytail, and six powerful arms, each thicker than an average man's waist.
Despite their frightening sizes and builds, each standing more than three meters tall when erect, the two men appeared fairly sophisticated as they sat on opposite sides of a gameboard resembling shogi. They were two of the most physically dominant beings in the entire world, but neither shied away from intellectual amusements. After all, living for thousands of years could get pretty boring...
Interrupting nearly twenty minutes of silence, the red-skinned Ogre said, "Lord Badigadi...if something is bothering you, we can resume this game at a later date."
Crossing two of his six arms, the onyx-skinned man, better known as Badigadi, the Demon Lord who Grants Wisdom, replied, "Nah, don't worry about it. I don't have anything else to do right now, and leaving things half-finished always leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Of course, I'll be more than happy to accept the win if you want to concede...!"
As defeat meant serving as Badigadi's training partner, the red-skinned man, also known as Ogre God Malta, turned serious as he replied, "Let's play things out."
Countering Malta's grim expression with a confident smile, Badigadi was about to make his move when one of the shackle-like bands on his wrist suddenly emitted a gold light. Upon noticing this, the smile he often wore faded from his face, replaced by a look that could send shivers down the spine of a reaper.
Without explaining things, Badigadi rose to his feet and abruptly jumped through several layers of ceilings and walls, emerging from the side of the pagoda and grabbing the mountain adjacent to it. Then, despite his friend and several of his compatriots living in the area, he reared back his three right fists before smashing the top of the mountain with a meteoric punch. He could have gone over or around, but his anger compelled him to break everything in his path as he made his way Eastward. After all, the band on his left wrist could only mean one thing: someone had robbed his Kishirika of her chastity...
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"You don't hold back, do you? I don't mind it rough, but we are in the middle of a raid..."
Though they hadn't gone at it for very long, Kishirika felt as though there was a fist-sized globule of magma in her womb. Paul's semen contained a lot more Mana than usual, so much so that she found it difficult to believe he was actually human.
Feeling a lot more relaxed after blowing his load nearly a dozen times, Paul adopted a casual smile as he replied, "You're the one who told me to 'take' what I wanted. Besides, I didn't hear you complaining a few minutes ago..."
Adopting a smile of her own, Kishirika mused, "Fair point." before hopping to her feet and stretching loudly. It had been a few thousand years since the last time she had sex, so she was feeling pretty refreshed.
Sensing Paul's gaze on her butt, Kishirika gave her left cheek a firm, crisp-sounding smack as she said, "No need to restrain yourself. We're basically married now, so feel free to touch, kiss, and lick me as much as you want. Hell, I'll even let you bite me..."
As tempting as Kishirika's offer was, Paul managed to restrain himself and respond, "Once we finish retaking the castle. For now, we should probably return to the others."
"Hoooo~? Not going to contend the fact we're married?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Paul replied, "You're the Great Demon Empress, Kishirika Kishirisu. I wouldn't have fucked you if I wasn't willing to accept responsibility. I already learned that lesson the hard way."
With a broad smile on her face, Kishirka gave a thumbs-up and shouted, "Good answer~!" in a high-spirited tone. She knew Paul would probably relapse once he returned to his hellish training with Atofe, but it was good to hear him speaking confidently.&nbsp;
Spreading her arms and legs, Kishirika willed her previously discarded bodysuit to return to her as she said, "Speaking of taking responsibility, we can expect Badi to show up within the next couple of days. I doubt he'll attack you outright, but you should be ready to seal him even if he pretends to be cordial."
Though she still had a fondness for the six-armed brute, Kishirika knew how vengeful and conniving Badi could be. If she told him she was the one to approach and seduce Paul, he would probably laugh it off and, at least on the surface, pretend to be okay with it. In reality, his fury would only be assuaged once Paul had experienced incomprehensible suffering.
As he had already anticipated such a reaction, Paul just nodded his head and replied, "Unless he teams up with Kalman III or arrives in the Fighting God Armor, there's not a lot he can do against the combined powers of Ei and Zhongli. I would have liked to defeat him personally, but it'll probably be a few decades before I can rival a God..."
Catching Paul a little off-guard, Kishirika countered, "Eh, I'm not so sure about that. There are people with less Mana than you that have managed to obtain the title of God. Dragon God Urupen is a good example. He was a pure-blooded dragon, but he was born with a defective heart. Even near the end of his life, he could barely cast a handful of Intermediate-Ranked Spells before utterly exhausting his reserves. Despite that, he was widely regarded as the strongest of his era."
Having donned her bodysuit, Kishirika turned toward Paul, extending a hand to help him up as she added, "The only reason you're stuck at your current level because you focus all of your efforts on mastering techniques taught to you by others. There's nothing intrinsically wrong with that, but you'll never become the strongest by emulating people who've only glimpsed the peak from atop their pedestals."
Though he could see where Kishirika was coming from, Paul still viewed himself as a relatively average person. He had only gotten to his current level with sheer determination and tremendous support. Just like when he struggled to cast even the most basic of Spells, there was a tremendous difference between knowing something was possible and understanding how to achieve it...
Noticing the doubt in Paul's eyes, Kishirika surprised him by grabbing his half-flaccid cock and adopting one of her characteristically shark-toothed smiles. Then, while squeezing it just enough to get him to tense, she said, "You possess an extraordinary ability, the power to absorb the essence of others. Combine those essences, and there is nothing you can't do."
Releasing her hold on Paul's penis, Kishirika raised her hand to her face and gave it a whiff. It had a rancid and extremely pungent aroma, but instead of scrunching her face or gagging, she adopted an even broader smile and said, "Even if it can barely be called a trace, you've managed to absorb a fraction of my essence. That includes the heritage of the original Demon God. I'm not sure how it will manifest, but so long as your desire is strong enough, you should be able to evolve those eyes of yours into something far more powerful. You sure as hell have the requisite Mana for it..."
Blinking in surprise, Paul asked, "Already? Shouldn't it, I dunno, take a few years...?"
Shrugging her shoulders, Kishirika casually replied, "Only if you believe it. That's one of the interesting things about Magic. So long as your belief is strong enough, you can do just about anything. With your Mana capacity, you could transform lead into gold or convert a perfectly ordinary sword into a weapon comparable to the Longsword of Light. The only thing you need to keep in mind is that your reserves will permanently decrease in proportion to the power you manifest. The stronger the power, the greater the cost."
"..."
Though it was now a very distant memory, Kishirika's cursory explanation reminded Paul of the Nen abilities from Hunter x Hunter. As for the images that came to mind when he thought of powerful eyes, the most prominent were the Rinnegan from Naruto, the Sharingan from the same series, and the Rikugan of Satoru Gojou...the question was, could he actually recreate such a ludicrous power?
Since the Rinnegan was both hideous and likely beyond him, Paul decided to focus on the Sharingan and Rikugan. The Sharingan was probably the better option as they started relatively weak and evolved according to the user's desires. On the other hand, the Rikugan was unquestionably one of the most visually appealing Dojutsu. The additional processing ability they provided was also beyond broken, allowing the user to perceive the world around them in super slow motion when they concentrated...
Recalling that the Rikugan was so sensitive that Gojou needed to wear a blindfold to avoid overtaxing his mind, Paul shook his head and decided to go the most cliche route. The Sharingan was one of the most heinous and overused ocular abilities in the fiction of his previous world, but there was a good reason for it. The abilities they provided during the later stages of their evolution were simply busted.
Just to be safe on the safe side, Paul met Kishirika's curious gaze and asked, "Is it possible to create a set of eyes that can evolve over time?"
Returning a broad smile, Kishirika replied, "Sure is. My personal Demon Eyes are the evolving type. I call them the Kaleidoscopic Demon Eyes, and, as the name implies, they allow me to mix and match different eyes at my leisure."
Hearing Kishirika mention the word 'Kaleidoscopic,' the image of an old man with red eyes and silvery hair appeared within Paul's mind. He had completely forgotten about it, but there was a treasure trove of powerful ocular abilities from the Fate Series. The Mystic Eyes of Death Perception and the Empyrean Eyes of Musashi, in particular, came to mind...
Though the Empyrean Eyes' reality-altering ability made them even more broken than the Rinnegan, the power of Mystic Eyes of Death Perception was relatively straightforward. They allowed the user to perceive death in the form of lines, lines that, once struck, would result in the 'death' of the target. Most of these lines would exist over known vitals and structural weakness, but they also revealed hidden weak spots that even the target might not be aware of.
Recalling how badass the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception looked, Paul mulled over his decision for nearly a full minute before meeting Kishirika's gaze and asking, "What do I need to do?"
Regaining her smile, Kishirka explained, "It's pretty easy. Just channel Mana into your eyes and focus on the form you want them to take. You'll know it's working if you feel like thousands of ants are crawling around in your eyes."
"..."
Trusting that Kishirika knew what she was talking about, Paul closed his eyes and began to channel his Mana while the image of a fierce-looking woman with striking blue and pink eyes appeared in his mind. As cool as the Sharingan was, Paul wasn't sure how effective they would be without chakra. There was also a chance he would go blind in the later stages of their development, so he ultimately cast them aside in favor of the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception. More specifically, he formed the image of Shiki Ryougi's Mystic Eyes, which, at their highest level, allowed the user to kill even abstract entities and concepts.
Feeling a burning sensation in the back of his eyes, Paul was forced to grit his teeth and clench his hands into fists. Rather than feeling like ants were crawling around inside of them, Paul felt as though someone was trying to rub away his cornea using rough sandpaper. The urge to rub his eyes was so intense that, were it not for Kishirika abruptly hugging him, he wouldn't have been able to resist.
With an uncharacteristically soothing tone, Kishirika pinned Paul's arms to his sides as she softly whispered, "Whatever you do, don't stop...it'll all be over soon, I promise..."
Though Paul was unaware of it, quite a bit of blood was pouring from his closed eyes. The impression that his corneas were being eroded was far more accurate than he realized, as, without an ability similar to Kishirika's, the only way to obtain a new pair of eyes was to 'discard' his existing set.
Fortunately for Paul, the transformation only took a minute or two before the pain abruptly ceased. Those two minutes felt like ten, but the feeling of relief that followed compelled him to exhale a deeply profound sigh.
Opening his eyes, Paul noticed that his vision was obscured by a layer of red. It cleared away after a few blinks, but his face, neck, and chest were covered in an alarming amount of blood.
Distracting Paul from his concerns, Kishirika grabbed the sides of his face and remarked, "Wow...great choice on the design. I wasn't aware that pink and blue complimented each other so well..."
After admiring Paul's gem-like eyes for several seconds, Kishirika asked the most important question, "What do they do?"
Instead of immediately answering Kishirika's question, Paul looked around to see if he could glimpse the infamous 'Lines of Death' the original Mystic Eyes of Death Perception were known for. What he saw immediately made him reconsider his decision, as, rather than a few lines here and there, the interior of the treasure room was covered in tens of thousands of glowing red cracks, each giving off the unnerving sensation one might experience when witnessing a toddler playing near a ledge...
"Holy fuck..."
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Though she couldn't regenerate limbs, Ganyu managed to reattach Sayu's missing arm and leg without so much as leaving a scar. The process took several hours and left Sayu completely exhausted, but Paul was prepared to camp out for several days if it meant allowing her a full recovery...
With Ganyu watching over Sayu, Yae preparing dinner, and everyone else providing security, Paul made his way across the highly varnished, almost mirror-like surface of the floor to where Kishirika was lounging lazily atop an almost comically oversized throne.
Kishirika's throne, much like the chamber it was housed in, was one of the most unnecessarily grand and extravagant things Paul had ever seen. The well leading up to the throne was nearly six hundred meters long, seventy wide, and polished to a mirror shine. The hemispherical ceiling above the throne was approximately a hundred meters at its tallest point, and, much like Sistine Chapel, murals lined the walls and ceiling, seemingly detailing the destruction of the Demon World and the great migration that brought them to the Demon Continent...
Though she noticed Paul's approach long before he ascended the flight of stairs preceding her throne, Kishirika continued to stare listlessly at the murals overhead as she inquired, "What brings my beloved fiance to the base of my throne? Shouldn't you be fretting over the little one or going to town on one of your pet monsters? Don't let the acoustics of this chamber deter you..."
Shaking his head, Paul approached the throne, held up an expensive-looking brush, and asked, "Mind if I take a seat...?"
Seeing the brush in Paul's hand, a faint smile replaced the listless look on Kishirika's face. She had also been feeling a little lonely ever since she sat atop her throne, so, without needing to consider her response, she rolled to a seated position, pulled her legs up so that the soles of her feet were touching each other, and replied, "No need to ask! This throne is as much yours as it is mine...!"
Resisting the urge to repeat he had no interest in ruling over anyone, Paul adopted a smile of his own before climbing atop the oversized throne. The moment he did, Kishirika elected to lay across his lap instead of sitting in front of him, her back arching and breasts emphasized as she stared up at him with her off-colored eyes.
"What did you want to talk about...?"
After setting the brush to the side, Paul proceeded to comb his fingers through Kishirika's bangs as he asked, "Would you believe me if I said I just wanted to spend some time with you?"
Adopting a shark-toothed smile, Kishirika mocked, "How diabolical...you're surrounded by beautiful women willing to lay down their lives for you, yet here you are...willfully allowing yourself to be exploited by a woman who only sees you as a means to an end..."
Instead of reacting as Kishirika expected, Paul closed his eyes, exhaled through his nose, and placed his left hand on her abdomen. She was still wearing her dark-purple bodysuit, but he could feel her body heat against his palm as he moved his hand in a slow, steady, figure-eight motion.
As pleasant as it was to have her belly caressed, Kishirika's smile became a little predatory as she remarked, "I'm not a member of the Beast Race...it'll take a lot more than a few belly rubs to tame the great Kishirika Kishirisu!"
Shaking his head, Paul maintained a faint smile as he said, "I'm not trying to tame you. As annoying as you can be at times, I wouldn't know how to deal with you if you suddenly became timid or started acting like a proper lady..."
Rolling her eyes, Kishirika replied, "Well, you can rest assured. I'm many things, but a 'proper lady' isn't one of them..."
Punctuating her words, Kishirika guided Paul's hand to her breast, adding, "If you're trying to get me in the mood, you don't need to beat around the bush. Just get on with it..."
Though he readily fondled Kishirika's breasts, Paul wasn't in the mood to take things further. He hadn't lied about wanting to spend time with her, so, after enjoying the pillowy sensation of Kishirika's breasts for several seconds, he returned his hand to her toned abdomen and asked, "What have you been doing these past few hours? Every time I looked over, you were just lying down and staring at the ceiling..."
Realizing the reason Paul had come over to check on her, Kishirika rolled onto her side and groaned, "I've said this time and again, but I don't need your pity or concern. If you want to make me happy, defeat Badi, kill that shitty bastard, and make good on your promise to create a world where humans, demons, and the other races can live alongside one another...me feeling lonely should be the least of your concerns..."
With a self-deprecating smile on his face, Paul answered, "You've seen it yourself...despite my struggles, nearly all of my Spirits are more powerful than me. I'm not going to give up trying to grow stronger, but I've come to terms with the fact I won't be the one to defeat our mutual enemy. The-"
Interrupting Paul's self-denigration, Kishrika turned toward him with a baffled look as she questioned, "Are you an idiot? Jeez, it's no wonder you requested my wisdom during our first encounter..."
Without waiting for Paul's response, Kishirika rose to a seated position and asked, "Who do you think is more powerful, the Sword God or the King of the Asura Kingdom...?"
Though he was briefly taken aback by Kishirika's sudden inquiry, Paul eventually replied, "The Sword God..." in an uncertain tone.
Judging by Paul's intonation that he already had an idea of where she was going, Kishirika gave a curt nod before answering, "You're right. However, if the two were at odds with one another, who do you think would emerge victoriously...?"
"..."
With Gal willfully serving the King of Asura, it was easy to understand how things would play out if he rebelled against the Kingdom. He could do some incredible damage before he fell, but it was only a matter of time before he was defeated or captured. Afterward, everyone he cared about would be arrested and made an example of, regardless of whether or not they had anything to do with his rebellion...
Interpreting Paul's silence as understanding, Kishirika nodded a second time, stating, "At least you're not a complete idiot..."
Catching Paul a little off guard, Kishirika abruptly straddled him, her arms linking around his neck as she adopted a devilish smile and stated, "Might that endures the test of time isn't denoted by a person's strength or Mana capacity. It is measured by their influence over others and their ability to shape the world around them. You consider yourself weak, but how many people are you aware of that can topple entire nations with a single word or phrase?"
Drawing her lips closer to Paul's, Kishirika narrowed her eyes and added, "You consider yourself 'unworthy' of the power you possess, so you push yourself tirelessly in an effort to prove yourself. What makes your actions nonsensical is that you're the only one who feels that way. As far as I can tell, none of the Spirits you have summoned actively look down upon you or deem you unworthy. The only person who appears to need convincing is you..."
With her lips close enough to brush against Paul's, Kishirika felt a sudden urge to activate her Demon Eyes of Affection. Instead, she gave his lips a lick before evading his kiss and playfully snapping her teeth.
Surmising that Kishirika expected some kind of response before giving him his 'reward,' Paul exhaled a sigh and asked, "What do you want me to say? It's not like I'm in denial of my problems. I know better than anyone that most of my issues are manifestations of my lack of confidence or the result of my out-of-place morality. I can't just make them go away..."
Shrugging her shoulders, Kishirika retorted, "Why are you asking me? As far as I'm concerned, it isn't that big an issue. I mean, everyone has some form of doubt. Your biggest issue is that you allow your problems to define you despite encouraging others to seek change. It's annoyingly hypocritical."
"..."
Seeing Paul's expression turn downcast, Kishirika countered with a smile, grabbing the sides of his face and forcing him to stare at her as she said, "Relax. No one is asking, much less expecting you to be perfect. You have knowledge of the future but choose to dedicate yourself to helping others and fixing systemic issues that have plagued this world for thousands of years. You might not consider yourself worthy, but we both know how the vast majority of people would misuse the power you possess...who cares if you also happen to pick up a few beauties here and there? I sure as hell didn't feel forced..."
Observing Paul's pupils contract, a mischievous snicker emanated from Kishirika's throat. While it was apparent that Paul suffered from a bit of an inferiority complex, Kishirika had suspected the true nature of his ailment from the very beginning. He wasn't troubled by the fact there were people more powerful than him; he felt emasculated due to the fact most of them were women...women who would readily obey his every command despite the vast disparity in their power...
Repeating her actions from earlier, Kishirika drew her face closer to Paul's as she said, "You've stated multiple times that you have no desire to be a Hero or rule over others. While that may have been true at one point, your foreknowledge and disdain for the world compel you to try and 'fix' things. You tell yourself you're okay with providing support, but the reality is that you can't stand being weaker than the women you wish to protect..."
With her lips once again close enough to graze against Paul's, Kishirika purred, "How chivalrous~" in a sensual tone before sealing his response with a kiss. She truthfully didn't care whether her words were correct. So long as Paul had doubts, he would be vulnerable to Hitogami's influence. If she had to manipulate him to remedy his self-esteem issues, she didn't care if he eventually came to hate her. The only thing that mattered was Hitogami's death...
Fortunately for Kishirika, Paul ate up her words hook, line, and sinker. He would mull over them later, but, for the time being, the only thing he cared about was the fact that Kishirika had, at the very least, tried to help him make sense of his underlying issues. She was far from the first, but Paul had always had a weakness for women who chastized or lectured him for his benefit...
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Seeing Paul and Kishirika disappear behind the latter's throne, an amused chuckle emanated from Zhongli's throat.&nbsp;
Though she was 'ashamed' to admit it, Zhongli had been listening in on the conversation between Paul and Kishirika by analyzing the vibrations their voices created through the floor. Kishirika seemed to sense what she was up to partway through, but it took a lot more than keeping your voice low and sitting atop someone's lap to trick the archaic Archon's senses.
Following her laughter, Zhongli adopted a marginally more serious look as she muttered, "So long as the ideas you plant in his head coincide with his desires, you need not fear our response. Just try not to go overboard...our Master's mental wellness is one of the most important things to us..."
While others might not be able to discern it, Zhongli could feel Kishirika's intent lock onto her shortly after she vanished behind her throne. It was very subtle, but, as someone who had spent millennia observing others, Zhongli was very sensitive to others attempting to return the favor...
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(A/N: Chapters will be intermittent these next couple of weeks as I shift my focus back to EPIC. I'll try to put out one a day, but there are no guarantees.)

Chapter 178: MI178: Ambition