Mushoku Impact

Though it wasn't nearly as bad as the first time, Paul still felt a little unsteady on his feet after Fayde teleported him, Ei, and Yae to Fort Necross. The process wasn't painful, but the experience was like having his body pulled through an opening the size of a straw, starting from his intestines...
Noticing Paul's complexion and the beads of sweat on his forehead, a teasing smile developed across Fayde's face as she asked, "Would you like me to lend you my breast? My body is pleasantly cool compared to a typical human."
Answering in Paul's stead, Yae mused, "Your concern is appreciated, but you can leave Master to us."
Punctuating her words, Yae walked over and pulled Paul's face into her bosom, a faint blush coloring her cheeks as she caressed his head and whispered, "There, there..." in a soothing tone.
Exhaling through her nose, Fayde appeared annoyed as she crossed her arms beneath her comparably small breasts and remarked, "Our Master is entirely capable of speaking for himself. If my behavior bothered him, I'm sure he would let me know..."
Lifting his face from Yae's breasts, Paul asserted, "It doesn't. However, if you intend to be confrontational, just know I would always choose Ei and Yae over someone like you..."
Furrowing her brows, Fayde was tempted to argue that Paul knew nothing about her. However, given the context of the situation, such an argument didn't carry a lot of merits. She was, after all, an 'outsider' in this particular instance.
Realizing she may have spoken out of turn, Fayde performed her unique variation of a curtsy as she replied, "I have disgraced myself by trying to put words into Master's mouth. I am prepared to receive any punishment you deem appropriate..."
Recalling the comments Kishirika made about Fayde being a masochist, Paul shook his head and said, "Just drop it. I need to-"
Interrupting Paul's attempted dismissal, Atofe kicked open the doors to his room, shouting, "It's about time you showed up!"
Though he was somewhat used to Atofe doing whatever she wanted, her reason being that Fort Necross was 'her' home, Paul just smiled wryly and said, "We experienced a few hiccups during the raid. It took-"
With a thoroughly disinterested look on her face, Atofe said, "Don't care, didn't ask." before casting a glance toward Fayde and adding, "Get out of my fortress, you horny lizard."
Compelled to obey, Fayde snorted in disdain before looking toward Paul and saying, "When you're ready to return, call out to me. I'll be waiting..."
Casting one last narrow-eyed glare toward Atofe, Fayde disappeared in one of her black hole-like spheres. A smell reminiscent of ozone filled the room as she departed, but everyone ignored it as Paul turned to Atofe and asked, "What's with everyone antagonizing her? Isn't she supposed to be one of your allies...?"
Raising her left brow, Atofe crossed her arms and replied, "You're wrong. That wannabe Dragon was created by Dragon God Laplace to watch over and maintain Kishirika Castle. She is compelled to obey the master of the castle, but she has a habit of doing things half-assedly and can be pretty spiteful if you don't give her some kind of reward."
As Kishirika had once told him that only Dragons could create new Spirits, Paul wasn't too surprised to learn that Fayde was created by Dragon God Laplace. Instead, he responded with a terse, "I see..." before asking, "Any particular reason you just burst into my room? If anything happened while I was away..."
Understanding that Paul was concerned for the girls he left behind, Atofe rolled her eyes and retorted, "Just who do you take me for? My men might be rough around the edges, but their discipline is second to none. If they disregarded my orders and attempted to put their hands on those lasses, I would flay and cook them alive. No, I came here for a different reason..."
Adopting a broad, somewhat cheeky smile, Atofe revealed, "I received a report stating that my Grandson had appeared at Wind Port. I'm not sure who it was, but someone in his Party was spreading a bunch of rumors, so I went to pay them a visit. Needless to say, you don't have to worry about them attempting to track you down any time soon. I sent them on a quest that will take at least a decade or two to finish."
Blinking in surprise, Paul asked, "You really went out of your way to repel them for us? I honestly expected you to sit back and enjoy the show..."
Shifting her gaze to Ei, Atofe pointedly replied, "At his current level, there wouldn't be one. With that in mind..."
Returning her gaze to Paul, Atofe's smile became even broader as she said, "I bought you some time, so use it well. The next time your paths cross with my Grandson, I expect you to be the one to deal with him. If you keep hiding behind skirts your entire life, you'll never reach the top."
Having said what she wanted to say, Atofe turned around with the clear intention of departing the room. Before she could, Paul called out to her, asking, "You said his Party was spreading rumors? Can you tell me what they were saying...?"
As if she had just remembered something, a look of realization donned upon Atofe's face before she adopted a teasing smile and revealed, "It seems the King of Asura has made a concerted effort to bind you to the Royal Family. You have officially been assigned the Rank of Water King, your Title being the coveted 'King's Greatsword.'"
Recognizing the Title from his previous life and history books pertaining to the Asura Kingdom, Paul promptly took a seat on his bed and cradled his forehead. He had expected something like this to happen, but only as Ariel made her move for the throne. This was much too soon...like twenty years too soon...
Though she was somewhat amused by Paul's reaction, Atofe narrowed her eyes and barked, "Suck it up, brat! You wouldn't be in this position if you didn't engage those idiots and attempt to play along with them! If it bothers you half as much as you pretend, just don't go back to the Asura Kingdom! It's that simple!"
Raising his face from his hand, Paul was about to respond that nothing was ever simple, but Atofe had already turned around to leave. He could have called out to her, but the odds of her turning around to hear him out were pretty slim.
Shaking his head, Paul exhaled a sigh and muttered a word he had been attempting to avoid, specifically a disheartened, "Whatever..."
Taking their seats at Paul's flanks, Yae attempted to ease his frustrations by resting her head against his shoulder and whispering, "Try and look on the bright side...this is a sign that the King either holds you in high regard or outright fears you. By the time of your return to the Central Continent, you will have doubtlessly eclipsed a typical Water or Sword King. This just saves you the hassle of proving to others you're deserving of the Rank..."
Emulating Yae's actions, Ei also rested her head against Paul's shoulder as she appended, "Let us continue working hard...together..."
Though he exhaled another sigh, most of Paul's frustration had vanished the moment the two beauties flanked him. It was difficult to describe just how beautiful they were, so even if he still felt annoyed by his new status and Title, he also felt incredibly fortunate...
...
..
.
After informing his Party that it would be difficult to defeat Paul at their current level, Alek expected some of them to protest and argue he had wasted their time. To his astonishment, Elinalize and Tallhand accepted the news in stride, accepting that if he, a North God, couldn't get the job done, there wasn't much they could do. Rynka was a little upset because of her defeat, but she calmed down pretty quickly when Alek revealed his intention to voyage to the Devil's Cave, the S-Ranked Labyrinth located at the center of the Ringus Sea.
Among Alek's Party members, the only person legitimately upset by the apparent failure of their mission was Savva. She genuinely believed that Paul would bring about a great cataclysm in the future, so while she could understand Alek's justifications for pulling back, she couldn't help feeling as though they were condemning hundreds of thousands of people to die.
Though Alek assured her he would never allow something like what she described to happen, people with firm beliefs were notoriously difficult to reason with. She believed that, by retreating now, they were quite literally setting in motion the series of events that would guarantee the cataclysm that had appeared in the prophecy.
Unfortunately, while Savva was a gifted Spiritualist, having mastered the unique Magic of her tribe, there was little she could do to track down and defeat Paul on her lonesome. Alek was her only hope, so even though her trust in him had taken a substantial blow, she still intended to accompany and marry him. After all, it wasn't like he had given up...
Among the people Alek expected to be upset, Geese was surprisingly the most agreeable regarding the sudden change in plans. He even went out of his way to talk Elinalise and Tallhand into continuing the journey to the Devil's Nest, arguing that it was an opportunity for them to become fully-fledged S-Ranks under the protection of a God.
As Alek had shown a complete disregard for things like wealth, most of the earnings of their Party were split between the other members. Since he was often the first into the fray, battling powerful monsters without the need for assistance, following Alek was an easy source of both reputation and income. Thus, with very little convincing, the two A-Rank Adventurers agreed to continue accompanying Alek for as long as the bounty on Paul's head remained active.
With their destination decided, Alek asked Geese to secure their passage back to Zanto Port. The only way to reach the Devil's Nest was to charter a ship from the Sanakia, Kikka, or Shirone Kingdoms. In other words, they would need to backtrack several thousand kilometers, pass through the Dragon King Kingdom, and up the Eastern coast of the Central Continent before they could even set out.
Though such a voyage would ordinarily take between 2-3 years, high-ranking Adventurers could complete the journey in as little as 3-4 months if they traveled during the rainy season and only stopped to resupply and report to the Guild. It had only taken Alek's Party three months to travel from the Begarrit Continent to the Demon Continent, so everyone was in relatively high spirits as they set out on what would ultimately turn out to be an adventure spanning years...
...
..
.
Far to the West of the Demon Continent, across the Ringus Sea, a man with silvery-white hair and golden eyes was staring toward the East, his expression contorted in a perpetual glower. His tall and sturdy frame was garbed in a white trenchcoat covered in belts, a matching mantle adorned with black fur around the collar, a black undertunic, and black trousers, all formed from exceedingly rare materials.
Though he would ordinarily stay away from crowds and large population centers, the sanpaku-eyed man had been making numerous exceptions as of late. This might not sound like such a big deal, but as someone who has endured the same two hundred year loop well over a hundred times, even minor divergences to the timeline were of significant interest to the fiercely determined man.
"So you've even gone as far as capturing Kishirika's castle...just who are you really, Paul Notos Greyrat...?"
Eager to ascertain the truth, the silver-haired man turned around and headed towards a previously rare sight in the Strife Zone, a rapidly-expanding city with proper buildings and durable walls. Such outposts were becoming increasingly common as of late, but this one stood out even among the rest as it was just off the coast and expanding into the sea as a harbor city. There were noteworthy vessels as of yet, but even a layperson would be able to tell that the person in charge intended to make it into a trade hub as there was enough space to house well over a dozen merchant vessels...
...
..
.

In the days that followed the conquest of Kishirika's Castle, Paul split his time between training, cultivating plants using Dendro Energy, and getting used to his Mystic Eyes of Death Perception.
Though their training sessions had never been light, Paul's relationship with the two Kishirikas and promotion to the Rank of Water King resulted in Atofe taking things to the next level. Instead of sparring together five to six days a week, she began inviting over other Demon Lords or taking him out on brief excursions to some of the most dangerous regions in the Demon Continent.
Upon learning that Paul was a Hero candidate, many of the Demon Lords invited by Atofe regarded him with respect and caution. A few noticed the strange dynamic between Paul and Atofe, but none dared to question why the de facto ruler of Demonkind was helping to raise a human Hero. They simply showed up, made their offerings, answered a few questions about the condition of their territories, and assisted in Paul's training until Atofe permitted them to return.
As a society that revered strength over all else, Atofe had the respect and admiration of virtually every Demon Lord. Even those with a deep hatred for humanity assisted in Paul's training without a debate. A few were more than a little heavy-handed, but as Atofe had instructed them to regard the spar as an actual battle, they did so without fear of repercussion.&nbsp;
To his credit, Paul was able to keep up with most of the low-ranking and many of the mid-tier Demon Lords, specifically those around or beneath the rank of Viscount. He hit a wall against Demons ranked Earl and above, but, much like human society, there weren't too many. In fact, among the 36 Demon Lords making up the Demon Aristocracy, there were seventeen Barons, nine Viscounts, five Earls, three Marquesses, and only two, Atofe and Badigadi, Dukes.
Though it wasn't the aptest comparison, it could be said that Demons holding the position of Baron were around the level of an experienced Saint in terms of power. Viscounts were around the pinnacle of the Saint Rank, while Earls, representing a notable increase in power, were around the level of a mid-tier King.&nbsp;
While it was strange to consider, Paul's ability to defeat Viscounts of the Demon Aristocracy placed him squarely within the top 50 most powerful people in the world. This statistic became horribly skewed when factoring in people summoned via the Intersection of Fate, but, if anything, that just put into perspective how 'influential' the IOF made him.
With 42 summons averaging around the strength of a mid-tier Saint and five meeting the conditions for Godhood, it wasn't an exaggeration to say that Paul had the most powerful military force in the world at his beck and call.
Though many were still blissfully unaware of the 'leverage' Paul wielded, those near the pinnacle in terms of power and authority were beginning to piece things together. King Ansalem of Asura was among the first, mainly due to his relationship with Reida, but others were starting to understand that Paul's reputation wasn't just defamation or propaganda...
...
..
.
"Fuck my life..."
Staring up at the sheer cliffs forming the miasma-filled canyon Atofe had unceremoniously tossed him into, Paul couldn't help cursing. He had tried climbing back up, but the faces of the cliff were like obsidian, remarkably brittle and jagged.
Exhaling a sigh, Paul gave up climbing out of the ravine and shifted his attention to the layer of miasma covering the ground like a sheet of thick purple fog. His inordinately high Mana reserves offered him a fair amount of resistance against its effects, but too much exposure could lead to his body developing horn-like growths or transforming his limbs to resemble the gnarled branches of a petrified tree.
Exacerbating Paul's situation, Atofe had left him without any of his usual equipment. In fact, he had even less than that, as, before dropping him into the ravine, Atofe had baited him into taking a bath together...
Though he was left with little more than his trousers, a simple knife, and a line of braided cord, Paul suppressed the urge to call out for Ei and Ganyu to rescue him. The duo pretty much always accompanied him during his outings, but unless he expressly asked for their help, they were under his express orders not to intervene.
"Well, here goes nothing..."
Leaning forward slightly, Paul's eyes shifted from the leafy green he had been born with to a pair of luminous, icy-blue eyes with pink rings around pupils. At the same time, an increasingly familiar surge of energy spread through his body, something Paul now understood as the influence of Ei's 'essence,' or, more accurately, the Electro Elemental Energy his body had started to produce.
As his body fell further forward, the world around Paul seemed to slow to a crawl as red lines appeared on virtually every surface, even the miasma blanketing the area. He could feel his mind and senses becoming sharper, and though he was still getting used to it, he became increasingly aware of the air around himself, the earth beneath his feet, and the presence of life within his vicinity.&nbsp;
All things his Mystic Eyes allowed him to kill...
Reaching the mid-point of his fall, Paul 'forced' his right foot forward, his muscles straining to oppose the stagnation of the world. Then, as if that single step was enough to breathe life into the world, time began to flow 'normally' as Paul appeared to vanish from his initial position.
Unable to restrain himself, an ostensibly mad grin developed across Paul's face as he charged through the miasma, shielded from its influence by the wind pressure his movements generated. The near-instantaneous burst of speed forced him to endure nearly 30gs of force, but this was relatively tame compared to the strain of the Longsword of Light. More importantly, he was in control.
Reacting to Paul's movement, a snake longer than a school bus reared up from the mist, its mouth opening to reveal a set of fangs and two rows of serrated teeth. Unfortunately, displaying its teeth was the very last thing the snake did as Paul's seemingly ordinarily knife 'glided' through both the air and its body as if there was no resistance.
And thus, another afternoon of slaughter began...
...
..
.
Observing Paul from atop the ravine, a 300m deep, 8km long battle scar left behind during one of Saint Milis's forrays into the Demon Continent, Atofe had a conflicted look on her face as she remarked, "Those eyes are affecting his personality. It's good that they boost his confidence, but his techniques are becoming less refined..."
As another of Paul's swordsmanship instructors, Ei felt inclined to say, "He obtained them just six days ago. Once he gets used to them, he can shore up his foundation anew."
Shrugging her shoulders, Atofe replied, "Well, you're not wrong. I just don't want to see him become a butcher. Be sure to regularly remind him of the reasons he decided to become strong, okay...?"
Though she would ordinarily ignore Atofe's advice, Ei eventually nodded her head in affirmation. She also didn't wish to see Paul become a cold-blooded killer. She had no intention of stopping him from killing, but there was a difference between taking lives out of necessity and killing because it was the 'simplest' solution to a problem.
Listening in on the 'conversation' just a short distance away, Ganyu had to repress the urge to point out that Atofe was the one 'encouraging' Paul to kill. She was the one who kept forcing him into situations where he had to fight for his life, so, while she was also concerned for her Master's mental well-being, Ganyu couldn't help feeling annoyed hearing Atofe speak as if Paul was at fault...
Sensing the slight hostility radiating from Ganyu, Atofe gave the half-Qilin a sidelong glance and questioned, "Something you want to say, goat girl? I'm all ears."
To emphasize her point, Atofe sprouted several ears along the side of her face and neck. In response, Ganyu continued staring at Paul as she softly replied, "If you give someone a knife and throw them in a pit, you have no right to complain about them using it. Master is far from perfect, but he is a kind-hearted man who cares deeply about others. It's not reasonable to judge him based on circumstances you have forced him into..."
Without missing a beat, Atofe flatly retorted, "That 'kind-hearted' Master of yours is the one who developed a pair of Demon Eyes that allow him to kill even the air around him. I don't mind you resenting me for 'corrupting' your Master, but this is a path he has chosen for himself. If it bothers you so much, grow a backbone and take your complaints to the source of the problem...it sure as hell ain't me..."
Unable to refute Atofe's words, Ganyu's expression contorted into a pout. However, instead of holding Paul accountable for the path he had chosen, she pinned the blame on herself and everyone else from the Intersection of Fate. Paul may have agreed to become their Champion, but, as a kind-hearted person, what other option did he have? Condemn an entire world to its destruction? That just wasn't the type of person Paul was.
Feeling a pang of guilt, Ganyu brought her hands up and closed her eyes as if she were praying. While that was indeed the case, she didn't direct her payers towards any specific God. Instead, she kept her payers within herself, sincerely hoping a day would come when Paul was free from the burdens others had unfairly thrust upon him...
...
..
.
After swimming across the sea and collecting information from the Port City of Kurasuma, Badigadi made his way Eastward towards what looked like a mountain range. In reality, said mountain range was the edge of the crater surrounding Rikarisu and, more importantly, Kishirika Castle.
Having avoided Rikarisu since Laplace's rise to power, Badigadi couldn't help feeling a little nostalgic as he viewed the iconic castle that was once his home. Unfortunately, he hadn't returned to the capital to reminisce. He was there to follow the tracking spell he had placed on Kishirika following her most recent reincarnation.
Raising the arm that had the bangle linked to Kishirika's tracking spell, Badigadi's expression gradually darkened as he confirmed it was pointing him toward the castle.&nbsp;
"Those bastards...not only did they steal your virginity, they even forced you to permit them access to the castle? If they're not already dead, I'll crush their bones to powder..."
Though he had heard about Paul, the information Badi received stated that the former's Party had ventured South, specifically in the direction of Fort Necross. He believed Paul was likely in the 'care' of his big sister, so, at least for the time being, he didn't correlate the presence of Einherjar to the loss of his fiancee's virginity. Instead, he assumed she had fallen into the hands of another Party of Adventurers, one with more ambition than sense.
Unfortunately, while Badigadi wanted nothing more than to charge into the castle and wreak havoc, not even his fists could damage the Goseki Stone forming its foundation and structure. He was also unable to enter as a challenger, so the only method he had to enter the castle was via the underground labyrinth spanning most of the Demon Continent.
While he was perfectly capable of 'soloing' even the most challenging of S-Rank labyrinths, the one beneath the Demon Continent was in a league of its own. It was a method developed in the ancient past to trap calamity class monsters wreaking havoc on the surface. As a result, the material used in its construction was incredibly durable, and, most troubling of all, the structure was constantly changing to inhibit powerful monsters from establishing large colonies.
Understanding how challenging the task ahead of him was, several large veins appeared near Badigadi's temples and along his arms. The monsters within the labyrinth wouldn't cause him too much, but unless he was very, very lucky, the odds of discovering a route connecting to the castle were slim.&nbsp;
At least under normal circumstances...
As Badigadi was considering how he would enter the castle, a lone human girl approached him. She appeared no older than ten years old, but while she was dressed like a slave, complete with a collar and shackles around her ankles, there was a sense of purpose within her eyes that immediately caught Badigadi's attention...
...
..
.

Though his attacks created gravitational vortexes that ripped through the land like natural disasters, it wasn't long before Alek found himself on the backfoot against his Grandmother, Atofe. They were about equal in terms of skill and swordsmanship, astonishing Atofe quite a bit, but the disparity in their respective strength and regenerative capabilities gave her a near-absolute advantage.
As a descendant of the Immortal Demon Tribe, Alek could regenerate from virtually any injury, even having his head or heart crushed. However, while this ability was greatly envied in human societies, so much so that he had nearly been forced to become a stag, it was nothing compared to his Grandmother's regeneration. Where it took him days to recover from missing limbs and other severe injuries, Atofe took mere seconds.
After being beaten to the point that most of his armor and equipment had been destroyed, leaving him in little more than a pair of tattered pants and chausses, Alek stared blankly up at the breathtakingly beautiful night sky and remarked, "I still have a long way to go..."
Staring down at her grandson in his personalized crater, Atofe, standing proudly despite the face she was completely naked, replied, "Don't beat yourself up too much. Your father, that brat of mine, struggled to make a name for himself until he was close to two hundred years old. You've got plenty of time to surpass him."
Closing his eyes, Alek exhaled a sigh before sitting up and asking, "Can you hand me my arms? I surrender."
Though he could fight without arms, manipulating his sword with just his mind, the amount of focus it required reduced Alek's capabilities by more than 90%. He also felt uncomfortable seeing his relative's boobs bouncing around whenever they traded blows, so his motivation had dwindled quite a bit since the start of the fight.
Nodding her head, Atofe replied, "Sure." before 'extending' her arm nearly fifteen meters to retrieve Alek's left arm. Without her heavy black armor to obstruct her, she could freely stretch, bend, and contort her body in ways that others couldn't hope to emulate.
Tossing Alek his arm, Atofe took the liberty to state, "Listen, Alek. I'm not sure what you heard about Paul Greyrat, but he isn't the type to cause a disaster. If anything, he would do everything in his power to prevent it..."
While holding his tattered arm up to his stump, waiting for this flesh to mend together, Alek asked, "What do you mean...?" with a confused look on his face.
Adopting a marginally more serious expression, Atofe revealed, "That brat is currently under my 'care.' I've gotten to know him well these past three months, and, while he isn't without flaws, he's similar to your Grandfather. He genuinely cares about this world and its people, regardless of whether they're human, demon, or any other race. Also..."
Directing her gaze toward the North, Atofe's expression softened as she added, "If he possessed half the ambitions others have accused him of, he would already be the King of Asura. You know I'm incapable of lying, so believe me when I say that Paul Greyrat possesses more than enough power and authority to conquer any Kingdom. Instead, he chooses to do his best 'within' the current system, willfully bowing his head to others in order to preserve the lives of the innocent..."
Having spent ten years in Atofe's 'care,' Alek didn't doubt the veracity of his Grandmother's words. One of the core tenets of Demon society was that the strong had no need for lies and deceit, so, as the most powerful Demon Lord in existence, Atofe was well known for her honesty.&nbsp;
Lowering his head, Alek responded with a faint, "I see..." as he weakly balled his hand into a fist. He didn't doubt that his Grandmother was telling the truth, but Savva had already informed him of Paul's ability to 'control and manipulate' the minds of others. The thought that his family was being manipulated caused an intense flame to burn in his eyes, but he managed to suppress it by the time he raised his head, smiling as he said, "Then I'll pull back for the time being. However, should a calamity occur in the future, I will hunt him down like a dog. At that time, please do not stand in my way..."
Shrugging her shoulders, Atofe replied, "Do what you want. I've told you this before, but you should never be afraid to follow your heart. It might lead you astray at times, but so long as you pick yourself up and attempt to do better, you'll eventually reach your goals."
Extending her hand, Atofe helped Alek to his feet before turning around and spreading her wings. Before she flew off, however, she half-turned to face her grandson, advising, "If you're serious about opposing Paul in the future, you should voyage to the Dungeon at the center of the Ringus Sea. It would be best if you also recruited powerful allies, preferably others at the level of a God..."
Surprised by his Grandmother's advice, Alek questioned, "Didn't you just say he cares about the people of this world? Why would I need to gather allies...unless...?"
Rolling her eyes, Atofe turned away from Alek and stated, "It's better to be safe than sorry. Besides, you wouldn't even be able to touch Laplace at your current level. You would just get yourself and your allies killed. So, instead of getting involved in the affairs of nations that have nothing to do with you, focus on increasing your strength...understood?"
Having just been defeated, Alek decided to take his Grandmother's advice very seriously. The current Atofe wasn't even half as powerful as she was during the Laplace War. Her body had literally been split in two, half being sealed away by the Church of Milis, so he still had a ways to go before he could be considered the equal of the original North God, his Grandfather...
Lowering his head respectfully, Alek replied, "Thanks for the advice. I'll be sure to follow it..."
Without turning around, Atofe gave a curt nod before spreading her wings and taking off like a rocket. She had planned to talk Alek with her, sealing him away in the Dungeon beneath the fortress, but their battle had given her the idea of using him, either as insurance or to test Paul's growth. This likely played into the hands of the shitbag behind the scenes, but if it was indeed Paul's destiny to defeat Hitogami, it didn't matter if she positioned a few obstacles in his way. If anything, it would make him stronger...
...
..
.
Feeling fatigued despite his usually inexhaustible stamina, Paul allowed himself to float around listlessly while everyone else conversed nearby, enjoying the pool-sized bath.
Observing Paul from a distance, Kishirika and Kishirisu had amused smiles despite conversing with Zhongli about the castle's management. It would be some time before they announced their return to power, but that didn't mean they could afford to sit around idly. Well, they could, but only if they permitted others to act in their stead.
With Ningguang being preoccupied with her goal of founding a nation, she couldn't afford to micromanage the affairs of the Demon Continent. Trade was one thing, but even that would take years to set up due to both sides lacking the infrastructure to support a large-scale operation.
Fortunately for Ningguang, not that she was present to hear it, neither Kishirika nor Kishirisu had the expectation that someone else would solve their nation's problems. More importantly, there was no real point in trying to prosper before the defeat of Hitogami. It would just give power-hungry individuals on both sides an excuse to instigate a war.
Instead of asking for help rebuilding their nation, Kishirika and Kishirisu decided to focus on gathering resources and continuing specific avenues of Laplace's research. They would permit Ningguang to establish trade routes, but her side would be personally responsible for negotiating terms and defending their flotillas. If a war were to break out as a result of her actions, Demonkind would not participate in it, at least not in any 'official' capacity.
Simply put, Kishirika and Kishirisu had no intention of making any 'overt' actions until Hitogami had been defeated. They had learned the hard way that Hitogami would not permit any race other than humans to prosper, so while they intended to support Paul, their cooperation would be limited to supplying their essence and knowledge.
Though the terms laid out by the two Demon Empresses burdened Paul's side with supplying enough resources to rebuild an entire nation, Zhongli agreed on Ningguang's behalf. Four hundred years prior, Demonkind had helped humanity rebuild, and the only thing they received in return was a knife to the back. Many still remembered those days, so if Paul wished to unify the world, humanity or, more accurately, Ningguang would need to make concessions with each of the sovereign races.
Humans were responsible for destroying the trust of the other races, so humanity needed to be the ones to fix it. Personal interest and profits be damned...
As Kishirika, Kishirisu, and Zhongli were nearing the end of their not-so-casual conversation, Paul rose to a seated position and said, "We should pick up Shenhe and Yunyun and return to Fort Necross. I'm worried about the others."
Piggybacking Paul's words, Kishirika playfully teased, "You worry about everything." However, as she understood that Badi was likely on his way to investigate her loss of virginity, she also suggested, "Just have Fayde send you over. Now that you're the owner of this castle, you can order her to teleport you around or ask her to bring others to you. If she complains, just remind her she spent the last four hundred years sitting on her scaley ass."
As per usual, Fayde immediately appeared in response to Kishirika's brash remarks, an unamused expression on her face as she growled, "You're one to talk..."
Shifting her attention to Paul, Fayde made no attempts to hide her gaze, sizing him up with her peculiar blue and pink eyes as she asked, "Would Master like me to teleport him to Fort Necross. After you've donned some clothing, of course..."
Having bathed with countless, well, more like forty different women, Paul ignored Fayde's wayward gaze and replied, "I would appreciate it." before looking to Ei and Yae. The moment he did, the duo immediately rose from the bath, the former affirming, "I will accompany you," while the latter just giggled in amusement.
Nodding his head in approval, Paul moved to exit the bath when Kishirika suggested, "You should move those girls from Fort Necross to here. Until Badi has been dealt with, everyone you care about is in extreme danger. I wouldn't be surprised if the shitbag behind the scenes has already taken measures to manipulate him."
Though they felt a little sorry for Badi, Kishirika and Kishirisu had already decided it was best if he was sealed away. They didn't understand why, but even though Badi warned others not to trust Hitogami, the six-armed oaf regarded the false God as a friend. He was also incomparably petty, so much so that the twin Empresses could imagine him tracking down and forcing himself on every woman Paul had ever slept with, just to spite him.
Having already been warned about Badigadi multiple times, Paul nodded his head and replied, "I intend to do precisely that. Just don't go treating them like servants or attendants. The two of you might be my wives, but I'll take it personally if you try to bully or harass the people I care about..."
Rolling their eyes in nearly the same manner, Kishirika and Kishirisu briefly exchanged eye contact before the latter said, "We'll treat them well if they treat us well. However, so long as you're within this castle, you must share a bed with us before anyone else. You can invite others to accompany us; just make sure they know what to expect..."
Understanding that Kishirisu was referring to her 'collection,' Paul forced a wry smile as he replied, "I'll keep that in mind..."
...
..
.

Chapter 190: MI190: Towards the Future