Mushoku Impact

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...
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"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...
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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...
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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...
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After slicing his way from one side of the ravine to the other, Paul looked back to observe the destruction he had wrought. Hundreds of bodies now littered the ground, and while they were all monsters, it was still a jarring sight to behold.
Before Paul had time to reflect on his actions, Atofe dropped down next to him with a hero's landing, cracking the ground with her right knee and fist before rising to her full height and remarking, "Well done. An A-Rank Party would have taken days to clear out this many monsters, but you managed to cut your way from one side to the other in under two hours."
Shaking his head, Paul countered, "That's because they would need to set up a defensive encampment to collect materials and burn corpses...what I did amounts to little more than a pointless slaughter..."
Adopting a faint smile, Atofe replied, "You're not wrong. However, it wasn't entirely pointless. The snakes you killed utilized this ravine as a breeding pit. The females can lay up to three hundred eggs in a single clutch, so we have little choice but the cull their numbers before things get out of hand. Failing to do so would result in a monster wave."
As it wasn't uncommon for certain breeds of monsters to reproduce very, very quickly, Paul wasn't surprised by Atofe's words. In response, he just closed his eyes, regulating his breathing and deactivating his Mystic Eyes of Death Perception. They required very little Mana to keep active, but his brain would eventually feel as though it was vibrating, followed by intense feelings of stress and anxiety.
Waiting until Paul had calmed down, Atofe revealed, "Your equipment is with that goat woman. Once you've cleaned yourself up, make your way Eastward to the town of Makris. I informed the Guildmaster that you and your Party would be dealing with the annual snake extermination, so he'll be waiting to hear your report. If he gives you any crap, feel free to rough him up a bit."
Finished with what she had to say, Atofe gave Paul an unnecessarily firm pat on the shoulder, snickering as she said, "See you tomorrow, Mr. King's Greatsword..."
Without another word, Atofe spread her wings and took to the sky like a missile, her laughter briefly echoing through the ravine until she reached a distance where it was no longer audible to Paul. Shortly after that, Ganyu and Ei descended into the ravine, both appearing to defy gravity as they landed silently and gracefully next to him...
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Contrasting how they initially treated one another, Kishirika and Kishirisu now got along exceptionally well. Both were borderline egomaniacs, but as they were technically the same individual, they got off on teasing and fooling around with each other.
After spending part of the morning helping Sucrose set up her lab in the atelier previously used by Laplace, Kishirika and Kishirisu returned to their shared chambers for some bonding time. It was difficult for them to focus on things like research for prolonged periods, so, with people like Sucrose more than happy to delve into Laplace's research on bio-alchemy, the duo spent most of their time lazing about and getting to know one another.
Though she had people like Atena, Azura, Vahka, and Vashti to keep her company, being trapped within her castle for four hundred years hadn't been easy on Kishirisu. There were times when minor disputes would lead to her and the Guardians not speaking to each other for years, so, in many ways, she had lived a life even more isolated than Kishirika.
As stressful as being ignored by her people was, the presence of other races meant Kishirika almost always had someone to speak to or interact with. Several had attempted to take advantage of or enslave her, but she was generally able to outsmart them and escape before things could get too out of hand. Thus, while she was isolated among her people, she was able to live relatively free and unfettered despite the curses Laplace had placed on her.
Fortunately for Laplace, though she still intended to give him a piece of her mind, Kishirika had already forgiven him for cursing her. Both had the objective of defeating Hitogami, so while she was still a little salty about being treated as a distraction, Kishirika no longer resented him. Instead, she directed all of her hatred and frustration toward Hitogami, the being responsible for manipulating Badigadi into killing her, destroying half the world, and fracturing the original Laplace's soul...
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Interrupting Kishirka's and Kishirisu's naked skinship, Fayde appeared out of thin air, her expression a cold deadpan as she informed, "Your Imperial Majesties, there is a matter I must report..."
Though they were more than a little annoyed by Fayde's interruption, the two violet-haired Demonesses sat up, stating, "Out with it." with identical timing.
Snorting through her nose, Fayde made a show of rolling her eyes and crossing her arms as she revealed, "One of my familiars has spotted Lord Badigadi entering an underground passage alongside a young human girl. Just thought you should know..."
Understanding the significance of Badi traveling with a human, Kishirika and Kishirisu narrowed their eyes, the former remarking, "That big dumb oaf never learns..."
Though she felt the same way, Kishirisu attempted to ease tensions by stating, "Even if Hitoshit is guiding them, they shouldn't be able to enter the castle. Laplace personally restructured the underground pass to only allow passage in one direction. Unless he retrieves the Golden Armor and the Sword of Aldebaran, Badi shouldn't be able to penetrate the castle's defenses on his own."
Shaking her head, Kishirika retorted, "But he isn't alone. That girl he's with likely has an ability that will allow him to enter the castle. If not, she must be important in some other way. We need to figure out how."
While she could see where Kishirika was coming from, Kishirisu shook her head and said, "I disagree. With Hitoshit's foresight, it's better if we stay off his radar and leave things to Paul. We know he can't see what's going on in the castle, so we should resolve ourselves to stay inside until he has been defeated."
Shifting her gaze to Fayde, Kishirisu added, "Inform Zhongli to meet us in the throne room. We'll be there in 20-30 minutes."
With a somewhat begrudging expression, Fayde lowered her head and replied, "As you will..." before disappearing using her unique teleportation method. Her standoffishness gave the impression she might betray the duo at any time, but neither Kishirika nor Kishirisu were concerned. After all, few resented Hitogami more than the Spirits.
Following Fayde's departure, Kishirisu turned to Kishirika and said, "We have already entrusted this matter to Paul. I understand your desire to help, but anything we do could be playing right into Hitoshit's plans..."
Rolling her eyes, Kishirika lamented, "I am well aware of that..." before regaining her smile and asking, "Now, where were we...?"
Adopting a smile of her own, Kishirisu reached between Kishirika's thighs and replied, "Somewhere around here~?"
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Staring at his updated Guild Card, a somewhat melancholic smile marred Paul's face as he remarked, "Even though I just ran through a horde of B-Rank monsters on my own, it doesn't feel like I should be A-Rank..."
Disagreeing vehemently, Ei stated, "Were it not for the Guild's regulations and requirements, you would be S-Rank by default."
Exhaling a light chuckle, Paul placed his Guild Card away as he replied, "I suppose you're right. It just feels weird to receive credit for completing a bunch of quests without accepting them..."
Shaking his head, Paul did his best to suppress his usual negativity as he turned to Ei and Ganyu, smiling as he said, "We still have a bit of daylight to burn. I know it's a little out of the blue, but would the two of you like to accompany me for a date?"
Without needing to consider their responses, Ganyu and Ei both smiled, the former answering, "Of course," while the latter replied with a curt, "It would be my honor."
Ignoring the looks of jealousy he received from a few random bystanders, Paul extended his arms to the two girls. Then, for the better part of three hours, they just walked around aimlessly sampling food and purchasing a few souvenirs. There wasn't much to do in the Demon Continent besides getting drunk or larking about in the Red Light District, but that didn't stop the trio from enjoying themselves.
Fortunately, while many gave Paul the stink eye during the impromptu date, no one attempted to harass him or the girls. The equipment they wore drew considerable attention, but it also served as a warning to any who would dare to accost them. After all, while anyone could wear high-quality equipment, only those with genuine strength would dare to traipse about without a care in the world.
While Paul didn't consider himself strong, he suffered from the pitfall of only comparing himself to people who were stronger than him. He was so far beyond the standards of an ordinary person that he might as well be a monster. However, with people like Ei constantly surrounding him, Paul couldn't help feeling like he was climbing a mountain that curved away from its face, effectively forcing him to ascend upside down as he aimed for a peak he could barely even fathom...
Though he was a little distracted, Paul could sense when people were paying attention to him even without a heads up from Ganyu or Ei. As a result, he could sense the gaze of someone locking onto him. However, when he looked over, he found a severely scarred woman with a slender frame, silvery-white hair that framed her face and flared outward above her shoulders, pointed ears that had sustained numerous cuts, and short black horns that curved away from her head.
Due to the extreme conditions of the Demon Continent, it wasn't rare to encounter people with disabilities or downtrodden individuals suffering from homelessness. Many Demons became Adventurers at a very young age, so, as unpleasant as it was to imagine, there were many towns where the number of orphans living on the street exceeded those living in actual orphanages.
Though it frequently made him feel like a bag of dicks, Paul had learned to ignore the plights of others unless they were under his care or jurisdiction. He would occasionally hand out alms, but he understood that most of the money he handed out ended up in the hands of the people exploiting the children behind the scenes. Thus, unless they were in dire need or under attack, he would generally turn a blind eye to the many Demons suffering from extreme poverty throughout the Demon Continent.
While the woman's physical condition garnered Paul's attention, the thing that held his intrigue was the fact she was 'staring' at him despite a black, severely tattered blindfold covering her eyes. There was a chance it was thin enough to see through, but the line of dirt between the woman's face and the fabric implied it was rarely removed.
Seemingly recognizing that Paul, Ei, and Ganyu were staring at her, the silvery-haired girl lowered her head and body steeply as she muttered, "Oh, great ones...please have mercy..."
Though such appeals weren't uncommon, Paul only hesitated for a brief moment before making his way over to the kneeling woman and asking, "Are you blind...?"
Without raising her head, the woman replied, "I have never observed the world's splendor, but I have been able to discern the presence of others since I was small..."
Providing some clarity to the woman's statement, Ganyu revealed, "She is a Cambion, a cross between a Succubus and a Human. Most Succubi only give birth to other Succubi, but there are cases such as this where a child is born with the traits of both parents."
In response to Ganyu's words, the silver-haired woman began to tremble, her body visibly tensing as if she was prepared to be hit or stomped upon. The countless cuts and scars covering her body made it apparent she had good reason to be frightened, but harming her was the last thing on Paul's mind as he asked, "What's your name?"
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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...
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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...
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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...
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Chapter 191: MI191: Drive