Mushoku Impact

"We refuse."
After hearing Paul's request to restore Falina's eyesight, Kishirika and Kishirisu immediately shot him down.
Furrowing his brows, Paul asked, "Why? With your ability to grant Demon Eyes, restoring someone's vision shouldn't be difficult."
Exchanging glances, Kishirika and Kishirisu silently determined which of them would speak before looking back at Paul, the latter explaining, "You said it yourself. That Cambion woman exists outside your foreknowledge, so there is a chance she's part of Hitoshit's plot. We don't mind you taking people under your wing, but it should never directly involve us."
Understanding where the duo was coming from, Paul didn't attempt to argue. In matters concerning Hitogami, it was always better to be safe than sorry. More importantly, Falina had been born blind some seventy years prior, so while vision would doubtlessly aid her, it wasn't something she couldn't live without.
After rationalizing things within his mind, Paul gave a slight nod and said, "I should be able to figure something out from my end. Sorry for troubling the two of you."
Mirroring one another, Kishirika and Kishirisu frowned, the former going on to state, "It isn't so much that you're troubling us. We do want to help. It's just...you know..."
Nodding his head a second time, Paul replied, "I know. I just figured I might as well ask. It's not like I expected you to comply. Rather, I knew from the start that you would probably refuse."
Since the duo had made it very clear they didn't intend to take action until Hitogami had been defeated, Paul wasn't even remotely surprised by their refusal. However, it was often better to ask and be told no than to assume a negative response.
Finished with what he had to say, Paul prepared to depart the duo's room, stating, "Well, I promised Ghislaine we would cuddle a bit. She going into heat soon, so she's been feeling increasingly agitated."
Though they were a little annoyed that Paul was leaving them to spend time with another woman, Kishirika and Kishirisu had gradually come to terms with the fact they couldn't monopolize him. Before he could leave, however, the former called out to him, stating, "Badi has been spotted in the capital. He was last seen entering the underground with an unknown human girl."
Interrupting Paul's response, Kishirisu appended, "We already informed Zhongli and had her reinforce the passage connecting the castle to the underground labyrinth. We just wanted to let you know. Whether or not you decide to track Badi down or await his arrival is up to you."
Furrowing his brows, Paul inhaled a deep breath before exhaling to utter, "It's just one thing after another..."
Exhibiting no sympathy, Kishirika remarked, "This is the natural course of events. Unless you isolate yourself from the world and have no interaction with the outside, there will always be individuals seeking to undermine or take advantage of you. It is through overcoming these obstacles that you obtain true power. Now, run along. You shouldn't keep your kitten waiting."
"..."
Though he got the impression Kishirika was trying to get him to stay, Paul only hesitated for a moment before bidding the twin Empresses adieu. He had already promised to spend the afternoon with Ghislaine and Lynette, so, as much as he wished he could just create a bunch of shadow clones to spend time with everyone, he had to prioritize those he made promises with.
Being in a relationship with fifty-odd women didn't exactly permit Paul the luxury of favoritism and sentimentality...
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With the expectation that Badigadi could appear at any moment, Paul spent all of Winter and most of Spring on high alert. His primary focus was his daily training, but he also coordinated with Ningguang to overhaul and strengthen the castle's security. This primarily involved sending over personnel and resources, but she also took time out of her busy schedule to come over and check things out for herself.
Paul initially believed that Kishirika and Kishirisu would disapprove of Ningguang's traveling to the Demon Continent to oversee the changes to their castle. Instead, the duo embraced her with open arms after a single private conversation. This wasn't too surprising, as Ningguang was 'very' charismatic, but Paul was still a little caught off guard when he arrived at Kishirika's and Kishirisu's chambers to find Ningguang waiting alongside them, naked as the day she was summoned.
Contrasting their resentment toward Zhongli, Kishirika and Kishirisu were genuinely impressed by Ningguang's wisdom and disposition. When Paul asked the reason, they explained it was a matter of age. Zhongli was over six thousand years old, so while she possessed tremendous knowledge, that was to be 'expected' for someone her age. Ningguang, inversely, was only around 34 years old. Her knowledge was comparably limited, but her insight and queenly disposition gave people the impression she could rule the entire world.
Though they pinned most of the blame on Hitogami, Kishirka and Kishirisu had long come to terms with the reality they weren't suited to ruling over others. More accurately, they had come to realize that those with strong ties to the past were unsuited to rule over people in the present. Societies prospered when their people had their sights set on the future. Monarchs that ruled for hundreds, if not thousands, of years without introducing any meaningful changes were just holding their people back.
With the twin Empresses' support, Ningguang brought in a staff of over one hundred people to help maintain Kishirika Castle. What surprised the two Empresses was that most of the personnel Ningguang brought over were Elves, Dwarves, and other long-lived species. Paul had informed her of Kishirika's and Kishirisu's intention to remain hidden until Hitogami's defeat. Hence, most of the people Ningguang brought over were prepared to spend upwards of a hundred years within the castle.
While most humans would shudder at the notion of being 'trapped' within a castle for a hundred years, it was considered a tremendous opportunity by those Ningguang brought over. The vast majority were slaves that had spent decades in the service of mankind's insatiable greed and desire, so a hundred years to establish a community outside of humanity's influence was a dream come true. They were expected to assist with Albedo's and Sucrose's experimentations, but their primary duties involved maintaining a self-cleaning castle, preparing meals, manufacturing magical items, and practicing Magic...
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With Atofe giving him the day off to celebrate his birthday, Paul elected to spend the early afternoon supervising Klee as she played with a group of Dwarf and Elven 'children.' Most of them were several decades, if not over a hundred years old, but they didn't mind humoring Klee as her bright and sunny disposition reminded them of happier times.
Seeing through Paul's thoughts, Lilia inquired, "Are you thinking about the Young Master and Mistress?"
Though he nodded his head, Paul replied, "Not just them. I'm also worried about Amalie, Esme, and the triplets. The longer Badi remains hidden, the more I regret not sending Ei and Zhongli to hunt him down..."
"Mmm..."
Not sure what to say, Lilia just closed her eyes and leaned against Paul's shoulder. She hadn't given up on becoming stronger, but she had come to terms with the fact she would never reach the level of Paul and his many Spirits. Thus, rather than throwing herself mindlessly into swordsmanship training, she spent an increasing amount of time reinforcing her skillset as a Governess. She didn't know if Paul would ever settle down and focus on raising his children, but if he ever did, she would be prepared.
Looking down at the burgundy-haired beauty using his left shoulder as a headrest, Paul couldn't help smiling affectionately. She might not be able to compare to literal Goddesses, but Lilia's attractiveness increased with each passing year...
Lowering his gaze even further, Paul internally remarked, ("It isn't just her beauty that's increasing...")
Sensing the subtle shift in Paul's intent, a faint smile developed across Lilia's face as she whispered, "It is your birthday...if there's anything you would like me to do, you need only ask..."
Though she would agree to Paul's requests on any day of the year, Lilia didn't mind making an 'extra' effort on his birthday. She generally did her best to remain in the background, permitting Paul's many other women to enjoy his attention, but that didn't mean she had given up being with him. Rather, the more Paul accomplished, the more confident Lilia was about her decision to serve him.
As tempting as Lilia's invitation was, Paul didn't hesitate to reply, "Let's wait until tonight. If I'm not here when she's finished playing, Klee won't be happy..."
Instead of feeling disappointed by Paul's response, Lilia's smile became noticeably more prominent. A promise from Paul was worth its weight in gold, so she could look forward to a passionate and exhilarating evening. The only question was whether or not they would be alone or attended by several others...
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Staring at the outfit Ningguang had asked them to change into, Kishirika and Kishirisu couldn't help exchanging looks, the former asking, "Is this really necessary? I thought humans only celebrated their fifth, tenth, and fifteenth birthdays?"
Without missing a beat, Ningguang readily replied, "Now, now, Kishirika. It's essential that Paul knows how grateful we are for his efforts. He might be selfish at times, but he's doing his utmost to create a better world for everyone. Actions such as this are what give him the strength to continue pushing forward."
Though she could see where Ningguang was coming from, a deadpan expression formed on Kishirika's face as she eyed the outfits prepared for her and Kishirisu. Nearly everyone had been given a bunny suit, but the variant assigned to them appeared to be inverted. They were given heart-shaped stickers to cover their nipples and crotch, but everything else that was supposed to be covered was on full display.
Amused by the twin Empresses' hesitation, a playful smile developed across Ningguang's face as she explained, "The two of you frequently wear outfits even skimpier than these bunny suits. I also reasoned that you would want to stand out from the rest of us, so I had those specially prepared for your Majesties."
Unable to refute Ningguang's words, Kishirika and Kishirisu exchanged glances before exhaling in mock exasperation. They honestly didn't mind wearing the outfit Ningguang had prepared for them. What bothered them was that they would be wearing them among a group of more than twenty other women. If Paul ended up choosing to spend his evening with others despite their 'sacrifice,' they would lose a lot of face.
Looking around at the other girls present, Kishirika's and Kishirisu's eyes briefly locked onto Xinyan. Unlike the majority of women present, Xinyan was wearing a black loincloth and a top that barely covered her breasts. It resembled a dancer's outfit from the Begaritt Continent, but it covered significantly less than the traditionally scant garb.
Noticing the duo's gazes, a layer of pink spread through Xinyan's cheeks as she covered her modest breasts with one hand and her Pyro Crest with the other. She usually wasn't bashful, but being surrounded by dozens of beautiful and voluptuous women made her feel a little self-conscious.
Clicking their tongues, Kishirika and Kishirisu were half-tempted to bully Xinyan into skipping out on the surprise party but quickly suppressed the urge. They had been doing their best to get along with the members of Paul's extended harem, so, even though they felt Xinyan was 'cheating' by behaving in a manner that contrasted her appearance, there wasn't much they could do about it. Besides, Xinyan was far from the greatest 'threat' present...
Shifting their gazes to one of the only other girls not wearing a bunny suit, Kishirika and Kishirisu deadpanned as they observed Diona napping in a diamond-shaped halter top, white stockings, and panties that had a paw print on the front. Her outfit was fairly plain compared to everyone else's, but that, combined with her small stature, made her stand out more than if she had been completely naked...
Oblivious to the stares directed at her by the two Empresses, Diona lazily scratched the pale blue crest pulsating on her lower abdomen. She didn't doubt that Paul would invite her back to his room, so, while everyone else was making preparations for the party, she was getting as much sleep as possible...
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After playing around to her heart's content, Klee zeroed in on Paul like a homing missile, her expression and tone notably tired as she spread her arms and declared, "Big brother, Paul~! I'm done playing."
Having already risen to his full height upon noticing Klee's approach, Paul returned a smile as he picked up the petite pyromaniac and inquired, "Did you have fun?"
Nodding her head, Klee replied, "Uh-huh~!" while nestling against Paul and gripping his overcoat with her left hand. She was much too young for Paul to consider doing anything to her, but the ruby-red crest carved into her lower abdomen wasn't concerned with such sentiments. Things were manageable for the time being, but Klee would feel lonely to the point of sobbing if Paul didn't hold her for a short while each day.
While caressing the petite blonde's back, Paul exchanged nods with her youthful-looking playmates. The youngest was an Elven girl in her early sixties, but, similar to Klee, she appeared to be between the ages of ten and twelve. It would be another hundred years before her body reached full maturity, and, based on Klee's non-existent development over the last year, it was safe to assume they had similar growth rates.
Interrupting Paul's thoughts, Klee muttered, "Hold me tighter..." in a soft, somewhat dull tone. The smile on Paul's face visibly cramped, but he only hesitated for a moment before giving her a firm squeeze.
"Nnn..."
Feeling a little better, Klee exhaled a lukewarm sigh as she relaxed into Paul's embrace. A strange, aching feeling permeated her body, but the longer Paul held her, the less prominent it became. If she didn't know it would inconvenience him, she would want Paul to continue squeezing her tightly the entire day.
While continuing to caress Klee's back, Paul, accompanied by Lilia, carried her to the reinforced bedchamber she shared with Yoimiya. The two had a similar fondness for explosions and fireworks, so they had been sharing a room ever since Ganyu brought them over.
After around twenty minutes, Paul reached the outside of Yoimiya's room. Lilia immediately took it upon herself to knock in his stead, but there was no answer as most of the girls were preoccupied with preparations for his 'surprise' party.
Though he didn't know exactly what the girls had planned for him, Paul had been aware of the surprise party for weeks. Klee wasn't particularly good at keeping secrets, and neither was Yoimiya. The latter had told Klee not to inform him, but the petite pyromaniac didn't even last twenty-four hours before spilling the beans. After all, except for Jean and Albedo, Paul was effectively Klee's 'most favorite person in the entire world.'
With no response coming from the interior and Klee already fast asleep in his embrace, Paul gave Lilia a nod, prompting her to open the door. When she did, a prominent smell of gunpowder permeated the corridor, but Paul didn't bat an eye or scrunch up his nose. Klee and Yoimiya were among the first to come and visit after he took up residence in the castle, so he frequented the proverbial powderkeg daily.
Prompted by the smell of gunpowder, Klee abruptly opened her eyes and looked around excitedly. The aroma of gunpowder was among her very first memories, so even though she knew Alice had yet to be summoned, she couldn't help looking around in search of her mother.
Realizing she was just in her room, Klee's elf-like ears visibly drooped as she muttered, "Awww...Klee doesn't want to go to sleep yet..."
Suppressing a chuckle, Paul asked, "Then what were you doing just prior to looking around?"
Staring up at Paul, Klee didn't immediately respond to his question. When she did, she left him at a loss for words, stating, "Big brother smells really good..."
Smiling wryly, Paul replied, "So I've heard..." before carrying Klee over to her bed. A disheartened expression appeared on her face as he set her down, but, as a 'big girl,' Klee did her best not to complain or plead for him to continue holding her.&nbsp;
Understanding what the petite blonde was thinking, Paul gently caressed Klee's head and said, "Good girl." in a gentle, soothing tone. He always felt guilty whenever they had to part ways, but he knew it would cause all sorts of problems if he gave in and started pampering her.
Retracting his hand from Klee's head, Paul turned to Lilia and asked, "Can you look after her for a few hours? At least until dinner time."
Without any hesitation, Lilia cupped her hands over her lap and offered a polite bow as she replied, "Certainly. Please, leave it to me."
Resisting the urge to reach out and caress Lilia's head, Paul nodded his own in approval, stating, "Thanks. I can always count on you, Lilia."
Adopting a clearly gratified smile, Lilia bowed her head even lower as she replied, "Of course." in an audibly pleased tone of voice. Paul would never be able to understand it, but few things made Lilia happier than being told she could be relied upon by someone as 'great' as he.
Suppressing his mild discomfort, Paul forced a casual-seeming smile as he met Klee's unblinking stare and said, "Be a good girl and listen to Lilia, okay? I'll see you at dinner."
Nodding her head, Klee responded with a faint, "Okay..." before hanging her head and staring at the floor, clearly disheartened. She really wanted Paul to stay with her, but, much like her mommy and daddy, she knew he had responsibilities outside of playing and looking after her...
Seeing Klee's disheartened reaction, Paul couldn't help feeling agitated. He didn't know if it was because of his past life or because he hadn't been the best of fathers, but there was something about seeing children in low spirits that made him feel restless and annoyed.
Noticing the conflict in Paul's eyes, Lilia deliberately placed herself between him and Klee, a faint yet supportive smile blossoming across her face as she mouthed the words, "Don't worry. She'll be okay."
Forcing a smile, Paul returned a nod before promptly turning around to depart the room. He knew it was insensible to beat himself up over Klee's predicament, so, rather than lamenting over things he could change, Paul began thinking of excuses to turn his surprise party into a gacha spree...
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"You've done well, Hilda. With this, our future and the future of House Boreas are all but secured."
Though he rarely exhibited his affection for his wife, Philip couldn't help smiling as he watched Hilda, still fatigued from the delivery, cradling their most recent child in her arms.
Furrowing her brows, Hilda retorted, "So long as you do not succumb to your brother's schemes..."
Instead of taking offense to his wife's words, Philip responded with a curt nod. At this point, they had the backing of his father, House Notos, and, to a lesser extent, the Royal Family. The only person that could mess things up at this point was himself.
Opening his eyes ever so slightly, Philip stared at the newborn in Hilda's arms, asking, "Have you chosen a name?"
Suppressing a sigh, Hilda stared down at the little girl in her arms and muttered, "I was considering Discordia or Eris...though it is her destiny to be sacrificed for the sake of our family, I hope she will become a strong and unyielding woman. Someone who won't just roll over and accept the fate that has been thrust upon her..."
As the name Discordia was a little too on the nose, Philip smiled as he mused, "Eris Boreas Greyrat...that's a splendid name. I believe Sir Paul would also approve; both of the name and its meaning."
Since Paul had made it transparently clear he would annul the marriage agreement if their daughter were against it, Philip didn't mind giving his wife a bit of freedom to express herself. It would benefit his position if Eris and Paul married, but it wasn't necessary for securing his status as the next Lord of House Boreas. He had already succeeded his brother as Heir Apparent, so he simply needed to avoid being assassinated until his graduation.
Though she was a little annoyed by her husband's remark, Hilda didn't say anything. The truth was that she didn't resent Paul nearly as much as she outwardly projected. If anything, she was a little envious of her daughter, as, even now, she regretted not pushing harder for Paul's attention...if she had managed to leave an impression on him during their first meeting, she would have had a handsome and free-spirited fiance with the prospect of attaining Godhood...
Oblivious to his wife's innermost thoughts, Philip stared pensively at the sleeping infant in her arms. He had made a concerted effort to ensure she was born around the same time as Paul, but he never imagined she would be delivered on the exact day, seventeen days ahead of schedule. He was a little worried this would have an adverse effect on her temperament, but so long as she matured into a beauty, it shouldn't matter too much...
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After traversing the relatively short distance from Klee's room to his own, Paul was unsurprised to find Ghislaine posted outside in a black brassiere and her usual trousers. She immediately noticed his presence, but instead of making way, she adopted a defensive posture and said, "I can't let you pass..." in her usual, husky monotone.
Though he was confident he could get her to stand down if he made it an order, Paul wasn't too insistent as he said, "Just tell Ningguang that I need to speak with her. It's not an emergency, but it's important..."
Since she hadn't been prohibited from passing along messages, Ghislaine nodded her head and replied, "One moment..." before turning around and knocking in a distinct rhythm.
After a very brief moment of silence, the door to Paul's room opened to reveal Ningguang in a stylish white, black, and gold overcoat.
Narrowing her eyes ever so slightly, Ningguang remarked, "You're early." while staring into Paul's as if she could see the thoughts behind them. To demonstrate this wasn't far from the truth, she immediately appended, "I don't particularly mind if you want to go on a summoning spree, but does it have to be tonight? There are plenty of rooms to go around, but it takes time to get everyone up to speed and properly settled."
Stepping out into the corridor, Ningguang shut the door behind her as she asked, "Has Klee's condition deteriorated? I can send Albedo over to give her some medicine..."
Shaking his head, Paul clarified, "She hasn't deteriorated...I just feel like she would be less lonely if her mother were around..."
Though she nodded her head in approval, Ningguang gave Paul a reality check by stating, "Absolutely. However, even if you were to expend all of your resources, there is no guarantee you will summon Klee's mother. I'm all for expanding our ranks, but you would stress yourself out if you went into the IOF and failed to obtain the specific person you were looking for."
Understanding that Paul's turmoil couldn't be resolved with words alone, Ningguang punctuated her words by embracing him and placing her head against his chest. He was the type that couldn't remain irate when others expressed their concern physically, so the moment she wrapped her arms around him, Ningguang could feel Paul's tensions relaxing.
Exhaling a sigh, Paul returned Ningguang's embrace and buried his face into her fragrant, ivory-colored hair. He knew she was right, so while he still intended to go on a summoning spree, he was willing to wait until the following evening. Until then, he intended to enjoy the 'surprise' everyone had gone out of their way to prepare...
Though it was a little early, Ningguang didn't want Paul to wander off and lose himself in his thoughts. Thus, once he had sufficiently calmed down, she released her hold on his body, grabbed his hand, and purred, "I doubt anyone will mind if we start the 'festivities' a little early..."
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Just as the silvery-haired Cambion was about to answer Paul's question, a heavily scarred man with red leathery skin, devil-like horns, and pointed ears walked over to say, "Aye, what do we have 'ere? A young lhrd and his lasses? Eider way, it's ten scraps an hour 'n wan iron fhr de night."&nbsp;
Looking toward the fork-tongued man, Paul briefly noted the scars on the man's face, the severely worn quality of his thief-like attire, and the series of knives poorly concealed beneath his overcoat. His right eye and part of his right horn were missing, but the feature that stood out the most was his smile. The man had incredibly sharp-looking teeth, but, unlike Kishirika and Kishirisu, the man's resembled yellow, severely stained needles.
Understanding who the man was, Paul's eyes narrowed ever so slightly as he inquired, "Are you this woman's handler?"
Brandishing a devilish smile, the man replied, "Aye, dat is chrrect. Now, do we have a deal hr what?"
"Hmmm..."
Instead of responding to the man, Paul returned his gaze to the Cambion woman kneeling with her body hunched over. Compared to her front, her back was a latticework of scars. Several still had scabs and oozed puss, but, as fucked up as her situation was, helping her wasn't necessarily the best course of action. After all, everyone outside of his 'knowledge' was a potential plant by Hitogami...
Shaking such thoughts from his mind, Paul ignored the annoyed-looking handler, kneeling in front of the woman to ask the same question he had asked many others, "Tell me...what is your dream? If you had the power to achieve anything, what would you do with it...?"
Aggravated by Paul's behavior, the devilish-looking man flicked his forked tongue before hissing, "Oi! This isn't a social, mate! If you're not 'ere to do business, den piss awf with yh...!"
Reacting to the man's words, a few other Demons began surrounding Paul and his group. The quality of their equipment made the thugs more than a little hesitant, but they couldn't just ignore someone behaving brazenly on their turf.
Realizing that the Cambion was too scared to answer him in the presence of the people exploiting her, a faint sigh emanated from Paul's throat. The woman's behavior indicated that she had resolved herself to her fate. She could still change, but she lacked the willpower and determination to rise without assistance.
Rising to his feet, Paul pretended not to notice the men surrounding him as he eyed the other women and children lining the streets or peering out from alleyways. The Cambion was far from the only person who needed a helping hand, so, as much as he wanted to help, there were limits to what he could do without taking drastic action.
Just as Paul was about to turn around and tell the devilish man and his goons to move aside, a faint, almost inaudible voice reached his ears. He couldn't make out the first few words, but as he half-turned to stare down at the emaciated Cambion, he could hear her weakly reply, "I would make sure none had to suffer as I have..."
Hearing the woman's words alongside Paul, the devilish man sneered as he said, "What d'yh mean, suffer? Me 'n me boys've been takin' good care of yh fhr years!"
Standing between the man and the kneeling Cambion, Paul's expression hardened as he said, "Enough." Then, before the red-skinned man could react, he pulled out an Asura Gold Coin and flicked it with enough force to graze the man's ear and embed it into the building behind him as he said, "Take that and piss off."
Though a few of the surrounding thugs were tempted to escalate things when Paul revealed he had gold coins in his possession, none were daring enough to make the first move. Not even the red-skinned man whose ear had been cut dared to complain, as, the moment Paul turned around to flick the golden coin, his eyes briefly shifted to his Mystic Eyes of Death Perception.
Realizing that Paul wasn't someone he should mess with, the red-skinned Demon cupped his hands together and bowed like a greedy merchant as he said, "Thank you fhr yhr business." An Asuran Gold Coin was more than he would make whoring out the Cambion woman every night for six years, so, as far as he was concerned, Paul had just purchased damaged goods off his hands at a premium.
After retrieving the gold coin from the wall behind him, the red-skinned man gestured for his men to follow him, 'pissing off' as Paul had advised. The man knew he was pushing his luck when he initially confronted Paul, so he didn't want to be around when the latter realized just how damaged the goods he was purchasing were.
Ignoring the man's retreat, Paul extended his hand toward the Cambion woman, asking, "Can you stand...?" in a soft tone.&nbsp;
Though she could sense Paul's aura, the Cambion woman couldn't make out his stretched hand. As a result, she kept her emaciated body hunched as she replied, "Forgive me, milord..."
Shaking his head, Paul replied, "It's fine..." before looking to Ganyu and asking, "Can you treat her?"
Adopting her characteristically gentle smile, Ganyu replied, "I could cast Healing Magic on her, but she lacks the stamina and nutrients to support the regenerative process. For now, I suggest we take her someplace safe and start her on a proper diet. Healing Magic is at its most effective when the target is healthy."
As he was well acquainted with the banes and boons of Healing Magic, Paul just nodded in response to Ganyu's explanation before taking a knee in front of the Cambion and asking, "Do you mind if I pick you up...?"
Surprised that Paul would even bother asking, the Cambion woman didn't immediately respond to his question. When she did, her voice was audibly trembling with emotion as she replied, "Thank you..."
Interpreting the woman's words as assent, Paul habitually nodded before picking up her heartbreakingly thin and light body in a princess carry. She was fairly petite, only around 156cm, but her weight made her feel much, much smaller. Paul didn't know her precise weight, but she couldn't have been more than 35, maybe 36kgs...
Sparing one last look at the others lining the street, Paul shook his head, suppressing his guilt as he turned to Ei and Ganyu, saying, "Let's go." in a firm tone. Even helping the Cambion woman was already going against his usual policy, but his intuition was telling him she had the potential to be a significant person in the future. At the very least, he intended to give her a chance...
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"Have you gone soft in the head? Fort Necross isn't a daycare or a place where you can invite outsiders to stay at your leisure. Just how badly do you want to piss my men off?"
After hearing Paul's report, Atofe couldn't help staring at him with a hint of disdain in her ruby-red eyes. She knew Paul was a busybody, but bringing a prostitute to Fort Necross and expecting the troops within to protect her was beyond laughable. Many already resented him for keeping a group of powerful and beautiful women to himself; keeping a legitimate prostitute from them was crossing the line.
Understanding Atofe's concerns, Paul pulled out a large pouch containing one hundred Asura Gold Coins, stating, "The supplies I've provided to you and your men should be more than enough compensation. However, if the concern is a lack of female 'personnel,' this should be enough to obtain and accommodate hundreds. My only request is that they be treated well, not as pieces of meat."
"..."
Accepting the rather hefty bag of gold, Atofe briefly considered her words before remarking, "This will undoubtedly go a long way toward appeasing my troops. However, it isn't the lack of females that gets men riled up. It's the thought that others are keeping the 'best' women for themselves..."
Shrugging his shoulders, Paul replied, "Yeah, and? It makes me sick just making this kind of arrangement. If I didn't respect your position, do you think I would waste my time trying to appease asshats who view women as some kind of trophy to be obtained?"
Not wanting to argue, Atofe set the bag of gold aside and said, "I'll have Bhathia take care of it. Just try not to pick up any additional strays during your stay in the fortress. I realize it's in your nature, but you aren't here to play Hero. Finish your training, and then you can do whatever the hell you want."
As he could understand how his actions put Atofe in a difficult position, Paul nodded his head and replied, "I intend to do precisely that. Meeting and helping Falina was pure happenstance. I don't intend to make a habit of it."
Though she was tempted to point out that 'happenstance' was probably the greatest threat to Paul's ambitions, Atofe didn't feel like lecturing him. There were far more productive things they could be doing with their free time, so, after a moment of silence, she adopted a mischievous smile and asked, "What are you doing after this...?"
Adopting a smile of his own, Paul replied, "Well, if it will keep you from harping over my decisions, I suppose the most pertinent response would be 'you.' At the very least, that was my intention..."
Understanding what Paul was trying to imply, Atofe narrowed her eyes as she asked, "So, what you're trying to say is that the penultimate decision is mine to make? Is that it...?"
Nodding his head, Paul answered, "While a bit of forcefulness can be a good thing, consent supersedes everything. Even if I had the power to take you by force, nothing compares to the feeling of accomplishment that comes from knowing a strong and competent woman desires you in equal measure..."
Though she was the type that believed the strong should take what they want, Atofe would be lying if she said Paul's words didn't give her a slight sense of gratification. Having a partner that exceeded her in strength but treated her with respect didn't sound all that bad...
Spreading her legs in an unladylike yet alluring manner, Atofe narrowed her eyes even further as she mused, "You talk too much. At moments like this, actions speak louder than words..."
Exhaling through his nose, Paul's smile revealed a trace of helplessness as he kneeled in front of Atofe and placed his hands on her knees. She could grant herself functionally infinite pleasure, but stimulation was only one aspect of sex. There were also psychological aspects, so, instead of trying to 'conquer' Atofe like some kind of hentai game protagonist, Paul plucked at her heartstrings by willfully demonstrating some of the service techniques Lisa had ingrained into him.
As much as Atofe enjoyed forcing people against their will, her heart fluttered the most when otherwise proud and assertive people treated her tenderly. Most men only cared about themselves, so Paul's meticulous yet passionate ministrations amused and excited her to no end...
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Though she couldn't see it, Falina, the Cambion woman rescued by Paul, trembled as she 'stared' at the contents of the bowl she had been given. Most people within the Demon Continent would be lucky to eat meat even once a month, but here she was with her second bowl of meat stew, some of the most delicious she had ever eaten.
Noticing Falina's hesitation, Ganyu adopted a sad smile and stated, "This is not a dream. Please, continue eating. You'll need to regain your strength if I am to use Healing Magic on you."
Shifting her 'gaze' toward Ganyu, Falina's voice was tettered on a sob as she inquired, "Why me? Surely there are people more deserving than I..."
Shaking her head, Ganyu insisted, "Everyone deserves to be happy. You have simply been given a chance to obtain it ahead of others. If you feel obligated to repay our Master in the future, do so by obtaining happiness and helping to better the lives of others. Attempting to repay him through dedication or service will only encumber him..."
Though she didn't grasp the broader meaning of Ganyu's words, Falina nodded her head to imply her understanding. She knew she was beyond fortunate to have been picked up by someone willing to feed and nourish her, so, even if Paul discarded her the moment she was healed, she would never, ever forget his kindness...
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Chapter 194: MI194: Vigilance : Complacency