Mushoku Impact

"Holy sh-"
"Ah, ah, ah...language."
After gently chastizing Paul, Ningguang turned to address the gallery of beautiful and scantily clad women present, stating, "Our beloved Master has decided to grace us with his presence ahead of schedule. Get in your positions, everyone."
While most everyone began moving around in a hurry, Ningguang guided Paul over to where Kishirika and Kishirisu were seated, musing, "I'll leave him in your care."
Though they were as surprised as everyone else by Paul's sudden arrival, Kishirika and Kishirisu didn't show it. Instead, they adopted near-identical smiles and replied, "Oh, but of course~." in singsong tones.
With the two Demonesses pulling him between them, the smile on Paul's face became slightly awry as he remarked, "Rather than a birthday party, it's starting to seem like I've died and gone to Heaven..."
Drawing their lips to Paul's ears, Kishirika and Kishirisu briefly traced their ruby-red tongues around the interior before whispering, "If you'd like, we can take you pretty close..."
Punctuating their words, Kishirika began to undo the fastener of Paul's trousers while Kishirisu unbuttoned the tunic beneath his overcoat. Their actions earned them a slightly disproving look from Ningguang, but they largely ignored her. So long as Paul permitted them to do as they pleased, no one could protest their actions.
With everyone walking around in bunny suits or incredibly skimpy attire, Paul couldn't be blamed for assuming the surprise party was basically an orgy. He was severely outnumbered, but so long as they didn't line up to take turns, he was fairly confident in his ability to endure.
Interjecting before Paul could be led astray by the twin temptresses, Diona practically shouted, "What do the two of you think you're doing!? That kind of thing is supposed to come 'after' the party! Don't think you can sneak a head start...!"
Prompted by Diona's outburst, everyone in the room directed their gazes toward Paul, Kishirika, and Kishirisu. Not even the two Demon Empresses could endure such an intense pressure, so they immediately ceased their overt seduction attempt, Kishirika smiling wryly as she said, "We were just teasing him a bit. You know, to try and lighten the mood?"
Snorting through her nose, Diona retorted, "Likely story!" before stomping over and planting herself atop Paul's lap. Her actions earned her deadpan stares from Kishirika, Kishirisu, and several others, but Diona just crossed her arms in defiance, declaring, "Don't look at me like that! I'm only sitting here to prevent further misconduct!"
Though Diona's words weren't even remotely compelling, everyone returned to what they were doing beforehand when Ningguang clapped her hands together and appended, "Now, now, we still have a show to put on. Everyone into position."
With everyone turning away from her to complete their respective tasks, Diona couldn't help flashing a faintly triumphant smile. A part of her felt ashamed of what she had done, but she also believed she had done the right thing by preventing Kishirika and Kishirisu from ignoring the plan and doing as they pleased.
Noticing the expression on Diona's face, Kishirisu narrowed her eyes and remarked, "This cheeky cat..."
Prompted by Kishirisu's remark, Kishirika was about to supply a barb of her own when Paul interjected to say, "Relax. Now is neither the time nor the place for an argument. Besides..."
As he already had his arms wrapped around the two Empresses, Paul reached up to grope their nearly naked breasts as he added, "We don't need to have sex to enjoy our time together..."
Punctuating his statement, Paul planted a kiss on Kishirika's lips before turning to Kishirisu a few moments later. He was keenly interested in the preparations being made just meters away, but he knew where his focus was required.
Though they were still a little annoyed by Diona's behavior, Kishirika and Kishirisu promptly discarded the notion of petty revenge. Neither of them was particularly fond of the petite cat girl, but the drinks Diona prepared were enough of a reason to forgive her.&nbsp;
Seeing Paul concentrating his attention on Kishirika and Kishirisu, Diona couldn't help feeling a trace of envy. However, before she could voice a complaint or start grinding against the sizeable bulge poking against her bottom, Paul tilted her head back and proceeded to kiss her. At the same time, Kishirika and Kishirisu began caressing her abdomen, causing Diona to frown until Paul whispered, " It's okay... " in a soothing tone.
Though she felt differently, Diona resisted the urge to protest and instead reached up to hook her left hand around Paul's head and neck. She didn't enjoy others touching her body without permission, but she was willing to endure it so long as Paul continued kissing her...
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With their preparations finished, the mana crystals casting light within Paul's room began to dim, imposing a sense of stillness in the previously chaotic room. Then, just as complete silence had descended, the sound of a lyre began to echo around the room as Venti emerged from behind a partition in a green and white bunnysuit, albeit without the ears.
Noticing Paul staring directly at her, Venti supplied a playful wink as her fingers danced gracefully across the silvery strings of her lyre. She had been designated as the MC(Master of Ceremonies) for the night's events, but she simply couldn't resist giving a performance of her own.
"My heart is like a singing bird~ whose nest is in a watered shoot. My heart is like an apple tree~ whose boughs are bent with thickset fruit. My heart is like a rainbow shell~ that paddles within a halcyon sea. My heart is gladder than all of these~ for my love has come to me~."
Just as it was beginning to seem like Venti's performance would end without incident, the mischievous Archon abruptly tore away the fabric of her bunnysuit to reveal her voluptuous, nearly naked body. She had been 'inspired' by the costumes of Kishirika and Kishirisu, so, when no one was looking, she donned a pair of pasties over her nipples and crotch with the intent of punctuating her performance with a surprise.
As everyone was used to Venti's behavior by now, the principal response from the crowd was a series of sighs. Seemingly oblivious to the reactions of everyone else present, Venti performed a sensual pose with her hands raised, her face red and eyes narrowed as she practically purred, "Happy Birthday, Paul. I hope this evening carries with you for the entire year that follows..."
Returning a smoldering smile, Paul playfully replied, "It's certainly left an impression thus far..."
Though Paul's expression and words caused beads of sweat to begin forming on her body, Venti suppressed her growing urges and did her best to execute her duties as MC, broadcasting, "Then let's keep the excitement going with our first performer, the ever-illustrious Yun Jin~!"
Immediately following Venti's words, the room briefly became pitch black until Yoimiya illuminated the improvised stage with a mana-powered stage light. Lightbulbs weren't really a thing in the world of Mushoku Tensei, but magic crystals were a convenient, albeit very costly, substitute.
Contrasting virtually everyone else, Yun Jin appeared on stage in her usual gothic attire. She took her performances 'very' seriously, so, while she had on a pair of 'special' undergarments, her outerwear and makeup were impeccable, much like her singing voice.
While he wasn't able to understand much of what Yun Jin was saying, primarily due to the fact she sang and spoke in different languages, Paul enjoyed her performance quite a bit. There was something mysterious about the way she enunciated each word, and, thanks to the efforts of Shenhe, Xinyan, Ganyu, and Shinobu, the performance benefitted from the distinct sounds of a zither, shamisen, flute, and drums.
Though the song lasted less than two minutes, even Kishirka and Kishirisu were practically enchanted by Yun Jin's performance. Theatre culture and performance arts had yet to take off within the world of Mushoku Tensei, so unless a musician or a theater buff transmigrated over, there were very few developments in that regard. There was a Bard's College in the Holy Capital of Milishion, but only the most dedicated of Minstrels were willing to fork over the exorbitant entrance fee.
Unable to contain themselves, Kishirika and Kishirisu joined in after Paul initiated a brief ovation. Yun Jin wasn't particularly fond of clapping, but she still performed a flawless curtsy before making her way off the stage and disappearing behind the partition set up as a backstage area. She still had two more songs to perform, but they would be at the middle and end of the other performances.
Directly following Yun Jin's departure, Venti, now wearing a mantle that Ningguang had forced upon her, stepped out to announce that Xinyan would be up next. This immediately got Paul excited, not because he felt Xinyan was a better singer than Yun Jin, but because he had helped her write a number of songs based on those he could remember from his past life.
With a shamisen that had been modified to sound identical to an electric guitar, Shinobu on the drums, and Hu Tao on the bass, Xinyan was able to perform a remarkably faithful rendition of the pop-rock song 'Girlfriend' by Avril Lavigne. They even used a variation of Voice Magic, taught to them by Ghislaine, to amply their voices, similar to a microphone. As a result, the trio gave off the impression of a legitimate punk-rock band, complete with wild hairstyles and an abundance of spiked accessories.
Though the performance only lasted three and a half minutes, Xinyan was out of breath and caked in sweat by the song's end. This was far from her first 'live' performance, but singing her heart out while wearing little more than a bikini top and loincloth increased her excitement ten, maybe even a hundredfold. The content of the song also sounded like she was issuing a challenge to every other girl present, so Xinyan needed to be supported by Hu Tao to avoid passing out after their collective bow...
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After several additional performances, ranging from traditional songs to elegant dances and stripteases, the crystals within Paul's room gradually regained their luminance. He was a little reluctant to have things end, but Ningguang promptly reminded him that he was expected at dinner. Klee and Sayu hadn't been permitted to participate in the birthday celebration, so he was supposed to be eating dinner with them, Lilia, and a few others.
Though he was still a little reluctant, Paul would rather deprive himself of a good time than see Klee in a depressive state after he failed to show up for dinner. He also knew an exhilarating night waited for him upon his return, so, after a quick romp with Yae and Ei, primarily to get his boner under control, Paul took a bath and hurried over to the main banquet hall.&nbsp;
Having calmed down a bit after their previous separation, Klee was in high spirits by the time Paul burst into the hall, followed closely by Ganyu. She was one of the only people not actively partaking in Paul's not-so-secret birthday party, as, compared to most of the other girls from the IOF, she spent a considerable amount of time at his side.
Adopting a smile that could rival the Sun with its radiance, Klee shouted, "Big brother~!" as she dropped out of her chair and sprinted over to him with her arms spread like wings. Sayu, Lilia, and Falina were also present, but they elected to stay in their seats and observe the scene with varying degrees of a smile.
Since she had run headlong into his knees in the past, Paul bent down to receive Klee with open arms. His efforts were rewarded with a headbutt to the chest, but the pain disappeared almost immediately as Klee buried her face into the fabric of his tunic, stating, "I missed you..." with as much sincerity as she could manage.
Wrapping his arms around the petite pyromaniac's body, Paul replied with a faint, "I missed you as well..." before picking her up a few moments later and carrying her back to the table...
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"Is this really necessary?"
After dropping Klee off and returning to his room, Paul was stopped at the door and asked to put on a thick blindfold. He no longer had access to his X-Ray Vision, so donning the piece of fabric would leave him functionally blind.
Maintaining her usual, businesslike smile, Ningguang replied, "The show we put on earlier was supposed to be the evening's entertainment. Since you've already witnessed what we had prepared, we had to come up with something else to surprise you."
Though he smiled wryly, Paul handed the blindfold to Ganyu and allowed her to put it on him. Afterward, he allowed the duo led him into the room by hand while Lilia followed close behind.
As a pleasant smell pervaded Paul's senses, Ningguang took the initiative to explain, "Since your senses are sharper than the average person, we've developed a game, especially for you. Your goal is to find each of the girls stationed around the room. Once you find one, you have thirty seconds to guess their identity. They have been instructed not to speak, but you are permitted to use any method to ascertain their identities. Once the game has concluded, you will be rewarded according to your rate of success..."
Leading Paul to his first target, Ningguang guided his hand to someone's shoulder and purred, "Good luck..." directly into his ear. Her voice caused goosebumps to develop across his body, but he quickly shifted his focus to the unseen beauty moving about in response to his touch.
After ascertaining that the woman was facing him, Paul adopted a smile and said, "Pardon me..." before wrapping his arms around her. He didn't think he would be able to identify her using just a hug, but the image of an ice-cold beauty immediately entered his mind when he felt the firmness of her lithe and shapely body.
Just to be safe, Paul moved his hands from the woman's lower back to her perfectly sculpted bottom, gently squeezing it as he declared, "If this isn't Eula, I'll eat my own foot..."
Though she was relieved that Paul was able to determine her identity so quickly, Eula couldn't help frowning as she flatly remarked, "You're going to make me self-conscious about my hindquarters..."
Returning a cheeky smile, Paul retorted, "You have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. Your ass is amazing..."
Disregarding the fact Paul was wearing a blindfold, Eula averted her eyes and muttered, "Fool..." under her breath. However, before pushing Paul away and insisting he move on to someone else, she briefly reciprocated his embrace and placed her head against his chest.
With Ningguang moving away to take up her own position, Paul was left to feel and smell his way around his oversized bedroom. Fortunately, it didn't take him long to detect an aroma distinct from Eula's, a thick, earthy scent that immediately reminded him of a specific person.
Confirming his suspicions, Paul felt around before he made contact with a figure even taller than himself. He immediately knew who the woman was, but went out of his way to squeeze her firm and muscular buttocks before touching her tail and declaring, "Unless Lynette spontaneously grew thirty centimeters and developed a six-pack, this is definitely Ghislaine..."
With a somewhat smug expression on her face, Ghislaine replied, "That's right." before wrapping her muscular arms around Paul and squeezing him with enough strength to pop his back. She was nowhere near as jacked as her anime counterpart, but she was the tallest and most muscular woman Paul associated with. As a result, Paul often felt she was more of a lioness than a traditional cat girl...
When Ghislaine eventually released him, Paul gave her a somewhat wry smile before departing in search of his next quarry. To his astonishment, he almost immediately detected a hint of perfume, his nostrils twitching ever so slightly as he openly remarked, "I'm positive this perfume belongs to Yun Jin..." before following it to its origin.
Before Paul could wrap his arms around her body or attempt to feel her up, Yun Jin took his hands into her own and expressed, "You did well." in an approving tone. She wasn't fond of public displays of affection, so she did her best to ensure a respectable distance between them when others were around.
Understanding Yun Jin's intent, Paul supplied a curt nod and commented, "Your perfume suits you...it's a pleasant and refined aroma..."
Adopting a smile of her own, Yun Jin teasingly replied, "You certainly have a way with words. Unfortunately, there are others awaiting you. I'm afraid this is where we must part..."
Extracting her hands from Paul's, Yun Jin took a few steps away to ensure he couldn't reach out to her. She didn't mind being held by him, but there was a time and a place for everything.&nbsp;
Though he followed Yun Jin's movements with his head, Paul eventually just smiled and moved on. Yun Jin was the type of woman who would only reveal her 'true self' when they were utterly alone. Why? Because she was actually an exceptionally lazy and slothful person, a stark contrast to how she presented herself in public...
While images of Yun Jin's hikikomori-like room flashed through his mind, Paul sniffed around for his next target. He felt a little ridiculous looking for people by their scent, but it was surprisingly effective as he quickly found himself in front of someone that barely came up to his chest.
As even someone like Ningguang was nearly twenty centimeters shorter than him, Paul didn't immediately assume that the petite figure was Diona. She was inarguably the shortest person present, standing only 144cm in height, but Hu Tao was a very close second at 146.2cm. While this might sound incredibly short, the average height of human females in the world of Mushoku Tensei was only around 151cms, roughly 4'11''. However, as it was a world created by a Japanese author, it was to be expected that the average height of characters would reflect the standards of Japan.
Confirming his suspicions, Paul reached up to pat the petite figure on the head, instantly noting the absence of cat ears. Their hair was very fluffy and warm to the touch, however, so he could immediately eliminate Hu Tao as she put a surprising amount of effort into keeping her hair straight and free of knots.
With only two possibilities remaining in his mind, Paul used both hands to feel around the sides of the woman's face.
"Ah..."
Though Paul immediately recognized the woman's voice, he had already confirmed her identity when he felt the two antler-like horns growing from the sides of her head.
"Hello, Yanfei..."
Adopting a somewhat awkward smile, Yanfei replied, "You found me." in an audibly embarrassed tone. Her ears and horns were 'very' sensitive, so having them grabbed and caressed so wantonly left her feeling flustered.
Pretending to be unaware of Yanfei's 'plight,' Paul continued rubbing the base of her horns with his thumbs. Their interior was purportedly harder than diamond, but they were covered in a layer of pliable keratin and soft, velvety fuzz that made them incredibly pleasant to touch.
"Master Paul...I believe you have more than confirmed my identity at this point..."
Nodding his head, Paul reluctantly released Yanfei from his clutches and offered an insincere, "Sorry. Guess I got a little carried away..."
Exhaling a sigh of relief, Yanfei replied, "I didn't mind. It's just that quite a few others are waiting for you to deduce their identities. If you'd like, you may touch my horns as much as you want later..."
Hearing the sound of someone clicking their tongue, Paul turned away from Yanfei, a devilish smile on his face as he said, "I'll be over there in just a moment, Kishi. I'm not sure if it was Rika or Risu, but I'm positive it was one of you..."
As they had been asked to stand together, Kishirisu couldn't help giving Kishirika a stink eye. She was also annoyed by Yanfei's blatant attempt to secure her place as one of Paul's bedside companions, but she kept mum to avoid giving away their location and identity.
Realizing she had erred, Kishirika adopted an awkward smile and directed a silent plea at Ningguang. The latter rolled her eyes but eventually gave a slight nod to indicate that the pair could relocate before Paul sussed out their exact location.
Though he could hear Kishirika's and Kishirisu's movements, Paul didn't say anything as they were on the opposite side of the room. His plan was to make a counter-clockwise circuit around the room's periphery, so there were at least a handful of women between his present location on the one they had just moved from. Scrambling over to try and capture them would just disorient him.
With such thoughts in mind, Paul continued his counter-clockwise circuit before pausing within arm's reach of his next target. He was about to pass the location by due to the lack of an aroma, but he stopped upon sensing a very faint warmth lingering in the area.
Forcing several people to cover their mouths to avoid snickering, Shinobu narrowly evaded Paul's hand every time he reached out to touch her. She was a taciturn woman, but she had the heart and soul of a kunoichi and a delinquent. She also knew Paul would be able to identify her instantly due to the thick cord tying up her shuriken-like ponytail, so she did her best to avoid him until he gave up and said, "This is definitely Shinobu..."
Snorting through her nose, Shinobu cockily replied, "Lucky guess." before evading Paul's attempt to grasp her with his right hand. Then, as her role in the game had been fulfilled, she leaped up and away from him, sticking to the ceiling and snickering at him with a smile reminiscent of a Cheshire cat.
Though he couldn't see her, Paul could perfectly visualize the look on Shinobu's face as he 'stared' up at her and remarked, "And people call me cheeky..."
Disregarding the fact he was currently blindfolded, Shinobu responded to Paul by pulling down her left eyelid with her middle finger and sticking out her tongue. Similar to Yun Jin, she had a persona she 'needed' to maintain in public, so she always behaved like a delinquent whenever other people were around. She was a lot like Xinyan in that regard, outwardly gutsy but secretly very affectionate, almost to the point of being puppy-like.
Smiling wryly, Paul made a mental note to 'pamper' Shinobu plentily the next time they were alone. For now, he still needed to locate seventeen more people, preferably without making a single mistake...
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While Paul was busy fumbling around the room, the girls he had already identified gathered together on or around his bed, doing their utmost to remain silent. They knew it was going to take some time for Paul to find everyone, so Shinobu pulled out a deck of cards and began dealing them out to those who were interested.&nbsp;
With nothing better to do besides silently cheering Paul on, most of the girls readily joined in on Shinobu's impromptu poker game. Yun Jin was the only exception among the original batch of girls, but her mask began to crack after nearly half an hour of standing off the side by herself. By then, Paul had correctly identified Yunyun, Xinyan, Ganyu, Venti, Sucrose, Shenhe, Kishirika, Kishirisu, Albedo, Lilia, and Hu Tao, but there were still six people remaining, each near the center of the room or in locations that weren't easy to discover.
Though she didn't join in on the poker game, Yun Jin knew Paul kept a board game similar to shogi under the desk near the corner of the room. Thus, with the intent of challenging Shenhe to a match, she attempted to sneak around Paul, getting all the way to his desk before he snapped his head in her direction.
"Kuh..."
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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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Chapter 196: MI196: Festive