Mushoku Impact

Shortly after Paul left Sioux and her troops, Yae moved closer to him in her matured kitsune form, asking, "Are you certain you want to leave them in that state? There's a chance that Ophelia woman wasn't responsible for the deaths of her men."
Understanding what Yae was alluding to, Paul gradually slowed before stopping entirely. After a moment of consideration, however, he shook his head and asserted, "The Order of the Church has always been neutral in the conflict between the other Orders. They are also the most influential and populous faction, so I can't imagine the other two antagonizing them by wiping out another Order's platoon in the middle of the White Palace..."
Though she agreed with Paul's view of the situation, Yae felt compelled to remark, "That's assuming the Order of the Church isn't the one pulling the strings. After all, regardless of where they align politically or ideologically, all three factions are ultimately helmed by the same person..."
Without needing to consider his response, Paul shook his head a second time, asserting, "Though our presence has undoubtedly changed things, I recall the Pope being a fairly kind man who, at the very least, cares about his family. Others will exploit that fact in the not-too-distance future, so I'm fairly certain this incident was perpetrated by the Order of the Temple and their 'supporters.'"
Nodding in affirmation, Yae adopted a somewhat uncanny smile as she mused, "If you're this confident, then it must be so."
As he was the one who had asked Yae to act as one of his Advisors, Paul returned a smile of his own before turning to continue leading the way. A few minutes later, he, Ei, Yae, and Ganyu emerged from the front entrance of the White Palace to find a literal army awaiting them.
Undaunted by sight, Yae mused, "I was wondering where all the security went..."
Equally untroubled, Paul slowly passed his gaze over the encirclement, guessing there were between 3000-5000 people present. However, as most were hard-stuck at Intermediate or even Beginner-Rank in terms of Swordsmanship and Magic, he felt very little pressure. Similar to Ophelia and Sioux, only the Company Commanders, Vice-Commanders, Captains, and Platoon Leaders presented any real threat.
Spotting a familiar face among the group wearing black armor, Paul raised his hand and called out, "Well, if it isn't Captain Rudigan of House Latreia! I take it the distinguished gentleman next to you is your father?"
Not expecting Paul to call out to him, Rudigan tensed as the man Paul had correctly identified as his father looked back, asking, "What is this about?" in an authoritative tone.
As there were even factions within factions, a cold sweat broke out across Rudigan's body in response to his father's questioning. Fortunately, before he could be forced to respond, the Legion Commander representing all of the forces present stepped forward to address Paul, bellowing, "My name is Arcturus Maxim Laskaris, Legion Commander and Grand Marshal of the Milishion Royal Guard! If you drop your weapons and surrender without further incident, I can guarantee you the opportunity to state your case before the Archbishop's Tribunal! Continue this senseless endeavor, and the might of Milishion shall rain upon you like the wrath of God!"
Accompanying his words, Arcturus exuded a powerful aura that caused those closest to him to have to take a step back. His aged face, lengthy white beard, and receding hair made it clear he was well past his prime, but there was a reason he was given the responsibility of defending the White Palace. He might be 63 years old, but he was a bonafide Sword King who had achieved Advanced Rank in Healing, Detoxification, Barrier, and Divine Strike Magic.
With his doubled-edged sword already shrouded in holy light, Arcturus made it clear to everyone present that he wasn't fooling around. Even Paul felt the elderly Knight was fairly intimidating, but that didn't stop him from stepping forward, manifesting his somewhat demonic-looking Black Sword as he loudly declared, "My name is Paul Greyrat, Special Envoy to His Majesty, King Ansalem Anemoi Asura. I am neither an enemy of the Holy Kingdom of Milis nor the Milis Religion. I simply wished to leave the palace but was denied that right on shallow grounds. I have thus far not killed a single person, but if this many people attack in concert, I cannot guarantee there won't be casualties..."
Hearing Paul's words, a mixture of confusion, anger, and general disbelief washed over the assembly of Knights, Paladins, Holy Warriors, and Battle Priests. As far as they knew, not even the Sword God was pretentious enough to speak arrogantly against an entire legion. He might be able to break through, but there was no way he could defeat 3000 fully-armored Knights and more than 1200 support troops.
As discontent murmurs began permeating the legion's ranks, Arcturus raised his hand in a silencing gesture, prompting each of the Battalion Commanders to do the same. Once silence had returned to the palace square, a glimmer of doubt flashed across his eyes as he asked, "Are you truly Paul Greyrat, the Asura King's Greatsword? If so, you should carry a Token and a Royal Decree..."
Nodding in affirmation, Paul reached into his breast pocket, producing a palm-sized golden plaque bearing the symbol of the Asura Kingdom. It originally belonged to Reida, denoting her status as the King's personal bodyguard, but very few people would be able to tell the difference. Even if they could, the plaque was genuine, so it would be difficult for them to accuse him of stealing it.
Though more than fifty meters separated him from Paul, Arcturus could tell at a glance the plaque was legitimate. As Grand Marshal, he had seen similar plaques on several occasions. More importantly, Paul's demeanor and the aura exuding from his body weren't things that could be faked. He was clearly at the level of a King, so Arcturus gradually lowered his sword and asked, "May I come closer? If you truly are who you claim to be, I will be the first to apologize for this misunderstanding."
Hearing Arcturus's words, a fresh wave of murmurs pervaded the legion of Knights. Most of them were aware that Envoys of the Asura Kingdom had Diplomatic Immunity, but they couldn't believe Paul was on the cusp of being allowed to walk free. The Asura Kingdom may be the richest and most powerful Kingdom in the world, but its 'influence' couldn't match the reach of the Holy Kingdom of Milis. They had roots as deep as the Asuran Royal Family, so they couldn't let some random youth trample their pride, could they?
Unfortunately, while many within the Holy Knight Orders felt dissatisfied, the masses had little power in a world where a select few could destroy entire cities or slice off the tops of mountains. The higher-ranking Knights present were actually more concerned with the fact they were unaware of Paul's entry into the city than they were about his rampaging through the castle. After all, he was the Special Envoy of the Asuran King, the richest and most powerful man in the world. Currying favor with him could afford them many advantages, both present and future.
Demonstrating this fact, Arcturus wasn't the only person to approach when Paul sheathed his sword and allowed them to do so. Each of the Battalion Commanders and their Lieutenants also stepped forward and, after confirming Paul's credentials, readily joined Arcturus in apologizing. They didn't bow too steeply, but the act of lowering their heads was more than enough to convey the legion had assembled for nothing...
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Less than two hours after the stand-off in the palace square, Paul found himself standing, not kneeling, in front of the King Regent.
As could be expected from a puppet of the Holy Church, the King Regent, Julius Vidius Notaras, was an exceptionally fat man who resembled a ball more than a man. If not for his well-known affiliation with the Order of the Temple, Paul would have assumed he was a half-orc or member of the Pig Demon Tribe. His head practically transitioned seamlessly into his neck and body, and his nose was flat and slightly upturned, complete with a perpetually ruddy expression that made it appear as though he regularly walked into walls or was constantly drunk.
While a team of servant girls fanned him from both sides, Regent Julius stared at Paul with a gaze that barely concealed his envy and contempt, the former directed at the trio of Ei, Yae, and Ganyu while the latter was directed squarely at Paul for refusing to denigrate himself in the presence of a 'King.'
Contrasting the hateful glimmer in his eyes, a smile made absolutely no improvement to Julius's face as he said, "Our men have apprised us of the circumstances surrounding your...detainment. Those responsible were excommunicates seeking to sow discord between the Holy Kingdom of Milis and the Asura Kingdom by disguising themselves as members of the Order of the Temple. A more thorough investigation is being conducted, but as the perpetrators have either committed suicide or fled the palace, it will be difficult to discover if anyone else was involved..."
Though he was tempted to point out that the Ord of the Church was in possession of the God-Ranked Healing Spell, Resurrection, Paul simply nodded in response to the Regent's very obvious cover story, remarking, "They must have been exceedingly capable if they were able to trespass the White Palace through its front gate and persuade its staff to provide food and drink for multiple foreign dignitaries without being detected for the better part of two weeks. It's a wonder your men were able to deduce this much when our captors were clearly the most skilled saboteurs in the entire world..."
Demonstrating how little he was cut out for politics, Julius's entire head became as red as a cherry tomato as he balled his hands into fists and glared hatefully at Paul with a forced smile. The latter could practically see images of himself being tortured in the depths of Julius's gaze, but the piggish Regent could only dream as the inordinately tall man behind him, one of the Church's three Archbishops, replied, "Thank you for your understanding. As an apology, please accept this..." in a dull monotone.
Following the Archbishop's words, a woman wearing the Milis Religion's version of Nun attire stepped forward with an ornate, casket-sized chest in hand. Opening it revealed three rows of platinum coins. The highest denomination of currency in the Milis Kingdom was a pink-hued note that vaguely resembled Japanese Yen, but the platinum coins were special as they could be used to purchase 'anything' within the borders of Milis, the obvious exceptions being land and military vessels.
Though there were only thirty coins, Paul couldn't help whistling as even accomplished Paladins would be lucky to receive a single platinum piece for decades of service. Thirty was a truly ludicrous amount, but it kind of had to be, considering how 'brazenly' Paul had acted. Confidence was a powerful tool, so Paul's words to Sioux, combined with his performance in the palace square, had the Church convinced that King Ansalem would seek even greater reparations if they didn't express their 'sincerity' here and now.
Indicating the matter had been 'settled,' Paul accepted the chest with a smile. He didn't care enough to press the issue any further, and he would rather not antagonize the world's most powerful religion. Religious zealots were fucking psychos, so openly offending them was the same as asking a few 'true believers' to visit his estate in the dead of night with poisonous gas or magical explosives.
Passing the casket to Ganyu, Paul returned his gaze to the Archbishop, completely ignoring the Regent as he said, "The Asura Kingdom and the Holy Kingdom of Milis have been allies for the past four hundred years. I pray our descendants can say the same in the year 800."
Nodding his head, albeit only slightly, the Archbishop replied, "A noble sentiment. I shall convey your prayer to His Holiness, that he might pass it to the Holy Spirit Herself..."
Returning a nod of his own, Paul turned around without bothering to bid the now crimson-faced Regent farewell. The Crown Prince was nearing his fourteenth birthday, so even if the Regent wasn't removed to further conceal this incident, the piggish man's days were numbered. Given the Church's track record, Paul imagined it wouldn't even take a week before rumors of the Regent's declining health began circulating through town...
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(A/N: I can practically hear King Ansalem and Reida laughing...)

After being escorted from the palace and shown to the front gate, Paul was unsurprised to find an expensive-looking carriage and an aged Butler waiting for them. The highly-polished emblem on his lapels denoted him as a servant of House Latreia, so Paul didn't immediately tell him to fuck off when the man approached and offered a courteous bow in the manner of the Asura Kingdom.
With his head bowed, the well-dressed, equally well-groomed Butler said, "My name is Benson DeBois, Chief Steward in service of House Latreia. If Sir Paul is willing, my master, Lord Ralkan Latreia, has invited you and your companions to spend the evening at the Latreia Estate."
Though he had a middling interest in House Latreia, Paul didn't hesitate to answer, "Perhaps some other time. It's been nearly two weeks since I met with my escort. It would be exceptionally negligent on my part to accept your Lord's invitation when I've yet to confirm the status and safety of my own people."
Seemingly anticipating Paul's response, Benson raised his head, stating, "My Lord has also authorized me to see you and your companions safely to your destination. You'll have a much easier time passing checkpoints in a carriage bearing the sigil of House Latreia, so please allow me the honor of escorting you."
Adopting an amused smile, Paul gestured with his right hand, prompting Ganyu to transform into her Qilin form as he said, "I am perfectly capable of getting around on my own. Now, return to your Lord and tell him that if he truly wishes to meet with me, he'll seek me out directly."
Though Paul's words could be regarded as an extreme faux pas, so could Ralkan's decision to send a servant instead of meeting Paul in person. It was equivalent to 'summoning' him and was something Nobles did when they wanted to elevate themselves or reinforce the image they were in a superior position.
Seeing Paul turn away and mount Ganyu, a glimmer of disdain appeared in Benson's eyes. House Latreia were staunch supporters of the Order of the Temple, so Paul choosing to depart on the back of a 'Demon Beast' rather than accepting to board the carriage they had prepared was a particularly egregious insult.
Having noticed Benson's chagrin, Paul waited until Yae and Ei were on Ganyu's back before looking down at the elderly Butler and saying, "This is the one, and only time I will warn you. I truly don't give a damn what you think, but the next time you gaze at me or one of my companions with such eyes, be prepared to lose them."
Punctuating his words, Paul released just a fraction of the bloodlust he had refined during his brutal training with Atofe and Murata. Combined with his Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, he could cause just about any creature with self-preservation instincts to fear for their life.
Unable to withstand Paul's aura, Benson immediately collapsed to his knees, supporting himself with his hands as sweat dripped from his body like a waterfall. This wasn't the first time he had met someone of the King Rank, but Paul's aura was far beyond anything he had experienced. If he weren't aware of the latter's origins, Benson would have thought he was in the presence of Demon God Laplace...
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"Big brother~!"
After departing the White Palace and causing a commotion by flying over numerous checkpoints, Paul eventually found himself outside an Auction House in Milishion's Commercial District. More specifically, he was about to enter the high-class Inn attached to it when a sprinting Klee, followed closely by Jean, emerged from the interior.
Catching the surprisingly swift Elfette out of the air, Paul couldn't help smiling as Klee buried her face into his chest and squeezed him as hard as she could. She was initially happy to see him, but when Paul held her in his embrace, her tiny body began trembling like an abandoned kitten left out in the cold.
Without raising her face from Paul's chest, Klee sobbingly muttered, "Klee really missed you...please don't leave Klee alone anymore..."
Though her backpack got in the way, Paul held Klee firmly as he replied, "I can't promise I'll always be around, Klee, but I can promise I'll always return. Now, how about you dry those tears and give me a smile? I won't feel like I've truly returned until I see your happy face."
Removing her face from Paul's chest, Klee responded with a meek "Okay" before using her sleeve to wipe her eyes. When she eventually lowered it, Paul could see tiny bags under them. The little Elfette had evidently been losing sleep over his absence, but she eventually managed a radiant smile &nbsp;and said, "Welcome back, Big Brother~!"
As an imaginary, heart-shaped arrow pierced his chest, Paul couldn't help exhaling. He wasn't sure he would ever get used to hearing someone call him 'Big Brother,' but it felt pleasant. The only downside was that, once he summoned Alice, she would invariably expect him to call her 'Mommy'...
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After a somewhat chaotic bath and staying with Klee until she fell asleep, Paul entrusted her to Ganyu, Diona, and Sayu before slipping out to meet with everyone who had stayed behind during his visit to the White Palace.
Unsurprisingly, shortly after Paul, Ei, Yae, and Ganyu had departed for the White Palace, Rudigan's men had attempted to 'insist' that Dimsaul direct the convoy to a private warehouse in the Residential District, an area that was strictly populated by individuals and families affiliated with the Order of the Temple.
Fortunately, while Ningguang's primary focus was developing the Strife Zone into the burgeoning nation of Teyvat, she didn't neglect to spread her influence through other countries. Alongside Barbara, she had also sent Rosaria, Childe, Thoma, and eventually Lyney and Varuna to secure a foothold in the Holy Kingdom. The latter, in particular, was regarded by an increasing number of people as the second coming of Saint Milis, so Paul wasn't strictly relying on his own power and status when he elected to cut loose in the White Palace.
Though it had been less than two years since her arrival, Varuna had risen to the position of Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Order of Instruction after distinguishing herself as the most powerful Holy Knight in the entire country. More notably, despite initially being refused the opportunity to learn Healing Magic above the Intermediate Rank, she was able to restore missing limbs and even bring fallen Knights back from the brink of death. Such 'miracles' were typically reserved for Archbishops or large groups of people utilizing Emperor-Ranked Healing Magic, so it wasn't difficult to comprehend why Varuna was regarded as the second coming of Milis.a
In acknowledgment of Varuna's capabilities, the Pope had appointed her the Honorary status of a Bishop, similar to Rudigan's father, Ralkan. From the perspective of the people, this made her one of the youngest Bishops in Milishion's history, a status she used to establish House Fontaine, one of the fastest-rising Noble Houses in the country.
Though many opposed Varuna's meteoric rise, particularly those affiliated with the Order of the Temple, her character and capabilities made her too popular to suppress. Several had tried, but Varuna's natural charisma and uncompromising sense of justice had garnered her tremendous support from the public, leading to a sequence of investigations that ruined some of the most prominent families in the city.
Taking advantage of the power vacuum produced in the wake of these families' fall, Ningguang used the name and status of House Fontaine to establish multiple businesses in Milishion. Her initial goals were to create a safety net for Barbara and facilitate the transport of people and goods from the Great Forest, but she had underestimated just how 'curious' the people of Milishion were about the outside world. With Varuna's fame and rising status as one of the leaders of the Demon Race Acceptance faction, it wasn't long before the businesses belonging to House Fontaine became the chief purveyor of 'exotic goods' within the city of Milishion.
When Rudigan's men attempted to force him to direct the convoy into an obvious trap, Dimsaul didn't hesitate to produce documents denoting their affiliation with House Fontaine. He also had a permit showing they were authorized to stage at a warehouse in the Commercial District and, most importantly, an invoice denoting that the goods they were importing and had been charged tariffs for belonged to the 'Fontaine Auction House.' In other words, the Order of the Temple had no grounds to 'insist' the convoy stage anywhere except the location they had previously arranged, not without exposing their scheme...
After hearing Dimsaul's report, Paul thanked the man for his hard work before telling him to get some rest. Then, as it was already 1:43 AM, he decided to forego sleep in favor of making small talk with the girls and asking for their views. Only Lynette and Shinobu had actively ventured outside the Commercial District, but they still had eleven days to get a feel for the city and its people.
As was often the case, Jean was among the first to speak, revealing, "I had a chance to meet with Barbara a few days ago. She has become a ward of House Fontaine and has been attending the Holy Milis Academy for Girls. It was a bit presumptuous of me, but I promised you would meet with her on her next day off."
Smiling broadly, Paul remarked, "That isn't being presumptuous; it's forward thinking. If not for the Order of the Temple's scheme, I would have arranged to meet her the day we arrived in the city. Hell, I'm half-tempted to go visit her right now..."
Returning a smile of her own, Jean replied, "I would advise against it. Per tradition, everyone attending the Holy Milis Academy for Girls must reside in a basic, female-only convent. If you were to visit, it would cause quite a scandal..."
Raising his brows, Paul asked, "Does it matter? Given how much time has passed, I expected Barbara to tag along when we set out for the Asura Kingdom. Don't tell me she's bought into their propaganda and developed a fondness for the teachings of Milis...?"
Shaking her head, Jean revealed, "The problem is the 'mission' assigned to her by Ningguang. She managed to befriend the daughters of House Latreia, but the accomplishments of Lady Varuna have inspired her target, Zenith Latreia, to decide against running away from home."
"Ah..."
Though he knew Barbara had been sent to watch over and keep Zenith safe, Paul couldn't help frowning in response to Jean's words. His stay in the Demon Continent had drastically affected his perspective of the world of Mushoku Tensei and his sense of responsibility as the Champion of the IoF. As much as he appreciated the 'character' of Zenith, he no longer felt it was appropriate to assign people to watch over her...
Deciding against making rash decisions, Paul stared into the flames of the nearby hearth with a pensive look as he said, "I'll speak with Barbara and hear what she has to say. When is her next day off?"
Lowering her head slightly, Jean courteously replied, "At the end of our previous meeting, we agreed to meet at the Fontaine Estate this Sunday, specifically around 11 AM. There is a good chance that Lady Varuna will also be present."
Smiling wryly, Paul issued a faint "Right..." before taking a sip from the glass of whiskey he had been nursing. Varuna had visited him a few times during his secret stay at Kishirika Castle, but he still had a few...difficulties when it came to interacting with her. Ever since he challenged her views and forced her to acquiesce, she had become one of the more 'devoted' women in his entourage. The 'choker' she wore bearing his initials was the best proof of that fact...
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(A/N: Certain types of devotion can be scary...)

As the sound of an alarm bell echoed in the distance, Yae, appearing in her adult kitsune form, moved closer to Paul to ask, "Are you certain this is the wisest course of action? I'm all for cutting loose, but antagonizing the world's second-strongest superpower may not be the best idea."
Adopting a faint smile, Paul replied, "Just as there are factions within the Asura Kingdom, the Holy Kingdom of Milis is politically and ideologically divided. The King Regent just so happens to be affiliated with the Order of the Temple, much like the majority of Knights we've encountered. If I was a gambling man, and I most definitely am, I would wager the Order of the Temple is colluding with Prince Grabell to impede or outright eliminate me before my return to the Asura Kingdom."
Since the Order of the Temple vehemently opposed humans coexisting with Demons and other non-human races, Paul's survey of the Demon Continent was a tremendous threat to the message they were attempting to ingrain in the minds of their devotees. They 'needed' people to believe the Demon Continent and its inhabitants were the origin and propagators of evil, so they opposed any efforts to present it in a positive light.
Turning a corner, Paul was about to explain his reasoning but remained silent as a phalanx-like formation of Knights came into view. Unlike most of the Knights they had encountered thus far, however, this group wore predominately white armor, denoting their affiliation with the Order of the Church.
Dematerializing his word, Paul raised his hands to indicate he wasn't going to attack as he mused, "I was wondering when the Order of the Church would show up. Send out your representative."
Though the initial response to Paul's words and actions was stalwart silence, it wasn't long before a white-haired woman with pristine white armor adorned with a priest's stole emerged from the formation, stating, "I am Sioux Laurian, Platoon Commander of the 3rd Order of the Church, Robustus. Tell me, why are you rioting within the White Palace? What are your intentions?"
Keeping his hands up, Paul maintained a relaxed smile as he replied, "I am Paul Greyrat, Special Envoy to King Ansalem Anemoi Asura. I am currently on a return voyage to the Asura Kingdom, but members of the Order of the Temple have insisted on delaying me for the better part of two weeks. Simply put, I am not trying to cause a riot. I am simply attempting to leave and fulfill my duty."
Telling Paul everything he needed to know, Sioux blinked in surprise, a look of disbelief marring her delicate features as she asked, "You're Paul Greyrat, the King's Greatsword...?"
Nodding his head, Paul replied, "Indeed. Now, if you would be so kind as to make way, my people and I will depart without further incident."
Furrowing her brows, Sioux shook her head, stating, "I'm afraid I cannot oblige. Regardless of the circumstances, the fact remains that you caused an incident within the White Palace. We have no choice but to apprehend you until we've verified your identity and completed our investigation."
Lowering his hands, Paul's smile gradually faded as he stated, "Envoys of the Asura Kingdom have diplomatic immunity within allied nations. Unless His Majesty has rescinded my title and issued a warrant for my arrest, you have no basis to arrest me."
Frowning deeply, Sioux asserted, "Diplomatic Immunity doesn't allow you to enter another country's palace and perpetrate a massacre! Even if you are who you claim to be, you will be held accountable for your actions...!"
Raising his brows, Paul asked, "What are you talking about? We haven't killed a single person, much less perpetrated a massacre."
Leveling her sword at Paul, Sioux exclaimed, "Lies! We received a report that more than fifty members of the Order of the Temple were found dead outside the room allotted for foreign dignitaries!"
Adopting a severe expression, Paul questioned, "Who made the report? And did you actually see any of the bodies?"
Though she didn't believe there was any meaning in continuing the conversation, Sioux eventually answered, "The report was made by the sole survivor of the massacre, Sub-Commander Ophelia Laskaris Leos. You left her for dead, but she was able to survive by consuming Angel's Tears and administering Healing Magic to herself..."
Inhaling a deep breath, Paul took a moment to comb his fingers through his hair, muttering, "Motherfucking religious zealots..." while imagining the scene of Ophelia attempting to frame them by killing her own men. There was even a chance they had taken their own lives, dedicated to upholding their beliefs(read as lies) to the very end...
Sending shivers through the bodies of everyone in his field of vision, Paul stared at Sioux with his Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, stating, "I'll say this one last time, so open your ears and listen closely. We have not killed a single person. If you want to find the actual murderer, I suggest looking into the causes of death and questioning Sub-Commander Ophelia before her superiors have the opportunity to silence her. As for my companions and I, we'll be leaving right this instant. Attempt to stop us, and you'll find out what 'really' happened to those men..."
Activating his Electro Vision, purple lightning crackled around Paul as his dichromatic brown and white hair became noticeably spikier. His actions caused Sioux and her men to tense, but the white-haired Paladin didn't back down, shouting, "Saint Milis protects us!" before taking the initiative to charge forward.
In the midst of Sioux's charge, several of her subordinates used buffing spells to enhance her striking power, speed, and durability. She was only Advanced Rank in the Sword God Style, but the buffs put her on par with someone a half-step into the Saint Rank.
Unfortunately, while Buff/Support Magic was incredibly powerful, there was a reason it wasn't mainstream. It placed a tremendous strain on the recipient's body, so much so that Sioux was bleeding from the nose by the time her sword collided with Paul's. It also didn't miraculously increase a person's skill with the blade, so Paul used Sioux's uncontrolled momentum against her, deflecting her sword to the side before striking her forehead with the pommel of his own.
Though a pommel to the forehead would ordinarily scramble a person's brain, leaving them with a painful concussion, Sioux's body exuded a faint golden aura the moment Paul's attack landed. The priestly stole adorning her armor was an artifact blessed by Saint Milis, so it could thwart three Saint-Ranked attacks or Magic Spells before needing to recharge. Since Paul had held back, Sioux still had all three uses as she stepped back and attempted to slice through his wrist.
Reading Sioux's intentions, Paul stepped forward as she stepped back, preventing her from swinging her sword as he said, "That's a neat piece of cloth..." before punctuating his statement with a headbutt. It didn't deal any damage, but it caused Sioux to flinch and instinctually close her eyes, allowing him to snatch the sword from her hand.
Bereft of her sword, Sioux leaped back to create some distance, retrieving a replacement sword and receiving some healing while the crossbowmen at the back of the formation opened fire. She didn't believe they would be able to overwhelm the defenses of someone rumored to be the protege of the Water God, but their victory was assured so long as they could stall a few minutes longer.
Instead of using the Water God Style to knock down the projectiles, Paul lowered his stance and allowed them to impact against the Saint-Ranked Magical Barrier Ganyu had summoned. Virtually every one of Sioux's men realized what he was doing, but they could only stare wide-eyed as Paul's Touki surged outward, far beyond the levels of an ordinary person.
"Hold the li-"
Before Sioux could finish giving her men a pointless order, Paul appeared behind them in an instant, bright purple Electro Energy crackling around him. Immediately after his appearance, accompanied by the sound of a thunderclap, shields, spears, and fully armored men went flying, propelled by the shockwave produced by Paul's variation of the Longsword of Light, Thunder God's Approach.
With their formation shattered, Paul expected Sioux and her men to stand down and let them pass. Instead, he abruptly found himself trapped in a hemispherical barrier, courtesy of Sioux and the few among her men who could still move.
Adopting a slight frown, Paul looked back and remarked, "You don't know when to quit..."
Catching Paul a little off guard, Sioux returned a smile as she replied, "We are the sword and shield that protects the people of Milishion. Even if our bodies are broken, we will never yield."
Clasping her hands together like a maiden offering a prayer, Sioux made the barrier around Paul shrink. Her plan was to restrict his movements as much as possible, but Paul had other ideas, holding out his sword with a relaxed posture.
Though it was easily Saint-Ranked due to Sioux and several of her subordinates supplying it with Mana, the tip of Paul's sword pierced the contracting barrier like a thin pane of glass. Even without his Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, he could perceive the flaws in the barrier due to the amalgamation of various energies. With them, the barrier looked like a fractured globe. He just needed to point his sword at the intersection of multiple fractures, and it invariably crumbled to pieces.
While Sioux stared at him with her mouth slightly agape, Paul rested his sword on his shoulder and questioned, "Are we done here? Contrasting the bullshit in that report, I'm not particularly keen on injuring those who have never crossed me. I also have no intention of fleeing the city, so you can always come looking for me once your investigation is completed."
Coming to her senses, Sioux used her sword for support, forcing herself to her feet as she joked, "Sir Paul must be hard of hearing...I just told you that we would never yield..."
Though her head was pounding and her body was exhausted after using most of her Mana in the barrier, Sioux managed to assume a shaky stance with her sword leveled at Paul. Her resolve left a deep impression on both him and her men, so, even though he should be on his way, Paul raised his sword in acknowledgment of Sioux's conviction.
Mustering what remained of her strength, Sioux charged at Paul before leaping through the air, a loud war cry emanating from her throat as she swung down on his sword with a vertical slash. She couldn't muster any power, so she was using her weight, the weight of her sword, and gravity to try and break through Paul's defense.
Catching Sioux by surprise, Paul remarked, "You're a good woman..." the moment their swords overlapped. Unfortunately, while he subsequently took her breath away, the method he used was kicking her in the ribs with enough force to send her crashing into the nearby wall. The effects of her stole had been depleted when Paul used Thunder God's Approach, so she hit the wall fairly hard before collapsing to the floor in a slump.
Noticing that Sioux was still conscious, a look of surprise colored Paul's face as he sincerely remarked, "You impress me more with each passing moment. If you get up after taking a blow like that, I might turn myself in out of sheer admiration..."
Though she managed to clench her hands into fists and force a smile, both Paul and Sioux knew she wasn't getting up. She could barely rise a few moments ago, so there was no way she could stand when most of the ribs on the right side of her body were fractured or broken. It was taking every ounce of her willpower just to avoid curling up in a ball and crying...
Realizing that Sioux was down for the count, Paul exhaled a faint sigh of relief, his expression softening as he said, "That's it, then. I hope that the next time we meet, it will be on friendlier terms."
Since none of Sioux's men had half as much backbone as she did, they couldn't even meet Paul's eyes as he looked around to observe their conditions. To be fair, most people avoided looking directly at his Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, but Paul still felt disappointed since they were predominantly burly men yet couldn't hold a candle to a woman half their size...
Shaking his head, Paul turned to Ei, Yae, and Ganyu with the intention of leaving. Even a fool could tell that Sioux was stalling for time, so while he was interested in seeing who would appear, he decided to change venues first. With Ophelia presumably killing off her men, he didn't need an active imagination to guess what might happen if someone powerful showed up and decided to fight in an area populated by the wounded and impaired...
...
..
.
(A/N: Paul isn't the only one flexing...)

Chapter 207: Prestige