Mushoku Impact

After another long night, extending well into the morning, Paul was enjoying a short rest as he waited for Baroness Lawrence to arrive. The latter had agreed to meet him within the Inn's lounge, so he was lazing about on one of the sofas, absentmindedly caressing Yae in her petite fox form.
*tok* *tok* *tok*
Following the gentle rattle, the voice of Noelle could be heard stating, "Baroness Lawrence and her escort have arrived."
Rising to his feet, Paul relocated to the head of the rectangular dining table while Yae made herself comfortable near his feet. Only then did he respond, "Send her in." in a curt, authoritative tone.
With Paul's permission, Christina, wearing an expensive-looking pantsuit, made her way into the room. Accompanying her was a remarkably short girl with similarly pink hair styled in a ponytail. She had on a pink, fur-lined crop-top, baggy shorts, a thick waistcoat, oversized gloves, and leather sabatons, but the thing that stood out the most was her gigantic ax. The shaft was nearly as long as she was tall, and the head was at least 80cm across.
Noticing the surprise on Paul's face, Baroness Lawrence placed her hand on the much shorter girl's head, rustling her hair as she said, "This is my close friend and bodyguard, Rarona Labrys. As I'm sure you've guessed, she's a Dwarf."
Batting away Baroness Lawrence's hand, Rarona retorted, "Who's your friend? I'm only here because I didn't feel like being treated as a breeder to bolster my people's numbers. Don't get ahead of yourself."
Disregarding Rarona's retort, Baroness Lawrence mused, "As you can see, we're close enough to banter like childhood friends. Thank you for letting her participate in today's meeting."
Waving his hand, Paul said, "Go ahead and take a seat. I'm not really pressed for time, but there are other things I could be doing right now. Let's get to the reason for your visit."
Following Paul's suggestion, Baroness Lawrence took a seat at the opposite end of the table. Rarona stood behind her and off to the side like a proper bodyguard, but she had a disinterested look as she scanned her surroundings and eyed the nearby hearth.
Leaning forward slightly with linked fingers, Baroness Lawrence revealed the reason for her visit, stating, "I wanted to meet Sir Paul for a multitude of reasons. First and foremost, I wished to see what kind of person could win the heart of 'that' woman. Secondly, I wished to get closer to the man who serves as the spiritual backbone of our operation. I figured that if I could gain your favor, I could improve my position and accrue an even greater fortune. There are quite a number of additional reasons, but those are the main three."
Raising his brows, Paul remarked, "I gathered as much during the auction, but you're as bold as you are beautiful. If I weren't already enthralled with more than fifty women, I might have jumped at the opportunity to be your suitor."
Though it was very slight, Paul noticed Baroness Lawrence's eye twitch when he mentioned being entangled with more than fifty women. Such a number wasn't insurmountable, but if she wanted to secure a position at the 'top,' it would take tremendous time and effort.
Adopting a business-like smile, Baroness Lawrence remarked, "That's quite the amount. It's a testament to your capacity as a man that you're able to keep so many without any serious issues. Have you no intentions of marrying?"
"That's for them to decide," replied Paul. "All I really know how to do is train, fight, and make promises. I leave everything else to people far more capable than myself."
Narrowing her eyes slightly, Baroness Lawrence pointed out, "Staying alive and knowing how to delegate are two of the most important qualities for any good leader. If it were possible to handle everything alone, there would be no need for Emperors, Kings, and Generals to have Counselors, Ministers, and Knights."
"And where do you see yourself in that equation?" asked Paul.
Sitting back in her chair, Baroness Lawrence closed her eyes and replied, "I simply never wish to be at the mercy of people who willfully ruin others and then expect them to be 'grateful' for the opportunities they provide..."
Opening her eyes, Baroness Lawrence asked, "Is Sir Paul familiar with my family's situation?"
"Only the basics," replied Paul. "I know your family was nearly ruined by a Viscount who was later dealt with by Lady Fontaine. I never pried into the specifics."
Nodding her head, Baroness Lawrence appended, "A dungeon opened in one of the depleted mines my family used as collateral. Because of that, the Viscount in question tried to force us to hand it over, not to repay our debts, but to cover the 'interest.' When my father refused, the Viscount joined hands with several other families and the Adventurer's Guild to put pressure on us until we eventually collapsed..."
Interrupting the explanation, Paul asked, "Why didn't they use a Platinum Coin to acquire the mine? Better yet, why didn't your family sell the rights to the Adventurer's Guild? If I recall correctly, even an F-Rank Dungeon is valued at around 40,000AGC."
Since the structure of a Dungeon contained trace amounts of orichalcum, mithril, and other rare minerals, even F-Rank Dungeons could yield a fortune to those with the means to process them. The downside was that unless you owned the land before the Dungeon appeared, it automatically fell under the jurisdiction of the Adventurer's Guild.
Adopting a faint smile, Baroness Lawrence remarked, "It seems you aren't too familiar with Milishion's laws and the many loopholes therein. Articles and property used as collateral cannot be acquired using Platinum Coins. As such, most families offer the deeds to their primary estates and many of their most important assets as collateral when taking loans. As for why my family didn't sell the Dungeon to the Adventurer's Guild...they couldn't afford it."
Blinking in surprise, Paul was prompted to ask what Baroness Lawrence meant when the latter beat him to the punch, her expression containing a hint of melancholy as she revealed, "The rank of the Dungeon in question was S, effectively making it priceless. More importantly, as it was used as collateral, we couldn't simply sell it at our convenience..."
"Ah..."
Realizing the real reason behind House Lawrence's fall, Paul's expression morphed into a frown. Dungeons that fell under the ownership of a group or organization needed to be regulated and patrolled by their own people. Failure to keep the Dungeon in check could lead to all kinds of fines and penalties, ultimately culminating in the Dungeon being seized to 'protect' the local populace. In other words, the enemies of House Lawrence just needed to wait, and the family would eventually be ruined.
Nodding her head, Baroness Lawrence's tone was somber as she said, "Indeed. We managed to hold out for seven years and even resorted to sealing off the Dungeon's entrance, but the monsters within eventually broke free. The resultant monster wave killed hundreds, but despite most of the victims being people we hired to stem the outbreak, my father and eldest brother were held responsible and executed. After that, well, let's just say there were a lot of greedy and outright wicked people seeking to benefit from my family's destruction. If not for the grace of Lady Fontaine and the backing of our mutual friend, I would have been lucky to become a simple slave."
Contrasting the severity of her words, Baroness Lawrence regained her usual smile. She wasn't looking for sympathy, pity, or consolation, so before Paul could respond, she said, "And that's what brings us here. A few other things happened along the way, but I've never been the type to dwell on the past. Rather, now that I've been given the opportunity, I intend to keep rising until there's nothing but clear skies and an endless horizon in my view."
Pointing at Paul's face, confidence burst from Baroness Lawrence like a battle aura as she asserted, "That's where you come in. With the power at your behest, it's only a matter of time before you stand at the pinnacle of this world. I may not be able to compare to 'that' woman, but I'm certain I can meet your expectations. Lend me your support, and I'll one day hand you the entire Milis Continent on a silver platter."
Though she might not be able to pull it off with her natural lifespan, Baroness Lawrence was confident she could conquer all of Milishion if given a Vision. Her and Paul's mutual acquaintance, Ningguang, had told her the only way to acquire one was by receiving the former's favor. Thus, in exchange for eternal life and various other benefits, Baroness Lawrence was prepared to yield him everything but her ambitions...
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As he wasn't sure what Ningguang had planned for Milishion, Paul told Baroness Lawrence, who later asked him to call her Christina, that he could only make a decision after discussing the matter with the relevant parties. That included the girls traveling with him, so he eventually saw her and Rarona off after promising they would meet again before his departure.
"Your popular phase is never-ending," mused Yae, having returned to her human.
Shaking his head, Paul's voice was uncharacteristically calm as he replied, "She simply sees me as a means to an end. I don't mind, but I'm no longer willing to jump through hoops for every woman with a sob story. I already have enough problems dealing with the politics of the Asura Kingdom. I'm not in a hurry to become entangled with those of Milishion..."
Moving closer to Paul, Yae nestled her head against his shoulder and whispered, "You've grown..." in a wistful tone. "If it was before your stay in the Demon Continent, you might have been convinced to marry her on the spot. I'm proud of you..."
Resisting the urge to scrunch his brows or roll his eyes, Paul gave Yae's butt a light smack and said, "I already have a mom. I don't need another one..."
Spurred by Paul's words, Yae grabbed his arm and gazed up at him with her electro-purple eyes, musing, "You'll need to do more than smacking my bottom to convince me. We both know how close you and your mother are..."
"..."
Unable to refute Yae's words, Paul fell silent for several seconds before surprising her with a princess carry. He had nearly 'forgotten' about how intimate Asuran Noblewomen were with their sons, but Yae's words had brought the memories rushing back. Thus, even though it was the middle of the day, he intended to 'punish' her thoroughly...
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Observing the departure of Christine and Rarona from his perch more than a dozen kilometers away, a skull-faced man wearing an eyepatch mused, "That boy is remarkably popular, isn't he? At this rate, you won't get a chance to show your skills."
Furrowing her brows, a petite, red-haired woman with distinct demonic horns protruding from her shadowy hood retorted, "You're not faring any better, Sir Death God..."
Shrugging his shoulders, the Death God, Randolph Marianne, replied, "His security is even tighter than a traveling monarch's. At this rate, a head-on approach might be our only option."
"Our?" questioned the red-haired woman. "My job was to seduce and leave him vulnerable. If you intend to attack them head-on, count me out."
"Are you sure that's the wise?" asked Randolph. "If you don't at least try to attack them, those bastards from the Church really will hunt you down. As a halfling, you don't enjoy the same protections as the other members of your species. Isn't that why you became an assassin in the first place?"
"..."
Instead of responding to Randolph's words, the red-haired half-succubus furrowed her brows and lowered her gaze. The real reason she became an assassin was because the man who purchased her happened to work for a criminal guild. However, as Randolph pointed out, that was only possible due to her mixed blood. Succubus Slaves weren't unheard of, but if it were discovered that one was being imprisoned against their will, it would lead to an international incident.
Understanding she didn't have a lot of options, the red-haired assassin raised her head to meet Randolph's singular eye, asking, "What do you need me to do...?"
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(A/N: Christina is a woman of conviction o_o...)

Though there wasn't much he could do to improve his physical condition any further than he already had, Paul still enjoyed exercising. The feeling of endorphins pumping through his brain and nervous system was second only to sex, so he was somewhat annoyed when Noelle interrupted his and Ghislaine's workout to inform him that someone wanted to meet him.
"What's their identity?" asked Paul. "I'm not really in the mood to entertain self-important Nobles or members of the Church."
Realizing that Paul was annoyed, Noelle bowed her head apologetically as she replied, "She introduced herself as Sienna Revelle, a half-succubus Adventurer hailing from the Begaritt Continent. She asserts she wants to return home and desires to join our convoy as an escort."
Raising his brows, Paul parroted, "A half-succubus...?" in confusion. Half-succubi were even more scorned than their full-blooded counterparts, so it didn't make sense for one to be in a place like Milishion.
Nodding in affirmation, Noelle's expression became melancholic as she explained, "According to the person herself, she was a slave brought to Milishion by a Master who recently became deceased. Before drawing his last breath, he bequeathed Sienna her freedom. Since then, she has been looking for a way to return home without the Order of the Temple tracking her."
Furrowing his brows and crossing his arms, Paul muttered, "That's quite a story..." while mulling over his thoughts. It wasn't difficult to imagine why a half-succubus would seek him out, especially with rumors of his actions at the White Palace still circulating, but there were some significant issues with Sienna's backstory. If it was true that she was an Adventurer hailing from the Begaritt Continent, what possible reason could her 'Master' have for bringing her all the way to Milishion?
Shaking his head, Paul muttered, "Whatever..." in a muffled tone before meeting Noelle's gaze and adding, "I'll meet within the next twenty to thirty minutes. Show her to the second floor's lounge."
Bowing a second time, Noelle replied, "As you will," before raising her head and quickly departing to carry out Paul's orders. In the wake of her departure, Paul invited Ghislaine to accompany him to the bath but was summarily denied. She wasn't satisfied with the amount of training they had done, so she intended to keep going while Paul set off to search for someone else to vent his lust. This would be his first time meeting a half-succubus, but he had learned the hard way never to underestimate them after Atofe invited a full-blooded one over for his training. He also learned the true reason they were feared by three of the four Greyrat Houses...
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After preparing himself, both physically and mentally, Paul made his way over to the lounge with Ganyu. Her ability to discern the truth would come in handy, but the main reason he was bringing her along was to avoid any 'mishaps' that might occur if the half-succubus inherited the illusion and allure skills associated with her mother's lineage.
Upon entering the lounge and spotting a petite woman with carmine hair, demonic horns, and decently sized breasts, Paul's brows perked up as he asked, "Is this your true form?"
Rising to her feet, Sienna offered a courteous bow as she replied, "Thank you for agreeing to meet with me. And yes, this is my true form."
Raising her head, Sienna remarked, "If you're asking that question, I take it you've encountered a full-blooded Succubus?"
Smiling wryly, Paul deflected by saying, "That isn't important right now." before gesturing to Ganyu and revealing, "This is Ganyu, one of my most trusted companions. She has the ability to discern truth from lies, so I'm expecting you to be forthright in our coming conversation."
Though there was a possibility Paul was lying, Sienna's pupils contracted when she heard his words. Most wouldn't have noticed it, but as someone on the threshold of becoming a bonafide Water King, Paul easily detected the change in Sienna's aura and degree of alertness.
Adopting a faint smile, Paul gestured for Sienna to take a seat, stating, "Relax. Even if it turns out you're an enemy, I have no intention of harming you. That may change in the near future, but it ultimately comes down to the decisions you've made throughout your life. A wise person once said that if you're prepared to kill, you must prepare to be killed..."
With the glow from Paul's Mystic Eyes of Death Perception intensifying, Sienna found herself unable to move. She knew he was powerful, but she didn't expect the gap between them to be this immense. It was difficult to believe, but Paul's aura was nearly as terrifying as Randolph's...
Narrowing his eyes slightly, Paul gestured toward the chair and said, "Sit." in a firm, bone-chilling tone. This time, Sienna immediately complied, her body moving on its own as she became clammy with a cold, exceptionally aromatic sweat.
Sitting in the chair opposite Sienna's, Paul got straight to the heart of the matter, asking, "Why were you sent here? Were you tasked with killing me or one of my subordinates?"
Gritting her teeth, Sienna hesitated for several seconds before replying, "I can't say..." in a faint, nearly inaudible tone. To her surprise, Ganyu almost immediately nodded her head, proclaiming, "While not the complete truth, she doesn't appear to be lying."
Offering a nod of his own, Paul openly supposed, "It's likely that she 'can' say, but doing so would have disastrous consequences. Then my second question is fairly straightforward. Are you truly a slave?"
Realizing that Ganyu's senses could be fooled with half or partial truths, the tension in Sienna's body lessened considerably. In response to Paul's question, she answered, "Yes," before adding, "I can't reveal my Master's identity, but it's true that I came here from the Begaritt Continent."
With Ganyu nodding in affirmation, Paul issued a curious "Hmm..." before asking, "Would you like to be free?"
Believing she had misheard, Sienna stared at Paul with an expressionless, uncomprehending deadpan. The only being known to be able to annul or, more accurately, destroy a slave contract was the legendary 'Dotbath of Destruction,' one of Perugius's eleven subordinates. Thus, while she was fairly certain she had heard correctly, Paul's question went in one ear and out the other.
Furrowing his brows, Paul cautioned, "I'm not particularly fond of being ignored..."
Realizing she hadn't misheard, Sienna gave Paul a puzzled look and asked, "Unless they're broken or have some kind of fetish, who in their right mind would choose to remain a slave...?"
Nodding in affirmation, Paul replied, "That makes things easier..." before abruptly leaping toward Sienna in a flash. She reacted by flipping over her chair and attempting to roll backward, but the disparity in their speed was comparable to an infant trying to escape a fully grown adult. The moment she bounded to her feet, the tip of Paul's sword pierced her sternum, just under her collarbone.
Seeing Paul's sword piercing her body, Sienna's pupils contracted to the size of pinholes. She didn't feel any pain, but she was absolutely certain she had been stabbed.
Confirming Sienna's suspicions, Paul pulled roughly twenty centimeters of sword from her chest, nearly twice the amount it would have taken to pierce her torso. Despite this, there wasn't so much as a trace of blood. Instead, the crimson Slave Crest she usually kept hidden with her Illusion Magic slowly came into view, glowing brightly before 'shattering' into tiny black flakes...
Breaking Sienna from her statuesque confusion, Paul rested his sword on his shoulder and explained, "Don't ask me how, but I've 'killed' your slave contract. Once you've collected yourself, you can confirm it by answering my questions."
Though Paul told her not to, Sienna couldn't help asking, "How...?" with an expression of profound disbelief. As a half-succubus, she was sensitive to Mana and its derivative form, Touki. She could tell her slave contract was gone, but she couldn't make sense of the method Paul had used. As far as her senses were concerned, his previous attack was a swift but otherwise mundane stab...
Seeing Sienna's gaze shift to his sword, Paul shook his head and said, "Just drop it. The important thing is that you're no longer a slave. Now, take a seat and drink some tea. Once you've calmed down, I expect you to answer my questions."
Realizing she was dealing with someone whose means defied common sense, Sienna quickly nodded before complying with Paul's instructions. She hadn't completely given up on killing him, but even if he extended his neck and requested her to slit his throat, she doubted she would have the courage to go through with the attempt...
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With Sienna disclosing everything, including her background, the identity of her Master, and the details of her mission, Paul decided against holding her accountable for the 'many' people she had killed. She admitted to not feeling any remorse for her actions, but that wasn't wholly unexpected for someone in her situation. Her earliest memory was being taken advantage of in an alleyway, and things didn't improve much from there.
Though Sienna hadn't inherited the powerful allure associated with pure-blooded Succubi, she still possessed a body inordinately suited for carnal acts. Her sweat and bodily fluids functioned as a powerful hallucinogenic that stimulated males from virtually any species. More tragically, so long as her head or heart weren't destroyed, she could recover from any injury with a bit of blood or 'vitality.'
Needless to say, Sienna hadn't lived a very colorful or pleasant life. If not for her Master picking her up, granting her strength, and promising to free her when he died, she likely would have broken.
When Paul asked how she had ended up in Milishion, Sienna revealed that her Master had a rare necrotic disease that could only be treated with the highest grade Holy Water. A one-ounce vial of the sanctified solution cost upwards of 10,000AGC(roughly 500kgs), so Sienna had little choice but to acquire the money for its purchase 'after' reaching Milishion. After all, not everyone had an interspatial ring/storage device capable of housing tens of thousands of gold without issue.
To Paul's surprise, Sienna still intended to return to the Begaritt Continent with the Holy Water she had acquired. She attested to not caring whether her former Master lived or died, but she wanted to return the favor for him 'saving' her more than forty years prior. After that, she intended to use the rest of her savings to start over, of all places, in Teyvat. Rumors of it being a free nation that didn't discriminate against individuals based on race or class had begun to spread worldwide. As a result, people from across the globe were migrating there in search of freedom and opportunity.
Supportive of Sienna's decision, Paul gave her permission to travel with the convoy until they reached the Dragon King Kingdom. She would be on her own from there, but as an assassin and S-Rank Adventurer with more than forty years of experience, she should be fine. Rather, unless she ran into a stray King or Emperor, she had an absolute advantage against most male monsters and people.
When Sienna invariably asked why he was helping her, Paul responded by rejecting the assertion outright. Letting her travel with the convoy didn't cost him anything. After all, they were already headed in that direction, so it wouldn't matter if they had an extra mouth to feed. More importantly, by appearing before him, Paul was able to learn of the greater threat looming over the horizon. Letting her travel alongside them was a paltry reward for letting them know the literal Death God was on their tail...
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(A/N: You know what they say, the shortest route to a woman's heart is through the sternum...)

With nothing scheduled till his meeting with Baroness Lawrence the following day, Paul decided to take it easy. It felt like he had been doing nothing but taking it easy since his departure from the Demon Continent, but there was a reason for that. He needed time to adapt to the powers he obtained during his time abroad.
Though his greatest boons were his Mystic Eyes of Death Perception and the immortality of the Immortal Demon Tribe, they were far from the only traits Paul acquired during his stay in the Demon Continent. At the behest of the two Kishirikas, Atofe had 'collected' female demons from more than a dozen rare and declining tribes to allow him to acquire their traits. There was even a member of the 'King Slime' race mixed in, integrating with the attributes of the Immortal Demon Tribe to give Paul a pseudo-amorphous body.
In an effort to familiarize himself with the aforementioned trait, Paul was standing in front of a standing mirror in nothing but his skivvies, willfully altering the structure of his face and body. A thick layer of sweat covered him from head to toe, but Paul kept going despite the pain of having his nerves and musculoskeletal structure rearranged.
Fortunately, while Paul focused intently on controlling his powers, he had Noelle dutifully wiping away his sweat. His half-naked form caused a red hue to stain her cheeks, but she maintained a fairly calm and professional demeanor as she dabbed his brow and chest with a cool towel.
After compressing and increasing the density of his bones and muscles, Paul looked a little more like the fifteen-year-old boy he was supposed to be. Unfortunately, the moment he lost his focus, he experienced a painful rebound as his body reverted to its original form.
To avoid screaming aloud, Paul grit his teeth and inhaled a sharp breath. The pain was fleeting, thanks to his enhanced regeneration, but for a brief moment, it felt like all the skin on his body had been ripped off. Afterward, literal steam exuded from his pores as his internal temperature shot up to more than a hundred degrees Celsius.
Fortunately, while an internal temperature of 103&deg;C would have been fatal to an ordinary human, Paul could even soak in Atofe's 'boiling blood pond' without experiencing too much discomfort due to his affinity with Fire and Pyro Energy. Murata was nearly as voracious as Venti, both in bed and on the battlefield, so flames and heat were among the things Paul feared the least.
Exhaling a steamy sigh that caused a layer of condensation to cover the mirror's surface, Paul groaned, "I should wait until I visit the north before attempting this kind of training..."
Accepting the fresh towel offered by Noelle, Paul wiped away the sweat from his face before heading over and submerging in the nearby ice bath. His entrance produced a loud hissing sound and a tremendous plume of steam, but it settled fairly quickly as his temperature decreased to a fairly normal level.
"You've worked hard. Would you like me to cradle your head and face in my bosom?" asked the icy-haired woman across from Paul, the source of the frigid waters.
Adopting a faint smile, Paul opened his eyes to meet Eula's gaze, asking, "Have I ever refused such an invitation?"
"I suppose not," replied Eula, returning a smile before spreading her arms invitingly. Her breasts were fairly modest, but their shape, combined with Eula's snowy complexion, gave them an irresistible allure.
"Ah..."
As Paul's head was still a bit warm, Eula was startled when he abruptly face-planted into her breasts. However, instead of pushing or pulling away from him, she embraced his head and rested her cheek against his crown, remarking, "You're so warm..." in a whispering tone.
Instead of pointing out that Eula's tits were like satiny bags of ice, Paul responded by hugging her waist and drawing her closer tower him. His actions nearly caused them to submerge beneath the icy water, but Eula didn't protest. Instead, she closed her eyes and spread her legs, placing herself in a precarious position if not for Paul's briefs.
As tempted as he was by Eula's actions, Paul eventually released his hold on her waist and sat upright. His resistance to the cold wasn't nearly as high as his other tolerances, so it was difficult for him to get excited when his balls were shriveling up like dried persimmons.
Returning to his original position on the opposite end of the tub, Paul asked Eula and Noelle the question they had been expecting since earlier that morning, specifically, "Tell me, Eula, Noelle, is there anything I could be doing to make you happier?"
Having prepared her answer in advance, Eula responded by closing her eyes and stating, "Once things calm down, I would like to establish a new Lawrence Clan. Ningguang intends to establish a new Mondstadt in the western region of Teyvat, so I would like to continue my family's legacy there. This time, we will not make the same mistakes..."
Realizing that Eula was essentially asking him to impregnate her, albeit in the 'distant' future, Paul's brows perked up. He knew quite a few of the girls were concerned with having children, but he didn't expect Eula to be one of them. However, considering she should be around 27-28, it wasn't too surprising. Even in the world of Genshin Impact, 28 was pretty late to start a family.
Nodding his head, Paul asserted, "I will obviously support you. Just let me know when you're ready." in a decisive tone.
Returning a nod of her own, a faint smile developed across Eula's face as she replied, "I shall." with a hint of gratitude in her voice. She never once thought Paul would refuse her, but it was still a relief hearing him declare his support without hesitation...
Seeing the 'relief' in Eula's two-toned, purple-gold eyes, Paul felt his heart skip a beat. He had always considered himself fortunate to have such a cool and breathtakingly beautiful girl among his women, but that one look was enough to make his mind completely blank, his expression becoming one of stupefied awe.
Amused by Paul's reaction, Eula's faint smile became marginally more prominent as she closed her eyes and said, "I believe there is still one more person waiting to answer your question..."
Coming to his senses, Paul promptly shifted his attention to Noelle, an awkward smile developing across his face as he scratched the back of his head. Fortunately, Noelle didn't seem to mind his momentary distraction, smiling as she said, "If each of us is allowed to make a request, I would like to become an official Knight and the leader of an Order that protects Master's family and loved ones. I enjoy being a Maid, but being an official Knight has always been my dream."
Regaining his composure, Paul nodded his head and said, "Sure. With my status as the King's Greatsword, I doubt His Majesty will have a problem with me establishing an Order or two. We can even call it the Knights of Favonius if you want."
Catching Paul by surprise, Noelle shook her head, a mischievous glimmer appearing in her pale green eyes as she revealed, "After discussing the matter with Lady Jean, we already came up with a few names we thought might be suitable."
Raising his brows, Paul issued a curious "Oh...?" before asking, "And what did you come up with?"
Narrowing her eyes slightly, Noelle nearly caused Paul to perform a spit take as she answered, "Rose Fourreau, meaning Pink Scabbards. Since we would be an all-female Knight Order serving Master Paul, we concluded it would be best to choose something a little on the nose."
Feeling a sudden urge to laugh, Paul did exactly that. With his nickname being the King's Greatsword, it wasn't difficult to intuit why the girls had chosen to call themselves scabbards. Fortunately, no one but themselves would know the true meaning behind the name of their Order. To the rest of the world, they would be the Rose Fourreau; an all-female group filled to the brim with elite Swordswomen and Mages.
Nodding his head several times, Paul couldn't help smiling as he said, "I love it. Once we get back, I'll petition the King as soon as possible. He'll probably ask for something in return but just leave that to me. I won't rest until the Rose Fourreau becomes a reality."
Bowing low and respectfully, Noelle's smile became especially prominent as she replied, "Then I shall do my best to become one of Master's finest scabbards..."
Understanding the not-so-hidden meaning of Noelle's words, Paul's eyes glistened with a hungry light, compelling him to rise from the tub and say, "I'll make sure of it..."
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Since he didn't want to be accused of playing favorites, Paul eventually asked each of his women what he could do to make them happy. Most of them had fairly straightforward requests, like Venti wanting to have more sex, while others had more demanding appeals. Klee, in particular, asked if he could summon her mother, so Paul had little choice but to prepare for what he anticipated to be his biggest gacha spree ever.
Fortunately, while there were a few other 'big' requests, Klee's was the only one Paul was genuinely concerned about. Xinyan wanted to open a music studio, Xiangling wanted to open a restaurant, and Ghislaine asked if they could transfer some of the flora, fauna, and soil of the Great Forest to Teyvat. These were all fairly easy to achieve, so Paul promised to make them a reality. Far more troublesome was the request of Diona, who, after learning he had promised to impregnate Eula, wanted children of her own. Not just one, but 'dozens.'
Though he managed to talk Diona down from a few dozen to just two or three, it was a fact that Paul would be fathering many more children than he expected. He had thought that the girls from the Intersection of Fate would wait until the completion of their mission before having kids, but while that was certainly the case at the time of their summoning, time had a way of changing people's mentalities. With more than a hundred years until Laplace's resurrection, they needed something more than training to occupy their time.
Including Barbara, though he had yet to ask her directly, Paul had agreed to have children with a total of five women. Eula and Diona were the most eager, but Jean and Lilia had also expressed an interest in having at least one child. The latter was initially surprised when Paul asked her the same question as the other girls, but she eventually summoned the courage to make two requests. She wanted a child of her own but wanted to hold off until everyone else had given birth.
Though none of them treated her as their 'lesser,' Lilia had developed a bit of an inferiority complex due to how talented and beautiful everyone from the Intersection of Fate was. She managed to step into the realm of a Saint thanks to the Dendro Vision given to her by Paul, but that did little to bolster her confidence. Rather, it caused her to feel even more indebted to him.
Similar to her novel and anime counterparts, Lilia was a 'very' obstinant woman. When Paul absolved her of her responsibilities as a Maid and told her to do as she pleased, she abruptly gave up on her sword training and focused entirely on taking care of him. He thought this was because she was afraid of being 'discarded,' but after discussing the matter with Lilia directly, she informed him that serving him is what gave her life meaning. From the moment he informed her of his foreknowledge and entrusted her with the truth about the IoF, she resolved to serve him for the rest of her life. She may have been just a little girl when she made that vow, but she intended to see it through until the end...
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(A/N: I guess this means we'll be seeing Aisha at some point in the future O w O...)

Chapter 218: Conviction