eins_left_foot

MI167: Mediation

"It's a pleasure to see you again, Master Paul. I trust your stay in the Demon Continent has been fruitful?"

Though he adopted a faint smile, Paul didn't immediately respond to the buxom brunette that had just descended from Ganyu's back. Instead, he looked to see who else had tagged along, his smile becoming noticeably more sincere when he spotted a familiar, mint-haired girl with glasses.

Unbothered by Paul's apparent apathy, Zhongli maintained a professional smile as she explai...

MI166: Forewarning

Feeling a sudden and intense surge of pain, Paul awoke to find himself being lowered into a pool of hazy, glowing green liquid. His arms felt like they were burning from the inside out, but he did his best to force a smile as Ganyu stared down at him with teary eyes and a concerned look on her face.

Understanding that Paul couldn't speak due to the clenching of his jaw, Ganyu took the initiative to say, "Please, don't force yourself...just let me care for you..."

Nodding his head,...

MI165: Hardships

In the weeks that followed his arrival at Fort Necross, Paul's life became a veritably living hell. 

Under normal circumstances, those that had undergone a pilgrimage to Fort Necross would find themselves involuntarily drafted into the lowest rungs of Atofe's Elite Guard. Their training involved fighting against their fellow members for everything from food and water to accommodation. If they were powerful, they would quickly move up the ranks and be allowed to stay in the lodges c...

MI164: Echoes of the Past

After letting his thoughts wander for the better part of twenty minutes, Paul decided to ask a question that had been on his mind since Kishirika's unexpected appearance, questioning, "What's with the bodysuit? Didn't like the clothes I purchased for you...?"

Instead of immediately responding to Paul's question, Kishirika climbed atop his lap. Paul exhaled through his nose as she did so, but he made no attempts to stop her. There was a good chance they would be spending the next three y...

MI163: Demonic

With everyone excusing themselves to search the keep or fetch the girls outside, Paul found himself alone with Atofe and Kishirika. Ei was nearby, just in case, but Paul doubted her intervention would be necessary after Kishirika's comments regarding the prosperity of Demonkind.

Fortunately for Paul, Atofe had enough patience to wait until they were relatively alone before gesturing toward the throne with her thumb and saying, "Want to give it a go? Or would you rather do it while stand...

MI162: Reason

After racing back to Fort Necross like a blue meteor streaking across the sky, Atofe spontaneously arrested her momentum above the courtyard, a shockwave emanating from her petite frame as she scrutinized the scene below.

Though it looked as though a massive explosion had been set off, leaving bodies strewn all over the place, Atofe could sense that most, if not all of her men, were still alive.

Clicking her tongue, Atofe grumbled, "What a pain..." before plummeting to the ground ...

MI161: Roots

Unable to keep up with the combined assault of Jean and Eula, especially with Paul and the others nearby, Regas eventually took a knee and asked, "What is it you people hope to achieve by assaulting the fortress? Even if you're able to take it over, it will never recognize you as its master..."

Stepping forward under the watchful eye of Ei, Paul answered, "We're not here to take over and occupy the fortress. We just didn't feel like running away after your people attacked us."

Tho...

MI160: Sieging Fort Necross

Expecting a massive fortress that rivaled the Silver Palace in size, Paul was surprised to find that Fort Necross, once home to the legendary Five Elements Demon King, was a relatively small castle town, smaller than the private estates of most Asuran Nobles.

Surveying the fortress from a distance, Paul noted that it was separated into five sections by thick ramparts that ascended towards a glistening black keep like a set of stairs. 

The first three sections of the fortress ...

MI159: Divine Retribution

Staring at the chasm created by Ei's attack, Paul legitimately didn't know what to say. He knew she had performed feats such as splitting an island but knowing something was possible and witnessing it for himself...it just hit differently. 

After hearing Xinyan quietly mutter, "Holy shit..." Paul regained enough of his senses to ask, "Did you...did you kill her...?"

Without removing her eyes from the chasm she had created, Ei shook her head and answered, "She's still alive. W...

MI158: Demonic Nature

With Ei, Eula, Xinyan, and Jean forming a perimeter around Moore's bound body, Paul asked, "Why did you attack us?"

Seemingly oblivious to his circumstances, Moore maintained an ostensibly calm and composed demeanor as he replied, "It was a trial. Our Mistress, the Immortal Demon King, Atoferatofe Raibaku, has developed an interest in you and your Party. You should prepare yourselves."

"Right..."

Instead of regarding Moore's words as bluster, Paul turned to Ei and said, "Try...

MI157: Fun and Games

Though their journey was made exponentially easier due to Ganyu casting an enchantment that gave the carriage shock-absorption properties, Paul would be lying if he said he wasn't bored. Venti and Xinyan helped to keep everyone's spirits high by singing songs and playing their instruments, but the journey was a lot less 'exciting' than he had anticipated.

When they had initially set out, Paul expected large groups, potentially even hordes of monsters, to assail them. Instead, they had t...

MI156: Personal Matters

Bursting out from one of the apparel shop's changing rooms, Kishirika spun around excitedly as she exclaimed, "Da-daaaan~! How do I look~?"

Opening his eyes from where he was perched, leaning against a wall, Paul remarked, "Not bad. Pretty cute."

Puffing out her non-existent chest, now protected by a brown breastplate, Kishirika said, "I would have preferred beautiful or sexy, but I can't deny my current form is a work in progress. Getting my horns in and out of this hood will be ...

MI155: Contract With a Demon

After a series of minor, headache-inducing incidents, everyone was preparing for bed when Kishirika plunged face-first into Ganyu's fur and remarked, "Wow, such fine fur. Just what kind of creature are you...?"

Answering in Ganyu's stead, Paul explained, "She's a Qilin, also known as an Illuminated Beast."

"Hooooo~? I've heard of Qilins before. Aren't they the result of a Dragon breeding with a horse? I've never heard of one possessing cloud-like fur."

"Well, you have now," ...

MI154: Complications

Seeing Paul staring at his Vision, Kishirika couldn't help asking what it was. When he explained it to her, she asked if she could try and analyze it before returning it to him and flatly stating, "That's a neat little trinket, but I don't think it has anything to do with your ability to absorb the essence of others."

Looking toward Venti, Ei, Jean, Eula, Xinyan, and Ganyu, Paul asked, "Any ideas? Or is it something you can't tell me until I figure it out on my own?"

Speaking on b...

MI153: Revelations

With Paul providing her extra Papaw Sauce, Kishirika was relatively well behaved until the group reached the hostel. There, she took one look at the group of girls present before staring back at Paul and inquiring, "So, what exactly are you?"

Confused by Kishirika's question, Paul questioned, "What do you mean? I already told you who I was and where I came from."

"Yeah, and?" replied Kishirika. "Normal humans aren't able to absorb the essence of other creatures. And then there're ...

MI152: A Not-so-Unexpected Encounter

After returning his attention to the food he was preparing, Bagura asked, "So, what does your King want from me?"

Shaking his head, Paul replied, "As far as I'm aware, nothing in particular. That's why I mentioned I was only 'technically' an Envoy. The truth is that my being here was an excuse to get me out of the Kingdom for a few years. If I can gather information and befriend a few Demon Lords, that's just a bonus."

"Ah...politics. I'm personally a moderate, so I don't mind wor...

MI151: Perception

Upon entering the kitchen, the first thing Paul noticed was a variety of different meats dangling from the ceiling. The second thing he noticed was the three-meter tall pig-faced Demon wearing an outfit that was a mix between a chef and a butcher.

Looking towards Paul's group, the pig-faced Demon narrowed his eyes as he asked, "Dinner or diner?"

With the same predatory smile she had revealed earlier, the pig-faced woman answered, "Diner." before looking toward Paul and adding, "Fo...

MI150: Not Your Average Port City...

"I have an idea."

Though she didn't think Paul's suggestions were bad, Venti couldn't help asking, "Why don't we occupy a Labyrinth or have Ganyu bring over Zhongli to construct a fortress. I mean, if we're going to be here for a few years, we may as well make a place for ourselves."

Blinking in surprise, Paul replied, "That's...actually not a terrible idea? It would definitely give us some privacy..."

Since Labyrinths/Dungeons formed in regions where Mana was abundant, the ...

MI149: Choosing a Path

With no demonstrably better options available, Paul and the girls decided to shack up in a hostel operated by the Adventurer's Guild. The room was a complete mess, looking like it hadn't been cleaned in months, but it was nothing Magic couldn't solve. Far more troublesome was the fact that the beds were little more than straw covered in a thin monster hide.

Fortunately for Paul and the rest, they didn't have to pull out their bedrolls and sleeping bags. The moment Paul commented on the ...

MI148: Perception

After registering themselves at the Guild, Paul exchanged 3 AGC for 270 GOC after a 10% exchange commission. 

Unlike the currency of the Asura Kingdom, which used refined metals such as copper, silver, gold, and platinum, the Demon Continent used literal stone, scrap iron, iron, and green crystals that resembled decently sized emeralds. If converted directly, it would take a hundred Stone Coins to equal a single Asura Copper Coin, which, in turn, was equivalent to the second-highes...

MI147: Value

After another exhausting day within the Ranoa Magic Academy, Roxy dragged her feet back to the Bastille, droning, "I'm hooooooome..." in a lazy tone the moment she entered.

As she had been living with Princess Andromeda, Roxy expected either silence or a calm, dignified response welcoming her back. Instead, she heard the familiar sound of a man responding, "Yo! We're in the Drawing Room...!" in a chipper tune.

Thinking her mind was playing tricks on her, Roxy groaned, "Great...now...

MI146: Detours

As it had been more than an hour since they entered the bath, Paul was unsurprised to find Ghislaine, Jean, Ei, Xinyan, and Lilia within his former study, not just his kids. Ghislaine was seated on a sofa with Aria using her lap as a pillow while the rest of the girls were either reading or catching up on the sleep they had lost the previous night.

Though Aria briefly stirred at the sound of people entering the room, Paul couldn't help smiling wryly when she immediately went back to sle...

MI145: Fleeting

With nothing better to do, Paul and Party made their way eastward along the route leading to the Milbots Region. They intended to find a town or a small village to wait for Ganyu's arrival, but they weren't even on the road for twenty minutes before Ghilsaine stated, "She's coming." in a confident tone.

As if given form by Ghislaine's words, Ganyu appeared next to Paul like a phantom in her most diminutive form. Her speed when traveling alone was incomparable to when she was carrying pa...

MI144: Change of Plans

"Wake up. We've got company."

Hearing the sound of Reida's voice, Paul stirred just as a faint knocking emanated from the door. 

Without Paul needing to ask, Reida explained, "It's that Noble-looking lass with the golden hair. I think her name was Jean...?"

Rolling his eyes, Paul remarked, "It's been three weeks. We both know you've memorized their names by now..."

With Reida rising from the sofa, Paul attempted to do the same before she pushed him back down and s...

MI143: Rumination : Silence

After refusing Philip's offer to travel back via carriage, Paul spent the half-hour it took him to reach the Citadel ruminating over the future.

Though it felt like an entire lifetime had passed since he gained access to the Intersection of Fate, Paul knew that he was barely at the start of his journey in the world of Mushoku Tensei. The current year was only K401, and while he had little knowledge of the actual timeline, he recalled that events such as Laplace's resurrection didn't occ...

MI142: Settle

"Well met, Viscount Goldweaver, Viscount Blackbird. And might I say what a pleasure it is to see you again, Dame Jean. Still as radiant as ever."

Though it wasn't rare for students to gree them, Alex furrowed his brows in response to Philip's words. Unfortunately, even his status as a Viscount was inconsequential compared to Philip's standing as the Second Son and Heir Presumptive of House Boreas. The status of the Greyrat Houses was so great they didn't even bother with titles such as ...

MI141: Tension : Politics

Seeing Alex place his hand on the pommel of his sword, Paul's expression morphed into a deadpan as he asked, "Seriously...?" in an annoyed tone.

Before Alex could respond to Paul's words, Jean garnered the attention of everyone present by chiming in to declare, "The Viscount is correct. I am more than capable of making decisions for myself..."

Misunderstanding Jean's intentions, an arrogant and victorious smile developed across Alex's face as he sneered in Paul's direction. He was...

MI140: Black Flags as far as the Horizon

Though people like the King and Reida were becoming increasingly aware of how dangerous Paul and his Party were, they were among the few who knew the 'truth.' Most didn't even believe they were a Party of Saints, so, with the fearlessness of a young lamb entering into the den of a sleeping dragon, Vuldar forced open the door to Ei's room with a smile that made his intentions transparently clear.

Seeing his would-be quarry step back, the smile on Vuldar's face became even more sinister a...

MI139: Reprieve : Accord

"Wake up. We've got places to be this morning."

"Nnngh..."

Though he was usually quick to rise, Paul rolled away from Reida when she tried to rouse him. She had been running him ragged for nearly three weeks, both day and night, so he didn't feel like moving now that she had given him a day off.

Prompting Paul awake, Reida created a thread of Electro Energy between her index finger and thumb. The moment Paul heard the tell-tale chirp it made, he instantly leaped out of bed, ...

MI138: Control

"Back straight, legs bent, chin raised! If I catch you slacking off, it's a rod to the shoulder...!"

Gritting his teeth, Paul did his best to stay focused even as his eyes stung from the thick layer of sweat dripping from his brows and body. Reida had him don a pair of stone clubs, each weighing 50kg, before instructing him to stand in a circle populated by mechanical training dummies. Instead of asking him to strike them, however, Reida forced him to squat down, clubs held out to the s...