Chapter 44: Breaking Point
Just as Paul was beginning to wonder if they had stayed in the bath a little too long, a young girl with pale purple hair, even paler skin, and vibrant, purple-pink eyes entered into the room, stating, "Master Paul, everything has been prepared."
"Right. Thank you, Qiqi."
"Nn..."
Having carried out her mission, Qiqi promptly departed the bath to return to the party venue. When she was gone, Paul returned his attention to the bronze-skinned girl seated between his legs, saying, "Time to go."
"Boooo..."
While the others were beginning to feel a little lightheaded due to the extremely warm water, Xinyan could stay in the bath for hours at a time. Unfortunately for her, Paul had no intention of boiling himself, so, after a moment of Xinyan refusing to get up, he rose of his own accord...
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After changing into a fresh set of clothes and waiting for the girls to help Ei get dressed, Paul meandered his way towards the East Wing. He would be lying if he said he wasn't excited, but, at the same time, Paul couldn't help feeling as though his time was running out. Thus, even though it was colder than a witch's tit between the bathhouse and the back entrance to the Estate, he enjoyed the frigid yet refreshing air with a relaxed smile on his face.
"Welcome home, Master Paul~!"
With the girls leading the way, it wasn't long before Paul found himself in a small gallery that also served as a banquet hall. There, nearly every one of his summons had gathered in variations of the outfits they wore back in their previous world of Teyvat. It was astonishingly surreal, even though Paul had long since gotten used to the cel-shaded graphics of his present life.
Appearing in a courtly black, gold, and predominately white gown that left much of her increasingly long legs bared, Ningguang habitually linked her hand through Paul's arm in order to guide him to his seat. Paul had a habit of walking around and trying to greet everyone when he initially arrived at parties, so Ningguang did her best to take him to where he 'needed' to be.
With Paul occupying the seat of honor, a large wooden throne with space enough for three people, the banquet/party could officially begin. To that end, Yun Jin appeared atop a stage prepared at the center of the hall, the lights dimming before a sound reminiscent of Japanese instruments filled the gallery. Back in her previous world, Yun Jin was the most prestigious singer and dancer at the Heyu Tea House. She had also been the Director of the Yun-Han Opera Troupe, so she had trained a handful of servants to play instruments so she could perform.
While Paul hadn't been particularly interested in things like flag dances and kabuki performances in his previous world, he had learned to enjoy them quite a bit in this one. Yun Jin was extremely passionate about her art, so while he preferred watching Eula dance and listening to Barbara sing as he used her lap as a pillow, Paul enjoyed the petite, almost doll-like girl's performance. He did, however, feel a little bad when he got a hell of a lot more excited for Xinyan's shamisen guitar solo...
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"You want to travel to the Sword Sanctum for training...?"
With the party coming to an end after three and a half hours, Paul was seated within Ningguang's study, the latter sitting astride atop his lap while Ganyu prepared tea off to the side.
Nodding his head in affirmation, Paul stated, "I've already discussed the matter with my father. Shortly after my tenth birthday celebration, I plan to set out for the Sword Sanctum with Ei, Jean, Barbara, Razor, Eula, and anyone else who wants to travel up North."
Seeing through to Paul's innermost thoughts, Ningguang asked, "Are you trying to intercept that Ghislaine woman?"
Instead of getting defensive and denying it, Paul nodded his head, saying, "With all the decisions that have basically been made for me, I wanted to respect at least one of my original goals for this world. Even if she ignores or beats the shit out of me, I would at least like try and make her mine..."
"Hooooo...you've become a lot bolder these past ten months. Jean was right to suggest I send Eula with you..."
Smiling despite the insinuation he had been plotted against, Paul asked, "So? What do you think...?"
"Hmmm..."
Instead of answering Paul's question, Ningguang glanced down at her present form. She had already started puberty and looked a fair bit older than ten, but the notion of carrying a child when she had just entered her rapid growth period wasn't exactly pleasant.
"You said two years...?"
"Give or take. My actual goal is to develop my Touki and reach Saint Rank in the Sword God Style. Without the Longsword of Light, I'll be vulnerable against those who can use it."
"And what of the Adventurer's Guild? Once you reach the age of ten, you should be able to register."
Shaking his head, Paul explained, "I plan to stop by, but I'm not going to get into adventuring until I'm confident I can sufficiently protect myself. I don't want to leave everything to people like Ei and Jean while I just sit on the sidelines like a supporting character..."
"Mmm...very well..."
Though she felt he was taking unnecessary risks, Ningguang understood Paul's desire to be the 'main character' of his own life. She had even come to respect it a bit, so, as long as Paul didn't do anything foolish like asking to travel alone, she didn't mind if he was a little rash and self-indulgent.
"Just make sure to take Xiangling and with you. She hasn't said anything, but I can tell she has been feeling a little 'useless' as of late. She might not be able to learn anything at the Sword Sanctum, but she can prepare meals for your party and help care of Ei. If the opportunity arises, you can also 'convince' her of her value using other means..."
"Right..."
Instead of refuting Ningguang's words as he might have in the past, Paul just nodded his head in both affirmation and acceptance. He had held out for quite a while, but it wouldn't be long before his life became a mirror of the original Paul's. He might not be sleeping with a bunch of random girls, but his bed was bound to be filled with dozens of beauties over the next five to ten years...
Catching Paul by surprise, Ningguang softly inquired, "Who do you want to lose your virginity to...?"
Though it was purely coincidental, at least from Paul's perspective, his eyes briefly met Ganyu's. In reality, Ningguang had timed her question at the exact moment that Ganyu was handing them tea. She would prefer it if Paul's first partner in this life were someone gentle and service-minded rather than someone more selfish. Paul may not be a virgin, but if his first partner from the IOF was someone like Barbara, Ningguang felt as though things would become unnecessarily complicated.
Sensing the sudden surge of Paul's emotions as their gazes met, a faint blush spread through Ganyu's cheeks as she maintained eye contact and said, "If Master thinks I'm worthy...my heart is prepared..."
Having shed most of her 'baby fat' and changed into an outfit not all that dissimilar to the skin-tight garments she wore in her previous life, Ganyu had a very dangerous allure to her. She still had a ways to go before she regained her original appearance, but her charm was such that the Royal Family would 'demand' her inclusion into the Palace of Concubines if she ever appeared in public.
Strengthening Ganyu's chances, Ningguang whispered, "If you miss this opportunity, it would be years before you see each other again...are you truly willing to shun Ganyu's devotion just for a possibility of sleeping with some random girl you've never even met...?"
Though he had no intentions of sleeping with Ghislaine, at least not any time soon, Paul would be lying if he said Ningguang's words didn't affect him. Ganyu really was a very dutiful woman, so much so that Paul almost wished he could just take her wherever he went. If she had been the one to accompany him to the Academy, he might have already lost his faux v-card...
Like the Devil, or perhaps a Succubus, Ningguang pulled at the remnants of Paul's sensibilities, her voice a sultry purr as she said, "You wouldn't condemn members of the Migurdia Tribe for having intercourse, so why would you hold a three thousand year old Adeptus to a higher standard? Ganyu has been a maiden for more than three thousand years...don't you think she deserves some love...?"
Swallowing hard, Paul found himself at a complete loss for words. The things Ningguang was saying made a scary amount of sense. Mushoku Tensei was a world where Magical Races such as Hobbits, Migurdians, and a few subspecies of Demons resembled human children even after hundreds of years. He certainly wouldn't condemn them for procreating, so why was he so apprehensive about having sex with someone well over three thousand years old when she wasn't even human? The only reason she even looked as she did was because of him...
Making things both easier and exponentially harder on Paul, Ganyu's eyes lowered to the insuppressible tent in his trousers as she softly whispered, "Though you may think lesser of me for it...I have been looking forward to becoming one with Master. Ever since our very first encounter...I sincerely believed you were a man worthy of dedicating my everything to..."
With Paul saying nothing to stop her, Ganyu slowly unfastened the belt of his trousers, her purple-pink eyes glazing over slightly as the blush in her cheeks spread to the tips of her ears. She was more than a little nervous, but, at the same time, she was excited to experience what had compelled her mother to love a mortal man so many years ago...
Feeling a maddening fervor permeating his body, Paul's wavering eyes remained fixed on Ganyu as he said, "This is an order, Ningguang...if you or anyone else spiked my drink, tell me now..."
Tearing away the last vestiges of Paul's restraint, a sultry and amused chuckle emanated from Ningguang's throat as she placed her lips to his ear and whispered, "We spiked our own drinks with a mild sedative...this, these emotions you're currently experiencing, are entirely your own..."
As if to punctuate Ningguang's soul-shaking words, Ganyu managed to loosen Paul's trousers enough to unleash his not-so-little brother. It still had several years to grow, but it was already pushing fifteen centimeters when flaccid and twenty when erect. As strange as it sounded, it actually made Paul feel a little self-conscious as girls like Xinyan and Barbara had made minimal effort to conceal their increasingly fervid gazes whenever they bathed together...
Causing an awkward chuckle to emanate from Paul's throat, Ganyu, in her characteristically serene tone, calmly affirmed, "It's big..." before directing her watery eyes at him and asking, "May I...?"
Though he felt like his psyche was on the verge of fragmenting into tens of thousands of pieces, Paul managed an awkward smile as he answered, "Sure..." in an audibly shaky tone.
Returning a far more radiant and sincere smile, Ganyu tentatively reached forward to grab the base of Paul's inordinately prominent member as she muttered a heartfelt, "Thank you, Master...I might be inexperienced, but I promise to do my best..."
"Yeah..."
Not sure what else to say or do, a problem he hadn't experienced since he initially lost his virginity, Paul just stared in silence as Ganyu slowly figured things out. When she did, several waves of guilt immediately washed over Paul's mind, but they were quickly suppressed by far more prominent yet fleeting emotions...
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