MI99: Parting (Patreon)

Since Lisa would linger in Sharia until Roxy graduated from the Ranoa Magic Academy, Paul began spending most of his free time tending to the magically-inclined duo. Lisa had been teaching Roxy ever since she joined their group, so the two already had a fairly developed Master-Apprentice relationship.

Though she initially respected Lisa for her vast knowledge of the arcane arts, Magic was far from the only thing Roxy had been learning from the emerald-eyed brunette. In the original series, Roxy was described as the type of lover who was very technical and detail-oriented. She was always trying out new things to satisfy her curiosity and make her partner happy, so Lisa was a veritable treasure-trove of information and wisdom for the earnest yet surprisingly perverted Migurdian.

"This is harder than I expected..."

While Lisa observed from the sidelines with her characteristically squinty-eyed smile, Roxy was doing her best to give Paul a footjob. She was doing her best, but her movements were somewhat awkward as, before meeting Paul, she had never worked to improve her flexibility.

Maintaining her smile, Lisa relaxedly assured, "Don't worry. At times like this, it's okay to be a little clumsy. Though they can experience greater pleasure from sleeping with more skilled women, most men get a greater sense of fulfillment from being part of an inexperienced woman's descent into sensuality and desire. It's similar to the contrast between purchasing a masterwork painting, something everyone can appreciate, and being the one to hold the brush."

Shifting her borderline predatory gaze to Paul, Lisa went out of her way to lick her lips before appending, "He might not admit it, but for someone as experienced as Paul, your clumsy ministrations are undoubtedly a breath of fresh air..."

With Roxy looking toward him for confirmation, Paul had to resist the urge to roll his eyes. While it was true that he could appreciate the charm of an inexperienced woman, things like footjobs and handjobs didn't really do it for him. He was far more into things like facesitting and heavy petting just out of view from others...

Seeing through Paul's smiling facade, a low and naturally seductive laugh emanated from Lisa's throat before she went on to add, "Of course, there are times when more 'consequential' action is required..."

Extending her hand forward, Lisa was about to send a thread of Electro Energy into Paul's right nipple but stopped when Roxy insisted, "I don't need help." with a determined expression that closely resembled a pout.

Exhaling another soft chuckle in response to Roxy's words, Lisa retracted her hand and said, "That's the spirit." with an ostensibly amused smile on her face. She often forgot how prideful her youthful-looking protege could be...

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After a very 'educational' evening with the scholarly duo, Paul exchanged lingering embraces with Lisa and Roxy, promising, "I'll be sure to send at least one letter a month. And if anyone gives you trouble, just-"

Before Paul could finish what she assumed would be a long speech, Lisa gave him a gentle push, saying, "Go. This isn't the last time we'll be seeing each other. You don't have to be so dramatic."

Nodding her head in approval, Roxy added, "Lisa's right. We'll be fine, so just go and do what you need to do. Once I'm sure I won't drag you down, I'll come and find you of my own accord."

Though he wanted to shake his head and say she wouldn't drag him down, Paul just forced a smile in response to Roxy's words. He was Saint-Ranked in both the Sword and Water God Styles, yet he still needed Ei to protect him from harm. If Roxy were killed because his enemies regarded her as the weakest link in his Party, Paul would never forgive himself...

Surprising the blunette with a final embrace that left her feet dangling off the ground, Paul affirmed, "Once I obtain a Hydro Vision, I'll rush over as soon as possible..."

Though she had been doing her best to present a calm and composed demeanor, Roxy began to tear up as Paul enveloped her in his warmth. She didn't want him to see her cry, however, so she surprised him in turn by nudging his crotch with her knee and responding, "When you do, I'll be sure to reward you appropriately..."

"..."

With Lisa suppressing her laughter off to the side, Paul weakened his hold on Roxy in order to stare her in the face. She was blushing up to her ears, but the look on her face was one of the most resolute and determined he had ever seen.

Forcing a wolfish smile, Paul rewarded Roxy's resolution by hefting her up by her diminutive yet perky bottom and asserting, "I'm looking forward to it..." with a smoldering expression and tone...

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Though he felt it would be incredibly rude, Paul was seriously considering asking Ganyu to get fitted for a saddle and harness as she galloped over snow-covered treetops at a 'casual' 200km/h. Her indescribably graceful movements caused no discomfort as her hooves created watery ripples in the sky, but the frigid temperatures and incredible height were more than a little daunting.

Having been entrusted with the safety of Esme and her younger siblings, Paul was nearing his wit's end after only three hours of travel. Esme was fairly obedient, but her younger brothers and sister were fearless as they kept trying to peek out and escape the relative safety of Paul's frame. He had fastened each of them to his body with rope, but Paul's brain buzzed as he imagined them tearing out of their bindings and getting swept away by the wind pressure...

Fortunately for Paul, Esme was a lot less reserved about disciplining her younger siblings than he was. Whenever one of the triplets tried to sneak away, she would seize them by their hair or tails before growling them into submission. When they would hiss at or try to bite her, she didn't hesitate to do the same.

As troubling as Esme's behavior would have been in human society, Paul knew it was fairly common among members of the Beast Race. Her bites never drew blood, so he never chastised her even when she was clearly trying to assert dominance over her much younger siblings.

Sensing Paul's distress, Ganyu began searching for a suitable place to land. She eventually spotted a clearing next to a partially frozen creek, so she slowly doubled back, gradually reducing her speed as she started her descent. She could ordinarily arrest her momentum in an instant, but that wasn't really an option with passengers on her back.

Noticing the treeline rising above their elevation, Paul exhaled a sigh of relief as he realized Ganyu was about to land. His apparent complacency prompted Leon to try and break free under his left arm, but Esme dutifully grabbed his collar while tightly clinging to her other siblings.

With Ganyu's speed reducing to a velocity he was more than comfortable with, Paul released his grip on her rein-like fur and said, "Good girl." as he caressed Esme's head. A low purring sound emanated from her throat as he did so, causing Paul's smile to broaden until Thea abruptly grabbed his hand and bit it.

"..."

Since she had been just as mischievous as her brothers during their flight, Paul resisted his urge to pet Thea's head, stating, "Bad children don't get head pats."

Though she wasn't yet able to speak, Thea could vaguely understand the words of others. Her expression immediately formed into an intense pout before she suddenly leaped at Emse and tried pulling her hair.

Surprised by her younger sister's actions, a startled, "Nya!?" escaped Esme's throat before she promptly smacked Thea's hand and shouted, "Bad!"

With what could best be described as a betrayed look on her face, Thea began tearing up and sniffling before subsequently burying her face into the fabric of Paul's winter coat. This caused the latter to feel more than a little guilty, so he picked her up and began to pat her back as Emse stared at him with a disproving look.

Revealing one of the inherent truths of the world, Paul justified his actions by explaining, "Adults can be very hypocritical at times. Don't worry. Once she's a bit older, throwing tantrums like this won't be nearly as rewarding. Don't copy her and start misbehaving, okay?"

As she always took Paul's words to heart, Esme regained her usual smile and affirmed, "Esme is a good girl~!" before giggling as he affectionately ruffled her hair.

With nearly everyone else having already dismounted, Paul picked up the three triplets and slid from Ganyu's back. Esme had grown stronger and more nimble in the past year, but he still helped her descend after passing over the triplets to Amalie and Ghislaine.

Free from her burden, Ganyu transformed back into her human form and suggested, "For the children's well-being, we should rest here for a few hours. This is also a chance for everyone to warm their bodies, so please make yourselves comfortable as I go and collect some edible plants and herbs."

Nodding his head in approval, Paul added to Ganyu's suggestion by asking Ghislaine and Razor to hunt a few rabbits while Fischl scouted the area using Oz. They had prepared more than enough supplies to complete their journey, but one of the core tenets of surviving in the wilderness was resupplying whenever possible. Only fools assumed their food and water would last without issue.

Not wanting to leave everything to the girls while he just sat around, Paul worked with Jean and Eula to erect a tent, leaving Xiangling to prepare a fire while Barbara drew water from the nearby creek. Rosaria and Lynette were also accompanying them for the journey, so Paul asked them to help secure the perimeter alongside Beidou and Kaeya.

As she was still inordinately inept at mundane tasks, Ei left setting camp to everyone else while she assisted Amalie with wrangling her children. It was a duty she surprisingly suited to as, even as toddlers, Leo, Leon, and Thea knew better than to annoy their purple-haired nanny.

With everyone working together harmoniously, it only took a few minutes to finish setting camp. Ghislaine and Razor were even able to hunt a Giant Radikh, a type of flightless bird monster covered in shaggy, moss-covered fur that typically ambushed their would-be prey from the canopy of trees. They were only C-Ranked in terms of strength, but their ability to blend in with their surroundings had earned them a B-Rank classification.

Unfortunately for the Giant Radikh, the individual members of Paul's Party far exceeded the average S-Rank Adventurer. Their official Ranking was only B now that they had left the Ranoa Magic Kingdom, but that was only because Paul had prioritized the development of the Western District. He would eventually secure the status of an S-Rank Adventurer, but it was no longer as important now that he had decided to play politics and contend for the position of Reida's successor.

When there were Intermediate and Advanced-Ranked Swordsmen able to refer to themselves as S-Rank Adventurers, it didn't carry nearly the same weight as titles like Sword Saint, King, or Emperor.

After helping to dismantle and dress the edible parts of the Giant Radikh, Paul was able to relax and enjoy the warmth of Amalie and her children as everyone huddled together in the tent. It was only a brief respite from the freeze and frustration that were bound to accompany the forthcoming trip on Ganyu's back. Still, it was a fairly positive start to a journey that would ultimately last just under six days...

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