194 Vigilance : Complacency

"We refuse."

After hearing Paul's request to restore Falina's eyesight, Kishirika and Kishirisu immediately shot him down.

Furrowing his brows, Paul asked, "Why? With your ability to grant Demon Eyes, restoring someone's vision shouldn't be difficult."

Exchanging glances, Kishirika and Kishirisu silently determined which of them would speak before looking back at Paul, the latter explaining, "You said it yourself. That Cambion woman exists outside your foreknowledge, so there is a chance she's part of Hitoshit's plot. We don't mind you taking people under your wing, but it should never directly involve us."

Understanding where the duo was coming from, Paul didn't attempt to argue. In matters concerning Hitogami, it was always better to be safe than sorry. More importantly, Falina had been born blind some seventy years prior, so while vision would doubtlessly aid her, it wasn't something she couldn't live without.

After rationalizing things within his mind, Paul gave a slight nod and said, "I should be able to figure something out from my end. Sorry for troubling the two of you."

Mirroring one another, Kishirika and Kishirisu frowned, the former going on to state, "It isn't so much that you're troubling us. We do want to help. It's just...you know..."

Nodding his head a second time, Paul replied, "I know. I just figured I might as well ask. It's not like I expected you to comply. Rather, I knew from the start that you would probably refuse."

Since the duo had made it very clear they didn't intend to take action until Hitogami had been defeated, Paul wasn't even remotely surprised by their refusal. However, it was often better to ask and be told no than to assume a negative response.

Finished with what he had to say, Paul prepared to depart the duo's room, stating, "Well, I promised Ghislaine we would cuddle a bit. She going into heat soon, so she's been feeling increasingly agitated."

Though they were a little annoyed that Paul was leaving them to spend time with another woman, Kishirika and Kishirisu had gradually come to terms with the fact they couldn't monopolize him. Before he could leave, however, the former called out to him, stating, "Badi has been spotted in the capital. He was last seen entering the underground with an unknown human girl."

Interrupting Paul's response, Kishirisu appended, "We already informed Zhongli and had her reinforce the passage connecting the castle to the underground labyrinth. We just wanted to let you know. Whether or not you decide to track Badi down or await his arrival is up to you."

Furrowing his brows, Paul inhaled a deep breath before exhaling to utter, "It's just one thing after another..."

Exhibiting no sympathy, Kishirika remarked, "This is the natural course of events. Unless you isolate yourself from the world and have no interaction with the outside, there will always be individuals seeking to undermine or take advantage of you. It is through overcoming these obstacles that you obtain true power. Now, run along. You shouldn't keep your kitten waiting."

"..."

Though he got the impression Kishirika was trying to get him to stay, Paul only hesitated for a moment before bidding the twin Empresses adieu. He had already promised to spend the afternoon with Ghislaine and Lynette, so, as much as he wished he could just create a bunch of shadow clones to spend time with everyone, he had to prioritize those he made promises with.

Being in a relationship with fifty-odd women didn't exactly permit Paul the luxury of favoritism and sentimentality...

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With the expectation that Badigadi could appear at any moment, Paul spent all of Winter and most of Spring on high alert. His primary focus was his daily training, but he also coordinated with Ningguang to overhaul and strengthen the castle's security. This primarily involved sending over personnel and resources, but she also took time out of her busy schedule to come over and check things out for herself.

Paul initially believed that Kishirika and Kishirisu would disapprove of Ningguang's traveling to the Demon Continent to oversee the changes to their castle. Instead, the duo embraced her with open arms after a single private conversation. This wasn't too surprising, as Ningguang was 'very' charismatic, but Paul was still a little caught off guard when he arrived at Kishirika's and Kishirisu's chambers to find Ningguang waiting alongside them, naked as the day she was summoned.

Contrasting their resentment toward Zhongli, Kishirika and Kishirisu were genuinely impressed by Ningguang's wisdom and disposition. When Paul asked the reason, they explained it was a matter of age. Zhongli was over six thousand years old, so while she possessed tremendous knowledge, that was to be 'expected' for someone her age. Ningguang, inversely, was only around 34 years old. Her knowledge was comparably limited, but her insight and queenly disposition gave people the impression she could rule the entire world.

Though they pinned most of the blame on Hitogami, Kishirka and Kishirisu had long come to terms with the reality they weren't suited to ruling over others. More accurately, they had come to realize that those with strong ties to the past were unsuited to rule over people in the present. Societies prospered when their people had their sights set on the future. Monarchs that ruled for hundreds, if not thousands, of years without introducing any meaningful changes were just holding their people back.

With the twin Empresses' support, Ningguang brought in a staff of over one hundred people to help maintain Kishirika Castle. What surprised the two Empresses was that most of the personnel Ningguang brought over were Elves, Dwarves, and other long-lived species. Paul had informed her of Kishirika's and Kishirisu's intention to remain hidden until Hitogami's defeat. Hence, most of the people Ningguang brought over were prepared to spend upwards of a hundred years within the castle.

While most humans would shudder at the notion of being 'trapped' within a castle for a hundred years, it was considered a tremendous opportunity by those Ningguang brought over. The vast majority were slaves that had spent decades in the service of mankind's insatiable greed and desire, so a hundred years to establish a community outside of humanity's influence was a dream come true. They were expected to assist with Albedo's and Sucrose's experimentations, but their primary duties involved maintaining a self-cleaning castle, preparing meals, manufacturing magical items, and practicing Magic...

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With Atofe giving him the day off to celebrate his birthday, Paul elected to spend the early afternoon supervising Klee as she played with a group of Dwarf and Elven 'children.' Most of them were several decades, if not over a hundred years old, but they didn't mind humoring Klee as her bright and sunny disposition reminded them of happier times.

Seeing through Paul's thoughts, Lilia inquired, "Are you thinking about the Young Master and Mistress?"

Though he nodded his head, Paul replied, "Not just them. I'm also worried about Amalie, Esme, and the triplets. The longer Badi remains hidden, the more I regret not sending Ei and Zhongli to hunt him down..."

"Mmm..."

Not sure what to say, Lilia just closed her eyes and leaned against Paul's shoulder. She hadn't given up on becoming stronger, but she had come to terms with the fact she would never reach the level of Paul and his many Spirits. Thus, rather than throwing herself mindlessly into swordsmanship training, she spent an increasing amount of time reinforcing her skillset as a Governess. She didn't know if Paul would ever settle down and focus on raising his children, but if he ever did, she would be prepared.

Looking down at the burgundy-haired beauty using his left shoulder as a headrest, Paul couldn't help smiling affectionately. She might not be able to compare to literal Goddesses, but Lilia's attractiveness increased with each passing year...

Lowering his gaze even further, Paul internally remarked, ("It isn't just her beauty that's increasing...")

Sensing the subtle shift in Paul's intent, a faint smile developed across Lilia's face as she whispered, "It is your birthday...if there's anything you would like me to do, you need only ask..."

Though she would agree to Paul's requests on any day of the year, Lilia didn't mind making an 'extra' effort on his birthday. She generally did her best to remain in the background, permitting Paul's many other women to enjoy his attention, but that didn't mean she had given up being with him. Rather, the more Paul accomplished, the more confident Lilia was about her decision to serve him.

As tempting as Lilia's invitation was, Paul didn't hesitate to reply, "Let's wait until tonight. If I'm not here when she's finished playing, Klee won't be happy..."

Instead of feeling disappointed by Paul's response, Lilia's smile became noticeably more prominent. A promise from Paul was worth its weight in gold, so she could look forward to a passionate and exhilarating evening. The only question was whether or not they would be alone or attended by several others...

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Staring at the outfit Ningguang had asked them to change into, Kishirika and Kishirisu couldn't help exchanging looks, the former asking, "Is this really necessary? I thought humans only celebrated their fifth, tenth, and fifteenth birthdays?"

Without missing a beat, Ningguang readily replied, "Now, now, Kishirika. It's essential that Paul knows how grateful we are for his efforts. He might be selfish at times, but he's doing his utmost to create a better world for everyone. Actions such as this are what give him the strength to continue pushing forward."

Though she could see where Ningguang was coming from, a deadpan expression formed on Kishirika's face as she eyed the outfits prepared for her and Kishirisu. Nearly everyone had been given a bunny suit, but the variant assigned to them appeared to be inverted. They were given heart-shaped stickers to cover their nipples and crotch, but everything else that was supposed to be covered was on full display.

Amused by the twin Empresses' hesitation, a playful smile developed across Ningguang's face as she explained, "The two of you frequently wear outfits even skimpier than these bunny suits. I also reasoned that you would want to stand out from the rest of us, so I had those specially prepared for your Majesties."

Unable to refute Ningguang's words, Kishirika and Kishirisu exchanged glances before exhaling in mock exasperation. They honestly didn't mind wearing the outfit Ningguang had prepared for them. What bothered them was that they would be wearing them among a group of more than twenty other women. If Paul ended up choosing to spend his evening with others despite their 'sacrifice,' they would lose a lot of face.

Looking around at the other girls present, Kishirika's and Kishirisu's eyes briefly locked onto Xinyan. Unlike the majority of women present, Xinyan was wearing a black loincloth and a top that barely covered her breasts. It resembled a dancer's outfit from the Begaritt Continent, but it covered significantly less than the traditionally scant garb.

Noticing the duo's gazes, a layer of pink spread through Xinyan's cheeks as she covered her modest breasts with one hand and her Pyro Crest with the other. She usually wasn't bashful, but being surrounded by dozens of beautiful and voluptuous women made her feel a little self-conscious.

Clicking their tongues, Kishirika and Kishirisu were half-tempted to bully Xinyan into skipping out on the surprise party but quickly suppressed the urge. They had been doing their best to get along with the members of Paul's extended harem, so, even though they felt Xinyan was 'cheating' by behaving in a manner that contrasted her appearance, there wasn't much they could do about it. Besides, Xinyan was far from the greatest 'threat' present...

Shifting their gazes to one of the only other girls not wearing a bunny suit, Kishirika and Kishirisu deadpanned as they observed Diona napping in a diamond-shaped halter top, white stockings, and panties that had a paw print on the front. Her outfit was fairly plain compared to everyone else's, but that, combined with her small stature, made her stand out more than if she had been completely naked...

Oblivious to the stares directed at her by the two Empresses, Diona lazily scratched the pale blue crest pulsating on her lower abdomen. She didn't doubt that Paul would invite her back to his room, so, while everyone else was making preparations for the party, she was getting as much sleep as possible...

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