4 Equivalence

Since it would have been both strange and dangerous for him to take an interest in Hilda, Paul did his best to regard her as would any other young Noble daughter.

At this point, Paul still wasn't sure just how much of an impact he wanted to have on the world abroad. Depending on how things went while he was at school, he may even give up being a Noble. He was already beginning to feel suffocated by the irredeemably corrupt nature of Asuran Nobles, and things were bound to get worse when he started attending a school filled with arrogant and haughty brats between the ages of 5-10.

While the notion of attending a Noble Academy was already beginning to worry him, the more critical factor behind Paul's decision was the fact that Eris was his favorite heroine from the original story. He had no intention of trying to court a girl that would be 15-17 years his junior, but the notion of her not existing made him uncomfortable. Besides, as charming as Hilda's appearance was, she had the same temperament as other Nobles.

Following Paul's debut, he was asked to 'entertain' all of the young Noble daughters that had come to see him. This included Hilda, who, like every other girl present, complimented everything about the manor while going out of their way to excessively fawn over him. Their parents had coached every one of the 5-12-year-old girls to try and seduce him. It was so bad that Paul's father, Amarant, had pulled him aside to advise him not to lay a hand on any of the girls as it might cause a misunderstanding.

Unwilling to be used as a stairway to increase someone else's status, Paul had no intention of marrying any time soon. He would probably be forced into an engagement after his tenth birthday, but his priority over the next few years was increasing his strength and knowledge. Even if he became the next Lord Milbots Greyrat, he wasn't going to be weak.

With such thoughts on his mind, Paul spent the final few hours of his fifth birthday writing in his journal. Tabitha had instructed him to start keeping one the very day after her arrival, not just because it would help him learn how to write but because it would allow him to look back on his thoughts at earlier points in his life and reflect on them.

"Haaaa...how is a Kingdom able to exist for seven-thousand years without developing electricity? I feel like I'm going blind..."

Though he knew he was fortunate to have candles and oil lamps to read and write by, Paul couldn't help missing the conveniences of his previous life. It was his fascination with computers and technology that had led to him leaving the farm.

"It's a shame I didn't study civil or mechanical engineering. I could have been like the main character from 'Release that Witch'..."

On that note, Paul set aside his feather-quill pen before turning the valve on his oil lamp to make sure it would last throughout the night. He wasn't even remotely afraid of the dark, but he would prefer to be able to see if he awoke in the middle of the night to take a piss.

Changing out of his stylish green tunic and linen trousers, Paul slipped into a pair of fleece pajamas before crawling into his bed. The latter was uneven in places, but the stuffing was goose down. It was exponentially more comfortable than the beds afforded to servants, so Paul did his best not to let it bother him when feathers would periodically poke through the fabric and prick him.

"Maybe I should marry someone from the Donati Region...a union with the largest producer of fabrics and wool wouldn't be bad..."

Closing his eyes, Paul attempted to recall if any of the girls present during his party were from the Donati Region. Unless he ran away from home or asked his father to send him to the Ranoa Magic Academy, he would need to marry at some point. If he didn't have a choice in delaying the matter, he could at least choose someone from a family that would benefit him in the future...

Realizing how 'Noble-like' his mentality had become, a self-deprecating smile developed across Paul's. Then, just as the hundred-and-seventy or so clocks spread throughout the manner began to announce the changing of the day, a sound similar to glass shattering echoed through Paul's ears.

"What the hell...!?"

Rising with a start, Paul adjusted the oil lamp to its maximum luminosity before raising it to look around his room. The sound of breaking glass was so loud that it couldn't have been more than a few meters away.

Noticing nothing out of place, the tensions in Paul's body began to wane until he adjusted the lamp and noticed the faint blue glow shining through the cracks around his door.

"..."

After a moment's uncertainty, Paul dropped to the other side of his bed with the intention of hiding in the crawlspace specifically created to let him escape during an emergency. He didn't consider himself a coward, but there was only so much a five-year-old without any magical prowess could do against someone daring enough to invade the Notos Household.

What stopped Paul from fleeing into the secret compartment was the pale blue light shining from within. When he removed the panel and stared into the interior, it was like he was staring into an endless expanse of blue sky filled with swirling white clouds.

"That's new..."

Putting the panel back in place, Paul, feeling less afraid but still anxious, made his way over to the door of his room. Opening it revealed a similar scene. Instead of an empty expanse of blue sky, however, there was an ancient-looking stone bridge starting from the threshold of his door and continuing out over an endless sea of clouds. Numerous pillars protruded through the clouds and connected to beautiful archways, but Paul was far more concerned with the trio of reddish-black, diamond-shaped 'fissures' wavering over a stone platform around 20m from his room's threshold.

"This is way too familiar..."

Though it had been five years since he last played, Paul recognized the stone bridge and seemingly infinite expanse of ancient constructs as the 'login screen' of Genshin Impact. The eerie 'portals' were less familiar, but he was pretty sure they were the same portals used by the Goddess that set the events of the game in motion...

After giving himself a firm pinch to confirm he wasn't dreaming, Paul took a deep breath and summoned every ounce of his courage. The thought of leaving behind his family made him uneasy, but his instincts told him that he would regret it his entire life if he ignored a phenomenon connected to one of his favorite games.

Fortunately, Paul's door didn't disappear the moment he stepped out onto the stone bridge. He could still peer back and see into his room, so, after suppressing the urge to look over the side of the bridge, he straightened his back and boldly approached the platform beneath the trio of portals.

"You've come..."

The moment Paul's foot made contact with the stone platform, the trio of portals pulsed. From within, an indescribably beautiful yet visibly injured woman with white hair, peculiar golden eyes, and a predominately white outfit emerged. Even with an arm missing and several large cracks across her body, almost like she was a statue, she was one of the most beautiful women Paul had ever seen.

"I am Luciana, the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles. Thomas Adams, no, Paul Notos Greyrat, you have been chosen as my Champion."

Though he had no intention of directly refusing, Paul couldn't help asking, "Do I have a choice...?"

Surprising the reincarnated youth quite a bit, Luciana nodded her head and said, "Yes. However, should you refuse, know that an entire world, billions of lives, will be lost."

Without elaborating further, Luciana pulled out a transparent golden cube inscribed with innumerable runes. Then, directly contrasting her previous statement, she sent the cube flying into Paul's chest, coldly explaining, "I have granted you the power to access the Intersection of Fate. Just place your palm against any door while the moon is high, and you will be able to access this place. If you require a more thorough explanation, ask the person I have entrusted to advise and protect you."

Seemingly finished with what she had to say, Luciana retreated into her portal before it promptly snapped shut like an old television shutting off.

Feeling at a complete loss for words, Paul just stared at the place where Luciana had disappeared. The thing that brought him back to his senses was a bright blue meteor flying towards him, its color promptly shifting to a vibrant shade of gold moments before it struck the center of the stone platform.

"No fucking way..."

Recognizing the phenomenon as the effect associated with pulling a 5-Star Character or Weapon from Genshin Impact, a myriad of questions assailed Paul's mind. Before he could voice a single one, however, his mind completely blanked as the light faded away to reveal a young girl with two-toned brown/auburn hair, peculiar brown and gold eyes, and a rather stylish Maid outfit.

Based on appearances, Paul would guess the girl was around the same age as himself. The thing that both unnerved and terrified him was the fact she had a vaguely familiar appearance. It's just that the person that came to mind was unmistakeably a man...a stark contrast to the little girl standing before him.

With audible trepidation in his tone, Paul asked, "Zhongli...?" while hoping and praying the girl was something like his daughter.

Hearing Paul's question, the young girl ceased dusting herself off, a look of confusion briefly marring her face as she replied, "Indeed. That must make you Paul Notos Greyrat, correct?"

"..."

Instead of immediately responding to the little girl's words, Paul's mind was briefly occupied with questions regarding how such a small girl could have such a deep yet feminine voice. The original Zhongli had the kind of deep and masculine tone that compelled people to listen. The same could be said for the little girl before him; it was just so far beyond expectation that Paul didn't know how to react, much less respond.

Seeing through Paul's surface-level thoughts, Zhongli asked, "I suppose you're wondering how I came to inhabit this form?"

Still unable to speak, Paul just nodded his head in response to Zhongli's question. In turn, she explained, "There are actually three reasons. First and foremost, the gender of Archons is a matter for they, themselves, to decide. The other reasons concern your status, the world you inhabit, and ensuring you are...properly motivated. I suppose that makes four reasons. My apologies."

Furrowing his brows, Paul's expression soured as he keyed in on the last thing Zhongli said, asking, "What do you mean by "properly motivated"?"

Without so much as a single change in her expression, Zhongli answered, "It is as you suspect. The Gods that preside over my world, the true Gods, believed you would be more motivated if the companions you summoned were female. They are under no obligation to sleep with you, but I'm sure many have prepared themselves for the possibility. Only those of us who have accepted the Gods' bargain and are willing to do whatever it takes to save our world can be summoned to this place."

Hearing Zhongli's explanation, Paul had even more questions, the most prominent among them being, "Why me? I was just a normal fucking guy in my previous life, and I've yet to accomplish a single thing in this one."

Shaking her head, Zhongli answered, "That's something you would need to ask the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles and the Gods she serves. All I know is that the fate of two worlds currently rests on your shoulders. We will do our best to help save yours, and, in exchange, we hope you will do the same. Equivalent exchange, the foundation of all fair contracts."

Though the number of questions he had was steadily growing, Paul found himself nodding in response to Zhongli's explanation. His presence in the world of Mushoku Tensei had invariably disturbed its balance. Without the original main character, or, more accurately, the main character's children, the malicious deity known as Hitogami was bound to continue treating the world as his playground. Paul knew it was only a matter of time before the errant God set his eyes on him, so, as confused as he was by the present situation, he answered, "Very well. Let's discuss terms." in a shaky tone...