Rhode no longer stood on ceremony with them.
"Amaterasu, you are responsible for summoning the central officials and letting them know who their new master is."
"Konohana Sakuyahime, you are responsible for interrogating those who have been detained. After discerning their true intentions, brainwash those who harbor resentment and have them remain in the outside world to fight monsters, making use of their final value."
Konohana Sakuyahime hesitated for a moment but still nodded in agreement, her pupils, shaped like beautiful flower petals, faintly emitting a bewitching luster.
"Yes."
As the Goddess of Beauty, she naturally possessed the same abilities as Freya.
If she had chosen to casually interfere with this country from the beginning, twisting it completely into her own kingdom would have been effortless.
As they had said earlier, their original intention was not to interfere too much with the human world, and this thought was not a lie.
Finally, Rhode looked at Tsukuyomi.
"I need you to establish a comprehensive welfare system to ensure that orphans are properly cared for."
"From them, select at least three thousand girls to be priestesses, to be personally nurtured and trained by you. I hope they will know who they are fighting for in the future."
Speaking of the Far East's exclusive troop types, besides ninjas and samurai, how could priestesses be left out?
But compared to the other two, a group of young and beautiful priestesses would be more pleasing to the eye, no matter how you looked at it.
Rhode quickly calculated the time in his mind.
Characters like Yamato, Hitachisan Qiancao, and Asuka had not yet been born at this time; it would be around next year.
He silently had his shadow soldiers monitor various parts of the Far East, ensuring that once targets were found, they would be brought back in time.
This time in the Far East, he had converted five thousand shadow soldiers, reshaping them into ninja forms.
However, Rhode did not fuse and refine them; he merely purely reshaped their essence into girls, with an average power level of only LV1 for all of them.
After all, particularly strong power wasn't needed here; what was needed more was a sufficiently large intelligence force.
"In the future, I will have someone specially send a few children; you need to pay special attention to them."
"Next year, the Sanjo family will give birth to a fox-girl; she also needs to be personally raised and taught by you."
"Anyone who attempts to harm her will be executed directly, even if her father tries to punish her, it's not allowed."
Hearing Rhode's serious emphasis, Tsukuyomi blinked, somewhat curious.
"Is that child very special?"
"For this world, she's like a cheat device."
"...Hmm, I understand."
After all, she was one of the few cheat skill holders in the original work; there was no reason to let her be framed and abducted by that Pallum again.
What's more, she was a rare fox-girl attribute!
The three goddesses bowed to Rhode, then hurried off to their respective tasks.
Although there were still many large and small dependents throughout the Far East, most were insignificant minor dependents. Their leadership meant that the Far East officially belonged to Rhode at this moment.
Metria only let out a quiet sigh of relief, patting her chest, after the three goddesses had left.
"So there are all sorts of different types of gods."
Rhode couldn't help but laugh at her cautious demeanor.
"Do you really need to be so scared?"
Metria shook her little head and said earnestly.
"They are gods who transcend common sense, so maintaining respect is only natural! After all, not everyone is like you, Rhode…"
Rhode stroked his chin, adopting a thoughtful expression.
"Is that so… How come I heard that when someone gets angry, they can even make the famous Goddess Hera kneel before them?"
Metria's pretty face instantly flushed red.
"How do you know… Did Alfia tell you? Damn it, when I see her again in the future, I'll definitely teach her a good lesson!"
Metria angrily waved her small fists, and due to shyness and embarrassment, she jumped directly out of Rhode's arms.
"I, I'll go look around!"
The girl skipped away, and Rhode casually waved his hand, sending dozens of shadows silently following her.
He fell into thought.
It could be said that Metria and Alfia should have been born as one person, possessing the shared terminal illness and talent of both, a genius envied and cursed by the world.
There was an example of this kind of heaven-defying individual in another story, and that was Yasuri Nanami.
However, because they were twins, the two became weaker but lived longer as a result.
Theoretically, the current Metria has completely shed her chronic ailments and can learn various methods to become stronger.
But Rhode thought of a similar pair of twins in Jujutsu Kaisen.
Zenin Maki and Zenin Mai.
Zenin Maki was born with a Heavenly Restriction, but because the twins shared a cursed energy source, her Heavenly Restriction was limited, and her sister's cursed energy also became scarce.
It wasn't until Zenin Mai sacrificed herself that Zenin Maki obtained the complete Heavenly Restriction.
"Hmm… If Metria wants to cultivate in the future, should she also have an ability similar to a Heavenly Restriction… but it doesn't necessarily have to be zero magic."
After all, compared to Alfia, Metria, that idiot, doesn't seem like a technical type at all; simple and crude methods might suit her better.
As he was thinking, a Shadow Soldier led a young girl over.
"Master."
The Shadow Soldier's face showed an extremely fervent expression; she knelt on one knee, utterly respectful.
Kaguya was startled and quickly moved to kneel as well, but a warm hand gently supported her.
"You don't need to bow."
Unlike the cold and cruel voice she had imagined, a gentle voice with a hint of a smile sounded in her ear.
Kaguya was a little flustered and at a loss.
"Look up, look at me."
Being told this, Kaguya mustered her courage and cautiously looked up at the monarch who had overturned the entire country overnight.
"Oh…"
The moment her eyes met his deep gaze, Kaguya couldn't help but let out a small gasp.
He was by no means the distorted monster she had imagined on the road, but a surprisingly young man with a handsome face that was no less than that of a god.
Although his eyes also held a certain persistence, it was completely different from those clan elders.
Although she didn't understand its meaning, she could vaguely feel that it was by no means something she disliked.
In fact, it was the Goddess of Beauty, Konohana Sakuyahime, who bestowed Grace upon the Gojo Family and presided as the chief deity.
"Even if you cannot blossom as flowers, I hope you can grow into buds—"
After receiving such a blessing, the girls of the entire clan vied to imitate the noble and peerless countenance of the divine, making it their ambition.
So that one day, even the gods who opposed the court could be easily won over.
So that the family, which could only bloom Higanbana, would transform into cherry blossoms adorning peace and prosperity.
And from this noble mission, a cursed family legacy was born, one that single-mindedly aimed to emulate the ancestor and chief deity, attempting to create their mirror image.
Because of this, Kaguya, who possessed a beauty only slightly inferior to the Goddess of Beauty, felt ashamed under the gaze of those eyes.
"…Kaguya greets you, Lord."
Rhode squatted down, gently placing his palm on her slightly cold face, meeting her surprised and shy gaze.
"I will not say that everything you did in the past was not evil, but you possess a noble quality that many here have long abandoned."
"And that noble quality will only gather dust here for now, so I will let you leave this country soon."
Kaguya's eyes widened in surprise.
Since birth, she had constantly consumed poison, kept a sword by her side day and night, and endured hellish training.
Until now, she had always obeyed the country and the family, causing many lives to wither like petals dancing in the dark night.
Among them were those who suffered unwarranted accusations, and among the clan were those who became abandoned pawns due to failed missions.
Yet, she never expected to receive such an evaluation from this stranger today.
These were words that even the gods who could see into people's hearts had never spoken to her.
She could feel the kindness in his words, but she was somewhat confused by them and also uncertain about that future, so she merely responded obediently.
"I understand, I will obediently listen to you, Lord."
Rhode couldn't help but smile as he ruffled her head, casually having the system remove the toxins from her body.
"Your true nature isn't this docile."
"How about this, Metria is very interested in the Far East Country, so I'll entrust you with showing her around for the next few days."
Kaguya thought that being a tour guide was something she could handle, so she nodded seriously.
"I will stake my life to ensure the safety of Lady Metria…"
Kaguya seemed a bit conflicted about how to address Rhode.
Rhode suddenly showed a playful smile.
"Just call me Master, like them."
Kaguya paused, suppressing her inner shyness and a hint of inexplicable displeasure, and said softly.
"…Yes, Master."
To stabilize the situation in the Far East Country, Rhode chose to stay for a few more days.
During these days, Rhode finally enjoyed a luxurious treatment.
Every night, he stayed in the magnificent royal palace, sleeping in the same bed as the beautiful Sun Goddess Amaterasu.
According to the noble goddess, this was the duty of a subordinate deity.
Although nothing had happened yet, it allowed Rhode to fully experience the softness of a goddess pillow.
Silky smooth skin, a refreshing body fragrance, and unconscious snuggling in her sleep were enough to make any mortal fall into her embrace.
During the day, he held court, with the Moon Goddess Tsukuyomi pouring wine like a maid by his side.
He accepted the trembling bows of the ministers, who had been vetted by Konohana Sakuyahime, and listened to their work reports.
In the afternoon, Rhode half-reclined on the imperial bed, admiring the graceful and captivating dance of the Goddess of Beauty.
Her light footsteps revealed a soft, boneless waist, and her smile, blossoming like a flower petal, was enough to make any living being fall for her, yet it was a beauty that only Rhode could appreciate.
Unlike most deities in the outside world, the pantheon of the Far East Country had a Confucian culture and political system similar to his previous life.
After an initial period of adjustment, the three goddesses quickly regarded Rhode as their true sovereign, serving him with all their heart and effort.
Although Rhode was still within the realm of mortals at this time, they had already determined that becoming a god was merely an insignificant stage that Rhode would eventually cross on his future path.
· · · · · · · ·
As for Metria, she had completely unleashed her nature and was having an absolute blast.
It was as if she wanted to make up for all the regrets of the past decade or so, running around all day with boundless energy.
This made Kaguya, who was initially full of confidence, utterly exhausted.
What Kaguya found most unbearable was that, besides simply wandering around, Metria often made some incredibly dangerous and bizarre moves!
For example, she would lean over a bridge, watching the colorful carp in the river, and then suddenly, on a whim, jump directly into the river, saying she wanted to catch fish to cook for Rhode, scaring Kaguya to the point of turning pale on the spot.
Kaguya exerted immense effort to pull the fairy-like white-haired girl, who was almost swept away by the swift current, out of the river.
As a result, that fellow actually turned around and loudly laughed at her disheveled appearance.
Such incidents happened every day…
And what was even more critical was that Metria had too many questions!
Buildings, scenery, food, weapons, clothes… She would curiously ask about anything she saw.
Initially, Kaguya meticulously and seriously answered every one of her questions.
But after a day of sightseeing, she returned home and guzzled down a large amount of water.
The next day, the same routine repeated. The third day, the fourth day…
Eventually, Kaguya, who was accompanying her to rummage through trash cans and sell scraps, couldn't take it anymore!
She cursed at the still-grinning fellow, "You idiot! Can you stop causing trouble for people?!"
The moment the words left her mouth, Kaguya immediately sobered up.
…..
Knowing full well the importance of this young girl to her Master, she bit her lip tightly and lowered her head.
"I'm sorry… I'll go apologize to Master right away."
However, Metria, who had been scolded, not only wasn't angry but happily came over and hugged the dirty Kaguya.
"So this is Kaguya-chan's sharp tongue that Rhode mentioned, hehe, it's actually quite cute!"
Kaguya was dumbfounded, at a loss, not knowing what to do.
"…C-cute? But, I just… scolded you."
Metria shook her hair and said indifferently.
"It's fine! Friends are people who, even after fighting and arguing, will still hold hands and never leave each other."
"When I was with my Familia before, on normal days when there were no external enemies, everyone would fight and bicker with each other all day long. But as soon as an enemy attacked, we immediately became partners who could entrust our lives to each other!"
Kaguya had never experienced what Metria was talking about, but she couldn't help but yearn for it.
"Friends… partners…"
Metria narrowed her eyes.
"Yes, we are friends! And Kaguya will definitely meet many such partners in the future!"
After this incident, their relationship became much more harmonious, and that invisible barrier gradually disappeared.
Metria still played around every day, and Kaguya still accompanied her in her antics, but afterward, the two always bickered without restraint.
Of course, not everything they saw along the way was beautiful scenery filled with laughter; at this time of great national change, batches of people were publicly convicted and sent to the guillotine.
Cleansing corruption and filth inevitably requires bloodshed, and those who sacrifice will ultimately become the cornerstone of national progress; theoretically, it's a good thing.
But watching the children of punished nobles being cursed and reviled by the common people, Kaguya couldn't help but feel a hint of confusion about [Justice] in her heart.
Is justice a blood-sucking monster whose reasonable standards change countless times with the era and battlefield?
Or is it a banner under which any violence, slaughter, bloodshed, and unreasonableness will be justified until peace arrives?
Or is it simply a weapon used to comfort the hearts of weak humans to gain a righteous cause?
When she hesitated to confide her somewhat rebellious thoughts to Metria, Metria showed a knowing look.
"Want to know what justice is? Rhode had already anticipated that you would have such a question."
"…Master?"
"Yes, but what you are looking for isn't here, you will eventually have to leave this country."
Hearing this again, Kaguya fell into deep thought.
It was as if all of her was seen by that young man; he probably saw through her true nature from the very beginning.
These past few days, it wasn't so much that she was accompanying Metria, but rather that Rod had specifically arranged for Metria to play with her.
Childhood joys she had never experienced, bickering and playing with friends, and questioning and exploring the world...
The person who was once like a killing machine had, at some unknown point, died.
What remained now was a reborn young girl named Kaguya.
However, happy times are always short-lived.
With the quelling of the internal strife, the country was back on track under the violent stabilization of the Shadow Soldiers, and it was time for Rod and Metria to return.
Besides the three goddesses who had been with Rod day and night, the only one to receive the honor of a send-off was her, a somewhat out-of-place human girl.