Brother Rhode scanned the girls, who were tired but full of fighting spirit, and finally looked at A Di.
"A Di, I need you to first cast healing magic on everyone and temporarily boost their abilities, then use binding magic to lower the Swamp King's abilities when he appears."
A Di's small face flushed slightly under Brother Rhode's serious gaze.
She didn't ask Brother Rhode why he knew her magic so well, but simply nodded without hesitation, her voice clear and firm.
"I'll do my best!"
A Di's passive skill automatically affects all Familia members, whether hostile or not, making her essentially a more suitable candidate for PVE.
Brother Rhode looked at Riveria.
"I need you to continue casting defensive magic on them, and then freeze the entire Spring of Life, can you do that?"
The reliable 'Mama-san' simply nodded faintly.
"Leave it to me."
The remaining Amid spoke up proactively before Brother Rhode could, her purple eyes showing a determined will.
"I will continuously maintain healing magic's recovery and detoxification effects for everyone on the front lines!"
Since Brother Rhode said my endurance wasn't good enough, I'll prove myself here!
The girl's inner cry seemed to overflow from her chest.
Brother Rhode looked at her cute, motivated expression, smiled, and ruffled her soft silver hair, then looked at Ryuu and Ais, who had already stood up, ready for battle.
"Ryuu, use Luminous Wind to make that guy's body a target, and bombard him non-stop!"
"Ais, unleash Aerial, find his Magic Stone with your fastest speed, and then... pierce it!"
Ryuu and Ais's gazes met in the air.
"Yes!"
No more words were needed; the command and trust had already been conveyed.
When everyone's mind and body were adjusted to peak condition, this dream-like female assault team, composed of Orario's future top combatants, finally launched their attack!
Ryuu showed no mercy, starting with a full-power Luminous Wind.
The brilliant torrent of light brutally tore through the poisonous swamp, forcibly blasting out the vile presence of the corrupted forest hidden deep within!
"Gah—!!!"
A piercing shriek echoed through the sky.
Even with mental preparation, the moment that massive, sky-obscuring body appeared, the pressure it brought still made the girls' hearts constrict sharply.
It was a moving mountain made of mud, bones, and poisonous miasma, emitting a nauseating stench!
But the next second, Riveria, who had already finished her chant, summoned a blizzard that even Vera found impressive.
The extreme cold instantly froze the entire Swamp King.
The Swamp King tried to break free, and A Di immediately gritted her teeth and cast Obsession Gana, forcibly controlling him while lowering his abilities.
"Don't even think about escaping!!"
....
Thirty minutes later.
When Ais's sword precisely pierced the deeply hidden Magic Stone, everything finally ended.
The poison gas that had long enveloped this land was completely cleansed.
Clear spring water gushed out, carrying a refreshing fragrance.
The Swamp King let out an unwilling wail and vanished into the earth, and the withered, cracked soil, nourished by the spring water, was reborn with vitality.
Tender green buds sprouted from dead branches, and the warm afternoon sun pierced through the clouds, gently falling on everyone.
"Finally... we got him."
"Ugh... so tired."
"But teaming up with everyone was really fun."
The girls could no longer stand, collapsing onto the reborn earth, panting heavily.
Their tired faces, however, were filled with a deep, satisfying smile.
Perhaps they weren't very close before, but this battle had forged deep friendships among them.
Even Riveria leaned against Brother Rhode's shoulder, fine beads of sweat on her forehead.
Her gaze, with a hint of unnoticeable pride, looked towards Ais, whose lips were slightly curved upwards.
This girl, who always fought desperately, could hardly find a companion in the Loki Familia who could keep pace with her.
Those stronger than her were all elders, while her peers had long been left behind, not even qualified to be a burden.
Her emerald eyes lingered on Ryuu for a moment, and Riveria's inner thought became even firmer.
On the other side, Uskali and the others stood frozen in place, their Adam's apples bobbing uncontrollably.
"This is the strength of Orario's strongest..."
Under Brother Rhode's command, these girls, in the simplest and most brutal way, had eliminated the Swamp King, whom they considered a nightmare, and purified the Spring of Life.
They felt joy and emotion from the bottom of their hearts, but what followed was a hint of bitterness... because they understood that the Spring of Life before them no longer belonged to them.
Vera covered her forehead, and it took a long time for her to recover from the shocking battle, finally letting out a soft laugh.
"Honestly... you idiots actually managed to do it."
Brother Rhode walked to her side, his deep eyes reflecting the clear spring water.
"How do you feel about the ending of this story?"
"Very boring," Vera retorted unceremoniously, "It lacks any of the thrilling, dramatic ups and downs of an epic hero story."
Brother Rhode was not surprised by her words, only showing a faint smile.
"Epic hero stories are destined to mean sacrifice and tears, but I have the power to overcome everything, and I only pursue the most perfect outcome."
As soon as he finished speaking, a Kaleidoscope gradually appeared in the depths of Brother Rhode's eyes.
—Kamui.
Under everyone's stunned gaze, a huge distorted vortex appeared out of thin air above the Spring of Life, like water rippled by a stone!
In just an instant, the vast Spring of Life, like a lake, was completely swallowed by that strange vortex, not even a single drop of water spilling out, disappearing without a trace.
"...."
The entire scene was silent.
Brother Rhode calmly pointed his right hand at the bottomless pit and gently clenched it.
—Dominator's Authority, activate!
A staff, entirely snow-white and cool to the touch, emerged from the bottom of the deep pit, transforming into a stream of light and landing steadily in his hand.
Brother Rhode casually played with it for a moment, then, like throwing an ordinary stick, tossed it to Vera, and then turned to leave without looking back.
"Your item, keep it safe yourself."
"Eh?!" Vera fumbled to catch the winter staff, stroking its body with a myriad of emotions, "It's been over a thousand years... But, this is your spoils of war, are you sure it's okay?"
Brother Rhode's steps didn't falter, his lazy voice carried by the wind.
"You yourself are my spoils of war, why would I care about this little thing?"
Vera's body stiffened slightly. She took a deep look at the huge crater formed by the disappearance of the Spring of Life, then thought of this man's endless mysterious methods, and suddenly showed a joyful smile.
"Oh my, becoming a human's spoils of war... This is truly the best, most unexpected development that even the gods themselves could never have foreseen!"
The huge commotion here obviously attracted the attention of Belden's citizens.
They cautiously approached with various farm tools, and Uskali quickly stepped forward to explain everything to everyone.
Vera's sacrifice... the truth about the Spring of Life... Taruvi's abandonment of the sacrifice... the curse about to be lifted.
A series of information that overturned their worldview left these citizens in a state of bewilderment and confusion.
Amid, not believing it, tried once more to directly heal their illnesses with magic, but ultimately expressed her regret and self-reproach, stating she was powerless.
Brother Rhode was too lazy to waste words with these guys, simply waving his hand casually.
System, activate!
In an instant, all of Belden's citizens felt only a gentle breeze brush past them.
A sound like a chain breaking seemed to echo in their minds.
All chronic illnesses vanished, replaced by a feeling of refreshment and clarity.
"We... are really cured?"
"We're not sick anymore, hahahahaha!"
"Wuwuwuwuwu, this is great, we can live!"
Belden's citizens cried tears of joy, cheering and embracing, expressing endless gratitude to Brother Rhode.
Only Amid, who had been intently watching Brother Rhode's every move, ready to learn, fell into complete bewilderment.
Huh?
What's going on?
Skills? Magic? Items?
How did you manage to cure them without using anything at all!!!
Healers are a technical profession that emphasizes precise theory and strict craftsmanship. Are you trying to ruin the healing industry by doing this?!
Amid frantically shook her soft silver hair, feeling her worldview being impacted like never before.
Damn it, I don't understand that method just now!
At this moment, Vera, holding the winter staff, walked over, bent down, and whispered into the silver-haired loli's ear, a low murmur that sounded like a divine revelation but was actually like a demon's.
"Didn't that guy want to invite you? Once you join his subordinates, won't you know everything?"
"...Mm."
"I just heard that rustic twin-tailed girl say it, you know." Vera continued to press, a hint of playfulness in her voice.
"His Familia already has a pretty good prospective healer, a child named... Naza? If you hesitate any longer, there might not be a place for you by that man's side in the future~"
Amid, who was originally in an internal struggle, upon hearing the name "Naza," for some reason, an unprecedented surge of competitive spirit, even surpassing the intensity she felt when she first heard of Hecate, erupted!
She had never... never even heard of the other person before!
But deep down, a voice was screaming: I absolutely cannot lose to this person!
Amid struggled for a long time, finally taking a deep breath and clenching her small fists.
"If Brother Rhode hadn't personally chosen me back then, I might still be working as a resident healer in my Familia!"
"Of course, being a resident healer isn't bad, but a Familia that can enhance my own strength means a broader sky for me!"
Vera looked at the silver-haired loli before her, who had decided to switch Familias, and a subtle curve appeared on her lips.
She heard that Amid was almost considered the future pillar and cornerstone of the Dian Cecht Familia.
What kind of wonderfully expressive face would that old main god make if he heard that their future treasure was lured away with a few words, and even actively requested to switch Familias?
Anger, regret, annoyance, sorrow?
Just imagining such a scene.
A thrilling pleasure, as if shaking her brain, surged within her~
Just now, Rhode had already signed an absolute contract with her.
What she had told Rhode earlier, that she was essentially a pleasure seeker, was not a lie.
Her essence was by no means a compassionate goddess like Hestia; her concern for the citizens of Belden was merely a fleeting whim from back then.
But Vera was not an evil god attempting to bring chaos to the world; moreover, she had gradually come to understand the personality of her current master.
At least in this world, she would not be allowed to do evil indiscriminately.
Vera also lost interest in managing a Familia for a short while; she had grown tired of this game.
But she quickly found a new source of fun within the permissible scope.
That was... 'stealing' other people's Familias~
Familia members gained a broader future, Rhode got new girls, and she gained fun.
Ah~ This is a win-win-win!
Vera showed an intoxicated smile.
Hehehe... I wonder who the next target will be~
At this moment, elsewhere, Taruvi was packing her bags, accompanied by Metria and Alfia.
"Although I say I'm packing, it's really just taking things out of the coffin and putting them into a suitcase."
Taruvi sat on the ground, carefully taking out several tattered hero tales, placing them into the box as if they were treasures, a look of longing on her face.
"Before, I always envied the heroes in stories, envied those exciting adventures. Now, I can finally embark on my own journey!"
..... .... ....
Taruvi's negative skills were also eliminated by Rhode, and she could now level up.
In the timeline where Rhode did not intervene, she would have stayed to become the princess of this country.
But now, although she was still genuinely happy for everyone who was saved, a subtle barrier had formed deep within her heart.
So when Rhode invited her, Taruvi agreed almost without hesitation.
"Ah, these are the fruits of Hercules and Maca. Both of you sisters should try them!" Taruvi offered two fruits like a child presenting a treasure, "The green one is very sour, and the red one is very sweet~"
Metria mischievously tried to feed the sweet fruit to Alfia, but was easily counteracted by her, and the sweet fruit ended up in Metria's own mouth.
Alfia, on the other hand, bit into the sour fruit without changing expression, showing a satisfied look, and then suddenly spoke softly.
"Are you really willing to leave Belden? After all, this is your hometown."
Taruvi's hands, which were packing, paused slightly, and the smile on her face gradually faded.
"Ah... to say I'm not reluctant, there certainly is some."
"My memories here are not sad; all I can recall are everyone's smiles. Everyone pampered me, loved me... But..."
But the premise of all this was that she was a sacrifice destined to give her life to save everyone.
Now that the curse was lifted, the entire country no longer needed her, so would she still be pampered?
Princess was merely a beautiful euphemism for a sacrifice; this country did not have a complete political system.
After everyone became healthy, would she still be treated as a true princess?
Perhaps in a fairy tale world, but this was the real world.
Never underestimate human nature.
When a sacrifice loses its purpose, when that overly heavy, never-to-be-repaid debt of gratitude weighs on everyone's hearts... one could guess what would happen.
Alfia ate the entire sour fruit.
Perhaps she saw a reflection of herself and her sister in Taruvi, and she spoke a little more.
"Given Rhode's personality, whatever he does will at least yield equal or greater rewards."
"Even if Goddess Vera has already paid the price, he still has sufficient reason to demand all Belden citizens become his slaves, serving him for generations."
"But he ultimately didn't do so. Do you know why?"
Taruvi pursed her lips and said softly.
"Mr. Rhode doesn't like them."
"Exactly." Alfia rose from the pillar she was leaning against and walked over to Taruvi.
"He can tolerate pure evil, but he absolutely despises hypocritical goodness. This is his code of conduct."
"If he were to take those people as his 'own,' given Rhode's personality, he would definitely treat them all equally, but he couldn't get past that hurdle in his own heart."
"But... you are different. You can see them as 'your own.'"
Taruvi snapped out of her sadness and looked up in confusion: "Sister Alfia... I don't understand what you mean?"
Alfia squatted down and handed her a metal plate engraved with an emblem.
"This is what that fellow Lidali begged me to give you, saying that as long as you have any need, they will definitely come to your aid, even if it costs their lives."
Taruvi stared blankly at the plate, her heart filled with mixed emotions.