Kapitel 76: Chapter 60: Sky-reaching Vines!!
"I warned you to behave, didn't I?"
As Rhodes watched Asmod's body slowly turn to stone, he sighed helplessly. Why can't you just listen?
"W-What did you do to me?!" Asmodeus, freed from the restraint of his commands, looked at Rhodes with pure horror. This strange power turning people into stone seemed impossible.
"Nothing much," Rhodes said casually. "Just a minor contract. Try to devour Cinderella, and you'll turn into a statue. But keep your word, and it won't affect you at all."
Not even gods can escape the Law of Truth. And for a demigod, there's no chance.
"You despicable human!" Asmodeus ground his teeth. If this contract was real, would she be cursed to never consume the other half of her soul?
"Guess it's not really your place to throw insults right now, is it?" Rhodes raised an eyebrow, watching her struggle.
He couldn't help but wonder how a demon—who specialized in deceit and schemes—had the nerve to call him despicable. A demon, calling others despicable. The biggest joke in the Shinra Empire.
Asmodeus had no response. She'd made a deal but was the first to break it. How ironic.
"Now, you have two choices. Either release Cinderella from within you… or I can help you out by beating you senseless." Rhodes raised his fist, the heat of the sun gathering around it, ready to strike.
Seeing his power up close, Asmodeus clicked her tongue in annoyance. With a last huff, she closed her eyes, and her sultry, alluring form faded, slowly shifting back to her original state.
"Thank you!" A moment later, Cinderella opened her eyes, looking at Rhodes with a conflicted expression. Even though Asmodeus had been in control, Cinderella had felt everything happening outside. If it weren't for Rhodes, she would have been devoured for sure.
This man had risked everything to challenge a god, all for her. Her heart raced, her gaze softening with an emotion she couldn't quite identify.
"Do you always thank people like that?" Rhodes scratched his chin, feeling somewhat shortchanged. He'd risked his life fighting a god to save her, and all she gave him was a two-word thank-you? Really? Not even trying to hide her indifference.
Cinderella rolled her eyes. This guy really didn't get the atmosphere, did he?
"Is something wrong with this woman?"
Watching her slam the door behind her, Rhodes shook his head. How ungrateful can you get? Right when he was still angry, she decides to act all high and mighty.
Honestly, compared to that, he almost preferred her "green tea" personality—the girl who played coy and a bit manipulative but was at least likeable.
"No wonder so many people like green tea girls," he muttered. If you think about it, there's a certain charm to that type. Someone who says, "Brother, you're amazing," with that look of pure admiration in her eyes. Compare that to a haughty queen with a permanent scowl? Hard pass.
---
Originally, Rhodes had planned to leave today, but with everything going on, he found himself staying at the manor another night. Late into the evening, Rhodes was moving room-to-room, exorcising demons, finishing off the last of the foul spirits clinging to the household. Just as he prepared to turn in, he heard the door creak open behind him.
"Who's there?"
Rhodes frowned. The Termani family had already completed their exorcisms and were completely drained. Euphemia, Frey, and the others had almost all been cleansed as well. Who else would come here at this hour?
Yulia?
The thought barely crossed his mind when Cinderella walked in, wearing a translucent lace nightgown that was enough to make anyone's blood heat up.
"Lord Rhodes, it seems the demonic energy in me isn't completely gone yet."
Rhodes arched an eyebrow. So she's back to her flirtatious self, is she?
"You were just possessed today, so the demonic energy's still pretty persistent. It may take a while to fully cleanse it."
Cinderella sauntered to the bed with a graceful sway, her enchanting gaze drawing him in like a siren's call.
"But Lord Rhodes," she murmured, her voice dripping with honey. "I'm sure you can fix it for me, right? Purify me."
Rhodes couldn't hold back a smirk. Men can admit to many faults, but they'll never admit they're not up to the challenge. Just some demonic energy? With his extensive experience and the Sun's Thorn that he'd honed over the years? Even if the Primordial Witch herself had walked in, he could exorcise her.
---
After a night of relentless exorcism, everyone affected by the demonic aura lay exhausted, sprawled across their beds. Yet Rhodes was still brimming with energy, strolling around the manor with a spring in his step. Thanks to the power of the Fountain of Life, he could recover instantly from any physical strain, no matter how intense.
For him, that little exercise had been just a warm-up. Getting tired? Only if the Primordial Witch herself demanded he exorcise her personal demons.
With the sun rising, Rhodes decided it was time for his daily check-in.
"Ding! Check-in complete!"
Reward: The Ten Commandments - Rest in Peace
The Law of Rest: Seals the magic of any who refuse to rest.
A skill with a very specific use, perfect for long, drawn-out battles. In a typical fight, it wouldn't be too useful. But in a prolonged skirmish, it'd be game-changing. A foe fighting relentlessly would find themselves suddenly drained of all magic, left powerless. In a one-on-one fight, though, it wouldn't be much help.
Rhodes grinned, pleased with his new reward. The power of the commandments lay in their precision—specific abilities for specific circumstances, often feared by even the gods.
The commandment of Truth, for instance, would turn a liar into stone instantly, making it the ultimate bane for demons, notorious for their deceit. With these commandments, Rhodes was slowly building a toolkit with fearsome potential. Keep signing in, and it wouldn't be long before he unlocked the rest of the Ten Commandments and the Seven Deadly Sins, combining them all for unparalleled power. Maybe even gaining the talent of a Demon King someday. At that point, not even gods would stand a chance.
But a new issue surfaced in his mind. His entourage was growing—one carriage wouldn't be enough. Either he'd have to find a bigger one or… leave some people behind. Finding a large enough carriage to fit them all would be tricky, especially for rough country paths.
Rhodes glanced at Lady Termeni and her two daughters, Euphemia included. Ordinary folk like them wouldn't cause much trouble if they stayed behind. He'd have his treasure house guards escort them safely to the Kingdom of Francis, where, with his future earl status and the Sun Elves' protection, they'd be well cared for.
However, he was also aware that he needed to ask, out of courtesy. To his surprise, the mother and daughters embraced each other in tearful joy at the chance to follow his suggestion. In under an hour, they'd packed their belongings, joining the guards on their way to the Kingdom of Francis.
With that settled, Rhodes returned to his travels. Along the way, he heard travelers gossiping about the recent clash of legendary warriors, and how it flattened the forests. There were whispers about a certain countess who'd left a letter to pursue legend at the imperial capital, vowing not to return until she achieved it.
Rhodes shot a look at Cinderella, who noticed and gave him a sweet smile. Same old charm, same old attitude. Despite everything, she was still the same cunning, teasing Cinderella.
Nothing's changed, yet it felt slightly different somehow.
Rhodes watched her and realized she had mellowed out, her once relentless ambition replaced with more frequent spats with the other women. He shook his head with a grin. As long as she didn't cause him trouble, she could fight with the others all she wanted. Better to stay out of it than play favorites and make enemies.
By noon, they arrived at a small town. In the center, stretching high into the clouds, was a massive vine bridge. The sprawling vines snaked upward, dotted with leaves of all shapes and sizes, reaching toward the heavens. The vines drilled through the earth, intertwining and soaring into the clouds, as if bridging heaven and earth.
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