After joining the palace, Rod assigned Senis to work as a healing mage, responsible for teaching the maids healing and anti-poison magic.
Rod also asked her to heal Lillia’s old injuries, but Senis expressed her regret, saying that she couldn’t do it.
Intermediate healing magic couldn’t heal long-standing hidden injuries. Only upper-level healing magic could do it.
However, even in the magic academy, upper-level magic was difficult to obtain. As for the even higher-level divine healing magic, it was hidden deep within the Milis Order.
Lillia seemed unconcerned, taking it all in stride.
However, Rod kept this matter in mind.
It’s worth mentioning that Lillia and Senis had never met before, yet a peculiar spark ignited between them.
They seemed to get along well, but whenever they smiled and looked at each other, there was always a sense of rivalry, making Rod break out in a cold sweat.
Although there were more people in the palace, everyone was busier than before.
Senis was busy teaching the maids while also taking charge of the cultural work for Gielenu.
Rod often heard her roaring in the castle, her voice filled with both frustration and grief.
Teaching a lone wolf to read seemed more difficult than teaching the maids healing magic, which was already incredibly difficult.
Despite this, Senis did not give up on the tasks assigned to her by Rod.
Rod, on the other hand, enjoyed a few days of slacking off.
Every morning, he would patrol Elsland, looking for talented individuals to recruit.
In the morning, he would use all his magic to craft Zanpakutos, Soul Steel, magic tools, and essential food and resource supplies.
In the afternoon, after his magic recovered, Rod would continue developing the Unbounded Magic and Dragon Slayer Magic in the secret room, but due to the lack of further theoretical knowledge, his progress was slow.
Before going to bed at night, he would practice swordsmanship with Gielenu.
Gielenu was indeed a swordsman far superior to Lillia, consistently suppressing Rod with her swordsmanship skills alone.
Rod used the Six Eyes to learn her every move, growing rapidly.
However, the self-sacrificing combat philosophy of the Sword God Style did not align with Rod’s personality, which slowed his swordsmanship progress.
I forget which day it was, but Lillia suddenly appeared, pale and in a hurry, calling Rod out of the secret room.
Rod asked her what happened, but Lillia lowered her head, stammering and unable to answer.
When they arrived at the hall, everyone was present, with various expressions.
Only Gielenu knelt on the ground, covered in blood, with two headless corpses beside her.
Rod frowned slightly and looked at Rita.
“What happened?”
Rita rose and respectfully bowed.
“Your Majesty, Gielenu discovered intruders with murderous intent.”
“However, after killing them, the letters found from their corpses indicate that they seem to be your designated swordsmanship teachers.”
Gielenu lowered her head.
“I am willing to accept any punishment, no matter what.”
Lillia hesitated, unsure how to speak.
Senis looked anxiously at the silent Gielenu and carefully explained.
“Your Majesty, Gielenu was merely fulfilling her duty. I was with her at the time. In fact, these two individuals even attempted to kidnap me!”
Rod nodded thoughtfully.
“Gielenu, what style were they from?”
Gielenu recalled the battle scene.
“They were probably from the North God Style’s Qiba Style. They should be called Nakul Jad, known as the North King’s Double Swords.”
Rod chuckled and looked down slightly.
“Interesting, the North God Style actually intends to teach a mere king the Qiba Style.”
The Qiba Style was a fighting style that used any means necessary, employing truly ruthless and boundless fighting techniques.
“As a king, even when wielding a sword, one should follow the righteous path. The North God Style, these people are my teachers.”
“Either they are simply humiliating me, or they were trying to kill me from the start.”
Rod vaguely recalled these two individuals’ appearances in the original work.
Hmm… They seem to be the type who relies on twins to fight two against one. Even then, they were defeated by Alice, who had just emerged from her training.
Their individual swordsmanship skills probably weren’t even as good as a Sword Saint’s.
Although he had initially guessed that the North God Style was a pawn of the Divine Being, Rod thought they would at least send a North Emperor.
That way, he could also witness the power of the North God Style.
After all, if the North God Style was used as a small-scale special forces unit, it would be quite suitable.
But in the end, they sent these two idiots, completely dampening Rod’s enthusiasm.
“Gielenu, you do deserve to be punished.”
Rod stood emotionless in front of Gielenu.
Lillia and the others didn’t dare to breathe.
Gielenu felt deeply guilty and lowered her head. Her ears drooped weakly.
“Bringing such trash into the hall and polluting my sight, that is your sin.”
“So, I shall punish you with an extra session of Senis’ cultural class tonight!”
The atmosphere in the hall stagnated for a moment.
With Lillia’s uncontrollable laughter, the tension immediately dissipated.
Senis glanced at Rod with a resentful look, as if blaming him for putting everyone on edge, then she also couldn’t help but cover her mouth and laugh.
“Oh, Your Majesty, this punishment is truly too cruel for Gielenu~”
“But, Your Majesty, you have to give me overtime pay and compensation for emotional distress!”
Gielenu’s ears perked up immediately, her face overflowing with gratitude. She wanted to say something, but Rita stopped her with a look.
Rod snapped his fingers, and Rita, understanding, took out a new Zanpakuto.
“There is a reward for every punishment. This sword is a reward for Gielenu’s loyalty. Use it well~”
Rod yawned, waved his hand, and walked towards the door.
“Alright, disperse, disperse, I thought it was something important. I’m going for a nap!”
After that, Lillia and Senis teased Gielenu, who was tightly holding the Zanpakuto, eventually angering the blushing beast girl. But that’s another story.
It’s not without regret that, if he had personally killed the North King’s Double Swords, he might have gotten an E-rank summon card.
Although they would be a side character who gets killed immediately, at least they had a name.
However, thanks to this incident, Rod finally decided to use the three summon cards he had accumulated.
Firstly, to prevent any possible actions from the North God Style. Secondly, the country was about to enter a period of rapid development, and he needed more manpower.
Rod went to a corner of the palace and made a silent wish.
“There are too many giant, mature women characters at home. Although I really like them, a younger sister-type would be good for a change of pace!”
“System, draw for me!”
【A-rank Summon Card being used…】
【Tags: Child / Politician】
【Congratulations, host, you have successfully summoned…】
Boom—
A giant roar, like a meteorite crashing to earth.
As Rod waved his hand to dispel the dust, his pupils contracted sharply.
He looked up, struggling to gaze at the girl, who was as big as a mountain, and cursed inwardly.
You call her a child!!!
Although he had drawn a good card, damn it, it wasn’t the type he wanted at all!
【Host, Charlotte Linlin is only five years old, she’s definitely a child.】
Rod covered his forehead and sighed helplessly.
“Indeed…”
He had summoned, using an A-rank summon card, the future one of the Four Emperors of the One Piece world, the natural born Destroyer, Charlotte Linlin, at the age of five!
Charlotte Linlin looked curiously at the unfamiliar surroundings. When she saw Rod, her eyes lit up.
“Big Brother, I’m hungry~”
Rod pinched his brow, decided to accept reality, and waved his hand, creating a large amount of grilled meat.
Charlotte Linlin immediately began eating happily.
“Thank you, Big Brother!”
Considering combat power alone, this result was beyond his expectations.
It’s a shame that Charlotte Linlin at this point in time didn’t have the Soul Soul Fruit.
But that wasn’t a problem. Rod was very much looking forward to what level she could reach if she didn’t waste decades and trained hard.
Next, Rod used the A-rank summon card tagged as Demon to summon Shiruty Gard, from Beelzebub.
Shiruty was a maid demon from a noble family. Her combat power wasn’t strong, but she was perfect for taking care of mischievous children.
However, when Shiruty realized she wasn’t taking care of the lovely Rod but the giant child beside him, her expression immediately went blank.
Rod couldn’t help but sigh.
“Even this can be twisted into a maid attribute character. Damn it, I’m done for in this life.”
For the last draw, Rod used the summon card he got when he subdued Gielenu.
When the woman, like a great and gentle mother, holding a sword, stepped out of the light gate, Rod was finally certain.
He had drawn the perfect swordsmanship teacher!
【Childhood ends】