016.1

"You don't need to call me 'Adventurer' anymore. Just call me Rod."

"Yes, Rod-sama."

Rod shrugged at Annie's obedient yet stubborn response.

"Fine, suit yourself."

He brought Annie back to the inn in Mushroom Town. Inside, Euphemia had already woken up, sitting quietly like a quail with her head down. Every time she thought about how Rod had spent all night using his Solar Lance to purify the demonic energy from her body, her face couldn't help but flush with guilt.

"Are you feeling alright? Why is your face so red?" Rod asked, his expression full of concern as he looked at Euphemia's flushed cheeks.

"Is the demonic energy still not fully expelled? Well, that makes sense. After all, it's the power of a demon. Even with my strength, it's hard to get rid of it in one go."

"Don't worry, I'll help you with a few more purification sessions later. After a few rounds, it should be completely gone." Rod continued, "After all, Leon is like a brother to me. If he knew I didn't take good care of his mother, he'd be furious."

Hearing Rod's self-righteous tone, Euphemia's blush deepened, spreading to her ears, and even her body trembled slightly.

Several more sessions? With such an intense purification method... How could her long-neglected body handle that?

"Actually, I… I'm already fine," Euphemia stammered.

"Euphemia, you need to listen to your master," Rod said with a playful squint, his smile as bright as the sun.

At once, Euphemia fell silent. She hadn't forgotten her current status—just a slave. Rod was her master, and everything she had belonged to him. No matter how overboard he went, she could only endure. Compared to most slaves, her life now could even be considered fortunate.

Besides, her master was using his energy to purify the demonic pollution from her body. He was helping her. She should be grateful, not resistant.

Rod, seeing Euphemia behave so obediently, felt quite satisfied. What he liked most about her was her sensibility and submissiveness—always knowing her place. Of course, her assets also didn't hurt.

At this point, he was almost like Leon's stepfather, but Rod wasn't exactly content with that level of relationship. He planned to take things up a notch, perhaps by working hard to give Leon a half-sibling or two. That way, calling him "Father" wouldn't be as awkward.

Of course, if Leon ever showed up, Rod would ensure he didn't suffer too much before sending him off. Rod had few flaws, but holding grudges was definitely one of them.

Sharing a single room with four people was becoming quite cramped, not to mention inconvenient for Rod's "purification sessions." He initially thought about renting another room next door, but Annie boldly invited him to stay at her house instead.

After considering it briefly, Rod agreed.

That night, as the hours passed, the Solar Lance grew even sharper and more proficient.

The next morning, Rod spent a significant sum to commission a luxurious carriage, just big enough to fit four people. With a flick of a flint, he summoned the guardian of the Silver Treasury and fastened the carriage to the massive hound that served as its protector.

"Go!"

Rod snapped his fingers, and the white beast gave a low growl before taking off. The carriage sped forward with remarkable swiftness.

"This is much faster than a regular carriage," Rod remarked, pleased, as he settled back into his seat after giving the white hound directions. Their next destination was the castle of Count Hamann, a few dozen kilometers away.

This place could also be referred to as the Hamann Kingdom—a small barony with only a few thousand citizens. Its ruler, Count Hamann, was said to be a senile and incompetent king who had done many absurd and laughable things since taking the throne.

However, even a small kingdom was still a kingdom. Its scale and standard of living were far superior to that of a small town like Mushroom Town.

"From Hamann, we'll head north. It'll take anywhere from two weeks to a couple of months, depending on the road, to reach the Kingdom of Aethel."

Rod's eyes gleamed as he thought about the famed beauty of Princess Snow White. He had long been captivated by her.

Even if he couldn't marry Snow White, at the very least, he wanted to see her beauty with his own eyes. After all, what's the point of traveling across worlds if not for a sight like that?

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