As a Spirit Tuner, Roderika already possessed a natural affinity for souls.
Allowing her to wield the laws of souls would make it far easier for her to adapt.
Perhaps, in time, Arthur might even be able to nurture her into a true female God of Death—someone who fully mastered the power, or even the laws, of souls themselves.
With that thought in mind, Arthur sent a mental message to Roderika, who was currently resting within the Zen Garden.
"Prepare yourself for teleportation."
After receiving confirmation that she was ready, Arthur activated the transfer with a thought and summoned her before him.
The moment Roderika saw Arthur, she bowed politely.
"Lord Arthur."
Arthur waved casually.
"You don't have to be so formal all the time. Relax a little."
Roderika nodded obediently.
"Please assign my duties."
Arthur pointed toward the dark land beneath their feet.
"This place is called the Underworld."
"It serves as the destination for the souls of the dead."
"There's a special passage within this realm. Spirits travel through it to arrive here."
"And maintaining the stability of that passage requires someone skilled in handling soul power."
"That will be your primary responsibility from now on."
Roderika blinked in surprise.
"But… didn't you say I would become a gardener?"
"And honestly, I'm not particularly skilled with souls. I can only perform basic spirit tuning."
Arthur smiled reassuringly.
"Don't worry. I'll grant you the necessary authority directly. Operating it won't be difficult."
"As for the gardening work—it's very simple."
He gestured toward the barren land around them.
"This environment is perfect for cultivating Grave Glovewort and Ghost Glovewort."
"Your gardening duties will simply involve preparing land within the Underworld and growing those two spirit plants."
Grave Glovewort was a pale white flower that bloomed within underground catacombs.
Because it absorbed soul energy leaking from the dead, it possessed the ability to strengthen ordinary spirits.
Meanwhile, Ghost Glovewort was a more advanced variety saturated with even denser soul energy, capable of enhancing exceptional souls.
The moment Arthur first entered the Underworld, he realized this place would be perfect for growing both flowers.
Previously, he had attempted to cultivate them within the Zen Garden.
Unfortunately, the environment there lacked sufficient soul energy, so the results had always been disappointing.
But here—
The heavens themselves were filled with an ocean of soul-stars.
There was no place more suitable for growing spirit flowers than the Underworld itself.
After explaining everything, Arthur gently tapped Roderika between the brows, granting her authority over the laws of souls.
While Roderika closed her eyes and absorbed the new power, Arthur casually began constructing her living quarters nearby.
At the same time, he also prepared a large flower garden specifically for cultivating Glovewort.
Just as he finished—
A barking sound echoed from the distance.
Arthur turned around.
A black wolfhound was sprinting toward him.
The moment it reached him, the large dog affectionately rubbed against his leg.
Arthur chuckled and rubbed its head.
"You're still alive?"
This was the very same black wolfhound Arthur had once used as the sacrifice to open the gates of the Underworld.
He had honestly assumed the creature's soul had long since been destroyed during the ritual.
The wolfhound barked a few times happily.
Whether it actually understood him or not was impossible to tell.
At that moment, Roderika finished absorbing the authority over the soul laws.
She visibly relaxed.
Just as Arthur had promised, her duties truly weren't difficult to manage.
She bowed seriously.
"Please rest assured, Lord Arthur. I will fulfill the responsibilities you entrusted to me."
Arthur nodded and pointed toward the house behind her.
"That will be your residence from now on."
"Oh, right."
"This little fellow can stay here with you."
As he spoke, Arthur casually lifted the wolfhound and placed it into Roderika's arms.
He worried that leaving Roderika entirely alone in the Underworld might become too lonely for her.
So he decided to leave the dog as company.
"Thank you very much, Lord Arthur."
Roderika carefully held the wolfhound and thanked him sincerely.
Arthur continued:
"And if you ever feel bored during your free time, you can always travel through that gate and visit Rya and the others in the Zen Garden."
He pointed toward the stone gate he had placed beside the house.
Brief absences wouldn't destabilize the Soul Passage.
For the sake of Roderika's mental health, Arthur had no intention of forcing her to remain isolated in the Underworld forever.
Otherwise…
She might eventually end up like Thanatos—emotionally numb after thousands of years alone.
Roderika nodded gratefully.
Truthfully, when Arthur first described her responsibilities, she had felt slightly disappointed.
Originally, she had assumed the Zen Garden itself would become her workplace.
Instead, Arthur informed her she would be stationed within the barren Underworld.
At first, she genuinely believed she would spend the rest of her life trapped in this desolate realm.
So hearing that Arthur would allow her to freely travel to the Zen Garden during her spare time deeply moved her.
Silently, she vowed to herself that she would absolutely carry out every duty Arthur entrusted to her with complete dedication.
"Alright," Arthur said. "Spend some time getting familiar with the environment here."
"If nothing else comes up, Ranni and I will head back first."
"If you need anything, come find me through the Zen Garden."
Roderika immediately bowed again.
"Safe travels, Lord Arthur."
…
After saying goodbye to Roderika, Arthur and Ranni returned to their home within the Zen Garden.
Hermione was already waiting for him in the main hall.
During the time Ranni had been analyzing the Underworld Core, Arthur had informed Hermione about what they were doing so she wouldn't worry after failing to find him.
The moment Arthur returned, Hermione hurried over excitedly.
"So? How did it go?"
"Can I visit the Underworld now?"
Arthur nodded.
"The Underworld has already fused with the Zen Garden."
"You can enter anytime through the gate outside the house."
Hermione's eyes immediately lit up.
"Then I'm going right now!"
The little witch rushed out almost instantly.
Arthur could only shake his head with a helpless smile.
Some things never changed.
Hermione was still as impatient and energetic as ever.
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