Zongman: The wrong person on the ground, double Shenwei at the beginning

So, Alphia, looking helpless, and the fairy, feeling utterly ashamed and indignant, were dragged along by two girls who wouldn't listen to a word they said, and began to dance in the snow-covered square.

"I was just thinking...the Hestia Familia are really a strange bunch..."

"Yeah...it feels great! Fantastic, ladies—!"

"Adventurer, you're so beautiful!!"

The atmosphere around us also underwent a strange change.

The adults, who were initially indifferent and just watching the spectacle, seemed to be attracted by the girls' heartfelt smiles. They relaxed their tense faces and let out good-natured cheers and whistles, or half-joking teasing.

The children, playing and jumping, joined in.

Before they knew it, a huge, circular human wall filled with laughter and chatter had completely surrounded them in the center.

Rhodes thought for a moment, then turned around with a smile to face Riveria beside him.

He placed his right hand on his chest and his left hand behind his back, giving her an impeccable aristocratic bow, and then gracefully extended his right hand.

"It might have been a little embarrassing for me in the past, but it's just right for me now."

He raised his head, his deep eyes filled with a sincere smile as he gazed at her.

"Your Highness, beautiful and elegant fairy princess, would you do me the honor of dancing with me?"

Rivera was taken aback. Seeing the expectant look in Rhodes' eyes, a faint blush appeared on her delicate face.

Then, she revealed a radiant smile, dispelling her imposing aura and leaving only captivating gentleness and beauty.

“I’ve danced enough alone in my hometown’s royal city. But…” She paused slightly, her eyes sparkling, her voice as soft as a feather, “dancing with someone else (you) once in a while might not be so bad.”

As she spoke, she gently placed her fair, slightly cool right hand into Rod's warm palm.

However, Rhodes remained motionless for a long time, simply standing there in a daze.

"..."

"W-What's wrong?" Rivera tilted her head in confusion, a gesture that was unintentionally adorable.

“...Uh, I just remembered,” Rod’s expression turned a little strange, “I don’t think I can dance.”

puff-

The noble fairy princess could no longer contain herself and let out a clear and melodious laugh.

"Hahaha... Rod usually gives people the impression of being omnipotent, but I didn't expect there to be something he's not good at!"

Ais stared wide-eyed at the golden eyes, her small mouth slightly agape, her face filled with disbelief.

Rivera actually smiled...?!

That "old woman" who always had a stern face and was more terrifying than the monsters in the dungeon, was actually smiling so happily...?

Finally, just as Rhodes was about to lose his temper, Rivera quickly suppressed her smile and soothed him in an incredibly gentle voice, as if coaxing a child.

"It's okay, just follow my lead~"

And so, inexplicably, all the adventurers started dancing together.

Adventurers of all races and clans sang, drank, and danced in the square in front of the Tower of Babel, celebrating the joy of having survived another day safely.

There was no string instrument timbre, and no music played by wind instruments.

But at the same time, there is no piece of music in the world that can surpass the heartfelt joy that people feel at this moment.

The dark period, which had lasted for an unknown period of time, was not yet over, but at this moment it seemed as if a glimmer of hope could be seen.

The underlings of the dark faction resented this scene, seeing it as a provocation, and just as they gripped their weapons, ready to sabotage it...

A tall figure emerged from the shadows.

"Don't spoil his fun... you bastards."

A cold sound rang out, accompanied by the muffled thud of bones breaking.

Before the henchmen could even see who it was, their heads were blown apart by a sharp kick, like watermelons.

The red and white objects bloomed like dazzling flowers on the snow, but were instantly swallowed up by the jubilant crowd, without causing a ripple.

Upon hearing the news, Demeter's family quickly brought over barrels of beer and mountains of food.

The gods, who love excitement, were even more eager for chaos, urging their respective clans to join this unexpected feast.

"So, what exactly are we celebrating?"

"Who cares, let's drink first!"

"Aistan! Don't dance with that man! Come dance with me!"

"That despicable Warren! He's so young, yet he wants to steal my Rod!"

Just then, a peculiar girl with a pair of deer antlers and a pair of goat horns on her head, and heterochromatic eyes that were one yellow and one blue, quietly slipped into the crowd, panting, and let out a long sigh of relief.

"Phew...finally shaken them off..."

Her curious gaze swept across the room, and she was soon drawn to the central figure who was surrounded by countless halos.

At this moment, Rhodes is experiencing a "happy hell".

On his left shoulder sat the blonde Ais, who looked on with curiosity, and on his right shoulder sat the somewhat shy silver-haired Amid. On his back was Adi, who was waving her little hands excitedly.

His right hand was being playfully held by Alphia, while his left hand was being coquettishly pulled by Metalia. A bitter smile, a mixture of happiness and helplessness, graced his face.

But to the male adventurers around him, who were watching with gritted teeth and spitting fire, that smile was nothing short of blatant boasting!

Damn it! You want to eat it all by yourself, huh?!

You've got all the best girls in Orario, haven't you?

O Birth, if you gave birth to me, why did you also come into this world?

The girl with heterochromatic eyes rested her chin on her hand, tilted her head and thought for a moment, then slapped her palm with a "smack".

"He seems to be quite popular... Could he be a legendary hero of Orario?!"

Her eyes lit up as if she had discovered a new continent. She leaped out of the crowd and rushed towards the center of the square.

"I...I want to dance with you too!"

The girl's actions instantly ignited the passion of all the female adventurers watching.

"We want it too!"

"Damn it, don't try to monopolize Lord Rhodes!"

"War! We must start a war!"

"Go! Don't let those Loki Familia guys block our path to a blissful heaven!"

"I'm sorry, Lady Riveria, but this is the one time I cannot back down!"

A group of girls, complete strangers, with excited smiles on their faces, launched a challenge called the "Battle for Rhodes" against the top experts they once respected the most.

The male gods, on the one hand, expressed their heartbreaking jealousy and complaints, and on the other hand, they gloated and kept teasing Rhodes as he struggled to deal with the endless stream of enthusiastic girls.

The revelry continued until late at night, until everyone was completely drunk. Only then were they reprimanded and driven back to their respective clans by their respective leaders who had rushed over upon hearing the news.

Snowflakes drifted silently down beside the fountain in the square.

Adi sat down next to Liu, who was still somewhat embarrassed and whose cheeks were slightly flushed, and suddenly spoke.

"...Ryu, you once asked me, what is justice?"

Liu paused for a moment, then nodded slightly.

That happened before Rhodes arrived.

Feeling lost about the justice he had always believed in, he sought answers from his friend.

The seemingly carefree girl in front of me is actually more thoughtful than anyone else.

While she was still blindly believing in rigid, conventional justice, Adi had already been searching for... a universal way of achieving justice.

"Adi, have you found the answer?"

Adi released her hand from her slender chin, closed her eyes, and continued speaking.

"I'm not as smart as my sister. I feel like the more I think about these things, the more I get bogged down."

"You can't force others, nor can you bear the burden alone."

"And if you just keep it in your heart, you'll be powerless to change anything. I've also thought that perhaps there is no such thing as true justice in the world."

Bathed in moonlight and snowflakes, the girl's profile appeared more mature than her actual age.

Liu had that illusion for a moment.

"Don't think about difficult things, don't hurt anyone... all we need is for everyone to smile and be happy."

Her wish was childlike, yet more precious than anything else.

An incredibly simple yet extremely difficult wish.

Now, Ryu has the idea of ​​protecting Rhodes, and she is also supported by that gentle boy to continue to pursue the path of justice, but can she really reach the answer?

Just then, Adi suddenly opened her arms, opened her eyes, and a smile that was brighter than ever before blooming on her face.

"But just now, I'm certain! Justice does come in cycles!"

"what?"

"Just as smiles and happiness are passed on to others, even if it's not the real answer, even if it's wrong, even if the stance changes, our justice will still circulate!"

This is the conclusion that Adi has reached at this moment.

"Sometimes things that are soft can become stubborn, and things that were once gentle can become indifferent!"

Even so, the justice we convey will surely blossom in different ways! Perhaps not as flowers, but as starlight illuminating everyone!

Unbeknownst to her, Liu opened her empty-colored eyes wide.

"Those we have helped will help others! Today's kindness will bring smiles tomorrow!"

Perhaps this is just an unfulfilled dream of Adi's prayer.

However, to Ryu, it sounded incredibly precious, like wings embracing the hope of soaring high.

If it were the old Ryu, she probably wouldn't have agreed with these words.

What would Rhodes think if he heard that?

As a realist, he would most likely scoff and say "too naive" before making a disdainful remark!

The thought had barely formed when Ryu caught a glimpse of Rod talking to a strange girl with odd horns on her head not far away. She immediately dismissed the idea in her mind, feeling quite annoyed.

...No, since it came from a cute girl like Adi, he would definitely smile and show his support, absolutely!

Liu clenched her fists slightly and unconsciously puffed out her cheeks. Even the most oblivious fairy had already realized Rhodes's overly "philanthropic" personality.

but...

It was Kaguya and Lyra who saved Rhodes, and although he was radical and ruthless like a demon king in some things, he also saved many people in his own way.

Although... most of them are cute girls...

But isn't this also a kind of "cycle of justice"?

It's hard to say whether it's a rationalization made up by my own imagination or a sudden enlightenment.

The germaphobic fairy's deep-seated emotional turmoil and confusion vanished completely at this moment.

Rhodes probably didn't know that Adi's righteous argument would subtly change after Ryu came into contact with Rhodes' reality, and even cause Ryu to change her own views on love.

If he knew, he might just worship Adi.

Similar to the original work, Ryu still inherits Agi's concept of "the cycle of justice," but this time the path she chooses leads in a completely different direction.

Meanwhile, Rod was unaware of this and was looking at the beautiful girl in front of him with a subtle expression.

"You said your name is Tarluvi?"

The girl with heterochromatic eyes and four horns on her head swayed her long, smooth, dark brown hair, her face beaming with a genuine, innocent smile.