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

Taluvi pursed her lips, her expression somewhat sorrowful.

Uskali and the others have indeed treated her like a princess all these years, and their friendship is genuine.

But in those short days, she also formed friendships with these kind-hearted girls.

Now that they know the women are fighting for them, they can't possibly feel resentment.

"Mr. Rhodes... could you please stop fighting...?"

“Uscare is right. I have indeed come to my senses. I chose to sacrifice myself to protect everyone.”

Rhodes leaned down, met her heterochromatic eyes, and asked calmly.

"Did you make the choice yourself... or was this the only choice you could make?"

"!!!"

"From birth, you know your mission. And everyone around you is so good to you that you can't bear to watch them die from illness. In the end, this is probably the only answer you can come to."

Taluvi's eyes trembled violently; her worldview was on the verge of collapse.

She quickly grasped Rod's hand and asked, her voice choked with emotion.

Are you saying that all their care for me was fake?

Rhodes gripped the girl's cold hand, tearing away their facade.

"It may not be fake, but since you're going to die for them anyway, why not treat you better while you're alive?"

"This is both to alleviate their guilt and to satisfy their hypocritical mentality."

"The simplest question is, if someone truly cares about you, would they personally send you to your death?"

"Do you... really want to die?"

Taluvi closed her eyes tightly, but large tears still slid down her cheeks.

"I do... have so many things I want to see and do, I want to keep eating the fries Rod gave me, and I want to go shopping and have fun with everyone..."

“I’m also very happy that everyone stood up for me, and I’m very happy that Rod spoke up for me.”

"I am truly happy at this moment. I love everyone, and I especially love Mr. Rod!"

Taluvi suddenly threw herself into Rhodes' arms, hugged him tightly, and apologized while crying.

"But, I'm sorry... I'm not a tragic princess, I'm here to save my country."

“I am one of the children of Scylladi, one of the four descendants of the priestesses.”

"Everyone has been waiting for my birth; I am everyone's wish and prayer."

"My name means 'winter' in my hometown, so I'm destined never to see spring..."

Even at this point, Tarluvi still did not give up the idea of ​​sacrificing herself, and even felt sad and apologized for wasting Rhodes's good intentions.

Rod was not angry about it.

After all, if she hadn't possessed such a pure heart and a strong sense of responsibility, Rhodes wouldn't have bothered to save her.

He simply patted her head and asked a question.

How many people are in your country?

Taluvi sniffed.

"...several thousand people."

"So, in order to bring you into the world, how many people's happiness was robbed, and how many were forced to mate?"

"...!"

Taluvi was stunned.

She had never thought about this question before.

Just then, Vera walked over.

"I'm curious, your reason for intervening was a sense of justice, right? Then why don't you resent me for giving you the advice?"

Rod didn't even turn his head, and said calmly.

"Because you didn't lie, and you only offered advice; the decision is theirs to make."

Vera remained silent for a long time, looking at Rhodes's back with a complicated expression.

"I thought he was just a hot-blooded, impulsive young man, but he turns out he's quite insightful."

"Then you should know that they are not wrong, right? It's just a simple question of choosing between one and one hundred."

Rhodes gestured with his chin toward Alphia beside him.

"What would you do if someone put your sister in a dangerous situation?"

Alphia did not hesitate for a moment, her face expressionless.

"I will kill all of them."

Riveria couldn't help but take a closer look at Alphia.

This feeling is so familiar, but I just can't quite place it...

Vera seemed thoughtful, then looked at Rod.

"I understand, but this isn't a choice a hero would make, is it?"

Upon hearing this, Rod couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"How interesting. Do you know that this guy, who isn't a hero in your eyes... is willing to put himself in the position of 'number one' for 'billions', becoming a sacrifice to become the cornerstone of a hero?"

"She is far more noble than those who sacrifice others just to survive."

"It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that if things proceed as planned, it will save the entire world in the future!"

Vera's eyes widened as she re-examined Alphia.

Upon hearing this, Rivera's heart skipped a beat, and an almost unbelievable guess suddenly rose from the bottom of her heart.

No way...

Metalia had known about the Great Struggle plan since she came to the mortal world, but she looked at Alphia with concern and pride.

No matter how indifferent she may appear, she will always be a true hero in her heart!

Alphia felt uncomfortable under that gaze and awkwardly turned her body away, feeling both embarrassed and annoyed.

"Don't...don't look at me like that..."

Vera sighed.

"So you've already saved [One], huh? I know her choice now. And what about you?"

"Heh, I'll just kill any guy who dares to give me a choice."

"..."

In fact, the plans for the Great Rebellion were not much different in form from those for Pilden.

It's all about sacrificing a small group of people to benefit another.

However, they are fundamentally very different. Although the others who sacrificed themselves in the process were innocent, Erebus truly gave Alphia and Chardor a choice, and his purpose was for the future of the entire world.

This is why Rhodes dislikes the plan, but doesn't belittle it.

Without his intervention, the world would be destroyed if a major struggle did not occur.

But those guys in Berden were purely acting to prolong their own lives; it was an absolutely selfish and hypocritical act.

On the battlefield, Ryu's battle was over. She was panting heavily, while Rita, covered in sword wounds, lay unconscious on the ground.

Ais is still fighting Uscare.

Uskali used a technique called "Martial Light" to forcibly detonate the wind sword he materialized.

Although this move crippled his left hand, it did cause Ais a little trouble.

But it was only a little bit...

When Ais is in the [Wind Spirit Run] state, she is extremely sensitive to the direction of the wind.

She anticipated and avoided the epicenter of the explosion the instant it occurred.

Having lost an arm, Uskali was gradually falling into a disadvantageous position.

He heard what Rod said and shouted angrily.

Do you consider yourself to be on the side of justice?

"Forcing your own goodwill onto others is wrong. All the people in our country want to do is survive!"

A goddess with walnut-colored hair slowly walked over.

"Although Rhodes can be a bit extreme at times, and even occasionally resorts to unjust means that annoy me, I think he is righteous at this moment."

Uskali looked at the newcomer with red eyes.

"Who are you? What right do you have to say that?!"

Hestia crossed her arms and said with mixed feelings.

"She is Astrea, the goddess of justice. If there is anyone in the world who can define absolute justice, then it is her."

Uskali was speechless.

In his moment of distraction, Ais seized the opportunity, crippling his remaining limbs and leaving him limp and powerless on the ground, tears streaming down his face.

"Damn it... these mere outsiders know nothing... I didn't want to kill Her Highness either. But the Swamp King is about to awaken, and all my people will die!"

"Then just die."

Rod's indifferent voice instantly silenced the entire room.

Vera's eyes widened.

"Hey, are you serious?"

Rhodes looked down at Uscare with disdain.

"You feel sorry for yourself? You feel sorry for your country? But... I think the children who are reincarnated into your country are the most innocent."

"Damn it, what did you say...?!"

"Isn't that right? It's one thing to not know at first, but later you find out that the child will inherit an incurable disease and there's no way to cure it completely. Why would you let such an unfortunate child be born into this hopeless hell?"

“…!!!”

Seeing Uscarey's bewildered expression and lack of response, Rhodes revealed a pleased look.

"Since you can sacrifice one for a hundred, then why can't I kill a hundred for the sake of ten thousand who might be reborn in Berden in the future?"

The knights who were besieging Adi not far away stopped in surprise upon hearing this, and were knocked to the ground by Adi in a daze.

Astraea lowered her gaze and remained silent.

That's why she said Rhodes was "justice".

This is not bias, but a fact.

Rhodes's words sounded somewhat absurd and even inhumane.

However, in this world where "reincarnation" truly exists, it is an undeniable truth.

Vera opened her mouth, but in the end, she couldn't say anything.

She staggered, looking somewhat lost and disoriented.

Once she stepped outside that narrow perspective, she was shocked to discover that what Rod had said was the truly cruel reality.

She even began to suspect...

If she hadn't saved those people in the first place, perhaps not so many people in this world would be suffering from terminal illnesses.

Hestia walked to her side, hesitated for a moment, then placed her hand on her shoulder and said softly.

"This is the price we gods pay for interfering in the world..."