That day, Rayleigh made plans with Alise and Ryuu to patrol the city together.
The Astraea Familia, led by the Goddess of Justice, was a group where every member upheld the principles of righteousness.
They were praised throughout the city, serving as a sword of judgment for criminals.
"Rayleigh, you're going to spend the whole day with us."
"No problem."
"Then let's set off!"
"Lets go!"
The three started from the Industrial District, patrolling the area.
Along the way, they helped elderly ladies cross the street, retrieved balloons for children, and mediated arguments between couples.
After a day of patrolling, as evening approached, they prepared to grab a meal.
Looking at the desolate streets, Ryuu spoke up. "The streets feel lifeless, devoid of energy. Who would've thought this is Orario, the center of the world?"
Alise's expression darkened.
Although the situation had deteriorated because of the Evilus, if they had protected everything, many tragedies could've been avoided.
Seeing the two brimming with a sense of justice, Rayleigh said, "Those with power, if they do good, are praised, if they do evil, they are feared."
His words left the girls puzzled.
"Shouldn't evil people be despised?"
Rayleigh elaborated. "No, they won't. Because only good people have swords pointed at them. It's more in line with human nature for people to blame those who failed to protect them rather than condemn those who persecuted them."
Alise and Ryuu were taken aback.
They looked at each other.
"Rayleigh, your perspective on people is quite dark, isn't it?"
Rayleigh was stunned.
'Am I really that dark?'
"To make people smile, we'll fight. To prevent people from feeling sorrow, we'll step forward. Even if we're scorned for failing to protect everyone, it won't extinguish the justice in our hearts!"
A brilliant smile spread across Alise's face, radiant as the sun.
Ryuu smiled in admiration. "That's just how Alise is. That's why I respect her."
Seeing the two upholding their beliefs, Rayleigh didn't refute them.
This was part of their charm.
There was no need to change, sunlight can warm the earth, but it can also burn away the darkness.
Rayleigh never underestimated their strength.
"Ah! My wallet!"
A man's anxious voice rang out. The three turned to see a thug who had snatched a wallet from a young man's hand.
Due to the Evilus, the city's public security had deteriorated, making such incidents common.
What was absurd was that the victim was a God!
In broad daylight, on the main street, even a God of all people was mugged!
This level of security was despair-inducing.
Alise sighed. "Seriously... even a God got robbed..."
"Alright, Alise, no more lamenting. We need to catch that thug."
"Right!"
Rayleigh didn't intervene, choosing to observe. He was interested in how the girls would enforce the law.
He didn't get his wish as a figure appeared and blocked the fleeing thug.
"Hey there. Sorry, mister, but please return that wallet."
A girl with short blue-gray hair subdued the thug and retrieved the wallet, she held the thug's arm, dragging him along.
She held up the wallet as a greeting to the three.
"Alise, Ryuu, Rayleigh, hello."
"Ardi?"
"What a coincidence."
"Hehe, indeed."
The captured thug was a man in his thirties or forties.
Seeing Alise and the others catch up, the man struggled.
Finding himself immobilized, his expression shifted from agitation to despair.
He gave up, speaking in a dejected tone. "Enough, my life is over. Just send me to prison."
Alise was amazed by his defeatist attitude. "Wait, don't just give up on your life like that!"
The man curled his lip.
Anger resurfaced on his face.
Pointing at Alise, he accused her, "Do you think I wanted this? It's all because you didn't deal with those villains destroying the city that things turned out like this!"
"Do you think I want to do something so miserable and shameful? Someone as strong as you could never understand us homeless people! I was forced into a corner and had no choice!"
The man grew agitated.
He seemed to gain the upper hand in the debate.
Rayleigh could see a hint of pleasure in his eyes, he seemed proud of leaving these girls speechless.
But Rayleigh had no intention of indulging him. He stepped forward, and Ardi released her grip on the man.
The freed man, seeing Rayleigh's expressionless face, shrank back in fear.
"Well, you've said a lot. May I ask you a question?"
"Huh? What do you want?"
"If we die fighting the Evilus, who do you plan to say all that to afterward?"
Rayleigh's tone was calm, but the words he spoke essentially pronounced their own death sentence.
The man was startled.
"Why aren't you saying anything? Haven't you thought it through?" Rayleigh pressed.
The sharp tone made the thug feel ashamed.
After a moment, he stammered, "You... you strong people are supposed to protect us, aren't you?!"
Rayleigh laughed, leaving the thug bewildered.
'Is this guy truly righteous? Why does he feel so sinister?'
"You're truly hopeless," Rayleigh said with disdain. "I gave you that premise, yet you still don't dare to hate those villains. You only dare to angrily blame the girls protecting you. Don't you feel ashamed?!"
"As a man, being protected by girls twenty years younger than you—even if you're doing poorly now—you still blame them, resent them. Your talent for being a failure is truly unique."
Rayleigh's sharp-tongued mode triggered.
His barrage of words extinguished the thug's fire.
He even began repeating it to himself.
'I... I'm a uniquely talented failure? Letting girls protect me and still blaming them...'
At this thought, the thug started crying.
Meanwhile, the God whose wallet had been stolen approached them, wearing an awkward smile.
"Ah, thank you, thank you. Thanks to you, all my property is safe."
The male God took the money pouch and poured out the coins. Only a meager amount of less than 500 Valis appeared.
"So pooor!"
"How cruel! Even though it's little, this is my entire fortune!"
Rayleigh looked at the clowning figure before him.
His expression remained unchanged.
Although the man had used a disguise to alter his appearance, he still recognized his true identity.
This man was the Evil God Erebus!