Starting from zero

Hearing those words, Roxy seemed to turn completely gray. She crouched on the ground, staring blankly at it without moving.

"I was kidding, Miss Roxy. Mom won't mind!"

"Besides, failure is the mother of success. Turn this failure into experience and pick yourself back up, Miss Roxy!"

Radeus pulled Roxy to her feet. Roxy felt an immense force drag her upright, and she stared blankly at him.

"You're right, Radeus!"

After Radeus's intervention, Roxy began to regain her confidence.

Roxy looked at Radeus and Rudeus and smiled.

"I'll be counting on both of you from now on, you little geniuses!"

Just then, Zenith came downstairs too. Seeing this heartwarming scene, she smiled as well.

Then she first ran over to restore the tree before coming up to Roxy.

"Miss Roxy, why don't we head inside and properly introduce ourselves?"

Hearing Zenith's gentle voice, Roxy froze for a moment.

How many years had it been since she had experienced such warmth?

"Hey, come on!"

Paul waved from the doorway, beckoning Roxy to hurry inside, while Lilia smiled at her too.

"I'm deeply grateful, but I don't have anything to give you in return..."

Faced with such warmth, Roxy still grew afraid, like someone who had spent years in darkness, longing for the light yet fearing it at the same time.

"What are you talking about? Of course you don't need anything like that!"

Zenith took Roxy's hand and led her into the house, step by step.

Radeus and Rudeus also smiled as they watched their teacher being led away.

"Radeus, Rudeus, come here!"

"Yes!"

Radeus and Rudeus followed Roxy into the house.

Inside, a sumptuous spread of delicious food had been laid out. Even Radeus and Rudeus had never seen anything like it before. It seemed they really valued Roxy!

They came to the dining table. Looking at the lavish spread before her, Roxy was astonished. It was her first time seeing so much food.

"Come, come, have a seat, Miss Roxy. Today is your welcome party!"

Zenith pulled Roxy down into a seat, and Radeus and Rudeus sat beside Roxy too.

Once everyone was seated, Paul spoke first, taking a sip from a large mug of alcohol.

"Then let's begin. Welcome to the Greyrat family, Roxy!"

"Yeah!!!"

Everyone obligingly clapped, with Radeus and Rudeus applauding most enthusiastically of all.

Looking at their smiling faces, Roxy felt her vision blur a little, as though something was about to spill from her eyes.

"Th-thank you, everyone!"

"You're welcome!"

Everyone smiled at Roxy.

Experiencing such a heartwarming scene, Rudeus and Radeus both involuntarily recalled the past and marveled at the present.

The two now shared the same thought.

I'll protect this family, defend the warmth that belongs to us, and live earnestly in this other world!

Whatever our previous lives were like, we live only here now!

"Life in another world, starting from the beginning-no, starting from zero!"

Sensing each other's thoughts, the two looked at each other and smiled.

I'll be counting on you from now on, my wretched big brother-Radeus!

And I'll be counting on you too, my foolish little brother-Rudeus!

In that little wooden house, a sincere oath was born, and the journey belonging to the great saviors was about to begin!

Later generations would call this oath the oath of zero, also known as the oath of salvation!

The feast came to an end, and Zenith took Roxy upstairs and assigned her a room.

"Miss Roxy, the room is a little small..."

"No, I don't mind, Miss Zenith. Thank you for giving me a place to stay!"

Roxy bowed slightly to Zenith to express her gratitude.

"Also, you don't need to call me 'Miss.' Just Roxy is fine!"

Roxy gave Zenith a sweet smile.

"Oh! This child is so cute!"

Seeing such a cute, charming smile, Zenith could not help hugging Roxy and rubbing her cheek against Roxy's face.

Mother, you look a little like a creep right now! Rudeus thought as he watched.

After rubbing against her for a while, Zenith finally released Roxy.

"Then just call me Zenith from now on too, Roxy!"

"Okay!"

Roxy nodded shyly, her little hands constantly touching her hair.

"Well, good night, Roxy. Sweet dreams!"

Zenith said good night to Roxy.

"Good night!" ×2

Radeus and Rudeus followed Zenith's example and said good night to Roxy too.

Afterward, they left Roxy in her room to organize her things.

Fortunately, the room was very tidy. The sheets, duvet cover, and other bedding were new, and the floor and desktop were spotless, without a speck of dust.

Clearly, Lilia and Zenith had cleaned the room while they were upstairs earlier. Thinking of this, Roxy could not stop smiling.

Roxy had previously been an adventurer traveling around the world, so she carried very little luggage.

After putting her things away, Roxy lay on the bed and thought about everything that had happened that day.

Genius children, gentle and welcoming parents...

It really made her envious...

Rudeus, Radeus-those two would surely become remarkable people someday...

As she thought, Roxy felt her eyelids grow heavy and fell fast asleep.

Meanwhile, in Rudeus and Radeus's room, the two shared a bed.

Looking at Rudeus, who was still awake, Radeus asked him a question.

"What's wrong? Too excited to sleep?"

"That's part of it!"

"Right now, I'm mainly thinking about peeking at Miss Roxy while she changes!"

Rudeus wore a lecherous grin.

"You little..." Radeus was speechless too.

See, I told you this guy was a pervert. He's nothing like an upstanding person such as me!

"That's just on the surface, isn't it? Deep down, you're actually thinking, 'Can someone like me really live this happily?' Aren't you?"

Radeus sat up and said this to Rudeus.

"Did my thoughts leak out again? How does this thing even work?"

Rudeus sat up too and complained.

"Don't worry, Rudeus. Whatever we used to be, whether we were corporate slaves or shut-ins, none of that matters!"

"What matters is now. We live here now, and we're family. I'm the older brother, and you're the younger brother. Isn't knowing that enough?"

"Why worry about this and that? As my little brother, you deserve to begin your life in another world happily!"

Radeus's azure eyes looked into Rudeus's emerald eyes, his face utterly serious.

Rudeus felt as though Radeus's words had dispelled something, leaving a wide-open view before him.

"You're right. I'm Rudeus, the second son of the Greyrat family and Radeus's little brother!"

"Pfft, hahaha!"

Suddenly, the two began laughing at each other. At that moment, moonlight shone on them like a silvery-white cord binding them tightly together.