Alex and a group of girls settled on the roof of an old bank, enjoying dinner. Despite the chaos engulfing the world, moments like these allowed them to momentarily forget the harsh reality surrounding them. Their conversation ranged from harmless memories to lighthearted jokes, an effort to distract themselves from the oppressive atmosphere.

Below, muffled sounds of wandering zombies served as a grim reminder of their reality. Nearby, at a small table, GIR, MIMI, Stitch, and Alice were engrossed in video games, keeping to themselves to avoid disturbing the others.

Alex, holding a mug of coffee, stared thoughtfully into the distance. His mind was occupied with the ongoing upgrades to their bus. Half the work was already done, but there were still parts to secure to ensure the vehicle could withstand hits and plow through zombie hordes without falling apart.

Another pressing concern was the depot, teeming with zombies. Alex had initially planned to distract the creatures, but he had since decided to stage an all-out slaughter instead. Once the depot was cleared, he intended to send the girls to rest so he could finish the upgrades with the help of magic, maximizing their limited time.

“Stitch, head downstairs and bring up a couple of grenades and some spare parts,” Alex said, turning to his alien assistant.

Stitch immediately perked up, nodding before setting aside his gaming console. Springing off his chair, he dashed off to fetch the supplies. The girls, overhearing the mention of grenades, turned to Alex with questioning looks.

“And what exactly do you need grenades for?” Saya, sitting closest to him, asked.

“I want to build a device that can be used to either distract or attract zombies, depending on how it’s deployed,” Alex explained calmly.

“Can you teach me?” Saya asked, intrigued by the idea and thinking such skills might come in handy.

“Sure, but we’ll start with something less dangerous than grenades,” Alex replied with a slight smile, nodding.

“Come on, I’m a genius! I can handle it. Just show me how, and I’ll figure it out,” Saya declared confidently.

Alex gave her a faint smile and tousled her hair. He didn’t mind teaching useful skills, especially if it lightened his own workload. Managing everything himself was proving to be a hassle.

A couple of minutes later, Stitch returned, clutching an armful of grenades as if they were fruits. His clumsy appearance drew startled reactions.

“Hey, is that even safe? Even I know that’s not how you carry grenades,” Saeko remarked, pointing at Stitch with an incredulous look.

“Don’t worry. He’s smarter than he looks,” Alex replied with a grin, carefully taking the grenades from Stitch’s paws.

Stitch huffed, throwing an indignant look at Saeko, but his attention quickly shifted to something else. Alex, meanwhile, began contemplating how to incorporate the grenades into his new device, already envisioning its design.

Patting Stitch on the head, Alex watched as the creature beamed with pride and immediately glanced at GIR and MIMI, as if showing off his “reward.” Feeling left out, GIR and MIMI started grumbling, demanding their own tasks. Barely suppressing a chuckle, Alex assured them that their turn would come later and told them to return to their video games for now. Once the disgruntled robo-dogs were pacified, Alex stepped away from the girls to avoid disrupting their relaxation.

Saya, still eager to learn how to create useful gadgets, decided to follow Alex. The other girls, understanding it was better not to interfere, returned to their activities.

“How smart is Stitch, really?” Rei asked, glancing at Rebecca and Brunhilde.

“Smart enough to escape a high-security lab, steal a vehicle, and assemble explosives to evade pursuers,” Rebecca replied with a smile, recalling one of Alex’s stories.

“You’re kidding, right? That adorable fluffball did all that?” Shizuka asked, astonished.

“You don’t seem bothered that he walks on two legs and occasionally talks,” Kiriko added, still not entirely accustomed to Stitch’s abilities.

“But he’s so cute! He couldn’t possibly be dangerous. Just look at how innocent he looks!” Shizuka protested, pouting as if trying to deny the possibility of any threat from Stitch.

The girls glanced toward Stitch and saw him engaged in a full-blown battle with GEAR and MIMI. What started as a “two-versus-one” game quickly escalated into a chaotic free-for-all, where everyone fought for themselves. Nearby, Alice enthusiastically cheered for all the participants, shouting encouraging slogans.

“Yeah, totally not dangerous,” Rey remarked with a smirk, watching Stitch tussle with the two robo-dogs.

“It’s just a game, nothing to worry about,” Shizuka pouted in response.

The girls burst into laughter, entertained by the amusing spectacle. Alice, noticing their interest, wandered over to Brunhilde and nestled comfortably in her lap. Brunhilde smiled and gently stroked Alice’s hair. Inspired by the scene, Rebecca began cheering for Stitch, her “favorite.” Encouraged by the support, Stitch dove back into the fray with renewed energy.

Even the shyest among them, Namiyo, overcame her hesitation and decided to join in on the fun, placing bets on the winner.

Meanwhile, Alex and Saya paid little attention to the noise behind them. Alex was focused on explaining how to craft sound traps, demonstrating each step with care. Saya listened intently, replicating his actions and making sure not to miss a single detail. Alex supervised her work closely, ensuring that the trap wouldn’t accidentally turn into a dangerous grenade.

When Saya completed her first sound trap, she was thrilled. However, glancing around, she noticed Alex had already assembled five.

“You’re way too fast! I just made one, and you’ve already built five. How do you do that?” Saya pouted, pointing an accusatory finger at Alex.

“It’s simple, my dear Saya,” Alex replied with a grin. “I’ve built dozens of gadgets, so you could say it’s in my blood. With enough practice, you’ll pick up the pace too. It’s all about repetition.”

As he spoke, Alex gently ruffled Saya’s hair. Despite trying to keep a serious expression, she couldn’t hide a faint smile.

Saya sighed but couldn’t disagree with his words. She wanted more—she aspired to be more useful than she was now. Instead of just joining Alex and the other girls on supply runs, Saya dreamed of making a more significant contribution. Alex seemed to be everywhere: scavenging supplies, gathering intelligence, passing information to the right people, and handling countless other critical tasks.

Noticing the slight sadness in Saya’s eyes, Alex immediately understood her longing to help more than she was currently allowed to. A warm smile spread across his face. Though he wanted her to rest, it was clear Saya wasn’t planning to slow down anytime soon.

“I’ll teach you more, just give me some time,” Alex said, softly tousling her hair again.

“Hmph, I learn fast! You won’t have time to teach me everything before I master it all myself,” Saya declared proudly, furrowing her brow slightly.

Alex chuckled quietly. He didn’t mind her enthusiasm and eagerness to learn, but he knew teaching her everything he knew would take a lot of time. He decided to start with the basics and gradually move on to more complex concepts.

Setting aside their conversation, Alex continued showing Saya how to create useful items from everyday materials. They became so absorbed in the process that it felt like they were in their own little world. Meanwhile, the other girls continued to watch the “royal battle” among Stitch, GIR, and MIMI with great amusement.

Alex briefly considered giving Saya his notebook with his notes, but quickly dismissed the idea. The notebook contained strange entries about magic and runes, and handing it over to someone far removed from magic might accidentally reveal his secrets, which he wasn’t ready to share with anyone yet.

Once all the zombie diversion traps were set, Alex and Saya returned to the girls. They were greeted by an atmosphere of fun and laughter. Alex raised an eyebrow, glancing at the group and quickly noticing the upset faces of Stitch and GIR. MIMI, on the other hand, stood proudly off to the side, as if she had won a major battle.

“What did we miss?” Alex asked, looking at Kiriko.

“These three got into a fight, and MIMI won. As you can see, Stitch and GIR are upset now,” she replied, barely holding back laughter.

Alex looked at the trio and simply shook his head. He decided not to dwell on it and sat down on a chair, waiting for nightfall to head to the depot for the necessary parts. Saya sat beside him, continuing to ask questions about what else could be collected.

After a moment of thought, Alex handed Saya his phone, which caught her by surprise.

“Why are you giving me your phone?” she asked, confused by his actions.

“It has all the basic data you’ll need,” Alex explained. “Including information on how GEAR and MIMI were created.”

Saya’s eyes lit up with enthusiasm, and she immediately dove into studying the information. Naturally, Alex had only granted access to surface-level data, hiding anything that might reveal too much. Even the information she could access was a real challenge for Saya, who considered herself a genius.

“GIR, MIMI, grab your gear. We’re heading to the depot. But no overdoing it,” Alex commanded, looking at his robo-dogs.

GIR and MIMI nodded eagerly before disappearing inside the building to arm themselves. Upon hearing about Alex’s upcoming night excursion to the depot, Namiyo visibly tensed, but the other girls quickly calmed her, assuring her that Alex handled such tasks perfectly well and there was no need to worry.

“Did I make these sound traps for nothing? They’re meant to distract the zombies,” Alex said with a slight smirk, not clarifying that his real plan wasn’t to lure the zombies away but, rather, to attract them.

Though Namiyo relaxed a bit, she couldn’t fully hide her concern. However, Rebecca and Brunhilde had suspected from the beginning that Alex wasn’t telling them everything. Noticing their wary glances, Alex did his best to maintain an innocent expression, hoping not to give himself away.

A couple of minutes later, GIR and MIMI returned fully armed and ready for the mission. Noticing them, Alex stood up from the chair and called the robo-dogs to him. They climbed up his legs like little children and comfortably settled on his shoulders. Alex headed for the edge of the roof, preparing to jump.

“No explosions,” came Brunhilde’s calm but firm voice from behind him.

“I wasn’t planning on it. Just there and back,” Alex replied, turning his head over his shoulder.

“No arson or large fires,” she added, continuing to drill him with her gaze.

“Am I a child that you have to keep repeating this?” Alex asked, pouting as if offended.

“Maybe you’re not a child, but I know exactly what’s going on in your head. So let me warn you in advance: no,” said Brunhilde, walking closer and looking him straight in the eyes.

Alex merely clicked his tongue quietly, not finding a response. Meanwhile, Rebecca burst out laughing, enjoying how Alex’s plans had once again been revealed. Shaking his head, Alex took a step back and, without hesitation, jumped off the roof.

“Alex!” Namiyo cried, rushing to the edge to check if he was okay. She saw him calmly sitting on his motorcycle, starting the engine, and disappearing into the darkness.

“What was that?!” she asked, still in shock.

“Get used to it. It’s normal behavior for him,” Kiriko replied calmly, not even looking in her direction.

Namiyo wanted to protest but noticed how unshaken the other girls were, so she decided not to make a fuss. However, she was increasingly curious about what else Alex was capable of. Over the next hour, she bombarded the girls with questions, growing more and more surprised by their answers. She was especially amazed to learn that Alex could calmly jump from roof to roof while carrying another person on his back.

Sighing at the absurdity of what she had heard, Namiyo decided to follow Kiriko’s advice and just accept Alex’s unusual behavior.

“Do you think he listened to you?” Rebecca asked, grinning at Brunhilde.

“Of course not. I’m sure once he gets to the depot, my words will fly right out of his head,” Brunhilde sighed, pressing her palm to her forehead.

Rebecca laughed loudly, knowing that this was exactly how it would go, although deep down, she was a little disappointed that Alex hadn’t taken her with him. She had already planned to go with him next time, to have fun killing zombies. She was tired to death of just staying in one place and scavenging supplies.

She wanted to feel the adrenaline, blow up a couple of zombies, and watch their bodies fly in all directions. Hearing her words, the other girls looked at Rebecca and Brunhilde with interest.

“Did he really go to the depot just to blow everything up, and not to get the parts he needed?” Shizuka asked, embarrassed.

“Imagine your husband as a slightly chaotic child in an adult’s body. He can be kind and responsible, but if he gets bored, he’ll definitely find a way to cause some commotion. You could tell from his eyes that he planned this from the very beginning. I’m sure all those sound traps for distracting the zombies will actually be used to attract them,” Brunhilde answered, rubbing her forehead.

The girls exchanged glances, unsure of how to react. They were used to seeing Alex as a responsible and kind leader, but they had no idea about his mischievous side. Rebecca’s laughter only confirmed Brunhilde’s words.

“Isn’t he going to get into danger?” Rei asked anxiously. “There are lots of zombies there, Saya said so.”

“You don’t need to worry about that,” Brunhilde reassured her with a slight smile. “You should worry more about the trouble he might cause.”

Brunhilde’s words confused the girls. To clarify, she shared a few examples of times when Alex caused trouble just for fun. The more they listened, the clearer it became that in such situations, Alex acted like a playful child. However, Brunhilde assured them that it only happened rarely, and only when he got really bored. That’s why he was almost always busy, so he wouldn’t have time for idleness.

“As Rika said, every man has his quirks. It’s better to accept them than deny them,” Shizuka said thoughtfully.

“She’s right. And if any of you want to get involved with him, you’ll have to get used to his personality. Alex is an excellent partner, especially in love. If someone threatens his loved one, he’ll move mountains to save them. But you need to understand that his love can be… slightly possessive. You’ll have complete freedom, and he’ll always support you, but if something threatens you or someone decides to court you, the consequences will be… dramatic,” Brunhilde said, carefully watching the girls’ reactions.

Her words caused a slight blush among the girls. Even the more level-headed ones like Kiriko and Namiyo couldn’t avoid such thoughts. Alex was attractive, responsible, kind, and caring—the perfect man, especially considering how he treated children.

“Won’t you and Rebecca get jealous?” Rei asked shyly. “Sharing your partner with another girl… isn’t that wrong?”

“In my country, it’s perfectly normal,” Brunhilde answered calmly. “Besides, you need to remember that the number of people on Earth is decreasing. Sooner or later, we’ll have to repopulate the planet. It’s better to choose a worthy partner now than later settle for anyone just for the sake of having children.”

Rebecca nodded in agreement, confirming Brunhilde’s words, but she remained silent about the fact that, in most cases, Alex caused the “show” because of her. The girls blushed slightly, but none of them argued. Now, each of them began to wonder what it would be like to be one of those Alex was ready to protect with his last breath.

Brunhilde only left unsaid that Alex would never allow his girlfriend or future child to remain in this ruined world just for the sake of repopulating Earth. Her words left a strong impression on the girls, making them think.

Everyone understood that she was right: finding a suitable partner in the current conditions was nearly impossible. And although each of them already considered Alex to be the best man one could meet, now they started to seriously consider the possibility of a closer relationship.

Namiyo and Kiriko, both already mothers, also reflected on Brunhilde’s words. Kiriko had a daughter, Rei, who showed interest in Alex, and she wasn’t sure how to handle the situation. Namiyo had a similar concern—she worried about how her son, Takashi, would react if he found out she wanted to start a relationship with Alex.

Meeting each other’s gaze, Kiriko and Namiyo realized they were thinking about the same thing. They decided to discuss the situation between themselves first, then talk to Alex to get his opinion, and only after that would they explain things to their children.

Shizuka also pondered Brunhilde’s words. She decided she would confess her feelings to Alex as soon as they met with Rika. Shizuka wanted Rika to join their little group so they could become one big, happy family.

“Are you sure you won’t mind?” Shizuka asked, slightly embarrassed.

“Big boobs, huh? Only a fool wouldn’t notice how you look at him. You literally press his face into your chest every night! If you didn’t like him, you wouldn’t do that. So instead of being shy, just drag him to bed and ride him!” Rebecca blurted out, pointing at her friend.

“Stop calling me ‘big-boobed’! I’m not to blame that yours didn’t grow!” Shizuka retorted, trying to cover her ample chest, but it only drew more attention.

A vein on Rebecca’s temple began to pulse threateningly. The girls, noticing the tension, sneakily glanced at Rebecca—more specifically, at her chest barely covered by a black bra peeking out from under her jacket. Rei couldn’t help but giggle, and that was the last straw for Rebecca. She lunged at Shizuka, clearly intending to “deal” with her voluptuous forms, but Brunhilde quickly grabbed Rebecca by the scruff of her neck and held her in place.

Rebecca’s explosive temperament caused the other girls to burst into genuine laughter. Their cheerful reactions only angered Rebecca further, as she unsuccessfully tried to break free from Brunhilde’s grip.

Meanwhile, Alex reached the hill near the depot and stopped his motorcycle. G.I.R. and MIMI continued to hang from his shoulders like two little monkeys. Alex had no idea that while he was busy with his mission, Brunhilde had seriously started working on expanding his “harem.” If he had known, he would have probably just sighed deeply and admitted that he had started to take an interest in these girls after getting to know them better.

He surveyed the depot area and, pulling out his double-sided power axe, leaped over the fence. Jumping across the cars, Alex selected a spot where he could lure all the zombies and deal with them all at once. Stopping on the roof of one of the cars, he noticed a technical room for servicing the trains. This was the perfect place for his planned operation.

Sneaking in through the roof, Alex dropped to the ground and looked around. A few zombies in worn-out mechanic uniforms were wandering inside. Quickly searching his pockets, Alex pulled out a couple of random items and threw them straight into the zombies’ heads, killing them instantly.

G.I.R. and MIMI jumped off his shoulders and stood on either side of him.

“Well, are you ready to destroy the mutants and the walking abomination that caused humanity’s downfall?” Alex asked, looking at his robo-dogs.

“FOR THE EMPEROR!” G.I.R. and MIMI shouted in unison, raising their weapons.

Alex smiled widely at the enthusiasm of the two robo-dogs and pulled a sound trap out of his pocket, designed to attract zombies. Activating the device, he tossed it behind him. Within a few seconds, the trap activated, and loud music echoed across the depot and beyond. The melody, like something blasting from a stadium speaker, attracted all nearby zombies. The zombies wandering the depot and surrounding area quickly turned their glowing eyes toward the source of the sound and rushed in its direction.

Alex, G.I.R., and MIMI took positions inside the technical building, ready to face the incoming zombie horde, which would soon break through the main entrance. But before the main fight began, Alex heard a strange, unpleasant laugh that sounded like the giggle of a gremlin. Turning around, he barely managed to catch a glimpse of a hunched-over zombie resembling a dwarf. It was a “Jockey”—one of the most repulsive types of infected.

“Shit, you’re even uglier up close than from a distance,” Alex smirked, holding the zombie at arm’s length.

The Jockey tried to break free, but Alex wasn’t about to let go. Quickly spinning the mutant around, he pulled his leg back.

“Let’s see how you fly,” he said with a wide grin.

With a powerful kick, Alex sent the zombie flying like a soccer ball. However, forgetting that they were indoors, he watched in frustration as the Jockey crashed into the ceiling, leaving a bloody stain behind.

“Hmm… Next time, I’ll make sure to do this outside,” he commented, slightly grimacing.

“Yeah!” G.I.R. and MIMI responded in unison, nodding their heads in rhythm with their master’s words.

Smiling, Alex lit a cigarette. But as soon as he took his first drag, the horde of zombies burst into the building through the gates. The undead relentlessly moved toward Alex, like a single, living wave.

Alex activated his power axe, and the three of them — he, G.I.R., and MIMI — charged into the fray. With a broad smile, Alex wielded the axe, slicing through the undead like logs of wood. G.I.R. noticed the dense crowd of zombies and, in his usual style, struck one of them with his hammer, sending it flying. The zombie’s body knocked several others down like bowling pins.

Alex tossed the cigarette butt toward the zombies and commanded:

“G.I.R., MIMI, bring out the flamethrowers! Burn these mutants!”

The robo-dogs quickly retrieved their firearms. Bright streams of flame shot from the flamethrowers, engulfing the undead and turning them into blazing torches.

Watching this spectacle, Alex suddenly remembered the grenade he had in his pocket. He pulled out the small black sphere, activated it, and tossed it outside. But, to his surprise, the grenade rolled across the ground, bypassed the horde, and landed directly under a fuel tank.

Moments later, a powerful explosion erupted. A massive shockwave sent zombies flying in all directions, and tongues of flame instantly engulfed the area. Alex, squinting from the flash, stared at the scene, then muttered with a slight twitch in his eye:

“Shit… Didn’t think it would go off like that.”

G.I.R. and MIMI exchanged glances, then nodded in sync.

“Great job,” one of them said.

Alex merely sighed tiredly, watching the fiery hell unfold around him.

Meanwhile, the girls were sitting on the roof of the bank, chatting. As usual, the main topic of their conversation revolved around Alex and his preferences. Rebecca, sitting a little to the side, frowned and sighed in frustration, thinking about her insecurities over her small chest.

She had completely forgotten that Alex didn’t care about how a girl looked. Their conversation was suddenly interrupted by loud music coming from the direction of the depot. It was so loud that they could hear it even from their distance.

The music played in a rhythmic style (track: Jezabel – Space Sotanata Bootleg mix), and the girls turned their heads toward the source of the sound, glancing at Brunhilde.

“Is he trying to gather all the zombies in the city?” Saya cautiously suggested. “The music’s so loud, even we can hear it.”

“That’s exactly what he’s doing,” Brunhilde sighed, nodding. “It’s already good that nothing has exploded yet.”

Hardly had she finished speaking when a deafening explosion echoed in the distance. A massive flame rose above the depot, lighting up the dark city. Brunhilde’s eye twitched nervously. The girls silently watched the fiery glow, then simultaneously turned their gaze toward Brunhilde, whose face clearly expressed tension—somewhere between anger and the desire to immediately rush to Alex and scold him.

“What did you expect?” Rebecca remarked with a smirk, leaning back in her chair. “This is how it always is with him. Either something blows up, or something goes wrong. Better sit back and enjoy this… beautiful fire in the distance.”

But before Brunhilde could respond, another explosion boomed, this one more powerful than the previous one. The girls even managed to see a huge object—most likely a train car—fly into the air.

“Did I imagine that, or was that really a train car flying into the sky?” Shizuka asked uncertainly.

“No, you didn’t imagine it. That was definitely a heavy car flying into the sky,” Saya confirmed, adjusting her glasses on her nose.

And once again—a third explosion, even stronger. The shockwave reached the roof of the bank, ruffling their hair slightly.

“Is he having a war over there or what?” Rei asked irritably, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Why is everything exploding like he’s in an arsenal of ammunition, not a depot?”

“Maybe there were fuel cars or other explosive cargo there,” Saeko suggested thoughtfully.

“Sounds logical,” Rebecca agreed, sighing. “But how I envy him. We should have gone with him!”

The girls gave her fleeting glances, clearly not sharing her enthusiasm. They turned their attention back to the depot, wondering if the explosions had stopped or if Alex would continue his show. The answer didn’t take long—another explosion lit up the night sky with bright sparks, resembling a New Year’s fireworks display.

Brunhilde, standing at the edge of the roof, was silent, clearly contemplating whether to turn a blind eye to all of it and just enjoy the “fireworks.” The girls, too, involuntarily noted that the latest spectacle indeed resembled a celebration.

To be continued…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep