Alex sat behind the wheel of the bus, confidently driving it toward the Takagi estate. However, to reach Saya’s home, they had to cross a bridge where chaos had broken out during the early days of the apocalypse. Police officers, trying to control the flow of people, had refused to let anyone through, which ultimately led to pandemonium and allowed a horde of zombies to overrun the crowd.

Alex brought the bus to a halt in front of the bridge. The road ahead was completely blocked with abandoned cars and crawling with the undead. Narrowing his eyes, he assessed the obstacles and decided it was time to test the efficiency of the snowplow he’d installed. But first, he turned to his passengers:

“Hold on tight, as you can see, the bridge is completely blocked. We’ll have to plow our way through,” Alex said, glancing back at the girls.

“Are you sure the bus can handle this?” Rei asked cautiously, trying not to hurt his pride. “I mean, I trust your skills, but you’ve been working on it all night.”

Alex grinned widely.

“Heh, you’re about to see what a true apocalypse machine looks like. Now grab onto something, because it’s going to get bumpy!”

The girls, realizing Alex was serious, grabbed hold of whatever they could. They already knew better than to underestimate his driving. Meanwhile, GIR, MIMI, and Stitch rushed ahead, eager not to miss the show.

Alex smoothly pressed the gas pedal and aimed the bus straight down the middle of the road. The first car in their path split in two as the snowplow smashed into it. The girls felt the bus shudder with every bump, the sound of metal crunching and smashing filling the cabin.

By the time they crossed the bridge, they left behind a trail of mangled cars and debris scattered across the road. Alex nodded, clearly satisfied with how the bus had performed.

“Perfect. Crash test passed,” he remarked with a smug smile.

The girls looked like they’d just been on the wildest roller coaster ride. Rebecca, on the other hand, seemed delighted and quietly giggled, already imagining herself behind the wheel. Brunhilde, as usual, remained composed, not even bothering to hold onto anything, as if the entire bumpy ride had been a mundane experience for her. The other girls, however, looked pale—except for Saeko, who seemed calm despite her disheveled hair from all the shaking.

“Next time, please don’t hit every car you see,” Shizuka said wearily.

“That was a test! I needed to make sure the snowplow could handle it,” Alex replied with a smirk, waving her concern off.

“Shizuka’s right. Test or not, stop smashing into everything,” Saya chimed in, her face still a bit pale.

“Don’t worry. Next time, I won’t be the one driving,” Alex said, turning around with a lighthearted smile.

The girls exchanged glances. Their eyes landed on Rebecca, who eagerly nodded in response to Alex’s words. No one wanted to experience a ride with her behind the wheel, considering her personality and the bus’s capabilities. Even Brunhilde, who always remained calm, silently supported the consensus.

Each girl began mentally competing for a spot on Alex’s motorcycle, deciding it was better to endure a high-adrenaline ride with him than face Rebecca’s relentless driving. Meanwhile, Alex, oblivious to the silent battle unfolding behind him, continued driving the bus forward.

Leaning slightly forward, he spotted the grand Takagi estate in the distance. It loomed large, though it was modest compared to Alex’s own mansion in Orario, which resembled a lavish palace thanks to the extravagant whims of the two goddesses living there.

“You’ve got a big house, Saya,” Alex remarked with a slight smile, glancing at her.

Saya scoffed, looking out the window.

“What does it matter if it’s big when my parents are always too busy? My dad’s obsessed with his political career, and my mom runs a bunch of companies. My childhood was spent surrounded by other rich kids who tried to suck up to me because of my family’s influence. The only exception was Takashi. But even he turned into a moody idiot.”

Her voice sounded irritated, and her gaze expressed disappointment. Alex silently glanced at her, trying to find the right words but chose to remain quiet for now, focusing on the road. The Takagi estate loomed ever closer.

Alex let out a heavy sigh after hearing Saya’s words. He understood her feelings all too well—being surrounded by people who cared only about her parents’ influence, not her as a person. From the anime, Alex remembered Saya’s personality during her childhood and doubted those spoiled children of politicians and the wealthy could handle her. The only exception was Takashi, who, to put it simply, became her first friend.

Even so, Takashi’s later behavior as a moody teenager drove Saya away. A similar situation occurred with Rei, leading to the events that shaped their relationship. However, Alex had no intention of interfering in Takashi’s romantic affairs. There was no point; even a blind man could see that both Rei and Saya were clearly interested in Alex himself.

The other girls, seeing the Takagi estate for the first time, couldn’t hide their astonishment. Rebecca, however, regarded it with some skepticism, thinking such a massive house for a family of three—not counting servants and guards—was simply pointless. As for Brunhilde, she was entirely unimpressed—having seen the castles of gods, the Takagi estate seemed utterly ordinary in comparison.

“Hey, Pinky,” Rebecca began, turning her head to Saya. “Are you telling me guys have been hitting on you since you were a kid?”

“I told you to stop calling me ‘Pinky,’ you green menace!” Saya snapped, flipping her braid arrogantly. “And yes, at social events or high-society gatherings, guys were constantly trying to approach me. But my father always scared them off. It only took a few words from him to make them scatter like frightened puppies.”

“Or maybe they just couldn’t stand your snobby ‘self-proclaimed genius’ attitude. Isn’t that right, Pinky?” Rebecca smirked, her grin widening.

“Well, excuse me if they were all spoiled idiots!” Saya flared up, sharply turning toward Rebecca. “All they could do was spend their parents’ money, brag about their expensive toys, and talk about where they vacationed or who they dated. They had less brains than a baboon in mating season! And for the last time, stop calling me ‘Pinky,’ you green-haired pest!”

Rebecca burst into laughter, which only infuriated Saya further. Alex watched their bickering through the rearview mirror, marveling at how easily Rebecca could rile Saya up. He just shook his head, half-listening to their argument.

“If we’re talking about geniuses, doesn’t Alex fit the bill?” Rei said thoughtfully. “Where else would you find someone who created two intelligent combat-ready robots and also geeks out over weapons from anime and games?”

“There’s no comparison!” Saya snapped, flipping her braid back in annoyance. “GIR and MIMI are technologies decades ahead of their time. Those spoiled rich kids can’t even come close.”

“Wow, you’re making me blush,” Alex quipped with a smirk, glancing over his shoulder. “If you know what you’re doing, you can create more than just robots.”

“Oh, shut up already!” Saya shouted, pointing at him angrily. “You and your ‘If you know what you’re doing’ are driving everyone crazy. If it were that simple, we would have colonized Mars by now!”

“Well, it’s not my fault that most people are just… How should I put this…” Alex paused, clearly searching for the right words.

“Stupid?” Shizuka innocently suggested, smiling sweetly and tilting her head slightly.

Alex nearly choked on Shizuka’s unexpected comment but decided not to argue. The girls all turned to her in unison, clearly surprised that, with such an innocent expression, she had just casually called the rest of humanity idiots. No one dared to object, though—it was obvious Shizuka hadn’t meant any harm with her words.

Alex understood the sentiment: people capable of changing the entire world were born incredibly rarely. Compared to such individuals, the rest of humanity might indeed appear like monkeys. However, he had no intention of voicing that thought—there was no need to offend anyone unnecessarily. After all, the concept of “genius” was quite flexible.

Some might be geniuses in martial arts, while others excelled in science or technology. With a sigh, Alex tuned out of the conversation partially, letting the girls continue questioning Saya about life in a wealthy family. It wasn’t new information to him, so he listened absentmindedly.

As the bus approached the gates of the Takagi estate, Alex noticed the massive iron gates guarded by security personnel. One of them was speaking into a radio, while the other signaled for the bus to slow down.

Alex carefully stopped the bus right in front of the gate. Two guards approached, clearly intending to question their arrival. Before they could say anything, however, the bus door burst open with a loud clang, and Saya jumped out.

Upon seeing her, the guards immediately straightened up, their faces lighting up with relief.

“Young Lady Takagi, we’re glad to see you safe and sound!” one of them said with a respectful nod toward Saya.

“How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that!” she snapped, hands on her hips.

“Apologies, Young Lady Takagi, but it’s part of our duties,” the second guard replied, shaking his head. “I’ve watched you grow up, and I’m just used to addressing you that way.”

Saya clenched her fists, visibly on the verge of an outburst. The guards, well aware they had stepped onto “forbidden ground,” braced themselves. They had often been on the receiving end of her fiery tirades about the title “Young Lady.” However, they couldn’t defy Soichiro Takagi’s orders, so they continued to follow protocol.

Before Saya could launch into another heated monologue, she felt a gentle hand rest on her shoulder. Turning around, she saw Alex shaking his head, reminding her of their purpose for being there. Exhaling sharply in frustration, Saya stomped back onto the bus, pouting.

The guards exchanged looks of immense relief, practically giving Alex a mental “thumbs up” for pacifying the fiery Saya so quickly. One of them relayed her arrival over the radio, and the gates began to creak open.

Alex nodded to the guards and returned to the bus, driving through the gates and into the estate. As they neared the mansion, his attention was drawn to the numerous tents scattered across the expansive courtyard. Survivors had taken shelter there, but their behavior was far from what one might expect in a zombie apocalypse. From a distance, it looked more like a picnic gathering than a fight for survival.

“Slackers. They won’t last long,” Alex muttered, parking the bus.

“What can you expect? They’re used to peaceful lives and clearly have no intention of giving them up,” Brunhilde replied thoughtfully as she observed the scene. “A prime example of those who refuse to take responsibility for their own survival. Typical children of Adam… What a pity.”

“As Gaia would call them… Oh right, ‘glorified monkeys,'” Alex smirked, shaking his head.

“You’re not wrong,” Saya chimed in, folding her arms across her chest. “They don’t want to fight for their survival and just leech off others. I don’t understand why Father bothered to take in these freeloaders.”

Saya didn’t notice the strange remarks from Alex and Brunhilde, as she was completely focused on observing all the people her father had saved. The other girls also peeked out of the bus windows and saw crowds of people who looked more like vacationing tourists than survivors of a zombie apocalypse. Shaking their heads, they chose to ignore the carefree faces. Alex and the girls stepped off the bus, avoiding unnecessary attention.

As soon as they set foot on the ground, an elegant woman hurried toward them from the mansion. She had long light purple hair cascading down her back, with the front strands neatly swept to the sides of her face. Her purple eyes stood out against her delicate features. Her figure was slender, and her elegant outfit highlighted her aristocratic refinement. She wore a red dress with white fabric wrapped around her shoulders and hips, a silver necklace with a small charm, and lipstick that added to her sophistication. This was Yuriko Takagi, Saya’s mother.

“Saya, dear, I’m so happy to see you again!” Yuriko exclaimed, rushing up to her daughter and hugging her tightly.

“Mom!” Saya joyfully called out, leaping into her mother’s arms.

Alex briefly glanced at Yuriko and couldn’t help but admit that this woman was truly beautiful. His thoughts were quickly interrupted by a barely audible cough from the Valkyries in his spiritual space, making him roll his eyes.

Then Rebecca and Brunhilde promptly reminded him that “it’s inappropriate to stare at other people’s wives,” delivering light but firm jabs to his side. Alex sheepishly looked at Rebecca and Brunhilde, then noticed that the other girls were giving him the same reproachful look. He scratched the back of his head, clearly not used to such attention.

Meanwhile, Saya and Yuriko, completely absorbed in the joy of their reunion, didn’t notice what was happening around them. When Yuriko released Saya from the embrace, her gaze quickly swept over the group that had arrived with her daughter. The woman carefully observed the girls but her attention lingered on Alex.

“So, you must be the Alex my daughter has talked so much about? I didn’t expect Saya to speak so highly of some boy. Thank you for saving my little Saya,” Yuriko said with a warm smile.

“Mom!” Saya exclaimed, blushing with embarrassment.

“Nice to meet you, Ms. Takagi. And no need for thanks, it was just a coincidence. We were passing by the school, exploring the area when all this started,” Alex replied calmly, brushing off the gratitude.

“You can call me Mrs. Takagi or just Yuriko. Still, let me thank you once more. I’m truly grateful for saving my daughter,” Yuriko continued to smile, looking at Alex intently.

Alex didn’t intend to accept the thanks, knowing there were some selfish motives behind his actions. However, Yuriko, mistaking him for just a modest person, grew even more fond of him. Meanwhile, Saya quietly huffed off to the side, fearing her mother might say something even more embarrassing.

The girls, noticing Yuriko’s expression, struggled to suppress their laughter. Yuriko, however, lowered her gaze and noticed the trio of creatures clinging to Alex and Rebecca’s legs: GIR, MIMI, and Stitch.

“These must be the charming little creatures Saya has talked so much about. They’re really cute,” Yuriko said, watching the trio of “troublemakers” with a light smile.

GIR, MIMI, and Stitch, being well-mannered, waved their paws at Yuriko in a friendly manner. She giggled with a sweet smile, watching the amusing creatures, and was about to ask more questions. Meanwhile, Alex slightly squinted, catching how Yuriko referred to herself as “Mrs. Takagi” instead of “Miss Takagi.” His thoughts started forming into a coherent picture. It seemed that Soichiro wanted Yuriko to leave this place, and the reason for it was likely quite serious.

Alex quickly figured it out: Soichiro knew that a large zombie horde from Tokyo was heading their way and would arrive that very night. Saya, catching her mother’s tone, also noticed the oddity of how she referred to herself. This made her wonder what was happening between her parents. Before she could ask Yuriko any questions, Soichiro himself stepped out of the house.

Alex gave Soichiro a quick once-over. His strict suit, confident posture, and cold gaze all reminded him of old gangster characters from movies, rather than a politician. The way he carried himself gave off an air of the shadowy world.

“Saya, I’m glad you’re alive. And you must be the one who saved her,” Soichiro spoke in a gruff voice, staring Alex straight in the eyes.

“And you must be Soichiro Takagi, the one who abandoned his daughter and decided to save these… outcasts instead,” Alex retorted, not intending to be polite with such a man.

The tension between the two men began to rise rapidly. Their gazes met, like an unspoken duel was beginning between them. Rebecca, sensing a potential threat, tightened her grip on the pistol in its holster. Despite her fondness for Saya, she was ready to stand by Alex in any situation.

Brunhilde, on the other hand, remained calm. She understood perfectly that Alex was deliberately testing Soichiro to figure out what kind of person he was. The other girls also tensed, watching the exchange of glances, while Saya and Yuriko froze, observing the unfolding scene.

Soichiro, contrary to expectations, didn’t react to Alex’s sharpness. He merely smiled slightly, as if agreeing with the accusations.

“You’re right. As a father, I have failed. But that doesn’t mean I don’t love my daughter,” he said in a calm, assured tone.

Alex raised an eyebrow, surprised at how easily Soichiro admitted his mistakes. Even Saya seemed shocked to hear such words from her father. She grabbed Alex’s sleeve, looking at Soichiro with confusion and tension. Soichiro caught her gaze but, without dwelling on Saya, turned his attention back to Alex.

“If you don’t mind, we can talk in my office?” he offered calmly.

“Lead the way,” Alex nodded, eager to hear what Soichiro had to say.

Soichiro turned and walked toward the mansion. Alex glanced back at the girls and briefly told them he’d be back soon, also reminding them of the purpose of their visit. Hearing this, Yuriko looked at Saya for clarification. Saya quickly explained that they weren’t just there to take her, but also to offer the others a chance to leave with them. However, she warned that everyone in their group would need to contribute. Yuriko nodded approvingly, deciding to help while Alex and Soichiro talked.

Following Soichiro, Alex walked silently through the mansion’s corridors, not saying a word. Finally, they reached the office. Soichiro opened the door and motioned to a chair.

“Sit,” he said.

Without hesitation, Alex sat down, waiting for Soichiro to begin the conversation. Soichiro walked over to the window and looked out at the lawn, where the rescued people were housed in tents.

“So, why did you bring me here, old man? Or do you want me to admire your back while you gaze thoughtfully out the window?” Alex asked with a hint of mockery, looking at him with a calm expression.

Soichiro turned at Alex’s voice and smiled faintly. He hadn’t been spoken to so bluntly in a long time. It stirred a strange feeling of nostalgia for the times when people weren’t afraid to look him straight in the eye. Mentally, he even gave Alex some points for his straightforwardness. Stepping away from the window, Soichiro sat at a massive wooden desk and locked eyes with his guest.

“I know why you’re here. You want to take my ex-wife and anyone else who decides to leave,” he said calmly, as if discussing the weather.

Alex felt a familiar sense of satisfaction as his suspicions were confirmed. Soichiro had indeed found a way to protect his wife by sending her away. This also suggested that he had information about the looming threat.

“So, you have news from Tokyo?” Alex asked, pulling a cigarette from his pocket.

“Yes,” Soichiro nodded, glancing briefly at the cigarette. He waved his hand, granting permission to light it. “My old friend warned me yesterday. A horde of the dead is moving our way. Unfortunately, I lost contact with him today.”

Alex lit the cigarette, exhaling a thoughtful puff of smoke.

“And do you know who’s behind this?” he asked, watching Soichiro closely.

“Live Corporation. From the start, I suspected they weren’t as simple as they seemed. And I was right. But, judging by your question, it seems you already know about it. Information like that isn’t easily come by,” Soichiro observed, sizing Alex up.

“Right,” Alex nodded. “We captured their operatives after they blew up a substation, leaving the city without power. Unfortunately, we couldn’t extract much information.”

Soichiro frowned, intrigued.

“And what stopped you?” he asked with a hint of curiosity.

“They either have a mental block or something like that,” Alex replied, flicking the ash thoughtfully. “One of them went insane during interrogation. Had to get rid of him. The only thing we learned was that they’re a response team from the corporation’s headquarters in Japan. Oh, and I overheard them mentioning capturing mutated zombies. That’s about it.”

Soichiro nodded silently, contemplating what he had heard. Alex, exhaling smoke, realized it was time to get to the main point.

“So what are you going to do, knowing that a horde is coming?” he asked, leaning slightly forward.

Soichiro straightened up and spoke in a firm, confident tone:

“I will meet this horde as a warrior and die on my land. I’m not going to run like a coward from a bunch of dead people. This is my home, my land, my legacy. If I’m meant to die, I want to do it here, where I grew up.”

Alex frowned. His gaze hardened.

“What about your daughter and wife? How will they live with the thought that you abandoned them? And these people gathered at your house? And your guards, who follow you? Have you thought about them?” Alex’s voice grew firmer, each question landing like a hammer strike.

Soichiro’s face took on a melancholic expression. His gaze fell on a framed photo on the desk. In the picture were he, Saya, and Yuriko, smiling and looking straight into the camera. Despite his strict and sometimes harsh demeanor, Soichiro loved his family more than anything.

He wanted his daughter to be strong, independent, not relying on others, and able to handle everything on her own. But he realized that in his desire to raise her that way, he had deprived her of the love and warmth she deserved.

Yuriko’s situation was more complicated. He didn’t want her to become a victim of the zombie army, which was why he had decided on the divorce. His logic was simple: better they hate him than see him as a coward who traded family for a career.

“I’ve already decided,” Soichiro began, bitterness in his voice. “I know that Saya won’t leave Yuriko here and will do everything to take her with her. I anticipated this, which is why I divorced Yuriko. The people here now won’t survive outside the mansion’s walls, and I know that. Those who have been with me from the beginning were warned, but none of them left. They’ve lost everything they had and still chose to stay. They want to face this final battle with me. So, as a father, I ask you: protect Saya and my ex-wife. That’s all I can ask.”

After finishing, Soichiro bowed his head to Alex.

“No need for that,” Alex grunted, putting out his cigarette. “Saya is a good girl. She does more than anyone else, tries to be helpful and learn. Don’t worry, I’m not going to leave her. I like her too much. And Yuriko—she’s Saya’s family, so she’s my family too. I promised Saya I’d try to convince you to leave with us. But it looks like you’re set on staying. So, what’s your plan? You know that the horde will still get here.”

Soichiro smiled slightly upon hearing Alex’s words. He didn’t even need to guess to understand the kind of person standing before him. Alex placed family above all else, and that pleased Soichiro. He knew that, even if he himself hadn’t been the perfect father, there would be someone by his daughter’s side who would do everything possible for her.

“There’s an old ammo warehouse beneath the estate. It’s been there since the war and isn’t recorded anywhere. When the horde gets here, I’ll blow up the warehouse. The people who’ve stayed with me know my plan, but they still decided to stay. What stubborn fools.”

“Faithful people are worth their weight in gold in times like these. I won’t try to dissuade you, but I’ll still offer my help in this matter,” Alex remarked, pulling a small black cube the size of a palm from his pocket.

He placed it on the table, and Soichiro looked at the strange object with curiosity.

“And what is this?” he asked, picking up the cube.

“A bomb,” Alex replied calmly. “As much as you talk about your people’s loyalty, the human factor always plays a role. Anything can happen. So, if you realize you’ve been betrayed, or if you’re surrounded with no way out, activate this cube. It will blow up the entire warehouse and the mountain with it and send you straight to Valhalla.”

Soichiro was silent, inspecting the cube in his hands.

“I’ll explain how to use it,” Alex continued. “Just think of it as Plan B.”

Soichiro listened carefully, realizing that Alex was right. Things could always go wrong. After a brief moment of thought, he accepted the offer, understanding that this would allow him to end everything on his own terms.

Alex sighed inwardly. He was helping Saya’s father go straight to Valhalla, and it stirred a strange feeling in him.

To be continued…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep