Alex sat across from Soichiro, patiently explaining how the black cube-shaped bomb worked. The moment brought him an uneasy feeling: in essence, he was helping another man commit suicide.

It made Alex ponder what it must feel like to face such a situation—a country descending into chaos during a zombie apocalypse. He understood that in this new world, the concepts of “nation” and “state” no longer mattered—only the living and the dead remained.

Now, humanity needed to unite under one banner to survive. But even that seemed nearly impossible, considering that behind the entire catastrophe stood a corporation controlled by the enigmatic avatar Nyan-Nyan, who had managed to acquire fragments of the Markers.

Alex realized that even if he managed to destroy the main culprit and save countless lives, it would all be meaningless if people refused to come together for their mutual survival. He sighed deeply, contemplating the future, and hoped that his group, including the “troublemaking trio,” could find a way to inspire change.

“I didn’t expect such a tiny thing to hold so much power,” Soichiro admitted, examining the black cube in his hands.

“What did you expect? We’re always moving forward,” Alex replied with a hint of irony. “Besides, I seem to have a strange affinity for creating destructive things.”

Soichiro merely sighed, staring at the cube. He knew Alex’s words about the human factor might hold truth. Even the most loyal followers could sometimes betray, and in his life, he had seen this happen more than once. Pushing away dark thoughts, he focused on what was important.

“Yuriko told me you’re planning to leave the city, head for Okinawa, and then find a place to settle,” Soichiro said, shifting his gaze to Alex.

“Yeah, that’s right. In the current situation, there’s no point in clinging to outdated concepts like nations or borders. I want to save as many people as I can and head for Alaska. It’s remote enough from the rest of the world, and we might be able to rebuild some semblance of normal life there. Better that than living in constant fear of a zombie horde knocking on your door,” Alex replied, lighting another cigarette.

“I won’t say I completely agree with your views,” Soichiro admitted, “but I understand you’re right. There’s no point in holding on to the past anymore. However, people like me or my old comrades would rather die defending our land than abandon the place we call home. We’ve made our choice. I’ve decided to sacrifice myself to give others a chance to survive. Let all those walking corpses come to my doorstep. I’ll destroy them and take as many with me as I can. That will give you the chance to leave the city with less risk,” he said, standing up and gazing out the window.

Alex watched him with a faint sadness in his eyes.

“You realize Saya and Yuriko will hate you for this? Saya doesn’t know how to feel about you. She’s upset you didn’t follow her when all this started, but it seems she’s gotten used to you making decisions like this. As for Yuriko… according to Saya, she still loves you. And I doubt your decision left any positive feelings in her heart,” Alex said, his eyes never leaving Soichiro’s figure.

“I know that…” Soichiro exhaled heavily. “But I don’t want to see them die—or worse, turn into walking corpses. Let them hate me. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that they get out of this nightmare. And I know this is my last chance to do right by them as a father and husband. That’s why I can entrust them to you with a clear conscience. You seem like the kind of person who, even while pretending to act by chance, saves people because you see it as your duty.”

He turned and looked at Alex. His gaze was firm, yet there was gratitude in it.

Alex sighed upon hearing Soichiro’s words, but he didn’t argue. His strength allowed him to save people, but he only did so because he wanted to. Alex understood that at any moment, he could stop and focus on more important things. No one had ever asked him to be a savior.

The only thing his father had wanted from him was to restore the timelines. But even that didn’t mean he had to intervene to the extent of changing the course of history, as he had done in Valhalla.

Looking at Soichiro, Alex couldn’t help but compare him to Heracles—a man who had walked a similar path. The desire to defend his ideals and save everyone, even if it meant the hatred of those closest to him, connected them.

“You remind me of my wife’s brother,” Alex said with a light, ironic smile. “He was as stubborn as you. He was also willing to accept the hatred of his loved ones, just to save people.”

“And what was this person’s name?” Soichiro asked, intrigued. “The one who was willing to sacrifice himself for others?”

“His name was Heracles,” Alex replied, shaking his head. “I killed him with my own hands. We stood on opposite sides in the war. But neither I nor my wife ever hated him for his choice. Perhaps at first, I was angry with him for betraying those he had sworn to protect. But in the end, all he wanted was to fulfill his oath and protect those he was responsible for.”

The events from that time vividly resurfaced in Alex’s memory. Even though he had resurrected Heracles later, the residue of that duel still lingered. Soichiro, watching Alex closely, noticed a hint of sadness mixed with irony in his eyes.

“He must have been a great man, if you speak of him with such respect,” Soichiro said thoughtfully, nodding.

Alex changed the subject:

“Don’t you want to talk to Yuriko or Saya one last time? Before we leave?”

“I’ve already said everything I wanted to say to Yuriko. As for Saya… I hope she understands the reasons for my actions. Even if she hates me—so be it. I was never a good father or a caring husband. All I want is for them to survive. For them to have the chance to live on,” Soichiro replied, returning to his desk.

“I don’t even know what to say to you, old man,” Alex said thoughtfully, shaking his head. “I’ve never understood people who put their careers above their families. But it’s not my place to judge. Everyone makes their own choice and must deal with the consequences. I’m not going to try to convince you or put you on the ‘right path.’ I have enough worries as it is, without trying to straighten out a stubborn old man.”

Soichiro chuckled:

“Ha-ha, you’re not the first to say that. And before you leave, I have one last request. Please deliver this to my ex-wife and daughter when you get to a safe place.” He pulled a letter from his desk drawer and handed it to Alex.

Alex looked at the letter, understanding that it was a farewell. He nodded, took the letter, and tucked it into the inner pocket of his coat. Waving his hand, he left Soichiro’s office, leaving the stubborn old man alone with his thoughts. Alex didn’t want to know what was written in the letter. It wasn’t his business. His only task was to deliver it when the right moment came.

Walking down the long corridors of the empty mansion, Alex made his way to the street. His thoughts were focused on whether the girls had been able to convince even some of the people to leave, or if everyone had chosen to stay, clinging to the remnants of their past lives. Even the Valkyries, who were in his spiritual space, remained silent, offering no comment on Soichiro’s decision.

Outside, a group of people had gathered by the bus. The girls who had been handling the evacuation stood nearby, watching the few volunteers who had decided to leave. Among them was Saya. She noticed Alex and seemed to want to say something, but he simply shook his head, signaling that Soichiro had chosen to stay. Saya sighed in annoyance but didn’t ask any questions.

While Alex had been speaking with Soichiro, Saya had managed to talk to her mother and learn more about the situation. Her irritation with her father’s actions, deciding to divorce Yuriko and effectively kick her out, only grew stronger.

“So, you still couldn’t convince that stubborn old man,” Saya said, frowning.

“Unfortunately, your father has firmly decided to stay. I have no right to tell him what to do—he’s an adult and free to make his own decisions,” Alex replied, gently placing his hand on her head.

“Then let him go to hell, that stubborn old man! He always does whatever he wants without thinking about his family!” Saya exclaimed irritably.

Alex sighed and started stroking her head, trying to calm her down a bit. His gaze shifted to Brunhilde and Rebecca, who were watching him intently. Brunhilde narrowed her eyes for a moment, scanning Alex’s memories of the conversation with Soichiro. What she saw made her sigh heavily and shake her head.

On one hand, she could understand Soichiro’s determination; on the other, his decision to abandon his family seemed incomprehensible to her. Spending time in Alex’s spiritual space, Brunhilde had adopted his belief that family should always come first, and for that reason, Soichiro’s actions stirred dislike in her.

Rebecca, observing the situation, roughly guessed how Alex’s conversation with Soichiro had gone. Her gaze, like Alex’s, turned toward Yuriko, still dressed in her elegant evening gown. Seeing this, Alex couldn’t help but grimace.

“Young man, do you realize it’s rather impolite to look at a lady like that?” Yuriko said with a smile, covering her mouth with her hand. “Of course, I’m already divorced, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready for a new relationship. Though, if I were younger and hadn’t met my ex-husband, I might have agreed to go on a date with you. But you’d better focus on your relationship with my daughter.”

“Mom!” Saya squealed, pointing at Yuriko.

“Don’t be angry, little Saya, I’m not going to steal your love. Well… maybe,” Yuriko added, teasing her daughter playfully.

Alex just rolled his eyes and sighed. It was already clear to him what Yuriko was really like. However, her coquettish behavior didn’t bother him in the slightest right now. Saya, even angrier now, was preparing to scold her mother again, but Alex patted her on the head, trying to calm her down.

Seeing this, Yuriko quietly giggled, which only made Saya angrier. In the end, Saya dramatically turned away, showing that she would now ignore her mother.

“Well then, I’m just curious, are you planning to go like this?” Alex asked in a dry tone, looking at Yuriko.

“What’s wrong with my outfit?” she innocently asked, inspecting her evening dress.

Alex’s eyelid twitched. Even Rebecca and Brunhilde were now eyeing Yuriko, barely hiding their mild shock. The woman in the elegant evening gown clearly didn’t understand how inappropriate her attire was for surviving in a zombie apocalypse.

Even Saya, after looking at her mother, caught on to the essence of Alex’s disapproval.

“I think it’s better for you to change into something more practical,” Alex said, barely holding back a chuckle. “Go inside quickly, put on a tracksuit and sneakers. No dresses or heels! I’m not going to carry you on my back just because you decided to show off in high heels.”

“But…” Yuriko started, clearly not wanting to go back inside.

“No ‘buts,’ Mom!” Saya firmly interrupted, pointing toward the house. “Put on something comfortable. And take some more practical clothes with you!”

Yuriko sighed heavily, but under her daughter’s gaze and Alex’s teasing squint, she reluctantly went inside to change.

Yuriko glanced at Saya and sighed again, then headed into the mansion. Saya followed her to gather more comfortable clothes for herself. Alex stayed with the girls and decided to talk to the people who had agreed to leave with his group. He asked them what had led to their decision.

The people explained that they understood that staying in one place and doing nothing to survive was a dead-end path. Alex nodded approvingly as he heard their answers.

Meanwhile, the girls were curious about what Alex had talked about with Saya’s father. Alex briefly explained:

“He decided to take a direct route to Valhalla.”

Shizuka, frowning slightly, asked:

“How can you get there?”

Alex smirked, placed a hand on her head, and answered gently:

“Only warriors who fall in battle go to Valhalla. Anyway, don’t worry your head about it.”

Shizuka nodded, though her gaze still showed curiosity.

Meanwhile, those who had decided to join Alex’s group began loading their belongings onto the bus and taking available seats. A few minutes later, Saya and Yuriko came out of the house. Yuriko was already dressed in a tracksuit and sneakers, and both women were carrying bags with their personal belongings. Alex nodded approvingly, noticing that a few more bodyguards had come out with them, probably deciding to leave as well.

Once everyone had gathered, people started taking their seats on the bus. Alex sat behind the wheel, glancing around to make sure no one was left behind, when he suddenly noticed the absence of the “trio of troublemakers” — G.I.R., MIMI, and Stitch. His gaze nervously scanned the yard until he saw them running from behind the house, carrying weapons in their hands.

“Did they steal that?” Ray asked, watching them.

“Yeah, they stole it,” Alex replied tiredly, shielding his eyes with his hand. “That’s why I keep saying they can’t be left unsupervised.”

The trio ran up to the bus, proudly showing off their loot as if expecting praise. Alex just sighed heavily, gestured toward their seats, and said, trying not to laugh:

“Just sit down already.”

Without waiting for praise from Alex, G.I.R., MIMI, and Stitch hurried over to Rebecca and Brunhilde to hear their approval. Of course, Rebecca couldn’t help but smile and praised the “cute little ones” for their successful raid on the armory.

Yuriko watched the scene with genuine surprise, not expecting these cute creatures to be mischievous enough to steal weapons and boxes of ammunition. She turned to Saya as if seeking an explanation, but Saya just shrugged.

“Next time, at least don’t make it so obvious,” Alex advised, giving the trio a disapproving look. “If you steal something, act like it’s yours. Don’t run around as if you’ve just been caught red-handed.”

“Okay, Dad,” the trio replied in unison, trying to act innocent.

Yuriko, still in shock, turned to Alex:

“Aren’t you supposed to scold them for stealing?”

Brunhilde answered instead of him, offering a restrained smile:

“They’re going to do it anyway. You can’t convince them. It’s better to accept it and at least give a few useful tips.”

Alex simply nodded, confirming Brunhilde’s words. Yuriko could only give in, understanding that the weapons would likely be of no use to anyone in the mansion after that night. She knew her ex-husband’s intentions, and instead of trying to change his mind, she simply accepted his decision.

Starting the engine, Alex headed back to the bank to drop everyone off. Then, he planned to go with Saeko to the museum and the family dojo to gather as much cold weaponry as possible to arm the people. The trip was calm: thanks to the “concert” Alex had arranged with fireworks at the depot, most of the zombies had now gathered in that part of the city.

When they arrived at the bank, Alex drove onto the premises where Kiriko and Namiyo were already waiting for them. They immediately recognized Yuriko—they had met her before. Seeing familiar faces, Yuriko quickly approached to chat. Meanwhile, Rebecca took the weapons stolen by the “trio of troublemakers” to check them before passing them on.

Only Alex, Brunhilde, and Saeko remained near the bus, with Saeko patiently waiting for them to head to the museum and dojo.

“Brie, how’s the training going for the others?” Alex asked, showing interest in the survivors’ progress.

“Better, but without proper weapons, it’ll be tough. All they have right now are makeshift weapons made from sticks and whatever they could find,” Brunhilde replied, frowning thoughtfully.

“Got it. Saeko and I will head out to search for weapons. Also, you could try teaching them the breathing technique,” Alex suggested after a moment’s thought.

“That technique? If you mean the one, I’ll do what I can, but I can’t promise much. I’m not as familiar with it as you are, but I understand the basics. If they can master it, their chances of surviving encounters with the dead will improve,” Brunhilde said, agreeing with his suggestion.

“Then I’m counting on you. Besides you, only Saeko and I know how to handle cold weapons. But I don’t have time to teach everyone, and Saeko likely won’t be able to—teaching and learning are different things,” Alex said before giving Brunhilde a kiss on the cheek.

Brunhilde smiled and didn’t reply. She had already seen in Alex’s memories how he trained others and decided to adopt his methods. She was inspired by the heights Alex’s students had reached under his guidance. Saeko, on the other hand, became intrigued by the mentioned breathing technique and decided to ask Alex about it later during their search.

“So, are you ready?” Alex asked, turning to Saeko with a light smile.

“Of course. But I’m curious about the breathing technique you mentioned. Is it related to that sword style you showed at the hospital?” Saeko asked, genuinely interested.

“We’ll head to the museum first, and I’ll explain everything on the way,” Alex replied, inviting her to follow him.

Saeko nodded and got on his motorcycle. Alex mapped out the route to the museum Saeko had indicated, and along the way, he began explaining the principles of the breathing technique so she could understand its essence. Saeko listened intently, memorizing every word. The more she learned, the more intrigued she became. She remembered her father mentioning something similar once, but she couldn’t recall the details—it had been too long.

Arriving at the museum, Alex drove his motorcycle straight inside.

“Good thing it’s empty here, and no one thought to haul any weapons out,” he said with a satisfied look, surveying the untouched exhibit.

“Most people probably wanted firearms, not spears or swords for protecting themselves from the dead,” Saeko guessed, agreeing with his thoughts.

Alex smiled and moved forward, following Saeko’s directions. After some time, they arrived at the section where ancient Japanese weapons were stored. Getting off the motorcycle, Alex immediately opened the weapons compartment to prepare a place for the chosen weapon.

As soon as Saeko stepped inside, she headed straight for the stand with the katana she had dreamed about for years. Alex followed her and stopped next to her, his gaze falling on the blade in black and red scabbards.

“Is this the one?” Alex asked with mild interest, nodding toward the sword.

“Yes,” Saeko replied with a smile, gazing at the blade. “When my father brought me here as a child, I saw this katana and wanted it. He told me legends about this sword, saying it was cursed. They say that whoever takes it into their hands will fall under the thirst for blood. According to the legends, this blade once belonged to a samurai who personally slaughtered many enemies.”

Alex looked carefully at the katana, trying to determine if it was really cursed. As it turned out, it was just a legend. He let out a barely noticeable sigh, somewhat disappointed—he had never encountered truly cursed weapons but had always dreamed of adding something like that to his collection.

Without hesitating, Alex smashed the display case, took the katana, and handed it to Saeko. She finally got what she had longed for. Her face lit up with joy, like a child who had just received their most desired gift.

“Thank you,” Saeko said, smiling sincerely, then slightly leaned in and kissed Alex on the cheek.

“You’re welcome,” Alex replied with a light laugh. “Never thought I’d get a kiss for stealing a sword from a museum. But, as they say, there’s a first time for everything.”

They both laughed, and Saeko began examining the katana carefully, checking how comfortably it fit in her hands. Alex, meanwhile, decided to explore the hall and look for something valuable.

When he reached one of the stands, his gaze suddenly stopped, and his eyes widened with surprise. There, among other exhibits, were katanas he hadn’t expected to find in this world. These were blades that once belonged to the Demon Slayer Corps.

Greed stirred within him, like a beast ready to break free. He was certain—these swords had to be his.

“Find something?” Saeko asked, coming closer and noticing how intently Alex was looking at the katanas.

“Remember I told you about the breathing technique?” Alex looked at her, his voice sounding serious.

Saeko nodded, tilting her head slightly, her curiosity only growing.

“These katanas,” Alex pointed to the blades in front of them, “belonged to the Demon Slayer Corps. They’re their legacy. Each of these swords was once a weapon of a slayer, someone who fought demons. The breathing technique I showed you near the hospital was specifically developed to fight monsters. Each swordsman of the Corps had their own unique breathing technique, and there were only fourteen of them. These katanas are part of their history. I simply have to take them. They must become part of my collection.”

Alex’s eyes sparkled with admiration and greed, a mix of emotions surging within him.

“I never could have imagined that these blades, which I saw as a child, carry such an incredible history. Can you tell me more?” Saeko asked excitedly, her gaze fixed intently on Alex.

Alex nodded and began telling Saeko the history of these blades, as well as the process of creating the breathing techniques. Saeko listened attentively, growing more amazed with each word. But what fascinated her the most was that Alex mastered all the breathing styles, including the very first one that became the origin of the others.

As Alex delved deeper into his story, he carefully shattered the display case and began extracting the blades. His gaze lingered on Shinobu’s katana, and in that moment, a wave of sadness washed over him. Thoughts of possibly going to that world to save her crossed his mind. Gathering all the blades from the display case, Alex particularly singled out Tanjiro’s and Shinobu’s katanas, while the others became part of his extensive collection.

“And this katana with the black blade… Who did it belong to?” Saeko asked, inspecting the weapon.

“This katana belonged to the first swordsman who created the original breathing style, Yorichi Tsugikuni. Later, it passed to his successor after many years,” Alex replied, carefully sheathing the katana again.

Saeko was astonished—the story of the blade was even more incredible than she could have imagined. As Alex continued to survey the other displays, he unexpectedly came across Yorichi’s earrings. His joy at the find was evident. Even though the earrings were a family heirloom of the Kamado family, Alex didn’t hesitate to smash the display case and take them. He already imagined wearing them for a while out of curiosity.

“Find anything useful? Or something that will add to my collection?” Alex asked with a satisfied grin.

“We came here to gather weapons for others, not for your collection. Now I understand what Brunhilda and Rebecca meant when they complained about your obsession with weapons,” Saeko replied with a slight smile.

“Details! Every man needs a collection to be proud of. So let’s grab everything useful, and that won’t fall apart after a few hits from zombies,” Alex waved it off.

Saeko laughed, her gaze softening. She remembered how her father also collected katanas, kept them like precious treasures, and called them his legacy, which he would someday pass on to her, along with the dojo.

Once all the collectible blades were loaded onto the motorcycle, Alex and Saeko began gathering weapons that could be useful for survival. After spending about an hour searching, they decided to head to Saeko’s family dojo.

On the way, Alex began teaching Saeko proper breathing techniques. He explained that once she mastered this basic technique, he would start teaching her the breathing styles best suited for her body.

Saeko asked with interest what he meant, and Alex explained in detail that the breathing techniques depend on a person’s physical traits. After receiving his answer, Saeko returned to practicing to master the basics quickly and move on to the next stage.

Alex was confident that she wouldn’t need much time to learn. Her determination impressed him, and he knew she would soon dive into full-fledged breathing techniques.

The Busujima family dojo was relatively close to the residential part of the city, so they arrived there quite quickly.

“Here’s my home. I would offer you tea, as a proper guest should, but unfortunately, I can’t extend the proper hospitality right now,” Saeko said with a slight sadness in her voice.

“Don’t worry. You can offer me tea anywhere, as long as it’s made by your hands. Even if it’s just a tea bag in hot water, I’ll be fine,” Alex replied with a wide smile.

“Heh, as you wish. I hope you’ll appreciate my efforts,” Saeko smiled, tightening her embrace around Alex’s waist.

Alex smiled gently and, following Saeko, entered the dojo grounds. The spacious yard was bathed in the golden light of the setting sun, and a light breeze rustled the leaves of the trees. Inside, they made their way to the room where Saeko’s father kept his katana collection. The room looked like a shrine dedicated to the art of the sword, and each katana seemed to tell its own story.

Saeko paused for a moment, her gaze becoming thoughtful, and her lips curved into a faint, sad smile. Alex sensed that something was troubling her and stood beside her, touching her shoulder.

“Are you thinking about your father?” he asked softly, watching her expression.

Saeko took a deep breath and nodded.

“I’m thinking about where his path has led him. I’m not worried about him—he’s a very strong swordsman, and I’m sure he’s fine. I’m just curious about where he is now. After I grew up, he spent almost all his time traveling, leaving me to take care of the dojo.” Her voice was calm, but there was a shadow of longing in it.

Alex chuckled, trying to cheer her up.

“Well, since he’s such a tough nut, you’ll definitely meet again. And when you do, you can knock some sense into him if you want.” He winked at her, chuckling lightly.

To his surprise, Saeko smiled more widely and responded with a light laugh.

“You’re right. It would be fun to spar with my father and show him what I’m capable of. Especially after he left everything on my shoulders while he was off fighting someone somewhere.”

She suddenly took Alex’s hand, her touch warm and confident. Alex responded with a light squeeze and began packing the katanas. He was surprised by the vastness of her father’s collection. Each katana was unique—not only in design but also in the aura it seemed to carry.

When all the swords were neatly packed into a large bag, they left the dojo and headed toward the motorcycle. The sun slowly sank below the horizon, bathing the streets in a warm crimson glow. On the way, Saeko began to share stories of her childhood, the long hours of training, and the discipline her father had instilled in her. Alex listened attentively, asking clarifying questions. He was genuinely interested in hearing her story, especially how she had grown up and become the person she was today.

Time passed quickly. They reached the bank as the sun nearly disappeared behind the horizon, giving way to an evening sky painted in purple and blue hues. Alex glanced at his watch and realized the day was coming to a close, meaning the zombie horde would soon be arriving in the city.

To be continued…

+3 chapters on my Patreon: /GreedHunter

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep