Alex and the girls silently observed the elderly couple, whose faces were frozen in grief. Even a fool would realize that among the dead were their loved ones. But right now, Alex was more interested in how they would react.

On one hand, the old man and woman seemed like reasonable people who would prefer to understand the reasons behind the conflict first. On the other, the pain of loss could cloud their judgment.

The elderly man carefully examined Alex and his companions. His gaze lingered on each of them—studying, impassive. What he was thinking at that moment remained a mystery.

“So, you’ve come for revenge?” he asked calmly.

“No,” Alex replied just as calmly. “If you were the same as those we killed, then perhaps you could say we came to loot. But looking at you, I can tell that’s not the case. So I believe we can talk… or, to be more precise, come to an agreement.”

The old man nodded.

“In that case, if you don’t mind, let’s talk over a cup of tea.”

He called out to someone, and within seconds, a group of people dressed in martial arts uniforms hurried over. Upon seeing the beaten men—who had been thoroughly handled by Saeko and Rebecca—they… burst into laughter. Instead of helping, they mocked the defeated ones, repeating that they had been beaten up by girls.

The battered men only groaned in pain, while their laughing comrades only grew louder. However, as soon as the elderly man coughed, the laughter instantly ceased. Those who had been mocking quickly rushed to help their injured friends.

Once the wounded were taken away, the elderly man and his companion gestured for Alex and the girls to follow them into the dojo.

“Are you sure we can trust these people?” Saya asked quietly, tugging on Alex’s sleeve.

“I think so. They don’t mean us any harm,” he replied. “And those two are very strong. Judging by martial arts standards, they’re at the level of grandmasters.”

Saya nodded, accepting his words. The other girls, however, were intrigued by the elderly pair. It was difficult for them to grasp exactly what “grandmaster” meant, as the world of martial arts was far removed from their understanding.

As they moved deeper into the dojo, Alex looked around. This was only the second time in his life that he had entered such a place. However, he soon noticed something interesting: most of the people here weren’t students. It seemed the elders and their followers had saved these people during the zombie apocalypse.

Saeko, walking beside him, was tensely scanning the surroundings.

“Something bothering you?” Alex asked, gently taking her hand.

“This place… it feels familiar,” she answered, shaking her head. “But I’m not sure why.”

Alex nodded, deciding not to press the issue.

Beatrix, on the other hand, was ecstatic. Her eyes shone like a child’s, and she kept pointing at various objects, excitedly describing them. Everyone knew about her fascination with samurai culture and her ability to talk about it for hours, so no one interrupted her.

For caution’s sake, Alex used a mana pulse to check how many people were inside. The result was interesting: the majority of those in the dojo were ordinary civilians, while the students were a minority—roughly a 7-to-3 ratio.

The elderly couple remained silent the entire way until they finally led them into a spacious room resembling a traditional guest reception hall. They sat at a low table on tatami mats and gestured for Alex and the girls to join them.

Alex settled across from the elderly couple, with GIR taking its usual spot in Valmet’s arms.

Suddenly, the elderly woman looked directly at Alex and quietly asked,

“Can I ask… did they suffer?”

Alex raised his gaze to her.

“No.”

A brief pause followed.

“And who were they to you? Students? Friends?”

The woman let out a bitter smile.

“Among them were my son and grandson.”

She sighed and looked away.

“We’ve been running this dojo for a very long time… You could say it’s our family’s legacy. But unfortunately, my son got involved with bad people… and dragged my grandson into it.”

The woman briefly closed her eyes, as though trying to suppress her emotions.

“When this nightmare began, I thought he would finally come to his senses. But who would have thought things would turn out differently? That he would become even more aggressive?”

She shook her head.

“I understand that in times like these, it’s either you or them. And I can’t blame you for what happened…”

There was no anger or condemnation in her voice—just exhaustion.

Alex sighed heavily, understanding the inevitable truth: every time you kill someone, there will always be someone left to grieve for them. The elderly woman wanted to know what led to the conflict that caused her son and grandson to die at the hands of Alex’s group. He wasn’t going to lie or exaggerate, so he told the story as it was.

After finishing his tale, Alex watched as the elderly man and woman sighed deeply, lowering their heads. They clearly knew the kind of people their son and grandson had been. For many years, they had tried to guide them onto the right path, but it turned out all their efforts had been in vain.

“Young friend, may I ask you a question?” suddenly spoke the elderly man, looking intently at Alex. “I feel you are truly a strong fighter, but do you know what links these earrings and katana you wear? More specifically, do you know who they once belonged to?”

Alex slightly raised an eyebrow, not expecting such a question. He paused for a moment, then calmly replied,

“Yes, I know. These earrings and katana originally belonged to Yoriichi Tsugikuni. But it seems you also know who they once belonged to? Although I think your answer will be different from mine. You’ll most likely say the name Kamado.”

Alex was somewhat surprised: could there really be someone before him who knows the history of these items? It was intriguing to consider how these people were connected to this legacy, or how they knew its history.

The elderly man, hearing Alex’s response, was initially surprised but then nodded with a slight smile. Even his wife, who had maintained a neutral expression until then, gave a faint smile. The girls in Alex’s group exchanged glances: they, like Alex, were now puzzling over how this elderly couple could be connected to these relics.

“You’re right, young friend,” the elderly man finally spoke. “I was going to say that these items are connected to the Kamado family. But it seems you know far more than meets the eye. I never thought I would meet anyone else who knows the name Yorimichi Tsugikuni. It seems these items ended up in your hands for a reason.”

Alex narrowed his eyes, studying the man closely.

“Hmm, unexpected…” he muttered. “Few people know about the Kamado family, because, as far as I know, it wasn’t supposed to survive. And it’s even harder to learn about Yorimichi Tsugikuni—he left no descendants, only his legacy within the Kamado family. So how do you know about them?”

The elderly man slightly bowed his head and calmly replied,

“Forgive me, young friend, for not introducing myself earlier. My name is Eijiro Agatsuma, and this is my wife, Tomiko Agatsuma.”

Alex’s eyes widened in surprise. He hadn’t expected to hear that surname.

“Agatsuma?” he mentally repeated, regaining his composure. “Could they be descendants of that cowardly idiot?”

Alex was stunned. To meet the descendants of Zenitsu Agatsuma here… It was so unexpected that he momentarily forgot what he wanted to say. Finding katanas from this world was one thing, which could still be explained, but meeting Zenitsu’s descendants? That was beyond a mere coincidence.

“I never thought that cowardly idiot would have descendants,” Alex finally said, raising an eyebrow. “I have to say, this is a surprise for me. Especially considering his family now runs a dojo. But what I’m more curious about is: why did Zenitsu’s katana end up in a museum instead of your family’s dojo?”

Eijiro and Tomiko didn’t show the slightest irritation when Alex referred to their ancestor as a cowardly idiot. It seemed they knew well what he had been like. However, their reaction to the question about the katana made it clear to Alex that they knew exactly where it had been.

“We willingly gave it away,” Eijiro replied calmly. “No one remembers the history of those days, no one knows what our ancestor had to face. Let them write about him in books, but the truth is known only to his descendants. However, it seems you know far more than one would expect, young friend.”

Alex simply smirked.

“One could say that,” he said, then, remembering he hadn’t introduced himself yet, added, “Let me introduce myself as well. My name is Alexander, but everyone calls me Alex.”

He turned to his companions and gestured to them.

“This is Beatrix, Valmet, Rey, Rebecca, Rika, Kiriko, Saya, and Saeko,” he said, introducing the girls. “And this green dog is G.I.R. You can think of him as a robot.”

Eijiro looked at Alex’s group with interest, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.

“Well… It seems our meeting is fateful,” he said with a mysterious smile.

Alex just grunted. The meeting was indeed unexpected, but he didn’t believe in fate. Still, he was eager to learn more about the Agatsuma family and their connection to the ancient demon hunters.

The elderly couple nodded in greeting, but when Alex introduced Saeko, their gazes unexpectedly lingered on the girl. This slightly surprised Alex, making him wonder—did these two know Saeko? The other girls also noticed this and exchanged looks, alternating between the elderly couple and Saeko, whose face now wore a strange expression.

“Sorry, I didn’t recognize you right away, Saeko. The last time we saw you, you were just a little girl,” Eijiro said with a warm smile, looking at her with the affection of an old grandfather.

“You… you know me?” Saeko asked doubtfully.

“Of course, little Saeko, we remember you. The last time we saw you, you were about four years old. I still remember the day your father and mother came to our dojo. You grabbed a wooden sword and ran around the hall, loudly declaring that you would become the strongest swordswoman,” Tomiko recalled with a smile, her gaze softening.

“That’s why this place seemed familiar…” Saeko nodded, remembering.

“How is your father? Was he able to cope after Imari’s death?” Eijiro asked with a note of sadness in his voice.

Saeko simply shook her head, and her gaze darkened. The elderly couple sighed, understanding without words. Eijiro, more than anyone, knew how hard it was to recover from the loss of a loved one. He had no doubt that, if he had lost Tomiko, he would likely behave just like Saeko’s father.

Alex and the girls watched the conversation closely, astonished that the elderly couple not only knew Saeko but her family as well, and even knew about the death of her mother. Alex, noticing how Saeko was sinking into dark memories, gently took her hand, giving it a slight squeeze to offer support. Saeko felt the warmth of his hand, raised her gaze, and met his eyes. Alex’s smile was soft and reassuring. She smiled faintly in return, allowing herself to come back to the present.

Eijiro and Tomiko noticed the gesture and smiled the way grandparents do when they’re happy for their granddaughter.

“So, your dojo teaches the Thunder Breathing technique?” Alex finally asked, deciding to change the topic and learn more.

“You even know about the breathing techniques…” Eijiro smirked. “Young friend Alex, I suppose I won’t be surprised by anything you say anymore. If you know the history of my ancestor and the Demon Slayer Corps, then I guess there’s nothing you can’t surprise me with.”

“Not only do I know,” Alex said with a light smile, “I’ve mastered all fourteen styles. Right now, I’m teaching Saeko and Beatrix the ones that suit them best.”

“Little Saeko, didn’t your father teach you the Breathing technique passed down in your family?” Eijiro asked with mild surprise, looking at her again.

“No,” Saeko shook her head. “He was always traveling. When I was old enough, he closed the dojo and left. From time to time, he’d return, bring back katanas, and hang them in one room. He’d spend hours there…” A hint of sadness slipped into her voice.

“Well, he was a fool,” Eijiro sighed. “Well… I think your fiancé will be able to teach you.”

Saeko suddenly blushed, and Alex, though surprised, just smirked.

The other girls silently observed the conversation, not wanting to interfere. Saeko’s story piqued their interest, especially considering that she had dreamed of becoming a swordswoman since childhood. Alex listened with interest to Eijiro’s memories of the times when Saeko first appeared in the dojo and realized that this place truly held significance for her.

Finally, Eijiro smiled as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

“I think you should come with us,” Alex suggested. “We have a group of survivors, and we’re looking for a place far away from all these undead and other crap.”

“Young friend, may I ask where exactly you’re heading?” Eijiro asked, intrigued.

“We took a ferry from Tokyo,” Alex explained. “Right now, we’re heading to Okinawa, and after that, we plan to reach Alaska. Sure, it’s cold there, but the population is small, so there will be fewer zombies and mutants than in other places.”

Eijiro turned to Tomiko, awaiting her opinion. The woman, noticing her husband’s gaze, simply nodded, signaling that she would agree with whatever decision he made. Eijiro took a deep breath, thinking.

Alex didn’t rush to intervene, allowing the elderly man to think everything over on his own. He hoped that this couple, like the others in the dojo, would follow his group. Staying here was pointless—food supplies would run out eventually, and by that time, the zombies could reach them. These people didn’t have many choices: leave with Alex’s group, become prey to the undead, or die from starvation.

“As much as I’d like to stay at the family dojo…” Eijiro finally spoke up. “But my father always said: home is where your family is. Our heritage isn’t in the walls or the land, it’s in us. Wherever we are, we remain the legacy of our ancestors.”

“Wow, that’s quite unexpected,” Rebecca said, crossing her arms. “I thought people like you would cling to the idea of ‘homeland’ forever, repeating: ‘this is our home, our land, and if we’re going to die, it’s only here.'”

“Ha-ha, young lady, you have quite a sharp tongue,” Eijiro smirked. “But you’re right in a way. But what’s the point of that? It doesn’t take much to figure out that most of Japan has turned into a horde of the undead. I don’t want my wife or granddaughter to become part of that army.”

Alex nodded, agreeing with his words. What really surprised him was that Eijiro had chosen family over pride for his homeland. Once the elderly couple decided to join them, it meant the group would gain additional experienced fighters and teachers. And if anyone wasn’t weak, it was definitely Eijiro and Tomiko.

While Alex explained the group’s rules, Eijiro and Tomiko listened attentively, nodding occasionally. They understood that strict but fair rules would help the group survive and stay united.

Suddenly, their conversation was interrupted by the sound of sliding doors. A young girl appeared in the doorway, scanned the room, and, stopping her gaze on Eijiro and Tomiko, asked:

“Grandfather, has father and brother returned yet?”

“Kana, how many times have I told you not to barge into the room when we have guests?” Eijiro said sternly, but his voice softened immediately. He patted the seat next to him. “Sit down, I’ll explain everything.”

Kana looked cautiously at her grandfather and grandmother. She noticed the sadness in their eyes and understood that something was wrong. Reluctantly sitting down next to Eijiro, she began to listen.

The more she heard, the more furrowed her brow became. When her grandfather finished telling her that her father and brother had been killed by the people sitting before her, Kana shot Alex a look full of fury. There was hostility in her eyes, and if Alex hadn’t stopped Rebecca, she would have already drawn her weapon.

Eijiro sighed heavily, noticing his granddaughter’s emotions. But before Kana could say anything, he warned her:

“Don’t do anything foolish, Kana. This man is far stronger than I am. You won’t defeat him.”

However, even after these words, the girl wasn’t about to hide her hostility. Alex took it calmly. He’d met many beings who wished for his death, and Kana certainly wasn’t the first and definitely wouldn’t be the last.

“We’re leaving with Alex’s group,” Eijiro said firmly.

Kana remained silent, clenching her fists. She couldn’t go against her grandfather’s decision, but that didn’t mean she liked it. In the end, she reluctantly nodded, shot one last fiery glance at Alex, and left the room.

“Please forgive my granddaughter for her behavior,” Eijiro said, lowering his head. “After her mother’s death, her father began neglecting her. He got involved with the wrong crowd and dragged his son into it… If it weren’t for us, he would’ve definitely dragged Kana into it as well.”

“It’s fine,” Alex replied with a slight smile. “She’s not the first, and she won’t be the last, who wants to kill me. If she’s seeking revenge, let her. Just warn her not to drag my family into this.”

Eijiro looked at Alex intently and then nodded slowly.

Eijiro silently nodded, understanding that for Alex, family was more important than his own life. He assured that he would talk to his granddaughter and explain everything to her.

Alex gave a brief nod and reminded them that, since they were leaving together, they should inform the others at the dojo so they could start packing as well. Eijiro and Tomiko nodded in agreement and got up from the tatami. Alex and the girls followed their example.

“We’ll wait for you outside the dojo,” Alex said.

“We’ll try to gather as quickly as possible,” Eijiro replied.

When Alex and his companions stepped out into the yard, Valmet frowned and, crossing her arms, looked at him distrustfully.

“Are you really going to let that girl try to take revenge on you?”

“If she wants to, let her try,” Alex shrugged with a light smirk. “Tell me, my dear Valmet, have you let go of your anger toward the one who destroyed your squad? So many years have passed, but I don’t even need to guess how much you hate him. But you know… as one of my good friends once said: revenge is an endless cycle. One act of revenge spawns another, and it repeats over and over. No matter how hard you try to break the cycle, eventually, it’ll come back to you.”

He raised his finger as if giving a wise lecture.

“And who is this friend of yours, handing out such philosophical advice?” Saya asked, slightly surprised.

“His name was Siddhartha Gautama. Pretty nice guy, actually.”

“You mean that idiot who was always coming to you for sweets?” Rebecca snorted. “He’s either sleeping or eating, and nothing else interests him.”

Alex just smirked and nodded.

The girls, who a moment ago were intrigued by the thought that Alex could have such a wise friend, immediately understood how their personalities had aligned. Valmet, however, fell deep into thought. She realized that Alex was right. The anger she had been harboring for years still burned inside her.

She had dedicated her life to finding the one who destroyed her squad, thirsting for revenge… but now the world was engulfed in a zombie apocalypse. Was this person still alive? Or had they long since rotted among the walking dead?

Meanwhile, Alex pulled out his communicator and inserted it into his ear.

“Hey, guys, who’s on the line? Everyone back at the port?”

The reply came almost immediately.

“What’s up, kid?” Lehm’s voice carried a hint of mockery. “Got any news? Or has our strong and mighty leader finally realized he needs help?”

“Very funny,” Alex muttered. “We ran into a group of survivors. We need to evacuate them, but we can’t fit everyone into our transport. So we need help getting them to the port.”

“Hmm… Send coordinates,” Lehm replied after a brief pause. “We’ve already gone over all the marked spots, now we’re just checking residential areas. So we can head over.”

Alex quickly sent the coordinates and then returned the communicator to his pocket.

“Good idea,” Valmet nodded approvingly.

They stood at the wooden gates of the dojo, waiting for Eijiro, Tomiko, and the others to gather their things. Alex lit a cigarette, and the girls silently observed the scene.

After a while, Eijiro, Tomiko, Kana, and the other survivors they had taken in emerged from the dojo. The moment Kana spotted Alex, she immediately shot him a hateful glare. Alex ignored her.

“Everyone ready?” Eijiro asked.

Alex nodded, shook off the ash, and threw the cigarette away.

Kana didn’t hide her frustration and, eager to leave Alex’s company, shoved open the wooden door and stepped outside. But before she could even take a step, Alex quickly grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and yanked her back.

“Hey, what the hell do you think you’re doing?!” Kana snapped, glaring at him in anger.

Alex didn’t say a word, only pointed at a spot on the wooden door. Everyone followed his gesture and noticed a bullet hole. Kana flinched, realizing she had narrowly escaped death.

Alex frowned, confused about where the sniper had come from and why they had opened fire. He gestured for everyone to move back, then cautiously peeked around the door and pointed his middle finger in the direction from where the first shot had been fired. A split second later, Alex lowered his hand—and another bullet hole appeared in the same spot on the door.

“What the hell?! Why is a sniper shooting at us?” Rebecca frowned.

“How should I know?” Alex shrugged with a slight smile. “But I’m going to find out. Wait for Lehm and his team, and I’ll go check on our little ‘hide-and-seek player.'”

“Just make it quick,” Rebecca lazily drawled. “And don’t forget to grab his rifle; it might come in handy.”

Alex gave a thumbs-up in agreement. He took a deep breath, then exhaled a cloud of smoke. Eijiro and Tomiko immediately understood that he was about to use a breathing technique, but they were curious which one it would be.

“Thunder Breathing: Lightning Thunderclap — Godspeed,” Alex muttered.

Electric sparks immediately danced around him, and the air filled with the scent of ozone. Before anyone could comprehend what was happening, Alex vanished with a booming clap of thunder, leaving behind only a swirl of dust.

Kana was stunned. Thunder Breathing was a family technique, and no outsider could master it. She skeptically turned her gaze to her grandfather, but Eijiro merely patted her on the shoulder.

“This young friend, Alex, is the heir to the first person who created breathing techniques. He has mastered all fourteen known techniques,” he explained calmly.

Kana merely nodded, realizing that her grandfather hadn’t exaggerated when he said that Alex was far stronger than himself.

Meanwhile, at a significant distance, the sniper lay in the grass. He observed through his scope, waiting for the perfect moment to take the shot. Failing to eliminate the target on his first attempt, he grimaced in frustration.

But when Alex peeked around the door and brazenly flipped him the bird, the sniper completely lost his composure.

“Asshole… I’ll put a hole in your ass!” he muttered angrily under his breath.

He was getting ready for his next shot when he suddenly froze, noticing something strange.

“Hah, I’m damn lucky today,” he muttered, continuing to watch the people near the dojo. “The list for elimination has not only this Agamatsu family but also this kid. And they’re paying a lot more for him… Wonder why? Though, who cares, as long as it’s money. With a payout like that, I can finally buy myself a spot in a shelter.”

“Interesting information… Don’t you want to share it?” a calm voice suddenly came from right behind him.

The sniper felt a cold sweat run down his back at the voice from behind.

Upon hearing the voice, the sniper froze. His heart pounded wildly in his chest. He’d been found. Now, he had only one chance to escape.

Slowly, with extreme caution, he reached for the holster hidden under his cloak. Feeling the cold handle of the pistol, the sniper swiftly rolled to the side, drawing the weapon and aiming it at whoever stood behind him.

But the moment he raised the barrel, Alex was standing in front of him—the very person he had just seen through the scope of his rifle.

The sniper couldn’t comprehend how Alex had gotten there so quickly. How had he gotten so close, without a sound?

Thoughts whirled in his head, but the sniper didn’t have time to think. The instant his finger brushed the trigger, he saw the last thing he would remember: someone’s foot rapidly approaching his face.

Pain. Darkness.

Alex stood up straight, raising an eyebrow with mild surprise.

His attention was drawn to the cloak the sniper was wearing. Camouflage. High-tech. Completely concealing the wearer’s body.

“Interesting…” he muttered, lifting the edge of the fabric.

He himself had developed something similar, outfitting G.I.R., MIMI, and Stitch with such camouflage suits. But seeing something like this in a world where technology wasn’t that advanced was unexpected.

Shifting his gaze to the sniper rifle, Alex confirmed that it too was a product of advanced technology.

Quickly weighing everything, he came to the obvious conclusion: he was on some sort of elimination list. On the same level as people who posed a threat. And that meant the Evil Corporation had put a bounty on his head.

Hunters would start appearing. People eager to make money. Ready to kill.

But another detail caught Alex’s attention—the mention of a shelter. The sniper was certain he would be admitted there if he completed the job.

“Complete nonsense,” Alex smirked.

If the Evil Corporation was capable of creating such technology, why would they care about saving mercenaries? Most likely, the shelter was just bait, an illusion of safety that didn’t exist.

He looked down at the unconscious sniper.

“I think I’ll take you with me and have a little chat about that elimination list and this ‘shelter’. Don’t you think so, Steve?” Alex grinned.

He didn’t even know the sniper’s real name but decided to call him that. Simply because he could.

Grabbing him by the scruff, Alex tossed him over his shoulder, while using his other hand to pick up the rifle.

A plan was already forming in his mind. He could dismantle the weapon and create a new sniper rifle for Rika. And also—gift her that camouflage cloak.

Alex nodded, pleased with his idea, and headed back.

To be continued…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep