Alex watched the departing vehicle carrying the familiar group from Zombieland. He hadn’t expected to run into those characters in this world—let alone find them still alive, considering the chaos that surrounded them.

He shook his head with a faint smirk, marveling at their luck. Making it all the way from New York and surviving took more than just good fortune—it took stubbornness, and by the looks of it, they had plenty. Even in the original timeline, that group managed to survive in a zombie-infested world and somehow stayed relatively comfortable doing it.

Turning his gaze away, Alex gave a sharp whistle and waved his hand, signaling everyone to return to the vehicles. Approaching the Humvee he rode in with the girls, he peeked inside and noticed an “extra” passenger.

Squinting, he stared at Nobuna, who sat calmly among the others as if her presence there was completely normal. Alex distinctly remembered leaving her behind with Katsuie and Nagahide before departure—and now he was curious how she’d managed to slip past Nagahide’s watchful eye. Feeling his gaze on her, Nobuna pretended not to notice and continued acting as if nothing was wrong.

Sighing, Alex decided to let it slide. He knew full well that if he sent her back to the settlement, she’d sulk for weeks. Looking away, he climbed onto the roof of the Humvee and knocked on the armor.

Once he settled in, Nobuna let out a quiet breath of relief. She’d begun to worry they might actually send her back for going AWOL.

“You’re lucky. He didn’t make you go back,” Saeko noted, glancing at Nobuna.

“He wouldn’t have sent me back anyway. He loves me,” Nobuna said proudly, lifting her chin.

“There she goes again, turning into a spoiled princess,” Saya added with a faint smile, her voice laced with sarcasm.

“You’re just jealous,” Nobuna snorted. “You know perfectly well—Alex is the Demon King, and Demon Kings like princesses.”

“Girls, I can hear everything perfectly well,” came Alex’s voice from above as he peeked into the cabin through the hatch. “And just for the record, I love all of you equally. Also, I don’t kidnap princesses. That was one time… and it was an accident.”

The girls shot him teasing looks. Of course, they didn’t believe him—especially after all the stories about his past adventures, in which kidnapping some girl seemed to happen at least once. Alex caught on without needing an explanation, but said nothing—any attempts to defend himself would only make things worse.

Sighing, he lay back down on the Humvee’s roof and stared at the sky. The clouds drifted slowly overhead, and the road to Anchorage was still long. Even though they had set out early that morning, they’d only reach their destination by evening—assuming nothing went wrong along the way.

After a while, Nobuna climbed up onto the roof as well. She carefully emerged from the hatch, nearly stepping on Saya’s head, and settled in beside Alex. She looked at him, her long blonde hair flowing in the wind. Their eyes met, and Nobuna smiled, gazing straight into his.

Alex found himself once again thinking how adorable she was. One moment, she acted like a carefree girl who didn’t give a damn about anything. The next, she was jealous and sensitive—especially when he didn’t give her enough attention. And sometimes, she’d throw herself into battle without a second thought.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Falling in love all over again?” Nobuna asked with a playful smirk.

“Yeah, you said it yourself—Demon Kings like princesses,” Alex replied with a grin. “So I was thinking… if you didn’t want to be with me, I’d have to kidnap you.”

“Would you kidnap me, lock me in your castle, and force me to marry you?” she giggled, making a theatrical gesture with her hand.

Alex laughed, sat up, and pulled Nobuna toward him. He placed her on his lap, wrapping an arm around her waist so she wouldn’t fall off the roof if they hit a bump. The girl smiled, blushing slightly, and leaned against his chest. They simply sat there, enjoying the wind and the quiet.

Bored, Nobuna began playing with his fingers—bending them back and forth or brushing his palm with her hair. Alex watched her antics with a faint smile.

“Alex, do you have a castle?” she suddenly asked, turning her head toward him. “You know, like a Demon King’s castle in manga. With dungeons, torture chambers, and all that dark gothic stuff?”

“I do,” Alex nodded.

“Really?!” Nobuna perked up. “Will you show me? Is it dark, with towers, like in fairy tales? Or is there something even scarier in there…?”

“Yep, with secret dungeons, a giant throne, and a harem,” Shizuka chimed in, suddenly sticking her head up through the hatch.

Alex was momentarily speechless, staring at Shizuka as she excitedly tried to guess what his castle looked like. He didn’t bother correcting her—after all, Delzogate Castle really was dark and intimidating, especially considering the power sealed in its depths. That fortress held a portion of Alex’s destructive might; the other part fueled his sword—Venuzdonoa.

The rest of the girls showed interest in the castle too. But unlike them, the valkyries residing in Alex’s spiritual domain didn’t share their enthusiasm. Some of them had even fainted the first time they laid eyes on Delzogate. Eventually, though, they got used to it and stopped reacting to the darkness that lingered around the castle’s core.

“So? What’s your castle like?” Saeko asked with interest, poking her head through the rooftop hatch.

“A huge, terrifying dark castle… like any respectable Demon King would have,” Alex replied in a monotone voice.

“Then show us! What are you so shy about? It’s not like we’re going to strip you naked again,” Rika giggled, also peeking through the hatch.

“No. I’m not showing anything. First of all—it’s dangerous. And second… it’s still dangerous,” Alex said wearily, casting the girls a meaningful look.

“What’s so dangerous? It’s just a castle,” Revy said in confusion, listening to the conversation from inside the Humvee.

“If I summon it—this world will burn. Delzogate isn’t just a castle, it amplifies and concentrates my power. So the best I can do is show a projection.”

The girls exchanged looks and began silently communicating through glances. Alex watched with disbelief as they all somehow came to the same conclusion without saying a word and nodded in unison. His eye twitched—he seriously started to suspect they shared some kind of telepathic bond that let them read each other’s minds. Having received their silent approval, he raised his hand and summoned a projection of Delzogate.

Just as he’d said, the castle appeared dark, ominous, and awe-inspiring. The girls studied the projection with fascination, and once their curiosity was satisfied, Alex dismissed it and wrapped his arm around Nobuna’s waist again. He could hear them chatting about how none of them would ever want to actually live in such a place.

Alex didn’t want to imagine what would happen if the girls ended up inside his castle. He didn’t even have to guess—they’d immediately start a full renovation, transforming Delzogate from a terrifying symbol of destruction into something… alive.

He even pictured himself summoning the castle, the girls staring in horror at the gothic spires, and by the next day, they’d be running around with paint buckets and wallpaper. To top it all off, some green-haired gremlin like Rebecca would probably try to install turrets on the walls or a giant cannon on the tower. Alex shuddered at the thought and swore that even if the girls did make it into Delzogate, he would never, under any circumstances, let them change a single thing. A Demon King’s castle should be dark and fearsome. Period.

Several more hours passed on the way to the military base in Anchorage. Everything went smoothly, except for a sudden attack by another pack of demonic hounds, which they quickly dealt with. Alex began to suspect that there was a demon’s nest nearby from which these creatures were emerging. However, to avoid wasting time, it was decided to ignore the possible lair.

The convoy had already passed Port Hayden and was moving forward. Nobuna was getting bored sitting on the Humvee’s roof, and her body was starting to tire, so she decided to go back down into the cabin. Shizuka, noticing the seat next to Alex had become free, immediately decided to act, not wanting to miss her chance—just in case someone else climbed up to him on the roof.

She climbed out through the hatch but, as usual, almost tumbled down. Alex nearly had a heart attack when he saw Shizuka slip while walking. He reacted just in time, grabbed her, and pulled her close so she wouldn’t fall. Sitting her down in front of him, he wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

“Are you okay?” he asked, breathing heavily.

Shizuka, as if nothing had happened, just giggled sweetly, nestled in his arms. Once again, Alex wondered how this sweet but catastrophically clumsy girl managed to survive in this crazy world.

“Alex, you there?” came Lehm’s voice over the communicator.

“Here. What’s up?” he replied.

“Some people are whining that they need to stretch their legs.”

“In twenty minutes, we’ll reach Lime Village. We can stop if your impatient ones won’t hold out.”

“Great, we’ll survive. Although, damn it, I’m already at my limit,” R said.

“R, nobody cares you need to pee. Don’t talk about it on the public channel. Or put on a diaper,” Chiquita commented.

Laughter exploded in the public channel. R’s face immediately fell, especially after his comrades in the transport started openly mocking him. Alex switched off the public channel, shook his head, and looked back at the map. The remaining distance was longer than he’d hoped. Half the route was already behind them, so a short break would be just right—to stretch their legs, breathe fresh air, and regain strength.

After twenty minutes, the convoy entered Lime Village—a small, abandoned settlement right along the way. The vehicles stopped deeper inside the village. Valmet turned off the engine, and the girls began to get out of the Humvees to stretch and breathe fresh air. Alex carefully helped Shizuka down from the roof, then jumped down himself.

The others started leaving the transport too. The most impatient immediately rushed toward the dense trees and bushes. Watching this, Alex shook his head—better that than trying to relieve themselves into a bottle on the move.

“All right, we’re taking a twenty-minute break. Whoever wants can look around or maybe find something useful… though I doubt anything’s left here,” Alex said, addressing the group.

“No, I’m not really in the mood to go anywhere. My old bones might not survive that kind of strain. I’ll just stay here,” Lehm replied, lighting a cigarette.

“I wasn’t talking about you. Just don’t get lost. This village is small, but knowing you all…”

He glanced at the girls, lingering especially on Shizuka, Nobuna, and Rebecca. He knew that this trio could get themselves into trouble even in the most ordinary situations.

“We’re not kids!” they declared in unison, responding to his suspicious look.

“That’s exactly why I’m asking—don’t wander off without a good reason,” Alex sighed and asked Valmet to keep an eye on the “problematic trio.”

Then he called over GIR, MIMI, Stitch, and Wolf and headed off to explore the village. Almost immediately, his eyes fell on a small church. After a moment’s thought, he decided to take a look inside.

Inside, it was dusty and gloomy—not surprising, given that at this time hardly anyone sought comfort from higher powers. Alex found a bench and sat down, closing his eyes to allow himself a brief rest.

“Old man, you’re going to have to pay extra for saving this world,” he muttered with a smirk. “No one said I’d have to deal not only with the avatars of Nyan-Nyan but also with Davot…”

He opened his eyes, still sitting in the silence of the empty church, giving himself a moment of peace before diving back into chaos.

Alex’s phone vibrated, notifying him of a new message. He pulled it out of his pocket, and seeing the sender’s name, he sighed heavily—the message was from his father.

“No extra payment. Two villains for the price of one,” read the text from the OAA.

“Not funny…” Alex muttered, holding the phone in front of his face. “I really need that extra payment. My head’s already about to explode dealing with those two bastards, and on top of that, carefully interfering with their plans so they don’t suspect anything.”

His eye twitched nervously as he read the next message.

“Sorry, son, but the price stays the same. You took the job yourself, so see it through to the end.”

“Then after this world, I’m officially taking a vacation. A whole week. With the family. And no one’s stopping me. I saved two worlds in a row. I damn well deserve a break,” Alex said, gripping the phone tightly.

“Of course, son. Vacation is good. Believe me, you’re going to need it,” came another message.

Those words made Alex more uneasy than anything else—especially the certainty that he definitely would need that vacation. He felt it wasn’t just about the Minister of Monoliths and Davot. Something was wrong…

He tried to imagine why his father would write that, but nothing came to mind. With a heavy sigh, Alex put the phone back in his pocket and decided not to overthink it for now. He was going to take a break anyway, so what did it matter whether he had a reason or not?

“I never would have thought you were so religious. The first thing you do is come to a church,” a familiar voice said behind him.

Alex turned and saw Rebecca Chambers, who entered the small church with a slight smile, looking around. He raised his hand in greeting.

Rebecca came over and sat down beside him on the wooden bench. Alex shifted his gaze forward — GIR, MIMI, and Stitch had already changed into robes and were performing some kind of parody of a service. Alex habitually ignored the spectacle, but for Rebecca, it was something new.

She was especially struck by the sight of Wolf, who held a censer in his teeth and swung it around while GIR recited an improvised sermon, urging a nonexistent congregation to believe in some Emperor.

“Do they… always do this?” Rebecca asked, pointing at the trio.

“You’ll get used to it. Sometimes they’re just bored. We haven’t paid attention to it for a long time,” Alex said, shaking his head.

“And who is this Emperor they’re preaching about?”

“Better not ask. It’s already a good thing that no members of Cosa Nostra showed up here. That would’ve been a real circus. So, why did you come? Miss me?” Alex turned to her with a slight smirk.

“Maybe I did miss you. But still—are you really that religious?” she asked, giving him a soft smile.

“Faith is a complicated thing. It all depends on why a person believes. For centuries, it was used as a tool of control. People were ignorant and easily manipulated by fear of a higher power. Countless gods have come and gone throughout history. Every faith promised the same thing: do good and you’ll go to heaven; do evil and you’ll burn in hell. Just different names, but the same essence. Fear of death and misunderstanding the world—that’s what drove people to believe. Believers are promised eternal bliss. Nonbelievers—oblivion. But no one can give a definite answer. Because the dead… don’t speak.”

Alex looked up at the darkened vault of the church.

“I asked just one question, and you gave me a lecture,” Rebecca laughed, gently nudging him in the side with her elbow.

“You asked—I answered. Although some questions are better left unanswered. Especially about life after death. It’s not always as bright as people think. One man once said, ‘Once you know the truth, you can never forget it. You won’t willingly return to darkness and you won’t go blind if you’ve once seen.’ Truth is irreversible. Like some knowledge.” Alex stood up from the bench.

“And still… how do you imagine life after death?” Rebecca asked, standing up with him.

“Life and death, beginning and end, creation and destruction—it’s just a cycle. Everything that exists goes through it. Including people. When you die, you start again. As long as your core, your essence, exists. This cycle is infinite. It has always existed—from the beginning of time to the end of all existence.”

“You have quite a specific view on life. Even for a girl like me,” she said thoughtfully.

“Everyone has their own perspective. But the truth is always one. So don’t overthink it. Soon it’ll all be over anyway,” Alex added quietly and walked out of the church.

Rebecca Chambers never really understood what Alex meant when he said it would all be over soon. Those words stuck in her mind, refusing to let go. She tried to make sense of them, but seeing Alex already leaving the church, she hurried after him.

Leaving the building, she quickly caught up with him and the group—GIR, MIMI, Stitch, and Wolf—who, as usual, were walking nearby. Rebecca no longer tried to ask Alex endless questions about the afterlife. But she still couldn’t get that phrase about “the end of everything” out of her mind. Over and over, she asked him about it, but Alex only smiled silently—not because he didn’t want to answer, but because he thought it wasn’t necessary. What interested him far more was whether Rebecca could figure out what he meant without any hints from him.

When they returned to the others, everyone was already ready to leave. Reluctantly, Rebecca climbed into the Humvee with her group. No sooner had she settled into her seat than Claire, wearing a suspicious smile, immediately began interrogating her:

“Well, spill it, Rebecca! What were you and Alex talking about when you were alone?” she asked, nudging her in the side with her elbow.

Rebecca was slightly flustered by the pressure but still recounted their conversation. Jill, Claire, and Moira clearly expected something else. They all knew very well that Rebecca showed interest in Alex—especially considering how often she stayed late with him in the lab under the pretext of “experiments” that had long turned into quiet evening dates. But when they heard that the entire conversation had been about life after death, the three girls’ faces showed disappointed confusion.

They expected juicy details but got a philosophical lecture.

Even Barry, who was sitting behind the wheel, couldn’t hold back his reaction—he just shook his head and sighed heavily.

“Are you serious?” Moira couldn’t hold back. “You discussed faith and the afterlife? Didn’t you have any other topics? For example, you could’ve just shut him up by kissing him—and then things would’ve gone somewhere. But no, you just sat and listened to a lecture. You disappoint me, girl. You see how hot Alex is. Just take the step—and that’s it! If he didn’t like you, he wouldn’t hang out with you in the lab every evening. There’s a line of people wanting him, and you’re holding him back!”

“Moira, enough!” Barry said sharply, shooting his daughter a stern look. “Alex is, of course, a good guy and a worthy leader, but I am categorically against you dating him. He already has too many girls.”

“Leave me alone, old man. I’m an adult now and can figure out what to do myself,” Moira snapped, rolling her eyes.

“As much as I hate to admit it, Moira’s right,” Jill added, turning to Rebecca. “If you hesitate, you’ll regret it later. Alex is like a walking piece of delicious meat—highly sought after.”

“Yeah, strong, handsome, and caring too,” Claire chimed in with a smile.

“Maybe you girls should show how it’s done then?” Rebecca smirked, casting a sidelong glance at them.

“Oh, no, girl. You’re first in line. I have to get through green-haired Rebecca, Riku, and Revy to get to him. My plan is a multi-step operation,” Moira replied with a grin.

Barry’s face grew even darker. He gripped the steering wheel so tightly it creaked. He bitterly regretted riding in this particular vehicle. Had he been in another car, he might have kept his composure and remained blissfully unaware.

But the worst part was that he could no longer use the old “fatherly” intimidation tactics to scare off his daughter’s suitors. And those had worked before…

Sighing inwardly, Barry could only hope his youngest daughter wasn’t thinking about boys just yet.

If Alex had heard Barry’s thoughts, he would have fully agreed—with one difference: Alex would be far more radical when it came to protecting his future daughters.

The convoy left Lime Village and continued on its way. Because of the mountains stretching along the route to Anchorage, they had to take quite a detour to reach their destination. Still, despite the winding road, the scenery was breathtaking—majestic landscapes followed one another, giving a sense of peace and freedom. Well, except for the undead that appeared from time to time and spoiled the idyll.

The trip was long and exhausting. To save some time, Alex’s group passed directly through small towns along the way. When the convoy finally reached a proper paved highway, they were able to pick up speed.

As evening approached, the air grew noticeably colder. Not wanting to freeze, the girls dragged Alex inside the Humvee cabin—to use him as a living heater. Nestled in the cozy, if cramped, embrace of the girls, Alex didn’t even think about resisting, though he could literally feel himself being squeezed from all sides.

When the sun nearly dipped below the horizon, the outlines of Anchorage appeared in the distance—the city they were almost at.

“Almost there. My butt’s gone numb from sitting so long,” Rika groaned, trying to stretch her sore backside.

“You’re not alone. I already feel like my butt’s turning into stone,” Cammy complained, shifting around in her seat searching for a more comfortable position.

“Want a massage?” Alex offered with a raised eyebrow.

“Later, tiger. When we’re alone, I’ll definitely take you up on that,” Rika winked playfully.

“Massage me then, too!” Shizuka exclaimed, looking at Alex with the eyes of a devoted puppy. “My butt’s completely hardened, and I want it to stay firm!”

“Shizuka, we’re friends and family, sharing the same husband… but that doesn’t mean I’ll let you go first again! Get in line. Alex is massaging my butt first,” Rika said indignantly, pushing her away.

Alex was momentarily speechless listening to the banter. He was even more surprised that the girls were seriously negotiating a queue for butt massages. He decided not to intervene—after all, he had started the conversation himself.

Meanwhile, the convoy entered Anchorage. Alex switched to the group radio channel and instructed Price to lead the way to the military base where his old friend awaited them.

Price, who was driving, flashed his headlights, signaling to be let ahead. Chiquita, maneuvering the Humvee carrying Alex and the girls, shifted slightly to the left, giving way to Price. His vehicle overtook them and pulled ahead. The rest of the convoy, not falling behind, followed him — after all, Price knew best where they needed to go.

Meanwhile, at the military base in Anchorage…

A group of officers had gathered in the main hall of the headquarters, discussing pressing matters, the foremost being food supplies. There were many people on the base, and the stocks of old army rations, leftovers from World War II, were running dangerously low. Three men debated possible solutions when a panting man in uniform burst into the room.

“Colonel! We have visitors!” he blurted out, breathing heavily. “Our men on the wall spotted a convoy of military Humvees approaching the base.”

The colonel frowned and looked at the newcomer.

“Lieutenant Templeton, what’s the rush? What Humvees?”

“God knows, sir. I was on duty on the wall when one of our men noticed the convoy. They look like military vehicles, and they’re heading straight for us. I came to report immediately.”

The colonel stood up, removing his cigar from his mouth.

“Well then, let’s go see who’s coming.”

“Maybe it’s our guys?” Sergeant Bosco suggested doubtfully, glancing at the colonel.

“Not sure,” he shook his head. “Could be old friends. Or new enemies.”

The four men headed toward the wall, where a patrol was already stationed. The colonel climbed the stairs first, took binoculars from a soldier, and looked into the distance. Squinting a little, he suddenly smiled, recognizing a familiar face behind the wheel of one of the Humvees. Smirking, he lowered the binoculars.

“Judging by your grin, is that someone you know?” Templeton asked, watching the colonel’s expression.

“Absolutely,” he chuckled. “Didn’t expect that old stubborn man to still be alive. Though it’s no surprise — hardly any undead can handle him.”

“Who is he?” Bosco asked, raising an eyebrow in interest.

“Captain Price,” the colonel replied with a hint of nostalgia in his voice. “We served together in OTG-141. Judging by the convoy, it’s him and his men. So you could say they’re one of us.”

“Damn, Price is still alive…” Templeton murmured in surprise.

“More than that. Unless the dead have learned to drive Humvees,” the colonel smiled. “Let’s go meet our friends properly.”

The four men headed down, preparing to greet Alex’s convoy.

To be continued…

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep