Trapped between four girls eager for their share of hugs, Alex decided to simply wait for the others to return so he could tell them in detail what they had discovered in Anchorage. Those who had gone with him had already scattered to their rooms—some to change, others to unpack their gear. What they were happiest about wasn’t that the mission was over, but that they didn’t have to spend another half-day rattling around in transport.

As Alex waited for the whole “family” to gather, the front door suddenly burst open with a loud bang. Alex turned his head and saw Nagahide. Her face bore a kind, almost serene smile—like a gentle spring breeze. But her eyes betrayed the irritation she couldn’t hide.

Alex immediately understood the reason—or rather, who it was about. Nagahide’s irritation was aimed at a certain princess who had run away from her duties and taken it upon herself to go to Anchorage.

Nagahide threw a single glance at Alex, and that was all it took—he understood everything without a word. As much as he loved Nobuna, she wouldn’t be escaping a disciplinary conversation this time. Alex silently nodded toward the staircase leading to the second floor. Nagahide, still wearing that soft but troubled smile, nodded back, her eyes growing cold. Slowly, like a predator, she began climbing the stairs.

Alex, Zero Two, Lucy, Red, White, and Anya watched her go in silence. Alex mentally sympathized with Nobuna. He knew what awaited her—a long lecture about responsibility, discipline, and proper princess behavior.

His premonition came true instantly. No sooner had Nagahide disappeared upstairs than Nobuna flew down with a panicked expression, as if fleeing from a monster. But she didn’t make it far—Katsuie appeared at the bottom of the stairs, blocking her path. Nobuna tried to push past her, but Katsuie didn’t even budge—she was immovable.

“Princess, did you truly think you could escape your responsibilities?” came Nagahide’s calm voice as she began descending step by step.

“Nagahide, listen, I had my reasons!” Nobuna exclaimed, casting a nervous glance over her shoulder.

“Oh, really? And what might those be, if I may ask?” Nagahide’s voice was soft, but her gaze was cold as ice. “You said yourself yesterday that you wanted to say goodbye to your husband—and then you simply disappeared. Or have you forgotten that you have duties only you can fulfill?”

Nobuna’s eyes darted around desperately until they landed on Alex, who was comfortably lounging on the sofa, surrounded by girls, with a beaming Anya sitting on his shoulders. Nobuna’s eyes lit up—there it was, her chance! If she could just hide behind Alex—no lecture.

She only needed a second to make a run for it. Alex, for his part, was thoroughly enjoying the little performance. He already understood her intention and didn’t mind—it was entertaining. The only catch? She still had to reach him.

And she went for it. Suddenly she dashed forward like a superhero—in pure Alex style. But alas, Nagahide didn’t fall for it: she quickly grabbed Nobuna by the shoulder and dragged her back upstairs. The princess struggled desperately, but in vain. She was hauled back up to the second floor.

At that moment, the other girls began descending the stairs, now dressed in comfortable home clothes, clearly amused by the scene. Alex shook his head, seeing how openly they enjoyed the fact that Nobuna had been caught and was now about to get another stern talking-to for her mischief.

Now that the day had finally calmed down, the girls decided to relax. There was nothing to do around the settlement today, and that meant only one thing—it was time to be lazy. Fortunately, Alex had planned ahead: the house was set up for maximum comfort.

Gradually, the rest of the girls started returning home. They already knew that Alex and his companions had come back, but each of them still had things to finish before they could settle in. Well… or rather, some were just being lazy and pretending to be busy. That “special” category included Rory, Ada, and Beatrix — they wandered around aimlessly or simply slept upstairs.

Alex figured it out the moment he saw the sleepy trio descending the stairs, trying not to tumble down. He glanced at Rory’s drowsy face and smirked to himself — the apostle of death was slowly turning into the apostle of laziness.

Rory lazily walked over to Alex, sat on his lap, and rested her head against his chest, instantly closing her eyes again.

Meanwhile, Namiyo and Kiriko were setting the table — a light snack to accompany a discussion about their next steps.

“So, what did you find out in Anchorage?” Coco asked lazily, sprawled in an armchair.

“Not as much as I’d hoped,” Alex admitted, though a satisfied smile played on his lips. “But there’s one upside — Chris Redfield is busy forming a militia against the Evil Corporation. Which means I’ll probably only have to deal with the main players.”

“That’s great news,” Brunhilda said with a nod. “Because you’re not the only one who doesn’t want to run around the world convincing people to unite. If someone else is taking that on, you can focus on what actually matters.”

“That’s all well and good, but since Chris is handling the uniting part, what are you planning to do in the meantime, Alex?” Renka asked, watching him closely.

“For now — nothing. I want to wait until Chris contacts me. Then I’ll get the situation from his side and decide how to act,” Alex said, running his fingers through Rory’s hair.

“Don’t forget you still need to catch the second mummy… or whatever that thing is,” Miu reminded him, tapping her chin thoughtfully.

“I’ll deal with the priest later. I have other plans for the second one,” Alex said, giving Miu a faint smile.

“And what plans would those be?” Yuriko asked, raising a brow and giving him a scrutinizing look, trying to guess his intentions.

“That’s a secret for now,” Alex replied, flashing a wide, slightly predatory grin. “But trust me, his fate won’t be a pleasant one.”

The girls exchanged wary glances. They had one tried-and-true method to uncover secrets — Brunhilda. All eyes turned to her. Even Brunhilda looked intrigued. She reestablished her spiritual link with Alex, trying to catch any hint of his plan. But — nothing. He had deliberately hidden his thoughts. Brunhilda narrowed her eyes, eyeing him suspiciously.

Noticing her stare, Alex made a heart shape with his fingers and winked. He already knew that if he didn’t say anything, the girls would try to get Brunhilda to spill the truth. She just rolled her eyes and said dryly:

“He even hid it from me.”

Since they couldn’t get a straight answer, the girls opted for Plan B — interrogate him directly. Realizing he was about to face a “friendly inquisition,” Alex did what any wise man would — he made a tactical retreat. Before the girls could get close, he vanished from his spot and was already standing by the door with Anya in his arms. Throwing them a playful look, he said:

“See you soon, ladies. Same spot tonight. Love you all.” He blew them a kiss.

“Alex, get back here and tell us what you’re planning!” Rei protested.

“Nope. That would ruin the fun. Secrets are exciting,” he winked.

Laughing, Alex slipped out the door, carrying Anya in his arms. The girls watched him leave, shaking their heads. Still, they all shared one thought — they were dying to know what he was up to. But, alas, Alex wasn’t planning to reveal his hand just yet. All they could do was guess… and wait.

Alex, still laughing, stepped outside. He noticed Anya was wearing her home clothes, and with a snap of his fingers, he conjured up a warm outfit for her so the little one wouldn’t catch a cold. Holding his daughter close, he decided to take a walk around the settlement with her.

To be fair, there wasn’t much of interest here. First, Alex headed toward the greenhouses, which were being looked after by a group of kids. The girls had even designated a separate section just for them, so they could prove they were contributing to the community too.

Holding Anya in his arms, Alex reached the greenhouses and immediately spotted Alice, Honoka, Malka, and Chikage. The girls were carefully tending to the young plants.

When they saw Alex, they immediately lit up.

“Big brother! Did you come to see how hard we’re working?” Alice asked with a beaming smile.

“Something like that,” he replied with a smile, stepping inside. “I just wanted to stretch my legs a bit, pass the time. So I figured I’d drop by.”

“We worked really hard! Our harvest is totally going to be better than the boys’!” Honoka declared proudly, puffing out her chest.

“Mmm. We’re better than them,” Chikage added with a serious nod.

Alex chuckled softly, watching how the girls were competing with the boys. It didn’t surprise him at all. The four girls — Alice, Honoka, Malka, and Chikage — immediately started talking over each other, eager to show him how well they’d done in their greenhouse. They enthusiastically shared their progress and experiences, proudly demonstrating their results.

Alex listened with a smile, watching them boast with such pride. He especially noticed how much Chikage had changed. The girl was much more open in expressing her feelings now, and Alex immediately understood why — Mikumo Kushinada had finally stopped trying to turn Chikage into an emotionless machine and had started treating her with genuine warmth.

After spending a little more time with the girls in the greenhouse and offering a few tips on plant care, Alex took his leave, not wanting to interrupt their work. Carrying Anya, he stepped outside, wondering what else they could do.

“So, where would you like to go, Anya?” he asked gently, smiling down at the girl in his arms.

“Where can we go?” Anya asked curiously, looking up at him.

“Anywhere. Even to the Moon,” Alex replied with a smile, softly stroking her head.

“The Moon? We can go there too?” Her eyes sparkled with excitement.

Alex nodded. Anya’s eyes lit up even more as she gazed at the distant silver disk in the sky. She quickly nodded, clearly thrilled by the idea of such an adventure. Alex couldn’t help but laugh at her reaction and, with a smile, headed toward the edge of the settlement to avoid attracting too much attention.

“I’m coming too,” a familiar female voice called out behind them.

“I was wondering when you’d show up, Shigure. Still sticking to your habit of sneaking around, I see,” Alex said, turning around and watching Shigure step out from behind a tree.

“Mmm… I still can’t hide my presence from you. I need to work harder,” she replied, a spark of determination in her eyes.

“I doubt you’ll ever succeed,” Alex smirked. “But I appreciate the effort.”

Shigure gave a serious nod and stepped closer, taking Alex’s hand.

And so, with Anya in his arms and Shigure holding his hand, Alex left the settlement. Once they were far enough from prying eyes, he opened a portal — straight to the Moon.

The trio stepped through and arrived on the Moon’s surface. Anya stood in awe, her eyes glowing with wonder at the sight. In the distance, the Earth floated in the void, and her gaze instantly locked onto it. Shigure, on the other hand, was immediately curious about the Moon’s gravity and started bouncing around, delighted by how effortlessly she could lift off the ground.

Seeing this, Anya wanted to try it too. She tugged on Alex’s sleeve, pointing at Shigure. He smiled and gently set her down on the ground.

“Just jump carefully, Anya. Don’t want you flying off into space,” he joked with a grin.

“Okay,” she nodded obediently.

Alex gave her an approving nod, allowing the girl to have her fun. At first, Anya pushed off the surface hesitantly and rose slowly into the air before gently floating back down. Gradually, her jumps grew higher, and soon she was laughing joyfully.

Alex pulled out his phone and started recording as Anya tried to catch up to Shigure, who had already adapted and was performing various tricks. The girl tried to imitate her, but lost her balance and soon began spinning in the air, unable to stop herself.

“Daddy, help! I’m gonna throw up!” she shouted in a panic.

Alex burst out laughing, quickly jumped to her, and gently stopped her spinning. Anya, breathing heavily, realized that copying Mom wasn’t the best idea. Shigure immediately bounced over, her eyes filled with concern, and started rubbing Anya’s back, trying to help her feel better.

Noticing Shigure’s worried look, Alex couldn’t help but smile. Anya felt the warmth and care, and gratitude filled her. She hugged Shigure around the neck and kissed her on the cheek.

“Thanks, Mom. You’re awesome—just like a real ninja!” she said excitedly.

“I’m better than those ninjas,” Shigure said proudly, lifting her chin.

Alex couldn’t hold back his laughter—it amused him how Shigure boasted in front of Anya. He even thought that if Shigure were dropped into the Naruto world, she’d definitely become one of the strongest kunoichi. And if she learned various jutsu? Then she’d be unstoppable. Alex knew Shigure wasn’t just a master of stealth techniques—she was an incredibly skilled swordswoman. One could say she was a virtuoso with any weapon. He wouldn’t be surprised if, after shaking her by the shoulders, dozens of hidden blades, shurikens, and other surprises rained out from under her clothes.

After a bit more fun on the Moon, Alex suggested it was time to head back. He caught Anya, who was floating in zero gravity, trying to balance by following Shigure’s instructions. Hugging his daughter close and taking Shigure by the hand, he teleported them back—to where they had come from.

“So, how was your Moon walk?” he asked with a smile, looking at Anya.

“It was soooo cool!” Anya exclaimed with excitement, throwing her hands in the air.

Alex kissed the top of her head with a tender smile. Together with Shigure and Anya, he headed home. As they approached the house, Alex suddenly remembered that Anya probably wouldn’t be able to resist bragging about their trip to the Moon.

And he was right.

Anya barely waited for him to set her down before dashing into the house:

“I went to the Moon!” she shouted joyfully, running into the living room.

“Anya, sweetie, what do you mean ‘to the Moon’?” Namiyo asked with a kind smile.

“Papa took me there! And I was like—whoosh—flying! Then I jumped really high, and then I started spinning ’cause I wanted to be like Mama Shigure!” the girl exclaimed excitedly.

The women exchanged glances, then all stared at Anya attentively, listening to her incredible story in vivid detail. Just then, Alex walked into the room, still holding Shigure’s hand.

“Alex, care to explain how exactly you and Anya ended up on the Moon?” Yuriko asked sternly, staring at him intently.

“Well, I wanted to go on a walk with her… and I figured the Moon would be a nice spot,” Alex said with the most carefree tone, shrugging.

“There’s no oxygen on the Moon. How were you even breathing? And that’s not even the worst part—the vacuum temperatures, solar radiation?!” Saya added indignantly, squinting at him.

“All thanks to magic,” Alex replied calmly, spreading his hands and conjuring a rainbow arc between his palms.

The girls’ gazes were so piercing it felt like they could burn him to ashes on the spot. They were angry not only because he had put Anya in danger but also because he had taken only Shigure with him. The others felt left out. Alex, sensing those looks burning into him, did his best to pretend he didn’t notice. But before disappearing, he promised that he would definitely take everyone to equally beautiful places so no one would feel neglected. Having received that promise from him, the girls reluctantly let the matter drop… for the time being.

However, Lucy and Zero Two were especially upset. Jealousy gnawed at them—why had he taken Anya and not them? So they decided it was time to act. Revenge was the only way out.

Alex didn’t know about this yet. He headed to his workshop to get down to business: he needed to assemble two medical capsules—one for Mari and another for Rebecca Chambers, who had asked for a portable laboratory. It was no easy task—fitting everything Rebecca Chambers wanted into a compact capsule required serious concentration and skill.

Reaching his workbench, Alex pulled out all the necessary materials and started with Mari’s capsule. The work went quickly, and soon he switched to creating the laboratory for Rebecca. He was completely absorbed in his work and didn’t notice the shadow creeping up behind him…

Zero Two and Lucy suddenly pounced on him. Before Alex realized what was happening, he was already tied up with ropes and being dragged somewhere. Alex stared blankly at the workshop ceiling, realizing he had walked right into a trap.

They dragged him out of the workshop and into the living room, where all the girls had gathered. Alex looked around and felt like he was being interrogated.

“So, you were on the Moon, huh?” Saeko said with a sweet but clearly unfriendly smile.

“Girls… What are you planning?” Alex asked, raising an eyebrow, still tied up.

“Planning? Retribution, of course! For forgetting about us!” Koko said indignantly, crossing her arms over her chest.

Alex wanted to explain that he would still take the girls wherever they wished—after all, that was already agreed upon. But meeting their looks, he realized that “retribution” was just an excuse. And he was right when the girls all together dragged him upstairs—to their room.

He was completely shocked by their initiative. Once again, he was grateful for his exceptional stamina because the girls didn’t let him go until very late at night, until they fell asleep exhausted but satisfied.

When they finally had their fill and sank into a deep sleep, Alex carefully slipped out of their embrace, quietly dressed, and left the room. Deciding to have a little nighttime snack, he cautiously went down to the first floor. Halfway down, he noticed Alcina sitting in an armchair with a book in her hands. On the nearby table stood a bottle of wine and a filled glass.

Hearing his footsteps, Alcina looked up. Seeing Alex descending the stairs, she smiled slightly.

“So you survived,” she said with a smirk, looking at him. “Quite resilient, it seems. Not every man could satisfy so many women.”

“Do you want some hugs and kisses too?” Alex asked, sitting down on the couch with a lazy smile. “If you want, I can give you the full treatment.”

“You’re too young for me,” Alcina replied calmly, raising her glass of wine.

“Alcina, my dear, don’t forget that I’m married to four goddesses, each significantly older than you. Even Brunhilda and Rory are older than you. And my situation is even stranger—I don’t have a fixed age. I can be any age I want.”

With these words, right before her eyes, he transformed into a ten-year-old boy. Alcina almost dropped her glass. She had forgotten… forgotten that in front of her was not just a man, but the Demon King. Forgotten who his father was. All that faded behind his quirks, habits, and light humor.

Quickly regaining her composure, she put the glass back on the table. Meanwhile, Alex returned to his usual form.

After a moment of silence, Alcina set the book aside, gracefully stood up, and slowly approached him, swaying her hips. She leaned in and, bringing her face close, kissed him on the lips. It wasn’t an impulsive act—she had thought it through a long time ago. She wanted someone by her side who would care for her, not fear her.

From their very first meeting, Alex had looked at her not as a monster, but as a woman. Even knowing all about her past, he treated her with respect and considered her wishes. His last words only pushed her to express her feelings.

“Unexpected,” Alex said with a slight smile when their lips parted. “Who would have thought Lady Dimitrescu herself would take matters into her own hands.”

“I’m a grown woman, and I decide who stays by my side. You and the other girls have become a family to me—a family I had stopped dreaming about. You gave me a home and don’t look at me like a monster.”

“You could have just said you fell in love with me… I would have melted,” Alex joked, pressing his hands to his cheeks as if pretending to be shy.

“Maybe,” Alcina whispered, her eyes sparkling. “But now let me feel for myself just how great your stamina is.”

Before Alex could respond, she grabbed his hand and dragged him back upstairs, to her room. Opening the door, she decisively pulled him inside and closed it behind them.

Alex realized—another “battle” awaited him, and there was no way he’d reach the fridge tonight. From Alcina’s look, he already knew: she wasn’t going to let him go so easily.

He shed all distractions and focused solely on her—a woman whose eyes burned with passionate, unrestrained desire.

Moving closer, Alcina pushed him onto the couch and, sitting on top, kissed him again. This kiss was different—bolder, more aggressive, full of emotion. And Alex accepted the challenge.

The next morning, Alex woke up to bright sunlight streaming through the window, blinding his eyes. He squinted weakly, stretched, and only then realized—they had gotten a little… carried away with Alcina last night.

Turning his head, he saw Alcina comfortably nestled in his arms. She was holding him tightly, her head resting on his shoulder, quietly breathing in her sleep. Alex was still a little surprised by her unexpected passion but didn’t think much of it. He decided to wait until she woke up so they could go down for breakfast together.

At that moment, he remembered that he still hadn’t finished the portable mini-lab for Rebecca Chambers. All because the girls had taken up all his time. And when he finally got free, he’d landed right in Alcina’s arms and spent the whole night with her—strangely enough, he never got around to his work.

As Alcina began to wake, she pressed closer to Alex, inhaling his scent. Alex felt her strength and was sure that any other man in his place wouldn’t have survived such a night. Moreover, her embrace could quite possibly have been deadly.

She gave him a tender morning kiss, and things nearly escalated to a second round, but they stopped in time and decided to head downstairs.

“Alcina, if you want, I can make you shorter. Only if you don’t mind, of course,” Alex said, helping her fasten her bra.

“You can, but not now. Sudden changes in height would raise too many questions. Better to save it for later, when you decide to leave this world,” she replied calmly, turning toward him.

As she turned, Alex’s head ended up right at the level of her chest. He didn’t mind—the black lace lingerie gave her a special allure. However, he also knew how often she complained about neck pain—she always had to look down to meet someone’s eyes.

Alcina noticed his thoughtful stare at her bra and, with a slight smile, took his head in her hands, pressing his face to her chest.

“Well, since you’re staring so much, why not help you a little?” she smirked.

Alex felt his face sinking into soft, warm hills, but after savoring the moment for a bit, he decided not to linger. Otherwise, their morning could easily turn back into night. He helped Alcina put on her dress, and together they went down to the dining room.

“I was wondering where you disappeared to last night… turns out you were plowing the whole field,” Rebecca smirked, giving him a knowing look.

“You’re as vulgar as ever, a tiny gremlin trapped in a girl’s body,” Alcina said indifferently, glancing at her.

“But your ‘old field’ was plowed splendidly,” Revy chimed in with a smirk, joining the joke.

“Two rude, vulgar women. Not a trace of sophistication,” Alcina said coldly.

“So what? That doesn’t stop Alex from loving me,” Rebecca shot back defiantly, smiling widely.

Alex sat down at the table, genuinely glad the kids were absent today. Rebecca and Revy’s conversations were definitely not meant for young ears. In fact, even some of the adult girls clearly felt uncomfortable listening to the candid descriptions of the night’s events and the guesses about how everything had actually happened.

The corner of Alex’s eye started to twitch from the tension, and he very much wanted to just stand up and leave. He knew perfectly well that Rebecca was a gremlin and Revy had no filter at all, making it impossible to listen to them without inner peace.

Fortunately, one look from Brunhilda was enough to silence both girls. Although that didn’t stop them from quietly whispering among themselves, discussing with Rory, Rika, and Chiquita exactly how Alex’s night with Alcina had gone.

Alcina herself was furious, but Yuriko, Namiyo, and Kiriko quickly distracted her with an honest girls’ talk. They genuinely tried to learn every detail and, at the same time, find out when Alcina would move into the common room to sleep with everyone else.

Alcina realized she couldn’t avoid the questions any longer and decided to have a frank chat with the friends she truly had warm, friendly relationships with.

To be continued…

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep