After returning home, Alex decided not to burden his mind with unnecessary thoughts about the reasons behind Davoth and the Minister of Monoliths joining forces. The only thought that kept circling in his head was that the Minister had promised Davoth what drove him to start his bloody crusade in the first place: immortality for the people of Jekkad. If Davoth abandoned his role as the Creator or Dark Lord and became an Outer God, taking one of the thrones, he would gain the power to grant his people eternal life… or, under the influence of Chaos, turn into an even more brutal monster.

Thinking along these lines, Alex concluded that this was the most logical scenario. Even though the demon armies were still destroying the Red Markers, that didn’t mean Davoth and the Minister hadn’t struck a truce. Perhaps they were following a more complex and carefully thought-out strategy.

When Koko, Yuriko, and Brunhilde returned home, Alex immediately pulled them aside. He didn’t wait for them to change or rest—he just dragged them into the workshop to share his thoughts.

“Seriously?.. You didn’t even let us change,” Koko muttered on the way.

“You could’ve at least made some tea…” Yuriko added, taking off her coat.

But as soon as Alex started laying out his theories, the girls fell silent, listening closely to every word. The topic was far too important to let fatigue distract them.

Alex hadn’t chosen these three by chance. He knew they could steer his thoughts in the right direction, see what he might have missed. Alone, he might walk in circles and waste time, but with their help, everything could fall into place.

He laid out the chain of possible reasons why Davoth and the Minister of Monoliths might have allied—and no matter how he looked at it, everything pointed to one thing: the throne of an Outer God. Davoth would either create his own throne or take an existing one by force. And with his power, that was entirely possible.

The girls, though not fully understanding the philosophy of the Outer Gods and thrones, had already heard from Alex that Davoth was obsessed with the idea of granting immortality to his degenerating people. Which meant the throne was the key to his dream.

As Alex continued sharing his theories, he himself began to believe that Davoth truly intended to claim the position of an Outer God.

“Alex, sweetheart…” Yuriko spoke up, slightly frowning. “I didn’t understand everything about this story with thrones and gods, but you explained enough. If your theory is right, then they really could’ve made a deal. But then here’s the question—why are the demons still destroying the Red Markers? Aren’t you allies now?”

“It’s much simpler than that,” Koko cut in. “You said yourself that this Davoth wants to give immortality to his people. But his people now are just a horde of brainless beasts. Why make them immortal?”

“Exactly,” Brunhilde nodded. “If we tie that in with your theory, Alex, then it looks like he’s just sacrificing his own demons to accumulate power. Maybe he wants to help take the throne from that woman—the one who still haunts you and whom you call ‘the pursuer.’ And he wants to take an empty throne for himself… or create one, like you said. And if your thoughts are right—and they usually are—I really don’t like this idea, especially if one of these two creatures manages to escape while you’re busy fighting them.”

“Yeah,” Alex confirmed. “As for one of them escaping—you don’t have to worry. I’ve got it all planned. But for it all to work and my plan to succeed, I need to capture Deag Ranak first.”

“Then go and do it,” Koko snapped irritably. “I’m tired of carrying the burden of this settlement. I married the Demon King, not some office clerk! Why am I stuck in administration, shuffling papers, instead of bathing in rose petals like a true Queen?! Where’s my vacation, Alex?!”

Yuriko and Brunhilde silently stared at Koko. Alex froze as well, realizing he had just witnessed a mini-explosion of his wife’s fatigue. Apparently, it wasn’t the first time—judging by how calm the girls looked, pretending nothing had happened.

Alex sighed, walked up to Koko, and picked her up in his arms like a princess.

“Alright, alright, my queen. Time to spoil you with some rest…” he said gently, stroking her back.

Koko immediately nuzzled into his cheek, wrapping her arms around his neck and starting to flirt, as if the emotional outburst had never happened. Alex just smiled, holding her in his arms, and led the trio of women out of the workshop—it was time to relax a little.

As Alex, Brunhilde, Yuriko, and Koko stepped out of the workshop, the rest of the girls immediately surrounded them with a flurry of questions. Everyone was curious why Alex had so urgently pulled the trio away for a private talk. Seeing no reason to hide anything, Alex calmly shared what he had been pondering all day—the possible reasons behind Davoth and the Minister of Monoliths joining forces.

After he finished explaining his thoughts, the girls all sighed… and in unison declared it was time to put an end to this madness. Alex let out a heavy sigh. Their collective “attack” felt like a soft yet firm ultimatum. It turned out he wasn’t the only one dreaming of long-overdue rest—his women were mentally ready to leave this crumbling world behind and go… somewhere far away.

The next morning began peacefully. Alex sat in the living room, doing Anya’s hair—his little princess always had to look adorable. He was carefully braiding her hair when Brunhilde walked by and stopped, reminding him that he had forgotten to discuss something important with Chris—the human factor. After saying this, she left the house along with Koko, Yuriko, and Saya, heading toward the administrative building.

Alex was left alone with Anya on his lap… and realized he had indeed missed a critical detail. Wasting no time, he contacted Chris while simultaneously setting up a magical jammer to prevent anyone from eavesdropping.

“Chris, are you busy right now? Alone?” Alex asked, tapping his knee with a finger.

“What kind of calls are these so early in the morning? Is there an emergency? Or are you going to tell me my sister’s already pregnant and you just want to brag?” Chris growled through gritted teeth.

“No, Claire’s not pregnant. Go somewhere no one can hear you. What I’m about to say is important,” Alex rolled his eyes, trying not to match Chris’s tone.

From the other end, Chris let out a relieved sigh, which made Alex’s eye twitch. He almost regretted not showing up to give Chris another “disciplinary” lesson. While footsteps echoed from the line, Alex watched Anya.

The little girl perked up at the word “pregnant.” She immediately pressed herself against her father, grabbed his cheeks, and chirped happily, imagining how she’d soon become a big sister. Stars practically lit up in her eyes as she pictured taking care of a younger brother or sister, becoming the boss of the house.

But after a few seconds, her brows furrowed as she thought, “But none of the mommies said anything about this… I would’ve heard!” Realizing that, Anya looked a bit disappointed, but then resolutely clenched her little fist. She would be ready anyway! After all, the best big sister had to be prepared in advance.

Alex watched the changing expressions on his daughter’s face with interest—first joy, then confusion, then determination. He caught himself thinking that Anya was starting to resemble the hero of a typical anime where “the power of friendship” conquers all. He couldn’t allow that. He shuddered and quickly shook his head, banishing the unpleasant thought.

Meanwhile, Chris reached an empty room where no one could overhear him. He shut the door tightly and activated extra protection.

“Alright, I’m alone. Talk. But if this is nonsense, I’m dropping a bomb on you,” he said with an irritated tone.

“Shut up and listen. This is serious. Yesterday I forgot to mention something important…” Alex’s voice became hard and focused.

From Alex’s tone, Chris immediately understood—this was going to be a serious conversation. He frowned, irritated that Alex had only remembered something important a whole day later. Still, Chris decided to hear him out before getting angry.

“The thing is, I forgot to mention one critical detail. The point is, you need to be careful about who you trust,” Alex began.

“If you’re calling just to state the obvious, I’m hanging up,” Chris muttered.

“I’m not finished. You think you’re fighting one side, but in truth, you have two enemies. And both are extremely unpleasant. You might’ve already heard about strange red structures spotted all over the world, and the cults forming around demons and these constructs. So, I won’t waste time on a long explanation—just know this: there might already be traitors within the Resistance. And you need to stay alert so the virus I gave you doesn’t end up in the wrong hands.”

Chris’s frown deepened as Alex continued:

“The first cult is the Marker cult. Its followers are obsessed with the idea of so-called ‘Convergence.’ I’ll send you a separate file about that—this isn’t the time for a lecture. The second cult worships demons. Their actions are far more dangerous. These lunatics can open gates straight into the heart of your bases. It’s through them that demons are entering this world.”

Alex paused and let out a heavy sigh.

“Chris, don’t tell me you still don’t get it—what’s already happened is just a weak warning. The situation is far worse than most realize. The transformation of people into zombies and mutants can be explained by the virus. But demons—that’s a whole other story. I’ll send you files, along with modules to help track demonic nests and their presence. And one last thing: those who have already become part of the Marker cult or the demon-worshippers are lost. There’s no bringing them back. The simplest way to end their suffering… is a bullet to the head.”

“Got it. Send the files, I’ll see what I can do. And when are those modules arriving?”

“Turn around. The box with the modules is already there. Inside you’ll find instructions—figure it out from there. And remember this: don’t you dare die because someone stabbed you in the back. Trusting people is one thing. Believing you’ll never be betrayed… is another. Good luck, Chris. A lot depends on you. I’m not planning to carry this world on my back alone.”

“You’re hiding something,” Chris muttered as Alex was about to hang up.

“All in due time. If you live to see the end, we’ll talk,” Alex said, ending the call.

Chris stared at the screen, now displaying “call ended,” and let out a heavy sigh. He understood why Alex had said all that—and knew all too well that anyone could be a traitor now. His phone buzzed again—an incoming message. When he opened it, he found two files. He immediately decided to share them only with those he truly trusted: Piers and the squad he’d been through hell with.

Looking back, he saw a wooden box behind him. Peering inside, he found the very modules Alex had mentioned. Chris still didn’t understand how the box got there, but he knew it wasn’t time for questions—there were more important things to deal with.

Meanwhile, Alex leaned back on the sofa. His face twisted as if he’d just eaten a lemon. He genuinely disliked playing the role of the cryptic helper who spoke in riddles and revealed things in fragments. Rubbing his face with a hand, he silently swore never to fall into that habit again.

Still, Alex was glad that Chris turned out to be smarter than he had initially thought. For a moment, he even considered whether to pull Chris into the world-saving team. He’d be perfect as the “strike force” in worlds where there’s no need for overthinking—just smashing monsters and protecting people. But that was a conversation best saved for after the grand finale orchestrated by the Minister of Monoliths.

“Daddy, you’re so cool and mysterious! Like those mentors in fairy tales who help the heroes!” Anya said, her eyes sparkling.

“Anya, don’t say that. I don’t like heroes. They annoy me. They’re just… ugh,” Alex grimaced with distaste.

“I know you don’t like heroes. I’m talking about the ones who help them so they don’t mess everything up,” Anya protested, puffing her cheeks and crossing her arms.

“Who taught you to talk like that?” Alex smiled and poked her puffed-up cheeks to “deflate” them.

“Mommy Ada and Mommy Rika. They always say that if it weren’t for you, everyone would’ve messed up already,” Anya replied cheerfully, immediately giving up her “sources.”

Alex only sighed and pulled his daughter into a hug, silently thanking fate for the family he had—even despite everything going on.

With a playful smile, Alex looked at Anya, who had so effortlessly ratted out the two culprits who taught her those “bad words.” He just chuckled—he knew full well Anya was still hiding the fact she could read minds and used that ability often. Choosing not to dwell on it, Alex simply pinched her cheek and finally finished the hairstyle for his little princess.

Now he needed to find something to do. Picking Anya up, he headed to the second floor, deciding to also check in on the two lazy girls who had been doing nothing lately. Opening the door, Alex found the usual scene: Zero Two and Lucy sprawled on the couch, both looking completely apathetic.

Lucy lay with a bowl of salad on her chest, feeding herself with her vectors while reading a book without even looking up. Meanwhile, Zero Two was watching a comedy on a tablet and munching on sweets with full concentration.

“Girls, want to go for a walk?” Alex asked, catching both of their attention.

“Darling, I don’t want to move. Unless you’ve got something really fun in mind,” Zero Two replied lazily, rolling onto her side to look at him.

“I don’t want to get up either. It’s finally the climax of the story. I’ve been waiting forever for the main characters to get together. Everything they did before this didn’t bring them any closer,” Lucy said, tossing another cherry tomato into her mouth.

“Why are you even reading that romantic crap? What’s so interesting about it? You’ve got my Darling—isn’t that enough for you?” Zero Two rolled her eyes.

Lucy just gave her a cold look and turned away, not bothering to respond. Alex barely held back a sigh. He could already imagine how their visit to his home world would end. Zero Two would immediately join the Sweet Tooth club, and Lucy would probably become friends with Lucina — both adored salads and romantic novels. But what worried Alex more was the new addition to the ranks of dessert hunters. He knew that’s where real battles over sweets took place.

Deciding to leave those problems to his “future self,” he tried to shake the girls out of their mood:

“I’m not promising anything, but we can just take a walk… Who knows where it might lead us,” he said with a slight smile.

“You’re inviting us on an adventure?” Lucy asked, immediately focusing on him.

“Last time you both complained that I didn’t take you with me when I opened the portal to the Moon with Anya and Shigure. What if I decide to continue our journey?” Alex threw out the bait.

Lucy and Zero Two shifted their gaze to Anya in his arms — she was beaming from head to toe, smiling like a little gremlin. The girls immediately understood: if they didn’t go, they’d definitely miss something. Zero Two gritted her teeth in irritation — Anya always drew all of Darling’s attention. Even though they both were results of the same experiment, Anya always won. Lucy was annoyed by this too. They exchanged glances and nodded simultaneously.

Jumping off the couch instantly, both grabbed their clothes and started dressing quickly. Alex watched in surprise — he couldn’t understand why they snapped out of their lazy stupor so suddenly… until he looked down and met Anya’s innocent expression, as if she had nothing to do with it.

“Ah… provoking me again, my little gremlin,” he muttered and pinched her cheek.

“We’re ready! Let’s go on an adventure! Stop wasting time, Darling,” Zero Two commanded, practically pushing Alex out of the room.

Alex smiled at the sudden burst of enthusiasm from the two girls. He let Zero Two shove him out of the house without resisting — most of the residents had already gone about their business. Only Namiyo and Kiriko remained inside, keeping order, and Alcina was still playing the mysterious Madame Dracula.

Stepping outside, Alex looked around, deciding where to start their little adventure. After a brief thought, he suggested a walk in the nearby forest — to check the traps set for hunting. The girls eagerly agreed without asking any questions.

Putting Anya on his shoulders so that Zero Two and Lucy could hold onto his hands, the four of them headed toward the forest. Walking along the familiar trail, Alex soon led them to the first trap. Inside, a deer was hanging by one leg—alive but already tired from trying to free itself.

“Dad, do we really have to eat animals? They’re so cute…” Anya asked quietly, tugging at his hair.

“Kiddo, meat is meat. What difference does it make if it tastes good?” Zero Two rolled her eyes.

“I still prefer salads,” Lucy shrugged.

Alex smiled gently, then spoke in a calm and measured voice:

“Anya, dear, listen. Everything in nature is connected. Predators, including humans, play an important role—they control the population of herbivores. It’s part of the balance that can’t be broken. Yes, the deer is cute, but in the wild, cuteness doesn’t matter—only the strongest survive. Even your teeth show that you should eat not only vegetables but also meat. It’s part of our nature. You wouldn’t tell a wolf, ‘Don’t eat it, it’s cute.’ It eats to live. And so do we.”

Anya blinked, trying to digest what he said. Thoughtfulness flickered in her eyes, and gears clearly started turning in her mind. Alex watched his daughter with interest, wondering if she would understand the point.

“Educational,” came a voice from behind.

Alex, Zero Two, and Lucy turned around simultaneously. Ghost stepped out from behind a tree. Alex involuntarily rolled his eyes—there he was again, appearing silently like a ghost, fitting his nickname perfectly. In Simon’s hands was a bundle of hares and some other small prey, and over his shoulder hung a bow and quiver.

“Simon, alone again? I thought you’d already found some friends,” Alex said with a slight smile.

“Friendship is not words, but actions. I find it easier alone,” Ghost replied calmly, stepping closer.

“Fair enough. But I still consider you my friend. Maybe one day you’ll even show me your face. I’d be impressed,” Alex smirked.

“Maybe. But I doubt you have the patience to wait that long,” Ghost responded, his tone unchanged.

Alex chuckled and shook his head. He knew Simon considered him a friend too, just not one to say it openly. When Alex offered to help with the game, Ghost refused:

“I don’t think the child should see what comes next. First, the blood needs to be drained so the meat doesn’t spoil.”

Alex just nodded. He was once again convinced that despite his silence and sternness, Simon was still a good-hearted person. After saying their goodbyes, he, Anya, and the girls continued on, deciding to head toward the bay.

“Darling, your friend is a bit strange. Always wearing that mask and so… mysterious,” Zero Two said, putting a lollipop in her mouth.

“He’s not strange. His life just broke a lot inside him. He’s lost too much. A hero? Maybe. But he himself is just a trace, a shadow of who he once was. The mask is all that’s left,” Alex said quietly, stepping toward the bay.

“I don’t quite get it, but it’s clear you respect him,” Lucy said, still holding his hand.

“Yes, he’s one of those people who knows what needs to be done—and does it. A good man. A soldier through and through. And as a friend—loyal. Those are rare, especially across the many worlds we’ll travel through in the future,” Alex said with a smile, looking ahead.

Zero Two and Lucy exchanged glances. From Alex’s words, they understood that Ghost had been through a lot. That’s what made him who he was now. Meanwhile, Alex was thinking about the future. He didn’t rule out the possibility of one day offering Ghost to join him—maybe as a fighter or a mentor. But he wasn’t sure if Simon would want to leave this world… maybe he’d prefer to retire quietly, in the solitude he had long grown accustomed to.

Alex planned to take not only the girls but also some people who had nothing left to do in this dying world. For example, the masters from Ryōzanpaku—he already imagined them opening their own dojo in Orario. The same went for the Ma dojo. As for the other fighters, it would be enough to tell them that they could fight endlessly against new opponents in the dungeon—and those muscular heads would agree immediately.

When they reached the bay, a cool breeze swept over them. Alex approached the water and sat down right on the rocky ground, watching the waves rhythmically crash against the shore. Zero Two and Lucy settled nearby, enjoying the moment of peace. Alex placed Anya on his lap and simply savored the quiet.

However, the calm didn’t last long. Zero Two and Lucy soon got bored and started throwing stones into the water. Zero Two relied on brute strength, while Lucy, as always, used her vectors. Their competition quickly escalated—they began throwing bigger and bigger stones, causing real splashes.

Alex watched with mild interest. He even grew curious—how much weight could they lift, and where was the limit of their strength? But his thoughts were interrupted when Anya gently tugged his sleeve. He looked down—the girl was holding out a flat stone.

“Do you want to throw stones into the water too?” Alex asked with a smile, stroking her head.

“Yes! Will you teach me, daddy?” Anya asked, looking at him with her signature puppy eyes.

It was impossible to resist those eyes. Alex smiled, took the stone from her hand, scooped up his daughter with his other arm, and headed toward the shore. Every child should experience this kind of fun—there’s nothing simpler or more enjoyable than competing to see whose stone skips the most times across the water.

He gently set Anya down and began explaining how to hold the stone, the angle to throw it at, and how to move. Even Zero Two and Lucy stopped their “artillery fire” and came closer to listen.

When Alex demonstrated his throw, he slightly overdid it. The stone didn’t just skip on the water—it bounced so many times that Alex briefly wondered if he might knock something down on the other side of the shore. But he decided not to tell anyone about that.

Anya clapped her hands in delight, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Now it’s your turn, my girl. Find the right stone, and I’ll help you throw it,” Alex said, gently stroking her head again.

“My stone will definitely skip more times than yours,” Zero Two declared, searching for a flat stone, almost like a frisbee.

“You’re just a muscle-head. It’s all about technique,” Lucy snorted, picking up a stone about the same size as Alex’s.

Alex looked at the two arguing girls and smiled to himself—at least they weren’t bored.

Meanwhile, Anya found her “perfect” little stone and happily ran to her father. Alex crouched beside her and carefully guided her hands. The girl focused hard, puffed out her cheeks like a little hamster, and threw the stone. It skipped once on the water—but that was enough for Anya to proudly puff out her chest as if she’d just made a great discovery.

Alex smiled, put another stone into her palm, and Anya, more confident now, swung her arm again. This time the stone skipped three times before sinking. The girl turned to her father with a triumphant smile. Alex tenderly tousled her hair. He felt his heart literally melt with affection—his little princess was incredibly adorable in these moments, especially with that proud, shining look in her eyes that made him feel warm and peaceful.

To be continued…

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep