While Alex continued beating Hermes for his inappropriate words and excessive talkativeness, the group he had brought to register at the Adventurers’ Guild calmly filled out the paperwork. In the background, Hermes’s pitiful cries echoed now and then as he was thrown into another painful hold. The line moved slowly, and many decided to keep reading the Orario guidebook to better understand what awaited them in this world.

Hermes’s sudden appearance gave them a vivid demonstration of what gods could be like in this world. Luckily, Alex had wisely included a special section in the guide dedicated to the gods. Upon reading it, everyone became fully convinced—gods here were… peculiar. Those familiar with the mythology of their previous world quickly recognized some familiar names and realized things here might actually be worse.

While one half of the group eagerly studied the guide, the lazier half realized they’d better follow suit—after all, this was their new home now. Fortunately, the guide Alex had made was so detailed and clear that even the slowest person would quickly understand what to avoid and what was acceptable.

Meanwhile, Alex continued his “educational work” on Hermes, despite the latter’s cries for help aimed at Asfi. She, however, kept a calm and detached expression, pretending not to hear a thing. Anya, Nyaruko, and Jinx enthusiastically cheered their father on, applauding every new throw. If it hadn’t been for Brunhilda holding back GIR, MIMI, and Stitch, the trio would have already joined in—they clearly had the itch to punish the one who dared to touch “their beloved daddy.”

After a few more minutes, Alex finally got bored. Hermes now sat on the floor with a black eye, messy hair, and clothes looking like a whole squad of golems had marched over him. He was sulking, rubbing his bruised face and glaring at Alex.

“Alex, why do you always hit me in the face? This face is my trademark! Women love me for it! Men envy it!” Hermes moaned dramatically.

“Lord Hermes, don’t flatter yourself. If we’re talking about beauty, Alex is several levels above you,” Asfi said dryly, looking down at him.

“And besides, Hermes. I wouldn’t even touch your face if your mouth weren’t so damn close to it. How many times have I told you—keep your tongue in check. But no, you had to start again,” Alex added with a lazy smirk, shrugging.

The sound of something delicate cracking echoed through the guild—it was likely Hermes’s self-esteem. Everyone present glanced at Alex, then back at Hermes… and silently agreed: she was right.

The bruise, the wild hair, and the face full of indignation made Hermes look more like a beaten clown than a god. He clutched his chest like he’d been struck in the heart rather than the face.

“Asfi… even you’ve betrayed me… Not only did you not protect me from this psycho, but you also said I’m not handsome… This… this is the ultimate betrayal!” Hermes cried out theatrically, pointing at his assistant with a trembling finger.

“But it’s true. You’re not as handsome as my muffin. Not as smart as him. And honestly—you’re just a perverted voyeur who somehow hasn’t been banished back to the heavens. Frankly, you shouldn’t be pitied—you should be locked up,” Becca said with sarcasm, not even bothering to look back at Hermes.

“Mom’s right!” Jinx added, clutching Becca’s hand tightly. “You’re not just ugly, you’re weak and scrawny. And my dad just mopped the floor with you!”

Hermes turned his head toward Becca and froze for a moment when he saw the mother and daughter who looked like two peas in a pod — including their shameless, sharp-tongued personalities. But the moment he let his gaze linger, Becca smirked and pulled a stun gun from her pocket. The familiar crackle of electricity filled the air, and Hermes immediately broke out in a cold sweat — his body trembled on cue. He had plenty of past experience with that device, and his body now instinctively responded to the sound like it was a life-or-death warning.

The moment the stun gun crackled, Hermes turned his head away, pretending he hadn’t even looked at Becca or Jinx.

“Becca, why did that god start shaking as soon as you pulled out the stun gun?” Renka whispered, leaning closer.

“Oh, that idiot’s been zapped by a few ‘positivity charges’ already. He usually passes out right after. Don’t worry, everyone gets a set after we get back home. Alex gave all the girls in our house a similar kit. An anti-pervert kit. And trust me — it works like a charm,” Becca replied cheerfully, tucking the stun gun back into her pocket.

The men in the group visibly tensed. Their faces paled — even a god trembled at the sight of that thing, and they were just mere mortals… The women, on the other hand, wholeheartedly approved of the idea — it felt very much in line with Alex’s thinking. Some of the women who hadn’t come as Alex’s partners but rather with friends or boyfriends began wondering if they could get one of those “artifacts” too, if they politely asked Alex. Those glances made the men tremble even more — as if the whole world had turned against them.

“Alright, Hermes. Spit it out — why are you here?” Alex finally asked, staring at the pitiful god.

Just as Alex expected, Hermes instantly forgot he’d just been folded like laundry. He jumped to his feet, quickly straightened his clothes and hair, placed his favorite hat back on his head — and in the very next moment, he was flashing his usual smug grin like nothing had happened. The rest of the group watched him with extreme suspicion.

“What do you mean ‘why’? You came back from one of your adventures, so of course you brought something delicious… preferably with alcohol!” Hermes said cheerfully. “And come on, did you really think your return to Orario would go unnoticed? The moment you stepped foot in the city, the word spread like wildfire. And when I saw the crowd you brought with you, I decided to act fast. While the others are still getting ready, I’m already here!”

“So basically, you showed up for free stuff… and you’re afraid there won’t be anything left if you’re late?” Alex asked dryly.

“Exactly, my old friend!” Hermes admitted without a hint of shame. “Now tell me — is there going to be a party? And don’t you dare say no! You brought an entire army of people. That has to mean something!”

“Yeah, there’s going to be a party,” Alex nodded.

He was planning it anyway. Saving the world, ending the war, Davot’s death, and the fall of the Minister of Monoliths — all of that deserved a proper celebration. After the final battle, there hadn’t even been a symbolic toast — everyone had just been recovering and cleaning up the mess. So now, with everyone gathered in Orario, this was the perfect opportunity.

Hermes instantly lit up the moment he got confirmation. He was one of the few who knew Alex could travel between worlds — which meant there would be food and booze from other realms. Alex’s group also perked up — the party seemed like a perfect way not just to celebrate the end of the war, but to meet locals, make friends, and finally relax.

“Perfect! Then I’ll spread the word — everyone to your place, just like always! Asfi, come on! We’ve got a lot of places to hit before time runs out!” Hermes shouted, practically flying out of the guild.

“Lord Hermes, wait up!” Asfi cried, rushing after him.

Alex just shook his head, hoping his home wouldn’t turn into yet another gathering spot for freeloaders looking to eat and drink at someone else’s expense. He especially didn’t want to deal with obnoxious gods showing up under the pretense of “friendship,” only to stuff themselves with free food.

After Hermes ran off, silence returned to the Guild Hall. Only the rustle of paperwork and the voices of adventurers going about their business filled the air. Alex returned to Becca and stood beside her, entertaining his three daughters. The girls were starting to get bored from the long wait while the others completed their registration. Alex was getting bored too, and his gaze drifted to Takashi and Yuki — they had already received their identification cards and were standing off to the side, waiting.

Alex figured now was the perfect time to take them where he’d been planning to go.

“Becca, take everyone back to our house later. I have something urgent to take care of,” Alex said, turning toward her.

“What, am I your tour guide now? Why should I be the one dragging everyone along? Can’t it wait at least until the evening?” Becca huffed, frowning.

“Unfortunately, no. I just need to take Takashi somewhere,” Alex replied, placing a hand on her head.

“Fine, whatever. Just don’t blame me if someone gets lost. You’ll be the one tracking down the idiot who wanders off,” she muttered, already knowing exactly where he was headed.

“Where are you going, Alex?” Brunhilde asked, having overheard their conversation.

“To Babylon. I’ll be back soon. Keep an eye on the others — besides me, you know best where to go and what to do,” he said with a gentle smile.

Brunhilde reestablished her spiritual link with Alex and, realizing where he was going, simply nodded in response. Without wasting time, Alex kissed her on the lips, then scooped up Nyaruko, Jinx, and Anya — his daughters, who were clearly growing restless. He didn’t want to leave them in the guild, where they were visibly dying of boredom.

Becca was actually relieved that Alex was taking Jinx with him. She knew better than anyone how hard it was for her daughter to sit still — and she herself was already at her limit with the monotony. Even Anya and Nyaruko looked like they were enduring their final moments of captivity.

The other girls, seeing Alex preparing to leave with the kids, immediately bombarded him with questions.

“Where are you going?” Saya asked, eyeing Alex suspiciously. “And why are you taking the kids?”

“I’m taking Takashi somewhere. Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon,” he replied without offering further details.

“And before I go… When you arrive at my house, there’ll be a goddess there who looks a lot like Becca. Just with bigger boobs,” Alex added, glancing at his wife. “If Becca and that goddess start fighting, don’t interfere. They’ll handle it. It’s kind of their thing.”

“And why would they start fighting? We should at least know the reason,” Yuriko asked, voicing everyone’s curiosity.

“Because that lazy goddess will be jealous I had a kid with Alex before she did,” Becca snorted and raised her chin proudly. “Jealousy does that.”

“In short, just stay out of it. I’ll be back as soon as I’m done,” said Alex with a wave of his hand.

He knew exactly how the next encounter between Becca and Hestia would end, and that’s why he gave a heads-up in advance. The girls, however, were only more intrigued by the mysterious goddess who supposedly looked like Becca but with “enhancements.” They couldn’t wait to see her for themselves — but the registration line was still in the way.

Holding his daughters in his arms, Alex approached Takashi and Yuki, who were standing to the side, chatting quietly.

“David, Yuki. Follow me,” Alex said shortly.

“And where are you taking us?” Takashi asked, while Yuki silently nodded, waiting for an answer.

“You’ll find out soon. Enough questions. Move it,” Alex replied and walked ahead without looking back, knowing the two would follow him regardless.

Takashi and Yuki exchanged glances, then looked toward Alex, who was already walking out of the guild. Not wanting to fall behind, they quickly followed him. Once outside, they saw Alex settling Anya, Jinx, and Nyaruko onto a flying cushion. He carefully arranged his daughters so they could comfortably survey the surroundings from above. When he finished, Alex turned to Yuki and Takashi, nodded to them, waved his hand, and continued forward. Takashi and Yuki silently followed.

Along the way, they watched the city streets with interest. Adventurers passed by — some were heading into the dungeon, while others were returning with trophies. However, on some faces, Takashi noticed clear disappointment.

“Alex, what’s wrong with them? Why do they look so… down? Did something happen in the dungeon?” he asked, catching up to Alex.

“No, it’s simpler than that,” Alex answered calmly. “They just had a bad day. They gathered few crystals, which means they earned almost nothing. Not every day you come back with a profit.”

Takashi nodded in agreement. He was beginning to understand how this world worked and life in Orario — thanks in part to Kota, who enthusiastically talked about every corner of the city without stopping for a moment. And also thanks to the detailed guidebook that Alex had handed to everyone.

Anya, Nyaruko, and Jinx, sitting on the cushion, eagerly turned their heads, fascinated by the new surroundings. Their eyes sparkled with curiosity. Naturally, none of them paid attention to the whispers of passing adventurers. Those adventurers looked at Alex and the three girls with surprise and caution, wondering — could the “Demon King” really have children now? Especially Jinx and Nyaruko, who clearly bore Alex’s features, which only fueled the rapidly spreading rumors throughout the city. Although, truth be told, these were no rumors.

But the girls didn’t care about rumors. They lived in the moment — watching, marveling, and admiring. Until suddenly Jinx looked up and pointed her finger at the Babylon Tower.

“Dad, someone’s watching us. From there!” she said, and Nyaruko immediately nodded in agreement.

Alex followed her finger and instantly understood who it could be. Only one woman watched so attentively from such a height — Freya. As usual, she sat at the top of the tower, observing the city, never breaking her habit. Alex had long since come to terms with it and didn’t even try to stop her — Freya just liked seeing everything from above, especially him.

Yuki and Takashi also looked up, but aside from the majestic tower, they saw nothing. Anya, however, frowned and looked at Babylon with interest, trying to guess who was up there.

“Girls, repeat after me.” Alex folded his hands above his head in the shape of a heart and raised them up. “Like this.”

“Dad, why?” Anya asked in surprise, looking at him.

“Because another one of your moms is watching us,” he said with a smile. “And we have to make her happy.”

The three girls seemed to light up and eagerly copied their father’s gesture — folding their hands into a heart shape above their heads. Takashi and Yuki immediately tried to step as far away from Alex as possible, as if trying to show they had nothing to do with him. To them, it looked terribly embarrassing. But Alex himself didn’t care at all about the looks from those around him.

Meanwhile, Freya stood by the window, watching Alex and his daughters. A faint smile played on her lips, but her eyes were narrowed — focused and attentive. From the very beginning, she had noticed Alex’s arrival in Orario and knew exactly where he was leading his group. That was why she hadn’t interfered, knowing everything was going according to plan.

When she saw him leaving the guild with Anya, Nyaruko, and Jinx, her gaze lingered on Takashi. Seeing his soul, Freya confirmed her suspicions — he really was Gloria’s son. Their souls shared similar traits.

But what caught her attention the most were the three girls sitting on the flying cushion next to Alex. She knew Alex had adopted Anya — reports regularly sent by GIR confirmed this. All of them showed how much Alex adored his daughter. It was this devotion and love that only fueled Freya’s desire to give him a child herself.

But where had the other two girls come from?

Freya peered closely at the little girl with azure hair and immediately understood: she was Becka’s daughter. Irritated, she bit her nail and looked away for a moment. However, the second girl — the one with white hair — raised the most questions. Her soul was hidden, as if she didn’t exist at all. That was unsettling.

In fact, Alex had wisely limited the powers of Nyaruko and Jinx in advance, knowing Freya would definitely try to look into their souls. And he fully understood how that might end — especially if someone examined Nyaruko’s essence, a mixture of Chaos and Destruction.

“So, the one with green hair is Becсa’s daughter…” Freya murmured, intently watching the girls. “But who is the mother of the white-haired one? Hmm… Well, never mind. Darling will answer all my questions. Whether he wants to or not.”

“Lady Freya, are you planning to come down to meet your husband?” came a calm voice from behind — Ottar’s.

“No, I don’t see the point. I’ll see Darling at home anyway. Right now, he’s heading to Babylon, and his path leads to only one place — to Gloria,” Freya replied calmly without turning around.

“To Gloria?” Ottar repeated with his usual impassive expression.

“Yes. He found her son. It will be a reunion of mother and child separated by death itself. What an astonishing turn…” Freya said, sinking back into her chair.

Meanwhile, Alex was already leading his three daughters toward Babylon. Takashi and Yuki followed, continuing to look around like tourists. Reaching the elevator, Alex pressed the button for the floor where the shopping pavilions were located and calmly waited.

He said nothing, deciding to surprise Takashi. When there were so many people around, talking to Gloria wouldn’t be convenient. Alex knew perfectly well that she was helping out at Hephaestus’s shop right now, and the two women — very similar in character — were close friends despite their stern nature and endless patience for his destructive “adventures.”

The elevator gave a slight jolt and stopped. The doors opened, letting Alex, Yuki, and Takashi out. The girls on the flying cushion followed leisurely. Their path led to Hephaestus’s shop, where Gloria was helping her friend and sister.

Halfway to their destination, Alex noticed Pilar coming out of his workshop. The same as always — with his usual mohawk, dark glasses, and a cigarette in his teeth. He lazily closed the door, paying no attention to anyone, rummaged in his pocket, and finally found his keys.

Takashi immediately recognized Pilar, because if it weren’t for Kota insisting on watching anime, he wouldn’t have known what fate awaited him if it hadn’t been him who died that day but his mother Gloria. Takashi knew Pilar was one of the people he was supposed to work with and the first in their group to die at the hands of the cyber-psycho. At that moment, Pilar locked his shop, lazily put the key in his pocket, ready to leave, but then saw Alex smiling at him.

Pilar finally looked up, saw Alex, and his face lit up with a broad, genuine smile.

“Hey, Chumba! Didn’t know you were back!” he said with a smirk as he approached. “And who’s this with you? That little one… Damn, she looks just like my sister did as a kid.”

Alex squinted and answered with a mysterious smile,

“Well, try to guess.”

Pilar raised an eyebrow, looking first at Alex, then at Jinx — and back at Alex. With every second, his gaze became more stunned, until suddenly a light bulb went off in his head like a lightning flash. The cigarette fell silently from Pilar’s mouth onto the floor as he finally realized who was in front of him. The girl with the bright eyes, restless energy, and painfully familiar features… she was his niece.

There was a brief moment of shock. In Pilar’s mind, it was like a short circuit: he had become an uncle.

Meanwhile, noticing Pilar’s expression, Yuki leaned toward Takashi and quietly asked,

“Who is he anyway? Do you happen to know?”

Takashi quickly whispered everything he knew into Yuki’s ear. She listened carefully, nodded, and looked at him approvingly. Meanwhile, Anya, Nyaruko, and Jinx were looking at Pilar as if he were a strange uncle with long arms and a ridiculous hairstyle.

By collective agreement, they deemed him a rather suspicious character. Only Jinx didn’t yet know that this strange uncle was her real uncle. And also — the very person who, like her, was fanatical about technology and inventions, just like her entire maternal family. After Alex, he was the closest person to Becca.

“Chumba… Don’t tell me this is my niece?” Pilar blurted out in shock, pointing at Jinx.

“Bingo,” Alex replied with a smile. “So, what do you think? Impressed?”

“Impressed doesn’t even cover it! You leave with my sister saying, ‘We’re off to save worlds,’ and come back with three daughters. And one of them is my niece! How long have you been wandering through different worlds for her to grow up like that? She must be like six or seven by now! Chumba, my heart’s about to jump out from all this!”

While Pilar clutched his chest, Alex couldn’t hold back laughter and decided to explain how Jinx came to be. He briefly recounted everything, starting with Becca’s pregnancy, remembering how she got offended at being called a “gremlin” and attacked him, and finishing with how Jinx literally came into the world after one accidental touch on Becca’s belly.

Pilar nodded, pretending to understand everything, but his facial expression showed he got maybe ten percent of it. The main thing he understood was that he now had a niece.

“Chumba, man, this is crazy. Alright, we gotta call the others — let them see my niece too. She’s a spitting image of Becca as a kid!” Pilar said, giving Alex a thumbs-up.

“Call them, of course. There’s a welcome party today anyway. Dorio, Maina, Falco — let them come,” Alex answered with a smile.

“A party sounds good. But tell me, chumba… have you started getting interested in boys?” Pilar smirked, pointing at Takashi. “Because I can’t find any other reason why you’re dragging that guy around with you.”

Dark lines of irritation immediately flashed across Alex’s face at those words. Takashi, for his part, stepped back with disgust, and Yuki barely held back her laughter.

“I told you… think before you speak,” Alex muttered and jabbed Pilar in the stomach with irritation.

“Khh… What for?! I was just joking…” Pilar wheezed, holding his stomach.

“You should’ve looked at what he’s wearing first. Then looked at his face. Doesn’t he remind you of anyone?” Alex rolled his eyes wearily.

Pilar raised an eyebrow and carefully examined Takashi from head to toe. The first thing that immediately caught his eye was the jacket that Gloria used to wear all the time. Now it was on this young man. The longer Pilar looked, the stronger the feeling of familiarity grew. He quickly put two and two together, and the realization struck like lightning — this guy… he partly resembled Gloria’s late son, David.

That could only mean one thing — Alex had found him.

“Chumba, looks like you brought more surprises than I expected after your return. First my niece, now David too… You’re truly working miracles. The others will definitely faint when they find out,” Pilar said, shaking his head with an admiring smile.

“Just got lucky running into him in a world that’s gone to hell,” Alex replied, patting Pilar on the shoulder. “But we’ll talk later. For now — run, warn the others. We’ll finish the trip to Gloria.”

“Ah, right! I was already wondering why the hell you dragged yourselves here. Alright, Chumba, I’m off. Maybe I’ll get lucky and run into my sister too,” said Pilar, turning around and quickly rushing off.

Alex watched him go, shaking his head with a slight smile. Pilar was still the same as he knew him — energetic, loud, and endlessly devoted to his family.

Meanwhile, Takashi caught the gist of the conversation between Alex and Pilar. He realized why they had come, and the thought that he was about to meet his mother — not by voice or screen, but in person — made his heart beat faster. He started to get noticeably nervous, and Alex, sensing this, said nothing more, letting the young man compose himself.

At the same time, Gloria and Hephaestus were passing time in the shop, chatting leisurely. They knew Alex would return soon but didn’t know exactly when. Though only a couple of weeks had passed from their perspective, in the other world, as they knew, much more time could have elapsed.

The shop door swung open, and a bell jingled above it. Both women turned toward the entrance — Alex was standing there. He smiled and stepped slightly aside, giving those behind him a clear view.

Gloria’s eyes widened when she saw her son’s face.

“David?..” she whispered softly, almost hoarsely.

“Hi, Mom. Or rather… hi again,” Takashi replied awkwardly.

Without hesitation, Gloria quickly rounded the counter and in an instant was before her son, wrapping him in a tight, warm embrace. Feeling the familiar warmth, Takashi could no longer hold back — tears streamed down his face. He pressed Gloria to him, burying his face in her shoulder. Tears also streamed from Gloria’s eyes, and they just stood there, holding each other, unable to let go.

Alex nodded approvingly with a gentle smile, then glanced at Nyaruko, Anya, and Jinx. He gave them a signal — to be quiet and not disturb. The girls immediately gave thumbs up, showing they understood.

Then Alex turned his gaze to Hephaestus and smiled at her tenderly. But the goddess’s eyes were fixed on the three girls sitting innocently on the flying cushion. It was clear from Hephaestus’s eyes — she needed explanations. And urgently.

Alex sighed, smiled, and walked toward her, giving Gloria and Takashi some space for their long-awaited reunion.

To be continued…

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep