To avoid interrupting the reunion between mother and son, Alex decided to be tactful and quietly stepped aside. He walked over to Hephaestus to give Gloria and Takashi the chance to enjoy this long-awaited moment in private, without outside attention.

Anya, Nyaruko, and Jinx, seated on the floating cushion, were surprisingly well-behaved — after all, their beloved daddy had strictly asked them not to disturb the touching scene. But it was all just an act — every now and then, they peeked through their fingers, pretending to be obedient children.

As Alex approached Hephaestus, he immediately noticed that the goddess’s gaze hadn’t left the three girls. She was watching them with clear suspicion and growing curiosity. Her look made it obvious: she wanted answers — especially about where the other two daughters had come from. Her eyes were particularly drawn to Jinx — the more she looked, the more traits of Alex and Becky she saw in the child. With every passing second, it became more obvious: Jinx was their daughter. As for Nyaruko, her parentage remained a mystery.

What also puzzled Hephaestus was why both girls looked older already, considering G.I.R.’s reports hadn’t mentioned them at all.

“Alex,” Hephaestus said firmly but quietly, leaning on the counter and never breaking eye contact. “I think you owe me an explanation. Where did the other two daughters come from?”

Instead of answering, Alex simply smiled and, walking around the counter, pulled Hephaestus into a gentle hug. The goddess didn’t resist — she returned the embrace and rested her chin on his shoulder. Anya, Jinx, and Nyaruko instantly covered their faces with their hands like shy little girls, but peeked through their fingers with mischievous grins, watching their beloved dad hug their “new mom.”

Even though Hephaestus allowed herself to enjoy the embrace, she knew exactly what Alex was doing — dodging the question. So, without missing a beat, she gave him a quick pinch in the side — right in the spot she knew was the most sensitive.

“Don’t change the subject, Alex. Do you really think you can distract me with hugs?” she said with narrowed eyes. “Although, judging by the one with the turquoise hair — she’s clearly Becky’s daughter.”

Alex chuckled lightly and finally began to tell Hephaestus the whole story — how Jinx and Nyaruko had come to be. The moment he mentioned Nyaruko, Hephaestus’s expression grew more exhausted. She listened in slight disbelief, unsure how a woman with whom Alex had such… unusual relations could end up bearing his child. But what stunned her even more was the story about Jinx’s birth — especially the part about the flash of light and a six-year-old girl literally appearing out of nowhere.

When Alex relayed his father’s words about how his children would be born, Hephaestus fell into serious thought. Maybe the same would happen to her — pregnancy, a touch on the stomach, a flash… and voilà — a seven-year-old daughter already running around the house.

Looking at the three girls, Hephaestus couldn’t help but feel her maternal instincts stirring. The longer she looked at them, the more she wanted to hug them, hold them close, protect them… completely unaware that these “sweet and innocent” little ones were actually chaotic gremlins just waiting for a chance to drop the act and wreak havoc.

Alex gently floated the cushion closer so the girls could meet their new mom. The girls behaved like perfect angels, but Alex already knew — behind the next door, once adult eyes were off them, the madness would begin again.

Meanwhile, behind them, the scene unfolding was the culmination of two hearts’ deepest wishes — mother and son, torn apart by death itself, were finally together again. Gloria couldn’t let go of Takashi, her arms wrapped around him tighter than ever. Tears streamed down her cheeks — tears of joy and pure relief.

If not for that chance meeting on a rainy evening—when she was on the brink of cyberpsychosis—everything could’ve ended differently. She could’ve lost her mind, ended up in a clinic, or just vanished like so many others in Night City. But then he appeared. Alex.

He promised to find her son—and he kept that promise.

And for Takashi, that meeting was just as meaningful. At the very beginning, when he first arrived in this new world, he thought he was going insane—strange dreams of Night City, of his mother, of a past life. But in the end, it was all true. His “cheat” turned out to be his stepfather—insanely strong and powerful.

“I’m so happy to see you again, David… You can’t imagine how grateful I am to fate for this moment,” Gloria whispered, not letting go of her son.

“I’m happy too, Mom… I didn’t even believe this was possible,” Takashi replied, hugging her tightly in return.

Gloria wiped her tears and looked into his eyes.

“Do you remember what I told you the first time we talked, when you realized your dreams were real?”

“Uh… Which conversation?” Takashi tried to dodge the topic, though he already knew it was pointless.

“I told you to find yourself a girl. So, tell me, son… did you?”

Takashi choked on his own spit—he had been trying to forget that awkward, embarrassing conversation they had the last time he saw her, even if it was only through a phone screen. Ever since, he couldn’t stop recalling how everyone around Gloria had laughed at him. Seeing her son’s expression, Gloria began to wonder if he was still alone. But then, a quiet yet deeply betraying giggle broke the silence.

She turned toward the source of the sound and saw a young girl around her son’s age, covering her mouth with her hand and struggling to hold in her laughter. It was Yuki. Takashi immediately recognized her giggle, and his face darkened—even his own girlfriend couldn’t hold back a smirk. Sensing his glare, Yuki shot him an apologetic look… though she was still barely keeping herself from bursting.

Gloria’s eyes darted between her son and Yuki, and the unmistakable gleam of maternal intuition lit up in her gaze—she’d just spotted a potential daughter-in-law.

“David, maybe you’d like to introduce your girlfriend?” Gloria asked sweetly, barely hiding her enthusiasm.

“Ahem… Mom, this is my girlfriend—Yuki. Yuki, this is my mom—Gloria. Though I guess you already figured that out,” Takashi said awkwardly.

“Nice to meet you, Miss Martinez. Takashi’s told me a lot about you. Well… aside from what Kouta added, since he never shuts up,” Yuki said politely with a small bow.

“Nice to meet you too, Yuki. And I truly admire your patience if you’re able to put up with my son. But… who’s this Kouta? A friend of yours?” Gloria asked with a warm, motherly smile.

“Anime fanboy,” Alex cut in with a smirk. “You can’t get him to shut up. He only stops talking in his sleep… and even then, not always. The guy nearly lost his mind when he realized Takashi was David. And when he heard I’m the Demon King, his brain completely short-circuited.”

Gloria, Takashi, and Yuki turned to Alex, who stood next to Hephaestus. The goddess of the forge was currently being introduced to her three daughters, and her gaze—full of astonishment—was locked on the floating cushion where Anya, Nyaruko, and Jinx were comfortably seated. She hadn’t spoken yet, but her expression clearly screamed: Explanations. Now.

Gloria also noticed the girls. She already knew about Anya, but Nyaruko and Jinx were a surprise. Still, she decided not to get distracted—right now, the reunion with her son mattered more. The mention of anime only confirmed her suspicions—she remembered all the conversations she’d had with Alex.

“So it’s all true…” she murmured, glancing at Takashi.

He and Yuki both nodded. Their tired expressions showed how many times Kouta had dragged them into endless monologues about his favorite anime titles—especially during the apocalypse, when they were part of the same team. Sometimes it was easier to knock him out than to make him stop talking.

But Gloria understood something else—if Kouta had known the truth and stayed by her son’s side, then he was a true friend. She began to wonder what other kinds of friends her son had made in that new and dangerous world.

Takashi scratched the back of his head awkwardly. He didn’t have many close friends—Jonah, Yuki, Kouta himself, and Kouta’s girlfriends. No one else had ever gotten that close. Gloria listened with a warm smile, nodding in rhythm with his words.

“Alright, my lovely family, you’ll have plenty of time to chat later,” Alex said, clapping his hands loudly. “But time’s ticking, and it waits for no one… except me, of course. We’ve still got a lot to do.”

“What kind of business could you possibly have now? What are you up to this time? Or did you forget something again?” Hephaestus and Gloria said in perfect sync.

Takashi and Yuki exchanged stunned glances—it was like the lines came out in unison. Looking closer, Takashi realized that Gloria and Hephaestus were indeed alike. The same sharp tone, the same piercing gaze.

Alex just rolled his eyes.

“Yeah, yeah, I brought this on myself—making you think I only cause chaos out of boredom…”

He turned to face them and continued:

“Short version: tonight there’s a welcome party for everyone I brought back. You’ll meet them, get to know each other. But for now, I think we should stop by Falco’s bar and catch up with some old friends. Sound good?”

“And just how many people did you bring with you?” Hephaestus asked, suddenly realizing she hadn’t asked the most important question since his return—how many new faces had he dragged back this time?

“A lot,” Alex replied with a mysterious smile. “I’ll explain everything later. For now, close the shop, Hephaestus, and let’s go. Our vacation starts tomorrow, and I want to make the most of today.”

With that, he turned toward the exit, leaving everyone with a pile of unanswered questions… and a growing excitement for what lay ahead.

Hephaestus and Gloria heard the word “vacation” and understood perfectly—Alex had been waiting for this for a long time. Which meant he truly needed a break. Realizing this, Hephaestus stopped asking questions—Alex had already promised to explain everything later. Even though many of the girls had already heard about his wild plan from Freya, they all understood one thing: Alex had set too many wheels in motion in Orario, and making them all spin would take a huge amount of time.

Not distracting him with any more questions, the group—Alex, Gloria, Hephaestus, Takashi, and Yuki—left the shop. While Hephaestus was locking up, Gloria had a chance to meet Anya, Nyaruko, and Jinx. Just like Hephaestus, she couldn’t help but feel affection while looking at these adorable little girls, having no idea that each one of them was a little gremlin in disguise. Once the shop was closed, the group headed toward the elevator to ride down.

“You’re not going to visit Freya?” Hephaestus asked while they waited. “She’s probably still sitting in Babylon, like always when you’re not around.”

“She’s already seen us. Most likely, she’s either on her way home now or already there. Considering the group I brought with me, there’s no way she’s going to miss the chance to add a few strong fighters to her ‘family.’ Especially after what happened with the dungeon… which was kind of my fault,” Alex said, shrugging.

“What did you do to the dungeon?” Takashi asked, eyeing him with curiosity.

“Well… when I was beating up a god who merged with a dragon on the lower floors, I might have—accidentally or not—destroyed everything below the eighteenth floor. That god used the dungeon’s core as a catalyst. And when it ended up in my hands, it was almost empty. I might’ve gone a little overboard and poured mana into it. As a result, the monsters got stronger, and the dungeon got deeper. How much deeper? No idea,” Alex explained calmly.

Takashi looked at Gloria, and she silently nodded. But neither he nor Yuki was even remotely surprised by what they’d just heard—they had already witnessed what could happen in battles involving Alex. And his attempt to brush it off with the word “accidentally” sounded especially unconvincing.

Gloria and Hephaestus knew full well what Alex was capable of, especially when he fought seriously: ruined cities, vanished islands, flipped landscapes—all in the name of victory. And the carefree look on his face only confirmed one thing: he had done it on purpose.

Takashi glanced at his mother again. That look clearly said: “Mom… couldn’t you have picked a normal stepdad?”Alex caught that look—and without hesitation, smacked Takashi on the back of the head so hard the boy nearly folded in half.

“One more look like that and it won’t be a slap—it’ll be a fist full of love,” Alex said grimly, raising his fist.

Gloria couldn’t help but smile, watching the interaction between her husband and son. To her, they were the most precious men in her life: one—the child she thought she had lost forever; the other—her beloved partner.

Hephaestus shook her head at the scene, but her attention was suddenly drawn to some suspicious whispering. She turned and stared at Anya, Nyaruko, and Jinx—who immediately put on their most innocent expressions. A warning bell went off in Hephaestus’s mind: these three were definitely pretending. Those sweet faces were just a mask. And as usual, she was right.

As they exited Babylon, Alex turned and glanced up at the top of the tower. Just as he expected—Freya was gone. Most likely, she had already returned home, not only to greet the new arrivals but also to watch the next episode of their ongoing domestic chaos.

Just the thought of it made Hephaestus sigh heavily—she knew exactly who made the most noise at home: Becca, Loki, and Hestia. Instead of a peaceful family evening, what awaited them were verbal duels. And now, with Becca having a child, things were about to escalate to a whole new level. That’s why Hephaestus fully supported the idea of seeing Alex and Gloria’s friends first before heading back into the madness.

Meanwhile, Gloria was talking animatedly with Takashi and Yuki, eager to know everything that had happened to them while Alex was off solving the world’s problems. Nyaruko, Jinx, and Anya were curiously scanning their surroundings, taking in the city with wide, fascinated eyes.

Alex and Hephaestus, on the other hand, were patiently fielding a never-ending stream of childish questions—mostly about food, sweets, and dungeon monsters.

A few minutes later, they arrived at the Afterlife bar, opened by Falco. The place was currently closed—it only opened in the evenings so adventurers could gather, drink good alcohol, and share stories.

“Um… Alex,” Takashi said, eyeing the sign. “Not to be that guy, but… wasn’t there a bar with that name in Night City?”

“There was. Falco’s just honoring tradition,” Alex replied with a grin. “Though… if he only let in seasoned veterans, Afterlife in Orario would become legendary.”

Takashi nodded, and an image of Kouta instantly popped into his mind—his shocked expression if he found out there was a bar in Orario called Afterlife, run by someone he knew personally. He could practically see Kouta fainting on the spot, foaming at the mouth from the sheer overload. Takashi smirked. Maybe it was worth bringing him here just to witness that.

As Alex stood at the bar’s entrance, he couldn’t help but notice—since the day it opened, Afterlife still stood out among the rest of the buildings. The glowing neon sign and its modern design contrasted sharply with the city’s usual fantasy architecture. It was a true island of the future wedged into a world of swords and sorcery.

Without hesitation, Alex pushed open the doors and stepped inside. Gloria and Hephaestus followed him, and the flying cushion carrying Anya, Jinx, and Nyaruko glided smoothly after them. Takashi and Yuki exchanged glances and followed as well—they were curious to see what lay behind the facade of such an unusual place.

Already at the threshold, Alex heard Pilar’s familiar voice, passionately telling a story. Apparently, he was once again having an emotional conversation with Maine, Dorio, and Falco—their interested remarks carrying through the room.

Takashi looked around the space. He saw those who would have been his comrades if fate had taken a different course. There was a strange feeling—slight awkwardness, a pinch of sadness… but Takashi, deciding to follow Alex’s example, simply let himself go with the flow.

Alex, upon seeing his old friends, broke into a genuine smile. He would be lying if he said he hadn’t missed them. Together, they had been through a lot in Night City—from despair to victory—and had become more than friends. They had become family.

“Look who’s back!” came Maine’s familiar voice. He turned, leaning on the bar counter. “We were wondering when you’d wrap up your business, Chumba. And you didn’t just bring Gloria’s son—you also dragged along three of my nieces. Wow, you really outdid yourself. Didn’t expect anything less from you.”

“I’m glad to see you too, Maine. And you, Dorio, Falco,” Alex replied warmly, stepping closer.

“Alright, spill it!” Maine smirked. “Pilar already blabbed that you and Becca saved not one but two worlds. But no details. Come on, dish out what you went through.”

“Yeah, Alex. We all want to hear it,” Dorio added, patting Alex on the shoulder.

“That’s right,” Falco nodded, wiping a glass. “You don’t hear stories about saving two whole worlds every day at the bar.”

Alex chuckled, sat down at the counter, and Falco, without waiting for a request, placed a bottle of cold beer in front of him. Gloria and Hephaestus also settled nearby and ordered drinks. Only Takashi and Yuki hesitated a little, unsure how to behave in such a setting.

“Hey, Chumba, why are you standing there like a statue?” Maine called out, beckoning Takashi. “Relax! We’re your mom’s friends—nothing to be shy about. You don’t see a guy who came back from the dead every day. Falco, pour him a drink—this calls for a celebration. Especially since he brought a girl with him!”

“Hahaha, hold on a sec,” Falco laughed and immediately poured drinks for Yuki and Takashi.

Takashi nodded, helped Yuki sit down first, then took a seat beside her. Meanwhile, Alex personally prepared milkshakes for his three daughters so they could enjoy something tasty together. Once everyone had their drinks, Alex began telling a brief version of his adventures to Main, Dorio, Falco, and Pilar.

When the conversation reached the last world—the zombie apocalypse that suddenly turned into a battle with space zombies, and then a full-scale demon invasion—Maine couldn’t hide his irritation. He was upset that he hadn’t been invited to such a massive conflict.

“Well, Alex, you really outdid yourself! Not inviting me to fight demons and zombies—that’s a personal insult,” he grumbled, taking a sip from his glass.

Alex just smirked and shook his head—it was so like Maine. He was always up for an adrenaline rush. Before Maine forgot, Alex pulled out several bottles of rare alcohol brought from other worlds to add to Falco’s collection. Seeing the new drinks, Maine and Pilar couldn’t resist and decided to start a tasting right then and there.

“By the way, Alex,” Dorio said, resting her cheek on her fist, “aren’t you worried about what your goddess will say when she finds out about Jinx?”

“That’s exactly why I’m sitting here right now,” Alex replied with a grin, raising his beer bottle. “I’m one hundred percent sure Becca and Hestia are at it again. Back home is probably absolute chaos.”

“I’d like to say it’s not true… but sadly, it is,” Hephaestus said, taking a sip of whiskey. “Better to sit it out here until they calm down.”

Everyone in the bar nodded in agreement. They all knew about the strange friendship between Becca and Hestia—they’d steal snacks from each other, argue over trivial things, and sometimes even fight. And when Loki got involved, the noise at home multiplied several times. Hephaestus and Gloria clearly didn’t mind having a little break at the bar until the storm at home settled down.

Alex hoped Brunhilda could keep things in order since she was the most responsible one in the house. But he forgot she still had a spiritual connection to him and could hear all his thoughts clearly. Now she was twice as irritated—first, because Alex dumped his responsibilities on her, and second, because she had to be the one to break up Becca and Hestia’s fight, which started the moment Becca came home proudly announcing she was the first to have a daughter by Alex.

That instantly set the hearth goddess off, and a real battle broke out between the weapon gremlin and the fiery goddess. Meanwhile, Loki, Freya, and Ryu sat a little apart, watching the fight with interest as if it were just a typical Tuesday evening, while getting acquainted with the girls Alex had brought from other worlds.

At that moment in the bar, Alex suddenly shuddered, realizing that once he got home, he was in for a not-so-pleasant conversation… with a very strict Valkyrie. But he was ready to accept any punishment—after all, he truly deserved it.

“Chumba,” Maine addressed Alex, “who did you bring this time? Don’t tell me it’s just the girls who fell for your devilish charm again.”

“I brought quite a few,” Alex replied, taking a sip of his beer. “Former soldiers, mercenaries, martial arts masters, and their families. Such a diverse bunch, it’s hard to put into words.”

“Are those martial arts masters strong? Or just fancy titles but no real skill?” Dorio asked with curiosity.

“There are some really strong ones. I’d highlight two — old man Hayato and elder Kwon,” Alex said, stroking his chin.

“How strong are they?” Falco asked, pouring Alex a fresh beer.

“Old man Hayato was considered the strongest master in the world where I found David. Kwon is a bit weaker, but still impressive. During the last war with the demons, those two literally tore huge demons to shreds. So, draw your own conclusions.”

“Sounds awesome. I’ll have to see those old guys in action. What else was in that world besides zombies and demons? And don’t say nothing interesting,” Maine squinted.

“Well… besides zombies, demons, and a couple of nasty gods,” Alex started counting on his fingers, “I also met a ghost girl who now lives in my shadow. I also have a sinister Book of the Dead that can summon evil into the world. Oh, and there was a fight with a stubborn guy, during which we accidentally destroyed Mars’s satellite. He tried to kill me, I tried to knock some sense into him. Same old story.”

The bar fell silent for a moment, then everyone simultaneously raised their glasses.

“To Alex’s usual adventures,” Maine said with a grin.

“Yeah,” Falco, Dorio, and Pilar smiled, raising their glasses. “It’s never boring with you.”

Maine, Falco, Dorio, and Pilar stared at Alex, then involuntarily glanced at his shadow. Falco even peeked out from behind the bar counter to get a better look. As they focused on the shadow, it suddenly took the shape of a girl with long flowing hair that seemed to have a life of its own.

Takashi and Yuki quickly moved farther away, clearly not eager to be near that shadow. Gloria and Hephaestus were already aware of Zhang Ya’s existence, so while not surprised, they also glanced at the shadow. Meanwhile, Anya was explaining to Nyaruko and Jinx who Zhang Ya was and that she was also their mother—though the girls had long felt her presence anyway.

“Wow, your charm even works on ghosts…” Maine said shivering. “And I don’t even want to know how strong this girl is if just her shadow gives me goosebumps. Okay, let’s talk about the book first, then about that guy you somehow managed to destroy a planet with. I’m really intrigued.”

“Here it is,” Alex said, placing the Book of the Dead on the bar counter. “But better not touch it—it’s cursed. I keep meaning to destroy it, but never get around to it.”

Everyone stared at the book with the creepy face on the cover. Alex began to explain how it was created and what kind of evil it contained. He also mentioned that it wasn’t the only such book and that all of them served as portals to another dimension, from which demons and other horrors come. This story only confirmed that the last world he visited was truly a complete disaster.

“And what about that guy you almost beat to atoms?” Dorio asked. “Did you bring him with you too?”

Alex chuckled and started telling how the meeting with Doom Slayer went and why it ended in a fight. He spoke about Slayer’s hatred for demons and his path full of pain, rage, and destruction. Nobody was really surprised that he attacked Alex. But everyone was amazed that Slayer managed to injure him—because, in their opinion, Alex was nearly invulnerable. And that meant only one thing: Doomguy was truly incredibly strong.

“Uncle Doomguy came back home,” Anya said, spreading her arms wide. “He hardly talks, at most just ‘Hmm,’ or nods. But Dad understands him! And he even has a huge robot!”

“A robot? A big one?” Pilar’s eyes lit up. “Chumba, I hope you brought it with you. Because I really need to see it!”

“I did,” Alex smirked. “But you’ll have to get permission from GIR, MIMI, and Stitch first. Without their approval, you won’t get within a meter of that robot.”

“Stitch? Who’s that? You made a new robot with a silly name?” Falco asked, surprised.

“Stitch is Becky’s pet,” Alex answered calmly. “Basically, he’s no different from GIR and MIMI. A walking disaster. He especially likes to bother Takashi. They’ve kidnapped him so many times you could write a book about it.”

“That’s all your fault!” Takashi scoffed, rolling his eyes. “If you didn’t encourage them, they wouldn’t drag me around like I’m some victim of a cannibal tribe!”

Everyone immediately wanted to hear the details, and Alex, barely holding back his smile, started recounting the “exploits” of the troublemaking trio. They laughed until they cried as he described how the victims ended up tied upside down to a tree or bound like caterpillars on a ship’s deck. Many wanted to see those scenes with their own eyes.

Taking advantage of the moment, Alex decided to share a few more funny stories about their adventures in the zombie apocalypse, where the trio also never let anyone rest, turning world-saving missions into pure madness.

To be continued…

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep