While Alex was leisurely strolling through the festival, passing the time before heading to Erina’s restaurant in the evening, his family was busy “emptying out” yet another shopping mall. Their arms were full of bags and parcels — as is usually the case after a thorough shopping spree. To avoid revealing the existence of spatial inventory to the locals, the girls had collectively decided to leave the building and stash everything they bought somewhere discreet. They chose the nearest alley.

Unfortunately, it happened to be the same alley where earlier a group of idiots, obsessed with the girls’ appearances, had been lurking. Alex had already cast a spell over the alley — not just to prevent escape, but also to conceal from prying eyes whatever occurred inside.

The girls, unaware of the magical trace, walked calmly into the alley. But the moment they stepped in, they froze.

The alley was soaked in blood. A fire, built from bodies, still smoldered in the center, and nearby — splattered with blood — stood GIR, MIMI, and Stitch, the culprits behind this grim scene.

“What happened here?” Aria exhaled, her eyes scanning the bloodied walls.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Freya said with dry calm. “These three, a pile of corpses… the conclusion writes itself.”

“Are you saying Alex… actually sent them to do this?” Riveria asked, disbelief in her voice as she looked at Freya.

“I’m more interested in why,” Lili chimed in, thoughtfully scratching her cheek.

“I think it’s about those creeps who were bothering us,” Kiwi added, nodding toward the remains.

The girls paused to think. Then recent events resurfaced in their memories — how they had chased off a group of overly persistent guys, and how Freya had later commented on the vile stench of their souls. But unlike the others, Brunhilde didn’t bother guessing — she simply peeked into Alex’s thoughts. A second later, she knew the whole truth.

“He didn’t just want them gone,” she said. “He believed letting creatures like that breathe the same air as you was a crime.”

None of the girls felt sympathy for the victims. Some of them were kind, but their kindness did not extend to that kind of scum. They had seen too much in life and knew how ruthless any world could be. And they also understood very well how Alex treated those who crossed the line.

But the moment Brunhilde mentioned that Alex had arranged a dinner where Erina would be cooking, their interest immediately shifted to the upcoming banquet — especially the food, which Alex himself had called “on a divine level.” The girls exchanged enthusiastic glances.

Meanwhile, GIR, MIMI, and Stitch returned to their master through a spatial rift opened by Alex.

At the same time, Erina, preparing for the banquet, was completely swamped. Back in the kitchen, she was frantically calling suppliers, organizing urgent deliveries of ingredients. According to Alex, his entire family would be coming — which meant the restaurant would be packed to the brim. Erina knew how crucial it was to consider everyone’s tastes.

Workers carried crate after crate into the kitchen — from the freshest seafood to prime meats and exotic fruits. While Hisako meticulously kept track of every delivery, Erina watched over the process like a hawk — until a thought pulled her out of focus.

Her mind returned to her earlier conversation with Alex. At the time, she had been too focused on figuring out who he was, and missed the deeper meaning of his words. But now, in the quiet of the kitchen, she mentally revisited every phrase.

The monster in the closet…

A “special” job…

Nightmares in different worlds…

Erina froze. The words aligned into a single picture. Alex wasn’t just some ghost hunter. He was a hunter of monsters — monsters from different worlds. And his job involved real nightmares. If such monsters existed… then so did other worlds.

And if there are other worlds — then there are other ingredients.

Thoughts of horror were instantly swept away by a wave of admiration and inspiration. Ingredients from other worlds! Just imagine the new flavors, textures, and aromas waiting to be discovered!

Lost in her dreams, Erina didn’t even notice that all the supplies had already been delivered and neatly arranged.

“Lady Erina…” Hisako called softly, touching her shoulder.

“What is it, Hisako? I’m working here!” Erina replied with a trace of irritation, rolling her eyes.

“Everything’s been delivered. We can start prepping for the dinner,” Hisako said with a smile, gesturing toward the neatly stacked crates of ingredients.

Erina glanced around the kitchen, then took a deep breath and squared her shoulders.

“Then let’s begin. We’re about to host a banquet even the gods won’t forget.”

She turned to face the mountain of crates filled with a dazzling variety of food and nodded. A quick look at the clock told her time was short. They needed to hurry.

Of course, she could’ve called for extra help to speed things up — but Erina knew the situation was delicate. Bringing in others could raise questions, even suspicion. She could only rely on Hisako — the one person who knew the full truth.

No words were needed between them. They both understood: Alex wasn’t just some mysterious man. He was the Demon King — and his family was anything but ordinary. Extra ears in the kitchen would be unwelcome.

Composing herself, Erina began inspecting the ingredients one by one. Her standard was absolute: perfection only. Anything that didn’t meet her expectations went straight into the trash without hesitation. The rest she handed off to Hisako, who immediately began chopping and sorting with practiced precision.

The kitchen moved like a perfectly tuned machine — one inspected, the other prepped and packed. Everything was going smoothly until Hisako’s phone started going off with nonstop notifications. At first, Erina ignored it. But the constant pinging quickly became too distracting.

“Hisako, could you please turn off your phone? It’s buzzing like crazy,” Erina snapped, casting her a cold glance.

Hisako quickly pulled out her phone and opened the messages. A moment later, her face turned pale, her eyes frozen with confusion.

“What is it?” Erina asked, narrowing her eyes. “Don’t tell me you’ve suddenly got a secret admirer with no sense of boundaries?”

“Not exactly…” Hisako said with a strained smile. “All the customers who reserved tables for today just canceled. Every single one — except one.”

Erina frowned and took the phone. Scanning through the identical cancellation messages, she sighed. It looked like the same message had been copied and sent out to everyone. And judging by the pattern… Alex was definitely behind it.

Just before she handed the phone back, another message arrived — from an unknown number:

“I told you I’d handle it. See you tonight.”

The two girls exchanged glances — and burst into laughter. Curiosity quickly took over: how had Alex pulled that off? Magic? Technology? Something else entirely?

As they continued with their prep work, tossing around theories, time passed unnoticed. The arrival of Alex’s family was drawing near. Thankfully, all the ingredients were now ready, giving Erina a bit of breathing room — and once again, her thoughts drifted toward magic and other worlds.

She let herself get carried away by the idea: if other worlds exist, then so must unique ingredients — strange vegetables, exotic fruits, mysterious meats, and unknown herbs. What kinds of dishes could she create with them? The thought fascinated her so much, the fear of “monsters in the closet” faded completely.

Hisako, equally intrigued, moved closer.

“Lady Erina, but he said that world doesn’t exist. So why did you decide to read that manga?” she asked, peeking over the pages.

“He said it was partially true — not entirely fictional,” Erina replied calmly, as if the answer were obvious. “I just want to understand what his magic is capable of.”

Hisako nodded, and soon the two of them were deeply immersed in reading. The more they read, the more they discovered — and the more questions they had. Which worlds were real, and which were mere fantasy? And where exactly was the line between them?

Time flew by unnoticed. Evening had already fallen outside.

At that very moment, Alex and his companions entered the restaurant. The empty hall greeted them with silence.

“And where’s the famous Erina, whose cooking you’ve praised so much? Or did we get here too early?” Hestia asked with a smirk, glancing around.

“I mean, I’m no expert when it comes to places like this,” added Jill, “but aren’t there usually waiters to greet you and lead you to your seats?”

“Alright, alright,” Alex said with a lazy smile, folding his hands behind his head. “You all go ahead and sit down. I’ll go fetch our lovely host so you can meet her.”

The girls exchanged amused glances and began choosing seats for their small group. Some decided to push tables together so they could all sit as one. Nyarko, Anya, and Jinx were eagerly exploring the interior of the restaurant, wide-eyed and full of curiosity. GIR, Mimi, and Stitch also started moving tables to form one big area for their “younger” group.

Meanwhile, Alex stepped into the kitchen — and found Erina and Hisako completely absorbed in something on a phone screen. They were so focused, they didn’t even notice him enter.

He walked up behind them, leaned in, and peeked over their shoulders to see what had captivated them. And of course, it was that annoying manga — the one where he starred as the main character. Alex let out a heavy sigh.

“Looks like you two are having fun,” he said with a smirk, standing behind them.

“Don’t interrupt,” Erina replied absently, not even turning around. “It’s a tense moment. I want to see who the villain is.”

“The villain is the hero,” Alex said lazily, unable to resist spoiling the twist.

Erina’s eye twitched at the blatant spoiler. She turned around sharply, ready to scold whoever had ruined the plot… only to freeze when she saw Alex looking at her with that amused grin.

Her face flushed with embarrassment. After all, she was reading his story. Even if he claimed the manga’s world wasn’t real, it was still based on his life.

Hisako, feeling just as awkward, did her best to become invisible.

“I told you, that world doesn’t exist,” Alex said with a smile. “I’m not from there. And there can’t be two of me.”

“What do you mean?” Erina asked warily.

“Exactly what I said,” Alex shrugged. “Because of my nature, I can’t exist in the past or future — only in the present. But that’s just a technicality. Now come on. It’s time to meet my family — they’ve been eagerly waiting for you.”

He held out a hand and helped Erina to her feet. She blushed as he touched her but didn’t resist. Once she stood, Alex stepped around her, placed his hands gently on her shoulders, and nudged her toward the main hall. Hisako, curious and intrigued, followed close behind — she wanted to see the mysterious people Alex called family.

All this time, the girls had been wondering who they were: demons? other beings? humans with special powers? And now, as Alex led Erina into the hall, the scene that unfolded before her left her speechless.

She stopped in her tracks, stunned. The room was filled entirely with girls — except for one young boy. Each of them was beautiful in her own unique way. But along with her awe, Erina felt a new and unfamiliar emotion stir within her — jealousy.

Some of the girls noticed it immediately. With a quiet sigh, they understood: another one had fallen into the Demon King’s trap.

“Allow me to introduce our chef for tonight,” Alex announced. “As you already know, this is Nakiri Erina. Erina — this is my family. They’ve come to taste your cooking.”

Erina nodded, almost automatically. Her eyes darted from one girl to the next, while they, in turn, studied her. Especially Freya and Nyx.

Freya immediately sensed that darkness in Erina’s soul that Alex had spoken of. A shadow of sympathy appeared in her eyes — the girl carried a heavy scar in her heart dating back to childhood. Nyx saw even more. As the goddess of darkness, she clearly felt the source of the pain Erina had endured. She saw everything Erina had been through.

The other women, upon learning Erina’s age, couldn’t help but compare her figure to their own and clicked their tongues in disapproval. Their new acquaintance was simply too flawless.

“You never said your whole family was just girls,” Erina whispered, trying not very successfully to hide her irritation.

“And I never said exactly who they were,” Alex replied with a sly smile.

Erina’s eye twitched in annoyance, and she could only nod in response. Once more, she glanced over the women Alex had brought, trying to figure out who was who — though it was difficult. Everyone wore casual clothes, and nothing hinted at their status or personality. Their appearance gave no trace of the formality usually expected from restaurant guests.

Deciding it was time to get to work, Erina gave Hisako a meaningful look, silently telling her to handle the orders. Hisako was about to protest — she was nervous and insecure — but Erina’s look left no room for refusal. Turning, she headed back to the kitchen, throwing one last irritated glance at Alex.

Hisako understood she had no choice. These mysterious women would remain her guests, and she’d have to overcome her anxiety.

“Don’t worry, Hisako. They don’t bite. Actually, they’re quite nice. Just be yourself,” Alex said with a gentle smile, placing a hand on her shoulder. Hisako flinched at the unexpected touch.

Managing a smile, Hisako took a few deep breaths, grabbed the menu, and approached the first table as if she were truly going to a sacrifice. Alex’s girls watched her with interest, barely holding back laughter so as not to scare the waitress even more.

Alex shook his head with a slight smirk and went over to the table where his children were sitting to spend time with them.

Meanwhile, Hisako started taking orders. At first nervously, but gradually, with each table, her tension eased. It turned out the women were polite, friendly, and not at all arrogant as elite guests sometimes are. On the contrary, they were pleasant and easy to talk to.

Gaining confidence, Hisako began to act more professionally. But then one scene changed everything: she was surprised to see several girls literally produce drinks out of thin air and place them on the table. Habitively, she was about to say that alcohol wasn’t allowed in the restaurant… but wisely bit her tongue and decided not to interfere.

Hisako finished taking most of the orders and then approached the last table — the one where Alex was sitting with the children. She couldn’t help but notice the white-haired girl and the girl with azure eyes — both strongly resembled Alex. A question involuntarily arose in her mind: were they his younger sisters… or his daughters?

The thought made her shiver. After all, Alex looked too young to be a father.

“Hey, Hisako. You with us? Stop daydreaming,” Alex snapped his fingers in front of her face.

“Oh, sorry! What would you like to order?” she asked, putting on a professional smile.

“Dessert,” the children answered in unison.

“Alright, for me and these three — vanilla ice cream with strawberry syrup. Valeri — banana, Nobukatsu — pineapple, Alice — raspberry, Göll — watermelon. And for these three… something original. They like experiments, so let Erina come up with something, even mixing flavors if she wants,” Alex said, pointing to each child in turn.

Hisako wrote down the order and quickly headed to the kitchen. Handing the list to Erina, she silently watched as Erina studied it. Erina only nodded: everything had to be perfect — she was ready to give her all.

Meanwhile, Alex was playing with Anya, Jinx, and Nyaruko — the trio of restless girls literally stuck to their father, catching every movement he made. Valeri, Göll, Alice, Nobukatsu, GIR, MIMI, and Stitch pulled out portable consoles and plunged into virtual adventures. The game development that GIR, MIMI, and Stitch were passionate about was inspiring the others too — even while waiting for dessert.

Alex glanced secretly at the women — they were relaxed, chatting about everyday things, discussing the recent trip to the shopping center and making plans for the next one. Some even joked about building a mall right in Orario — so that the locals could also experience the joys of shopping.

Hearing this idea, Alex raised an eyebrow. That really could be an interesting project — a new way to entertain the residents, create jobs… and shake up the usual adventurer routine a bit.

Satisfied that everyone was comfortable in Erina’s restaurant, Alex decided to check on her. Carefully freeing himself from the embrace of the three girls, he kissed Anya, Jinx, and Nyaruko on the cheeks. Their faces immediately lit up with happiness, and they ran joyfully to their mothers, hoping to catch their attention.

Freya noticed where Alex was heading and immediately rose from her seat. She felt that something was wrong with Erina. Freya didn’t like that the girl’s soul didn’t shine as she wished. On the contrary — it was wounded, as if trapped in a cage. Such a sight always stirred anxiety in her.

Seeing Freya walking alongside him, Alex gallantly offered his arm. She smiled, lovingly took his arm, and together they headed to the kitchen — to the girl whose soul still needed healing.

Entering the kitchen, Alex and Freya saw Erina fully immersed in cooking. Hisako was helping efficiently beside her without unnecessary instructions. Freya watched as Erina’s soul seemed to bloom in the moment of creation, and the inner cage that bound her from within receded for a while. The goddess couldn’t help but smile upon noticing this. Alex caught her glance and immediately understood what she was looking at — Erina’s soul.

Feeling someone’s presence, Erina turned around and saw Alex standing with a woman whose violet eyes and silver hair were impossible to miss. Although a woman stood before her, Erina felt her breath catch — Freya’s beauty was simply overwhelming. She laughed softly, and even that laughter seemed enchanting to Erina.

“Erina, let me introduce my companion. This is my wife, the goddess Freya,” Alex said.

It was like a short circuit went off in Erina’s mind. A goddess? A real one? The name “Freya” sounded familiar — after all, there was a deity with that name in their world as well. Nearby, Hisako almost dropped a frying pan when she heard who had come into the kitchen. She immediately turned to look at the real goddess.

“I-I’m very pleased to meet you, Lady Freya,” Erina nervously murmured.

“And I’m pleased to meet you too. Alex has already praised your cooking — and believe me, with his experience, that’s rare. For a mortal girl, you’ve achieved amazing heights. But I also see what you’ve been through,” Freya said with a warm smile.

“Excuse me, but… what do you mean, Lady Freya?” Erina asked cautiously.

“I’ll explain,” Alex interrupted. “Freya can see the souls of mortals. She feels their light, their darkness, their pain and joy. And she saw what’s happening to you. Actually, not only she — another goddess noticed it too.”

“Another one?! How many goddesses did you bring with you?” Erina couldn’t hold back.

“Right now, besides Freya, there are four other goddesses in the hall,” Alex began calmly listing. “Eleven valkyries, two elves, a kitsune girl — a descendant of Inari. A hobbit. A girl with the potential to become a hero. A former weapons dealer. And two ex-mercenaries…”

Erina and Hisako listened with their mouths agape, like fish pulled from the water. It was hard for them to believe the incredibly diverse company Alex had brought with him. Of course, some were ordinary people, but even they had bright and complicated destinies. Erina ran her hand over her forehead, feeling a growing headache — after all, she was about to feed not just guests, but truly unique individuals.

“So you came here just to make me nervous?” Erina asked tiredly, looking at Alex.

“Haha, no, of course not. I came to say that later you might want to talk with my… our family. They can help you deal with what’s tormenting you,” Alex replied gently.

“I don’t understand what you mean. I’m fine. I’m just preparing a banquet for the strangest company in this world,” Erina muttered, unwilling to admit the obvious.

“Child, you can fool your friends, your relatives… but not us. We see your soul. We see how wounded it is. And if you listen to my husband’s advice, you’ll have a chance to shine again,” Freya said quietly but with genuine care.

“Don’t think that the girls in my family have always had an easy life,” Alex added. “Each of them went through their own pain. Lily survived alone since childhood after being abandoned by her parents. Haruhime was sold into a brothel by her own family. Freya was bound by a contract for a long time and couldn’t leave the city, like a bird in a cage. Becca was traded by her parents for credit. Lucina took part in an experiment where all her friends died. Kiwi lived in an orphanage under terrible conditions; her lungs were destroyed, and she had to breathe through an implant until I healed her. Gloria lost her son in a shootout… And the other girls survived a zombie apocalypse and a demon invasion.”

He paused and looked at Erina:

“But now you’ve seen for yourself — they all learned to live again. To be joyful. To love. Not because everything became easy, but because they found strength within themselves and each other. Just talk to them. You’ll understand you’re not alone. And that will help you get out of the darkness.”

Erina listened to Alex’s story, stunned by what she heard. She always thought her childhood was the worst — because of her father, who tried to turn her into a perfect mechanism, obedient to every command. But now, learning about the fates of the girls Alex had saved, she began to understand: she was not the only one who had gone through darkness. Each of those women had faced pain and suffering — and yet now they were happy. Erina looked at their faces and saw genuine joy, never suspecting the tragedy behind those smiles.

Listening about this family, Erina felt a strange closeness to them… and a slight jealousy. Jealousy of the fact that their lives had someone who could pull them from the shadows, support, and heal them. She wanted someone like that by her side too — someone to help her fight her inner demons. She couldn’t meet Alex’s eyes, wondering whether he would help her or just walk away once the dinner was over.

Meanwhile, the guest hall was filled with an atmosphere of warmth and cheer. No one was in a hurry—everyone had time to enjoy themselves. The women chatted leisurely, savoring the lighthearted anticipation, though many couldn’t help but wonder: what were Alex and Freya discussing back in the kitchen?

Meanwhile, Anya, Jinx, Nyaruko, GIR, Mimi, and Stitch dashed around the hall, laughing and shouting as they played tag. The others watched with gentle smiles. Even Alcina, usually strict and demanding and who had taken on the role of etiquette mentor, didn’t object—after all, the children needed their fun. The entire hall was theirs to enjoy.

Suddenly, the doors to the hall flew open.

A figure appeared in the doorway, instantly drawing everyone’s attention. The women immediately recognized him—Nakiri Azami, Erina’s father. He was dressed in an elegant yet somber black suit: a long coat, vest, gloves, trousers, a crisp shirt, and a silver tie. But unlike Alex, whose dark clothing lent him charisma and charm, Azami’s presence radiated only coldness and aloofness.

He silently surveyed everyone in the room. His stern, scrutinizing gaze lingered on the guests’ casual clothes, then shifted to the group of children happily playing, oblivious to him. His brows knitted tightly, and his expression grew even more forbidding.

“I ask you to leave this hall,” he finally spoke in an icy, arrogant tone. “The food my daughter prepares is not meant for… riffraff like you. You lack even the most basic manners and are incapable of appreciating true cuisine. And the children…” He cast a contemptuous look at the little ones playing. “They don’t even deserve to eat here. You’d be better off feeding on scraps, like pigs at a slaughterhouse.”

The room fell silent for a moment.

“Hey, dead-face uncle,” Nyaruko drawled lazily, waving him off, “you better leave. This isn’t your place. Shoo-shoo, get out.”

The women barely held back laughter at Nyaruko’s biting remark, many immediately giving a thumbs-up in approval. The girl noticed their praise and proudly puffed out her chest. But Azami’s face darkened even further.

“Such an ignorant child… What else could one expect from the company of trash? Like parent, like child,” he spat with disdain. “Remove this little brat and leave my daughter’s restaurant.”

But once again, his words were met with silence.

Now no one smiled. The merriment vanished—the women’s eyes burned with cold fury. Nyaruko, hurt by his words, slumped, tears glistening in her eyes.

And at that moment, the hall was filled with a distinct clicking sound — the cocking of guns and the unsheathing of blades echoed everywhere. Azami barely had time to blink before dozens of weapons were pointed directly at him.

“Hey, bastard,” Becca said darkly, aiming a pistol right at his head. “Looks like you forgot where you are. Or maybe you think that stuffing a wad of cash up your ass gives you the right to insult our daughter? You think your age grants you the right to forget what fear is?”

Azami glanced around, his face growing cold. A wide variety of weapons were trained on him at once — from pistols and rifles to cold weapons: katanas, spears, and daggers. The women’s faces in the hall were grim and full of indignation.

Even GIR, Mimi, and Stitch held weapons and aimed directly at him. One careless word more, one more drop of insolence — and the fate of the fool who dared insult Nyaruko would be sealed instantly. At that moment, Nyaruko was quietly sobbing, hiding her face in her hands while Anya and Jinx tried to comfort her, holding her close as if shielding her from the world.

“DAD!!!” Nyaruko cried out, lifting her tear-streaked face.

Her scream pierced the silence, making the women exchange glances. They understood: it was over for Azami. Who would have thought this fool was crazy enough to insult a child… and not just any child, but Alex’s daughter. And if it weren’t for Alex dealing with Azami, the women would have handled this problem themselves. But since Nyaruko had called her father, they didn’t even need to deal with this idiot. The women didn’t even want to guess what Nyan-Nyan, who was essentially Nyaruko’s true mother, might do.

They simply shook their heads, as if expressing sympathy — not for Nyaruko, but for how terribly Azami had miscalculated. He had drawn the worst possible ticket in his life.

“My advice to you, little man,” Alcina said coldly as she retracted her claws, “Run. Run as fast as you can… because there won’t be a second chance.”

At that moment, all the women simultaneously lowered their weapons. But the fury was gone from their faces, replaced only by cold pity. Azami felt something happening to him… as if everything around suddenly grew heavier, the air thicker, and time slower.

He turned, hoping to escape… but the doors slammed shut behind him with a thunderous bang, cutting off any chance of retreat. Fear, once a thin drop, now flowed like an icy river, seeping into his heart and squeezing it from within.

To be continued…

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep