Returning to the room where the rest of the girls had gathered, Alex barely stepped inside when he was immediately surrounded by a storm of questions. He noticed that Alisa, Erina, and Hisako were also present — clearly curious about how the mission to deceive the Elvenking had gone.

Two things seemed to spark the most interest: how Bilbo had managed to convince Thranduil, and — more importantly — how the experimental virus that targeted only orcs had worked. That last question, of course, came from Rekka. She had synthesized the virus in a rush and was now genuinely worried it might mutate and cause an epidemic that would consume all of Middle-earth.

Alex calmly hugged his virologist wife and began to reassure her.

“I accounted for everything. First, I completely isolated Lake-town. Only after that did I release the virus. When the last orc died, the virus was destroyed entirely — down to the last particle.”

Rekka let out a relieved breath. She definitely didn’t want to be the one who accidentally unleashed the first Black Plague in Middle-earth.

Done with his explanations, Alex decided not to answer the barrage of questions about the conversation with Thranduil. Instead, he simply activated a magical projection of the event. The girls fell silent, watching the scene intently, occasionally making comments.

Most vocal, of course, was Loki — the goddess of mischief. She wouldn’t stop.

“Oh, please, I would’ve played this so much better! Not only fooled Thranduil, but probably charmed a couple of magical artifacts out of him… and maybe his pants.”

Alex and the others gave her dry, wordless stares. No one doubted Loki could’ve wrapped the Elvenking around her finger so tightly he’d lose both his crown and his dignity.

Alex couldn’t help a slight smile — he knew how much his wife enjoyed messing with the especially gullible.

After sitting for a while longer, he decided to bring everyone back to reality.

“Tomorrow, an orc army will arrive in the valley of Erebor. If any of you plan to interfere in the war between the three factions — you’d better get some sleep now.”

Some of the girls showed clear interest — especially the more battle-hardened ones. But they were also curious about the scale of the upcoming conflict. How many orcs?

Alex scratched his chin thoughtfully.

“About as many as there were demons when we stormed Raccoon City.”

At that, the warrior girls lit up with glee. Lots of orcs meant no need to hold back, a chance to cut loose and… have some fun.

The others, less fond of battle, simply shook their heads. For them, war wasn’t a playground — it was only death and suffering. The room quickly split into two camps, and an argument broke out.

Some insisted that battle brought release, adrenaline, and glory. Others reminded them that war was no celebration — it was tragedy.

Watching the argument unfold, Alex let out a weary sigh. He knew that picking a side would earn him silent (or not-so-silent) resentment from the other. As an experienced husband, he chose the wisest tactic: become as invisible as possible before he got pulled in.

He loved all of his girls and supported each of them in their paths, but choosing a side now would only mean trouble.

Only Erina, Alisa, and Hisako stayed out of the debate. They had already realized: tomorrow, there would be war. With it would come blood, death, and fear. Anxiety gripped them. Their curiosity battled a deep-rooted dread — they had grown up in a world that knew nothing of such horrors.

Alex glanced at the trio with a soft sigh. He understood — they weren’t ready for what they’d see on the battlefield. And so, he decided to talk to them. He felt responsible for them — not just physically, but emotionally too.

Gently lifting Bella off his lap — who was still sulking over the dragon incident and, more importantly, the fact that she’d been “dragged” by the creature’s tail straight into a chasm — Alex gave her a soft smile and ran his hand through her white hair.

“Don’t be mad, Bella,” he whispered.

She nodded and turned her attention back to the loud debate still raging in the room.

Alex walked over to Erina, Alisa, and Hisako. They looked lost, as if unsure which side to take — or whether to take any side at all.

“Come on,” he said quietly, smiling warmly. “I’ll walk you to your room. This argument could go on until morning, and you need some rest.”

The three girls looked up at Alex, then back at the ones still arguing — and silently nodded. They stood up and followed him. The room designated for Erina, Hisako, and Alisa was not far from the chambers Alex shared with the others, so it was a short walk.

Stopping at their door, Alex hesitated for a moment. He wasn’t sure how to begin. Erina noticed and frowned.

“Just say it. Or are you planning to keep us standing here till dawn?” she said, tossing her hair back.

“Alright,” Alex sighed. “Erina, Alisa, Hisako… I want to ask you not to go up on the walls tomorrow. Yes, you’re chefs, and you’ve had to kill animals. But war… is something else entirely.”

“We’ve seen war movies. And Erina’s read manga where stuff like this happens,” Alisa said with a smirk.

“I’m sorry, Alisa,” Alex said gently, running his hand through her white hair. “Watching and living through it — not the same thing.”

Hisako, gazing at him thoughtfully, spoke softly.

“Can’t you just stop the war altogether? They already told us how powerful you are. You could end it before it even starts.”

Alex shook his head.

“Ah, Hisako… You don’t see the whole picture. Sure, I could snap my fingers and turn every orc to dust. But doing that would disrupt the natural flow of events. The future of Middle-earth would change so drastically that even I wouldn’t be able to predict what happens next.”

“Then what’s so important about this war?” Erina asked, arms crossed.

“It’s about Sauron,” Alex explained. “Sixty years from now, he’ll begin casting a shadow over Mordor that threatens to swallow the entire world. And only because of this coming war will the races unite to fight back. That future war is the turning point — the one that leads to lasting peace in Middle-earth. I only guide small things, nudge the events… I don’t break them.”

“You sound like some old man doing everything ‘for the greater good,'” Alisa joked.

Alex chuckled.

“Maybe I am. Even without me, this world will find its path. But while I’m here, I won’t abandon these people. And if you do decide to go up on the walls tomorrow… just let me know. I’ll help you deal with what you’ll see.”

“And how exactly are you planning to help? Another miracle spell? Or you’ll wipe our memories?” Alisa narrowed her eyes.

“A basic calming spell. Erina already tried it. Feels like drinking a cup of chamomile tea… just more effective. Now — off to bed. Tomorrow might be our last day in this world.”

“And where are we going after that?” Alisa jumped in immediately, as if she hadn’t noticed the heavy tone in his words. “To another world full of excitement? Maybe another war? Or maybe one where plants fight animals? Or food battles itself?”

At those last words, Alex raised an eyebrow, barely holding back a laugh. A world where food wages war… In the endless multiverse, maybe even that exists. But it definitely wasn’t where he planned to take his family.

With a smile, he gently pushed the chatty Alisa, Hisako, and Erina into their room and wiped the sweat from his forehead. He knew Alisa was a lively and inspired person, but even for him, her questions were a bit too bizarre.

Once the door closed behind them, the girls quickly realized that sleep wouldn’t come easily. Their minds were consumed by thoughts of the upcoming war. Alisa, as always, was eager to see everything with her own eyes — after all, Alex had promised he’d help them deal with the aftermath. Erina, however, was torn by doubt. She understood that real war was nothing like in movies or manga. It was pain, filth, screams, and blood.

Meanwhile, Alex looked at the door to the girls’ room one last time and sighed heavily. He had been so excited about traveling to this world with his family that he completely forgot not everyone shared his understanding of reality. It hadn’t even occurred to him that, for Erina, Alisa, and Hisako, this war could become a serious psychological trauma. All his other girls were already used to pain, battles, and death… but these three were not.

Feeling like the biggest fool in the world, Alex silently lit a cigarette. After a few drags, he returned to the room where the girls’ heated argument was still going strong. Finishing his smoke, he burned the cigarette butt away and stepped inside.

No one paid him any attention. Shaking his head, Alex walked over to Cyr, scooped her up into his arms, and collapsed onto the couch with her in his embrace. Cyr was taken aback at first but quickly recovered and gave the rest of the girls a smug, victorious grin.

That, as it turned out, was a mistake.

The pulsing veins on the other girls’ foreheads flared with anger — Cyr had just made herself their collective enemy. And while she didn’t realize it yet… she was going to pay for it.

When the sun’s first rays crept into the room the next morning, Alex awoke to a painfully familiar feeling on his face. Once again, someone had decided that his face was food. Cracking one eye open, he found Lily’s face mere centimeters from his own. Realizing the culprit behind this strange wake-up, Alex carefully peeled Lily off his cheek and then struggled to free himself from Cyr’s octopus-like embrace. Behind Cyr, Tione lay asleep, pulling her friend protectively toward her like she was warding off “threats.”

Alex began carefully extracting himself from the entanglement of arms, legs, and waists. As he slowly slid off the couch, hoping not to wake anyone, a hand suddenly gripped his ankle. Turning his head, he met the gaze of Juri — her face lit up with a mischievous grin.

Smiling in return, Alex gave a playful tug of his leg, and with one swift motion, lifted Juri into his arms. She wrapped her legs around his waist, arms around his neck, and whispered:

“Handsome, you’re so energetic this morning. Are you craving love from your wife? Just say the word, and I’ll give you everything you want.”

“My love, that sounds tempting. But I’m sorry… today, I choose coffee. No matter how much I adore you — coffee wins this battle,” Alex replied with a smirk, locking eyes with her.

“Oh, my heart! You’ve traded me for coffee! You’ve shattered my fragile soul! How can I go on living if my husband doesn’t love me anymore?!” Juri cried out dramatically, throwing herself back in exaggerated despair.

“I had no idea your acting skills were this good. I almost believed you,” Alex chuckled. “Tea or coffee?”

“Obviously coffee. I’m a grown woman — only coffee brings me back to life in the morning,” Juri replied as if she hadn’t just performed an entire tragedy a moment ago.

Alex laughed, amazed at how easily Juri changed her masks. With one hand, he held her by the hips so she wouldn’t fall while hanging on him, and with the other, he started preparing drinks. As the aroma of freshly brewed coffee spread through the room, one by one the girls began to wake up, eagerly eyeing the coffee machine.

Quickly and flawlessly, like a true multitasking husband, Alex made morning drinks tailored to each girl’s preferences—after all, not everyone in his family was a coffee lover. Spot an error? Visit the original post on M&VLEMPY&R.

Finishing the drinks, Alex went to wake Alisa, Erina, and Hisako, then checked on the younger group’s room. He already felt a growing headache, knowing that if he lost sight of those rascals, they’d rush off to fight orcs immediately. He promised himself to instruct the girls to keep an eye on Alisa, Valeri, Nobukatsu, Anya, Nyaruko, and Jinx so they wouldn’t cause any trouble.

As for Göll, Alex wasn’t worried—his younger sister always listened and was the calmest of the bunch. Still, he wasn’t sure how long she’d resist Valeri’s influence or whether she’d turn into an adventurer with a constant craving for trouble.

Leaving the drinks with the kids, Alex went to the next group—Thorin and the dwarves.

“Good morning, wizard. What have you brought us?” Thorin asked as he ate with the dwarves.

“This is coffee—a drink from our native lands. It’s made from the fruit of a tree that’s harvested, dried, roasted, and ground. From it comes this invigorating drink,” Alex explained, setting the tray on the table.

Thorin eyed the dark liquid skeptically but decided to try it. The other dwarves and Bilbo watched with interest. Taking the first sip, Thorin tasted bitterness—but it was surprisingly pleasant.

Ori, on the other hand, almost spat the coffee onto the floor:

“Ugh, disgusting! How can anyone drink this?”

“I like it,” Balin said, savoring the drink. “It has a pleasant bitterness and a light nutty aftertaste. And the smell… strong, bitter… a real man’s drink.”

“That’s not all,” added Alex. “Coffee wakes you up in the morning, gives you energy, and helps you recover after a wild night. Especially good for hangovers.”

“Um… wizard, do you happen to have a seed or sapling of that tree? I’d like to grow it in the Shire,” Bilbo asked shyly.

“Of course, Bilbo, and stop calling me wizard—just call me Alex like everyone else. I’ll give you a sapling. And Thorin, if you want, I can plant coffee trees in the valley of Erebor.”

“I’d be very grateful, wizard. This drink truly is worthy of kings,” Thorin said respectfully, setting his cup on the table.

Alex smiled at Thorin’s words. With his power, planting coffee trees was an easy task, and he readily agreed. More than that, he even promised to bring a sapling for Bilbo.

While Alex sat among the dwarves, his girls had already eaten breakfast, washed up, and changed into battle-appropriate clothing. When they appeared before Alex and the dwarves in full armor, it was clear—the moment had come.

Nodding to each other, the dwarves headed to the armory to put on more comfortable armor. But when they returned, they only brought weapons—a fact that surprised neither Alex nor the girls.

Reaching the stone gates of Erebor, Alex glanced at Thorin and nodded silently—the army of elves was already standing on the other side of the gates. Thorin, together with the dwarves, began climbing the stone steps upward. Alex turned to look at the girls, silently asking if they were ready. All of them, including the trio—Erina, Hisako, and Alisa—responded with a confident nod.

Alex approached them and, not wanting to shock their minds with the upcoming battle, cast a calming spell on them. It was a simple but effective enchantment that cleared their thoughts and softened their emotions.

When the spell took effect, Erina, Alisa, and Hisako felt an unusual lightness and inner calm. Their minds became clearer, and the anxiety about the upcoming fight dissolved.

“Come up later,” Alex requested before casting the “Don’t Notice Me” spell on himself.

This spell made a person visible but unnoticed: no one paid attention to them, even if they stood right in front of others. The effect was similar to invisibility, but without actually disappearing.

Once on the wall, the first thing Alex saw was the army of elves. Even he, who was hard to impress, was genuinely amazed by the sight.

He couldn’t resist—he sat on the edge of the stone parapet, dangling his legs, and took out his phone to snap a few pictures—after all, you don’t see this every day. The dwarves, seeing Alex so relaxed, exchanged puzzled glances. Why was he so calm at a moment like this?

Feeling their gazes, Alex put his phone away and pressed a finger to his lips, signaling for silence. Thorin squinted and suddenly realized—no one but them even noticed Alex. Another trick? Of course.

Thorin gave a barely noticeable nod. Everything was going according to plan. Their task was to drag out the negotiations and buy time.

At that moment, Alex heard a faint buzzing behind him and noticed a drone rising into the air, immediately switching to camouflage mode. Smiling, he realized the girls hadn’t been able to resist sending reconnaissance to see what was happening in the valley.

Shaking his head, Alex shifted his gaze back to the elven army. The warriors began parting, making way for Thranduil and Bard. As they approached, Thranduil noticed something strange: there was no trace of rage or obsession on Thorin’s face—instead, there was cold composure.

In Thranduil’s opinion, under the dragon’s curse, Thorin should have already been foaming at the mouth, defending his treasure and cursing anyone daring to approach the mountain.

“We have come to inform you that your payment offer was received and accepted,” Thranduil said, looking Thorin straight in the eyes.

“What payment?” Thorin shouted loudly for all to hear. “I gave you nothing. And you have nothing.”

A faint smile flickered on Thranduil’s face. He shifted his gaze to Bard, who understood without words: he reached into his pocket and pulled out the fake Arkenstone—the very one Bilbo had given them the day before.

Still sitting on the wall, Alex propped his cheek on his fist and watched, interested in what expression would appear on Thranduil’s face when he realized he’d been deceived.

Thranduil didn’t take his eyes off Thorin’s face, which remained perfectly calm. As if Thorin knew—the real Arkenstone was still with them.

“We have this. The stone belonging to your line,” Bard declared solemnly, raising the fake Arkenstone above his head.

For a moment, the dwarves froze at the sight of the stone, but then mocking smiles appeared on their faces. They exchanged glances as if they were looking at some kind of joke.

Thranduil sensed something was wrong. Instead of rage—there was amusement? He realized: the moment was lost.

“Where did you get this trinket?” Thorin snorted. “Has the great king of the Woodland Realm stooped to deception, hoping I’d fall for this fake?”

“Where we got this stone is none of your business, dwarf,” Thranduil replied without averting his gaze. “Or do you think you can hide your lie behind this calmness?”

“Why would I lie?” Thorin said calmly, slipping his hand into his inner pocket. “The Arkenstone has never left Erebor’s walls. It’s always been here. Want to see?”

When Thorin pulled his hand out of the inner pocket, there was… another Arkenstone.

Of everyone on the other side of the dwarves, only Gandalf knew that the stone in Bard’s hands was a fake. Only he was aware that the real Arkenstone was still in Erebor.

Thranduil’s face furrowed. He shifted his gaze from the Arkenstone in Thorin’s hand to the one Bard held. Even Bard himself was stunned—he had believed until the end that his stone was real.

Meanwhile, Alex, sitting atop the stone wall, struggled to suppress laughter so as not to give himself away. The dwarves, unlike him, made no effort to hide their amusement—their laughter echoed against the walls. Even Alex’s girls, watching the scene through the drone’s camera, couldn’t hold back laughter at the confusion on the Woodland King’s face.

For a moment, Alex felt a slight pang of guilt for such an elegant ruse—it was all part of his plan to lure the elves into the valley for the upcoming battle with the orcs. But he quickly dismissed the feeling. After all, he was a good… well, almost good demon. And perhaps he would still give Thranduil something comforting—as an apology for the deception.

“How can there be two identical stones?” Thranduil whispered, but his words rang clearly in the tense silence. Victory grins played across Thorin’s and the dwarves’ faces.

“Allow me to explain how it happened that there are two Arkenstones,” a stranger’s voice broke the silence, making everyone tense.

Men and elves began looking around for the source of the voice but saw no one. Only when Alex lifted his “Don’t Notice Me” spell did he become visible to all. As soon as he dispelled the magic, thousands of eyes fixed on him.

Thranduil stared in astonishment at the man casually sitting on the stone gates of Erebor, as if he had been there from the very beginning. Even Gandalf finally managed to clearly see Alex and realized: he was not a man. And definitely not a wizard. He was something else… something greater. Alex seemed shrouded in a thick mist that concealed his true nature.

“Who are you?” Thranduil asked sharply, frowning.

“Didn’t Bilbo explain who I am yesterday? You felt someone watching you—that was me,” Alex said with a smile, poking his cheeks with his fingers.

“So, you’re the dragon slayer the halfling talked about? And you’ve been watching us all this time? And you sent the hobbit to me?”

“Exactly. That was all me. You see, I didn’t want a war between dwarves and elves. So I had to… bend the truth a little. More precisely—you, Thranduil. But the reason is simple. Gandalf warned you—an army is coming this way. You didn’t believe him, but you should have. Azog is already on the way. Now you have two options: run, which you won’t manage, or fight. But if you choose the second path, I’ll give you something in return. Not the necklace you so desire. Something greater. Something that brings joy to all elves when they look at the night sky,” Alex said, raising his fingers upward.

“You tricked me… and now you want to make a deal, dragon slayer? What stops me from ordering my archers to turn you into a target?”

“Good question. You can try… but then I’ll turn you inside out. Literally. Though if you decide to help, I’ll give you a real star. Not an amulet, not jewelry. A real star from the sky,” Alex said, swinging his leg playfully like a carefree child.

Despite the playful tone, Alex’s words sent a chill down everyone’s spine. Even Thranduil felt a cold shiver run down his spine. Seeing doubt in the elf king’s eyes, Alex pulled a small crystal from his pocket. Inside it, a miniature compressed star spun, emitting a soft but tangible glow.

Thranduil’s eyes immediately locked onto the crystal. Alex smirked and casually tossed the star stone toward the elf king. He caught it flawlessly.

“Aren’t you afraid to give me this? We haven’t even agreed, yet you hand me such a treasure,” Thranduil said, looking up.

“Consider it payment for the deception. You and your army came here for a false reason. But now you won’t have time to leave. Time is almost up. By the way…” Alex squinted and turned his head toward a distant hill. “Here comes reinforcements. Meet Dain, King of the Iron Hills.”

Everyone turned their heads. At first—nothing. Then, after a few seconds, dwarven riders appeared on the hilltop. They rode—boars.

Leading the group was Dain himself. His figure stood out even among such an unusual army.

Alex raised an eyebrow, puzzled by the idea of using boars as mounts. Even Alex’s girls, watching through the drone, started discussing what it would be like to ride a boar. Some showed interest, especially Anya, Nyaruko, and Jynx. They were already plotting how to convince “daddy” to steal a boar for each of them.

The elven army instantly rearranged itself at the sight of Dain, forming battle lines. Everyone understood: this dwarf wouldn’t waste time with talks.

“Good morning! How are you all?.. I’ve got a little suggestion for you. If you’re not busy… maybe you should GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE! All of you, without exception. Especially you, pointy-eared idiots!” Dain bellowed, his threat making the air tremble.

At Dain’s thunderous roar, the people standing among the elven army flinched—the Iron Hills King’s threat was unmistakably clear. Bard hurriedly tried to hold his people back from panicking. But before the tension reached a boiling point, a deep, lingering sigh echoed throughout the valley—as if the earth itself took a breath. Everyone froze instantly.

A bright, shimmering rift appeared on the ground between the dwarven and elven armies, like an invisible force drawing a line. Everyone instinctively stepped back and, as if on cue, turned toward Erebor. From the top of the wall, shining, rainbow-colored eyes glittered like stars. But instead of awe, fear settled in the warriors’ hearts.

“I’ll say this only once,” came Alex’s voice, filled with power and ancient strength, “There will be no war on these lands. Or have you forgotten who our true enemy is? Forgotten how three thousand years ago elves, dwarves, and men stood shoulder to shoulder to fight the darkness that came from Mordor?”

He paused. The wind carried his words across the valley.

“That darkness returns. You see it. You feel it. Sauron’s army is already moving toward Erebor. If this mountain falls, the forests of Mirkwood, the dwarven kingdoms, the human cities… all of Middle-earth will burn. So do you really want to shed each other’s blood while the true enemy approaches? Wake up. Your ancestors fought for peace. Now it’s your turn.”

The girls watching Alex from the Erebor wall exchanged glances. Erina, Hisako, and Alice looked at him with surprise. In Alex’s family’s eyes was something else—they weren’t surprised by what he was doing. He was once again forcing everyone to look toward the common enemy. Like a king, like an ancient hero, he inspired the army of forgotten alliances. Even Gandalf nodded slightly, acknowledging: Alex’s words were true. The shadows of Mordor were returning, and a new war was inevitable.

At that moment, a mild earthquake shook the ground. From behind the mountains came the rumble of falling rocks. Everyone turned. Gigantic worms began bursting from cracks and fissures in the rock—harbingers of the orcs’ arrival.

Alex cursed quietly, then pulled a black case from his inventory, decorated with an image of a scarlet rose wrapped in thorns. Jumping down from the wall, he landed softly on the stone bridge in front of Erebor’s gates. His steps were measured and confident as he walked through the ranks of elves.

He stopped next to Bard, who was sitting on the edge of the wall.

“Yesterday Thorin told you — take your people and leave. But you didn’t listen,” Alex said, glancing at him briefly.

Bard recalled Thorin’s words, and the meaning, which had previously eluded him, suddenly became crystal clear. Alex shook his head — finally Bard understood.

The dwarven army led by Dain stood in a tight formation. Shields raised, eyes focused. Following Alex’s leap from the wall came GIR, MIMI, and Stitch, clad in battle armor and weapons ready.

“What do you think, Thranduil, where will the orcs go if we push them back? I’ll tell you — they’ll come through your lands. They’ll burn your forests. If you don’t want your kingdom destroyed — all the orcs must fall here and now,” Alex said, passing by the elven king.

Thranduil frowned, his gaze darting between his army and the orc horde emerging from the earth. Without hesitation, Alex stepped on the head of one dwarf, then another, walking over them like a bridge toward the front line. GIR, MIMI, and Stitch followed his lead. They stood beside him, ready for battle.

Alex’s girls didn’t stay behind either. From the wall jumped Saeko, Beatrix, Chun-Li, Cammy, Juri, Miu, Renka, and other girls eager to join the war against the orc army. Saya, Coco, and Yuriko took on coordinating the girls who would fight. Those not participating in combat stayed above, providing cover and support.

Thorin, unable to remain in the shadows, broke through part of the wall, leading the dwarves of Erebor out. They silently passed through the elven ranks, standing shoulder to shoulder with their brethren from the Iron Hills.

A battle lay ahead, and only together could they win it.

To be continued…

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep