"Chapter 154: Beginning of a New Adventure"

A week had passed since the group from Night City ventured into the dungeon for the first time, a week filled with events. Wasting no time, Alex took on the task of arranging housing for Orario's newest residents. First, he built a cozy home for Maine and Dorio, giving them a place to settle down and start fresh.

For Falco, Alex made a special gesture — a house with a garage to accommodate his beloved van, allowing him to indulge in his passion for vehicles whenever he liked.

The excitement only grew when Alex brought his classic vehicles to the city: a 1967 Impala and the Fenrir motorcycle. These unfamiliar machines fascinated the locals, who had never seen anything like them. To test the motorcycle, Alex expanded the Coliseum arena, turning it into an impromptu race track.

The goddesses eagerly tried riding the car, but Loki stood out — managing to hop on the motorcycle and almost crash into a wall, sparking a wave of laughter and commentary.

For Pilar, Alex constructed a house with a workshop and a storage space for materials. However, the project took longer than expected because Pilar kept changing his requirements. The issue was resolved when Rebecca, tired of his indecisiveness, gave him a «magic kick.» After that, the workshop and storage were successfully set up in the basement.

A few days later, Falco's bar opened, named Afterlife after the legendary establishment from Night City. The bar quickly gained popularity among adventurers, thanks to the unique drinks from another world.

Chilled, fizzy beer became an instant favorite, leaving patrons unable to return to their usual warm ale. However, as often happens with adventurers, the bar didn't escape its first brawl on opening day. Alex had to step in to calm things down, firmly reminding everyone that such behavior wouldn't be tolerated.

Afterlife attracted not only adventurers but also gods, some of whom attempted to recruit Falco into their familias. Loki, realizing she was outnumbered, turned to Alex for help. One look from him and his intimidating stance over the table were enough to make the other gods retreat to their drinks. Memories of Alex single-handedly defeating the one-eyed dragon and punishing Apollo were still fresh in their minds.

Pilar's shop opened soon after the bar. He created prototype prosthetics for adventurers to test before purchasing. Alex helped organize the shop and implemented a discount system: adventurers who provided their own materials could save significantly. Hephaestus assisted in pricing, factoring in material quality and added features.

The shop gained attention through the goddesses during the recent Denatus meeting. They spread word of the new place where adventurers could purchase prosthetics.

The first customer was Miach, accompanied by Naaza. Alex and Rebecca were at the shop, helping Pilar with inventory when Miach arrived. Recognizing him, Alex recalled his friendship with Hestia and offered to assist with customer service while the others worked in the workshop.

Miach immediately recognized Alex, not just for his fame and striking appearance, but because Hestia often boasted about her «brilliant familia member» to other gods. Explaining his visit, Miach said he wanted to inquire about a prosthetic's cost.

Alex quickly deduced that this was due to the financial struggles of Miach's familia, already burdened with debt. Naaza, who accompanied Miach, tried to dissuade him from spending more, arguing that he didn't need to go to such lengths for her, especially at the cost of further debts.

Smiling at their caring interaction, Alex offered an unexpected solution: as their first customers, Naaza's prosthetic would be made free of charge. Miach initially resisted the idea, but Alex convinced him it wasn't charity — it was a promotional move for the shop.

As proof of his proposal, Alex assured that a high-quality prosthetic would serve as the best advertisement for Pilar's workshop. He deliberately avoided mentioning Miach's friendship with Hestia, knowing that this would only strengthen Miach's resistance. After much persuasion, Miach eventually agreed.

Alex quickly worked things out with Pilar, explaining the situation. Pilar readily agreed, especially since Alex provided the necessary materials, and additional publicity would only help the business.

Meanwhile, the other women had varying experiences. Kiwi and Lucy, captivated by magic, delved into studying it. Alex prepared a detailed manual for them, enabling them to learn basic techniques independently.

However, Kiwi and Lucy often had questions and frequently sought Alex's help. He patiently explained complex concepts, teaching them how to convert mana into different elements. Thanks to their previous experience as netrunners, the two quickly grasped the theoretical aspects of magic.

Rebecca, on the other hand, took an interest in enchanting weapons with runes. She received a notebook containing Alex's personal notes, and to his surprise, she invented a press for imprinting runes onto bullets in just a few days, eliminating the need for manual work. Eager to test her new «toys,» Rebecca headed to the dungeon for another experiment.

Foreseeing potential problems, Alex sent the other women with her as backup. It turned out to be a wise decision—when they returned, the group looked like they had crawled through an old chimney. The cause? Rebecca's invention had resulted in her blowing up an entire dungeon floor.

Incidentally, Alex's theory about the effectiveness of firearms and explosives in the dungeon was also confirmed. Rebecca managed to level up within just a few days by blasting through monster-filled floors.

Gloria mainly handled household tasks and spent time with Hephaestus, occasionally chatting with her and forming a small group of like-minded, practical women. Valerie, GIR, and MIMI spent most of their time with the others in the dungeon.

However, GIR and MIMI became somewhat infamous in Orario due to one of their «crusades» against a floor inhabited by orcs. Adventurer rumors spread so wildly that Alex and Rebecca couldn't stop laughing, their stomachs aching from the hilarity.

The rumors, primarily about GIR and MIMI, claimed that a new type of monster had appeared in the dungeon, hostile to all others. But when it became known that GIR and MIMI were Alex's creations, adventurers began avoiding the robo-dogs, fearing what they might do.

When mistaken for monsters, GIR and MIMI had no qualms about launching their crusade, taking down any adventurers who stood in their way.

The group from the modern world gradually adapted to life in Orario, forming friendships and connections. Alex even considered changing the women's races to make life easier for them.

However, they unanimously decided not to rush the transformation. The only exception was Gloria, whom Alex helped rejuvenate slightly. Even so, this change had no visible effect on her appearance, which Alex already found beautiful.

During this time, Alex was not only helping the women and his friends but also working on creating a module for GIR to track the presence of Nyan-Nayn avatars in the worlds he would visit. After numerous trials and errors, Alex successfully created a module capable of detecting the avatars of external gods.

Additionally, Alex kept another goal in mind: finding the world where David had reincarnated. To ensure that he wouldn't inadvertently harm David's soul fragment, Alex developed another module and installed it on MIMI.

When Alex created the two modules, he only mentioned the one designed to locate Nyan-Nyan's avatars. He chose to keep the module for finding David a secret for now, intending to surprise Gloria later. Once the modules were finished, Alex felt it was time to embark on a new journey.

Alex woke up to a strange sensation on his face. Opening his eyes, he found a small foot comfortably nestled against his cheek. Carefully moving it aside, he immediately recognized its owner—Hestia, who had somehow managed to turn in her sleep. Her head was now resting on his legs, while her feet were near his face. Seeing this, Alex chuckled quietly. Even in their sleep, Rebecca and Hestia managed to fight for their spot.

He watched as the two girls continued to nudge each other even while dreaming, as if vying for dominance. Suppressing a laugh, Alex sighed and decided it was time to get up. However, as soon as he moved, both Hestia and Rebecca, still fast asleep, clung to him, refusing to let go.

«Well, what am I going to do with you?» Alex smiled, gently lifting both girls in his arms.

Balancing the lazy goddess and the mischievous gremlin on his shoulders, he headed downstairs for breakfast. Entering the dining hall, Alex found Gloria and Hephaestus sitting at the table, engrossed in an animated discussion over cups of coffee. When they noticed Alex carrying his «heavy passengers,» they both burst into laughter. Alex simply smiled, carefully setting the sleeping girls down at the table.

As soon as Rebecca and Hestia were seated, they promptly let their heads drop onto the surface and resumed their slumber. Alex sighed, feeling more like a doting father than a boyfriend. Approaching Gloria and Hephaestus, he kissed them both in turn before finally taking a seat beside them.

While Alex enjoyed the quiet moment, he noticed that everyone else seemed to be busy. Loki and Freya had likely sent their familias into the dungeon to hunt monsters, continuing their unspoken rivalry. Lucy and Kiwi were probably absorbed in learning magic under Riveria and Lefiya's guidance. Valerie, as usual, was most likely testing out her latest weapon in the dungeon, with the other girls accompanying her in case her latest crazy idea went sideways.

GIR and MIMI were peacefully napping in a corner on their cushions, temporarily putting their «crusades» against the orcs on hold. Alex couldn't help but smile, imagining the chaos they must have caused in his absence.

Gloria emerged from the kitchen carrying a tray with coffee for Alex and a hearty breakfast for Hestia and Rebecca. The moment the aroma of food reached their noses, the two lazy girls instantly opened their eyes and dove into their meals with surprising speed.

Taking a sip of his coffee, Alex decided it was time to share his plans.

«Have something on your mind?» Hephaestus asked, raising an eyebrow as she noticed the look in his eyes.

«Something like that,» Alex admitted honestly, setting his cup down.

Both Hephaestus and Gloria immediately tensed. They knew all too well that whenever Alex had an idea, it usually led to yet another adventure. Even Hestia and Rebecca, without pausing their eating, began listening intently.

«I think it's time to start searching for the remaining avatars of Nyan-Nyan,» Alex began. «I don't know when she'll decide to send them after me, so instead of waiting, I'm going to find them myself. It's not that we're enemies - I just can't tell what's going on in that woman's head. The best course of action is to stick to the deal we made and keep moving forward. And just as importantly, I don't want the worlds to continue to suffer from the influence of Nyan-Nyan's avatars.»

Hephaestus let out a heavy sigh. She was aware of this deal and knew it was pointless to try to persuade Alex otherwise. Gloria also shook her head slightly, realizing that a quiet life was not an option for him.

«When are you planning to leave?» Hephaestus asked, resigned to the inevitable.

«In about an hour. I'll pack my things and head out,» Alex replied, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

«And who are you taking with you?» Gloria inquired gently, placing a hand on his.

«GIR, MIMI, and Rebecca,» Alex answered.

Hephaestus and Gloria nodded, deciding to prepare supplies for him. Even though they knew Alex could create everything he needed himself, they wanted to give him something to remind him of home.

Hestia, hearing Alex's words, frowned in displeasure and gave him her most reproachful look. Rebecca, on the other hand, beamed with excitement, already anticipating the adventures ahead. Hephaestus also tensed, casting Alex a curious glance. His choice had clearly piqued her interest.

«Why Rebecca, GIR, and MIMI?» she asked, tilting her head slightly to the side.

Alex shrugged and, with a faint smile, began to explain:

«If you'd prefer to watch over them, I could leave them at home. Just remember, though—one day the dungeon might explode because of Rebecca's experiments. As for GIR and MIMI, aside from helping me search for worlds, they'd likely start another crusade or brainwash people into believing in the Emperor.»

Hephaestus nodded silently, knowing it was useless to argue. She had seen firsthand how Rebecca's inventions, especially after mastering runes, had gone from merely dangerous to downright catastrophic. Remembering the incident when GIR and MIMI attacked a group of adventurers who mistook them for monsters, Hephaestus sighed even more deeply.

«Can I come too?» Hestia suddenly asked, her large, tearful eyes fixed on Alex.

Alex looked at her, feeling his resolve begin to crumble. But before he could give in, Hephaestus intervened, firmly covering Hestia's eyes with her hand to block her magical «puppy-dog stare.»

«You can't go. Your familia has grown, and so has your responsibility,» Hephaestus stated firmly, ensuring Hestia wouldn't shirk her duties.

«But I…» Hestia started to protest but quickly fell silent, realizing it was futile to argue.

Seeing her disappointment, Alex knelt down to her level so their eyes met.

«Listen, Hestia. As soon as we find the right world and settle there, I'll come back for you. In the meantime, it's better if you stay here and take care of the house,» he said, gently pulling her cheeks into a playful smile to cheer her up.

«Do you promise?» Hestia continued to gaze at him with teary eyes.

«I promise. And if I don't find the right world immediately, I'll just come back home,» Alex reassured her.

His words seemed to calm her, and she nodded, though deep down she still wished she could join him.

«Don't worry, my goddess. I'll bring you souvenirs and new snacks from other worlds,» Alex added, ruffling her hair.

The mention of snacks instantly lifted Hestia's spirits. She quickly set conditions, demanding mountains of sweets and the protection of her secret stash from Rebecca.

«Store them in your inventory instead of the stash,» Alex suggested with a grin.

«It's not the same!» Hestia retorted, crossing her arms defiantly.

Smiling, Alex headed off to pack his things. Rebecca immediately dashed to the workshop to gather her arsenal. Alex descended to his laboratory to retrieve the portable workshop cube—a device he had designed to ensure he always had the tools he needed for his work.

When he was ready, he noticed Rebecca stuffing an entire arsenal of weapons, ammunition, and rune-crafting tools into her inventory. Once everything was packed, they headed upstairs, where everyone, including the goddesses, had already gathered.

Freya and Loki were called by Hephaestus, who informed them that Alex was heading to another world, while Gloria called the other girls to tell them the same.

«Can I come with you?» Loki asked suddenly, walking up to Alex and taking his hand.

«What are you doing, flat-chested? Get in line!» Hestia immediately snapped, pulling Loki away from Alex.

As usual, their argument started right away, but Alex ignored their bickering and walked over to the pillow where the two robo-dogs were sleeping.

«Rise and shine, duty calls,» he said, giving the pillow a gentle kick to wake up GIR and MIMI.

Hearing the word «duty,» GIR and MIMI immediately sat up and, like spoiled children, clung to Alex's legs. After stowing their transformed pillows in his inventory, Alex began preparing for departure. Before leaving, he hugged and kissed each of the girls, assuring them that as soon as he found the right world, he would return to invite them to join him. For now, he was only taking Rebecca to keep an eye on this sweet but extremely dangerous «gremlin.»

None of the girls objected to Alex's decision—they all understood that only he could prevent potential disasters caused by Rebecca's experiments.

«If anything happens, call immediately. And please, no chaos while I'm gone,» Alex said sternly, casting a meaningful look at the most troublesome members of his family.

«Don't worry, darling. I'll take care of them,» Freya replied with an innocent smile, covering her mouth with her hand.

Alex smiled, feeling a little more at ease, and turned to the portal he was about to open.

«Well, we're off. Once I settle in, you can come visit if you'd like,» he said, summoning Yamato to his hand.

«Then don't make us wait too long,» Gloria added, adjusting his shirt.

With a smile, Alex took one last look at his family, sighed, and, drawing his blade, created a shimmering portal in a single motion. After a final farewell, he took Rebecca's hand and stepped into the unknown.

They found themselves on a sunny beach by the azure ocean. There was no one around, which turned out to be quite convenient. While Alex shielded his eyes from the bright sun, Rebecca, beaming with joy, ran to the water to dip her feet in.

GIR and MIMI, noticing her excitement, immediately joined in, playing in the water like real children. Alex, looking up at the sky, smirked and decided that his outfit—a black cloak and boots—was totally unsuitable for a beach outing. In one swift motion, he changed into a red Hawaiian shirt, black shorts, and flip-flops.

When he looked at Rebecca, she was still wearing her favorite hoodie, but fortunately, at least she had shorts on underneath. Alex chuckled quietly, remembering how much time it had taken to get her to wear anything under her hoodie other than her usual bikini.

«Having fun, are we?» Alex asked, walking up to the group, happily playing in the water.

Rebecca continued splashing GIR and MIMI, who responded in kind. She heard Alex's voice and turned to him with a wide smile on her face. She noticed that he had already changed, as though he had just arrived at a resort. Without thinking twice, Rebecca started splashing water at Alex. After getting a face full of salty water, Alex just smiled and brushed his wet hair back so it wouldn't get in his way.

«Of course! It's my first time at the sea,» she declared cheerfully, stopping her splashing and looking at the shimmering surface of the water.

«This isn't the sea, it's the ocean. And we're in Hawaii now,» Alex corrected her, standing beside her.

Rebecca heard about the ocean and that they were in Hawaii and smiled even wider. She took his hand and, smiling, continued admiring the endless blue. Noticing that her hoodie clearly wasn't suited for this climate, Alex changed her clothes into black shorts and a light long-sleeve shirt. He also dried GIR and MIMI so they wouldn't get sand on them.

«How long are we staying here?» Rebecca asked, clearly not wanting to leave this paradise.

«That's a secret. But first, let's take a walk and see what's interesting around here,» Alex suggested with a smile.

Placing the robo-dogs on his shoulders to keep them from swallowing sand, Alex took Rebecca's hand again, and they walked along the beach. Their walk eventually led them to a livelier spot, where people were sunbathing, playing beach volleyball, or swimming in the ocean.

Alex quickly noticed that he and Rebecca had become the center of attention. Tourists were casting curious glances at them, some even whispering about them. Especially Alex, who looked rather pale but tall, while Rebecca appeared as a cute girl with green hair and pale skin.

Noticing the stares, Alex looked at himself and Rebecca, then realized why they were drawing so much attention. Rebecca also noticed it and tugged at Alex's hand.

«Why are they staring at us like that?» Rebecca whispered, pulling at his hand.

«Just look at us,» Alex replied with a smirk. «We're both pale, like vampires who just crawled out of a crypt, and everyone here is tan. And... well, we kind of stand out with our attractive looks.»

Rebecca rolled her eyes but couldn't help but smile.

«You're so full of yourself,» she teased.

«And yet you still love me,» Alex answered calmly, gazing at the horizon, and they continued their walk.

Alex hummed, grinning, and, ignoring the curious glances of the tourists, led Rebecca further. However, as he started to think, he realized he had no idea which direction to go to find a town. He didn't really want to talk to strangers, so after scanning the beach, he decided to head in the opposite direction from the water.

Holding Rebecca's hand, Alex led her in what he hoped was the right direction. However, his attention was drawn to a little girl running quickly through the sand. He thought she looked familiar but shrugged it off and turned away. The girl, however, wasn't watching where she was going and, failing to stop in time, crashed into his leg, losing her balance and plopping onto the sand.

Feeling a jolt, Alex turned around. In front of him on the sand was a girl in a striped swimsuit, and beside her lay a sports bag. She was rubbing the spot where she had bumped into him, looking bewildered. Rebecca also stopped and curiously glanced at the unexpected scene.

«Are you alright, young lady?» Alex asked with concern, crouching down to meet her gaze.

The girl looked up, her eyes widening. She first noticed his tall stature, then his face, with its strikingly unusual rainbow-colored eyes. Her mouth slightly dropped open in surprise.

«So tall,» she finally muttered, still in awe.

Alex smirked and extended his hand to her.

«Let me help you up.»

The girl hesitantly placed her small hand in his, and he gently helped her to her feet.

«Are you sure you're okay?» he asked, carefully checking her over to make sure nothing serious had happened.

«Yeah, I'm fine,» she replied, embarrassed as she brushed the sand off her swimsuit. «Sorry for bumping into you.»

«It's no problem,» he said with a light smile. «Maybe you can help us find our way to the town? We seem to be a little lost.»

The girl frowned, thinking.

«My older sister always says not to walk with strangers,» she confessed shyly, gripping the strap of her bag.

Alex nodded approvingly.

«That's wise. Then let's introduce ourselves. My name is Alexander, but you can just call me Alex. And this is my fiancée, Rebecca,» he introduced with a friendly smile.

The girl eyed him with suspicion, then glanced at Rebecca. She also noticed the two strange creatures on Alex's shoulders, which looked like two dogs with silly expressions.

«Alright, you can call me Lilo,» she said after a moment, relaxing a little.

«Nice to meet you, Lilo,» Alex nodded. «So, maybe you can guide us to the town? After that, we'll be fine on our own.»

Lilo nodded and agreed to show them the way. Alex and Rebecca followed her. He realized that this was just the beginning. According to his calculations, Stitch was supposed to arrive on Earth that night, and he was already brainstorming how to surprise Rebecca.

When they reached the road, Alex asked Lilo where they could stop for the night—whether in a hotel or somewhere else. Lilo, biting her lip, clearly didn't know the answer, but then suddenly remembered that she was late for her dance lessons.

«Sorry, I have to run! I'm already late,» she said, looking at them with a guilty expression.

«It's okay, Lilo. Go ahead, and we'll explore on our own for now,» Alex reassured her with a smile.

Lilo nodded and hurried off toward the dance school. Alex watched her go, then turned to Rebecca, who was curiously looking around.

«How about we take a stroll and try some local dishes?» he suggested, noticing the sparkle in her eyes at the idea.

«Of course!» Rebecca eagerly agreed, nodding quickly.

Alex took her hand, and they continued on, exploring the resort town, filled with bright colors, the scents of exotic food, and the sounds of merriment.

To be continued...