Hestia's family group slowly descended into the depths of the dungeon, heading for the 17th floor, where the Monster-Rex Goliath resided. They encountered far more monsters than before, especially after that memorable battle between Alex and the dragon. No one knew exactly why the number and strength of monsters had increased, but everyone understood it had something to do with Alex. The debates on this topic never ceased — whether it was his fault intentionally or by accident didn't matter much.

  Right now, the girls were fighting off a horde of minotaurs that had filled the passage. Their numbers seemed endless, and the new mutations only made the situation worse. If minotaurs used to stand just above two meters tall, now they had grown a head taller and became more massive.

  ?When Alex comes back from that world, I'll definitely let him know! He's the one to bme for the monsters getting stronger!? Lily fumed, striking one of the minotaurs.

  Lily's strike punched a hole through the minotaur's chest, sending it flying into its brethren, knocking them down like bowling pins. The force of her blow sent the minotaur sailing through the ranks of its fellow beasts, crashing into the wall and turning into a bloody pulp, spttered across it.

  After the minotaur's death, only a bloody stain remained on the wall, along with an energy crystal that was rger than the usual ones dropped by the minotaurs upon their death. Lily noticed her strike had thinned the ranks of the minotaurs. She crouched and grabbed hold of the stone floor, effortlessly lifting a stone sb. As soon as the sb was lifted, Lily smmed it down, sending stone shrapnel flying toward the horde of minotaurs.

  ?Who are you trying to fool, you perverted hobbit? When Alex comes back, you won't compin; you'll just jump on him right away!? Daphne remarked coldly, giving Lily a contemptuous look.

  She swung her massive club, scattering minotaurs in all directions. Daphne's strikes turned the unfortunate beasts into bloody mush, while those who were lucky enough were sent flying into the walls or into their comrades.

  Lily's face immediately flushed with both anger and embarrassment. She grabbed one of the minotaurs by the leg, spun around with it like a hammer, and hurled it at Daphne.

  ?Well, of course, that's your favorite tactic when you don't know how to respond!? Daphne smirked. She easily swatted the flying body away with her club, like a seasoned baseball pyer, sending the minotaur back into the horde.

  ?Girls, can we stop already? We're in the middle of a battle!? Cassandra snapped, pcing another enhancement on her allies.

  Cassandra clearly missed the quiet days at home when she could watch the shows Alex had recorded for her. Her irritation only grew when she noticed a minotaur emerging from the wall beside her, ready to strike.

  The monster suddenly froze, and then its body fell apart under the force of a powerful wind.

  ?Cassandra, didn't you forget what Alex always told you? Be more aware in battle,? Ryu chided, walking closer.

  Cassandra gnced at the dismembered minotaur and nodded glumly, muttering her thanks. She knew Ryu was right, but the desire to go home and retreat to her room still lingered.

  Ryu noticed the shift in her friend's mood and quickly changed the subject:

  ?And by the way, stop arguing! Look at Haruhime and Bel. They're working together seamlessly and not getting distracted. Learn from them.?

  Haruhime and Bel were indeed focused on their task. Haruhime moved with such grace while wielding her katana that her fight resembled a dance. Bel, armed with a pair of short knives, skillfully maneuvered between enemies, striking vital points.

  ?Instead of criticizing, you could help out yourself, instead of just giving advice!? Lily snapped, smming the head of another minotaur into the floor.

  ?I'm here to watch over you and prevent the trouble you seem to find wherever you go,? Ryu responded calmly, sending another wave of wind bdes toward the horde.

  The battle continued, and the girls gave it their all. The minotaurs, although stronger, were not a serious threat to them — the real challenge was dealing with their numbers. When the st of the horde was defeated, the group finally allowed themselves a brief rest.

  ?Remind me why we're down here instead of peacefully sitting at home watching shows?? Cassandra grumbled, drawing circles on the floor with her staff.

  ?Because Bel leveled up and wanted to fight Goliath on her own, like we all did before her,? Daphne expined, leaning on her club.

  The girls exchanged tired gnces and began preparing for the next stage of their adventure.

  The girl they were talking about was collecting crystals when she overheard their conversation. Bel shyly turned her head toward Cassandra and smiled, mentally apologizing for making her leave the room. Cassandra, recalling the reason they were in the dungeon, shuddered as she remembered how Alex had made her fight Goliath alone.

  This was the trial that all the girls in Hestia's family had to go through. Alex wanted to see how much stronger each of them had become after their training and level-ups. Cassandra had suffered the most, as she was used to staying in the rear, applying buffs, and healing her allies. Unlike her, Daphne and Lily enjoyed these challenges, competing to see who could defeat Goliath the fastest. At this point, Lily was in the lead — she had managed to knock the monster down and destroy the giant's head with a single blow.

  ?We've collected everything, Ryu-san. We can move on,? Haruhime said with a sweet smile, handing Ryu the pouch with crystals.

  Ryu nodded gratefully, took the pouch, and pced it in her inventory to ter sell the crystals at the guild. After resting, the girls continued toward the 17th floor.

  Along the way, they didn't encounter hordes of monsters, just small groups, each with no less than ten creatures. Lily began compining again:

  ?These monsters have become more numerous since that battle Alex had with the dragon!?

  ?I wonder when he'll come back. Do you miss him, Ryu?? Lily asked, walking beside the elf.

  ?I'd be lying if I said I don't miss him. For us, it's only been a couple of months, but for him, maybe much longer. But I'm sure he'll return soon and expin why he was deyed in that futuristic world full of technology,? Ryu replied with a slight smile.

  The girls nodded in agreement. They had already heard the goddesses' expnations about the world where Alex got stuck, and it had left them quite stunned. A world based on technology seemed strange and foreign to them.

  ?I'm more worried that he's going to start some kind of cult in this new world,? Ryu sighed, recalling Alex's antics.

  ?Knowing him, he'll definitely pull something off, probably using the name of the Pasta Monster,? Daphne added with a ugh.

  Ryu couldn't help but agree. She knew well that her fiancé's chaotic nature often turned into trouble for those who accidentally found themselves caught up in his ?mischief.?

  On the way, the girls discussed various topics, including specutions about the world where Alex was. Although they had watched shows about the modern world, the one Alex had entered seemed incredibly advanced.

  ?I think he'll create some dangerous weapon using the technology from that world,? Cassandra said thoughtfully.

  Everyone agreed with this assumption. If Alex had previously created magical weapons, in a technologically advanced world, he would have even more possibilities.

  They didn't know yet that Alex had managed to create two chaotic creatures who worshiped the Emperor of Mankind and were obsessed with milkshakes. Furthermore, he had returned home with a clone of Hestia named Rebecca, who was her complete opposite. While Hestia was sweet and caring, Rebecca was a walking gremlin obsessed with weapons.

  Upon reaching the 17th floor, the girls stopped at the wall where Goliath was supposed to appear. Bel positioned herself in the center of the room, preparing for battle, while the others took their pces in the distance.

  Half an hour ter, a huge hand appeared from the wall — Goliath was beginning to awaken.

  ?Good luck, Bel!? the girls shouted in unison.

  Bel turned around, gave them a thumbs up, and refocused. When Goliath fully emerged from the wall, he let out a deafening roar, sending out a sonic wave. Bel tightened her grip on her short knives and braced herself.

  The monster quickly charged at her, then, gaining speed, swung its foot. Bel reacted just in time, jumping up and using Goliath's movement to propel herself toward the ceiling. Securing herself with her knives, she assessed the situation.

  The enraged monster noticed her and growled, gring at the ceiling. Bel, pushing off from her position, charged straight at him, ready to attack.

  Goliath saw Bel flying toward him and instantly extended his hand, attempting to grab her. However, the girl, dispying agility, elegantly dodged, rolled along the giant's massive arm, and, nding on her feet, sprinted toward his face. Her movements were fast and precise — as if she was prepared for any reaction from the opponent.

  Reaching the optimal point for a jump, Bel pushed off Goliath's forearm and unched herself toward his face. Remembering Alex's teachings that one should always strike vulnerable spots — eyes, mouth, ears, or internal organs if possible — she focused on her target.

  Her knife struck one of the monster's eyes with precision. Goliath roared in pain, but Bel didn't stop. After several more strikes, she pushed herself backward, doing a flip and nding on the ground. Wasting no time, she charged toward Goliath's legs, intending to sever his tendons to limit his movement.

  The other girls watched the battle, ready to intervene if the situation spiraled out of control. Each of them assessed Bel's actions in their own way.

  ?She's really grown. She's learned Alex's lessons well,? Daphne remarked, watching Bel skillfully target the monster's weak spots.

  ?I think even without his lessons, she could have reached this level, though it would have taken her more time,? Ryu replied thoughtfully.

  ?Are you talking about those words of his, that she has the potential to become a hero?? Lily asked, with a hint of skepticism.

  Ryu nodded in agreement, and Lily, remembering Alex's words, couldn't help but acknowledge: Bel had truly proven herself a genius in battle. Her progress in just a few months was incredible.

  Meanwhile, the fight was intensifying. Goliath was becoming increasingly enraged, his strikes growing more chaotic, and his movements unpredictable. Bel skillfully dodged, using the monster's attack momentum to gain an advantage.

  When Goliath struck the ground with his fist, creating a shockwave, Bel pulled back and noticed an opportunity for a counterattack. She darted forward and plunged her knife into his hand. Reflexively, Goliath jerked his hand up, lifting Bel, who, using the momentum, drew her weapon and soared toward the ceiling. Pushing off the stone surface, she prepared for the final strike.

  However, suddenly, it was all over. With a snap of his fingers, a huge hole appeared in Goliath's chest. The monster staggered and colpsed. Bel froze in midair, staring in bewilderment at the suddenly appearing Alex.

  ?Hey, I've been waiting for you for a while,? he said calmly, looking at the stunned girls.

  Bel, losing her bance, began to fall. Alex, noticing this, instinctively stretched out his hands and caught her. The girl's face instantly turned red as she didn't know what to say.

  ?What were you doing on the ceiling?? Alex asked with curiosity, still holding her in his arms.

  Bel, still stunned, tried to process what had just happened. The girls standing nearby quickly realized that Alex had returned, and joyfully surprised expressions lit up in their eyes.

  ?Alex!? Lily shouted, running toward him.

  Alex gently lowered Bel to the ground and opened his arms for Lily. The girl, charging at him, jumped with such force that the stone floor cracked.

  ?Heh, you've gotten stronger, my little Bilbo,? Alex smirked, embracing her.

  Lily, pressing against his chest, looked up and muttered, ?I told you, I'm a hobbit-girl, not a boy.?

  Her embarrassed gaze only made Alex smile, but the other girls, watching the scene, couldn't hide their delight. Alex was back, and everything was right again.

  Alex smiled, tousling Lily's hair. He had missed every member of his family and was happy to be back with them. While he hugged Lily, the other girls moved closer. After releasing her, Alex looked at each of them: his beloved elf Ryu, the shy fox-girl Haruhimé, the rascal Daphne, and the eternally sleepy Cassandra, who looked like she hadn't slept in weeks.

  Lowering Lily to the ground, Alex extended his arms toward Ryu and pulled her into a tight embrace.

  ?I missed you,? Ryu whispered, pressing against him.

  ?I missed you too,? Alex replied, hugging her a little tighter.

  Then he leaned down and gently kissed her. Ryu responded to the kiss, and their brief moment of intimacy brought a warm smile to everyone around. After that, Alex shifted his gaze to Haruhimé and noticed that she now had an additional tail. When he left, she had three, and now there were four.

  ?Well done, Haruhimé. You keep getting stronger,? he praised her with a smile.

  Extending his arms to her, he added, ?Come on, come here, you deserve a hug too.?

  Haruhimé shyly smiled and hesitantly approached him. As she hugged Alex, she wrapped her fluffy tails around him, holding him tightly. This gesture showed how much she had missed him. Alex hugged her back, savoring the moment. Even when she loosened her grip, her tails remained tightly wrapped around him, but he simply smiled—he had grown used to her habit.

  ?Who's next?? Alex asked with a smirk, looking at Daphne and Cassandra.

  The two exchanged gnces and shrugged. They approached and hugged him from both sides, expressing their joy at his return.

  ?It got too quiet without you,? Daphne confessed with a grin.

  ?It was even strange,? added Cassandra.

  Alex ughed, releasing them.

  ?Oh, I almost forgot!? he spped his forehead. ?I came for you because we have guests. Time to go home. Grab onto me.?

  The girls perked up, curious about who the guests were. They surrounded Alex: Daphne and Cassandra grabbed his clothes, Lily and Ryu held his hands, and Haruhimé, not letting go of her tails, simply pressed herself closer. Bel carefully grabbed his back.

  A magical sigil glowed beneath them, and the entire group vanished, appearing in the living room of the house.

  As soon as the girls saw the guests, their attention was immediately drawn to one of them—Rebecca. Her resembnce to Hestia was so striking that their eyes widened.

  Rebecca, noticing that Alex had returned with another group of girls, furrowed her brow, veins appearing on her forehead. She clearly hadn't expected Alex to be so popur. Lucy, seeing her friend's distress, gently patted her back, trying to calm her down.

  Alex smiled as he was about to approach the table, but he was stopped by Haruhimé's tails, which were still holding onto him. Gently freeing himself from her fluffy grip, he walked over to the table, where everyone was already waiting.

  The guests and the returned girls examined each other, trying to figure out who was who. Four goddesses at the table especially stood out, their beauty simply breathtaking. Freya, as always, looked elegant, sipping tea as if she were an aristocrat.

  Alex walked up to the table and stood behind Freya to begin the introductions. Waiting until everyone had sat down, he addressed the group:

  ?First of all, let me introduce you: this is Freya, the goddess of love, beauty, and war. And she's my fiancée,? he said, pcing his hands on her shoulders.

  Freya gently took his hand, and everyone noticed the ring on her ring finger. This caused envious gnces among the men from Main's group, though they tried to ignore the ?goddess of war? part.

  Alex continued, moving on to Loki:

  ?And this is Loki, the goddess of lies and mischief. But if you sit down to py a game with her, you can prepare to go home without your pants. Oh, and yes, she's also my fiancée.?

  ?Hey, what's this nonsense?!? Loki excimed, jumping up from her seat.

  Laughter and light chaos filled the room, but there was so much warmth and joy in it that everyone could feel it: Alex had returned, and with him, the familiar cheerfulness.

  Alex only smiled slightly at Loki's angry retort, but suddenly, Hestia's loud ughter broke out, drawing everyone's attention. The goddess, holding her stomach, ughed wholeheartedly and even pointed at Loki, which only added fuel to the fire.

  Before another argument could start, Alex gently pced his hand on Hestia's head, calming her down a bit. A few gentle strokes, and he was petting both goddesses on their heads, preventing the approaching conflict.

  ?As you can see, this lovely miracle is Hestia,? Alex said, still smiling, ?the goddess of home, family, and the guardian of the hearth. And as I already mentioned, she's also my fiancée.?

  ?How do they know me?? Hestia asked, lifting her blue eyes in surprise.

  ?They saw my tattoo,? Alex expined. ?And I told them what it means.?

  The group looked closely at Hestia. Her friendly aura brought a strange sense of calm, as if everyone had suddenly found themselves in a cozy home from the past. The contrast with Rebecca, whose way of solving problems often involved shooting, was obvious.

  Moving on, Alex approached Hephaestus.

  ?This is Hephaestus, the goddess of fire, bcksmithing, and inventions. The most skilled of all bcksmiths. And yes, she's also my fiancée,? he added with a light chuckle.

  The group's eyes widened: the news that Alex was engaged to four goddesses seemed like a surreal dream. But quickly gathering their thoughts, many decided it was easier to just ignore everything reted to Alex for the sake of their mental health.

  Next were the girls from Hestia's family.

  ?This little hobbit is Lily,? Alex introduced, ruffling her hair. ?Despite her height, she can take down an opponent with one strike.?

  ?One strike?? Falco asked, looking at Lily skeptically.

  Alex noticed the group's doubts and crified:

  ?Lily was the first one I started training. Thanks to her training, she became so strong that usually one hit is enough to send an enemy to the afterlife.?

  Now, as they looked at her, their gazes were mixed with concern. A small, fragile girl—and yet, a deadly fighter.

  Alex moved on to Ryu, gently massaging her cheeks.

  ?This is Ryu,? he began. ?She's my elf and my fiancée. She works at the very restaurant where we had lunch recently.?

  Ryu smiled at Lucy and Kivi, who in turn examined her with interest, noting the ring that matched the ones worn by Alex's other fiancées.

  Next were Daphne and Cassandra.

  ?These two are Daphne and Cassandra. They became part of Hestia's family after certain events. Daphne is a real troublemaker, and Cassandra is a zy potato who dreams of never leaving her room,? Alex joked.

  Daphne simply rolled her eyes and waved it off, while Cassandra modestly nodded.

  Then Alex approached Haruhime. She immediately wrapped her tails around him.

  ?This charming demi-goddess is Haruhime,? Alex expined, gently stroking her tails. ?Her ancestor was blessed by the goddess Inari long before the modern blessing system came about. Perhaps one day Haruhime herself will become a goddess.?

  Freya supported Alex's words:

  ?Darling is right. In the past, gods transferred their power differently. But over time, the blessing system changed, and statuses appeared.?

  Finally, Alex approached Bel, beginning to pet her head.

  ?This is Bel,? he said. ?Her ancestors were heroes, and she too could become a hero if she desires.?

  ?The Demon King who trains a hero?? Main chuckled. ?Sounds like a bad joke.?

  ?Life is full of surprises,? Alex replied cheerfully.

  Main found nothing to retort to Alex's words. Alex clearly didn't resemble the typical Demon King from legends. He had said that he called himself that only because he was the first demon created by a god.

  Having finished introducing his family, Alex turned to his group from the cyberpunk world. First in line was Gloria—she was the first person he had met in that world.

  ?I've introduced my family. Now, let's move on to those I've spent the st few months with in another world,? Alex began, approaching Gloria. ?Let's start with Gloria. She gave me a home, care, and helped me settle in the new world. As often happens, feelings developed between us, and now she's my fiancée.?

  At these words, Gloria's cheeks flushed slightly. She waved at the girls who had already heard about her but hadn't met her in person yet. The goddesses greeted her with smiles, especially Freya, who was happy that Gloria had found her happiness. Hephaestus also smiled at her kindly, but when their eyes met, she noticed a faint sense of guilt on Gloria's face. Gloria understood that Hephaestus might figure out how Alex had involved others in the cult of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

  While Gloria and the goddesses exchanged looks, Alex approached Rebecca, who was already giving him a disapproving gnce.

  ?Now, our little gremlin—Rebecca,? he began with a slight smirk, twirling her braids. ?Don't let her cute and harmless appearance fool you: she's incredibly dangerous. There's a saying in the human world: 'Once a year, even a stick shoots.' Well, Rebecca is the kind of person who can make that stick shoot at any moment. Her genius in weapon creation is astonishing. Together, we've developed many interesting things. And as they say, like attracts like—we got married.?

  Hephaestus looked at Rebecca in surprise, comparing her to Hestia. They both looked cute, but Alex had just expined how dangerous Rebecca really was.

  ?Weapons? The kind that shoot bullets?? Hephaestus asked, recalling details about firearms.

  ?Exactly,? Alex confirmed. ?I have tons of data on how to create them. When I combine my old and new workshops, you're welcome to come see how everything works. Rebecca will be happy to demonstrate her masterpieces. I guarantee, you'll be impressed.?

  Hearing the praise, Rebecca straightened up proudly. The girls from Alex's family exchanged gnces, noticing how much she resembled Hestia, even in the little things, like the proud puffing of her chest. Loki, casting a quick gnce at Rebecca, headed toward the bar, muttering something about ?another little competitor.?

  ?Next up is my sweet cat Lucina, or simply Lucy,? Alex said, wrapping his arms around the girl's neck. ?She's as cute and zy as a real cat. Lucy has always taken on the role of gathering information. And of course, she's also my fiancée.?

  Lucy smiled warmly at the goddesses, feeling comfortable among them. Once she reassured herself, she stopped being nervous.

  Then Alex approached Kiwi and pced his chin on top of her head.

  ?This cold girl is Kiwi. Her apparent aloofness is the result of life circumstances. She grew up in an orphanage and sent most of her sary there. She's also my fiancée.?

  Freya looked thoughtfully at Kiwi, mentally evaluating her actions. Taking care of an orphanage—especially when you can't protect yourself—was worthy of respect. Hestia, in the meantime, silently added more points in Kiwi's favor.

  Next, Alex moved on to Main and Dorio, who were sitting next to each other.

  ?This is Main, kind of the leader of our group of lunatics, and his girlfriend, Dorio. Main is an ex-soldier, and calling him reasonable is a stretch, but only Dorio can keep him in check. By the way, she used to be a cage fighter and hits like a pro.?

  ?Hey, what do you mean by 'unreasonable'?? Main protested, raising an eyebrow.

  ?Do you want me to remind you how you fell into cyberpsychosis and turned into a berserk madman until Alex put you on the ground?? Dorio replied dryly.

  The goddesses exchanged curious gnces at the unfamiliar word ?cyberpsychosis.? Gloria calmed them, promising to expin everything ter.

  Alex continued, moving on to Pir—the most eccentric member of the team.

  ?This weird guy is Pir, Rebecca's older brother. He, like her, is a genius, but in the field of prosthetics. If everything goes well, he'll open his own shop to help adventurers who've lost limbs. However, his personality is simir to Hermes', only more harmless, because Rebecca always stops him.?

  ?Hey, I'm not weird!? Pir mumbled, but Alex only smirked, finishing the introductions.

  When Alex mentioned Hermes' name, comparing him to Pir—?the god who loves to stick his nose where it doesn't belong?—it gave the goddesses strange looks. They clearly decided to inquire ter as to why Hermes was chosen for such a comparison. Meanwhile, Alex approached the next member of the group—Falco—and pced a hand on his shoulder.

  ?This guy, who looks like an aristocrat, is Falco. His driving skills have saved us more than once, especially in critical moments when we needed to make a quick getaway,? Alex said with a smile.

  No one objected. Falco really did look like an aristocrat—from his perfectly pressed clothes to his neatly trimmed mustache. His manners only reinforced this impression.

  Next came Valerie, who was acting unusually quiet, trying not to attract attention. Alex approached her and ruffled her hair, saying:

  ?This is my adopted younger sister, Valerie. I won't go into the details of her story right now, but I'll say one thing: she's a good kid, though terribly zy. But I already have pns for her,? Alex said with a smirk.

  ?And what pns would those be, dear?? Freya asked, looking at Valerie, who visibly shrank under her gaze.

  ?To get her to stop being zy and start moving. Valerie will become part of Lily's group and will go into the dungeon with them. In my previous world, I couldn't take her on missions because it was too dangerous. Here, under the girls' supervision, she can unlock her potential and maybe even have some fun,? Alex replied with a cheerful smile.

  However, Alex's words made everyone—from the goddesses to his family—look at Valerie with sympathy. Those who had already gone through Alex's harsh training understood that Valerie was in for a tough road ahead. Even Freya cast a gnce at her that carried a hint of regret. Valerie felt the looks and a chill ran down her spine.

  ?Well, I think that's everyone,? Alex concluded with satisfaction, preparing to return to his seat.

  ?Are you sure you've introduced everyone?? Hephaestus raised an eyebrow, nodding toward the table where G.I.R. and MIMI were enthusiastically scattering candy wrappers.

  Alex followed her gaze. G.I.R. was dressed in a green dog costume with a goofy expression, and MIMI was in a pink outfit with a skirt and bow.

  ?She's right, Alex. Who are these two strange creatures, who are also making a mess?? Hestia asked, pointing at the pair.

  G.I.R. and MIMI, hearing their names, simultaneously turned their heads. Upon seeing Gloria's stern look, G.I.R. suddenly started to "sweat" even though he was a robot. Realizing he was caught, he hurriedly started gathering the candy wrappers and stuffing them into his inventory, while kicking MIMI to get her to do the same. MIMI, of course, responded in kind, and the kicks quickly escated into their usual fight. But for those already familiar with MIMI and G.I.R., this had become routine.

  ?Hey, you two, stop it, or I'll take away all your weapons,? Alex said sternly, separating them.

  After breaking up the robots, Alex sighed heavily. This wasn't their first argument, and he had long since stopped keeping count of these incidents.

  ?So, meet my assistants—G.I.R. and MIMI. I hope I don't need to expin what robots are?? Alex asked, holding both by the heads, keeping them apart to prevent them from starting another fight.

  ?You created them yourself?? Hephaestus asked, slightly surprised.

  ?Well, kind of. They were originally designed as protectors, but, as you can see, something went wrong and... this is what we got,? Alex replied with a crooked smile.

  Hephaestus nodded in understanding. She had already seen how Alex's ?simple projects? turned into something entirely different.

  ?And how dangerous are they?? Hephaestus sighed, asking for crification.

  ?Not really dangerous, as long as you don't provoke them. But the important thing is, they both worship something called the 'Emperor of Mankind.'?

  Before Alex could continue, G.I.R. and MIMI stood at attention and loudly shouted in unison:

  — ?FOR THE EMPEROR!?

  This synchronized shout caused shock and confusion among everyone. Loki quietly smirked, while the others tried to process what had just happened.

  Alex's eye noticeably twitched from the outburst of his two robots. The people of this world looked at G.I.R. and MIMI with clear bewilderment, then shifted their gaze to Alex's companions. Seeing that they didn't react in any way, it became clear that this group had grown used to such antics.

  ?Who the 'Emperor of Mankind' is, I won't expin— it would take hours,? Alex began, rubbing his temples. ?But as for these two… despite their cute and seemingly harmless appearance, they are extremely dangerous.?

  He pointed to G.I.R.

  ?This one considers himself an Adeptus Astartes—a Death Angel. And MIMI believes she's a member of the Adepta Sororitas, or the Daughter of the Emperor. And believe me, they are the pinnacle of technology and magic,? Alex said. Then, turning to Hephaestus, he added, ?If you're interested, I have all the records and research on them.?

  G.I.R. and MIMI again simultaneously saluted, demonstrating their ?valor.? Hephaestus carefully examined the robots, clearly intrigued by their design. Upon hearing about the records, she nodded, deciding to look into them ter.

  ?And one more thing. Never ask them about the Codex of the Adeptus Astartes or the Codex of the Adepta Sororitas. Even if they offer to tell you, don't agree. Otherwise, they'll follow you around all day, repeating every detail for hours,? Lucy warned, her voice carrying a slight tone of desperation.

  Rebecca, Gloria, and Kiwi eagerly nodded in agreement, their faces clearly showing: don't try it. It was obvious they had already fallen victim to this ?information attack.?

  Those who had been about to ask about the Codices immediately changed their minds after seeing the warning looks on their faces. Alex, noticing that the questions had subsided, sighed in relief and returned to his seat. He was already thinking about which story from another world to share when a loud crash suddenly echoed through the mansion.

  The door smmed open, and a group of people barged into the hall. At the forefront was a man whose presence gave Alex a strong urge to palm his face.

  Alex slowly raised his eyes and saw the smile of the unwelcome guest—a smug and obnoxiously self-assured grin.

  His face immediately became covered with bck lines of irritation.

  To be continued...