875 A Long Journey

They were pretty reluctant at first before a servant who seemed to know Firia blew the matter up. Since their Goddess had returned to the mansion, they started doing their job at full speed… Even given their 120%.

When Alex returned, they worked even harder since his face was completely the same as the statue.

Since it took a long time, Alex visited his teacher's grave first in the academy.

He sat down while bringing the wine. "Teacher… It has been a long time. I don't know if you have reincarnated or not, but I hope you have a nice next life."

Alex didn't know whether he wanted to meet his teacher again or not. After all, it would be awkward to call someone younger than him a teacher.

There were still many who called someone younger a teacher, but all of them had an extraordinary strength since birth. Hence, it wasn't weird at all.

Alex only wished the best for his teacher, poured the wine over his grave as the tradition for the deceased from this world, and left.

Alicia, Firia, and Sherry waited for him in the garden while supervising the condition for the party.

"By the way, how long are we going to stay here?" Alicia asked.

Alex thought for a moment. He hadn't considered this. "How long do you want?"

"Not really long? It's good to see them, but staying here for a long time just makes it hard to leave."

"I agree with Alicia. I will probably stay at my parents' house, so I think three days is the best."

"Sherry also thinks the same. Well, I don't have anyone in this world other than Master, so I will probably go with Master."

"Hmm… Alicia is going to stay in the Rizertia Mansion while Firia will be living in Merona House. Sherry and I will visit the demi-humans and have a chat with them, considering I haven't visited them for a long time." Alex let out a long sigh.

"Alright." Alicia and Firia nodded in agreement.

The sun started to set, illuminating the world with an orange sky. Merona House was the first to arrive.

Alex immediately grabbed Firia and greeted them. "Hello. Thank you for visiting."

"Young Man, there is no way I won't visit my daughter." He glanced at Firia who was hugging her mother with a huge smile on her face and patted his shoulders. "I don't care what your status is, but I am glad to see her again, especially her smile. Thank you for protecting her smile."

Alex nodded. "She is my wife. Of course, it is my job to make her happy."

"Agreed. Please continue protecting her, alright?"

"Sure."

Seeing both men went to the garden, Firia brought her mother to follow them.

Alex then waited for the Rizertia Family to appear and greeted them with Alicia.

Mia and her mother immediately hugged Alicia when they saw her again. They felt relieved to see her alright, considering how broken their heart was when they witnessed Alex sealed her.

Mia had grown older with some wrinkles here and then. Even Raymond had a few white hairs, but it was a part of nature. And Alex had no intention to turn them into immortal or prolong their lives. And luckily, both families understood that and didn't ask for such a thing.

They felt it was alright to die right now after confirming both of their daughters alive. When the Royal Family came, Alex found someone in the wheelchair. It was a traditional wheelchair made of wood, but it was perfect for someone like him.

He bent down and smiled. "Grandfather Bryan."

"Alex, huh…" Bryan smiled. It was hard for him to open his eyes because of his age. In fact, he was supposed to die from old age when the doctor told them about the strength of his muscles and other things.

"Grandfather… This is Alicia." Alicia also came and greeted him with her soothing voice.

Bryan stretched his hand, wanting to feel her.

Alicia grabbed his hand and placed it on her cheek. Bryan then started feeling the warmth of her face and smiled, "Your appearance hasn't changed at all, but I am glad that you are so mature now. I am really proud of you… Nevertheless, I am just glad that you are alright now."

"Yes, Grandfather." Alicia smiled as tears appeared in the corner of her eyes. She had been so close to her grandfather in the past, so she was sad to see him like this. "Alicia has grown up, so Grandfather doesn't need to worry about me anymore."

"I feel relieved." He paused for a moment and returned to Alex. "Boy… Thank you…"

"What thank you? We are family, and Alicia is my wife. I will heal her no matter what it takes. Grandfather doesn't need to worry anymore."

"Yeah. I shouldn't worry anymore." Bryan nodded.

Alicia then grabbed the wheelchair and pushed it to the garden, a bit farther so it wouldn't be too loud for him. "Has grandfather eaten yet?"

"I have. Don't worry about me. I just want to watch all of you from the side."

Alex thought for a moment and saw Alicia's worried face before patting her shoulder with a gentle smile.

Seeing this, Alicia nodded and started the party.

Of course, the one that took everyone's breath away was Sherry. They never found a monster turn into a human, let alone a beautiful girl like her.

Mia grabbed her like a sister and made sure she couldn't escape as she examined her body.

No one thought of them as a Divine Being at this party. They were simply the son-in-law of the two families, the third daughter of the Rizertia Family, the proudest daughter of the Merona Family, and the one and only Sherry.

And they never cared about their status as long as they had fun with the family. Unfortunately, they couldn't party all the way because they were worried about Bryan's condition.

The next day, Firia returned to Merona House and had a warm talk with her family while Alicia went to Rizertia Mansion and spent the entire day with her family.

Alexa, on the other hand, came to Alex as she found out Alex's plan. She wanted him to take her to the demi-human territory as well. And he agreed since he had nothing better to do.

He visited the perverted Elven Queen once more, the elder Druid who was supposed to have a better morning wood… The elder dwarf who bragged about his daughter, the centaur who was curious about his strength, and the giant who couldn't fit in due to his size.

It was a fresh experience for Alexa since her father forbade her to come to other territories since it might be considered trespassing.

She took this precious chance to know more about them and looked at the magnificent Divine Tree.

After more than a decade, the Divine Tree had flourished once more and protected the demi-human like usual.

They stayed a night there before Alex decided to go around the world, bringing Alexa to visit the demon territory without anyone noticing.

They didn't forget to manipulate the Rank 9 Array that the Dungeon God created in the past. It was the array beneath the Zircodina Kingdom that Alex saw when he first returned here. Alicia tweaked the inside a little bit and placed three arrays acting as keyholes.

He handed two of them to Carollus and Maria, asking them to treasure them. And since the kingdom would surely have trouble, she decided to give the third key to her father instead, telling him to give it to the new ruler and explained the concept.

All three received it gratefully and would use these keys wisely.

Alicia spent her third day with her grandfather, doing whatever he wanted to do. In the end, she told him story after story until the day changed.

Finally, the third day had arrived, and it was the time for Alex and the others to return. All people from Merona Family, Rizertia Family, and Royal Family gathered together in the previous garden they held a party.

Alexa was pouting the whole time because she might not be able to meet him again, but she didn't say anything and simply waved her hand.

"Then everyone… Our time is up, so it's time for us to return. I hope we can meet again like this… At that time, let's have another party, alright?" Alex smiled and snapped his finger.

The seal in his body vanished as his Divine Strength had returned. He then looked at the girls and said, "This might hurt a little bit, but we should be fast enough before the Lightning Tribulation finds us."

The girls nodded as Alex unsealed their cultivation. All of them released a huge amount of Divine Energy as the three families could feel it with their entire being. This was something different than magic power, and the amount wasn't something they should touch.

"This is Divine Energy. I can't say much about it because it will only cause a misunderstanding in this world, so I will leave without saying anything." Alex nodded and used his array to teleport them to outer space. "Then, goodbye, everyone."

Alex, Alicia, and Firia waved their hands as they disappeared.

However, the family in this world still had their own problem.

Bryan stretched his hand before putting it down again.

"I am glad that Alicia is alright and leads a happy life. She is still a cute and honest girl that can bring joy to one's heart, including mine. I am really glad that Alex has become a great husband for them, and I hope that their happy life will continue until the end of time…

"Ah… How I wish Heaven grants me the ability to see their face one more time…" Bryan paused for a long time. "And now… To my family besides me, a golden word of advice from an old man who has experienced many things in his life.

"You don't need to trust your vassal completely. Standing on opposing sides occasionally is fine too. But simply be aware of each other. They will understand your weakness, and you should know about it and grow even more. I believe that is also a form of ruling. Fofoh, well, not that I had ever experienced that.

"And then, become the rulers that won't let their subjects suffer. Whether you are governing upon three thousand people or three million people… I might not be the wisest ruler, but I believe what I said today is true." Bryan paused again before saying. "Ah… But still… What a long journey it has been…"

"…"

"…"

"!!!"

All of them immediately fell on their knees and cried.

"Father."

"Father!"

"Your Majesty!"

Raymond and Carollus hugged him. "To us, you were the greatest ruler, Your Majesty. Thank you for everything you have done… Thank you, Father."

They were not the only ones facing this. In outer space, Alex waited for a moment along with the girls. He poured wine for all of them and raised it.

He had seen his condition with his Spirit Eyes and realized he had already passed his time. His strength and magic power were no more to the point he was like a living dead if not for the fact he was still able to talk.

Alicia, on the other hand, recalled every memory of the past, and he certainly played the biggest part in it. Despite becoming a ruler, everything changed when he put down that red mantle and became a good grandfather at home.

"It was one hell of a journey, wasn't it? Grandfather…"