After Azog's death, Thorin was finally able to take revenge on the sworn enemy of Durin's line. All of it became possible thanks to Alex. If not for him, Thorin would likely have fought Azog in an honorable duel, but Alex had shown him another way—a cruel, methodical execution that plunged the enemy into endless torment.
The two of them watched as Azog's battered body sank deeper beneath the frozen water. Nearby, GIR, MIMI, and Stitch were cleaning their armor of the dried blood and scraps of orc flesh—a scene all too familiar to this trio. Thorin gazed at his sinking foe and felt that everything had at last come to an end: Erebor was free, the dwarves had reclaimed their home once stolen by the dragon.
Thorin's eyes fell on Alex—the man who had played a decisive role in this victory. He knew full well that Alex was no wizard, but that didn't matter: they were friends now. With a cigarette between his teeth, Alex caught his gaze, smirked, and gave a thumbs-up. Thorin just shook his head with a faint smile.
During the time Alex and his family had stayed in Erebor, Thorin had come to see that this man was a strange balance of carefree attitude and deep responsibility. Anyone else would have demanded a great price for such aid, but Alex and his companions had taken only a single piece of jewelry each, some metals, and dwarven knowledge—not succumbing to greed even when faced with mountains of gold.
"Tell me, wizard," Thorin broke the silence, "did you come to these lands from the start with the intent to help?"
"You guessed it," Alex replied. "I truly wanted to give your people their home back. Why? I won't say. Maybe I just felt like it. Maybe it was selfish. But I think I wanted to see you become the king of all dwarves. Maybe it was fate that we met."
"Fate again…" Thorin shook his head with a smile. "Let it be so, if that's what you think."
A genuine smile appeared on Thorin's face. He had not only regained his home but had also gained friends. This long journey had been worth it, even if it began simply with the desire to reclaim what was lost. Now it was behind them, and it was time to return to Erebor—to wait until dwarves from all corners of the world gathered once more in their ancestral halls.
Alex patted him on the back and suggested they go down. But clearly, Alex had something in mind: he extended his hand toward Thorin, who instinctively stepped back.
"What are you up to, wizard?" Thorin narrowed his eyes.
"Hahaha! I just wanted to get down faster. You've got great reflexes—you caught on right away," Alex laughed.
"I'm not about to repeat Bilbo's stunts and let myself be grabbed like some goblin," Thorin replied.
"Trust me, you'll like it. It'll be the perfect end to your quest," Alex grinned.
Before Thorin could protest, Alex grabbed him by the scruff and lifted him into the air. In the same instant, GIR, MIMI, and Stitch leapt onto Alex, clinging tightly. Alex hurled the Scarlet Queen, and she burst through the clouds, soaring upward. Before Thorin could say a word, they were above the clouds, savoring the rush of freefall.
From above, Thorin saw the shining sun bathing the land in warmth.
"Look, Thorin," Alex said. "That's the sun that has risen again over Erebor. No darkness will ever touch these lands again. You must be the king who will protect his people and keep this light."
"I swear," Thorin said firmly. "As the grandson of Thrór and son of Thráin, I, Thorin Oakenshield, will protect my people and my lands."
Alex smirked and once again hurled the Scarlet Queen—this time downwards. With a thunderous crash, she struck the ground, and in the same instant, Alex and Thorin appeared beside her, Alex setting him carefully on his feet so as not to embarrass the King under the Mountain.
The war against the orcs was over. The time had come for the true coronation and Thorin's ascent to the throne. Many came to witness the event, and even Thranduil chose to honor it with his presence. The crown was placed upon Thorin's head by Gandalf.
That same day, Thorin promised the people of Lake-town to rebuild Dale so they could live there and prosper. Bard and the surviving townsfolk knelt before the new king. Thorin gave them a small smile and a nod, then his gaze met Thranduil's. Before the two kings could exchange any sharp words, Alex stepped in and suggested they talk in private.
He brought Saya, Coco, and Yuriko along to assist in the diplomatic negotiations. The discussion lasted several hours and was eighty percent stubborn arguments. In the end, however, the dwarves and the elves of the Woodland Realm signed a peace treaty and agreed to establish trade.
When it was over, Alex wiped the sweat from his brow and was finally convinced that Thorin and Thranduil were two of a kind — the most stubborn beings he had ever met. Only thanks to Yuriko's and Coco's composure did they manage to persuade both to let go of old grudges. Even for them, accustomed to dealing with the most difficult people — be they corporate heads or arms dealers — these talks had been a real trial.
The treaty was signed in the presence of Gandalf and Alex as witnesses. Gandalf was clearly pleased that peace between the two peoples had finally been restored. Then, as was customary, a feast was held.
Erina, Alice, and Hisako didn't cook for everyone — that would have been impossible — so they joined as guests and enjoyed themselves with the others. Alice, as always, seemed to be everywhere at once. True to their nature, the dwarves organized a drinking contest. The elves couldn't ignore such an open provocation — the dwarves kept repeating that "pointy-ears can't hold their liquor." Thus began a large-scale tournament, bringing plenty of amusement to all present.
Even Loki took part and, to the surprise of many, won — earning the title "Queen of Alcohol," a title Hestia would often tease her about afterward. The feast ended on a cheerful note, and everyone was satisfied.
At dawn, Alex and his family packed their things. They had no intention of saying goodbye — why bother, when they might meet again in the future? Alex didn't know if his path would ever lead him back to this world, but he preferred to leave quietly.
However, when they reached the stone gates of Erebor, Thorin's retinue was already waiting for them, led by the king himself.
"Leaving without saying goodbye, wizard?" Thorin asked with a smile.
"I'm not fond of farewells," Alex replied. "I'd rather slip away quietly. Right, Bilbo? Or will you stop trying to sneak off behind everyone's back?"
Everyone turned toward where Alex was looking and saw Bilbo, a backpack slung over his shoulder, trying to slip away. Realizing he'd been spotted, the hobbit gave an awkward smile. Alex, his companions, the dwarves, and even Thorin burst out laughing.
"Well… then I suppose I should say: farewell, my dear friends. I don't know if we'll meet again, but if my path ever brings me back to these lands, I'll stop by for a visit," Alex said.
"As I've already told you — you and your family will always be welcome in Erebor. You will forever remain our friend," Thorin replied.
"And you can stop by the Shire. Just don't eat me out of house and home like the dwarves did," Bilbo added, throwing an irritated look at Thorin's company.
The dwarves roared with laughter and began clapping Bilbo on the back. The hobbit instantly remembered the day his pantry had been mercilessly emptied. Alex and his family smiled warmly at the scene. Before leaving, Alex pulled a coffee tree seed from his pocket and placed it in Bilbo's hand — after all, the hobbit had long dreamed of growing such a tree by his home in the Shire.
Alex hadn't forgotten his promise to Thorin. Clapping his hands, he caused entire rows of coffee trees to sprout in the valley of Erebor. With the farewells finally said, he and his family were ready to leave these lands. The girls, in particular, were happy to have stayed in Erebor—this adventure had left unforgettable impressions in their hearts.
"And Thorin, my final piece of advice," Alex said with a smile. "To be a king, you don't have to act kingly. You have to be a king."
"I will remember that, wizard," Thorin replied seriously, giving him a nod.
"Oh, right…" Alex turned to Bilbo. "You might want to hurry back to the Shire. They've started selling off your belongings. I think you can make it home before it's all gone."
"How did you—wait, WHAT?! They're doing WHAT?! That's it, I have to run!" Bilbo cried, and, with his backpack clattering, he bolted off.
Watching the hobbit race away with a look of sheer panic on his face, everyone burst out laughing again.
After one last goodbye, Alex and his family stepped outside the walls of Erebor. He summoned Yamato, made several sweeping motions—and before them, a portal opened. The dwarves, Thorin among them, watched in astonishment as the girls stepped one by one through the glowing doorway, heading off to spend the final day of Alex's vacation in a new world.
Alex noticed their stunned expressions, waved, and stepped through after them. The portal closed, leaving only Thorin and his companions in the valley. Thorin had long suspected that Alex wasn't really a wizard, but continued calling him one out of habit. With his departure, Middle-earth carried on.
As Alex had said, in sixty years the shadow of Mordor would once again fall over these lands. But unlike in the old tale, everyone would be ready—for he had warned Gandalf to begin preparations and to be wary of Saruman. The wise wizard had understood the hints and used those years to prepare for the coming war.
Passing through the portal, Alex found himself in a spacious apartment. The girls had already scattered to various spots, some peeking out the windows, trying to figure out which world they had landed in.
Only Nyx, the goddess of the night, immediately sensed that something was wrong with this world—or rather, with this city. She gazed out at the street: the sun was shining, yet it felt as though dark clouds were gathering over the city.
The other goddesses picked up on the strange atmosphere too, unlike the ordinary girls and the valkyries. Even Rory gave Alex a questioning look: What is this place, and why does it feel so dark?
"Alex, what is this world? Why is it so strange? It's as if it's shrouded in darkness," Nyx said, turning away from the window.
"Well… this is the last stop on our vacation," Alex raised a finger. "It's the seventh day, so I decided to make it quick, but memorable."
"And what kind of world reeks of gloom like this? Couldn't you have taken us somewhere more pleasant?" Hestia frowned, puffing out her cheeks.
The girls, now paying closer attention, began to notice that the entire city seemed saturated with gray tones. Alex felt it too, but he hadn't brought them here just for one important reason—he also wanted to show them a couple of… amusing things.
"So?" Rika nudged him in the thigh with her foot. "What is this world that's making even goddesses complain? Care to share, or are you going to keep playing the mysterious one?"
"This is Zhang Ya's homeworld. And there's a haunted house here with real ghosts. I thought it would be fun to visit as a family. Sounds unforgettable, right?" Alex scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"So you brought us to a world full of malicious spirits, and to a haunted house where they're actually real?" Brunhilde narrowed her eyes. "And don't you dare lie that it's only for fun. I can see from your face you're not telling us everything."
The other girls nodded in agreement with Brunhilde's words. Alex sighed and reached for a cigarette, but the moment he pulled it out, all of them simultaneously pointed toward the window — meaning he could only smoke there. He simply nodded, casting a quick glance at his shadow, which had already taken the form of Zhang Ya.
Lighting up, Alex leaned out the window. Before him stretched an amusement park, and among the many rides, one stood out — the very Haunted House run by the protagonist of this world, Chen Ge, a man who had faced more than his fair share of trials.
All the girls, except for Erina, Alice, and Hisako, already knew the story of this world and Zhang Ya's fate. Not wanting the newcomers to remain in the dark, the others whispered the tale of who she was and what she had been through. Upon learning the truth, Erina, Alice, and Hisako couldn't help but feel sympathy for the girl who, after suffering a horrific death, became a bloodthirsty ghost… yet had ultimately found a family in Alex, who had accepted her without fear of her dangerous nature.
The conversation gradually shifted toward discussing Alex's real reasons for coming to this world. It didn't take long for them to agree that it wasn't just about visiting a haunted house with real ghosts — it was obviously connected to Zhang Ya herself.
Alex, however, wasn't listening. His thoughts were racing like wildfire. The more he dwelled on it, the tighter his grip became on the windowsill as he blew smoke toward the street. He was trying to recall every piece of information about the Western Jiujiang Academy — the place where Zhang Ya had once studied and died. He intended to wipe that academy from the face of the earth. The second part of his plan was to find the fat bastard responsible for her death and transformation into a vengeful ghost.
At the thought of that man, Alex's rage flared anew. A cracking sound echoed through the room — the windowsill had split under his grip. The girls instantly fell silent and turned toward him. His face was twisted into a vicious smile, revealing sharp teeth. At that moment, Zhang Ya rose from his shadow and touched him with a cold hand, trying to calm him down.
Erina and Hisako had already seen his dark expression before, but now it was so full of murderous fury that even Alice shivered. The others knew well — Alex would destroy anyone without hesitation if they dared harm one of them. This wasn't the first time, and it certainly wouldn't be the last.
"Alex, don't take it out on the windowsill. It didn't do anything to you," Valmet said calmly. "Why waste your anger on a bastard who'll be dead soon? That's why you brought us here in the first place."
"Sigh… Alright, sorry," Alex's voice softened. "Yes, I brought you here to visit the Haunted House. And also to find one fat bastard. So let's stop wasting time — let's go. Well, you go to the ghost house, and I'll take a little stroll through some places where the spirits like to hang out."
"And why's that? You signing up to be a ghost hunter?" Gloria asked with a smirk, raising an eyebrow.
"Something like that. There are plenty of spots here with real ghosts, and I want to check them out. If anyone wants to come along — you're welcome," Alex replied with a faint smile.
"So… we can either go to the Haunted House where the ghosts won't touch us, or to places where the ghosts can actually attack us? No thanks, darling, I'm out," Chiquita said, shaking her head.
"I'm out too," added Shizuka, crossing her arms. "I don't even want to go to the Haunted House, let alone a real ghost's den."
"What about you?" Alex raised an eyebrow.
"Pass," the rest answered almost in unison.
Alex's eye twitched nervously. He was about to talk about the spirit of adventure, but the girls — even the goddesses — were stubborn. Loki, usually eager for thrills, wasn't keen on meeting ghosts, despite being confident that Alex could protect them.
Only the kids were eager to go with him, but they were immediately stopped. Meanwhile, GIR, MIMI, and Stitch were already fully equipped — vacuum cleaners and bags at the ready — prepared to catch ghosts. Alex sighed heavily, resigned to the fact that he'd have to go again accompanied by this too noisy and restless trio, capable of frightening even the nastiest spirits.
He waved his hand and suggested the girls change into casual clothes before heading to the amusement park to the Haunted House they needed.
While the girls changed, Alex decided to work on the gear of GIR, MIMI, and Stitch. Their usual vacuum cleaners and ghost-catching bags looked like cheap props, but in his hands, they quickly transformed into proper ghost-hunting equipment. The appearance remained the same, but their capabilities changed drastically — now they could actually catch ghosts with them.
When the girls returned in casual clothes, the whole group, including Alex, left the apartment. As soon as they stepped outside, the amusement park was right across the street, so there was no need to walk far. After buying tickets, they decided to stroll around first.
Alex knew the park was currently in decline, but very soon it would shine with new life — all thanks to the Haunted House run by Chen Ge.
"It's kind of empty," Rei noticed, holding Alex's hand. "When my class went to the park, it was so crowded you couldn't squeeze in."
"Tell me about it," Saya chimed in with a smirk. "I still remember Mr. Sawada's face when one of our classmates got lost. I thought he'd tear his hair out on the spot."
"Better an empty park than a crowd," Nix grimaced. "I definitely wouldn't visit places packed with people."
"Because you're a recluse with no friends," Hestia rolled her eyes. "If it weren't for us, you'd still be sitting alone. Goddess of loneliness."
"And you, the goddess of shorties, if not for Alex, you'd be living in a ruined church," Nix snapped back.
"Want me to remind you what happened when you tried to take me hostage? Want a punch again?" Hestia clenched her fist and stepped toward Nix.
"Go ahead, attack. You think I'm scared of you, shorty?" Nix rolled up the sleeves of her sporty hoodie.
Alex sighed and gently freed Rei's and Ais's hands, which were holding onto him. Standing between the goddesses, he prevented the argument from turning into a fight. Loki and Becca, on the contrary, seemed to enjoy pouring fuel on the fire, while Hephaestus, pressing a palm to her forehead, tried to cope with an impending headache. The other girls laughed and even applauded Alex for once again stopping a conflict.
Sighing, he grabbed both by the tips of their noses and quietly asked them not to start any quarrels at least until they got home. Hestia and Nix smirked at each other and walked away.
"Daddy did great," Anya said happily, clapping her hands.
Alex smiled and reached for a cigarette but, remembering that smoking was probably not allowed in the park, popped a candy into his mouth instead.
Walking through the deserted alleys, the group headed toward the Haunted House. The closer they got, the louder the crowd grew. To their surprise, a huge line of people eager for a thrill had formed at the entrance.
"I didn't expect this haunted house to be so popular," Lucy said, tilting her head.
"Chen Ge used a simple but effective trick," Alex said, stroking her pink hair. "Besides the thrills, he also offered a prize."
"And how do you get it? Catch the ghost? Or beat it up?" Loki perked up.
"No. It's basically a haunted house combined with an escape room. To win the grand prize, you have to complete all the tasks in each room without losing consciousness," Alex explained.
"So it's just a scary escape room?" Saya asked skeptically.
"What's an escape room?" Tiona interrupted, furrowing her brow.
"I'm curious too. It's my first time at a place like this," Renka added.
Saya switched into know-it-all mode:"An escape room is a place where you have to complete certain conditions to get out. First, you get a clue that leads to the next one, then another… and so on until you find the key. You have to do it within a limited time. If you don't make it, you lose. In this case, I think instead of a key you have to find an item that belonged to the ghost, also within a time limit. And, of course, you can't get caught by the ghost — or you're out of the game."
The girls listened carefully to Saya's explanation and couldn't help but applaud — the pink-haired know-it-all always had the answer to every question. She smirked proudly and adjusted her glasses on the bridge of her nose as if it was her right.
Alex wasn't the least bit surprised that Saya grasped the essence of the challenge so quickly. But he added that the grand prize for completing all the escape rooms was simply money. Hearing that, the girls instantly lost interest in the reward: why would they want money from this world if they were only here for one day?
However, their curiosity about the Haunted House itself remained — especially considering they'd have to solve puzzles to win. So the decision to go inside stood firm.
The conversation quickly shifted as the girls began dividing into groups. The sharpest participants were immediately in high demand, and a real scramble erupted around Saya, who was literally being pulled in different directions. Alex, standing aside, didn't know whether to laugh or cry — he found Saya's clearly annoyed expression particularly amusing.
Yuriko came to the rescue: she deftly scooped up her daughter and pulled her into her team. At the same time, she threw a victorious smile at the other girls, making many involuntarily twitch the corner of their eyes.
While the groups were forming, Alex's gaze drifted to the ticket booth, where Chen Ge was selling tickets to the Haunted House. Alex wasn't at all surprised that this man was "incomplete" — after all, even his shadow had run away from him as a child.
In that shadow, as Alex recalled from the memories surfacing in his mind, was concentrated all the darkness that dwelled in Chen Ge's soul, along with the entire burden of his childhood troubles. It was the strongest curse that had engulfed the whole city of Li Wan and had nearly thrown one of the Red Doors out of control.
Later it became clear that the Shadow was actually Chen Ge's own shadow — the part he had "rejected." Hurt and full of hatred, it swore revenge and sought to turn Chen Ge into its own puppet, gathering grievances and negativity to gain strength and develop the Phantom Fruit.
But the Shadow wasn't the only thing that had separated from Chen Ge. When he accidentally opened a Red Door in his childhood, his good side separated as well. Now it helps him, using the black phone.
Brunhilda, sensing Alex's train of thought, also looked at the ticket clerk with slight surprise: how can a person who has lost both good and evil continue to exist at all? Even Freya was intrigued by this strange soul.
Alex looked more closely — and realized that Chen Ge's soul was held together only by the foundation of existence.
"What an interesting child," Freya said with mild surprise. "Even being so incomplete, he's still alive. I never thought I'd meet such a strange soul."
"In what sense?" Hephaestus asked, turning to her.
Alex explained:
"He doesn't have a complete soul. Good and evil have separated from him, so he lives only by the foundation of existence, which keeps his soul from falling apart. Over time, he will become whole... but the details aren't that important right now."
His words sparked interest among the girls, especially the goddesses and valkyries, and all of them looked at Chen Ge at once.
While the line moved slowly, Alex decided to tell them about Chen Ge's incredibly difficult past. Considering all he had been through as a child, it was a miracle he had lived to see this day. And what Chen Ge would get involved in later — through his own carelessness — bordered on the fantastic. Nevertheless, he managed to reach the end of his path and find answers to all the questions about his past.
The line gradually progressed. From time to time, people were carried out of the Haunted House on stretchers — a clear sign to Alex that Chen Ge had already passed the "Room of Three" and met one of the antagonists pretending to be kind to lure him to their side. This meant Chen Ge could soon embark on a quest to join the Society of Ghost Stories, where he had been invited.
To be continued…
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