Prologue (2)

"Hmmmm, I refuse."

Alden unhesitatingly refuses the sudden proposal.

'What an incredibly weird god, insulting people first and then asking them to do chores after!'

Although he understands Asta's words, that doesn't mean his insulted ego is healed again. He needs time. Also, Alden maybe bland, but he was a true businessman in blood and will not stupidly accept an offer without thinking, especially ones to work with weird people! Besides, Asta's deal does not really interest Alden. His wish to live was for his family in the first place. so without it, he could just go back into the reincarnation cycle like everyone.

"What an incredibly rude thing to thought of the Gods! I like you more now Alden, you have the spirit! Unfortunately for you, this has already been decided, you may think of it as a prior notice."

"Tsk, then why ask! This is too sudden, is there at least any better offer? If I am forced to work still, I would like some time to think and discuss the term of the contract at least!"

Asta giggle, but he did not refuse.

"I see that you are not so dull. Well, there normally isn't anything to discuss, but I will grant you some request, if is there anything in particular that my adorable apostle desire?"

Although cringing at the thought of being called adorable by a seemingly weird blind kid, he kept a straight face and thought seriously about the upcoming contract. There are orders to follow.

"Alright, firstly, I wish to know what is my duty as an apostle, how long will this duty last? And may I know where will I be reincarnated, I wish to be born in a decent environment."

Asta nodded to display his satisfaction.

"Good questions as expected, you are incredible for a puppet my child! Most people will just say yes without thinking at this incredible opportunity, this is fresh! Well, the contract will last a lifetime and your duty is simple, go have fun! I am, after all, the god of adventure. I enjoy watching the adventures of my children, so as my apostle, I only wish for you to have amazing adventures! Isn't that awesome? I am great aren't I?"

Alden tsk loudly in his mind at this unreliable and carefree god of his. He wonders if this kid in front is the true form of Asta despite him saying otherwise, then sighs loudly and asks.

"A lifetime is too much, I don't know the common currency for you but that is not doable for me. Why even bother reincarnating if that life does not belong to me in the first place?"

"This is non-negotiable, as it is already the minimum benchmark for us gods. There is only benefit anyway, some people beg for more, you know?"

"Tsk…Then, is there anything else? I thought gods exist through faith, am I required to spread your faith far wide or something? And what if I don't deliver an amazing enough adventure for you, what then?"

Asta smiles loudly as he proudly declares.

"You don't have to worry about such trivials! Adventure is not a faith, it is an undying concept that stemmed from the natural desire of any being that lives. As long as intelligent creatures exist, I shall too. Originally, each life in itself is supposed to be an adventure, with you being a pitiful example that proves otherwise, what an uneventful life you have, my child!"

Saying such horrible things again with a proud and mighty voice of his causes the already fragile Alden nonstop mental damage!

"As for your concern, the privileges will be granted just by becoming an apostle and won't be stripped until death, there is no drawback. But I hope that you will return my faith and head for adventures! About your next life starting point, hehehe, that's a secret, this will be your first adventure! But I promise you won't be disappointed!"

Again, Alden sighs, he was getting exhausted, playing with Aria all day when she was still young was twice more relaxing. Nontheless, he gulps before mentioning his pre-determined final wish.

"Lastly… I wish to speak with my family one last time, please."

Asta finally stop giggling to tilts his head. Alden keeps pushing.

"I will be your apostle and goes on a new adventure as you wish, but I want to have a proper end with my family before that. Also, if you are really a god as proclaimed, I wish to witness your power and be granted this miracle."

Asta just looks at him with a mix of weird and speechless looks, which make Alden blankly stare back at the god. The air froze for a while before Asta speak.

"Well, this is not hard with my mighty power, but it goes against the law of the universe. We shouldn't just break it and be outlaws now, shouldn't we, at least not yet. But you could write a note to be delivered, it is still acceptable. Although I don't think your mother will need it?"

Alden tilted his head from the god's sudden heartless remark, but he eventually moves on, breathing a sigh of relief and nodded.

"Yes, thank you, God, I will whole-heartedly serve you from now on."

"Pfft, there is no need to be stiff, adorable apostle. Then, get ready."

Asta then clumsily pulled out a piece of parchment underneath his toga, and casually started reading it out loud without any consent.

"As mutually agreed upon, in the name of Asta, the god of adventure, I declare you, the soul of Alden, to be my 1st apostle. This lifetime scared pact bares the will of the gods and will be written in the law of the universe to grant him befitting privileges as the apostle of adventure. He shall-"

Alden was stunned, not only at the extremely mysterious power that is starting to exude from Asta, but because Alden notice that he will be Asta's first apostle.

'The carefree god of adventure chose the blandest human in history to be his first apostle! I was right, Asta was definitely weird either way you look at it!'

At the time he was practicing blasphemy in his mind, a genuine, proper ceremony was actually in full swing. Alden didn't notice it at first because his body moves on its own as soon as Asta starts to read his script. Currently, although he couldn't see it, he could feel the sensation of taking a knee, the right hand on his left chest and his head held slightly down, paying respect to his god.

As Asta continues to read through the terms they have discussed before, two an enormous power of white and yellow started to spew out endlessly with Asta being the source. Alden called it 'powers' because he simply didn't know how to describe them. White and yellow 'light' is obviously spreading, but he wouldn't call it that. It's moved like two fast, expanding liquids, but Alden couldn't touch or feel it at all, he could only witness.

The sea of darkness surrounding suddenly lit up in an instant as if someone turn on a light switch. White and Yellow power gradually grew so dense it seem to materialize as two giant influx, swirling and battling it out in the air, creating a huge cyclone! The atmosphere quickly became chaotic, the sheer magnitude of the scene made Alden inevitably shrank. He was witnessing what he cannot fathom, like an ant overwhelmed by the grandness and trapped in a typhoon. Yet, despite being overwhelmed, Alden can't stop looking at it. White and Yellow pushed and pulled endlessly, mesmerizing him.

'...Impossible, am I being tricked?'

If he has to put it into words, Alden felt like he is watching a play. He felt like he was actually watching a carefully crafted battle scene featuring White and Yellow. The scene was so intense that he dare not think that it was staged, but he could almost feel the giggles in the atmosphere. They clashed so intensely, but also harmoniously, no one stepped above their line, and the power is always balanced. Like actors being proud of fooling the audiences with their acting.

At the eye of the storm stood Asta, like a valiant main character, commanding attention and respect, currently still reading the parchment paper with an annoyed look. Truly the unspeakable power of the god of adventure!

"Phew, that's tiresome, the others made it looks so easy."

Then, Asta ends his monologue.

All of a sudden, everything stop.

Like time is at a standstill, the powers in the air also stop swirling all of a sudden. The now light yellow atmosphere then vibrates slightly before changing its direction. The target is non-other than Alden! He curses silently at the sudden change in plot and braces for impact. But unlike his expectation, his body readily accepts the overflowing new power source.

'It refreshing…'

He felt as though he was accepting a cool gentle breeze in the peak of summer. Alden can almost feel each and every cell of his open up for this sudden but welcomed change and greedily suck in every particle. He felt fresher, stronger, livelier, and to his disgust, wished to go on an adventure.

After a while, only when his body finishes accepting Asta's power and the surrounding almost returns to the pitch black background of limbo. With only a few white and yellow particles left lurking subtly around, Asta giggled and speak.

"Do you like it? The spirit of adventure is always welcomed! I occasionally release it on intention because it made even me happy whenever it run amok and flow freely like that. Anyways, I will give you time to write your note and prepare. Rejoice, Alden, your adventure is about to begin!"

Raising his hand, the remaining particles quickly clung together around Asta's hand to manifest a small luxurious note and pen, then floated toward Alden. He receives it with only a sigh, after enjoying the pleasant power-up, reality hit him right in the face!