Learning of important things

(Aisha POV)

We have reached Akatsuki's house. I mean, the plain he lives in. However, how do we enter? He lives underneath this plain.

"Belle, can you cut this land with your sword?"

I ask Belle. But she nodded sideways. She can't. I knew that she can't. Why did I ask something so impractical of her?

But the ground split open and the stairs were visible. Maybe he is letting us in.

"Let's go." (Leah)

Leah is really eager to meet him again. Maybe because he is the unknown. As a mage, her instincts are telling her to investigate him.

We go down the stairs and knock on the wooden door. And the door opens. Behind the door, we see Akatsuki.

"Welcome again. I was waiting for you to arrive." (Akatsuki)

He said. We enter and he closed the door. Then he led us to the sofa and we took seats.

"I know that you have many questions. I will try to answer them as easily as possible." (Akatsuki)

He took a breath and said. He actually knew that we would ask him many questions.

"So, who are you?"

I couldn't help asking that. He is eccentric, ridiculous, mysterious but now he just broke our common sense. So I asked him.

He made a difficult face. But he took a breath.

"This is a hard question to answer. My identity is pretty complicated. But be with me. My name is Akatsuki. That's true. But I don't actually come from this world. I was born in another world and when I died in that world, the goddess gave me a second chance. So here I am, in this world, living my second life for more than 5000 years." (Akatsuki)

What he said was easy. The words he chose are easy to understand but the meaning is different.

We all look at each other and take a breath.

"So you reincarnated in this world?" (Leah)

"Yeah. That's another way of saying it." (Akatsuki)

"Then, how about you living for 5000 years?"

"Well, you can say it's a blessing. I have received a few blessings from the goddess. Immortality happens to be one of them." (Akatsuki)

He was blessed with immortality? That's only heard in myths and fairy tales.

"I know it sounds totally unbelievable. But I am immortal." (Akatsuki)

"Then how about the branch of the world tree?" (Leah)

"The branch, huh! Well, I planted the tree you call the world tree." (Akatsuki)

"You planted the world tree!!!!" (Leah)

"Yeah. It was only a normal sapling. But I planted it and it somehow became one. Maybe my other blessing had something to do with it." (Akatsuki)

So he also planted the world tree. Normally, I would say this is a lie. But I am forced to believe it to be true.

"Then, what about this sword?" (Belle)

Belle asked him about the sword he have her. That jet black sword.

"Oh…I crafted it myself. From the adamantite I found. It was tough making a sword out of that. Cronus really had one tough scythe. But now all that's left is a sword. It can even kill gods. So you have to be extra careful with that." (Akatsuki)

So, what he said was true all along. I didn't believe him completely but now I totally believe him.

"Another thing, how did you get so chummy with the goddess. And why did you call her Medea?" (Aisha)

"Me getting chummy with her has to do with our past. 5000 years ago, she summoned me to this world. And we agreed on a contract. I would kill the demon king and she would fulfill my wish. But she didn't do her part of the deal. So I said forget it. But when she found out who I was, she tried to curry favor from being chummy with me. And, her name is Medea. What would I call her if not that?" (Akatsuki)

We all fall silent. This man is more outrageous than we could even imagine. He is alive for 5000 years and he came from another world. He planted the world tree and made a god killing sword. And he is really friendly with the goddess.

"I take it that you are finished with your questions. Now, I have a few things to explain to you. First, you three have been chosen as the guide. The new heroes will be relying on you." (Akatsuki)

"New heroes? Guide?"

"Yes. Medea and I were discussing about that. The new heroes will be summoned two days from now. You three will be their guide." (Akatsuki)

He said something so ridiculous that it took me a moment. We are chosen as the guide of the next heroes. But that means that the demon king has come back.

"Don't worry. I will be there with you all when that happens. Besides, it's my mess. I have to clean it." (Akatsuki)

He said that it was his mess. But what did he mess up?

"Anyway, let's wait until that. Now, how about we go and kill a lizard. That was our deal, right?" (Akatsuki)

He still remembers that! I look at Belle. She said why not.

"Then we will go and subjugate the dragon king."

I said. However, I wonder if we'll be of any help.

And we are here. It didn't even take us a second. We are at the adventurer's guild. We need to accept it as a request or it won't be real.

Even if we subjugate the target, if you haven't accepted the request, you won't be paid.

We enter the guild and everyone looks at us. They are looking at Akatsuki to be precise. And some people are whispering.

But he doesn't care. He just goes to the reception. We follow him.

"Miss, this party would like to accept a request." (Akatsuki)

The receptionist who is familiar with us looked at Akatsuki and moved to me.

"Well then Miss Aisha, which request would you like to accept?" (Receptionist)

"Well, the dragon king one please." (Aisha)

I looked like an idiot. But she didn't hesitate. She swiftly did all the paperwork and we are now officially commissioned to kill the dragon king.

We left the guild without anything happening. This is weird.

"I thought a swarm of people would surround us. So I guess we are lucky." (Belle)

But that didn't last long. So we are currently surrounded by the knights. The king knights are surrounding us.

"Ummm…..are we detained?" (Leah)

"I think so."

"You are under arrest for treason."

A big man in an armor came forward while saying that. He was probably the captain but f this company of troops.

"Who is? Me or them?" (Akatsuki)

Akatsuki pointed at himself and then us and asked.

"No questions. We found all of you together. Meaning, you're all under arrest. Offending our Goddess is a capital punishment. You all will be beheaded for this."

The big man said. Akatsuki sighed. And he snapped his fingers.

"You three, I want all of you to see this." (Akatsuki)

He said. I expected the big man to shout at us again. But no one did. I look at them and they are frozen still. No one is moving or breathing.

"What did you do?" (Leah)

"I stopped the time. But we can move just fine. Now, observe his eyes." (Akatsuki)

He points at the big man. I want to ask about the time stopping but I looked at the eyes. They are normal human eyes.

"No. Observe the emotions in them. What do you see?" (Akatsuki)

It's like he read my mind. I looked again. His eyes are glazed over. Like he is infatuated with something. It looks a bit scary and I see big bags under his eyes. Now his eyes look like a madman's eyes.

"Yes. This is because of his blind devotion. Devotion to the king and the goddess. His devotion drove him to madness and he still believes that he is worthy of becoming her apostle." (Akatsuki)

"So he did all of this on his own accord?"

"No. The king gave him orders to capture me. This is the worst part. Medea never gave them this order. They are trying to please their goddess by getting rid of me. Humans are scary no matter the world. They become overly devoted and do stupid things." (Akatsuki)

I looked at them and they didn't understand it. I guess they need to think a bit more.

"We should leave first."

"No. Let's just assert dominance." (Akatsuki)

He snapped again and the big man started moving. He is coming towards us.

But Akatsuki moved nimbly and soon closed in on him. Then the big man disappeared. Along with the company of troops.

"Where did they go?"

"Netherworld. They will be back soon." (Akatsuki)

"Netherworld? In other words, hell. But how can they come back from hell?" (Leah)

"I set timer magic. Now, let's go and kill a lizard. I won't do much. But you need to level up or it won't help. So be prepared." (Akatsuki)

I think that he doesn't need to give us more proof than this. Because we have certainly seen his abilities. What he claimed was true. Just how did this become this outrageous.