When Alden was able to open his eyes again and sit up, there was already a grand glowing white abyss glaring back at him.
"Just kill me now instead." He lamented.
It was a portal.
His path to the next life.
The first order he received as Asta's apostle was to walk forward to certain death.
[ The God of Adventure expresses his disapproval toward your attitude ]
Alden briefly glanced at the sudden system window that popped up before his eyes, then directed his gaze upward. He was looking at the grinning Asta, floating upside down above his head.
While Alden was recuperating, this god was busy fiddling around with the system. He seemed to have developed an interest in it after having his information forcibly extracted.
Currently, Asta was using the skill [Divine Revelation] to communicate.
[ The God of Adventure tells you to get out ]
He had been for a while now, and it was annoying.
"... Don't you want some more time to explore the system? Have you tried customizing the system?" Alden tried tempting the child-god with this new toy. "We also still have a lot of details we haven't discussed yet."
[ The God of Adventure sees through all your lies and deceit ]
"Asta, say something for once." Alden's lips curled into a bitter smile.
His attempts to delay the inevitable were futile.
"Tsk, go in already," Asta grumbled, clearly uninterested in his apostle turmoil. "I'm busy, so no more whining."
"Tell me where I am going." This was the one answer he needed.
However.
"I will not." Asta firmly refused. "Ask that one more time and I will smite you."
Alden's chest tightened. This was driving him insane.
Asta had mentioned before that he would be the one to choose Alden's reincarnation destination, but he had since outright refused to reveal where.
Because it would ruin the 'fun'.
"You're just sending me to my death, Asta. You know that, right?" Alden protested. "Just tell me something meaningful. Anything."
"You are truly stubborn." The devil shook his head with exaggerated pity. "What good will it have for you to know? What do you think will happen after you reincarnate, Alden?"
"I will die." He answered with certainty. "Your enemy will hunt me down."
"You will be born." Asta was suddenly very optimistic. "And you will be a powerless mortal infant."
Alden's eyes widened a bit at Asta's explanation, realizing the implication.
"Will you be protecting me, then?" His expression turned weird.
"Why would I?" Asta scoffed. "Of course not."
What a real piece of work.
"But I will make sure you are safe for a while." He continued before Alden could develop further blasphemous thoughts. "So quit your pointless whining and just go to sleep for a while."
Alden let out a deep sigh in response.
This seems to be as much information as Asta was willing to divulge, so Alden could only comply. He nodded at Asta's vague promise of safety and finally stood up.
To be honest, Alden's problem wasn't really what would happen on the other side of the portal.
He had already died once. And even if he really dies immediately again, Alden would just return here and continue being Asta's apostle.
He was practically immortal.
His current reluctance was because of regrets.
His feet simply felt heavy.
Leaving here would mean abandoning everything he had been.
It meant leaving behind his life as 'Alden Vaughn', and more importantly, the connection with his family.
It was an abrupt disconnect. More painful than even when he first died since Alden knew his soul would never return to Earth again.
The finality of it all felt suffocating. So Alden couldn't help feeling a bit hesitant.
Still, it was all just sentimental thoughts.
He was dedicated to moving forward.
Even with his head buzzing, fear clawing at his chest, and regret weighing down his shoulders. Alden could feel a faint excitement bubbling underneath it all.
He wanted to take this step.
It was time for him to live again.
"Then I'll get going."
After using the status window to check his current condition, Alden spoke. It felt a bit weird traveling without having any luggage to check on.
He turned back to Asta, an odd sincerity in his chest
"Thank you."
The god's smile remained lazy and detached as he looked down at Alden.
[ The God of Adventure wishes you a life worth remembering ]
With his god's blessing, Alden crossed the portal.
It smelt like dirt and flowers.
Then his world swirls.
...
Soon, there was only Asta left.
With a flick of the wrist, the glowing portal vanished without a sound.
In the vast emptiness of limbo, a quiet smile tugged at the corners of Asta lips. He didn't care that Alden was gone. Their game was far from over.
"I like that child."
A voice—smooth, measured, authoritative—echoed through the silence.
Contrary to the calmness of her voice, the goddess' abrupt presence violently crashed down on the space. The figure of this uninvited guest was nowhere in sight, but reality itself trembled as attested to her attendance.
Asta doesn't like the sounds of her voice.
"So do I." He gave a curt reply.
It was his nod of acknowledgment to her presence, the minimum respect. They were not friendly enough for further pleasantries.
"Will you protect him?" The goddess whispered a question. Each of her words reverberated and woven her domination further into the fabric of space.
Asta's eyes widened a bit before quickly returning relaxed.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Adventure chuckled. He was satisfied with this result.
A childish taunt.
"Try your best." She breathed.
With that last remark, her heavy presence slowly dissolves.
As abruptly as her appearance, the goddess was gone. Yet, the few words she gave during her short stay still clung in space. Leaving the endless void of Limbo feeling a little smaller and constricted.
Asta scoffed at the exchange, then briefly glanced at the surrounding air.
With the departure of the only entity here that could dare threaten him, the observing gazes were retreating one by one.
"Pests." He sneered.
Limbo was returned to its primal silence.