Akaba's POV
We were battle-ready the moment we arrived back on earth.
Sure we were only armed with weapons from the dark age, and we can't use magic anymore because we don't have Aura here. And Shirou-Shochō had probably devised all sorts of countermeasure since he already knows everything about us and our abilities...
Crap, we're dead meat. But hey, we'll go out in a blaze of glory. Or is it too late to surrender?
I can't see things clearly since there's no source inner source of illumination, but I can tell that we're in a warehouse of some sort.
The perfect place to commit murder and clean up the evidence afterwards. Yep, we're fucked.
Like a shot, the lights were suddenly turned on. Thanks to that I now know that we are inside a warehouse and that there was no way we're getting out of this one without losing at least a limb or three.
So what it is that he's going to throw our way?
(Party Crackers being fired)
The explosion sound was followed by confetti filling our field of visions. I've overcome all sorts of ambush and assaults but confetti? The sheer absurdity rendered me at lost for words, and I'm a guy who fought off a pack of moose.
"CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME BACK!"
My surprise immediately turned into fear and agitation. I'd recognize that voice anywhere.
It was Shiro-Shocho's.
There he was with his trademark smile on his face, wearing a silver Haori and Hakama complete with a folded paper fan. Flanking him from both sides are two mannequins', both holdings fired party crackers that is now empty.
From their colour, I can guess that they're made out of steel. A golem perhaps? Or maybe even a robot?
I pushed the thoughts out of my head, whatever they are isn't important. Shiro-Shocho is here in person and that means he had already prepared himself for whatever it is that we can do to put up a fight.
To put it bluntly, we're screwed. Sideways at that.
"What's with the faces? You guys look like sheep who realized too late that they're in a slaughterhouse."
"And you just like that you completely summarized the situation you put us in..." Midori's remark lacked his usual smugness, meaning that he had realized the bear trap we had thrown ourselves to.
"Ahaha~ don't be so tense Midori~. If I wanted you dead you wouldn't have made it here~"
Spoken like a true scheming anime villain. But that's a good point.
"I'm assuming that you wanted to talk with us then?"
"PING-PONG! Plus five points for Akaba! You caught on quick."
"Oh please. All of us are already aware of that, he just happens to be the first to said it out loud that's all."
Are you serious? At a time like this?
"Ahahaha~! Even in this kind of situation you're still prideful! I see being thrown into another world didn't change you one bit Midori!"
And just like that, the mood changed. With a simple remark, he easily defused a situation that would probably lead to bloodshed.
Damnit this guy is a better negotiator than I am!
"By the way what took you guys so long!? All of you are the best specimens of your previous worlds for god's sake!"
"Wyvern." Aogiri curtly answered.
"Wait really? I guess the demon wave must have pushed it out of its natural habitat."
Demon wave? So you're saying that that world is probably going in T*te no Y#sh@'s direction?
"Anyway~ I'm sure you guys have a lot of questions each. And I'm sure everyone has already figured out that I was the one who sent you 'over there' in the first place."
Well duh. For starters just who the heck are you? How did you know about our past? Are you capable of using magic here? How can you travel between worlds in the first place?
We'll get to the bottom of this even if it's the last thing we do!
Or probably you know, beg for mercy because who needs pride when you can stay alive.
But we're getting our answers dammit! And there's nothing that will prevent us from doing exactly just that.
"But before that, I've already prepared some food and refreshments in the next room. You guys want to grab a bite first or do you want to go straight to the talk?"
...Yeah, we all know what's going to happen next.
XxX
'DELICIOUS!!!' Even if I didn't say it out loud my expression is a dead giveaway of how heavenly the food is.
This texture... This Crispiness... This sensation of bliss that fills my mouth...
Anyone who says that sustenance is a non-integral part of life can rot in hell!
With that thought filling my head I continued to feast on my Menchi-Katsu, I didn't even bother cutting it up and just eat the thing like oversized croquet. If anyone sees me in my current state, which is eating with bare hands while on the verge of tears, I can kiss whatever little remains of my dignity goodbye.
But after what I went through, society can fuck off for all I care.
Swallowing the last crumb and licking my lips, I returned my gaze to the buffet table Shiro-Shocho had assembled for us. I hate the man's guts, and without a shadow of a doubt still terrified of him, for throwing us into another world.
But the fastest way to a man's heart is through his stomach, and taking into account the smorgasbord laying before my eyes he's getting there pretty fast.
By the way that was the fifth deep-fried goods that I had eaten in this past half an hour, so you know that I was nowhere near done.
Taking a plate and a fork (now that I'm considerably less hungry I start to give two shits about etiquette again), I took multiple Kaarages, a bowl of tartar sauce sitting next to the big plate. Yeah, that man is already back on my good side.
"Not that I mind you dying from food poisoning, but I don't think a human should consume 'that' much grease in one go."
"Like you're one to talk, what plate are you at?"
"Second," Midori revealed with confidence. "And unlike yours my meals are balanced."
Oh, so that's how it's gonna be?
"Uh-huh, then what cup of coffee are you at?"
He didn't answer and walked away, thought so. Looks like he too is forsaking his health in the face of good food. Even if on the other world we're strong I guess we're still weak in different ways.
Aogiri is busy stuffing his mouth with rice, his chopsticks blurring faster than he even swings his sword.
Koen didn't even bother with appetizers or the main course, gobbling down cakes and sweets like a child who just had sugar for the first time.
I don't know what Momoiro-san is eating. Her plate was full with all sorts of food but in a blink of an eye, it was emptied. Where did it all go? A question that should never be asked unless one is prepared to risk one's life.
Shiro-Shocho simply sat silently and observed. I'm guessing he's letting us have our way to lower our guard even more, and I can tell that's is working since I'm munching on Ebi-Furai without care.
"Alright! I think that's enough of that!"
He suddenly stood up from his chair and declared.
All of us froze where we stood with foods filling our mouth, quickly swallowing without savouring the taste we focused our attention towards him.
Things are about to get real.
"I'll do this in like Q&A sessions, you guys can ask me anything you want. So, who wants to go first?"
That part was unlike him. Usually, Shiro-Shocho would put restrictions such as limiting the number of questions or branding certain topic off-limits. Looks like he's trying to be transparent and upfront this time around.
Or at least he wants to give us the impression that he is.
Since he is our source there is no guarantee that he won't give us false information regarding anything, we're practically in the dark and about pretty much everything else so getting deceived is nothing short of an assured outcome.
"No need to be worried, I promise that I won't lie."
Leave him alone for a couple of days and he suddenly can read minds, this guy. As for his claims, it was a devil's proof. But as devilish as he is he's a man of his word, not that we have any choice in the matter.
Biting the offered stick I spoke.
"I'll go first then, why the heck would you sent us over there?"
I'm thankful for the food he graciously prepared, and it was also thanks to that that I managed to clear my head.
How he did it doesn't matter. If he can do it then he'll do it, that's the kind of man this person is. So all that's left is why?
"To test you of course. All of you are a prime specimen of your previous world so to speak, the cream of the crop from the human race.
You guys brought me in tons of profit from behind the desk, but with what I have in store we'll be going where no man has ever gone before.
So the reason I sent you is for the sake of my own. I see a profit that can't be ignored."
Greedy and uncaring, so we know that it's a real answer. But more importantly.
"Did you just answer my question in rhyme?"
"I know right? Happens by accident but I couldn't keep it up, that's why the last line was shorter than the other two."
Now I have a newfound respect for the bards who could come up with songs on the spot.
"Come on keep them coming! Who wants to go next."
As expected my partner was the one who raised his hand.
"Oho~. Could it be you two had already planned this all along? Well whatever, fire away Koen-kun!"
He only nodded, not bothering with the usual chit-chat. "You said profit, didn't you? What does it have to do with other worlds?"
And that was the question of the day.
He has access to other worlds, but how is he going to make money out of that?
"I'm not intending to start an interdimensional war for resources if that's what you're asking. Money's great and all but only when you can use them."
That's a relief.
"The answer to that question is pretty long actually, so I'm going to keep it interactive. Feel free to ask me at any moment."
He clears his throat to follow up his claim, damn we're gonna be here for a while.
"Let's start it off with a simple question, is our concept of Isekai accurate?"
"Rarely, most of the time they undermine how much of a big deal it is to found a new dimension. And the one who does is often overlooked in favour of other world harem fantasy."
"Spoken like a true light novel elite. You are right Midori. Most media greatly downplay culture clash by having only one government involved, usually the kingdom that did the summoning in the first place. But I'm sure all of you know another thing that doesn't appear in regular Isekai right?"
"Internal conflict and manipulation." Momoiro chirped, followed suit by Aogiri.
"Human Weapon."
"That's right! Summoned heroes are people who brought about change even if they don't have any overpowered skill. Their knowledge, even if it only scratches the surface, if used in tandem with the 'concept' of that other world will result in a revolution of the greatest scale.
And because of that whoever it is that summoned them or is affiliated with the 'hero' will gain unfathomable fame and wealth. Ergo, even if the said hero is the last hope of the human race, everyone from all over will try and gain his or her favour.
And sometimes the Hero dies in the crossfire, usually, because their power was underdeveloped or just because they are plain weak."
"Leave it to human greed to fuck everyone up." I nonchalantly quipped. Although it was also kind of those guys fault for getting used and not figure things out fast enough.
"Oh, by the way, do you all notice another thing that's rarely brought up? Here's a hint, in every Isekai 'this' always make it to the other world. Even you guys still have it right now!"
Based on the given criteria it's probably...
"Our soul," Koen answered, getting the drop in Midori. "Our body is definitely from this world, but our soul is still the same."
"That's right! But I must say that you guys are the lucky ones, arriving here with your soul and memories intact. It probably has something to do with the latter being repressed though..."
Lucky ones?
"So what you're saying is, there could be permanent damage to this so-called 'soul' if we were to travel without correct preparations?" Midori
"And it reflects directly to your body and mind! The only reason you guys got here unscathed is that the worlds you were born in are placed right next to this one. Had it been even one more world away all of you might end up with all sorts of 'unwanted things'..."
Well shit, and yesterday I was bitching about my terrible luck. Guess I've already used it all up before I was even born.
"Now with all that explanation, I'm sure all of you understand what I'm planning on doing next..."
"I think I get the gist. You want us to go out there and prevent all of those things you just said."
"And also whack off other world travellers who are bonkers or are endangering the world with their ambition.
People with knowledge may be legendary on other worlds, but all of you have the same advantage plus the mindset and experience. You lot are nothing short of almighty over there, I can attest to that."
"Who would pay for such services though?" It doesn't matter which one of us asked that question.
"People whose position are literally upon the clouds in their worlds and has very-very deep pockets..."
There was no doubt that all of us had made up our mind the moment we walked in here. To refuse whatever offer he throws at us no matter how logical and enriching the prospect is.
And yet, I do not dread the short time we spend back there in the slightest. Looking back at it I consider it as a memory that is quite pleasant.
I can now really call the people around me my friends. And yes that does sound cheesy, thank god I didn't say it out loud or I wouldn't have heard the end of it.
"How much are we going to get paid?"
"At the very least? This much." Shiro-Shocho reached for his pocket and pulled out a cheque paper.
There was a lot of zeros there.
"Our employer will probably pay with treasures and such, so after receiving the payment, it'll take me a day or two to convert it into cash."
I wanted to ask what kind of black market would even accept otherworldly things, but the guy has connections so let's just leave it at that.
"What about working hours?"
"I'll send you guys there for two days a week, on Saturday and Sunday. Two days here is seven days there by the way."
"Time differences?"
"You'll arrive the very next second after you transport yourself back here."
Looks like most of the working elements have been covered, and that leaves...
"Can we retire?"
"Naturally. I'll erase every trace of every one of you in the other world. It'll be as if you were never there, that I promise."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"So, you guys in?"
With that kind of agreement, nope.
"Give us Friday off and you have yourself a deal."
"Done! Now let's have a toast! To the birth of the greatest weekend adventure party!"