[Ding! The cooldown for the Gate of Dimensional Travel has ended. Would you like to reopen it? 'Yes' or 'No'.]
The system's familiar voice echoed in Jon's mind as he stretched lazily and muttered, "Yes."
He had made up his mind, clear this world's quest and return for some much-needed rest. Hopefully, it wouldn't be another mind-draining mission.
[Ding! The Gate to the Multiverse Realms has been activated. Countdown to interdimensional travel: Three… two… one…]
A surge of radiant light consumed his consciousness once again.
***
He woke up on a bustling city street.
The buildings around him bore an odd mix of styles, at first glance, they looked like something from medieval Europe, yet on closer inspection, there were definite hints of Japanese influence. The people's clothing mirrored this hybrid feel.
"Must be a world based on a Japanese anime," Jon muttered, already pulling up his system interface.
Displayed across the panel were the details:
[Current Realm: Akame ga Kill
Duration of Stay: 100 days
Main Quest:
Punish Esdeath. Reward: 4000 Penalty Points (Progress: 0/1) Overthrow the corrupt Empire. Reward: 4000 Penalty Points (Progress: 0/1)
Side Quests:
Punish Kurome. Reward: 3000 Penalty Points (Progress: 0/1) Punish Seryu Ubiquitous. Reward: 2500 Penalty Points (Progress: 0/1) Punish Prime Minister Honest. Reward: 1500 Penalty Points (Progress: 0/1) Punish Syura, the Minister's son. Reward: 1500 Penalty Points (Progress: 0/1)
Legendary Quest:
Judge and Punish 1000 sinful souls across all worlds.
(Current progress: 93/1000)
Note: If main quests are not completed within the time limit, you will be forcibly returned to the main world, and all progress and gains in this realm will be erased.]
Jon sighed and closed the interface. Just the number of targets on that list gave him a headache. In these types of worlds with so many side quests, he had to tread carefully, not accidentally completing the main quest too soon and losing out on the extra rewards.
He remembered the anime. Akame ga Kill, a tragic tale where nearly the entire main cast perished by the end.
"Well… not on my watch," he said to himself.
Still, something tugged at him. Some of the people on the kill list… he kind of liked. Characters like Esdeath and Kurome, they were villains, sure, but they had that magnetic charm. Complex, compelling, dangerous.
Even so, Jon had long embraced the belief that all sinners must be judged. And when the time came, his hand wouldn't hesitate. Maybe there would be a slight pang of guilt… but that was all.
For the truly vile, like Doma or Muzan, whom he'd encountered in other worlds, he showed no mercy. In fact, he made a sport of it. With Doma, he had even restored the demon's emotions first, just so he could taste real fear before being tormented and burned to ashes by hellfire.
Was it double standards? Maybe. But Jon was only human. Everyone had their biases. And in the end, the guilty all faced the same fate, death.
As he strolled down the street, deep in thought, a sudden voice called out to him.
A light tap landed on his shoulder, followed by a sultry tone:
"You look a little bored, handsome."
It was a woman's voice.
He turned, finding a young woman in a black cloak. Her clothing was reminiscent of the courtesan archetype in many anime series. It wasn't historically accurate by European standards, but when the director's Japanese, artistic license wins.
Jon remained expressionless. "What do you want?"
The woman flipped back her hood, revealing a face that was pretty enough, mildly attractive.
"Don't be so cold. Want to have a little fun?"
He didn't answer right away. Instead, he stared at her for several seconds in silence.
The woman mistook his gaze as interest. She posed more seductively, hoping to secure her next customer. Her movements were awkward, though, clearly not a seasoned professional.
Eventually, Jon sighed. "Fine. I've got time to kill anyway."
She smiled in relief. "Follow me, then."
She led him to a small wooden house, her home, apparently. The place was modest and quiet, with no sign of anyone else living there.
They entered her room. A framed portrait sat on the bedside table: a man and a woman, looking like a couple. The woman bore a striking resemblance to the one now in front of him.
"That was my husband," she said. "But don't worry. He passed away long ago."
"I'll go freshen up. Wait here," she added softly.
Once she left, Jon wandered around the room, idly at first, until his sharp senses picked something off.
One floorboard felt loose under his foot.
He crouched down, lifted it, and found a hidden chest locked away below. Curious, he drew the Elder Wand and whispered,
"Alohomora!"
The lock clicked open. Inside the chest… was a stash of money.
Looks like she'd hidden all her earnings, hard-earned through her work. And the amount? It wasn't small. She was saving up for something, clearly.
Before he could think more, her voice rang out behind him:
"What are you doing?"
She had returned and now stared wide-eyed at her open secret. Her face twisted in panic.
"Relax," Jon replied calmly. "I don't care about your money."
He closed the chest and placed it back, covering the floorboard once more.
She let out a shaky breath, visibly relieved.
"But I do want to know," he said, eyes narrowing, "What are you saving for?"
She turned her head away, avoiding his gaze.
"I can't tell you," she said.
"Let me guess…" Jon murmured. "It has something to do with your husband, doesn't it?"
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