Chapter 231: The Agreement

When I woke up, Cassandra still remained asleep.

I held her close as she breathed softly and she seemed to respond to it.

"Nnn...more...Mizik..." She said.

I guess if you just want to cuddle, I can keep doing that...

Eventually, she opened her eyes and looked sleepily up at me.

"Darling...! I had the most...wonderful dream!" She said

She scooted up and wrapped her arms around my shoulders.

"Good morning, Cassandra. Sleep well?" I said.

She nodded.

"Much better than in Excelsis. And my hands have stopped shaking!" She said happily.

Your what...? Should I even ask?

"Good to hear. What did you think of the family yesterday?" I asked.

"They're all so nice! I can see why Mizik is so kind after meeting them!" She said.

We both sat up and she smiled at me.

I was glad that Cassandra got along well with everyone. But truthfully, I wasn't worried.

I knew they would love her and I knew Cassandra would easily win them over.

She actually managed to present herself as a nornal human being around them.

When she chose to act normally, she was very cute and easily became flustered. Since she was also a tad socially awkward, it made her seem even cuter.

Coupled with the fact that my family felt an almost instinctual need to comfort and protect me, they viewed Cassandra as the perfect wife for such a thing.

But in truth...I still missed Isabella...

The longer I went without her loving kindness, the more I began to realize something important.

I needed Isabella to prevent me from losing myself.

And Cassandra couldn't help me with that at all.

Isabella always wanted me to do the right thing. She never compromised on her ideals and always remained supportive and protective of me. She kept me from going insane over the years.

But to Cassandra...such things were irrelevant.

Cassandra was no help at all when it came to my moral alignment.

Isabella preferred to be kind to others. She kept me on a good path.

But to Cassandra, things like morals or the concepts of good and evil were completely meaningless.

Utterly irrelevant.

Because the only thing Cassandra cared about was being my possession...my slave. All she wanted was my love and approval. Because of this, she would only seek to please and follow me everywhere.

So...if I decided to commit genocide out of the blue...

Isabella would convince me to stop and befriend them first. Preferring a peaceful solution instead. Like with Aldaril.

Whereas Cassandra would kill as many of them as possible in an effort to serve me.

Cassandra would follow me to hell and back if asked to.

And I didn't even need to ask.

But now since Isabella was gone...

I had very few people capable of holding me back.

I was worried...but at the same time, I didn't care anymore.

In fact, why should I have cared? My beloved wife was gone. Potentially forever...

And her insane sister had taken her place.

Regardless, I decided not to give it too much more thought.

Such things...were irrelevant at this point...

And Cassandra told me last night about her conversation with Rose on Excelsis. Among other things like Johann's secret brutality...

"Mizik? You look like you're thinking about some things. Are you thinking about me?" She asked.

"I'm thinking about how valuable you are to me. You're precious as far as I'm concerned. I order you not to die on me. Ever," I said.

"Ehehe...I will remain alive to serve and shower you with love forever, my darling!"

Then she sort of...pinned me down and got on top of me.

"Umm...Cassandra?" I said.

"When you talk to me that way...I can't resist you..." She said.

She was eying me like a predator stares down its prey.

I just smiled.

It should be fine to get romantic before our mission, right?

"You don't have to resist, Cassandra," I said.

* * *

Once we had gotten ready, I explained the situation regarding the deal I made with Difar.

Cassandra did not trust Difar to keep his word, but she believed his promise this time.

He wouldn't hunt me down because he felt like making an example of me.

As long as we killed the Devourer, Difar would allow me to reach my full potential in order to prove his own power.

Seemed reasonable enough...

Currently, we were headed towards Difar's throne to get our directions from him.

Cassandra clung to my arm as I saw Iris approach us.

"Mizik!" Iris said as she waved.

I waved back.

"Oh, hey Iris."

"Have you seen Johann? I can't find him anywhere..." Iris said.

"I haven't seen him, personally... Maybe Cassandra knows?" I said.

Iris looked at Cassandra hopefully.

"The last I saw him, he was in his room. Have you tried looking there?" Cassandra said.

"I did, but it was locked. You're sure he came back with you, right? What happened? Did he get into a fight? Was he injured?" Iris said.

"We did get into a fight with Abbadon, but he handled it well. He wasn't injured and should be in his room."

Iris seemed relieved.

Just then...he arrived.

Johann turned the corner and smiled.

"Hey! Were you worried about me?" He said playfully.

"You should really let people know that you're okay before just disappearing like that, Johann!" Iris said.

"Sorry, sorry...I won't let it happen again, haha..."

"Ah, sorry for bothering you, Mizik! Were you going to speak with Difar?" Iris asked.

"Unfortunately, yes. I have a agreement with him..." I said.

"Just be careful. He might be helping us, but...he really is quite cruel. I looked at his alignment and found him to be more evil than anything I've ever seen," Iris said.

Since Iris could get a reading on the internal balance of people's hearts, her power would also increase accordingly.

Especially in battle.

Difar was beyond any form of simple evil.

And because of that, he was a horrid sight to Iris.

Suddenly Iris smiled wide.

"Now then, Johann... I want to know all about the super cool battles that you went through up there! Did you really fight Abbadon? Please tell me you kicked the crap out of him!" Iris said as she turned to Johann.

Her eyes seemed to sparkle with genuine interest.

Oh yeah... I forgot she was like that...

"Ah...umm...well... I fought Abbadon. But let's just say he was no match for me! It was easy!" Johann said with a proud smile.

He looked to be blushing slightly.

"That's so awesome! I hate that guy! He's always so rude and constantly calls me a flat wall... Kind of like that stupid war god who always calls me a boy!" Iris said.

"He still does that? I guess I'll have a talk with him about it next time I see him..." Johann said.

I'm starting to get a particular impression about his behavior towards her... Does he...like Iris?

It was starting to become obvious to me, but I wasn't sure how to proceed. Besides, Iris may have still harbored feelings for Dante, despite being rejected...

It wasn't likely that Dante would simply turn around. He never did in the previous timeline.

As much as I wanted to help Johann, I decided not to get involved. It wasn't any of my business and I was worried I would only create more problems.

I wasn't really an expert on romantic issues, anyway. They would have to figure it out on their own. Besides, I didn't have the time for it, either.

"We'll talk later, everyone. Cassandra and I have to go see Difar," I said.

"Oh, that's fine. Let us know how everything goes, okay?" Iris said.

"I will. Come on, Cassandra."

"Of course, darling!"

* * *

Once we arrived in the throne room, I saw several very attractive women with small horns and wings on their backs.

All wearing minimal clothing.

If I didn't know better, I would say they reminded me of what a succubus would appear to be.

"Lord Difar! Won't you spend time with me? I would be so grateful!" One of them said.

"And me! I want Lord Difar, too!" Another said.

"Well...I finally have some free time. How about we...oh...dammit. Not again..." Difar said.

"I'd really hate to bother you, but I have business to discuss with you," I said.

"How terribly rude, you disgusting insect! You dare interrupt his Dark Majesty in his personal time!?" One of the succubus women said.

I saw Cassandra tense up as she glared at the woman.

"I couldn't care less what this pile of shit does in his free time. Or who, for that matter. We have an arrangement and I need directions to kill The Devourer," I said.

I had no clue where this thing actually was or...even WHAT it was...

"Ugh...my mood is soured, now..." Difar mumbled.

"VILE WORM!!! YOU DARE INSULT LORD DIFAR!? I WILL HAVE YOUR HEAD FOR SUCH A THING!!!" One of the succubus women said.

She stood up and readied herself.

Cassandra stepped in front of me with Intelligence at the ready and then...

Difar immediately grabbed the succubus woman by the throat.

"Alskelas... Do you have ANY IDEA who that is?" Difar said.

He was crushing her throat.

"I...gah...L-lord Dif-ah...."

"That is Mizik Iratus. The person I have an abyssal binding contract with. The Chosen Hero and the most insufferable insect I have ever met. If you kill him, I WILL GO BACK TO LORELEI AND REPEAT EVERYTHING OVER AGAIN!!!" Difar said.

"L-lord...Difar...gah... P-please...m-mercy..." She managed.

Her face was losing color.

"If you attack him, you'll be electrocuted. And if you somehow kill him, I'll throw you into the Void. Sound good? Are we clear? DO YOU UNDERSTAND!? DO NOT ATTACK HIM OR HIS ALLIES!!!" Difar yelled.

Then he released her and she fell to her knees.

"I'm...haah...so sorry....Lord...ah... My Lord... Your dark Majesty....haah... Please...forgive me...." Alskelas said desperately.

"You are forgiven. You didn't actually attack him, so I can let it go. But be aware, all of you. THAT WAS YOUR ONE AND ONLY WARNING!!!"

"Yes Lord Difar!!!" All the succubi said in unison.

"Great. Now then...WHAT DO YOU WANT, MIZIK!?!?"

"If you want the Devourer to die, I need information. How do I reach him, what is he, how do I kill him, and-"

"SHUT UP!!! YOU ASK TOO MANY DAMN QUESTIONS!!!" Difar yelled.

"They're reasonable questions, Difar. Or do you not have the information?" I said.

"You act like I know every nook and cranny of the entire damn Abyss. The Devourer is in the Deep Abyss. I don't know exactly where he lives. And you wouldn't understand if I told you what he was. You have nothing to compare his existence to. So I'm granting you the use of Valtheim for this request. She's free, currently...er...if you could call it that..." Difar said.

"Can't she just take us to the Devourer?" I said.

"Were you not listening? No one knows exactly where he lives. Not even Valtheim. Also, if she just moved you everywhere, how would you gain strength? Aren't you supposed to get stronger and train? Work on that! Everything in the Abyss will likely want to eat you since humans are delicious to Abyssal entities. But as long as Valtheim is with you, they should be terrified enough to open conversations. OR YOU COULD JUST HAVE HER EAT THEM FOR EXP OR SOMETHING!!! NOW, GET OUT OF MY THRONE ROOM, YOU BASTARD CHILD!!!!" Difar said.

I nodded as Valtheim appeared next to me and bowed her head.

She took her mask off and averted her eyes.

"I will...go...as I am... You are...protected..." She said.

I had never felt so reassured in my entire life.

From then on, Valtheim walked beside us...and it was kind of creepy.

I was worried that I would trip and fall into her and die as a result.

"Hey...Valtheim...?" I said.

She turned to me and averted her eyes. Then she tilted her head.

"...?"

"If I were to...say, trip and fall on you... Would that kill me?" I said.

"I will not...devour...my charge... You are my...charge..." She said.

"Make that count for Cassandra, too, then," I said.

"Ah...M-mizik can trip and fall on me if he wants! I wouldn't mind at all!" Cassandra said.

I love you, but damn, you're weird sometimes.

"I...obey..." Valtheim said.

"Right. Can you show us the way to the Deep Abyss?" I asked.

"Yes..."

I stood and waited as Valtheim remained silent.

Oh...right... She takes that as a literal question...

"Umm...will you show us the way?" I asked.

"I will guide...not show..."

"Will. You. Take. Us. To. The. Deep. Abyss!?" I said as I began to lose my patience.

"Yes..."

She silently waited.

"Awaiting...orders..."

"TAKE US TO THE DEEP ABYSS, VALTHEIM!!!" I shouted.

"Follow...me..." She said.

She turned and motioned for us to follow her.

This is going to be really awkward...

I had no idea what to expect here. That, alone, was enough to make me nervous.

We were now headed towards the Deep Abyss to slay The Devourer.