Chapter 201: Reload Save

After that day, we began practicing constantly.

Cassandra managed to keep it a secret that we had been sharing her room and we grew even closer.

She couldn't decide if she preferred to sleep in my arms or if she wanted me to sleep in hers.

I enjoyed both, but wasn't ultimately concerned with it.

Sometimes, the two of us would practice fighting in her room.

That also had a lot of negative feelings that came along with it...

And shortly after we began, Cassandra refused to spar with me in her room. I was a bit let down, but she promised to train with me once the wedding had finished.

Additionally, once the time drew close, we began to practice for the wedding itself.

Cassandra decided that she wanted it to be a fairly small and private event that no one other than family would be attending.

Unfortunately, it did mean that the Victoria family would be here.

Most of them really did have pink hair. Even the men. But since Cassandra hated the other noble families, they wouldn't be attending.

After all of that, I still couldn't stop looking at her wardrobe...

For some reason, I kept getting a feeling of fear when I looked at it. Cassandra made efforts to keep me away from it. Even saying that she would cry if I ever opened it.

She said that she hated what was in there and wanted to just forget that it existed.

I decided not to force the issue because I respected her words and hated the idea of upsetting her.

Eventually, the day of our wedding came around and I was nervous as hell...

My mind was a complete maelstrom of chaotic emotions.

Not just because of the ceremony, but also...

Because of what usually happened after these sorts of things.

Warmage told me repeatedly in the past not to go through with this, but I ignored him. Besides, he was the one that told me to stay by Cassandra's side in the first place.

I enjoyed my time with her. She was a wonderful woman that I loved very much despite only knowing her for a short time.

He nagged and warned me almost endlessly until he just...gave up.

He was angry at Cassandra for something but ended up refusing to talk to me about it.

Also, my father and I had exchanged letters.

The old bastard knew exactly why Cassandra wanted to abduct me. She told him and he just pushed me off on her like it was nothing.

That asshole!

Still...I wasn't angry at this point.

He was actually attending the wedding as well and was to be the best man... Apparently, he never intended to go straight to the border...

Currently, I was waiting for the ceremony to start.

Why can't I stop shaking!? I need to stop being so nervous!

What the hell had I gotten myself into...?

Suddenly, my father came over to me wearing a similar suit to mine with the Iratus family emblem on it.

He'd been spending a lot of time apologizing to Evryss...and had nearly been executed when he arrived.

Cassandra and I both made sure she would relent and allow him to stay only to see the wedding.

Then he would be making his way to the border. Shortly before we would, of course.

"H-hey...Dad... Were you this nervous on your wedding day?" I asked nervously.

"Of course. Well...probably not, to be honest. I wasn't marrying a Princess, after all. Your mother was a waitress," Ulysses said.

"Gee...thanks..." I said.

Some help you are!

"Don't worry. Just focus on Cassandra. Pretend no one else is there and once it's over, you can have fun storming the castle," Ulysses said.

"Storming the what?" I asked.

He chuckled.

"Oh, nothing. Now let's get you hitched!" He said happily.

I feel like my heart is about to explode...

Slowly, I walked down the isle and stood up at the altar with a priest.

I looked around and saw Isabella sitting with her mother. Both of them wore beautiful dresses.

Isabella waved happily at me and I saw a message from Warmage.

{I am sO dEAd... PlEAse forgIVE ME...}

What the hell are you talking about?

{JuST Shut Up... YoU'VE RUineD EVERYtHINg!}

Honestly, I felt like I could do things well enough on my own. I didn't want to worry about what Warmage said.

I didn't need someone telling me how to live my life. The agreement was that he would help me get rid of these messages and dreams if I followed his instructions.

But so far, he'd just been nagging me about talking to Isabella and telling me that I couldn't marry Cassandra.

Talking to Isabella made my head hurt and it felt far too familiar. It was creepy, to be honest. And also really intimidating.

She was to be the next leader of Albatross.

And her husband would be a King... I didn't want that kind of responsibility. Besides, I found Cassandra's personality to be much cuter.

Even if she was a tad weird and obsessive sometimes...and a bit perverted...

As I took a deep breath to calm myself, everything went quiet.

A door in the back of the room opened and King Ronald walked out while holding a slender white-gloved hand.

As soon as Cassandra walked out in her brilliantly beautiful wedding dress and holding a bouquet of white lilies, I heard my dad whistle quietly.

For a former Duke, my father was fairly crude at times...

The King walked Cassandra up to the altar and she stood across from me. Then King Ronald went to go sit down.

The priest cleared his throat.

"We are gathered here today to witness the joining of these two in holy matrimony. Since I have been asked to make this as brief as possible, I shall endeavor to do so," he said.

Brief? Why?

{BecAUse sHE's rUShinG. IT's A lonG STory.}

"Baron Mizik Iratus of Lorelei, do you take Second Princess Cassandra Victoria Albatross to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold forever, in sickness and in health, til death do you part?" The priest asked.

"I do," I said with a smile.

I could have sworn I heard a small gasp from Cassandra.

"And Second Princess Cassandra Victoria Albatross, do you take Baron Mizik Iratus as your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold forever, in sickness and in health, til death do you part?"

"I do! A thousand times, yes!" Cassandra said joyfully.

"Then I now pronounce you husband and wife. Mizik, you may now kiss the bride."

I lifted the veil over Cassandra's face and saw that she had been crying tears of joy.

Then leaned in and kissed her on the lips.

There was a lot of applause and clapping as I took the ring Cassandra helped me make and placed it on her finger.

It was oddly familiar... Like I had seen it somewhere before... A silver ring with a single emerald gem in it. A simplistic design that probably didn't fit someone of royalty. But she adored it, nonetheless.

The one she had me wear was a silver wedding band with magic crystals engraved in it. They looked like her eyes.

Everything seemed perfect now. I smiled at her and saw a message from Warmage.

{I hATe YoU.}

I hate you too.

* * *

There was a relatively short reception in which we were both congratulated.

Cassandra danced with her father and cried many tears of joy. As far as she was concerned, it was the happiest day of her life.

After that, my father departed for the border and the two of us made our way to Cassandra's room.

She hummed to herself as we walked and held my arm in hers.

Technically, I was a Prince now.

A very very nervous Prince.

Once we got to Cassandra's room, she gently shut the door behind us and locked it.

"Umm...so... What do we...do...exactly?" I asked.

I knew what was supposed to happen... Just not how to do it...

Cassandra smiled.

"You have a seat on the bed, darling. I'll just go get cleaned up," she said.

"Y-yeah... Then I can...also..." I mumbled.

Cassandra went into the bathroom as I sat on the bed. I was extremely nervous.

And as I sat there, I could hear my own heart beating.

Eventually, the water stopped and I heard her step out of the shower.

I prepared myself and stood up. Since she was done, I would also get cleaned up.

When the door opened, Cassandra walked out in a towel and a content smile on her face.

I went past her and into the bathroom. After I showered, I came out in a towel and found Cassandra sitting on the bed in a lovely, yet...very revealing evening gown.

"Ah...C-cassandra?" I said nervously.

She held her arms out while looking at me with adoration.

"Miziiiik~! Come to me, darling! Let me make you mine!" She said happily.

* * *

When I awoke after what was perhaps the wildest night of my entire life, I had a horrible headache and my body felt like it was sore all over.

I had another dream, of course, but I couldn't remember how I died this time.

Not that I cared...

I saw an alert on my status menu.

My unknown skill was somehow modified and I selected it.

My eyes went wide as I saw everything that had happened.

{Skill Name: Unknown}

{Skill Description: ??????????}

{Attributes}

{Primary: ???????????}

{Secondary: Soul Link. The user's fated partner receives all effects of [UNKNOWN SKILL], and shares the primary users level, experience table, and all exp gains. Note: Primary and Secondary users stats are kept separate. Soul Link can only be used on one person. Current status: linked. Secondary user name: Cassandra Iratus.}

{Tertiary: ??????????}

I also saw another message that appeared.

{Note: Due to the Secondary user having a higher level, the Primary user's level has been adjusted instead.}

{Level 100 reached!}

{New ability unlocked: Vengeance Form Two: Dual Wield.}

{Class Up! Magic Knight > Arcane Executioner.}

On top of that, I gained several more abilities from Vengeance in the form of skills...

Is this because we...?

Warmage didn't say anything.

Instead, Cassandra woke up.

"Haaah...my life's goal is completed! I'm Mizik's wife now! That was such a romantic and wonderful experience!" She said joyfully.

You were more like a predator, actually... It was only romantic at the start...

Then she hugged and pushed me back down.

"Gah...please... Be gentle...everything hurts..." I said.

"Huh!? Was I...too rough...?" She asked.

"No... For some reason I leveled up... I'm level 100 now..." I said.

"Oh! Blessing of the Creator! Your unknown skill attached itself to me. This is amazing!!! Now I have this precious gift... Another part of Mizik is in me, now...ehehe..." She said.

Please...last night was truly insane... No more dirty things now...not until I feel better...

"Ugh...what is Blessing of the Creator?" I asked.

"That's the name of your unknown skill. I suppose I should explain myself now, but I'll wait for a bit. You need to rest and regain your strength!" She said.

"Explain yourself...?" I asked.

"Yes, darling. I said I would tell you everything. I...have a lot of things to say. Things that might be hard to accept... But I want you to trust me. Will you...?"

"Of course. I wouldn't have married you if I didn't..." I managed.

"Wonderful! I love you, darling~!" She said just before kissing my cheek.

Cassandra got out of bed, then went into the bathroom and started fixing her hair.

I laid back down and my eyes wandered over to the wardrobe.

{Go inSIde thE WArdroBE.}

I sighed as I saw the message from Warmage.

Why? Are you trying to ruin my marriage?

{No. IT wiLL HELP fIx THe MessAgEs.}

Fair enough...

I slowly and quietly got out of bed, then looked behind me.

The bathroom door was shut, but I still felt nervous about doing this...

I slowly approached the wardrobe.

My body ached, but I felt like I could still stand. When I touched the door, I felt my head start to hurt.

{IgnoRE tHe pAIn. iT'll pASS.}

I slowly opened the door and...

...I was surprised to find absolutely nothing. The wardrobe was empty. Although I could see a small indentation in the corner.

I pressed on it and the panel in the back slid open revealing several steps down into a dark abyss...

Is this what they meant by dungeon...?

I activated my night vision passive and slowly made my way down.

The deeper I got, the more uneasy I felt about the whole thing...

I felt more panicked by the second... Already, I missed laying in bed with my wife... Why did I listen to this stupid message...?

Soon, I came to a single cell and walked in through the open door.

I had seen this place before...

In my dreams...I would be here...

Always being tortured by someone I couldn't make out...

A horrifying fear began to wash over me.

"Wait...h-hold on a second... If this is here...th-then...that means..."

{You mARRied a PsYChoPAth wHo HAs KiLLed YoU nUMerouS TIMes.}

My eyes went wide in terror as I saw the message and I heard footsteps behind me.

"M-mizik!? What...what have you done!?" Cassandra said fearfully.

Suddenly...images began flashing in my head and I dropped to my knees.

My head hurt so badly I couldn't think straight...

I started seeing images rapidly of being tortured by Cassandra...

I felt her gentle touch on me and heard her crying as I blacked out.

* * *

"So we're agreed then?" One of the other Miziks said.

"Yeah. I think it sounds like a good deal," I said.

"Good. You'll converge with this one since you're the most recent Mizik. Number 1000 will converge with number 1001. You should go now," Mizik 27 said.

He was an old man. A version of myself I had become attached to.

"Don't forget us, 1k. Kill that Oracle and make her suffer for what she's been doing to us," Mizik 527 said.

"Kill her. Leave nothing left... And also, good luck with Cassandra," Mizik 311 said.

He was one of the ones that had actually died at her hand.

"You're lucky, man. Cassandra and I were also married... You get to experience that again," Mizik 156 said.

This guy was a weirdo who somehow managed to impress her and marry Cassandra without being tortured. He was killed by the shadow dragon.

Lastly, the one who had become a very good friend...Mizik number 998, stepped forward.

He smiled and extended his hand.

I shook it.

"If you ever meet the Demon Queen of Crystals, tell her I said hi," he said.

This guy went to a place called Tanavol and managed to fall in love with a Demon Queen. He was killed by a rival Demon King.

I had died one thousand times.

All because this stupid Oracle couldn't seem to do her damn job...

As I allowed myself to fade and began floating into the sky, I heard a commotion.

Right on schedule...good.

"What the-!?"

"STOP HIM!!!"

"GET BACK, YOU CRAZY MIZIK!!!"

Mizik number 999.

The one just before me.

He wasn't typically allowed to be in the same area as the sane Miziks, but we had made a deal.

A marvelous deal.

We would converge as I left this horrible place and become one with Mizik 1001. After that, we would take revenge on the Oracle as a single mind.

He flew out of the crowd and leaped into the air. He grabbed onto my leg and smiled up at me.

"Took you long enough... You had me worried," I said.

"As if I would miss the chance to get out of this horrid place? Come on. Know yourself better!" 999 said.

I smiled.

"The Oracle will pay... We'll kill them all..."

"And burn it down..."

At that point, we reached the sky and his body disappeared as it merged with mine. Our minds became one as I faded from this place.

When I awoke, I was laying on the cold dungeon floor of that horrible dungeon.

Cassandra was crying over me.

"Please... Please get up! I don't want to go back again! I'm so sorry! I hate this place! Why can't it just disappear!?" She said.

"Don't cry, Cassandra," I said.

I sat up and looked at her.

"M-mizik? Your eyes...they're like..."

I smiled.

"Yeah. I'm back...and really fucking pissed."

"Wait... You mean you remember?"

"My memories are still coming back. But the me from the previous timeline and the one before that have fused with this Mizik. Our thoughts, memories, and emotions are still converging. It took a lot of effort to get here, though..." I said.

"Then...you're going to abandon me..." She said.

Cassandra covered her eyes and wept bitterly.

"I was finally living my greatest dream... And now it's all gone... All because of this stupid dungeon! Why!? Why do I have to be so alone!? Uwaaa... My wonderful life is over!" She cried.

Tears were truly streaming down her face. Almost like waterfalls... Hearing her voice like this actually hurt me very deeply despite how angry I was with her.

The last time I had heard someone weep with such sorrow, I was at the Iratus Estate. And once again, it was Cassandra...

Understandably, she was crying because she assumed I had the intention of divorcing her and pursuing Isabella.

The pain of always being second...the forgotten child...the spare.

And when she would finally be first, it would be taken away almost immediately.

I was sick of it. Yeah, she did terrible things, but I couldn't deny her true feelings.

She was human. A flawed person, but deserving of love and affection just as much as anyone else.

So instead of confirming her fears, I decided to put an end to her suffering once and for all.

I gently placed a hand in her crying face and kissed her on the lips.

"No. It's only just begun. This is our life now, right?" I said.

She looked confused.

"B-but...you wouldn't want...to be with me... I'm worthless...not worthy of you! I hurt you so much! Uwaaaaaa..."

"I combined with this Mizik. We share the same feelings now. Meaning whether I wanted to or not, I'm deeply in love with you, Cassandra. And I wouldn't trade that for anything. You're not worthless. You helped me get my memories back. You've done me a truly invaluable service. For that, you'll be rewarded with being able to continue as we are. Don't forget that you're only human. We make mistakes. You deserve to be loved just like anyone else. However...I still have to scold you," I said.

She smiled and looked at me adoringly.

"I'll accept any punishment! As long as my darling Mizik still loves me as his wife!" She said.

I gritted my teeth in rage and took a moment to calm myself.

"You took advantage of the situation because you kept your memories! That was wrong!"

She recoiled at my malicious tone and remained in place.

"I know... But I couldn't bear the thought of my darling Mizik being orphaned and homeless! Or being forced to kill goblins in a sewer again..."

"I understand. But did you have you marry me?"

"Ah...yes... Yes I did! I regret nothing! Now Mizik and I are married forever! And...w-we had such a romantic night together..." Cassandra said as she dried her eyes and gave me a truly joyful smile. "I feel so relieved... I'm so happy! This is even better than my previous dream yesterday! The one I hurt...the Mizik I longed for so badly is my husband! I'm so lucky!!! I feel like I could die from happiness!!!"

She was shaking with pure joy and fidgeting happily.

I felt my face heat up, strangely...

The younger me was still somewhat nervous around her, but I decided to not let it bother me.

This body was also that of a 14-year-old with very-active hormones...

It didn't help that she was still in her underwear.

"Damn it all... You really went overboard, you know? Especially with last night... By Iris... Still, I have to admit, that was probably by far the best sex I've ever had."

"Ah...I'm glad! But...I'm sorry, my darling... I...g-gave my first to that other version of you... I'm so sorry... If I could, I-"

I held up my hand to silence her.

"Did you forget? He's me. We're both Mizik. Our minds, our souls...every part of us has become one. I have his memories, his feelings, and his emotions. Actually, saying they're his would be inaccurate. They're mine. And the previous Mizik's feelings and memories are also mine. So yes, that was my first time too...again...I guess."

"Th-then that means...yes!!! I'm so happy!!! I gave my darling Mizik my first! A-and...I took Mizik's first as well!" She squealed.

"Yeah...I feel terrible about this, though... Isabella is going to be pissed..." I said.

"Umm...darling... Isabella doesn't have any memories. She forgot all about you... It's a terrible sin she's committed..." Cassandra said as she composed herself.

She was still shaking with happiness, though.

I'd held some hope before this, but the realization was now setting in.

That damn Oracle took my wife away from me...

Words couldn't express the pain and anger I felt.

It took every fiber of my being not to explode with indignant rage at the thought of that old bitch sitting on her shitty throne.

I had to get my life together before anything else. My revenge would come. And it would be glorious. But first...

"We'll have to jog her memory, somehow. I'll talk to her, Cassandra."

"Mizik...I already tried that. She didn't believe me when I told her everything... She thought I had some kind of weird dream. I still don't know how I kept my memories, either," she said.

"Hmm... Well, I still want to try. She's my wife...or...was... I owe her my life many times over. I'm sorry, but Isabella will always be my wife," I said.

"Th-then...if that will make my darling Mizik happy...I will allow it. Even if I really wanted to be Mizik's everything and have him all to myself... But could I...be the second wife?" She asked.

She looked so hopeful... Despite my anger, I truly wanted to see her smile.

And I never wanted to see her cry such bitter tears of sadness ever again.

"You'll always be my wife as well, Cassandra," I said.

She began crying again... But this time, they were tears of joy.

Geez...stop crying! You've been doing that so much lately!

Still...having two wives felt really wrong.

Like I was cheating on both of them at the same time...

Half of me loved Isabella and half loved Cassandra.

Honestly, I hated this... I never intended for it to end up this way and I was secretly really pissed at Cassandra for taking advantage of me like that...

She knew I was watching and did it anyway!

How selfish could she be!? Didn't she know what kind of role that put me in!?

But I suppose I couldn't blame her... She had no idea if I would ever regain my memories...

Ugh...I hate this situation... Why couldn't I have just ignored the damn Oracle...? But then again, if I had ignored her, I wouldn't have returned after getting killed by Difar in the timeline before the last. And I wouldn't have such a great opportunity to get revenge, either...

"Mizik...? Can we...talk somewhere else? I really...really hate this dungeon..." Cassandra said sadly as she finally calmed down.

"Let's talk in your room, then. We have a lot of things to discuss. Also, you need to put some clothes on. You're still in your underwear," I said.

"Oh...? Do you like what you see, darling? I could always show you more..." She said as she placed her hand on one of her bra straps.

I felt my face heat up and looked away.

"Just...put some damn clothes on..."

"Ehehehe~!"

After we went upstairs, Cassandra put a shirt on then sat down. She hadn't put on any pants yet, but I didnt mind.

I got dressed and sat down with her to discuss our current situation. That whole time, I'd been in my underwear. And her dungeon was quite cold...

"First of all, I need you to tell me exactly what happened when you woke up. I need to know how you retained your memories. Secondly, I'll explain what happened on my end. I had plenty of time to come up with a plan that I've already begun putting into action," I said.

"Plan? You mean with Cain?"

"Yes. I want to hunt down and kill the Oracle for what she did to me and all the other me's... There were one thousand of us, by the way."

"O-one thousand...M-miziks!? Th-that sounds like heaven..."

"Not when most of them hate you, no. But I need power to kill the Oracle. She's absurdly strong and I have just the guy to do it... As much as I hate him, our goals align in this instance. He'll be invaluable to us," I said with a smile.

I felt a truly malevolent darkness growing in my heart as I allowed my face to twist.

At the same time, I'd forgotten how nice it was to smile freely.

"I see. You plan to enlist Difar to help us. Do you think he'll do it?"

"That fucker doesn't have a choice. He's been reset a thousand times and this could be his one shot at escaping the loop. He needs my help and I need his. He won't refuse a chance to finally be free. He'd have to be a complete moron. More so than he already is. Now, Cassandra, tell me everything that happened when you woke up."

Cassandra smiled at me and leaned forward.

I tilted my head in confusion.

"You have to pay the toll!" She said playfully.

Go on and rub it in. You got your way... Damn it all...!

I kissed her and she looked at me with adoration.

"This is amazing! I'm Mizik's wife~! I can never be happier than this!!! This must be heaven!!"

"Please focus... If you do this for me, I'll violate the living crap out of you later as a reward. Sound good?"

"Yes! That sounds amazing, darling!"

Cassandra smiled and began her tale.