Chapter 5: A deal with the devil
To explain the nature of the place I am going to, it deceives the senses and feelings. Do I look like a person who can handle a rush of emotions? I do not think so!
There is a way to solve this problem, but the monsters out there won't be watching me from afar...After all, that place is one of the Six Wonders of the World, and in this era, the Wonders of the World referred to "the dangers of the world."
Even some of the strongest people in the world would go there for no significant reason. I must somehow obtain resources and equipment; I don't mean anything like swords or other weapons. I don't know how to hold a sword and found little in the former Cassian's memories. I only need less than four items and plenty of supplies since my trip might be extended.
Although I cannot get anything useful because of the restrictions on me, I know exactly what I should do. I have to make a deal with the devil, not literally...
***
In a luxurious room... a middle-aged woman sat on a comfortable chair and examined the countless documents before her. The room was not very large since it was intended only for work. A table was in the middle, and a vast wooden door was directly across.
There were windows to the right of the table, through which the main palace gates could be seen. Raindrops hit the glass despite the advent of summer. Behind the table was a chair, and the woman sat on it... Her hair was hanging from behind the chair, and some white strands were in it, even though she was not even forty.
Some called this woman the Widow of Starhold because her husband, the current head of the family, was in a precarious position. Her status in this palace was equal to that of the family council, a remarkable achievement considering that her strength barely qualified her for a B+ rank.
It was all due to her insight and cleverness in seizing control of the family before Cassian thought of doing so. Despite all this, she is about to make the biggest mistake of her life.
"Lady Loana, someone wants to enter." Loana's expression changed; she was utterly immersed in paperwork and was just interrupted.
'Someone wants to meet me?' Is it the council?' After Darian went to the Hope Academy in the center of the Human nation, she didn't think anyone other than the Family Council would visit her.
Maybe they found out she spread rumors about the family heir, and they wanted to 'rebuke' her for it. Of course, she didn't care. Their status was equal, and she was sure they would do nothing to her. Loana hesitated a little, then sighed. She still needs to obey them now and then.
She spoke with a soft voice:
"Come in." Two fully armored soldiers opened the door, revealing a figure that Loana hated intensely- the one who would inherit the family throne if she didn't act soon.
'Only six months,' she thought. However, Cassian's arrival here revealed a bigger question: What in God's name is he doing here? Did he lose control again? Will he scream at her again, losing his mind? Loana laughed inwardly.
=+=
I entered the devil's den, and I must admit… this place was much more luxurious than my room, even though this was just an office. It took me a while to get here. I got lost a few times and had to ask the soldiers for directions.
The previous Cassian was pathetic. He only knew the directions to the lab and the palace exit, which was miserable.
"What?" I heard her voice. I was unconsciously terrified. This horror was not from me; it was an unconscious reaction from the body itself.
'Just leave already, man...' I sighed, then sat on the chair across the table without asking permission. I smiled when noticing the look of shock on her face. This woman is obsessed with ruling everything, so obsessed that sitting without her permission was enough reason for my death.
Of course, she won't do anything. I put my hands together and spoke with a confident smile. To achieve my goal, I must not show any hesitation.
"I'm here to make a deal."
"And what do you have? Will you give me one of those potions you 'invented'? I already told you I'm not interested.
"I noticed a little anger in her voice when she spoke. I remembered several conversations between her and the former Cassian, and they were all pathetic. He tried to please her with some of the high-level potions he made. He wanted a good relationship and considered her an aunt or a second mother.
But after that, her persecution didn't stop and even increased; Cassian lost his nerve and went to confront her. Loana used that as an excuse to send him to the corners of the palace and keep him there for several weeks until he became a depressed boy who barely went to the laboratory.
He was only 14 years old, easy to deceive, and pathetic. His fault was not complaining to the right person. Anyway, I'm not him, and I don't intend to ruin my situation within this family any further. And maybe I want to end this conversation quickly.
"Let's stop acting, shall we? I didn't come to the devil's den to watch a play." I hate Loana's mean style. She treated the former Cassian as if she loved him, doing everything for his benefit, even being cruel to him.
This prevented him from knowing the truth: Is she on his side? He had been deceived since childhood, and when he discovered the truth, it was already too late. Loana did not respond. She just looked at me with the same eyes.
"I will give you what you want more than anything in exchange for a few items."
Her expression finally changed; confusion was evident on her face, and I could easily guess her thoughts. She was probably shocked by my sudden change. The former Cassian did not dare raise his head in front of her after that incident.
Now, I didn't just raise my head; I came to make a deal with her, and even called her a devil. She quickly calmed herself, as I expected of her.
"Cassian.. As I told you, I don't want any of your potions..." She won't stop acting just because I told her to. She also seems to be enjoying this situation.
"I will ensure my death!" I felt a little nauseous when I said those words. There was no room for thoughts anymore. I'm starting to hate the plan.
"Hmm? What are you raving about?" It seems she's starting to take me more seriously.
"In exchange for four items and food supplies, I will go to Mountain of Fog!"
I saw her fist hit the wooden table, which immediately trembled, threatening to fall. This woman is robust compared to her fragile appearance.
"Is this some kind of joke, Cassian? You're the heir, and we can't afford to lose you!"
Oh, I nearly believed her. The feelings in her eyes seemed natural. I pointed to the ring she wore on her index finger. Only widows put a ring there..." Get me a contract. I refuse to believe you ran out of them." I pointed at her Storage ring, as many things could be stored there.
"You seem serious. I don't know exactly what you intend to do, but I won't stop you." Loana took out a white sheet of paper that glowed with a silver light and handed it to me with a unique fountain pen. It didn't take much time, and I didn't want much either, just four items and a few supplies, and in exchange, I should go to the Mountain of Fog.
It's one of the most dangerous places known to humanity. It does not matter a person's rank; the effect will be the same for everyone there. What matters there is the mind...I may suffer a little at first due to physical weakness, but when the trial begins, my mind will be all I have.
I sighed as I handed the paper back to Loana with my signature already on it. She looked pleased. She is no longer interested in acting. Once she signs this paper, everything will be over. It's only a matter of time, Her son will be the true heir! The contract quickly disappeared after all parties signed, and the two received a mental copy.
Loana sighed in relief and did not hesitate to speak out loud.
"Take him to the safe!" A shadow suddenly appeared behind her. I didn't recognize it, but I felt intense pressure. It was even more potent than Loana. I couldn't help but feel my bones slowly breaking under his pressure, and this pressure was so subdued I couldn't imagine his true strength.
As the individual closest to the clan's throne, Loana had many influential people under her belt, and this was undoubtedly one of them.
I sighed and followed the shadow outside. I looked at him briefly, noticing a tuft of yellow hair protruding from his mask. 'Is that…' I thought for a second.
'He's not important to me now anyway…'. I went out with him and decided not to think about anything anymore. Loana remained on her chair, muttering some words.
"Finally… Finally..."
***
=+=
My first time inside the family vault, the StarHold family, deserves to be called "royal."
Not even
Lots of pressure, no other solution…I will take a high-level Storage ring and a magical firearm. The most essential items are the
I wasn't afraid of them putting poison or anything like that; I made sure to put a "safe materials" clause in the contract. I will set out tomorrow since it is night now, and I have no intention of going to that place now.
After midnight... that place becomes a living hell that no human or devil can bear...I returned to my room and lay down while looking at the ceiling of the ornate bed. Today, my rest ends.
I sighed, realizing that my life in this world would be hell since I accepted my transition. I will probably regret my decision tomorrow. There is no turning back now; the contract has already been signed, and I will suffer pain worse than death if I don't fulfill my end of the bargain.
Well, it's not like there's another solution...I know everything about this world... Even if I am cursed, even if I am crazy, even if I am hopeless, pain always delivers the same result, which is victory. The more I suffer, the more I will gain. If I neglect now, I will regret it when the Demon King comes.
The pain I will experience then will be worse than anything I could feel here. I will keep this in mind. Whatever mental or physical pain I may feel tomorrow, it won't come close to what I would endure if I failed, not even if multiplied by a thousand.
"I hate myself.." I fell asleep right after.