Chapter 117
by 
Gambio
What's next?
Solution
“Drop out, Daddy.”
These were the first words Cassandra spoke to me when we retreated to the master bedroom.
To say I was surprised would be an understatement.
...
Did I just hear her correctly? Dropping out? It came so out of nowhere that I needed a few moments to form a response. “You do know I can't do this, right? I'm a Lucky Loser.”
But Cassandra merely shrugged her shoulders at my objection. “So what?”
“Uh...but I can’t…”
The huntress stared at me. Then she sighed loudly and talked to me as if she would walk a student through a difficult problem. “Daddy, what do you think happens if a Lucky Loser drops out?”
“I get punished by the full extend of the Free Cities law”, I told her. “I have a tracking spell on me so it’s not like I cant just escape. Want me to show you the contract?”
Cassandra groaned. “I know what’s in the contract, Daddy. Yes, that is how it works on paper. But that’s just for the association to cover their asses. They don’t have any legal authority to enforce this outside the Free Cities.”
“I mean, even if you think so...”
“Shut up and listen.” Cassandra impatiently continued. “We wait until the maid and Sexy-Knight are back. Maid gets bound and gagged. Nothing violent, we just have to prevent her from ratting us out for a bit. That gives us at least a day head start. We move northwards, towards the Barao mountains, avoid the big towns and stay low profile. You can leave the details to me. I know a route that gets us over the border in five days. By the time the association takes any action we’re already in Helman.”
As Cassandra was laying her plan all out I could do nothing but stare at her dumbfounded. “You want me to just...run away?”
“Anyone fucking would in your situation”, Cassandra stated clearly.
I shook my head. “The **** association has offices all across the continent. There’s no way they will ignore this just because we leave the Free Cities.”
“That would be the case under normal circumstances.”
“What do you mean?”
Cassandra smirked at me, as if my obliviousness was somehow amusing to her. “Think about it Daddy. You have amassed a considerable assortment of fighters. Capturing Sylphid alone would take a fucking army. Then there’s the money. Not just your prize money. Sylphid’s loaded too. Between all of us we have enough fucking gold to bribe or hire whoever we want.”
…
The huntress continued. “The association will send a few mercenaries after us. Maybe put a bounty on you, just for show. Do a token effort and then quietly bury the whole thing after a few months. Last thing they want is dragging this shitshow out for years.”
…
I don’t think Cassandra is lying here. It would really be that easy.
But even so
I slowly shook my head. “I can’t just abandon Valkyrie. Not after all she’s done for us.”
Cassandra predictably scoffed. “Don't give me that crap. Is the Galmon really worth all of us? I get it, you don't give a shit about me, but there are at least some other girls you care about, right? Your own hubris will get them all enslaved. And this is Minerva, trust me, the cunt will make them suffer a fate worse then dead.”
I couldn't deny that Cassandra had a point.
“And then there’s your reason for being in this in the first place. Finding your sister, was it? You can kiss that one goodbye as well if the cunt enslaves you.”
“You don’t have to tell me that.”
“Apparently I do, because you fucking don’t get it! The Lucky Charm won’t amount to shit and the cunt’s too smart to fall for anything. You can’t win this, Daddy!”
I tried to remain calm. “Cassandra, listen, I don’t plan to walk into this fight just to get myself enslaved. I have a plan.”
“It won’t work!”
Cassandra was now screaming at me. “It doesn’t take a fucking genius to figure out what that plan is! Don’t you get it? The cunt is expecting it! If you fight, you will lose! She will enslave you and then everyone you care for will die!”
For a moment we just stared at each other. I saw Cassandra lose her temper many times before. But this, this was different.
“Please…” she finally whispered. “Daddy, if you insist on this, please kill me. I don’t want to be at the mercy of that cunt. Please.”
No, this wasn’t just Cassandra losing her temper.
Cassandra was scared.
It send a shiver down my spine.
Whatever happened between her and Minerva. It was monstrous enough to bring out this much of a reaction.
Cassandra might not be the best person but she doesn’t deserve that. Nobody deserves that and it is exactly why I can’t sacrifice Valkyrie.
I slowly, gently put a hand on her shoulder. “Cassandra...what...”
Cassandra was breathing heavily. Even with the safety order emotional muting routine it seems to take everything out of her to not completely lose it. She might be a slaver, she might be someone that I initially wanted to punish, but to see her like this. To see her this fragile. It wasn’t something I could stomach.
It is clear that this history with Minerva is not something she wants to share. But perhaps I need her to. It might be the very key I need to bring us all through this.
However, based on what happened in the arena today, this will be...unpleasant.
About Heroine routes
From her on out various girls will have heroine routes. A heroine route is always highlighted by their name in bracket as seen here (Cassandra route) The heroine branches are what if scenarios, if you wish to stick to the main branch, please pick the other option.
About locks
Heroines routes may have numerous locks that are required to be read first before gaining access to them. The required locks will be depicted on the chapter prior.
(Yes, I know nothing prevents you from just ignoring this and reading the chapter anyways. Shut up and let me be extra)
Cassandra heroine route
Required locks
