"Mm-hmm."
Cael nodded in satisfaction. "Exactly. I'm counting on you, Falling Devil."
"Of course."
The Falling Devil bowed deeply toward him. To her, this exchange felt like enlightenment. Her culinary philosophy had reached an entirely new level.
"I understand now. Using love to color fear creates a dish far superior to fear alone. Please allow me to know your name."
"Call me Cael," he replied with a faint smile.
The name etched itself firmly into her mind.
Listening to you is worth more than ten years in the kitchen.
"Cael, thank you for your generous guidance."
She carefully adjusted her chef hat again. Proper cooking required proper respect.
"Rest assured, you and Yoru will experience a magnificent dining experience."
Raising her right hand, two fingers pointed upward before slowly turning downward.
"Please, fall."
The gravity reversal activated instantly.
Even without despair weighing on their hearts, Cael and Asa were still dragged upward toward Hell in the sky.
Wind roared past their ears as their bodies accelerated.
"Asa, we're heading to Hell. Scared?"
"If I'm dying with you, I'm not afraid."
Cael chuckled softly. "Then let's drop in together."
High above the night sky, a wooden door carved with intricate patterns suddenly appeared.
Creak.
The door opened.
Their falling bodies passed through before it slammed shut behind them.
Cael and Asa Mitaka entered Hell.
Darkness swallowed everything.
Endless black stretched in every direction. Only a massive dinner plate beneath them and the distant Gate of Hell could barely be seen.
Even someone as strong as Cael felt a chill crawl down his spine.
Asa reacted more strongly, her breathing cautious as she clung tightly to him for comfort.
Creak.
The door opened again, light briefly cutting through the darkness.
The Falling Devil stepped in carrying a shopping bag.
"Please wait a moment while I finish the final plating before serving."
"Good," Cael said, giving her a thumbs up. "You're seriously dedicated."
"Oh my, you flatter me."
She decided to demonstrate her knife skills.
Sharp movements sliced through the air as fruits and strange bloody ingredients spun around her body.
Within seconds, decorations arranged themselves across the plate in a grotesque yet artistic pattern.
Then came serving time.
Clap. Clap.
"Dear customer who placed the order," she announced politely, "today's main course, Asa Mitaka and Yoru. Please enjoy."
Something began moving within the darkness.
Wet, heavy sounds crept closer.
The client had arrived.
Cael steadied himself and pulled Asa into his arms. Everything was still moving according to plan.
Suddenly, his vision went completely black.
The thick smell of blood filled the air.
They had been swallowed whole.
"Oh my," the Falling Devil said with satisfaction. "Even the plate was eaten. What a greedy child."
Before her stood the enormous Eternity Devil.
Its massive body twisted like living sludge. It lacked a face, possessing only a gigantic opening surrounded by finger-like growths used for feeding.
After its death at Makima's hands in the human world, the Eternity Devil had reincarnated in Hell.
Unfortunately for it, Fami quickly took control again.
Fami favored this devil because its power could endlessly generate hunger, making it perfect for manipulation.
The Falling Devil's order had been placed through that arrangement.
Despite being far larger, the Eternity Devil trembled before the weakened Primal Devil. It swallowed everything instantly, not daring to leave even a scrap behind.
Inside the devil's stomach.
Darkness lasted only a moment.
Thud.
Cael landed while holding Asa, taking the impact himself so she remained unharmed.
But something felt wrong.
According to his expectations, they should have landed in corrosive stomach acid.
Instead, beneath him was something soft.
A large white bed.
The two bounced slightly upon landing, their positions becoming messy under warm yellow lighting.
Cael blinked.
"This is supposed to be a devil's stomach? Looks more like a normal room."
Without immediate danger, Asa relaxed considerably.
As long as Cael was beside her, loneliness never reached her.
She looked around curiously.
The room was tidy, filled with a faint lavender scent. Across from the bed stood a curved LCD television. Warm lighting hung from a chandelier while an air conditioner hummed quietly, blowing comfortable heat.
Asa glanced at Cael while he examined the room seriously.
He's so handsome...
Her lips parted slightly as she swallowed.
Why does it suddenly feel hot in here?
Something had to be wrong with her.
They had just been eaten by a devil, yet her thoughts kept drifting back to the bite marks Cael left earlier.
Maybe they were about to die.
But being alone together like this felt strangely thrilling.
She loosened her collar slightly.
"This place feels weird," Asa said, pointing around them. "Look at the bed and that mirror. They're heart shaped."
Cael rubbed his chin. "Yeah, whoever designed this had questionable taste."
Asa froze for a moment.
Did he seriously not get it?
She leaned against his back casually.
"I've seen rooms like this online. Probably a couple's hotel suite. Mostly for setting the mood."
"Makes sense."
Cael barely reacted, already focusing elsewhere.
Reaching toward a drawer beneath the TV, he muttered, "Dark Water."
Click.
Every drawer slid open at once, their contents flying into his hand.
Handcuffs. Whips. Candles.
Cael went silent.
Asa stared, stunned.
You can even do stuff like this?
A dangerous curiosity flashed through her mind before Cael tossed everything aside in disgust.
Among the junk, he picked up a cute electronic watch.
Asa felt oddly disappointed.
She reached forward, fingers brushing his clothes as she slowly undid one button.
Continuing the attack.
She leaned closer and whispered near his ear.
"Hey... pay attention to me."
Cael turned slightly, distracted.
"21:18:35. The second hand stopped. Is this thing broken?"
Seriously?
Even now?
Asa snapped internally.
No more hints.
Suddenly Cael stiffened and grabbed her wandering hand before it reached somewhere very dangerous.
"Asa, chill. Now's really not the time."
"This is your fault," she muttered.
In one sudden motion, Asa flipped him onto the bed and pinned his wrists down.
Cael stared up at her, stunned.
"Asa... now? Are you serious?"
Her expression carried reckless determination.
"I don't care. My head feels like it's breaking. Only you can keep me sane. I don't want to drag you down, Cael."
Cael let out a helpless laugh.
"Yeah... figures."
Cause and effect.
If he started something, he had to deal with the consequences.
Asa smiled mischievously.
"That forced smile looks awful. Let me fix it."
"Mmph."
===
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