Chapter 31: Not Every Old Friend is Actually a Friend

                                    

                                          
Levi was screaming. "D'AAAAAAH!"
                          
Mammon was panicking. "OH MAN OH MAN OH MAN OH MAN IT'S GONNA EAT US! LIKE, FOR REAL!"
                          
Ivy's eyes picked up on the serpentine creature chasing them. Asmo blinked. "... Wait. What's that thing chasing them?"
                          
Ivy stared at Asmo with shock. Did he not know what a snake was?! Solomon answered before Ivy could lose her shit. "It's a snake, and a really big one at that."
                          
"Gah... it's giant. And disgusting! Ugh, I hate having to look at unattractive things."
                          
Ivy flinched. This was unattractive in his eyes? Her hand trailed to her bang. She then heard her old friend. "Hey, how 'bout you stop talkin' and HEEEEEELP!"
                          
Beel nodded. "I am a fan of eating, but I'm not interested in being eaten."
                          
Solomon sighed, exasperation laced in it. "As if we didn't already have enough problems as it is, they had to go and bring us another one. Well, we'd better get out of here."
                          
Levi whirled to Solomon. "Get out of here and go where, exactly?!"
                          
Ivy turned to Solomon. "Same question."
                          
Solomon put a blank face on. "Just shut up and follow me."
                          
-Timeskip-
                          
After following Solomon, the group stopped somewhere. Asmo looked back the way they came. "... Looks like we managed to lose it somehow."
                          
Mammon crossed his arms. "Yeah, but what're we s'posed to do now, huh? You expect us to hide here forever?"
                          
Ivy turned to him. "Ditto."
                          
Beel turned his eyes on Mammon. "You're the one that woke that snake up, Mammon. You don't get to complain."
                          
Mammon rolled his eyes. "Hey, I didn't wake it up! I just saw a snakeskin lyin' on the ground and figured I'd sell it for a pretty nice sum! But when I tried to grab it to take it with me, it turned out there was still a snake inside! That's when that monster suddenly came after us, all mad 'n stuff...!"
                          
Levi piped up. "He's NOT a monster. He's Henry 1.0."
                          
Asmo eyed him. "What...?"
                          
Ivy was also confused. "Huh?"
                          
Mammon blinked. "Henry...? Wait, you mean THAT Henry?!"
                          
Beel tilted his head. "Are you sure?"
                          
Levi hummed. "I know Henry when I see him. And that is Henry, no doubt about it. I can't believe I'd find him down here of all places..."
                          
Ivy was still confused. "Henry? What are you talking about?"
                          
Zach shared her confusion. "I'm confused as well."
                          
Beel was the one who spoke up. "He's talking about the pet snake he used to have. Every time Levi gets a new pet, he names it Henry."
                          
Asmo tapped his finger to his chin. "Umm... I want to say you're on your fourth Henry at this point, right?"
                          
Levi shook his head. "No, you're WAY off. I'm currently keeping Henry 2.0. I kept Henry 1.0 in his glass case and took really good care of him, but one day he disappeared. How many years has it been at this point, I wonder...? He was in his case in my room that day, and the doors and windows were all shut, yet he still managed to vanish without a trace. I looked all over for him. Later, when I moved rooms, I expected to find his bones. Every time I picked up something to move it, I was scared. But I never did find the remains of Henry 1.0. I don't believe it. I never thought I'd see him again...! But here he is, alive and well--and he's gotten so BIG! Oh, it's such a relief. I'm so glad he's all right."