Rosanna

One whole year…

Noah had been waiting for one full year just to make sure he would be able to hunt down this Nadin Jaeger, the terrorist that ruined his life for no reason at all. He could still recall his plans for a peaceful future even though he was supposed to raise a hellhound named Caliga.

This story was for another day, and yet if he didn't have a contract with Belphegor, he wouldn't know how to live his life anymore.

He couldn't even accept that he had no more life after that bombing.

It's just that… back then, he was too powerless to even catch the culprit. The King of demons had prevented Belphegor and even the handsome man, Mephistopheles, from helping Montana Mills exact his revenge easily.

As he had to gain his power using his very own body, he was forced to completely shatter his humanity by becoming a Shadow Hand—one of the most elite assassins of a secret, nameless organization.

He waited and suffered inwardly for a year, and a year was too long for someone embraced by sloth. If he didn't have his hellhounds to tend to, he wouldn't be adjusting to this new life pretty much as he did today. Now that Nadin had returned, he was supposed to be able to kill him off now, right?

However…

Mammon and Belphegor only looked at him as if they could already see the incoming frustration in Noah's eyes.

The child spoke again, "Not really."

The eruption he expected from Noah didn't show as Noah only twitched his lips to prevent his ridiculing smirk from being apparent.

"Actually, we are still to play spectators according to the King's wish," Mammon continued, "However, since this war between the witches is a rare opportunity to test ourselves against our brothers…

"We might as well make things personal." Mammon's lips curled into a mischievous smile. "This request to retrieve the cambion… is mine. You did a good job of bringing her as soon as Mephisto dropped the job order on you."

"Cambions are unholy unions of demons and humans. The girl… is she…?"

Noah expected that things wouldn't change, but he was somewhat intrigued by what the demon princes were insinuating. Since he gave a reason for them to fight, they might as well try to fight for fun. These demon princes sure did have a lot of time in their hands.

"Satan's spawn from one of his witches? Yes."

"…did I steal her from her mother?"

"Not really." There went Mammon's shrug and nonchalant words again. "The witch had been killed by Satan herself, and he wanted the child for himself. You can say that we are saving this spawn from eternal damnation."

Before Noah could answer, Mammon continued after a pause. "This is where Nadin Jaeger comes in. His mission is to locate and retrieve the cambion. Kill everyone who stands in his way."

Belphegor also joined in the discussion. "Aside from Nadin, all the other witches of Satan are being mobilized to retrieve her. Why… is something we wanted to know as well, but that would be Mephisto's job to do. However, as tight as you two are, you might as well assist him in dealing with the witches.

"You did say you will after all."

Noah's lips lifted into a slight smile as he heard about the pitting. He had been bathing in blood for a long time now, but he hadn't encountered other witches yet. If he would actively help Mephisto with the assignment, then he should be able to test his power against them.

He had a lot of training in killing normal humans. As for witches, he had yet to have experience.

Laquisha, who was only staying quiet in one spot, had been drowning in her thoughts. She was not Noah who could just follow the current so fast. She was still processing that the demon prince and ruler of greed demons had visited her house personally. Even her handler hadn't even seen Mammon in person yet!

Now, now, she couldn't even start with Noah not being shocked upon seeing them. She could understand that the chances of seeing Mephistopheles was greater than winning the grand lottery, but seeing a demon prince was less than the chances of a solar flare destroying the sun. However, right now, there were two of them in her waiting room…

Yet, Noah… this scumbag… didn't even bother being polite.

"Of course, if Laquisha Gray wanted to help out as well, I don't mind." Mammon then eyed at his witch that was on the verge of hyperventilating. "No need to feel so honored. I'll be taking over your contract as well so I can personally reward you… at the same time, punish you for any failure."

"Huh?" Laquisha was taken back to reality when she heard Mammon's words. A contract that was being handled by a demon prince? Wouldn't that be…? "No shit…?"

"En, you heard me correctly." Mammon chuckled before turning to Noah again. "What name are you using now? Noah Rocco? Okay, Noah Rocco, I'll be expecting cooperation from you. Moreover, Lady Dione wanted you to have this."

He produced a small stone that was glowing blue like it was containing power from the blue flames of the freezing level of Hell. Noah walked closer to receive it and immediately recognized the power coming from the stone.

His lips smiled deeper. "Please let Lady Dione know that Caliga would be so happy for this."

Mephisto finally broke his silence after hearing everyone else talk. "I don't want to impose on you, but I cannot take this child to Hell. Satan will find her. Meaning… I will be placing Rosanna in your capable hands…"

"Her name is Rosanna?" Noah lifted his brows and readily accepted the babysitter task. All of this started with a babysitting task after all so he readily agreed to it. Caliga and the rest of the hellhounds given to him by Lady Dione, the mother of Asmodeus's hellhounds, were all willing to help him as well.

Having another critter to take care of wasn't new. It's just that… it's not a hellhound.

"What kind of power does she have?" Laquisha would inevitably look after her as well since the child would be in her house. She needed to know what to expect.

"I still have no idea. Some spawns wouldn't inherit anything unless Satan had already handed them power." Mephisto shrugged before tapping his finger against his lip. "Oh, it's almost time for us to leave. Make sure you won't get in trouble just because you're excited."

Noah only chuckled. "I only have nine more years in my cycle. I can't let him get away again… so I will be planning my moves."

A crackle echoed from Belphegor. His witch? Succeeding? No way. In the end, he would still see Noah fall down from the heights. As for how high would he be able to achieve before he falls? Perhaps only Noah could decide… while avoiding all of Belphegor's traps in the way.

Mammon seemed to be satisfied with this peculiar witch as well. He didn't need to deal with annoying speeches about how honored they were or how they tremble at his feet. Even if he felt good hearing those, he had gotten sick of it.

If only Asmodeus gave him gold every time someone did that, he would surely get mad for casual greetings.

Without much excusing, all three men vanished in an instant—Mephisto just waving a hand. Laquisha finally let out a breath while Noah came to check up on that child he picked up just earlier. However, there was no need to wake her up tonight. The moon was already high up in the sky.

"I'm gon to sleep." Laquisha yawned and left, making Noah deal with the food and drinks on the table. Even though the man could complain, he was the freeloader in the house of diamonds.

"Cali, help me carry all of these." Noah called as soon as Laquisha had gone away. The biggest black dog in the group appeared beside him and waited for Noah to put the tray on his head. Noah balanced the glasses and the plates on the tray before watching Caliga carry the tray to the kitchen.

"Rosanna, huh…" Noah looked back at the girl before following his hellhound.

…

The night had proceeded with Noah attending to a lot more things in the house. His lazy nature was slowly being replaced, but it wasn't because he was being diligent. It was because Laquisha would be scolding him in the morning, and listening to her while doing the chores were troublesome and annoying.

When he finished, he came back to the waiting room and fetched the sleeping girl. He put her up on his bed and asked Mediis to watch over her. The smaller hellhound climbed the bed and lied next to the child, her soft red eyes locking their sight on her.

Noah then invited all the hellhounds to huddle around him so he could have a wider space to sleep. He had been sleeping like this anyway so what was new with having Rosanna on his bed? With Caliga the one supporting his back and his head, Noah seemed to fall into a dream…

A very long dream… as if recalling his life before this all happened.