I Really Like Your Face

Terror crawled all over Montana when he saw the armed men. Since they had high-caliber guns, it only meant that they could smuggle those things freely. It also meant that they could be assassins like Laquisha. He had even seen the annoyance on Laquisha's face…

She wouldn't be able to get through this unscathed, would she?

Montana didn't know much about Laquisha's work, but she's a long-ranged fighter. She killed through her high-powered sniper rifles and could leave the scene in a jiffy. Close encounters like this were not her forte—more so when she had to protect Montana.

"Mon." Mephisto's voice echoed in Montana's mind, but he wasn't around. "Remember when I told you that you should learn on-the-job? Are you ready to start?"

'How could I save her?'

"Easy, you kill them all. Listen, the first thing you need to get accustomed to… is speed. Hellhounds are known to be speedy, and they generally use their weight—rather than their muscles—in delivering blows. Curl your hand like claws and attack those men.

"However, as you don't have actual power yet, you won't do enough damage. Let Caliga swat them like flies, but he would be masking his claws through your movements." Mephisto laughed out. "It would be a good practice for you really. Come on, try it out.

"Aim… and slash!"

Montana looked at the side, and Caliga was already waiting for his command. Caliga was a high-level and an actual blue-blood hellhound, and so his presence could only be sensed by super high-level witches. Since he was spoken to by Mephisto before Mephisto spoke to Montana, the black dog naturally knew what they were about to do.

With that, Montana stepped in front of the sniper assassin.

Subsequently, he put on a show and played the crazy man. However, even if he was not really a maniac, he enjoyed taking someone down in one smash. Blood painted his face, and his distinct black eyes scanned the dozen men.

"Who wants to get hit next?"

"Holy shit! Kill him!"

The leader aimed his gun at Montana, but he had already dashed away from sight. He sprinted on almost four limbs before grabbing the man's shoulder and sending an upward slash. His head got detached from the neck and had landed in front of Laquisha.

"Fuck!" Laquisha retreated inside the cave. The ground was slowly moving like underground vines were moving underneath the rocks and grass. She just got to a point where the vines all converged.

It wasn't much of a play time for Caliga, but Montana was visibly tired after he carved through the last person. Blood pooled underneath his feet and slathered on his totality. Caliga wanted to lick him clean, but the man only smiled and shook his head discreetly.

When he turned towards Laquisha, he was shocked to see her kneeling on one knee with vines all over her. The vines had already turned into what seemed to be a sniper rifle. He figured the bullet would be some kind of thorn.

He then raised his arms even if he was taking deep panting to catch his breath. Running around and swinging with all he got surely exhausted him and his body that lacked exercise. He smiled at Laquisha. "Miss Laquisha, I mean well."

"I mean well, my ass! What are you?! A witch of Belphegor normally relied on resources instead of physical power!" She cocked the rifle. "Tell me, are you really Montana Mills?!"

"I really am Montana Mills! I do have a contract with Belphegor!" Montana then gritted his teeth. "Mephisto told me he would help me strengthen my body… and that I shouldn't rely on Belphegor for that. I have to make use of my own body…"

"Bullshit!" Laquisha fired, and her vine rifle was like the anti-material that had a loud sound and strong recoil. She fired directly at Montana's abdomen, but the thorn bullet stopped just inches away from Montana.

Both of them were shocked, but clapping came after the bullet dropped to the ground. They turned to the side and saw Mephisto clapping on his way towards them.

He then grinned maniacally. "Goodness, don't kill him, Laquisha. He had done a very good job, and you want to terminate him?"

The woman flicked her sniper rifle to lock onto Mephisto. "About time you show up! What's this?!"

"Woman, don't even dare aim your gun at me." Mephisto flicked his hand, and the vine rifle exploded. Laquisha guarded with her arm and screamed along with another voice. He then arrived to a spot closer to Montana. "Hm, looked like Hyacinth is getting stronger."

"You!" Laquisha gritted her teeth and glared at the negotiator. She then got to her feet and stared begrudgingly at the two men. "I really hope you have an explanation."

"What kind of explanation should I give?" Mephisto stroked at his chin. "Ah, yes… Lady Dione volunteered to lend him her magic while Belphegor was forced to only hold the contract in name. He's only responsible for the rewards while Lady Dione, the capabilities."

Laquisha was taken aback. "Lady Dione? Why would she be involved in this?"

Mephisto only laughed out. "You see, we're gearing up for a war between Satan and Belphegor. It wasn't an exclusive thing so we can have as many people to join if they wanted. However, the demon princes were barred from actually participating. Hence, things would be deviating starting from today."

Her hands balled tightly in fright. However, vines crawled to wrap around her as if comforting and protecting her. A huge flower bloomed just next to Laquisha's head, and it had a face of a woman. However, her eyes were closed as well as her lips.

Laquisha reached out to stroke on the woman's face. "It's okay, Hyacinth." She then sighed as she eyed Montana. "Alright, I understand. I'm sorry for overreacting."

"No, no, it's my fault for not knowing how to say it to you!" Montana waved his hands in front of him. "Are you… not going to shoot me now? Are you still helping me?"

"Hm… yeah. I promised the organization a prodigy so I should deliver." Laquisha sighed as she brushed her fringe off of her face. "Next time, try to not hide things from me."

"Okay…" Montana only nodded, stealing a glance at Caliga next to him.

…

The outdoor bath was filled with cool water coming from the lake at a lower cavity. Montana was soaking up to his shoulders while Caliga was wading in the water as well. He had to get rid of the blood on his skin, and so he had to take bath. Besides, he indeed needed one after all.

"I… should get used to that…" He started at his reflection and brought his hands to his face. He then began to make faces to train the muscles every time he had to act crazy. His attacks were a lot creepier that way, he thought.

However, the longer he stared at his reflection, the more he remembered those surveillance video used against him. He didn't know if someone tampered with those while the crime was underway. No matter what happened, it had successfully framed him and made him responsible for a crime he didn't do.

"I hate this face…" Montana began squishing his face as if trying to remodel it like clay. "…but I like the way I look…"

"Let's make it younger or older then. Your call."

Montana then looked over his shoulder and saw knees. A little more push showed him some treasure, but the voice surely told him it was Mephisto. There went the negotiator and his exhibitionism again.

As if calling the bluff and taking advantage of it, Montana rolled to his side and found himself between Mephisto's legs. His arms wrapped around the demon's waist while his head leaned on one of his shoulders. The sloth witch then smiled at him. "Is this going to be a competition every time? I'll fight you."

Mephisto laughed out before reaching out to stroke at Montana's head. "Sure, sure."

However, his smile dropped as he looked coolly at the witch. "You want to alter the way you look? I would recommend it. What that terrorist did placed a mark in the people's head. If the organization saw you, they might mistake you for him.

"For a very long time, Bomberman didn't have a face. It seemed that he liked your face a lot, he used it to make a scene." Mephisto sighed. "I am aware that you owned it, but only big-time syndicates would know that face was borrowed… but after they met you."

"You will help me change my face… permanently?"

"Permanently, yes… but change… hm,"—he took a hold of Montana's chin and lifted his face for Mephisto to stare at some more—"I really like your face, too. We should just adjust the way you look and control your aging. Things that a witch could easily do."

Montana only nodded. "So how do I do that?"

The demon smiled sinisterly. Montana knew that this smile was nothing but a source of mischief. Whatever Mephisto was up to, he knew it would be something troublesome.

However, Montana only moved his head and shoved his face in between the demon's legs, teasing things with his nose and breath. "Can't I get something instant for once?"

Mephisto's eye twitched as he was pricked by his action. This sloth sheep was really trying to flirt with a demon? He wasn't even his handler. Then again, Mephisto was assigned to guide him; wasn't he a proxy handler at this point?

"I can… actually, but… you seem to want to wallow in this longer?" The demon grinned as his pseudo-material body was starting to respond to Montana's action.

"When I walk out of this bath, it should be changed already. Promise me that."

"You lazy baby sure don't want to work hard for a few things…"

When Montana opened his mouth and let his tongue direct the erection inside, Mephisto only chuckled to himself. No witch had even dared to get this close with him as he was equal to the demon princes. However, right now… he was being given something even an incubus might not even obtain so easily.

"How does it feel to be favored?"