Capítulo 34: Your Answer is Yes

While the data from the two phases of the exercise was being processed, Luca dragged Noah to the hallway in the guise of getting a drink for both of them. However, he actually pressed Noah against the wall, but he was keeping his distance.

It couldn't be called a kabedon as Luca didn't want to be so intimidating towards Noah.

However, the intensity of his glare was saying otherwise. Luca's eyes were so locked onto Noah's that the witch felt the need to avert from them. It's just that Noah wasn't the reactive type these days; he just continued to look back at Luca.

"Did I earn my answers?" Luca started as if he was asking for consent to act wild. Receiving a nod from the witch, Luca took a deep breath before speaking again. "Who is that man to you?"

"What of it? Are you jealous?" Noah tested the waters of Luca's conviction to squeeze the truth out of him. It was nothing that should get the hunter worked up… unless there was something about it that made him so intrigued. It was a personal affair Luca had no right to poke his nose into.

Both of them knew that.

Regardless…

"He disappeared into thin air. He must be a demon. Do you know the dangers of being involved with them more than a witch should?" Luca chose to thread the 'safety' path and reminded Noah about this problematic relationship. "You may be a male and will not produce a cambion, but it doesn't mean that you're safe from all of its implications."

"Oh, what would be the worst thing that can happen to me?" Noah wasn't being sarcastic; he was genuinely curious. However, Luca seemed to misinterpret him.

"They can infect you. You wouldn't feel it now, but their demon blood will destroy your body in the long run. You will melt into a blood blob while feeling everything happen to your body. Do you want to die in pain?"

Noah only stared at Luca, and his eyes seemed to be hinting a story he better not speak about. However, he was scared for Noah… aside from getting rather visibly jealous. The rage of jealousy was still behind those green eyes, but his words sounded pained.

The witch only believed the look in people's eyes, not their words. When they spoke differently, he knew exactly which was truer to their motive. Noah only reached out his hands and cradled Luca's head in them.

"Do you believe in the existence of proxy handlers? If you don't, I will continue breaking my promise of being truthful to you." He then also smiled. "Besides, don't worry too much. Is ten years a long time for you?"

"Ten years… of course, it's a long time." Luca let go of Noah, and so did the witch let go of the hunter. "That's your entire lifetime now. Tell me, even if he's your proxy handler, you have no obligations to engage in a relationship of that nature with him. Is…

"Is sexual gratification the only other thing you wanted from him? If your answer is yes, I can do it for you."

Before Luca could process his thoughts, he didn't know how much his mouth had said. He just realized what he told Noah seconds after his words had reached his own ears. However, the hunter didn't waver and continued to stare at the witch, his green eyes sitting on top of such red and heated cheeks.

Just like one of many scenarios that Luca expected to happen, Noah only chuckled… until he laughed out. A hand reached out and rubbed one of Luca's hot cheeks, and Noah continued to stifle his laughter just to speak.

"Don't be ridiculous."

"…But Noah… the path you're taking…"

"I've been a suicide road ever since I started. There's no need to taint yourself just because of me." Noah's eyes flicked straight at Luca's eyes, but the gaze seemed to be freezing and painful to the touch. "Don't offer yourself if you're not ready to carry complete responsibility for it."

Luca didn't know how to react. It now seemed to him that gratification wasn't all of it, and it could be more than what Luca could chew if he took a bite.

Noah then moved out of his entrapment and spoke as he walked past Luca. "Just help me take care of Rosanna if you really want to help. Keep away from my affairs with Mephisto and the other demon princes."

His footsteps echoed away until he vanished at a corner.

Only when there was silence did Luca move his head to take a look at where Noah was last seen. His eyes quivered as his shaking hand covered his mouth.

For some reason, he started juggling if his feelings were of infatuation or guilt of not being able to save Noah. Now, he was wallowing in pity he knew he could never show Noah.

What was that name he said? Mephisto? Did he mean 'Mephistopheles', the demon negotiator?

Based on what Luca had read from the accounts of his seniors, Mephistopheles was a rather troublesome demon. He had a high rank in Hell and was even on the same status as the demon princes; however, he was doing the legwork for them as well.

Everyone who had the chance to meet this negotiator was those who had great difficulties up ahead. Even from that, Luca could tell that Noah's contract wasn't simple. Moreover, he was kind enough to drop a lot of hints.

The demon princes… Noah was making contact with these big shots and was probably involved in the upcoming rising.

"Noah told me this… to build a wall between us and protect me. Not only me… but he was also trying to protect Rosanna by having someone else to look after her."

Luca only shook his head. "How could I be so dense? How could I be so selfish to think that I had the right to question him about this? I should've known it wasn't just a simple love affair…

"This is so shameful."

In the end, he could only buy a cold drink and sip on it while he reflected on his actions and erroneous mindset.

…

Noah sat on his bed before lying down to stare at the ceiling. He didn't know why he suddenly grew harsh towards Luca. It was probably his display of privilege that hurt Noah accidentally. Things all seemed to be simple in Luca's eyes.

Humans want, and so they seek demons.

Even if it was relatively true for everyone else, it just felt like no one remembered to ask for their reasons. Even if Noah's reason for chasing Nadin was shallow, it was still an innocent life destroyed without depth.

Moreover, he had summoned a demon before Nadin showed up. He had a different shallow reason to forsake his own life.

If Luca saw it as simple as Noah asking to receive something, he might be right… if the will to live was something so cheap.

Noah then sighed. He didn't want to think much about it now. Luca was a stranger, and Noah knew he shouldn't expect him to be so understanding. If anything, he only knew Noah on the surface. The witch should just forgive Luca for his actions; he only deserved half the blame… or none of it.

His phone then began to ring. Noah answered it and heard Laquisha's voice.

"Noah… Bomberman showed up in SCC grounds?"

Her voice was shaken as if she was forcing herself to remain calm. Was she being held at gunpoint by someone else?

"He did. He attacked my client; I wasn't able to speak with him. I didn't kill him though," Noah answered nonchalantly, listening to every sound that he could hear to visualize where Laquisha was.

Then again, he roughly had a location as soon as he heard the indistinct chattering behind her.

"Where is he now?"

"No idea." His gaze then sharpened. "No need to do anything unnecessary like baiting me to go my way to save you. I'm pretty sure Sharon and Simon are smart enough to know that I rarely lie.

"Bomberman will be coming after me for some reason. If you want to meet him, come find me in SCC." He huffed. "Killing you won't do them any good."

A sharp gasp came from Laquisha before a grabbing sound echoed faintly. Soon, Sharon's voice was now on the phone. "Noah, don't be too rash and dense. Pull out from SCC. The organization is giving you a recall."

Noah glared at the ceiling since he didn't have Sharon in front of him. "Did the organization realize that SCC was dead set in killing Bomberman?"

"No. Allan Cicero is arming his SCC with what seemed to be called witch tech, and he's not afraid to use it against the organization." Sharon hummed as she glanced at Laquisha who was averting her gaze from the first seat. "Meet us tonight. Let's discuss more of the plan."

"You're saying one thing after another. I don't understand why I have to stop working with them because of the witch tech guns."

"No one else is strong enough to destroy them but Bomberman. The plan is to let them destroy each other for now. It's not that Bomberman is at a disadvantage against them."

Noah only laughed in response. "If the organization is so scared of witch tech, then why don't let me stay and wait until the upgraded versions are completed. After that, you can try looting it from them. Oh, if you're scared, why not help Bomberman take them down?"

Sharon's lips curled up, but she didn't have to let him know of her response. Even if she wasn't looking at his face, they both knew each was smiling in mockery.

Help Bomberman to take SCC down while he was still with SCC? This Sleepydog seemed have a weird way of saying 'come fight me then'.

She hung up and tossed the phone at Laquisha. However, she turned to that girl next to them who looked more sinister because of those hair buns that looked like horns. With a smile on her face, she flicked her gaze at the devilish woman.

"Like what we talked about, Noah's head for Bomberman's cooperation."

Mariz smiled back. "Yes."

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