Villain Hiring: Help! Author Wants Me Dead-Chapter 86 : The Fatherless Damien—

A silence settled between us, it wasn't the awkward kind like before and helped me calm me down a little.

Venus leaned back in his chair, watching me as if trying to read my thoughts.

Then, out of nowhere, he said, "You used to cry a lot as a kid."

I nearly choked on my own breath. "Excuse me?"

He smirked. "Especially when you got scolded. Your face would turn red, and you'd cry like an abandoned puppy, hehehe–"

My eyes twitched, remember some not so 'manly' days of mine. "I have no memory of this."

"Of course, you don't," Venus mused. "Memory suppression is common among children with shameful pasts."

I opened my mouth to argue, but Damien decided now was a good time to add his commentary.

"Oh, I like him," The sentient system crackled. "Please, old man, tell me more. What other embarrassing things did my dear host do?"

Venus raised an eyebrow at my strange expression. "Something wrong?"

"No," I muttered, shoving Damien's laughter aside. "Just regretting not leaving when I had the chance."

Venus ignored me, a nostalgic look appearing on his face. "There was this one time you tried to ride a horse backwards—"

"That was a tactical decision," I interrupted, glaring. "I was testing the horse's ability to maneuver."

"You fell off immediately," Venus deadpanned, not buying my bullshit.

I cleared my throat. "Testing the landing techniques."

"You landed in a pile of manure."

"…Still counts."

The old man chuckled, shaking his head. "You were an odd kid."

Damien snorted. "And he's going to be an even weirder adult."

I was beginning to rethink my life decisions.

"My Grandpa', seemingly enjoying my suffering, wouldn't stop talking, "And then there was that time you swore up and down that the moon was following you."

I groaned. "Okay, are we just listing childhood failures now?"

"Would you rather I list the older ones?"

Damien wheezed in my head. "Oh, he got you there, kid."

I exhaled sharply and leaned back on the chair opposite Venus. "Is this why you brought me here? To torment me?"

He smirked. "Partially."

I sighed. "Fantastic."

Venus, clearly not done with his assault, snapped his fingers. "Ah! And let's not forget the infamous 'Spider Incident.'"

I stiffened. "We are absolutely forgetting the 'Spider Incident.'"

Venus ignored me. "You were five. You saw a hairy little spider and screamed like it was a demon from the abyss. Your mother had to hold you while you wailed about it, trying to 'steal your soul' or something.

I buried my face in my hands. "I was five!"

Venus grinned. "Old enough to know better."

Damien, barely holding back his laughter, added, "I see nothing has changed. You still scream like that when you're in front of insects."

I shot back, "I do not scream."

"Oh, really? What about that time in the forest when that mutant beast swooped at you?"

"That was a strategic retreat."

"You yelled, 'NOT TODAY, DEMON,' and tripped over a rock."

Venus laughed into his hand. "Incredible. A true warrior."

I groaned. "Alright, enough. No more childhood trauma."

Venus leaned back, looking entirely too satisfied. "Fine, fine. I'll spare you… for now."

For a while, we just sat there.

Talking.

Mocking each other.

It was… nice.

For the first time in forever, I didn't feel like I had to keep my guard up.

Venus wasn't treating me like an heir or an exile—just as someone who had come home after a long journey.

Then, his tone shifted slightly. "So… are you really a champion?"

The question should've caught me off guard.

But I had already been expecting it.

I leaned back, tapping my fingers against the table. "Not exactly."

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Venus frowned. "Not exactly?"

I tilted my head, faking thoughtfulness. "I do have something, though."

His expression darkened slightly. "Explain."

I smirked. "Oh, you'll love this."

Then, I mentally nudged Damien.

"Oii, you had said a while back that you can communicate with other individuals apart from me through your soul sense just like the other Gods who'll be arriving this world soon-"

"Uhhh, yea?"

"Then go on, my little soldier.

Do your thing."

There was a brief pause before Damien groaned. "Ugh, fine. But you owe me one."

A second later, my body tensed.

A strange pressure filled the room, subtle yet undeniable. Venus stiffened, eyes narrowing.

And then—

"FOOLISH MORTAL!" Damien's voice boomed through me, distorted and dripping with arrogance.

I barely held back a grin.

Venus blinked. "…What."

"I AM DAMIEN, THE GLORIOUS ENTITY BESTOWED UPON THIS PATHETIC CHILD!" Damien's voice echoed dramatically. "HALF SYSTEM, HALF GOD! A BEING BEYOND COMPREHENSION!"

Venus looked at me. "Are you serious?"

I nodded solemnly. "Deadly."

Damien continued, "I HAVE CHOSEN THIS BOY AS MY VESSEL, GRANTING HIM UNPARALLELED KNOWLEDGE AND POWER!"

Venus raised an unimpressed eyebrow. "Uh-huh. And what kind of power are we talking about?"

"THE POWER OF—" Damien faltered. "…Uh, STRATEGIC AVOIDANCE!"

I almost lost it.

Venus deadpanned. "So… running away?"

"TACTICAL RETREATING!" Damien corrected. "A HIGHLY UNDERESTIMATED ART!"

Venus turned to me. "This is the entity you've aligned yourself with?"

I smirked. "Brilliant, isn't he?"

Damien coughed. "YES, YES! WORSHIP ME, MORTAL!"

Venus pinched the bridge of his nose. "…You're an idiot."

"A well-equipped idiot," I corrected, grinning.

Venus sighed. "And here I thought this conversation would be serious."

"Who says it's not?" I shrugged. "I mean, look at him—half system, half god? Sounds pretty divine to me."

Venus eyed me. "You know, I could probably just beat the information out of you."

I leaned back. "And risk injuring your precious grandson?"

He exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. "No matter if you were a Romero or not," he muttered, "you will always be my grandson… Noah."

I blinked.

For a second, everything went quiet and I could almost feel the tears edging my eye when Damien ruined it.

"OH, HOW SENTIMENTAL! PERHAPS NOW YOU SHALL KISS AND EMBRACE—"

Umm….the fuck?

You fatherless—

I almost felt like crying, 'Way to go! Damien—' Venus sighed, already regretting everything he said.

"I take it back."

***