Villain Hiring: Help! Author Wants Me Dead

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Night sky covered the sun and moon.

Every single step that Noah took across the coddled pathway, my stress only increased.

5 fucking months.

Thats how long I'd been with this moron.

"Is this really a good idea, boss?" A man in his 30's asked my host as he walked behind us.

Who just gave a silent nod.

Poor boy.

If he could see the crazed smile on Noah's face right now, he wouldn't have chosen to follow him this easily.

It took me 3 months of begging for him to even entertain the idea of taking a mission again.

Yeah bitch, Heartless was finally back!!

Uhum*

Not that it mattered to me, but all these months, I had been reading the Book of Sin and analysing it extensively.

And if this brat didn't buckle up fast, we might be in for a huge problem.

My nonexistent hands turned sweaty as I thought back to the dark truth I had been hiding from Noah.

If things went exactly as they were, then according to the Book of Sin…Noah was going to die in 2 years max.

And the only way to escape this was to grow stronger.

Even though I taunt the brat about it a lot, thank god he started living together with Pixie.

That girl, although an absolute menace, was the only reason he was alive right now.

Thud*

A loud kick sounded through the silent streets as a huge black, metallic gates forced open under the strength of Noah's kick.

Hmmm

It seemed that the Slave Body Refinement Technique was working wonders with the way the boy's strength continued rising without a pause.

Tilting his head to the man behind him all this while, Noah placed his index finger on his lips as he ordered him to guard the place.

Ah, the dead of the night.

A perfect time for crime, betrayal, and absolute stupidity.

The doors of the massive structure groaned as they closed behind, sealing us in.

Noah didn't hesitate—he stepped forward into the abyss, his black robes trailing behind him like the Grim Reaper's personal stylist.

Inside, only dim lit torches spewing a pale blue flickered along the walls, casting large shadows on the cracked stone floor.

And me? Oh, I knew exactly what kind of place this was.

"Ah, yes," I muttered, floating inside Noah's mind consciousness. "Because when a system tells you to join hands with an evil organisation, your first instinct is obviously murdering your way through it."

I had received countless tasks and quests from the Author of this fantasy world in the last 3 months, but due to how broken Noah had been, we were unable to complete not a single one of them.

Scared that the Author would lash out anytime soon, I was happy I had finally persuaded him to take on a new mission from the secret organisation we created.

Noah barely acknowledged my concerns, his hazel eyes scanning the dark hallway ahead as he stepped forward.

Fuck.

This boy—

Ughhh

I mean yes, I did tell him that I was not scared of dying and all…and while THAT IS TRUE, now that I could see my plans going the right direction; I can't afford to let this kid die.

For whom, if not my precious host, will help me achieve my goals?

Another sigh left me as I watched by his shoulder, looking at him as he pulled the hood of his robe lower.

"I mean, I get it," I continued, rolling my nonexistent eyes.

"You're dramatic. You like your grand entrances.

But did you ever consider, maybe—just maybe—following the quest normally for once in your goddamn life?

Especially when this is the first quest we are doing after months of ignoring that Noob Author of this world?

Noah smirked. "That's the difference between us, Damien." He said, looking at the Quest I received a while back,"

"You want me to follow the script." His eyes gleamed as he tilted his head slightly, smirking.

"But I like rewriting it."

Ah. There it was.

That insane part of him.

The part that did things just because he could.

The part that made my metaphorical circuits glitch every time I tried to calculate the probability of survival.

I didn't even have a real body, and yet, if I could physically age, I'd already have wrinkles by now.

A shadow shifted in the darkness ahead.

Noah had noticed it too.

My voice rang inside his head, sharp with amusement.

"You know, most people at least knock when they enter a place filled with assassins.

But no, not you.

You're just going to waltz in like you own the place."

Noah smirked.

"That's because I will."

A figure stepped into view before I could even react to his overconfident sentence.

Hooded, cloaked, silent—an assassin through and through.

I was worried that the boy would instantly gag and turn pale as soon as he started fighting since there would obviously be blood, but it seemed that my host wasn't entirely dumb.

Noah purposely came deep into the night to complete this mission so that even though he knows that blood would be spilt, the boy was hoping that maybe not being able to see it would help his phobia.

The assassin moved without a sound, dagger glinting under the faint light as the robed figure lunged straight at the boy.

The moment the assassin jumped, Noah twisted his body just enough to avoid the blade. The dagger sliced through the air where his chest had been a second ago, missing him by an inch.

I could feel it...his muscles were stiff, and his movements seemed slightly sluggish. Three months of being holed up in his room had dulled his instincts. And in this kind of place, even a second of hesitation could get him killed.

"Careful there, boss," I muttered inside his head, trying not to sound as panicked as I felt. "Unless you want to see your intestines spill out tonight."

Noah didn't respond. His focus was on the assassin.

The cloaked figure moved again, fast and silent like a shadow. Noah barely had time to react, stepping back just in time to avoid a second strike. His grip on his dagger tightened. He was holding back.

I knew why.

Blood.

He didn't want to see it.

Not again.

Not this soon.

"Just cut them down already," I groaned. "A good stab to the throat, and boom! No more assassin problem."

Noah clicked his tongue, frustration flashing across his face. He spun, dodging another attack before swinging his leg out in a sharp kick. His boot connected with the assassin's knee, sending them staggering back.

He was using force—blunt, heavy strikes—trying to knock the enemy down without piercing skin.

Smart. But also reckless.

"You do realize they're literally trying to kill you, right?" I sighed. "Maybe not the best time to play 'let's see how many punches I can throw before I pass out'—"

Noah ducked. The assassin's blade whistled past his ear, barely missing him.

He moved on instinct now, legs shifting into a defensive stance, his dagger positioned low. He feinted to the right before slamming his fist into the assassin's ribs. The air whooshed out of the cloaked figure as they stumbled back.

Noah was faster, closing the gap in an instant. He grabbed the assassin's wrist before they could recover, twisting it sharply—

Crack.

The dagger clattered to the floor.

The assassin gasped, arm hanging limp, but the assassin didn't scream.

It was well trained, disciplined.

Noah hesitated.

He could finish it. A quick stab—easy, clean. But he didn't.

His grip loosened for just a second.

A mistake.

The assassin's free hand shot out, a hidden blade gleaming under the dim torchlight. I barely had time to shout before the sharp edge slashed across Noah's arm.

He hissed in pain, staggering back.

"Idiot!" I screeched. "Why are you playing with them? Either kill them or—oh, I don't know—GET OUT OF HERE?"

Noah gritted his teeth. His hand clutched his arm where the blade had cut through his robe, blood seeping through his fingers.

Oh, hell.

This was bad.

I could already see it—the way his breath went astray and how his pupils started to dilate. Memories were trying to claw their way up his mind.

The smell of blood.

The weight of it on his hands.

He was freezing up.

"Noah," I said, softer this time. "Don't lose focus."

He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. The assassin was already moving again, taking advantage of his moment of weakness.

But this time, Noah was ready.

The hesitation was gone.

The assassin lunged.

Noah ducked, dodging to the side before slamming his knee into their stomach. The force of the blow sent the assassin sprawling onto the floor. Before it could get up, Noah stepped forward and kicked them square in the chest, pinning them down.

And then, he bent down and clutched the assassin's neck, breaking it.

A ringing noise filled my ears.

[System Notification: First Kill Achieved.]

[System Notification: Fate Stabilization in Progress…]

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A/N: Welcome back, everyone!! This is the first chapter of Volume 2~

I am planning to add new characters to the story and would love it if you have some suggestions regarding the same!!