In the back room of the barbershop, candlelight flickered.
Marie Laveau and Sephirot sat facing each other.
Sephirot quickly wrote the terms on parchment, and after sliding the completed contract over, Marie Laveau took it in both hands.
She studied it meticulously, word by word, for a long while, even pouring a few drops of a pungent green potion from a small glass vial and dabbing it onto her eyelids, examining the paper over and over.
Sephirot sat across from her and did not rush her.
When signing a contract, a single moment of carelessness could mean selling yourself along with your soul; one could never be too careful.
This scene reminded him of himself long ago, when he faced the Demon God Belial at Alex's home with such extreme caution.
Now, he was much more composed about such matters.
Ever since his bloodline breakthrough, Sephirot could see through the flow of magic on parchment at a glance.
Any hidden clause concealed between the lines could not escape his eyes.
Moreover, with his current strength, even if he really provoked a lord-level Demon God like Belial, he could at least put up a fight.
After confirming there were no issues, Marie Laveau picked up the quill and solemnly signed her name.
The moment the pen tip left the parchment, something changed.
In an empty space nearby, the contract's contents began writing themselves out of thin air.
Afterward, the words rotated and arranged themselves automatically in the air.
They formed an extraordinarily complex summoning circle.
The temperature in the room instantly dropped considerably, turning bone-chillingly cold.
Black mist surged from the summoning circle, coalescing into form before the two of them.
It had a bald head, with three long, curved horns extending backward from the top; its face was featureless save for a single eye. Its upper body was humanoid, but its lower body was that of a goat.
The oppressive authority of a high-ranking, lord-level Demon God spread throughout the room.
Feeling this fluctuation, Marie Laveau dropped directly to her knees.
The signed contract before her floated up automatically from the tabletop, hovering in front of her.
Sephirot's expression remained unchanged, purple magic surging out from within him and blocking all of this pressure completely.
The one-eyed demon looked at Sephirot, a flicker of reverence passing through its enormous eye.
It lowered its head slightly and said, "I salute you, O lord who bears the Sparda bloodline."
Then, with one hand over its chest, it introduced itself: "I am Lucifuge Rofocale."
Sephirot's expression remained as usual, but inwardly he felt somewhat curious.
He had never dealt with this demon before, and he did not remember even hearing the name.
Rofocale seemed to perceive Sephirot's confusion and continued to explain, "This contract was originally to be witnessed by Belial."
"But I sensed your presence, my lord, so I took the liberty of coming personally. I offer you my apologies for this."
Sephirot was inwardly startled. In the lore he knew, Belial was one of the Seven Princes of Hell, the ruler of the Seventy-Two Pillars of Solomon, a being second only to Lucifer.
Then what kind of existence was Rofocale?
He had thought only one of the Seventy-Two Pillars of Solomon would come, perhaps even Belial himself.
He never expected they had almost brought one of the Princes down here.
However, for a contract, this seemed quite normal.
As a witness, one must possess the power to restrain both parties; otherwise, what use was a witness?
Would they get beaten up alongside the others when someone breached the contract?
But these words, overheard by Marie Laveau kneeling to the side, took on an entirely different meaning.
Shock crashed through her.
Rofocale! According to the voodoo records, this was a top-tier Demon God of immense authority in Hell, not officially called a Prince, yet ranked above them.
It was said that its origins could be traced back to before Lucifer's fall, when its name was already spoken of.
After Lucifer took dominion over Hell, he placed all the human world's wealth and contracts under this being's management.
In other words, within Hell, he was akin to a prime minister, second only to Lucifer in Hell's hierarchy.
What kind of contract could possibly draw him here?
And such an existence actually showed such deference to Sephirot?!
What terrifying background did this white-haired young man possess?!
Sephirot nodded, feeling no particular pride.
He understood perfectly that the respect he received was for the Sparda bloodline within him, for the illustrious and fearsome reputations Dante and Vergil had carved out in Hell.
He himself might one day wield such authority, but that path still had to be walked step by step.
Still, since he had a formidable reputation to borrow, using it to bluff a little would not hurt.
With a calm expression, he asked, "Has there been any news from Hell lately?"
Rofocale replied, "Thank you for your concern, my lord."
"Since those two lords departed, Hell has been entirely peaceful."
"The position left vacant by Valak, slain by you a while ago, has already been filled by another demon."
Hearing these words, Marie Laveau's body, kneeling on the floor, trembled slightly.
Valak was one of the Seventy-Two Pillars of Solomon. He had actually slain a true Demon God?!
No wonder he dared to speak of hunting a Supreme Witch.
Against such an existence, if he truly unleashed his slaughter, which witch in all of New Orleans could possibly stand against him?
Rofocale glanced down at the lowly witch on the floor and continued, "However, it is said that Heaven seems to be stirring a little."
"Beyond that, I am afraid I can say no more."
The two lords Rofocale spoke of were undoubtedly Dante and Vergil.
It seemed that Vergil had been itching for a fight again and had dragged Dante down there with him.
Combined with the timing, it coincided perfectly with the period when Mammon had descended.
As for Heaven...
Come to think of it, Gabriel had been Heaven's highest authority on Earth. Now that his divine power had been revoked, that position remained vacant.
Heaven couldn't possibly have no reaction; they must surely be plotting some new move.
Sephirot nodded thoughtfully and said, "Then let it be so. Witness the contract as established."
He had merely used a famous name to fish for a bit of free intelligence.
Pressing for more would likely yield no further answer. Better to dismiss Rofocale sooner, lest any unexpected events arise.
"As you wish."
Rofocale nodded.
The parchment in midair split into two, transforming into two streaks of light, one flying into Sephirot's hand and the other into Marie Laveau's.
The summoning circle vanished, and the demon's figure dissipated along with it.
Only now did Marie Laveau rise from the ground.
Her expression was complex; her eyes held both fear of Sephirot's power and an unconcealed delight.
To become an ally of such a powerful being was worth any price paid.
With this newfound confidence, she might now consider expanding her territory outward.
Voodoo had been confined within the bounds of New Orleans for far, far too long.
Pushing these thoughts aside, she said nothing more, instead pressing a hidden switch on the wall.
A concealed door to a hidden basement slowly emerged.
"Follow me."
(Translated by yourtl.app)
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TL NOTES — LORE GUIDE
Some references in this chapter come from source universes that may be unfamiliar to some readers. The notes below provide the context needed to understand them without leaving the page.
DEMONOLOGY / CONTRACTS
Lucifuge Rofocale — In grimoire and occult traditions, Lucifuge Rofocale is a high-ranking infernal spirit often associated with Hell's treasury, worldly wealth, and demonic pacts. The chapter uses that pact-and-contract association, while the exact hierarchy involving Sparda, Belial, Dante, and Vergil belongs to this crossover's own lore.