The Broken Halo

Chapter 1016 - 1015: The Lie Eater

Jorra had an elder brother.

Simon looked at Joren with mild surprise, though the feeling passed quickly. There was nothing strange about Jorra having a family. He simply hadn’t expected to meet any of them here.

Then his Seed of Pride stirred.

This reaction was different from what he had felt toward Grand Elder Dread Crown.

What he felt as he stared at Joren was... disgust.

The seed seemed offended by something within Joren. Its disdain was so strong that Simon had to restrain it before any power escaped.

’Does he have the Seed of Pride too?’

If so, there was something wrong with it.

He had a guess.

[Lilith. Is his seed artificial?]

[Yes. He has an artificial Seed of Pride.]

Simon studied Joren again.

He wanted to know what made it different from his own. How was it created? What could it do? Why did his seed react as though its very existence was insulting?

He wanted to ask Lilith all these questions, but the questions would have to wait.

He also noticed that Joren was a Superior Demon Lord. His aura was controlled, but Simon’s instincts warned him not to dismiss the danger beneath that youthful appearance.

And Simon had arranged his younger brother’s death.

That probably wasn’t going to make their conversation easier.

”He’s one of the Abyss Blessed,” Enigma leaned closer to him and spoke quietly. ”Look at his right hand.”

Joren wore a broad black ring. On its flat face, a crimson flame surrounded the familiar image of a dragon biting its tail.

”Only those who’ve received the blessing wear that.”

So he belonged to the Chosen Enigma had described.

Simon nodded, then glanced at the Fourth Lord. He could hear the concern beneath his quiet explanation.

”It’ll be fine.”

Enigma looked unconvinced.

”Joren will help us verify your answers,” Grand Elder Dread Crown said, disrupting their conversation.

”How?” Simon asked curiously.

”He commands a cursed spirit called a Lie Eater. It can detect lies.”

Simon raised an eyebrow, but he was not surprised.

He looked toward Joren, then at the space beside him.

A grey shape unfolded there.

Long robes hung around a hunched body, their hems dragging across the floor. Its face had neither ears nor a nose, and its wide mouth exposed rows of needle teeth. A long tongue slipped between them, dividing into thin strands that twitched through the air.

Cloudy white eyes settled on Simon.

He recognised it immediately after recalling that Jorra used the same cursed spirit on him.

Though, Jorra’s cursed spirit had been much smaller. Even bent over, this one reached Joren’s shoulder. Its tongue had more strands, and looking at it brought a very faint pressure against Simon’s mind.

He hadn’t needed Lilith to lend him her sight this time.

Simon followed the movement of the tongue.

Joren’s eyes narrowed.

Above them, Ancestral Elder Bone Prophet looked at Simon with growing interest and curiosity. Grand Elder Golden Tyrant also noticed where Simon was looking.

Few Daemons could see a cursed spirit so clearly, and they could see that Simon was clearly looking in the direction of the Lie Eater.

Simon returned his attention to Grand Elder Dread Crown before anyone asked about it.

”You’ve brought Jorra’s brother to decide whether I’m lying?”

”The spirit reacts when you lie. We can see it too.”

That was better than taking Joren’s word alone.

Simon remembered Lilith’s explanation. The creature tasted the spiritual disturbance caused by a lie. Its tongue would snap toward the speaker, followed by a harsh clicking sound.

”And what happens if I lie?” he asked curiously. ”Will you hurt me? Kill me?”

”That depends on what you lie about and what you’re prepared to offer,” Grand Elder Dread Crown replied. ”You might leave this hall as a member of the Abyss. We might refuse your admission. We could also decide that taking the method from you is worth more than your cooperation.”

”And afterward?”

”After your earlier promise? We wouldn’t leave you alive to carry it out.”

Enigma’s expression became grave.

Grand Elder Dread Crown spoke without anger. He was explaining a possibility, not trying to frighten Simon into kneeling.

Simon glanced at the Lie Eater, then shrugged.

”Go ahead.”

”How did you form the four within your heart?”

”The first two formed during my bloodline evolution and the tribulation. I wasn’t deliberately trying to form them.”

The creature’s tongue moved through the air.

”The last two came when that gaze appeared. I was trying to survive. I didn’t plan for any of it.”

Joren watched the spirit for a moment before bowing his head toward the gallery.

”He’s telling the truth, Grand Elder Dread Crown.”

Ancestral Elder White Death frowned.

Simon had offered no details about the power he consumed or what happened inside his body. Everything he had said was true, but there was considerably more to it and they knew it.

Grand Elder Dread Crown continued.

”How did your demonic cat bloodline first awaken?”

”Like I said earlier, before I formed my Chaos Flame, I was forced to endure the suppression of a Basilisk’s bloodline. I resisted, and my demonic cat bloodline began evolving.”

”Did someone teach you how to cause that?”

”No. I didn’t know it would happen.”

Joren’s pale eyes moved from the spirit to Simon.

”The truth again.”

Ancestral Elder Wild Hunt rested a hand against his knee.

”This boy is either remarkably lucky or remarkably talented.”

”Perhaps both,” Ancestral Elder Bone Prophet said.

Merath stood beside Joren without speaking. Her left hand had tightened around the folded edge of her empty sleeve.

Simon avoided her gaze. He didn’t need to discuss their history while the creature was waiting to catch him in a lie.

Grand Elder Dread Crown gave a slight nod.

”Where did you obtain the other method?”

”From a Daemon.”

Grand Elder Golden Tyrant’s lower hands separated in her lap.

Joren confirmed the answer before Grand Elder Dread Crown spoke again.

”Which Daemon?”

Lilith’s voice reached Simon.

[I’m sure you know that I don’t want you to give them my name, right?]

Simon’s lips curled into a light smile.

He met Grand Elder Dread Crown’s eyes.

”I can’t reveal that. The Daemon told me not to disclose their identity.”

Joren looked toward the spirit.

”He isn’t lying.”

Ancestral Elder Cinder Queen’s mouth opened to speak, but Grand Elder Dread Crown raised a hand.

She stopped.

”Is this Daemon alive?”

Simon hesitated.

Lilith was speaking to him at that very moment. But she no longer had her original body, and what remained of her existed within an artifact.

Calling her dead would be wrong.

Simply saying she was alive didn’t seem right either.

”Yes and no.”

Ancestral Elder Black Tide’s gills widened slightly.

The elders looked toward Joren.

He took longer to answer this time. The spirit had stretched its neck toward Simon, but its tongue continued moving without a single click.

”He’s telling the truth.”

Grand Elder Night Widow tilted her head.

”That is an unusual answer.”

Grand Elder Dread Crown studied Simon for a moment.

”Does this Daemon exist as a spirit?”

A flicker of surprise crossed Simon’s eyes.

”So I was right,” Grand Elder Dread Crown said before he could respond.

Simon pressed his lips together.

He wasn’t liking where this was going, and his instincts were warning him.

”Can you contact this Daemon whenever you wish?”

Simon didn’t answer.

Grand Elder Dread Crown waited.

The Lie Eater leaned closer, its tongue reaching into the space between them. Simon ignored it and kept his gaze on the elder.

He wasn’t going to give them an answer because he could guess the next questions that would follow.

And he definitely wasn’t going to tell them that the Daemon was listening from inside his chest and he wasn’t

Grand Elder Dread Crown chuckled.

”You’ve suddenly become very quiet.”

Simon remained silent.

Grand Elder Golden Tyrant looked down at him with renewed interest. He could almost hear the questions she wanted to ask.

Grand Elder Dread Crown lowered his hand onto the armrest.

”One last question, then. Are you willing to give us the method in exchange for something you consider worth it?”

Simon considered the question for a moment.

”For the right price, yes.”

Joren glanced at the spirit.

”The truth.”

Grand Elder Dread Crown looked pleased.

”Then that settles it. We can discuss-”

”Grand Elder Dread Crown.”

Joren stepped forward and bowed, choosing his words carefully.

”May I have permission to say something?”