The Broken Halo

Chapter 1039 - 1038: Before He Leaves

Daegrins usually travelled as wandering merchants, but their race possessed wealth that many kingdoms could only envy.

Simon remembered their capital from his previous life.

The broad roads, the magnificent trading halls, the treasures displayed behind elaborate formations. Vhal-Sar had been quite a sight.

His more recent memories were less pleasant.

Zaglur.

The Daegrin had bought him from his mother, determined to recover the Devourer’s blood essence he believed Simon had absorbed. Later, betrayed by the Velaris, he had tried to help Simon escape.

Simon still remembered the ring thrown toward him.

The Miser’s Ring.

Zaglur hadn’t wanted his killers to profit from their betrayal. That had been his reason for helping, but Simon had appreciated the help nonetheless.

Then the Grave Lord had killed him.

Simon lowered his gaze toward his hand.

He had never entirely stopped worrying that the Daegrins might locate him through Zaglur’s ring. Yet none had approached him. As far as he knew, they hadn’t even visited the Shadowgrave Clan to investigate while he was there.

Why?

He had expected trouble over the ring long before now.

Their silence hadn’t answered his questions. It had only allowed him to put them aside while dealing with more immediate problems.

Now the Sovereign was sending him to their capital.

Simon looked at the letter again.

He had considered missions involving dangerous beasts, lost treasures, or enemies of The Abyss. Of all the places the Sovereign could have chosen, why did it have to be this one?

He didn’t know whether the connection meant anything.

Still, he doubted this would end with him finding four Daemons, offering some assistance, and returning without trouble.

”Of all places,” he muttered.

Then he noticed the four people watching him.

Sonya leaned forward.

”What does it say, little kitty?”

Virella turned toward her.

”The note said it was only for him. Shouldn’t it be confidential?”

Sonya looked at her with raised brows.

”I didn’t open it.”

”You’re asking what’s inside.”

”Yes. And he can decide whether to tell me.”

Virella released a soft sigh.

After the past few days, she should have expected that answer.

Simon folded the sheet.

”The Abyss Sovereign has given me a mission. If I complete it to his satisfaction, he’ll accept me as his sixth disciple.”

Nobody spoke.

Even Sonya remained still for a moment.

Virella stared at him.

”The Abyss Sovereign?”

Simon nodded.

”The leader of this entire place?”

”That one.”

”We haven’t even been here three days!”

Her gaze travelled around the room before returning to him.

”You’ve already received this house, become an Inner Member, and now he wants you as a disciple?”

”He’s considering it,” Simon corrected. ”I still have to pass his test.”

Ammor shook his head slowly.

”You really are a monster.”

”I thought that had been established.”

Akaza looked from the letter to Simon, then grew thoughtful.

”When are you supposed to begin?”

”It doesn’t say. But I doubt he expects me to take my time getting there.”

”Where is your mission taking place?” Sonya asked.

Simon hesitated briefly, then slipped the letter back into its envelope.

”Vhal-Sar. The capital city of the Daegrins.”

Akaza frowned.

”I’ve heard of them but I’ve never met one.”

”Neither has this Honourable,” Sonya said.

”Aren’t they wandering merchants?” Virella asked. ”I heard meeting one depends on luck. Unless you already know a Daegrin and have a way to contact them, you could search for a long time without finding one.”

”They wander, but they still have a capital,” Ammor said. ”Get to Vhal-Sar and you’ll find plenty.”

He paused.

”Though I’ve heard getting there isn’t easy.”

His eyes moved toward Simon.

”Not that I expect it to be much of a problem for you.”

”I’d prefer to find that out before agreeing with you.”

Simon stored the envelope, then looked at all four of them.

”I’ll be going alone.”

Akaza’s expression changed slightly.

”That means you’ll be staying here without me for a while,” Simon continued. ”And there are a few things we should discuss before I leave.”

His tone had become more serious.

”I’m sure you’ve noticed the difference between yourselves and some of the people here. Not just their heart ranks. Their bloodlines. Their presence.”

Virella nodded.

”That’s why we’ve been cultivating whenever we can. In the guest rooms, and since we came to your house.”

”Our house,” Sonya corrected.

Virella looked at her with a baffled expression.

”This is our house. Not just little kitty’s.”

Simon raised his brows.

”What did you contribute to getting it?”

Sonya stepped closer and patted his forearm.

”Anything that belongs to little kitty belongs to us. Keep working hard for us, little kitty.”

Simon’s lips twitched.

There were several things he wanted to say. He looked at her hand, then at her satisfied expression, and decided none of them would improve the situation.

Akaza drew his attention away.

”Are you still planning to help us become Daemons?”

Simon met his gaze.

The desire in his eyes was obvious, but there were other emotions beneath it.

Frustration. Envy. An anxiousness Akaza was trying to keep out of his voice.

”I haven’t forgotten,” Simon said.

Akaza’s fingers loosened slightly at his side.

Simon could understand what had brought the question out.

Akaza had arrived in a place built across the corpse of a True Dragon. Entire cities stood on its scales. The creature’s remains alone had forced him to reconsider what a powerful being could become.

Then there were the inhabitants.

A passing Daemon who didn’t bother restraining his aura could make an ordinary demon feel inferior without saying a word. Bloodline suppression wasn’t something confidence or a proud family name could easily remove.

In the Demon Realm, Akaza’s bloodline had been something to take pride in.

Here, there were beings before whom that same bloodline would struggle.

A few days was hardly enough time to grow comfortable with that.

Virella and Ammor had felt it too. Simon could see as much in the way they listened, neither treating Akaza’s question as something that concerned him alone.

His gaze moved to Sonya.

She seemed far less troubled.

Earlier, she had spoken to Enigma as though the difference between them barely deserved consideration. She had questioned him, teased him, and patted his arm.

The difference in their heart ranks alone would have made an average Greater Demon hesitate.

Enigma being a Daemon would have made that hesitation worse.

Sonya had behaved as though she were speaking to someone who had merely acquired an impressive title.

Simon studied her for another moment.

He didn’t sense the same inferiority he had noticed in the others. Whatever she understood about Daemons, it hadn’t persuaded her to think less of herself.

That confidence was remarkable.

But it could also cause trouble.

Enigma had tolerated her words. Another Daemon might not, especially one who considered being mocked by an ordinary demon an insult.

Simon’s own status wouldn’t settle every dispute. There were plenty of members whose standing exceeded his, and he wouldn’t be here to intervene.

[Can I help them evolve before I leave?] he asked Lilith.

He had plans for them. They were useful, and he had not brought them this far to lose them over an argument while he was away.

Becoming Daemons wouldn’t make them equal to everyone here, but it would improve their position and give them more strength with which to protect themselves.

[You can begin now, if you’re ready,] Lilith replied.

Simon kept his attention on Akaza.

[But it will weaken you temporarily. And you helping them does not guarantee that they will succeed. That depends on their own abilities.]

He considered the warning.

Weakening himself before the Sovereign’s mission was something he would have to account for.

But another concern followed.

[Will the Bloodline Extinction Tribulation appear even here? Inside The Abyss?]

Lilith was silent for a moment.

Then she answered.

[Yes. Being inside The Abyss will not spare them.]

Her voice lost its earlier lightness.

[And they will have to survive it.]