The Broken Halo

”Who are you truly?”

An amused expression appeared on Simon’s face after hearing Korran’s question.

The three crowns continued rotating around him, filling the training room with the low scream of compressed wind. Pale-green light moved across his dirty clothes and the dried blood on his skin.

’Who am I truly?’

’Well... I’m a reincarnated and betrayed Demi-God. The greatest Demon Slayer of all time. And the Halo of Earth who is now the Broken Halo... I’m a lot of things, Korran.’

He was also a demon, an Archfiend, the Outsider, Blackmoon, Lilith’s vessel, and a former hero who no longer cared about behaving like one.

Despite all that he was, none of those truths could be given to Korran... except the obvious ones.

Simon looked at the Vice Commander and Tarvak.

Both demons were close to forming the same conclusion. His age, ’true’ heart rank, artifacts, control, companions, and the Fury Tempest Art all pointed toward him having a powerful background that was most likely beyond Velmora.

Simon could confirm their suspicion for his use, and making this choice possessed obvious advantages.

A hidden clan or family would explain why a ’one-horned’ demon carried treasures that Greater Demons would struggle to obtain and purchase. It would explain why two talented demons like Sonya and Akaza followed him, why he remained fearless before demons stronger than him, and why he revealed abilities without behaving like someone that was worried they might be stolen.

More importantly, the thought of an unseen power behind Simon would make Korran and Tarvak cautious.

They might tolerate his refusal to answer questions. They might think twice before choosing to excavate his secrets by any means necessary, imprisoning him, or attempting to seize the Fury Tempest Art and all that they believed he had. In the Demon Realm, an unknown powerful elder or master could protect someone more effectively than a visible wall.

But confirming the lie would also give it a shape.

They would ask for the name of the clan and they would also ask where it was located.

Black Horn would want to know why that clan sent Simon to Velmora, why no record of him existed, and why a demon from such a background possessed only one horn and an apparently poor bloodline based on his appearance and traits.

They would ask what race he was.

Every answer would create several more questions.

The lie could also travel beyond this room.

Korran might report it to the Black Horn Commander. Tarvak could inform Velmora’s higher officials. Eventually, the City Lord or the capital city of the kingdom might attempt to contact a clan that did not exist.

Worse, the Eastern Faction was already studying the Outsider and everything around Crownless Dawn. If Simon created a detailed background for Blackmoon, the Voice and Second Claw might investigate it from another direction. Two separate investigations could uncover contradictions Simon never had the opportunity to control.

A false shield could also become a cage.

The second choice was to deny everything.

Simon could tell them he possessed no clan, family, or powerful master. That would save him from maintaining another fabricated history and prevent an imaginary organisation from drawing the attention of real powers.

However, a denial would not make his mysteries disappear.

It would remove the easiest explanation for them.

A sixteen-year-old Supreme Archfiend with several rare artifacts, monstrous control, and an inheritance capable of injuring a Half-Step Abyssal Beast did not become ordinary merely because he claimed to be alone.

If Korran believed the denial, he might conclude so many things that were both logical and absurd. For example, he could come to the conclusion that Simon was an infiltrator, the creation of an unknown experiment, a spy, or worst of all... that he was simply a lucky demon.

Without a background, Korran, Tarvak, or any other higher up of Velmora could kill him without fearing for consequences.

Neither choice was ideal.

Fortunately, Simon did not need to choose between them.

The best lies were not always spoken.

Sometimes it was better to allow another demon to create the lie, polish it with his own reasoning, and defend it because admitting he was wrong would wound his pride.

Simon could benefit from the protection of a hidden background without ever claiming to possess one.

If Korran investigated and found nothing, he could interpret that absence as proof the clan was exceptionally secretive. If Tarvak decided Simon had merely been fortunate, the abilities displayed before him would still discourage careless action.

Their uncertainty was more useful than either conclusion.

Simon’s current strength allowed him to take that risk.

Before entering the convoy, he might have needed to give Korran a satisfying answer to avoid being detained. Now, Korran and Tarvak alone could not force one from him.

That did not mean Simon had forgotten the Biggest Kev, the Black Horn Commander, the City Lord, or Velmora’s formations.

He still needed to move carefully. But he only needed this balance to survive for a little longer.

Until the meeting with the Voice and Second Claw.

Until Crownless Dawn progressed.

Until the copied road to Earth was complete and his bloodline evolved.

After that, he could abandon Korran and Tarvak, disappear from Velmora, or burn every false identity he had created if the situation demanded it.

It had only been approximately five seconds since Korran asked the question, and Simon released a soft sigh.

A second later, the GaleCrown slowed.

Then the RendingCrown followed.

Simon allowed the enlarged rings to shrink toward their proper size before dissolving them into streams of harmless wind. The CrushingCrown vanished last, and the StormThrone behind him disappeared without a sound.

Silence returned to the training room.

”I am Blackmoon,” Simon finally said.

Korran’s brows furrowed into a slight frown.

”That is your name. You know that’s not what I want to know.”

”It is the name under which I entered your recruitment, protected your convoy, and returned to Velmora.”

Simon brushed a little dust from his burned sleeve.

”You want me to give you the name of a clan, family, master, or organisation so everything you cannot explain can be placed beneath it.”

Tarvak’s eyes narrowed.

”Do you have one?”

Simon looked at him and smiled faintly.

”Perhaps I do. Perhaps I was fortunate enough to find things that stronger demons overlooked. Perhaps the truth is something neither of you has considered.”

Korran’s gaze became colder.

”You are avoiding the question.”

”Yes.”

The blunt answer made Tarvak’s expression change. He was genuinely taken aback and did not expect such a response.

Simon continued before either could interrupt.

”My past did not attack your convoy. It did not steal the cases, attract the Furnaceback Centipede, or kill your soldiers. If you believe my background is relevant, investigate it. You were going to do that regardless of what I said.”

Korran stared at him with a cold and dark gaze.

Simon met the gaze without the slightest fear.

”I will not create your conclusion for you or hand you a story simply because uncertainty makes you uncomfortable.”

The last currents of wind around him faded.

”For now, I am Blackmoon.”

His faint smile disappeared, and his expression became ice cold.

”And until you discover otherwise, that should be enough.”