The Broken Halo

Simon’s arrest shook the entire academy and nearly every single Initiate was talking about it.

Those who had been looking forward to Simon’s arrival from his first mission were filled with shock that such a thing happened, especially when they heard about the five corpses in his room.

For over two months, the academy had been relatively peaceful, but once again, the child of chaos called Simon broke the peace as usual.

When they heard that Simon would undergo a trial the following morning, they all knew that things were about to get a lot worse for Simon.

Trials where the Shadow Inquisitors were involved usually ended in the death of the criminals.

99% of the time.

While Simon’s haters, classmates, and those close to him like Sonya, Akaza, and Sunless had their own thoughts and conversations about Simon’s arrest, Simon was calmly sitting in his cell with his legs crossed and his eyes closed.

[What are you going to do now? You might actually be in serious trouble this time around.]

Simon furrowed his brows slightly hearing Lilith’s voice.

He was surprised that she was talking to him, but he didn’t think too much about it.

[I don’t know. I also have a bad feeling about this.]

[You’re not going to bullshit your way out of this like you did the last time you were interrogated? Your acting was pretty good.]

Simon frowned.

[That’s the problem.]

Simon opened his eyes.

[A liar has countless paths available to them. They can change details, omit details, invent details. If one lie fails, they can simply create another.]

He looked down at the floor of the cell.

[The truth is different.]

[The truth only happened once.]

[There are not a thousand versions of the truth. There is only one.]

Simon released a quiet sigh.

[I am innocent in this matter, but innocence and guilt are not determined by the truth.]

[They are determined by what people believe.]

His gaze turned toward the bars of the cell.

[If I were lying, I would know what to do. I would know what story to tell. I would know what answers to prepare.]

[But I am telling the truth.]

[And the truth has never cared whether it was convenient or believable.]

There was silence for a moment, then Lilith spoke.

[I see. So basically, what you’re trying to say is that a liar can shape their story but an innocent person is trapped by what actually happened.]

Simon’s lips curled up slightly.

[Yeah. Something like that.]

Lilith scoffed.

[Of course you’ll say something like that.]

Simon’s expression became strange, but he chose not to say anything.

He looked up, and he started thinking of what he should do and of the possible scenarios that might occur.

’The problem now is that the Shadow Inquisitors would never have arrested me if they didn’t have concrete evidence that I was the murderer of the Grey Pact.’

’No matter how unreasonable they are, they know that it’s even more absurd and unbelievable that a Fiend was able to kill five Half-Step Greater Demons.’

’Caesar o’ Caesar. What plans do you have in store for me... I might really have to break the rules and kill you for this inconvenience you’re putting me through.’

Just as Simon had this thought, his ears twitched and he suddenly perceived a presence through the wind and Shadow Sense.

He turned to his right, and his frown deepened.

There was no sound of footsteps to show that someone was approaching him, but the disturbance in the wind and the presence of a shadow told him otherwise.

A second later, he looked up, and his eyes flickered with surprise.

’Speak of the devil and he shall arrive.’

Standing in front of his cell was a demon with indifferent violet eyes and a bored clown mask.

”Caesar.” Simon said with an indifferent tone and gaze.

Caesar looked down at Simon with a similar level of indifference, then he spoke.

”Once again, you have surprised me, Broken Halo.”

Simon narrowed his eyes slightly.

”You’re the one that has surprised me, Caesar. I didn’t expect you to have this much authority in the clan.”

Simon glanced to Caesar’s left and right hand side, then he scoffed.

”Being able to enter the building of the Shadow Inquisitors? That’s really shocking.”

Caesar’s gaze remained indifferent.

”There’s a reason why demons fear me, and I warned you.”

Simon chuckled with a slight curl of his lips.

”I see now.”

Caesar folded his arms, and a flicker of coldness flashed in his eyes for a moment.

”I never expected you to possess the ability to kill First Blade. I was truly shocked.”

Caesar subtly glanced at the Chaos Wraps around Simon’s arm, but Simon noticed.

”Hmm?”

Simon’s gaze turned sharp and cold.

’This bastard. Does he know?’

”I’m here for one thing. Give me your spatial ring.”

Simon narrowed his eyes, then he chuckled.

”And why would I do that? Will you let the Inquisitors free me?”

Caesar shook his head.

”No. I will not. For that to happen, you’ll have to serve me and worship me. You have been an annoying thorn I’ve been overlooking because of so many other things.”

”You crossed the line a long time ago, and this is your punishment. Tomorrow will be your last day, but you can extend it if you kneel, kiss my feet, and call me your lord.”

Simon gave a cold grin.

”And you have just crossed my line, Caesar.”

Caesar gave no response, and both of them stared at one another with a gaze that could freeze an inferno.

Caesar suddenly broke the silence.

”Your spatial ring.”

Simon tilted his head slightly.

”And why would I do that since it’s not going to save my life?”

Caesar scoffed.

”So that your death would be painless. If you don’t, you’ll understand why my subordinates and the enemies I have killed and are yet to kill have this saying.”

”Always give what belongs to Caesar to Caesar.”