A Demon's Journey

While Azaroth had returned and even bought a few servants in Wrihull City, something entirely out of his expectations was occurring in Mesenana City, the Capital City of the Sinyalian Kingdom.

Sophie had returned safely to her manor.

When she returned, the entire manor was worried because Sophie had returned with dirty clothes and not a single guard with her.

Sophie's mother, Bianca had already summoned her husband and asked him to talk to Sophie.

It didn't seem like Sophie was willing to share anything with Bianca because Sophie knew how her mother liked to worry unnecessarily. But Sophie did say that she would tell everything to her father.

Such a response was indeed what Bianca had expected from her daughter. Internally though, she was thinking 'Hmph… I will see how that brute will hide this from me. See if I don't make him sleep on the couch.'

Spencer Russel heard the entire story that transpired in Kloras Town from his daughter Sophie.

Naturally, Sophie left out the parts where her relationship with Azaroth would be revealed.

Spencer was stunned to hear that Peter didn't return signifying his death. He was sure that Peter could have even defeated two 5 Star Beasts at the same time. If not that, atleast escaping shouldn't have been an issue.

'Was there a 6 Star Beast at the scene? But no. It would have been impossible for Sophie to escape if there was a 6 Star Beast there. Moreover, I should have received a report of a Beast King in that area.'

Also, another question appeared in his head as he asked Sophie, "How did you construct the 5 Star Array? From where did you gather those materials? I don't think that the town lord could have materials needed to construct a 5 Star Array."

Suddenly, Azaroth's face appeared in Sophie's head and she blushed a little. Before her father could notice, she tried to speak with a calm tone, "It was Edwin Rhodes who brought 5 Star Materials to construct the array."

"Edwin Rhodes? Jonas's son?" Spencer frowned as he remembered his rival, Jonas Rhodes.

If Spencer was asked whom he feared the most in this country, then Jonas's name was in the top 5 on that list.

It wasn't Jonas's strength that scared Spencer. Spencer was more talented and powerful and was more than capable of dealing with Jonas, but if they compared intelligence or cunningness, he wasn't Jonas's match at all.

The one advantage Spencer held over Jonas was that he had very good relations with the King.

If not for this, Jonas would have found one way or another to deal with him.

'Why would Jonas give such wealth to his younger child? Was he that worried about him? But even then, what's the use of it when his child doesn't know how to create formations? Why didn't he send some formation master along with him?'

Soon, Spencer's frown deepened as he considered another possibility.

'Did he know that Sophie was going to the Kloras Town to deal with that Beast Raid? Was that his plan so that his child could try and connect to Sophie?'

Spencer then asked Sophie with a worried face, "He didn't do anything bad to you, right daughter?"

Sophie pouted as she asked him, "You have so little confidence in me, papa?"

Spencer hurriedly replied back, "No, no. My daughter is indeed the smartest, no one can do anything to you. I just wanted to be sure."

"Then… How did the beasts break your barrier?" Spencer asked with an impatient voice.

Meanwhile, Sophie grumbled with some dissatisfaction, "I was getting to that but you interrupted me before I could finish."

"The energy empowering the barrier was already getting weaker because I used it to attack the beasts surrounding the encampment 2 times. So one beast managed to break the barrier and before I could repair the barrier, the beasts entered and unleashed hell upon us. Especially when that 5 Star Beast entered…"

Sophie began to shiver unconsciously as she remembered how her guards had gone to hold back the beasts to allow her to escape.

Noticing that his daughter was remembering some painful memories, Spencer gently caresses her head and spoke, "I trained those men and I can't be any prouder of them. I am glad they died while facing their adversary."

"All the guards who went with you are going to be compensated monthly money and also well protected. Although this doesn't substitute the lives of the guards, this is the best I can do." There was a helpless look on Spencer's face.

"Father… Why… Why did they all have to die while I escaped, taking along this heavy guilt with me?!" Sophie spoke while she clenched her fists in frustration.

She remembered Azaroth's words to her but quite some time had passed and once again, the heavy guilt surfaced within her.

Spencer hugged his daughter tightly and gently spoke, "Let it all out. I will shoulder all your worries and guilt…"

The scene ahead of him was something he had seen many times. Mainly when the new recruits would see a senior protecting their life.

But no matter how many times he had seen, Spencer couldn't get used to comforting them. He was also sad about the death of his comrades and subordinates but there was no other way around it.

If it was his daughter who had died in place of his subordinates, perhaps he wouldn't have been able to take it and vent his frustrations in an improper place.

He was feeling even guiltier than Sophie as he was secretly happy that his daughter survived while his subordinates died.

'Mates, I will take on any punishment you in store for me in the afterlife but for now, I shall be enjoying this moment that had been earned through your sacrifice.'

Soon, Spencer realized that his daughter had fallen asleep. He gently laid her on her bed and covered her with a thin quilt before leaving slowly.

As he comes out of Sophie's room, he soon meets up with his wife, Bianca. She signaled him to tell her what Sophie had told him.

With a heavy heart, Spencer began to narrate all that Sophie had told him.

After Spencer finished narrating the entire scene, Bianca spoke, "I think you should take permission from the King and exterminate those beasts. It would be bad if they are allowed to occupy that place for any longer."

Spencer nodded his head and replied, "I was thinking of the same, dear."

Just when he was thinking of going over to the King's side, a servant entered the hall and spoke urgently, "Commander, Jonas Rhodes is requesting to see King Valliadis."

"Jonas? What's he doing here?" Spencer muttered underneath his breath. But he couldn't think of an answer.

Knowing that he had to leave, he looked at his wife and spoke, "I will go then, dear. When Sophie wakes up, don't ask her anything related to this. Just take her around shopping to divert her mind."

Bianca rolled her eyes as she replied to her husband, "You don't need to tell me what to do. I know how to handle my daughter."

With that, Spencer left the hall to get to the King's side.

~~

After Spencer was by King Valliadis's side as Jonas was invited inside and allowed to see the King.

Once inside, Jonas's vision well on Spencer who was standing just beside the king. A sneer appeared on Jonas's face but he quickly hid it and kneeled down, paying his respects to the King.

"I, Jonas Rhodes, pay my respects to King Valliadis," Jonas spoke with a respectful tone.

The King had red hair with deep green eyes. There were some wrinkles on his face indicating his old age.

"You can stand now." Once Jonas had stood up, the King asked him with a puzzled expression, "What brings you here, Marquis Jonas?"

"King Valliadis, I am sure you must have heard of the beast raid in the Kloras Town. My son, Edwin went over there to fight against that Beast Raid and he informed me that the entire Kloras Town had been demolished by those filthy beasts. That land is not under any administration right now." Jonas spoke with a respectful tone.

"That's correct. I have indeed heard of his incident. It seems that only your and spencer's offspring survived this beast raid." The King replied with a deep and powerful voice.

Jonas then raised his head and spoke with a smile on his face, "King Valliadis, I am granting this piece of land to my son, Edwin Rhodes."

The King still remained puzzled as he spoke. "Why consult this matter with me though? That land is under your Noble House, you have the power to decide who should rule it."

"Naturally. The reason I appear here is that I wish to request you to remove any taxes or restrictions in the Kloras Town for 3 years." Those words from Jonas made King Valliadis frown in dissatisfaction but he still let Jonas continue, "I request you to remove these taxes to build up the infrastructure and develop that town from scratch. After 3 years, the Kloras Town shall pay double the tax for the next 10 years."

"Double its tax for the next 10 years?" The King heard that statement and fell into some deep contemplation.

Jonas had a confident look in his eyes as he saw the King fall into deep contemplation.

Even a fool could calculate that this was a very profitable deal. Also, if the land continued to remain as it was, it wouldn't benefit the Kingdom at all. Instead, the beasts would expand their territory and make it their home. It would be troublesome to drive those beasts away from that location.

Spencer was astonished to hear that Jonas was giving away that territory to Edwin.

As far as he knew, Jonas never paid any attention to this child. So why this sudden change?

What was he playing at? Was it related to that beast raid at the Kloras Town or something else entirely?

The King thought for some moments before answering Jonas, "Request granted."

Jonas's face lit up as he heard those words and immediately stood up before leaving the Hall.

The guards outside the hall saw Jonas leaving and soon closed the door.

Once Jonas had left, the King looked in Spencer's direction and asked him, "What do you think of this?"

"I apologize, your majesty. I can't understand Jonas's thoughts behind this request. On the surface, it appears to be quite profitable for your majesty but it might possess some sort of secret for Jonas to actually rebuilt that town from scratch." Spencer spoke with a serious voice.

King Valliadis nodded his head and replied, "I believe the same. I will send some men to keep an eye on this town."

Spencer didn't reply anything in return. He was merely wondering whether Jonas truly planned on giving this empty piece of land to his son or use it himself under his son's name.

Maybe he was planning something illegal and doing it under his son's name out of caution.

Those words couldn't be spoken to the king though. The gravity of such speculation could lead to all kinds of deductions.

Firstly, Spencer wasn't sure if Jonas was actually doing something bad or not. But as long as it wasn't against the Kingdom, he could pretend to ignore it.

~~

Spencer returned and talked to Sophie about this. He thought that since Jonas was planning on making his son a Mayor of that town, it might have something to do with that beast raid.

His daughter might recall something once she hears this information.

Unfortunately for him, Sophie didn't recall anything.

As far as she could remember, the only thing that was good about that town was its highly fertile land.

Those words confused Spencer as he wondered 'I thought he found some sort of elemental vein over there. But Sophie didn't feel anything out of ordinary. Her spirit is rather sensitive to an Energy Vein and I doubt that even Jonas can seal the presence of an Energy Vein.'

Meanwhile, Sophie was quite surprised to hear that Edwin was going to become the mayor of Kloras Town.

'Isn't the Kloras town destroyed by the beasts? There is no one living there at the moment so what will he do? Is this his own idea or his father's?'

Those couple of questions appeared in Sophie's head but she didn't dare to ask her father. She knew that asking such questions that would display her curiosity towards Edwin wouldn't be good for their relationship.

It would become harder for her to meet him.

Now that she knew he going to become the mayor of Kloras Town, she could go and meet him anytime.

In fact, Azaroth would definitely be required to come to the capital for some tasks. She could meet him at that time.

Sophie continued to calculate how to maximize her time with Azaroth. She was also thinking of what excuses to use at that time.

After some moments, Sophie froze as she thought 'Since when did I start thinking so much about a man?'

Sophie answered that question herself after a couple of seconds as she sighed out 'So this is what people feel when they are in love. I rejected so many people who probably felt something similar to this and now, I have fallen into the same hell. How ironic.'

This was the only answer she could think of for that question.