Chapter 469: Sympathetic Wraths.

Chapter 469: Sympathetic Wraths.

Vifi fell silent. She leaned her body slightly forward, analyzing the rune stones I had in my hands before looking up, staring into my eyes. Ya serious?

So serious.

No, I mean, are you actually serious with this proposal? You do understand what youre saying by this, right?

I nodded. That you are officially part of Aurora and that I am responsible for your actions and that our enemies are also yours and your enemies are ours. If people threaten you then I will consider them enemies, and if somebody insults you personally or your membership then they will insult me. This also means you will become one of my retainers and enjoy the benefits provided by it. I am not an idiot. I am making this decision with a clear mind, so I know exactly what I am getting into.

I mean, I personally wouldnt say you understand the full extent of it, but I guess telling you that would just be annoying at this point,she sighed and looked around the area, letting her anxious eyes wander around before she sighed again and stoppedWhy? Im not trustworthy. As I said, everything you told me wasnt wrong, and I meant it. If I was in your hide, I would have kicked myself out of the group the moment I show even an inkling of distrust.

Innocent until proven guilty. I shrugged. Thats what I learned back in my world. I should have listened to that instead of accusing you for no reason at all. I am not you, I am not your prince, and I am not one of your generals that you fully agree with; I am myself. Maybe things will change in the future, but for now your leader is Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor. A girl with a bleeding heart and an idealistic dream on how this war should end.

I pushed the rune into her hands, finally handing them over. And this will seal that promise between us. That dream I sold you back when we nearly killed each other was nearly lost because I lost faith in myself and what I stand for. Unfortunately for you, I dont break promises and you are the reminder for that. Saori, Tasianna, Ellaine, and Grimnir all remind me of different things that I must uphold when my dragon side starts taking over my rationality. You will be the one to remind me to help the demonkin. That, even with all my enemies, there are people in your country that are good and deserve a helping hand. People who just want to eat some donuts, avoid fish dishes, and just snore like a rattling golem core.

Oi! Vifi snarled.

What? I also snore after a massive feast. How couldnt I with a full belly and a soft bed? You arent a soldier in my party, you are an adventurer. Thats how I lead my party, and youve seen just that these past few months. We have had a lot of stressful moments because we are also a business and have Quests to fulfill, which includes hers. I pointed up. This isnt an Aurena hates your race because of your race, she hates it that her worshippers are dying against yours affair. I am her blessed, so I know she wont have any issue with it. If she does, fuck her! This is my life.

Oooh, I can already feel Erithia seething, or any other super loyal Aurena subordinate god.

Quick to fall into heresy, I see. Most of the Church of Aurena folks would hate you.

I waved in dismissal. Pah! Most already do. Thats what they get for misunderstanding Aurena I say as if I knew her that well. The point is that I dont care what others say as long as you want to be here with us. If you do, then I will trust you with my life and the lives of my other friends, because we are one party.

What if I made contact with my former nation? This could all be a long ruse to kill you to regain their trust, she argued.

First, no, you cannot because you know of my mothers threat now. Second, if you did betray us, then I would go through all the issues then, including slinging insults at you and destroying you with everything I have. After all, if you were in my shoes, you would do the same, as well.

She shook her head. If I were, I wouldnt even attempt any of this. I dont trust random people, Donut. If you do, then expect to be taken advantage of because that is what most people will do.

You told me that your life was hard already. I recently heard some more details about BoleTarias situation; not to say I know everything about you and your country. I told you this already, Vifi, but I want to understand the demonkin, and you are the best candidate for teaching me. Not Klea. You. Your experiences from starting at the bottom and rising to the top for survival until you took up the mantle of a sin heir and then your decision to desert.

You are actually stupid.

Good job repeating yourself, you already told me that there. I pointed at where our fight probably happened, remembering her saying those exact same words to me when I offered her to join us. I still mean every word I said back then. Despite your past, you still held onto a glimmer of honor. You could have left Amelia before the siege happened, but you tried to warn her. Tell her to run all for some free donuts.

I stretched my hand out, asking for a handshake. Vifi stared at it, her face scowling in discomfort. She grit her teeth, hesitating as she raised and lowered her right hand over and over again. She was without a doubt struggling with some internal conflicts, asking herself if this was the path she had to take or maybe she still distrusted me. I didnt know. I couldnt read her mind, so I could only believe.

Eventually, she sighed and her face calmed down. She looked up into my eyes and nodded. She approached me with a raised hand only for my [Danger Perception] and [Foresight] to activate, warning me of an attack coming from below. Just as I registered this information, my eyes noticed her prosthetic left arm forming a fist, aiming for my head.

She grabbed my arm and pulled me closer, forcing me to rely on my instincts and reflexes. Thankfully, my left hand made it in time and blocked her punch, using [True Draconic Barrier] to fully defend from the damage.

Vifi I frowned. Was I wrong?

I hate it. I hate the fact youre making me think about all of this once again. I called you our saving grace for us wrathies because your songs help us calm down, and I still believe it! Yet, I hate having to process everything you just told me, including joining your party for real!

She twisted her body and launched a kick into my stomach, pushing me far back, giving her enough time to unsheath her rapier and activate her prosthetics, causing red lightning to wrap around it. Although her control wasnt as perfect compared to her pre-Satanael usage, the lightning still formed a visible halberd.

Her posture was hostile, intending to charge at me at the blink of an eye with [Gale Steps]. Her hands Sadly, I couldnt read the intention of her dual wield. A rapier and halberd combination didnt look like they would synergize well due to their different ranges, making me believe a rapier and hammer combo was better. Or any of her staff, crossbow, and fist lightning manifestations.

So, why a halberd?

Vifi, I will not humor you, I said.

Humor? I think ya should, since if ya wont, then ya better hope yer friends can get here in time to rescue you before I hand you over.

Her normal accent, again? Is she stressed or does she really mean to attack me?

What? Not gonna cast your buffing spells? ActuallyUSELESS!

As if she teleported, Vifi disappeared from my sight, leaving only her voltaic lightning behind as a trail. She was dashing around me, far too fast for my eyes to dart towards, forcing me to rely on my intuition and skills to pinpoint her point of attack. As such, I activated [Foresight], expending mana to make the System calculate the future, showing me multiple possible options.

Vifis silhouette appeared in my mind in three different directions, with two of them attacking me with her halberd while the third was her throwing the spear at me. [Voltaic Red: Thunderspeed Roar]? I guess that could be the reason why she materialized her polearm. It was a spear Ability.

Does she actually want to fight? I contemplated, still unable to understand her motives since [Danger Perception] was activating. She was exuding bloodthirst, making this feel real but I was still on the fence if she was playing this off or if she actually turned on me. What the hell?

Got it!

I snapped my head as I chose one of the options, correctly predicting her manner of attack.

She landed on the ground and dashed forward, halberd aimed at my tail and legs. Instead of reacting, I sent an order to my shadow, summoning both Rajah and Varya and having them launch two synchronized tail slams, followed by shooting their tail spikes.

The projectiles forced Vifi back and into another angle, where I finally ignited my claws and tail. As our eyes met, she swung her weapon while I used my tail, clashing with a loud bang! My scale-dust blew up right in her face, causing a smokescreen and allowing me to twist my body and grab her left arm, only for her to counterattack with her rapier, almost ripping off my left ear. She might have missed, but then she followed up by headbutting me.

I flinched, giving her the chance to turn her lightning polearm into a fist to back slap me. As distance was created between us, my two virgacugas appeared next to me, growing and roaring.

Hah, at least you brought your two pets with you. At least youre not a complete idiot, Vifi scoffed. But both are basically just fresh rank Bs, no? Still havent reached level ten. They are far too weak to fight with you, no? Better keep them in sup

Can you shut up for a moment? I snarled. Really? Actual hostility? Really? Dont fucking think you can trick me into actually kicking you out, you bitch! I know you well enough to know you dont go back on your debts, that you have a sense of pride in yourself, that you

You dont know anything about me! she yelled. You dontknow fish rot about anything! Marsvens shadow, youre delusional if the small bits Ive told you can give you a clear image of things. You hear, you didnt listen!

[And you answer that mistake by hurting her?] Rajah spoke up for me. [We shared food together. Fire and bed, too! You nearly hit her!]

She nodded. The road I told you is of that same concept. The people who wish for this war to continue until one side is dead must be gone for you to achieve what you dream of, at least, I believe that Maybe youll change my mind, but not now. I wanna believe. Believe that our people can do more than continue this eternal strife between races. Strife between the damn gods. Edjurl or Origin; what does a rat like me care about but a warm meal?

I smiled, happy to hear her say this. Saori mentioned this before, but you got affected by Jaldaboath, right? Do you want to talk about it? I remember you being quite stricken.

She shook her head, so I let it go. She needed her own time to contemplate.

Vifi sighed, looked at the oceans horizon before turning around. Emotion Surge, she said in the calmest manner I have ever heard her say. As her demonic features appeared with two flaming horns on top of her head, she walked forward and bowed her body slightly.

She placed her right hand over her horns before pounding her chest. She snapped her body up, posture correct. She reached her hand forward, palm wide open.

This is our salute and our way to show fealty to another demonkin. Our horns represent our pride, so by lowering our body and horns, we show deference to somebody superior. Usually, we would cut our palm with our horns and hold them out, offering our blood to mix with our liege. Demonkin take pride in bloodlines like any other, but this means I would bleed for you even in the most desperate times.

You are offering me this? I tilted my head.

The only other person I did this with is Lord Pride Thinking back on it, I think I merely did it because it was expected of me and to make my life better. My loyalty to him is like any other wrath demonkin, so it hurts. It hurts that I am offering my blood to you but I am ready to take the step, just like you committed to trusting me.

I nodded and placed my palm on hers.

We demonkin do not have our own tongue, since we grew up with Common. Only historians know how to talk in Edjurl, so Blood from my ancestors I pledge to your honor. Body and mind, our bonds linked together. May God Marsven watch over me for I dedicate my life in your protection, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor.

And I, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor, accept youVifiYokas my retainer!

1 demonkin followers gained

Total follower count updated. Total followers of [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]: 48302

[Wrath Demonkin, VifiYok] has received the title [Hestias Retainer]

There youArck!

The world has heard as you reach your hands out for unity! Sing and dance for all, for an idol dedicates her craft for everybody to see and enjoy, bringing the hope to even the most downtrodden. Embrace a performance of a lifetime, for this divine showing shall be your magnum opus!

First unlock requirement reached. [Heavenly Performance] will transition into [Heavenly Performance Act 1]

A new clause has been added to [Idol]s spell song creation. Target Demographic unlocked. The performer can specify which demographic a song should focus on instead of separating between ally/neutral/enemy/demonic power. Only one clause of this type may be chosen for each song. The more specific the Target Demographic, the more powerful a spells effect may become

[Heavenly Performance Act 1] will also apply when the performer is outside her humanoid form

I had to apologize to Aurena. I had thought that, due to its ambiguity, it would be wiser to focus on other Job skills but I underestimated her. She made [Idol] and this skill for me. I should have just trusted the unknown but hindsight was 20-20, honestly. Well, at least I could now invest my prestige point

Due to reaching the first act out of order, the perfect show has to be correct. [Heavenly Performance Act 1] evolution into [Heavenly Performance Act 2] will cost 10 prestige points to fix

Verdammte Scheie.

Aurena hated me. Without a doubt. This just gave me the largest facepalm in human history.

Yet, even this sadness lasted a second before I couldnt help but smile as Vifi sighed loudly, clearly nervous when she saw what [Hestias Retainer] did. Since she was level 150, she couldnt benefit from the SP shop as much as my other retainers did, but the boosted skill leveling would help her a lot.

[I knew you didnt go crazy!] Rajah pounced on the demonkin, purring like crazy to the latters chagrin. His mother, on the other hand, asked me if I knew what I was doing.

I nodded. This felt correct, and I wasnt saying it due to all the System messages.

As we were about to leave, some Yeosian knights came flying over to inspect the [Voltaic Red: Thunderspeed Roar] Vifi had aimed over my head. The projectile flew through the sky, unnerving the knights and the people.

Vifi had already made a run for it before I could explain the situation, so I could only say that our newest member did it since we were sparring. The knights did wonder who our new, shy member was, as some did question the red lightning. They remembered Vifi during the siege, so I had to tiptoe around that fact.

In any case, once Vifi returned to the subspace with me, I told everybody the good news! Until the majority expressed their disagreement with their faces. I expected this and it would take a bit for everybody to warm up here.

Although, there was one person who didnt need to.

Haha, I told you, lass! Just speak up! Lass might have gotten angry, but she isnt gonna spite you forever! Grimnir patted Vifis pack, wrapping his shoulder around the girl.

She, on the other hand, expressed her annoyance, looking exhausted at everything. Still, she showed a faint smile. Hope to work well with you.

Vifi still had to physically run back to Aureolis since her [Room] runes were stuck in Elyonda, but she should arrive by tomorrow. Nevertheless, we still finalized our plans for the raid on this night, allowing all of us to train with this goal in mind. Our scouts kept watch over anything weird, ready to warn us if the demonkin performed a pre-emptive attack.

Meanwhile, two days after getting Vifi to join our party, a predicament came up. Goddess Andiras catalyst made from the remains of the Light Elemental Emperor wasnt allowing me to use it.

The owner of this catalyst has already been set

You gotta be kidding me.

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A note from AbyssRaven

Honestly, I have no idea how many people thought I would have Vifi join when I first introduced her over 169 chapters ago, but here we are! The sixth member of the crew, and most importantly, a demonkin.

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Thank you for reading this chapter.