Dungeon of Pride, Laplace

His bloodline had seen a massive change, that being said, it was still a far cry from reaching the ranks of a Demon Marquis.

Simon had felt it before when he had newly risen to a Demon Viscount but after becoming a Demon Earl, he felt it even more clearly, the distinct and the clearly defined hierarchy of the demon nobles.

Forget about the vast power difference between each ranks, just the purity of their bloodlines was so vast that it couldn't even be compared. No wonder he felt an absolute sense of suppression just by glancing towards the Demon Archdukes and Demon Dukes.

He couldn't even begin to fathom how pure their bloodlines were. Though one thing was for sure, it couldn't be denied that Simon had stepped into the ranks of Demon Earl and had become a true demon noble in the sense.

Even though Demon Baron and Demon Viscount were also called Demo Nobles but they were in reality considered false nobles in the demon hierarchy. The reason for that was simply the impurity of their bloodlines and them not being able to use Dark magic.

It couldn't be stressed the importance of bloodlines in this world. And it was more so evident in the hierarchy of the demon nobles.

The bloodline was the most important factor that determined that demon's future and what allowed them to acquire new skills. The Dark magic was widely known as a forbidden magic in the world of Althaea practised only by demons and those creatures whose alignment lie towards darkness.

But the Demon Nobles viewed it differently, they looked at Dark magic as the symbol of their strength. That is why, lower ranking demons such as the Demon Baron and demon Viscount who cannot use dark magi are looked down upon and despised by the other demons.

"Dark magic huh..." Simon couldn't wait to practice it but before he did that, there were other things he needed to prioritise right now.

Taking a deep breath to control his excitement, he turned his head towards the exit of the room where a couple of figures were quietly waiting for him. They were silently standing there, looking at him with varying emotions.

The Valkyries had their hands covering their mouth, their eyes gleamed with tears and their bodies trembled ever so slightly. It was evident from looking at them how worried they were.

The instant Simon turned towards them and smiled, the valkyries were no longer able to hold themselves back. They rushed towards him and dived into his embrace.

"Hic... Hic... Uunghh... Masterrr~" the maids cried for a long time, tears trickled down their faces and their eyes was swollen red from all the crying.

Simon consoled all of them, patting the heads and allowing them to hold him for as long as they wanted. And after a long long time, did the valkyries finally stop crying.

Their tear stained eyes and dishevelled faces were a sight to see. If the people that fought them saw their faces right now, they would be shocked and in disbelief. To think that the valiant warriors and the nightmares they couldn't fo anything against, would also have such a cute and soft side to them.

Seeing them like this, Simon felt a pang of guilt. he could imagine how worried they must have been all this time looking at this body which could hardly be called alive back then.

The valkyries one by one wiped their tear stained faces before kneeling on the ground with Annette leading the pack.

Simon who was taken aback by their behaviour, looked at them in confusion. At this moment, the eyes of the valkyries glinted with a fierce determination as they started to speak—

"Master our sin is unforgivable, please punish us. we were created to be your shield in times of need, to protect you from all harm. Yet we couldn't even perform our duty well. It is due to our inadequacy that master got hurt".

"If only we came to master's side earlier, master wouldn't have got hurt. Our crimes are so grave that even if we die tens of thousands of times, it wouldn't be sufficient to repent".

Annette who spoke on behalf of the Valkyries, deeply bowed her head. One could see the resolve to die if the order was given. it was not only her, all five of them shared the same sentiment.

When Simon got hurt so badly, they were shocked and regretful to their very core. They walked on edge every day wondering when their master will gain consciousness. Their heart felt like it was being stabbed brutally every time they took care of him and saw the hideous injuries on his body.

They cried and prayed every day but Simon still didn't show any signs of recovery. Worse, his life force which was just like a flicker of flame, seemed like it would blow off any moment.

They were tormented and plagued by such thoughts every day to the point of going insane. It couldn't be counted how many times they blamed themselves for it. If not because of their sense of duty towards the dungeon that their master cared so much about and Irene stopping them, they might have committed suicide to repent.

Seeing them blame themselves like that, the pang of guilt that Simon felt became stronger. Since he created them, he thought that he knew the Valkyries very well. However, he couldn't be any wrong, the level of devotion, loyalty and love that they showed towards him clearly went beyond the settings he entered for them.

There was not even a shadow of doubt on their face, they were truly ready to die for him. They might have been characters of a game, but right now they were breathing, living entities that couldn't be any more real.

Of course, they would have feelings, it was not like they were soulless dolls. Given the condition his body was in, it must have killed them from within looking at him suffering like that every day.

Hearing their words, Simon felt even more responsible. Most of all, he himself was to be blamed for his condition. It was extremely foolish of him to dive inside that dangerous spatial storm without thinking about the consequences.

He did not even consider what would happen to him, his dungeon, subordinates and those around him if he had died in that storm. He had no excuse.

The Valkyries who were deeply bowing their heads, suddenly heard a dull thud. When they raised their heads in a hurry, they were shocked to find that their master was bowing towards them.

Yes, Simon too kneeled down at this moment.

"M-Master" the Valkyries hurriedly called, the sight of their master bowing like that was unacceptable to them.

However, before they could say anything further, Simon stopped them and expressed his apology.

"Although I know a simple sorry is nowhere enough to make up for the pain you guys faced, but still let me say this… I'm deeply sorry. I want you all to know that the condition my body was in, the damage that it took was due to my own fault".

"None of you are to be blamed for it. That is why, if somebody that needs to be punished it is me. You guys achieved the task I gave you splendidly; the one who messed up this time was me. I'm truly sorry".

Simon bowed his head in apologised numerous times. The Valkyries tried to stop him multiple times but he was adamant.

"Master please raise your head, we cannot see you bowing your head like this" before he knew it, he was once again surrounded by the Valkyries who pulled him up.

"Master, I know that we are lacking, we are still inexperienced and nowhere as powerful as we need to be but please… please rely us on a little more. Hic… Hic… please don't do something as dangerous as that again. Please don't leave us…"

They even started crying at the end of the sentence. It took a long while to appease them again. In the meantime, Simon was mulling over their words.

To think that he would have such great subordinates even though he was a no good person in his former life. It would have been such a waste if he had just died like that. Truly, they deserved better, he was glad that he made it back.

At this moment, a new goal sprouted in his heart and he started cherishing his life more.

Seeing that the Valkyries had finally settled down, Simon looked around and asked— "Where are Irene and Cecilia?". He couldn't feel their presence here on the main floor.

"Miss Irene and princess Cecilia are in the forest spirit village" the Valkyries informed.

Simon recovering from his injury was great news, they wanted to quickly spread it with the rest of the subordinates of this dungeon.

The Valkyries teleported alongside him to the forest spirit village. During this whole time, they stuck close to him as if they couldn't bear to separate from him.

The forest spring spirits he met on the way, were all overjoyed to see him. They had heard from Cecilia how bad his condition was and were quite worried about him. Their worries stemmed not only from the fact that without his protection they wouldn't be able to live as happily as now in the surface world, but also because he had long since become the pillar of their faith.

They believed that as long as he was around, they would have thousands of years of prosperity. As such, they spared no efforts to grow all kinds of mystical plants and herbs that have the ability to cure all kinds of injuries to save him.