Myths Reawakened

Ines narrowed Her eyes. The speculation was too far-fetched and absurd. She would like a more believable answer.

“It concerns Heaven’s secrets and is closely linked to the safety of the human world. I cannot tell you.” Wayne shook his head and thought for a moment. “If you have any plans, target me. I could be the Anointed One.”

“You are the Anointed One. Otherwise the Śār of Purity wouldn’t have paid such a heavy price. Heaven doesn’t make such mistakes,” Ines said with certainty. “My plan will be centered around you. Would you tell me now what the Anointed One means to Heaven? Is a new Heavenly Father descending?”

“Perhaps. Who knows...” Wayne shrugged. He had given too much to keep the established order stable and the real Anointed One protected. Once the Anointed One awakened, he’d better remember the blood Wayne had shed for Heaven and the contribution he had made. He couldn’t let a contribution go unrecognized and a contributor disappointed.

He wasn’t asking for much. Just give him Hesione.

Ines believed it. Wayne was the Heavenly Father’s child. The father had been the master of Heaven, and the son would follow His footsteps. Both had gone down the path of the Astral Plane.

Thinking of the map, Ines decisively modified Her original plan. While She couldn’t be certain that She would win, Sun and Moonlight would definitely suffer great losses.

Handing the legacy of the Life Alliance to Wayne? Those two arrogant fools didn’t know that Wayne was the Heavenly Father’s child. Their plan would definitely fail...

Ines suddenly realized that She couldn’t do without Sun and Moonlight. If Wayne took their place, Her plan would fall apart completely.

What should She do then?

Ines didn’t have a clue. She stared at Wayne. In the long term, he would be a more rewarding investment than Sun and Moonlight, but there was no time. He wasn’t even a demigod yet.

Ines clenched Her teeth and headed to the basement. “Come here. I have something to give you.”

“What is it...”

Wayne hesitated. Ines’s vicious look made it seem like She was going to ensure mutual destruction with him.

She said nothing as She walked down to the basement without turning around. After some hesitation, Wayne followed her.

“Stay here. I’ll go check. If I call out for help, Hesione, remember to immediately summon the thousands of angels who have descended.”

From a corner of the living room, Vichy looked at her two superiors as they made it to the basement, confused. She felt like they had become infinitely more distant compared to before, and since the Chosen Land was a globe, the further they were from each other, the closer they were to each other. They had stepped back until their backs were pressed together.

What kind of relationship was that? What a difficult question!

Ines reached the basement first, finding the statue made after Her liking. Eyes closed, She spread Her thoughts with the statue as an anchor, projecting a large amount of Laws of Darkness from Her Divine Realm.

Sun and Moonlight weren’t good enough, while Death had ulterior motives. None of them could be relied on. She decided to make Wayne an ally.

It didn’t matter that he was weak now. Given his ridiculous learning ability, he would surely catch up with enough investment. At least he would be able to surpass Sun and Moonlight!

Wayne carefully stood behind Ines, keeping three meters between them. He looked at the exceptionally black statue with disbelief in his eyes.

What is all this? The dowry? Isn’t this way too much?

Is Ines really a conservative goddess? But she’s pinned me to a wall in the confessional and spouted catty remarks without problem. She also sees manipulating Her subordinates as entertainment. Clearly, She’s a villainess.

A conservative villainess... Is gap moe still the trend?

The Book of Greed urged him to go on. Are you done? Even if you aren’t, start eating!

Wayne couldn’t say no. Whatever Ines was thinking, She had offered him too much. Without waiting for Her to say anything, he reached out to touch the statue and swallowed everything.

Ines’s eyes twitched. She felt belatedly regretful.

That was reckless of Her!

Sun and Moonlight might not be good enough, but they were full of themselves and easily manipulable. Wayne, on the other hand, was a difficult man to control. A moment of distraction could lead to a loss of control.

What if he turned on Her?

The small eyeball of Darkness on the Book of Greed’s cover exceeded all other eyeballs to become the one containing the most Laws. Wayne pursed his lips, looking at Ines with unsated greed.

Is there more? Let them come.

“This is it. The rest... Wait until the next time.” Ines stepped back without thinking. She had more to offer, but She didn’t dare do it now, worried that She would end up losing Herself.

“There’s a next time?” Wayne’s eyes lit up. He realized that Ines had misunderstood the question when he noticed Her tight expression, so he said helpfully, “Would you give me a warning the next time you descend? You know, there are times when... It’s awkward, isn’t it?”

Ines didn’t deem that a response. “Get stronger. If you can become a god, perhaps I can give you an unexpected reward.”

She didn’t say what the reward would be, allowing him to imagine it.

Wayne did imagine it, and blushed because of it.

Ines’s eyes twitched. Although it was Her intention to mislead him, that made it difficult for Her to continue the seductive act calmly. She couldn’t do it, not now.

“This is everything I’ve invested. Remember to stay away from Siluk and Kaleb, or I’ll take back my word anytime!” Ines voiced Her grievances while suppressing Her actual grievances. After a thoughtful moment, She patiently added, “Stay away from Nature, too. If She tries to contact you, seek out Anastasia as soon as possible, and I’ll shield you from her.”

“No matter what they promise you, do not step into their Divine realms!”

“Um, would you tell me Nature’s and Death’s real names?”

“No!”

Ines pulled away then, without handing Wayne the partial thoughts of the Goddess of Death.

Everyone had a plan, and the introduction of the variable named Wayne made the situation spiral out of control. She had to go back and sort things out, reconsidering the success rate of Her original plan.

Moreover, She had to put more effort into studying Her corrupted thoughts. She strongly suspected that Her supposed close ally, Aztimor, had learned a secret She didn’t know, which was why Aztimor had invested in Wayne.

That was key, and it made Ines anxious.

Everyone thought that Death was doomed, and the Underworld would fall apart at any time. She, however, knew that Death would sooner or later make a comeback.

***

Wayne led Anastasia to the living room, pondering with a frown. Since he couldn’t figure out an answer, he enjoyed the serenity that having his white moonlight in his arms gave him.

In this materialistic world where the goddesses were each more cunning than the next, only his white moonlight’s embrace remained warm, and he was able to rest fully with no thoughts in his mind.

Anastasia held Wayne’s head to her chest, her serene eyes brimming with affection and indulgence.

She knew that her faith depended on her, having put her on a pedestal that she couldn’t climb onto on her own. That was why she had been acting as his sanctuary, a place for him to rest after he had worked himself to an exhaustion of madness.

Wayne wasn’t one to spread his negative feelings. Even if he was going to have someone share his fright, it would be Auston.

When he pulled out of Anastasia’s arms, he looked refreshed. “I’m heading out for a long-distance trip. Hesione, are you coming with me?”

Hesione shook her head. “No. I must stay here and convince Auriel and others that you are the Anointed One.”

“Really?” Wayne asked. “Don’t you care about the Anointed One’s safety?”

“I will not commit the offensive sin of ignorance.”

Hesione smiled. The Anointed One never needed her protection. He had only been bringing her along to educate her in person, allowing her to observe the path to salvation from a close distance.

How absurd, Wayne thought. You’re terminally ill now!

Wayne wasn’t going to force her. He snapped his fingers. “Hey, you. Come with me on this trip.”

Hestia nodded. “When are we setting out, Śār?”

...I’m not talking to you!

Wayne shot down the tearful Throne and went up to the slacker. From above, the night robe was a little see-through, and he had super vision.

“I’m talking to you. Stop slacking off.” Wayne knocked the grey-haired girl in the head. With a cry, Sukra kicked her legs out and went motionless.

She was playing dead.

“I’ll count to three. If you don't come back alive, I’ll bury you.

“...”

It didn’t work. Even after Wayne counted to three, Sukra continued to play dead. Compared to being buried alive, she was more afraid of being parted from the human-eating sofa.

She was ill. It was an illness that would kill her as soon as she stepped out of the door.

Bam!

Wayne knocked her on the head with his fist. This time, he hit hard enough to make Sukra sit up. She whined, “Why me? Can’t it be Vichy? She’s amazing, while I still need your protection.”

“You’ll be bait to lure the treacherous members of the Church of Death out. I’ll make quick work of them.” Wayne made a gesture with his fingers pressed together.

The Church of Death would be a potential threat if left unchecked. Although he wasn’t afraid, there was no point in being wary of a thief forever. It was better to seize the chance to lure them out.

It would be best if he could trace them to the headquarters of the Church of Death, killing the pope and taking back the Philosopher’s Stone.

A mosquito was still protein. The Book of Greed could take them all.

“I don’t want to go outside, Mr. Wayne. It’s too troublesome...” Sukra latched onto Wayne’s thigh, whining about finally having a good time after a lifetime of tragedy, telling him that happiness was so difficult to come by, so she would like to treasure it.

“Look at your lazy ass. I suspect that the goddess has died of a stroke because of you!”

Wayne grabbed her palm-sized face and tightened his grip, making her involuntarily pout. “I won’t force you to do what you don’t want to do,” he scoffed, “But I’m not going to keep a useless subordinate around. You’ve rested enough. If you don’t come with me, I’ll cut off your allowance.”

Do it then! Do you know how much allowance you gave me last time? Do you know how much I’ve earned from Vichy?

Sukra pouted, not intimidated in the slightest.

“Haha, my family owns banks. I can freeze your account with a call.”

“...”

Sukra made a face.

Capitalists deserve death! (TロT)σ

“Any question?”

“When are we going out?”

“That’s more like it...”