Myths Reawakened

“Sir Pedro, the Lando family has openly rebelled in front of all of the Tulip Families. We must not be outdone, at least in grandeur...”

“In my opinion, we should gather the Tulip Families and go to the Ministry of Magic’s headquarters... No, the ministry now follows the Landos rather than the Queen. We should do it at Buckingham Palace. You’ll personally crown the Queen for proper sanctity!”

Bedfrith slammed the table as he continued his impassioned monologue, “The Lando family has no justification for their rebellion. We are on the side of justice, and they are the ones carrying guilt. The larger our gathering, the clearer it becomes that our conscience is clean.”

Auriel nodded. He had been pondering how to publicly put the Queen back in power, so Bedfrith’s words struck a chord in him.

“You’re quite good. Keep it up. Perhaps one day you’ll make it to Heaven.”

“...”

“What’s wrong? Do you not want to go to Heaven?”

“That’s not it. It’s just that many have told me that I deserve to go to Hell.”

Bedfrith sighed. Auriel had been one of those people back then.

“Who goes to Heaven and who goes to Hell is not for some people to decide,” Auriel said with a meaningful smile.

It was an understated boasting that showed the Śār’s detachment from worldly reputation and his transcendent wisdom in focusing on inner peace. It also laid down the groundwork for a future reveal of his true identity. The foreshadowing built tension and made for an elegant setup.

Bedfrith’s eyes widened. His hand stilled as he asked in a trembling voice, “Who are you, Sir Pedro?”

“Ha.” Auriel smiled and said nothing.

Lumping all the Tulip Families together and calling them snakes was unfair. At least Bedfrith was a good fellow. With a little grooming, he would find a place in Heaven.

“It doesn’t matter who I am,” Auriel said, picking up his glass of wine. “What matters is who you are.”

“I-I pledge my service to you, Sir!” Bedfrith shot to his feet, his face flushed like he had finally found a worthy master.

“Oh? What happened to your loyalty to the Queen?”

“I’ve served the royal family my entire life. Now, I only want to make it to Heaven!”

“You’re indeed an excellent legendary mage. In that case, I’ll leave you to issue the invitations for the banquet. Get every member of the Lando family to Buckingham Palace by whatever means necessary.”

“Um...”

“What? Can’t you even manage a simple task like that? Is that what your loyalty looks like?”

“You misunderstand, Sir Pedro,” Bedfrith hurriedly explained. “I’d gladly devote myself to Heaven. I dream of going to Heaven every night. However, the Lando family is too powerful. My life means little, but if I were to get in the way of your grand design, that would be unforgivable.”

“You have a way with words.” Auriel narrowed his eyes. A thread of golden light bloomed from his right eye as he inscribed Bedfrith with the holy intent of the Golden Law.

Bedfrith’s eyes widened as a stigma emerged on the back of his hand, beyond shocked. He, the Lord of Pride, had received the recognition of Śār Auriel!

“Carry my power,” Auriel said. “The Lando family knows what this banquet is held for, so the one I wish to see will attend for certain.”

Pride’s human vessel carried the blood of his mortal enemy, Mikhael, giving him a distinctively heavenly aura. The stigma not only didn’t burn him, but fit him like a glove.

Auriel was too arrogant. As an angel, he looked down on humanity and thus didn’t bother to examine Bedfrith. He didn’t know what grave mistake he had just made. He continued in an unhurried tone, “Deliver the invitation to the Lando family. Then summon all of the Tulip Families. Everyone has to attend, and do it quickly. Understood?”

I don’t need you to say that. I’m in a greater hurry than you are!

Bedfrith nodded vehemently. He didn’t even finish his meal before excusing himself and bolting out of the dining room.

Auriel smiled, turning to the Queen. “What a nice pet. He’ll be mine from now on. Any objections?”

What could Sophelia say? Nothing. All she could do was smile.

Before her smile even bloomed fully, Bedfrith returned and said, “Sir Pedro, it’s done.”

“Already?!” Auriel was shocked. With such efficiency, why was the man ever known as a snake? The Queen failed to make use of capable people at her disposal; no wonder she had lost power.

“Um, this is an invitation from the Lando family. I ran into their messenger the moment I walked out the door. Wayne Lando wanted to have a meal with you—tonight at the earliest and tomorrow night at the latest.”

Bedfrith put on a face of absolute loyalty. “Sir Pedro, we’ve been compromised. There is a traitor among us.”

Auriel’s face darkened. He said coldly, “Gerar and Vilkul aren’t here. It must be one of them.”

Oh boy, Vilkul is here, too?

Bedfrith was flabbergasted. Four among the Seven Sacred Virtues had entered the human world, but their target wasn’t him, a trespassing demon lord. What was Heaven up to? Were they really going to start a war of faiths?

Pride felt burdened by concerns. Wars between nations were manageable, but a war of faiths? The scale would be too great, and all of the Chosen Land would be in shambles, becoming no better than Hell. Where was he supposed to enjoy a comfortable life then?

He arrived at a conclusion: the reincarnated angels had descended for an inevitable war of faiths, and Auriel and Hesione had clashed over the leadership role. That was what led to today’s situation.

The show stopped being entertaining.

ε=(′д`*)))

Life was hard. The demon lord sighed.

“What are you waiting for?” Auriel said darkly. “I’ve received the Lando family’s invitation. Tell Wayne Lando that a banquet will be thrown at Buckingham Palace at six tomorrow evening. Have him bring his secretary. I’ll pay for the meal.”

“Understood. I’ll inform him at once.” Bedfrith turned to leave.

This wasn’t Hell, so he should be optimistic. The incoming war of faiths was only his speculation. He couldn’t yet determine the purpose of the seven angels’ reincarnation.

Tomorrow evening, he would see everything clearly up close and personal from the front row, with his eyes wide open!

Remembering Hesione’s thoroughly tainted state, he felt a flicker of excitement.

Damn it, there’s still thirty hours to go. Why is time moving so slowly?

The suspense can kill a demon!

***

Wayne’s residence.

Wayne met Veryl as soon as he stepped in. The butler told him that the Lando Estate called. It was something important, and Mr. Auston was waiting for a return call.

“He’d done it already? That guy isn’t bad at all!”

Wayne plopped down on the sofa and dialed the Lando Estate, sandwiched by his secretary and bodyguard.

The line went through. Auston spoke up, “The Queen has received the invitation. Tomorrow at six at Buckingham Palace. The Lando family is expected to attend, and your secretary has been specifically requested by name.”

“Impressive,” Wayne praised. “You’ve arranged everything in the span of a meal. I may have to look at you in a different light from now on. Keep it up. You can spend the next thirty years fighting for the Lando family.”

“Cut the crap,” Auston said bluntly. “You’re the target, and you’re the head of the family. Silvia and I won’t be attending tomorrow night.”

It seemed like the banquet would be a lively affair, and he wasn’t the sort of person who enjoyed that.

“Fair enough. I’ll arrange a card game at the Lando Estate tomorrow night. You and Master can enjoy a few rounds.”

Wayne stroked his chin. With the seven reincarnated angels gathered in one place for a meeting, the Lord of Pride would certainly catch wind of it, and he might show up in person. He could appear at the meeting, or he might raid Wayne’s base in secret. To ensure that he wouldn’t return home to find it gone, he decided to gather his harem and a few capable bodyguards at the Lando Estate instead.

The obvious choice would be Vichy. Anastasia and Sukra were both strong enough to take on a demigod. He would just bring Hesione and Frey with him, which would be enough even if Auriel turned on them.

After all, Auriel was meant to be a righteous figure representing Heaven. Even if he turned on them, he wouldn’t go too far. He wasn’t a demon. He couldn’t afford the reputation of slaughtering innocents.

“There’s something else,” Auston said in a low voice. “The other members of the Tulip Families were also invited to tomorrow’s banquet. Don’t you find the situation familiar?”

“It does. You play the role that Queen Sophelia played. As the main star of the show, you must not be absent. Why don’t you go with me tomorrow night?”

“Master Wayne, you are playing Queen Sophelia’s role. Not me.” Auston hung up without hesitation, leaving Wayne to fend for himself.

“How heartless. I suppose this is true nobility...” Wayne hung up ruefully, ordering without turning around, “We’ve arranged a dinner. The Queen will be buying tomorrow night. You two are coming with me.”

Hestia had nothing to object to. Whatever Wayne said, she followed. Hesione, on the other hand, was worried. They would be meeting Auriel in public, joined by Gerar and Vilkul. She worried that she would have to lie again, which in itself wasn’t a problem; it was far from her first time telling lies.

However, Auriel had escalated the matter so far that she had a bad feeling about tomorrow’s banquet. Since Wayne was the Anointed One, she decided to keep a close eye on him to make sure that Auriel couldn’t even touch his hair.

“Wayne, why are you back so early today?”

Kristen went down the stairs in comfortable clothes, wearing her long hair up. She first smiled at Mona like the mistress of the family, and then...

Oh, who is this lewd woman?

The white clergywoman's uniform that Hestia always wore was quite loose, but there was no hiding her figure. The bouncy weight weighed heavily on Kristen.

She hurriedly went back upstairs. That was another beautiful woman at the level of the old hag. She couldn’t hold down the fort alone. She needed help!

“Who was that?” Hestia frowned slightly. Given Kristen’s casual attitude, she seemed close to the Śār. Was she his sister?

“She’s Kristen, the current mistress of the Wayne family...” Wayne slumped down on the sofa and tilted his head up. “I’m the master of the family. Do you understand?”

Hestia froze in disbelief. “Great-Śār, how could someone of your esteemed status—”

—make so many mistakes in a row?

Hestia didn’t know what kind of person Kristen was, but she could sense that Kristen wasn’t a clergywoman of the Church of Heavenly Father, meaning she was most likely a heretic. She wasn’t good enough for her Śār.

“Haha!” Hesione’s smile didn’t meet her eyes. She said sarcastically, “There is more than one mistress in this residence. He also has a fiancée and a first love. Outside this residence, he has more manors across Londan. Get ready to be shocked!”

“Impossible. That’s not the kind of person Śār is!” Hestia countered forcefully. When Hesione only responded with a derisive sneer, she turned to Wayne and urged, “Please save something, Śār!”

“What should I say? That’s the kind of person I am.” Wayne rolled his eyes at Hesione, speaking in a petty tone. “I’ve held onto my purity in Heaven my entire life. Finally, I was able to become human with the excuse of looking for the Anointed One. What’s wrong with sleeping with a few girls I like? It’s rewards I deserve for holding onto my purity for so long.”

Face flushed, Hestia said in a trembling voice, “You shouldn’t get lost in the base desires of humanity. You should keep holding—”

“I’ll gladly get lost in those desires. I, Hesione, enjoy my fall!” Wayne kept pushing Hesione’s buttons, letting out a huff. “Are you, a Throne, going to oppose me?”

“This subordinate wouldn’t dare.”

Hestia lowered her head dejectedly, looking lost like her faith had fallen apart. Suddenly, even the damn secretary seemed agreeable. At least she was a clergywoman of the Church of Heavenly Father, making her one of their own.

Hestia cheered herself up. Grabbing Hesione’s shoulders, she said, “You, you must stay with him every night from now on. I’ll put my life on the line for the request. You alone can guard the Śār’s purity.”

(는_는)

Her recognition made Hesione want to strangle her to death.

“I’m being serious, Boss,” Hesione hissed. “Give me a chance to kill her!”

“That won’t do. I like Hestia a lot.”

“...” x3

The trio of magical girls stilled. Enraged, Veronica dashed down the stairs and into the living room. She would like to take a good look at the woman Wayne liked! Whom the rival that her white moonlight had just warned them about!

∑(ŐωŐ๑)

What a beautiful big sister!

Gulp!

Her gulp was so loud that Wayne, Hesione, Hestia, Kristen, and Vera all turned to Veronica in contempt.

Veronica blushed furiously, retreating to Kristen’s side and grabbing her hand. “Let me explain, Senior. It’s not like that.”

(・˘_˘・)

What the hell? Wayne groused. Shouldn’t you be explaining to me?