Myths Reawakened

The atmosphere in the reception room became glacial. Hesione wrestled with herself as she watched her three colleagues deflate. With Heaven proving unreliable, the mission would fall apart if she didn’t do something to boost morale.

“Pull yourselves together. The Anointed One is waiting for us.”

“We don’t know the Anointed One, and he doesn’t know us. There are millions of people in Londan. Where are we supposed to look?” Gerar let out a wry laugh. “The only thing we know for certain is that the Anointed One is somewhere in Londan, and even that we only deduced from a demon. Honestly, I don’t think we can find him.”

“Just wait,” Vilkul said, seething. “Once Viceroy Mikhael sends his own people and finds the Anointed One, we’ll be returning to Heaven for the celebration.”

Their subordinates were useless, and their superiors were worse. He was so livid that his heart burned.

“Damn it,” Auriel groused, “Now I suspect that Mikhael and Lahr are in cahoots.”

“That’s impossible,” Hesione said, shaking her head. “At worst, he’s acting out of self-interest and wants to keep the Anointed One to himself. He would never collude with the Lord of Pride.”

“Yeah, I’ve generously shared with him what sins Lahr has committed, so there’s no one keeping him in check in Heaven. He can do whatever he—” Auriel gulped, eyes wide. “What if he closes the Gate of Heaven to stop us from returning? What if he then fools the Anointed One into creating a new set of Seven Sacred Virtues?”

...Now that’s cause for panicking! x3

Gerar and Vilkul felt their stomachs drop, while Hesione’s alarm was short-lived. The Anointed One was right behind her last night. Why would she panic? Mikhael should be the one panicking.

Watching her three colleagues work themselves into greater fury and despair, she let out a huff. “Calm down. You’re losing your composure with the Thrones watching. Do not bring dishonor to the Seven Sacred Virtues.”

That’s rich coming from you. You’ve been an embarrassment to the Seven Sacred Virtues every day! x3

Auriel, Gerar, and Vilkul said nothing, but their eyes flashed as they looked at Hesione. It was a wordless suggestion for Hesione to take a look at all the marks on her.

Hesione’s lips twitched. Taking a deep breath, she said, “Think about it calmly. The Anointed One is in Londan. If Mikhael sends his people, they can only descend through vessels with holy spirit constitutions. Those descended angels won’t fool our eyes. We have the advantage.”

“But we’ll be reacting rather than acting,” Auriel said with a frown.

“Why would that be the case when this is our home ground?”

“...” x3

“There’s something wrong with Lahr’s prophecy,” Hesione said confidently, “But the fact that Father entrusted Lahr with keeping and interpreting the prophecy isn’t just a simple warning that Lahr is a traitor. There has to be more to it.”

“Yeah,” Auriel said. “There’s more. Father’s telling Mikhael that his chance has come.”

“Auriel, are you questioning Father?”

“I’m not. I just—I take it back.” Auriel dropped his sarcasm.

“The Anointed One is Father’s successor rather than a puppet. Any Virtue who attempts to control him is destined to fail. Mikhael will not succeed. The moment he plots against the Anointed One, he’s already lost.” Hesione turned to her three fellow Virtues. “The moment we reincarnated Virtues willingly pursue redemption, we’ve already won.”

Do you have anything to offer other than platitudes? x3

“Father can do no wrong. He’s long seen through everything. Searching for the Anointed One is our mission and trial, but also our path to redemption...” Hesione took a deep breath. “We’ve all made mistakes, and we’re all going down the path of salvation by looking for the Anointed One. Is it not possible that while we don’t recognize him, the Anointed One is already by our side, that he knows us?”

“He’s with us, and we should all know him. Do you mean...” Auriel’s pupils contracted. “The Pope? The Pope is the Anointed One?!”

(￣～￣;)

How could that Holy Light bastard be the Anointed One? Use your brain before you speak! It’s Wayne, Wayne!

The Anointed One had ordered her not to reveal his identity, but if she said nothing now, their morale might never recover. Unwilling to defy the command outright, Hesione could only guide her colleagues to the answer.

Surely it wouldn’t be that hard... would it?

Hesione had found the answer unacceptable at first. She had rejected it, thinking that Heaven didn’t deserve such punishment. But as she endured the reality, she got used to it, and once she got used to it, the truth no longer seemed so unacceptable.

After the realization, she faced her own desires and saw that Heavenly Father had foreseen everything. The Anointed One was a perfect saint. The Seven Sacred Virtues hadn’t descended to find the Anointed One. The Anointed One had been waiting for them in the human world to guide them to redemption.

Hesione believed that her three colleagues had been blinded by the Anointed One’s deceptive behavior just like her. If they could just face themselves and their desires honestly, they would see the genuine goodness and righteousness of the Anointed One.

Thwack!

Two hands landed firmly on her shoulders, hard enough to jolt her out of her thoughts. She turned around and saw Hestia’s cold eyes.

Secretary, you’d better think carefully before you speak another word. I’ll report everything out of your mouth to the Śār!

(는_는)

Thrones do not deserve redemption! Hesione thought.

She shrugged off Hestia’s hands. Let Hestia report whatever she wanted. Given the circumstances, Hesione would rather receive the Anointed One’s punishment if it meant waking the three Virtues up. The Anointed One’s punishment had to be another test for her.

Those who act out of fear are unworthy of salvation!

She came to another realization!

Auriel, Gerar, and Vilkul marveled at the undercurrent tension between Hesione and Frey. No matter how many times they witnessed it, it never stopped being baffling.

Throne, you’ve got some nerve! x3

“Stop talking nonsense, Auriel,” Hesione scoffed. “The Pope can’t be the Anointed One. He can’t even compare to a strand of the Anointed One’s hair.”

Pardon her inability to forgive and forget. Every time the Pope came up, her blood boiled.

“Agreed. The Pope is nothing!” Vilkul said through gritted teeth.

“True, the Pope isn’t even in Londan.” Gerar thought for a moment. Speaking of redemption and trials, would the Anointed One be one of those people who had been pressuring Kael?

“If it isn’t the Pope, who could it be? Someone we all know and is connected to Holy Light...” Auriel blinked and spoke flatly, “The Queen, the Prince, or the Princess?”

“What about them resembles the Anointed One?” Hesione shot to her feet and raised her voice. “Use your brain. Who has been fighting demons alongside us? Who has pointed us to the path of redemption? Think. He’s been with us the entire time!”

“...” x3

The three Virtues stared back at her blankly, shaking their heads in unison.

“Clergywoman, you’re being too—”

“Quiet!” Hesione glared at Hestia. “Don’t think that I can’t touch you just because the Anointed One likes you. I’ll deal with you once we’re back in Heaven!”

The glare triggered Hestia’s stigma on her chest, and all color drained from her face in fear.

The Śār favored the clergywoman too much, going so far as to give her command over his legion.

Damn it, she must have convinced the Śār through pillow talk!

“Hesione, do you know something?” Auriel’s eyes widened. He stood up in shock and said, “I knew it. You’ve been staying in Londan and refused to leave because you’ve found the Anointed One!”

“What?!” x2

Vilkul and Gerar stood up too, looking at Hesione in surprise.

“I didn’t want to say it because he ordered me against it. Moreover...” Hesione looked at them, her voice carrying a solemn weight. “It concerns your salvation. If I just tell you, you’ll face the Anointed One with the reverence owed to his status rather than the contempt you hold for an ordinary man. Then it’ll be difficult for you to confront your desires and redeem yourselves. That’s why the Anointed One has been hiding himself.”

“So you knew...” Auriel said. “Never mind all that. Just tell me. Who is the Anointed One?”

The reincarnated angels held their breath, waiting for Hesione’s response. Forgive their slowness. They couldn’t guess who it was, even now.

Hesione tried to be as indirect as possible. “Is it not possible that Wayne is the Anointed One?”

(ಠ൧ಠꐦ)x6

All that build-up just for you to say that? x3

Isn’t Mr. Wayne a Śār? x2

Damn it. Just you wait. I’ll have the Śār punish you once we return! x1

The silence that fell in the room made Hesione anxious. “Say something. Have you considered the possibility?”

“Hesione, I know you’re desperate to redeem yourself, but... do not do it at the Anointed One’s expense.” Auriel rolled his eyes. “Frankly, I almost punched you.”

“Śār Hesione, my reincarnation knows Wayne.” Gerar shrugged. “He’s the kind of man who’s... profoundly detached from reality. He isn’t going upward, but falling toward Hell. I trust that you understand what I’m getting at.”

Vilkul scowled darkly. “Śār Hesione, my patience is running quite thin now. Please refrain from making jokes like this in the future to anger me.”

“Wayne is the Anointed One!” Hesione raged, urging them to apologize to the Anointed One.

“Yeah, yeah.” Auriel shrugged. “Let’s call it a day. Once I divide the search areas, I’ll notify all of you for a thorough investigation. Remember to be on guard against Heaven. Do not let those bastard angels approach the Anointed One before we do.”

“Fine by me,” said Gerar. “Vilkul and I will be getting a drink. I can’t take the pressure.”

“Where to?”

“Fallen Angel!”

“You incorrigible wretch of an angel,” Vilkul snarled. “If there weren’t an even bigger wretch today, I would’ve gotten a stroke because of you.”

“That’s not fair. She’s under a lot of stress, so she told a joke to lighten the mood out of the goodness of her heart.”

“Hmph, is that really a joke she should make?!”

Gerar and Vilkul left the reception room with their arms around each other’s shoulders, laughing as they walked. Vilkul didn’t specify who the wretch who had told a terrible joke was, but he hoped that Hesione would get a hint.

The door opened, inviting a cool draft in. It stirred up a melancholy in Hesione’s heart. “I told them the truth, and they still don’t believe it. Is this part of your plan, Anointed One?”

“Hmph. When we go back, I’ll have the Śār tear you a new one.” With that, Hestia walked out of the room, glancing back every three steps to glare at Hesione. When Hesione glared back, she ran away in a flash.

Olga looked around before steeling herself and catching up to Hestia.

She could no longer stay with Śār Auriel, or she would be subject to his retribution. Śār Hesione was kind and gentle. It was safer to join his side.

Auriel was left marking the map, the rustles filling the silence of the room. Fred had stayed, too. He stood behind Auriel loyally, never sparing Hesione a glance.

“Are you really not going to talk to the Anointed One to improve your standing, Auriel?” Hesione sighed. “You’ve offended him quite badly. You should apologize now in case someone speaks ill of you once the Anointed One returns to Heaven.”

“Who? You?” Auriel didn’t even look up. He said flatly, “Give up. You’re too corrupt to whitewash yourself. I, Śār Auriel, will not run away from my problems and deceive myself as you’ve done! I would sooner go to Hell and die there than call Wayne the Anointed One!”

Hesione sighed and left the reception room, bracing herself for whatever punishment awaited her once she returned. She only hoped that the Anointed One would show some restraint and refrain from tainting himself to guide her to change.

She had been abandoned! No one believed her!

“So this is the price of running away and lying,” she murmured to herself. “I’ve learned another lesson, Anointed One.”