Myths Reawakened

“Why isn’t Auston here?”

“His son is. That’s the same as him being here...”

“Wayne is also a Vice Minister of Magic. It’s thanks to him and his connections that the Lando family enjoys the support of several churches. Otherwise, why do you think Auston hasn’t done anything when Wayne sleeps with his younger sister?”

“That’s a rumor. The young lady of the Lando family was adopted to cover up Wayne’s identity.”

“True, the father and son are identical.”

“Damn it, I was fooled by the rumors again.”

“Well said!”

Amid the chattering, Hestia pulled a chair and respectfully guided Wayne to the seat.

“Why are there only two chairs in a banquet hall this large? Has the royal family fallen so far?” Wayne asked the obvious question and patted his own leg, telling Filomina to sit down.

The more witnesses, the better. This was how his image should be.

Filomina shot Wayne a glare, but didn’t say no. She gracefully sat down on the bastard’s lap. As a High Reverend of the Church of Moonlight, everything she said and did would reflect on the church. It was inappropriate for her to act so intimately with the opposite sex even though they were a couple.

Still, legendary mages were known for their streak of madness. One shouldn’t expect them to follow the rules.

Filomina only knew that Wayne had many members in his harem, yet she was the one to accompany him to an important meeting like this, with so many witnesses. Clearly, it was a declaration of her importance to him. She couldn’t be happier.

(一`´一)

Vilkul stared. No wonder Gerar didn’t want to say anything. Śār Hesione had gone overboard.

It wasn’t a serious problem, though. Hesione was likely doing this on purpose to enrage Auriel rather than actually having an intimate relationship with the woman. He was Purity, at the end of the day. He would not and could not mess around when he knew what he represented.

Yes, that must be it!

Vilkul assured himself before slowly closing his eyes. It took him thirty seconds to muster the courage to look at Wayne.

Who the heaven are you?

He sensed no energy of a reincarnated angel from Wayne... Well, that wasn’t entirely true. On the tip of his tongue was a finely crafted stigma of a scale that resembled a cross-shaped sword, which was the symbol of Hesione’s legion of angels.

Who is he? Hesione’s spokesperson? Why hasn’t Hesione come personally when the meeting is this important?

Confused, Vilkul caught the two true reincarnated angels from the corners of his eyes. He glanced over reflexively.

What he saw almost broke him. Frey looked pure and pristine, but the one who appeared to be Hesione was covered in filth. Never in a million years could she be described as pure.

Vilkul gasped for breath with a hand pressed to his chest. He thought that he had seen wrong, that she only looked similar to Hesione rather than being the actual Śār. He must have opened his eyes the wrong way.

He took another look and flew into a rage.

What do you take angels’ purity for? Does Heaven’s honor have any place in your heart? Are the Seven Sacred Virtues not going to follow our virtuous ways?

His fury would not subside. Although his track record was spotty, it all happened before his awakening. Hesione, on the other hand, continued to gallop down the path of filth after her awakening.

He could tell that the filth on Hesione came from a range of times. She hadn’t become impure overnight, but over many nights. The latest spot could be traced back to this morning.

How wonderful!

Vilkul clawed at his scalp, his kind, gentlemanly face twisted by rage. The grievances from the series of infuriating events he had endured erupted at the same time, compelling him to demand an answer from Hesione.

He managed to stop himself. For the honor of Heaven, he could only fume on his own.

Behind Wayne, Hesione blushed slightly, but quickly recovered as if nothing had happened. As she had expected, Vilkul was a mild-tempered angel with a peaceful personality, so he wouldn’t say anything when he saw her.

She didn’t feel any shame in admitting that she had forgiven herself after the initial anxiety. She had even come up with a good excuse for herself: the one who had taken her purity was the Anointed One, the Heavenly Father’s successor. Since the Anointed One could do no wrong, Hesione hadn’t done anything wrong. Conversely, those who revealed the truth and put the blame on her would be blaming the Anointed One, making them the greater sinners for humiliating Heaven.

Wouldn’t it be fine if you just stayed silent?

She was being unreasonable, but completely unbothered.

Falling was a slippery slope. Once she went down, she couldn’t stop until she hit the bottom.

Her excuses aside, Hesione’s fall was mainly Wayne’s fault, with Auriel, Gerar, and Vilkul being accomplices. The three angels spouted blatant lies for the greater good of Heaven, tolerating Hesione again and again. As a result, she continued her comfortable descent.

Every snowflake in an avalanche pleads not guilty.

They all believed they were doing the right thing.

Back at the conference table, Auriel looked at Wayne’s pretentious posturing with disgust. He was beyond repulsed by the shameless human. “Wayne,” he said harshly. “Can you represent the Lando family?”

“The Lando family does not represent me, but I can represent the Lando family,” Wayne said with a smile. “Is that a good enough answer for you?”

“I’m not talking to the Lando family. Have the one behind you talk to me!” Auriel scowled. One look at Wayne was one look too many.

“I’m afraid that won’t do. The way we address people will be a problem. There are so many people here. Are you going to abandon Heaven’s honor?”

The smile that should’ve been on Auriel’s face appeared on Wayne’s face instead. He cracked an even wider smile. “You know me. I don’t really care, but you people won’t be able to take the truth.”

Clown!

Auriel closed his eyes. “If you believe you can speak for her, I’ll be blunt with you. The Windsor family has Saint George’s blood. They are Seraph Mikhael’s descendants in the human world. Neither the dignity of the royal family nor Heaven’s dignity should be subject to the Lando family’s humiliation.”

“Don’t you know what year it is? The royal family? This is a monarchy only in name. Do you not know what capitalism and free market mean?” Wayne huffed derisively. “Keep your mouth shut if you don’t know anything. The royal family didn’t choose the country, but the country chose the royal family. Times have changed. Your way is outdated.”

“No matter how times change, blood still matters. The royal family was born noble, just like how the Lando family was born knights. Knights who are disloyal to their master should be sentenced to death.”

“...”

They broke into a debate. When Auriel talked about loyalty, Wayne talked about the institution. When Auriel talked about the institution, Wayne talked about the national traditions. When Auriel talked about the national traditions, Wayne talked about keeping abreast with the world.

Forest, who had been watching from the sidelines, stared with widened eyes. He didn't care about loyalty or institution. He just wanted to skip to the part where Wayne was humiliating the angels. If not, he would like to kindly ask the two of them to stop yapping.

He, Pride, had not come so close to two Śārim with the risk of being banished to Hell to listen to their meaningless argument.

Where was his fun? Get to the fun part already!

Hesione, who’s all filth, is right before you. Look at her, Auriel. Just take one look at her, please.

Forest was so anxious that he was ready to tear his hair out. He felt compelled to step out and expose Hesione, but decided against it when he thought about the happy life he had been leading.

Yes, he wanted to make Heaven a joke, but he himself could not become a joke in Hell. Being a joke in Hell was the Lord of Envy’s forte. As his brother, Pride couldn’t possibly vie for his champion title.

Forest couldn’t step in, so after some consideration, he decided to let Bedfrith, the tool, do the honor.

I chose you, Bedfrith, agent of justice. You’ll expose the truth and wake the hypocritical angels who never say a few words without bringing up justice and morality.

“Times are changing, but if loyalty is forgotten, progress will become regression. The Lando family stole the royal family’s power first. You’ve committed the great crime of rebellion!”

As soon as Auriel said that, Bedfrith stepped up and declared in support, “Sir Pedro is right. The Bedford family, part of the Tulip Families, will sacrifice everything for the Queen. If Sir Pedro just makes the order, I’ll make the charge and shed blood all over the Lando family.”

“Who are you? You’re an audacious one!”

Wayne glanced at Bedfrith. The man looked familiar. He seemed to be a legendary mage from one of the opportunist families, but he didn’t remember his name.

“Bedfrith Bedford,” Filomina reminded him. “His family’s shipyard is lucrative. Do you remember now?”

“Oh, the shipyard family. Now I remember. Your shipyard makes a lot of money. The Lando family has been making good use of it,” Wayne said irritably. “Children should shut up when the adults are talking. Do you know who I am? How dare you talk back at me? Think about the assets you own and then ask your master who I am. It’s not too late to march to your death after you’ve thought it through.”

“Well said!”

When the topic was steering toward Wayne’s identity, Forest couldn’t fight his excitement and blurted out in agreement.

“I don’t know who you are, Wayne, but it doesn’t matter. It’s enough that I know who Sir Pedro is.” Bedfrith raised his hand and displayed the stigma on the back of his hand. “Listen well, everyone. I cannot tell you Sir Pedro’s real name, but I can tell you that he represents glory and love. He is the sacred incarnation of generosity.

“He forgave my sins and promised that I would go to Heaven. This stigma is the best proof!

“Sir Pedro is generous and merciful. He knows that you’re only bowing down to the Lando family because you have no other choice in the face of the factions and raw power behind them. He never blames you. Now...

“Sir Pedro brought power and influence that are above all else. If you stay loyal to the Lando family now, it’ll be true disloyalty. Once the rebellion of the Lando family is resolved, Sir Pedro might ignore you, and the Queen might forgive you, but I won’t. I, Bedfrith, will not forgive any traitor!”

You should be going to Heaven!

Auriel was pleased with his choice. As expected of the lapdog he had personally picked out, his eloquence could be considered art.

Is he mad? He sells his family out just for a promise of going to Heaven?

Wayne’s eyebrows jumped up. He was about to threaten Bedfrith indirectly when he noticed the families of snakes keeping quiet with their heads bowed, clearly having figured out who Auriel was.

How troublesome.

Although Auston hadn’t attended this banquet, he had warned Wayne about the struggles of the Windsorian general public in this chaotic time following Franc’s terrible defeat. While the Tulip Families were full of opportunists, without them, the established social order would fall apart. He had to keep them in line.

Thinking of that, Wayne looked at Auriel’s arrogant face with increasing irritation. With a scoff, he addressed the dog’s master rather than the dog, “Sir Pedro? You’ve forgotten about your name in Heaven after coming to the human world, haven’t you?”

“Are you in any position to say that, Wayne? Don’t think you’re the real deal just because I haven’t exposed you.”

“Auriel, your spear may be sharp, but so is my sword!” Wayne said bluntly. “You may be a Śār, but I am, too. All the influence and raw power you wield, I can match them and more. In status in Heaven and the Heavenly Father’s affection, I, Hesione, even surpass you. With what are you competing with me?”

The crowd erupted into chatter. The snakes wailed in despair... bah, in ecstasy. Learning that they would never turn things around again... nah, that they would be pledging loyalty to the Śārim, they trembled in fear—no, they were so happy that they couldn’t keep their legs straight.

Forest’s eyes blazed with anticipation. He unconsciously took two steps back to watch the spectacle closer.

Auriel, Wayne’s impersonating Hesione. It’s obvious. What are you waiting for? Expose him!

Just tell the truth. Tell everyone that the secretary Wayne had thoroughly taken into his inner circle was the real Hesione. Then you can just judge him from the moral high ground and win this argument.

Forest breathed out heated breaths, pumped for what was going to happen. Although he wasn’t responsible for what had happened to Hesione, he would proudly declare that without him, Wayne wouldn’t even have the chance to touch her.

“This is the human world, Hesione. Do not speak of our past in Heaven.”

Sensing the fearful and admiring gazes shot his way, Auriel puffed out his chest with delight. This was how mortals should be looking up at him. Angels were supposed to be supreme beings.

“...”

“...”

Forest and Bedfrith were both flabbergasted.

Haven’t you gotten the wrong person, Auriel? Open your eyes and take a look! x2

“Nonsense. How could you be Śār Hesione? The Śār represents purity. Which part of you is pure?”

Bedfrith took a stand, pointing an accusing finger at Wayne. “You’re impersonating a Śār. You’re guilty!”