Myths Reawakened

Enguema swung his arm, ripping his sleeve. With one torn sleeve and a furious expression, he went up to Envy and Solsknar.

While he had put two and two together, it was difficult to be a great demon lord’s son. He couldn’t afford to be smart. He had to demand an answer stubbornly, “Solsknar, stop acting. I’ll always recognize your face. You were the one stirring up trouble in my territory!”

“You misunderstood me, Lord of Blood.”

“Enguema, you misunderstood my little brother.” Envy showed him Wayne’s portrait with a wave. “This is the troublemaker you’re looking for.”

“What? He?!” Enguema’s eyes turned a burning red, a growl rumbling in his throat. “How dare the bastard come to Hell and fool me again and again in disguise? I must kill him today!”

Wayne had met Enguema a total of three times. Once on Dragonheart Island, another time in the underground catacombs in Palis, and the third time was earlier. During their three meetings, Wayne had used two disguises and three faces. The one thing those encounters had in common was the fact that Enguema always ended up defeated. He had never gained the upper hand when facing Wayne.

The existing bad blood and the new hate pushed Enguema over the edge.

Damn it, I can’t even make one deal today! The Lord of Greed despaired. Not profiting was akin to losing big in his mind. Seeing his three clients who had found a common ground, he still struggled to find out what had happened.

“Enguema, do you have beef with Wayne, too?” Solsknar said gleefully.

“Beef?” Enguema growled. “I couldn’t wait to eat his flesh, drink his blood, and use his head as a soccer ball!”

“Let’s play a match with his head!” x2

“Brother!”

“Little brother!”

“My two older brothers!”

“Hahaha—” x3

The three of them put their arms around each other’s shoulders, laughing and walking away under Greed’s depressed gaze.

Greed held his hands to his chest and comforted himself with the fact that Envy had taken his son in as a little brother, so technically, Greed had not only become Envy’s elder, but also all demon lords’ elder.

“That’s... jackpot.”

Greed cried tears of joy. To a demon whose moniker was greed, losing three potential deals when he was so close to getting them all depressed him more than if a great demon god emerged in Hell.

“Damn it, who is Wayne?!”

***

Greed’s status as all demon lords’ elder didn’t last. As soon as he stepped out, Envy realized the issue. If he saw Enguema as a brother, Greed would become his and all the demon lords’ parental figure. That was something not even Pride or Lust had achieved!

The more Envy thought about it, the more envious he felt. Unwilling to let Greed father him, he decisively kicked Enguema out of their brotherhood.

You, being my little brother? Your father should take your place!

Enguema cursed at the demon for being demonic. The great demon lord was fickle and changed his mind without warning. Once he became a great demon lord, he would be as heartless as Envy.

It was thanks to Solsknar’s suggestion to separate the father and son that Enguema was allowed to call them brother rather than uncle.

Since they had just become family and didn’t know each other well, Solsknar introduced himself.

“An original inhabitant of the Abyss?” Envy said with a smile. “Hell and the Abyss are like branches on the same tree and could be considered brothers. We’ve always been family, dear brother.”

He had been looking at everything with delight after hearing the good news. If he weren’t already flying in the air, his good mood would’ve lifted him off the ground.

“You serve the Goddess of Darkness and are likely to become Her new subordinate god. You have a bright future ahead of you!” Enguema praised.

“That was then. This is now. Wayne is closer to becoming Her subordinate god. I wouldn’t have risked so much to send him to Hell if I hadn’t suffered a terrible defeat at his hands.” Solsknar sighed. “He’s a demon. With the seal on Heaven, he won’t be able to return to the human world.”

Enguema’s eyes widened. “What? Wayne follows the Goddess of Darkness? But he’s the Death Knight!”

Envy’s eyes widened. “How could Wayne be a demon? He’s slept with Hesione. He should be going to Heaven!”

Solsknar’s eyes widened. “Oh, Wayne’s involved with Death and Heaven? Has he betrayed the Goddess of Darkness?”

“...” x3

The three of them exchanged flabbergasted looks.

“Wait, let us sort this out first,” Enguema said, coughing into his fist. “Back in the underground catacombs in Palis, I saw him wielding Shadow Nightmare and transforming into the Death Knight. I’m certain of that.”

“I saw Wayne and Hesione frolicking in bed!”

“...” x2

Enguema turned to the side, while Solsknar looked down to search for ants native to Hell. Neither said anything.

They showed quite the restraint not laughing at the statement.

“How dare you! What’s that look for?!” Envy was so furious that his good mood deflated instantly.

“Brother, I believe you!” Solsknar hurriedly said.

“I-I believe you too...”

“You don’t believe me at all!” Envy’s eyes turned bloodshot. It took several inhales for him to suppress his roiling rage. “It’s fine if you don’t believe me,” he said through gritted teeth. “Wayne’s in Hell. My truth and justice have already been late, so I’m willing to wait a little longer. Once I catch him, and Hesione comes to his rescue, you’ll know who’s the liar.”

He had been struggling in pain and torment for a chance—not a chance to prove his excellence, but a chance to tell all demons that Hell owed the Lord of Envy an apology!

He had not lied! He wasn’t a clown!! He believed that justice and fairness existed even in Hell!!!

“Don’t be mad, Brother. Once we get Wayne, the truth will be revealed, and you’ll get to clear your name,” Solsknar assured. “I have questions for him, too. He competed with me to become a subordinate god, bullying me and suppressing me. I thought he’s earned the goddess’s favor with his devotion, but it turned out that he’d deceived the Goddess of Darkness, getting involved with the Goddess of Death behind Her back!”

Solsknar’s fury blazed. The goddess had mistakenly believed a traitor, making Solsknar’s failure seem even worse.

“What’s the deal with that man?” Enguema said gravely. “Is he a spy that the Goddess of Death planted on the Goddess of Darkness’s side, or has he fooled both goddesses? That’s some audacity.”

“He’s also slept with Hesione!” Envy added loudly.

“Um, he’s also slept with a Śār...” Enguema hurriedly amended. “Lord of Envy, Wayne is incredibly powerful. I wasn’t able to defeat him even on my territory. I wonder if you... Don’t take this the wrong way. I’m simply worried that you would commit the prideful sin of underestimating your enemy.”

Don’t ever mention damn pride before me. Do you have a death wish?

Envy looked at Enguema derisively, his rage burning brighter. “Let me be clear. Whatever mistake I make in this life, I’ll never commit the sin of pride!”

“But I used my Authority.”

“What’s your Authority going to do? Wayne couldn’t be a weakling when he’s able to taint a Śār's purity. It’s only natural that you can’t defeat him.” Envy made his observation. “The Seven Demon Lords are far more powerful than all other demons. In Hell, he’ll never be my match. Just open your eyes and watch how I take him down.”

“...” x2

Isn’t that the definition of pride? x2

Solsknar and Enguema exchanged a glance and remained silent, offering no suggestion.

Enguema was a little worried. Envy had become severely weakened lately, first losing part of his thoughts in the human world, then using much of his power to send his angel of Hell to the human world. When the Gate of Hell opened recently, he had suffered another great loss.

Moreover, he had actively asked for a beating from Pride. The repeated abuse made him fall far behind his prime self.

Still, he was one of the Seven Demon Lords, and the strength he had accumulated was undeniable. Besides, this was Hell. No matter how powerful Wayne was and no matter how pridefully Envy underestimated his enemies, the result wouldn’t change.

They’d got this!

Solsknar nodded vehemently. After some consideration, Enguema followed suit.

***

Spider Queen’s nest.

Since learning that Mattea had added full-fat milk to the black tea, Wayne had never had another drink. He heard about what was happening in Hell and couldn’t stop thinking about the evolution of Mechanical Augmentation.

The fringe technology to end all fringe technology originated from Prussia—from an alien spaceship, specifically. Humans were not alone. There existed a greater world outside the Chosen Land.

The fact that Gluttony and Wrath both had information on the evolution path concerned Wayne. Things were more complicated than he had thought. Someone had plotted to make him, Gluttony, and Wrath gain the keys to the evolution. Actually, he might have been an added bonus, while Gluttony and Wrath were the mastermind’s real targets. Through the two demon lords, the mastermind hoped to spread Mechanical Evolution to Hell.

Wayne didn’t have concrete proof, and he didn’t know what the mastermind was thinking and why they invested in Hell. It was all speculation, so he shouldn’t be jumping to conclusions.

But the mastermind had great ambition and made a move to conquer Hell. What would be next? The human world? Were they going to corrupt everything tangible in the world into machines?

He suddenly remembered how Mechanical Augmentation had corrupted Hestia. Heaven was included in the grand plan, too. Worried, Wayne resolved to return to the human world as soon as possible to pay Prussia a visit, looking for the truth about the mastermind.

It would be best if his concern turned out to be unfounded. Otherwise...

While the plan to conquer Heaven, the human world, and Hell was still in its early stages, he had to eliminate the risks and prevent catastrophe.

“To be honest with you, Stolas, I’m a Hell immigrant with ambition. The Abyss has become the Seven Demon Lords’ playground. I left and pledged my service to the Goddess of Darkness because I couldn’t take the Abyss back.”

Wayne sighed. “The outside world is even more competitive, and I couldn’t find my place anywhere. I returned to Hell and worked for the Lord of Gluttony for my own territory, planning to acquire more knowledge to better myself. After some time, I learned that a territory in Hell could influence the human world, thereby quickly increasing my power. Do you know a good way to open the Gate of Hell?”

He glanced at Mattea. “If you have any idea, Spider Queen, I’d welcome it. Enguema is a brute. The three of us should form an alliance instead.”

With a smile, Mattea held Wayne’s hand, the tip of her thumb drawing a small circle on the back of it. Her hand was soft, smelled good, and tickled him. Wayne grumbled in silence. He had been sabotaging the demons at every turn, yet he had to use his body for intelligence now. Even when a demonic temptress with a large bust and long legs was groping him, he had no choice but to smile at her. Oh, how the tables had turned. He couldn’t take the abuse.

He had to keep up the act to return to the human world, though. Putting his conscience aside, he made eyes at Mattea. As a versatile actor, he played a pervert convincingly and quickly immersed himself in the role.

Three seconds later, he took Mattea’s hand instead and started drawing circles on her palm.

Unfazed, Stolas smiled faintly at Wayne like he was considering the viability of a new alliance between them. Once Mattea had migrated to Wayne’s embrace, he slowly said, “To enter the human world, coordinates must be set there. Heaven’s seal is unbreakable. Only by contacting Hell from the human world could our thoughts descend.”

In other words, demons had to be summoned to enter the human world, and it was only the start. Right after the summoning, a demon would be so weak that they might be eliminated at any time, thus losing part of their thoughts without gaining anything. It would be a net loss.

To expand business to the human world, going through the Gate of Hell was the only way. Heaven’s seal was an insurmountable obstacle in that case.

Wayne didn’t plan to open the Gate of Hell. He would just set the coordinates and send part of his thoughts to the human world. Then he could call it a day. Pressing a hand to Mattea’s heart to feel her conscience, he asked Stolas what to do.

“Solsknar, you’re a demigod from the Divine Realm of Darkness, so you must have a trick up your sleeve. We should be the ones asking you for advice on how to descend to the human world.” Stolas smiled, discreetly telling Wayne not to play the pity card.

Wayne fell silent. What Solsknar could do was out of reach for him. He let out a meaningful, bitter laugh. “As you can see, I’ve come to Hell with my main body, almost losing my connection to the Divine Realm of Darkness. Just like you, I can only go to the human world in the demonic way.”

“Wayne!!!”

From the sky came a roar that was equal parts fury and joy, rumbling through the clouds.

Stolas frowned slightly. “That’s the Lord of Envy. Why is he here?”

Lord of Envy!

Wayne’s pupils contracted. Taking control of his sentient hand, he pulled it out of Mattea’s dress and asked curiously, “Who’s Wayne? Has the Lord of Envy lost a few screws in his head in his fight with the Lord of Pride?”

“Most likely so.” Stolas smiled. “Don’t mind him. His madness won’t last. He’ll leave on his own after a while.”

“Yes, just ignore him. Paying him any attention will only attract trouble.” Mattea covered her mouth and chuckled liltingly, pulling Wayne’s hand back to her bosom.

Neither treated the Lord of Envy seriously. They weren’t trying to ignore Envy; they simply couldn’t afford to look at him.

The Lord of Clowns had become increasingly cantankerous, even more so than Wrath. Any demon with a brain would keep their distance from him. Approaching him would be no different from asking for a beating.

Boom!!!

An explosion collapsed half of the spider nest. The power of a great demon lord crashed down from above, turning the world upside down so that the ocean became the sky. The Lord of Envy slowly took form. Walking in the air, he ignored a scowling Mattea and stared at ‘Solsknar’ with a twisted grin.

“Wayne, I’ve finally found you!”

“Hahaha—”

“Um, how long has he been like this?”