Myths Reawakened

“Mother?”

Veronica didn’t understand it. Didn’t she say that she would give up? Why did she stop hesitating instead?

“There’s someone I resent in Londan. She’s the previous Holy Maiden and my old rival. Every day, she passive-aggressively flaunts her past victory at me, mocking me for my failure.” Silvia huffed. “I’ll give you a mission: defeat the candidate she recommends.”

She wouldn’t fight for one of them becoming the Holy Maiden or the Anointed One. Wayne and Veronica should seize their youth to have a relationship. But!

Although she wasn’t going to compete for victory, she didn’t want Flora to win, either. She thus played her aces, determined to make the label ‘Washed-up Holy Maiden’ stick on Flora.

Hearing that her mother had suffered, Veronica got angry on her behalf, considering Flora’s candidate her lifelong archenemy before she even learned who they were. Wayne also nodded vehemently. No matter who that person was, he would lead the charge against them to get revenge for his master.

“Master, is the former Holy Maiden the one you told me about before, Flora Evelina?”

“That’s her. She’s a shrewd woman, and I’ve been avoiding taking you to the district head office because I’m concerned about her schemes,” Silvia said with a huff.

Wayne stroked his chin, his eyes glinting. “Master, what does she look like?”

“She’s beautiful—on the outside, at least... Why do you ask?”

“I’m worried that she may resort to seduction, so I want to be ready.”

“You have a point.” Silvia thought about it and concluded that Wayne was right. Her student was so talented that unless he gave up voluntarily, he would certainly become the Anointed One through the selection; even the goddess would gasp in amazement when She saw him.

Whoever Flora recommended wouldn’t stand a chance, and when open competition wouldn’t work, she would have to resort to underhanded tricks. In order to realize her ambition of gaining power, she might just seduce him personally. She only had to spread the news after bedding him, and Wayne would be disqualified from even being a candidate.

How dare she? He’s still a child!

Silvia imagined Flora putting on her pants and laughing while her student covered his face and sobbed helplessly. The thought stoked her anger, and she almost lost control of her mana.

Veronica rolled her eyes. She could guess what her mother was imagining, and she shot the scum a glare in irritation. Based on the diary entries she had read over the past few months, she had guessed what the scum was planning.

You’re going to fall for the honeytrap with the excuse of wanting to get revenge for Mother, aren’t you? Since you never want to become the Anointed One to begin with.

Wayne responded with a pointed look. What terrible slander. I didn’t fall for the trap when you stripped yourself naked the last two times!

Veronica glared at him. Come to my room later for your lesson.

Interrupting their staring contest, Silvia conjured a ball of green mist and portrayed Flora’s appearance with her thoughts.

So it is you!

Wayne narrowed his eyes, concealing his killing intent. He recognized that face. The night he confronted the Darkness Knight, Master’s thoughts had suddenly appeared, drawing the two knights to attack her. Thanks to Wayne’s cover, the Darkness Knight had no choice but to give up on the chase, while Wayne had glimpsed the true face of the imposter with his super vision.

Flora Evelina!

She somehow made her thoughts resemble Silvia’s and antagonized the two knights in the hope that they would kill Silvia. Wayne seethed. To put it bluntly, if he hadn’t been the Death Knight and faked an obsession over the High Reverend of the Church of Nature, The Darkness Knight would’ve captured Master.

The consequences would be dire. He wouldn’t go into it since it was his master he was talking about.

Flora, is it? You’re dead!

If you like getting up close and personal with a knight so much, I’ll grant you that wish.

Wayne was out for blood. He would put on the Death Knight disguise and kill her—even better with the Darkness Knight present so that he could pin the death on the other knight.

“Hey, is she so nice to look at that you’ll stare at her without blinking?” Veronica huffed.

“Oh, she does look nice!” Wayne curled his lips into a grin, his white teeth glinting coldly.

Veronica sensed a chill from his expression. He wanted to take her out in the murderous sense!

Noticing her student’s reaction, Silvia blurted out, “Have you met her before, Wayne?”

“No, it’s my first time seeing her face.” Wayne scratched his head with feigned meekness. “For some reason, that face seems hateful to me. The candidate she’s recommending is doomed. I’m going to make sure she can’t be the Holy Maiden even at the price of disqualifying myself.”

Veronica didn’t understand where his hostility came from. Making a judgment based on his diary, she said sarcastically, “What’s the plan? Ensure mutual disqualification by seducing her?”

“How clever!” Wayne knocked his fist against his palm. “How had I not thought of it? You’re a genius, Veronica. I’ll do that when the time comes.”

Furious, Veronica was ready to punish the shameless scum. Noting the rising tension and knowing what was to come, Silvia took down the soundproofing barrier and left the study, not wanting to be the third wheel while they jumped each other.

“Come with me. I have something to discuss with you.” x2

At the door, Silvia caught Auston as he passed by; inside the study, Veronica grabbed Wayne’s collar.

Like mother, like daughter!

Auston didn’t resist at all since resistance only made a Dragonblood more excited. Before getting dragged away, he threw Wayne a glance, telling Wayne to meet him at his study after the beating. They needed to talk.

Wayne responded with a confirming look as he got dragged by his Dragonblood.

Five minutes later, one explosive sound followed another, and Wayne met Auston in the grove. There was no need to go to the study. They could just talk there.

Wayne combed his hair back with his hand and sorted out his disheveled clothes, pretending that nothing had happened and that they had met by coincidence. “Auston, what do you want to talk about? If it’s about the selection, I’ve already said yes to Master.”

Auston finished making himself presentable and responded coolly, “Why? You aren’t interested in being the Anointed One.”

But I’m interested in Holy Maidens!

“Twenty years ago, Master failed the Holy Maiden selection, giving it up voluntarily for love. For that, she suffered much, only fighting her way to the rank of High Reverend at the risk of her life...”

Wayne repeated the sentimental spiel about being a good student and son-in-law. “I can help Master prove herself, and I’m willing to do it.”

Auston couldn’t argue against that. After a moment, he said, “You are the family heir, so you cannot be the Anointed One. Twenty years is too long. If the Ministry of Magic learns about it—”

“Then the Minister of Magic will give her full support,” Wayne said. “I know. For the heir of a Tulip Family to become the Anointed One of the Church of Nature, one misstep could lead to death.”

“As long as you understand!”

“Master understands, too. She doesn’t actually want me to become the Anointed One. She recommended me for another reason.” Wayne explained the true reason, emphasizing Flora’s part. “That woman is up to no good. She wants nothing but to drive Master away so that she can become the High Reverend. I’ll deal with the candidate she recommends to settle the score for Master and pull out of the selection in the end.”

Auston’s expression relaxed a little. “I know Flora. To be honest, it’s not a bad thing for her to drive your master out of the church. It’s a messy organization, and only by distancing herself can Silvia be safe.”

Wayne nodded in agreement rather than arguing. “True enough. The Darkness Knight is ruthless. He’s almost wiped out the Londan head office once, and he could do that again.”

“Don’t forget the Death Knight. He’s not any better!”

“Very much so!”

Both men nodded in agreement and cursed at the same time:

“Damn Darkness Knight!”

“Damn Death Knight!”

Just then, Megan came to the grove with a first-aid kit. Looking at the two men who might as well be twins at different ages, she said impassively, “Master, Young Master, there’s only enough bandage for one. Which of you will have it?”

“Me!” both said.