Myths Reawakened

Both Auston and Wayne were willing to give the other one more chances. Wayne called out to the butler standing outside the barrier, “Megan, fetch us pen and paper from the study.”

Under Auston’s withering gaze, Megan quickly walked away. Why are you leaving? Is this the time for you to leave?

“Hahaha—”

Once Megan was out of earshot, Wayne smirked in satisfaction. “I knew it. The soundproofing barrier can’t stop Megan from hearing. It never does. You’re wary of Master. Megan knows your greatest secret, but not Master.”

Auston froze, clutching his silver coin.

Wayne chuckled. “Don’t worry. I’m here to join the family rather than tear it apart. I’m not going to say anything to Master. In exchange, you should stop badmouthing me before Veronica.”

Auston smothered a sigh of relief and said through clenched teeth, “You’ve badmouthed me plenty today!”

“Didn’t you do the same?”

“...”

“Besides, I’ve only ever spoken the truth. You are too close to Megan. Unless you’ve slept with her, you would never trust her so unconditionally. Poor Master, kept in the dark even now!” Wayne looked furious—no, envious.

Auston only smiled like he had won at life.

Wayne couldn’t figure out anything from the Old Two-Face’s expression, but he had to wipe that smug smile off that smug face. He huffed and said, “I’ll keep looking into your affairs. Don’t let me find any evidence, or I’ll surely tell Master.”

“How about you? You betrayed Veronica and...”

Wayne took the written permission out.

(눈益눈)

My mistake!

Auston said with a frown, “You’ve long converted your secretary into your spy, so you only asked for the written permission to give yourself an excuse... Wait, what about the High Reverend of the Church of Moonlight? What’s your relationship with her?”

Wayne smiled like he had won at life.

Considering who he was talking to, Auston quickly came to a realization: “You corrupted their minds with your thoughts, making them turn on their faiths and do your bidding instead.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Their faiths have not changed,” Wayne corrected. At least Mona’s faith hadn’t changed. He couldn’t say the same about Filomina since she was no longer a pure elf. From a religious point of view, she had unwittingly committed a sacrilegious act against the Goddess of Moonlight, making her a blasphemer.

Auston didn’t buy it. Perhaps Wayne couldn’t do it yet, but in the future...

“Don’t do anything untoward to Veronica!”

“Don’t worry. I’ll only do that to you in this family.”

“...” x2

After a while, Megan returned with pen and paper. The two scumbags glared at each other before writing down the secrets they had been hiding.

But Wayne didn’t write down the Death Knight, opting to frame the Darkness Knight instead. He knew himself well, and so he also knew Auston like his own reflection. He was certain that Auston wouldn’t tell the truth on their first exchange. This was only supposed to eliminate one wrong answer for them.

Auston, on the other hand, framed the Death Knight due to his resentment. It had nothing to do with the kick. He just hated the Death Knight for no reason in particular.

They folded up the paper while maintaining eye contact. Then they made the exchange and pulled back at the same time, turning around to unfold the notes.

Both of them froze, as if a bolt of lightning had struck them.

Megan stared at them. What was going on? Why weren’t they saying anything? She wanted answers!

Wayne stared at the words ‘Death Knight’, feeling like the rug had been pulled from under his feet. Auston had guessed his secret. He figured out that Wayne was the Death Knight after only one meeting and one kick. Auston had refrained from showing his trump card or having Megan transform into a great dragon because he had figured out what Wayne was.

That would explain the shaking. Auston had to be holding in his anger and frustration so much that he started sweating and trembling

Wayne didn’t understand how he had exposed himself. Upon further consideration, perhaps it was because he had run his mouth too much like a third-rate villain that night, contradicting the Death Knight’s image of aloofness.

Damn it, he should know that the more he spoke, the greater the chance of making a mistake. He should’ve kept his glee under control!

After a moment, he turned back and conjured fire to burn the note. A gust of wind scattered it completely.

Auston did the same. They stared at each other with a heavy heart and the grave expression of a mourner at a funeral. Neither of them said anything.

Megan was getting anxious. What were they worried about? They could talk inside the soundproofing barrier!

“You can’t be the Darkness Knight, Wayne!”

“You can’t be the Death Knight, Auston!”

“...” x2

The two of them maintained their poker face. Try as they might to see any minute changes on the other’s face, they saw nothing.

“Wayne, the Darkness Knight appeared in Londan a long time ago,” Auston said calmly. “You were training at the MI6 then, and later, you were sent to Franc. You are not the Darkness Knight.”

“You also lied. According to my secret investigation, you and the Death Knight have appeared at the same time. Although it can be explained by magic, I’m more inclined to believe that you lied to me.”

Wayne was eighty percent convinced that Auston had seen through him, but he still held onto the twenty percent chance that he was wrong. He huffed, “Let’s call it a day. We’ll see how things go since you refuse to tell the truth. For the family, I swear to figure out your secret.”

“I’ll say the same to you,” Auston responded evenly.

Wayne walked out of the soundproofing barrier. He started out moving the same arm and leg at the same time before recovering his composure and picking up his pace.

Auston stayed in the same spot with a scowl, his hand shaking with the silver coin in his clutch. “Silvia, Veronica, you do have a good eye for people. This one’s intelligence... but... no way, there’s no way.”

“Master!” Megan walked into the barrier with a solemn look on her face. “What’s on the note?”

“Darkness... Knight.”

Megan’s eyes widened as she gulped in disbelief. “Why would Young Master write that? He’s not the Darkness Knight.”

“I’ve underestimated him...” Auston’s expression turned complicated. “But I’m glad to have an heir like him. Arrange my schedule. I may have to have an honest conversation with him.”

“Will that be right?”

“Silvia and Veronica trust him. I don’t have a choice. Besides... I have to give him this power sooner or later.”

Megan looked at him with a mix of different emotions. Feeling a pang in her heart, she took his hand.

“It’s okay. I won’t give it to him just yet. Even if I do, I have prepared a new body. I won’t die as long as Silvia goes easy on me.”

Auston shook his head and broke out of her hold.

***

Young Lady’s mansion.

“Veronica, open up!”

“Bastard, how am I gonna do that now? Go away!”

Inside her bedroom, Wayne stood at the bathroom door, hearing rustling inside. Once he was sure that Veronica had put something on, he broke the lock and barged in.

Veronica had only put a towel around her body and was now drying her long hair. When she saw the scumbag boldly barging in, she swung her fist at him.

But the punch didn’t land. She stopped herself.

“What’s that look?”

“I’m exposed.”

“About what?”

“...”

Silently, Wayne held onto Veronica and buried his face in her chest, rubbing against her, but didn’t get much of a ripple effect. He mumbled, “I confronted Auston earlier. That scumbag is terrifying. It’s like he could read my mind and somehow find out about everything. We’ve only met once, yet he made the right guess.”

“So, what’s the secret?” Veronica pushed him away, curious.

“I can’t tell you, or the family will fall apart...”

Wayne looked resigned. How should he say it? Master/Veronica, your student/fiancé is the Death Knight, your enemy? It wouldn’t do!

He had thought that he could keep the secret forever, but he had underestimated Auston’s keen observation, as well as a brain so shrewd that it seemed like a cheat.

But upon second thought, Auston was simply brave and decisive like his son-in-law[1]. If Wayne were in his shoes, he would’ve realized the truth, too. It would make less sense if Auston didn’t make the right guess.

But what now? And what should he do in the future? He wasn’t ready yet.

Noting his panic, Veronica tamped down her curiosity and gave him a warm hug, reassuring him, “It’s okay. Mother really likes you. No matter what you’re hiding, she’ll never hate you.”

“What about you?”

“I... will listen to Mother, of course.”

“That’s it?”

“...”

Seeing her blushing and agonizing over how she should respond, Wayne felt a flutter in his heart and leaned in for a kiss without thinking much. It was soft and sweet.

How can you just...?!

Veronica’s eyes widened. She quickly swallowed her embarrassing whines and tried to beat the scumbag, but couldn’t muster any strength. Somehow, she found herself closing her eyes and getting lost in his skillful kiss.

After a moment, she recovered herself and punched him in the face.

“Bastard, who said you can get handsy?” Veronica picked up the towel and put it around her body, pushing Wayne out of the door with a blush. Crouching down with her back against the door, she hid her flushed face in her knees and said, “Just know that you are the heir of the family. Mother and—Mother approves of you. Mr. Lando has no right to say otherwise because he’s nothing in this family. You can just admit the truth and tell him to reveal his secret.”

“That...”

Wayne blinked. Veronica wasn’t making any sense. While the Old Two-Face seemed to be at the bottom of the pecking order in the family, it was only because he cared about his wife and daughter. At the end of the day, he still had the final say.

“Remember to tell me later. I want to know your secret, too.”

Standing outside the door, Wayne wondered if Veronica was right. His secret had been exposed, so he might as well use this chance to discover Auston’s secret.

It was time for the Death Knight to have a one-on-one conversation with Auston!

He was going to tell the truth and quit pretending!

1. The original is a reference to Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty and Li Ke, his third son. Taizong once said that Li Ke was brave and decisive like him and would make a better successor than his other brothers. ☜