Myths Reawakened

“You’re overthinking this. I never intended to threaten you with the curse of dragon blood. The Nature Knight is more powerful than you imagine, and I’m doing this to increase your chances of becoming the chosen knight.” Senna shook her head slightly. “Once you receive the goddess’s power, you’ll know that I haven’t lied to you.”

Fine, whatever you say.

Knowing that Senna was betting on dragon blood, Wayne immediately relaxed. With his cheat, there was no way he would be corrupted by dragon blood. Senna was destined to gain nothing.

“Master Senna, there are things I won’t hide from you at this point. I can withdraw from the Holy Maiden selection, but there’s one person I must defeat first.”

“Who?”

“Ottilia Ferdinand. Her master, Flora Evelina, is the previous Holy Maiden.”

“Reason being?”

“Flora offended my master. Anyone can become the Holy Maiden, but absolutely not her student,” Wayne said with finality.

He hadn’t approved of Auston’s plan before, but after seeing more of the church’s upper echelons, he had to admit that Auston had a point. The church was a cesspool that Silvia should get out of while she could.

The two knights had high hopes for Flora, hoping that she could wake Silvia up. But first, Flora had to be cornered—she had to lose the Holy Maiden selection.

Senna stared at Wayne intently. Every word out of his mouth was either Silvia or Master. For a moment, she felt an intense envy. If only she had such an obedient protege.

“Master Senna, I’ve studied those maps you provided before. If I’m not mistaken, the higher-ups can pair up the rivals. For example, they were the ones who arranged for mansion number four to be next to mansion number eight.”

“Arrange for Ottilia and me to be on the same map. I’ll defeat her, after which I’ll withdraw from the Holy Maiden selection.”

“That’ll be difficult. Flora has become the Holy Maiden, with the Pope pulling the strings behind the scenes. The Pope cast her aside because her ambition was too great, but recently, she convinced the Pope to make her student one of his supported candidates. To free up that spot, the Pope even abandoned an excellent candidate he had been grooming for fifteen years.”

Senna continued, “Flora’s student is no simple candidate. There has to be something exceptional about her. She may not be your match, but she won’t be eliminated easily. The Pope won’t allow it.”

“That’s fine. The Pope has other candidates outside of Ottilia, doesn’t he?” Wayne indicated that the Pope was above his weight class and too much for him to handle. It should be Senna’s concern. She had to fulfill his request if she wanted him.

Senna took a deep breath. The more she looked at Wayne, the more aggravated she became. She silently cursed out Auston. Not only had he stolen her student, but he’d produced this bastard.

Still, the bastard was truly talented! So much so that she couldn’t resist!

Senna responded that she could make it happen, but she needed time. After their conversation, their relationship shifted from mentor and mentee to business partners. It was purely about interests with no emotions involved, more suitable for adults.

“Once you become the chosen knight, Wayne, remember to support me to become the Pope. No matter what, I’m still Silvia’s master.”

“Of course, provided that you break the curse on Master Silvia.” Wayne extended a hand with a smile. “I hope you’ll always be Master Senna to me.”

“I hope so, too.”

The two of them shook hands. Senna disappeared from the mansion.

Wayne closed his eyes and sensed no spatial disturbance. Senna could come and go at will, her level of power more formidable than he had anticipated.

Veronica came down the stairs and paused, peeking out. She had heard everything.

Wayne gave her a small smile and beckoned to her. They sat side by side on the sofa with Wayne putting an arm around her.

“What’s wrong? You’re brooding. Remember not to eavesdrop next time. It’s a bad habit.”

“I wasn’t eavesdropping. She didn’t set up a sound barrier.” Veronica looked at him with concern, resting her head on his shoulder voluntarily. She whispered, “Mother said that she was bad news. Is it really okay to work with her?”

“What else can we do? Is there another choice?”

“You’re worried about Mother’s dragon blood curse, aren’t you? That’s why you worked with her.”

“And for my adorable little sister, Veronica.” Wayne talked sweetly right on cue.

Veronica’s heart didn’t race, and she didn’t blush bashfully. Instead, she accepted the affection calmly and pecked him on the corner of his mouth while covering his eyes, fleeting like a dragonfly flitting across water.

But a fish underwater bit the dragonfly and wouldn’t let go.

Veronica made muffled sounds and had to use force to push the scumbag away. She lowered her head and pursed her lips. “Wayne, will you become the Nature Knight?”

“Hard to say. Actually, I’d rather be a dragon knight.” Wayne showed the figurative dagger hidden in the map, expressing his true intention.

The map crumpled the dagger.

“Be serious!”

“I am being serious. I haven’t even mentioned how you would be riding the Nature Knight!”

Thump!

Veronica punched him in the face before kissing him once more. “Be careful. Don’t let that woman deceive you.”

“I know. Leave me to handle it. I can’t count on Auston. All he knows is making money and burning warehouses. At important times like this, I still have to be the one to charge ahead.”

Wayne took the opportunity to badmouth Auston. Then he extended his thoughts to communicate with Veronica: “Senna doesn’t know me well, but you do. Don’t tell anyone about my original bloodline.”

Seeing the scumbag smile so wickedly and mischievously filled Veronica with a sense of security. She put her arms around him willingly.

She was so grateful that she had walked into Wayne’s Detective Agency that night!

But then the image of Vera’s smirk popped into her mind. She frowned. Actually, she had planned to wait and see rather than enter the detective agency. If not for Vera’s urging, she wouldn’t have met Wayne.

Damn it, why was she everywhere? Someone else would think that Vera was Wayne’s first!

It’s all your fault for being so likable!

“Bastard, die!”

Wayne didn’t think much of Veronica’s reaction when she stalked off in a huff, assuming that her tsundere nature was acting up again. It always went like this. Just when they were making some progress, she would step back.

“There is progress, though. She initiated the kissing and hugging today.”

Wayne received the message loud and clear. Veronica had kissed him twice and punched him once before walking away. It was clearly an invitation for him to meet her at three o’clock—in the early morning—at her bedroom. Before that, though...

He opened the door and wandered into the small grove, his fingertips brushing the greenery as he extended his thoughts. The mandrill appeared before him.

“High Prophet Tubert, were you looking for me?”

“Candidate Wayne, have you considered the offer?”

“I’ve considered it for a few days. I still think that it’s better to be realistic. Becoming High Prophet isn’t my dream. It’s too lofty a goal.” Wayne spoke with a serious expression, repeating the same lines he had said to Senna.

We’re all adults here. Skip the nonsense and don’t pretend that we’re close.

The mandrill probed with a doubtful expression, “What did Oracle High Reverend Senna say to you? Don’t let your feelings cloud your judgment. She’s not worth your trust.”

“She didn’t appeal to my feelings. We had an open conversation about interests. It’s time for you to make an offer.”

“...”

The negotiation took such a sudden turn that Tubert was a little stunned, but he composed himself and haggled for a lower price. It took them ten minutes to settle on a deal.

“Candidate Wayne, I can teach you parts of the legacy that only High Prophets can master in advance, but you have to swear an oath to the goddess that you won’t reveal anything you hear, no matter what,” the mandrill said solemnly.

Wayne agreed readily, making an oath to the goddess he was loyal to, according to Tubert’s demand. As for which goddess it was, there was no one else but School Nurse Nature since he was in the Church of Nature. She was really gentle in a short skirt and garter socks, with a stethoscope in her hands.

“History is incomplete. In the beginning, the Life Alliance consisted not only of Nature, Sun, and Moonlight, but also of Darkness and Death. Even now, there are still traces of dark elves...” the mandrill said slowly. “It’s normal for you to think that something is missing. Only by mastering Darkness and Death as well can you better communicate with nature.”

“Are you serious, High Prophet?”

Wayne’s scalp tingled. He felt like he had received sensitive information. Was it really something he should be hearing?

“It was my speculation, but I was proven right...”

So you’re a free mage? No wonder you’ve been hanging out with Planck.

Wayne looked at the mandrill in surprise. It wasn’t enough for the High Prophet to master three faiths; he had secretly learned Darkness and Death as well. This man... could he be a double agent?

He shuddered. “High Prophet, do the other higher-ups know? I mean, have any of them mastered other faith magics?”

The mandrill shook his head. “They probably don’t know.”

The Church of Nature’s higher-ups might not know, but the leadership of the Church of Darkness... It weighed on Tubert’s conscience that, to prove his hypothesis and obtain the divine arts of Darkness, he had made a secret deal with the Church of Darkness’s higher-ups. That was a secret he had to take to the grave.

“High Prophet Tubert, I’ve received your goodwill. If nothing unexpected happens, I’ll give up the Holy Maiden selection as soon as possible. However... I need you to match me with a competitor. I must eliminate her before I can withdraw.”

After more negotiation, the mandrill reluctantly agreed to fix the match.

“There’s one more thing, Candidate Wayne. Be careful. You have a target on your back.”

“Who’s targeting me?”

“I’m not sure. It could be the Pope or someone else among the leadership. My two students have received a letter...”