Myths Reawakened

Auston tried to clarify that he and Wayne were not related by blood. Just because they looked alike didn’t mean they were father and son. If resemblance was equal to biological connection, he and Douglas also shared similarities—why hadn’t anyone claimed that they were brothers?

Auston laid out the facts rationally, explaining that Wayne was his son-in-law and had become the Lando heir through marriage. The similarities between their clothing and hairstyle came from the former head butler of the Lando family, Veryl. Everything had a logical explanation.

Sophelia could no longer trust Auston as before. Instead of refuting, she changed the subject: “The awakening ritual of the divine blood failed. Do you know why, Auston?”

Auston remained silent. It was because he had set up a magic circle in the Lando Estate to disrupt the internal stability of the Grey Space through his silver coin. That was why Frank hadn’t succeeded fully despite being thoroughly prepared, unable to drain all the royal’s divine blood in one sitting.

Frank could awaken the divine blood through the Grey Space; naturally, Auston could interrupt the process. Both had invested heavily in researching the divine blood and the mist, considering it their trump card.

The difference was that Frank did it for the evolution of the Book of Hell, while Auston only aimed to protect himself, making preparations in advance just in case.

Regardless of Auston’s intentions, though, he had gotten his finger in the Grey Space, which was the royal family’s last resort against the Church of Heavenly Father and the foundation of their rule. As a supposedly loyal subject, Auston’s action made his loyalty seem particularly hollow.

Once the pillar of trust collapsed, even truth sounded like lies.

When Auston insisted that Wayne wasn’t his son, Sophelia only found it grating. It was what it was. Since the Lando family had won completely, there was no need to keep up the act.

From a political standpoint, Sophelia had asked if there was any possibility of them renewing their relationship. Auston refused flatly, leaving no room for negotiation.

Thus, Sophelia had gone for the second-best option: she tried to promote her daughter, Elizabeth, only to be rejected again with the excuse that Wayne wasn’t Auston’s biological son.

That meant that Auston wanted the Windsor family out of politics!

At least that was what the Queen believed Auston’s intention to be. The Lando family was ready to take over the land, so he advised the Queen to give up resistance and accept the cruel reality.

“Auston, is there truly no possibility at all?”

Auston was speechless. He had rejected the Princess on Wayne’s behalf out of consideration for the royal family, yet the Queen insisted on interpreting it as his ambition... Forget it. If the Queen wanted to do it, just do it. He couldn’t control Wayne anyway.

He bowed. “Just do as you see fit, Your Majesty. I’ll say it again: the Lando family has nothing but loyalty toward the royal family.”

“That’s good to hear,” Sophelia responded with a faint smile.

For a moment, it seemed as if they had recovered their harmonious relationship as monarch and subject, built on a foundation of trust, but both knew that everything had changed. There was now a thick barrier between them.

Cold moonlight shrouded the headquarters of the Ministry of Magic. Upon closer inspection, it would seem that the fog covering all of Londan was thinner than before. The subtle change attracted little attention. The affluent Western District, Northern District, and Inner Londan remained prosperous.

Deep underground, in a mysterious space.

The ancient altar that had been destroyed during a demonic attack now hovered in the air entirely intact, etched with both the sacred texts of the Golden Law and the Divine Comedy of the Seven Deadly Sins.

It was the Lord of Pride’s reincarnation altar.

A demon from hell could reincarnate as a human through the altar, and a human could use it to reincarnate as a hellish demon.

A figure slowly materialized. Wearing a suit, dress shirt, tie, and dress shoes, the man looked like a typical elite, his face obscured. He waved a hand and reached into the void, taking a book with a black cover out. Placing it on the altar, he copied the information of the Divine Comedy of the Seven Deadly Sins onto the blank pages.

Soon, a new Book of Hell was made.

“Frank, was it? The hellish evolution you wrote was interesting, but too narrow-minded. If fusing the Seven Demon Lords would produce the ultimate evolution, why wouldn’t I just replicate the Divine Comedy directly?”

“Can’t blame you. The composition of the Seven Demon Lords led you to the misunderstanding...”

“Merging the Seven Demon Lords won’t produce Hell’s god. Hell exists for another reason!”

“Let’s hope the next holder of the Book of Hell will surprise me...”

The man murmured, waving his hand to cast the Book of Hell into Londan, seeking the next lucky soul to guide its evolution. He stopped himself halfway.

“Londan is no longer the right choice. The new holder would only fail like Frank.”

After some consideration, the man sent the new Book of Hell into the Void, transporting it to Frank, across the sea from Windsor. The destination was Palis, and fate would decide whose hands it would fall into.

“Who will it be this time?”

“I hope it’s a clergy member. That would be real entertainment.”

***

Great Cemetery of Western District.

Dressed in a white dress with a white veil covering her face, Filomina followed the Death Knight to an unmarked tombstone. The Death Knight dove into his coffin and went underground to enter a slumber, ignoring the High Reverend following him even though he had noticed her.

His indifference made Filomina question herself. She had been certain that Wayne was the Death Knight, and now, she was only half convinced, suspecting that she had guessed wrong.

Based on her understanding of the bastard, he should be laughing cheerfully right now, cornering the stunning and enchanting High Reverend and pretending that he wanted to do something untoward to her.

But nothing happened...

“Did I overthink it?”

Not far away, a spirit hound, an undead warhorse, and a skeletal owl were chatting.

“Woof, woof!”

“Woof, woof, woof!”

“Arwoo?!”

Absurdly, both the horse and owl were speaking dog language. Filomina looked over and saw the Death Knight’s beloved pets treating her like air, unconcerned that she might grab a shovel and dig up the coffin. She wavered once more.

She had nothing to do with the Death Knight, not even an ally of his. There had to be a reason his pets treated her so courteously.

The bastard was underground!

Filomina glared at the unmarked tombstone, debating whether to dig him up to confront him. She mustered her courage and raised her hands several times, but ultimately decided against it. What if she was overthinking? If she dug up the Death Knight, and he wasn’t Wayne, that would be quite the disaster.

The figure in white walked away, stopping at the edge of the cemetery. When she saw Wayne strolling along the road, she huffed and chased after him.

“Oh, Mina. What a coincidence! You’re taking a walk here, too?” Wayne’s face lit up with pleasant surprise, claiming their meeting was one arranged by fate.

Filomina rolled her eyes prettily, saying coldly, “Stop pretending. You’re the Death Knight, aren’t you?”

At the banquet, Silvia had said that Wayne was already present, but Filomina didn’t see him anywhere in the crowd. Then there was the way Auston, the Darkness Knight, treated the Death Knight. Now, with Wayne appearing in the Great Cemetery, there was enough evidence to close the case.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m the successor of the Nature Knight. How can I be the Death Knight? You should’ve figured that out if you just used your brain.” Wayne sighed. “I know you’re busty, but you shouldn’t fit the stereotype of a brainless busty woman.”

“Being busty doesn’t mean being brainless. I’m just too magnanimous to be petty with you.” Filomina shot back, side-eyeing him. “You said that you weren’t the Death Knight. Why are you here then?”

“I followed you here!” Wayne said like it was obvious. “It’s late. It’s too dangerous for you to pursue the Death Knight alone, so I came to find you.”

“Hm, how sweet of you.”

“Hehe, right?”

Getting cocky now, are we? Filomina sneered, reaching up to grab Wayne’s collar. “Your mother already told me. Say it. Say that you’re the Death Knight!”

“You’re the Death Knight.”

“...”

When Wayne refused to admit the truth, Filomina turned to leave. After taking two steps and realizing that he wasn’t following, she stopped in anger.

Wayne scratched his head, approaching the scowling Filomina. Since it seemed like she wouldn’t go unless he made amends to her, he wrapped an arm around her slender waist to pull her into his embrace, kissing her red lips through the white veil.

Filomina struggled briefly before getting lost in his kisses, going boneless in his arms. Her eyes grew hazy and somewhat dazed.

Wayne patted her on the bottom. She instinctively reached out to brace herself against a nearby tree, bending over, raising her hips, and spreading her legs—all without a hint of hesitation.

(一`´一;)

Right, a great clash was usually followed by a great clash. He wouldn’t point out the misunderstanding.

Only after getting into position did Filomina realize her mistake. Her ears burned. She straightened up hurriedly, cursing him out as a pervert.

When he moved closer to finish the act, she hastily pushed him away. “Don’t mess around. This is the Great Cemetery, the Death Knight’s territory.”

“He’s asleep.”

“There’s a horse. And a dog.”

“Both female.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I am the Death Knight!”

“...”

Filomina rolled her eyes, slapping away the naughty hand on her chest and saying in exasperation, “Why do you stop pretending? It turns out that the Death Knight is a pervert. I thought a skeleton wouldn’t have human desires.”

“Generally speaking, that should be the case, but it depends on the person. When it’s a great beauty like you, Mina, even the Goddess of Death would rise from her coffin, let alone the Death Knight.” Wayne took Filomina’s hand and kissed the back of it with crinkling eyes.

“How could you be the Death Knight?” Filomina voiced her greatest confusion. “You’re going to be the next Nature Knight. I’ve seen you use Elemental Mantra. Death and Nature are on opposite sides. The Goddess of Death couldn’t possibly have chosen you. Even if Death and Nature are a cycle, someone like you...”

“You have no respect for the gods. The Goddess of Death would have to be insane... Anyway, it can’t be you.”

“The gods don’t care!” Wayne shrugged, pulling Filomina back into his arms and sniffing the fragrance from her hair. He said with a raised eyebrow, “Between you and me, I’m also the successor of the Moonlight Knight.”

“Ha.”

Filomina’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. Nature and Death could be insane, but the Goddess of Moonlight, whom she followed, would never be like them. She warned Wayne not to speak nonsense. Being magnanimous didn’t mean she could tolerate everything.