Myths Reawakened

Wayne broke out of Silvia’s arms and said, “The Auston and Wayne of the inner world fought for close to two years. Neither the Darkness Knight nor the Death Knight could kill the other. Wayne was somewhat of a genius and grew stronger quickly, while Auston’s power came from pain. The loss of his wife and daughter was the greatest despair...”

He paused before continuing, “He became obsessive and mad and would stop at nothing to kill Wayne. When I met him, I was mistaken for the Wayne of the inner world and almost got killed.”

Silvia felt a pang in her heart, but all Dragonbloods were inherently tsundere, and she would never praise Auston for his devotion. She shot him an icy glance, “Bastard, even going after your own family? I’ve misjudged you.”

“Have you considered that I was trying to avenge you?” Auston couldn’t believe it. He was clearly justified.

“No way. You went after the wrong person!”

Auston pulled a long face. Yes, things were going as he had expected. Wayne had set up the scene for something big.

“After proving that I’m not the other Wayne, I helped Auston kill Wayne...”

“Who made the killing move?” Veronica asked.

“Auston. I couldn’t be the one to do it. I would be killing myself.” Wayne chuckled. “Even if I could do it, I shouldn’t. The Auston of the inner world had to be the one to do it. His hatred for that Wayne could only be satisfied by killing him personally.”

Silvia and Veronica both glared at Auston. The bastard killed her son/fiancé.

Auston didn’t say anything. Wayne had set everything up perfectly, so no matter what he said, he would be blamed.

“Oh, he cut that Wayne’s body into minced meat and scattered the ashes with Darkness, laughing until he cried,” Wayne described the scene faithfully. He was to the point, objective, and insightful, accurately portraying the character’s mindset and behavioral patterns. He hadn’t twisted the truth.

Again, he respected the Auston of the inner world and would call him a real man.

Silvia and Veronica disagreed. Since they hadn’t experienced the despair of the inner world, Wayne’s story was nothing but a story to them. Though they felt sorry for the Auston of the inner world, it didn’t stop them from glaring at Auston.

Silvia, in particular, glared at Auston happily and turned to her son with a pointed look. Her fists were itching. She would like a reason to launch the bastard into the sky.

“I saw Queen Sophelia in the inner world. She was in the Lando Estate—”

“Bastard!”

Wayne didn’t get to finish before the window shattered with an explosive sound, splattering glass shards everywhere. When he looked up, not only was Auston gone, but the sofa he had been sitting on was nowhere to be seen.

Megan had jumped out of the window, running into the grove and waiting for Auston to fall from the sky. She had always been a good catcher.

Wayne nodded and continued, “Queen Sophelia evolved her divine blood in the post-apocalyptic world and created an alliance with the Darkness Knight. She proposed marriage several times, but always got rejected. Auston had never spared her a glance.”

(눈‸눈)

I reacted too quickly, Silvia thought. Should’ve waited until he finished.

Well, she had thrown the punch, so she would forgive the bastard after he apologized first.

Megan was quick to catch the ball and return it today. She had a feeling that she was part of the story, too, so she got back to the study as soon as she could to make sure she didn’t miss her part.

Wayne continued, “Because of Master’s passing, Auston had been lost in his sorrow and could not move on from the loss. Megan transformed into Silvia to make him happy. Then they—”

“Bastard, how dare you!”

There was another explosive noise. When Wayne looked up again, Megan was jumping out of the window with a poker face. He wasn’t sure if it was all in his head, but she looked thoughtful and inspired.

Aunt Megan, simps never meet a good end!

He sighed. “They are just like how they were. Auston hadn’t treated Aunt Megan like you just because she looked like you, still considering her a butler and secretary. Only in his most tormented moments did he find some comfort by looking at her face.”

(눈‸눈)

Silvia stared at Wayne. “Did you do this on purpose, brat?”

“You’re too impatient, Master. You didn’t wait for me to finish!” Wayne rolled his eyes. He had not made any false accusations against Auston from start to finish, instead praising Auston’s devotion with every word. He had not hoped to see a human cannonball, not at all.

He didn’t know why Auston had been launched twice. Perhaps it was a kink between the husband and wife. High society was too depraved for a child like him.

Before Megan could return, Wayne concluded, “After killing Wayne, Auston lost the drive to live and was going to kill himself to follow his wife to death. I stopped him. I told him that there was still one member of the Lando family, Aunt Megan. If he died, Aunt Megan would likely follow, too.”

“What then?”

Veronica held her breath. The story was so tragic that her heart ached as she wondered what happened next. Silvia put on a look of nonchalance, but she was also listening intently.

“I don’t know,” Wayne said ruefully. “I left and ran into the Nature Knight in suburban Londan, who had come to attack us. After the intense fight, the Darkness Knight didn’t show up, and neither did Megan.”

It was an open ending. In his mind, Auston had committed suicide, and Megan had followed suit, but he chose to let Veronica and Silvia come to their own interpretation.

Silvia ached for her husband, but it was impossible for her to show it to Auston. She stalked toward the window with her fists clenched, biting out, “Bastard, he only cared about himself. He was too selfish. Megan considered him her reason to live, but he didn’t care at all.”

“She said that like she was worried about Megan,” Veronica huffed after Silvia disappeared through the window. “I would’ve bought it if not for that smile on her face. If you had said that Auston hadn’t killed himself and had continued to live for Megan’s sake, she would’ve been angrier than anyone!”

“Hey, how could you say that about Master?” Wayne grumbled. “Show some respect. That’s my mother!”

“Yeah, yeah, and I’m adopted.”

“You’re not adopted, Veronica. You’re my girlfriend, and they are your in-laws.”

“...”

Veronica punched him in the face and scoffed, “What a boring story. The female lead died at the beginning. It’s not fun at all. I’m going back to sleep. Don’t harass me tonight, do you understand?”

“I understand. I’ll visit you at one in the morning.”

“Why so late?”

“You punched me. I’ve written a similar story in the diary, haven’t I?”

“...”

Veronica stalked out of the door in a huff. If she didn’t see him before ten, he should stay away forever.

From the grove, the noises of a fist fight resounded. Unlike the usual heavy thuds, the Dragonblood had pulled her punches.

She had spent half an hour more time hitting Auston today. When Wayne saw him again, it was nine at night.

***

Study.

Megan stood outside the door and set up a soundproof barrier, while the father and son began the actual meeting in the study.

Auston had taken off his jacket and shirt, revealing layers upon layers of bandages that made him look like a mummy in progress. The one eye not covered by the bandages stared at Wayne in disbelief. “Strange, why didn’t you frame me today? Or are you waiting to make a move when I least expect it?”

“As if I’ve framed you before,” Wayne huffed. What a shame that the camera didn’t come with him. He would’ve made good use of the photos. “If you’re worried, I have several discarded versions of the story about how happy you were in the inner world. Do you want me to call Master back?”

When Auston stayed meekly quiet, Wayne cleared his throat and said seriously, “Darienne, Moula, and Leo, the three chosen knights, did not exist in the inner world. I met Darienne there and confirmed it. Strong individuals who are demigods and above couldn’t be replicated by the mirror.”

“When I met Auston and asked if Monica the black cat was around, he said no. Monica hadn’t been replicated.”

“...” x3

Auston fiddled with his silver coin and asked in a low voice, “Is there a way to deal with the black cat?”

“Haven’t you tried many methods and failed? Why did you ask suddenly?” Wayne remembered Auston saying that he had suspected the black cat, but gave up because it always returned to the Lando Estate wholly intact, whether he mailed it away or sank it into the river in a barrel of cement.

“That was then. Things are different. Perhaps what couldn’t be resolved can now be resolved.” Auston looked at Wayne. “You’re more valuable and would thus be more appealing to Monica than I am. Take it back to your residence, and perhaps it won’t return.”

“...”

“Speak!”

“Where’s Master? I suddenly remember a few important plot points.”

“I’m being serious,” Auston said. “You’re more valuable and also stronger than I am. I can’t deal with Monica, but maybe you can.”

“You’ve overestimated me.” Wayne sighed. “After my trip, I realized how vast the world is and how insignificant I am.”

Auston frowned. “No wonder you seem more mature than before. Is it because of the tragedy in the inner world?”

“There’s something else, something important. There is an abomination in the inner world...” Wayne lowered his voice. “I don’t know what it is, only that its life essence is so strong that I couldn’t corrupt it. Even Darienne was forced to flee by its great power. I almost didn’t make it back.”

“It went like this...”

Wayne explained what had happened in the inner world, including every detail he hadn’t told Silvia and Veronica, such as the story of Sun Knight William and Nature Knight Senna. Auston was shocked. If the two were the true knight candidates, the Lando family would be even stronger.

You’re not only demon-nip, but also knight-nip. Wouldn’t you consider being a catnip?

Auston was silent for a long time by the end of the story. He said numbly, “Based on your speculation, all the negativity went to the abomination after the inner world crumbled. He’s more powerful than a demigod and is likely a god.”

“More precisely, a new, never-before-seen god!”

Wayne was certain about that. Being more powerful than Darienne wasn’t the scary part, but the fact that his white foam had failed to corrupt the abomination. Not even Thoggua, an ancient god’s vassal, had managed that.

“It might not have been entirely alien. Perhaps it’s a god who’s been defeated and is now hiding in the inner world.”

“That is a possibility,” Wayne said.

“Darienne would report to the Goddess of Moonlight, so make sure to ask her about that.” Auston frowned in irritation. “She’s the Goddess of Moon’s knight at the end of the day. Try to win her over and make her do your bidding. Then we’ll have another reliable source of information.”

“...”

“What?”

“She’s not good enough for me. I can’t do it.”

“Yeah, your shamelessness has matured!”