Myths Reawakened

Senna would like to volunteer to lead the mutiny. She had invited the Nature Knight and colluded with the High Prophet and the Holy Maiden to falsify divine oracles. She would shoulder the responsibility if something went wrong.

Before she could even open her mouth, Wayne stopped her with a glare.

“High Prophet, Holy Maiden, and future Pope,” he said slowly. “You three are supposed to be equal, with no one being more important than another. No matter who takes the lead, the other two will be dissatisfied.”

Well, how did you conveniently forget the Nature Knight? x2

“The leader will shoulder the greatest risks, but also gain the most after success. In that case, the checks and balances we’ve just agreed on would destabilize once more.”

Wayne spoke as if he were concerned about the three of them. After some consideration, his eyes lit up. “How about you split the responsibilities and risks, as well as the eventual gains? Then none of you will be at a disadvantage or an advantage. Isn’t that better?”

It isn’t. x2

The mandrake showed human-like regret. He was here to win the Nature Knight’s goodwill rather than to shoulder responsibilities. Why would a lackey like him become the boss when the syndicate was cracked down?

Objection!

Desiree rolled her eyes primly. She owned nothing and had nothing to give. What gave her the right to be the leader? She was in no position to even shoulder the blame!

Since no one volunteered, Senna glanced at Wayne again. There was no need for all the trouble. She didn’t mind taking responsibility.

“It’s not about accountability or responsibility. You’re under the greatest risks, but the benefits will be divided equally? That doesn’t make sense,” Wayne responded telepathically. “Besides, you’re going to become the Pope. If the process is flawed, it would become ammunition against you. You have to become the Pope legitimately.”

Wayne had been Windsor’s prince for a few months now, so he knew the unspoken rules well. Tubert and Desiree would surely agree. Desiree, especially, was the one who craved power the most among them. As the Holy Maiden, the oracle she relayed would be the most crucial, so she had to lead the charge. Otherwise, even if their plan succeeded, Desiree would be no different from the Holy Maidens before her.

Wayne knew that Desiree knew it, so she had only stayed quiet to drag things out or to drive up the price. Silence lingered on the ship. He took a sip of his juice and sensed disturbances from the river. Four sightseeing ships just like the one they were on were approaching from four directions.

Wayne’s expression darkened. “People are coming. Are they sent by the Pope?”

Desiree’s heart sank. Senna, Tubert, and Wayne would be fine even after they were caught; given their statuses, they could excuse their actions, and no one would question them. Desiree, however, could expect a miserable life once she was found.

“It’s unlikely to be the Pope. He has little ambition for power now. However... he is one of the targets tonight.” Senna frowned at the Holy Maiden and her brother. They were most likely to have been followed since they were the weakest.

“The energy... He’s showing his goodwill rather than hostility...” The mandrake looked surprised like a human would. “It’s Weaving. He’s gone missing for a while. Why did he suddenly show up?”

Why is he here? x4

The four mumbled inwardly, their expressions turning complicated when they thought of a possibility.

“Think on the bright side, perhaps we’ve got our leader!” Wayne stood up, putting away his stool and moving behind Senna with Ottilia. He also put his half-finished drink in front of Senna. After all that, his face writhed and transformed into another person.

None of them was a real fool. Even Desiree, the youngest among them, was the cunning sort. She could guess what Wayne was planning. They exchanged glances, waiting for Weaving to arrive.

After a gust of wind, Oracle High Reverend Weaving of the Church of Nature landed on the upper deck. With a hand behind his back, he smiled coldly and scanned the table with narrowed eyes.

“High Prophet, Holy Maiden, and High Reverend Senna. What an impressive gathering. I don’t remember there being a high-ranking meeting tonight. So...”

“Is this a private meeting?”

Weaving smiled with self-satisfaction. He had followed Desiree and her brother here. Realizing that something was happening tonight, he purposefully brought a large group with him as witnesses.

When the three didn’t respond, Weaving continued, “What are the three of you discussing? I’d like to join you if you don’t mind. Then I’d report to His Holiness and share the joy with him.”

Desiree lowered her head. She knew full well that she was in no position to speak.

Senna chuckled. “Weaving, since when have you become the Pope’s lapdog? Congratulations, you have a good chance of becoming the next pope. Then we’ll all be at the mercy of your whims.”

Weaving scoffed. “Senna, I thought you’d been lying low because you’d given up on becoming the pope. Who would’ve thought that you would arrange this meeting and recruit the High Prophet and the Holy Maiden? As expected of you, you’ve been secretly working toward the very front in this race.”

“You’re overthinking,” Senna said calmly. “The Holy Maiden has questions about her position, so the High Prophet and I are answering her questions to make sure that she won’t offend High Reverend Weaving as a newcomer.”

You sure talk well, but look at what you’re wearing. It’s like you’re trying to seduce men!

Weaving smothered a sneer. His heart thumped when he thought of the usual conservative clothing Senna wore. Was she really attempting seduction by dressing differently?

He looked over. Aside from the male mandrake, the only men present were him, the Holy Maiden’s retainer brother, and the pretty boy standing behind Senna. She couldn’t be targeting him. The Holy Maiden’s brother had a decent face but insufficient power. Senna would have to be mad to lower herself to his level. That would leave the pretty boy...

Weaving gave Wayne a once-over. He had never seen that face at the church, nor had he heard about Senna having a male companion. He tried to find out more with his thoughts, but couldn’t judge the pretty boy’s strength due to his discreet mana.

“Senna, are you not going to introduce your companion?”

“There’s nothing to say. He’s my new secretary.” Senna picked up the glass of juice before her, drinking from where Wayne had drunk from.

“Secretary? That’s a suggestive title if I’ve ever seen one!” Weaving believed there was more to the pretty boy. Then he made an inquisitive sound when he saw Ottilia, his eyes narrowing. “The secretary... she looks familiar.”

He wasn’t referring to the succubi who had attacked him. Ottilia and Regina had been wearing masks of white foam in their human states to block out the inspection of thoughts, and after transforming into succubi, their appearances and temperaments had both become so different that Weaving couldn’t recognize them.

Which was only natural.

For example, a famous playboy had been messing around with models during the day and messing up regular people with half his face covered by a mask at night. While his lower face was visible, no one had ever recognized him.

“I remember now. She was once wanted by the church, involved in the assassination of the Nature Knight’s successor...” Weaving murmured. An Oracle High Reverend like him wouldn’t have paid much attention to a wanted criminal. He only remembered because she had something to do with the Nature Knight’s successor.

The walls had eyes and ears, and the fact that Wayne was the Nature Knight’s successor had been leaked.

Weaving had been in the dark since Moula had warned those who knew. Among them, Senna and Garvin weren’t going to spill the secret, and Tubert wouldn’t dare to run his mouth. However, someone else was present at the time: Pope Ludwig.

His Holiness had too many affairs to take care of every day, so busy that he barely had the time to stop and rest his feet. It was only natural that he would let the secret slip. As for how Weaving had learned of the secret, it was a mystery.

“I understand now. You’ve found a leverage to use against the Pope.” Weaving gave Senna an admiring look. “I expect nothing less from you. I know how he works. This secretary of yours should’ve died. You must have had someone disguise themselves as her to allow her to survive, right?”

Senna took another sip of the juice to maximize contact time. She glanced at Weaving and said dryly, “I didn’t expect you to put two and two together. I’ve hidden everything so well.”

“You haven’t hidden anything!” Irritated by the sarcastic remark, Weaving pulled a chair and sat down, “Senna, you have leverage against the Pope, you know the successor of the Nature Knight, and you’ve allied yourself with the High Prophet and the Holy Maiden. You will surely become the next pope.”

“I would like that, but Sir Knight isn’t interested in internal affairs of the church, nor does he think I’m a good woman,” Senna said suggestively.

It was meant for Wayne. Every single one of the participants of this meeting was part of her flirtatious roleplay with him.

“As it should. Sir Knight is a good judge of character.” Weaving scoffed. No good woman could become an Oracle High Reverend. In the Church of Nature, none of the higher-ups were good people.

“Why did you come tonight, Weaving?” the mandrake said darkly. “If you’re going to report to the Pope, it’s not too late now. If you drag things on a little longer, my main body will be here.”

“Even better. Then we’ll have another witness!” Weaving stared at Senna, showing no reaction to the threat. “I’ll involve myself in your plan tonight. You have my support to become the pope. In exchange, I’ll remain as an Oracle High Reverend afterwards, and you’re not touching my authority.”

Senna showed no surprise. She responded, “If you want to be involved, you need to have something to offer. What’s your leverage? Just the fact that you’ve discovered our private meeting?”

“No, you can’t take down Ludwig alone. If he refuses to abdicate, you’ll never become the pope.” Weaving pointed at Ottilia. “The sinned witness can’t achieve much with no status. I’m different. I have acquired a great amount of evidence, enough to oust Ludwig.”

“You need to back up your words.”

“I’ll show you some of it...” Weaving, shrewd as he was, had already prepared the documents. He produced two from his personal storage and put them on the table, sliding them to Senna. “Ludwig was able to achieve what he’s achieved thanks in large part to Prussia’s support. He offered his help secretly during the previous war, pulling out just in time to avoid getting dragged into Prussia’s defeat. This time... I can’t say more.”

Senna opened the document and saw evidence of human modification. There was also a ledger about how Ludwig’s faction had been capturing unaffiliated mages secretly to be given to Prussia, even providing exclusive techniques. Prussia owed much of its rise in power to Ludwig.

Senna put the documents into her storage, obviously not intending to hand them back. “This is decent. I believe you have more important evidence in your possession. However, I do not trust you.”

The mandrake nodded. “That’s right. You said you wanted to join us, but how do we know this isn’t part of the Pope’s plan?”

“Ha!” Weaving’s expression darkened. “Ludwig is too ruthless. Knowing that I have substantial blackmail materials on him, he wants me dead. Of course I would retaliate.”

“What do you mean?” Tubert asked cheerfully. “Did he make a move against you?”

“Not personally, but he had Prussia’s SS ambush me. I almost died.” Weaving stroked his neck, his eyes glinting viciously. He could not forgive the assassination attempt. He wanted to see Ludwig die in the Chosen Land rather than leading a carefree life in the Divine Realm.

“I’ll be honest with you. Baker and McCarey have been working with Ludwig closely. Ludwig introduced them to Prussia, and neither has a clean record. They were involved in the ambush against me, too...”

Weaving gritted his teeth. “If you want to take down the Pope, you must take down his two lapdogs, too. You need me!”

True. You showed up at just the right time!

Wayne nodded to himself. Roleplaying a member of the SS had been worth it. Not only had he polished his acting skills, but he had also gained cannon fodder.

The Oracle High Reverends break out into a fight. The Pope dies. How nice.