Myths Reawakened

Wayne turned to the side irritably. “You handed me two obelisks, guided me to dig up Seleucia, led me to Vichy’s remains, and hinted that the rest of the obelisks are in the Rus Federation. Through Seleucia, you revealed that the Lord of Storm and Thunder hadn’t died completely, and the remaining thoughts were in the Rus Federation. You also indicated that Vichy’s death was largely related to the Church of Darkness...”

“Are you trying to wipe out the Church of Darkness through me?”

“I don’t know what you’re insinuating, Wayne,” said Ines.

“I don’t care if you know,” Wayne said seriously. “I’m in, but afterwards, I’ll demand my payment. You’d better be ready. I’m not cheap.”

“Hard work is attractive. I’m liking you more and more.”

“Ha, even if you claim my body, my heart still belongs to Ana.”

“You’re choosing a Holy Maiden over a goddess?”

“You’ve got less than ten thousandths of her divinity...”

They continued to test each other. Though Wayne tried many ways to extract more information from her, Ines could always change the subject at key moments. She was unusually good at keeping a secret.

While making his way to their destination, Wayne interrogated Ines and came up with different possible explanations for how the Church of Darkness was related to Vichy’s death and the Lord of Storm and Thunder.

He had observed the members of the Church of Darkness. To be blunt, they were a far better crop than those at the Church of Nature.

Ivan was well-respected in the church. As Anastasia’s father, his character could be trusted, and his devotion to his faith was undeniable. He wouldn’t betray his faith. If it was neither the Pope nor the Holy Maiden, it had to be... that.

Wayne thought about the higher-ups he had met today. One important figure was missing.

“Ines, what’s the name of the Church of Darkness’s High Prophet?”

“The church doesn’t have a High Prophet, only a Great Sage. The Church of Sun and Church of Moonlight also have Great Sages.” Ines corrected Wayne. “It’s because of the subordinate gods they serve. Their main duties differ, so their titles differ accordingly.”

“Alright, what’s the name of the Great Sage of the Church of Darkness?”

“I don’t know.”

“...”

“I really don’t know. I’m not trying to anger you.” Ines blinked innocently. “For one, my memories have been heavily redacted. Even if my memories were intact, I wouldn’t have paid attention to who the Great Sage is. It’s the church’s honor that I even remember the names of the Holy Maiden and the Pope.”

“You should say that to your followers!”

“If they dare to hear me say that, I’ll say it.”

Right, you’d even flirt with a man right before the Pope.

Wayne raised his eyebrow. “Vichy’s death has something to do with the Great Sage, doesn’t it?”

“Why must it be the Great Sage? Couldn’t the Pope be involved?” Ines smiled suggestively. “You have taken a strange liking to those related to Anastasia. That’s unwise. You won’t make it far if you let your heart lead you.”

Wayne frowned silently. Looking at the church ahead of him, he extracted his arm and said, “Stay here. I’ll be right back.”

“Let’s go together.” Ines locked up his arm again. “I’m so beautiful. What if perverts find me?”

“Right, the perverts are innocent.”

The bosom trapping Wayne’s arm was a little lacking, around Darienne’s level. He had heard that Darienne and Vichy had been antagonistic toward each other. He wondered how Darienne would react if she saw Vichy ‘back to life’.

He decided against finding out. Darienne didn’t deserve to be added to the Goddess of Darkness’s manipulation targets.

The gates of the church were shut, with a sign that said, “Renovating.” Wayne opened the door easily, closing his eyes to extend his thoughts once he was inside.

There was a spatial rampart fifty meters away.

He glanced at Ines in confusion. He was pretty sure that Anastasia and Seleucia were there. Had the investigation been going smoothly, but Ines dragged it out to force him to get involved?

Sensing Wayne’s judgmental gaze, Ines said with a steely expression, “I only get close to you because I’m your vassal. I find you repulsive from the bottom of my heart, trash. Don’t look at me with such a disgusting gaze.”

(는_는)

You’re much better at this roleplay than Senna.

Wayne extracted his arm and slapped her on the back, pushing her into the spatial rampart like someone tossing a pebble to test for traps. After two minutes, he stepped in.

Given his current power, he had no match in the human world. He didn’t have to worry unless Heaven sent someone, or unless Moula, Leo, and Darienne had more cards up their sleeves.

Dragonheart Island was an exception, of course. That place was beyond insidious.

Space rippled. Wayne found the world changing around him. Gale howled as dark clouds shrouded the entire sky. Countless bolts of lightning rumbled, and tornadoes stirred up black smoke from the charred land. It looked like the end of the world.

“Storm and Thunder...”

Wayne sensed a potential gain. He also sensed Anastasia’s and Seleucia’s thoughts. They were with Ines.

“She’s fast...”

He took flight, shooting into the distance with white explosive currents propelling him.

***

“Why are you here, Ines?”

On the ruined wasteland, Seleucia stared at the hateful newcomer with a long spear, looking disheveled.

“You’ve been silent for a long time since we parted ways,” Ines said calmly. “So I came to find you.”

“You did that voluntarily?”

“Of course. This is our mission.”

“...”

It was. She was so right that Seleucia couldn’t talk back. She decided to trust Ines again.

Anastasia opened her mouth to tell Seleucia to wake up, but ultimately didn’t say it since Ines was her former superior.

“I didn’t come alone. I brought you a powerful support.” Ines crossed her arms before her chest with narrowed eyes, squinting at Seleucia. “Look at you. You clearly haven’t achieved anything. He’s quite disappointed in you.”

“Is-is Boss here?!”

Startled, Seleucia hurriedly wiped the ash from her face and sorted out her hair. Her armor also became brand new.

Interesting! Ines smothered a laugh. Yes, this was it. She couldn’t wait to get to the ending and enjoy Seleucia’s complete fall. Then she would tell Seleucia that it was all Wayne’s lie, that the God of Storm and Thunder had long died after losing the War of Faiths. Seleucia’s total breakdown after she learned the truth would be a sight to behold.

Boom!

A figure plunged to the ground, lifting large swathes of dust. Wayne walked out of the crater and smiled at Anastasia, asking after her telepathically. It was fine as long as she wasn’t hurt.

Anastasia gave him a serene smile in response. She had merely been trapped here. Because she was now in essence an Astral being, she wouldn’t die even if she went without food or water.

While the two of them made eyes at each other, Seleucia came up to Wayne with her spear, bowing.

“Boss, I’ve disappointed you.”

She sounded defeated, like she was asking for the punishment she deserved.

“That’s it? How responsible of you!” Ines said from Wayne’s side like a crafty sycophant manipulating a tyrant. “A good leader should dispense rewards and punishments fairly. Her incompetence should be punished, or the exceptions will make your subordinates difficult to manage.”

Seleucia glared at Ines, gripping her spear. But she didn’t deny the accusation of her incompetence.

Wayne glanced at Ines. “Oh, how do you suggest that I punish her?”

“Make her please you tonight,” Ines suggested. “Look at the way she grimaces. This wild mare hasn’t been tamed completely.”

Seleucia shuddered and bit her lip. Then... well, she still hadn’t said no.

The mare would take whatever she was fed, but wouldn’t ask to be fed. Even a capitalist would feel bad for her.

“You make a lot of sense.” Wayne nodded. “Seleucia, you’ve wasted too much time. I’m disappointed. Do you have any excuses?”

“No, I’m willing to accept punishment.” Seleucia lowered her head, her tongue trembling as she spoke.

“Alright. Your punishment is to keep investigating.”

“...”

Are we not gonna sleep together?

Seleucia looked up in surprise. When she saw the serious expression on Wayne’s face, she felt mortified. She glared at Ines in embarrassment and anger. It was all because of this terrible woman’s suggestions that she kept looking at her faith through yellow-tinted glass.

Anastasia remained silent. She was just an employee. There were things she couldn’t say because they concerned her former superior and current superior. She kept her mouth shut.

“What’s going on here?”

“Boss, this happened...”

As Seleucia answered the question, Wayne flooded into her and browsed her memories for the past few weeks. Before she even completed a sentence, he had already learned everything.

Ines had provoked Seleucia on purpose so that the investigation team of three became two. Without the unhelpful troublemaker, Seleucia soon sensed the obelisk. She led Anastasia into the church.

Then they got sealed.

There weren’t enough pages for Seleucia’s battle against the world. Wayne summarized it with a cutscene.

“Boss, I can sense the Lord of Storm and Thunder, and he can sense me, too. I think he’s reincarnated.”

She suspected reincarnation rather than possession. According to Seleucia, the Lord of Storm and Thunder wasn’t alone, but had formed a substantial faction in the Rus Federation. It was very likely that the former god had completed the dissemination of his faith and gathered a group of followers.

Wayne frowned. “You’re right. My effort in creating this test for you is worth it. You’ve gotten close to the truth.”

Seleucia lit up, but then deflated when she remembered that she had gotten trapped and required Wayne’s rescue.

What a pure goddess. I feel so bad that I even feel like I should stop lying to her.

Wayne kept the thought to himself. “Tell me, according to your investigation, where is the Lord of Storm and Thunder’s faction hidden in the Rus Federation?”

“The Church of Heavenly Father!” Seleucia said with certainty. “His followers are scattered in different churches, and linking them would create a massive hexagram circle. He’s preparing to reclaim all his power at once through the obelisks.”

“Does it have anything to do with the Church of Darkness?”

“Impossible!”

“Not at all?”

“Not at all!” Seleucia was confident.

“What if it is related?” Ines asked faintly. “Unintelligent as you are, you’re likely to have excluded the correct answer first.”

Seleucia had had enough. She snarled, “I swear in the name of my faith that if I’m wrong, I’ll let you do anything to me. Are you game?”

“Why not? Do you think I’m scared of you?”

(눈_눈)

Wayne stared at them. For some reason, he could foresee the result of the bet, and he was part of it.

He was confident in both Seleucia and Ines!