Myths Reawakened

Galen, dressed in a silver robe, walked toward Givenchy. The mana around her remained calm and undisturbed. With pure thoughts, she changed reality as she walked, radiating frosty chill.

A cold wind swept over her, her long robe clinging to her graceful figure.

“Givenchy, why did you choose betrayal? You have a bright future ahead of you. Tell me. Who tempted you?”

“I won’t tell...”

Givenchy’s eyes turned icy. Curling her fingers, she turned frozen blood into a long bow, shooting an arrow swirling with blood. It folded space and teleported to Galen.

The arrow ended up frozen halfway. It didn’t even touch Galen’s silver robe, much less damage it.

The gap between their power was too great for Givenchy to be a threat. She awaited her final judgment with a grave expression, but suddenly, a violent wind stirred beside her. The newcomer shielded her.

Wayne’s sudden arrival put a look of admiration and deference on Givenchy’s face. Bending her frozen torso, she dropped to one knee and said, “My master, I’ve failed to complete the mission and disappointed you.”

“There he is!” Dressed in a golden robe, Corte jumped down to stand beside Galen. “That must be him. Houry would rather die than say his name, but he came to us on his own.”

Wayne hadn’t asked who they were. Instead, he scanned Givenchy’s memories, his face distorting when he found out that they weren’t demons, but Holy Maidens.

The woman in a golden robe was the Church of Sun’s Holy Maiden, Corte, and her silver-robed companion was Holy Maiden Galen of the Church of Moonlight. They had come from the headquarters of their churches in Graeci to investigate the unusual signs in Palis.

Unlike the Church of Nature, the Holy Maidens of Sun and Moonlight were highly respected in their respective churches, sometimes even more influential than the popes.

They weren’t influential in the same way as Anastasia in the Church of Darkness. Anastasia could command others because of her character and charisma. Even Wayne, a heretic, would willingly get on his knees for her, let alone the Oracle High Reverends.

The Holy Maidens of Sun and Moonlight held their authority not only because of their strength, but also because of the churches’ doctrines and hierarchy. At the two churches, the Holy Maidens were equated to the goddesses’ incarnations in the human world, making them more important than the Popes.

Of course, they were no match for the chosen knights.

Since they were on the same side, Wayne was sure he could resolve this with words. He grabbed Givenchy’s head and injected her with pure Moonlight, dispersing negativity and replenishing energy not only to save her, but also to demonstrate sophisticated faith magic.

“Oh, are all demons this well-learned these days?” Corte, the Holy Maiden of Sun, marveled softly at the knowledgeable and multi-talented demon. She also insulted the Church of Moonlight’s faith magic for being too rudimentary, allowing a demon to easily master it.

Another pair of fake friends entered the scene.

Galen, the Holy Maiden of Moonlight, didn’t want to waste her breath arguing. As she stared coldly at Wayne, then glanced at the kneeling Givenchy, her eyes blazed with killing intent and a bone-chilling coldness.

“You’re dismissed. Stand there.” Wayne pulled his hand back, dismissing Givenchy once he was done healing her.

“Master, these women are your enemies rather than friends,” Givenchy said in a devoted tone. “They’ve bad-mouthed you. I’ve sinned for failing to protect your reputation. Please allow me to join the fight.”

“Stop fueling the fire, or you’re going to make something out of nothing.”

Wayne was curious what exactly the two Holy Maidens had said, but this wasn’t the time to be petty. He could see that they had misunderstood him as the demon who had corrupted the Palis head offices of their churches.

What a coincidence that the Holy Maidens had arrived right after he corrupted Houry and Givenchy. He wouldn’t be able to clear his name if he didn’t have a mouth and the confidence to convince them.

Buying secondhand products came with risks. One should make a purchase at one’s discretion.

“Demon, say your name!” Corte exclaimed.

“I’m not a demon—”

“Yeah, you’re not a demon,” Corte interrupted. “You’re an evil god of the Astral Plane.”

“...”

As expected of the Holy Maiden of the Church of Sun, she talked like a storm.

Wayne rolled his eyes. He would definitely return the favor one day.

To prevent the misunderstanding from escalating and leading to the two Holy Maidens being injured with tattered clothes, thus causing more trouble, he said unceremoniously, “I’m Wayne, the Sun Knight’s successor.”

“...” x3

Even Givenchy, his vassal, was stunned, not to mention the two Holy Maidens.

“Damn demon, how dare you humiliate the Sun Kni—”

“That’s the truth!” Wayne interrupted in retaliation, reaching into the void. “I’m close to Sir Leo, the current Sun Knight. We once fought an ancient god’s vassal together, so I’m no stranger to Dawn Doctrine. Open your eyes and look at me. This is the proof!”

His tone was convincing, at least. Though Corte didn’t believe him, she still decided to wait and see.

After a moment, Wayne pulled his hand back with an impassive expression. He hadn’t drawn Dawn Doctrine.

Corte scoffed. “Why? Can’t you keep up the charade?”

“Sir Leo is on a mission in the inner world, so Dawn Doctrine is in his hand,” Wayne explained in resignation. “I can’t prove myself to be the Sun Knight now. However, I’m close to another successor of his. She’s about this tall and has a bright temperament like you. She’s my girlfriend.”

It was a hundred percent the truth, but to Corte, it sounded like nonsense—and sexual harassment on top of that.

A vein pulsed on her forehead. A Holy Maiden’s purity was self-evident. Her golden eyes blazed with fire as she resolved herself to burn the demon to ashes.

“Calm down. I remembered wrong. I’m actually the successor of the Moonlight Knight...”

Wayne reached and rummaged in the void, then rummaged some more...

Then he felt around further.

There was nothing!

Damn Darienne, have you lost White Night Creed in another fricking game?

He almost had a stroke. When he heard the Holy Maidens’ jeers and saw Givenchy lower her head silently, even someone as shameless as he blushed a little.

“Well, Knight Darienne is a hopeless gambling addict. I know her. She must have lost White Night Creed to Nature Knight Moula,” Wayne said seriously. “It’s not a big deal. Give me a little more time. Darienne will soon flip the table and take White Night Creed back, and then I can prove myself.”

“Nonsense!” Corte huffed derisively.

“It’s not nonsense. It’s all true.”

“Shut it!” Galen growled murderously. “A chosen knight’s honor must not be tarnished. I’ve met Lady Darienne. She never plays cards!”

“But she does, she really does.” Wayne felt wronged. He cursed Darienne out in his head. Among the chosen knights, she was the most unreliable one, always dropping the ball when it mattered most.

Thinking of her shameless face, he wanted nothing more than to give her a nosebleed with a punch.

He would do it the next time they met!

“Ahem!” Wayne fake-coughed into his fist to mask his embarrassment. He knew that his two failures to prove himself would seem like provocation to the two Holy Maidens. He said instead, “I was just joking because the atmosphere was tense. Actually, I’m the Nature Knight!”

“...”

(눈_눈) x3

“Why don’t you give up, Master?” Givenchy mumbled. “This isn’t working.”

“Shut up, you demon pawn!” Wayne snapped. “It’s all your fault!”

Corte pointed her sword at him. “Ha, now you admit it. You are a demon.”

“She is a demon’s pawn. I just stole her. So...” Wayne shook his head. “Forget it. You won’t believe me no matter what I say. I should just show you Elemental Mantra!”

He reached into the void and felt around, cold sweat running down his forehead.

Really? Mr. Moula is doing this to me, too? Has he lost Elemental Mantra to Darienne?

Then he tried to draw White Night Creed once more, but no good. None of the divine artifacts would respond to him.

He couldn’t believe it. Mr. Moula’s integrity was unquestionable, so he wouldn’t do the outrageous thing of betting with his divine artifact like Darienne. There was only one explanation. Wayne remembered how he had murmured solemnly to Elemental Mantra, “Go back to Senna. Stay with her unless Mr. Moula summons you.”

He hadn’t mentioned his own name, so...

Fuck, Elemental Mantra is useless!

He had no words. He looked down at Givenchy, who was trying to dig a hole to hide in, and then at the two sneering Holy Maidens. He took a deep breath and produced the ID and scepter that would prove him to be the Church of Nature’s Oracle High Reverend.

“I’m one of yours. This I could take out.”

“Do you think we’re going to believe you now?” Galen said slowly.

“No, I wouldn’t believe myself, either...” Wayne put the ID away, raising a fist. “Before you attack, let me make one thing clear: I am an ally of yours. I’m not a demon, nor am I an evil god from the Astral Plane. I’ve come to Palis to investigate just like you...”

“Demon, you speak too much!”

Corte took one step and was suddenly right in front of Wayne in a flash of golden light, swinging her knife hand at him downward.

Her hand stopped before it could reach his neck.

Gripping her wrist, Wayne said with narrowed eyes, “Also, I’m the only one allowed to interrupt others here.”

Bam!!

Blazing auras erupted all around Corte’s body; the radiant light resembled the magnificent rise of a great sun. Gold and scarlet intertwined, unleashing a roiling ocean of flames woven from the fire element.

“Demon, under the judgment of the sun, go back to Hell!” The heat almost distorted Corte’s voice.

Immense fire elements rushed toward Wayne like it would never run out. The terrible heat made Wayne’s face flush. Blinking, he could see Corte flexing the muscles of her entire body. So that she wouldn’t feel humiliated, he started screaming in the crackling fire.

“Hahaha—”

Her enemy’s screams made Corte burst out laughing, but she didn’t laugh for long. Eyes wide, she realized that the demon was quite resistant to roasting.

That could be easily amended, though. She could tap into as many fire elements as she wanted.

Intense light and scorching waves rippled out as a blinding sphere of fire expanded with Corte at the center, enveloping Wayne and quickly melting the ground into a molten basin. Unable to resist the heat, Givenchy sweated large swathes of white foam. Hearing her faith’s scream, she charged in with her wintry bow thoughtlessly.

A fair hand reached over and slapped her in the face, stopping her from killing herself.

Galen glared at Givenchy with displeasure. “You disappointed me. Moonlight will punish you for your betrayal. Sun’s power has no place in it.”

***

Five minutes ago, the new sealing site in the Frozen Land.

A card table soared into the air, generating audible currents and breaking the silence. Darienne grabbed the stake she had lost—White Night Creed—and transformed into the Moonlight Knight, clad in silver armor.

“I knew it,” she said, glaring at Moula. “You cheated.”

I didn’t. I’m not a cheater. You’re just a sore loser.

Moula spread his hands. Justice would prove itself no matter what Darienne said.

“Draw your sword. Leo’s found a new successor, so this fight will determine to whom Wayne belongs. Fight me with Elemental Mantra. No taking back!”

“Really? You aren’t going to go back on your word, are you?”

“Ha, since when have I done that?” Darienne demanded, with the table falling behind her.

“See, the table doesn’t believe you.” Moula shook his head. Though he didn’t believe her, either, he was willing to bet on it to get Wayne.

He was betting on Darienne honoring her promise!

“Just to be clear, I slept with Wayne the last time I visited Londan. Even if you get lucky and defeat me today, he won’t go with you.” Darienne put a hand on her hip, saying what she wouldn’t usually say just to secure Wayne.

Moula shook his head.

“What? Don’t you believe me?”

“Wayne wouldn’t have stooped so low.”

“Bastard, who do you think you’re talking to? You don’t know how much he loves me!”

“Ha.”

Up in the sky in the Frozen Land, two chosen knights with nothing better to do got into a fight, their epic battle influencing the world around them.

Both were unwittingly making Wayne’s life difficult!