Myths Reawakened

When his ‘sister’ ignored him, Kael shrugged, turning to Hestia.

“...” x2

Kael opened the door, feeling his stomach twisting. He vomited his guts out. He could stand looking at Mona alone, but with Hestia, who was absolutely hideous, added to the mix, he could not stomach it.

“Hestia, I didn’t know you were here...” Kael wiped his mouth, face pale. He couldn’t turn around because he worried that the view in the back would kill him if he got another glance.

Hestia and Hesione scoffed, refusing to humor Kael.

“It’s good to have friends like you in the world, Wayne.” Kael gave him a thumbs-up with a wobbly smile. “You’ve worked so hard to collect all the ugly women. Then I can have all the beautiful ladies.”

“Well, I’d say the same to you,” Wayne said sarcastically. “The reincarnated angels have gathered in Londan. Why did you seek me out instead of reporting to Auriel?”

“It’s no fun there,” Kael said. “I was going to visit Fallen Angel for the view. I happened to see you in the car.”

As expected of you!

Wayne rolled his eyes. “So, have you awakened?”

“I don’t know. Maybe I have, maybe I haven’t...” Kael blinked. “All this time, I’ve been having this nightmare: I found myself in a dark, lonely place, with a pair of coveting eyes leering at me. When I asked who he was, he never said anything. I thought I had succumbed to the influence of Londan’s tradition and now bat for the other team, too.”

“Cut the crap and get to the point!”

“Only after I arrived in the Papal State did the guy talk to me and tell me his name in Heaven.”

Who is it? x2

Hesione and Hestia pricked up their ears at the same time, curious who the scumbag was.

“Who is it?” Wayne was all ears.

“Speaking of which, have you awakened, Wayne?” Kael grinned. “I’m curious who a scumbag like you could be in Heaven.”

“Has Auriel not told you?”

“He always has a constipated look on his face. How could I ask?” Kael scoffed. “How about this? We’ll say our real names at the same time to exchange information so that neither of us will suffer losses.”

“Sure thing,” Wayne agreed readily. On the count of three, he and Kael spoke at the same time:

“Hesione!”

“Gerar!”

∑(Ò_Ó;)x2

∑(Ő‸Ő;)x2

The car fell silent. All four non-humans widened their eyes in shock.

“Ridiculous. How could a filthy man like you be Śār Hesione, who represents purity?!”

“I should be the one to say that. Gerar is a Cherub who represents temperance. What do you have to do with temperance? You would happily die in the embrace of those ugly women.”

“They aren’t ugly. The two women you have in this car are!”

“...” x4

Wayne clutched his chest, rolling down the window for some fresh air. Purity had lost purity, and Temperance didn’t know temperance. He couldn’t accept the Seven Sacred Virtues in this form.

What about Viceroy of Heaven, Mikhael, who was supposed to represent humility? Was he more prideful than the Lord of Pride?

“No wonder... No wonder Śār Auriel looked disgusted, as if he’d swallowed a fly, and refused to say who you are. That’s why.” Kael connected the dots. “You are Purity? No one could accept that.”

Hesione lowered her head. Hestia’s shock morphed into justified fury. She shot Kael a warning glare and demanded that he take back his offensive remark.

“A Seraph and a Cherub are having a meeting. Why would a Throne like you think you’re in any place to talk back at me?” Kael said mockingly, already affecting the tone of a superior when he hadn’t awakened.

Heaven was ultimately an establishment, and angels had a clear hierarchy of upper, middle, and bottom tiers. Kael’s criticism wasn’t baseless.

“A Throne shouldn’t be talking back at a Cherub, but you haven’t awakened. Who knows if you’re actually Gerar? You’re even less qualified to raise your voice.” Wayne rolled his eyes, refusing to accept Kael’s identity.

“I’m half awakened,” Kael shot back. “It’s an advanced way of awakening. You should keep your mouth shut if you don’t understand it. You’re making a fool of yourself!”

“I don’t believe you. Gerar must have chosen to run away because he rejects your memories.”

“That’s slander!” Kael scoffed. “I don’t care what you say, but half-awakening does exist. I’m the best example.”

Wayne didn’t have time for his nonsensical argument. He asked with a frown, “How about Archibald? You’ve awakened, so he should’ve awakened, too. Who is he?”

“He’s Vilkul, representing gentleness, Śār,” Kael responded readily.

Another of the Seven Sacred Virtues!

Wayne groused under his breath. Though neither was a Seraph, among the seven reincarnated angels, two were Śārim, and four were among the Seven Sacred Virtues. The scale of the deployment showed how important the Anointed One was to Heaven. Wouldn’t he be beaten to death once he was exposed as an imposter?

But he had never claimed to be the Anointed One. Hesione was the one who jumped to the conclusion because of her overly active imagination. He had never admitted it.

He rubbed his temple and said, “Where’s Vilkul? Staying with Auriel?”

“No, he’s left in search of the Anointed One.”

“Why?”

“Vilkul is a neutral party,” Hesione said. “He never involves himself with the internal conflicts between Śārim. He left because he wants no part in it.”

“You know him well, Sis.” Kael grinned. “If you weren’t covered in Wayne’s scent, I would suspect you of being a reincarnated angel.”

Hesione made a face, but her guilty conscience prevented her from saying anything.

“Ha, she, a reincarnated angel?” Hestia huffed. When Hesione turned to her in rage, she covered her mouth to smother her trembling laughter.

Rein it in a little, Wayne thought. Forget about your career. You won’t even find your way back to Heaven on your knees.

He imagined it with delight. It wouldn’t be a problem if Hestia couldn’t go to Heaven. He needed a bodyguard, and her loyalty made her a once-in-a-lifetime candidate.

Suddenly, Kael’s energy changed, and he became a different person.

Wayne made a soft questioning sound. Kael’s frivolous face turned solemn, then surprised when he turned to look at Hesione.

Kael was no longer Kael, but Cherub Gerar, representing temperance.

“Is that you, Śār Hesione?” Gerar said with a strange look on his face.

When Hesione wanted to hide the truth, regular angels wouldn’t be able to tell who she was, not even the higher-tier Cherubim or Thrones. Gerar, however, was an exception. As one of the Seven Sacred Virtues, he wouldn’t fall for the deception.

“I’m not. It’s not. He is...”

Gerar’s sudden takeover caught Hesione by surprise. She covered herself with a hand and pointed at Wayne in the driver’s seat.

“You’ve got the wrong person, Gerar,” Wayne admitted bravely. “I am Śār Hesione.”

“That’s right, Sir Gerar,” Hestia said admiringly. “He is the Śār!”

She admired her superior for managing to fool the Seven Deadly Sins and the Seven Sacred Virtues. He had never once been identified as long as he didn’t admit his identity. Her superior was a wonderful strategist!

“Frey, a Seraph and a Cherub are speaking. You should stay quiet as a Throne.” Gerar advised solemnly. He meant it as a friendly reminder, but it sounded just like Kael’s mockery to Hestia’s ear. The man seemed no different after awakening.

She was furious!

Arms crossed, she turned to look out of the car window. The sad reality of being inferior left a bad taste in her mouth. Every dog had its day, and a Throne could rise to power one day. She wanted it.

Gerar closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his eyes were filled with rippling holy intent. Wanting to prove something, he stared at Wayne as Wayne stuck out his tongue to show him the scale stigma that was shaped like a cross.

“See? I am Śār Hesione!”

No, you’re not!

Gerar shifted his gaze to the actual Hesione. She covered her face, groaning inwardly for her impending social death.

“Stop looking at me. I’m not Hesione...”

You are!

Gerar’s eyes dimmed. He looked at Hesione’s obvious shame and then at Wayne’s shameless reaction. He wanted to say something, but didn’t know where to start.

Heaven’s honor compelled him. He nodded vehemently and looked at Wayne with a sober expression. “Śār Hesione, it’s an honor for me to meet you in the mortal realm.”

Hesione let out a sigh of relief. She had been gambling on the angels’ desire to protect Heaven’s honor. This time, she won the bet again. That left Vilkul. The angel was mild-tempered and disliked conflicts, so he was unlikely to expose her.

She would be fine!

There was another one of the Seven Demon Lords in Heaven. So what? The Lord of Envy had already proven that the demon lords would only spout lies to slander the Śār. No one with a working conscience would believe the demons’ one-sided claim.

“It’s also my honor to meet you, Gerar.” Wayne patted Gerar on the shoulder. Gerar wanted to dodge it, but managed to stop himself.

“Śār Hesione, you’ve changed so much that I mistook someone else for you. I hope you don’t mind.”

“It’s no big deal. We can just forgive and forget, given our relationship.”

“Śār Hesione, I think it’d be best for you to control yourself a little. After all, you now represent—”

“You represent temperance, but you haven’t been controlling yourself, have you? That’s just how reincarnated angels are.”

“...”

Gerar fell silent just like Hesione. After some time, he seemed to remember something and swallowed the lump of curses at his throat. “The situation is dire,” he said seriously. “I told Śār Auriel that a demon lord is hiding in Londan, but he wouldn’t believe me. I have no choice but to guide Kael to seek you out...”

He found the wrong person, but also the right person. He had failed his way to success.

“There is a demon lord in Londan. It was because of his meddling that I was sealed before I could awaken. I only managed to recover myself by breaking the seal with the blood of Heaven.” Wayne sighed. “He was responsible for my current condition, so I hope you won’t let prejudice color your opinions of me. I, Śār Hesione, haven’t had it easy.”

“I understand. It’s for the honor of Heaven!”

Gerar nodded with a heavy heart. Angels had lost their purity and no longer understood temperance. He felt the same pain in his heart. For the honor of Heaven, he would stay away from the slippery slope of truth.

“I’ve had someone arrange a meal with Auriel, planning to tell him about the demon lord,” Wayne said in resignation. “But you already told him and sought me out, which just made it even harder to convince him.”

Gerar shook his head with a bitter smile. “Śār isn’t someone lacking in intelligence. I believe he’ll turn around if the matter is explained in full.”

As Wayne said, the seven reincarnated angels belonged to at least three factions politically, so it would be difficult to convince Auriel now—unless the demon lord introduced themselves.

But that would never happen, surely. The demon lord they were looking for wasn’t a fool. They would have to be out of their mind to expose themselves.