Myths Reawakened

High Reverend’s manor.

Filomina, who had been a war veteran, was still a novice, a novice with nothing to back up her bravado. Last night, while playing a two-player game, she got hard-carried. She grumbled about her teammate being the living embodiment of Purity yet excelling in riding. Where was Heaven even going? Could the Seven Sacred Virtues be salvaged?

Filomina didn’t know that while it looked like a two-player game, there was a ghost-rider involved. Hesione wasn’t her only teammate.

Still, Filomina’s comment hit Hesione hard. Acknowledging her great sin, she had begged the Anointed One for forgiveness and redemption.

She had been too busy to open her mouth and actually beg, though, and the night passed just like that.

It was morning the next day. The High Reverend lazed about on the bed, planning on giving herself a day off. Under the twins’ judgmental stare, Wayne took his secretary and bodyguard to the living room on the first floor.

The two angels following him had matching dark expressions on their faces. As people said, the have-nots were always yearning, while the haves took everything for granted.

In the living room, Wayne received a call from Veryl. Auston notified Wayne about a meeting at Buckingham Palace, in the same banquet hall last night. Sophelia and Auston were going to say a few things about Bedfrith’s rebellion yesterday.

“The result’s out as soon as the whitewashing is over. Since when has Windsor become this efficient...” Wayne grumbled. Bedfrith was the Lord of Pride. That was an undeniable fact. However, Wayne didn’t understand how Pride had shown such incredible self-control. He had been controlled by Frank the Hell expert, lost his family’s shipyard to the nation, and was forced to enter the tobacco industry to steal business from someone younger...

Could that really be Pride?

Still, the Seven Sacred Virtues hadn’t been acting like the virtues they embodied, so it wasn’t so strange for Pride to endure some abuse.

Pride could be stoic!

Hestia trailed after Wayne like a wandering ghost. She could not stop the mortal women from taking turns humiliating the Śār she admired. Worse yet, she had to put on a smile and watch the door. It was obvious that she would be in a foul mood.

Hesione knelt on the rug with her eyes closed. With her hands clasped before her chest, she murmured scriptures from the Sacred Tome.

Seething, Hestia mocked, “What? Are you expressing your gratitude for receiving the Śār’s gift?”

That hit Hesione like an arrow. She shot Hestia a glare, who glared back and silently cursed the wench out.

“Hmph!” x2

“Alright, alright. Objectively speaking, it’s not my fault, but the Lord of Pride’s,” Wayne mediated with a smile.

Pride does deserve death! x2

Hesione looked away, closing her eyes to finish the last part of the scripture. Yesterday, Auriel had given a whole spiel from the moral high ground, stating his noble cause dramatically to prevent Hesione from taking his power and to make sure that Gerar and Vilkul would listen to him.

He might not mean it, but Hesione took it personally. His words made her feel ashamed. She had hidden the identity of the Anointed One for her selfish reasons. She didn’t want to let Auriel and Mikhael have the Anointed One, nor would she allow other reincarnated angels to have the honor. She wanted the Anointed One to be close to her and her alone so that she would continue to be the most favored Seraph.

She had found herself many excuses, like the Anointed One’s safety and Heaven’s honor, and she managed to convince herself. She, Hesione, hadn’t stayed quiet for herself, but for Heaven and the Anointed One. She had made a contribution rather than done anything wrong.

Her selfish desire, however, had led to bad consequences. Her subordinate insulted her in ignorance, her colleagues were forced to cover for her, and the Anointed One took advantage of the situation to take her...

Everyone was making mistakes and falling.

It was all because she had been unwilling to admit her impurity, to lose her past station.

If she continued to allow her desires to dictate her, she would face a serious consequence: the Seven Demon Lords could open the Gate of Hell in Londan, leading to lives being lost and blood pooling into rivers.

Thinking back, her excuses were laughable. She was worried about the Anointed One’s safety, yet put the Anointed One in danger. She wanted to protect Heaven’s honor, yet ended up destroying it.

Hesione knew that she couldn’t keep going like this.

She slowly opened her eyes with a fleeting golden gleam in them, dropping to one knee in respect. “Anointed One, Hesione hereby pleads guilty to you. I’m not asking for clemency from you, but I ask for your permission to tell the other reincarnated angels who you are.”

(눈_눈)

What a convincing act. Hestia almost believed it for a moment.

No wonder the Śār trusted and favored the clergywoman so much. Hestia would definitely not be able to put on the same act.

“What are you on about?” Wayne said. “The Anointed One isn’t here.”

“No, you know that I know you’re the Anointed One. Before, I kept it a secret for my selfish desire and never brought it up.” Hesione spoke at a deliberate pace. “It’s not shameful to admit one’s mistakes. What’s shameful is running away and hiding the truth. Because I refused to face reality, I made many more mistakes. Now, I—”

“That wasn’t what you said last night,” Wayne interrupted her. “Now you’re putting your pants on and saying that you’d make things right. What a woman of integrity you are!”

That hit Hesione in the heart, but the bleeding wasn’t going to stop her from saying, “It’s a mistake that stems from another mistake and a lie that stems from another lie. I cannot continue this vicious cycle.”

“Do you really think you can turn around?”

“I’ll accept any punishment!” Hesione met Wayne’s eyes. “I’ve thought it through. You’ve seen through my desire and exposed my false purity, showing me my real self and making me interrogate myself through a series of trials.”

“Only I can redeem myself. You’ve long taught me the way to do it, but, blinded by my desire, I didn’t take your advice seriously.”

“Miss Filomina, too, has her own desires, and she showed it last night. You love everyone fairly and teach us to face and overcome our desires for self-salvation.”

Hesione understood everything now. While the Anointed One seemed demon-like, he had been walking in darkness with light in his heart, awakening every bearer of desires who was struggling in said darkness. She hadn’t understood him in the past because her heart wasn’t pure. She had judged him by the cover.

She should’ve realized it earlier. Every time a demon appeared, the Anointed One was always on the frontline. He had been guiding everyone to face and overcome their sins.

Wisdom, compassion, selflessness, sacrifice... Those combined made divinity!

“Couldn’t I have simply coveted your bodies because I’m a pervert?”

“Impossible!”

“...”

What epiphany have you come to? You’ve become even more of an idiot than before!

Wayne panicked. Hesione’s sudden epiphany had led to her mistaking him for a righteous man. That alone wasn’t a problem since a righteous image could be kinky. The problem was that Hesione no longer showed any worldly desires. He felt like she was flying out of his harem.

“Anointed One, with your guidance, I’ve—”

“Hush. Sit down.”

Wayne patted his own thighs, trying to pull Purity back down from her elevated mindset. With a faint smile, Hesione sat down with unwavering composure and a righteous heart. Something as lewd as sitting on his nether region became sacred instead.

(一`´一)

Without a word, Wayne picked her up and dashed to the second floor.

***

Later, in the living room, the twins brought black tea and snacks to the table with even more judgmental gazes.

“How about now?” Wayne asked, refreshed. “Have you gotten another epiphany?”

“...”

Hesione sat across from him, dazed. She wanted to regain her composure, but her smile was a little strained.

“I understand now.” She took a deep breath. “I’m still hung up and haven’t completely made my peace. That’s why I need to overcome more trials.”

“Stop overthinking. Just look at the obvious facts and conclude that I simply want your body,” Wayne groused. “Following your logic, Pride and His Horniness would be the Anointed One, too. They were the sources of your plight and have subjected you to more trials.”

“They aren’t the Anointed One!” Hesione shook her head, speaking reasonably. “Resurrected after death, humanoid but not human, and a god in the human world, in Londan. You are the Anointed One.”

“First off, I’m not!” Wayne objected. “Secondly, even if I were the Anointed One, I would be an Anointed One who covets your body. It’s wrong for you to deduce the process based on your conclusion and blatantly disregard the facts and the evidence. You’re twisting the facts with your imagination.”

He spread his hands and advised solemnly, “I’m truly not the Anointed One, Hesione. Think carefully. Which of the Seven Sacred Virtues do I have any connection to?”

“Um...” Hesione looked away and said weakly, “The current Seven Sacred Virtues are a good match with you. You fit every single one.”

You’re right. The Seven Sacred Virtues are turning into the Seven Deadly Sins! Wayne kept his comment to himself, waving at her. “Let’s be frank. I knew you’d mistaken me for the Anointed One, but for my own benefit, I didn’t expose you. Now it’s different. The Anointed One is too important for the demon lords to find first. I’ll help you find them.”

“Anointed One, you fit all the traits for the Anointed One. Why won’t you admit who you are?” Hesione came to a realization as soon as she said that. “I understand. You have to save Auriel and the others. Since you cannot complete their salvation as the Anointed One, you must interact with them as a regular man.”

“Yeah, yeah. Nicely said. Please stop.” Wayne was beyond exasperated. He turned to Hestia and pointed at himself. “Hestia, do you believe that I’m the Anointed One?”

“If it’s you, Śār, I’ll believe it!” Hestia nodded solemnly.

“...”

Shouldn’t have asked her. She’s an even bigger idiot.

Wayne sighed. “To tell you the truth, I only fit the four traits because of coincidences. It doesn’t count. I know what I am. I belong on the lamp posts. Unless Heaven once destroyed the world, it shouldn’t deserve a retribution like me.”

“Does destroying Hell count?” Hestia chimed in.

“Shut it!” Wayne shot her a glare. He said seriously, “I heard your conversation yesterday. Lahr, the traitor, has told Pride about the Anointed One. It’s hard to say whether the clues you received are true. If Lahr did lie, you’ll never find the Anointed One with false leads.”

“I don’t know if you’re lying to me or if you haven’t recognized yourself, Anointed One,” Hesione said with complete seriousness. “If you’re lying to me, it must be because you have no choice but to do it to save more people. I’ll play along for you. If you haven’t recognized yourself, I hope that you will soon.”

“Look at yourself! Putting aside the accuracy of the prophesied traits, you cannot be a regular man. You’ve faced the Thousand-eyed Demon and the Blood Tyrant, and then Envy and Pride. You’ve been fighting for the human world and Heaven. Is there anyone in the Chosen Land who seems more like the Anointed One than you?”

Whoa, you’re so right! Wayne’s eyes widened. Indeed, not only did he check all the boxes, but he had also been fighting demons nonstop, foiling their plans to descend to the human world multiple times. Without him, the demons still might not have succeeded every time, but at least a few of them would.

“Am I the Anointed One?” Wayne pointed at himself doubtfully, turning to Hesione and Hestia. Both nodded at him.

This wouldn’t do. The two angels were biased. They could even mistake a demon for the Anointed One.

Putting Hesione down, he dashed up to one of the twins and cornered her.

“What-what are you doing?” Virna covered her chest with her hands, terrified.

“Diede, what do you think about my character?”

“...”

“Speak!”

“The High Reverend forbids us from swearing.”

“Tsk, what an honest girl you are.”

Wayne gave her face a good pinch, accomplishing the feat of bullying an artificially made girl. Then he turned around and ran to the master bedroom on the second floor.