Myths Reawakened

Auriel looked conflicted. “If the Anointed One has returned to Heaven, and Mikhael purposefully kept that from us, we’ll only be wasting time by staying in the human world. I’ve recovered my full power and can now open the passage to Heaven in the Papal State... What say you?”

“I’m for it, but you must be careful,” Gerar warned.

“Yes, you can’t let the demon find out that you’ve left Londan. Otherwise...” Vilkul looked around to make sure that no demon was around before saying in a low voice, “If Deceit follows you to Heaven, it’ll be over.”

“That won’t happen.” Auriel frowned. “As despicable as Mikhael is, he is undoubtedly powerful. The demon won’t dare follow me to Heaven.”

“I don’t think so. What if the demon wants to visit Heaven to broaden his horizon?” Wayne popped his head out from the neighboring seat, brightening up at the four familiar faces. “Wonderful. You’re here, too. Mind paying for me?”

The four reincarnated angels felt like they had plunged into icy water.

“Gerar, Kael is a VIP at this establishment, so he’ll get a fifty percent discount for drinks. It won’t cost much. Also, since I’ve brought my own girls, I won’t need you to pay for extra companions.”

The angels looked over and found three women accompanying him: Mona, Hestia, and Olga. Mona was sitting by Wayne’s side, and the other two sat across from them.

Auriel shot to his feet indignantly. “Deceit, if you want to kill me, just do it. I will not take you to Heaven.”

“Even if you don’t take me with you, Auriel, I have other options.” Wayne jutted his lips out at Mona. “You’ve recovered your full power, and so will Hesione soon enough. Why don’t you just take me to Heaven and arrange for the legions of the four Śārim to be there? Then you can kill me in that ambush.”

∑(O_O;)

Right, why haven’t I thought of that? Auriel thought.

It would seem like he was leading a demon to Heaven, but that wasn’t the case. Heaven had great power to employ, so Auriel would be leading the demon into the angels’ encirclement at the price of his reputation. That would be a second-to-none feast!

Auriel wavered, but only for a moment. He said warily, “Deceit, no one seeks death like that. What’s your plan?”

All of a sudden, terror drained the color from his face.

“I’ve figured it out. The moment I open the Gate of Heaven, the Seven Deadly Sins, waiting in the Papal State, will rush into Heaven with their armies. That’s your real plan!”

“Holy, why do you have such an active imagination?” Wayne didn’t even know where to start to correct him. He began with the most minor issue: “Heaven’s seal on Hell allows only Śārim free passage. No one else, not even the two Sacred Virtues over there, can do the same. How would I even let the Seven Deadly Sins out?”

“What? Really?!” Gerar and Vilkul turned to Auriel for an answer, shocked. Why were the Śārim alone allowed free passage when the two of them were Sacred Virtues, too? Were they looking down on Cherubim?

“This isn’t the time for that!” Auriel said simply, sneering at Wayne. “The fact that you know about the seal means that Hesione has told you everything. She’s a Śār, and, fooled by your deceitful words, could bring the Seven Deadly Sins out of Hell!”

Makes sense!

Wayne couldn’t argue with that. He looked down at Mona and chided, “I didn’t know you were a Śār like that. I’ve misjudged you.”

Mona smiled and lifted her chin. Yes, she was a Śār like that!

Hesione alone was hurt in the making of this scene... Actually, Hesione wasn’t hurt, either. She had been so lost in her imagination of the Anointed One that she would surely come up with another excuse.

“Deceit, I’ve seen through your scheme. I will not take you to Heaven. You’d better give up!” Auriel scoffed. He wasn’t shameless like Hesione. He would not be fooled.

“That won’t be your decision.”

Wayne narrowed his eyes. Discreet spatial disturbances enveloped the two adjacent seats, capturing all seven reincarnated angels. Following a soft sound of bubbles bursting, Wayne and the angels vanished.

Five seconds later, a few bills with the Queen’s portrait printed slowly fell to the table.

***

Papal State.

Under the sun, the small city of endless palaces appeared to have been graced by sacred light. Every brick had a golden glow. The glorious magnificence transcended the limits of time and would be considered a masterpiece of art and faith well into the future as it had been in the past.

It was true of the masterful murals and statues, as well as the marble columns. Even the empty courtyard right in front of the main palace housed detailed sculptures with an artistic value beyond verbal description.

Following flickering lights, eight figures appeared in the courtyard.

Wayne cocked his head as he took everything in. “Every time I see this place, my feeling is the same. How much does all this cost? Can’t I take the cash?”

Mona smiled. “You’re the Anointed One, Boss. This is yours.”

“Why would you believe that nonsense too?” Wayne grumbled. “Stay away from Hesione. Religion had corrupted her brain.”

“Damn it, it’s the Papal State!”

Auriel’s face turned ashen. Failing to tempt Auriel, the Lord of Deceit had opted for brute force. What should he do when he, a Śār, couldn’t do anything?

Hurried steps came from afar. Led by Pontiff Reza, a group of white-bearded clergy rushed to the courtyard. Seeing all seven reincarnated angels, Reza brightened up with joy. They must have completed their mission. Wonderful. He would be going to Heaven.

The cardinals’ breath quickened. Just like Reza, they hoped to catch the direct train to Heaven. It would be a great honor to enter Heaven alongside two Śārim and four Sacred Virtues. The thought alone made them tremble with devout faith.

“Śār Auriel, Śār Hesione, Cherub Vilkul...”

Reza bowed to them one by one, pausing when he got to Mona. He observed her belly from his peripheral vision. He was told that she was pregnant, but it wasn’t obvious yet. Titus, on the other hand, couldn’t hide her pregnancy even if she tried.

The reincarnated angels reacted differently to the Pontiff. Hestia and Vilkul glared daggers at him like they wanted to take him apart piece by piece, while Mona closed her eyes to bring Hesione to the forefront.

Hesione would like to thank the Pontiff!

“Reza, create a barrier,” Auriel snapped. “Among us is a powerful demon, the Lord of Deceit of the Seven Deadly Sins!”

“What?!” Reza realized to his shock that, in his joy, he had failed to notice Auriel’s dark expression. But...

Who was the Lord of Deceit? He had never heard of such a Deadly Sin in his long years of being the Pontiff.

“Ignore him, Reza,” Wayne said, waving at him. “There is no demon here, and there won’t be a fight.”

“As you wish, Śār Hesione.” Reza bowed.

“Reza, he is the demon!” Auriel snarled. “Straighten your back!”

“Huh?!” Reza was stunned. He blurted out, “Śār Auriel, this is Śār Hesione. Are you...”

Drunk?

Auriel reeked of alcohol.

Confused, Reza chose to believe Wayne. Compared to Auriel, with his difficult personality, Śār Hesione was tactful and always ready to take bribes, making him a good leader who could lead everyone to progress. Reza trusted him.

Auriel’s heart sank. “Yes, even Hesione has been fooled by the demon, so of course you, a pontiff, couldn’t resist. You’ve both succumbed to the demon’s control.”

Hesione had had enough. She stepped forward and rebuked, “Auriel, this is the Papal State. Watch your mouth!”

Holy, do you have a death wish, Clergywoman?!

Reza almost had a heart attack. He didn’t understand what gave a district clergywoman the courage to talk back at a Śār. Although she had slept with Śār Hesione and gained his favor, she could at most insult a Throne. Auriel was a Seraph just like Hesione.

She had lost sight of herself!

“Śār Auriel, that’s not what Clergywoman Mona meant,” Reza hurriedly said. “Please—”

“Shut up. I’m talking to Hesione here. You’re not qualified to speak.” Auriel cut Reza off, glaring at Hesione with golden light surging in his eyes. “Seraph Hesione, if you even remember one bit about Heaven’s glory, you will wake up now. Heaven is right ahead of us. There is no turning back!”

Realization hit Reza like a tsunami. The whirlpool and storm left him wobbling and shaking like a little boat. He felt like he would be crushed any second.

He had seen everything under the sun and didn’t need to push his brain to figure out that Clergywoman Mona of the Londan district was Hesione’s reincarnation. He knew from Auriel’s tone alone.

Wayne... probably was a great demon lord of the Seven Deadly Sins who had been hiding in the human world, as Auriel had claimed.

Reza felt like the world had turned upside down. Staring at Mona as she confronted Auriel, he whispered, “If she’s a Śār, am I not dead...?”

Wait, the clergywoman couldn’t be Hesione. It was impossible!

Reza shook his head, reassuring himself. The clergywoman couldn’t be Śār Hesione. Otherwise, he would have sent the representation of Purity to a demon, even including a cross for attire change to help the demon defile Purity. Moreover...

She was pregnant!

That wasn’t even the end. He had also given away all of the Papal State’s treasure to the demon. He could die ten thousand times and still wouldn’t have paid for his sins. With such feats under his belt, he would be able to compete to become a Deadly Sin in Hell!

“No, it’s not certain yet. Śār Auriel smells of alcohol. He must have had too much to drink...”

“Indeed, a Śār won’t get drunk, so I must still be dreaming now.”

Reza’s head went into overdrive, struggling to find hope. He stared at the other reincarnated angels with wide eyes.

Gerar, Vilkul, and the three Thrones had not spoken up in opposition when Auriel called the clergywoman Hesione. The two Sacred Virtues, in particular, seemed to find it perfectly reasonable.

Reza wasn’t doomed earlier, but he was now!

He saw the world spin around him. At that moment, his mind went completely blank. He thought he was seeing the sacred Heaven right across the river. All around him, colorful light bulbs shone into his eyes, blinding him.

When Reza was about to cross the river, a frosty voice dragged him back to the real world.

“Watch your words, Auriel. He isn’t a demon. He’s entered Hell to eliminate demons. He’s the Anointed One we’ve been looking for.”

Oh!

The Anointed One?

“Would I... get to live?”