Myths Reawakened

Life should be lived in a down-to-earth manner. One shouldn’t get ahead of oneself just because one had a goddess like Aztimor as a vassal. It was one thing for Wayne to feel like he was floating, but he should keep his feet planted on the ground. If he teleported everywhere with portals, not only would he lose sight of what life should be, but he would also lose the fun of being human.

Now, for example, Mona was adjusting her glasses and slowly taking off her heels in the driver’s seat. Only after that did she start the black car.

She—fully mastering the role of a secretary—had tossed the heels to the passenger’s seat—to Wayne.

“Boss, you said that traffic laws must be followed, and that one shouldn’t drive while getting their legs stroked.”

“Then pull over already.”

Mona’s intentional actions succeeded. They changed their destination to Mona’s humble abode. Once the ignited fire was put out, they would have a romantic Francan dinner and then head to Anastasia’s manor to visit Ines.

Mona was congratulating herself for having a meal to herself when she sensed something, her expression changing.

“Boss, someone’s here for you.”

“Yeah, I felt that.”

Wayne opened the car door, leaving the heels on the passenger seat. He got into the back seat instead, and a stunning figure came in before his body could even warm the seat.

“I’m back, Boss.” Seleucia cocked her head. Noting the driver’s displeased expression, she greeted enthusiastically, “Secretary Mona, you’ve become prettier.”

“You too.” Mona sighed, starting the car and changing the dinner reservation to two hours earlier.

If anyone else had intruded, Mona would have thought they were doing it on purpose, but not when Seleucia was involved. She was a rare example of someone with all the energy in the world but no tact. She was even more insensitive than Kaleb, the Goddess of Sun.

It wasn’t meant as an insult, but a statement of fact. Seleucia was the opposite of shrewd. Otherwise, given her talent in magic, she would’ve survived the War of Faiths and become the one and only Goddess of Sky.

Speaking of which, Kaleb hadn’t survived the war because of her smarts. She was the intellectual low bar among the goddesses, not much better than Seleucia. However, she was lucky enough to have met Siluk, Her now bestie, in the early stages of the war.

The two goddesses had teamed up early, one providing the smarts and the other providing the raw power. They made a good team.

They were genuine friends, thick as thieves, even developing combo moves together.

They ranked the lowest among the goddesses because, quoting Ines, Siluk was smart but not smart enough, and Kaleb was strong but not strong enough. Becoming gods was their limit. They would never amount to more without a push.

Ines had proof. Among the gods, Elohim, the Heavenly Father, had reached godhood first. Following Him, the five goddesses had ignited their divine fire right away.

Due to the sudden nature of the ascension, they all showed differing degrees of declining momentum afterwards. Siluk and Kaleb had been in the most hurry to become gods, and thus they had incorporated the most corrupted knowledge, leading to their achievement being the most limited.

The other three goddesses, Elian, Aztimor, and Ines, had all exercised caution. They would rather be weaker in the early stage of godhood than gamble with their futures.

As time went by, the gaps between the goddesses increased, and Siluk and Kaleb had no choice but to remain allies. That was why Ines could set them up without concern. They lacked raw power and brain power, making it risky for them to keep such a large amount of wealth. They should entrust their assets to Wayne for safekeeping.

Back to the car, Seleucia was glad to meet Wayne. She said proudly, “Boss, I’ve gained full control over the Divine Domain of Storm and Thunder. I can move it to the Astral Plane at any time. I’ve completed your mission for me.”

“Good work.”

Wayne patted Seleucia on the head as a reward. She squinted, enjoying the feeling.

Vassals instinctively yearned for their faith, so to them, their master’s praise was the best reward.

Watching her, Wayne lamented how things changed too fast for a plan to keep up. The Divine Domain of Storm and Thunder had been the first main base he had planned to construct. It was supposed to be a safe house that would protect him from being kidnapped by one of the goddesses to Her Divine Realm.

In four months, though, the Divine Domain was already obsolete. He now owned three Divine Realms: Heaven, Hell, and the Underworld. He no longer needed the Divine Domain of Storm and Thunder.

It wasn’t that Seleucia was slow. She was talented enough. Wayne only had himself to blame for moving so fast.

“Ah, I’m too talented.”

“Boss, should I move the Divine Domain to the Astral Plane?”

“Do what you want with it,” Wayne said with a smile. “Have you considered spreading the faith of the Goddess of Sky in the mortal realm so that you can ignite your divine fire with the Divine Domain, thus becoming a god?”

“I’m not good enough to ignite my divine fire...”

“Try it. I’ll give you a buff.”

Wayne grabbed her head and corrupted her a second time on the foundation he had already built during his first corruption, updating the system thoroughly.

The evolution granted now was night and day compared to the one granted four months ago. Seleucia was stunned, visibly flabbergasted.

Once Wayne pulled back, she looked at him with confusion and disappointment on her pretty face. “Boss, do you no longer need the Divine Domain?”

Then she answered herself, “Right, this is a test for me. I’ve overestimated myself.”

She cheered up, her disappointment replaced by renewed enthusiasm.

Her illness was serious enough to rival Hesione’s. Wayne didn’t even have to say anything before she came up with a justification.

It would be entertaining for the two of them to exchange their delusions.

She’s had it hard! he thought.

He stroked Seleucia’s head and said, “You did well. You even figured out the intention I’ve hidden so well. Alright, let’s get to business. I’ll tell you the truth.”

Seleucia straightened up. Her instinct told her that Wayne was going to tell her something important.

“Do you know about Final Judgment, Seleucia?” Wayne pulled his hand away, but Seleucia gingerly pulled it back. “The discordant war between humans, the mages’ desire for knowledge, and the clash between deities with their own faith gave the Chosen Land an ailment named sins. One day, the world’s immune system will go into cleaning mode. Living beings born as gods will descend and judge humanity and gods alike. All creatures on the paths of evolution will face judgment.”

“While I’m powerful, I’m not powerful enough to protect the entire world. That’s why I sought you out and woke you from your unconscious...”

“Boss, we’re here. Let’s talk while we eat,” Mona interrupted, pulling over.

She was too experienced a secretary to make such a simple mistake. She had cut in on purpose to remind Wayne that she was in a bad mood.

He nodded with a smile, messaging Mona that she should head to the restroom later to touch up her makeup.

It would be cramped. In case she got lost, she should open her demigod domain. He would follow right after.

Mona immediately perked up. Thinking back to the grove in Luzerbourg, she looked at Wayne while biting her bottom lip. Their eyes met, and the air thickened between them.

Seleucia pulled a long face, feeling an irritation she didn’t understand. She raised a hand to block their line of sight. “Boss, let’s eat first!”

Mona rolled her eyes. She had interrupted them accidentally earlier, but this time, it was definitely intentional.

***

After the candlelit dinner, Wayne had Seleucia move the Divine Domain to Londan and gave her ten days to draft the Sacred Tome of her faith, trying to make her a real god before the Final Judgment.

Seleucia left with a troubled look on her face. She was powerful now, more than a hundred times more powerful than she had been during the War of Faiths. However, the path to godhood was longer than she had thought. She still had no clue how her divine fire could be lit.

She had two questions: first, could she really ignite her divine fire as a vassal? Second, what would be the point of spreading faith in the mortal realm if she didn’t have to worry about being corrupted by knowledge?

Wayne couldn’t answer those questions. Rather, he needed her to find the answers for him. Thus, he gave her a mysterious smile and said that it would be her next trial.

Don’t ask your boss about everything. Try to solve the problem when one arises. If you always turn to your boss for an answer, what use do you have?

***

Manor of the Holy Maiden of Darkness.

Wayne played two games of poker with Darienne as usual, but his luck was even better than usual, more so than what was possible even with cheating. Darienne, thoroughly beaten, lost her pants again.

Because she was a sore loser, she called it quits and ran out of the living room while tugging on the hem of her shirt.

Wayne brought Mona the chief sex-paying officer, Anastasia, and Vichy to the master bedroom on the second floor. Once the soundproof barrier was set up, a turbulent storm raged inside, while it remained entirely peaceful outside.

Meanwhile, Sukra was lying on the sofa, munching on snacks like a grey-haired hamster. When she saw Darienne, in a full white suit, return to the living room and practice poker at the card table with a serious expression, she couldn’t help but speak up.

“Darienne, stop studying cards. I could tell you aren’t focused on that even with my eyes closed.”

“Nonsense. Take off your mask and take a clear look if you dare.”

“Eyes distract me. Seeing isn’t always believing. The vision of thoughts, on the other hand...” Sukra licked off scraps of snacks from her fingertips. “Your white-laced underwear is pretty. While I cannot appreciate it as a woman, a man... Let me guess, you wore it on purpose, didn’t you?”

Bam!

Darienne slammed the table and shot to her feet, snarling, “Stop the slander. I wear what I want to wear. What does it have to do with Wayne?!”

“I didn’t say anything about Wayne...”

“Hmph, you’re itching for a beating.”

Darienne raged out of shame. She pinned Sukra to the sofa and, after a few exchanges, managed to lift her sleeping gown to the waist with brute force.

Darienne sucked in a breath out of shock. She learned something new every day. “What is this evil artifact? It’s not different from wearing nothing. How shameful. No one from the Church of Moonlight dresses like this.”

“Ba-bastard, who told you to look?!” Sukra pulled her gown down with a blush, swinging her fists at Darienne.

“Tsk, no wonder you spoke like you’d seen right through me so convincingly. You’re projecting on me.” Darienne swatted her hands away and looked down at her derisively. “Let me guess. You dressed like this on purpose, didn’t you?”

The comment came back to bite Sukra in the rear. She blushed furiously, citing oracles and other reasons Darienne didn’t understand. Darienne teased her right back. The air of levity came to fill the living room.

The silver-haired woman and the grey-haired woman were both losers in this game.