Chapter 253 (2): Spoiled Pride Will Soon Lead to Ruin

After a while, Senna straightened her clothes and tucked a disheveled lock of blonde hair by her ear, her face icy as she waited for her faith to continue speaking.

“I’m a free mage with many faiths. The three goddesses of the Life Alliance, the Goddess of Darkness, and the Goddess of Death are all my teachers. I’ve shown them all a certain degree of respect.”

While Wayne was boasting, he noticed Senna’s haughty scowl. He grabbed her collar and pulled her close.

Why are you acting all high and mighty when you’re only my underling?

Senna’s breathing quickened uncontrollably, sweat beading on the tip of her nose. She bit her lips with shame and anger flooding her heart.

That’s more like it!

Wayne released her, satisfied. With a wave, he pulled out a knightly greatsword from thin air.

Senna gulped, taking two steps back instinctively. “Death Knight’s Shadow Nightmare... Why do you have this divine artifact?”

She suspected it to be a fake, but the tranquil aura of death stung her skin like ice, proving it to be the real deal. Moreover, this was her dark domain—her territory, yet she felt no spatial fluctuations through her thoughts, indirectly proving that the sword wasn’t hidden in Wayne’s personal storage.

“Kekekeke—”

Wayne transformed into the Death Knight, white light flickering in his skull. His tattered cape of Death morphed into grey tentacles, wrapping around Senna’s arms and corrupting them to ash.

Her severed arms regenerated. She wanted to fight back, but couldn’t strike at her faith. Unless Wayne permitted it, she couldn’t even touch him.

“This is a possibility granted by the original bloodline. The goddesses may ignore ordinary people like you, but I’m different. They favor me.”

Wayne dropped the Death Knight disguise and then drew Twilight Despair to transform into the Darkness Knight. The consecutive transformations into two chosen knights left Senna gaping with wide eyes, her mind blank.

A goddess would only have one chosen knight, and the chosen knights were supposed to be unique entities; that was the consensus even the knights themselves would agree with. The education Senna had received since childhood made it difficult to accept the fact before her eyes. With her worldview shattered and reconstructed, she remained dazed for quite a while before coming to her senses.

Her gaze at Wayne turned complicated. She felt such conflicted feelings that a thousand words caught in her throat before she finally murmured, “Silvia... why would she do this to me?”

Yes, she hadn’t contacted Silvia for twenty years, and she had treated Silvia as a tool. However, she hadn’t punished Silvia for what happened. They simply became strangers and would’ve stayed that way until death.

Silvia, on the other hand, had depended on her for basic needs and education. Yet, after learning everything, she left decisively to marry a man, wasting the resources Senna had invested in her over more than a decade.

The more Senna thought about it, the more furious she became. She hadn’t retaliated, yet Silvia had relentlessly sent a Death and Darkness Knight combo at her. How was she supposed to deal with two knights at once?

Bah, the ungrateful brat clearly intended to kill her!

Two minutes later, Senna returned to human form and resentfully put her clothes back on.

“Maybe you shouldn’t bother with getting dressed, or you’ll have to do it again in a bit.” Wayne commented with amusement, offering an explanation: “You misunderstood. Master doesn’t know what I am. She wasn’t scheming against you. You only have yourself to blame for what happened.”

“But she didn’t tell me that your bloodline is more advanced than dragon blood!” Senna argued. She was the sole victim here.

“Why would anyone tell an outsider such a secret?”

“...”

𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

“You’re no longer an outsider. Remember to call her ‘master’ just like I do when you meet again.”

“...”

Hit by the double blow, Senna truly wished for death.

“Never mind. Call her whatever you want. I’ve promised to spare your dignity.” Wayne pointed at the two swords before him. “These are the sources of my confidence. If the Goddess of Darkness and the Goddess of Death have embraced me, the Goddess of Nature certainly won’t be an exception. I’ll become the chosen knight. The Nature Knight will be allowed to obtain the Misty Forest, won’t he?”

“You’d be qualified even as the successor.”

Senna was beyond exhausted. Thinking of something, she said with a frown, “You’re in a dangerous place. The goddesses... I don’t think they’re willing to share their knights. You’ll be exposed.”

For her own sake, she was even putting herself in Wayne’s shoes.

Wayne shot her a glare. “That’s why I didn’t want to become the Nature Knight. If you hadn’t used the curse of dragon blood as leverage, I wouldn’t have agreed.”

“It’s not too late now,” Senna said decisively. “Mr. Moula hasn’t arrived at the church’s headquarters yet. I’ll have Garvin contact him. There’s always an excuse to reject the offer.”

“No, I want the Misty Forest.”

“Why? It means nothing to you.” Senna urged Wayne to think carefully. His death would mean her death.

“Because of you people’s inhuman deeds, many Holy Maiden candidates are buried in the Misty Forest, their collective resentment powerful. I want to bring them out.” Wayne spoke calmly.

The twelve potential vengeful spirits weren’t the important factor; he didn’t have to contract them. The key reason was that those poor souls reminded him of Veronica because they had been Holy Maiden candidates. He wanted to lend a hand when he could.

“Just because of those spirits?”

Senna couldn’t believe it. She didn’t think that Wayne was that kind. Sensing his attitude toward her growing colder, she hurriedly explained, “I’ve never done anything to the Holy maiden selections. Silvia was the first candidate I supported, while Veronica was the second. Believe me, those spirits have nothing to do with me.”

“Still, you’re not a good person!”

“...”

Senna lowered her head and clenched her fists, feeling resentful. Wayne’s attitude toward her and Silvia was night and day; he treated Silvia like she hung the moon, while he stepped on Senna like she was the ground. She was so envious that she wanted to take Silvia’s place.

“Why, do you want to become a mother?”

Senna shook her head repeatedly. She knew that the kind of mother she wanted to become wasn’t the kind of mother Wayne was suggesting.

“Handle the investigation as you see fit. Make sure to secure plenty of benefits. If you become the Pope, perhaps it would be a good thing...” Wayne’s eyes lit up as he fantasized about the future. With his thoughts acting as restraints, having her as the Pope might bring profound changes to the church.

Senna’s eyes also lit up before quickly dimming. Becoming a Pope as his puppet wasn’t something to look forward to.

“If you want power, you must pay the necessary price. Doesn’t thinking of it this way make you feel better?” Wayne said mockingly. Then he made an empty promise, “Once I become Nature’s chosen knight, I’ll support your pursuit of power. Perform well and don’t disappoint me.”

Senna nodded calmly, praying for the original bloodline to pass the goddess’s test.

Both the Goddess of Death and the Goddess of Darkness acknowledged Wayne’s ancient god evolution. What they had, the Goddess of Nature would surely want, too.

Senna found arguments to convince herself while reassuring herself that it wouldn’t be a problem. As for her becoming the Pope, she couldn’t afford to think about it right now when she was facing a life-and-death crisis.

“If there’s nothing else, take me out of here.” Wayne pointed outward. “Master Senna, act normal before Veronica. I permit you to offend me to a certain degree.”

Splash!

Senna’s idea was so intense that she collapsed into a puddle.

Wayne facepalmed. “That’s too much.”

“I have one more question.” Senna dressed herself blankly. She had to admit that Wayne was right to suggest that she stay naked.

“Go ahead.”

“Are Virgil and Cerci dead?”

“I prefer to call it ‘returning to nature’.”

Just as she expected!

Senna patted her chest. She almost had to put her clothes back on again.

“Master Senna, if you don’t know how to avoid crossing the line, just look into yourself,” Wayne said bluntly. “You know what I mean to you. The place that was occupied by the Goddess of nature is now occupied by me.”

“I’ll get used to it...”

Senna nodded, leading him out of her dark domain and returning to the garden of the mansion.

Veronica was reading with her head lowered. When the two showed up, she closed her book and respectfully called out ‘Master Senna’, shooting Wayne a look.

How did it go? Did you trick this old hag?

You know me. I’m good at deceiving women. I’ve got her fooled.

Senna glared at them as she listened to their mental conversation. Wayne had purposefully looped her into their chat while muting her to show her how Veronica thought of her.

Old hag? Fine, fine. As expected of Silvia’s child, she’s even more of a brat.

“Veronica, I’ll be coming by frequently these days,” Senna said like a parental figure. “You have exceptional talent, so I’m going to teach you some draconic magic. Remember it and pass it along to Silvia when you go home.”

Veronica nodded in gratitude after a pause, shooting Wayne a questioning look.

What’s going on? Did you hit the old hag with a brainwashing potion? Why is she being so nice?

Pretty much. I told you I’m good at deceiving women.

Ew, you didn’t show her your diary, did you?

No, you’re the only one who can read my diary.

That’s more like it.

Senna was forced to eavesdrop on their lovey-dovey exchange, the sweetness sickening. She looked down on Wayne for pretending to be pure while mocking Veronica as a carbon copy of Silvia, destined to be deceived by bad men their whole life.

When she realized that the thought hadn’t turned her body into sludge, she narrowed her eyes, her gaze shifting.

“Veronica, Wayne’s not fully recovered yet. I’ll take care of him so that you can focus on your studies.”

“Huh?!”

Veronica shuddered before glaring daggers at the scumbag, her fists itching for a punch.

Bastard, this is how you deceived her?

And how efficient are you? How are you so good at fooling women?!