Chapter 257 (3): Teeth Gritted, It’s Not Impossible

The

Book of Greed

did not lie. Facts proved that being a villain didn’t mean not having resentment after death.

Wayne pondered for a moment. With a wave of Shadow Nightmare, the red gem at the pommel glowed and dispersed the wraith.

There was a flash, and then Senna appeared beside Wayne, carefully approaching the Death Knight. She looked down at Flora’s corpse, feeling belatedly fortunate that she had simply cut ties with Silvia rather than doing anything harmful. Otherwise, she would’ve died long ago.

Also, she was right that her faith didn’t covet beauty. He killed someone as stunning as Flora without even blinking.

“The Death Knight doesn’t have eyelids. He doesn’t even have eyes that will dry to begin with,” Wayne clarified. “Don’t make your faith seem better than he is. I can say for certain that while he rejects gambling and drugs, his principles are easily swayed by pretty faces, making him weak to seduction.”

Senna refused to listen and insisted on her own conclusion: her faith didn’t lust after women. He only got close to women to maintain humanity or learn about humanity.

“That’s a nice thought. I should get close to you someday.”

Senna had dug a hole for herself. She cursed her bad luck and gave Flora’s body another look, once again feeling envy toward Silvia.

She wanted to be Silvia—being the master of the Death Knight, Darkness Knight, and Nature Knight, her value appreciated by the day.

Speaking of the Darkness Knight, she seemed to have just heard an incredible piece of information: Auston was the real Darkness Knight.

Seriously? Could the goddesses have such low standards?

Her face reflecting her doubt, Senna opened her mouth to ask for confirmation, but couldn’t make a sound. The fact that Auston was the Darkness Knight was information she was forbidden from mentioning.

Wayne exited the Death Knight state. From his splayed fingers, white flesh dripped down to the piercing wound in Flora’s chest. The cold corpse came back to life!

Flora slowly sat up. Her entire body was pale with visible black veins and overgrowing writhing tissue underneath the skin. A few seconds later, she recovered her youthful beauty. Outside of her blank eyes, she appeared no different from her living self.

Seriously? He wants her dead rather than alive?

Senna turned into a pile of sludge for the offensive thoughts and didn’t recover her form until ten minutes later. She stood in place with a dark look on her face. During those ten minutes, her faith had forbidden her from remembering her human self. She almost thought that she would have to spend her life as a tentacle monster.

Whatever happened, she still preferred her human appearance.

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Without saying anything, Wayne checked the time and returned to the dense fog with Flora in tow.

Senna quickly followed.

***

“Senna helped me hold her. Flora is no longer pure. I’ve banished her thoughts. She’s not truly dead...” Wayne stood before Ottilia. “So, you can let go now. You’ve saved her, and she hasn’t died.”

“That fast?” Regina exclaimed in surprise. “Given your incredible life essence, I thought you would last much longer.”

“Right, I’ll test it on you someday.” Wayne gave Regina an exasperated look. He wondered if she was genuinely silly or pretending to be. He hoped it was genuine—she would be more adorable as an idiot.

Ottilia frowned at her master. There was an obvious tear in the front of her clothing, most likely done by a sword. She wondered which knight had struck her.

So... Flora might be dead or alive. That was it then. It might just be the best outcome.

Wayne waited in the Misty Forest for a moment until the others had all completed their revenge with Senna’s help. Then he addressed the fourteen vengeful spirits, “I saved you on a whim, so I haven’t figured out how I should deal with you. With the contracts between us, though, you’re going to serve me as your master. While you still have the chance, think about any final wishes you have. If it’s not too much, I’ll fulfill your request.”

“This is your one chance to speak up. You won’t get to make more demands in the future. You’ll be the ones serving me.”

“Moreover, I’ll find a way to get you out of the Misty Forest...” Wayne patted Flora on the shoulder. “Those without bodies won’t have to worry. Just use this one. When you possess it, she will transform into your appearance in life.”

He gave the vengeful spirits three days to think about it. Each of them would get one wish. Once they were back in Londan, it would be time to work and put themselves on the line. As their boss, he wouldn’t allow them to sit idle.

He contacted Ottilia in private with his thoughts, “You’re an exception. As we’ve agreed, we’ll be dating once we’re back in Londan. You don’t have to risk your life and work. I’ll support you, so you only have to read books in the library from then on.”

You’re already doing that!

Ottilia frowned. The contract dictated that she had to depend on Wayne to survive. She could not resist and couldn’t even feel the desire to resist. Frankly speaking, a couple who underwent no conflict wasn’t a couple, and a girlfriend who couldn’t throw a tantrum wasn’t a girlfriend. They would be master and servant pretending to be lovers. A romantic relationship was unlikely between her and Wayne.

“Thank you, Wayne. You’re a good friend!”

“...”

Getting friend-zoned, Wayne rolled his eyes and left the Misty Forest with Senna.

Under the starry sky, the two walked along the mountain path.

“I made a deal with the Pope on your behalf,” Senna said. “The specific terms are in my mind. You can review them anytime.”

“I already did. Good work.” Wayne scanned through the terms and expressed his approval of her intelligence. He had to suspect if her dragon blood was real. Maybe the idiot debuff would be lifted once a Dragonblood reached the second stage of evolution, allowing them to reclaim their intelligence.

Senna had made many demands to the Pope in the name of the next Nature Knight. Both sides haggled, and the Pope made compromises, giving away considerable benefits.

Among the demands was one related to the arrangement for the vengeful spirits.

The Pope didn’t know that the dead Holy Maiden candidates had been brought back. Meeting the next Nature Knight’s demand, he withdrew the wanted notices and erased the records of the candidates turning their backs on the faith and fleeing.

Ottilia and Regina, for example, were no longer fugitives. They could move freely in broad daylight. However, they were no longer members of the Church of Nature and wouldn’t be allowed to join the church again.

“Um...” Senna hesitated, unsure how she should ask the question. She opted to let Wayne read her thoughts.

“Say it. In the future, I won’t read your thoughts unless necessary. That is my reward for you.”

Wayne made the promise without specifying the definition of ‘necessary’; he reserved the right of interpretation.

Senna knew that perfectly well, but she acknowledged the promise and said stiffly, “You’re returning to Londan, aren’t you, Master?”

“I’ll leave in a while. Veronica still has lessons. Good teachers aren’t easy to come by. I can’t interfere with her study of the draconic language. I’m counting on her teaching me after she learned it!”

Haven’t you learned it already?

“Veronica doesn’t know.”

“...”

Senna’s mouth twitched. He had promised not to read her thoughts, but broken the promise immediately.

“Sorry, I haven’t gotten used to it. Give me some time. Aren’t you happy that I’m returning to Londan?”

“If I say yes, you’ll punish me for my disloyalty to my faith. If I say no, you’ll use my loyalty as ground to bring me back to Londan as your secretary, claiming that you’re only fulfilling my wish.” Senna remained expressionless as she spoke.

“You really are clever. Friendly reminder: I prefer idiots, so don’t act so smart in front of me.” Wayne smiled. “Don’t worry. I won’t come until the Pope steps down. You’re truly free.”

Senna froze for a moment before following him with her head lowered. Freedom was nice, but her greatest desire had changed. She used to crave power the most; now, she craved faith the most. If Wayne wanted to take her to Londan, it wouldn’t be impossible for her to say yes through clenched teeth.

She waited.

You can read my thoughts. Say something!

Wayne didn’t say anything. He refused to fall like she had fallen. He also gained a deeper understanding of his corrupting ability.

He had to do it to a moderate degree to maintain the precarious balance, or Master and Veronica would become just like Senna.

“Who should I test it on?”

Flora would be a good choice, but Wayne disdained her and had killed her to prevent further trouble. After some consideration, he decided to select the test subjects once he returned to Londan. There was no shortage of scummy people there, so he could harvest the endless supply without worry.

***

In the mansion, Veronica was doing homework with a lamp providing light. Every five minutes, she would look up at the window.

“What’s taking so long? What are they doing behind my back?”

“Bastard, she’s your master’s master, and she’s ancient! You can go for anyone, but not an old hag like her!”

Veronica wrote furiously, her mind full of thoughts about her scumbag. Due to her limited vocabulary, she kept repeating the same insults. She hadn’t gotten any better in this regard.

“I heard all that.”

Wayne had appeared at the study at some point. Embracing Veronica from behind, he lowered his head to inhale the fragrance in her hair.

Smells good!

x2

Veronica huffed, pushing the scumbag away and going back to her assignment, telling the scumbag not to disturb her studies.

Wayne smiled slightly, pulling her flush against his chest. Thinking of those ladies in the Misty Forest, he said calmly, “Veronica, I’ll never let you get hurt or feel sad...”

She huffed, closing her eyes. The frustration that had been accumulating over the entire day instantly vanished. She tossed away her pen and closed her assignment. She lifted her chin with her eyes squeezed shut, her eyelashes trembling slightly.

Wayne broke his promise.

He said that he wouldn’t let Veronica get hurt or be sad, but soon after he gave his word, he got her hurt that night.

She even cried!