Chapter 279 (2): Unable to Feel Happy

Suddenly, Silvia noticed Veronica’s pointed look. It was a look of frustration, grievances, and vindicated contempt. The judgmental gaze was a mockery of her intelligence.

What did I say? Your master harbors inappropriate thoughts about Wayne, but you wouldn’t believe me.

Impossible, absolutely impossible.

Auston’s eyes twitched. He was certain now that Senna had become Wayne’s shape, or a proud woman like her would’ve never endured such humiliation calmly in front of her student.

Wayne’s mouth twitched. As he had predicted, Senna had completed the progress on her own.

Ridiculous!

“Don’t take it the wrong way. Wayne became my knight because of Sir Moula’s request to address the crisis in the Frozen Land, but also because of my personal wish to leverage Wayne’s status as the next Nature Knight.” Senna explained calmly how desperately she wanted power. Being an Oracle High Reverend wasn’t enough; she wanted to become the Pope.

That was all!

“Even so, you can’t...”

Silvia clenched her jaw. She tried to formulate a response, but didn’t know what to say.

Bad news: her son had become her master’s rider.

Good news: her master had become her son’s mount.

Again, taming dragons wasn’t easy. The relationship between a great dragon and their rider wasn’t a simple partnership. Silvia had reason to suspect that her cold, haughty master hadn’t told the whole story. There was at least another reason she wasn’t telling them.

Silvia could barely keep it together. The family was becoming increasingly messy; she no longer understood anything.

Senna had offered her explanation, and she didn’t care what others thought of it. She turned to Wayne. “Your response? When will you go to the Frozen Land?”

“Must I go?” Wayne asked when he knew the answer perfectly. He had promised Moula that he would offer aid without hesitation when the situation called for it. He had even practiced rider and dragon combos in advance.

Things were different now, though. He had accidentally touched the Sun Knight’s medal and ended up acquiring another identity.

Sun Knight Leo and Nature Knight Moula were poker buddies in the Frozen Land. Given their close relationship, wouldn’t they brag about how outstanding their respective heirs were, only to discover that their heirs were the same person?

Wayne remembered encountering the Sun Knight back in the black mountains. He had seen Wayne, only Wayne hadn’t said his name.

The spatial distortion had prevented Wayne from seeing Leo’s face—he saw only a blob of radiant gold, but with Leo’s incredible power, he had to have seen Wayne’s face clearly. If Wayne went to the Frozen Land, the two chosen knights would surely have their beliefs shattered.

He imagined the scenario: the best outcome would be him standing on the sidelines shouting at them to stop fighting.

Additionally, Wayne had considered taking Auston’s place and going to the Frozen Land as the Darkness Knight. Now that he was already juggling two identities, Auston would have to take on the role himself.

Most importantly, could the Headless Knight already be in the Frozen Land?

Wayne broke into goosebumps. The more he thought about it, the riskier the situation seemed.

Suddenly, he received Senna’s telepathic message, asking whether his family knew about Auston being the Darkness Knight.

Why do you ask?

I have another mission to finish on this trip, Master. I am to find the Darkness Knight in Londan and tell him about the anomaly in the Frozen Land. Sir Moula has extended an invitation. The power of Darkness is necessary.

What about the Death Knight... The one in Palis, I mean. Did Moula not tell you to invite him on your way here?

I’m not sure. It seems that the knight can’t be contacted. When Garvin relayed the message, he specified that at least four knights’ power is needed.

Got it. I’ll tell Auston. Stay out of the conversation.

Wayne didn’t even need to use his brain to figure out how Silvia would react if Senna revealed that she knew about Auston being the Darkness Knight.

Megan knew, Wayne knew, and even the old hag I haven’t seen for twenty years knew. Only Veronica and I were in the dark. Fine, we’re leaving!

I’m not leaving.

Then I’ll go!

That would be terrible. Wayne wouldn’t be able to laugh at all.

***

After the meeting, Senna went to the young master’s mansion alone, clearly intending to stay the night there. Silvia looked horrified, her mind helpfully picturing the scenarios with her experience supplying the details. Scaring herself, she left the study in an awkward gait, moving the arm and leg on the same side together.

Furiously anxious, Veronica gave Wayne a pointed look, telling him to stay at her room tonight and not go anywhere.

Wayne nodded. Honestly, he was panicking as well. If Little Wayne rebelled tonight and seized control over his actual brain, the mess would be spectacular.

After the three of them left, Wayne and Auston stayed in the study, while Megan gently closed the door behind her and established a soundproofing barrier to stop others from eavesdropping.

“Auston, I can’t go to the Frozen Land in your place,” Wayne said seriously. “Also, Senna messaged me that another one of her missions is to relay the Nature Knight’s invitation to the Darkness Knight. You’re in big trouble now.”

“You’re in bigger trouble. Both the Nature Knight and the Sun Knight are in the Frozen Land, and so is the Moonlight Knight. The situation is already terrible. It can’t be any worse. Maybe you should steal the Moonlight Knight’s weapon too to become the successor of all five chosen knights.”

Auston joked with forced levity to cover up his panic. His fingers moved quickly, almost making sparks sputter from the silver coin.

He had to go to the Frozen Land. The Darkness Knight had to be there. Auston never denied that, but he worried that after the success, the Life Alliance’s three knights would turn on him and kill him together—they didn’t even have to do it together when any one of them could take him out.

“Right, I do intend to make contact with the Moonlight Knight...”

Wayne raised his eyebrow. Auston was right. Since he had put himself in this situation already, things couldn’t get any worse. Why not go all in and collect the mantles of all five chosen knights?

His OCD couldn’t stand having only four of the five roles, and it bothered him even as he slept. He had to touch the Moonlight Knight’s weapon during this trip.

“If we go, we have to bring Silvia and Veronica,” Auston said gravely. He worried that the attack in the alleyway could happen again.

Wayne nodded in agreement.

He and Auston were heading to the Frozen Land. No matter how it went, whether they made it back or not, they had to take Silvia and Veronica with them.

“You’ll go as the Darkness Knight. Keep your mask on the whole time and don’t reveal your true face. I’ll take care of Master and Veronica. Senna will be a good excuse since the three of them are all Dragonbloods.”

The two of them discussed briefly and settled on a few backup plans. When Wayne left the study, he gave Megan an encouraging look.

The first wife is away. Aunt Megan, it’s your time to shine! Utilize the history you’ve shared and seize the opportunity!

(눈‸눈)

Megan deadpanned. The young master’s gaze had been getting stranger. She had said that she didn’t understand.

Wayne left the main house and headed straight to the young lady’s mansion, rushing so quickly that he didn’t even stop to capture Monica when he saw it taking care of its business.

Before, Senna had been avoiding him, but now, he was the one avoiding Senna.

Master’s master should stay calm. He was still a kid.

***

Early the next morning, Wayne crawled out of bed and realized how important competition was. Senna’s appearance and her composure triggered Veronica’s sense of crisis, compelling her to pin Wayne down and humiliate him thoroughly.

Senna’s age justified the insult ‘old hag’, but she was undeniably stunning, with a flawless figure, aura, and appearance. Only Filomina could be her match.

Veronica had never met Filomina, so in her perception, Senna was the most beautiful woman in the world—in appearance only.

Moreover, being older could be an advantage. She was a century-old goldmine with inexhaustible resources that she could provide Wayne, which Veronica could not match even if she sold all assets owned by the Lando family.

How frightening! She was so weak and helpless against that woman!

Due to the unprecedented sense of crisis, Veronica was uncharacteristically gentle with Wayne today. Not only did she not kick him out of bed, she even buttoned his shirt for him considerately.

Wayne almost called her Kristen.

“You’re worrying for nothing, Veronica,” he said with a smile. “We have a purely cooperative relationship, nothing more.”

“Shut up. Do you think you know Dragonbloods more than I do?” Veronica rolled her eyes. The fact that Senna allowed herself to be ridden suggested many things.

You’re so right!

Wayne thought.

Veronica’s argument was sound. Coming from a corrupted Dragonblood, the statement left Wayne speechless. He told her that he had work and had to go out today.

“Will she go out, too?”

“I don’t think so. You can keep your eye on her.” Wayne held Veronica in his arms and coaxed her for a while, swearing that he wouldn’t do anything to betray her.

Coming from Wayne, the words had no credibility at all. He was a repeat offender. How dare he make such a promise?

Watching the black car slowly drive away, Veronica immediately grabbed the phone and called Wayne’s Residence and the Church of Sun’s den separately.

Stop sleeping. A formidable enemy has shown up. Hurry over and help.

That day, the trio of magical girls came together, with Vera devising a strategy and formulating a battle plan.

“Don’t panic. Senior, scout out our enemy. Take a look at how beautiful she is. I suspect that Veronica is exaggerating the strategic intelligence.” Vera sent the greatest beauty in their camp.

Among the three best friends, Vera’s legs weren’t long enough, and Veronica’s bust wasn’t big enough. Only Kristen was curvy and slender in all the right places, making her the most alluring.

“Come back quickly. I want to know how beautiful the old hag can be!”

That very day, Senna looked down at the three girls through a window from a higher floor. The stunning woman curled her lips into a contemptuous smile. She couldn’t look more elegant.

The girls bristled in reaction.

***

Secret base’s laboratory, Western District.

Wayne accepted the white coat that Mona handed him, turning to address Juno, who was reading a magazine, “Change of plans. I’m going to save the world. Your evolution will have to be postponed.”

“Postponed again? How long has it been?” Juno lowered her magazine. “I’m Windsor’s Princess at the end of the day. Even though I’ve been living under another identity, I can’t disappear for too long. Mother will definitely send people to investigate. Even if I call her to help keep up the pretense, she’ll think I’m being coerced by my kidnapper.”

She sighed. If there was no other choice, he should just make her evolve. She desperately wanted to become an angel.

“What crisis is it this time, boss?” Mona asked. “A demon?”

“Not a demon, but an ancient god follower. It’s not in the Chosen Land, and the situation is too complicated for me to take you.” Noticing Mona’s disappointment, Wayne patted her on her behind and messaged her that he would let her do whatever she wanted to him once he returned.

Mona had heard the same promise many times, so she was now numb to it.

“It’s real this time!” Wayne fed her the same promise once more, then told Juno, “Come with me. I promised to preserve your will, and I will honor that promise.”

“I can’t give you an angelic evolution right now, but I can show you what an angel is. Keep your eyes open and look carefully. If you want it, behave while I’m away.”

Juno looked visibly excited, and so did Mona. Like followers on their pilgrimage, the two of them witnessed the holy angel descending to the mortal world within the magical barrier of the laboratory.

Single eye! Six wings!

Circling bands of the Golden Law... Rotating in a disorderly yet regular pattern...

An energy that was uniquely heaven unleashed its holy radiance!