Chapter 520 (1): Invitation, Decapitation, Domestication

Because of Darienne’s intervention, the party ended prematurely. Although it was Aztimor who had broken down the soundproof barrier, and Darienne wasn’t the first to barge in, she was the one who broke the door.

The card addict had no manners!

Fortunately, the world famous picture, the Goddess of Darkness, Newly Married, had been completed before the intrusion.

Back in the living room, Aztimor and Wayne sat on two sides of the card table. The two creampuffs were too embarrassed to show up, so they were the ones playing, while Darienne dealt the cards. Seeing Aztimor’s terrible skills, she felt so antsy that she kept fidgeting.

With that hand, even a dog can win the game. So win!

Do you know how to play cards or not? If you don’t, let someone who knows how to do it do it.

Aztimor’s luck was good, and buffed by beginner’s luck, She got an even better hand than Wayne did. However, She was so green and unskilled that Wayne was able to win by a landslide with some tricks.

“My goddess, why did you suddenly descend, and on such a shameful occasion? For showing you that improper image, I, Wayne, will give my life for your forgiveness.”

In front of other people, he honored his word and preserved the Goddess of Death’s dignity.

Aztimor’s expression was tight. Darkness had already three-upped Her, while She had gotten no results. As a vassal, She felt both concerned and dissatisfied.

What bothered Her the most was that Wayne had kicked Her out. How could he, when She had tried so hard, even postpone the wedding?

Reading Her thoughts made Wayne speechless. He chose to evade Her proposition like a proper gentleman. Why? Because he had gotten married.

Oh, what about his harem? What else? He would do things as he had always done. If he walked away from them now, wouldn’t he be no better than animals? There should be a limit to how shameless one was!

When Aztimor quickly lost all Her chips by playing the most random cards, Wayne messaged her and offered a piece of friendly advice: “My goddess, you’re still young... I mean that you haven’t been my vassal for long. You’ve mistaken your cravings for me for a feeling it isn’t.”

“Once you calm down, you’ll remember that we haven’t known each other for long, and you’re not an easy goddess. You haven’t stayed single for millennia for me to show up and reap the fruit...”

Wayne made a logical argument. “Don’t fall for Ines’s tricks. Being impulsive will not lead you anywhere good. Just wait. After Judgment Day, I’ll return your freedom to you. Then you’ll know that I’ve rejected you for your own good.”

“Hypocrite!” Aztimor stared at him icily. “I’m your vassal, and liberation is no different from betrayal. Do you really think I would crave freedom?”

“Um...”

“Also, every time you mention liberating me, it’s a torture for me. Oh, how noble you are. I’m the one who chose to fall. I’m the shameless one. I’m making things difficult for you, Master!”

Sweating, Wayne grumbled, “But that really isn’t love...”

“I don’t need love!”

“Um, I’m married.”

“Isn’t that better?”

...You’re so right!

Wayne was shocked. It turned out that the true homewrecker was his vassal. He was about to nod in agreement when he realized what he was doing. He shook his head vehemently. “No, Ines will lose Her mind. I can’t betray Her.”

“She doesn’t have to know.”

“...”

Wayne rolled his eyes wordlessly. He admitted that he was a hypocrite, and that he had desires for Aztimor’s body. It pleased him that She was throwing Herself at him. As soon as he thought of Ines, however, he lost his urges like he had been splashed with icy water.

Ines had never mentioned the entanglements he had already established since She knew there was no use complaining. It wouldn’t go anywhere. To make up for that, Wayne decided not to hurt Her further. He concluded that he would have to sacrifice Aztimor.

Aztimor refused to oblige. As a haughty goddess, She knew very well that those who could endure suffering would lead a life of suffering. She had to get what She wanted today. It would be a shame if She died on the day of the Final Judgment without having done it.

Reading that thought put Wayne in deep thought. He then pointed at Aztimor’s head and sent Her thoughts back to the Underworld.

Sukra opened her eyes in a daze, looking at Wayne in disbelief with her hands covering her face.

（◞)ﾟдﾟ(◟)

Aztimor had left so suddenly that She hadn’t been able to erase Sukra’s memory. She remembered everything.

Damn it. The goddess had fallen for Her knight. Wouldn’t Sukra be silenced in the lethal way for knowing too much?

Ignoring Sukra and Darienne, Wayne opened a spatial passage and entered the Underworld, finding Aztimor in the Temple of Eternity on the twelfth level. Five minutes later, he returned to the card table.

He hadn’t done anything—save for painting a picture in the Underworld, titled the Goddess of Darkness, Newly Married.

There wasn’t much he could do in five minutes, so he had merely taken Aztimor’s hands and exchanged first kisses with Her.

It was his first kiss within the last ten minutes, so it counted.

After appeasing his anxious vassal, he fled from the Underworld as quickly as he could. He knew that making one exception always led to more rule-breaking. Then there would be no turning back.

“So be it then. I’ve always been a man who sleeps around. Let’s call that returning to my roots...”

Wayne sighed, turning to the intimidated, silent Sukra. Thinking back to how she had insisted on being trapped in the sofa in this manor, he patted his thighs and said, “Come. Sit.”

Aztimor was right about one thing. Who knew when the Final Judgment would come? It might arrive tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. It would be a shame to have regrets.

Sukra shook her head so hard that her brain might be swishing about. She had been reckless. She hadn’t realized how high-level Wayne was. If she sat on his lap, she would have to worry about a scythe falling on her neck every time she went to sleep.

When she insisted on acting like a loser, Wayne stopped pressing. He turned to Darienne instead, raising his eyebrow. “Let’s play a game and determine the winner in one round. If I win, you’ll keep me company tonight. If you win, I’ll keep you company tonight.”

Is there a difference? Darienne grumbled inwardly. Although she didn’t want to admit it, she could already see her defeat.

“Oh? Are you scared?”

“Scared? Who do you think you’re talking to?!” Darienne sat down across from Wayne, her expression frosty. “We determine the winner in one round. No take back!”

As long as you don’t regret it.

Wayne gave her a meaningful look, then, under her gaze of disbelief, he surrendered as soon as he touched the first card.

“I lost this round, Darienne,” he said readily. “I’ll keep you company tonight. You may do whatever you want with me.”

“Um...” Darienne’s expression stiffened. Putting her hands on the table, she leaned in and whispered, “This isn’t how you roll. It doesn’t count. Let’s play another round.”

“We agreed on the terms. Why are you going back on your word?”

“You did it first,” Darienne said through clenched teeth. “Let’s play another round. No matter what the result is, I’ll live with it.”

“Fine. I’m gonna—”

“I surrender. You won.”

Darienne surrendered before Wayne did, crossing her arms proudly like a triumphant general. Remembering that the loser had to keep the winner company for one night, though, she deflated and said in warning, “You will not mess around. We’re doing nothing but playing cards tonight.”

“Are you sure?”

Darienne didn’t respond. She had gone this far to give Wayne the initiative, so there was no reason for her to take it back.

Wayne, on the other hand, had made his move when he asked her to play cards with him. He slicked his hair back and glanced at his wristwatch. “It’s still early. Fancy going to a movie with me?”

“Boring. What’s fun about going to a movie? I’d rather play cards.”

“People play cards in movies.”

“Really? I have to check it out, then...”

Sukra watched in shock as the two of them walked out of the door. She hadn’t expected Wayne to uncharacteristically take the initiative.

Also, why had she rejected him?

She agonized over the question with her hands clasped in front of her chest. She whispered softly, seeking the omnipresent Goddess of Death for an answer.

Perhaps... She had never intended to offend the goddess. As a devoted disciple, she remained devoted to Death wholeheartedly even after resigning as a Holy Maiden. What seemed like sacrilegious actions on her parts were actually her attempt to conduct quality control for the goddess... Wouldn’t that make sense?

No. Get lost!

Sukra dismissed the reprimand as an illusion. She continued to pray devoutly.

Sukra had actually claimed Wayne first. Didn’t the goddess know?

You didn’t. Get lost!

୧(╬▔皿▔)૭

***

Darienne didn’t return to the manor of the Holy Maiden of Darkness until the next day, her expression frosty. Unlike her usual frivolous, shameless self, she seemed as aloof and serious as Vichy.

Then she got into a staring contest with Vichy in the living room. The black knight and white knight became mortal enemies once more, like they had been in the past.

Poker time!

As expected, Vichy lost all her chips as usual, then she kept losing. However, instead of admitting her defeat, she made up excuses and talked her way out of taking off her pants the way Darienne would.

Meanwhile, Wayne had invited Corte, the Holy Maiden of Sun, to a private room at a high-end restaurant. Except for the rebellious Holy Maiden of Nature, the Holy Maidens of all other churches had gathered in Londan, including Sun and Moonlight. Corte and Galen had important missions to complete. They simply hadn’t found their chances.

Corte opened the door and strode in. When she saw no one but Wayne, not even Mona, who usually followed him like a shadow, she asked curiously, “What’s the urgent matter, Wayne? Why did you tell me to keep it from Galen?”

“Galen will only be in the way. There are things I cannot tell you with her around.” Wayne created a soundproof barrier with a wave. In a lowered voice, he said, “Corte, I’ll be honest with you. I’ve made up my mind.”

“Wonderful,” Corte cheered. She had long made up her mind. All she needed was for Wayne to comply.

She would call this the mutual attraction between fire elements!

“You seem to have your mind deep in the gutter...” Wayne huffed. Because of fire elements, he held more goodwill for Corte and Kaleb than for Galen and Siluk, and the reverse was also true. The Holy Maiden of Sun and the Goddess of Sun had also taken a liking to him.

Compared to Siluk, who had a solid head on Her shoulders, Wayne decided to start with Kaleb. He would head to the Divine Realm of Sun first to take advantage of the pushover.

“Um, how are you going to do it...? I’ve got to make it clear first. I’ve received the education to become a Holy Maiden since I was young... I’m doing this for the oracle. I don’t like you, not one bit. You’d better behave...”

Corte covered her face with both hands and stammered bashfully. Then, whatever was on her mind, it made her heat up like a steam engine.

She was so pure-hearted that Wayne didn’t have the heart to bully her. “Stop overthinking. I’m not asking you on a date today. This is business.”

Is the oracle not business? Corte huffed, displeased. “What business? Just tell me. I’m annoyed right now, so if you’re just going to buy me a meal, I’m walking out.”

Not so fast. Treating you is only the first step. Then comes decapitation and domestication.

Also, I really like how straightforward you people at the Church of Sun are!