Chapter 492 (1): In Londan Before Going to Heaven, Still in Londan After Going to Heaven

The three vermin recommended Hestia, calling her the best candidate who possessed both integrity and power. Integrity aside, how powerful could a Throne be? They spoke with such certainty that it sounded like they truly had high expectations for Hestia.

Auriel had many candidates in mind. He could name a dozen from his subordinates alone. Thinking of what he had sworn about the Anointed One and the insults he had hurled in the human world, though, he never even considered advocating for his subordinates. If he performed poorly during this meeting, he would become them.

For his position, he chose Hestia.

He didn’t know Hestia well and had never paid any attention to the Throne who had been following Hesione around. He only knew that back in the human world, Hestia had always been seen around Wayne.

It didn’t matter whether Hestia had misidentified her superior. She had been following the Anointed One around, hadn’t she? In fact, it might have been Hesione’s doing. Perhaps she was trying to tie down the Anointed One on both fronts and stop anyone from even getting closer to him.

As for what the Anointed One thought...

Use your own judgment just because the Anointed One said so? Ha, you don’t know ball! There are things a superior cannot put into words that the subordinates have to figure out on their own. They have to actively share their superior’s concerns.

What use would a subordinate be if they need their superior to spell everything out? Just because they’re talented? Because they work overtime?

Don’t be ridiculous. Working overtime just makes people corporate slaves, and there is never a shortage of corporate slaves. They won’t become the superior’s trusted confidants!

Wayne had never said that Hestia was entitled to replace Lahr and fill in for the Seven Sacred Virtues, but in Auriel’s eyes, only after Hestia joined the Seven Sacred Virtues would he get to keep his job rather than being sent to Hell to watch Pride bare his fangs.

Today, anyone who worked against Auriel would be his mortal enemy!

He turned to Mikhael with fierce eyes. It was one against five. Mikhael had better not ask for humiliation.

Gerar and Vilkul followed suit, both voting for Hestia.

Their mistakes hadn’t been as serious as Auriel’s. Usually, it was Auriel, with his tendency to take control, leading the charge, while they voiced their agreement in the back. They were at worst accomplices.

However, they had been accomplices in one too many crimes. Every time Auriel criticized the Anointed One, they were present. Forget replacing Lahr themselves. They unhesitatingly voted for Hestia to keep their seats.

Watching the three righteous vermin, Wayne fell silent, suddenly finding Auriel more agreeable.

Oh, no. Power has corrupted me! he reprimanded himself. Turning to the other Sacred Virtues, he said, “Do you have a recommendation, Milia?”

“Great Anointed One, I vote for Milia!” said the irregular shape.

Wayne nodded. As expected of Diligence, she strove to make progress in her career.

“How about you, Hesione?”

“I vote for Milia!” Hesione said, standing up. “Milia will become a Śār in Lahr’s place. Then we’ll select another Sacred Virtue to take Milia’s place.”

“Ha, let me guess. That’ll be Hestia, right?” Mikhael’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “How nice. Three of the Seven Sacred Virtues will be your people. You sure are ambitious, Viceroy Hesione!”

Hesione’s face darkened. “Watch your mouth, Mikhael. We’ll be discussing the candidate for replacing Milia. I haven’t named any names, and Great Anointed One won’t just favor my opinions.”

“Do you think we’ll buy that?” Mikhael snorted.

Hesione’s face darkened further. Indeed, not even she believed that.

The Anointed One favored her so much that he would grant her any wishes, including the assignment of the Seven Sacred Virtues. Her approval would decide the arrangement.

His favoritism was so unrestrained that an objective outsider would think she was the master of Heaven!

She realized, to her chagrin, that she shouldn’t be voicing her opinions so thoughtlessly. Her reputation was one thing. She shouldn’t be a bad influence on the Anointed One.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“I’m pulling out of the vote. I abstain.” Hesione slowly sat down.

“Seriously, Sis?” Milia hurriedly messaged her. Hadn’t they promised to be sisters forever? She couldn’t just give up her vote. “It’s only been a few days. Have you forgotten about me already?”

Hesione explained telepathically that she was so favored that her every word and move would influence the Anointed One’s judgment, so she could not and should not share her opinions without thought.

Milia’s heart sank. Hesione’s explanation sounded like boasting to her. She suddenly realized that an impenetrable wall had risen between them. Indeed, what gave her, a mere Sacred Virtue, the right to call the most favored Viceroy sister? She lived on the eighth heaven, while Hesione had already moved into the ninth heaven!

Milia lamented the disadvantage she was under. If only she had reincarnated as well. She would surely become a beautiful human female who was appealing to the Anointed One. At present, though, she was the only ‘monster’ in this temple. Everyone else had a nose and a pair of eyes.

In her dejection, the irregular shape stopped spinning. “Great Anointed One, I vote for Hestia. She’ll make a better Śār than me. I cannot make up for the difference in talent with diligence alone.”

(一`´一)

Is this really Heaven? Wayne thought. Why does this feel like Londan?

He was in Londan before coming to Heaven, but he was still in Londan after coming to Heaven. Hadn’t he come to Heaven for nothing then?

He decided on the future four Śārim then. “Mikhael, who do you recommend?”

“I recommend Throne Olga from my legion!” Mikhael said, getting to his feet. Ignoring the disapproving gazes of the three vermin, he stared at Hesione intently.

He had not made the recommendation without reason. It was meant as a countermeasure against Hesione. The Anointed One was what he was—a staunch ero-list[1]. There was no changing his spots. Rather than allowing Hesione to sandwich the Anointed One alongside her subordinate, thus further influencing the Anointed One for power, it would be better for Mikhael to have one of his people planted.

Olga was a good choice. She was tall, bookish, and perfect in appearance and figure. She would surely be able to captivate the Anointed One and direct Heaven back to its rightful course. With Olga around, Mikhael would have a mouthpiece by the Anointed One’s side, able to influence him through pillow talk. Then Mikhael would be able to keep the Anointed One from leaning too far to one side.

Perfect!

Wayne blinked at Mikhael. He found Mikhael more agreeable today, just like how he had felt about Auriel. Who should he choose between a bookish beauty and Lust incarnate? What a dilemma!

He agonized over his options, almost blurting out that he wanted both.

Stop, I’m choosing the new Sacred Virtues, not my secretary!

He shook his head, lamenting how easily power corrupted. Even he, a lotus that remained clean despite having grown out of mud, felt tempted. Anyone else would’ve turned Heaven into their own harem after claiming the divine throne.

Although he had held a woman on each arm yesterday and the day before, laughing like an all-loving Anointed One with Mona and Hesione in his embrace on the throne, it had nothing to do with his point. Things shouldn’t be lumped together when the context was different.

“Any other recommendations?” Wayne turned to the Sacred Virtues. There were more than a few Cherubim in Heaven. How could there be no valid candidate?

The Sacred Virtues shook their heads. They had no recommendations. It would be either Hestia or Olga.

“Fine. Since it’s one against four according to you, with Hestia winning more votes, she will become the new Sacred Virtue,” Wayne announced.

“Wait!” x2

The two viceroys stood up at the same time.

Mikhael glared at Hesione before saying, “Great Anointed One, Hesione already holds great influence among the Seven Sacred Virtues. If you continue to indulge her rather than limit her reach, Heaven will sooner or later become hers to command, with no other voices allowed. That won’t be ideal.”

Heaven is supposed to be hers to command. I’m only returning the power to her.

Wayne shrugged. “Good point. My bad. I’ve seriously considered your opinion.”

(는_는)

Then what? You considered it but won’t change a thing? How’s that different from not accepting it?!

Mikhael sat down, seething. He knew Heaven would sooner or later meet its doom under Wayne’s leadership.

The Anointed One had just entered Heaven and barely warmed the divine throne, yet Hesione had already taken control of Heaven with her beauty. What then? Would Mikhael be kicked out of Heaven and become the real Pride rather than just pretending to be Pride?

He was Pride before coming to Heaven, and he was still Pride after coming to Heaven. Hadn’t he come to Heaven for nothing then?

Looking at his pristine, extravagant white robe and thinking back to the pleasant memory of hearing countless angels calling him ‘viceroy’ as he inspected his legion, he swore silently that he would never go back to Hell. He wouldn’t allow anyone to kick him out!

“What do you have to say, Hesione?”

“Great Anointed One, I think—”

“Just call me Anointed One,” Wayne interrupted, not even attempting to hide his favoritism. “You were fine two days ago. Why did you change your address again?”

She has convinced me. Are you not convinced?

“...” x6

Hesione’s eyes twitched. She felt a thorn in her back when she heard Mikhael’s scoff. She said stiffly, “I believe Mikhael spoke reason. You favor me too much. My wisdom and ability are far from good enough to keep my desire in check. You should maintain the right balance between the two viceroys, making sure one isn’t more influential than the other in Heaven.”

“Alright. I’ll do as you said.”

“...” x6

Mikhael scoffed even louder. His throat had been sore since coming to Heaven.

“Since you don’t have any better candidates, I’ll re-establish the Seven Sacred Virtues according to your recommendations.” Wayne cleared his throat. “Milia will replace Lahr as a new Śār, and Hestia will replace Milia as a new Sacred Virtue.”

Milia made a sound of pleasant surprise. The irregular shape shifted constantly. She would be grinning if she had a face.

Wayne pointed in the air, guiding an angel to the temple with divine light.

Hestia!

Gaping at the throne and the Sacred Virtues, Hestia took a cautious step back, feeling insignificant and out of place.

“Frey, from today on, your real name in Heaven will be Hestia. As Purity...”

“I—”

“I object!”

Mikhael was just about to say something when Hesione suddenly shot to her feet. He turned to her in confusion, wondering what the heaven the woman was up to this time.

Why do you object? Are you hoping for more? Do you want your loyal subordinate to leap and become a Śār so that you will have half the Śārim on your side?

Hesione regretted it as soon as she stood up. There were things she couldn’t speak of in front of everyone lest she undermine the Anointed One’s authority. She had no choice but to message Wayne, “Great Anointed One, Hestia’s body is too lewd, which is why you once called her Lust incarnate. If she becomes Purity...”

Won’t she lose her purity immediately?

Why don’t we have someone else take the title? If it’s Auriel, he will surely continue to be pure.

1. The original is a play on ‘royalist’, 保皇派. 皇, which means emperor/imperial in this case, is replaced by 黃, which means yellow, and yellow is also used to refer to things that are erotic/pornographic. ☜