How a Mythic Paladin Lives as a Villain - Chapter 10

“……”

Goyo-han looked ahead with a drowsy expression.

“What is this?”
“What else could it be?”

With a grin, Lee Jae-kyung spoke.

“It’s the orphanage I mentioned.”

The place where Goyo-han and Lee Jae-kyung were standing was on the outskirts of Seoul. In front of them,

[Yohan Church]
[Yohan Orphanage]

There stood an old, shabby church and an orphanage.

“It’s on the outskirts, not many people around, and the conditions were the best.”

Lee Jae-kyung said, seemingly satisfied, wiping his nose discreetly.

“And also…”

With a grin,

“I don’t know much about that goddess thing, but isn’t there supposed to be a deity? Then having a church would be fitting.”

At those words, Goyo-han, looking blank, burst into laughter.

“The goddess doesn’t need a church.”
“Eh? Is that how it is?”
“Besides…”

With a small chuckle.

It wasn’t even a church for the goddess; it was a temple for a god from another world called Earth.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. It was part of the acquisition conditions, and for handling complicated administrative tasks, this place was the best.”
“Then that must be it,” they agreed, nodding.

“How’s school going?”

Lee Jae-kyung, who was on a short leave, was meeting Goyo-han after a few days.
Goyo-han had recently started elementary school.

“……”
“Why that expression?”
“Today, we learned addition and subtraction.”
“……? Ha, hahahah!”

Lee Jae-kyung laughed, realizing again that the one who could tear apart level 300 demons was just an 8-year-old.

“Finish quickly and return to being my guard. The temporary guard even checks my homework.”
“Hahahaha!”

Goyo-han glanced at the laughter-bursting Lee Jae-kyung until he finally stopped laughing.
At that moment,

Swoosh.

A pretty girl appeared from the church building.

“…You’ve arrived?”

It was Yoon Seung-a.
Her demeanor still showed caution, her memories incomplete.
It was said that even speaking properly took her some time.
Such Yoon Seung-a was,

Trembling.

She trembled, looking at Goyo-han.
It was the first time seeing her since the Black Gate incident.

“……?”
“O-Oh…”

As Yoon Seung-a approached, unable to meet his eyes, she said with a lowered head,

“I-I’m seeing the great one…”

At that sight, Goyo-han and Lee Jae-kyung frowned.
It looked like she would kneel at any moment.

“Seung-a, what’s wrong?”
“That’s…”

Still unable to calm down and trembling, Yoon Seung-a was taken inside the church by Lee Jae-kyung, who returned shortly after.

“Do you know why Seung-a couldn’t speak and behaved that way?”
“…It seems to be because of the demons.”

Demons, curses, sins.
In atonement for these, Yoon Seung-a and Goyo-han were inseparably connected.

‘Did she see me?’

Had she seen something lurking within?
Or perhaps,

“……”

She might have seen him as the demon she had served.

“Sigh.”
“Don’t worry. She’ll get over it soon.”

Lee Jae-kyung reassured Goyo-han, who sighed.

“Oh, and…”

Lee Jae-kyung said, changing his gaze,

“You have an interview later.”

The people Lee Jae-kyung had found were visiting the church today.

***
Late in the evening.

“……”

Those inside the SUV varied in appearance.
Excluding the driver, there were four people: men and women, older and younger folks.
Yet, there was a commonality among them.

“You’re not going to tell us where we’re going?”

A woman with a harsh tone spoke.
She was once a renowned player known as the Moon Hunter.
Her exceptional archery skills brought her great fame until she lost her sight to Venomous’ poison encountered in a gate one day.
Potions merely boosted players’ regenerative powers, and nothing could restore her eyes.

“This feels like being led to a slaughterhouse.”

This time, an older-looking man spoke.
He, too, was once a famous player at the rank level but declared retirement several years ago.
There’s no set retirement age for players, in truth.

“You know, I’m only coming along because it’s you.”

He was a terminal cancer patient.
A common misconception people hold about players is their resistance to diseases, which is partially true.
Players do have a stronger immune system and regenerating power compared to ordinary people.
But diseases like cancer tell a different story.

“What use is a dying old man?”

Cancer is a disease where cell regeneration becomes abnormal.
While surgery can be advantageous due to a player’s regenerative power, realizing it late poses significant issues.
With powerful regenerative abilities, cancer cells spread throughout the body, as was the case with the old man, Park Do-young.
With cancer in his brain, organs, spinal cord, and blood,

“Well… if it’s me they need, that’s good.”

The others were in similar positions.
Either living like aimless recluses or using their saved money to enjoy a cozy life.

Yet,

Flicker.

They all harbored a strong longing for the once unattainable life of a player.
They were comrades who aggressively tackled the gate alongside Lee Jae-kyung.

“Why does everyone have so much to say?”

The driver, Lee Jae-kyung, grinned.

“You all just idly doing nothing or dying.”
“Ugh.”
“I told you, don’t worry.”

Screech.

By then, the SUV had arrived at its destination, slowing down.

“You won’t regret it.”
“A church?”

They had arrived at a church on the outskirts of Seoul.

“……”

The expressions of those getting out of the vehicle hardened.

“Lee Jae-kyung, I’m disappointed.”

Moon Hunter Shin Seul-hye grimaced.
What Lee Jae-kyung had said was,

-I might be able to cure you. Do you want to take a chance?

He promised to cure their disabilities.

“You planning some conversion? You were non-religious.”
“……”
“Is it a cult?”

The others shared the same sentiment.
Suddenly, a church.
If it weren’t for Sword Demon Lee Jae-kyung.
If it weren’t for Divine Jee, they would’ve smashed his head on their broken bodies.

“You don’t trust me?”

Lee Jae-kyung spoke.

“Let’s go in first.”

If it weren’t for Lee Jae-kyung, who they’d once risked their lives with.
Thinking that way, the four players uncomfortably entered the church.

***
Inside the church, their expressions further soured.
Although the interior was clean compared to its old appearance, that was all.
Moreover.

“What is this?”

On the pulpit where a pastor should preach, a boy about 8 years old sat lounging, staring at them.

“……”

The oldest player and cancer patient, Park Do-young squinted his eyes.

“So, this is the youngest of the Divine.”

The silver hair and sky-blue eyes.

-Goyohan.

The characteristic features of the Divine’s youngest, known to have albinism.
Particularly since Lee Jae-kyung was known to be his personal guard, this fact was well-known.

“I’m starting to get annoyed.”

Park Do-young spoke.

“Are we here to be ogled by the Divine’s youngest?”
“Old man, am I someone who would do that?”

Lee Jae-kyung, too, frowned in apparent displeasure.

“…I understand.”

Park Do-young eventually shook his head.

“It’s hard to think positively when you’re in this kind of condition.”

Their downfall and the ridicule they faced were as clear as day.
Ex-players dealing with the complex web of envy and jealousy.
No matter how much money saved, enduring the glares once so proud was challenging.

“I don’t dislike it.”

At that point, Goyo-han stood up and spoke.

“It’s unpleasant and suspicious, but unable to let go of a glimmer of hope.”
“……”
“What did that kid say?”

Even with the Divine’s name being illustrious, Goyo-han was still a child.

“I like that you’re desperate enough.”

The reason for them to endure humiliation from the Divine’s youngest wasn’t significant.

“Ha! Lee Jae-kyung. Don’t contact me again.”

Just as the one-armed player turned in irritation towards the door,

Bang!

The sound of the church door slamming shut echoed loudly.
Nobody moved except.

“……!”

Goyo-han moved just his finger.

“Entering was free, but leaving isn’t.”
“Damn, to hear that here.”
“Rather than that.”

Goyo-han chuckled softly.

“You need to hear the whole story. You’ve seen what you shouldn’t have, so some measures are needed.”

His voice carried a sinister note.
And,

“Darn, what is happening here.”

Moon Hunter Shin Seul-hye was the first to sit down.
Her senses as an archer were keener than anyone else’s in this room.

She was,

Trembling slightly.

Feeling the effects far more since she couldn’t see.

‘Damn it, what is this!’

She could keenly feel Goyo-han’s presence, especially the kind of power he displayed shutting the door earlier.

“…Oh no, I’ve been hooked.”

One by one, they took their seats.
Satisfied, Goyo-han clapped his hands.

“The proposal is simple.”

He would delay no further.

“I will cure your ailments.”
“W-What?”
“Did Divine find a way?”
“How can that kid do it?”

Various reactions erupted.

“In return, you will serve the goddess here.”
“…Goddess?”
“Don’t worry about faith. The goddess forbade forcing anything.”

Goyo-han slowly stepped down from the pulpit towards the players.
It was like a little devil playing a trick.

“What will you choose?”