How a Mythic Paladin Lives as a Villain - Chapter 14

“…What is this?”

The moment Yoon Seung-ah pulled out the object.

Thud.

Goyo-han’s heart pounded. Along with the emotions bubbling up.

Crack!

The barrier that Yoon Seung-ah had set was shattered.

“…This cursed thing.”

It was because his still immature body couldn’t control his emotions and reacted to the curse. That meant that the thing Yoon Seung-ah took out was that disturbing to Goyo-han. The small, red gem-like object.

‘Seed of the Demon Beast.’

It was an object of demons that could turn anyone, human or monster, into a beast.

“…It seems it’s finally showing itself.”

Goyo-han spoke in a quiet, biting voice. There had been movements to prepare vessels even before the Black Gate appeared. And then.

‘The door opened.’

Goyo-han opened the door. It had been quiet since, but even then, it was evident that the demons were moving stealthily, out of sight. Yoon Seung-ah was acting independently for that reason.

“Demon worshipper.”

Corrupt humans who worshipped those damn devils. They were more than half involved in the fall of Travania, which was also why Goyo-han accepted the children.

“Where did this come from?”

Goyo-han asked.

“The source is from Gangnam. We’re still chasing it, but…”
“What’s its connection to the school?”
“It seems some were sold to students at Shinseong Middle School.”
“Ha.”

It was ridiculous. Travania, Earth.

“…The same things.”

Reaching out without knowing what they’re getting into, blinded by greed. They would know that it’s a disaster that would bring about ruin. The seed of the demon beast was something akin to a drug.

“They haven’t spread much. We’ll handle it before it’s too late.”

Yoon Seung-ah said, seemingly gauging Goyo-han’s reaction.

“You worked hard. I’ll keep an eye on it too.”
“…I didn’t mean to bother the head.”
“I can’t just leave everything to you guys, can I?”

Only then did Yoon Seung-ah smile shyly.

‘Seed of the Demon Beast.’

The annoying thing about this trickery was that it was hard to notice before the seeds sprouted. It was then. He felt a gaze from somewhere. It was too insignificant to be considered an enemy, so he ignored it.

“Looks like there’ll be more troublesome things.”

Knowing it was his emotions, revealed because of the curse, Goyo-han grimaced and walked out quietly.

“I’ll share if I find out something.”

And then.

-Make sure to research the Seed of the Demon Beast. Once those damned things start moving, we can’t keep getting hit every time.

Goyo-han’s voice echoed in Yoon Seung-ah’s mind.

-I will remember, head.

After Goyo-han disappeared.

-Worthless antics.

Yoon Seung-ah spoke toward Envy, who was hiding nearby. The gaze from before, it wasn’t just because of Goyo-han’s emotions.

-Why, why, what….

Envy’s voice could be heard.

-It was what you wanted, wasn’t it! Did you think I wouldn’t know that?

Envy, a child who bore the curse of jealousy, true to his name. Thus, he was more sensitive to the feeling of jealousy than anyone else.

-I was thinking of you….

He must have caught on to her feelings and did something unnecessary.

-Envy, remember.

The children saved by Goyo-han. They became ‘apostles’ according to their own will and Goyo-han’s. Connected with Goyo-han, they moved according to his will, and were attached to him.

‘You are the apostle of the goddess.’

Goyo-han called them the goddess’s apostles, but that was wrong.

-You must never do anything that would be a disgrace to Him. Envy, don’t act recklessly on things He doesn’t want.

Knowing that He was the sole purpose they served as apostles.

-N, no….
-Remember. Answer.
-I, I got it!

Despite having incomparable power, they were still just children.

*
*
*

“Hey! Did you hear about that?”
“What?”
“At the flower bed, they say the trainee teacher was with Goyo-han!”

At the chatter in the classroom, Kim Se-hyun perked her ears.

“What? Really?”
“Wow, that Goyo-han nutjob… Now even the trainee teacher….”
“Ahh! Stop talking nonsense!”

No one at Shinseong Middle School approached Goyo-han easily. It was due to his past actions and the tattoos he had despite being a middle schooler.

“Honestly… with Goyo-han, it’s totally possible.”
“Eeeeeek! I can’t hear you! I don’t hear you!”

Goyo-han’s popularity was extraordinary, just like Kim Se-hyun’s. It wasn’t even worth mentioning the background of Shinseong, and despite his past actions and tattoos, there were no issues with his behavior, such as bullying someone. Although he spent most of the time sleeping instead of participating in classes.

‘They said it’s because of a chronic illness, right?’

There were rumors it was due to a chronic illness like easily getting fevered. Above all, that appearance. Thanks to albinism, his silver-white hair and sky-blue eyes gave him a mysterious vibe. Moreover, even though he had tattoos, they didn’t look delinquent but surprisingly looked well-suited.

“Honestly, they do suit each other.”
“Hey, pairing up with a middle schooler, does that make sense?”
“You are a middle schooler yourself, you idiot.”

As Kim Se-hyun listened to the conversation, he suddenly stood up. For some reason, his heart was pounding, and his hands and feet trembled slightly.

‘Yo-han!’

Thinking he should see Goyo-han immediately, he was about to step out of the classroom.

Thud.

He bumped into the student who came in and was pushed back.

“Se-hyun, where are you running to so hastily?”

Although his voice was quite calm, Kim Se-hyun’s face hardened instead. The president of class 2-A.

“Shi, Shin-woo.”

Choi Shin-woo. He was taller than Goyo-han, who was quite tall himself. Due to his calm demeanor, he was quite popular too.

“Where are you hurrying off to?”

Kim Se-hyun found someone like Choi Shin-woo quite uncomfortable.

“Se-hyun, Shin-woo is asking you.”

Choi Shin-woo wasn’t alone. There was a group standing with him, all known to be part of his gang.

“Se-hyun?”

Just when Kim Se-hyun was hesitating and taking a step back.

“Kim Se-hyun.”
“Yo-han!”

Goyo-han appeared at the classroom front door and called Kim Se-hyun.

“Let’s go to the store. Teacher Lee Jae-kyung offered to buy us something.”
“Oh? Okay!”

Kim Se-hyun quickly ran over to Goyo-han as if he had been saved.

“……”

Choi Shin-woo’s face hardened as he watched the scene.

“Everything pisses me off.”

At Choi Shin-woo’s voice, his group shuddered. Choi Shin-woo, from a family that once was one of the top three guilds in South Korea, but had its spot taken by the rapidly rising Shinseong. Shinseong, and Goyo-han. And…

Sneer.

“Kim Se-hyun.”

As if calculating something, Choi Shin-woo tapped his fingers.

*
*
*

“…Yo-han.”

Kim Se-hyun spoke cautiously, calling out to Goyo-han. In each of their hands was a chocolate milk bought by Teacher Lee Jae-kyung.

“Speak your mind.”

But Kim Se-hyun didn’t open his mouth.

‘…Thank you.’

It was always like that. Pretending to be indifferent, acting like it wasn’t a big deal. Even back in elementary school. In a school attended only by the children of renowned figures, the fallen status of Tae-han wasn’t very high. As children often innocently form hierarchies, Kim Se-hyun was busy being dragged around.

‘Se-hyun.’
‘Se-hyun!’
‘Se-hyun.’

Whenever he was in such a bind.

‘Kim Se-hyun, I heard you’re the best in math. How do you solve this root thing?’

Goyo-han approached and talked to him. Even though as Shinseong’s youngest, Goyo-han must have received an excessive amount of early education and would surely know it.

“Oh, they said you were with the trainee teacher….”

When Kim Se-hyun spoke up, Goyo-han frowned.

“Ha.”

It was obvious what had happened.

-I’m sorry, head….

Envy was only 11 years old. His power couldn’t be compared with Lee Jae-kyung, but still.

‘A guard is needed.’

Those who became apostles were taking turns guarding Goyo-han amongst themselves. Of course, Goyo-han didn’t need any guarding.

‘It’s not a bad thing. Instead, experience it well.’

He had allowed it so that the children, who didn’t want to go to school, could indirectly feel something. But they were still immature at such a young age. Unnecessarily drawing others in by watching him and Yoon Seung-ah, or even spurring useless rumors, though nothing harmful was done. There was nothing to blame. No one got hurt.

‘They must have been scolded plenty, so it’s fine.’

It was something he, who had given them harsh fate, had to take some responsibility for.

“It’s nothing. I just knew her from the past.”
“…Huh?”
“From the church.”
“Oh!”

Kim Se-hyun said, realizing something.

“We met briefly when doing volunteer work there. She was happy to see me, so we greeted each other.”
“Ah, so that’s what it was.”

Goyo-han felt once again how pitiful his situation was.

‘For high school, I’ll absolutely take the GED.’

It’s something to prepare for a family that might get hurt in incomparable ways than nails someday, but high school was something he couldn’t compromise on.

“Found you, huh?”

The voice from before.

“Shin-woo….”

Choi Shin-woo and his group approached Goyo-han and Kim Se-hyun.

“There’s something I need to discuss with Se-hyun, is that okay?”

Choi Shin-woo turned to Goyo-han. Se-hyun grabbed Goyo-han’s arm anxiously.

‘Sky Guild, was it called.’

Though not as significant now, they were the family whose guild once surpassed Shinseong. Moreover.

‘There’s a marriage proposal with Tae-han.’

Although they were still young children, it didn’t matter. Tae-han or Sky, both were falling anyway, and those who couldn’t give up the taste of power were using their young children as leverage, hoping to rise again. To some past and current power holders, children were nothing more than tools.

‘Our parents are rather unique indeed.’

In fact, Shinseong could be considered quite peculiar in this regard.

“Or, you can listen too, if it doesn’t bother you.”

Choi Shin-woo said, observing Goyo-han, who wasn’t moving.

“What are you up to, later today?”

Choi Shin-woo asked both Kim Se-hyun and Goyo-han.

“If you’re free, wanna hang out?”
“Yo-han says he’s busy, so I… I am too….”

Kim Se-hyun spoke up courageously.

“We’re busy.”

It was his first time mustering the courage, feeling as if Goyo-han was getting hurt because of him, but.

“Great, I’ve got nothing to do.”

Goyo-han said unexpectedly.

-Yoon Seung-ah.

At the same time, he spoke towards Yoon Seung-ah.

-Investigate Choi Shin-woo for me.