How a Mythic Paladin Lives as a Villain - Chapter 9

[You have completed atonement.]
[You have gained a large number of Karma points.]
[The curse of sloth is activated.]

At the moment when the goddess’s voice could be heard.

Sway.

Goyo-han lost his balance and staggered.

“Are you alright?!”

Lee Jae-kyung, who was startled, rushed over to support Goyo-han.
At that moment.

Whoosh!

Goyo-han’s clothes started to catch fire.
Flustered, Lee Jae-kyung tried to extinguish the fire, but it was no use.

Sizzle!

The flames moved as if drawing a pattern, and from within them, Goyo-han’s bare skin emerged.

Drip.

Blood was seeping out.
The clothes were burning only where one of Goyo-han’s ribs was, and a tattoo-like pattern was drawn there.
Goyo-han’s closed eyes slowly opened.
The half-opened eyes had a drowsiness never seen before.

“…I’m okay.”

Even his voice sounded somewhat muffled, as if submerged in water.

“Okay, my foot!”

Lee Jae-kyung exclaimed, but Goyo-han stood up as if he was really fine.

“I said I’m okay.”

His voice seemed slightly improved.

[The curse is suppressed through the Faith stat.]

The goddess was protecting him.

[The curse is suppressed due to high Karma points.]

Clarity began to return to the half-open eyes, but it wasn’t perfect.

“Haa.”

Only then did Lee Jae-kyung seem relieved as he let out a sigh.

“What is that pattern engraved on your rib?”
“…….”

Goyo-han couldn’t easily answer.
Since this was his first time experiencing atonement, it seemed to be a change resulting from it.

‘Is it a mark of the curse?’

He had thought of it as nothing serious.

“…Don’t go to any public baths. People will freak out over what an 8-year-old is doing with a tattoo.”
“…I suppose I shouldn’t.”
“By the way….”

In front of Lee Jae-kyung and Goyo-han.

Phew, phew.

There was a girl who had fallen into a sleep at some point.
Lee Jae-kyung then scratched his head in apparent trouble.

“What should we do with her?”

If there was a relief, it was that she was wearing her school uniform….

“Yun… Seung-a?”

It seemed it wouldn’t be difficult to identify her based on the name tag.

“We should try to find her right away once we get out.”

Though it was daunting to explain, he thought that was the only method while speaking.

“She probably has nowhere to return to.”

Goyo-han spoke in a languid voice.

“……?”
“She’s a child offered as a vessel of the demon.”

Not just any ordinary vessel.
Even before the demons began their activities.
Moreover, the curse and sin that had been atoned for from her were not ordinary.
Even if the demon that was guarding her for just a moment was a lowly one.

“She’s a vessel for a great demon.”

In the end, she was a child intended to be used as a vessel for the advent of a great demon.

‘A shining talent and something that can surpass humanity.’

That which was hidden.
Goyo-han had seen it before.
The vessels before they were completed.

-A vessel to manifest a demon of the seventh tier or higher.

Even incomplete, they were monsters that gave Goyo-han, or rather, Michael, a hard time.

“What on earth does that mean?”
“She probably can’t remember. Her very existence would have been erased.”

Goyo-han said.

“You don’t have to believe it if you find it hard to trust. Anyway….”

Wouldn’t they discover the truth upon checking once they got out?

“Phew.”

Lee Jae-kyung let out yet another sigh as if it were all too overwhelming.
He knew that Goyo-han was never one to lie.

“Let’s just get out of here.”

Lee Jae-kyung trembled as he spoke.

“If we stay even a bit longer, I might really die.”

Though they had dealt with the boss, it was meant that enduring even the air inside the Black Gate was tough.

“And…”

Lee Jae-kyung said.

“You promised. To tell me once we get outside.”

Thus, the first Black Gate was closed.

*
*
*

Fortunately, time inside the Black Gate seemed to have moved slowly.
When they came out of the Black Gate, it was still a dark night, and no problems had arisen.

“Phew.”

The events inside the Black Gate felt like a dream to Lee Jae-kyung.
Except for Yun Seung-a in front of him.

Thud.

Goyo-han collapsed into a sofa as if exhausted.
Lee Jae-kyung also plopped down on the floor.

“…Will you tell me now?”

Lee Jae-kyung asked, as if having a moment of weakness upon seeing the tired figure of Goyo-han.

“Do you really want to hear it?”
“…….”

Lee Jae-kyung seemed to ponder for a moment.
Honestly, he wanted to ask.
About exactly.

‘What are you, and what is that Gate?’

He wanted to hear and understand the whole story.
But for some reason, he couldn’t easily bring himself to ask.
As if the secret was something that would swallow him whole.
And then.

Squeeze.

Lee Jae-kyung appeared to make a resolution and looked at Goyo-han.

“I’ll just ask one thing.”
“Go ahead.”

Goyo-han nodded, indicating his assent.

“Will there be more things like that in the future? And will there be more kids like that?”
“…There will be.”
“And continuously….”

Lee Jae-kyung’s eyes quivered as he looked at Goyo-han.

“You’ll keep fighting.”

The Black Gate was hell itself.
The monster, Hellhound, was so powerful that even Lee Jae-kyung, the top-ranking player, couldn’t handle it easily, and the boss, Draus, was sheer terror.

“Yes.”

Goyo-han responded without hesitation.

“Then….”

Lee Jae-kyung pondered something for a while.

“Then that’s enough. I won’t ask anything else.”
“……?”
“Instead, I will fight as well.”

His eyes held firm, no longer wavering.

“Even if those things are demons and that… goddess, whatever.”

Having been with Goyo-han for a long time, Lee Jae-kyung was aware that Goyo-han sometimes spoke of a being known as the goddess.
For Goyo-han, it might have seemed irreverent, calling for punishment, but he patiently waited for Lee Jae-kyung to finish speaking.

“I don’t care about any of it, just allow me to fight alongside you.”
“Why?”

Goyo-han asked.

“Because I promised to protect you.”

It seemed he believed in his promise to protect Goyo-han, treating it as a mission.

“…….”

Goyo-han closed his eyes for a moment.

‘I didn’t intend to involve anyone.’

This was his holy war.
Unlike in Travania, where he fought as a knight of the goddess, now it was a dirty battle, whether against demons or villains.
That’s why he pushed away even those who became his new family.
‘Perhaps I was denying it.’
The fact that he had fallen and become like a demon or villain.

-Hypocrisy.

His attempt not to involve anyone might have been hypocrisy.
Like in Travania, trying to shoulder everything alone.
And what had become of Travania as a result?

Sigh.

Goyo-han opened his eyes again.

“It might be different than you think.”

Goyo-han explained.

“Don’t think that just because we oppose demons, we’re on the good side.”
“…….”
“I am a knight serving the goddess, but I will even become a demon to hunt down fiends. Still.”

His sky-blue eyes flickered as if cursed.

“Will you join me?”

Goyo-han asked for the final time.

“I never cared about that kind of stuff.”

Lee Jae-kyung smiled as he answered.

*
*
*

Because of the child found in the boss room, Yun Seung-a, Lee Jae-kyung left first, and Goyo-han returned home with the other guards.

“Son! Did you get back?”

Shin Soo-kyung immediately came out to greet Goyo-han.

“Thanks to you.”
“Did you have fun? Why do you look so tired?”
“I must have played too much fun.”

Her face looked distressed as if she had spent the night worrying.
Goyo-han gave a sympathetic smile and nodded.

“Go inside and rest!”

Shin Soo-kyung seemed relieved just knowing he came back safely.
Fortunately, no one seemed aware of the events related to the Black Gate.
Later that night.

“Did you come?”

Goyo-han greeted Lee Jae-kyung.

“…It was true. When I checked Taeheung Middle School, there was no information on Yun Seung-a at all.”

Lee Jae-kyung said.

“Not a single photo or document. This is….”

He appeared to find it unbelievable.

“I told you. That’s how it would be.”

Great demons.
Such beings could manipulate reality itself.
Without such beings stepping out, with the door unopened, it wouldn’t have been possible to secure a vessel or anything like that.

“…….”

Though Lee Jae-kyung resolved himself, he still seemed unable to hide his sense of astonishment.

“So, I’m supposed to take charge of Yun Seung-a for a while….”

Though the responsibility of taking care of Yun Seung-a temporarily fell on Lee Jae-kyung, it was not going to be a simple task.

“Adoption is out. And I can’t just leave her with someone else.”

Lee Jae-kyung had an apprehensive look.

“Acquire a good orphanage.”

Goyo-han suggested.

“An orphanage?”
“There will be more children like Yun Seung-a.”
“…Ah!”

If that was the case, then an institution to accommodate and raise such children would be needed.
Children whose records didn’t exist, moreover.

‘Even though it’s quiet now.’

Given that they were influenced as a vessel of a demon, there would likely be frequent issues arising.

“I have a good idea.”

Lee Jae-kyung showed a cunning smile as if he had a revelation.

“Great, I’ve got a plan.”
“And try to find some trustworthy people.”
“Trustworthy people?”

Lee Jae-kyung’s face stiffened slightly.

“You mean to take them to that place?”

Recalling the Black Gate he experienced, Lee Jae-kyung asked.

“If necessary. Although that won’t happen.”

He didn’t intend to leave an average player in charge of the Black Gate.

“Who will manage the orphanage?”
“…I suppose you’re right. I’ll look into it.”

Lee Jae-kyung nodded in agreement.

“People who are closely associated with Mister and can keep a secret, and lastly….”

Goyo-han continued.

“People who have retired due to unfortunate accidents or whose lives are ruined. Those who would do anything if given another chance.”

Lee Jae-kyung’s eyes deepened as he understood the conditions Goyo-han laid out.

“…With those conditions, there might be some options.”

Having finished speaking, Lee Jae-kyung headed out of the room.
He would probably be busy for a while.
Goyo-han, laying on his bed.

‘Oh, Goddess.’

He prayed.

‘Please forgive me.’

From now on, he would truly become a demon.
Using whatever he could.