How A Mythical Holy Knight Lives As A Villain (Novel) - Chapter 151
Chapter 151
There were only a very few people who knew about Go Johan’s condition and his awakening.
“…What a relief.”
The four believers who could be called the founding members of the church were among that very few.
“It’s really… a relief.”
Park Do-young, one of them, was repeatedly saying that with a face that looked like he would burst into tears at any moment while looking at Go Johan.
“Pastor.”
“It’s just a relief.”
There were also others present besides Park Do-young.
“Are you alright?”
Kang In, who was in charge of the Black Crown, said while biting his lip.
“…Hic.”
The one who couldn’t hold it in and eventually burst into tears was Shin Seul-hye, who had been working outside for a long time on Lee Ha-yeon’s orders.
“…….”
And the one who couldn’t even easily speak was Choi Chang-soo, who had now changed his name and become the association president.
“Why are you all making such a fuss?”
When Go Johan threw out a joke into that heavy atmosphere, only then did the sobbing seem to subside a little.
He hadn’t expected this kind of reaction.
“Did you doubt me?”
Did they think he really wouldn’t be able to get up?
“……Doubt.”
Park Do-young, who was almost sitting on the floor, raised his body and said.
“We did not doubt you.”
To call it a lie, his expression was far too serious.
It was similar for the others as well as Park Do-young.
‘Because they are special.’
Literally, they probably really hadn’t doubted him.
“It’s just that we were at a loss because we didn’t know when it would be.”
There was no doubt about him waking up, but there was anxiety about the timing.
“It’s a relief. It really is a relief.”
Because that anxiety had been resolved, they reacted like that.
“The kids too, why are you all making such a fuss. I’m disappointed.”
At Go Johan’s words.
Thunk.
As if they were broken, they stopped and looked at Go Johan.
A moment of silence, it was right when a strange resolve was about to settle in their eyes.
“If the kids are making weird plans like destroying the world, I thought you’d stop them.”
“Why should we stop them?”
“……?”
“If that could bring you back, yes! As much as it takes.”
Park Do-young’s eyes were shining.
“You have a tendency to underestimate yourself too much.”
Underestimate? It was something he would never bring up normally.
‘Why are these guys so quiet?’
Normally, he was wondering why the apostles, who would make even more of a fuss at Park Do-young’s words, weren’t stepping forward even though they were watching from somewhere.
“What do you consider yourself to be?”
That determined expression even looked like a shout from a loyal subject who was prepared for death.
“What’s wrong?”
“No. You need to know.”
Park Do-young stepped forward and said.
“…….”
Seeing that no one was stopping him, it seemed they had already discussed the matter among themselves while Go Johan was collapsed.
“Know what?”
“That you.”
As if he had become their representative, Park Do-young stood in front and said.
“Are our only hope.”
“…….”
“I realized it once again after you collapsed. Watching the world fiercely dividing and fighting unable to endure that short moment, I felt it once more.”
Heat was rising on old Park Do-young’s face.
“On how this world is being maintained.”
“That’s enough.”
Go Johan spoke feeling it was too much.
Only then did Park Do-young suppress his intensely boiling emotions.
“Welcome back.”
*
*
*
Three weeks had already passed since Go Johan disappeared from the outside world.
It wouldn’t have been a problem when the world knew nothing about the existence of Go Johan.
But after getting to know him, his absence was shaking the world.
Especially at a time like this.
“Since everyone seems to be here, let’s start the meeting.”
Sanctuary Alliance.
The largest faction in the South Korean player scene convened a meeting.
There were over 50 guilds affiliated with it, and in terms of total personnel, it was a force capable of mobilizing tens of thousands of players.
The Sanctuary Alliance, which could be called a coalition of mid-tier guilds.
The one in charge of it as the leader was Yu Baek.
“…There are still no signs of gates activating and….”
The meeting was taking place under Yu Baek’s initiative.
“Anxiety globally and….”
It was a meeting no different from usual, but changes had been brewing over the past few weeks.
Whisper, whisper.
A ripple sparked by anxiety.
“Please be quiet over there.”
At Kim Cheon-seok’s words, one of the guild masters who was whispering raised his head with a straight face.
Kim Cheon-seok, who owed a debt to Go Johan, was seated right next to Yu Baek, in the position of vice-leader.
In the past, no one would have raised any questions about that appointment.
“I don’t know if this is the Sanctuary Alliance or the Buyeo Alliance.”
But now it was different.
“……?”
“Isn’t that right? The leader and the vice-leader are all from the Buyeo Guild.”
“What are you trying to say?”
Go Johan.
Only that one person had changed.
“Has there still been no contact from ‘Him’?”
The atmosphere of the meeting, the atmosphere of the faction itself was changing.
“From what I hear….”
Kim Yoo-jung, the guild master of the Storm Guild from Seoul, said.
“That… ‘He’ died….”
Bang!
That was when Yu Baek slammed the meeting room desk.
“Are you trying to spout nonsense?”
Silence fell over the meeting room at that murderous momentum.
‘What the….’
Yu Baek was originally a fairly strong ranker within the Sanctuary Alliance.
But at some point, he wasn’t at a level that could just be called a ranker.
Kwoooo!
Now, he was exuding a momentum that overwhelmed the alliance members of the Sanctuary Alliance.
“I’m just saying we’re anxious.”
Kim Yoo-jung caught his breath and said.
“Because lowly people like us aren’t given any information at all.”
Those sympathizing with Kim Yoo-jung were nodding their heads.
“Gates aren’t even appearing, and the system is not working. And it’s already a fact known to the world that ‘He’ is related to the reason behind this.”
“I asked what you are trying to say.”
“If.”
Kim Yoo-jung said.
“If He really did die, shouldn’t we start thinking about the future whereabouts of the Sanctuary Alliance at least once?”
“…….”
“He disappeared and our funding has been cut off. Are we a charity organization?”
Indeed, the moment the apostles secluded themselves and Lee Ha-yeon holed up in the temple, problems started erupting here and there.
“So?”
The one who opened his mouth then was Kim Cheon-seok.
“We save bastards who were all dying and now you’re asking us to hand over our bundle.”
Kim Cheon-seok’s cold voice.
“You think you can play tough just because you’re from Seoul? Now that you’ve joined the Sanctuary Alliance and found a way to breathe after your guild was going bankrupt, you’ve got no filter.”
“Kim Cheon-seok!”
“What? You’re scared of Yu Baek, but.”
Goooo.
Energy started to emanate from Kim Cheon-seok’s body as well.
“Do I look like an idiot to you?”
“……!”
The alliance members had no choice but to be surprised again.
Unlike Yu Baek, who was always an incredible player, Kim Cheon-seok was just an okay player.
But the energy they felt now.
“People who couldn’t even peep a word when He was here, now shouting that it turned out well.”
Because it was a darker and more ominous power than Yu Baek’s.
“Let’s stop here. Today’s meeting ends here.”
Eventually, amid the overheated atmosphere, Yu Baek ended the meeting.
*
*
*
“Haa.”
Yu Baek let out a deep sigh as he got into the car and moved.
-What were you expecting?
Kim Cheon-seok’s voice came through the phone.
-Is there still anything left to be disappointed in when it comes to humans?
It was his usual indifferent voice.
-That lowly people are being discriminated against because they lack information? That the money line has been cut off?
Kim Cheon-seok was speaking to Yu Baek.
-It’s bullshit. You know they aren’t curious about information or anything, right?
He was right.
There was no information hidden under the same status.
Of course, it was different for Yu Baek or Kim Cheon-seok who had acquired the qualifications of believers, but there was no such thing as hiding necessary information.
-Money line? There were no issues this month either.
In reality, the church’s support remained the same.
-The money line they’re talking about, means a separate pocket.
Even while Lee Ha-yeon was holed up in the temple and not showing herself, the rest was running smoothly like a precise machine.
The only thing that changed was outside attention, outside investment and the like.
Because the Sanctuary Alliance had a deep relationship with Go Johan, people trying to somehow make connections were reaching out even to the lowest rungs of the Sanctuary Alliance.
Normally, there wouldn’t have been such things.
-Don’t expect anything.
It was a problem caused by commoners starting to mix into the Sanctuary Alliance.
Amidst the continuous Black Gates and threats.
-From humans.
Those who dropped to their knees saying they wanted to join the alliance somehow.
Those who didn’t even properly know the identity of the believers or the church, were stepping up like that and creating discord now.
-If you can’t move, I will.
Kim Cheon-seok’s voice.
“No. I can’t ask you for such a favor, Brother. I will handle it on my end.”
-Yeah, don’t disappoint Him.
The call ended.
“…….”
Even so, Yu Baek’s face didn’t relax.
Rumors circulating in the streets even had stories saying Go Johan died just like Kim Yoo-jung mentioned.
The frustrating part was.
‘Is there still no contact.’
Even they, who had the qualifications of believers, knew nothing about Go Johan’s news.
He had no complaints about that.
But.
Crack.
It was inevitable that he was angry.
Not toward Go Johan, or the church hiding that information.
“It’s only been three weeks.”
He was angry toward the alliance members who abruptly changed their attitudes in those short three weeks.
Was it only the alliance members?
Signs of division were visible across South Korea, no, everywhere its influence reached.
According to his investigation, Kim Yoo-jung was even contacting outside forces and discussing leaving the Sanctuary Alliance.
It was then.
“……!”
Yu Baek, who felt something, widened his eyes and drew up his energy.
At the same time.
“Guild Master?”
He reached out his hand toward the guild members sitting in the driver’s and passenger’s seats.
A mana field spreading out as if to protect them.
Baaang!
The vehicle Yu Baek was in exploded.