How A Mythical Holy Knight Lives As A Villain (Novel) - Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Due to someone’s tip-off, Taehan Group’s illegal activities were exposed in detail.
Evidence revealed that human experiments were conducted under the pretext of researching Player awakenings, along with other unspeakable acts.
And.
“They say Chairman Kim Tae-hwan died?”
“…Was it murder or…”
“What’s going to happen to Kim Se-hyun?”
All the students’ interests centered around Taehan-related stories.
“What’s going on?”
This was an unprecedented crisis that would shake the entire nation, not just because Shinsung Middle School students were children of the powerful.
Swoosh.
Go Johan quietly took his seat while listening to the students’ conversations.
“They say Choi Sin-woo and his group went missing in connection with Teraco.”
Moreover, a few days ago, news broke about the disappearance of Choi Sin-woo and his group from Shinsung Middle School.
This caused an uproar within Shinsung Middle School on a small scale.
“I heard the Teraco Guild Master and members noticed and fled?”
“They say Sky and others weren’t satisfied with just legal punishment and took revenge.”
On a larger scale, this too was an incident that would shake South Korea.
After all, the children of the powerful, while still middle school students, had frequented clubs and bars, indulging in things they shouldn’t have like alcohol and drugs.
Add to that the involvement of Sky Guild, once one of South Korea’s top three guilds.
Swoosh.
The students’ gazes had somehow focused on one place.
“…They say Choi Sin-woo was there the night Go Johan went to the club.”
“Isn’t Go Johan closest to Kim Se-hyun too?”
Go Johan.
It was actually funny.
To think that such major incidents could be related to Go Johan, who was merely a middle school student.
Even more absurd to suspect him without any evidence.
“…There’s talk that Go Johan is connected to Teraco.”
“Actually, Chairman Kim Tae-hwan to Kim Se-hyun…”
“They say Go Johan was gaslighting…”
Nonsensical rumors and stories.
Of course, not a single line or word of these doubts or suspicions had ever been mentioned in the mass media.
Just childish stories from young kids.
Like fantasies about someone from a neighboring school being connected to the underground, or someone single-handedly taking down five or six Players.
Of course.
‘Though it’s true.’
Though it was the truth, who could recognize that truth?
That’s when.
Slide.
“…Huh?”
The students who had been talking fell silent at once when they saw who entered through the classroom door.
There stood Kim Se-hyun, who had reportedly finished her father’s funeral this morning.
“…Oh, oh… Se-hyun.”
“…”
Kim Se-hyun’s eyes were clouded as she received the awkward greetings from the students.
Without a word, she went to her seat, organized her bag, and slowly lay her head down.
“Wow, how cold.”
“Can’t believe she came to school today.”
Perhaps because Kim Se-hyun hadn’t returned their greetings.
The students spoke even more viciously about her behind her back.
“See, Kim Se-hyun must have something to do with Chairman Kim Tae-hwan’s death…”
“Why else would she come to school like this?”
“If it were me…”
That’s when.
Screech.
As Go Johan stood up with the sound of his chair scraping, the classroom fell silent once again.
“Yawn.”
Go Johan yawned loudly.
“It’s so noisy I can’t even sleep.”
At those words, all the students returned to their seats and pretended to mind their own business.
They couldn’t help but be wary of Go Johan, who was already intimidating and had now become like an urban legend.
*
*
*
All day long, Kim Se-hyun lay on her desk like she was mimicking Go Johan, never getting up.
Go Johan didn’t easily approach her to talk.
Whatever the reason.
“…”
After all, he was no different from a murderer who had killed her father right before her eyes.
Other students treated Kim Se-hyun like she had the plague.
It went without saying that Taehan would be torn apart by this incident, and there were lawsuits from victims and disciplinary actions from the Association.
“Taehan is finished now.”
Taehan’s downfall was a foregone conclusion, having repeatedly failed in guild business and their fortunes declining.
Perhaps because these students were very conscious of such backgrounds, and because of Kim Se-hyun’s attitude until now.
“Ugh, don’t look. Let’s go.”
They were trying hard to completely ignore Kim Se-hyun.
That’s when.
“Go Johan.”
A familiar voice called out to Go Johan, who had been lying down.
When he quietly raised his head.
“It’s lunch time. Let’s go eat.”
It was Kim Se-hyun.
Students murmured as they watched the scene.
And.
“Okay, let’s go.”
Go Johan got up and moved with her.
“…”
Even Lee Jae-kyung seemed to be reading the situation and didn’t join them.
After the eerily quiet lunch was over.
“What are you doing after school?”
Kim Se-hyun asked.
“…”
“Let’s get chicken.”
Kim Se-hyun said.
“You buy it. Our family is ruined, we have no money.”
It wasn’t just an idle comment.
Indeed, the stock prices of all Taehan subsidiaries had plummeted repeatedly, with talks of potential delisting.
Taehan had been declining already.
Especially considering the numerous lawsuits and penalties to come.
Of course, as they say, even bankrupt rich people last three generations, and while they surely had hidden assets, Se-hyun’s claim about not having money for chicken was probably just her effort to appear more cheerful.
“Let’s do that.”
Go Johan answered.
“Thank you.”
After school, they headed to the outskirts of Seoul in Lee Jae-kyung’s car.
“Father was a good person.”
Kim Se-hyun said suddenly.
Nod.
It was a known fact.
While Taehan’s problems stemmed from repeated failures in guild business, Chairman Kim Tae-hwan was well-known for his good character.
“Father changed… about a year ago.”
Kim Se-hyun continued.
“After the guild he said would be his last failed badly… he struggled a lot.”
The car drove quietly.
“And Mother talked about you a lot, and they fought a lot too.”
A year ago, he knew.
That’s when talks of marriage between Go Johan and Kim Se-hyun began at Shinsung.
Of course, Go Johan’s parents, who had married for love, refused, saying what era did they live in to have an arranged marriage.
After that, there were talks with Sky’s Choi Sin-woo.
“…It was Mother.”
Kim Se-hyun’s gray eyes began to turn red.
“It was Mother. She gave that to Father, she was the one pressing him.”
Whoosh.
Se-hyun’s power leaked out slightly, as if materializing.
She still couldn’t control this power.
“A couple months ago, Mother left the country separately. I don’t know where she is. But…”
The car had arrived at Johan Church.
“I’ll find her. Help me find her.”
*
*
*
Taehan was the mastermind behind this incident.
They were the source of the seed, the ones who told Teraco about the gate where the seed would be.
It was Taehan who conducted experiments, buying people with money to test the seed before distribution.
But Kim Tae-hwan.
“He seems to have been controlled by the seed since a year ago.”
In a way, he was a victim.
Of course, having fallen for a demon’s temptation, he couldn’t be called innocent.
“We’re tracking Hwang Su-jin. However, the traces have been erased, so it will take time to find her.”
The goal was to catch the one who committed the greater sin.
“…I should have listened to Greed earlier.”
Go Johan had placed restrictions on the movements of believers and apostles.
Though he said he would become a demon, an evil person, Go Johan was originally a holy knight.
“Tell Greed I’m loosening his restrictions a bit more.”
“Understood, Boss.”
Not a ruler but a knight, yet if he had decided.
‘I must become a villain.’
It seemed he could no longer hesitate.
Before such a Go Johan, Kim Se-hyun smiled as if satisfied.
She had looked around Johan Church and finished eating chicken.
“Thank you. It was delicious.”
“…”
“You don’t need to make that face.”
Kim Se-hyun looked somewhat relieved.
“I’m not stupid. I know it was unavoidable…”
And.
“I know you saved me too.”
Kim Se-hyun smiled broadly.
But Go Johan couldn’t miss the anger burning deep in her eyes.
“I’m going to study abroad.”
“Study abroad?”
“I talked with Teacher Yoon Seung-ah… or was it Sloth? I’m not used to it yet. Anyway, she said I’ll inevitably get caught up in complicated matters if I stay in Korea.”
Go Johan nodded.
“I need to find Mother too… and the people here said they’ll be active overseas, and I might be able to help with that.”
“Are you okay with that?”
“No. Not yet.”
Kim Se-hyun was honest.
“But I’m trying to be okay. I think I was just too young. You live in this world, right? A world unknown to ordinary people, Players… even Shinsung.”
Her change wasn’t incomprehensible.
‘Potential.’
The sin taking root in her must have finally made her potential bloom.
“I’ll come back. When that time comes, I’ll be able to help you too.”
Kim Se-hyun looked straight at Go Johan’s face.
“And I’ll erase even the smallest bit of resentment I have for you.”
He had taken her father right before her eyes.
For whatever reason, it couldn’t be easily accepted.
“Thank you, and I’m sorry.”
She seemed sorry that such feelings were directed at Go Johan.
“You’ll do well.”
Go Johan said.
“Hearing you say that gives me some strength.”
Kim Se-hyun stood up as if now satisfied.
Go Johan stood up with her.
“Things will be different now, right? I won’t feel hurt. And when we meet again, I’ll work to face you proudly.”
Go Johan took Kim Se-hyun’s extended hand.
And that night.
[Player Kim Se-hyun has made the Apostle Declaration.]
[Player Kim Se-hyun’s Faith stat has been activated.]
[Player Kim Se-hyun has received the Zealot of Zealots title.]
[Player Kim Se-hyun…]
“Please take care of me, Boss.”
Less than a week later, Kim Se-hyun left the country.