How A Mythical Holy Knight Lives As A Villain (Novel) - Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Discord
“Do you believe that insane press conference too?”
Gu Seong-hoon asked.
Then, without waiting for an answer, he continued,
“No, that wasn’t a press conference. It was just the declaration of some madman.”
“…….”
Kim Da-yeon couldn’t respond easily.
Gu Seong-hoon was one of the living legends and the head of the Player Association, wielding absolute power within it.
In South Korea, few could hold their heads high in front of Gu Seong-hoon. Even the divine had to tread carefully around him, despite their lofty status.
[TL Note- I’ll be using Divine instead of Shinsung from now on.]
“Your answer?”
Most national associations were like this.
To suppress and control Players—the new humanity, the superhumans—an organization with overwhelming power was necessary.
A government within a government, acknowledged by the state, and an army of tens of thousands of Players.
And beyond that—
‘The World Association.’
Each national association interlocked organically to form the World Association.
To be precise, Gu Seong-hoon could be called the South Korean branch director of the World Association.
“…It’s hard not to believe…”
Finally, Kim Da-yeon spoke.
‘Well, whatever happens, happens. If everything goes to hell, I’ll just tell Go Min-ji to take responsibility.’
That thought crossed her mind.
“The support for Go Johan after that incident was unusual.”
“Haha.”
Gu Seong-hoon let out a dry laugh.
“Right. I also believe all that unbelievable nonsense.”
“……?”
“The existence of demons… I’ve been aware of them for a long time. At least ten years.”
“What…?”
“They just haven’t been revealed to the world. They’ve existed in the shadows all along. And so have those who oppose them.”
Gu Seong-hoon seemed lost in thought as he gazed out the window for a moment.
“But that kid being behind it all… I just can’t understand it.”
“…….”
“Moreover.”
Gu Seong-hoon was an extremely ambitious and political figure.
But that wasn’t all there was to him.
He was undeniably a hero of his time, a great man who stabilized the chaotic Players and minimized conflicts with the South Korean government.
“I don’t think the divine are entirely unrelated to this matter.”
“…!”
“Kim Da-yeon, you are undoubtedly a capable association member.”
With a swift motion, Gu Seong-hoon rose to his feet.
His presence alone made the room feel suffocatingly small.
The upper echelons of the World Association, including the association heads, were Players known as—
“That’s why I’m asking you.”
“Unrankers.”
Those not recorded in the rankings, yet—
‘If they were ranked, they would push every other rank down by one.’
Superhumans among superhumans.
The transcendent.
“Can you say with certainty that Go Johan has no connection to the divine?”
Kim Da-yeon was about to say she was certain.
Go Min-ji’s face, her tears, and her current state of shock—
None of that could be an act.
“Can you be sure of that just because of Go Min-ji?”
Gu Seong-hoon’s words left Kim Da-yeon speechless.
“For something of this scale, being a descendant of the divine doesn’t guarantee full knowledge. Do you truly believe Go Jae-han is unrelated?”
“…What are you trying to say?”
“Go Johan. Most of what he declared is true. But!”
Gu Seong-hoon’s voice boomed.
“What if his goal isn’t some grand cause to stop a ‘holy war’ or ‘destruction’?”
“…….”
“What if he just wants power? What if he aims to build a new empire that surpasses even the divine?”
Gulp.
The scale of the discussion was so vast that even Kim Da-yeon, the head of the association’s investigation department, couldn’t respond easily.
“I’m saying we must be wary of that. And for this task, there’s no one more suitable than you.”
“…!”
“And if necessary.”
Gu Seong-hoon declared.
“I’m even considering Go Johan’s ‘arrest.'”
***
In a world spinning madly after Go Johan’s declaration, which was more of a proclamation than a press conference—
“…….”
Go Johan alone seemed utterly at ease.
Sitting atop the church roof, he gazed down below.
Squirm.
Of course, even now, he was constantly monitoring the flow of events through his divine eye, refining his body, and observing the internal workings of things. But despite being the one who should be the busiest, he appeared the most relaxed.
“Honestly, I envy you.”
The voice of Lee Jae-kyung.
“You’re back?”
Go Johan greeted without even looking.
“I wish I could just laze around here and enjoy nature too.”
Lee Jae-kyung sat down beside him, having approached unnoticed.
Lee Jae-kyung was one of the busiest people in the church.
Secretly tackling dangerous gates, stepping in when the Black Hall needed help, and frequently being dispatched overseas—his schedule was packed.
“Well, it’s a good thing.”
Lee Jae-kyung suddenly spoke.
“What is? You keep dropping the subject.”
“That the leader is stuck here, killing time. It’s enviable, and also a relief.”
“……?”
“You’re our last resort, aren’t you?”
Lee Jae-kyung said.
“The only time the leader needs to step in is when demons appear or when the apostles can’t handle things alone.”
It was true.
Everyone in the church was running around like mad, fulfilling their duties.
The apostles were no exception.
Yoon Seung-ah and Greed were shuttling between Russia and the U.S., negotiating treaties, while Gluttony was in the lab.
Rust was…
“Se-hyun has also settled in the U.S. and will be back soon.”
Kim Se-hyun, codename Ayla.
She had made significant contributions during the Black Gate and Gate Break incidents in the U.S., further cementing her reputation.
“It’s about time.”
“The only ones not busy in this church are the leader and…”
Pfft.
Lee Jae-kyung laughed.
“The last little kid here.”
Then he added,
“And that’s a good thing. Take it easy. Forever, if possible.”
“…Are you mocking me?”
“I’m serious. And while you’re at it, why not go out and have some fun? Like when you were in middle school—hit up a club or something.”
Just as Go Johan shot him a glare, Lee Jae-kyung laughed again.
Twitch.
“……!”
Go Johan and Lee Jae-kyung both flinched at the same time.
-Leader…!
An urgent message came from the church guards on duty.
Buzz buzz buzz!
Go Johan’s phone also started ringing incessantly.
Whoosh.
This level of tension was usually reserved for the opening of a super-massive Black Gate.
“What the… why?”
“You… don’t know anything about this?”
As their voices overlapped—
Fwoosh.
The two were already standing at the church entrance.
The guards and believers, including Park Do-young and other key figures, rushed over as if they’d been waiting.
“A vehicle… is approaching the church.”
Normally, no one could enter the church grounds without permission.
Yoon Seung-ah’s magic was absolute and formidable.
Even if someone managed to enter—
“There’s only one vehicle…”
They would face near-annihilation from subsequent spells and items.
So, the only way to arrive safely was to be welcomed by the church’s believers, the apostles, or Go Johan himself.
But this time—
“It’s a vehicle from the divine.”
All those defenses were useless.
“The passenger is Vice Guild Leader Shin Soo-kyung… the leader’s mother.”
What in the world—
Crack.
Go Johan clenched his fists tighter than when he’d faced Karthul.
“Uh, hello?”
He answered the still-ringing phone.
-Go Johan! Mom’s heading there! Do something about it!
“…You called early.”
Go Johan covered his face with his hand.
—
If Go Johan hadn’t permitted it, the car carrying Shin Soo-kyung would have circled the barrier endlessly before finally giving up and turning back.
-Code Red, Code Red.
Over the magic frequency used exclusively by the believers, panicked voices rang out.
-Everyone, conceal your traces and act like it’s a normal day.
Go Johan found their behavior absurd.
“…What’s this ‘Code Red’?”
“You didn’t know?”
Lee Jae-kyung replied.
“This has happened a few times before.”
Back when Go Johan was still a student, he would come straight to the church after school with Lee Jae-kyung.
Under the guise of volunteer work, they evaded the divine’s watch to train the apostles and handle matters related to demons.
“Also, since I’m from the divine too…”
Moreover, the Johan Church was founded by Lee Jae-kyung.
Even now, it was officially under his name.
“This code was created when your mother visited a few times, wanting to help or see you in person.”
“Why is it still a thing now?”
“Habit, I guess.”
There was nothing left to hide, yet—
“Everyone, stop.”
-No. Let this be the last time!
The voices of Park Do-young and the others were resolute.
Scratch.
“Anyway, I’ll get out of here.”
“…Why? Wouldn’t it be fine for you to stay?”
“Where would that be fine? I know how to read the room.”
Lee Jae-kyung turned away.
“Well then… have a good talk.”
Fwoosh.
Lee Jae-kyung vanished.
In an instant, the bustling church emptied, leaving no trace of anyone.
Vroom.
Only the faint sound of an engine echoed in the distance.
Go Johan had allowed his mother’s sudden visit.
At least this time, he couldn’t bring himself to coldly reject her.
Creak.
The barriers opened, and the guards on duty stepped forward to guide her respectfully.
“…….”
His emotions were complicated.
He had forgotten something, only to remember it now.
He had made his declaration, and the war had begun.
And yet—
Thump. Thump. Thump.
His heart pounded like that of a child caught stealing candy.
Crack.
His palms were sweating from tension.
Then—
Finally, a black car came into view, close enough for even an ordinary person to see.
Shin Soo-kyung was in the driver’s seat, without a chauffeur.
A car and license plate Go Johan had never seen before.
“…You went through a lot of trouble.”
She must have gone to great lengths to conceal her tracks.
The church had recognized it as a divine vehicle based on its ownership records, but—
Screech.
The car parked in the lot.
“Sigh.”
Go Johan took a deep breath and walked toward the car.
“…You’re… here?”
It had been so long since he’d last seen his mother.