Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: The Archdemon's Vessel
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009
[You have completed the Atonement.]
[You have acquired a large amount of Karma Points.]
[Status Ailment: Curse of Sloth activates.]
The moment the goddess's voice rang out.
He staggered.
Go Yohan lost his balance and swayed.
“Are you okay?!”
Lee Jaekyung rushed over in a panic and supported him.
At that moment.
Whoosh!
Flames began to ignite on Go Yohan's clothes.
Lee Jaekyung tried frantically to put out the fire, but it was no use.
Sizzle!
The flames danced as if drawing a pattern, revealing Go Yohan's bare skin beneath.
Drip.
Blood seeped out.
On the spot where one of Go Yohan's ribs was located, the burning clothes revealed a tattoo-like pattern etched into his skin.
Go Yohan's closed eyes slowly opened.
His half-lidded gaze carried a languidness he had never shown before.
“…I'm fine.”
Even his voice sounded muffled, as if submerged in water.
“Fine? What do you mean fine?!”
Lee Jaekyung fussed, but Go Yohan rose to his feet as if he truly was okay.
“I said I'm fine.”
His voice had improved a little.
[Suppressing the curse through the Faith stat.]
The goddess was protecting him.
[Suppressing the curse due to high Karma Points.]
A spark of focus returned to his half-closed eyes, though it wasn't perfect.
“Haah.”
Only then did Lee Jaekyung let out a sigh of relief.
“What's that pattern carved into your rib?”
“…….”
Even Go Yohan couldn't answer easily.
Since the Atonement was a first for him as well, it was probably a change brought about by it.
‘The mark of the curse, I suppose.’
He had thought it nothing serious.
“…Don't go to the bathhouse. It'll cause a huge fuss. They'll think an eight-year-old has a tattoo.”
“…You're right.”
“Anyway….”
Right in front of Lee Jaekyung and Go Yohan.
Snore, snore.
A girl who had fallen asleep at some point.
Only then did Lee Jaekyung clutch his head as if it was a headache.
“What do we do about her?”
Fortunately, the school uniform she wore and…
“Yun…Seung-ah?”
The name on her name tag made it seem easy enough to identify her.
“I'll look her up as soon as we get out.”
He spoke as if that was the only option, despite not knowing how to explain it.
“She has nowhere to go back to.”
Go Yohan said in a drowsy voice.
“……?”
“She's a vessel offered to a demon.”
And not just any vessel.
Before the demons had even begun their activities.
Moreover, the curse and sins he had atoned for from her were far from ordinary.
Even if the demon guarding her was merely a fraction of its power.
“It's a vessel for an Archdemon.”
In the end, she was a child meant to be used as a vessel for an Archdemon to manifest.
‘Shining talent, and something that transcends humanity.’
That was hidden within her.
Go Yohan had seen them before.
Vessels before completion.
-Vessels meant to manifest demons of seven horns or higher.
Even unfinished, they were monsters that had given Go Yohan—no, Michael—a hard time.
“What are you even talking about?”
“She probably won't even remember. Her very existence has likely been erased.”
Go Yohan explained.
“If you can't believe it, you don't have to. Anyway….”
They'd know the truth once they checked outside.
“Hoo.”
Lee Jaekyung sighed again, as if it was a headache.
He knew the Go Yohan he'd seen so far was not one to lie.
“Let's get out of here first.”
Lee Jaekyung said, shuddering.
“Staying here any longer feels like it'll actually kill me.”
Even after defeating the boss, the air inside the Black Gate itself was hard to endure.
“And….”
Lee Jaekyung continued.
“You promised. You'd tell me once we're out.”
With that, the first Black Gate closed.
*
*
*
Fortunately, time inside the Black Gate seemed to flow slowly.
When they emerged, it was still pitch-black night, and no problems had arisen.
“Phew.”
To Lee Jaekyung, the events inside the Black Gate felt like a dream.
Except for Yoon Seung-ah right in front of him.
Thud.
Go Yohan collapsed onto one corner of the sofa, looking exhausted.
Lee Jaekyung slumped to the floor in the same way.
“…Will you tell me?”
Seeing Go Yohan's fatigued appearance, Lee Jaekyung asked, his resolve weakening for a moment.
“Do you really want to hear it?”
“…….”
Lee Jaekyung hesitated for a bit.
Honestly, he wanted to ask.
Just what.
‘What are you, and what was that gate?’
He wanted to hear it all and understand.
But for some reason, the words wouldn't come easily.
It felt like a secret too much for him to handle, one that would swallow him whole.
And then.
Grip.
Lee Jaekyung looked at Go Yohan, having made up his mind.
“I'll just ask this one thing.”
“Go ahead.”
Go Yohan nodded in affirmation.
“Are there more of those things from now on? And more kids like her?”
“…Probably.”
“And you'll keep….”
Lee Jaekyung's eyes shook as he looked at Go Yohan.
“…fighting.”
The Black Gate—it was hell itself.
The Hell Hound monster was so powerful that even a top-rank like Lee Jaekyung couldn't handle it easily, and the boss Drows was pure terror.
“Yes.”
Go Yohan answered without hesitation.
“Then….”
Lee Jaekyung pondered for a moment.
“Then that's enough. I won't ask anything.”
“……?”
“But I'll fight too.”
His eyes no longer wavered.
“Whether those things are demons or that… goddess or whatever.”
Having been with Go Yohan for a long time, Lee Jaekyung knew he sometimes invoked a goddess.
It could be seen as blasphemy for Go Yohan, but he patiently waited for Lee Jaekyung to finish.
“I don't care about any of that. Just let me fight alongside you.”
“Why?”
Go Yohan asked.
“Because I promised to protect you.”
The promise to protect Go Yohan seemed like a mission to him.
“…….”
Go Yohan closed his eyes briefly.
‘I didn't want to drag anyone else in.’
This was his holy war.
Unlike in Travania, where he was merely the goddess's knight, this was a muddy fight where he had to become a demon or a villain.
That was why he had pushed away even those who had become like new family.
‘Maybe I've been in denial.’
About the fact that he had fallen and become a demon or villain.
-Hypocrisy.
His efforts to keep them out might have been hypocrisy itself.
The hypocrisy of trying to shoulder everything alone, like in Travania.
And what had become of Travania as a result?
Rustle.
Go Yohan opened his eyes again.
“It won't be what you think.”
He said.
“Don't think we're the good guys just because we're fighting demons.”
“…….”
“I'm a knight serving the goddess, but to hunt the wicked, I'll become a demon if needed. Even so.”
His sky-blue eyes rippled as if the curse dwelled within.
“Will you join me?”
Go Yohan asked one final time.
“I never cared about that stuff anyway.”
Lee Jaekyung smiled as he spoke.
*
*
*
Lee Jaekyung left first because of the child found in the boss room, Yoon Seung-ah, and Go Yohan returned home with the other bodyguards.
“Son! You're back?”
Shin Sookyung came out right away to greet Go Yohan.
“Thanks to you.”
“Did you have fun? Why do you look so tired?”
“I must've had too much fun.”
Her face looked haggard, as if she had stayed up all night worrying.
Go Yohan nodded with a pitying smile.
“Go inside and rest!”
Shin Sookyung seemed relieved just that he had returned home safe and sound.
Fortunately, no one seemed to know about the Black Gate incident.
And when night fell.
“You're here?”
Go Yohan greeted Lee Jaekyung.
“…You were right. I looked up Taeheung Middle School, but there's no information on Yoon Seung-ah at all.”
Lee Jaekyung said.
“Not even a single photo or document. This….”
He looked incredulous.
“I told you. That's how it'd be.”
Archdemons.
They were transcendent beings that could even manipulate reality.
Without their intervention, no door would open, let alone securing a vessel.
“…….”
Lee Jaekyung had steeled his mind, but he still couldn't hide his shock.
“For now, I'll take care of her….”
Lee Jaekyung would have to look after Yoon Seung-ah for the time being, but it wouldn't be easy.
“Can't adopt her. Can't hand her to anyone else.”
Lee Jaekyung looked troubled.
“Just buy an orphanage.”
Go Yohan said.
“An orphanage?”
“There will be more kids like Yoon Seung-ah from now on.”
“…Ah!”
Then they needed an institution to take in and raise the children.
Children without even documents, moreover.
‘They're quiet now, but.’
As children influenced by being demon vessels, problems would arise frequently.
“That could work.”
Lee Jaekyung grinned slyly, as if struck by an idea.
“Got a good plan.”
“And select some trustworthy people.”
“Trustworthy people?”
Lee Jaekyung's face stiffened a bit.
“You're not thinking of taking them there, are you?”
He recalled the Black Gate they had just experienced.
“If necessary. Though it probably won't come to that.”
He had no intention of entrusting Black Gates to ordinary players.
“Who manages the orphanage?”
“…True. I'll look into it.”
Lee Jaekyung nodded.
“Players with deep ties to Mr. Player, or people who can definitely keep their mouths shut, and finally….”
Go Yohan continued.
“People who retired due to unfortunate accidents or had their lives ruined. People who would do anything if given another chance.”
Lee Jaekyung's eyes deepened at Go Yohan's words.
He understood the conditions.
“…With those conditions, we should have some options.”
With that, Lee Jaekyung left the room.
He'd probably be busy for a while.
Go Yohan lay on the bed.
‘Goddess.’
He prayed.
‘Please forgive me.’
From now on, he would truly become a demon.
Using anything and everything he could.