After returning to the human world from Yomi-no-Kuni, Erik's face carried a more sincere smile, and he became increasingly cheerful.
Although his hatred for Sebastian Shaw remained, he no longer saw revenge as his sole life goal. He also stopped resenting his own superpowers and accepted Myrion's advice.
"Erik, your power isn't just the simple manipulation of metal, but the greater force of magnetism itself. Magnetism is one of the four fundamental forces of the universe, and there are still many mysteries to explore. So, you must not only learn how to control it but also study it. And if you want to study, you must acquire the necessary knowledge. Therefore, your daily lessons will now include theoretical studies on magnetism."
This was Myrion's new requirement for Erik. He didn't want Erik to grow up into the feared villain Magneto, but rather into a brand-new kind of superhero—Magneto.
Look at the former: aside from his powers, he couldn't do much. To make a living, he had to work as a low-level factory worker. After his family suffered, the mutant settlement he established was rudimentary at best and had no sustainable means of income. How could that be acceptable?
Now, compare that to his best friend, Charles Xavier—Professor X. The man wasn't just called a professor; he actually was one, holding multiple PhDs in fields like biology and psychology. On top of that, he seemed to be born into wealth. In comparison, Erik was seriously lagging behind.
Myrion's goal was to train Erik to be an all-rounder—equally capable on the battlefield and in academia. A Magneto who was both powerful and highly knowledgeable—now that was an appealing thought.
"No problem, Uncle. I'll study hard," Erik promised.
Dis Mask, on the other hand, was teasing Erik, warning him not to turn into a bookworm. But then, Myrion's next words sent him into despair.
"What are you laughing at? You're going to school too."
"Huh?! No way, boss! I'm a Saint Seiya! Why do I need to study?!" Dis Mask protested, his face contorted with distress.
Dis Mask had attended school before, but he constantly got in trouble—either fighting or skipping class. He was the type who felt sleepy just looking at a textbook. He'd rather double his training than sit in a classroom.
"Are you wearing your Cloth?" Myrion asked calmly.
"N-No…"
"Then you're not a Saint Seiya yet. You're just a candidate. And who said Saint Seiya don't study? When you go on missions, do you want to embarrass the Sanctuary by acting ignorant?"
"But… but…"
"No buts. Right now, I can teach you elementary-level knowledge, but when you're older, you're going to a proper school."
"Waaah… Boss, you're bullying me!"
"Hehe, hear that? Kid, just accept your fate. An uneducated Saint Seiya is an embarrassment," Galan chimed in, taking the chance to tease Dis Mask.
Dis Mask shot Galan a glance, smirking as an idea formed in his mind.
Seeing his expression, Galan immediately had a bad feeling. He tried to stop him, but it was too late.
"Boss, Galan hasn't gone to school either. Doesn't that mean he's embarrassing the Sanctuary?"
"You little—!"
"Galan is different," Myrion said.
Hearing this, Galan felt relieved. See? The boss still cares about me!
"He's already fifteen. He'll be going straight to high school. I can't teach him at that level. In a little while, he'll enroll in a proper school."
The joy on Galan's face vanished instantly, replaced by bitterness. I trusted you, Boss…
"Hehe, so Galan has to go to school too? That's great…"
"Bam!"
"Ouch!"
"Great, my ass! You little brat, how dare you drag me into this?!" Galan smacked Dis Mask on the head, glaring at him.
"Hmph! That's what you get for mocking me!"
As the two bickered, young Erik watched in confusion. Isn't going to school a good thing?
Before he was taken, Erik's family was poor, and they couldn't afford to send him to school. He had always envied kids who could attend school. To him, getting an education was the only way to have a better life—this was common knowledge for his generation.
Myrion smiled at the two but didn't explain.
In fact, even without Dis Mask's remark, sending Galan to school was inevitable. Expanding education in the Sanctuary was a crucial part of its reforms. Athena was the goddess of wisdom—if all her warriors were illiterate, wouldn't that be an absolute disgrace?
"Alright, enough fooling around. Remember, when you're out in the world, you represent the Sanctuary. You wouldn't want people to laugh at you, would you? Galan, do you really want to ask me again why people move inside a 'metal box'?" Myrion teased.
"A metal box… moving? Pfft—Hahaha!" Dis Mask immediately understood and burst out laughing. Even Erik couldn't hold back his chuckles.
"Wait… Haha… Galan, don't tell me you didn't recognize a television?! Hahahaha!"
"Stop laughing! What's so funny?! My brother and I grew up as orphans in the Sanctuary! We've never seen a TV—so what?!" Galan fumed, his face turning red.
"I'm not laughing… Pfft—No, I'm a Saint Seiya, I've been trained to endure… Unless I can't, hahahaha!"
Dis Mask was far too smug. Furious, Galan lunged at him, sparking an all-out brawl, forcing Dis Mask to flee.
Myrion didn't stop them. Their playful fighting was a sign of camaraderie—something he found lacking in more mature warriors like Saga and Aiolos.
As they traveled, Myrion and his group finally crossed into Spain. However, the moment they entered, Myrion's brows furrowed.
"Master, is something wrong?" Galan and Dis Mask tensed up. They rarely saw Myrion frown.
"Something is missing. Did I remember incorrectly?"
"Missing? What's missing?"
"Sacred artifacts—Scarlet Poison Needle, Eternal Frozen Water, and several Silver Saint artifacts have disappeared."
These artifacts were sealed within an enchanted barrier. The moment Myrion stepped into range, he should have sensed their presence. But now, some of them were gone.
"Impossible! Master, do you need me to search for them?" Galan asked, furious.
These artifacts were the Sanctuary's property and a source of its warriors' pride. He couldn't allow anyone to defile them.
Myrion didn't respond immediately. Soon, though, his expression relaxed.
"No need. Perhaps it's not yet time. The Sanctuary's relics aren't things just anyone can take."
While pondering the situation, Myrion ruled out other divine factions—his movements with Athena had been secretive, and their barriers specifically countered divine entities. He also dismissed ordinary thieves—no mere mortals could bypass such an intricate seal.
That left only one possibility: a powerful organization with both knowledge of mythology and cutting-edge technology.
And in Myrion's mind, only one group fit that description.
"So, it really is them… Oh well, since it's come to this, I might as well give them a push."
Though the loss of artifacts disrupted his plans, it wasn't an unsolvable issue. If it truly was Hydra's doing, then once his strength recovered a bit more, he'd scan the entire planet with his cosmos. There'd be nowhere for the artifacts to hide.
What interested him more was the discovery of two new, immature yet highly promising cosmos.
"Understood, Master," Galan said, suppressing his anger.
Their journey continued, and soon, they reached Seville. However, the war had left scars on the city. Though not reduced to ruins, it was lifeless. The streets were filthy, homeless people loitered aimlessly, shops remained closed, and people's faces were filled with numbness and despair.
"Master…"
"Galan, Dis, Erik—this is war," Myrion said.
War didn't just kill soldiers—it destroyed countless innocent lives.
And that was why, after the mythological era, Saints no longer allowed ordinary people to get involved in Holy Wars.
Just then, Galan leaned in and whispered, his gaze shifting toward a nearby alley.
"Master, we're being watched."