The Knight King Who Returned with God-Chapter 29

The lunch and walk with the President ended cleanly.

The more the President heard from Leon, the paler his face grew, his expression tightening with a firm resolve. Seeing this, Leon gave him a pat on the shoulder.

"President Ahn. Though I'm but a guest in your land, I have a favor to ask of you."

"A... favor?"

President Ahn was deeply worried about what kind of request this madman might make.

A king who sees the people as livestock to exploit—what a piece of trash!

Having awakened to his sense of justice, President Ahn had long since forgotten the lunch he had with Chairman Kim a few days ago.

"It's nothing major. I have farmers under my command, and it seems the issue of soil contamination hasn't been formally resolved yet."

"Ah..."

He immediately understood what Leon meant. Land contaminated by mana is designated as a restricted area where all activity is suspended.

Although the Honam Plain had been purified, it still had to go through official verification procedures. Technically, it was still considered a contaminated zone administratively.

"The local officials there are a bit slow. I'll have them process it quickly."

"Much obliged. I regret having to ask this as a guest."

"Not at all, Your Majesty. What you've already done for Korea is more than enough."

President Ahn remained wary of Leon but couldn't deny how useful he was. And there was one more thing he needed to ask—about that "blessed rice."

"Come to think of it, Your Majesty... how do you plan to distribute the rice crop in the future?"

"I've decided to sell it through the Association."

"Hmm, I see. But I imagine the Association alone won't be able to handle the volume. And based on the data, this is the kind of blockbuster product that would draw international attention."

"How can I look abroad when I haven't even fed the people of this land? But... if all our farmers embrace proper faith, that day might not be far off."

Even as he tried to read Leon's intentions, President Ahn hadn't forgotten the task Chairman Kim had requested.

Leon's blessed crops were a jackpot. The very definition of innovation.

This seed had to be secured for the Republic of Korea.

If the rice could be distributed nationwide and used to improve public health, the political credit would be enormous. President Ahn couldn't help but imagine that glorious future.

'Hehehe...'

He hid his ambitions behind a sly smile, but Leon could see right through him.

Still, if this much already shocked him, he had no idea. The miracles that come with divinity wouldn't stop here.

"President Ahn. That reminds me, things have been rather noisy at the Association lately."

"Pardon? The Association? I gave direct orders for them to cooperate fully with Your Majesty."

"Hahaha, of course, you're the leader of a nation. Bold as ever. But that's not it."

President Ahn was ready to grant any request Leon made—for now. As long as Leon didn't act openly hostile, Ahn intended to milk him for all he was worth.

'What does he want from the Association? Is he expecting benefits like the other top ten guilds──'

"They say I'm supposed to pay taxes."

"...Excuse me?"

"As you know, counting coins isn't something befitting a king."

Collecting gift boxes from politicians and executives had been enough to amuse him until now.

"So how could a king possibly pay taxes?"

Currently under fire for suspected tax evasion exceeding 10 billion won, including his in-laws.

"This simply cannot be. I told them I wouldn't pay a single coin, but the commoners in the Association just can't understand. I'd appreciate it if you could put in a word."

'H-He's even worse than me! What a complete scumbag!'

It was another moment when his inner sense of justice flared into flames.

Meanwhile, Chairman Kim Dae-young of the Daeryeong Group had been introduced to Leon, thanks to his request to President Ahn.

As a result, the Daeryeong Group was busy with lavish banquet preparations.

"Kim Shin-young! Get over here, now!"

"Ack! Uncle! I'm still not fully recovered!"

Kim Shin-young—Chairman Kim Dae-young's niece—was a young woman who had recently undergone chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Spoiled as the youngest of the family, she had grown up arrogant and self-centered, the textbook definition of a third-generation chaebol brat. But today, she couldn't act like that.

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"If you don't behave today, I don't care who your parents are—I'll break your damn legs!"

"Tch... I just wanted to hit the club tonight."

Even so, she was curious about the man they were about to meet: Leon.

After all, it was after eating that rice that her condition had begun to improve dramatically.

She hadn't been cured completely yet, but the massive tumor had shrunk to a size that science simply couldn't explain. Full recovery seemed just around the corner.

And that blessed rice? It didn't even require rehab. Even though she wasn't fully cured, her body felt more energetic and alive than it had before she got sick.

But most of all, there was something strange she felt every time she ate that rice—a peculiar, inexplicable sensation that lingered.

"By the way, Uncle... haven't you tried that rice yet?"

"Do I even know what that stuff is? I'll consider it once it passes safety inspection."

"Tch... and here I am barely scraping by."

The rice she had eaten had been secretly taken from the Honam Plain by her mother for her treatment.

It wasn't much, and now that the Association was strictly monitoring it, it had become very difficult to get.

"Wonder what kind of guy he is~"

She grew more curious about Leon—the man who had created that miraculous rice. Ever since the Cheongju Gate incident, word of his survival had spread widely.

Things like founding the Temple of All Gods and preaching his faith were also hot topics. But Kim Shin-young was someone who had personally experienced the benefits.

Even now, she felt that stirring warmth inside her body—a mysterious presence, something gentle and comforting.

To her, someone used to clubs, indulgence, and drugs, it was a feeling she simply couldn't describe with words.

Time passed, and soon the official government vehicle arrived at the banquet hall—carrying Leon.

"Oh my, Your Majesty! Welcome!"

Chairman Kim Dae-young greeted him with the fervor of someone about to throw away all dignity. But despite the warm welcome, Leon clicked his tongue and furrowed his brow.

"Tsk. Were it not for President Ahn's request, I would never have set foot in a merchant's banquet hall."

"Hahaha... It is the honor of our family, Your Majesty."

Chairman Kim made sure not to repeat the mistake of Park Jong-chan, the director of Dujung Group.

This man was royalty through and through

Faith, or the so-called Lionheart King—these were forces he couldn't fully understand. But ultimately, all that mattered was: it makes money.

"I invited Your Majesty today because there's a girl who recovered from a serious illness thanks to Your Majesty's grace."

"Oh? A child who received the goddess's blessing, you say?"

"Yes, yes. Shin-young, why are you dawdling? Come out now."

Chairman Kim's strategy was simple.

He would present Kim Shin-young—who had recovered from cancer thanks to the blessed rice—as a gesture of gratitude.

It might look like he was giving unilaterally, but human nature is simple: when someone receives something, they want to give something in return.

This was how he would build goodwill and maintain a relationship, and from there, naturally shift into business talk. After all, to a mogul like him, a barbaric royal was nothing.

"Ah..."

Forced out by her uncle's nagging, Shin-young stood before Leon. And the stirring feeling inside her reacted.

A brilliant radiance.

A holy halo, divine glory.

A spiritual power beyond human understanding.

Overwhelmed by the intense force pouring down on her, Shin-young trembled.

"Is this your niece?"

Why is she acting like that all of a sudden? Don't tell me she's high? I specifically told her not to take anything before coming!

Kim Shin-young's antics were notorious within Daeryeong Group.

Not only was she abusive and indulgent, but it was an open secret that she did drugs even in broad daylight.

If it weren't for the company's influence, she'd already be rotting in prison for drug charges. Even so, Chairman Kim had never managed to fix her wild behavior. But now...

"W-Who are you...? Are you a god? Or are you... death?"

"Niece, what's gotten into you? Why are you acting like this?"

"I am the emissary of the All-Gods Temple. I carry out the will of light and justice, and I stoke the sacred flame of the temple. I am also the protector of humble folk like you."

"Ahhh..."

As Leon stepped in front of her, Shin-young dropped to her knees in fear and avoided his gaze, as if trying to prevent her filth from touching something pure.

That delinquent showing reverence toward someone? It was something no one in the family, including Chairman Kim, could have imagined.

"P-Please... withdraw your hand..."

"Child, do not fear."

"Hnggh...!"

Was this how the bleeding woman felt 2,000 years ago when she touched the hem of Jesus' robe?

The powerful light emanating from this man... the warmth within her responded to it, blazing brightly.

The sense of fulfillment and divinity she now felt—clear-headed and sober—was incomparable to any hallucination induced by drugs.

"Hold on to the divinity you now feel. Your purity pleases the divine. Repay the grace you've received."

"Huhuuhk... Thank you! Thank you, angel...!"

"I'm the Lionheart King, actually."

Leon gently stroked the crying Shin-young's head to calm her. Anyone on Earth familiar with him would have been stunned by the sight.

But aside from that—

"What the hell... That's terrifying."

"Why is she acting like that? She's lost her mind."

To those who hadn't eaten the blessed rice and couldn't sense divinity, it all looked like the terrifying withdrawal of a drug addict.

The only unusual thing was how quiet she was acting today.

"Take this girl to a resting chamber. She has extraordinary spiritual potential. Treat her with care."

"Eh? Uh—yes?"

She's... spiritually gifted? As a religious figure?

Chairman Kim and his staff shot dubious glances at each other, unsure what to make of the wild girl being called "gifted." But Leon's eyes were resolute.

"Now."

"Y-Yes! Miss, this way please."

Employees struggled to escort the weeping delinquent heiress of the conglomerate, whose legs had given out after facing Leon.

Chairman Kim was left speechless, but Leon's voice snapped him out of it.

"Are those people your invited guests as well?"

"Pardon? No, Your Majesty, aside from you, I invited no one──"

"Over there! That's Chairman Kim Daeryeong!"

Before he could even finish speaking, a crowd was already surging from the distance. The chairman's security team stepped forward immediately, but the voices of the approaching protesters, all wearing headbands, rang out loud and clear.

"Chairman Kim Daeryeong, guarantee a five-day work week!"

"Raise our frozen wages!"

"Reinstate the workers unfairly dismissed!"

With signs in hand, the protesters had launched a surprise demonstration. Leon asked,

"Who are they?"

"Y-You needn't concern yourself, Your Majesty. They're just, uh, those commie bastards..."

"I asked a question. Do not deflect with irrelevant words."

Leon's expression darkened in displeasure, prompting Chairman Kim to immediately change his tone and confess.

"They're protesters... rabble-rousers who've been making noise lately."

"Protesters? And for what cause?"

"..."

Chairman Kim hesitated. Telling the truth here would paint him as the villain.

"It's, uh, nothing major. I was generous enough to hire them, and now they're asking for wage increases. They don't even realize how replaceable they are, yet they act so entitled."

"That is an unacceptable thing to say. Labor is sacred. Workers should be treated with the dignity they deserve."

Oh no. He was one of those justice types? Kim had misjudged him, thinking royalty would naturally be more elitist.

Realizing his misstep, Kim quickly tried to smooth things over.

"Of c-course, our group adheres strictly to industry standards for employee welfare. In fact, we treat our workers quite well."

"'Industry standards,' spoken like a true merchant. I can imagine well enough without hearing the rest."

"H-Haha..."

Sweating nervously, Chairman Kim scrambled for something to lift Leon's mood. Right, he's into justice.

"Your Majesty has enlightened this humble merchant. I shall issue an order to raise their wages. It seems this old man had forgotten his principles."

"Raise their wages? Why?"

"...Pardon?"

Leon looked at him with genuine confusion.

"A fixed rate has already been decided. Why would there be a need to raise wages?"

"Uh... I... I've heard Your Majesty employs farmers as well. Might I ask what Your Majesty's perspective is...?"

"Nineteen-tenths."

"...!"

Chairman Kim thought he misheard. Nineteen-tenths? Ninety percent? Did he mean a tax rate of 90%?

"In the Lionheart Kingdom, guided by the goddess's teachings, ninety percent of the yield is offered. It is an act of mercy—we guarantee the farmers keep a full ten percent for themselves."

"Gasp!"

"That's insane..."

"Unbelievable..."

Gasps of horror erupted from all around.

Ninety percent? Even the most brutal colonial overlords of pre-modern Britain wouldn't have dared imagine such an exploitative tax.

Is it really okay to partner with such a monster?

Even Chairman Kim Daeryeong, a man often vilified as a ruthless capitalist, began to doubt himself.

He prided himself on at least maintaining the bare minimum standards—he never let his employees starve. Like many businessmen, he exploited them just enough to avoid total ruin, using cost-cutting measures and outsourcing to third, fourth, even fifth-tier contractors under poor working conditions.

But Leon? He was on a completely different level.

Ninety percent? Nineteen-tenths?

How could such a monstrous man exist? For the first time, the idea that Leon really was a medieval king hit home.

Kim suddenly feared what might happen if this man extended his influence to the domestic corporate world.

I may be bad... but I'm not as bad as him!

The next day, headlines reported a dramatic agreement between the company and the protesters.

Even with the president's endorsement, Leon had only agreed to meet a mere merchant because he wanted to distribute 10% of the rice produced in the Naju plains.

Though ninety percent of the harvest was collected through the tithe system, the remaining ten percent was left to the farmers to sell as they pleased. The problem was, today's farmers didn't have the power to sell it properly.

Through YouTube ads and news reports, the name of the All-Gods Temple and Leon himself had spread, drawing intense public interest in the blessed crops. But that also meant danger.

Han Hari had reported that cancer patients had attacked during the rice distribution.

It had been a desperate scuffle started by a few terminal patients—but no one knew when it might escalate to mercenaries or demonic forces.

"Two hundred and thirty million won per sack?"

The price was significantly higher than what the Association paid, so Hari cheered from the side.

"That's amazing, Your Majesty!"

"It should be cheaper."

"...What?"

"While the market determines the price, a mere crop being this expensive is not ideal."

"Uh..."

Isn't expensive a good thing? Hari thought so, but Leon clearly didn't.

"How can poor commoners afford it if it's too costly? Divine grace must be shared equally among all people."

"I... I see."

Leon had already asked the president to educate the farmers and promote the goddess's teachings. But the president had declined, citing the need for religious neutrality.

"That's understandable..."

In Leon's homeland, religion wielded enormous authority. But on Earth, things were different.

Theocracy had disappeared centuries ago. Except for some parts of the Middle East, politicians didn't openly promote religion anymore.

A president, especially, had to maintain religious neutrality.

"Well, thanks to this incident, our faith has grown. It should be enough to form the Legion of the Lionheart."

At that, Hari perked up.

"The people Your Majesty requested are standing by."

"Hmm. Have you located a suitable dungeon?"

"Yes! But Your Majesty... are you sure about this?"

"What do you mean?"

Hari had diligently prepared what Leon asked. Though she was now half a de facto All-Gods Temple Guild employee, the Association was still closely monitoring Leon. So they accommodated his requests for now, just to keep things peaceful.

"This morning, a yellow-grade gate appeared... We won the bid for it, per your instructions, but..."

Yellow grade. At least an S-rank. Of course, someone as powerful as Leon could easily clear it solo.

But this time, he wouldn't be the one clearing it.

"Your chosen team... it's nearly impossible for them to conquer that gate."

"Perhaps. We'll see."

"???"

Leon smiled slyly at Hari's confused look and said,

"If they cannot accomplish even that with me—the Lionheart—by their side, then they are unfit to be my soldiers."

Two days later, at Samjeon Station in Songpa-gu, Seoul—closed due to a gate appearance—more than fifty Hunters had assembled.

Among them stood the eternally D-rank Hunter, Koo Daeseong.