The Knight King Who Returned with God-Chapter 30

The Kind Orc (1)

"Hey, isn't that Mr. Gu? Did you come here because of the text too?"

"Manager Kim? We meet again."

Recognizing a familiar face, Gu Daeseong scratched his head and greeted him.

"Still, what's going on here? The association calling up low-ranking hunters like us?"

At those words, Daeseong realized that all the hunters gathered here were either D-rank or, at best, C-rank.

"Are they trying to recruit new staff or something?" he wondered.

But the association's salary was nothing to write home about. As someone barely scraping by, the idea of a stable but low-paying job didn't appeal much to Daeseong.

Sure, being on the association's payroll meant better access to gear and supplies... but still.

After a while of waiting, a large group of association employees came rushing in, parting the crowd.

"Oh... it's Han Hari."

"The Flame Swordmaster Han Hari?"

"I heard she broke the record at last year's draft."

A young woman with striking red braided hair. Seeing the awe she inspired made Daeseong envious.

Han Hari, who was twelve years younger than him, was blooming with radiant talent and admiration. How could he not feel jealous?

But then someone far more famous appeared.

"His Majesty, Leon Dragonia Lionheart, is arriving!"

A handsome blond young man—Leon—stepped onto the platform, escorted by association staff.

"Whoa..."

Daeseong remembered seeing Leon on the news about the Cheongju Gate incident and had been stunned.

Leon Dragonia Lionheart.

A survivor—and king—of a kingdom destroyed by demons.

He'd known that blond man he met during the test was no ordinary person.

But to think he was one of the Survivors...

"So that's why he was so strong..."

Survivors were special. Heroes who had survived fallen worlds, each possessing extraordinary powers—different from ordinary folks like Daeseong.

Having cleared the Cheongju Gate, Leon was bound to keep rising.

There was already talk of upgrading him to S-rank—an upgrade that seemed inevitable.

Meanwhile, Daeseong had been stuck at D-rank for ten years...

He was, honestly, jealous. Jealous of Leon's strength, and the fame he would soon enjoy.

Anyone would be. Who wouldn't want that?

But reality was cruel. Daeseong could never be like that. It was such an obvious truth that he didn't even bother entertaining the thought.

"You've gathered well. The reason I summoned you is simple."

The hunters murmured. Leon was the one who had summoned them—not the association president?

Then... what was Leon's relationship with the association?

Was this Survivor planning to establish his guild under the association?

Rumors and speculation swirled. As the buzz didn't die down, Hari raised her voice into the microphone:

"Silence! Please be quiet! His Majesty will speak!"

At her words, the hunters awkwardly hushed. Once all eyes were on him, Leon began to speak:

"I am recruiting soldiers for my guild, the Pantheon. Those who prove themselves worthy, those who endure the trials—I shall grant the honor of serving under my banner."

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"...?????"

The hunters were bewildered by this 'proposal' that didn't sound like a proposal at all.

What kind of recruitment speech was that? He sounded more like he was enlisting soldiers for an army.

Still, the prospect of joining a guild led by an S-rank Survivor was incredibly enticing.

In Korea, guilds with S-rank hunters usually had a minimum entry requirement of B-rank. Upper-tier C-ranks at best could hope to squeeze in.

For long-time C- and D-rankers like themselves, joining a top guild was a pipe dream. Most would settle for mid-sized guilds or become glorified porters.

But now they were being offered a chance to join an S-rank hunter's guild. That was temptation no one could resist.

"C-Can anyone apply to join?"

"This is enlistment. And... not just anyone. There will be a filter."

The hunters figured it was probably just a light entry test.

After all, this crowd was made up of D-rankers. How hard could it be?

And amidst them was one man burning with newfound ambition.

"I-I'm in! No matter what!"

People like Gu Daeseong, who sought personal growth and honor, were ready to risk everything to enter Leon's service.

"Then we'll begin the practical test right away. The content of the test... is to clear the Samjeon Station Gate recently acquired by His Majesty's Pantheon Guild!"

"The Samjeon Station Gate?"

Daeseong knew the area well—he'd gone to high school nearby.

The hunters immediately pulled out their phones to look up the gate.

"Uh... it's a yellow-class gate."

"What?!"

"How are we supposed to clear that?"

Gate grades ranged from black, red, orange, yellow, green, to blue.

The blue-grade Seoul Station Gate was typically used for D-rank hunter tests.

Considering most of the hunters here were C- or D-rank, the highest difficulty they'd normally face—even as support—was yellow-grade.

"This is nuts! You want us to clear a yellow-grade gate on our own? That's suicide!"

"What kind of test is this?!"

The uproar from over 100 hunters shook the room. Hari winced and covered her ears, but it was no use.

"P-Please... if you don't wish to proceed, you're free to leave..."

"Hah! You think we won't actually leave?"

"Ugh, what a waste of time!"

Hunters began exiting one by one.

Daeseong glanced at Hari and Leon to see if they'd try to stop them—but neither made a move.

More than half of the group left. Less than fifty remained.

Leon stood and spoke.

"You there. The one who looks like he got hit by a bomb."

"Y-Yes, sir!"

A hunter with an afro answered awkwardly.

"Why did you stay?"

"Uh... well, I figured there might be... a deeper reason behind all this..."

"I see. You, over there. Why did you stay?"

"M-Me? I just... didn't feel like leaving."

Despite the vague answers, Leon nodded and turned to Gu Daeseong.

"And you—why did you stay?"

Gu Daeseong was caught off guard by someone so high above him speaking directly to him, but he answered in a voice full of resolve.

"S-Sir! I stayed because... I couldn't bear the thought of letting people die!"

"Hmm. You've got spirit. That's a good attitude."

Leon gave him a few light pats on the shoulder. Strangely, it didn't feel unpleasant. On the contrary, Daeseong felt a swell of pride in his chest.

"I said it before—I came to recruit soldiers."

Not hunters—soldiers. A small difference in words, but a major one in meaning.

"What do you think is a soldier's greatest virtue? Obedience."

"Follow the orders of the knights without question."

"Trust in their honor. Trust in their strength. That is the only duty expected of you."

In short, he was saying he'd only be choosing those who knew how to follow orders.

"We depart immediately! Receive your supplies and get ready!"

The fifty or so hunters swiftly suited up and headed for the Samjeon Station Gate.

"Man... this stuff's a bit heavy."

Manager Kim's mild complaint was one Gu Daeseong silently agreed with.

All the applicants for Pantheon were now heavily armored.

Except for the ranged attackers, every melee fighter was outfitted with shields and full armor.

"But I'm a damage dealer..."

Instead of his usual longsword, Daeseong now carried a shield and a one-handed sword. There was no way he could fight using the swordplay he normally practiced.

"Still, the gear is seriously good. Isn't this all rare-grade stuff? Must've cost at least ten million won each."

The equipment, purchased by Leon himself from Daeryeong Steel—a subsidiary of Daeryeong Group—was high-end gear far beyond what a D-rank hunter could afford.

Weapons and armor are consumables by nature, so investing heavily in gear isn't easy for low-tier hunters like Daeseong.

But thanks to Leon footing the bill, they were now wearing equipment they'd never dreamed of using.

"Looks like he really doesn't intend to just send us to our deaths."

"Well, he did say it was a test."

Apparently, this otherworldly king, strange as his personality might be, wasn't stingy.

"But that king himself... is kind of dressed like a bum."

"Right? I was thinking the same."

While all the hunters were outfitted like knights, Leon remained in his usual outfit—a tough-looking leather jacket, but no visible armor at all.

"Ms. Han Hari?"

"Yes? What is it, Hunter Gu Daeseong?"

Even Hari was in armor—light armor, sure, but still equipped. She was a melee fighter, after all.

"His Majes—"

Hari quickly covered Daeseong's mouth.

"Shhh! You can't call His Majesty's name so casually! He gets mad!"

"O-Oh, really? Then, uh... why doesn't His Majesty wear armor?"

"Because His Majesty's skin is tougher than any armor."

"...???"

They stepped into a vast grassland.

What greeted the hunters upon entering the Samjeon Station Gate was a massive field reminiscent of the open plains of Europe.

In today's world, it was breathtaking to see such an expansive stretch of untouched nature.

"At least we won't be fighting while inhaling toxic smoke..."

Not all gates had such nice environments. Cave dungeons, in particular, often became stifling with residual heat from battles.

"Let's check the quest..."

Gu Daeseong didn't let the scenery distract him. He immediately opened the quest window.

[You are foreign mercenaries. A tribal war is raging across these great plains. Choose one of the two tribal alliances and lead them to victory.]

"Huh... an NPC support quest, huh."

It's a fairly common case. Just like with the Cheongju Gate or the Honam Plains Gate—clearing the quest would naturally lead to the gate closing.

"Mr. Gu, looks like it's a faction quest, right?"

"Yes. Seems we just need to side with one of the two tribal alliances at war and lead them to victory."

That wasn't a problem. Either choice would lead to the same outcome.

"The issue is which one's easier and pays better."

In these branching quests, rewards vary depending on your choice. The real question was how to figure that out. The moment of choice came quickly.

"E-Everyone, look over there! Monsters, maybe?!"

At someone's shout, all the hunters turned to look. Approaching from a distance were large, hulking figures that could be recognized even from afar.

Protruding fangs, huge muscles, massive axes, green skin—they were...

"O-Orcs?!"

"Orcs!"

Orcs—one of the most commonly seen humanoids in fantasy-type gates, right up there with goblins.

"D-Don't tell me the tribal war is..."

"A war between orcs?!"

A dozen or so orcs, some riding enormous boars, approached them. One called out in a booming voice.

"Who are you?! This is the territory of the Warhammer Tribe! You've trespassed into our land!"

Gu Daeseong quickly approached Hari and Leon. They needed to make a decision.

"Uh... Your Majesty, perhaps we should go along with the quest for now?"

"...Do as you will."

Though Leon furrowed his brows, he left the choice to Hari. Reading the quest window, she replied with a fitting line:

"We're mercenaries! We were told we'd be rewarded for helping a tribe, so we came!"

"Mercenaries, you say?"

At Hari's words, the orcs tilted their heads, then responded favorably.

"Ah, you must be the outsiders the chief spoke of. Follow us!"

Thanks to the quest scenario, the orcs accepted the hunters without trouble. They were led into a camp built by dozens of orcs.

"Welcome, mercenaries. I am Kar'ta Karak, chieftain of the Warhammer Tribe."

"H-Han Hari, nice to meet you..."

Since Leon didn't step forward, Hari naturally became their de facto spokesperson and awkwardly introduced herself.

"Hmph, I was told we'd be getting competent mercenaries. You look scrawnier than I expected."

"Haha..."

"We are currently holding a grand duel to determine the high chief of the plains. Each tribe brings forth their warriors, and the victors move one step closer to becoming high chief."

'So that's the kind of quest this is.'

Gu Daeseong mentally flipped through the strategy guides he'd read while preparing for gate raids.

Orcs are a warlike race, born with a love for battle and a tendency to resolve everything through combat.

They're usually hostile to other species, but they respect warriors and value honorable combat.

In other words, if you can fight well, they'll warm up to you quickly.

'Rewards from orc-related quests are usually weapons. But if you're lucky, you might get a spirit weapon or learn spiritual affinity from a shaman.'

Spirit summoners are extremely rare, even among hunters. Just learning it is enough to be classified at least as a B-rank. That's why people often called orc quests a "jackpot."

There's more. The heart of an orc warlord is a high-grade magical material used to make permanent body enhancement elixirs. It's often referred to as the "lottery ticket" for low-tier hunters.

But that's it. Each orc is at least C-rank, with the average one being equivalent to B-rank monsters.

And they almost always travel in squads, so the reward rarely feels worth the effort.

Orc gates were often dismissed as duds. Some hunters even resold the rights to a gate at a steep discount.

'Still, if dozens of tribes are fighting... maybe we can snag something if we're lucky.'

While Gu Daeseong held onto that faint hope, Kar'ta Karak clenched his massive fist and let out a deep breath.

"Support the Warhammer Tribe! A greater war! A more glorious death! The victorious shall claim everything!"

"Hmph."

That's when it happened. A snort of contempt echoed through the air—so sharp it cut through the mood.

"Who dared do that?!"

"N-Not me! Definitely not me!"

One hunter waved his hands frantically in terror as Karak's fury exploded. Then, Leon stepped forward.

"I've heard enough of this nonsense."

"Y-Your Majesty?!"

Hari flinched at Leon's sudden move, but couldn't bring herself to stop him.

"You... You're a strong warrior. If someone like you aids us, the grand duel will surely be ours—"

"Honor? Honor, you say?! You beasts dare to speak of such lofty ideals?! How deluded!"

"You dare insult me—!"

In an instant, Leon's sword flashed into existence midair—and in one swift stroke, Kar'ta Karak's head flew clean off.

"...Huh?"

"W-What?!"

"Wh-What just happened?!"

Even the orcs, not to mention the hunters, were frozen in stunned silence. But Leon, holding his sacred sword high, declared boldly:

His words—his declaration of doom—were aimed at every living orc in earshot.

"You are not honorable warriors, but worms crawling through the dirt! You will die like the vermin you are—for that is the unshakable truth of justice!!"

Leon Dragonia Lionheart.

Super f*ing orc racist.**

The Orc Butcher, who exterminated 8,769,653 orcs.

A living legend.