The Knight King Who Returned with Gods : Chapter 48
Translators: Nyx and Ririi Rain
Episode 48: The Magician Queen Beatrice
Beatrice Alighieri Spero, magician Queen of the Spero
Kingdom was a renowned ruler.
Her kingdom was prosperous and peaceful. It seemed like
it would last forever.
Or so everyone thought.
Until the invasion of demons began.
The black herd, who were said to be coming from far west,
thought at first to be a group of orangutans.
However, their notoriety and ferocity were overwhelming.
The hordes of pleasure from faraway realms had destroyed several kingdoms in
the blink of an eye.
As the black horde drew nearer, the Queen realized from
the influx of refugees and eyewitness accounts that they were something out of
the ordinary.
She knew the creatures' forces would eventually reach the
Spero Kingdom.
Of course, the honorable soldiers and the Queen's royal
knights would stand up to the invasion.
They fought back against the hordes of evil that crawled
toward them.
Victory. Victory. Victory.
The army, led by the magician Queen herself, gloried in
victory after victory.
The refugees from the fallen kingdoms were hopeful as
they watched the Queen lead her troops to repel evil.
It took less than thirty years for that hope to gradually
crumble.
Those creatures weren't exactly skilled in warfare. They
were weak, unruly, and without discipline. Yet their spirits were oddly high.
They were uncannily vigorous.
They were a band of misfits who pursued nothing but
sordid pleasures, without any sense of principle or duty, but they threw
themselves into the fray with great intensity.
It wasn't until three years ago, when the very Archdemon
they were supposed to have defeated, reappeared unharmed, that they realized
that they could not die.
'This
war... There was no chance of winning from the beginning.'
They resurrect even when they die.
They willingly throw themselves into the fight because
they can't die.
The population on this side was steadily being thinned
out, but they keep coming endlessly.
No matter how many victories they won, no matter how many
demons they slayed, they would always come back.
What an absurd war.
The fight went on without end.
Despite repelling tens of thousands of demons, hundreds
of soldiers were taken away from the overcrowded battlefield and corrupted by
terrible tortures and pleasures.
Demons wearing human skins infiltrate the palace,
corrupting the maids and creating orgies.
Cults filled the streets, proclaiming that the pursuit of
endless pleasure was salvation.
The Kingdom was falling apart.
Knights who were once strong as steel were corrupted, and
soldiers who were supposed to defend their country pointed spears at their own
family.
'I can
no longer picture the beautiful, peaceful landscape of my homeland that I once
saw.'
'I
can't see how long it's been since the streets were filled with people laughing
and playing and looking forward to tomorrow.......'
Doom was looming.
[Queen, make a deal with me.]
The highest ranking Archdemon had offered to her.
[Embrace the essence of corruption, and repeat the
destruction of your kingdom for a hundred years. If you can do that, I will
spare you and your people.]
How could she believe him?
There was no need to even ask.
The Kingdom had already crumbled, and all that remained
was a castle. In the end, her people, her soldiers, her knights... all of them
would be lost in the destruction.
The Archdemon's offer was thoroughly in his favor, but Beatrice
had no choice but to accept the devil's bargain.
Because it was the only way to protect those she loves.
* * * *
The devil's snares were vicious.
They would repeat the destruction of the Kingdom once a
year.
Once the Kingdom was destroyed, they would go back to the
beginning and repeat the process of destruction.
If it was only that, the people would have held out, and
the soldiers would have endured. Maybe they would have stuck with the Queen.
However, the demons of pleasure and corruption did not
kill the kingdom's citizens easily.
In their perverted halls of depravity, they humiliated
and tortured them endlessly, subjecting them to the most horrific things a
living creature could experience.
Not even death could save them. Those who take their own
lives ended up as ghosts wandering the netherworlds endlessly.
In the end, there was only one choice given to them.
To corrupt themselves and join the forces of evil.
The whispers of corruption, with their promise of endless
pleasure and immortality, dazzled the once mighty people.
'Alas,
I have failed.'
'The
choices I made to save my Kingdom ended up tainting the Kingdom's citizens with
evil.'
The proud Queen began to collapse.
As she watched her people suffer over and over again, she
realized she would eventually fall.
It was no mere amusement that the Archdemon of Pleasure
would go to such troublesome lengths to ensnare her.
What was given to her was an innate trait so terrifying
that even she herself was afraid of it, and its colors were corrupting even the
most honorable knights.
'At
this rate, even my Knights will be corrupted by evil.'
The Queen wanted to save at least her remaining knights. She
had broken her oath and became a fallen, hoping to save them in return.
"Queen. Forgive our disloyalty."
When one knight finally reached the point of storming the
Queen's chambers, the Great General sealed her underground, then killed
himself, becoming an incorruptible undead.
"I... I made you this way."
A decade of regret and devastation.
Days of misery and destruction, bound to repeat itself
even though they knew their end.
The Queen wished this nightmare would end as soon as
possible.
* * * *
[Hidden Quest: Save the Queen and her Kingdom.]
After killing Androzin, the King returned to the palace.
The royal castle of the Spero Kingdom where the reality had been revealed,
there were no longer any residents who sing of hope.
"You mean everyone is already corrupted."
"That is- right."
Leon sighed sadly at Ricardo Byrnes' affirmation.
He had seen so many corrupted people. The temptation of
the demons is hard to resist for ordinary mortals.
The prospect of a gruesome death that would be repeated
for a hundred years would only encourage the corruption.
“I guess there were people from the Kingdom among the
demons I cut down.”
"......."
"Pity them, but do not forgive them. There is only
death for the corrupted. This is immutable justice."
The Death Knights did not respond to Leon's heartless
words. If so, there was one other thing to be asked,
“What are you going to do... with us who have been
reduced to be undead?”
The Death Knights... the undead were unwelcome
everywhere, and it was natural.
The undead who abandon their deserved lives and pursue
immortality are vile beings.
If this Knight King cannot tolerate them... can they
resist?
"That is not for me to decide. First, we must go to
the Queen."
Leon led the Death Knights to the underground chamber
where the Queen was kept.
Queen Beatrice had been sealed to prevent the corruption
from progressing as far as possible. Even that had proven unsuccessful.
Leon gazed down at the sleeping Queen, who breathed
softly.
"O Fleur. How is she?"
At his words, a divinity appeared. A goddess of dreams
and death with purple eyes and violet hair. She appeared to be impressed.
[It's an innate trait. Those filthy fiends covet it. It
could have produced a truly terrifying demon lord.]
So much so. It was said that she could sway a nation with
her looks and demeanor alone.
[The essence of corruption has been planted, and the
effect has been amplified. The process of corruption is already more than half
complete.]
"But she is not yet corrupted. She, who possesses
the venom of lust, has asked me to put her Knights to death."
Not because she hated the Knights who imprisoned her, but
to save their souls.
Both the Queen and the Knights did the things they least
wanted to do to protect each other.
What royal or chivalrous man would not be impressed by
this compassion, this loyalty?
[Leon, mark this maiden with my sigil, for if she can
accept my rites, she will then radiate a sacredness that will drive away the
essence of corruption.]
"She is a 'King' who deserves it, so I will gladly
oblige."
Leon felt a sense of kinship with the Queen.
After all, he had spent two hundred years fighting evil.
Therefore, he understood better than anyone how sweet
their temptations and whispers were.
When Leon touched the Queen's hand, holy power flowed
through him.
From the Pantheon within the Lion's Heart, he could sense
the Goddess of dreams and death reaching out to her.
The next moment, her eyes opened, revealing purple
pupils.
“Have you woken up from your dream, Queen Beatrice?”
[You have cleared the hidden quest.]
-All participants' 'Corruption Resistance' increases.
-You have obtained the Crown of Craving.
-You have obtained Halberd of Soul.
* * * *
The battle had ended.
Androzin, the Archdemon of Pleasure, was slain, and
countless demons were slaughtered, while many fled through the Daemon Gate.
Leon's side took a hit, too.
Six of his men fell in battle. The Hunters were depressed
at the loss of their comrades-in-arms for over a month, but were relieved when
they read the message that their souls had made it to Paradise.
'So
even if we die... we'll go to heaven?'
"Uhuhuhu...
I will be loyal to His Majesty, the Lionhearted King!'
'Oooh...
I'll be faithful!'
Leon and his deities do not hide in the clouds.
They actively announce their existence and encourage
faith.
Although one shouldn't seek to trade with the gods, that
is something they can do on their own terms to help their followers.
With the guarantee of the Lionheart King, even if it is a
machine, an undead, or a person without faith, would get a free pass.
"Your Majesty, the loot is arriving."
Chief Kim Jin-soo and the Hunters were professional
hunters. Naturally, once they cleared a gate, they collected the loot.
"Is this the crown and halberd that was used by that
demon?"
A crown and halberd. These items were tainted with evil,
so they must be destroyed immediately──
-Kiglug!
It was then. Yakt Spinner approached, its eight legs
treading the ground, and began to wire up the halberd.
"Is it to your liking?"
-High-strength metal material. Useful.
“However, it is an object tainted with evil. The halberd
is apparently an object that traps the soul.”
Leon understood the nature of the weapon Androzin had
left behind.
A soul-trapping weapon made to punish even demons. The
souls of countless demons were imprisoned within it.
-Geeeeeeeeeeee!
-Forgive, forgive...!
-I curse you! I curse!
You see. Just being in its vicinity eroded the
surroundings. Hunters who actually touched it would have been tainted if not
for the Holy Grail's touch.
-I can handle it.
"Hmm......."
These were words spoken by none other than the Holy Grail
Knight Yappy. Leon nodded, giving him permission to do as he pleased.
And──
[Lionheart.]
Fleur, the goddess of dreams and death, appeared before
them.
"Huh?"
The Hunters froze at the sudden appearance of the
goddess. Leon shouted,
"On your knees, you lowly beings!"
"Ye-yes!"
The Death Knights had already dropped to their knees. The
Hunters followed suit.
Only Lionheart stood tall before the Goddess, because he
could.
"Please speak, O Goddess."
[Show me the crown that you have won by slaying the
fiend.]
"It is a vile object, and I fear it will stain your
eyes."
[It is all right.]
Leon held up the Crown of Craving. The Goddess eyed it
carefully.
"It is a crown of unusual power. I was going to
destroy it once I regained more power.”
[I am not unaware of your intentions, but why don't you
leave this crown to me?]
Fleur smiled as Leon tilted his head in question.
[This crown, you may not remember, but it is the kind
shared by the Archdemons of Pleasure, whose heads you cut off.]
"Is that so?"
To Leon, it was nothing more than a punishment. When he
cut the throats of vermin, what did it matter to him what they wore on their
heads?
[Those ugly demons of lust deceive children with
meaningless illusions. Such power is encapsulated in this crown. Perhaps I can
extract something from it.]
"It was an unusual object to be destroyed anyway.
I'd be happy to give it to you, if that's what you desire."
Leon handed it over to Fleur without much fuss.
[Thank you. And you have done well this time as well. The
Pantheon rejoices and is grateful for your glory and honor. Go and say your
greetings to The War.]
[No need for greetings.]
It was then. It was a man who looked like he was on fire.
A male god, whose searing gaze was frighteningly intense, descends beside
Fleur.
Pethos, the god of war and flame. The Hunters and Death
Knights felt their very existence crushed by the appearance of this fierce
deity next to Fleur.
“Uh, ahhh….”
“Ke-ugh…!”
For the ordinary, the presence of a divinity, even if it
was a spirit body, could bring this kind of pressure.
What sort of person was the Lionheart King that he can
stand tall under such pressure?
"O Dream and War, I have one request."
[It's been a long time since I've seen your face, and
you're asking for something out of the blue.]
"I apologize."
[What is it.]
Leon glanced at the Death Knights and saw the Queen's
figure still asleep among them.
"I beg you, please
accept their souls."
The gods did not listen to the Lionheart King's request
in vain.
[Do you mean to lead their souls to paradise? They
abandoned the cycle of life and death.]
[Too harsh, War. The power over death is mine, and none
of your business.]
[What kind of divinity approves of the undead?]
[Well, I suppose not.]
The Goddess of dream and death looked at the Death
Knights. By nature, she should not tolerate their existence.
[The knights who defied Death are essentially dark beings
that I should punish. They stepped outside the cycle of death.]
"Please... please forgive them."
At that moment, the Queen opened her eyes with
difficulty. She was barely holding on to her consciousness amidst the essence
of corruption rampaging within her body and the divinity of Fleur trying to
drive it away.
“Queen-Your Highness…!”
"Please...take care of your body..."
The Death Knights knelt before the Queen. These loyal
knights were concerned for their Queen's well-being, even in this moment when
their fate was being decided.
Beatrice could not fail to notice this noble sentiment.
"O Divinity of other realm... this Queen of a humble
country asks you with all my heart......."
These loyal individuals laid down their lives to protect
her. These loyal knights had defended her for 95 years.
The Queen would surrender all pride for the peace of her knights.
[Hmm.......]
Fleur was torn between the Queen and the Knights' plight
and Lionheart's request.
The undead were a blasphemy against death, and to allow
them into Paradise would be sacrilege.
[Loyal knights of the Queen, no one in the Pantheon can
allow your souls into Paradise.]
"......Yes."
Ricardo Byrnes and the other Death Knights had already
prepared for this. They want only one thing: The Queen's safety.
[However, your deeds cover your sins. Your loyalty has
impressed the gods, and above all, the apostle King Lionheart has begged for
your souls to me.]
So, Fleur offered an alternative,
[I cannot take you to Paradise, but I will give you a
chance to reincarnate. I will purify your tainted soul and give it a chance to
be born again.]
It was an arrangement for souls who were unfit for
paradise.
Even sinners had the opportunity to purify their souls
and be reborn. The deeper the sin, the more often it is lost in the
purification process.
But the sins of the Death Knights were not severe, and
they should be able to endure.
[However, Queen and her knights, the Underworld, my
realm, is not yet fully functioning for reincarnation, due to the lack of
divinity in the land.]
Currently, the Pantheon and all things related to it were
being run solely by Leon's Lion Heart.
And reincarnation can only function when there was enough
faith in the land.
[Queen, be my priestess, and help the Lionheart King
spread the faith across the land, for it is the only way to bring rest to the
souls of your knights.]
Beatrice bowed her head willingly.
* * * *
“Then, Your Majesty, we will go through the formalities
for Her Majesty Queen Beatrice.”
In the unprecedented situation of the Shifting Gate, the
Hunter's Association rallied all the hunters they could muster and prepared for
the Dungeon Break.
And so it continued for a week. Leon finally cleared the
gate and returned.
"Wow......."
"It's another survivor right after Yakt
Spinner."
"Pretty......."
Having a survivor come out of the gate was a rare
occurrence.
The Hunter Association Chairman Oh Kang-hyuk registered
Beatrice as a survivor at Leon's request and also expressed his condolences to
the deceased Hunters.
"We express our sincere condolences to the hunters
for their sacrifice."
Six Hunters died. If it was under normal circumstances,
Leon's graduation test would have been a colossal failure.
"But this was a red gate, with a Shift happening and
even an Archdemon. It is truly a miracle that it ended with this level of
casualties."
"Lord Spinner has the details. I need to meet with
the families of the fallen warriors."
"In person?"
"They were my men, so it is the least I could
do."
“…You could end up in a bad situation.”
Mourning for the dead was always going to be emotional.
The Chairman of the Association was worried that the families of the deceased
might try to get back at Leon.
"It's not that I don't understand the wives and
parents and children of the dead. But they will be relieved to hear my
story."
They would be relieved to know how they would be treated
in the paradise of the departed, for they were souls that Leon had personally
blessed and guided.
Those who have lost loved ones will be looked after by
Leon's Pantheon, which was the Lionheart Kingdom's way of honoring the fallen.
"Release the video and summon more hunters. The
demons will eventually invade your world, so soldiers and knights are needed
for that time.”
"......."
Association Chairman Oh Kang-hyuk had already seen the
video of what happened inside the gate.
The Archdemon of Pleasure and Corruption. Their kind of
demon had been seen appearing in Mexico and other places in South America.
In a South American country where security was already in
shambles, the city they corrupted was eventually vaporized by a nuclear attack.
Oh Kang-hyuk had also seen the deeds of those filthy,
lustful demons time and time again on record.
"Your Majesty, your strength is optimal for dealing
with demons, correct?"
"Yes."
"Then......."
Oh Kang-hyuk told him about the upcoming
Association-level meeting, and Leon gladly accepted.
Then, at the Pantheon compound in the Naju Plains.
The events of the Shifting Gate and the graduation test
for the recruits were not yet finalized, but Leon urgently found a place to
seek 'help'.
A place where the people of this world could not go. A
place he could only reach with the strength of his faith, which he had been
faithfully building up to this point.
Leon closed his eyes and allowed himself to fall into a
coma.
In his spiritual state, he saw a goddess of violet color
gazing at him.
[Take my hand.]
Coming into contact with the glorious jade body of a
deity was a familiar experience for the Lionheart King. Guided by the goddess,
the place he went to was his own heart.
The temple of all the gods was enshrined in the Lion's
Heart, the only one that generated its own holy power.
A place granted to Leon alone among mortals since the
dawn of the Age of Gods.
Paradise of the Gods.
There were those who stood waiting for him before the
magnificent temple.
"Welcome, Your Majesty."
A woman with long brown hair and a cotton veil. There was
a divine radiance about her that could not have come from a mere mortal.
"Anyak."
“A lowly servant of a deity greets the representative of
the gods.”
Leon stared at the multitude of people behind the
kneeling saintess's back.
Each and every one of them was a servant of deities who
had reached the pinnacle of their mortal existence and deserved to dine with
the gods in the Pantheon.
Ancient Lionheart Kings and great Grail Knights. Sages of
the forest and champions of the gods.
""Welcome, greatest guardian of the Holy
Grail.""
A paradise created by the gods for mortals.
The heroes and people of the Pantheon bowed before him at
the heart of the temple.
***
Previous chapter | Novel page | Next chapter
Help us keep our spirit up by buying
us Coffee (人ゝω・）
