The Knight King Who Returned with Gods : Chapter 49
Translators: Nyx and Ririi Rain
Episode 49 Paradise of the Gods
"Anyak, it's been a while. Are you comfortable in
paradise?"
“It’s thanks to Your Majesty’s protection.”
Anyak Prothesia, High Priestess of the Temple of the
Pantheon. She stood by Leon until the final battle, when she fell at the hands
of demons 180 years ago.
She was not the only one.
"Sir Gildus. Sir Antoc. All of you seem to be in
good condition."
Gildus the Holy Grail Knight, Belthion the legendary ogre
slayer, and──
"Your Majesty."
"Emperor."
Argent Majestie Lionheart, the Lionheart King before
Leon.
Such legendary heroes stood before Leon.
Unlike those who lived and died an ordinary way of life,
they lived a life of honor and glory and went to the side of the gods.
This was their paradise.
In Earthly terms, there were heaven and hell. According
to the pantheon, the afterlife was divided into a place of rest and a place to
purify the soul.
"New souls must have come here. Have you heard any
news?"
Leon asked, referring to the dead recruits at the gate.
Argent Lionheart said,
"Isn’t this the first new souls in 180 years? Rest
assured, they are welcome."
"I see."
Normally, entering the afterlife was a taboo for the
living.
But for Leon, who served as a representative of the gods
of the Pantheon, it was allowed.
And.
"I would like to greet the Deities of the Pantheon
and make amends, but the situation is urgent. I shall borrow the wisdom of my
predecessors."
"I will send you my friend Petelion."
The horse offered by the Ancestral Lionheart King of
Argent was a sturdy, muscular black horse. What made it different from a normal
horse was that it had wings.
A fantasy species called a pegasus. Petelion, a heavenly
horse that only a few of the Lionhearted Kings had ever handled, had died
fighting an Archdemon alongside Argent Lionheart King.
Leon mounted it and flew away into the vastness of the
heavens.
In this paradise of the honored, the war horses that
accompanied them in life also reside.
As they galloped across the open meadows, many knights'
steeds recognize the King and bowed their heads.
One day, he knew, he and Stallion will be galloping here,
too.
'But,
not now, not without leaving a legacy.'
Leon sees this paradise as the last bastion of the gods.
A community of shared destiny. As such, he allowed himself many of the taboos
granted to mortals.
Like this one.
"Over there, Sir Petelion."
-Prrrr!
Understanding Leon's words, the Pegasus landed in the
middle of the forest at the edge of paradise. The dark forest shook as they
landed.
“Lion… Heart.”
"The rightful Grand Duke of Dragonia."
"Master of the Holy Relics."
The voices echoed throughout the forest, and one need not
look far to see that the dense towering trees around them were all sages.
"We apologize for trespassing upon your domain,
Sages of the Forest."
"To you......."
"To the Lion King."
"All living things... are indebted."
"Even the Gods."
You need not be polite. The forest always welcomes you.
"I am ashamed of my gilded visage."
"Honorable, descendant of the Dragon Slayer."
"Heir of the Lion's Heart."
"For what purpose."
"Have you- visited the paradise of the dead?"
Leon was pleased with their reception and mouthed the
name of a sage,
"Gunnar. I wish to meet the youngest sage among you,
a dear friend of mine."
The forest moved. One of the sleeping colossus trees of
paradise stirred, revealing its features beneath its rough bark.
The spirits of the forest, called Wood Men, were awakened
selves of the ancient trees.
"Leon. My old friend."
Gunnar the Tree Giant. Leon's friend since his days as an
apprentice knight, and his comrade-in-arms in the Last War.
He, at 15m tall, stooped to meet Leon at eye level.
"What brings you to me?"
"I need your seedling."
"Hooo......."
The spirits of the forest. When Wood Men ascend in rank
to become Sages of the Forest, they have the opportunity to plant a 'tree'.
Wood Men who live very old lives can leave behind
'seedlings' that only happen once in a lifetime.
"You did not plant a seedling before you were laid
to rest in the arms of Paradise. You must plant a seedling of your own."
"Is it... urgent?"
"That world, Earth, my home world, is being invaded
by evil species. This recent venture has shown me that their conspiracy has
reached a tipping point."
Leon remembered the Daemon Gate, leading to Queen
Beatrice's Spero Kingdom.
A gate tampered with by something. A kingdom where the
demons of pleasure ran amok. And that meant two things.
"They have sensed my presence and have begun to play
tricks with me. They must have infiltrated that world as well."
"Just like they did in the Empire."
What made demons so terrifying was not their strength nor
their infinite resurrection.
It was that they corrupt humans, rotting them from the
inside out.
At least where Leon was engaged, their foolish movements
had to be prevented.
"You're the only one alive who can take things from
this other world. That’s good. I can trust you.”
Gunnar gladly handed Leon his seedling. The tiny
seedling, barely ten centimeters tall, looked fragile, like it could snap in
the wind.
"I realize that you know, but the moment you plant
this, you'll attract the attention of the evil creatures. It will be
dangerous."
"I'm prepared."
Accepting the seedling, he hurried back to the temple.
This was the world of the dead. No good could come from lingering for the
living.
“It was nice to meet you after a long time, my old
friend.”
Don't come too quickly.
The forest echoed in response to Gunnar's voice.
* * * * *
Leon was about to return with Gunnar's seedling.
"Lord Leon."
"Sir Gratas."
Gratas, Grail Knight, the Giant Slayer. A Holy Grail
Knight two generations older than Leon. He was a friend of Leon's mentor, Ser
Gordic.
He was also the one behind the Grail Knights' standing
army training manual.
And not just him. Saintess Anyak and the 13th Lionheart
King, Argent Majestie Lionheart, came to him.
"What can I do for you all?"
In response to Leon’s question, the late King Argent
spoke as a representative,
"After much discussion, I have decided to give you
something you need right now. In that world, there is a limit to your holy
power, so isn’t there a limit to what you can carry? We discussed it with each
other.”
King Argent Lionheart placed reins in Leon's hands.
"This is......."
"The reins of a master trainer who can control even
fantastical beasts. When I died, I entrusted them to you, but you buried them
with me."
"Hmmm......."
Leon knew the value of this treasure, which was why he
wanted the Lionheart King to hold the reins as he rode through the paradise of
the gods.
For no soul can take possession of a treasure once it has
passed into the possession of another.
"My turn."
Holy Grail Knight Gratas approached and handed him a
book.
"This is?"
"I have heard that you are training your soldiers
from scratch. As King of the Lionheart, I imagine it must be frustrating to
lead such proud men."
The book Gratas handed him was no ordinary book. It was
carefully woven from leather, and radiated holy power.
"It's one of my lifetime's worth of training tips,
and I hope it helps."
"「How
to catch a giant with serfs」…?
Isn’t this the legendary training manual of Lord Gratas? Something so
valuable?"
"Hoho, it's nothing so special."
"Indeed a book compiled by the legendary Grail
Knight, a holy relic in its own right. I was skeptical since it was only a
story, but did you really capture a giant with serfs?"
"Three hundred of the five hundred died."
"Serfs' lives, so be it."
If anything, the efficient utilization of serfs was an
accomplishment.
As he held the gifts from King Argent Lionheart and
Gratas, he was approached by Saintess Anyak.
"I will give you my necklace."
What Anyak gave him was the symbol of the Lionheart
Kingdom. It was a necklace in the shape of a crossed sword. Leon knew its value
better than anyone.
"The holy relics of saintess are treasures that can
only be passed on through saintess. How can I, a saint, receive this?"
"Who would argue about it with the agent of the
Pantheon? It will protect you before the resurrection of the Holy Sword."
Leon hesitated for a moment before accepting her gift.
Tradition requires flexibility in times of crisis.
Anyak's holy artifact could only be used once, but it
would be of great use in a critical time.
"Thank you, everyone. I will put your gifts to good
use."
And with that, Leon returned from the paradise of the
gods to the realm of the living with the seedling, the holy book, the holy
relic, and the treasure.
* * * *
When Leon opened his eyes, the first thing he did was
check the items in his hands.
The holy book of Sir Gratas, the Holy Grail Knight.
The reins of the 13th Lionheart King Argent.
The holy relic of Anyak, Saintess of Light and Justice.
And finally, the seedling of the sage Gunnar.
The other treasures were precious, but the seedling of
Gunnar was what he was originally meant to bring out. He must find a place to
plant it as soon as possible.
'The
Chairman of the Society will send new recruits. Train them and build the
minimum force.'
Just increasing the number of soldiers is not the
solution. If soldiers are support, knights are the mainstay. The Association's Chairman
presented a great offer, but the group was severely lacking in strength right
now.
'For
that.......'
Leon left his seat and headed to a room in the Pantheon
Guild headquarters building. He knocked on the door and waited for a response,
which was rarity.
"This is King Lionheart. May I have your permission
to enter?"
There was no answer, just the door opening of its own,
waiting for him to enter.
Leon would have gladly walked through this door. But he
didn't.
“Aren’t you coming in?”
"Because you have not let me."
This was how Leon showed respect. Uninvited people cannot
enter a royalty's bedroom without permission.
"You're a proper gentleman. Come in."
Only then did Leon cross the threshold of the Queen's
bedroom. And... he noticed that the air in the room had slightly changed.
Just breathing in the air was enough to make a man dizzy.
A power of corruption that seduces the rational... nay, the living. It was not
as bad as before, but still, a man would strike her at the drop of a hat.
"Queen Beatrice. I apologize for keeping you here in
such squalor."
"It's rather too much for a fallen queen, Your
Majesty Lionheart, and I hope you'll just... forgive my rudeness."
Every gesture was a lethal display.
Indeed, the next Lord of Pleasure was an ill-fated
prospect. Not that she can help it.
"The holy power within you is suppressing the
essence of corruption... but not completely extinguishing it. For the time
being, you must keep it in balance."
"Holy power... Your Majesty certainly possesses a
lot of that power."
"The gods love me. A king as favored as I am can do
many things."
Seeing his confident attitude without a singn of doubt,
Beatrice smiled and passed the wine.
It was a token of the Association's respect, but Leon was
not much of a drinker.
"Is this a farewell drink for the knights?"
"Because it's all I can do."
Beatrice stared at the crimson liquid in her cup with a
weary gaze.
“Couldn’t Your Majesty have them as servants?”
The Death Knights. They may be dead, but they were not
lacking in power.
If Leon had not consecrated their souls on the spot...
no, if he had made the knights as his servants in exchange for their
consecration, who could have refused? Not the Queen, not even the Death
Knights.
In the history of countless wars, even as the Holy Grail
Knights ascended to heaven one by one while being destroyed by evil species.
Leon could have done it. But he didn't.
“It is an insult to the dead to treat them like dead
people. How could I dishonor them and take advantage of their spirit?"
"Even if the end is destruction?"
"Then I will ascend with honor."
To the very end.
What an old-fashioned, upright man.
Beatrice knew the difference between this otherworldly
Lionhearted King and herself.
Herself, who finally surrendered to the devil and
accepted the deal at the crossroads of destruction,
and the Lionhearted King, who refused to compromise and
demanded only justice, even in the face of destruction.
The victor is not the wise one, but the one who stays
true to their convictions.
It was the decisive difference between him and herself.
"It's your second day in this world. Have you
adjusted?"
“I think I still need more time. This place… is
completely different from my world.”
Upon arriving on Earth, Beatrice received an eager tour
and introduction from the Association staff, and realized that it was a very
different world.
The internet, cars, airplanes... all of these things were
shocking things that were nothing short of astonishing. Leon was probably also
an inhabitant of a different world, just like her.
“There is no need to adapt.”
“Why?”
“I carry out my own law with pride. A king must spread
his royal way wherever he goes. Sentenced offenders should simply follow the
King's path."
"Is this the mindset of an invader?"
"Not quite. The ambition of duty, provided it leads
to the defense of the world. If it is to benefit the people with righteous
teachings, it is the enlightenment granted by the Lionheart King."
What a gargantuan ego.
Beatrice smiled wryly at the man's shameless, colossal
conceit. Well, at least he could handle the insanity of fighting demons for
hundreds of years.
"I'm guessing demons aren't the only thing you're
going to be up against."
"Indeed. For I have a noble quest from the
Gods."
Leon patted his chest and spoke again to the Queen,
"Therefore, I propose. Magician Queen of the Spero
Kingdom. I ask you to join me in my quest."
She had no strength, no arsenal... not even the
brilliance of the gods.
But Beatrice also knew that Leon was a man who could
ultimately triumph over the demons.
So much so that they feared him.
"I am indebted to you, and how can I, queen of a
kingdom, not repay your kindness?"
Beatrice respectfully lowered her head, her hand across
her chest. It was the least she could do for the benefactor who had saved her
and her knights.
"But there is one thing."
Benefactor. A word that conveyed both gratitude and a
sense of remorse. The queen's violet eyes blazed menacingly.
"The pleasure demons... please teach me the power to
extinguish them."
The Queen had lost her kingdom.
After a hundred years of repeated history, all citizens,
except for the loyal knights, eventually became corrupted.
She was the queen of a ruined kingdom, unable to fulfill
her duty to protect it. Her only remaining duty is to seek revenge.
Knowing her intentions, Leon gladly accepted the request.
"I'll do anything to kill those filthy parasites,
and it thrills me to see their souls extinguished by the holy arts they
fear."
"......Oh-ho."
Indeed, the Holy Law. It was the only way to destroy the
demons. Beatrice coveted it.
"In my kingdom, demons are executed by boiling them
in a cauldron. They keep coming back to life, so the idea was to at least
traumatize them.”
"Wise, for they are selfish and filthy, prioritizing
only their own suffering. Have you ever driven an awl under a demon's nail?
That's when they scream the loudest."
"I've skinned them and rolled them in a field of
sharp iron stakes."
"Hahaha! That's very creative."
The two deepen their conversation.
"Hahahahaha......!"
"Huhuhuhu......."
The laughter of the demon butchers spreads out, merrily
and eerily.
***
Previous chapter | Novel page | Next chapter
Help us keep our spirit up by buying
us Coffee (人ゝω・）
