The Knight King Who Returned with Gods: Chapter 73
Translators: Nyx and Ririi Rain
Episode 73: This is Totally A Discrimination
July, the beginning of a hot summer. At the Pantheon
Guild headquarters, the second graduation ceremony was being prepared.
"Your Majesty, are you present?"
Queen Beatrice and Yappy were setting things up for the
graduation ceremony. They were in charge of the entire test for the second
generation cadets.
"Last night, you came back late. How did the test
raid turn out?"
"Yes, it was an orc gate, and the second batch of
cadets did well. But......."
"But?"
Beatrice whispered in Leon's ear, looking slightly
troubled,
"Sir Yappy was pretty ruthless with the orcs, to the
point where some of the cadets were a little frightened."
"Hmm... I see. It is no problem, however. If it's a
matter of inefficiency, then wrath against the beast is appropriate."
"I suppose you're right."
Beatrice was immediately convinced, comparing orcs to
demons.
"I've decided to simplify the ceremony, and let Sir
Yappy do the honors."
“Wouldn’t it be alright if you did it?"
“If I do it, the cadets… will be awkward.”
Beatrice smiled bitterly inside her veil. Leon nodded his
head wordlessly.
Certainly, her charms had reached the point where she
could dazzle a man with her breath alone.
Even though she covered her face with a veil, giving
encouragement from close range would break the soldiers' will.
"Sir Spinner will do just fine.”
Seeing as there was no more talk of a private equity fund
or something else collapsing due to the war a week ago, it appeared that there
had been a recovery.
There was a time when Leon was also a resident of this
Earth, but he lived in an era far removed from finance. The only financial
crisis he remembered experiencing was the IMF crisis1, so was there any need to
say more?
Leon shrugged his shoulders as he watched Yappy giving
badges to the 2nd generation cadets at the graduation ceremony.
“It seems that Sir Spinner has adapted to Earth more than
me.”
“I guess Your Majesty couldn’t adapt better than I did?”
“How dare you make fun of me like that. Even though I
look like this, I came a couple of months earlier than you.”
Beatrice smiled and showed her smartphone. It was the
latest in rollable smartphones. Leon, who cannot adapt to a touchscreen phone
and lets Hari hold it for him, was silent for a moment.
"I'm relieved to see you've adapted so quickly.
You're better than me."
"Your Majesty is still adapting to Earth, but how
can I say I'm better?"
Leon received the rollable smartphone from the Queen and
shook his head, not sure how he was going to use it to browse the internet or
watch videos.
"And what about Sir Spinner?"
"He said it was too barbaric a means of
communication, so he hacked into the communications bureau?"
“...I wonder if this is consistent with injustice.”
Yappy also made the illegally modified Wi-Fi
amplification receiver installed in the Pantheon. It seemed like quite a rumor
had spread among tourists.
“Anyway, what happened to ‘him’?”
"Still hanging in there, he's pretty tough, thanks
to some of his evil energy."
“If necessary, I will help you. I'll see if he can
withstand me skinning his face."
Beatrice shook her head and politely declined.
“I can’t leave such a task to an honorable knight. I will
do the dirty work. I'm surprisingly good at it. And I assure you, it will yield
valuable information for Your Majesty."
The Magician Queen didn't bother to say how chilling the
process would be.
“It’s a shame I can’t watch it from first-class seat.”
She laughed gracefully. Leon also chuckled in response.
Their laughter seemed almost frighteningly evil.
* * * * *
A Dragon Palace had appeared.
Unlike gates on land, if dungeon break occurs at sea, it
is nearly impossible to solve.
This was because no matter how powerful a hunter is, most
have limitations in the sea.
Moreover, considering the sea creatures contaminated with
maso, it is a difficult task to deal with the aftermath of a dungeon break.
Therefore, the Hunter Association had the right to
urgently conscript the most powerful Hunters if the appearance of the Dragon
Palace is confirmed.
"You have arrived, Hunter Lee Yong-wan."
"It's been a while, Chairman."
Lee Yong-wan, leader of the Phoenix Guild, came to the
Hunter Association where the conscription order had been issued, along with
Vice Guild Leader Hayuri.
"Hunter Hayuri, I see you're here too."
"Hello."
Hayuri bowed her head, her mask covering her face as she
scanned the area.
"But I don't see anyone else?"
In response to Lee Yong-wan’s question, Oh Kang-hyuk
shrugged his shoulders.
"This time, reinforcements will be coming from the
United States. Therefore, other guilds will remain as a backup strategy in
preparation for an emergency.”
The corner of Lee Yong-wan’s mouth twitched at the words
of Association Chairman Oh Kang-hyuk.
“Why are we the ones to be conscripted first? There are
many other great guilds, aren’t there?”
“It is difficult to find a guild as great as the Phoenix
Guild.”
“The aftermath of Jeju Island Gate still remains.”
“It’s already been a month, so I believe you already
recovered. Hohoho.”
'Damn
old man.'
Lee Yong-wan realized the Chairman's intention: This is a
penalty.
Regarding their manipulation that took place at the Honam
Plain Gate last time.
They probably want to publicly penalize the Phoenix
Guild, which was the most active in the tax exemption bill for large guilds and
also for taking such a bold action. It was safe to view it as a warning to
everyone.
'Now
you're actually acting strongly, huh.'
Oh Kang-hyuk. A first-generation Hunter who was once a
powerhouse on par with the Divine Sword Guild's Broadswordsman and the Blue
Star Guild's Infinite Swordsman, but was now the oldest and the weakest.
He is a civil servant who is forced to struggle before
the Top Ten Guilds that have grown too big.
It should be no surprise that he would come out this
strong against the Phoenix Guild, a Top Ten Guild.
"You're not sending out your secret weapon, and just
us?"
"What do you mean a trump card? He is not a man who can be judged in the
hands of someone like me."
'I
guess so.'
His old self would have thought that the Association
Chairman would actually have made some sort of pact with Leon or brought him
into the fold.
But he had witnessed the Holy Grail Knights' actions at
Jeju Island Gate.
Neither Geobrick nor Leon... those holy men who believe
themselves to be chosen by the gods are not ones to take orders from fellow
humans.
"Hmm..."
“Well, isn’t that a blessing in disguise?”
Hayuri commented to Yong-wan, who sighed and sat down.
Yong-wan shot her an ugly glare, but she just shrugged her shoulders.
And while the two were waiting in the waiting room, an
employee of the Association rushed over to report.
"Chairman. We have a VIP visitor. He's on his
way."
"Hmm...! I understand."
With those words, Association Chairman Oh Kang-hyuk
checked to make sure his suit and tie were not out of order, and even took out
a hairbrush to tidy up his hair.
‘Huh?'
One would think he was about to engage in a showdown.
What's all the fuss about? While Yong-wan was thinking that, the Chairman of
the Association gave him a blank stare.
“W-what is it?”
"Hunter Lee Yong-wan, if you don't mind, would you
please tidy up your disheveled clothes?"
"......Why?"
"Because it would be disrespectful to the man who
will be visiting soon."
"What?"
What the hell is this old man talking about... Yong-wan's
expression turned bizarre.
With a click, the door opened and a handsome blond man
was ushered in by an employee. Oh Kang-hyuk ran up to him hurriedly, with Chief
Kim Jin-soo and Deputy Han Hari trailing behind the man like an entourage.
"Thank you for coming, Your Majesty."
Leon Dragonia Lionheart. He looked down at Association
President Oh Kang-hyuk, who was bowing down, and spoke with great arrogance,
"If you make the king himself come, you better have
a good reason."
"Of course. I'm humiliated by the huge weight you
carried."
Leon took the Association Chairman's formal greeting and
sat down at the head of the table with a grunt. Lee Yong-wan heard a shuffle
next to him. It was Hayuri.
"Why are you standing up?"
"Because I feel like I have to?"
Yong-wan frowned as he looked at Hayuri who stood up when
Leon came. It wasn't just Hayuri. The Chairman of the Association didn't sit
down either, but stood next to Leon as if he was always ready.
Yong-wan is the only one sitting at this point.
-Aren’t you going to stand up?
Everyone's gaze turned to Yong-wan. No, why, for what? He
was a king in his former world, but is he a king here?
-Are you really not standing up?
It took him about ten seconds before he stood up. Only
when he was on his feet did Leon speak,
"Report."
The attitude of treating them as if they were
subordinates was unbelievable, but no one could possibly challenge him.
"Yes, Your Majesty. At around eleven o'clock last
night, we caught a gate's magic power on the east coast.”
The Chairman of the Association personally presented the
data as if he were really reporting to someone higher up and pointed to a map
of the east coast.
"It is eight kilometers south of Ulleungdo. It’s
completely inside the sea and borders Japan’s maritime waters.”
And this, he added, was a cross from the observation of the
Japanese maritime defense and the U.S. fleet, so it was certain that there was
a gate in the sea.
"If it's at sea, why don't you just go out there and
conquer it? You're making me hold up my caravan because you can't even tend
your own garden."
"I apologize, Your Majesty, I am ashamed to say that
it is difficult to even reach the gate, let alone conquer it.”
The Chairman then pulled up another report. A weather
report.
"A typhoon is approaching. It's heading in the
direction of the gate, and The typhoon is so strong that only a warship can
barely approach it.”
"How about waiting for the typhoon to pass?"
"Time is running out. Unlike the other gates, the
Dragon Palace Gate... the gate at sea is not only difficult to conquer, but it
also requires quick action."
Yet they'll have to wait four days for the typhoon to
pass. It was a risk they can't afford to take.
If the first raid party fails, the dungeon break may
occur before the second raid party is dispatched due to the limited time.
And a dungeon break at sea would be catastrophic, so it
would have to be dealt with quickly and completely.
"I know you're putting your country's prestige on
the line. But after what happened in Cheongju and Jeju Island, you seem to
think of me as the country's gardener."
"By no means...! How could I take Your Majesty
lightly?"
“Then what? Even in this small country, there are a lot
of heroes of their own, and you are the first to seek out me?"
Of course, Oh Kang Hyuk was able to recruit the other
Hunters before Leon.
In the case of a Dragon Palace Gate, the Association has
the power of compulsory conscription, so they can mobilize the strongest guilds
in the country, such as the Divine Sword Guild and the Blue Star Guild.
Of course, whether these guilds will respond obediently
is a separate question.
Lee Yong-wan was excited and curious to see how the
Association President would convince this difficult man.
“Your Majesty, how can the common people of this small
land compare to you? Compared to Your Majesty, most of the people in this land
are no different from ordinary people.”
'What
the?! This guy dare?!'
Are you trying to belittle us?!
"Your Majesty, this is our chance to uplift the
honor of the Lionheart King! Please grant us the dignity of a true heroic
king!"
Leon smirked, as if he didn't hate Oh Kang Hyuk's honeyed
tongue.
"Well, fine. However, a king's journey is a heavy
one. You will need to prepare the proper tribute."
"Do you have any particular requests?"
Association President Oh Kang-hyuk glanced at Leon. If
this survivor wants something, they will grant it as best as they can, but it
is also important to understand what the survivor wants.
"The king does not count coins. For further
discussion, speak to Sir Spinner."
"Mmm......."
Naturally, the blank check came up. Oh Kang-hyuk smiled
bitterly as he realized it wasn't easy.
* * * * *
Leon's plan to attack the Eastern Sea Gate was decided.
Leon had attacked many gates, but he had never
encountered a special circumstance one like the Dragon Palace Gate before.
Raiding teams would be dispatched from Korea, Japan, and
the United States, and even warships would be mobilized.
Since only a limited number of people from each guild
could enter the gate, Leon carefully selected the participants.
"Due to the nature of the gate, we'll be doing this
on a small scale. Those whose name are called will step forward one by
one."
The first to be called was Yakt Spinner, whose all-around
versatility in any situation makes the machine a top priority.
Han Su-ho and Jae-hyuk were next. No surprise, as both
were skilled fighters.
After that, the cadets were called by name, including the
newest knight cadet, Gu Dae-sung. There were ten knight cadets in total. And
twenty from Men at Arms.
"Huh?"
Hari and Cheon So-yeon were the first to doubt. Hari
raised her hand.
“Um… Your Majesty. Among the people you called, there is
not a single ‘woman’?”
Sexism? No way~ Hari knew that while Leon seemed like an
unreasonable discriminator, he was secretly not.
Even if he did separate calling females as 'ladies' and
'woman', who would make a gender distinction in a raiding party like this──
"If you put a woman on a boat, it brings misfortune."
"????"
It was an extremely discriminatory reason.
***
Notes:
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