CHAPTER 4

Episode 4: The Survivor

Leon Dragonia Lionheart.

The Hunter Association and the government were in a difficult position regarding the survivor who had emerged from the third Black Gate—the first to appear in thirteen years.

Survivors from beyond the gates were exceedingly rare beings from other worlds.

They each came from unique cultures and environments, and some were hostile or condescending toward Earth's inhabitants.

There had been war heroes sealed in ice, vampires who lived for eternity, descendants of dragons, and dwarves who dug tunnels and defended underground fortresses.

None of them were easy to handle, and all had their own stubbornness. However, most survivors acknowledged that their worlds had perished and were generally content with being treated as such.

The policy of governments worldwide regarding survivors was the same:

Recruit them at any cost. If making them government operatives was impossible, at least ensure they settled within national borders.

As survivors of a fallen world, many possessed exceptional combat skills and unique abilities.

Of course, not all survivors were accepted. Some had values so incompatible with modern human civilization that they simply could not be integrated.

The latest survivor, Leon, was proving to be particularly difficult to handle.

"What do we do? Should we observe royal court etiquette or something?"

"Uh… I've seen some historical dramas, but…."

Hunter Association Manager Kim Jin-soo and Deputy Han Ha-ri exchanged uneasy glances as they observed the man who had saved them.

Leon Dragonia Lionheart.

He claimed to be the king of the Lionheart Kingdom.

He referred to himself as the agent of the gods, a demigod, and an honorable knight.

His speech and demeanor suggested he came from a rigid caste society. Three different investigators had attempted to interrogate him, only to be dismissed with intimidating gestures.

He refused to eat seolleongtang (ox bone soup) and kimchi, calling them peasant food.

He showed brief interest in jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles) but declined, deeming it a crude dish that would splatter sauce everywhere.

They even offered him fried chicken, but he refused that as well—because it was eaten with one's hands.

"…He's got an uncanny ability to tell."

"Yeah, tell me about it."

Leon rejected Earth's foods simply by looking at them, recognizing them as commoners' fare. This meant they had to source meals from the finest restaurants in the area.

"Ha-ri… you go first."

"M-me? I'm not good at speaking in historical drama style!"

"Still, he seems to like you. Didn't he compliment you?"

"All he said was that I had courage…!"

Since Leon had shown a favorable attitude toward Han Ha-ri in the Gate, it was decided she would approach him first—at least she wouldn't be immediately dismissed.

"Ugh…"

Taking a deep breath, Ha-ri cautiously approached Leon, who was elegantly cutting into a prime T-bone steak and sipping a 1993 red wine.

"Y-Y-Your Majesty… I apologize for disturbing your meal, but…?"

"Ah, the swordswoman from before. Sit."

He didn't immediately send her away. Ha-ri sighed in relief and clenched her fist toward the cracked magic mirror behind her, believing her colleagues beyond it were cheering her on.

"D-does the meal suit your taste, Your Majesty?"

"Not bad. I can tell the chef put in effort and dedication."

"I am honored to hear that… I deeply regret offering such lowly food…!"

"You misunderstand."

Leon set his knife down and spoke reassuringly.

"What I criticized was not the food, but the way you treated a king."

"W-what do you mean by that…?"

"When royalty meets representatives of another nation, they must be treated with dignity befitting their status. This reflects the dignity of your own country as well."

"I-I see…?"

"I do not refuse commoners' food. I did not grow up spoiled enough to be picky on the battlefield. However, if you are standing before me as representatives of your nation's will, then you must act accordingly."

In other words, he hadn't thrown a fit over the food—he had taken issue with the lack of formality in how they treated him.

Ha-ri thought to herself, Can't he just eat without making a fuss? But then again, when a foreign head of state visits, no one serves them a Big Mac combo.

"I see. My ignorance has led to great disrespect…!"

"That will do. By the way, you are called Han something, correct?"

"Y-yes! My name is Han Ha-ri!"

Leon did not tell her to drop the awkward historical drama speech.

A king could not lower himself to speak casually with a commoner.

"I have learned about this world."

"Ah…."

Despite his aggressive responses during questioning, Leon had been diligently gathering information.

The investigators had also done their best to explain Earth and its current state, so by now, Leon had a general understanding.

"It seems this world is also under some form of invasion. You call it a 'Gate,' correct? These things appeared in my world as well."

"Is that so?"

This was a common thread in all survivors' testimonies.

Gates. Portals. Dimensional rifts.

They were called by many names, but they all shared one feature:

"Demons. Those vile beings appear in this world as well, do they not?"

"Y-yes… they do."

Ha-ri's mission was simple.

The best outcome was recruiting him into the South Korean government's Hunter Association.

The next best option was getting him to settle in Korea, regardless of his status.

The appearance of a survivor always caught the attention of governments worldwide. Countries would do anything to secure them.

In fact, recruiting survivors had become the centerpiece of 21st-century intelligence warfare.

Leon's value? Undeniable—simply by virtue of being a survivor.

Combat prowess? Multiple Association employees had already verified it.

The problem was his aristocratic mindset and rigid hierarchy. But when actually speaking to him, he wasn't completely unreasonable. Most importantly—

'This man has absolute confidence in his worth.'

His sheer arrogance in maintaining an authoritative stance in an unfamiliar world was proof of that confidence.

Most survivors either acted naive or yielded to governments, knowing they couldn't fight an entire nation alone.

But Leon? He was pride and self-worth personified.

He demanded what he wanted without hesitation and expected immediate compliance.

As a king who firmly believed in the divine right of rule, he naturally carried himself with unshakable confidence.

"Your Majesty… It is an honor to request this of you, but if Your Majesty would permit, our South Korean government would like to oversee your future endeavors."

"What do you mean by that?"

Ha-ri slowly presented him with choices.

Becoming a government-affiliated Hunter.

Settling and finding a different path.

Regardless of his decision, the Association promised full support—especially if he chose to become a government Hunter.

The higher-ups had yet to grasp Leon's true value. But once they did, they would eagerly work to keep him in Korea.

"This world is under attack. An honorable knight must fight. Since I have chosen to reside here, I am obligated to take up arms."

"Oh!"

Ha-ri's face brightened. He had a more righteous mindset than expected.

Many survivors refused to engage with the demons or enter Gates, claiming they had no obligation to fight in another world's battles.

And yet, they never failed to collect government support payments.

At least this man wasn't that kind of scoundrel.

"Then you will join our Hunter Association—"

"No. A king does not serve under another ruler."

…Wait, what?

Ha-ri was stunned.

If he wouldn't join the government or a guild, then what was he planning?

"I will establish my own knight order in this world."

Hearing Leon's grand declaration, all Ha-ri could do was nod.