CHAPTER 12

The Vile Merchant

Leon, having returned to Earth, assessed the world of 2030 and established three main objectives.

First, the spread of faith.

This world lacked true gods.

Jehovah, Buddha, Allah, and the countless Devas and Devis of Hinduism—if they were real deities, then there should at least have been saints who stood against evil.

Yet, neither cardinals, priests, nor even the fanatics screaming Allahu Akbar in the 2030s exhibited divine power.

To eradicate evil, divine power was essential, and yet there wasn't even a trace of it here?

"The priests of cathedrals and mosques have no means to channel divine power."

A true god grants blessings to those who hold faith.

Even considering what happened in the Honam Plains, the very idea that polluted land brings famine was flawed.

How could land that had been blessed and consecrated by the Goddess of Life and Prosperity become tainted?

And why would famine occur when the God of Rain and Clouds was present to bestow rain upon the land?

Even the crops themselves proved something was wrong.

The rice, supposedly cultivated and modified using the pinnacle of 21st-century technology, couldn't even cure a minor tumor in the body?

That people relied on savage hospital treatments rather than divine sanctuaries for healing was utterly absurd.

Illness itself should not even occur. Had people consistently consumed crops blessed by Demera, they would not fall sick.

Healing was meant for wounded soldiers on the battlefield or those cursed by wicked cultists—not for those relying on mere scalpels and painkillers.

To wield divine power, faith must be spread first.

The Honam Plains were resolved thanks to the faint remnants of holy power Leon still maintained. But moving forward, he would need a much greater reservoir of divine strength.

His world had ultimately fallen to demons because there were no longer faithful believers left to sustain the gods.

Second, the restoration of the Holy Grail Knights.

This world lacked any combat order that wielded divine power.

If the Lionhearted King, Guardian of the Holy Grail, was a demigod, then the Holy Grail Knights were the next closest beings to living saints.

They were knights of the gods, wielders of sacred laws.

Leon had only survived because of the divine power left behind by the knights who fought to their last breath before ascending.

There were those like:

The Knights of the Holy Grail, followers of Ariana, the Goddess of Light and Justice. Sir Jenkinson, Guardian of the Seas, who worshiped Foma, the God of Waves and Oceans. Sir Genoa, the Knight of Flames, who incinerated his foes with the divine fire of Petos, the God of War and Flames. Saintess Aniak, who healed knights with the divine light of Demera, the Goddess of Life and Prosperity.

Even as the Empire fell, the Elven Great Forests burned, and the Dwarven underground cities crumbled, the Holy Grail Knights continued to exterminate demons.

They were the very embodiment of terror to the forces of darkness.

Third, the eradication of evil from this land.

To achieve this, Leon needed to spread faith, restore divine order, and train new Holy Grail Knights.

Expecting these ignorant, faithless commoners—these lowly beings—to produce saintly warriors of the Holy Grail might have been a stretch.

But it didn't matter.

Leon Dragonia Lionheart would simply do what must be done.

"Your Majesty, someone has formally requested an audience with you."

"Hmm… If they've followed the proper procedures, I see no reason not to hear them out."

Leon permitted the visitor's entry, already guessing who it might be.

Director Park Jong-chan found this 'Leon' survivor utterly ridiculous.

Some barbarian from a primitive civilization had the nerve to call himself royalty? To someone like Park, who was effectively modern Earth's nobility, it was nothing short of laughable.

Yet, despite his disdain, he coveted Leon's power.

Leon could instantly grow crops that were not only safe for consumption but also possessed miraculous properties.

The fact that these crops could cure cancer was already shocking enough. But when Park discovered they could also purify land contaminated by mana, he became obsessed.

This man—he must be recruited into our corporation.

"I am grateful for the audience, Your Majesty."

For the sake of corporate profit, Park was more than willing to lower his head to this savage.

"This is a humble gift from our company, presented to Your Majesty."

Accompanied by his aides, Park presented Leon with a gift.

It was a Weapon Closet, crafted by a master smith from the renowned Dujeong Guild, one of Korea's top ten guilds.

Park planned to lure Leon in with the dazzling, top-tier weapons stored inside.

"Once he gets a taste of these, he'll never be able to go back. I'll make him beg to be managed by our company."

He eagerly anticipated the shocked expressions of both Deputy Han Hari and Leon himself.

But instead—

"Hmph… I suppose I shall accept it as a gesture of sincerity."

"A-Accept it?!"

What was with that attitude? He acted as if he were doing Park a favor by accepting it!

Park felt his blood boil, but he maintained a business-like smile.

"Haha… Perhaps Your Majesty should inspect it first? I'm certain you'll be pleased."

"Ugh… Explaining etiquette to a lowly merchant is beneath me. Han Hari, open it."

Despite the arrogance in Leon's words, Hari complied.

When she unsealed the case, her breath hitched.

"This… This is—?!"

"Heh…"

The sleek metallic closet expanded, its components clicking into place as it transformed into a full-fledged weapon exhibition.

"These are the latest and finest weapons our corporation has to offer. Please, feel free to select any that catches Your Majesty's eye."

"D-Dujeong Guild's master smiths crafted these Unique-grade weapons?!"

These weren't just any weapons.

They were Unique-grade armaments, painstakingly forged by Dujeong Guild, one of Korea's top ten guilds.

Even elite hunters went mad trying to obtain them, and they were considered invaluable, impossible to purchase even with vast wealth.

"Since I heard Your Majesty intends to become a Hunter, these weapons should prove invaluable."

Hari struggled to breathe.

Weapons crafted by Dujeong's legendary master artisan, Park Jin-cheol, each worth at least tens of billions of won, were being given away?

And yet—

"Unnecessary. These low-grade weapons are of no use to me."

"L-Low-grade?!"

"Y-Your Majesty! How can you say that?!"

Even Hari was appalled. The sheer extravagance of these weapons was enough to make even high-ranking hunters salivate.

Park hastily explained the cutting-edge technology and premium materials that went into crafting them, convinced that even a barbarian should recognize their worth.

Yet, Leon simply scoffed.

"You call these masterpieces? Where is the divine blessing? Where is the radiance of the stars imbued into the steel? Are these mere hunting tools for beasts?"

Park felt his patience fraying.

What the hell is he talking about?

Blessings? Sunlight? Chanting incantations while drying weapons like jerky?

To his horror, Leon's next words confirmed his suspicions.

"Compared to my holy sword and spear, these are nothing but toothpicks. Tsk… You dare present weapons that haven't even undergone sacred consecration?"

"This… this damn barbarian!"

For a brief moment, Park considered snapping.

Yet, before he could react, Leon casually summoned a sword from nowhere.

And with a single strike—

CRACK!

Hari's Unique-grade sword, Dawn's Break, shattered instantly upon impact.

The entire room fell silent.

Leon let out a bored sigh.

"As expected… Just cheap toothpicks."