Leon Dragonia Lionheart (1)

The war that shook the world has ended.

The Lionheart Federation emerged victorious in a war for continental supremacy that involved 53 nations on the continent and eight nations directly, including South Korea, the United States, Japan, Taiwan, India, and parts of Southeast Asia.

The defeat of the Orc Champions and the warriors of the Orc High Khan, Murka Balak, led to the defeat of the Orc Federation, and Lionheart absorbed the Orc Federation as it was.

The problem was the millions of orcs still left on the continent, and everyone expected the Lionheart to slaughter them. But──

[We will gradually gather and begin the offworld migration of the orcs, which was promised on the honor of Lionheart.]

Leon's declaration caught everyone by surprise.

The annihilationist, who had been so unusually orc-hating, had just given the orcs a way to live.

[We will not surrender! We will fight to the end!]

Of course, there were still Orc warlords who had the will to fight, but the subjugation was carried out quickly and mercilessly.

Most Orcs, however, readily agreed to the plan, thanks to the Black Orcs.

[If it's the last thing the High Khan orders, we obey.]

The influence of the one and only High Khan, Murka Balak, the greatest orc of all time, was absolute among the Black Orcs, and they followed him.

The orc rule of survival of the fittest was in full effect.

As the orcs' migration plans continued to unfold, the problem was the Lionheart Federation, which had swallowed up what was left of the Orc Federation.

-Isn't that dangerous, swallowing up a whole continent?

-The rebirth of the Unified Continent. The problem is that it's no longer a backward, developing country, but a center of divine technology that will control the world.

-We must stop its growth. If left unchecked, the Lionheart Federation will swallow up all of Asia.

It's a story that's been told ever since the rise of the Pantheon.

The Lionheart King, who is blindly loved and adored by the gods, does not share the same values as most of Earth.

He's a notorious misogynist, classist, and absolute monarch of a medieval worldview that despises democracy.

What's to say he won't move toward an empire in the form of a federation?

-But with what? How?

"-------"

No one could question that. 

The world watched the war between the Lionheart Federation and the Orc Continental Federation.

They saw nuclear weapons thwarted by a single knight's long-range shielding holy law, they saw the greatness of a man-made tsunami that could pick and choose its enemies, and they saw the unparalleled high technology of space weapons.

And most of all──

-How do you stop a demigod who slashes the sky with his sword?

-You say that after watching millions of the beast gods' monsters slaughtered over 13 days?

The confrontation between Leon and Murka in the final battle brought awe and terror to mankind.

A living demigod. Representative of all gods. A transcendent of tireless and perfect vitality showed what was possible. 

-You must be mistaken, the Lionheart King is at a level where he can single-handedly conquer the world.

It's no wonder the world has come to such a conclusion, and the demigod and saints alone are more than conventional military might can handle.

Above all──

-The blessed crops, the iron armor, the iron semiconductors, the paradise after death?

Humanity has already figured out the paradise that can be achieved when there are real gods and they truly love humans. 

The world is now beginning to reorganize into a new order.

* * * * *

[We'll have to dig some more glyphs there, yes, like my temple in the capital]

"I will do so, but will the basic form be similar?"

[Yes. This brings back memories]

On the continent that had become Lionheart's official territory, temples of the Ten Thousand Gods began to be built everywhere.

First and foremost, a second Great Temple of All Gods was built in the major cities, where all the gods could be worshiped, and then the gods themselves began to build guardian shrines, each claiming to be the guardian of their favorite city.

The temples of Poma, god of the sea and waves, built in coastal cities, became shrines to those who worked at sea, such as fishermen and traders,

Petos, the god of war and flame, gave his name to the soon-to-be Lionheart Federal Military Academy.

Heto, the god of iron and blacksmithing, protected the high-tech semiconductor and manufacturing craftsmen of the latest trends, and his shrine was built in the continent's first industrial zone.

Demera, the goddess of life and fertility, is also welcome everywhere, and she is absolutely revered in the breadbasket of Asia, whether it's Beidahuang, the North China Plain, or the Sichuan Basin.

Ultima, the god of sky and thunder, has become the patron deity of the aviation and space industries, while Tatar, the sun and judge, is the obligatory object of worship for those who practice law.

Fle, the goddess of dreams and death, will be the resting place for all who seek mental healing through dreams and a peaceful death,

Irmin, goddess of forests and trees, was the goddess of the elves and tree men, who sought to preserve nature and coexist with it,

Dragonia, god of gold and contracts, became the absolute standard for the world's financial markets and all contractors.

[Well, the 'Moon' is the most surprising of all, according to the worldly folk.]

"That's what I thought at first, too."

In many ways, Dinah, the goddess of the moon and chastity, was an unlikely object of worship in the modern world, but more people than she realized believed in her.

"Who knew there were so many unmarried people in the world?"

[That's right.]

As long as one maintains physical purity, God's protection is granted, and since the number of believers among the unmarried was greater than expected, Dinah was able to increase her power.

In particular, due to the multi-worship nature of the temple, Buddhist monks worship the moon goddess as a bodhisattva.

[Ahem. Niche market.]

At the sound of the Moon Goddess's voice, Leon smiled faintly.

"Lord Spinner is launching a ship to enter the space industry soon, so I'll bring you materials to build a temple on the moon."

[I won't stop you from building it.]

"Haha, I'll take care of it and make it big, and if you want, I'll build it myself."

Leon honored and worshiped all the gods, but he was particularly weak and indebted to the Moon Goddess.

This must be because he has committed a cardinal sin that has angered the goddess.

[That's it! How long are you going to blame my knight? Enough is enough!]

[What?]

Leon is fed up with the goddesses arguing with each other.

Arianna, the goddess of light and justice, will be the patroness of knights and soldiers, as well as the mother of all people, just like Petos.

The pursuit of light and the defense of justice shall be the education of all.

And finally──

"Ventasis. Is this enough for you?"

[What?]

The Faceless God did not build his own temple. He had an altar in the Great Hall, but that's it.

Just like in the old Lionheart Kingdom, there was no temple to worship him.

"If you don't build a temple, won't it be difficult to be worshiped?"

[That's what you say when you don't know the nature of primates.]

Ventasis is a god of darkness and vengeance.

He is the guardian of those who aspire to sharpen their blades in the inky shadows.

In every age, there have always been those who worship him.

[The more intense the light, the more shadowy the shadows. There will always be avengers, and I will answer their prayers to me in the darkness.]

No matter how perfect your rule, no matter how prosperous you are, there will always be darkness. Ventasis said it was enough for them to worship him in the darkness.

"I'm glad you've all found your place."

Leon was sincerely glad that the gods had gotten along so well on Earth.

[Leon.]

And then he heard the voice of a goddess approaching him. She was Fle, the goddess of dreams and death, and she was the Grim Reaper who would show him the way to Paradise.

[It is time, take my hand.]

Leon takes her hand, and soon he is guided by the goddess into the spiritual world, toward the paradise in his heart that he must soon surrender.

"Hast thou come."

The paradise of the gods is a place prepared for those who have honored the gods and lived upright lives, and many await Leon in.

There was the brown-haired saint Anak; there was Sir Gratas, the Holy Knight, who had given the serf a holy book to hunt giants; there was Loxley, the Sun Knight, who had fought with Leon in the Last War; there was Antoine, the Iron Knight------and.

"Oh, my lord."

A black haired woman, who looked unusually cheerful, smiled as if she were seeing a friend.

"Go, go. Sister."

Isabel pushed her back, and the woman shyly made her way through the crowd of people who had come to see the Lionheart King.

Everyone made way for her, and soon she was in front of Leon.

"------"

Leon didn't say anything to the woman who stood so close to him, only swallowed hard and pulled her into a hug.

"I missed you."

She was startled by his suddenness, but soon buried her face in his warm embrace.

"Me too."

Her name was Castille Lionheart.

She was the wife of the one and only Leon Dragonia Lionheart and the mother of Karina Dragonia.

* * * * *

Everywhere I look, I see the paradise that the dead have built for themselves.

The endless estates and fiefdoms that the dead can customize to their heart's content are each unique, but the most natural of all is the Forest of Sages and Elves.

This vast expanse of greenery is as serene as its inhabitants, making it the perfect place to spend some quiet time.

Leon dismounted from his winged black steed, Petelion, given to him by the Lionheart King Argent.

"Take my hand."

"Hoo-hoo, Your Majesty seems to forget that I was once Dinah's hunter."

Even as she said this, Castille took Leon's hand and slid down from his horse.

"To this king," he said, "you are always as dear to me as a delicate flower."

"Indeed--"

The two simply looked at each other from the edge of paradise, and that was good enough for them.

"I've met Karina, as I'm sure you've heard, and she's been through a lot in the other world."

"She's a strong girl, I'm sure she would have done well anywhere."

Leon rambled on for a while about Karina, how she had built an empire in another world, about her courtship duel and how she had negotiated with the Dragon King to have him join the Pantheon.

Castille listened quietly, smiling and enjoying the sound of Leon's voice.

"So much has happened, my love, so much I wish to tell you."

"So do I."

It was a love that could never be fulfilled. It was a love that was forged by breaking taboos, and it was a love that was protected by the wrath of a goddess.

This may be a common love story, but for Leon, this love was so dear and precious that he waited for it to come to him one day.

A day when he could fulfill his rightful duty, feast with the gods, and spend eternity with his beloved.

She knew her husband's longing.

"Not yet, Leon."

"------"

"You can't come here yet."

"Castille------"

Leon asked, holding Castile's hand.

"Don't you miss me, do you resent me?"

"No way." Castile shook his head.

"My heart is your heart, but---you have much work to do."

She was queen of a kingdom before she was Leon's wife. She had been a priestess to the gods, a noblewoman who had lost her people to the demons.

She knew many things in this life that only Leon could accomplish, and she didn't want to be selfish. Above all------

"I was very happy," she said. "I could have remembered you and smiled until the end, but---not you."

His life had always been one of battle.

His youth was spent fighting orcs, as a king he fought the fallen of the Empire and demons until the kingdom fell, and even after it did, he fought alone.

All of Paradise watched King Lionheart's lonely battle.

They saw him sleeping on the parched earth, they saw him roaring, soaked with the blood of demons.

They saw him swallow his emotions as he picked up the armor of his dead friends and loyal soldiers.

When he finally cried out from his doomed home, he lamented that even the gods could offer no words of comfort.

"Do not come yet, for you will find happiness in the world of the living."

"My happiness is with you!"

Castile said, shaking her head.

"I have waited two hundred years, so I can wait a little longer."

"I've waited two hundred years. I can't wait any longer."

"Hoo-hoo, sometimes I wish you were as impudent as Sir Vulcanus."

Like Vulcanus, who was brazen enough to say that he would enjoy his life in the next life, she wished Leon would enjoy his life as much, if not more.

"Remember, there's someone waiting for you in the next life."

The words left Leon speechless. He knew the meaning of Castille's words.

"Is everything okay?"

"Sometimes you seem to have different ideas than I do. A hundred years isn't enough for you to forget twenty years of life?"

That was only an Earthling's notion, Castille chuckled, she was the only one who knew he was from another world.

"Do not reject those whom the gods invite, for they too love you, after all."

"If I held every woman the gods pushed into my arms, I'd have a hundred wives."

"Don't go that far, it'll be hard to keep them in order in paradise later. Ten will be fine, and make sure you give Karina a lot of brothers and sisters. When you get old, you'll live for the grandchildren, won't you?"

"Ha------"

At Leon's sigh, Castille laughed, nuzzling the nape of Leon's neck.

"But let me get this one thing straight."

"What is it──?"

It was a surprise of sorts. The heat of her flushed cheeks was warm, and the scent of her close proximity was faintly sweet.

Sweet, fluffy lips, like flesh that could be gently bitten off.

Lips that were getting wet with moisture parted slightly, but the juices seeped through. In the process of entangling, the two savor each other and then pull apart as if they've had enough.

Castile, smiling, looks like a girl in love, just as she did when she was kidnapped by Leon.

"I'm the first, you can't forget that."

Leon can only laugh at that.

He might resent his wife for not letting him enter paradise, but how could he resist such a lovely woman?

"I love you, always and forever."

"I love you in life and in death."

The time for the living to dwell is coming to an end.

Leon returned to the world of the living, knowing that one day---paradise would be his destination.

The world of those who need him and wait for him.