Hunting the Spider (7)

The top floor of the United States Tower is the home of the Lord of the Tower…the archmage Reynald Shelman, who is considered an S-class mage.

The Archmage, as he is known to the world, is a force to be reckoned with, even by the President of the United States is huddled in his chambers, begging for forgiveness.

"I apologize, Great One! I have not done what you commanded!"

The object of his prostrations was a gem that looked like a black mass.

Wisdom Orb, a unique grade of treasure obtained from the Red Gate of America. It looked at the mortal prostrate before it and spoke in a dreary voice.

[Foolish, stupid thing I taught you the truth and wisdom of Samra, and you let me down.]

"I apologize!"

Reynald begged for forgiveness, beating his head until it bled.

It was not the manner of one called the Archmage of the World, but addicted to the knowledge bestowed by the Wisdom Orb, Reynald worshiped it like a god.

"Uh, it was unavoidable. A survivor named Leon was an unexpected variable, even for us!"

[You defile my ears with your flimsy excuses, just a survivor named Leon... what the fuck?]

"What?"

Reynald looked up with a puzzled expression at the sudden soreness in Wisdom Orb's voice.

[Who did you just say?]

"I said Leon…"

[He must be the same person, right? Turn on the news… the news.]

The voice grew lighter and lighter. Was it an illusion that he was trembling as if he were frightened?

When Reynald turned on the news and saw the news of the capture of the Cheongju Gate, there was a blond youth in the spotlight.

[This is Leon Dragonia Lionheart]

[Kheeheehee!]

"Why is that bastard here? Why! Why?"

"Lord?"

The great voice that had always dazzled the Archmage with its sternness and seriousness was nowhere to be heard, and sounded terrified.

[I, I give up. I don't. I won't.]

In the next moment, the black aura in the orb scattered and it turned white as if something within it had completely disappeared.

"Master? Master?!"

Reynald repeatedly called out to the unresponsive orb, but it never spoke again.

* * * *

"You have destroyed the Wisdom Orb?"

Oh Kang-hyuk, the president of the Hunter's Association, looked unhappy when Leon told him that he had destroyed the Wisdom Orb.

"Is that a complaint?"

"...No, because the condition for closing the dungeon was to destroy or obtain the Wisdom Orb. If Your Majesty has defeated the Mechanical Spider, then the handling of the Orb is also within Your Majesty's power."

Still, Leon recognized the hidden disappointment in the Association President's expression. Yes, so be it, the ignorant are quick to see the gain in front of them.

"Don't be sorry, it's poison."

"Poison… you mean?"

"It is the stuff of the demons."

"The demons?!"

At the mention of the demons, Mr. Oh Kang-hyuk, the head of the Association, is stunned.

Demons, the immortal beings that emerged from the Demon Gate had always been responsible for causing nightmarish damage to humanity.

"The orb was created by the evil of wisdom and exploration to tempt humans. At first it grants the wielder what he desires, then it demands a price."

The wizards of the Empire have fallen prey to this orb.

It didn't take long for what was initially a curiosity to turn into an offer of eternal life, immortality, and demonization.

"The Emperor of the Empire fell for it and sacrificed millions of his citizens to it. You say it has been found elsewhere? You'd better hurry and destroy it."

"I can't believe...."

A drop item at the gate hiding such a destructive purpose… The President of the Association was skeptical of Leon's words, but was convinced that something terrible would happen if they were true.

"I will bring this to the attention of the U.S. government."

"That would be a good idea, but… they may have already fallen under the demon's spell."

Leon did not overestimate the will of men in this age.

Weak men easily defeated by greed and easily seduced. Their ignorance of the divine is nothing compared to the subjects of his world.

They are sick, poor, weak, and greedy. That is why they need true faith and enlightenment all the more. They must be taught that God's love is a grace extended to all.

"President, lead me to the place where he is laid to rest."

"Yes, sir, he is in the basement of the Association."

Leon followed the Association's lead to one of the warehouses.

In the warehouse, where the byproducts of the Gate were usually stored, were the remains of the Mechanical Spider.

"Your Majesty, President!"

The Association's employees bow, starting with the waiting Ha-ri as they were instructed to be as polite as they could to Leon.

"Do your work."

Accepting their salute, Leon stood before the remains of the Mechanical Spider.

The wreckage of the Mechanical Spider was, to put it mildly, a mangled mess.

Its body, pierced, crushed, and shattered by Leon's holy spear, had lost its power over the Hunters.

Now it is a pale shadow of its former glory, less than half its former size. No, it is literally nothing but rubble.

"What shall we… do with it?"

"As an honorable knight, you should bury it in the ground and pray that it will find its way to the feast of the gods."

Suitable ground would be found in the Naju Plains, blessed by the goddess Demera.

"Rest in peace, faithful knight."

The moment he blessed the Mechanical Spider, the Mechanical Spider moved.

"What?!"

Ha-ri's voice rang out, drawing the attention of the president and his staff.

"What?!"

"The Mechanical Spider?"

"Ooh, it's moving!"

The nightmare of the Cheongju Gate, the boss monster, which had defeated the raiders three times, moved with a weak creak, and the staff was stunned.

The only one who remained silent was Leon.

"Stop flailing!" Leon's one word was a rallying cry and suddenly, they realized who was in front of them.

Yes, Leon, the man who defeated the Yakt Spinner, is in front of them. They swallowed hard and stared at the Yakt Spinner, relieved to see Leon's presence.

"Hmm…."

Leon was equally puzzled by the situation.

-Chew… chew!

The Yakt Spinner grunted, as if it couldn't handle its weight, and then began to dismantle its body with its overgrown robotic arms.

Undoing bolts, removing gloves, disassembling…reassembling itself.

Throughout the process, Leon sensed a familiar aura emanating from the Yakt Spinner.

"Holy…power."

The holy water he'd used as a blessing on the Yakt Spinner had somehow worked on the Yakt Spinner.

The Yakt Spinner's power source was shattered and unable to function properly, but with the blessing of the Holy Power, it performed a miracle.

Yakt Spinner finally disassembles and reassembles his body.

Shrunk to one-twentieth of its original size, the Yakt Spinner stared at Leon and Leon smiled, bowing his head in glee.

"I see…I wonder if you'll be able to win the Goddess' favor."

Leon summoned the Holy Grail and generated holy water within it, which he poured into his holy sword.

The old, dirty sword gathered light as if it were its duty to make the lights of this world adorn it.

Leon's old iron sword dazzles with divine radiance.

"Wow...."

"What the...."

Everyone marvels at the holy glow, a blessing in disguise.

He cuts through space with this holy sword of glory, bestowed upon him by the Goddess.

The Holy Grail, the holy water, and the energy of the holy sword all converge as the sword cuts through space, and a brilliant light dematerializes the space.

There…the pure white face of a man, or goddess, was revealed. Her snow-white hair dripping with cold energy, the goddess slowly opens her eyes to reveal precious gold.

"Aaah...."

Leon didn't need to say it; every human in the room knew that the woman of light was no human. She is something divine, something that no one in this world can match.

Everyone fell to their knees before her as they had no choice but to kneel as Leon kneeled on one knee.

"Arianna."

[Lionheart… my first knight.]

Leon wanted to say more, but he realized the gravity of the situation and held up the Yakt Spinner as if to introduce it.

"This Sir Yakt Spinner is an honorable knight, a model for all knights. He is a knight worthy of Arianna's consideration."

The goddess looked at the strange knight Leon had introduced and her golden eyes pierced the machine's red ones.

[This one has not fulfilled his quest. He has not proven his honor and given me glory.]

"As the first knight of the Goddess, I vouch for him. If not for my presence, he would be a great knight, capable of rivaling the glory of the Lionhearted King."

[If my knight says so…there is nothing more to see.]

The goddess placed her absolute trust in Leon since as her knight, he gave her glory, honor, and finally victory on an impossible battlefield.

The gods of the pantheon hold him in high esteem, and how could they find fault with his words?

[But let's get one thing straight.]

The goddess looked down at Yakt Spinner and even this inorganic piece of machinery had to humble itself before the Goddess.

"Will you, knight of otherworldly steel, enter into the ranks of my knight, the Lionhearted King, and praise light and sing of justice?"

-Kiruk?

The Yakt Spinner glanced around, not quite understanding the goddess's words. He spoke in his own words.

"You are full of honor and knowledge, but your wisdom is still that of a child, so understand simply. Help my knight destroy evil, and you are my knight."

The Yakt Spinner's camera stares at Leon and he calmly synthesizes the situation, remembering Leon's offer, the power he showed, and most of all, the theoretical impossibility of his reactivation.

Yakt Spinner quickly concluded.

-Crack, crack, crack!

He muttered something in machine language, but soon realized that it would not be understood, and once again searched for a language that would be understood in this world.

Hacking into the radio tower of a nearby satellite station is a simple matter for him.

-Check. The plan. Demonize. Attack. Good plan.

The answer was cut short, but neither Leon nor Arianna considered it rude, nor did they ask him to repeat it.

They were simply genuinely glad to have this honorable Holy Knight at their gates.

"Good. As long as you remain loyal to my first knight and support him, you will share his glory."

The new Holy Knight Yakt Spinner 10,253 is hereby sworn to light and justice.