Novels online

Chapter 13

13flower medieval tax

"How dare this lowly merchant blaspheme?!!"

Leon's thunderous shout was not just a shout..

The highest ranking being in the human world. The words uttered by a living saint and demigod have magical power in themselves..

The anger he showed in his anger was not something an ordinary human could endure..

"Heo Eok…!"

I can't breathe. My eardrums shake and I feel dizzy..

The culprit's heart skipped a beat at the shouting coming from an agent of divinity that the culprit could not even imagine..

Even though the anger was completely incomprehensible, I understood one thing..

Doojeong Group, a real-life company, and its managing director himself... The life and death of a human named Park Jong-chan depends on the alien in front of him..

"lung, majesty!"

At that moment, Hari, who sensed danger, stood in front of Leon. She also tried to stop Leon by forcing her trembling legs upright..

"Oh, no. Lord, if you kill us, we too... It's going to be difficult!"

Survivors do not have immunity from everything. Understanding Leon's culture and class is also the best way to avoid committing a crime..

Of course, Leon's value cannot be compared to that of a managing director of a large domestic company. Even so, this wasn't it..

"joy. I'm happy to give advice, but don't be mistaken. King Bon is not a colt that runs wild like a naked thunderbolt.."

At those words, Hari, Director Park, and the secretaries breathed a sigh of relief. Director Park, who barely saved her life, broke into a cold sweat..

"What a stupid thing. you have made known your sins."

"Yes, yes? no, that……."

What on earth did you do wrong? That's why they tried to hit the price. But there is no way a savage who has been on Earth for less than a week would know that.?

Director Park, who felt wronged, cautiously protested..

"Well, I really don't know what's wrong.."

"Huh... How can you be so ignorant and blind?."

At this point, Leon's eyes showed pity rather than contempt..

"The crops come from the land blessed by Demera. It is a blessing given by God to farmers who work hard to plow and grow the fields.."

Humans are a species that cannot survive alone..

These are the people who have to starve when crops fail, and who have to go to work in the fields even when they are hungry..

They dig up the ground and steal seeds from the ground..

"That's why he became a farmer. We must be thankful for the blessings of the land and have a grateful heart towards the divinity that forms the land.."

Faith and divinity. And divine grace. We need to recognize that first..

This cannot be bought with a thousand gold coins; it is given to a grateful heart and faith..

"Oh no. You vulgar thing that deceives others in pursuit of shallow profit. Why do you try to profit from a product of divinity that you do not believe in?."

"this, profit…!"

Director Park Jong-chan gritted his teeth and stepped down. Hari expressed his concern as he watched him leave as if he was clearly going to wait and see..

"that… Is it okay? Even though it is a lowly business from His Majesty’s point of view… He is a person of considerable influence.."

"joy. It's not even worth worrying about.."

Leon also does not ignore the influence of merchants and businessmen..

The role of corporations in modern civilization is significant. They have spread their influence widely in the soil of capitalism..

"The pantheon is with the burden, it is not a burden to be shaken by that bastard.."

But he had overwhelming confidence. No, it's safe to say this is a certainty..

The being chosen by the gods of the pantheon.

He is a chosen being and a king recognized by heaven..

It is living proof of the divine right of kings..

The emperor of the empire, the steel dwarves of the underground city, and the guardians of the forest recognize the authority of the demigods..

Only the self-indulgent trifle with God's agents..

They will be excluded and left behind in the divine world that will unfold in the future..

It's not worth dealing with ignorant and obscure things just because they don't understand the topic..

"By the way, did I tell you to prepare??"

"note… Missionary activities targeting farmers... I mean?"

"That's right. Of course, it won't be a loss for this country either.."

Hari remembered what Leon had asked a while ago. And of course the Hunter Association was overturned..

"In fact, I received a call from Director Park Jong-chan before his visit. There is suitable land……."

There were too many and it was a problem. If Leon could solve this problem, there was no reason why the Hunter Association could not help, and more than anything, even the president was happy to see it..

* * * *

After the Gate incident, humanity lost a lot of farmland..

This is because many countries, which had a difficult time responding to gates that occurred in urban areas, were unable to detect gates that had burst in rural or remote areas..

As a result, numerous gates caused dungeon breaks and much of the land was polluted..

The reason humanity has not experienced a serious food crisis today is because so many people are dying..

And some plains that failed to respond were permanently polluted, resulting in numerous victims..

Naju Plain. Old Man Choi, who had been plowing and farming there all his life, was one of them..

"Father. Are you just looking at the fields again in the morning??"

"……."

Despite his son's question, old man Choi looked at his land polluted by magic in silence..

Old Man Choi is currently working as an assistant at a supermarket in town while receiving government subsidies, but until five years ago, he was a farmer working in Naju..

I spent my entire 80s pulling cows and driving a tractor. However, five years ago, the Red Gate, which failed to attack, caused a dungeon break and the entire Naju Plain became contaminated with magic..

The intensity of the pollution was so severe that many farmers, including Mr. Choi, lost their land..

"ha……."

Nothing can be done on land contaminated with magic. Ordinary people became polluted just by stepping onto the land, and only hunters survived..

A land where no crops can grow and no one is buying it. Government subsidies came in depending on the size of the land, but even that was a pittance..

I bought magic purification reagent from the Magic Tower and used it consistently, but even that had its limits. The land was overly polluted and could not be purified even with reagents..

The next new reagent will work, and then a better one will come out..

Old Man Choi used all his wealth to purchase reagents from Ma Top. Even though he is now the only one who buys magic tower reagents from nearby rice fields,.

"Give up now. It's a land that even our countrymen can't do anything about.."

"It's noisy! You and your younger siblings. We fed them all with rice grown on that land and sent them to college! What kind of land is that! This is my land that I have cultivated all my life.!"

At the time of its birth, there was a great war that divided the nation. He grew up receiving help from American soldiers in a land devastated by the ravages of war..

He had a big dream.

He said he would find his own prosperous land and farm on that land. I will raise my children to be worthy of their envy..

It was land purchased with money earned by risking one's life against the Viet Cong in Vietnam. It was a piece of land that I expanded whenever I had extra money..

The land, the field, was everything to Old Man Choi..

I thought I could reap the final joy of my life if I just finished farming and passing everything on to my children.…….

"Fucking bastards. Naughty monsters!"

They appeared and polluted my land. The Gate, which I had trembled for 25 years after hearing that magic was polluting the land and hoped it would never appear on my land, ended up polluting my land..

Now his wish is one..

Just once. Just once, I want to plant seedlings on my land and see that golden light once again..

I wanted to see that just once before I die.

"Dad, did you hear what the chief said? I heard the Hunter Association is introducing something.."

"What kind of new drug will they introduce again? I can't even afford it and it's expensive.."

The reagents sold at the Magic Tower were expensive. Even though the government provided subsidies, it was still expensive..

For such a subject, the probability of purification of the reagent was not high, and if unlucky, it would take two years..

That also didn't work at all in highly polluted lands like the Naju plains..

"Let’s hear what bullshit you’re talking about.."

Old Man Choi always criticized the association and the Magic Tower, but he never once missed an event like this. Because I wanted to hold on to even the faintest hope.

"My luggage is Leon Dragonia Lionheart. He has come to preach the faith to you.."

Village hall. The blond nobleman who appeared accompanied by the association's employees talked much more nonsense than the Magic Tower wizards who usually visited..

and──

Gold has grown on old Choi’s land..

"ah……."

It was a land that was not purified even though expensive reagents were poured, exorcisms were held, and church pastors were brought in to recite congratulatory messages..

It was a cursed land where not even a single disease or pest could grow, let alone crops..

however… however…….

"iced coffee…!"

Old Man Choi knelt in front of the blonde man. I asked him to give thanks for the miracle he caused..

"da, who are you?!"

The merchants of the magic tower, the noisy shamans, and the priests who said that this was all an ordeal given by God.…….

More than all that, to Old Man Choi, the man in front of him was his god and savior..

"Farmer with noble hands. Jim is the lion-hearted king. He is the representative of the pantheon and the priest who has come to convey to you the divinity of life and abundance.."

On this day, the first devotee of Demera on Earth offered up his faith, and the farmers of the polluted land followed him in prostration..

* * * *

It really happened.

Hari was impressed by the purified plains of Naju..

The Honam Plain was still in the first stages of pollution. It could be purified with the Magic Tower's reagent..

Therefore, in the eyes of Hari and other association employees, the purification of the Honam Plain is simply Leon's special power..

However, Leon persistently emphasized this as a miracle of divinity and demanded proof of it..

That is the purification of the Naju plains..

5Years ago, the wasteland was completely polluted after the Red Gate's dungeon break..

The new reagents released by the wizards of the Magic Tower did not work at all..

Leon was willing to clean up such a wasteland. He put some conditions on.

"Tell it to the president first. I wish I could meet you in person, but it's a shame.."

"Well, please take a look at that.."

After making a proposal over the phone, the President granted discretion to the Hunter Association..

"According to the terms of the contract, 8,735 hectares of private farms in the Naju Plain area will be incorporated into patronage under His Majesty's 'Guild'. of course… The premise is the consent of the residents and the sale of ‘blessed rice’ to the government.."

"It doesn't matter."

Leon established a guild in the country with the help of the association. The name is ‘Pantheon’. This is the name he used to spread the faith of the pantheon throughout this world..

Additionally, a special autonomous zone was designated for the guild to house and train guild members... And we were able to launch a support project..

For example, a blacksmith or magic tool workshop directly under the guild. Even the occupancy and taxes of related businesses.

It was a law that was inevitably passed after the tyranny of the Teenage Guild, but thanks to it, legal territory was granted to Leon..

Of course, the government has put in place minimum safety measures, so it is not permanent..

"Don't worry. How could I covet the legitimate territory of another country? This is to spread the faith as far as possible. I will return it to the President when the time comes.."

"note… To be precise, it is given back to the people.."

Leon had no interest in the territory of this land. The land called Korea is too small to be greedy..

To restore the glory of the Lionheart Kingdom, it must be bigger than this. I happened to see a suitable foothold, and I plan to advance in that direction once I increase my influence..

"First, you must obtain consent from residents to join His Majesty's guild. You must have the right to reside in the guild's special autonomous area.."

"No problem."

Leon approached the waiting farmers. Some were middle-aged and some were elderly..

"Oh, my... Are you here, Leon de… Deugh……."

Old Man Choi bowed his head to greet Leon, but was unable to memorize his long name..

'ah… That person will be scolded.'

Lionheart, who shouted so loudly, has passed away. Aren’t you the kind of person who doesn’t even allow me to call you by my first name?.

However, contrary to Hari's expectations, Leon smiled softly and spoke..

"Your Majesty is enough, old man.."

"Oh my... I'm sorry."

'what! Discriminate against people?!'

Hari had a sullen expression on his face, but Leon continued speaking..

"Did you say Choi Cheol-jin?."

"Yes, that's right.."

"You have sworn to serve Demera, the goddess of life and fertility. What about others??"

A middle-aged man came forward with those words..

"Well, then… Are you going to purify our land too??"

Leon furrowed his brows at the middle-aged man’s words. It's quite unpleasant, but it's said as if teaching something obscure..

"Do not try to bargain with divinity. The king does not promise any reward.."

He despised narrow-minded beliefs.

I detested the shallow beliefs that said wishes would come true in exchange for donations, faith, devotion, etc..

You can't make a deal with God.

If you only offer true faith, God will know and give you grace..

To wish for faith is to doubt and bargain with divinity..

"This king will give you correct teachings. Will he listen to the divine teachings?."

"Me, I believe it.."

"I am not forcing you to believe. It's up to your choice."

At that time, a young man approached. It's rare in a countryside like this... To be exact, he is the son who inherited the land of his deceased father and was invited to this event..

"I-I… I go to church……."

"It doesn't matter. Even if you both believe."

"Hey, are you okay??"

"Divinity is the existence of many. There are many great gods in the world, so why should we believe in only one?."

There are several pantheon beliefs..

Originally a polytheistic religion, there were no restrictions on faith..

"It is up to you only to follow and put into practice the teachings. I will not force your beliefs on you.."

Of course, if a person who worships an evil god appears, I will mercilessly cut off his head and tear his soul to pieces..

"Join the King's guild. Follow the legal procedures to enter the enclosure built by this king and receive the teachings of the goddess.."

"I'll take it! please let me get it!"

Old Man Choi passionately supported that faith. It was a miracle that not even the Lord, Magic Tower, shaman or pastor could have accomplished..

Encountered the Real Divinity, and He Cleansed His Land.

Then how could you not believe it?.

How could I not be grateful to the One who gave this old body the opportunity to plow the field once again?.

Old Man Choi bowed down and was happy with tears as he was able to reap the final beauty of his life..

"Ta, I will follow.."

"Me too, me too…!"

Those who hesitated came forward one by one..

It was a land that was contaminated with magic and could not be released anywhere. There's nothing to lose if you say you'll clean up the land, right??

"Do you pledge to follow the divinity of life and abundance and to practice its teachings?."

"Hawk, I swear!"

"I swear!"

With this, they officially became residents belonging to Leon's Pantheon guild..

Leon knew that they were looking for a purification of the land, but he was confident that one day they would find the true faith..

"All right, if you believe and follow, you too are children of the goddess. This king, who represents the gods, will bless you.."

Leon lifted the chalice and poured the holy water inside it onto the new believers..

Holy power resided through the tops of the believers’ heads, and a mysterious energy flowed into them..

'Three, oh my... My head is clear and my whole body is full of strength.!'

'I feel like the world looks different!'

'Is she really a goddess? That straw doll?'

'Oh my Goddess. Goddess Demera…!'

As people who believed in the goddess already appeared, their faith was filled through Lion's Heart. Goddess Demera will replace this with holy power..

"Build a temple. It doesn’t have to be anything grandiose. Just have everyone gather together and pray every week.."

Leon spread the teachings of life and abundance. It's not that difficult, just follow it..

And the most important moment has arrived.

"The offering... How can I pay it??"

Even as believers accepted this new faith, they were inwardly anxious..

Doesn’t religion by its nature regularly collect donations under various pretexts?.

I made an offering to help my children study well, and I made an offering to expand the temple.…….

It was already a tight budget. It's only natural since I haven't been able to farm for 5 years..

"You only have to pay one thing."

At those words, color appeared on the believers’ faces. There is no need to make a new offering every holiday or season? This is a total hit──

"ten structures."

""……yes?""

Leon proudly declared to the wide-eyed believers who thought they had heard wrong..

"Please give what you produce as an offering. How merciful this is.."

For a moment, Hari heard that from behind and thought.

'This isn't completely evil?!'