Novels online

Chapter 203

< The prodigal son returned >

Meriel mentioned the self-indulgence of humans who established Earth's civilization and their meaningless beliefs..

Unlike the omnipotent god in the story, the gods of the pantheon, such as Meriel, are merciful but not omnipotent, and act despite being not omnipotent..

then.

The proper subjects of faith should be themselves..

"The United States thought that it would not be long before King Leon took control of Korea and Asia. But I'm looking at the bigger picture."

The pantheon will soon take over the world..

"That doesn't mean everything is missing. There are many fanatics in this world with wrong beliefs. We'll need some traffic control there, but it won't eliminate everything.."

"Conversion by force is not Lionheart's consensus.."

"However, if you are attacked first, you must counterattack, right? It seems like he absolutely hates having his authority undermined.."

That was right.

Lionheart is tolerant of fellow humans, to the point of condoning the existence of an empire..

Distrust is also a human choice. He doesn't force their beliefs as long as they don't insult real gods..

but.

If you show aggression beyond distrust, the Knights of Lionheart are willing to point their swords at you..

"Times will change. And in the process of change, you will inevitably be challenged by existing vested interests. You must have guessed it from the moment you decided to receive the divinity of the god of gold and contract in the pantheon.?"

Dragonia, god of gold and contracts.

Leon was not unaware of Dragonia's intention to completely encroach on modern capital society through dragon greed and destruction, and the gods were also aware of it..

Meriel had already guessed that Leon had decided to encroach on the world..

'After all, you can't fool the divine wisdom..'

[Yes, but this goddess won't tell her allies this..]

I could guess the reason.

"Goddess of Fate, if you want a place in the pantheon, the gods will gladly accept it.."

Meriel smiled silently at those words..

Although she has business relationships with humans, she is clearly divine. To a being of eternity, a momentary transaction is unclear..

Meriel answered with a slight smile..

"I've been holding on to this busy guy for a long time. Just take a look.."

Leon followed Meriel up and kissed the back of her hand in respect..

"I look forward to the day when the Goddess of Fate takes refuge in the pantheon.."

"Hehe... I'm also looking forward to the day when I get a great agent like King Leon.."

-pop! Pow! pop!

Outside, a spectacular fireworks display was in full bloom..

The flames spread splendidly, as if hiding the tacit secret agreement made here..

* * * *

After the fireworks, the finale of the Christmas celebration, the pantheon naturally gathered in one place..

Beatrice the Magician Queen, Yacht Spinner, the Grail Knight of Iron and Blacksmiths, Vulcan, the Grail Knight of War and Flame, and the Holy Grail Knights of the Burning Sword.

The Naju Knights, including Commander Cheon So-yeon and Han Ha-ri, a priestess of two gods..

And even the curious people who naturally followed the pantheon's great movement..

-Kikluk. Finishing the process steps. Desire to proceed with final process.

As Yapi approached and reported, Leon saw rice and stones piled up in the center surrounding the pantheon in a circle..

From blessed rice brought in from Naju, Korea, to blessed corn and wheat grown in the Great Plains of the central and western North America..

The amount amounted to tens of tons, and this was not the only offering piled up like an offering..

Star steel capable of producing hundreds of weapons, pearls and coral reefs mined from the sea by the Kikkiruk tribe. Gold piled up like a mountain.

They were undoubtedly precious things in the world, but they were even more precious because the gods blessed them and allowed them to be harvested..

At this moment, it's as if this land has returned to the glory days of Lionheart, as if it's trying to recreate those times..

Leon went to the center and saw stones surrounded by all kinds of precious things..

Karinaga, the duty the Dragonian Grand Duke has carried for those who have followed him for two hundred years..

For their souls, Karina gave up her soul and body to the dragon..

Leon does not deny his daughter's life sacrificed for them, knowing that it is by no means a worthless task, and that it is an honorable duty as a nobleman, a grand duke, and a royal family..

「Your Excellency... No, Master, this is my grandson, Delbosque. This child will help Miss Karina..」

There was a butler who had served the Grand Duke's family for generations..

「I apologize, Gaspard. I will serve Grand Duke Karina with all my life..」

There were northern knights who fought together on the battlefield..

「Thank you for your hard work, Your Excellency the Grand Duke. The North is honored to have produced the great Lionheart King..」

There were vassals who had been advisors to the Grand Duke for a long time..

They remained faithful to Prince Dragonia until the end, and their shining lives passed away..

then.

As the previous Grand Duke of Dragonia, Leon will also have to keep his faith with them until the end..

"There was a big war once.."

It was a harsh time for everyone. There was a terrible enemy that everyone here had to face..

"We have fought, defended, and proven our own honor countless times. It didn't matter how hard it was."

Even in the harsh fight against the devil and even as the world was destroyed, they did not run away but fought..

What an honor and pride it is..

"Those here are souls who died in that battle and are still wandering the nine heavens..

northern.

30,000 knights, nobles, and soldiers drawn from the Grand Duke of Dragonia and its banner families..

That day, my former subordinates who could not fall together fell one by one in another world where they were not even cared for by the gods..

"Keep this in mind. Our enemy is a common enemy across all levels.."

In the future, Earth will face cultural clashes with countless survivors and move toward a new world, but there is something that must be resolved before that..

"devil. We must destroy the invaders who are the culprits and who caused the loss of so many hometowns. The souls of those here are heroes who died for him.."

Leon picked up a stone. It was a familiar name, and it was the name of Leon's friend..

"Gods. Our grateful and gracious gods who love and protect us. Here the warriors of all gods have returned to your embrace after a long wandering.."

That's not all. Every name here was Leon's soldier, knight, vassal, and rider..

For them, Leon was willing to get down on one knee..

"Please take their souls. If you have sins while alive, please wash them away with your sins, and evaluate your bravery even in the face of death so that you can enjoy a feast with the gods.."

Magic stone. The light of the soul emerged from the place that Karina named her Jungchonseok, as it was a place to stay for a while as she commanded..

The moment when the soul flowed into the chalice on the altar was an amazing moment that everyone could admire..

The godly moment of the soul being held in the arms of God made the viewer shed tears..

While everyone was intoxicated by the miracle they saw before their eyes, Leon watched their departing souls in silence..

"Come out sometime and have a drink."

Since we are mortal, we promise to meet the end we deserve..

* * * *

Karina closed her eyes as she watched the departing souls..

Because it was impossible to see their last moments. Karina made a deal with the dragons and committed the atrocity of trapping their souls in stone..

It was an atrocity committed because they could not stand to see their souls scattering and turning to nothing, and they were afraid that they might be trapped in that cramped stone for eternity..

'i was successful.'

But in the end, Mansin's representative returned. With a paradise to embrace their souls.

Two hundred years of sin and regret are coming to an end..

Now she had no time left..

"The winter weather is cold."

At that time, Leon came over and placed his suit on Karina's shoulder. A warm suit warms your skin..

"thank you Their souls will now find rest."

"It was the right thing to do. You just did what Jim needed to do.."

"······."

Karina stared at Leon sitting next to her..

He shows no rebuke or resentment..

On that day, in the Allied barracks ahead of a fierce battle, I have no resentment toward myself or the Northern Army, who left the Union to seek revenge..

In the end, you won.

We couldn't trust him and left you to seek revenge..

To the returned prodigal son, you welcome him not with anger or ridicule, but only with joy and gratitude..

but······.

Even if you think it's something you can't forgive, I······.

"Take it."

It was a time when I was chewing the words over and over again. What Leon took out of his arms was some kind of candy..

"suddenly······."

"Yes, this is my favorite candy since I was young. I chewed several candies looking for a similar taste.."

Karina unconsciously stuffed the candy that was thrust upon her in her mouth and remembered that it was indeed a taste that remained in her old memories..

Rather than the flashy sweetness of modern times, it is plain and bland...a taste that is closer to taffy than candy, and is popularized as a favorite food in the Northern Territory..

It is a taste commonly consumed in the Northern Territory, which is far from the fancy desserts of the royal capital..

"Did you find it yourself??"

"The sweet taste remained on my tongue and made me queasy. It wasn't that difficult to find though.."

"Hehehe······."

Karina laughed as she remembered her father putting dozens of candies in and out of his mouth to find the taste of old memories..

The smile was so happy that Leon felt that his hard work was worth it..

"It's delicious."

"I'm glad it's delicious. Is there anything more you want??"

"It can't be there. If you want more than this, it's greed.."

"you are my daughter How greedy is it for her daughter to want from her father?."

"She is also an unfilial daughter who abandoned her father at the most difficult moment.."

"······."

Leon knew what Karina meant..

The Northern Army left the Union ahead of the final battle. And the Grand Duke led them away from the Lionheart King..

Even the Lionheart King did not know what kind of guilt Karina had..

"I still remember what I said to you back then.."

I never want to see you again. Get out of her sight, Leon's last words to her daughter..

"I still regret it even now. Even though she knew that we wouldn't see each other for a long time, and even though she had a feeling that it was the last time, she said those harsh words.."

"It's not your fault."

"It's also this father's fault."

"······."

Leon stroked Karina’s black hair. She takes after her mother, and in her black hair, many traces of herself are left behind in her..

Upright posture, strong aura, blue eyes and innate courage..

Proof of love for his wife so clear that it can be seen at a glance that it is his blood..

Because love is so precious, being right or wrong has no meaning..

No matter how much love parents give their children, it is always not enough..

"No matter when or what happens, this father's love will never change. Even if you forsake your father, I will never forsake you.."

There is no trace of anger left in Leon from that time. The only feelings left over from two hundred years ago are regret and regret..

"my daughter My dear daughter. This is how my child, whom I thought I would never see again, has returned. What parent in the world can have any emotion other than joy?."

The father does not blame the prodigal son for anything..

Because parents’ unconditional love is always infinite..

"······."

Karina silently leaned her head on Leon's shoulder..

Recalling happy memories from the distant past, now only memories..

"thanks, dad."

That alone is enough for all the fathers in the world..