Chapter 28: Inner Justice (1)
After capturing Cheongju Gate, Leon’s meeting with President Ahn was a quick one.
“Hello, I’m President Ahn Dong-gil.”
“Pleased to meet you. Leon Dragonia Lionheart.”
Outside the presidential office President Ahn shook Leon’s hand and realized that he was more impressive than he thought.
‘He’s handsome.’
On the surface, he looks like a handsome young man in his 20s. Had he just become king?
“Let’s take a picture, here~”
The president smiled and waved at the reporters’ flashes. The next day, the headlines in the newspapers were glowing.
‘Hoo-hoo, this will be a good picture.’
[President Ahn took a picture with Leon, a high-profile survivor. He is strengthening bonds with survivors.]
Well, it would be appropriate to run a headline like this.
Thirty years after the Cataclysm, the public’s main concern is the progress of Gate Raids and the Hunters.
The Gate caused a catastrophe so horrific that it almost wiped out human history, but it also spawned a superstar in the form of the Hunter.
It’s the Hunters who have taken over the image of the monster-slaying, humanity-saving hero, so it’s not a bad idea to keep them around as politicians.
“Leon…may I address you as Your Majesty?”
“You may, president Ahn.”
President Ahn and his staff even held a meeting to discuss how to treat Leon.
He claimed to be the king of the kingdom beyond the gate and even said he was an agent of the gods.
Should they take him at his word, or treat him like an ordinary survivor or citizen?
In the end, however, they decided to treat Leon as if he were the queen of England.
A superhuman with the strength of an S-class hunter could have a title.
“If you’d like to eat first, I’ve prepared a feast for His Majesty Leon.”
Okay, the mood is not bad. If I can keep things cordial through the meal, my political objective will be accomplished.
With that, they headed to the banquet hall, with reporters following but Leon stopped.
“That’s rude.”
“Um?”
The president, his secretary, and the reporters stop in their tracks. When they all gave him a puzzled look, he turned to the president.
“Mr. President, who are they?”
Leon’s finger pointed at the reporters, and President An cautiously replied.
“They’re reporters…”
“You mean they’re not the servants serving the meal.”
“Servants?”
When president Ahn was wondering if he should say that the word sounded rude─
“Rude! How can a commoner come to a king’s banquet? Kings do not mingle with commoners!”
“”…………!!!!””
Not only the reporters, but the secretary and even President Ahn gulped.
What did I just hear? What the hell is that in the 21st century?
“Your Majesty, wait──”
“Shut up and behave like a commoner!”
“Oh, no?!”
What’s wrong with this guy, is he trying to kill someone’s political life?!
President Ahn thought of the news headlines that would appear the next day.
“Authoritarian survivor’s shocking rant. Enjoying dinner with the president──”
The damage to his image and his approval ratings were obvious so president Ahn rushed to defend himself.
“Hahaha, His Majesty Leon is still not used to reporters. Isn’t this an unavoidable cultural difference? Multiculturalism, which I’ve been actively advocating lately, requires understanding of these cultural differences──”
President Ahn broke out in a cold sweat and passed off the rant as a joke but only a handful of people were allowed to remain at the dinner.
At least one reporter was able to stay behind.
“Well, that’s a good thing, because it’s a ruling party-supporting media outlet.
Before Ahn could finish his sigh of relief, Leon dropped a bombshell.
“It’s a good thing we don’t have any noisy rats.”
“Please!
Is he working for the opposition and trying to bring me down by labeling me a racist?
President Ahn tried to change the subject.
“Your Majesty Leon, how is your life in Korea?”
“I’m making myself at home, Mr. President, by the way.”
“What?”
“Please feel free to speak to me.”
“Oh, no, I’m comfortable with this.”
“You’re not a king!
“Hmm… That’s true.”
President Ahn wondered if this man really understood the position of president as a king.
The president was trying to make the dinner as cordial as possible, and Leon understood that.
‘The president wants something from me.’
It’s easy to understand what that might be. In fact, given his track record so far, it’s hard to imagine there’s much he could ask for.
Leon read about the latest scandal, so he thought that the president was trying to look good and build his own image. But there’s something that Ahn overlooked.
Leon was the king of a country. He ruled for 70 years and lived for 300 years before the world was destroyed by demons.
To the Lionheart King who relied heavily on force, but was also a master of court politics and dealt with an unwilling empire and disparate peoples, Ahn was a young man.
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“By the way, Your Majesty, how was your meal?”
“Not bad. The food culture in this country seems to be of a high standard.”
“Haha, I’m glad you liked the meal. What did you like best?”
“Hmm…….”
Leon was an Earthling once. He was Korean, and he knew what would win their favor.
‘That’s why he left a reporter behind.’
He picked a reporter from a media outlet that was favorable to the president’s party so he’ll spin the story as favorably as he can.
Leon chuckled and continued.
“I love the idea of bibimbap.”
“Oh, you mean bibimbap?”
The reporter’s camera shutter clicked as he turned off his flash.
“This food is called bibimbap. The colors of the vegetables are harmonious and beautiful. It must be because your ancestors were wise and understanding that they came up with such a harmonious dish.”
‘Ohhh… that’s it! That’s what I wanted to hear!’
Very good. That’s a good reaction, and it’s one that’s going to be on YouTube for a while.
[The Lion King of the Otherworld, praises K-Bibimbap]
[Japan was surprised, China was horrified, and the U.S. was envious! What is the identity of K-food that even otherworldly royalty praised?]
[The amazing ‘this’ that made the world tremble and Japan envious. What was His Majesty’s reaction?]
Wow, that’s great. Aside from the national pride, it was a very nice comment. How can you say something so pretty without being asked?
“It’s like the gods of the Temple of Ten Thousand Gods and the Lionheart Kingdom.”
“Hmm?”
“My kingdom emphasizes the harmonious coexistence of the divine and the human, just like this bibimbap. They intertwine and shine off each other.”
“Is that… so?”
Now that this was said, President Ahn couldn’t help but ask about the divinity and Leon’s kingdom.
“That…what kind of country was the Lionheart Kingdom?”
“It was a kingdom that valued honor, cared for its subjects, and revered its divinity. That’s why it’s a pity.”
“For what…?”
“The people of this country. In my short time here, I’ve seen their lives, and I’ve seen so many sick, weak, and dying.”
“Huh… It’s all because I wasn’t good enough, serving the people and──”
“No, that’s not the problem. It’s the ‘falling ill’ part.”
“????”
The reporter’s camera turns to Leon, naturally waiting for his next words.
“If you eat the crops blessed by the goddess Demera, you’ll never get sick in your life. Cancer, I believe it was called, and I’m shocked that people die because it can’t be cured.”
What? President Ahn’s mind raced. Is this guy advertising?
He’s royalty from a medieval civilization. Does he know about modern advertising techniques?
After that, Leon continued to praise Korean culture, but secretly talked about the miracles of the Temple of Ten Thousand Gods.
However, all of this was backed up by real-life examples of blessed rice and purified Naju plains and the recent capture of the fiends also played a role.
As a result, the president and Leon’s conversation naturally turned to the Temple of Ten Thousand Gods.
“Thank you for the meal. President An, why don’t we take a walk and talk?”
“Sure.”
The two stood up and walked down the path as a reporter followed them, but since it was a private moment, he only took pictures from a distance.
‘Now is the time to hear what this man has to say.’
“President Ahn, by the way.”
“What is it, Your Majesty Leon?”
“I’ve been trying to understand your political system and culture as best I can.”
“That’s a good thing. Many survivors do not even attempt to understand Earth’s civilization.”
“Those are the ignorant ones and I am not one of them but there is something I don’t understand.”
“What… is it?”
President Ahn swallowed nervously. What this man was about to say was strangely disturbing.
“Democracy,” he said, “you were elected by an act of the people, a vote. Forty-nine percent of the people in this country voted for you.”
“Haha, I have the people to thank for that.”
“That’s the problem.”
“What?”
Leon began to speak in an offhand manner.
“I, an honorable knight, guardian of the Grail, chosen by the Goddess, have one vote, the same as a bunch of lowly mortals… Is that what you mean?”
“No, of course not, in a democracy…….”
“This king is saying that democracy is an inefficient system.”
The president was puzzled: what was this barbarian talking about?
“The duty of the common man is to toil, to support the knights and nobles. They are easily tempted by evil because they want more than they need and are unhappy with what they have.”
He denied democracy and was against capitalism.
Leon casually rattled off the conclusions of modern Earth’s political system.
“My advice for my president is that the only truly happy nation is a perfect one, ruled with an iron fist by a king chosen by the gods. How can commoners who don’t know politics elect a king?”
Unable to believe his words, he stammered back.
“Are you denying democracy?”
Leon shook his head in disbelief.
“How can I deny a law, however foolish and stupid, that was formed through the due process of a nation?”
Whoa, President Ahn patted his chest in surprise. But then a shocker hit him.
“So I’m going to run for president myself.”
“What?”
“I don’t like the idea of having to get votes from bums, but I have to follow due process. Of course, once this king is president, I’ll have to tear up all these stupid laws.”
You’re saying…you’re going to abolish democracy? Ahn’s heart rate rose again.
“Your Majesty, a country is its people, and this country’s democracy was built with the blood of its people!”
Leon looked dumbfounded but then he declared.
“The burden is the state, never the other way around.”
“……!!”
President Ahn was shocked by Leon’s words.
Ahn doesn’t think of himself as righteous. He’s moderately corrupt and moderately disrespectful of the people but not like Leon.
‘I’m an asshole, but I’m no more of an asshole than this guy!’
As the independence fighter in his blood has been ignited his goals for the rest of his term became clear.
‘Father, grandfather, are you watching? I will stop this horrible authoritarian from doing politics!’
The dormant justice within president Ahn Dong-gil was ignited.
