The Knight King Who Returned with God-Chapter 14 The Earth Goddess, Demera

"Contaminated Naju Plains: What's the Mystery Behind the Rice Fields?"

"Successful Purification of Land Experts Claimed Impossible? Is It a New Mage Tower Reagent?"

"Farmers of Naju Plains All Joined the Same Guild?"

After the purification of the Naju Plains, the internet buzzed with news and speculation about the miraculously restored land.

Leon had already purified a piece of land contaminated by mana beasts in the Honam Plains, but it never made major headlines.

That was because the Phoenix Guild had pressured the media into silence.

But the Naju Plains were on a different level entirely.

This was land that had remained contaminated for five whole years.

It had significantly lowered South Korea's food self-sufficiency rate, forcing the country to import expensive rice from China and Japan.

No matter the farming method or the amount of reagent poured in, it was considered impossible to reclaim.

And yet, the Naju Plains had been purified overnight.

Farmers who witnessed the miracle wept tears of joy, but the internet and self-proclaimed experts took a more rational approach:

—"Did the Mage Tower develop a new reagent? Their recent tech advancements are no joke."

—"But how do they eat crops that grew so fast? Weren't they supposed to be toxic anyway?"

—"Human magi-tech is improving day by day. At this rate, we might restore breadbaskets worldwide."

Yes, this was the typical response.

Even when people witness something that defies logic, they try to interpret it within the bounds of their existing knowledge.

To those immersed in scientific thinking, divine miracles and the descent of sacred beings seemed embarrassingly irrational.

"Your Majesty, here are the responses online. Don't you think we should make an official announcement through the Association?"

The Hunter Association still hadn't made any statements about the divine phenomenon. Understandably so. A new religion, a new faith?

The political backlash from dominant religious groups would be enormous, not to mention the optics of a government institution promoting one faith over others.

"Leave them be. Even if we declared it now, the foolish masses would not believe. They need more proof."

Leon spent three full days inspecting the village hall in the Naju Plains.

As he purified Old Choi's land, more sincere faith than expected flowed into the Pantheon.

The faith that reached the Goddess of Life and Abundance, Demera, was instantly converted into divine power, which Leon used to purify the entire region.

Thus, a straw doll—representing the image of the goddess—was erected on the plains, and the people bowed and worshipped before the simple altar.

"I, the king, grant you the right to cultivate this land. Till the body of Demera and continue her abundance."

The new followers were grateful for the purification, but now that the land was usable again, hesitation filled their eyes. Naturally so.

"Your Majesty... even so, isn't a tithe of ninety percent a bit too much?"

Yes, this was the problem.

Ninety percent. A tax rate that demanded nine-tenths of their crops?

Leon calmly explained the taxation system of the Lionheart Kingdom.

Everyone, regardless of noble or commoner, paid ninety percent of their yield. It was the standard.

How could a country even function like that?

Wouldn't everyone starve to death?

Were they spending that tax money on breeding warhorses or something?

These were the typical criticisms made by empire-folk who misunderstood the system of the Lionheart Kingdom.

Leon had ruled over a theocracy—a nation built on divine unity.

The ruling class and the commoners alike followed the gods of Light and Justice.

Fishermen, following the god of Seas and Tides, caught only the permitted amounts.

Farmers, who revered the goddess of Life and Abundance, always enjoyed bountiful harvests.

Even the monarch was chosen from among the Holy Grail Knights, selected by divine will over millennia of succession.

It was a perfectly structured society built around the gods. The only thing that could disturb its peace was external invasion.

Barbarians from the greedy north, vulgar orcs, and unclean vampires who defied death—these were the ones who dared to threaten the peaceful kingdom.

In response, brave knights—followers of Light and Justice—fought back in gleaming armor on mighty steeds.

The free citizens supported these honorable knights, and from that support system, the tithe of ninety percent was born.

It was a structure the people willingly agreed upon to support those who risked death to defend their peace.

Of course, such a system was only sustainable because the society itself was rooted in true justice.

Unlike other corrupt kingdoms or empires, where law and order were warped by greed, the Lionheart Kingdom only allowed leaders blessed by the gods to rule.

Anyone who dared embezzle even a portion of the taxes would lose the divine blessing instantly, and their bloodline would be forever barred from producing a Grail Knight.

Thus, the taxes were always used for the public good: building bridges, reinforcing city walls, improving infrastructure, and caring for the families of fallen warriors.

Under the guidance of the God-chosen King, the Lionheart Kingdom flourished in peace. No one complained about taxes.

That was the foundation upon which they had become the final bastion against evil.

"But this is Earth. South Korea, Your Majesty."

Even the farmers—who had witnessed the divine power firsthand and pledged their faith—couldn't help but agree.

They understood he was a king from a medieval civilization. Survivors from another world would naturally have different cultures.

But this was Earth. Here, the farmers owned their land and also had to pay separate taxes to the government.

"Your Majesty... still, 90% is just too much. We have to pay state taxes, and then there's the cost of living, and fertilizers..."

"What are you talking about? Why are you even worrying about taxes, living expenses, or fertilizer?"

"...Pardon?"

Even Hari and the farmers who had been listening with perked-up ears looked puzzled by Leon's unexpected statement.

"A follower of the goddess, worrying about going hungry—how absurd. The food collected through the tithe shall be redistributed as rations, all expenses managed with only the bare minimum cost deducted."

What he meant was simple:

Taxes, food, even living expenses—everything.

"We shall appoint the most devout among you as a priest. The rest of the harvest is wholly yours. Sell it, and use it for comfort and luxury."

In other words, apart from the 10% they get to keep, everything else would be taken care of—subsistence, welfare, daily necessities, all covered.

—Huh. When you put it that way, it doesn't sound half bad...?

—Nah, still... nine outta ten is way too much, right?

Then Hari quietly showed them an appraisal sheet.

"Uh... come to think of it, about this blessed rice—it's got a crazy valuation."

A single bowl—160 grams—of the rice had effects comparable to a high-grade booster, but with significantly longer duration.

However, the yield was overwhelmingly greater than any ordinary booster, meaning that stamina- and mana-recovery enhancers would soon become dirt-cheap.

Even under the most conservative market estimate—accounting for oversupply and falling prices—the Hunter Association's appraisers concluded:

"One 80kg sack of rice is worth... 150 million won."

"...What."

"...What."

"...What?!"

The farmers blinked, wondering if they'd heard wrong.

150 million? For one sack of rice? How much did they harvest five years ago again?

"Glory to the divine!"

"Long live the Goddess!"

"I never doubted you, O saviooorrrr!"

Leon basked in the praise rightfully due to the divine and began teaching them the commandments of Demera, the goddess of life and abundance:

Use the first harvest to craft the goddess's image and offer it at the altar.

Do not pee in the fields. Fertilizer is acceptable.

Always put a hat and clothes on the scarecrow.

Sing while you harvest. Songs of gratitude to the goddess are preferred.

No matter how busy you are, don't go around hungry.

...

"Uh... Is this really okay, Your Majesty?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well... the religion seems to come with a lot of material perks..."

Of course, religion is usually a kind of "take to take" deal: believe, and you'll be saved after death, your illness will be cured, or you'll get dozens of virgin concubines in paradise.

But Leon didn't seem like the kind of person who'd approve of such shallow faith.

"Hmph. How can one expect the nobility of knights or the dignity of aristocrats from ignorant peasants? Should they be corrupted by the blessings and lose their way, the grace will simply be withdrawn. So it matters not."

Leon had no intention of being greedy from the start. In the end, only those with genuine faith would be chosen by the divine.

And the farmers weren't his only audience.

Once the world witnessed the miracle of Naju Plains' purification and the crops grown there, they would behold a second miracle:

Crops that heal just by eating them.

These Earthlings, so dependent on barbaric medical practices out of fear of disease, would eventually have no choice but to acknowledge the truth.

"Should we replant the harvested crops as seedlings?"

"Keep enough to feed yourselves. The rest—the Hunter Association will be purchasing for research, so sell it at a reasonable price."

A world united with the divine.

Such a world was no longer a dream—it was only a matter of time.

After purifying the Naju Plains and erecting the altar to the Goddess Demera, Leon, as announced, stockpiled the first wave of crops in his own warehouse.

"This time, for the expansion of agriculture, all produce except the rations will be converted to seedlings. Those in need of money may sell to the Association for research purposes—do so at a fair price."

Leon bestowed the majority of the crops upon Old Man Choi, who had been appointed as a temporary priest. He would distribute the necessary amount of food to the villagers and plant the remaining seedlings for the next farming season.

The rest of the harvested portion was left for the villagers to sell themselves, but since the Association had agreed to purchase it, the deal was easily worth over 5 billion won.

"Are you sure this is alright, Your Majesty? Handing it over so readily?"

"You mean that old man?"

"Yes... you've entrusted him with nearly all the tenancy."

From Hari's perspective, Leon's approach was extremely simple.

Each farmland would pay its tithe (ten percent) in crops, which would then be collected and managed by the lord—or, in the lord's absence, the priest—and then a portion of it would be sent back to the central authority: Leon.

The core of it was this:

Roughly. On their own. To the best of their ability.

My god, Hari thought. It's practically a system designed to let people embezzle taxes.

"In Your Majesty's kingdom, how did you deal with corrupt officials?"

"There was no need to catch them."

"Wh-why not?"

"Because those types all fell straight into hell."

"Ah..."

Leon was not from Earth, where heaven and hell are just words. He was from a world where gods were real.

Harmony with divinity, faith and blessings—and naturally, divine punishment also existed.

Corrupt bureaucrats?

Rotten nobles? Knights abusing their power?

How could such people possibly survive?

That was the reality, the natural order, in his world.

"To deceive the gods for a moment's wealth and glory... That's certainly bold, in its own foolish way."

"..."

Hari swallowed hard.

Facing Demera's divinity, she had been moved by the gods' grace—but now, she was chilled to realize that divine retribution was also very, very real.

There are two ways to become a Hunter.

One is to enroll in a Hunter Academy, receive three years of state-funded education and training, and graduate with an official Hunter License.

Hari herself, currently an assistant manager at the National Hunter Association, was a product of this system.

"I was top of my class~ Hehe."

"Didn't ask."

"Okaaay..."

The second way is to take the official Awakening Test certified by the Hunter Association, where your Job and Skills are assessed.

This route was common for those who awakened after passing academy age, or for Hunters who wanted to renew their rank each year.

"Would Your Majesty also like to take the test? Procedurally, it'd make everything easier for administrative purposes."

Hari was genuinely curious. What kind of Job and Skills did Leon possess?

Many survivors from another world had skills completely inaccessible to Earth's people, and even the Association was quietly intrigued.

"What kind of nonsense is that?"

Leon's response was cold.

"How dare they presume to test me, the Lion King of Knights."

"Uh... then why are we even going there?"

"To recruit worthy free citizens as soldiers. I will be the one testing them."

"Th-that's not how the process—"

"If it doesn't work, make it work."

As usual, Leon was forcing things through with pure will, and Hari was already dreading how to explain this to Manager Kim Jin-soo.

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"More importantly—when is the President returning to the country?"

"I-I'll call right now. Hello? Manager Kim?"

Faced with this sword-wielding knight-king, dealing with the Association's red tape suddenly seemed like the easier task.