Ch.304Hall of the Gods (Complete)

I had a dream.

In Llewellyn’s dream, he faced paths he had never taken, roads he could have traveled.

He saw not only horrific futures like being endlessly exploited by cannibals, but also futures he had once contemplated.

From becoming the Empire’s second Guardian to leading the Black Knights—possibilities that might have awaited Llewellyn.

Looking at these alternatives, he realized it was nearly miraculous that he had chosen the right path to reach where he was now.

Just one wrong choice, a single moment of regret, could have led him down those other roads.

He had arrived at this point solely because all manner of good fortune had accompanied him.

He had gained a place filled with good people who loved and cherished him.

A sanctuary to escape to, a refuge to hide from all manner of calamities.

Llewellyn slowly opened his eyes there. He felt a gentle weight pressing down on his chest.

“…Hmm.”

Upon opening his eyes, he saw Isla standing quietly, looking down at him, and a small baby sitting on his chest.

“Hello.”

Llewellyn carefully embraced the tiny baby and sat up.

“I was sleeping so well…”

But he didn’t voice any complaints. Llewellyn knew that his self from a year ago wouldn’t have acted this way, yet he had no choice but to accept it.

What else could he do? Who would have thought he’d become a father at this age?

Llewellyn gently stroked the child in his arms—a horned baby with green hair and yellow eyes.

“It’s morning. You asked me to wake you.”

Did I? Llewellyn couldn’t remember, and as he tried to recall, he reflexively rolled his eyes to bring up his status window.

But no window appeared before his eyes. Only then did memories slowly emerge from the haze.

The status window created by the Old Gods. The fact that he had journeyed with it, and at the end, had launched it so that Netel could seal off the world.

The status window was gone now. The friend that had drawn out Llewellyn’s divinity, guided him on the right path, and tried its best to help him was already dead.

It was a sad thing. While feeling regret for the window that no longer appeared, Llewellyn got up and approached Isla.

As he lowered his head, she closed her eyes.

When he placed his hand on her cheek, she trembled slightly, and when their lips met, she released a heated breath.

Isla smiled after kissing him as if she had been waiting for it.

One year after the final battle at the Pantheon.

Llewellyn was still at the Pantheon.

*

Immediately after the final battle, Llewellyn devoted his energy to rebuilding the Pantheon, securing space for the three clans to stay, and preparing for potential enemies and refugees who might come.

This was partly his responsibility, but also because his happiness lay beyond it.

Llewellyn wanted the society he lived in to be healthy and strong.

He wanted the people he lived with to be happy. He wished for children’s laughter to be heard on the streets, and for people to have enough abundance to freely express their generosity.

To achieve this, there was much to prepare at the Pantheon.

Among these, perhaps the most crucial was establishing a security organization.

A security force to restrain potential troublemakers and traitors in this Pantheon already filled with powerful individuals.

Fortunately, Llewellyn didn’t have to worry about this alone.

“Your Majesty. Good morning.”

A Black Knight approached and bowed his head. It was Irenicus, a Black Knight already familiar to Llewellyn.

“There was a fistfight last night. We quickly deployed Black Knights to subdue them, heard both sides’ reasons, and sent them to the Duel Scholar.”

“Thank you for your hard work. And other than that…”

“Yes, it was a peaceful night as always.”

Llewellyn walked on with relief.

As he walked, the gates of the Cradle opened, and the Pantheon came into view.

The final battle had been just a year ago.

Compared to a year ago, the Pantheon had transformed into something completely different.

It was moving to see it each time. Llewellyn quietly observed his city with his hands behind his back.

‘No, perhaps it should be called a country now rather than a city.’

The Pantheon, which originally had only clustered residences and palisades prepared for the final battle, had now become a proper dense city.

Llewellyn surveyed the city for a moment.

Sturdy buildings carved from stone. Homes that provided comfort in the spring breeze that constantly blew.

There were wide avenues along these buildings, with horses and carriages running along them.

Not far away was a market, and the market stalls were filled with all sorts of rare items that couldn’t be found in the Pantheon a year ago.

The avenue leading to the market stretched out toward where the Black Knights’ Cradle once stood.

At the end of the open avenue was a massive gate. A heavy gate that moved automatically through the Demon-Suppressing School’s techniques.

Beyond it was a path that left the Pantheon and approached where the Demon Realm once was, and at the end of that path, adventure awaited.

An adventure that had already left Llewellyn’s hands. Llewellyn now had to create a new life rather than seek adventure.

Though that too was an adventure in its own way. With a faint smile, Llewellyn gazed at the city he had worked hard to build over the past year.

“Why are you being so melancholic?”

A voice approached as he stood there. Llewellyn turned his head slightly and saw a girl approaching.

A girl with the same hair color, eye color, and horn shape as the child he had seen earlier.

It was Ortemilia. Llewellyn smiled, welcoming the “child’s mother.”

“Just feeling nostalgic looking at the city.”

“How sentimental. So, where’s the baby?”

“Isla has her. They’re probably visiting the forest together.”

“She’ll come back having eaten all sorts of snacks again.”

Ortemilia, who sighed, was clearly different from a year ago.

A year ago, she had been somewhat impulsive, but now she had the complete appearance of a mother. It made sense, as she had been raising a child for nearly ten months.

How surprised they had been when she laid an egg after two months, and it hatched after just one month.

Llewellyn smiled awkwardly and stroked Ortemilia’s back as she embraced him tightly.

The warmth spreading from her body felt good. As he stroked her exposed back, his arm around her waist tightened.

They could stay like this longer, but…

“Hmm, that’s nice. Now that I’ve satisfied my emotional needs, I’ll be going. Work hard today too.”

Ortemilia was considerate of her busy son and husband.

She left so Llewellyn could do what he needed to do, and the Black Knight led Llewellyn forward with a pleased smile.

“You have a good relationship. I’m glad.”

“I was the one who decided to embrace it all. I have to work hard to maintain good relationships.”

“That’s impressive. Most people struggle with just one wife…”

“It’s all about technique.”

Llewellyn’s words weren’t empty.

In some ways, it seemed more difficult than governing the Pantheon.

Physically and sexually satisfying his lovers who came to his bedroom, showing his face daily and conveying his love without making anyone feel left out.

It sounded easy but was actually quite difficult.

Fortunately, Llewellyn had managed to achieve it through his best efforts.

“Ah, Llewellyn.”

“My King.”

The results were right in front of him. Lorian approaching with a baby in her arms, and the Court Count standing beside her.

“You’re just waking up? Really. I fear the child will forget his father’s face.”

Lorian joked as she handed over the child. Llewellyn smiled and quietly took the baby.

Though the body temperature was low, it was clearly Llewellyn’s child. His descendant, with more to come in the future.

Llewellyn tickled the child’s cheek before handing him back, and Lorian received her child with a motherly expression.

It was something unimaginable a year ago.

To think that Lorian would make such a motherly expression. But it wasn’t surprising.

Perhaps it was a future that would come to all blood kin. They were rapidly regaining their humanity and living among humans.

The Court Count was part of this too.

Perhaps because their wait for their father and their hope for salvation without promise had ended, they were showing thoroughly human aspects.

Even just looking at the blood kin around him now showed this.

“Where are the Empress and the Prophet?”

“I’m not sure about the Empress. But the Prophet is probably in class.”

In class, huh. Llewellyn glanced at the school built by the Prophet and continued walking.

He did kiss Lorian’s cheek, but that much was certainly an acceptable greeting for a wife.

As he walked, Llewellyn met many people and exchanged greetings.

“Ah, Your Majesty. There are documents to approve… I’ll send this to the Court Count.”

Rie Hejedia, pulling out documents as if she had been waiting.

“Ah, King. You’re awake? If you’re free, how about a match…”

“Master. His Majesty is busy.”

“Hmph.”

The Sword Saint and the Sword Saint Association, always the same.

“Your Majesty. Good morning.”

“The sun is already overhead, yet you’ve just woken? How careless.”

“Now, now. Let’s not be too harsh.”

The Dragon King clicking his tongue in mock scolding, Valterok who had become much more relaxed after completing his mission, and the Elven Abbot mediating his friend.

After exchanging greetings with the three and passing by, he was already at the center of the city.

Llewellyn saw many people as he passed through the center of the city.

Dragon-folk, shapeshifters, blood kin, and necromancers.

Ordinary humans as well as beastkin and elves—diverse groups of people.

Ordinary people lumped together as citizens of the Pantheon, regardless of race, gender, age, or past.

They were all smiling.

The air was mixed with fragrant scents like fresh bread, and the people’s laughter was followed by greetings that were too familiar to be directed at a king.

Llewellyn received such greetings, smiled back, and walked on.

“My lord.”

“Llewellyn! Why are you late today?”

“I slept in a bit. The weather’s so nice.”

Walking like this to his office, two familiar faces were waiting.

Two with radiant blonde hair. Melody and Eshatherna.

As the Black Knight withdrew, saying he would step back, what awaited Llewellyn was a mountain of work.

Countless documents and agenda items just waiting for Llewellyn’s approval.

But Llewellyn worked steadfastly without getting tired.

While he had help from Melody and Eshatherna, this was far better than fighting for his life and watching people die.

Most of the past year had been like this.

A succession of days somehow managing to govern the Pantheon with the help of Melody and many others.

Some might find it boring, but…

Llewellyn liked this peaceful daily life.

“…Oh right. Big sister is waiting for you.”

As this peaceful daily routine and work continued, the sun was setting and dusk was falling.

That’s what Melody said.

“She said she’s waiting on the balcony. Why don’t you go see her?”

She smiled broadly, saying she would handle the remaining work.

Llewellyn accepted her words and headed to the balcony.

Indeed, a woman with a familiar back was sitting on the balcony.

Llewellyn naturally approached and sat beside her.

The sunset was falling. The whole world, to the horizon, was dyed and shining in crimson.

That crimson light was scattered over the city Llewellyn had built and protected.

It fell equally on the paths people walked and on their smiling faces.

Looking at these people, Llewellyn thought.

How nice it would be if those smiles could continue forever.

“Sejin.”

“Yes, Noona.”

“Are you happy?”

Once, Llewellyn had said that his goal was to be happy.

That thing he didn’t know, that might have been unclear if he could ever obtain.

He wanted to grasp that happiness and continue to enjoy it in the future.

That which is essentially the goal of all living beings.

Llewellyn pondered his sister’s question.

Had he truly obtained that happiness?

Feeling his sister’s head resting on his shoulder and her hand gently holding his, Llewellyn thought.

“I’m happy.”

At last, Llewellyn had achieved his goal.

Feeling the happiness that would continue into the future, Llewellyn smiled.