After Rakshar blew up the world's satellites, the world scrambled to get communications satellites up and running, but even half a decade after the war, there's one satellite that hasn't been replaced.
It's a reconnaissance satellite with a gate detection lens.
The development of gate scouting satellites, which detect magic waves on the ground from space and send observations back to the ground from space, was the best invention that allowed humanity to deal with gates in advance, greatly reducing the frequency of dungeon breaks.
By the time of the Second Korean War, there were 3,844 gate surveillance satellites in Earth orbit.
The U.S. alone had 2,000 satellites, and the world's economic powerhouses had between 20 and 30 satellites to provide their own 24-hour warning systems, while poorer countries tried to play catch-up by sharing satellite information through joint budgets.
But satellites don't just happen when you want them to.
The gate surveillance satellite technology was the original technology of the United States, and the production capacity was insufficient to supply the world in a short time.
Because of the shortage, countries around the world lined up to ask the U.S. to sell them gate surveillance satellites, and South Korea was selected as the top priority, receiving only two satellites half a year later.
"Can't we buy that--- technology, be a co-producer or something?"
Hundreds of meters above Koo Dae-sung is communicating with a giant black dragon, feeling its wings on his skin. His target is Yappy, who oversees the All-China Integrated Network.
-The US government steadfastly refuses. It fears that technology leakage will reduce its monopoly production.
The U.S. was reaping huge profits from the sale of gate surveillance satellites every year. The satellite technology, which is unique to the U.S., has forced the rogue nations that have been America's headache in the 21st century to bow before them.
[If you screw up, watch the dungeon break happen.]
To stop the dungeon break, you need to find the gate early enough to give yourself plenty of time to capture it.
That way, even if the first raid fails, the next raid will be able to respond.
"I don't understand. If it's so important, why not make it public and keep everyone safe?"
Karina criticized the foreign attitude in disbelief.
On a humanity-wide level, it was the right thing to do, and it was what Lionheart would have done.
'There's a big difference in perspective down here.'
Koo Dae-sung sympathizes, but what can you do if you don't like the country that owns the technology?
-So they tried to hack and steal the technology, but it was difficult.
Hacking---I tried.
Koo Dae-sung listened to Yappy's casual confession of the crime. Yappy was a Holy Knight who took full advantage of the fact that he was above the law.
-No data information. Supposedly keeps all information on paper.
"Definitely------"
This explains why it took so long for hackers from the continent, Iran, and Russia to get their hands on U.S. gate surveillance technology.
[A chirping noise above me.]
Black Dragon interrupted the conversation above him in annoyance but that's to be expected. They've arrived at their destination.
"That's the Gama Plateau--I've never seen it before."
"Who hasn't?"
Just as they arrived the gate cracked open and monsters poured out.
* * * * *
Monsters poured out of the gate.
The monsters were packed so tightly together that they trampled each other to the point of death.
Under normal circumstances, this would be a disaster. But facing the waves of monsters, Koo Dae-sung leisurely stretched.
"Whoa~"
A shining green star armor and an earth shield were attached to his left arm. The helmet was placed on his head, limiting his vision.
The world through the gap in the helmet's visor was quite narrow, but he was used to it.
"Come."
Koo Dae-sung calls out, extending his empty right arm, and a sonic boom echoes through the air as a holy object that travels halfway around the world to its owner.
It traveled from the sanctuary of the goddess Demera in Pyongyang to the Gama Plateau in an instant.
-Crack!
Georgic's hammer settled effortlessly into his right arm. Karina looked down from the top of the giant black dragon as he readied himself for battle.
"It's only an orange gate. It shouldn't be a level you can't handle on your own, but you'll just have to use hand-to-hand combat."
"Yep."
Koo Dae-sung, who had been trained by Karina for the past half a year, nodded as he fixed his hammer, and a wave of monsters rushed toward him.
"The Dragon Stone is working well."
The problem with dungeon breaks was that once they occurred, monsters spread out in all directions.
If they missed even one, they'd have to mobilize a massive search party.
But now, the monsters' paths are clearly headed in the direction of the Koo Dae-sung.
[------]
The black dragon is showing signs of discomfort.
The scales and teeth are the result of Leon and Beatrice's training of the dragon over the past half year.
They use dragon skin and dragon stones that emit weak dragon fear to limit the monsters' paths, which means they can create kill zones to focus their firepower.
"Black Dragon...are you okay?"
"Don't worry. He's been learning to suppress his aura for half a year. It's time to show off his training."
He didn't like it, but the Black Dragon had succeeded in suppressing the blood that flowed from within him, proving that he had practiced for half a year.
"Well, time to get to work. Let's start with a big one."
At Karina's command, Koo Dae-sung and the Black Dragon inhaled.
The Black Dragon's breath boiled from its guts, while Koo Dae-sung concentrated his energy into his hammer and prepared to swing.
The next instant, the black dragon's breath rained down on the monsters.
The Dragon Breath dissipated the monsters without leaving a single bone, and hundreds of monsters were annihilated in a single blow.
Not surprisingly, it was a powerful breath that burned away all the grass and natural features on the plateau.
"Hmph!"
Similarly, Koo Dae-sung's hammer smashes down on the horde of monsters.
He leaped a few dozen meters and smashed down in the middle of the horde, his hammer blows were as furious as if he had channeled the energy of the entire world.
-Bam!
A great destruction occurs. With a thud, the floor gave way, sending shockwaves in all directions.
[Kkkkk, not bad]
The destruction caused by the two super-powered creatures wiped out the monsters that poured out because of the dungeon break.
Half of the monsters that poured out of the orange gate were wiped out in one fell swoop.
"Ugh, that's a lot of damage."
It took less than a dozen minutes to clean up the dungeon break.
* * * * *
"Well done!"
A pretty elven maiden approached the dungeon break as it was being cleaned up.
It was an elf guerrilla unit that came to gain practical combat experience, but thanks to the overwhelming performance of Koo Dae-sung and Black Dragon, there was no need to interfere.
"Ah, thank you."
"Lord Koo Dae-sung, thank you for your support!"
Koo Dae-sung blushed and smiled awkwardly at the favorable gaze of the elven mistress.
Generally speaking, the other races birthed by the World Tree were favorable to Koo Dae-sung, for they knew that his mighty life force had contributed to the birth and resurrection of their species.
"Don't get too excited, Lord. She's only a year old."
"Well, I hadn't thought of that!"
Karina exclaims to Koo Dae-sung, who blushes at the elf's flirtatiousness. The elf lady crossed her fingers and replied.
"Well, I was born as an adult."
"You need to study and familiarize yourself with the history of the world a bit more."
"I know that Lord Koo Dae-sung is a good enough person. He is the one who planted the forest in the bare mountains around Pyongyang."
Elves and tree men are servants of Irmin, the goddess of forests and trees.
They have been foresters since birth and live a naturalistic life, so the sight of North Korea's bare fields and deforestation is a horrifying sight that makes them instinctively angry.
While South Korea has focused on greening up to Arbor Day, North Korea has gone beyond that to the point of no return.
For the elves and tree men, the mere sight of the chilly bare mountains was stressful enough, so Koo Dae-sung personally blessed the land, and many of North Korea's mountains have been restored to their pre-1950s state.
"Lord Koo Dae-sung is a 'friend of the forest'."
The elves and tree men bestowed upon him the title given to their most revered friends in their knowledge.
He and his descendants will be considered friends of the elves and tree men everywhere.
It was a deep favor that would be passed down from generation to generation.
"By the way, Lord Koo Dae-Sung, aren't you running for mayor this time?"
Koo Dae-Sung shook his head at the elf's question.
"Oh no, I'm overwhelmed just training. There are so many people who are better than me, how can I!"
The Black Dragon's gaze flashed at Koo Dae-Sung's words.
[Hey, Koo Dae-Sung, then give me your vote-─]
-Kaah!
At that moment a powerful flame raised the temperature of the ground and a figure can be clearly seen scattering flames in the sky.
"Why is he here again?"
Karina's question coincided with the trajectory of the flame, which landed exactly where they were.
"GRARARARA!!!"
Of course, only Vulcanus, the Holy Knight of War and Flame, could do such a thing.
He approached, spewing flames in a frenzy, and spread his arms wide.
"Lord Koo Dae-Sung, I see your work is done!"
"Sir Vulcanus? Ah, yes--- what brings you here?"
"GRARARA!!! What business do you have between us, a drink? I've recently discovered the secret liquor cellar of the Chief of the Guard!"
Vulcanus grabbed Koo Dae-Sung's shoulder with his right arm. Koo Dae-Sung was a fellow Grail Knight, but he was not in a hurry to resist the touch of the stern Vulcanus.
[------]
Black Dragon watched the scene in disbelief while Karina shrugged.
"You're going to lose if you stand idly by."
Karina's advice was enough to warn the Black Dragon.
* * * * *
"We're going to elect a mayor of Pyongyang soon."
Leon said this at a meeting where it was decided that Pyongyang was on a stabilization trajectory and would welcome tourists.
-Hmm?
"You mean the mayor of Pyongyang won't be Your Majesty?"
Beatrice, who had heard the story but tentatively assumed it was Leon's job, asked, and Leon shook his head.
"This king should be working to rebuild the Lionheart Kingdom. Pyongyang may be an autonomous city, but it still belongs to the Korean government."
A king cannot go beneath a king. Leon made it clear that even such a formal relationship would not bring him under the umbrella of President Ahn and his government.
"Originally, I thought I would leave it to the resurrected Tree Men or the elves. After all, the Goddess of the Forest and Trees herself has descended here."
The World Tree had resurrected many of Lionheart's other races. This would be their city, and it was only natural that they should be in charge of its governance.
"But they are too young, as Lord Vulcanus suggests. Though they are born with knowledge, they are not fit for leadership."
And so, a mayor is chosen to lead the city on an interim basis. Leon emphasized the word "temporary," but everyone in the room thought it could be a "permanent" position.
"Your Majesty, do I have any qualifications to run?"
Chun So-yeon raised her hand, wondering if she was entitled to run, given her age and status as a South Korean citizen.
As the youngest Knight Order Leader, she was quite content with the power of the group's leader, and she secretly hoped to see it expanded.
"Of course. And we'll set aside the right to vote."
"Voting rights?"
At that, Ha-ri, Jae-hyuk, Soo-ho, and the other knights from Earth tilted their heads.
Born in a democracy, the right to vote was a birthright for them.
"The right to run for office is limited to knights and above. Those who are not of noble birth are not allowed the honor of ruling."
"Eek------"
Knighthood also means that elves, dwarves, and tree men, who are treated as common freemen, are not eligible to run for office.
It's a natural consequence of the fact that it was deemed inappropriate for them to play politics in the first place.
[Are dragons not allowed to run for office, either?]
A black dragon with its face pressed against the window of the conference room, listening, asked. Behind them, the dragons born in the last half year pricked up their ears in curiosity.
"No, dragons will be given the right to run for office. We do not consider your intellect to be inferior to that of ordinary citizens."
[Ahem! Of course!]
Maybe it's racist, but dragons take it for granted, and Leon admits it, so who's to argue.
"That's a shame. Will this vote be held again?"
Naru, the high elf priestess of the forests and trees, looked disappointed, but she was honest enough to admit their inexperience.
She and the fledgling races are long-lived enough to be able to vote a hundred years from now, so the immediate mayoralty isn't too bad.
"I'll hold off on that until this king sees fit, we need to stabilize first."
"I see. And what about voting? We may be young, but don't we have a right to vote for a mayor to lead us?"
Leon nodded in agreement with the young High Elf priest.
"The free people shall have one vote each."
So far, so good in a democracy. The problem was──
"Clerics have five votes. Regular Knights five votes. A veteran has ten votes. A Templar has twenty votes."
"Eh?"
Ha-ri felt a twinge of cheapness, but Leon didn't care about 'egalitarian democracy'.
"A Holy Knight and the High Priestess have the equivalent of one hundred votes."
"Discrimination?!"
Soo-ho exclaims, unable to swallow his words. But as no one dared to question the unfairness of it all, the Black Dragon spoke up.
[How many votes does a dragon have?]
"Twenty marks. Considering their small numbers and the size of their power, I've upgraded them, so be grateful."
[Chit---!]
Finally, Leon said.
"Those who wish to run must declare their intentions by next week. That's it."
In the election for mayor of the Pyongyang Special Autonomous Region there was no democracy.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, do you happen to know how many votes ------"
Ha-ri asked urgently. Leon continued his rant against democracy with a weak smile.
"The man of the people is the mayor."
"You never cared about democracy?!
What a shitty balanced election!
To the consternation of democratic citizens, Leon declared that he would not participate in the election.
That left a total of three candidates for the position of mayor of the Pyongyang Special Autonomous Region.
Vulcanus, Holy Knight of War and Flame.
Yakt Spinner, Holy Knight of Iron and Blacksmithing.
Black Dragon, first scion of Dragonia, the God of Gold and Covenants.
The first democratic election in Lionheart's history began like this.