Chapter 103
Using the Return Stone bestowed by God Bahamut, Jung Dong-gun and Han Seong-geun were instantly transported to the Balhut Cult’s main sanctuary via its teleportation magic circle.
Han Seong-geun, realizing the world had suddenly flipped upside down, found himself in an unfamiliar location far from Ulsan Airport. Dazed, he began to glance around in confusion.
Jung Dong-gun, understanding Han Seong-geun’s disorientation, gently patted his shoulder in an attempt to calm him.
Feeling the warmth on his shoulder, Han Seong-geun flinched briefly. Realizing it was Jung Dong-gun, he asked with a bewildered expression.
“Wh-where is this?”
“This is the result of using Return Magic. Oh, would you understand it better if I called it teleportation?”
Before the apocalypse, such words would have been no different from fantasy, but in this era where unimaginable phenomena had become reality, even teleportation seemed plausible.
As Jung Dong-gun explained it as teleportation magic, Han Seong-geun, while grasping the concept, exclaimed in shock.
“Does that mean there’s a mage in the Balhut Cult capable of using teleportation magic?!”
The idea of someone using teleportation left him astounded.
No Awakened capable of teleportation magic had officially appeared in Korea yet. Even abroad, the general consensus in communities was that teleportation magic remained beyond humanity’s reach.
Although it was theoretically possible that some Awakened had secretly mastered teleportation magic, it was considered extremely rare. Most magicians speculated it would only become accessible far in humanity’s future.
Han Seong-geun had never imagined he would experience such a phenomenon firsthand.
“Ah, no, we don’t have anyone like that.”
“Excuse me?”
“There’s no one in our cult who can use teleportation magic.”
What on earth was this man saying?
He had just described what happened as teleportation, yet now he claimed that no one in the cult could use teleportation magic?
This was completely contradictory. If they had just used teleportation magic, how could there not be someone in the cult capable of it?
“Th-then… was it some kind of magical artifact created by an Awakened?”
“Uh… half correct, I’d say.”
In this apocalypse, the world had already become familiar with items that defied previous rules of existence.
It was widely known that tools and weapons crafted by specialized Awakened carried unique magical powers. Depending on their nature, these tools could produce effects unimaginable in the pre-apocalypse era.
If no Awakened could use it directly, then it must have been some kind of specialized magical item. Han Seong-geun’s guess was only natural, and Jung Dong-gun acknowledged it with a half-hearted confirmation.
“Haha. So there are items like this nowadays. Such power from crafting skills….”
Han Seong-geun finally seemed to accept it, sighing in relief.
At least the explanation aligned somewhat with common sense.
Of course, what he had just witnessed was far beyond normal comprehension, but at least he had constructed a narrative he could believe in.
“Ah, it’s not something created by humans.”
“What… that doesn’t make any sense… that’s terrifying.”
Before Han Seong-geun could fully process this explanation, Jung Dong-gun, wearing a mischievous grin, clarified that the Return Stone wasn’t a human-made object.
Han Seong-geun’s face crumbled as his jaw dropped in disbelief. He couldn’t help it.
Faced with something that defied all common sense, anyone would have felt shaken to the core.
“Well? You’ve returned faster than I expected.”
Han Seong-geun was finally able to close his gaping mouth and regain some composure when Choi Yuna, who could communicate directly with God Bahamut, appeared to greet them, having anticipated their arrival.
Her appearance in her dazzling priestess robes seemed out of place in this apocalyptic world.
“My apologies for inconveniencing you.”
“Not at all. There could always be injured individuals, so it’s my duty to step forward. By the way… is this the man named Han Seong-geun?”
“Yes, he’s the deputy leader at Ulsan Airport.”
‘Wait, did I ever introduce myself to this person?’
The most puzzling thing for Han Seong-geun was how the young girl in front of him already knew who he was.
Did he somehow introduce himself without realizing it? Searching through his memory, he couldn’t recall mentioning his name to her.
Even if Jung Dong-gun had informed her, there hadn’t been enough time for that, nor had Jung Dong-gun shown any sign of communicating with anyone during their brief trip.
‘Well… maybe another team member told her. That would make sense. Yeah, that must be it.’
After convincing himself of this explanation, Han Seong-geun discarded the unsettling feeling and slowly bowed to the young girl before him.
“My name is Han Seong-geun.”
“You’re the one leading the resistance at Ulsan Airport.”
“Just as Mr. Jung Dong-gun said, I’m the deputy leader of the resistance at Ulsan Airport. May I ask who you are?”
Although the girl appeared young, Han Seong-geun, believing she held a high position, humbled himself and respectfully addressed her.
His assumption turned out to be correct, as Jung Dong-gun also introduced him politely. Following up, Han Seong-geun posed his question to learn more about the young girl’s identity.
He assumed she must be a high-ranking member of the cult.
“My name is Choi Yuna. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Choi Yuna… isn’t she the leader of the Balhut Cult?! She’s even younger than Jina Ahn!”
Why was the so-called final boss casually standing here?
Choi Yuna was the leader of the Balhut Cult and an Awakened who had supposedly taken full control of Gyeongju.
“Ahem. You’re nothing like the rumors suggest.”
What surprised him even more was how different she was from the rumors.
According to information from the community, she was supposed to be the complete opposite of what he was seeing. Yet, here she was, a young girl with a bright smile, engaging with him warmly.
This stark contrast left Han Seong-geun momentarily dazed, but he quickly regained focus. After all, he represented Ulsan Airport and had come to the Balhut Cult in an official capacity.
He couldn’t afford to display any shameful behavior.
“Ah, yes, I’ve heard those rumors. They say I’m a fat old man, a greedy miser, or even a hag. It’s all nonsense, and I laugh at how wrong they are!”
“Wait… aren’t all those insults about you?”
“Those who insult me are simply lost, unable to follow the teachings of God Bahamut. If they were to hear the dragon god’s teachings, I’m sure their evaluations of me would change.”
Han Seong-geun couldn’t help but think she had an audacious level of confidence as a leader.
However, one particular term she mentioned caught his attention.
“The dragon god, you say.”
“Today, I wish to bring this gentleman before God Bahamut for an audience.”
Could this dragon god truly exist?
The Balhut Cult, like the Immortal Cult, spoke of the existence of a deity. However, unlike the Immortal Cult, Yuna and Jung Dong-gun seemed at ease openly mentioning the name of their god, Bahamut.
For Han Seong-geun, however, their calm demeanor only added to his unease.
‘If such a being really exists, wouldn’t my life be in danger?’
It was a fear of the unknown, coupled with a dread of mortality.
Perhaps it was also a question of whether an atheist like himself had any right to stand in the presence of a deity.
“It’s alright. If it’s necessary, God Bahamut will surely grant permission,” Yuna reassured.
“Thank you,” Jung Dong-gun replied.
Even as Han Seong-geun remained silent, the conversation between Jung Dong-gun and Yuna continued. Soon, Yuna granted permission for an audience with God Bahamut.
This meant Han Seong-geun now had the opportunity to meet the deity, but the prospect only deepened his anxiety.
“Oh, and Steven is also at the shrine today for some reason. If you’re lucky, you might meet him too,” Yuna added.
“Is that so? That’s excellent news,” Jung Dong-gun responded.
The only bit of relief for Han Seong-geun came from hearing an unfamiliar foreign name mentioned by Yuna.
Desperately grasping at straws, he turned to Jung Dong-gun to ask, “Who… is Steven?”
There was no reason to hide it, and it even served as a persuasive point for convincing Han Seong-geun and the Ulsan Airport survivors. Without hesitation, Jung Dong-gun explained Steven’s identity.
“He’s a special envoy from the White House,” Jung Dong-gun revealed.
“…Is that true?” Han Seong-geun asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Steven’s existence was irrefutable proof of the Balhut Cult’s interaction with the United States.
Jung Dong-gun nodded firmly. “Yes, it’s true.”
With that confirmation, Jung Dong-gun led Han Seong-geun to the shrine.
The path and the shrine’s interior were quiet, allowing them to arrive at the Shrine of Bahamut without encountering anyone.
“You’ve achieved remarkable reconstruction,” Han Seong-geun commented.
As they walked, Han Seong-geun observed the state of Gyeongju in detail. Unlike Ulsan, Gyeongju seemed to radiate freedom.
Life here was vibrant, and the streets gave the impression of a society restored to its pre-apocalypse state. The most striking thing, however, was…
“Paying money to buy what you need… how long has it been since I’ve seen this?” he marveled.
“Do you owe me something for this revelation?” Jung Dong-gun teased.
“Haha, let’s not take it that far,” Han Seong-geun chuckled.
The act of using money to buy goods was a practice almost forgotten.
In most regions, bartering had become the norm for survival. This contrast left a deep impression on Han Seong-geun.
Of course, he had no way of knowing the sheer effort and the overwhelming force used to enforce peace in Gyeongju. From what he could see, Gyeongju seemed like the only functioning nation on the Korean Peninsula.
“Who is that?” Han Seong-geun asked, his curiosity piqued.
“Hm? Oh, that’s Steven. It seems he’s just finished his audience with God Bahamut,” Jung Dong-gun explained.
As they entered the shrine, they encountered Steven walking out, his expression dazed as if he had just witnessed something extraordinary.
“Ah, Jung Dong-gun, isn’t it? Have you just returned from Ulsan?” Steven greeted.
“Yes, I’ve just found survivors living in Ulsan,” Jung Dong-gun replied.
“Hoho, so the man next to you must be one of those survivors,” Steven remarked.
“Ah, yes,” Han Seong-geun answered.
Steven’s gaze, filled with curiosity, locked onto Han Seong-geun. The man seemed too young to be an envoy from the United States.
Although Jung Dong-gun’s respectful demeanor indicated that Steven was indeed a high-ranking figure, Han Seong-geun couldn’t help but harbor doubts.
“Haha, nice to meet you. I’m a special envoy dispatched from the White House. To put it simply, you can think of me as the liaison handling diplomacy between the Balhut Cult and the United States,” Steven explained with a warm smile.
“Are you really… from the United States?” Han Seong-geun asked cautiously.
“Well, meeting like this so suddenly, it’s only natural for you to doubt me,” Steven admitted with a chuckle. “Ah, this might just be the perfect chance to build some goodwill with the cult.”
Recognizing Han Seong-geun’s skepticism, Steven laughed it off, emphasizing his genuine credentials. Instead of taking offense, he seemed almost delighted, calling it an opportunity to earn favor with the Balhut Cult.
“If that’s the case, we’d welcome any help you can offer, Steven,” Jung Dong-gun said.
“Haha, I’m joking. I just made a rather significant request of God Bahamut, so I’m not really in a position to ask the cult for anything,” Steven replied with a grin, stepping back slightly.
Had this meeting occurred before his audience with Bahamut, Steven might have taken the chance to alleviate Han Seong-geun’s doubts by extending a small favor. But now, he had no reason to do so.
Before Jung Dong-gun and Han Seong-geun arrived, the United States had already made a substantial request of God Bahamut.
“What kind of request?” Han Seong-geun asked.
“Recently, the demand for Bahamut Coins has skyrocketed in the United States. Apparently, their effectiveness has been proven, and new technologies utilizing the coins have been developed. I’ve just asked God Bahamut to significantly increase the production and export of the coins,” Steven explained.
The demand for Bahamut Coins was soaring in the United States.
The current export volumes couldn’t meet the growing need, so Steven himself had requested increased supply.
He mentioned that new technologies using Bahamut Coins were being developed in the United States.
“Interesting,” Han Seong-geun remarked.
“In exchange, we’ve agreed to provide a large quantity of refined silver. It’s said that well-refined silver can be used to craft weapons highly effective against the undead. We’re quite excited about the potential of these new weapons,” Steven added with a laugh.
It wasn’t a free trade.
In return for increasing coin exports, Bahamut had requested a substantial amount of silver. The United States agreed, completing the international transaction.
The influx of silver was also intended as a preparation for future wars against the undead.
“The cult is making great efforts to ensure victory in the war against the undead,” Jung Dong-gun commented.
“Haha, with God Bahamut directly involved, I can’t help but have high expectations,” Steven replied.
Realizing that Jung Dong-gun had come to meet Bahamut, Steven smiled and said, “Ah, it wouldn’t be polite to keep such busy people here any longer. Well then, Ulsan survivor, I recommend bracing yourself for what you’re about to see. It might just knock you off your feet.”
“Ah, yes,” Han Seong-geun replied, still dazed.
And soon, he understood why Steven had warned him.
“Ahhhhhhh!” Han Seong-geun let out a scream.
As always, his gaze was captured by the enormous dragon statue, and he was utterly overwhelmed by the sight of Bahamut beneath it.
“Hm, it’s the same reaction as always,” Bahamut remarked calmly.
“Haha, did I go too far?” Jung Dong-gun laughed.
Having grown accustomed to such reactions, Jung Dong-gun and Bahamut simply smiled, enjoying the spectacle before them.
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