Chapter 110
The end of the evacuation procession could only be reached once they safely arrived in Gyeongju City.
Escorted by an elite force dispatched by the Balhut Cult, the refugees arrived safely in Gyeongju City.
Upon arrival, they began identification processes and gathered at the administrative office to receive settlement programs and support for refugees.
Of course, Jina Ahn planned to return to Ulsan immediately, so while waiting for Son Sang-hui to finish reporting, she wandered around the Balhut Cult headquarters.
“…What the heck? This place is completely fine.”
The city was surprisingly intact.
To be precise, it was reviving toward its pre-apocalypse state.
Gyeongju seemed so vibrant that it was hard to believe it was part of the same apocalypse-ridden world, the only place where civilization appeared to thrive.
As there was still time before her departure, Jina Ahn observed the surroundings from the rooftop of the Balhut Cult’s headquarters.
She noticed something peculiar.
“They’re not bartering; they’re using currency to buy goods?”
The streets were bustling with people engaging in economic activity, like a market square, with even food stalls lining the roads.
This might have been a common sight before the apocalypse, but such scenes had disappeared for more than half a year.
Witnessing civilization functioning again was an emotional experience.
“I get why Mr. Han Seong-geun suggested cooperating with them now.”
The reason behind Han Seong-geun’s alliance with the cult was finally clear.
It was something one could only truly understand by seeing it firsthand.
This wasn’t just Jina Ahn’s realization; even the refugees waiting for their turn to register as new citizens felt the same.
Standing in long lines, they couldn’t help but marvel at the vibrancy of Gyeongju’s citizens, their faces now showing a glimmer of hope.
“Are they really planning to build a nation?”
“Whether we like it or not, they’re already recognized by the international community as the only government on the Korean Peninsula.”
As if responding to Jina Ahn’s muttered question, Son Sang-hui approached her slowly from behind.
Dressed more casually than her usual uniform, Son Sang-hui stood beside Jina Ahn, who scratched her head and greeted her.
“Oh? Sang-hui, you’re done with your report?”
“Yes. I’ve finished delivering the report to the headquarters. Let me officially welcome you to the Balhut Cult’s main base.”
At Jina Ahn’s question, Son Sang-hui nodded affirmatively, expressing her genuine welcome to the cult’s headquarters.
Having heard similar greetings from countless cult members already, Jina Ahn gave a bored look as she turned to face her.
Thinking that Choi Yuna would also be nearby, Jina Ahn glanced around but saw no one except Son Sang-hui.
With a slightly disappointed expression, she asked about Yuna’s whereabouts.
“Where’s Yuna?”
“She’s busy. She’s treating refugees who are sick or injured.”
The answer was straightforward—she was busy.
Not because she wanted to avoid meeting anyone, but because she was genuinely using her healing abilities to help the refugees.
Although magic could not be used on the battlefield due to mana constraints, it was freely usable here in the safe confines of the headquarters.
Considering that some refugees were awakened individuals who had been sidelined due to chronic illnesses or injuries, Choi Yuna’s ability to heal such conditions was incredibly valuable.
Frankly, by healing the injuries, illnesses, and disabilities of the refugees, gaining their support would be instantaneous.
It was especially effective for those who had been shaken by the recent combat.
“She’s impressive.”
“She really is.”
Though unaware of any political implications, Jina Ahn found Yuna’s abilities genuinely remarkable.
While cities like Ulsan and Japan had awakened individuals with healing abilities, their capacity was nowhere near Yuna’s level.
“The healers I know can only handle minor cuts and bruises. Still, they’re the best for someone like me who often engages in close combat.”
“Same here. Even Pohang’s best healer couldn’t treat faces and bodies melted by acid.”
“At that point, isn’t it fair to say they’re already dead?”
Healing abilities of Yuna’s caliber were rare, making her seem even more extraordinary.
As Jina Ahn shared examples of the healers she knew, Son Sang-hui responded with a bitter smile, recounting her own experiences in Pohang.
Hearing this, Jina Ahn gave an incredulous look, questioning whether such cases were even survivable.
“No, they managed to survive just fine and are still alive.”
“What? That’s terrifying. What kind of monster are they?”
“They’re currently out in the East Sea, destroying ghost fleets.”
With a bright smile, Son Sang-hui cheerfully mentioned Baek Seol-hwa, who was likely still actively annihilating ghost fleets with Turn Undead.
Seol-hwa’s resilience was so remarkable that those who had tried to turn her into a puppet ended up as puppets themselves—a situation good-hearted followers pretended not to notice.
Whether it was the Unades Beam or Seol-hwa Death Beam, they were equally impartial.
“Wow. It might sound strange coming from me, but awakened beings are incredibly tough. Well, in a world where something as magical as the apocalypse happened, I guess it makes sense to accept it as reality, but it’s still terrifying.”
“Haha. I get that. Sometimes I also wonder if this is even real.”
Jina Ahn laughed bitterly, mentioning how one could accept the strange reality of the apocalypse, and Son Sang-hui nodded in agreement, sharing her laugh.
Even now, they found themselves amazed by the emergence of new types of undead.
It felt like they could laugh off anything that appeared at this point.
Though if something truly bizarre showed up, they’d probably still gape in astonishment.
“And in this kind of world, the fact that you’ve managed to rebuild a civilization like this is incredible. Did you use some kind of magic? This is nothing like the cities I’ve seen so far.”
Clearly curious, Jina Ahn asked how such revival was possible.
The cities she had seen, like Fukuoka or Ulsan, were nowhere near this state of recovery.
In Ulsan’s case, it was understandable since it was under the control of the Immortal Cult, but Fukuoka was still struggling due to constant zombie attacks from the outside.
Especially after Jina Ahn left, Fukuoka must have faced a significant power gap, forcing them to find new strategies.
“Magic? No, think of it as the efforts of the cult and the blood and sweat of the community members. Both Gyeongju and Pohang have embraced revival with one heart and one mind under the guidance of the Dragon God.”
Son Sang-hui answered by attributing their success to the cult’s efforts, the sacrifices of the community, and the guidance of the Dragon God.
While not incorrect…
“The Dragon God… Is it really a god you can trust?”
The strong religious undertone of the answer made Jina Ahn uneasy, and she asked if the Dragon God was truly trustworthy.
Having just experienced the suicidal bombings carried out in the name of faith by the Immortal Cult, it was natural for her to question whether the Balhut Cult’s Dragon God was any different.
“Yes. You can even meet them now if you’d like.”
“Hmm.”
Son Sang-hui offered to arrange a meeting to alleviate her concerns, but Jina Ahn hesitated, seemingly apprehensive.
Meeting the Dragon God would be the perfect opportunity to resolve her doubts, but…
“To be honest, I’m scared to meet them. Sorry. I know you’re offering this out of kindness, but I guess I’m just not ready yet.”
In a world where she had few people she could truly trust, meeting a god required tremendous courage.
Jina Ahn, who would face any fight head-on, showed an uncharacteristic hesitation in postponing the meeting with the Dragon God.
“I understand. Honestly, I was really nervous when I first visited them too. If a certain someone hadn’t gone with me, I wouldn’t have been able to step into the shrine.”
“You weren’t originally part of the Balhut Cult, were you?”
Son Sang-hui nodded in agreement, admitting that she wouldn’t have entered the shrine without someone accompanying her.
Back then, she had felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility to guide Baek Seol-hwa to the Shrine of Bahamut, but even now, she thought it took incredible courage to face the Dragon God without trembling.
Hearing this, Jina Ahn asked if Son Sang-hui wasn’t originally affiliated with the Balhut Cult.
“Yes. I’m not originally from Gyeongju. I’m a survivor from Pohang. Before the cult came to Pohang, I spent about two months as a refugee.”
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories.”
Son Sang-hui nodded and candidly admitted that she had once lived as a refugee.
Feeling apologetic for making her recall unpleasant memories, Jina Ahn apologized.
In this apocalypse, living as a refugee rarely brought good experiences, so bringing it up could only evoke bad memories.
“No, it’s fine. In this apocalypse, good memories are hard to come by. But I will say this—Gyeongju, even with its flaws, is a place where people can build good memories.”
“That’s really amazing about this place.”
“Yes. That’s why I’m determined to protect this paradise.”
Son Sang-hui vowed to protect this paradise.
“For the sake of the one I follow.”
She believed in the ideals of Baek Seol-hwa, the Priestess of the Dragon, and vowed to safeguard the paradise that would descend upon this land.
“That sounds like you’re saying you don’t follow Yuna.”
“No, I follow Yuna as well. But… there’s someone similar to Yuna in Pohang. I believe in the paradise that child speaks of. Yes, even in this apocalypse, there must be a paradise.”
Hearing this, Jina Ahn found it odd and asked if Son Sang-hui served someone other than the cult’s leader, Yuna.
Son Sang-hui explained that while she followed Yuna, there was another priestess in Pohang with powers akin to hers.
She truly believed in the vision proclaimed by Baek Seol-hwa, who was battling ghost fleets in the East Sea, and in the paradise Seol-hwa would one day create.
“I will ensure that this world becomes a paradise where people can live as humans should.”
“That’s… a noble thought. Yes, it’s a beautiful dream.”
“Right?”
After all, what could be wrong with a paradise where people could live as humans should?
Hearing this, Jina Ahn affirmed it was a wonderful dream.
“It’s a beautiful dream.”
Was it fortunate or unfortunate that Jina Ahn had never met Baek Seol-hwa herself?
“Someday, I’m sure you’ll meet Seol-hwa and find that you can work together in perfect harmony.”
Either way, Son Sang-hui was now a proud member of the Balhut Cult.
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