Chapter 116
However, the problem that God Bahamut had to resolve was not limited to Lee Hyuna’s recklessness.
Currently, the Balhut Cult was at war with the Immortal Cult at Ulsan Airport, while also engaged in a battle against the Ghost Fleet in the East Sea.
Bahamut and Yuna were in charge of overseeing these two wars.
If one were to determine which front was the most important:
‘It’s Ulsan Airport. Our only path to Busan is through the sea, but the Immortal Cult is right next to Busan.’
In this apocalypse, the Ulsan front was where two forces clashed head-on.
If the Ulsan front were to fall, not only would all of Ulsan be lost, but the nearby city of Busan would also fall into the hands of the Immortal Cult.
The sheer scale of Ulsan and Busan as major cities made them formidable adversaries for the Balhut Cult.
Thus, it was imperative for the Balhut Cult to hinder the growth of the Immortal Cult before it expanded further.
‘Jung Dong-gun is doing well. As long as the stalemate continues, we’ll be able to counterattack by spring.’
The Immortal Cult front, which represented a large-scale battle between factions, was entrusted to the capable commander Jung Dong-gun.
Moreover, Jung Dong-gun wasn’t fighting alone; he had strong allies.
The Balhut Cult had even resolved longstanding issues at Ulsan Airport on behalf of their allies, solidifying the trust and cooperation of the coalition forces.
This meant that even without significant intervention from Bahamut, the Ulsan front was unlikely to fall easily.
The problem was….
“How is the situation in the East Sea?”
[We are attempting to engage the fleet in battle, but they are retreating.]
The East Sea front, handled by Baek Seol-hwa, was problematic.
In truth, thanks to Seol-hwa’s efforts, the East Sea front had been consistently victorious.
Unlike the defensive struggles against the Immortal Cult, the East Sea front, where the Priestess of the Dragon had taken charge, saw the Ghost Fleet suffering repeated defeats due to Baek Seol-hwa’s “Turn Undead” skill, which acted as a powerful counter.
The Ghost Fleet, fearing a fleet battle, continually retreated to avoid direct engagement.
“We haven’t achieved a decisive victory. It’s clear that the Ghost Fleet is being controlled by someone.”
[Yes, it doesn’t make sense for the undead to carry out guerrilla tactics.]
Although they had achieved successive victories, the lack of a decisive blow was a sore point.
The Ghost Fleet persistently employed irregular guerrilla tactics, ambushing the Pohang Fleet or threatening trade routes used by the Balhut Cult.
Specifically, they would target fishing boats out at sea or container ships on trade routes, then retreat as soon as the Pohang Fleet appeared.
The enemy avoided direct fleet battles while steadily accumulating economic damage.
“It’s likely a high-ranking undead familiar with human society. The issue is we haven’t encountered such a high-ranking undead.”
[Then, who might be controlling them?]
The suggestion was that the enemy was intelligent enough to target vulnerabilities in the Balhut Cult.
Bahamut considered the possibility of a high-ranking undead being in charge but noted the absence of any sightings.
If such a being existed, reports would likely have surfaced elsewhere, yet no credible information about intelligent zombies had emerged on online survivor communities.
‘Or perhaps survivors were wiped out before they could leave any evidence. Though that seems less likely.’
Bahamut even entertained the worst-case scenario.
However, if the survivors had access to the internet, it was likely they were part of a well-established camp, and any such camp being destroyed would quickly spread rumors elsewhere.
Therefore, Bahamut leaned toward another hypothesis….
“It’s highly possible that whoever controls the Ghost Fleet is part of the Immortal Cult.”
He speculated that the Ghost Fleet might belong to the Immortal Cult.
This was a plausible theory.
The Immortal Cult was already capable of controlling zombies and skeletonizing buried corpses, creating undead at will.
They were also waging war against the coalition with an undead army numbering in the hundreds of thousands.
If the Ghost Fleet’s actions were a guerrilla strategy designed to prevent the Pohang Fleet from joining the coalition, it made sense.
[Then should we abandon the fight against the Ghost Fleet and regroup in Ulsan?]
“No, that’s not feasible.”
Baek Seol-hwa suggested abandoning the battle against the Ghost Fleet to reinforce the coalition forces in Ulsan, but Bahamut rejected the idea.
The reason was simple.
“If we abandon the East Sea, we lose the ability to trade with the United States. Giving up the East Sea means relinquishing the vast economic benefits we’ve gained so far.
The reason the Balhut Cult can support civilian recovery and wage war without worrying about resources is due to the enormous supplies and Texas oil we purchase with Bahamut Coins.”
[I understand. So, we cannot participate in the Ulsan campaign.]
The East Sea was a vital asset for the Balhut Cult.
Not only did it provide food resources through fishing, but the steady flow of supplies and fuel from the United States to Pohang via container ships was indispensable.
If trade with the United States were severed, even the navy’s fuel supplies would be jeopardized.
Thus, defending against the Ghost Fleet in the East Sea was crucial to supporting the coalition forces in Ulsan.
“Of course, if we can annihilate the Ghost Fleet in a decisive battle, we could provide reinforcements.”
[But is that even possible?]
“It would be impossible. For a fleet battle, the other side needs to be willing to fight, but they have no intention of doing so.”
More than anything, the enemy had no intention of fighting.
With no desire to engage directly and relying solely on guerrilla tactics, they were incredibly frustrating to deal with.
‘But even with such a massive force, the Ulsan front has reached a stalemate. Could it be that, just as I fear encountering someone like me, the enemy is afraid of Seol-hwa?’
Perhaps the enemy was terrified of Baek Seol-hwa’s Turn Undead skill, avoiding any confrontation with her at all costs.
It seemed strange for the undead to feel fear, but the ones controlling them weren’t undead—they were living wizards.
Seeing Baek Seol-hwa’s power, they would be reluctant to face her head-on.
“In the end, until the weather clears, we must secure naval supremacy in the East Sea. Even if the Ghost Fleet continues to be a nuisance, we have no choice but to endure.”
[All is as God Bahamut wills.]
The East Sea belonged to the Balhut Cult.
Baek Seol-hwa bowed her head in response to Bahamut’s declaration, affirming that his will would be done.
“I’m sorry. I’ve caused you unnecessary trouble.”
[No, it’s all for creating a paradise where people can live comfortably.]
“I-I see. Well, keep up the good work.”
The last part was awkward, but it couldn’t be helped.
After all, Baek Seol-hwa’s reason for fighting was to manifest a paradise where people could live in peace.
Resolving the East Sea issue also meant improving relations with the cult’s allies.
Indeed, managing relations with the United States was also part of God Bahamut’s responsibilities.
“Again?”
“Yes, it’s needed again.”
This wasn’t an issue at all.
Special Envoy Steven himself was very favorable toward Bahamut. Knowing the potential of the Bahamut Coins produced by him, Steven was highly supportive.
Furthermore, Bahamut had recently informed Steven about a new creation developed using minerals imported from the United States.
Steven seemed quite excited about the prospect.
However, this was Steven’s personal enthusiasm.
As a special envoy of the United States, he demanded that the Balhut Cult provide strategic value as allies.
Now, the Bahamut Coins, which had become strategic weapons, were once again in high demand.
‘Honestly, it’s not a bad thing. With just a single click, prosperity flows in.’
The supplies and Texas oil they received made it a mutually beneficial trade.
With these resources, the Balhut Cult could mobilize armored forces left in military warehouses and enrich the civilian economy through the influx of American goods.
This economic boom gave rise to affluent Awakened bourgeoisie and guilds formed to secure interests. As a result, the civilian economy flourished.
Even Gyeongju and Pohang saw redevelopment efforts and reconstruction of previously neglected areas, leading to a construction boom.
“A month ago, the demand was manageable, but recently, it’s been overwhelming. Is there a reason for this?”
“Well, it’s simple supply and demand. This is how economies adjust.”
Wanting to understand why the U.S. demanded so many Bahamut Coins, Bahamut asked Steven. Steven replied that it was simply due to increased demand.
Even within the U.S., there were many Awakened individuals eager to obtain Bahamut Coins, and the government sought to supply them.
Steven described this as a natural shift in economic policy.
“I-I see.”
“Yes, the world is transitioning to an Awakened-centric economy. While ordinary people still exist, in the near future, society will likely be dominated by those with awakened magical abilities.”
“That’s not incorrect.”
The Balhut Cult had also developed methods to artificially awaken ordinary people, enabling them to fight.
As Steven suggested, the future would likely demand economic policies suited to an Awakened-dominated society.
In this apocalypse, the Awakened were the ones spending and consuming the most money.
“Does that mean the coins I made are this popular?”
“Yes, they’re extremely popular. So much so that our Awakened collect coins minted on specific dates, simply because they were made by God Bahamut.”
“That much, huh.”
Bahamut Coins were immensely popular among the Awakened, not just for their symbolic value but also for their practicality.
The coins could be melted down to create powerful weapons, and the Balhut Cult had already used them to produce disposable ultimate weapons.
Currently, the cult’s weapons research lab is developing new items using these coins.
“By the way, are you also using them to create weapons?”
“Yes, like the Balhut Cult, we’ve successfully developed technology using Bahamut Coins.”
The U.S. was no different.
They needed powerful, safe-to-use urban weapons for recapturing cities.
Given political restrictions on launching missiles or drones domestically, urban combat was their only option.
Bahamut Rounds fit their requirements perfectly.
The U.S. was developing new weapons and technologies based on these coins, and they were beginning to see results.
“Oh? That’s worth celebrating. What kind of technology is it?”
Surprised, Bahamut asked Steven about the new technology.
“Haha, it’s an honor to receive congratulations from God Bahamut. The technology is something I believe you’d already be familiar with. I’ll explain honestly.”
‘I have no idea what it is.’
Steven seemed to believe Bahamut would know, but Bahamut had no clue.
Still, he chose not to reveal his ignorance.
“It’s weapon enhancement.”
‘That… sounds ominous.’
The term evoked memories of a trauma-inducing system that anyone in Korea might recognize.
“Oh dear….”
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