Chapter 122
After the general election commemorating the new year concluded and the internal political situation of the Balhut Cult stabilized,
Bahamut summoned Steven, the special plenipotentiary ambassador, to the shrine as if to indicate he would not delay any further.
With internal restructuring completed and democracy successfully established both domestically and internationally, there was no longer any reason to be diplomatically suspected.
In fact, Steven, who responded to Bahamut’s summons, entered the shrine with nothing but a smile on his face.
“Now, we can have a risk-free conversation!”
From the perspective of the United States, the Balhut Cult prior to the election carried the diplomatic risk of being perceived as a technocratic dictatorship rather than embracing democracy.
However, with the voluntary dissolution of parliament and the establishment of a cabinet rooted in democracy through the general election, there was no longer any need to question whether the Balhut Cult adhered to democratic principles.
The Balhut Cult was now firmly recognized as a democratic nation, and the United States was a friend to democratic countries!
“We will also lend our support to the international organization reconstruction project. I will personally participate in the international organization.”
“Ah, yes. That’s certainly good news for us in the United States as well.”
With the cooperation of God Bahamut secured, there was no longer anything to fear. However, as Steven arrived at the shrine and met Bahamut, his face was filled with doubt.
Yes, having received Bahamut’s cooperation for the international organization reconstruction project,
it was undoubtedly a favorable situation for the United States, which sought allies among supportive nations.
But the problem was…
“Who are you? Judging by the fact that you’re in Bahamut’s shrine, I can tell you’re someone associated with the Balhut Cult.”
Who exactly was the man standing before him?
The man had blue eyes, white skin, and long navy-blue hair tied back that reached down to his waist.
He was undoubtedly striking.
If there was an issue, it was the anachronistic armor he wore.
However, even the armor added to his charm and charisma, making him an exceptionally handsome young man.
Moreover, the armor this young man was wearing was one that Steven remembered.
“Upon closer inspection, the clothing he’s wearing… it’s the mithril armor that Bahamut showed us before. If he’s casually wearing such a national treasure-level piece, could he be a high-ranking official we’re unaware of?”
Yes, it was the mithril armor known to have been crafted personally by God Bahamut.
The armor, directly made by a dragon god, was extravagant and resembled the attire of European nobility.
The man wearing it, with his stunning appearance, seemed to be in his twenties or thirties, embodying the archetype of a nobleman.
It was inconceivable that such a man with his impressive attire and appearance would not be well-known within the Balhut Cult.
Naturally, he should have been included in the United States’ intelligence network.
Yet, Steven had no record of such a man in their reports, causing the smile that had crept up on his face to vanish rapidly.
As Steven adopted a wary attitude toward the mysterious individual who had suddenly appeared in the dwelling of a god, the man responded.
“Ah, I suppose this is the first time I’ve shown this appearance.”
Sensing Steven’s hostility, the nobleman scratched his head awkwardly, looking troubled.
Contrary to the majestic presence he exuded just moments ago, his demeanor was now full of an endearing clumsiness.
Steven couldn’t help but feel that this sudden shift in behavior somewhat shattered the man’s initial image.
However, upon hearing the name that followed, Steven felt as though he might faint.
“It is I, the Bahamut you know.”
“…Pardon?”
Yes, the nobleman standing before him was Bahamut in human form.
It was only natural that he could wear the mithril armor, for it was his own creation.
For Bahamut, donning it felt no different than wearing his own clothes.
Of course, Steven was utterly flabbergasted by this unexpected revelation. However, he couldn’t blame himself for being caught off guard.
After all, he had always encountered Bahamut in his dragon form.
This was his first time meeting Bahamut in human form.
“Are… are you really Bahamut?”
The question was laden with confusion, shock, and wariness.
Noticing Steven’s abnormal reaction, Bahamut seemed to sense the tension in the air.
“Yes. I used Polymorph magic to transform into this form. Ah, since you may find it hard to believe, I’ll temporarily undo the transformation to prove it.”
Bahamut dispelled the magic, reverting to his dragon form, and revealed himself in his original state at his designated location.
For Steven, who directly witnessed an ordinary-looking human transform into the dragon god Bahamut, the sight made his heart pound.
It was a scene that could fulfill the dreams of any fantasy enthusiast.
At the same time…
“Hm. While this was an incredible experience for me personally, from the perspective of the United States, it seems I’ll need to reevaluate things. This means Bahamut can actively engage in human society using this human form.”
As the special plenipotentiary ambassador, Steven immediately realized it was time to reassess their calculations.
Until now, the United States had assumed Bahamut’s movements were confined to his shrine.
However, now that they knew he could use Polymorph magic to operate externally, it was clear they would need to monitor Bahamut’s activities more closely.
Considering his past actions, it was unlikely that Bahamut would directly engage in the worst-case scenarios that the United States might fear.
However, as a matter of national security, it was imperative to prepare for such possibilities.
“So… you really are Bahamut.”
“Yes. To attend the international organization, I transformed into a human. To put it simply, I used transformation magic—Polymorph magic.”
Even so, this was not bad news for the United States.
If Bahamut participated in the upcoming international organization reconstruction meetings, it would emphasize global cooperation.
Additionally, the narrative of a dragon god personally attending the international organization would be a powerful story.
It was an overwhelmingly grand narrative, one that could be leveraged not only for the organization but also for the United States.
“If Bahamut visits the United States in human form, displaying a friendly demeanor, the administration’s approval ratings would soar. It could also serve as a warning to those who still harbor suspicions about the Balhut Cult.”
Even a simple visit by Bahamut in human form, followed by a transformation into his dragon form, could drastically increase the administration’s approval ratings.
Steven quickly calculated this outcome.
After all, Bahamut’s overwhelming presence would silence skeptics of the Balhut Cult while solidifying the perception that the current administration had made the right choices domestically.
Moreover, Bahamut was the creator of the highly prized Bahamut Coins, which were of paramount importance to awakened individuals in the United States.
“Whether we like it or not, the visit of God Bahamut will undoubtedly cause a significant stir.”
Steven was certain he was about to witness an extraordinary scene.
‘We thought it would just end with the Priestess Choi Yuna or Baek Seol-hwa!’
The issue was that this figure was far beyond what could be considered a big deal—it was excessive.
Steven, trying to focus only on the positives and avoid the overwhelming implications of this event, began to feel his head spinning as soon as he started contemplating the potential problems.
His stomach even began to ache.
After all, Bahamut was an unprecedentedly high-profile figure that even the United States was unprepared for, leaving Steven no choice but to fret about how to handle him.
If the news that Bahamut was personally attending the meeting were delivered to the White House, it would likely cause an upheaval in Arthur’s administration.
This would be akin to dropping a nuclear bomb amidst the factions in Arthur’s administration, which were already divided between believing and not believing in Bahamut’s existence.
“That… transformation magic. That explanation is convincing enough for me.”
Steven calmed himself and decided to buy more time to think by steering the conversation toward Polymorph magic.
Yes, Bahamut declaring his intention to personally attend the international organization meeting was already shocking enough, but what was even more surprising was his sudden use of Polymorph magic to meet him in person.
“But why did you use Polymorph magic now? If it was possible, doesn’t that mean you could have used it earlier?”
Although Steven accepted the explanation regarding the magic, he couldn’t help but question the timing of its use.
Could it be that Bahamut’s divine foresight had predicted that using this magic at this specific moment would allow him to gain an upper hand with the United States?
Steven, both personally and as a special plenipotentiary ambassador, was eager to understand the reason behind this.
“No, it’s simply that I finally have some time on my hands. That’s all.”
The answer was surprisingly straightforward, almost too mundane for someone like Bahamut to give.
It wasn’t that he chose not to use the magic earlier—it was that he simply couldn’t due to lack of time.
“With some free time, you say…”
“I’ve resolved the tiresome internal issues, established a system that allows Bahamut Coins to be minted remotely, and addressed most of the tasks that had consumed my time. Now, I finally have some leisure.”
In short, Bahamut explained that it wasn’t a matter of choice but of circumstance—he hadn’t been able to use it because he was too busy.
He even hinted at being particularly busy due to certain external factors, which naturally made Steven feel a pang of guilt.
“I-I see…”
Steven had no grounds to refute this explanation.
After all, it was likely that a significant portion of the responsibility lay with the United States.
‘No! This is just because Bahamut crafted an exceptionally well-made catalyst. It’s not entirely my fault!’
Yet, there was no denying that Bahamut, who had manufactured near-perfect Bahamut Coins, also bore some responsibility for the situation.
It couldn’t all be pinned on Steven—or so he tried to convince himself.
“Of course, there’s always a certain diplomat who keeps bringing me troublesome tasks. But since it’s all necessary work, I’ll let it slide.”
“W-Were you harboring feelings about it?”
“I understand its necessity, but it was undeniably troublesome. I was already busy enough with other matters, and yet, you kept bringing me more work.”
Steven was flustered by Bahamut’s subtle jab, even though it was delivered with a lighthearted, playful tone.
The remark was likely a joke, but for Steven, it felt like a comment that hit close to home.
Still, what could he do? When Bahamut said jump, all he could do was ask, “How high?”
“By the way, this is uncomfortable. Maintaining this Polymorph transformation for so long is tiring. It feels strange—uncomfortable.”
“Uncomfortable?”
“Yes, it’s like wearing an ill-fitting, suffocating outfit. It feels as though I’m wrapped in several layers of clothes that don’t match my size.”
Bahamut expressed how uncomfortable it was to maintain a human form, comparing it to wearing restrictive clothing.
But if it was so uncomfortable, why bother maintaining the Polymorph transformation at all?
‘I just want to breathe in the air of the mortal world for a change! I want to relax! I want to lie down on a soft bed! The stone beds in the shrine are too hard!’
In truth, Bahamut simply wanted to take a break.
Since the founding of the Balhut Cult, he had been working tirelessly without rest, and now he finally wanted a vacation.
However, vacations were an alien concept to Bahamut, so he resolved to participate in the international organization personally, using it as an excuse to take some time off.
“In any case, I will attend the international organization meeting in this form.”
“Will Priestess Yuna also be coming?”
“Yes. Yuna is my Priestess and the head of state for the Balhut Cult. Think of her as a supporting figure who will brighten the meeting.”
Calling her a supporting figure felt… like an understatement.
Steven wanted to point out the absurdity of referring to someone like Yuna as a supporting figure, but he immediately corrected himself, realizing this wasn’t a bad situation.
Yes, this event could further solidify the alliance between the Balhut Cult and the United States, bringing mutual benefits.
Moreover, this could put an end to the long-standing debate about whether Bahamut actually existed within the United States.
“So, you’re accompanying Priestess Yuna to ensure her safety. Haha.”
“…Think what you will.”
Bahamut turned his head, seemingly embarrassed, as Steven teased him about accompanying Yuna out of concern for her safety.
‘I might be using Yuna as an excuse for my vacation, but it’ll also make her feel reassured to have me by her side! It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement.’
Of course, this was just an act. In truth, Bahamut was slightly embarrassed about using Yuna as an excuse for his break.
Seeing Bahamut’s reaction, Steven felt reassured that his assumptions were correct and finally regained his composure.
“Do you intend to depart immediately?”
“Yes. I’ll fly there myself—”
“Please wait.”
However, as soon as Bahamut mentioned flying there, Steven immediately interrupted him, covering his mouth.
What was he saying?
Fly there? Was that even… No, it was possible. But still!
The idea of such a massive being flying across the Pacific to America was…
‘It’s like something out of a movie about dragons invading Earth.’
Steven couldn’t help but imagine a scene straight out of a B-grade monster movie, where a giant creature invaded the United States.
At the same time, he realized how this could jeopardize the U.S.-Korea alliance.
“…We will provide you with a plane.”
“Ah. My apologies.”
Thus, to preserve the U.S.-Korea alliance, Steven quickly suggested providing a plane for Bahamut’s transportation.
Realizing his faux pas, Bahamut sincerely apologized to Steven.
—
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