Chapter 63
After the negotiations between the Balhut Cult and the three major camps of Pohang, the reconstruction of Pohang began rapidly.
This was due to the aggressive investment by the Balhut Cult and the active cooperation of the three major camps in Pohang to restart Pohang Steelworks and its industrial facilities.
Of course, if one looked deeper.
“From now on, goods for the citizens of Pohang and Gyeongju may be manufactured in Pohang.”
“A concession? Is that correct?”
“Yes. It’s a concession. From now on, Pohang will produce industrial goods for both Pohang and Gyeongju.”
All industrial goods that were once produced in Gyeongju for daily life were handed over to Pohang.
Naturally, not only daily necessities but also construction materials needed for Pohang’s reconstruction began to be produced locally, accelerating Pohang’s reconstruction and allowing significant profits to be earned simultaneously.
Of course, it wasn’t an unconditional concession by the Balhut Cult.
“From now on, Mr. Choi’s Foundry will be remodeled into a weapons research laboratory and an exclusive industrial facility for awakened individuals.”
“Thank you for your attention, God Bahamut.”
In exchange for transferring the production of everyday industrial goods, Gyeongju, under the Balhut Cult, focused on the exclusive weapons industry for awakened individuals.
As a result, Mr. Choi’s Foundry handed over all production of everyday goods to Pohang and was restructured to focus on the development of new weapons for awakened individuals, including the previously utilized Bahamut Rounds.
It was a strategy of selection and concentration.
By giving up the production of daily goods to Pohang, the Balhut Cult aimed to monopolize military power.
“But it’s still our foundation, so we should take care of it ourselves.”
“That’s obvious!”
This policy was a result of consultations between God Bahamut and Yuna.
Ultimately, all of the Balhut Cult’s foundations came from Gyeongju, and most of its supporters were Gyeongju citizens.
Although the number of people joining the Balhut Cult from Pohang was increasing, from the Cult’s perspective, the longstanding supporters from Gyeongju were more trustworthy than the newly joined citizens of Pohang.
Thus, both God Bahamut and the Cult needed policies that would support the citizens of Gyeongju, leading to the decision to nurture the weapons industry for awakened individuals.
The number of awakened individuals was expected to increase, and the demand for industry to support them would grow, making it seem like Gyeongju would monopolize a future industry.
“Let’s plan to make Gyeongju the central city for awakened individuals.”
“That’s a good idea.”
In conclusion, God Bahamut planned to transform Gyeongju, originally a tourist city, into a central city for the birth and training of awakened individuals.
The first step in this plan was to focus Mr. Choi’s Foundry on the weapons industry for the Balhut Cult’s awakened individuals.
From now on, numerous weapons and tools for the Balhut Cult’s awakened individuals would be designed at Mr. Choi’s Foundry, using the coins created by Bahamut as materials.
“Is it because Pohang has just begun its reconstruction? It’s hard to find workers.”
“Well, Gyeongju is also undergoing reconstruction, so I heard that most workers found jobs as reconstruction laborers or at the industrial goods factories.”
One of the reasons for transferring the industrial goods industry to Pohang was to create jobs for its residents.
The recently liberated residents of Pohang essentially had no means of livelihood, and those without special skills were pushed to the streets as unemployed.
Citizens pushed to the streets without social protection would soon harbor extreme thoughts, leading to a decline in public safety.
Therefore, the Balhut Cult, which had liberated Pohang, had to provide a foundation for the displaced residents to make a living, and many concessions were made for that purpose.
Thanks to this, the currency used in Gyeongju began to circulate in Pohang, revitalizing the market economy. The biggest beneficiaries were logistics operators transporting food.
“By the way, didn’t Kim Taehyun start a company under his own name?”
“But he’s only the boss of five transport trucks.”
“Running five trucks alone in this era is impressive, isn’t it?”
Unlike Gyeongju, Pohang distributed currency as daily wages instead of distributing food directly.
For the citizens of Gyeongju, who already had a developed market, this was an excellent opportunity to secure new markets. The most popular commodities during the apocalypse were weapons and food.
While the Balhut Cult monopolized weapons, food was different.
Kim Taehyun, who now had his own company, supplied a significant amount of food to Pohang by directly transporting produce from the grain-producing areas reclaimed by the Cult. He made substantial profits and, conversely, bought fresh fish produced in Pohang at a low price and supplied it to Gyeongju, making trade his main business.
“But isn’t it a win-win? Pohang gets fresh rice and vegetables, while Gyeongju enjoys fresh fish that hasn’t been seen for five months.”
“True. It brings tears to my eyes to see fresh fish after so long.”
As a result, Pohang was quickly supplied with the much-desired freshly cooked rice and vegetables, while Gyeongju residents could finally enjoy fresh fish delivered directly.
Especially since logistics had been cut off for so long, fresh fish had become immensely popular among the residents of Gyeongju, who hadn’t seen it in ages.
Frankly, in this apocalypse, where tuna cans or pickled vegetables were the main meals, the opportunity to taste fresh meat at a reasonable price was highly sought after.
It was naturally popular.
“Besides, there’s still no competition.”
“Should I write an article accusing you of hoarding in today’s newspaper?”
“No, no. This can’t be helped, can it? The grain fields of North Gyeongju and the outskirts of Pohang are still infested with wild zombies and monsters. The suppression forces are busy with other tasks.”
At the mention of no competition, reporter Kang Jaewan was about to accuse Kim Taehyun of hoarding, but the truth was that the structure of logistics made competition difficult.
The road from Gyeongju to Pohang took about 20 to 30 minutes by vehicle.
Depending on the route, there was a high chance of encountering wild zombies or monsters, and anyone driving that route had to be skilled enough to survive such encounters.
Considering that mutant zombies and powerful monsters roamed the wild, transportation itself was a significant gamble, requiring a risk to one’s life.
Of course, the Balhut Cult was aware of this, so they installed outposts and secured key routes, but as long as wild zombies and monsters were not completely eradicated, there was always danger in transportation.
“Considering the risk to one’s life, this is quite reasonable, isn’t it?”
“Well, that’s true.”
And that risk was the secret to earning substantial profits.
Since the outside world was full of monsters and zombies, transportation costs naturally rose, and so did the resulting profits.
Thus, new ways to earn money and new cultures began to emerge in each city, and the path between Pohang and Gyeongju started to be connected as one.
And…
“Is this the mayor… or should I say the Priestess of the Dragon, who was elected this time?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Well….”
Once the reconstruction efforts reached a certain point, the Balhut Cult requested the elected Priestess of Pohang, and Seo Un-jae presented the chosen Priestess to Son Sang-hui.
This was the most important matter for both the Balhut Cult and Pohang, and the new Priestess, who would be the face of Pohang and a testament to Bahamut’s promise.
The leaders of the Three Camps believed they would select the Priestess of the Dragon with utmost care, but now officially part of the Balhut Cult, Son Sang-hui was at a loss for words upon seeing the chosen Priestess from Pohang.
“Is there an issue? We ensured that the gender was female as required.”
“Ah, yes.”
Gender was understandable since it had to be a Priestess. But the problem lay elsewhere.
“Could it be her age…?”
“She’s 14 years old. In about two months, she’ll be 15. Isn’t that acceptable? Miss Yuna was also 17.”
She was too young.
Currently, she was 14, and in a few months, she would be 15—a young girl who had just started her third year in middle school was chosen to govern Pohang as its mayor and Priestess.
Son Sang-hui suspected that the Three Camps of Pohang might be blatantly trying to use the Priestess as a puppet.
In an era where asking the age of an Awakened individual was strange, and the requirement was simply being an Awakened, it was true that the girl standing before her met the criteria.
The reason Son Sang-hui was at a loss for words was because—
“Why is she wrapped in medical bandages around her eyes?”
“Ah. Before the arrival of the Balhut Cult, she accidentally got poisoned in battle with a mutant spider zombie. It would look unpleasant.”
It was because the girl’s condition was far from normal.
Although she was wrapped in medical bandages that had become relatively common, Son Sang-hui expected that what lay beneath was disfigured.
Out of concern, she lifted the fabric covering her eyes briefly and confirmed that her face and eyes had melted away.
She was an Awakened who had been severely injured and taken off the front lines due to the potent venom of a mutant spider zombie.
“And why the wheelchair?”
“Her spine was damaged, resulting in paralysis of the lower body.”
“Haha, are you going to tell me her vocal cords are burned too?”
“Oh? How did you know?”
Moreover, her disabilities didn’t end there.
It was sorrowful enough that she had lost her eyes and face, but on top of that, she had paralysis of the lower body and her vocal cords were burnt.
For someone in such a condition, survival in an apocalyptic world seemed improbable, but it appeared that being an Awakened and the support of her camp allowed her to endure thus far.
“…Could it be what I’m thinking?”
Son Sang-hui wondered if the Three Camps were openly planning to use the Priestess as a puppet.
While God Bahamut had only instructed them to select an Awakened to be the Priestess, the specifics of the conditions had not been detailed.
So the Pohang side had exploited that subtle gap, making it difficult to argue against them with any legitimate claim.
The Pohang side had met all the requirements set by God Bahamut, yet it was obvious they still had explanations to give.
Of course, the Balhut Cult could not prevent suspicion regarding Pohang’s true intentions.
“Are you truly planning to serve this girl as the mayor of Pohang?”
Son Sang-hui, who belonged to the Balhut Cult, directly questioned whether Pohang truly intended for the girl to take the mayoral position.
Since Son Sang-hui was not an outsider but someone affiliated with Pohang and the Balhut Cult, her words carried significant weight.
The question was laced with accusations that the Three Camps of Pohang were sacrificing a young girl for their own ambitions.
“Would you believe me if I said this was the best compromise?”
“I wouldn’t.”
Seo Un-jae, who said this was their best compromise, sighed and rubbed his face, looking as if he had aged years overnight, indicating that he did not want things to turn out this way.
Even the most ruthless politician has limits.
Using such a young child for political purposes would undoubtedly bring moral and ethical condemnation.
Given the possibility of future attacks from political opponents, this decision was clearly a liability for Seo Un-jae.
“Being a coalition of three factions means we have three different agendas.”
“No way.”
“Yes. The Hyeongsan River Camp, Pohang University Campus, and the Marines—each wanted to choose their own candidate for the Priestess. They believed this was the perfect opportunity to disrupt the balance of power within the Three Camps.”
But understanding Pohang’s internal situation sheds new light on this.
Just as Gyeongju was divided into Northern and Southern Gyeongju, Pohang was also split into three factions.
Although they had temporarily unified to reclaim sovereignty from Gyeongju, they remained a coalition government.
Once negotiations with Gyeongju were successfully concluded, each faction acted out of self-interest, seeing the position of Priestess as an opportunity to break the balance of power.
The chosen Priestess would become the mayor, ascending to the center of power, and could legally eliminate competitors from that position.
“Some were dissatisfied with the gains from the recent negotiations. No matter how benevolent the Balhut Cult’s terms seemed, there were those who questioned why Pohang should bow to Gyeongju. Major General Kim Tae-sik, who lost military power, was particularly discontent.”
“Ah.”
The fact that there were dissatisfied factions within the negotiation results was crucial.
Seo Un-jae himself admitted he had harbored desires but gave up, so it was not surprising that there were others who found the agreement unsatisfactory.
Even if there was no doubt in God Bahamut himself, some questioned why Pohang had to submit to Gyeongju, and others suffered losses in the deal. These factions, seeking to compensate for their losses, became obsessed with the role of Priestess.
“In the end, we agreed to choose someone unrelated to any of the Three Camps. Do you understand? This was our best option.”
“Was civil war about to break out?”
“Yes, it was highly possible. Human greed knows no bounds.”
Faced with the grim reality, Son Sang-hui asked if a civil war had almost erupted, and Seo Un-jae confirmed that it was indeed likely.
Human greed has no limits.
Even if it meant repeating a futile cycle, people act out of their innate desires.
“We chose someone politically neutral, divided the actual power into three parts, and established autonomy in Pohang. This was the hidden agreement of the Three Camps.”
“Is it alright for you to tell me this?”
“The Three Camps already showed their intention to use the Priestess as a puppet. It’s safer for me to let the Balhut Cult understand Pohang’s intent and circumstances. Besides, what I just said was to myself. If Miss Sang-hui happened to hear it, it’s my mistake.”
As if speaking to himself, Seo Un-jae revealed the pact made by the Three Camps.
Son Sang-hui looked incredulous, questioning if it was really okay to share that information. Seo Un-jae seemed to think this was the best course.
Given how overtly they were using a puppet Priestess, it was safer to let Son Sang-hui convey Pohang’s intent and circumstances to the Balhut Cult.
At the very least, the Balhut Cult must not doubt Pohang’s sincerity.
It was like a staged act played openly.
“Moreover, this girl has severe physical limitations. Not even divine arts could guarantee her recovery. If this gives her a path to sustain herself, isn’t it better for her as an individual?”
“Ah.”
There aren’t many compassionate adults left in this apocalypse who would care for an orphan with disabilities. Everyone is too preoccupied with their own survival. Morality and conscience from before the apocalypse have long fallen by the wayside.
When Seo Un-jae implied that, at the very least, being chosen as the Priestess of the Dragon would ensure the girl had a way to sustain herself, Son Sang-hui found it difficult to argue.
Though she was just a puppet, this also meant the Three Camps would have to take responsibility and care for her.
According to Seo Un-jae, this girl was an orphan with no adult guardian.
Given the state of Pohang, where orphanages were not yet functioning properly, if she had not been chosen as the Priestess, the girl would have faced immediate struggles to find food and survive.
“…Understood.”
Son Sang-hui, wondering if this truly was the best solution, had no choice but to accept it reluctantly.
Moreover, her task was to bring the chosen Awakened Priestess back, not to criticize the Three Camps for selecting this girl.
Seo Un-jae, sensing the shame of the situation, avoided Son Sang-hui’s sharp gaze that seemed to pierce him.
It seemed this really was the best option from Pohang’s perspective.
“Then, what is this girl’s name?”
“Baek Seol-hwa.”
“…Excuse me? Did you just say Seol-hwa?”
Son Sang-hui, in disbelief, asked Seo Un-jae for the name of the chosen Priestess, and upon hearing it, wore a stunned expression.
She looked at Seo Un-jae, who confirmed with a somber expression.
“Do you now understand why the other camps accepted her? This girl’s name still holds weight in Pohang.”
“…Is she really?”
“Yes, she is truly Baek Seol-hwa.”
Of course, Son Sang-hui knew the name.
She was the girl known as the strongest Awakened in Pohang and a survivor leader who once rivaled the Three Camps at the Pohang Airport.
Son Sang-hui, who had met Baek Seol-hwa at Pohang Airport, repeatedly asked Seo Un-jae if this was truly Baek Seol-hwa, unable to believe it. Seo Un-jae’s answer was affirmative.
With that confirmation, Son Sang-hui looked as if her soul had left her body, silently pushing Baek Seol-hwa’s wheelchair and slowly departing from Pohang.
“Damn it.”
Watching their retreating figures, Seo Un-jae sighed deeply at the sky, as if burdened by an insurmountable weight.
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