Ch.110110. The Allied Forces (1)

The refugee procession finally ended when they reached the safety of Gyeongju City.

Under the escort of elite forces dispatched by the Balhut Cult, the refugees who safely arrived in Gyeongju first began identity verification and gathered at the administration building to receive settlement programs and support.

Of course, since Jin A-yeon planned to return straight to Ulsan, she looked around the Balhut Cult headquarters while waiting for Son Sang-hui who had gone to report.

“…What’s this? This place is intact.”

The city was more intact than she had expected.

To be precise, it would be correct to say it was flourishing, heading back toward pre-apocalypse conditions.

Was Gyeongju always such a vibrant city? It was maintaining civilized life, uniquely so in this apocalypse.

Since there was still time before returning, Jin A-yeon noticed something peculiar while observing the surroundings from the rooftop of the Balhut Cult main building.

“They’re not bartering. They’re buying things with currency?”

The streets were filled with numerous people engaged in economic activities, including food stalls and marketplace vendors.

Of course, such scenes were common before the apocalypse, but it had been over half a year since anyone had witnessed such sights.

She was witnessing civilized life that she thought she would never see again.

“Now I understand why Mr. Han Seong-geun suggested cooperation.”

Finally, the reason why Han Seong-geun had formed an alliance with the cult was explained.

This was certainly something that needed to be seen firsthand rather than just heard about.

Not only Jin A-yeon, but also the refugees waiting in line for registration at the Balhut Cult main hall could feel it.

The refugees forming long lines for registration began to show hope on their faces, as if they had finally found paradise in the vibrancy of Gyeongju’s citizens.

“Are they really planning to establish a country?”

“Whether you like it or not, they’re recognized by the international community as the only government on the Korean peninsula.”

As if she had heard Jin A-yeon’s muttering about whether they really intended to establish a country in Gyeongju, Son Sang-hui approached slowly from behind and responded while moving to her side.

Unlike her previous appearance in the cult’s military uniform, she approached A-yeon in more comfortable clothing. A-yeon scratched her head and spoke as Son Sang-hui approached.

“Oh, Sister Sang-hui. Are you done with your business?”

“Yes. I’ve finished reporting what needed to be told to the main hall. So first, I should say this: I sincerely welcome you to the main hall of the Balhut Cult.”

Son Sang-hui nodded in affirmation when asked if her business was done, and welcomed Jin A-yeon to the Balhut Cult.

Having already heard this dozens of times from cult staff, A-yeon looked around at Son Sang-hui with a somewhat bored expression.

She had thought that since Son Sang-hui was here, Choi Yu-na would be here too, but only Son Sang-hui had come to her side.

With a slightly disappointed expression, Jin A-yeon opened her mouth, curious about Yu-na’s whereabouts.

“Where did Ms. Yu-na go?”

“She’s busy. She’s treating refugees with chronic illnesses or injuries.”

The answer was that she was busy.

It wasn’t just an excuse to avoid meeting; she was actually using her healing abilities to help the refugees.

She couldn’t use them at the scene due to mana issues, but in this safe place, she could use them freely.

Considering that some Awakened among the refugees had withdrawn from the frontlines due to chronic illnesses or injuries, Choi Yu-na’s ability to heal even physical defects was invaluable.

To be frank, if she treated the refugees’ injuries, illnesses, and defects right now, she would gain their support instantly.

This would be especially effective for refugees whose minds were troubled after witnessing the recent battle.

“She’s capable.”

“Indeed she is.”

Jin A-yeon thought Yu-na’s abilities were truly remarkable, though she didn’t understand the political implications of her actions.

Of course, having experienced the apocalypse in both Japan and Ulsan, she knew there were Awakened with healing abilities, and that those abilities were impressive.

“The healers I know can only treat cuts or bruises. Though for me, who often engages in close combat, they’re the best healers.”

“Same here. Even Pohang’s best healer couldn’t treat faces and bodies with melted skin.”

“At that point, wouldn’t you think they’re already dead?”

She didn’t possess healing abilities like Choi Yu-na’s.

That’s why she thought Yu-na was even more impressive, and gave examples of healers she knew while praising her. Son Sang-hui responded with a bitter smile, saying she felt the same and gave an example of what she had seen in Pohang.

Hearing this, Jin A-yeon replied with a somewhat bewildered expression, asking if someone in that condition shouldn’t normally be dead.

“No. They survived just fine and are still alive today.”

“What? That’s scary. I don’t want to know. What kind of monster is that?”

“They’re still busy destroying ghost fleets in the East Sea.”

They were still alive and well, still actively destroying ghost fleets in the East Sea.

Son Sang-hui just smiled brightly, thinking of Seol-hwa who would be firing Turn Undead spells with a grin, acting as the reaper of the undead.

She was so perfectly normal that the bad adults who tried to make her their puppet ended up becoming puppets themselves, so the good cult members could look the other way.

After all, the “Yu-na Death Beam” or “Seol-hwa Death Beam” was equal for everyone.

“Wow. It’s strange for me to say this, but Awakened people have incredibly tough vitality. Well, in an apocalyptic world where magical things happen, I guess such things are possible, which is truly frightening!”

“Haha. I understand. Sometimes I wonder if this is reality too.”

Jin A-yeon responded with a bitter laugh, saying that such things could be accepted in this apocalyptic reality, and Son Sang-hui laughed along in agreement.

In fact, they were still surprised with mouths agape at the emergence of new undead.

It seemed like they could now laugh off anything that might appear.

Of course, if a truly never-before-seen monstrous creature appeared, they would still be shocked with their mouths open.

“And it’s amazing how you’ve revived civilization in this world. Did you use some kind of magic? This is completely different from any city I’ve seen so far.”

Then, as if truly curious, Jin A-yeon asked how they had achieved such prosperity.

Fukuoka and Ulsan, which she had seen until now, had not flourished to this extent.

Ulsan could be excused since it was under the control of the Cult of Immortality, but there was news that Fukuoka was still struggling due to zombies coming from outside.

Especially since Jin A-yeon had left, creating a power vacuum, countermeasures would need to be devised.

“Magic… Rather than magic, please consider it the effort of the cult and the blood and sweat of its members. Both Gyeongju and Pohang are prospering by responding with one heart and one mind to the guidance of the Dragon God.”

Son Sang-hui answered that it was the cult’s efforts, the blood and sweat of its members, and the guidance of the Dragon God.

While not incorrect…

“Dragon God. Is it truly a god that can be trusted?”

Once again, the religious tone was too strong, so Jin A-yeon asked with a tense expression if the Dragon God could really be trusted.

Having just experienced suicide bombers in the name of faith from the Cult of Immortality, it was natural for her to question whether the Balhut Cult’s Dragon God could be trusted.

“Yes. You can meet them now. Would you like to?”

“Hmm.”

Son Sang-hui offered to arrange a meeting to dispel her anxiety, but Jin A-yeon fell into contemplation, as if somewhat afraid.

If she met them now, it would be an excellent chance to resolve all her doubts.

“To be honest, I’m scared to meet them. I’m sorry. I know Sister Sang-hui is showing me kindness, but I don’t think I’m mentally prepared yet.”

Meeting the Dragon God in a place where she had no one to trust required tremendous courage.

Though Jin A-yeon would face fights without running away, she showed a somewhat indecisive side in such important matters and postponed the meeting with the Dragon God.

“I understand. Actually, I… was very nervous when I first visited them too. If a child I knew hadn’t gone with me, I might not have been able to enter the temple.”

“Sister, were you not originally part of the Balhut Cult?”

Son Sang-hui nodded in agreement, saying that she too wouldn’t have been able to enter the temple without someone she knew, and smiled bitterly.

At that time, she had guided Baek Seol-hwa to Bahamut’s temple due to an excessive sense of responsibility, but thinking back, she wondered if she could have headed into the temple without trembling after seeing the Dragon God.

Even now, she considered it tremendous courage.

Seeing her like this, Jin A-yeon asked if she wasn’t originally from the Balhut Cult.

“No. I’m not from Gyeongju, but a survivor from Pohang. Before the cult came to Pohang, I lived as a refugee. For about two months… I lived as a refugee.”

“I’m sorry. I made you recall bad memories.”

To this question, Son Sang-hui nodded and honestly admitted that she too had lived as a refugee.

Jin A-yeon apologized to Son Sang-hui, as if feeling sorry.

In this apocalypse, refugee life was unlikely to have pleasant memories, so she had made her recall unpleasant memories.

“No. Whether good or bad, it’s hard to have good memories in this apocalypse. Of course, even though Gyeongju has many shortcomings now, I can see it’s a place where good memories can be built.”

“This place is truly amazing.”

“Yes. That’s why I will definitely protect this paradise.”

And Son Sang-hui pledged to protect this paradise.

“For the sake of the one I follow.”

She believed in the ideology advocated by Baek Seol-hwa, the priestess she followed, and vowed to protect the paradise that would descend upon this land.

“That sounds like you’re not following Ms. Yu-na.”

“No. I follow Yu-na as well. But… there’s someone similar to Yu-na in Pohang too. I believe in the paradise that child speaks of. Yes, there will definitely be a paradise even in this apocalypse.”

Sensing something strange in her words, Jin A-yeon interpreted it as Son Sang-hui serving someone completely different from the cult’s leader Yu-na. Son Sang-hui explained that while she did follow Yu-na, there was a priestess with similar powers in Pohang.

She sincerely believed in the claims made by the Dragon Priestess who was confronting the ghost fleet that appeared in the East Sea, and believed in the paradise that Baek Seol-hwa would create.

“I will definitely make this world a paradise where people can live as people should.”

“That’s… a good idea. Yes, it’s a good dream.”

“Isn’t it?”

After all, how could a paradise where people live as they should be bad?

When Son Sang-hui said this, Jin A-yeon also said it was a good dream.

“It’s a good dream.”

Hmm, should it be considered fortunate or unfortunate that Jin A-yeon hadn’t met Baek Seol-hwa directly?

“I’m sure if you meet Seol-hwa, you’ll be able to join forces.”

Either way, Son Sang-hui was now a proper member of the Balhut Cult.