Ch.1212. Think About in Reverse. If You Give Up, It Gets Easier

How did things end up like this?

Seeing the cult followers prostrating themselves around Yu-na, Bahamut felt like he was losing his mind.

Yes, what on earth had happened for things to get so twisted?

‘Where exactly did the problem start?’

Bahamut recalled when he first arrived in Gyeongju.

At that time, Yu-na had followed Bahamut’s instructions and made contact with various survivors to gather them together.

Watching her actions, Bahamut thought, “At least Yu-na is following my instructions well.” However, such complacent thinking shattered immediately upon their first contact with a survivor.

“Do you believe in God?”

“What?”

At first, she abruptly asked a wandering survivor if they believed in God.

“We haven’t been abandoned by anyone. So even though we haven’t committed any sins… The reason our lives are so painful… It’s not God’s trial.”

“W-what? Is this woman crazy?”

She preached that the zombie apocalypse phenomenon wasn’t anyone’s fault.

That appearance was truly…

“Then what exactly is this phenomenon?”

“We’re just unlucky, that’s all.”

“Kek. Are you one of those Shincheonji cultists going around preaching doomsday theories?”

This was exactly like cult evangelism!

Seeing this scene, Bahamut could only mentally facepalm!

‘To think she’d even be called Shincheonji.’

When the name of South Korea’s most infamous cult was mentioned, Bahamut was shocked and dismayed.

He never dreamed she would be cursed as being like Shincheonji.

‘But I can’t deny it! Not being able to deny it makes me even more frustrated!’

Unfortunately, Bahamut couldn’t refute the survivor’s harsh words!

No matter how he looked at it, Choi Yu-na appeared to be nothing more than a religious fanatic!

She looked exactly like someone who deserved to be called Shincheonji!

‘Yes. Looking at it again… it’s definitely a cult. Ahahahaha. What a lovely day!’

Objectively, Yu-na’s behavior resembled those strange women in Noryangjin who approach passing citizens saying they have “good words to share” while spouting nonsense.

Bahamut covered his face in embarrassment at Yu-na!

“A cult? Ha! I am not a foolish being who believes in false gods and preaches false teachings. I am a dragon priestess who believes in the true god.”

“You’re no different from them! You have no power to change this cursed reality.”

“Our god has that power. So order will certainly be restored. A new city will rise from the ruined one. That’s the world we want.”

“You’re not making any sense! Just go, I’ll let you leave.”

As if they couldn’t communicate at all, the survivor recoiled and drove Yu-na away.

Facing this rejection and being thrown out onto the street, Yu-na maintained silence while staring expressionlessly at where the survivor had been.

Her face seemed to say, “Why won’t they accept something so good?” with incomprehension.

‘Yes. This is the expected result. More importantly, when did I become a cult god?’

Of course, from Yu-na’s perspective, the situation was incomprehensible, but Bahamut considered it a predictable outcome.

Then he lamented how he had somehow become a cult deity.

[Y-you can quit anytime if it’s too difficult. We have plenty of other methods anyway.]

So Bahamut suggested to Yu-na that she could stop if she wanted to.

Since she was being rejected so harshly, it might be better to try a different approach, but…

“No, it’s fine. I want to prove myself to Gyeongju too. This is a trial of proof. A trial asking if I’m qualified to lead the survivor camp in Gyeongju.”

‘Ah, I see.’

Yu-na, who had suddenly developed strong determination, declared that she would definitely persuade them.

It was a strong will never to give up, but for Bahamut, it made him want to ask why she was so resolved about this.

Fortunately for Bahamut, all the normal survivors Yu-na contacted rejected her offers.

“The world has become so harsh. To think there are so few people who want a new order.”

‘Everyone probably wants reconstruction, but… the way you’re talking is…’

Yu-na had contacted most of the survivor camps in Gyeongju, and most either politely declined or angrily rejected and ostracized her.

Some even wanted healer Yu-na and invited her to join their camp, but Yu-na rejected all these offers and left.

In the end, Yu-na lamented how harsh the world had become without a single success, but frankly, it was half her own doing.

Bahamut considered whether to point out the facts to Yu-na, but…

“On top of that, people have started believing in a cult that worships false gods! Those lowly beings who aren’t worthy to be seen before Lord Bahamut are taking advantage of this situation to expand their influence. I’m envious… no, I cannot forgive this!”

[W-well… No, never mind.]

Yu-na mentioned to Bahamut that there was a cult taking advantage of the zombie apocalypse in Gyeongju to expand their influence.

This cult seemed to be successful, as the number of believers was gradually increasing, and Yu-na was beginning to express envy at their evangelism methods.

Seeing Yu-na gradually becoming more cult-like, Bahamut decided to explain the current situation as objectively as possible rather than pointing out the problem.

[First of all, humans are suspicious animals. Unless we prove our value to the survivors in Gyeongju, no one will follow us.]

“Then why do people follow the cult?”

[Obviously, the cult has proven its value to the survivors. In other words, following the cult’s doctrine provides some benefit.]

In reality, the cult Yu-na encountered promised food or protection from disaster if people joined.

Bahamut explained that this was something survivors would find valuable, and Yu-na thought deeply about his advice.

“You’re not wrong. I simply told people to follow our god without offering any conditions.”

[Yes. We haven’t proven anything. So people won’t follow us.]

She nodded and cleanly acknowledged it.

Unlike the cult’s evangelism method, Yu-na’s approach had simply demanded that people follow Bahamut for immediate salvation.

She realized she hadn’t offered any benefit to the survivors and understood that needed to change.

“Proof…”

In a zombie apocalypse, the way to gain people’s recognition or make them follow you is…

“It’s power. If our god were to directly appear in Gyeongju… everyone would acknowledge us.”

[Huh?]

She thought that if Bahamut descended upon Gyeongju, everyone would follow him.

Bahamut was perplexed by this sudden escalation, but…

‘Wait? That’s not exactly wrong.’

Yu-na’s statement wasn’t incorrect.

If Bahamut, with his massive body exceeding 50 meters, appeared in Gyeongju, he could subjugate all survivor camps with his overwhelming presence.

‘But that’s the “enemy of humanity” route, isn’t it?’

However, that was the “enemy of humanity” route that Bahamut had expressed concern about.

Bahamut wished to maintain friendly contact with humanity and wanted to avoid being treated as an enemy by appearing thoughtlessly in Gyeongju.

That’s why he had contracted with Choi Yu-na and sent her to Gyeongju as his proxy.

‘But if we approach it differently, there might be sufficient opportunity for me to step in?’

Of course, he wasn’t planning to stay completely uninvolved, and he definitely intended to intervene when necessary.

Bahamut considered Yu-na’s suggestion with an intrigued expression, and soon came up with an idea.

[You’re not wrong. If we can imprint my existence on the survivors in Gyeongju, it would make our work much easier.]

“So?”

[But everything needs proper order. First, we need to set a time for my descent and inform all survivors in Gyeongju that I will be descending.]

Of course, everything needed proper order.

They needed to inform all survivors about his existence and that he was friendly.

At minimum, they needed to inform all survivors in Gyeongju of this fact…

[It’s quite difficult to do alone. First, we need allies…]

“Ah, if it’s that, I have a good idea.”

Just as Bahamut was about to suggest finding reliable allies, Choi Yu-na herself said she had a good idea.

[Oh? A good idea?]

“Yes. It seems we need manpower to spread rumors in Gyeongju. We can simply use those with false beliefs for the manpower we need.”

‘What is she talking about now?’

Bahamut couldn’t understand what she meant.

But soon he was forced to understand through Yu-na’s actions.

With a bright expression suggesting she had a plan, she approached cult members who were evangelizing on the street and…

“Take me to your headquarters immediately.”

“Eek! Yes!”

‘What’s this? What’s happening?’

Yu-na quickly subdued the cult members who had been dedicating themselves to evangelism on the streets of Gyeongju, and using one of them as a guide, headed toward the church that served as the cult’s headquarters.

“Tell your leader to come out.”

“I-intruder!!!”

Upon arriving at the church, Yu-na released all the captured cult members and sent them inside the church. Naturally, the cult was thrown into chaos by the members’ reports of an intruder.

To counter this sudden intruder, Awakened members of the cult bravely stepped forward to confront Yu-na, but…

[Y-Yu-na?]

“Don’t worry, my god. I won’t kill them.”

They were all pierced by beams of light shot from Yu-na’s index finger.

The cult’s Awakened, who had bravely stood to protect their place, all collapsed after being subdued by Yu-na’s death beam.

After easily defeating all the cult’s Awakened, Yu-na entered the interior with a bright smile. As she entered, the cult leader panicked and began to flee.

“Bind.”

“Eek!?”

But there was no escape from Yu-na even in flight!

“Where do you think you’re running?”

It was already too late!

The leader’s escape was impossible!

Yu-na used binding magic to restrain the leader’s body, and the leader collapsed without taking a single step outside, subdued by Yu-na.

The followers who had watched this scene to the end remained silent, unable even to scream with eyes filled with terror.

“W-what business do you have with our Shincheonji?!”

“Aha. So this cult is called Shincheonji. So that’s why our activities have been hindered knowingly or unknowingly. I have even less reason to spare you now?”

‘That’s the anti-establishment cult that caused a big stir with an epidemic 2-3 years ago? The same one we were just being compared to.’

It was an anti-establishment cult known throughout the country.

Bahamut was surprised that they were in Gyeongju, and Yu-na mercilessly stepped on the leader’s mouth and declared:

“What did we do wrong…!”

“So shut up. From today, I declare this church and all its followers to be ours.”

Yu-na declared that the church and all its followers now belonged to her.

The cult leader was shocked by Yu-na’s outrageous action.

“What kind of violence…”

“Any complaints?”

“N-no. No complaints.”

But the law was far away and her fist was too close.

Yu-na extended her index finger threateningly, making it clear there was no negotiation—if they didn’t accept her proposal, she would destroy everything on the spot. The leader finally lowered his face in silence at her ferocious demeanor.

It was essentially surrender, and after confirming the leader’s submission, Yu-na smiled brightly and addressed the cult members who had been watching:

“Now then. Let me make a prophecy to all of you who will be under our god’s protection from today. Yes, the promised day.”

Confusion. Shock. Fear.

Despite the many gazes fixed on her, Yu-na’s expression didn’t change as she simply said what she wanted to say.

What she proclaimed was both prophecy and promise.

“In a few days, my god will descend upon Gyeongju. I’ll give you a choice. Will you continue to believe in a false god and live? Or will you believe in the true god and live? The choice is yours.”

Of course, even after hearing this, she said the choice was theirs.

She was saying they could continue believing in Shincheonji if they wanted, but the followers didn’t dare think of opposing Yu-na.

“Oh, and of course, while you’re here, I’ll protect you. In return, you’ll need to do at least one thing I ask.”

“”””…………””””

Just like their former cult, the members silently agreed to her offer of protection.

And so, Yu-na subdued an entire cult and could control all its members and Awakened as she pleased.

“I should have done this from the start! I went through unnecessary trouble!”

Using the cult, she widely advertised the prophecy and the promised day, and even now the followers were probably spreading her words throughout Gyeongju.

Fortunately, the group was affluent enough to use the internet, so they also promoted Yu-na’s promise through online communities.

“Using the Shincheonji cult, our promise has spread widely through Gyeongju’s community!”

[And you continued to contact other survivors.]

“Of course! Now we just need to prove our power. It’s perfect.”

Bahamut, who had been watching from the side, sighed.

But at the same time, seeing Yu-na’s extreme actions, he thought:

‘Have I been pursuing only what’s right too much?’

He suddenly wondered if he had been too focused on pursuing righteousness, making Yu-na’s activities too restricted.

Normally, he might have immediately scolded her, but now the country was facing a national disaster in the form of a zombie apocalypse.

The national order had long collapsed, anti-establishment cults like Shincheonji were running rampant, and there were still zombies eating people in the city.

In such a bleak situation, he judged it was too difficult to advise Yu-na to pursue only righteousness.

Even if it was a bit extreme, he thought they needed to use even a cult in the current situation, so he went along with Yu-na’s plan.

[…Yes. Now we must prove it. Since you are my contractor, I swore to take responsibility until the end.]

Having already made a contract, he had sworn to take responsibility until the end, so he respected Yu-na’s choice and decided to go along with it.

“Hehehehe. I’m looking forward to it. The day when we show our god’s power to everyone living in Gyeongju.”

Yu-na laughed wickedly in anticipation of that day.

‘Well, the cult system will be used temporarily. After that day, we’ll quickly transition to a normal system.’

Bahamut thought somewhat complacently as he listened to Yu-na’s laughter.