Ch.122122. International Stage (1)

After the general election celebrating the new year ended and the internal political situation of the Balhut Cult normalized, Bahamut summoned Special Ambassador Steven to the temple, as if unwilling to delay any longer.

The internal reorganization was complete, and they had successfully presented themselves as a democracy both domestically and internationally.

Bahamut judged there would no longer be diplomatic suspicions, and indeed, Steven’s expression upon responding to Bahamut’s summons showed nothing but smiles.

‘Now we can talk without risks!’

For the United States, the pre-election Balhut Cult had posed an unnecessary diplomatic risk by not advocating democracy and being closer to what some called a technocratic dictatorship. But with the voluntary dissolution of parliament and the formation of a cabinet based on democracy through general elections, there was no longer any need to worry about diplomatic risks regarding whether the Balhut Cult still followed democratic ideals.

The Balhut Cult was clearly a nation based on democracy, and America would be friends with such democratic nations!

“We will also contribute to the international organization reconstruction project. I will personally participate in the international organization.”

“Ah, yes. That’s certainly good news for the United States.”

And they had received cooperation from the Dragon God Bahamut.

There was nothing more to fear, but when Steven arrived at the temple and faced Bahamut, his expression filled with questions.

Yes, he had even received cooperation for the international organization reconstruction project from the Bahamut before him. From America’s perspective, wanting nations that supported the United States, this was not a bad proposal at all.

But the problem was…

“Who are you? Being in Bahamut’s temple… I can tell you’re related to the Balhut Cult.”

Who on earth was this man before him?

Blue eyes that reminded him of someone, white skin, and navy blue hair tied back and reaching down to his waist.

The only issue was that he wore anachronistic armor, but even that armor could be accepted as a charm or charisma, making him a handsome young man.

And the armor the young man wore was also armor that existed in Steven’s memory.

‘Looking closely at what he’s wearing… it’s the Mithril armor that Bahamut showed us. To casually wear that national treasure-level armor… could he be a high-ranking official we don’t know about?’

Yes, it was the Mithril armor said to have been crafted directly by the Dragon God Bahamut.

The armor made directly by the Dragon God was splendid, resembling attire that European nobility might wear, and the wearer appeared to be a man between his 20s and 30s with a handsome appearance. It wouldn’t be strange to call him a noble young master.

It was impossible for a man with such splendid attire and appearance not to be famous within the Balhut Cult.

Naturally, he should have been a man in America’s intelligence network, but there was no mention of such a man in America’s intelligence, causing Steven’s smile, which had risen due to the recent good news, to rapidly fall.

As he showed hostility toward the human who suddenly appeared in the Dragon God’s residence with wariness…

“Ah. This is the first time I’m showing this form.”

The noble young man who felt that hostility merely scratched his head as if troubled, with an “oops!” feeling.

Unlike the dignified appearance he had shown just moments ago, he now looked quite casual.

Steven inwardly thought that such behavior with that appearance seemed to break the image, but he was utterly shocked by the name that followed.

“It’s me. The Dragon God Bahamut you know.”

“What?”

Yes, the noble young man before him was Bahamut in human form.

Of course, the reason he could wear the Dragon God’s armor that no one had publicly seen was simply because he was Bahamut himself, wearing it as if it were his own possession.

Of course, Steven’s mind was about to go crazy at this unexpected coming out, but there was nothing he could do.

After all, they had always met in dragon form, and this was the first time they were meeting in human form.

“B-Bahamut?!”

That was an exclamation filled with bewilderment, shock, and wariness.

As Steven’s reaction became stranger than expected, Bahamut also seemed to feel tension.

“Yes. I used polymorph magic to transform into this appearance. Ah, you might not believe it, so I’ll briefly undo the transformation as evidence.”

He dispelled the magic, returning to his Dragon God form, showing the dragon appearance from his original place.

For Steven, who directly witnessed an ordinary human instantly returning to the form of a Dragon God, it was a heart-dropping sight, yet as a fantasy enthusiast, it was a sight he could die without regrets after seeing.

But at the same time…

‘Hmm. While I personally enjoyed the spectacle, from America’s perspective, we need to recalculate. If necessary, it means he can operate in the secular world in human form.’

As a special ambassador, he sensed it was time to recalculate.

Until now, he had thought Bahamut’s movements were limited to this temple, but knowing he could use polymorph magic to operate externally, he instinctively knew that a more careful understanding of Bahamut’s movements was needed.

Considering the behavior shown so far, it was unlikely that Bahamut himself would execute the worst-case scenario that America had envisioned, but to prioritize national security, one must prepare for such worst-case scenarios.

“S-so you really are Bahamut.”

“Yes. To attend the international organization, I transformed into human form. To put it simply for you, transformation magic. I used polymorph magic.”

Still, barring the worst-case scenario, this wasn’t a bad thing for America.

If the Dragon God participated in the upcoming international organization reconstruction conference, it could emphasize human cooperation, and at the same time, create a narrative that the Dragon God directly participated in the international organization.

It was an incredibly grand narrative, and this narrative could be used not only for the international organization but also for America.

‘Even if the Dragon God simply visits America and shows a friendly appearance, the administration’s approval ratings will rise. And it can also serve as a warning to those who still doubt the Balhut Cult.’

Steven could quickly predict that just by coming in human form and demonstrating the transformation into dragon form, the current administration’s approval ratings would rapidly rise.

After all, the Dragon God’s appearance was overwhelming, and at the same time, it would intimidate forces suspicious of the Balhut Cult, and it was also an opportunity to greatly announce to the domestic audience that the current administration’s choice was correct.

Moreover, he’s the creator of the Bahamut coins that current American Awakened value most.

‘Whether we like it or not, the Dragon God Bahamut’s visit will surely cause a big stir.’

While Steven was certainly anticipating witnessing an amazing spectacle…

‘We thought it would end with just the Dragon Priestess Choi Yu-na or Baek Seol-hwa!’

The problem was that this was too big of a figure!

Steven had been trying to focus only on the positive aspects of this situation, but as he began to think about the problems that would arise from now on, he could feel his mind becoming blank and his stomach starting to hurt.

After all, he was a super-elite figure that even America wasn’t prepared for, and it was inevitable to worry about how to deal with him.

If the news that Bahamut would personally participate were to be announced to the White House after this meeting, it would be major news that would likely turn the Arthur cabinet upside down.

It would be like dropping a nuclear bomb in the Arthur cabinet, where they were already fighting over whether Bahamut exists or not.

“Ah. Transformation magic. The fact that it’s possible is convincing enough for me.”

First calming his mind, Steven delved into the topic of polymorph magic to buy time to think.

Yes, not only was the declaration that he would personally attend the international organization surprising, but the sudden use of polymorph magic to contact him was even more surprising.

“But why use polymorph magic now? If you could use it, doesn’t that mean you could have used it all along?”

While he understood the magic, the question of why it was used at this crucial timing arose.

Could it be that the Dragon God’s mysterious strategy predicted that using it at this timing would give him leverage over America?

Steven wanted to know this fact both personally and as a special ambassador.

“No. It’s more like I finally have some free time. I barely managed to use it now.”

The answer was too simple, and it seemed too crude for a Dragon God to answer.

He just said he used it now because he finally had some free time.

“Free time…”

“I’ve resolved the annoying internal issues, and I’ve built a system to mint Bahamut coins remotely. With most of the time-consuming tasks somewhat resolved, don’t I have some free time now?”

To put it bluntly, he explained that it wasn’t that he hadn’t used it, but that he couldn’t use it.

Especially when he mentioned that he had been very busy thanks to someone somewhere, Steven couldn’t help but feel guilty.

“I-I see.”

Steven couldn’t possibly refute that statement.

After all, America probably accounted for half of those tasks!

‘No! This is just because the Dragon God created too perfect a catalyst. It can’t be said to be entirely my fault!’

But the Dragon God Bahamut, who manufactured the Bahamut coins to near perfection, must also be partly to blame!

There must be other things that aren’t… no, that aren’t Steven’s fault!

“Of course, there’s one diplomat in front of me who always brings difficult tasks, but since it was necessary from the beginning, I’ll let it slide.”

“Were you… holding a grudge?”

“I understood, but it was indeed annoying. I was already dying from being busy with other things, and you kept bringing more work.”

However, Steven was greatly embarrassed by Bahamut’s statement that he had been subtly holding this fact in his heart.

But judging by his casual and playful manner of speaking, that statement was probably closer to a joke.

From Steven’s perspective, it was a joke that made his heart drop, but what could he do?

If the Dragon God says to bow, you just have to bow.

“By the way, it’s frustrating. Maintaining polymorph magic for this long is also hard work. The feeling is really strange. Uncomfortable.”

“Uncomfortable?”

“Yes, it feels like wearing tight clothes. Like wearing several layers of clothes that don’t fit your size.”

Bahamut commented that the human form really seemed uncomfortable, like wearing tight clothes.

But if it’s this uncomfortable, why maintain the polymorph transformation state?

‘I want to breathe the secular air after a long time! I want to rest too! I want to have fun! I want to lie down on a soft bed! The stone bed in the temple is too hard!’

To be honest, his true intention was that he wanted to rest comfortably after a long time.

Since the launch of the Balhut Cult, he had been working hard without a single break, and now he wanted to take a vacation too.

Desperately, without such a pretext, vacation didn’t exist for Bahamut, so he was determined to personally participate in the international organization with any resolve.

“Anyway, I’ll attend the international organization in this form.”

“Will Yu-na be coming too?”

“Yes. Yu-na is my priestess and the head of state of the Balhut Cult. Think of me as a supporting actor to highlight Yu-na, to brighten up the international organization you mentioned.”

Supporting actor… isn’t he too big of a figure?

Steven wanted to rudely say that to Bahamut in front of him, but he corrected his thinking to “well, it’s not a bad thing.”

Yes, through this event, the alliance between the Balhut Cult and America could be further strengthened, and there would be sufficient benefits accordingly.

Above all, it could also put an end to the controversial debate within America about the existence of Bahamut.

“So you’re accompanying her for Yu-na’s safety, haha.”

“…Think whatever you want.”

And thinking about it well, it seemed he was going along because he was worried about Yu-na going to another country.

When Steven mentioned this fact, Bahamut turned his head as if embarrassed.

‘It’s a bit embarrassing to use Yu-na for a vacation. But if I’m by her side, Yu-na will feel more secure! It’s mutual benefit.’

Of course, this was all an act, and to be honest, it was closer to the psychology of being embarrassed about using Yu-na for his own vacation.

However, seeing Bahamut’s appearance, as if his thoughts were correct, Steven was finally able to regain his pace.

“Then are you planning to depart right away?”

“Yes. I’ll fly directly…”

“Wait a moment.”

However, when Bahamut stated he would fly directly, Steven immediately stopped him, as if asking him to wait.

What was he saying now?

Flying directly? That is… well, it makes sense!

But with that huge body, crossing the Pacific to come to America…?

‘It’s like a dragon invasion movie.’

Steven could easily recall a scene from a movie.

He could feel the vibe of a B-grade movie where a giant monster invades America, and at the same time, he realized the crisis of the Korea-US alliance.

“…We will provide you with an airplane.”

“Ah. Sorry.”

And so, to protect the Korea-US alliance, Steven first offered to provide an airplane for the Balhut Cult to travel.

Only then did Bahamut realize his slip of the tongue and apologized to Steven.