Ch.2020. The Balhut Cult (2)

Currency.

In other words, it’s something that can be called money.

Choi Yu-na looked at Lee Hyeon-a with a puzzled expression, as if she had no idea why Hyeon-a had mentioned currency.

“You’re talking about money, right?”

“Yes. If money means something that can be exchanged for goods, then what I’m referring to is related to money.”

It wasn’t much different from what Choi Yu-na had understood.

Lee Hyeon-a was saying that the Balhut Cult now needed money.

“If it’s money, don’t we have the existing South Korean currency?”

“That has already lost its value. Is anyone in Gyeongju still trading with South Korean won? Among the executives here? I don’t think so.”

“”””””……….””””””

“Of course, other regions aren’t any different from us. They’re using ramen or canned tuna as alternative currency.”

Naturally, it was a complete failure.

South Korean won had long lost its value, and even if you used hundreds of thousands or millions in Korean bills, you couldn’t properly buy even a single can of food.

The fact that the previously used won had lost its value was something everyone participating in this meeting had experienced.

Virtual currencies and electronic payments had essentially lost their value as well.

Right now, in this situation, the most valuable alternative currencies were canned goods and ramen.

“Only the US dollar has managed to preserve some of its value. But even that is very minimal. According to external internet news, even America has fallen into a state of hyperinflation.”

“As expected of America.”

At least only the US dollar had managed to preserve some value as currency.

But even the American dollar, according to sources, had fallen into severe hyperinflation.

In other words, the value of the dollar had plummeted dramatically, and the value of goods had skyrocketed.

“America is aware of the situation and is deploying its military to try to resolve the current crisis. Being America, they’re likely in better conditions than us, but no one knows when recovery will happen.”

“I understand that. Now, please explain in detail why we need currency.”

Using the example of the powerful nation America to explain the necessity of currency?

Choi Yu-na looked at Lee Hyeon-a with an anxious expression, and Hyeon-a smiled brightly before speaking.

“It’s simple. Currently, there’s no proper compensation to give to the workers deployed at reconstruction sites.”

“Compensation, huh.”

Compensation!

In other words, they were short on supplies to provide as payment to the survivors who had joined the Balhut Cult.

“Of course, the cult obtained markets, department stores, and supermarkets in Gyeongju as spoils, so we can distribute preserved food and daily necessities from there as compensation. We’re actually implementing a rationing system.”

“We’ve become the wealthiest faction in Gyeongju. Is that still not enough?”

Of course, the Balhut Cult is the victor of Gyeongju.

Although they borrowed the power of Bahamut, the Balhut Cult proudly exterminated all zombies in Gyeongju and had the power to declare their rights as victors to all survivor camps in Gyeongju.

As a result, the Balhut Cult took Gyeongju Central Market, Seongdong Market, Gyeongju Department Store, and finally Gyeongju Mart as spoils.

Thanks to this, the cult became the wealthiest faction in Gyeongju and could provide satisfactory compensation to workers involved in reconstruction projects.

“While we may be the wealthiest in Gyeongju, our resources are still limited. Moreover, some workers find the rationing system inconvenient. Ms. Lee Su-a, who handles administrative complaints, would know better.”

“Yes. We’re experiencing many difficulties in providing compensation. We need manpower to transport food, supplies, or energy resources as daily wages. Rather, we should reform the compensation system to something simpler, like currency or vouchers that can be exchanged for goods at our official stores.”

However, transporting supplies for compensation also required significant manpower.

And workers receiving compensation had to bear the inconvenience of taking those supplies home.

Lee Hyeon-a, in cooperation with Lee Su-a who was in charge of on-site administration, carefully explained the inconveniences occurring in the field, and persuaded Choi Yu-na and the officials about the necessity and legitimacy of the Balhut Cult issuing currency.

‘…I don’t understand any of this!’

Despite the detailed explanations from Lee Hyeon-a and Lee Su-a, Choi Yu-na thought she didn’t understand at all, but still maintained a solemn appearance as the leader of the Balhut Cult and discreetly looked around.

“I suppose if we look to the future, issuing credit currency is inevitable.”

“It’s also tiring to carry supplies received as daily wages when going home…”

Many officials had already been persuaded by the logic of the Lee sisters.

Seeing everyone strongly agreeing with Hyeon-a’s proposal to issue currency, Choi Yu-na spoke up tactfully.

“So, what you and Su-a are saying is that we need vouchers or exchange certificates that our followers can trust?”

“Yes. And they need to have value. Of course, as a temporary measure, we could distribute daily wages with paper vouchers, but… those could easily be counterfeited.”

“Because you could just copy the vouchers with a copier from a stationery store.”

Choi Yu-na questioned Hyeon-a to the extent of her understanding, and Hyeon-a confirmed that Yu-na’s question wasn’t wrong.

However, she also clearly mentioned the side effects, which were, naturally, counterfeit currency.

Simple paper vouchers could easily be forged through copiers or computer document functions.

“Nevertheless, I strongly advise that we need a trusted commodity currency that all survivor camps in Gyeongju can rely on.”

“Okay. I understand.”

Choi Yu-na nodded as if she finally understood.

Through Hyeon-a’s explanation, she could understand the need for credit currency.

However, there was a problem with the Balhut Cult creating credit currency.

“But there’s a problem. Where can we get the credit that people can trust? And where can we find something that proves its value?”

Credit for the currency and something that could prove its value.

Credit wouldn’t suddenly fall from the sky, and it was difficult to decide what valuable item should be the standard for currency.

“For now… regarding value, old coins were made of pure copper or mixed with nickel. We could melt them down at the ironworks and mint new currency.”

Of course, Lee Hyeon-a seemed to have already thought about valuable items, as she explained the method of melting down South Korean coins to mint new currency.

While copper might be worthless in Gyeongju at this point, she had considered that over time, the value of copper, which could be used for making bullets, would increase.

So the judgment to melt copper to create valuable items wasn’t wrong.

“But the biggest problem is whether people will trust the currency we issue.”

But credit!

Even for Lee Hyeon-a, credit was difficult to resolve.

“That needs to be guaranteed by someone with certainty.”

“In that case… I’ll seek direct advice from Lord Bahamut on this matter.”

“Lord Bahamut…”

At Choi Yu-na’s mention of Bahamut, Lee Hyeon-a could immediately recall the image of the dragon worshipped by the Balhut Cult.

The sight of him calmly conversing with Hwang Seung-man with a gentle, sage-like demeanor had left a deep impression on Lee Hyeon-a as well.

“If it’s him, we can trust him.”

She nodded at Choi Yu-na’s answer that Bahamut could be trusted.

She thought that he would surely be able to provide a good answer.

* * *

Of course, this foolish dragon had no clear solution to offer.

[Currency, huh.]

After receiving the report from Choi Yu-na, Bahamut felt that they were doing the best they could with current policies, but his face couldn’t help but stiffen at the advice given by Lee Hyeon-a at the end.

And Yu-na’s face in the Scrying Mirror showed expectant eyes, believing that Lord Bahamut would easily solve the currency problem.

Yes, with Bahamut’s wisdom and power, they could easily overcome this difficult obstacle!

‘I can’t solve it! How would I, a former basement warrior, know anything about economics!’

…Obviously, this guy had no solution to this problem.

While he was confident in fighting zombies more than anyone, the truth was that he knew nothing about economic or currency issues.

‘I understand the importance of currency well! But it’s troublesome to suddenly entrust such an important national project to me!?’

Of course, even this fool understood the importance of currency better than most.

But wasn’t this asking too much of a basement warrior who just liked games!

“Lord Bahamut?”

[Hmm….]

It was also difficult to honestly say that this wasn’t something he could solve.

Bahamut could feel the pressure from Choi Yu-na, who was looking at him with expectant eyes.

That gaze! That admiration! That reverence!

He could feel her strong belief that Bahamut would definitely solve this.

[Regarding this matter. It seems this is not something I can solve alone.]

“Then…?”

“I need to meet with Economic Officer Lee Hyeon-a directly. Through conversation with her, I’ll find a detailed solution.”

The method Bahamut chose after much deliberation was to consult with an expert.

After all, since Lee Hyeon-a had proposed this issue, the solution would be to use what she had in mind! It was a one-dimensional thought.

But it’s hard to deny that it’s a better method than struggling alone and self-destructing.

Consulting with experts to determine policy is indeed one of the most common and efficient methods in modern society.

“Then through the Scrying Mirror?”

“No. Summon her to the temple.”

“So it’s that important! Understood!”

There was also the option of talking through the Scrying Mirror, but Bahamut judged this matter to be important for the Balhut Cult.

If there was even a small mistake, it could return as a great disaster, so he decided to meet and talk with Lee Hyeon-a directly.

“Did Lord Bahamut call for me?”

Lee Hyeon-a, who received Bahamut’s summons, showed no sign of surprise.

“Yes. I ordered you to come to the temple.”

“Indeed…!”

Rather, Lee Hyeon-a followed Bahamut’s order willingly with a pleased expression.

She immediately prepared to depart as soon as she heard Choi Yu-na’s order, with an expression suggesting she had been waiting for this situation.

Lee Su-a, who was watching this scene from the side, could quickly discern her sister’s ulterior motives.

“Did you plan this?”

“What do you think?”

“I think you did.”

When her sister asked if she had planned for this situation, Lee Hyeon-a asked with a smiling face what Su-a thought, and Lee Su-a said that the situation had flowed in the direction Hyeon-a had planned.

Lee Hyeon-a didn’t deny Su-a’s observation, but rather nodded in affirmation.

“Yes. I planned it to some extent. The reconstruction of Gyeongju hasn’t even been properly implemented yet, so it was quite an unreasonable request.”

“There were things like canned goods that could be used as alternative currency. Especially ramen, which was a popular alternative currency even before the Balhut Cult appeared.”

Indeed, as mentioned in the meeting, there were items being used as currency substitutes.

From common canned tuna to ramen, they were functioning as excellent alternative currencies.

One could argue there was no urgent need to find a new currency, but…

“Yes. We still have plenty of supplies left to pay as compensation. Honestly, if we just endure a little inconvenience, as I just said, we can trade in the form of barter with ramen or alternative currencies. Everyone… understands with their bodies and minds that this much is understandable in a disaster situation.”

She thought she had some ulterior motives and had made excessive demands on the cult for that purpose.

In reality, while there were inconveniences in the field, they weren’t severe enough for workers to openly complain about.

In an apocalyptic disaster situation, everyone was willing to understand and sympathize with this level of inconvenience.

Moreover, it wasn’t as if there were no items to use as alternative currency.

“But I thought it was necessary.”

However, Lee Hyeon-a firmly stated that this matter was necessary.

“I wanted to prove to the survivors of Gyeongju that only the Balhut Cult is their sole hope for survival.”

She wanted to prove that only the Balhut Cult was the sole hope for the survivors of Gyeongju to survive.

At Lee Hyeon-a’s statement, Lee Su-a looked at her sister with a questioning expression.

“Isn’t Lord Bahamut more than enough? I was tremendously thrilled by his power.”

Lee Hyeon-a and Lee Su-a were survivors who had witnessed the promised day that Yu-na had promised.

The overwhelming power and force that Bahamut had shown to the citizens of Gyeongju that day.

That sight had given hope of survival to the sisters who had been helplessly just surviving until then. He was the god of the Balhut Cult.

With Bahamut’s power, they were convinced that the Balhut Cult could survive this apocalyptic disaster.

“Half agreed. Half refused.”

“Don’t tell me that’s what’s bothering you?”

However, there were impious ones who refused Bahamut’s protection.

“Yes. I couldn’t accept that. So, even if it’s a bit excessive, I’m thinking of preemptively controlling the currency that will be used in Gyeongju from now on.”

And Lee Hyeon-a couldn’t accept that.

So she intended to deliver the best revenge she could to them.

“From now on, I’ll make it so that all transactions in Gyeongju can only be done with the currency we create.”

“U-um…”

“Yes. Under the name of the Dragon God Bahamut.”

As Lee Hyeon-a spoke the god’s name with flashing eyes and an excited voice, Lee Su-a thought her sister’s current appearance was a bit frightening.