Ch.204204. Seorabeol Mages Association (1)

But there’s one problem here.

“The issue is that I’m too busy with overseas matters to go to the site myself.”

The problem was that Bahamut himself didn’t have time to solve the Hyeongsan River pollution issue.

“You mentioned it’s related to Phoenix, right?”

“Yes. Especially improving relations with Phoenix is important for Seorabel. I can’t carelessly leave my post.”

Since the founding of Seorabel, Bahamut himself had been focusing on foreign diplomatic affairs rather than directly involving himself in cabinet matters.

Of course, while Seorabel did dispatch special envoys to important allied nations, they couldn’t handle diplomacy with transcendent beings, so they had no choice but to delegate full authority to Bahamut, who was a transcendent being like Phoenix.

All diplomatic activities and authority related to Phoenix were in Bahamut’s hands, and no one criticized or objected to the fact that Bahamut alone was handling it.

After all, no one would want to deal with a walking nuclear bomb by themselves.

“That’s unfortunate. I’ll look for other solutions.”

Seol-hwa was disappointed by Bahamut’s news, but since diplomatic activities with Phoenix were just as important as the pollution issue, she didn’t press Bahamut any further.

In fact, even without using the cheat that was Bahamut, there would be other means to solve the problem if she looked for them.

And Bahamut himself wasn’t being completely irresponsible either.

“But there is a way.”

“What kind of solution?”

“How about consulting the Seorabel Mage’s Association?”

He introduced a group that could purify the pollution in his place.

“Ah! I forgot about them!”

The Seorabel Mage’s Association.

Though it now bore the name Seorabel Mage’s Association, it had previously operated as the Mage Club during the Balhut Cult era, and after Seorabel’s founding, it was officially approved as an association through formal procedures.

It was a kind of guild that most mages in Seorabel belonged to, an institution that represented mages’ voices and mediated their work, and as its name suggested, it functioned as an academic society deeply researching the discipline of magic.

Moreover, the executive members of the Seorabel Mage’s Association…

“I remember teaching purification magic back in the Mage Club days.”

“Are you referring to your disciples?”

“Not quite. I just taught them some magic that I had slightly modified.”

They were composed of those who could be called Bahamut’s disciples.

During the Balhut Cult era, when Bahamut himself taught cult members his modified magic, the Mage’s Association was the organization that voluntarily learned Bahamut’s magic, and those who called themselves school leaders there had actually met with the Dragon God Bahamut and mastered his magic.

While Bahamut perceived it as a trivial matter and didn’t consider them disciples, from the perspective of mages who belonged to the Mage Club, they had gained the mythical honor of receiving magic directly from the Dragon God, and based on that, they elevated themselves by calling themselves disciples of the Dragon God or Dragon Mages.

“I heard they’re the ones who create Geas scrolls and magical tools.”

“That’s right. Since I taught them purification magic too, they’ve likely improved it in useful ways.”

They had actually built up such achievements.

Although Bahamut had first demonstrated as an example, the Seorabel Mage’s Association had downgraded many of Bahamut’s works and released them as commercial products to the public.

All magical tools available to the public were their creations, and they were a group who revered the Dragon God Bahamut’s magic more than anyone else, believing it was their historical duty to research the Dragon God’s magic and accumulate knowledge.

Fortunately, starting with Bahamut himself and including Yu-na, who was revered as his representative in the Seorabel Mage’s Association, they had legally prohibited the association from conducting unethical experiments, so there were no signs yet of the association breaking free from control or running wild.

“Then I’ll pay them a visit.”

Following Bahamut’s recommendation, Seol-hwa visited the Mage’s Association with Seo Un-jae, hiding their identities.

“Wow, not only is the building huge, but there are more people than I expected.”

She only now realized that there were many more visitors to the Mage’s Association than she had thought.

It boasted a considerable size, having acquired a 15-story building and using all of its floors.

The first floor started with inexpensive magical tools and complaint reception, the second floor exhibited magical tools developed by the Mage’s Association, the third floor sold valuable magical tools that the Mage’s Association prided itself on, the fourth floor awaited visits from private business owners, and the remaining floors were used for classrooms of various departments affiliated with the Mage’s Association and as personal research labs for affiliated mages.

In Seol-hwa’s eyes, everyone from private business owners knocking on the Mage’s Association’s door to freelance Awakened and guild members were all purchasing magical items sold by the Seorabel Mage’s Association.

Moreover…

“Bahamut Bullets. They’re selling them here?”

“At this point, enchant technology has become common. As long as you have Bahamut coins, bullet technology development is entirely possible.”

“I suppose…”

The Mage’s Association was even selling Bahamut Bullets.

Of course, from Seol-hwa’s perspective, knowing the original cost, the bullets were being sold at an exorbitant price, but since they were Bahamut Bullets that could be legally obtained by civilians, she could see their considerable popularity.

In fact, the original cost of Bahamut Bullets had not yet been disclosed to the public, and many people understood them to be bullets completed using special magic.

“By the way, besides bullets, there are people seeking business consultation or even proposing business partnerships?”

“In these apocalyptic times, there are private companies doing business that requires the mystery of magic. From what I know, there are even arrogant mages who claim to be disciples of the Dragon God.”

There were even occasional business owners proposing joint ventures with the Mage’s Association.

Seol-hwa was amazed by the unexpectedly enormous scale of the Mage’s Association, and Un-jae said it was due to the reputation of arrogant mages claiming to be Bahamut’s disciples, but…

“Since they received magic instruction from Lord Bahamut, that’s not exactly wrong, is it?”

“…That’s true.”

The point was that statement wasn’t exactly wrong.

After all, since they had learned magic from the Dragon God, they could certainly claim to have Bahamut as their master.

Well, Bahamut didn’t recognize them as disciples, but the public wouldn’t know that, and Bahamut himself was currently focused on Phoenix overseas.

“Well then, shall we register?”

“Yes.”

After receiving a reception slip from the Mage’s Association and waiting briefly, it was soon Seol-hwa’s turn, and she went to the reception desk to speak with a professional consultant.

‘Huh. Even the consultant is an Awakened. This might be the largest interest group in Seorabel.’

Realizing that even this minor receptionist was an Awakened, Seol-hwa smiled brightly, beginning to look forward to the conversation ahead.

“Welcome to the Seorabel Mage’s Association. I’m Yu Chae-hwa, the consultant who will be assisting you. How may I help you?”

“Ah, yes. First, since this is my first time at the Mage’s Association, I’d like to know what kind of place it is.”

“Indeed! Our association is an organization established to connect clients with appropriate mages by gathering experts in magic and magical tools to share information. Do you have a request in mind? If you have related business, we can help connect you with a suitable mage.”

The consultant’s words were impeccably professional.

Her expression showed pride in the Seorabel Mage’s Association, and she displayed confidence that they could handle any request.

Indeed, if one could appropriately deploy and use the mystery of magic, any civilian task could be quickly resolved, so their confidence was quite understandable.

To respond to that confidence, Seol-hwa calmly began laying groundwork.

“I see, I see… Ah, I heard rumors that it was established by disciples of the Dragon God Bahamut. Is that true?”

“You’ve done your research! Our Seorabel Mage’s Association can indeed be considered the successor to the Mage Club, whose members received teachings from the Dragon God Bahamut himself. The leaders of various schools who received Lord Bahamut’s teachings served as pioneers of magic, and their achievements were recognized by Lady Yu-na, the Dragon Priestess, allowing for the establishment of the Seorabel Mage’s Association!”

“I see, I see. So Lord Bahamut was your master. Now I can fully understand the association’s prestige.”

First, she praised the value of the Mage’s Association.

When Seol-hwa first mentioned disciples of the Dragon God Bahamut, the consultant said it was only natural and boasted about the achievements of the Seorabel Mage’s Association, claiming they were recognized by both the Dragon God Bahamut and the Dragon Priestess.

In response, Seol-hwa acted as if she understood everything, saying she could fully comprehend the association’s prestige.

“Of course! We’re currently preparing a memorial space to honor our great master, the Dragon God Bahamut, and we’re also preparing an archive recording the Dragon God’s teachings. Additionally, we hold annual events related to Lord Bahamut, waiting for opportunities to praise the knowledge of our great master! If you need it, I can guide you through related materials…”

“Ah, that won’t be necessary. Based on that trust, I’d like to make a request to the Seorabel Mage’s Association.”

Seol-hwa decided to state her request before their obvious boasting got any longer.

“A request?”

“Do you have any mages researching purification magic in the Seorabel Mage’s Association?”

“I’ll check for you. Purification… purification… Yes, we do have a school researching purification magic affiliated with our association. It seems you want to make a purification-related request to them.”

The most important thing was whether there were mages who researched or used purification magic, and the consultant diligently searched the records and confirmed that such mages existed.

Relieved by this news, Seol-hwa clapped her hands, and at the same time, she smiled brightly as if she had caught something good and opened her mouth.

“Yes. Especially since it’s about solving a troublesome issue in our region, I think we’ll need quite a few mages.”

“A regional nuisance… I see, it seems there’s an unmanaged contaminated area. Don’t worry! Purification is one of our Seorabel Mage’s Association’s specialties! Above all, the Dragon Priestess Yu-na herself is a master of purification magic!”

“Haha, that’s reassuring.”

It was truly reassuring beyond measure.

Who would have thought there would be such capable graduate students to exploit so close by!

As the leader of Pohang, if she couldn’t exploit them, who could she exploit!

Since they were openly boasting about their capabilities in front of the Dragon Priestess, this wasn’t a homicide but simply a common natural death.

“Please write your name as the client on this tablet.”

“Ah, yes.”

Thus, the consultant took an action that was essentially walking into hell of her own accord, and Seol-hwa smiled brightly as she wrote her name and personal information on the tablet.

“Baek Seol-hwa. Yes, client Baek Seol-hwa… client Baek Seol-hwa. Baek… Seol-hwa?”

And the moment she recognized the name, the consultant’s hand froze.

For citizens living in Seorabel, the name Baek Seol-hwa was all too familiar.

It wasn’t a common name, and there was one very famous person with that name.

‘No, it can’t be. There’s no way. There’s no way the Dragon Priestess would be here…!’

With a sense of disbelief, the consultant searched for Baek Seol-hwa’s personal information in the Seorabel database, and at that moment, her eyes began to tremble.

What had she just said to the client in front of her? Hadn’t she responded rudely? Was the client secretly laughing after hearing the Seorabel Mage’s Association’s boasts?

At that moment, numerous gloomy thoughts began swirling in the consultant’s mind, but…

“So you’re Baek Seol-hwa! Yes, what kind of request did you say you were here for, Ms. Baek Seol-hwa?”

“Pollution purification.”

With thorough professional dedication as a consultant, she didn’t lose her mind, but she was definitely not at ease internally.

After all, wasn’t this the Dragon Priestess?

The representative of the Dragon God Bahamut and an absolute existence in Seorabel!

And Baek Seol-hwa, the ruler of Pohang and guardian of the East Sea, was right in front of her.

If Seol-hwa had visited the Mage’s Association without hiding her identity, it would have immediately made headlines on the front page of the news.

“Yes, pollution purification work. First, I’ll contact all purification-related mages available through our internal network. Once the arrangements are complete, we can send someone to contact you, but…”

“Ah, then please send it to the Pohang City Hall. If you mention Baek Seol-hwa, they’ll understand immediately.”

She wasn’t even hiding her identity anymore and was telling them to contact Pohang City Hall.

The consultant felt like she might lose her mind at any moment, but she couldn’t be disrespectful in front of the Dragon Priestess, so she tried her best to smile and leave a good impression.

Her smile wasn’t really a smile, but she couldn’t curse at Seol-hwa for her surprise visit because if she had visited officially, it would have been even more painful!

The only drug allowed to the consultant was the self-consolation that this was the Dragon Priestess’s consideration!

“Of course! I’ll prepare it right away and deliver it to you. Do you have any specific format or requirements?”

“I need as many mages as possible. Originally, he should have handled this, but since he’s too busy right now, I’ve come to the Mage’s Association.”

“We will mobilize all the association’s resources! We’ll do our best to ensure there’s no inconvenience, as much as you always work hard for our association.”

The situation even implied that Bahamut was involved in this matter, so the association had to give its all.

The consultant felt like she was going to lose her mind, but she couldn’t use her discretion to reject the request.

After all, when the Mage’s Association itself was spreading rumors about being Bahamut’s disciples, how could they possibly refuse a request from the Dragon Priestess, known as Bahamut’s representative?

Of course, they had no right of refusal, and they had to fulfill the Dragon Priestess’s request even if it meant risking their lives.

Otherwise… they didn’t want to imagine what would happen next.

“Chairman! Emergency! This is an emergency!”

“What is it?”

And as soon as the consultation ended, the consultant immediately went to find Chairman Jo Gwang-jin, who was peacefully working in his office on the 15th floor.

“The Dragon Priestess has given us a request!”

“Emergency! Emergency! Gather all idle schools belonging to the association immediately! It’s a request from the Dragon Priestess! We must devote all the Mage’s Association’s resources to it!”

The entire Mage’s Association was put on high alert due to the division commander’s surprise visit.