Ch.2121. The Balhut Cult (3)

Bahamut was also well aware of the importance of currency.

History had proven that since ancient times, he had gained numerous economic benefits through monetary transactions.

So regarding this matter, he made efforts to resolve what he could by consulting with Lee Hyeon-a, who appeared to be an expert.

“So, what about the existing currency?”

“The banks and government that guaranteed its value have all collapsed. It’s completely worthless now. Though the low-denomination coins… since they have some intrinsic value as objects, they can be melted down and used in other ways.”

Bahamut first asked about the previously used currency.

Of course, Lee Hyeon-a gave him the same information that had been discussed at the cult meeting, and Bahamut realized that the Korean won had no value whatsoever.

“What about currencies from other countries?”

“Except for the dollar, you can consider all of them worthless.”

‘Then we could use dollars… Ah, but we have no means to issue dollars.’

So he mentioned using other currencies instead of the won, but he was told that except for the dollar, all had been wiped out.

Upon hearing that they had no value, he briefly considered using dollars based on Hyeon-a’s statement, but quickly realized that the quantity of dollars was also limited.

“I see. So we need a new currency backed by someone trustworthy.”

“That’s exactly right.”

He recognized the need for a new currency with guaranteed credit and value.

The problem was determining where that credit and value would come from.

Fortunately, Bahamut was quite confident about this issue.

“Then I will personally guarantee the credit and value of the currency.”

“What?”

Bahamut himself would guarantee the currency’s credit and value.

This would solve all their problems.

Since it would be a commodity currency used only in Gyeongju, he was confident that no one within Gyeongju would deny his authority—a confident move indeed.

“So…”

“I will personally manufacture the currency to be used in Gyeongju.”

If the Balhut Cult directly vouched for the currency’s credit and value, doubts would naturally arise. However, if Bahamut the dragon personally manufactured the currency and guaranteed its credit and value, it would be difficult for anyone to express doubt.

Moreover, the survivors living in Gyeongju were well aware of Bahamut’s existence, and high-ranking survivor camp leaders had even met and spoken with him directly.

If such a Bahamut personally guaranteed the currency’s credit and value, they could issue it without any problems.

However, if there was one issue worth mentioning…

“But how do you plan to make the currency? We don’t have tools to manufacture currency here…”

“That’s not a problem. I plan to create it using magic.”

“Ah, I see.”

The issue was that there were no machines to manufacture currency inside the temple.

Lee Hyeon-a mentioned this fact, but Bahamut said it wasn’t a problem at all, explaining that he intended to create it using magic.

At the mention of magic, Hyeon-a nodded in understanding and closed her mouth.

“Then what form will the currency take?”

“I plan to make coins. People will trust metal coins with intrinsic value more than paper bills.”

“That seems best.”

Hyeon-a nodded in agreement with Bahamut’s statement that he would make coins rather than easily counterfeited paper bills.

The most dangerous thing for a currency economy was counterfeit money that could cause economic collapse. If hostile survivor camps harbored ill intentions and issued counterfeit bills, the currency economy could collapse.

Considering this, manufacturing the new currency as coins would be the safest option.

“So first, can you collect as many Korean coins as possible and send them here? I’ll melt them down and mint new currency that I personally guarantee.”

“Understood. I’ll have people collect coins stored in banks and those held by individuals and send them to you.”

Hyeon-a nodded at Bahamut’s request, saying she would get on it right away.

After returning from the temple to the Balhut Cult headquarters, Hyeon-a went to find Choi Yu-na to mobilize people.

“Bahamut has ordered us to collect all coins in Gyeongju.”

“What for?”

“He says he’s going to create a new currency.”

“I’ll assign some people to handle it.”

With Choi Yu-na’s help, Hyeon-a was quickly able to gather the materials needed for the new coins.

With the help of cult members, she collected 10 won, 100 won, and 500 won coins and presented them all to Bahamut.

After all preparations were complete, Hyeon-a waited patiently until Bahamut presented the prototype…

“Is this the Balhut Cult’s currency?”

…A few days later, Hyeon-a received the prototype of the new currency from Bahamut.

“Yes. What do you think?”

“It’s better made than I expected” was Hyeon-a’s assessment.

The finishing was flawless, and the classification of coins was meticulous.

‘These would be difficult to counterfeit.’

Each coin was engraved with intricate patterns that would be difficult to replicate.

Seeing the coins that looked as if they had been machine-pressed, Hyeon-a brought a scale to measure their weight, and finding that they were precisely calibrated, she inwardly wondered if a coin manufacturing machine had been installed inside the temple.

She was just feeling reassured that counterfeit coins wouldn’t quickly flood the market when…

“Ah, I’ve also applied anti-counterfeiting magic to prevent forgery.”

“I’m sorry, what did you say?”

Bahamut’s casual act of goodwill bombarded Hyeon-a’s stomach.

So he had applied anti-counterfeiting magic to each coin?

What kind of magic was that exactly?

“Anti-counterfeiting?”

“Each coin contains a certain amount of my magical power. Since they were manufactured using a special method, even if someone managed to create a perfect visual copy, I’m confident they couldn’t replicate the scent of my magic. After all, it’s impossible to melt down my coins and create new ones from them.”

Counterfeiting would obviously be impossible.

People only counterfeit currency for profit, and if the cost of counterfeiting exceeded the value of the currency, no one would even consider it.

And melting down existing currency to create new coins?

That would be knowingly taking a loss.

“Yes, that’s right… So all of these coins are imbued with your magic, Bahamut?”

“That’s right. Oh, and if the coins ever lose their value, they can be melted down on the spot and forged into weapons.”

“Weapons?”

A currency that couldn’t be counterfeited was valuable enough.

But Hyeon-a heard something strange from Bahamut.

These coins… could be used as weapons?

“Yes. By melting the coins and lightly coating or engraving patterns on objects, they can function as enchantment magic that activates various effects depending on the pattern.”

“W-weapons? These?!”

Of course, in ancient times, currency was made of metal that could be melted down and used for various purposes to maintain its value.

Bahamut’s logic was exactly at that level, and Hyeon-a could understand it perfectly well.

However, she couldn’t help but be surprised because the currency created was more valuable than she had anticipated.

‘Of course, this is just a prototype, so we’ll need to properly understand its effects, but these aren’t ordinary coins.’

While Bahamut’s method would need to be tested directly, it was something he had proudly explained.

Hyeon-a sensed that these were definitely not ordinary objects.

“What are they called?”

“Let’s just keep calling them won, like before. If we use a different name, people might get confused.”

“Ah, yes, that makes sense.”

The name of the coins was decided to remain as won, which had been used previously.

That way, the citizens of Gyeongju wouldn’t get confused, and Hyeon-a nodded in agreement.

“So these are 10 won, 100 won, and 1,000 won?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Low-denomination, medium-denomination, and high-denomination coins.

It seemed everything necessary had been prepared.

“The 10 won coins are made of pure copper, the 100 won coins are a mixture of nickel and copper. Finally, the 1,000 won coins are made of pure nickel.”

“Then…”

This was sufficient for use in a currency economy.

With an excited heart, Hyeon-a collected the prototype currency and addressed Bahamut.

“How do you plan to determine prices?”

“That’s for you to figure out. After all, it’s not me who will be using them, but the citizens of Gyeongju.”

When asked about the value of the coins, Bahamut drew a clear line.

He would guarantee the credit and value of the currency, but how it would be used would be delegated to the Balhut Cult.

This could be seen as another act of consideration from Bahamut to Hyeon-a, but…

‘No more. I can’t handle any more.’

Bahamut’s mind had already reached its limit with the coin issue.

He prayed inwardly that Hyeon-a would handle the rest on her own, and passed all remaining work to her.

‘I wish Bahamut had decided this… though having trustworthy coins is enough.’

From Hyeon-a’s perspective, she was still pondering how to think about their value.

It would have been easier if Bahamut had cleanly decided everything, but by minting the coins and guaranteeing their value and credit, he had already done his part.

‘It’s a double-edged sword.’

Moreover, since the currency was better made than expected, improper distribution could cause deflation—a double-edged sword.

Hyeon-a’s concerns could only deepen.

“Ah, I understand.”

“Good luck.”

Hyeon-a decided to first properly assess the value of the prototype currency Bahamut had given her.

Upon returning to the Balhut Cult, the first person she met was…

“These coins can be used as weapons?”

“Yes. Bahamut said they can be used as weapons.”

It was Jeong Dong-geon, who was handling military-related duties.

He was responsible for maintaining order within the city and eliminating zombies coming from outside. Today, as usual, he had led troops to eliminate approaching zombies or liberate villages occupied by zombies.

Jeong Dong-geon looked at the coins placed before him with a puzzled expression at Hyeon-a’s statement.

“Hmm. I can definitely feel powerful magic. It’s true that these would be difficult to counterfeit.”

“Bahamut said he personally applied anti-counterfeiting magic.”

“Anti-counterfeiting, huh? He really shows no mercy to counterfeiters.”

As Jeong Dong-geon touched the coins, he could feel the powerful magic emanating from them and realized they couldn’t be easily counterfeited.

When told that Bahamut had personally applied anti-counterfeiting magic, Jeong Dong-geon smiled wryly and joked that Bahamut showed no mercy to counterfeiters.

Of course, for the Balhut Cult, which was just taking its first steps, it was necessary to prepare for any contingency.

Therefore, both Jeong Dong-geon and Hyeon-a felt grateful for this careful consideration.

“But Bahamut says these can be used to manufacture weapons.”

“Weapons… If this is simple copper, we could easily make bullet casings at the ironworks. May I test it?”

“Yes, go ahead.”

At Hyeon-a’s mention of weapons, Jeong Dong-geon said the immediate way to test would be to make bullet casings, and Hyeon-a nodded in permission.

“Since these are prototypes and not coins decided for market circulation, it doesn’t matter.”

This was something she could say because they were prototypes not yet in circulation and not officially decided coins.

Moreover, to accurately determine the value of the coins, testing them as weapons—the most valuable commodity in the apocalypse—would be the quickest method.

“Then I’ll go to the ironworks and test them by making bullet casings.”

“Please do.”

Jeong Dong-geon immediately said he would make bullet casings at the hardware store and test them, and Hyeon-a thanked him before leaving to attend to her own duties.

Left alone, Jeong Dong-geon took the coins Hyeon-a had given him and headed to the only remaining ironworks in Gyeongju.