Ch.216216. Yamato Alliance (2)

When the cabinet was filled with thoughts of dispatching the Seorabeol Magical Academy to support the Yamato Alliance, Choi Yu-na, the Dragon Priestess and leader of the Balhut Cult, also heard the news of Takashima Shiro’s conversion.

For Yu-na, the news that the great leader who had united Kyushu and established the Yamato regime had suddenly decided to convert to the Balhut Cult was…

“Mr. Shiro has chosen to convert?”

“That’s correct.”

“Finally, our faith is beginning to spread overseas. Let’s gradually expand the Balhut Cult’s influence starting with nearby Japan!”

She was simply overjoyed.

Since Yu-na’s identity as the leader of the Balhut Cult was stronger than her position as the head of Seorabeol, she cared more about the fact that the Balhut Cult had finally succeeded in expanding overseas rather than any potential losses or gains.

Yu-na, who wanted the Balhut Cult to become a global religion, saw Takashima Shiro’s conversion as a golden opportunity for the cult to expand into Japan, and she prayed that devotees who worshipped Bahamut as their god would increase throughout Kyushu.

Of course, while her identity as the cult leader was stronger, she hadn’t forgotten the fact that she was also the ruler of Seorabeol.

“The Kyushu reclamation war is already winding down. However, since the Cult of Immortality has also gotten involved in the Kyushu reclamation war, we at Seorabeol, who consider the Cult of Immortality our enemy, cannot just stand by. Mr. Hwang Geun-chul, how does the cabinet plan to help the Yamato Alliance?”

“Currently, Kyushu is suffering greatly from magical contamination caused by the Cult of Immortality. Therefore, the cabinet plans to dispatch the Seorabeol Mage’s Association to solve this problem.”

“I see. The reason why the Dragon God has been interested in purification magic has finally been revealed.”

Of course, even that had been prepared for by Bahamut, so Yu-na had nothing particular to point out.

The cabinet had already finished their discussions and emphasized that the most troublesome problem for the Yamato Alliance was land contamination, stating they would dispatch the Seorabeol Mage’s Association.

To this, Yu-na expressed great admiration, saying all of this was due to Bahamut’s foresight.

“It’s truly foresight that we couldn’t have predicted.”

Hwang Geun-chul also genuinely admired how perfectly everything had fallen into place, as he hadn’t expected it either.

From Hwang Geun-chul’s perspective, it had started as a minor matter of Seol-hwa asking for advice to solve problems arising from the Hyeongsan River development, but with one word from Bahamut, it had grown into a large-scale project. Not long after, the Yamato Alliance had definitively proven the necessity of that project.

If this wasn’t foresight, then what could be called foresight?

Hwang Geun-chul, once again amazed by Bahamut’s seemingly limitless wisdom, quietly focused on what the head of Seorabeol had to say.

“By the way, how has the Seorabeol Mage’s Association reacted? We’re arbitrarily sending them to a foreign land, after all.”

“Those madmen… I mean, those hanbok-wearing weirdos… I mean, the heads of the school are actually pleased about it. They’re cackling that Kyushu is overflowing with research materials and historical resources.”

Yu-na was concerned about the hardships the Seorabeol Mage’s Association would face in Kyushu, but Hwang Geun-chul replied with a rotting expression that this was far from the case, saying they were actually shouting with joy.

Of course, this matter wasn’t something the cabinet could handle alone, and they needed cooperation from the Seorabeol Mage’s Association. When they conveyed this matter, the only response they received was pure madness.

Yes, for those hanbok-wearing weirdos who had already fallen into the madness of magic, Kyushu was an El Dorado filled with research materials that could be used for their current project.

Human dreams never end!

‘They’re supposed to be an elite group. But they’re not an elite group. One small misstep and they’ll bring shame to our country. Shame.’

The Seorabeol Mage’s Association was an organization full of madmen who wanted to rush to Japan right now to research the contaminated land polluted by the Cult of Immortality.

From Hwang Geun-chul’s perspective, they were a group of hanbok-wearing weirdos that made him wonder if they were really the elite representing Seorabeol.

“Well, this is a type of contamination we’ve never seen before. Thanks to Shiro sharing his data, we know the land can strengthen undead, but we don’t know what side effects it might have on ordinary people. If those people work hard, they could be a great help in the war against the Cult of Immortality.”

The problem was that their madness was bringing benefits to Seorabeol.

Depending on their research results, there was a possibility of solving the problems the Yamato Alliance was facing.

After all, they had established the discipline of magic in just one year and, with Bahamut’s help, had completed a research group representing the country. Wasn’t that proof of their competence?

He just personally didn’t want to know about it!

“But we’ll only be helping with the purification of contaminated land. We should still receive compensation for the resources the Yamato Alliance used for the Kyushu reclamation. While I’m happy that the Balhut Cult’s influence is expanding, I’m not foolish enough to abandon Seorabeol’s interests.”

“The cabinet thinks the same.”

And there was still much to settle.

All the resources used by the Yamato Alliance for the Kyushu reclamation remained as debt, and Seorabeol, as a creditor, could legitimately claim that debt from the Yamato Alliance.

While Takashima Shiro’s conversion was good news, Yu-na wasn’t foolish enough to cancel the debt settlement where many interests were involved.

“Let’s determine the repayment period through negotiations first. And let’s also send a delegation to congratulate them on their victory in Kyushu.”

The goodwill Yu-na showed in this matter was her statement that the repayment period itself would be adjusted through negotiations.

This could be interpreted as setting a long upper limit, showing consideration so that Kyushu, which was entering reconstruction, could repay its debt slowly. Alternatively, Seorabeol could use the debt repayment conditions as a negotiation strategy, which wasn’t bad from Seorabeol’s perspective.

“Not bad. They’ll need more money for reconstruction than for repaying debts.”

Hwang Geun-chul evaluated it as not bad and stated that the Yamato Alliance would also accept it.

“Are you aware of the major events happening in France?”

“I’ve heard it’s been quite chaotic recently.”

However, the next thing Yu-na mentioned was truly sudden news for Hwang Geun-chul.

At this point, France was merely in chaos, and news of a revolution hadn’t yet reached Asia.

Moreover, from Seorabeol’s perspective, which had no proper local collaborators or exchanges, relations with Western Europe weren’t good, as they had delegated Western European news and diplomacy to Bahamut.

“A new religion called the Phoenix Cult has appeared in France, and a provincial-led revolution has broken out.”

“A revolution? And not in Paris? In the provinces? And what’s this Phoenix Cult?”

So they say a revolution has broken out in France.

And not in the historically famous Paris, but in the provinces, and they even mentioned a religious name he’d never heard before.

What on earth was happening?

Why had the revolution occurred, and was the Phoenix Cult an organization like the Cult of Immortality?

As Hwang Geun-chul’s mind became complicated, Yu-na revealed the truth.

“It’s a cult that believes in the immortal phoenix. And the leader of the Phoenix Cult… is someone who successfully passed the trial set by Phoenix and made a contract with it.”

“I see. So essentially, a European version of the Balhut Cult has appeared.”

While understanding this information, he could also comprehend why a revolution had occurred.

If one thought about it, the Balhut Cult could also be considered a kind of revolution that arose from the apocalypse, and the Phoenix Cult probably wasn’t much different from the Balhut Cult.

Both cults were… literally cults ruled by gods who moved and acted directly.

“Bahamut is directly observing it.”

“Bahamut himself?”

“Bahamut has said that a civil war that could determine the fate of France might occur.”

However, Bahamut had stated that it could be a tremendous event that would determine the fate of France.

Hwang Geun-chul, who hadn’t expected Bahamut himself to be directly observing, couldn’t help but think it might be a historic event, and consequently began to feel tense.

After all, if Yu-na was mentioning it to this extent, it would surely affect Seorabeol as well.

“Civil war! Civil war. That’s… terrifying.”

“While it’s not directly related to us, we too could experience a similar civil war, and we need to consider changes in the international situation, so I’d like the cabinet to prepare in advance.”

“How should we prepare?”

In reality, it wasn’t much different from his expectations, and Yu-na ordered the cabinet to prepare in advance for the possibility of Seorabeol experiencing a civil war and for the international situation that would change due to the Phoenix Revolution.

Accordingly, Prime Minister Hwang Geun-chul asked Yu-na how she wanted to prepare.

“First, prepare assuming the Phoenix Cult will win.”

Yu-na predicted the victory of the Phoenix Cult.

In other words, she was saying to prepare based on the revolutionaries winning.

“Couldn’t the Saint of Orleans win?”

“Then France and Europe would continue to maintain their diplomatic break. Unless that saint bows her head first.”

“True… I’ve noticed they’ve been intentionally ignoring Seorabeol to keep the Dragon Priestess there in check.”

In response, Hwang Geun-chul suggested that the government forces led by the Saint of Orleans could win, but the only answer was that in that case, they would remain in a state of diplomatic break.

Indeed, the Saint of Orleans was focusing on deliberately excluding and ostracizing Seorabeol to keep Alicia, who had contracted with the Dragon God, in check.

If the saint were to win, having tasted bitterness once, she would not tolerate the growth of a potential adversary and would clearly attempt harsh policies against Seorabeol to prevent Alicia’s growth.

Therefore, from Seorabeol’s perspective, they had to formulate strategies preparing for the victory of the revolutionaries rather than the saint.

“Well then, let’s move Seorabeol according to the changing international situation.”

“Leave it to me.”

The immediate discussion was over, and Yu-na told Hwang Geun-chul to take care of the rest before leaving.

Left alone, Hwang Geun-chul bowed his head and began implementing policies.

“Lady Yu-na has also agreed to this policy. We’re looking for brave sages to go to the Yamato Alliance.”

Hwang Geun-chul first exploited Yu-na’s name to forcibly wake up the hanbok-wearing weirdos sleeping in the Seorabeol Mage’s Association.

“Not just Lady Seol-hwa, but Lady Yu-na is also demanding purification magic?!”

“Lady Yu-na is even a master of purification magic! I see! This era desperately needs purification magic!”

“Chairman! I want to participate in this request! Please include me among the mages supporting the Yamato Alliance!”

“Aaaaargh! Stop it, you madmen! Hwang Geun-chul, you bastard! Controlling these weirdos is my job!”

When not only Seol-hwa’s name but also Yu-na’s started to emerge, the already rampaging Mage’s Association began to rampage even more, and Jo Gwang-jin, the chairman who had been trying to somehow stop this rampage, spat out a crude curse at Hwang Geun-chul, who had incited their rampage, before falling in battle.

Thus, the Mage’s Association’s rampage headed towards the Yamato Alliance, and the Yamato Alliance that would have to deal with this rampage…

“Half successful and half failed… no, let’s not have regrets. The debt problem was difficult to solve from the beginning.”

They judged that they had somehow overcome a difficult hurdle.

The land contamination was serious enough to require their rampage, and there wasn’t enough budget to solve it, so their support was actually welcome.

As long as they guaranteed basic living conditions, these magic-crazed weirdos would purify the land contamination on their own.

If there was one minor issue, it was that the Seorabeol Mage’s Association had a small accident(?) of kidnapping(?) local personnel they liked as assistants, but since they would be taught the school’s magic by the professors, wouldn’t it be a win-win situation?

“H-help! I didn’t want to become an assistant! There’s someone here! I’ve been kidnapped! Oh Bahamut, are you still sleeping? A living being is suffering here!”

“No! That crazy professor is planning to do something crazy again! We need to escape from here right now!”

“I don’t want to go to Kyushu, which is full of danger zones! I want to live safely and well-fed in Seorabeol! Ah, in my next life, I want to be born as a warrior so I don’t catch that weirdo’s eye!”

A true teacher who gives magic lectures even in this apocalypse! Ah, tears must be flowing like a storm for those chosen as assistants of the school!

As a teacher’s grace is like the sky, disciples should follow their teachers immediately and bury their bones in Kyushu.

The previous statement was merely nonsense(?) that emerged due to fatigue and stress, and does not represent the opinions of all assistants affiliated with the Seorabeol Mage’s Association.

Yes, definitely not.

“Now what’s important for Kyushu is to restore public order and focus on land purification. Our first goal should be to settle the debt.”

“But there are still monsters in the mountains, so we can collect magic stones and monster hides.”

“Right. In the case of monsters, our Yamato Alliance will directly engage in population control. I heard that in Seorabeol, they left it to civilians, which resulted in a failure of population control and the extinction of monsters.”

Thus, the remaining task for the Yamato Alliance was to expand businesses that could help settle the debt, and Shiro focused on monster hunting, a new business born from the apocalypse.

There were still monster habitats remaining in the Yamato Alliance territory, and if the government could control their population and use it as a means to gain profit, it could be very beneficial.

“Monster hides are being used to create protective equipment for the Awakened or for mages’ research. Research papers are also emerging suggesting that magic stones can be used as new energy substitutes. I think it’s an industry with sufficient potential.”

Indeed, monster hides were different from pre-apocalypse hides as they were imbued with magical power, making them one of the strategic items, and the magic stones collected alongside them were being used for mages’ research.

They were already being sold at high prices in various countries, so the ambition was to develop this into a national industry.

“But a massive budget is needed to transition to a profitable structure.”

“That can be solved with the offerings left in the reclaimed cities. We didn’t reclaim those cities for nothing. Even after a year, there are still many useful things among the offerings left in the cities.”

The problem was the massive budget.

The Yamato Alliance now had to fight against poachers who illegally hunted monsters, and they also needed to enforce regulations and research monster ecology.

The answer was to somehow solve it with the offerings left in the reclaimed cities.

“If Seorabeol is a country that exports Bahamut coins, our Yamato Alliance will be a country that researches and exports monster hides and magic stones.”

Once again, it was a policy that referenced Seorabeol’s policies.