Ch.228228. Aftermath (2)

It was truly a historic moment.

It was a scene of the Seorabeol council members reforming themselves with an attitude befitting the apocalypse, but the problem was that these council members, forced to wear shackles, were beginning to harbor resentment.

The fortunate thing was that they didn’t direct their resentment toward Hwang Geun-chul and Park Cheol-gon, the key figures behind this proposal.

Of course, thanks to those two outstanding individuals, they were unwillingly made to wear shackles, but the cabinet members weren’t fools. Everyone knew that this proposal was their only escape route and an act of mercy that would allow them to survive.

The targets of their resentment were…

“Damn it! This disaster isn’t solely the cabinet’s responsibility!”

“The Hwarang and the military! Even those guild people argued that rather than dragging out the war, they wanted to summon the Dragon God Bahamut to end it quickly! That happened to be the public sentiment in Seorabeol!”

It was the organizations involved in the Bahamut summoning.

For the military and Hwarang to openly claim “I opposed it from the beginning” would be disingenuous. The sentiment favoring the Dragon God’s descent was so widespread that rumors of the summoning were circulating internally. Few were free from blame in this disaster except for Jeong Dong-geon and his close associates. Most of the military and Hwarang public opinion had supported summoning the Dragon God Bahamut to end this tedious war.

And that wasn’t all. Naturally, it was the Seorabeol cabinet that had received petitions from the guilds representing civilian Awakened opinion in Seorabeol. These people couldn’t proudly claim they had no responsibility in this matter—they were clearly accomplices in the disaster.

And now they wanted the cabinet alone to take the blame? Were they joking?

“We won’t die alone!”

As is true everywhere people live, no one wants to take sole responsibility.

Especially the regulations, in the name of law, were weighing heavily on their minds, and these regulations…

“Prime Minister. Don’t you think the civilian sector needs reform as well, not just the cabinet?”

“Reform for civilians too… Indeed. Reforming only the cabinet would be meaningless. True significance comes when both government and civilians are reformed.”

They desperately wanted the civilians to taste these shackles properly too.

Yes, this was being proposed to the Prime Minister because it was necessary for Seorabeol, and certainly not out of any personal grudge.

If regulations were imposed on the cabinet, wasn’t it only fair to impose equal regulations on civilians?

Especially when those civilians possessed tremendous power—could this Korean peninsula, which had strictly forbidden government interference in military affairs since ancient times, leave them unregulated?

The cabinet members, with a sense of mission to strictly prohibit government interference in military affairs, began to contemplate the duties and regulations to be imposed on Seorabeol’s Awakened. Twenty days after the Ulsan reconstruction meeting, the Seorabeol cabinet announced a new law under the name of the Dragon Priestess.

“The Seorabeol Awakened Law, commonly known as the Special Act on Awakened Registration and Duties, has been enacted today.”

“What… did you say?”

The guilds and freelancers who had wanted no involvement in this situation were blindsided by the cabinet members.

While Seorabeol had imposed some regulations before, they had only been strict by pre-apocalypse standards. By apocalypse standards, they were laughable regulations.

But the law announced this time was a ruthlessly severe regulation that completely blocked the government non-interference in military affairs that Seorabeol’s Awakened guilds had wanted.

“Mandatory Awakened registration? This is outrageous!”

“Five years imprisonment and massive fines if not registered within 30 days? Is this a joke or what?”

“Registered Awakened must undergo continuous mental, physical, health examinations and ability assessments? They’re really going to all lengths to find out our levels!”

Naturally, complaints began pouring in from everywhere.

This meant that until now, many Awakened had been operating illegally without mandatory registration, and in reality, there had been implicit competition for rights among guilds within Seorabeol.

This was a declaration to officially manage unregistered illegal Awakened who were being deployed in these implicit competitions for rights.

“Level 20 and above Awakened designated as subjects of national surveillance? Ah! Today I’m really craving government non-interference in military affairs!”

“My dreams! My ambitions!”

They even declared they would monitor Awakened who reached level 20 without discrimination.

So far, no civilian had reached level 20, but countless Awakened in the civilian sector aspired to reach it. Many who wanted to reach level 20 harbored ambitions to rise to a position that would surpass even state power.

They wanted to become national power-level Awakened who couldn’t be touched even by the state—and Seorabeol had preemptively struck before such possibilities could materialize.

“And we’re even given obligations!? Subject to wartime incorporation during national crises!?”

“Are we soldiers for Seorabeol? We are free citizens!”

“They say they’ll issue mobilization orders? What is this!?”

And they wouldn’t leave these civilian Awakened who could be used as military power alone either.

They had established a legal foundation to issue national mobilization orders under the pretext of wartime, and began establishing the necessary infrastructure.

In essence, they had prepared both the recruitment officers who would capture these people when war broke out, as well as the administrative procedures.

“Prohibition of ability misuse, indiscriminate use of abilities against civilians, personal revenge, violation of portrait rights, control of ability teaching. When transferring the Dragon God’s teachings to others, Seorabeol’s permission is required along with a confidentiality pledge!? Ah, this will surely destroy the free academic atmosphere!”

“Ah, even the Mage Society cannot escape the cabinet’s blade! What’s the point of living anymore!”

Even the Seorabeol Mage Society, which had become a social issue, could not escape the regulations proclaimed by the Seorabeol cabinet.

The Seorabeol Mage Society strongly opposed the cabinet’s regulations, arguing that a free academic atmosphere would be impossible, but…

“No, you guys need some regulation.”

“Your rampancy is even worse.”

The regulations against them were established with nearly unanimous approval from all social classes within Seorabeol except the Society itself.

It was true that they needed regulations to curb their rampancy, and there had been times when problems caused by the Society had become social issues.

However, the Seorabeol cabinet didn’t just demand regulations from civilians without offering anything in return.

“There are benefits too, you know?”

“This isn’t so bad.”

“Hmm. Just by registering as an Awakened, you can receive medical insurance support…?”

Of course, Seorabeol wasn’t just a violent patriarch.

Well, considering what they’d shown so far, they were the very definition of a violent patriarch who could make even a crying child stop crying out of fear, but still, like a proper head of household, they had prepared benefits for Seorabeol’s Awakened.

If one thought state protection was a given, the practical benefits included full medical expense coverage for Awakened affiliated with the Seorabeol military, pension and living support payments, media protection measures for honor restoration, and posthumous designation as a national hero in case of death in battle.

These were enormous benefits that made people reconsider the regulations imposed on civilian Awakened so far…

“We will not make Gyeongju the capital of Seorabeol. Instead, we will build it as an academy city for Seorabeol’s Awakened.”

And the point was that these benefits might not end with just this one time.

The day after the Seorabeol cabinet announced the law, Bahamut proclaimed the future design for Gyeongju, declaring that Gyeongju’s future would be as an academy city for the Awakened, and announced plans accordingly.

“Not only will there be an Awakened Academy, but we will also establish the Seorabeol Special Forces here, as well as a dedicated national academy that selects only Hwarang. From now on, Hwarang will not be selected through tests, but only the most outstanding Awakened from the academy will be able to enlist directly under the Dragon Priestess.”

“Long live Dragon God Bahamut! Long live Seorabeol! Finally, we’re free from this vexing problem!”

This outcome was sufficient to conclude the recently emerging social issue in both government and civilian sectors about Gyeongju’s role, and it was a future design that Gyeongju could be satisfied with.

And there was one faction particularly observing this situation…

“Indeed. I heard there were tremendous events in Seorabeol. So Seorabeol was planning such bold actions? Once again, Seorabeol is one step ahead in this apocalypse. A law specifically for the Awakened. Currently, we’re getting by with customary law, but I suppose new legal reforms appropriate for the apocalypse were needed.”

“The number of Awakened is gradually increasing, and some are beginning to escape control.”

“That’s why this law is necessary. Thanks to it, we too can follow Seorabeol’s reforms. The advantage of being a late starter.”

It was the Yamato Union that was most closely watching Seorabeol’s announcement.

Shiro, the leader of the Yamato Union, reviewed the newly revised Seorabeol law sent by the special envoy and was contemplating whether it would be appropriate for the Yamato Union.

The emotions on Shiro’s face were surprise, bewilderment, and anxiety.

As a late starter, he didn’t want to bear the various side effects that the early starter would face, but he was anxious about whether they were following too late.

This law was accelerating Shiro’s anxiety, but nevertheless, he entered into a cautious phase to understand the side effects that might arise from this legal reform rather than immediately following Seorabeol.

“But it’s shocking just by the fact that the word ‘Awakened’ is written in law. The Awakened will now proudly receive both the protection and regulation of the law as members of society. Or rather, it would be quicker to call it state-level management.”

“But if control of the Awakened fails, there’s a risk of regime overthrow—it’s a dangerous law.”

“That’s right. What Awakened would willingly accept control? It’s a law with the potential to become a disaster if mishandled. However…”

Of course, implementing this directly in the Yamato Union carried enormous risks.

It was an extremely dangerous law that could potentially topple the Yamato Union regime if mishandled, and if control became even slightly loose, it was clear that countless people would rise in opposition.

“It’s attractive! I can declare that I’ve fallen in love with this law! It’s a law that doesn’t hide but explicitly addresses the social problems caused by the Awakened! I want to praise it as a satisfying blow to those who have been secretly causing trouble!”

Leader Takashima Shiro claimed to be greatly impressed by Seorabeol’s revised law, evaluating it as explicitly addressing the social problems caused by the Awakened.

It couldn’t be denied that some Awakened, having gained power, would commit crimes, and the law didn’t overlook but pointed out what had become a social issue, knowingly or unknowingly.

However, conversely, this was a law that touched on the implicit privileges held by the Awakened.

“…Leader.”

“Haha. I apologize. So, what’s the reaction from the Yamato Strategic Analysis Office?”

“The analysis results… If we apply this law, we will definitely face the same social issues as Seorabeol. Illegal Awakened refusing registration has always been an issue. Activation of illegal Awakened treatment centers in urban areas, black market trading of magic stones and monster materials, as well as smuggling of magical tools could increase.”

If the Yamato Union applied this law, they would face numerous resistances.

Shiro smiled bitterly at the ruthless analysis from the Strategic Analysis Office, but it seemed he hadn’t expected otherwise, as he scratched his head and laughed.

“Haha. Of course! Isn’t that what everyone does when they’re not under our control!”

Yes, whether officially or unofficially, these were methods people had been using once they escaped control.

Thanks to Awakened who refused registration, various incidents had occurred, which was now one of the common social problems. The establishment of underground doctor’s clinics was a common story, and smugglers caught in black market trades were gradually filling up prisons to capacity.

Whether announced or not, these were already existing social problems, and accordingly…

“Since we’re imposing unimaginable regulations on those who were treated like kings or gods… Yes… Haven’t there been groups calling the Yamato Union a dictatorship and establishing liberation movements?”

“Y-yes, there have.”

Shiro laughed menacingly as he mentioned the liberation movements that the Strategic Analysis Office had been ignoring.

His laughter wasn’t genuine laughter—it was a facade. Cackling, Shiro looked at his aide with cold eyes and spoke.

“When laws are created, there will naturally be those who stand outside their boundaries. The problem is, we don’t have a great god like Seorabeol does to force regulations on the Awakened.”

“By god, you mean…”

“I’m talking about the Dragon God Bahamut. Although I’ve converted to the Balhut Cult, I’m just an ordinary believer within the cult. The Dragon God won’t descend upon the Yamato Union for my sake alone, so we’ll have to find another way to enforce this somehow.”

In the end, this law was necessary for the Yamato Union too, and had to be implemented for future generations.

However, the Yamato Union lacked the overwhelming power that Seorabeol had to force this law upon the Awakened, so they needed to develop a different approach.

“Then we’ll have to establish an organization to monitor the Awakened. While we’ll reference Seorabeol’s model, we who lack suppression means must proceed with legal review by building an efficient surveillance system.”

Even if it was an unsavory method, Takashima Shiro, the leader of the Yamato Union, would devote all his political capacity to establishing this law.