Ch.2323. The Balhut Cult (5)

Lee Hyeon-a sighed at the numerous reports submitted by Jeong Dong-geon.

The reports were about a new weapon that had been recently developed.

At first, when she saw the reports about this new weapon, Lee Hyeon-a seriously wondered, “Did I receive the wrong reports?”

However, all the reports submitted by Jeong Dong-geon were about currency issued by Bahamut.

“Is this… a new weapon made entirely from coins minted by Lord Bahamut?”

“Yes. Since we only received a limited number of prototype coins, what’s in the report is all we have. But these coins can engrave various spells onto weapons or protective gear, so I’m reporting that their potential applications are limitless.”

Fire bullets. Lightning bullets. Water bullets. Various elemental magic-engraved special ammunition.

Or protective magic-applied vests.

Cutting magic-imbued knives or magical weapons that could engrave specific spells like special ammunition.

Their power and effectiveness had been thoroughly proven through experiments at the Gyeongju Ironworks, and video recordings were available as evidence.

“Wow. It feels like a mage directly using magic.”

“Since we received very few prototypes, we’re not yet ready for field deployment or mass production. But these coins definitely have high potential. They give ordinary people or Awakened who can’t use magic the power to use magic.”

“I can see that. Just by looking at them… their value is higher than I expected.”

Lee Hyeon-a marveled at the weapons developed at the Gyeongju Ironworks after hearing Jeong Dong-geon’s enthusiastic report.

The new weapons developed by melting down the coins showed exceptional potential.

‘These are just prototypes. If we really put serious research into this, we could create truly amazing weapons! If we could reclaim the POSCO steelworks in Pohang, we could develop even stronger weapons!’

Yes, the potential was overflowing.

Even now, they were only creating temporary weapons to test the value of the coins, and she believed the Gyeongju Ironworks had yet to uncover even half of the coins’ potential.

She thought that if they could use POSCO—one of South Korea’s three major steelworks near Gyeongju—instead of a small ironworks, they could further enhance the potential.

Jeong Dong-geon began to imagine hunting the hateful mutant zombies with magical weapons developed from melted coins, and his heart swelled with excitement.

“With this… we can also move forward with rebuilding the currency economy.”

And for Lee Hyeon-a, they could now prove the value of the Balhut Cult’s coins to the citizens of Gyeongju.

Bahamut himself had already guaranteed their credit.

Now all that remained was to revive the currency economy through these coins.

They could efficiently pay daily wages to workers and actively conduct material transactions through the currency economy.

Gyeongju citizens could now sell items they didn’t need to the cult to obtain coins, and then use those coins to purchase items they needed.

The numerous efficiencies and benefits this would create had been proven throughout economic history.

“Above all, I like that these coins can be continuously consumed.”

“Are you saying inflation will be difficult to occur?”

“Yes. Because the coins can be melted down to create magical weapons. The currency itself has excellent value. However, on the flip side, we might face deflation if there’s not enough money in circulation.”

The best part was that the issued coins could be consumed as weapons.

In this apocalyptic era, weapons to protect oneself were one of the most important elements, and these coins could be used to create or enhance such weapons.

This meant that the Balhut Cult’s coins in circulation would be useful in some way and could be consumed somewhere.

It was an advantage that could prevent inflation caused by too much money in circulation.

“There will be even worse side effects. Besides deflation, this currency will cause endless incidents and accidents. Many people might die.”

“But we don’t have the luxury of time to worry about such side effects.”

Of course, it was still a double-edged sword since deflation could occur.

And as Jeong Dong-geon warned, it was already predicted that many incidents and accidents would occur from misuse of this currency.

However, Lee Hyeon-a stated that the Balhut Cult didn’t have the luxury of time to worry about such side effects, and Jeong Dong-geon nodded heavily in agreement.

“At least only Awakened with smelting and blacksmith skills can create these, which serves as a final safety measure. In Gyeongju, we have a monopoly on craftsmen with production skills.”

“Bullets manufactured by non-Awakened are said to be much less powerful.”

“…That’s enough. It will take time for the manufacturing method to become public. And later competitors didn’t start with hints from Lord Bahamut like we did. So I’m quite excited about this.”

If there was any safety measure, it was that all the weapons currently showcased were created with Awakened skills.

Fortunately, the Balhut Cult had monopolized all the craftsmen in South Gyeongju who could produce Bahamut Bullets.

Of course, there might be craftsmen in North Gyeongju who could manufacture Bahamut Bullets without the cult’s influence, but the coins were originally intended for use only in South Gyeongju.

It would likely be quite some time before the coins were acquired and their manufacturing method was revealed, and before then, the Balhut Cult would gain plenty of intangible benefits by monopolizing bullet manufacturing technology.

Lee Hyeon-a, eager to exercise the privileges of being first and ready to kick away the ladder for those following behind, looked satisfied as she anticipated the issuance of the coins.

“…Hmm. This has more value than I expected. I’m tempted enough to want to use it as building material.”

“Isn’t that Mr. Yu? How do you know about this?”

And during the meeting about the newly issued coins, someone interrupted.

Yu Su-seong, who had been appointed as the chief director of the Gyeongju reconstruction project, entered the meeting room where Jeong Dong-geon and Lee Hyeon-a were conferring.

After entering the room, Yu Su-seong mentioned the coins as if he had heard all the rumors, and Jeong Dong-geon asked how he knew about them.

“Hey, Jeong. I heard what happened at Choi’s ironworks, so I came right away.”

“You heard about it too?”

“Of course! Choi was proudly talking about it.”

Just as Yu Su-seong frequently visited Choi’s ironworks for construction materials needed for urban reconstruction, Jeong Dong-geon also frequently visited the ironworks for weapons to arm his troops.

So Yu Su-seong could hear about the new weapons or new coins from Choi, and out of curiosity about whether the coins could be used as building materials, he had come to see Lee Hyeon-a.

“Using these as building materials is a matter for the future. Right now, we need to reach a compromise regarding the residential areas.”

“That’s a shame. But I understand. After all, mutant zombies are coming from outside Gyeongju too.”

Lee Hyeon-a said that using coins as building materials was a matter for the distant future.

Yu Su-seong showed a disappointed expression but nodded in understanding.

Right now, they needed to deal with the zombies invading from outside Gyeongju before worrying about housing.

It was a situation where they had to endure some inconvenience in living conditions.

“So, will these be given as daily wages from now on?”

“Yes. I’m thinking of paying them as daily wages for this month, and then as monthly salaries from next month.”

In response to Jeong Dong-geon’s question, Lee Hyeon-a nodded and revealed that she planned to pay those working for the Balhut Cult daily wages for a month, then switch to monthly salaries from the following month.

“So these coins will be our salary from now on. Haha, compared to before, it feels like we’ve gone back in time.”

“We can’t even dream of the electronic transaction methods we used before the apocalypse.”

“I understand.”

Compared to the pre-apocalyptic era when electronic money made transactions convenient, there were still many shortcomings, but this level of inconvenience was quite acceptable.

“It feels like we’ve gone back 10 or 20 years, though my age remains the same.”

“Ahahahaha.”

Above all, if one thought of it as returning to the era of cash transactions that was prevalent 10 or 20 years ago, it was roughly an acceptable level.

“Hmm. So this means we can buy various things from the official stores with these?”

“Yes, of course. We’ve already prepared products that can be purchased at the official stores according to the value of the coins. The moment Lord Bahamut mass-produces the coins, the currency economy begins.”

In response to Yu Su-seong’s question, Lee Hyeon-a nodded and said that they had already prepared for cult members to purchase goods from the official stores.

She was expecting that the moment the coins were produced, the currency economy would begin.

“If it settles well, small merchants and self-employed people who disappeared from Gyeongju will also reappear.”

“…And it can weed out other survivor camps in Gyeongju that still rely on barter.”

“You understand?”

“How could I not? If the coins settle in well, people will no longer trade through the cumbersome barter system. Survivor camps that have no way to earn coins through normal work will have no choice but to join us or be weeded out, right?”

What Lee Hyeon-a was most looking forward to was the ability to weed out other survivor camps that still relied on barter through the currency economy.

For camps that depended on barter to obtain items necessary for survival, it would be fatal if they could no longer get items through barter and could only obtain necessary items with the Balhut Cult’s coins.

“Can’t they exchange their goods for currency by selling materials to our cult?”

“Of course, we intend to purchase materials sold by other survivor camps as well. At prices lower than what we consider market value, that is.”

And the coins to be issued this time can only be obtained by working for the Balhut Cult.

This means that if survivor camps want to obtain coins from now on, they have no choice but to work for the Balhut Cult or sell their materials at prices lower than market value.

“Will people recognize the value of the coins well?”

Of course, all this discussion assumes that people recognize the value of the coins and use them as money.

If people fail to recognize the value of the coins well and continue with barter instead of using coins, the currency economy will ultimately fail.

In this world where the value of all currencies except the dollar has disappeared, can the citizens of Gyeongju readily recognize the value of the currency distributed by the Balhut Cult?

“I plan to create advertisements by editing the video files received from Jeong Dong-geon. And I’ll also explain the value of the coins in detail on the Balhut Cult website. Above all…”

Aware of this issue, Lee Hyeon-a said she planned to create advertisements by editing the video files provided by Jeong Dong-geon.

Of course, she also planned to post detailed explanations about the value of the coins on the Balhut Cult website, which all cult members had joined.

“Lord Bahamut has personally guaranteed their credit, so all Balhut Cult members will believe in and use them.”

“All hail Lord Bahamut, is it? Hehe. If he personally guarantees it, everyone belonging to the Balhut Cult has no choice but to believe it. Indeed.”

Moreover, Bahamut, who saved this city, was guaranteeing the credit of the coins.

As citizens of Gyeongju, they could afford to trust that credit at least once.

At the name of Bahamut, Yu Su-seong smiled bitterly and said that if it was him, they could believe it.

“By the way, is there no problem with the quantity?”

“No. I heard that Lord Bahamut can mint as many coins as we want. Of course, we’ll need to supply materials like copper and nickel to make the coins.”

“That’ll be tough work.”

Quantity wasn’t an issue either.

The moment Lee Hyeon-a gave the OK sign, a large quantity of coins would be produced, and the concern was rather the shortage of copper and nickel needed to make the coins.

“Ah, and I’m thinking of collecting taxes from cult members starting next month.”

Finally, taxes!

Lee Hyeon-a declared that she would collect taxes from the Balhut Cult residents.

“I suppose for electricity and water bills?”

Even now, residents in the residential areas could use electricity and water freely without charge.

For now, they were allowing free use due to the disaster situation, but once reconstruction was somewhat complete, they planned to collect taxes for infrastructure usage fees.

“Yes. This isn’t free either. We’re ultimately relying on energy resources supplied indefinitely by Lord Bahamut. All citizens using the infrastructure are in a situation where they depend on Lord Bahamut’s mercy. Once things get back on track, it’s only natural that the cult should receive usage fees.”

Above all, the electricity and purified water used by the Balhut Cult were also energy provided free of charge by Bahamut.

Since they couldn’t always rely on Bahamut, the cult also needed to prepare for citizens’ self-reliance.

“We will reactivate the water and power facilities in Gyeongju and collect taxes in the name of operating costs.”

“That’s only natural. We can’t do everything for free.”

If they reactivated the stopped water and power facilities, they could obtain electricity and water for the residents of Gyeongju to use.

And Jeong Dong-geon, who had been quietly listening to this conversation, smiled and muttered.

“There is hope.”

There is hope, he said.

“Pardon?”

“No, I just thought it’s been a really long time since I could think about the future.”

“That’s right. Originally, we were scared of zombies, relying on sturdy barricades, barely surviving day by day.”

If Bahamut hadn’t descended and the Balhut Cult hadn’t been born, they wouldn’t have been discussing the future so seriously.

They would have spent their days just trying to survive against zombies, and after a fierce struggle, they would have either survived or died.

“You just realized that? We’ve been in that flow of change for a while now, Mr. Yu.”

“Getting old makes one worry more. Isn’t that right, Jeong?”

In response to Yu Su-seong’s words, Jeong Dong-geon asserted that they were already in the flow of change.

Unable to deny Jeong Dong-geon’s words, Yu Su-seong just lamented that he had become more worried with age.

“Although I can now fully utilize my specialties, before the cult was born, I too was a weak Awakened, barely making a living day by day.”

Between the two who were joking around like friends, Lee Hyeon-a honestly said that she wasn’t much different from them.

“That’s why I don’t want to destroy the order created by Ms. Yu-na and Lord Bahamut.”

Therefore, she resolved to definitely maintain the order created by Bahamut.

“Yes, we must definitely protect it.”

Jeong Dong-geon also expressed his determination to protect it.

“But after rebuilding Gyeongju, what should we do next?”

While Yu Su-seong became curious about the future ahead.

“That… would be up to Lord Bahamut and Ms. Yu-na.”

“Yes, that’s up to those two.”

“Then, it’s our turn to do what we need to do.”

That choice was not theirs but belonged to Bahamut and Yu-na.

“In the name of Bahamut.”

All of this would be achieved in the name of Bahamut.