Ch.290290. Conflict (2)

# Seoul, Gwanghwamun Plaza.

It had now become the temporary administrative headquarters of the Seoul Allied Forces, but unfortunately, violent protesters gathered in front of it without fail every single day.

Their flags, slogans, and sharp insults made people frown, but from the protesters’ perspective, this was perfectly justified behavior. They truly believed themselves to be the rightful owners of the Republic of Korea who had been robbed, and that the Allied Forces and their supporters were nothing but a gang of thieves.

Their anger couldn’t be dismissed as simple hatred. At its core lay the fury of those who had lost money, power, and privilege.

“You fucking bitch! …Do you know how many properties I owned in Seoul? Three apartments in Mapo, two commercial buildings in Songpa, stocks worth hundreds of millions…”

“It’s all useless now. Those bastards, the Seoul Allied Forces, took everything away claiming they’re nationalizing the land!”

“Even the Bitcoin in my account is worthless. You know what’s funny? They said all pre-war financial assets are invalid! What are they, communists?!”

This was because they were the wealthy class who had suffered the greatest losses from the Seoul Allied Forces’ policies. The Allied Forces had implemented a strong policy of complete land confiscation, turning it into national property of Seorabeol and then redistributing it to refugees and survivors as a means of wealth redistribution.

The fundamental purpose of this policy was to provide minimum hope and survival conditions for those who had lost everything or had no foundation for future survival. This approach was directly copied from policies previously used in Gyeongju during the Balhut Cult era.

At the same time, there was a very practical reason for implementing such a powerful land reform.

“All property must have proof to exist. But where is that ‘proof’ in today’s Republic of Korea?”

Indeed, there was no evidence to prove their property claims in the first place.

No matter how loudly they protested, the financial system had naturally become worthless due to the apocalypse, and banks and securities had long since burned down. Since the value of the Korean won had become meaningless, Seorabeol had gone so far as to borrow Bahamut’s power for currency reform, as the Republic of Korea’s currency had become less valuable than scrap paper, and even…

“The real estate registers have been destroyed, and most public institution servers have already been lost. In this situation, we cannot provide compensation that would satisfy them.”

Lee Hyeon-a, who commanded Seorabeol’s National Tax Service, had checked all remaining ledgers in Seoul as if hunting mice, but could only report that no evidence could be found to prove their property claims.

They claimed the evidence was right in front of them, and Seorabeol was ignoring it? That was merely their arbitrary assertion. With all servers and registers destroyed, what means remained to prove that all their claims were true?

Of course, some records did remain, but they weren’t sufficient to verify their claims, and the Seorabeol cabinet strictly adhered to the principle of not recognizing property that couldn’t be proven.

“Financial assets now? In this apocalypse where the physical economy takes priority, why should we convert their financial assets into physical goods? Especially when they’re nothing but worthless scraps of paper? Wouldn’t that just be transferring their bomb to us?”

Above all, maintaining the financial system they demanded would mean great losses for Seorabeol in this apocalypse where the physical economy took priority.

To be frank, the moment Seoul’s financial system was revived, the city’s recovering economy would fall into great confusion, and Lee Hyeon-a judged that Seoul’s reconstruction would inevitably be delayed due to wealth concentration among the few rather than redistribution among the many.

Even the Seoul Allied Forces, representing Seoul’s position, agreed with the National Tax Service.

“I oppose restoring their property.”

Even Kim Su-ho, Seoul’s hero, opposed returning property to such an extent.

“If the former rich take control of Seoul? They’ll build walls again. This city that we risked our lives to protect from the apocalyptic ruins will once again become a playground for the privileged. That’s not the future we fought to see.”

Having seen much from the privileged class, Kim Su-ho opposed reviving Seoul’s privileged class, and once he voiced his opposition, the Seorabeol cabinet had no reason to oppose their ally Kim Su-ho, and his argument seemed reasonable. They quickly moved to eliminate the privileged class.

“But that doesn’t mean you can call us commies.”

“Forget that, tell them to return our assets! I never paid taxes to rebuild Seoul! This is robbery! Robbery!”

In this light, the far-right protesters’ complaints seemed somewhat justified, but at times like this, Seorabeol should have gained support from opposition forces as well. However, they received no support from opposition forces and were only supported by the Awakened, the poor, and refugees who had actively participated in the war against the Cult of Immortality.

In the former case, it was because this policy had turned many former rich people into paupers overnight, and in the latter case…

“Constitutional monarchy now? What nonsense is that!”

“A religious state, even? Ridiculous! This country is a liberal democratic state! Not a monarchy!”

It was because they disliked Seorabeol’s system itself.

“The sovereignty of the people? That’s just a joke hidden behind divine trust. Who would pledge loyalty to a country where nothing can be decided without the Dragon Priestess’s approval?”

From their perspective, they were resisting because they saw Seorabeol’s system as feudalism or a new religious fascism wearing the mask of constitutional monarchy.

From Seorabeol’s perspective, they claimed that a constitutional monarchy was still clearly a democratic state, but in these people’s eyes, wasn’t it just an absolute monarchy calling itself a constitutional monarchy?

The Dragon Priestess herself was a superstition whose very existence should be denied, and Bahamut was merely a deified entity put forward by a dictatorial state.

They loudly proclaimed that the Seorabeol cabinet was no different from aristocratic politics.

“Seorabeol is a fictional state built on religion and military. Look at the Dragon God Association! Aren’t they openly dreaming of absolute monarchy!”

Moreover, the Dragon God Association was an evil force openly dreaming of absolute monarchy, and the Dragon God possessed unlimited power no different from a lifetime dictator.

As democratic citizens, they naturally had to drive out that oppressor.

Yes, from the perspective of these extreme groups, seeing Seorabeol’s policies, they could certainly feel that Seoul had been stolen from them.

“Why should I share my hard-earned money with others? Is that equality?”

“A revolution must begin!”

While they could certainly be criticized as communists or a dictatorship, Seorabeol was in a somewhat unfair position.

Of course, Seorabeol couldn’t have failed to anticipate their resistance and had tried to provide guarantees in their own way.

“It might be dangerous if discovered later, but why would I be crazy enough to help them?”

“Burn it all down!”

However, with absolutely no materials or evidence to prove their property, how could they provide guarantees?

Of course, conspiracy theories circulated within the Seoul Allied Nations that they had deliberately destroyed all those records, but no one could prove whether that was true.

Even Seorabeol didn’t know, so what could be done?

It was the fault of those who failed to manage their reputation just to save themselves.

“We cannot back down. If we retreat now, all of Seoul’s wealth will end up in their hands.”

They had entered a fight they couldn’t retreat from in order to secure the survival rights of all Seoul citizens.

And to be cold about it, the Seoul Allied Forces were the victors of the war, and it seemed strange that such victors would become destitute without compensation. This reform was absolutely necessary to solidify the Seoul Allied Forces’ victory.

First, they could cut off funding to the Cult of Immortality remnants and anti-Seorabeol forces, preventing the possible expansion of anti-Seorabeol forces, while simultaneously establishing the authority of the new government replacing the Republic of Korea.

Moreover, this policy wasn’t met with only complaints.

“Long live the hero of Seoul! Long live wealth redistribution!”

“Long live Seorabeol!”

“Long live Dragon God Bahamut!”

There were even more pro-Seorabeol forces in Seoul than protesters.

Not only had they distributed land of equal value to Seoul citizens through wealth redistribution, but they had also provided war heroes who participated in the conflict with high treatment, positions, and material support.

Even within the same wealth redistribution, more compensation went to national heroes who fought for the country, and Seorabeol showed its determination not to abandon the Awakened who fought for the nation.

Considering that military power was also important in this apocalypse, Seorabeol had secured military force that could be used immediately, and with that force alone, they could push forward with resolute reforms despite opposition.

“We must address inequality and urgently achieve equitable distribution of reconstruction funds. Through this, we can rebuild the capital Seoul, settle the old system established in Seoul, establish a new order, and cut off funding for potential rebel forces, which will help Seoul’s security.”

“Well done.”

Much had been achieved through the small movement of deploying the National Tax Service.

“This is a communist government! We’re being robbed by communists!”

The claims of extremist forces remained as powerless assertions.

Eventually, their anger even denied the pre-apocalypse democratic system and turned toward extreme regression to the past, but no one paid attention.

Already, 99% of Seoul’s population had benefited from Seorabeol’s wealth redistribution, and only 1% of Seoul fiercely opposed this policy.

“Oppose land confiscation! Return my property!”

“Disband the Seoul Allied Forces! Down with Kim Su-ho!”

Some thought that when violent protests reached their peak, rebellion would surely break out, and some citizens even predicted that extremist forces would rebel in Seoul.

However, the Seoul Allied Forces showed arrogance, suggesting they didn’t care if extremist forces rebelled, and in fact, almost all Awakened remaining in Seoul, except for a very small number, were already affiliated with the Seoul Allied Forces.

With such an overwhelming difference in military power, there was no way they could dare to rebel, and in reality, the extremist forces, each carrying different flags…

“We will build a new Seoul!”

“Let’s bring down Seorabeol and complete the revolution!”

They just shouted loudly like this, but their voices merely echoed in the void.

In reality, their voices were just noisy, but they had no intention of attacking the armories in Seoul, and showed no signs of rebellion.

Rather, when the Seoul Allied Forces did nothing, they became even more emboldened, but when police forces deployed to maintain order in Seoul were strengthened due to citizen complaints, they quickly began to avoid the eyes of the police.

“We have hundreds of thousands of supporters!”

“Soon the flames of revolution will engulf Seoul!”

In the end, all their claims were just bluster.

In reality, only a few hundred people sympathized with their claims and gathered, and even those were mostly show-offs who wanted to appear on the internet and broadcasts, or a very small number of supporters who followed their words.

“They will not be able to rebel.”

Lee Hyeon-a, Seorabeol’s Minister of Economy and Finance, was certain that they could never rebel, and Bahamut, who received this report, questioned her with a puzzled expression.

“Their voices suggest they’re about to rebel right now, though?”

“Yes. Of course their voices must be loud. You’ll understand when you see this.”

What Lee Hyeon-a showed was a streaming broadcast and its chat window.

The countless messages scrolling up in the chat window and the voices of extremist forces captured on screen were truly impressive.

“Complete the revolution!!” (Donation alert: 1,000 won)

“Down with Seorabeol! Protect democracy!” (Donation alert: 5,000 won)

As they raised their voices, pre-apocalypse won started coming in one by one, and the number of subscribers gradually increased.

The number of subscribers was considerable, and if it weren’t the apocalypse but normal times, one could expect substantial income, but…

“…I believe you know this, but the donations they’re receiving cannot be used in Seorabeol. I understand they’ve even lost their value in Seoul.”

The problem was that this was the apocalypse, and their donations were meaningless.

Seorabeol no longer used the Republic of Korea’s currency, and even in Seoul, the value of the won had been completely lost, making hyperinflation seem trivial.

So Bahamut naturally had to express doubt, and in fact, Kang Jae-wan, a war correspondent belonging to a different class, was making a living not through broadcasts that could receive donations, but by publishing articles in newspapers or using his fame as a war correspondent for advertising.

“Yes. They can’t be used. But this is just an action to gather supporters for the upcoming National Assembly general election. The louder their voices get, the more supporters will pay attention to their opinions!”

The issue wasn’t about now but the future.

Each of those subscribers could become future supporters, and they could potentially make political interventions in Seorabeol’s upcoming elections.

In other words, they were making a long-term investment looking at the future rather than the present, but…

“…No, never mind.”

Bahamut was full of things he wanted to say about their behavior, but in the end, he could only sigh without speaking.

Seeing this, the other officials present also hung their heads, as if understanding Bahamut’s feelings.