Ch.304304. The First National Assembly General Election

After that day, the skies over Seoul had maintained an unusually clear weather.

It had become routine for countless citizens to gather at Gwanghwamun Square to learn about government news or reconstruction progress, and large screens were being installed one by one on the exterior walls of high-rise buildings under reconstruction.

Street vendors were calling out to customers on the streets, and Awakened could occasionally be spotted going about their business.

But today, particularly meaningful news struck throughout Seorabeol:

[Treaty Signing Complete – Official Declaration of War’s End.]

First, following the agreement, an official declaration of the war’s end had been announced.

With this, Seorabeol and North Korea were officially no longer in a state of war, halting further combat operations and withdrawing their troops.

Awakened who had bravely fought against North Korea on the front lines returned to Seoul with dignity as heroes, and to boost the morale of these soldiers, preparations for a victory ceremony were underway, announcing the fact that the war had ended.

However, the next sentence divided opinion among Seorabeol citizens:

[Merit Award 1st Place: Seoul’s Hero, Kim Su-ho]

[Merit Award 2nd Place: Seorabeol’s Shield, General Jeong Dong-geon]

The merit awards that all citizens of Seorabeol had been waiting for were finally announced, and Seoul’s hero Kim Su-ho had taken first place.

At this announcement, Seoul citizens fell silent for a moment before cheers erupted throughout the city.

“Wooooaaah!!!”

“It’s over!! It’s really over!!”

“Kim Su-ho! Kim Su-ho! Kim Su-ho!!”

There were middle-aged men crying with shaking shoulders, and couples embracing each other while cheering.

Children ran around carrying Seorabeol flags, and in one corner, a fish-shaped bread vendor who had been doing modest business began giving out free servings to celebrate the joyous news.

What made Seoul citizens happiest was that Kim Su-ho, who represented the will of Seoul’s people, had proudly made history by ranking first in the merit awards.

Yes, even Seorabeol couldn’t ignore Kim Su-ho, and his achievements had finally been recognized.

“We would all be dead without him!!”

“He’s a real, real hero… Kim Su-ho has become my… no, Seorabeol’s true hero!”

Some called his name as if addressing a national father figure, while others spoke of him like family.

The name Kim Su-ho had now become a symbol of Seoul.

But this sentiment was only prevalent in Seoul. In Gyeongju, which had been Seorabeol’s original base, different reactions emerged.

“Kim Su-ho? Not General Jeong Dong-geon!”

“What is this nonsense!? Hasn’t General Jeong Dong-geon’s loyalty been proven from the beginning until now?”

“Is this truly the will of Lord Bahamut!? Surely the cabinet has made another strange decision! They’re clearly trying to keep him in check!”

First came the fundamental question of why General Jeong Dong-geon wasn’t ranked first.

Simultaneously, rumors spread that the Seorabeol cabinet was trying to check General Jeong Dong-geon’s power, along with strange conspiracy theories, and some refused to accept the results.

However, while Kim Su-ho’s name wasn’t well-known in Gyeongju, the cabinet and military—not ordinary citizens—accepted the fact that Kim Su-ho had been ranked first in the merit awards.

“In truth, without Kim Su-ho, Seorabeol’s founding would have been inevitably delayed.”

“And the recapture of Seoul… wouldn’t it have been impossible without Kim Su-ho’s cooperation? He essentially gifted Seoul to us.”

“All Seoul citizens follow Kim Su-ho. Looking at the bigger picture, we should now give credit to Kim Su-ho and guide Seoul’s public sentiment toward Seorabeol!”

Even for political reasons, Kim Su-ho needed to be ranked first in the merit awards to gain the support of Seoul citizens.

Only then would Seoul citizens feel reassured about becoming citizens of Seorabeol. If they ignored Kim Su-ho’s achievements and placed Jeong Dong-geon first, Seoul would likely express discontent.

If the public sentiment in Seoul—soon to be the capital—turned against them, all the policies Seorabeol had established could be nullified, so the cabinet participated in designating Kim Su-ho, not Jeong Dong-geon, as first place.

“If you’re upset, try beating him with skill. Any complaints?”

“None. Besides, how can we defeat someone even Senior A-yeon couldn’t beat?”

The military simply accepted the difference in ability.

In fact, many Awakened from Seorabeol had heard of Kim Su-ho’s reputation and challenged him, but they couldn’t even last a single exchange before being defeated by Kim Su-ho.

Even Jin A-yeon, known as Seorabeol’s strongest Awakened, couldn’t handle Kim Su-ho, so civilian Awakened certainly couldn’t defeat him.

When someone was already the strongest on the Korean peninsula, who else could take first place in the merit awards if not him?

“Second place, huh.”

Jeong Dong-geon quietly received the results in an empty operations room.

He calmly looked down at the monitor despite the possibility that his loyalty might not be fully recognized.

The simple words [2nd Place: Jeong Dong-geon] were clearly imprinted before his eyes.

“…That’s good.”

Jeong Dong-geon bowed his head in satisfaction, as if relieved.

There was no one to congratulate him in this empty operations room, but his hands were quietly trembling.

The joy that the dreadful apocalypse had ended. The unbelievable reality that the war was truly over, not a lie.

And mourning for the countless victims whose names he couldn’t even remember, along with sorrow for the soldiers who had bravely fought and died on the front lines.

All these emotions were rising in Jeong Dong-geon’s heart.

“It’s not a lie. The war is really over.”

Jeong Dong-geon, who had never fully trusted the Cult of Immortality, had come to work to prepare for any contingency, but after the official declaration of the war’s end, there was truly no movement from the north.

Yes, the war was over, peace had arrived, and Jeong Dong-geon’s duty could finally pause for a while.

Another war might break out someday, but then either a future Jeong Dong-geon or his successor would take over his duties.

And as if announcing a new era, on the monitor Jeong Dong-geon was watching, Choi Yu-na, the ruler of Seorabeol and the Priestess of the Dragon, proudly appeared.

“As of this moment, I am officially dissolving the Seorabeol cabinet and parliament. This is to fulfill the proper procedures and the promise made by Lord Bahamut when the parliament was established. The current Seorabeol parliament and cabinet cannot represent the will of all Seorabeol citizens, so after careful consideration, I had no choice but to make the decision to dissolve the parliament.”

As soon as she appeared before the public, shocking statements came from her pretty, small mouth, causing the minds of all Seorabeol citizens watching to temporarily freeze.

Of course, if this declaration were actually implemented, from this moment on, all Seorabeol representatives would be stripped of their positions and return to civilian status, and with the cabinet and parliament gone…

“From now on, we will hold the first Seorabeol National Assembly general election. In 60 days, I hope new National Assembly members will be elected to represent the will of all Seorabeol citizens.”

It meant a National Assembly general election would take place.

The city was shocked into silence by this momentous event that would determine the nation’s fate, but only briefly.

“Seorabeol will grant one equal vote to every citizen. Even if someone has awakened as an Awakened, there will be no special privileges, and I want to clarify in advance that this does not mean they get two votes. Everyone can cast one equal vote, and only the Priestess of the Dragon will declare a neutral duty to not be involved in the voting.”

When she declared true democracy without special privileges for the Awakened, more people began to focus on Lord Bahamut’s declaration.

Even though she could have used her position as monarch to indicate a specific party and guide citizens’ support, she boldly gave up that authority and vowed to maintain a neutral duty.

“And for parties registering for the election, I will give you 15 days. I hope that politicians participating in the election will form their own parties and officially register before the registration deadline.”

With those final words, the Dragon Priestess’s declaration officially ended, and simultaneously, news that Seorabeol’s cabinet and parliament had been dissolved struck the entire country.

All citizens of Seorabeol were left speechless by this shocking declaration, mainly because most had thought the situation would remain close to a dictatorship.

From a reconstruction perspective, it was certainly more convenient to have power concentrated in one place rather than dispersed, and Seorabeol citizens, prioritizing reconstruction, thought they could tolerate some discomfort given the apocalyptic situation.

However, when presented with elections instead of dictatorship, Seorabeol citizens soon began to ponder.

“Are they really… holding an election?”

“A monarch with a National Assembly? Is this a constitutional monarchy? Not an absolute monarchy?”

“No, this country never had the monarch directly making laws from before its establishment… There were definitely constitutional elements.”

Every corner of Seorabeol began discussing only the topic of this National Assembly general election, and the media also began to focus on this issue.

Above all, more people began to deeply consider the fundamental questions about Seorabeol.

“Is this democracy… or a theocracy…?”

What kind of country is this, exactly?

Is it a democratic country, or a theocracy?

Starting with the question of a citizen living in Seoul.

“The Dragon Priestess is at the top, and below her, a National Assembly is formed… Will we be able to have our voices heard in that Assembly?”

Some expressed doubts about the parliament.

“Still, it’s better than not having one at all. Even if it’s a theocracy, we’ve fought for and earned our right to vote.”

Some declared that even if this country was a theocracy, they would fight for citizens’ freedom.

Thus, opinions among Seorabeol citizens began to clearly divide on the question of what kind of country Seorabeol actually was.

First, the reaction of citizens from Yeongnam, who showed overwhelming support for Seorabeol, was consistent.

“Choi Yu-na is the only monarch we believe in. What’s wrong with a constitutional monarchy? She never wields absolute power anyway.”

“At least now we can make our own laws. Before, we couldn’t voice any opinions at all.”

“This country has always been protected by the Dragon God!”

Citizens who knew Yu-na or owed their lives to her all recognized her as the legitimate monarch with the right to rule Seorabeol.

They believed that she would guarantee citizens’ sovereignty and govern Seorabeol moderately under the protection of the great Dragon God, and they thought of this country as a constitutional monarchy with Yu-na as its monarch.

Even Awakened and citizens from Seoul who had come to understand Yu-na’s character and tendencies joined this logic, making it one of the mainstream opinions in Seorabeol.

However, there were also skeptical reactions among these opinions.

“This country is a theocracy. It’s completely ruined! No matter how much the system changes, the country still sways with the mood of one Dragon Priestess.”

“We’re still under her authority. Isn’t this election just for show?”

These were people who couldn’t accept a monarchy or who despised the very mention of theocracy.

In reality, the Dragon Priestess wielded enough influence to change the direction of even the cabinet with a single opinion, but considering the achievements Yu-na had built up, others couldn’t help but be mindful of her even if she didn’t intend it.

“Yes, this country needs a revolution! It’s been corrupt from its establishment!”

“A benevolent ruler is the enemy of revolution!”

Ultimately, only time could resolve this, but there were those who believed that the country should return to a democratic state like the former Republic of Korea as quickly as possible, defining Seorabeol as a theocracy or dictatorship that must be overthrown.

And there were those who carried a sense of historical destiny, believing that only they could lead this great revolution.

But these were also in the minority, and in fact, most moderate opinions were as follows:

“We care more about having food to eat. Elections? Will that lower our rent?”

“As long as there’s no more war, I don’t care who’s in charge. Please just let us live in peace.”

Citizens who were sick of the apocalypse prioritized their livelihoods and safety, and there were plenty who had become indifferent to politics because they were more concerned with immediate issues.

Nevertheless, questions about what kind of country Seorabeol was soon began to spark debates, and discussions and arguments on this question began to take place in the plaza near Cheonggyecheon.

“Are we an empire or a democratic republic?”

“The Dragon Priestess ended the war for this country. She is a symbol.”

“So does power lie with the people, or with the divine?”

“Can the people really make, monitor, and execute laws? Or will only parties approved by the Dragon Association be allowed to participate in this election?”

“I think our country… doesn’t even have a name yet! Can ‘Seorabeol’ really be called a national name!”

These many questions began to emerge one by one, and the situation escalated to the point where people hoped someone would resolve these questions.

Yu-na quickly grasped this flow of public sentiment and briefly addressed the citizens.

“The National Assembly that will be established by your hands will be the compass that determines where this country will go. As both a citizen and monarch of this country, I will trust and follow the direction of that compass.”

In other words, Yu-na herself declared that she was aiming for a constitutional monarchy, and many citizens sighed in relief at this declaration, while revolutionaries raged that a benevolent ruler had emerged.

But Yu-na was not the type to rule by coercion, and although she had done much as the Dragon Priestess, her first priority was always:

“Why isn’t the Balhut Cult growing in influence?”

“I wonder about that too.”

It was only the influence of the Balhut Cult.

The Balhut Cult, which had expanded even to Seoul, had expected all citizens to believe in them, but the results were completely different, and Yu-na had spent all day lamenting these poor results.

‘We’ve come this far, but she’s only interested in the cult’s influence. Seorabeol is currently on trial.’

The first election, the first system, the first hope.

Now this city—no, Seorabeol—was facing another kind of test after the war.