Ch.305305. The First National Assembly General Election (2)

After the dissolution of the parliament, Seorabol’s first nationwide congressional election period began, and the political landscape quickly divided into two major factions.

First was the Dragon God Association, which called itself the conservative faction.

The former ruling party appealed to citizens by promoting conservative values familiar to South Korean citizens.

“We believe this country has come this far because the Dragon God protected it.”

“The Dragon Priestess is Seorabol’s monarch, guardian, and rightful ruler! From its founding, this country was ruled directly by a priestess blessed by the Dragon God!”

“We will strive to revitalize Seorabol with the Dragon Priestess as our monarch and under the protection of Dragon God Bahamut! Please cast your precious vote for the Dragon God Association!”

Of course, many of their claims were far from what we commonly understand as conservatism. But broadly speaking, the Dragon God Association’s logic aligned with conservative ideology, seeking change and development while maintaining the existing social order.

They affirmed the existence of a monarch, supported the Dragon Priestess as ruler, and strongly advocated for a monarch with powerful governing authority.

Although the Dragon God Association considered Bahamut rather than the Dragon Priestess as the true monarch, they acknowledged the Dragon Priestess as the representative of this absolute being. Some politicians even argued that while establishing a congress was good, it should ultimately be an institution that serves the monarch’s will.

“Frankly speaking, without Dragon God Bahamut, how could we have defeated the Dark Lord and achieved our second golden age?”

“Well, um…”

“Even the Juwa currency was created from Bahamut coins, and our magical civilization exists because of the great teacher that is the Dragon God. The magical tools we use were originally developed by Lord Bahamut and modified for human use! Most of Seorabol’s Awakened are artificial Awakened who awakened through the Awakened Project conducted by Dragon God Bahamut himself!”

It was difficult to argue against these claims because, objectively speaking, Bahamut was indeed the absolute being who had gifted Seorabol with everything it needed.

He established the Juwa currency that supported Seorabol’s massive budget without strain, and the magical civilization used in daily life was based on tools created by Bahamut.

All of Seorabol’s mages were disciples who received Bahamut’s teachings, and they created their own schools based on those teachings. It was hard to find anything that Bahamut hadn’t been involved in from beginning to end.

“Citizens, our Dragon God Association advocates for the Dragon God’s intervention more actively than anyone else! This country still needs the Dragon God’s protection!”

Thus, the Dragon God Association boasted strong organization centered around the Dragon God, actively expanding its influence with the support of former regional reconstruction administrators and faith-based communities that emerged after the apocalypse.

However, opposing these claims, the Constitutional Democratic Party began to push back with progressive arguments.

“Nevertheless, we can confidently assert that we reclaimed this city with the blood and tears of our citizens!”

“Certainly, the Dragon God and the Dragon Priestess saved this country and this land. But the Dragon God Association is actually distorting the Dragon God’s words.”

“In the past, Dragon God Bahamut told us he would govern but not rule over us. Yet the Dragon God Association is twisting this noble declaration! We should aim to make Seorabol a British-style constitutional monarchy, as the Dragon God intended!”

The Constitutional Democratic Party argued that the Dragon God Association was distorting the Dragon God’s declaration and persuaded citizens that Seorabol should aim for a British-style constitutional monarchy in accordance with the Dragon God’s noble declaration.

They also claimed that citizens played a significant role in overcoming the apocalypse, and that Seorabol exists today because of its citizens.

This argument was sufficiently appealing to Seoul citizens accustomed to democracy, earning overwhelming support from Seoul reconstruction workers, young Awakened, and survivors from intellectual backgrounds.

Of course, considering the current reality, even if the Constitutional Democratic Party won the election, Seorabol’s political system would likely resemble an absolute monarchy more than a constitutional monarchy.

“Still, we must show citizens the future we should aim for! That we are a new country born from the final moments of the apocalypse!”

While the Constitutional Democratic Party was gathering support in its own way, third-party political groups weren’t sitting idle watching the major parties advance.

“Can you tolerate Seorabol’s dictatorship? I cannot! What has Seorabol ever done for us?”

Yes, third-party political groups began forming as coalitions of regional warlord factions, local autonomy-centered groups, and centrist pragmatists.

They fiercely opposed Seorabol’s current political structure and advocated for a locally-centered political system as a solution.

Their position was similar to what France’s Phoenix Order advocated, and they were influenced by it. They believed that power should be concentrated locally so they could enjoy authority.

As debates between parties with their own ideals and ambitions intensified, in the midst of this heated battle…

“Aren’t they committing election fraud?”

“Stop talking nonsense.”

“Us committing election fraud? That’s nothing but a conspiracy theory!”

The old South Korean headache of election fraud conspiracy theories, which had been debunked countless times, began circulating again.

The Dragon God Association and Constitutional Democratic Party dismissed claims of election fraud as baseless rumors and conspiracy theories, but once these conspiracy theories escaped into the public, they began to gain momentum.

Initially, they seemed to target the Dragon God Association and Constitutional Democratic Party, but before long, the election fraud conspiracy theories…

“Is the Dragon Priestess truly neutral? Impossible! The Dragon Priestess is not neutral! That dictator has already decided the winner!”

…began targeting the Dragon Priestess. Starting with rumors from a YouTube channel, they spread across numerous social media platforms, being shared millions of times.

Despite rebuttals from the Dragon God Association and logical arguments from the Constitutional Democratic Party that completely debunked these claims multiple times, proving them false, sadly, people are creatures who only want to hear what they want to hear.

“All ballot boxes are determined by Bahamut’s will. That’s Seorabol’s authentication process!”

Moreover, those spreading these conspiracy theories were extremist YouTubers who increased their views and donations through radical content. As the election continued, their voices attempting to interfere in politics grew increasingly louder.

Their behavior was incredibly bold, especially in this apocalyptic world where might makes right.

“Look! This is the evidence!”

In Gwanghwamun, election posters from each party were being torn down, counterfeit ballots created by these groups began circulating, and the Election Commission building was covered with graffiti and question marks.

Seeing this, some mocked Seorabol as the true face of a country created by a god, while others lamented their behavior as being trapped in the past, saying it wasn’t much different from the former South Korea.

“Seorabol’s election is fake! This is nothing but a rigged masquerade created by a god!”

One month before the general election, in the heart of Seoul…

On a temporary container platform built on the ruins north of Jongno, a voice of madness echoed through a megaphone.

It was an attempt to gather numerous followers through provocative topics, and indeed, quite a few people sympathized with these frenzied claims.

Most interestingly, the flag he held wasn’t Seorabol’s current dragon-emblazoned flag, but rather the flag of the collapsed South Korea alongside the star-spangled American flag fluttering together.

“You call this a country? Don’t make me laugh!”

“Seorabol has no constitution and no sovereignty! Monarch? Dragon Priestess? That’s not a king but a religious puppet!”

“Election fraud! Theocratic dictatorship!”

The extremists’ slogans were extremely simple and repetitive, but equally intense, and their madness infected those who harbored discontent with Seorabol, turning them into extremist followers.

They blatantly targeted Seorabol’s inherent weaknesses, and as their claims spread, the number of followers supporting the extremist factions gradually increased.

“Seorabol is merely a post-war provisional government! The true reconstruction of the Korean nation has not yet been achieved!”

“We demand international monitoring!”

“Where is the United States? South Korea was your blood ally!”

They actively demanded foreign intervention, even requesting American involvement, becoming a headache not only for Seorabol but also for America, Seorabol’s ally.

Frankly speaking, America had already abandoned South Korea and allied with Seorabol, becoming its largest trading partner. Would they now abandon Seorabol and choose the fallen South Korea?

Did they perhaps want to be beaten to death by an American citizen and America’s proud hero?

From America’s position, if they became hostile to Seorabol and the supply of Bahamut coins was cut off, they would have to directly face the backlash from American Awakened who depended on those coins.

“Washington, hear us! Seorabol is not a country! We want America’s protection!”

Whether they knew this or not, the extremist factions loudly called for American intervention, but America provided no response.

While they continued to gather extremist followers, the America they wanted didn’t intervene, and no Awakened joined their cause.

“So, you’re saying you’re traitors who want Seorabol’s destruction?”

“So what! This country is finished! America should rule this land again!”

“Really? Ha. I just got discharged and wanted to live a normal life. General Jeong Dong-geon, please forgive me just this once!”

Yes, up to this point, they could have been satisfied with their achievements and followers.

But one fact they forgot was that the current world was post-apocalyptic, where the logic of power strongly prevailed, and not only nations but also civilians pursued strength in this era.

It couldn’t be said that there were no high-level Awakened among Seorabol’s citizens, and in fact, there were high-ranking Awakened who had just been discharged from the military after the war ended and were now civilians.

“Damn it. His Excellency Kim Su-ho protected Seoul, and you dare judge that on your own?!”

Even Awakened who focused solely on reconstruction and were indifferent to politics became greatly angered by their behavior, ultimately forming a guild as a kind of vigilante group to resist the extremist activities in Seoul.

“We eliminate traitors. No mercy! The Seorabol Vigilante Corps protects Seorabol’s peace!”

“What.”

The fatal miscalculation of the extremist factions was failing to anticipate that the Seorabol Vigilante Corps consisted of Seorabol citizens who were prepared to use violence and shed blood if necessary.

Awakened who had fought countless battles against monsters and undead on the frontlines had no reason to fear fighting humans, especially ordinary ones. In fact, all high-level Awakened supported Seorabol without exception, joining the vigilante corps and cooperating with police to physically confront extremist factions disrupting Seorabol’s public order.

Moreover, the weapons these Awakened possessed weren’t simple tools—they were either crafted by the Awakened themselves or, depending on their preferences, first-class weapons enchanted with Bahamut coins. No matter how many ordinary supporters the extremist factions gathered, they were no match.

It was essentially a massacre demonstrating the brutal power difference between ordinary people and Awakened. In response to the vigilante corps’ overwhelming counterattack, extremist factions began desperately resisting by throwing Molotov cocktails and firing illegal firearms, but…

“That’s warm. So? How many Molotov cocktails do you have? Bullets? Not even Bahamut Bullets.”

“M-monster! All Awakened are children of monsters!”

This only further impressed upon Seorabol’s citizens the difference between Awakened and ordinary people.

At the same time, it made people realize how important the Awakened Project promised by Seorabol and the Dragon God truly was.

“Damn it! Then the shopping district is ours now! Leave everything in the stores and get out!”

Some fleeing extremists even attempted to raid shopping districts and loot stores, but…

“Sorry, I’m an Awakened too.”

“What?”

In an unfortunate turn of events, the store owner happened to be an Awakened who repelled the attackers, restrained them, and handed them over to the police—a tragicomic situation.

All merchants in the shopping district were citizens who had actively participated in Seorabol’s Awakened Project, proving that Seorabol had shown people how to protect themselves in this harsh post-apocalyptic world.

Passing citizens had only one thing to say to the extremist factions pathetically captured by store owners:

“Listen, mister. Why don’t you come to your senses? This isn’t the pre-apocalyptic world you knew—it’s post-apocalyptic. Trying to use pre-apocalyptic methods? How ridiculous. This country isn’t the Korea you kids knew. It’s a new country called Seorabol.”

Truly wise words.