Chapter 12: The Reckoning Begins
Translated by Vine | Proofread by Lust
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How Did It Come to This?
Bahamut felt as if he was about to lose his mind as he looked at the cult members kneeling around Yuna. How had things gone so awry?
‘Where did it all go wrong?’
He recalled the moment when he first arrived in Gyeongju. Back then, Yuna had followed his instructions to gather survivors and form alliances. Watching her efforts, Bahamut had thought, At least she’s listening to me. But that illusion was shattered the moment she approached the first survivor.
“Do you believe in God?” she had asked out of nowhere.
“Huh?”
Without any preamble, she accosted a random survivor wandering the streets, asking if they believed in God.
“We haven’t been abandoned by anyone. The suffering in our lives isn’t some divine punishment; it’s not a test from God,” she declared.
“W-What? Is this woman crazy?”
Yuna began preaching that the zombie apocalypse wasn’t a result of anyone’s sins. It was just… “Bad luck, that’s all.”
“Ugh, are you some kind of doomsday cultist, shouting nonsense on every corner?”
Her approach was, without a doubt, indistinguishable from that of a cult recruiter.
Bahamut facepalmed internally. ‘Of all things, to be called a cult…’
He hadn’t expected to be compared to Shinchonji, the infamous Korean cult. It was beyond frustrating because he couldn’t even deny it. Yuna’s behavior was exactly what one would expect from a religious fanatic.
‘No matter how I look at it, we’re just like a cult. Ah, the sky is so blue today…’
From an objective standpoint, Yuna resembled those people who handed out pamphlets and preached on the streets of Noryangjin, shouting nonsense at passersby. Bahamut felt a surge of embarrassment as he watched her.
“A cult? Ha. I am no fool who worships a false god and spreads lies. I serve a true deity. I am the priestess of the dragon!” Yuna proclaimed.
“You’re no different from them! You don’t have the power to change this damned reality!”
“Our god has that power. The world will be rebuilt, and a new city will rise from these ruins. That is the future we seek.”
“You’re not making any sense! Just go away!”
The survivor, terrified, turned Yuna away. She was left standing in the street, staring at the spot where the survivor had been. Her expression was one of bewilderment, as if she couldn’t understand why they wouldn’t accept such a great offer.
‘As expected… But seriously, when did I become the god of a cult?’
Though Yuna might not comprehend the situation, Bahamut saw it as an inevitable outcome. He found himself lamenting his newfound role as a deity to a cult-like following.
[If it’s too hard, you can always quit. There are other ways to achieve our goals, you know.]
He suggested that Yuna might want to give up and try a different approach. After all, if she kept getting turned away, perhaps another method would be more effective. However…
“No, it’s fine. I want to prove myself to Gyeongju. This is a trial of proof, a test to see if I am worthy to lead the survivors.”
‘Oh, great.’
Yuna’s determination seemed to grow stronger. She was adamant about convincing the people, even if Bahamut found her unwavering resolve somewhat puzzling. Fortunately, most of the survivors Yuna approached continued to reject her.
“The world has really become harsh. So few people want to rebuild order,” Yuna lamented.
‘People probably want to rebuild, but… maybe it’s the way you’re saying it.’
Yuna had reached out to most of the surviving camps in Gyeongju. Some rejected her politely, while others reacted with anger, outright refusing to hear her out. A few even tried to recruit her to join their camps as a healer, but Yuna turned down all such offers and moved on, disheartened but undeterred.
Her lack of success was partly her own doing, yet Bahamut hesitated to tell her outright.
“On top of that, there’s a cult here growing their influence by exploiting the apocalypse! It’s infuriating… and enviable. But I can’t forgive them!”
[Uh… right.]
Yuna explained that there was another cult in Gyeongju that was expanding by taking advantage of the disaster. They seemed to be gaining followers, and Yuna couldn’t help but express some admiration for their effective methods.
Bahamut saw Yuna’s behavior increasingly mirroring that of the cult, so he decided it was best to give a more rational explanation of the situation.
[People are naturally suspicious, Yuna. Unless we prove our value to the survivors in Gyeongju, no one will follow us.]
“Then why are people following the other cult?”
[It’s simple. That cult has proven its worth to the survivors. They offer something tangible in exchange for faith, like food or protection.]
The cult Yuna had encountered promised food or safety to those who joined, giving survivors a practical reason to follow them. Bahamut explained that this made the cult appealing because it provided benefits.
“You’re right. I’ve been demanding that people follow our god without offering them anything in return.”
[Exactly. We haven’t proven anything yet. That’s why they won’t follow us.]
Yuna acknowledged this, realizing that her approach had been too one-sided. Unlike the cult, which offered incentives, she had only asked for blind faith. Now, she understood that she needed to change tactics.
“Proof, huh…”
To gain the approval and loyalty of the survivors, she needed something that would make people believe in her cause.
“The answer is power. If our god descends upon Gyeongju, they will all have to acknowledge us.”
[Huh?]
Yuna suggested that if Bahamut were to manifest in Gyeongju, his presence alone would be enough to compel the camps to submit. Bahamut was taken aback by her sudden leap in logic.
‘Actually… she’s not entirely wrong.’
Given Bahamut’s massive size, his appearance would indeed have a profound impact. The sight of a dragon over 50 meters tall would be enough to intimidate any survivor into compliance.
‘But wouldn’t that make me the enemy of humanity?’
Bahamut wanted to avoid being seen as a threat. He had chosen to work through Yuna as a mediator to establish friendly relations with humans. If he appeared without any prior communication, it could incite hostility.
‘Still, if we handle it differently, there might be a way for me to get involved.’
While he had no intention of remaining completely uninvolved, he was willing to intervene when the situation called for it. With that thought in mind, Bahamut considered Yuna’s proposal more seriously.
[You’re not entirely wrong. If we can make my existence known to the survivors in Gyeongju, it would definitely make things easier.]
“Then shall we—?”
[But there must be an order to things. First, we need to set a time for my appearance and make sure all the survivors are informed.]
There was a proper sequence to follow. They needed to inform everyone about Bahamut’s existence and ensure that the survivors knew he posed no threat.
[This won’t be easy alone. You should find some allies first…]
“Oh, I have a great idea for that,” Yuna interjected before Bahamut could finish.
[A great idea?]
“Yes. We need people to spread the word, don’t we? Let’s make use of those already devoted to a false faith.”
‘What is she talking about now?’
Bahamut had no idea what Yuna was planning, but soon he had no choice but to watch her in action. With a bright smile, she approached a cultist who was preaching on the street and…
“Take me to your headquarters. Now.”
“Eek! Y-Yes, right away!”
‘What’s happening now?’
Yuna swiftly subdued the cultists proselytizing in the streets and used them as guides to lead her straight to the cult’s main stronghold—a church.
“Bring out your leader,” she commanded.
“Intruder!” someone yelled. “We have an intruder!”
Chaos erupted within the church as Yuna freed the captured cultists and allowed them to run inside. The cult members scrambled to resist the unexpected invader, with several awakened individuals stepping forward to confront her.
[Y-Yuna, wait—]
“Don’t worry, my god. I won’t kill anyone.”
With a swift motion, Yuna unleashed a beam of light from her fingertip, effortlessly cutting down the awakened cultists who dared to challenge her. Smiling, she stepped inside the church while the cult leader turned and fled.
“Bind.”
“Aaah!?”
But escape was impossible. Yuna’s binding magic caught the cult leader before he could take another step.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
The leader collapsed, bound tightly by her spell, unable to move. The remaining cultists, witnessing this display of power, were too petrified to even scream.
“W-What business do you have with Shinchonji?” one of the cultists asked, trembling.
“Ah, so this cult is called Shinchonji. I guess that explains why our activities kept getting interfered with. Well, you’ve just given me even less of a reason to show mercy.”
‘Isn’t that the notorious anti-government group that caused trouble during the pandemic a few years ago?’
The Shinchonji cult was a well-known anti-establishment group in Korea. Bahamut was surprised to find them in Gyeongju, while Yuna, without hesitation, pressed her foot against the cult leader’s mouth and declared her intent.
“W-What have we done wrong…?”
“Shut up. From this day forward, this church and all its members belong to us.”
Yuna’s declaration left the cult leader aghast.
“What kind of tyranny—?”
“Do you have a problem with it?”
“N-No, no problem…”
The law was distant, but her threats were very close. Yuna extended her finger as if to make it clear that refusing her terms would mean destruction. Seeing no other choice, the cult leader reluctantly lowered his head in submission.
With the cult leader’s surrender, Yuna grinned widely and turned to address the gathered cultists.
“Now, let me share a prophecy with you, my dear followers. Yes, about the promised day.”
Amidst the chaos and terror, Yuna’s expression remained calm as she delivered her message. It was both a prophecy and a warning.
“In a few days, my god will descend upon Gyeongju. You will have a choice. Will you continue to believe in your false god, or will you embrace the truth? The decision is yours.”
She assured them that it was entirely up to them whether they continued to follow Shinchonji. But no one dared to defy her.
“Oh, and while you’re here, I’ll make sure you’re protected. In return, you’ll need to carry out a few tasks for me.”
The cultists, hearing that Yuna would protect them, remained silent in reluctant agreement.
Thus, Yuna effectively took control of the entire cult, bending the members and awakened individuals to her will.
“I should have done this from the start! All that effort for nothing!” she laughed.
She used the cult to spread word of the prophecy and the promised day throughout Gyeongju. Since the group was well-organized enough to use the internet, they also began promoting Yuna’s message online.
“By using Shinchonji, our message is now all over the Gyeongju community!”
[And at the same time, you continued reaching out to other survivors…]
“Of course! Now, all that’s left is to demonstrate our power, and everything will fall into place.”
Bahamut sighed as he observed Yuna’s methods, though he couldn’t help but question himself.
‘Have I been too focused on doing the right thing?’
He wondered if he had been too restrictive in his approach. In normal times, he would have reprimanded Yuna for her aggressive tactics. But in a zombie apocalypse, with the nation in ruins, anti-establishment cults running rampant, and flesh-eating monsters lurking everywhere, there was no place for strict moral codes.
Given the dire circumstances, he decided it was necessary to adapt. If using a cult as a temporary tool helped their cause, so be it.
[Very well. It’s time to prove our worth. I promised to see this through, and I will stay with you until the end.]
Having already made his pact, Bahamut resolved to respect Yuna’s choices and continue supporting her.
“Ooh… I’m so excited. I can’t wait for the day we reveal the power of our god to all of Gyeongju,” Yuna chuckled darkly.
‘Well, the cult setup is just temporary. Once the promised day arrives, we can shift to a more respectable structure.’
As Bahamut listened to Yuna’s laughter, he found himself hoping that things would indeed go as planned.
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