Chapter 17: Meeting the Dragon
Translated by Vine | Proofread by Lust
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While the foolish dragon was busy with his strange plans, Yuna diligently carried out the orders he had given her.
“The god has granted his permission,” she said.
“…He really agreed? Given the nature of my request, I would have thought he’d consider it blasphemous,” Hwang Seung-man replied, wiping the sweat from his brow.
From Hwang’s perspective, it wasn’t an unreasonable request. However, for someone in Yuna’s position, it could easily have been seen as a direct insult to her faith. Yet, to his surprise, the dragon had shown unexpected mercy by accepting the terms of their compromise.
After all, the Balhut Cult could have easily forced their way through with sheer power, as so many other groups had done.
“Yes, our god is merciful. But meeting him right away is not possible,” Yuna explained.
“I understand. But may I ask why?”
Although Hwang accepted that immediate contact wasn’t feasible, he was curious about the reason behind it.
“Our god plans to unify all the survivor camps in Gyeongju. Since we’re already negotiating with the Gyeongju District Court, I thought it best to invite other survivor camps to meet him as well.”
“…That makes sense. Meeting each camp individually would take too much time, especially with how many there are.”
It was an efficient approach. In a crisis like this, time was too precious to waste on separate negotiations. Hwang nodded in understanding, though a sense of concern crept up inside him.
“But will they all be persuaded? There are bound to be people who still don’t believe…”
“If they don’t believe, that’s fine. It just means they won’t receive the god’s protection,” Yuna replied coldly.
“…I see.”
Her words, though harsh, were entirely reasonable given the circumstances. In a world where resources were scarce, no one had the luxury to help those who didn’t want to be helped.
As a leader, Yuna’s decision was practical, if not ruthless.
“I’ll be taking my leave now. Once the meeting date is set, we will send someone to inform the Gyeongju District Court,” Yuna said, preparing to depart.
“Wait,” Hwang Seung-man called after her, his face serious.
“What is it? I’m busy, you know,” Yuna responded, her expression showing slight irritation.
Despite her annoyance, Hwang felt the need to ask her one final question.
“Are you… happy with this?”
In a world overrun by zombies, happiness seemed like a luxury. But Hwang felt this question was important—was Yuna truly content walking this path?
“Of course. I’m very happy,” she replied with confidence.
“Because now… I finally understand why I was born.”
With those words, Yuna’s true mindset was laid bare before Hwang. She believed with all her heart that she had been born for this very moment.
“I see,” Hwang murmured, closing his eyes and nodding solemnly. He could say nothing more.
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A week later…
“I never imagined so many survivor camp leaders would actually show up!”
Hwang Seung-man had arrived at the location designated by the Balhut Cult, only to find himself surrounded by the leaders of nearly every survivor camp in Gyeongju.
From the most well-known camps to smaller groups, Yuna’s influence had clearly extended far and wide.
Even the leaders of camps that were normally in conflict were present, quietly waiting with either apprehension or anticipation for what was to come.
“It’s no wonder she was so confident,” Hwang thought as he surveyed the crowd.
The fact that even rival camps had gathered without any incidents breaking out showed just how powerful Yuna—and by extension, Bahamuth—truly were. It wasn’t just respect; they were afraid. The dragon that had appeared in Gyeongju had them all trembling in their boots.
“We will now head to Namsan, where Bahamuth resides,” Yuna announced.
“Namsan?”
“Yes. Please board the vehicles we have prepared.”
The leaders followed Yuna’s guidance, boarding the vehicles prepared by the Balhut Cult to make their way toward the mountain.
“The temple is deep within the mountain. You’ll have to walk part of the way once we arrive.”
“Ugh, a hike, huh?”
Though many of the camp leaders were awakened individuals, the idea of a hike through the mountains was not exactly appealing. Hwang Seung-man, however, was used to hiking in Namsan from his vacations, so he merely shrugged and prepared himself.
But then, something strange caught his eye.
“Wait a minute… Has this road always been here?”
As someone who had frequently hiked Namsan, Hwang noticed that the road they were driving on was unfamiliar to him.
“No, this was definitely just a hiking trail before…!”
That’s when the mystery was revealed.
“What the…?!”
Before their eyes, the unpaved trail ahead was being magically transformed. Bricks floated into place one by one, creating a smooth, paved road as they drove along it.
The vehicle followed the road as it magically constructed itself in front of them.
“What the hell… How are they doing this? Telekinesis? Or is it magic?”
Even the more experienced camp leaders, who had knowledge of various awakened abilities, were left bewildered by the sight. Hwang Seung-man watched in awe, realizing that this was no ordinary phenomenon.
By the time they arrived at the temple, his suspicions had turned into certainty.
“This is the entrance to the temple,” Yuna announced as they reached a large cave at the base of the mountain.
Hwang Seung-man, despite his many hikes, had never seen this cave before.
“Is this really where the dragon lives?”
He glanced at Yuna’s confident expression and then back at the cave. If she was telling the truth, then they were about to come face-to-face with the dragon.
“Shall we head inside?” one of the camp leaders asked, voice trembling with nervousness.
“Yes, I’ll lead the way,” Yuna said, stepping forward.
The other leaders exchanged glances, then reluctantly followed Yuna into the cave. Hwang Seung-man, with a determined expression, walked alongside them.
“This is… an ancient ruin.”
As they entered the temple, they were greeted by intricately carved statues made of granite. The walls and ceilings were adorned with strange symbols, and faint, magical lights glowed softly from within the carvings.
“All of this… it’s infused with magic,” one of the female magicians in the group commented.
“A dragon really does live here, doesn’t it?” Hwang thought, his heart pounding.
The further they went into the temple, the more surreal the environment became. Glowing flames, powered by magic, danced in the air, lighting the way toward a central altar.
“Up there… Oh, wait, I guess we won’t have to climb.”
A long staircase led to the top of the altar, but instead of making them climb, a magical escalator appeared, carrying them upward.
“What… this is amazing!”
The camp leaders, even the more experienced ones, marveled at the magical technology around them.
But when they reached the top of the altar, they froze.
“Dragons…!”
Standing before them were seven massive dragons, their eyes fixed on the newcomers. The sight was so overwhelming that the leaders were struck with fear.
“Don’t worry. They’re just statues,” Yuna reassured them.
“Ugh, you scared me half to death!”
With Yuna’s assurance, the leaders let out sighs of relief. The seven dragons were nothing more than intricately designed statues, although their lifelike appearance had been enough to terrify everyone.
Hwang Seung-man, too, was taken aback by the detailed craftsmanship. But his attention quickly shifted.
“So where’s the real dragon?” he asked.
“You’re standing right above him,” Yuna replied with a grin.
“Above…?”
Before anyone could react, a voice echoed from beneath their feet.
“Is this real…?” one of the survivors whispered.
Hwang looked down, and his breath caught in his throat. Beneath the transparent platform they stood on was the unmistakable form of the massive dragon they had seen in Gyeongju.
“I will now introduce you to Bahamuth,” Yuna said, bowing before the dragon. The other leaders quickly followed suit, dropping to their knees.
Hwang Seung-man, feeling the pressure of the moment, followed along, bowing deeply in the presence of such an awe-inspiring creature.
“There is no need for fear. You need not bow to me. You are guests in my domain,” Bahamuth’s deep, resonant voice echoed through the temple.
“I feel like a mere insect standing before him…” Hwang thought, overwhelmed by the dragon’s presence.
Though Bahamuth had spoken kindly, the sheer weight of his power was enough to make every human in the room feel utterly insignificant.
For a brief moment, Hwang regretted ever requesting this meeting. He had never felt so small in his entire life.
“I am Bahamuth, the being who resides in this temple. Recently, I made a contract with Choi Yuna and have decided to intervene in the affairs of the world once more,” the dragon introduced himself.
“I… I’m Hwang Seung-man.” “I’m Jeong Dong-gun.” “We are Lee Hyun-ah and Lee Soo-ah.” “I-I’m Park Cheol-gon of the Democratic Party…” “And I’m Hwang Geun-chul, of the Conservative Party.” “Oh god… I’m Yoo Soo-sung.” “…Cho Soon-do.”
One by one, the camp leaders introduced themselves, their voices a nervous jumble. The mere presence of Bahamuth had left them too shaken to speak clearly.
But the air of suspicion had evaporated. No one could deny the reality of the dragon now, not after standing in his presence.
“You all wished to meet me. Tell me, why is that?” Bahamuth asked, his gaze sweeping over them.
No one dared to answer at first.
Hwang Seung-man had been the one to propose this meeting, so naturally, the responsibility fell to him. But he was too terrified to open his mouth.
All the other camp leaders turned to glare at him, their expressions filled with blame. He had gotten them into this situation, after all.
Feeling their piercing stares, Hwang finally mustered the courage to speak.
“Because… we are afraid of you,” he admitted.
Bahamuth’s eyes softened. “I understand your fear. You are indeed weaker than I am, and it is only natural for the weak to fear the strong. But you need not be afraid any longer. I have no intention of harming you. I give you my word as Bahamuth.”
Hwang, along with the other leaders, began to relax, a small sense of relief washing over them.
“Th-then…” one of them started hesitantly.
“If you still cannot trust my promise, I will limit my interactions with you. In the future, I can choose to appear in a different form or convey my will through Choi Yuna,” Bahamuth offered.
The camp leaders sighed in relief at the suggestion. Bahamuth’s overwhelming presence was too much to bear, and the idea of a less intimidating form was comforting.
“Still… why do I feel… disappointed?” Hwang wondered. Though the negotiations were going well, something about the situation left him feeling strangely unsatisfied.
He glanced down at the great dragon below them, trying to shake the feeling.
“I welcome you to my temple,” Bahamuth said warmly, his blue eyes filled with a calm, gentle light that reassured the survivors that he bore no ill will.
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