Chapter 18: The Dragon’s Purpose
Translated by Vine | Proofread by Lust
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Seeing the gentle blue eyes of the dragon, Hwang Seung-man finally gathered the courage to ask the question he had been preparing for this moment.
“Then, trusting in your promise… What is your true purpose?”
The first and most crucial question—what was the dragon’s purpose?
Depending on the answer, not only the fate of Gyeongju’s survivors but potentially all of South Korea could be at stake.
“To fulfill the wish of Choi Yuna. Her desire, as she conveyed to me, is the restoration of order in Gyeongju.”
The dragon’s answer was surprisingly calm.
Restoring order. That wasn’t just about Gyeongju—it could imply rebuilding the broken order of the entire country. With so many survivors hoping to return to their former lives, no one could object to such a noble cause.
“………”
…Of course, not everyone was pleased with that answer.
Jo Soon-do, wearing a displeased expression, glared at Bahamuth. But under the dragon’s overwhelming presence, he quickly averted his gaze.
“Is this just Choi Yuna’s wish, or is it also your will?” Hwang Seung-man’s second question was just as important. Was Bahamuth acting solely on Yuna’s desires, or did the dragon have his own agenda?
“It is my will as well. I saved those in need, and I deeply sympathize with your plight.”
Thankfully, it wasn’t just Yuna’s will driving this mission. Bahamuth genuinely wanted to help the people and restore the world.
“So, you pity us?” another question from Hwang, probing deeper.
“Yes. From your perspective, you could say that I feel sympathy for your situation. But, as our perspectives differ, it’s hard to give a definitive answer.”
Bahamuth admitted that he did, in fact, pity the humans caught in the apocalypse. It was out of that sympathy that he had lent Yuna his power and eradicated the zombies in Gyeongju. However, he acknowledged that their perspectives might not align perfectly.
“This is going better than I expected. The dragon truly seems to be on our side.” Hwang Seung-man thought, relieved. Bahamuth’s calm demeanor and willingness to help gave him hope.
“Then, may I ask another question?” Hwang asked, stepping back as a woman raised her hand to take her turn.
The woman, Lee Hyun-ah, ignored the nervous whispers of her younger sister behind her as she boldly faced the dragon.
“Why are you trying to recruit us? More specifically, why did you choose to recruit the Gyeongju District Court?”
“To create laws and rules for people to follow.”
Bahamuth didn’t hesitate in his response. He wanted to establish order through laws—essentially, reviving the rule of law in the midst of chaos.
Even Hwang Seung-man, who had been listening quietly, was taken aback. A dragon—a non-human entity—was interested in creating human laws?
Lee Hyun-ah was equally surprised but quickly followed up with another question.
“But the laws of South Korea already exist. They’re still the law, aren’t they?”
“Those were laws created in peaceful times. The world has changed drastically, and with it, the old laws have crumbled. New laws, suitable for this new world, are required.”
Bahamuth countered her point easily. The laws of South Korea had been created for a time of peace, and with the collapse of society, new laws were needed to address the current reality.
“He’s right. I can’t deny it.” Hwang thought to himself.
The laws they had known were designed for a pre-apocalyptic world. In this new world, where chaos reigned and survival was paramount, new rules were essential. Hwang Seung-man felt a deep resonance with Bahamuth’s words, realizing that the old system could no longer apply.
“…Then, do you intend to rule over us?”
Lee Hyun-ah’s next question touched on a critical concern. In a country that had once prided itself on democracy, the idea of being ruled by a dragon could not be ignored.
“Do you mean to ask if I will govern you?”
“Yes.”
“No. I have no intention of ruling over anyone. If people choose to see me as a symbol of leadership, I will accept that role. But I have never sought to dominate anyone.”
Bahamuth’s response was straightforward—he had no desire to control humans. If they chose to follow him as a leader, he would accept their decision, but he had no personal ambition to rule over them.
Whether or not the dragon’s words were sincere was something the survivors would have to judge for themselves. But Lee Hyun-ah believed him.
“If he truly wanted to rule, he would’ve done it already,” she thought.
With the power Bahamuth possessed, he could have easily forced his will upon them. Yet, here he was, engaging in dialogue and offering choices rather than demanding obedience.
“This dragon prefers to settle things through conversation, not force,” she realized.
Even though she had asked difficult questions, Bahamuth remained patient, answering each one without a hint of annoyance. It was clear that he valued peaceful resolution over brute force.
“I have never been one to rule over others,” Bahamuth reiterated.
“Then, may I ask a question?”
Jeong Dong-gun, a retired soldier and leader of a well-known survivor group in Gyeongju, stepped forward to ask his question.
“If a situation arises where we must fight, what will you do?”
His question was direct—what would Bahamuth do if negotiations failed and they were forced into conflict?
Some of the other survivors didn’t quite grasp the intent behind the question, assuming the soldier was itching for a fight. But Jeong Dong-gun, serious and pragmatic, waited for the dragon’s answer.
“I would first attempt to resolve the issue through dialogue. I would seek compromise and understanding.”
Bahamuth responded without hesitation, stating that his first approach would always be through conversation and negotiation.
“To rely solely on force is to eat away at oneself,” Bahamuth added.
He emphasized that using violence to solve problems would only lead to self-destruction. He believed in finding common ground and resolving disputes through peaceful means.
In the chaos of the apocalypse, Bahamuth’s words might have seemed naive or idealistic to some, but not to Jeong Dong-gun.
“And if negotiations fail?” Jeong asked.
“If no compromise can be reached, I will resort to persuasion. If persuasion fails, I will seek a peaceful surrender. Is that answer sufficient?”
“I will follow you,” Jeong Dong-gun declared without hesitation.
His doubts vanished. The retired soldier bowed his head and pledged his loyalty to Bahamuth.
“I-I’ll follow you as well!” Hwang Seung-man echoed Jeong’s words, bowing his head in submission.
One by one, other camp leaders who had once wielded power and influence in Gyeongju began to follow suit, pledging their allegiance to Bahamuth.
“Is this for real?”
“Yes. I—and the Gyeongju District Court—will join Bahamuth and the Balhut Cult!” Hwang declared firmly.
“Do you have no pride at all?”
However, not everyone was so willing to submit. About half of the camp leaders voiced their discontent, accusing those who had sworn loyalty of lacking pride.
Their objections were primarily led by Jo Soon-do, who scoffed at those who were ready to join the cult.
“No. I made this decision because it’s what’s best for the survivors of Gyeongju. And Jo Soon-do, the reason you’re refusing is because you’re afraid of losing the little power you still hold,” Jeong Dong-gun shot back.
“How dare you insult me!” Jo Soon-do roared.
The tension escalated, but even those who remained silent couldn’t help but feel that Jeong’s accusation was accurate. Many of them hesitated because they didn’t want to relinquish the power they had accumulated during the apocalypse.
“Enough. I will not tolerate senseless fighting here,” Bahamuth said firmly, his deep voice cutting through the rising arguments.
The group of survivors had clearly split into two factions: those who had accepted Bahamuth’s offer and those who still clung to their autonomy.
If not for Bahamuth’s presence, it seemed inevitable that conflict would have broken out.
“The power balance in Gyeongju is becoming clear. The Balhut Cult will control the southern part of the city, while Jo Soon-do will hold the north…” Hwang Seung-man thought, assessing the situation.
Both of the politicians present quickly realized which side they needed to align themselves with.
“The winning side is obviously the south.”
The dragon-led Balhut Cult was clearly the safest bet.
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As the survivors began to leave the temple, they all felt the weight of the decisions they had made. The conversations with Bahamuth had been enlightening, and many had left with a new perspective.
For Bahamuth, it had been a resounding success. Without any major conflict, he had brought half of Gyeongju’s survivor camps under the cult’s banner. A single meeting had secured a powerful foothold in the city.
“Half of the survivor camps have agreed with us, but the other half remains independent,” Yuna noted as they returned to their base.
While Yuna wasn’t entirely satisfied with the result, Bahamuth shook his head and responded calmly.
“I never expected everything to be resolved perfectly from the start. Now, we will continue to make progress, and eventually, they will join us.”
“I hope it goes as you say, my lord. But some of them still denied your very existence!” Yuna exclaimed in frustration.
“Haha, it does not bother me,” Bahamuth chuckled.
Some of the leaders, despite seeing Bahamuth with their own eyes, still refused to accept him. But Bahamuth knew the real reason for their resistance…
“No one gives up power easily,” he mused to himself.
The authority they had gained during the apocalypse was too valuable to relinquish, even if it meant opposing a dragon. Others were merely holding out, hoping to gain better terms for their allegiance later.
“Still, I’m relieved it ended peacefully,” Bahamuth thought, feeling a sense of pride. The rehearsal had paid off—he had been able to answer their questions calmly, and he had avoided any major conflicts.
In the end, the results spoke for themselves. Despite his self-deprecating thoughts, Bahamuth’s strategy had worked, and the Balhut Cult had made significant progress.
“Now… the next step is to start the reconstruction and to persuade the remaining camps. It’s going to be a lot of work…”
Bahamuth rubbed his head, already feeling the weight of the tasks ahead. The city was still in ruins, and the unaligned camps posed a potential threat. They had a long way to go.
“Things are going to get very busy from now on,” Bahamuth sighed.
Both he and Yuna, as leaders, would have their hands full in the coming days.
“No! I’m looking forward to it!” Yuna replied brightly.
Her unshakeable faith in Bahamuth fueled her determination. To her, the challenges ahead were nothing more than trials to be overcome.
“I need to establish the laws quickly before Yuna does something reckless,” Bahamuth thought to himself, concerned.
Even though Bahamuth had everything under control for now, he could see that Yuna’s boundless energy and devotion could lead to trouble if not managed carefully.
He sighed once more, knowing that, as much as he wanted to rest, there was still a lot of work to do.
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