118. Reform Steven... No, America's Proposal Was Profoundly Shocking
Reform Steven... no, the proposal from America was profoundly shocking. It offered the Balhut Cult a chance to participate in the historic moment of rebuilding an international organization—a perfect opportunity to make a proper debut on the global stage. Above all, amid the struggles of nations fighting to survive this apocalypse, no one had expected talk of reconstructing an international body to emerge so soon.
But the proposer is the problem. I can't decide something this weighty on my own. I should consult the cabinet.
Of course, the proposers were the suspiciously dubious Protector and the Orleans Saintess, even more questionable than the Balhut Cult itself. Bahamut didn't agonize over it alone.
"In that vein, Special Envoy Steven David asked me to help establish this international organization. He said humanity needs a light."
"You can just feel that the Protector and the Saintess who proposed rebuilding the international organization are brimming with ulterior motives. In truth, this isn't a bad thing for our Balhut Cult. It's a golden opportunity for us to become founders of a new international body as well. The issue is what they think of us. From what I've heard, both have serious problems. Is cooperating with them really wise?"
Not only High Priestess Choi Yu-na but every available executive was summoned. Bahamut informed them of Steven's proposal to rebuild the international organization. The first to react to Bahamut's explanation was Hwang Geun-chul. He found the proposal appealing but voiced concerns by pointing out the problematic nature of its proponents.
No matter the benefits, if the advocates were tainted, it warranted deep consideration.
"I still believe there's hope for humanity. Even if the proposers are problematic, as Hwang Geun-chul says, their idea itself isn't bad, is it?"
In contrast, Park Cheol-gon opposed Hwang Geun-chul, arguing that even if the proposers were flawed, their stated ideal wasn't evil. Indeed, the Protector and Saintess's actions and tendencies were the issues; the notion of establishing an international organization and their professed ideology were filled with positive words rather than anything malicious. Even if criticized as overly idealistic, one couldn't outright call the ideal itself bad.
The question was whether those two factions truly intended to act on it. Park Cheol-gon judged they wouldn't dare go rogue with so many eyes watching.
"I think it's not bad either. It's proof the world is normalizing, after all."
Balhut Cult leader Yu-na agreed with Park Cheol-gon, candidly sharing her view that it was a decent proposal. Considering the wish she'd voiced to Bahamut upon contracting, wasn't rebuilding an international organization essentially the world's normalization she'd dreamed of? Even if the proposers were suspect, refusing to help might delay that dream indefinitely.
"I strongly empathize with this proposal."
Thus, Yu-na declared her agreement, as if persuading Bahamut. If there's a problem, we fix it—that's all. If the advocates were the issue, they could correct it. They'd gain America's cooperation too, and with Dragon God Bahamut, it was surely solvable, she believed.
"But what are your thoughts, Lord Bahamut?"
She didn't pressure the Dragon God to participate. He was her absolute faith; even if his choice diverged from her desires, she trusted it wouldn't be wrong. Still, her wish for swift normalization shone through strongly here.
"If the international organization is rebuilt and we join it... must we inscribe our name upon it?"
As Yu-na spoke, Bahamut—who had quietly listened to the advisors—finally addressed the international organization's reconstruction. Speaking as if its revival were certain, he asked what the Balhut Cult should do in such a rebuilt body.
Lord Bahamut judges the reconstruction as a done deal.
To him, the rebuilding itself poses no issue. But I wonder if that organization will function normally once rebuilt.
The two political leaders interpreted it as Bahamut foreseeing the future with his divine intellect and all-seeing eyes. Since the Dragon God said so, they pondered deeply what the Balhut Cult should do if the organization stood before them.
"I believe we should inscribe our name. If it truly succeeds, that body could legitimize us as the sole nation on the peninsula."
"I agree with Hwang Geun-chul. If reconstruction succeeds, we should join from the outset, cooperating beforehand to claim our place."
Both political leaders strongly favored joining. If the international organization truly revived, it was a massive opportunity for the Balhut Cult. They could gain recognition as the legitimate government on the peninsula internationally and assert themselves as the only such entity locally. Naturally, backchannel negotiations with joining nations would be needed, but the duo saw no issue.
We have...
Bahamut coins.
This mysteriously born coin from the apocalypse would give them huge leverage in negotiations. Recent rumors spoke of new minerals from Bahamut's temple, but until officially unveiled by Bahamut himself, the coins were their prime bargaining chip. Yet Park Cheol-gon and Hwang Geun-chul believed they sufficed for dominance.
"You both share similar views. Hasn't the grand coalition cabinet ended? Can't you offer differing opinions now?"
"Haha, our two factions do align sometimes."
"This offers ample gain, so we've aligned with Yongsinhoe."
As both voiced identical sentiments, Bahamut noted the grand coalition's end, suggesting no need for uniformity. But the leaders saw too much benefit to disagree.
Officially, we've ended the grand coalition externally.
Unofficially, it persists.
Bahamut's recent mention of the coalition wasn't fully dissolved internally. The parties had tacitly agreed to maintain a non-coalition facade officially while effectively continuing it. They'd reverted to a two-party system like pre-apocalypse, but with the cult's territories aside, the rest was apocalypse-ravaged chaos—wise to keep unified decision-making via unofficial coalition.
Why bother with this hassle?
Damn those extra-parliamentary parties... no, they officially made treason their party line.
Dragon Slayer? Dragon Slayer what? Have they forgotten our lord is the Dragon God? What lack of conscience is this?
It stemmed from extra-parliamentary parties desperate for power. To seize the regime, they'd spewed far-right or far-left rhetoric, including madness that reached Balhut Cult ears. Initially dismissed as attention grabs, not serious ideology—tolerated under free speech—they'd escalated to declaring it party doctrine sincerely.
Calls to slay Dragon God Bahamut as official policy. Their ravings inevitably reached him.
"What? That's free speech? Isn't this democracy too? Fine, let's brush it off as trivial. Yeah... ...I don't know. That's scary."
Bahamut had laughed it off, guaranteeing their speech, but it was outright treason. Ignoring founding ideals, they targeted the head of state—the Dragon God. The coalition had been horrified. Not scripted WWE, but genuine UFC punches at the cult.
Grateful Bahamut downplayed it, they ended the official coalition partly for this. Could they laugh off repeats?
"Lord Bahamut laughed it off, but that's treason."
"Exactly, conspiracy to rebel. Threatening to assassinate the head of state."
Bluntly, it was treason. Unable to ignore the extras' rampage, the coalition split into two parties to curb far-right and far-left sentiments, tacitly maintaining unity. They'd divided roles to suppress extremists.
"We can't arrest them all."
"Make their rants youthful indiscretions to overlook!"
Many extras were young, the cult's future. Better guide them to healthy activities than jail for treason—dooming the nation's youth.
"At least approximate a two-party or coalition system."
"Consult Lord Bahamut first on key matters."
"No fratricide."
"Or do we even have those balls now?"
"Fair point."
Thus the two factions formed. No clashes or infighting—just forced division when supposed WWE extras swung real UFC haymakers.
"Yongsinhoe supports reviving the international organization. If it recognizes us, our rule solidifies on bedrock!"
"Heonmin Democratic Party concurs. Even if proposers unsettle, their ideals shine. Pursuing them in this apocalypse harms us not—I'm certain."
Pre-apocalypse conservatives reformed as Yongsinhoe; liberals as Heonmin Democratic Party. Suited to the apocalypse, with evident deliberation in names.
"We hope Lord Bahamut himself inscribes the name."
True to name, Yongsinhoe revered Bahamut as monarch. They valued the Dragon Priestesses too, but prioritized the God, craving his direct involvement. They sought more intervention in needs, their support birthing the party—reflecting internal voices.
"No, we beseech Priestess Yu-na and Seol-hwa represent over Lord Bahamut."
Conversely, Heonmin Democratic Party prioritized the Dragon Priestesses. They didn't exclude Bahamut like Yongsinhoe did Priestesses—consulting him on key moments, aligning there—but daily favored Priestesses' views. They saw Priestesses as Bahamut's elected proxies, his delegated monarchs. Many supported Yu-na over Bahamut; it reflected internal sentiments well.
International org is a real deal! Then charge in headfirst!
Yet Bahamut seemed oblivious to their profundity, simply thinking it a sure thing—easy mode. Admiration truly farthest from understanding, it seemed. Fact.