Chapter 12
Thinking in reverse. Giving up would be so much easier. What in the world had happened? Seeing the devotees of a pseudo-cult prostrated around Yu-na, Bahamut felt like he was losing his mind. Yeah, just what the hell had gone down for things to spiral this badly?
Where the hell did it all go wrong? Bahamut recalled the moment they'd arrived in Gyeongju. Back then, following his instructions, Yu-na had reached out to various survivor groups to rally them. Watching her, he'd thought, Well, at least Yu-na's following my lead nicely. But that naive assumption shattered the instant she made contact with the first group.
"Do you believe in God?"
"What?"
At first, she'd bluntly asked random survivors wandering the streets if they believed in God.
"We haven't been abandoned by anyone. So even though we haven't sinned, the reason our lives are this miserable... it can't be God's trials, right?"
"Wh-what? Is this crazy bitch for real?"
She preached that the zombie apocalypse wasn't their fault at all. It was the epitome of...
"Then what the hell is all this?"
"Just bad luck."
"Urk. Are you one of those doomsday nuts screaming about the end times everywhere, like those Shincheonji freaks?"
It was straight out of a pseudo-cult recruitment playbook! Bahamut could only slap his forehead in silent dismay at the sight.
Shincheonji, of all things. When Korea's most infamous pseudo-cult got name-dropped, Bahamut was stunned and crushed on the spot. He'd never dreamed she'd get compared to them.
But I can't deny it! And that just pisses me off more!
Regrettably, though, Bahamut couldn't refute the survivor's insult! No matter how he looked at it, Choi Yu-na right now screamed deranged religious fanatic. She looked exactly like someone who'd get called Shincheonji!
Yeah. Still looks like a pseudo-cult nut. Ahahaha. What a clear sky we have today!
Objectively, Yu-na's behavior was that of the weird woman in Noryangjin spouting nonsense to passersby about "sharing good words." Bahamut hid his face in shame for her!
"Pseudo-cult? Ha. I'm no fool worshiping false gods or spouting false teachings. I am a Dragon Priestess, faithful to the one true God."
"You're no different from them! You can't change this goddamn reality."
"Our God has that power. So order will be restored. A new city will rise from these ruins. That's the world we desire."
"You're not making any sense! Just go—I'll let you off."
As if words couldn't penetrate, the survivor recoiled in horror and chased Yu-na away. Booted out onto the street, she stared back at the group's hideout with a blank expression. It was the look of someone who couldn't fathom rejecting such a "good thing."
Yeah, exactly as expected. But when did I become the god of a pseudo-cult?
Of course, it was baffling from Yu-na's perspective, but Bahamut saw it as par for the course. He lamented his sudden demotion to pseudo-cult deity.
[Hey, if it's too tough, you can quit anytime. There are plenty of other ways, after all.]
So he'd suggested she could drop it. After all these rejections, trying a different approach made sense. But...
"No, it's fine. I want to prove myself to Gyeongju. This is a trial of proof—a test of whether I deserve to lead the survivor camps here."
Ah, right.
Suddenly burning with resolve, Yu-na declared she'd convince them no matter what. It was unbreakable determination, but to Bahamut, he just wanted to yell, Why dig in your heels here of all places?
Fortunately for him, every normal survivor she approached rejected her overtures.
"The world's gotten so harsh. No one wants a new order."
They probably want reconstruction, but... your delivery.
Yu-na had contacted most of Gyeongju's survivor camps. Most politely refused, while others outright raged and shooed her away. Some even offered to take in healer Yu-na instead, but she turned them all down and left. In the end, with zero successes, she sighed about the world's cruelty—but frankly, it was half her own doing.
Bahamut debated pointing that out, but...
"And now people are joining pseudo-cults worshiping false gods! Filth not even worth glancing at before Lord Bahamut... exploiting this chaos to expand. I'm jealous—no, unforgivable!"
[Uh... well... no.]
While contacting camps, Yu-na had spotted a pseudo-cult using the zombie apocalypse to grow its flock in Gyeongju. They were succeeding, and she was starting to envy their methods. Seeing Yu-na morph into something cult-like herself, Bahamut decided against calling her out. Instead, he'd explain the situation objectively.
[First off, humans are suspicious creatures. Until we prove our value to Gyeongju's survivors, no one will follow us.]
"Then why do they follow pseudo-cults?"
[Obviously, because the cults proved their worth. Meaning, follow our teachings and gain something tangible.]
The cult Yu-na encountered promised food or protection from disaster upon joining. Bahamut framed it as real merit survivors could grasp, and Yu-na pondered his advice before nodding.
"You're right. I just told them to follow God with no conditions."
[Exactly. We haven't proven a thing. So no one follows.]
She accepted it cleanly. Unlike the cults' practical pitches, Yu-na's evangelism boiled down to "Follow Bahamut and salvation comes"—no perks offered. Realizing this, she knew it needed fixing.
"Proof, huh."
In a zombie apocalypse, what made people acknowledge or follow you?
"Power. If my God descends directly on Gyeongju, everyone would accept us."
[Hah?]
She figured Bahamut's descent would win them all over. Caught off-guard by the sudden leap, Bahamut frowned—but...
Wait, she's not wrong.
His 50-meter-plus frame appearing in Gyeongju would overwhelm every camp with sheer presence.
But that's the 'humanity's enemy' route, right?
He'd hoped for friendly human contact, avoiding any scenario where he showed up unannounced and got treated as a threat. That's why he'd contracted Choi Yu-na as his proxy.
But if I change the approach... maybe there's room for me to step in?
He wasn't planning total non-interference—he'd intervene when needed. Intrigued by her idea, Bahamut mulled it over and hit on something.
[Not wrong. Imprinting my existence on the survivors would make everything easier.]
"Then?"
[But everything needs order. First, set a date for my descent. Then inform every survivor in Gyeongju.]
Steps were essential: Announce himself and that he was friendly. At minimum, spread it to all camps...
[It's tough alone, so first, gather allies...]
"Ah, for that, I have a great idea."
The moment he suggested reliable comrades, Yu-na chimed in with her own plan.
[Huh? A good method?]
"Yes. We need manpower to spread the word in Gyeongju. Why not use those deluded fools who already believe in falsehoods?"
What the—?
Bahamut didn't get it at first. But Yu-na's actions forced understanding. With a bright, scheming smile, she approached a pseudo-cult evangelist preaching on the street...
"Take me to your headquarters. Now."
"Eek! Y-yes!"
What is this? What's happening?
Yu-na swiftly subdued the street preachers risking their lives for their faith, then used one as a guide to their church headquarters.
"Bring out your cult leader."
"Ch-challenger!!!"
At the church, she released her captives inside. Predictably, the report threw the cult into chaos. Awakeners bravely confronted the intruder, but...
[Y-Yu-na?]
"Don't worry, my Lord. I won't kill them."
A beam of light from her index finger pierced their bodies. The guardians fell one by one to Yu-na's "Yu-na Death Beam."
Having effortlessly downed the awakeners, Yu-na grinned and strode inside. The cult leader bolted in panic.
"Bind."
"Eek!?"
No escape! "Where do you think you're going?"
Too late. Her binding spell rooted him in place. He crumpled before reaching the door.
The devotees watching in horror fell silent, too terrified to scream.
"Wh-what business do you have with our Shincheonji?!"
"Ah, so you're Shincheonji. Explains why they've been undermining us. Even less reason to spare you now."
That anti-government group from the pandemic a couple years back? The one they were cursing us as earlier.
Known to the state as subversives, their presence shocked Bahamut. Yu-na mercilessly stomped the leader's mouth shut and declared:
"What did we do wrong...!"
"Shut up. From today, this church and all its followers are ours."
She claimed the lot. The leader recoiled at her audacity.
"What kind of outrage—"
"Got a problem?"
"N-no... no problem."
Law was distant; her fist was close. No negotiations—she menaced with her glowing finger, promising annihilation. He bowed in submission.
Yu-na beamed at the onlookers.
"Now then, to you who'll enjoy my God's protection from today: a prophecy. Yes, the promised day."
Confusion. Shock. Terror. Undeterred by the stares, she proclaimed her vision—a promise.
"In a few days, my God will descend on Gyeongju. Here's your choice: cling to false gods, or embrace the true one. It's yours to make."
Even hearing this, the choice was theirs. She permitted sticking with Shincheonji—but none dared oppose her.
"Of course, while you're here, I'll protect you. So you'll do one little thing for me."
"""..."""
Silence affirmed it, swayed by the promise of protection. Thus, Yu-na conquered a pseudo-cult, bending its members and awakeners to her will.
"Should've done this from the start! What a waste of effort."
She leveraged them to broadcast her prophecy far and wide. Even now, devotees spread it across Gyeongju. With internet access, they posted it online too.
"Using Shincheonji ensures our promise reaches every Gyeongju community!"
[And you kept contacting other survivors too.]
"Of course! Now we just prove our power. Perfect."
Bahamut, who'd watched it all, sighed. But her radical moves sparked a thought:
Have I been too fixated on the 'right' path?
Suddenly, he wondered if his righteousness had constrained her. Normally, he'd scold her harshly. But with national collapse, subversive cults rampant, and zombies devouring the living... Pure virtue felt impractical. Even pseudo-cults had their uses now. He aligned with her plan.
[...Fine. Time to prove it. As your contractor, I swore to see it through.]
Having pledged responsibility, he'd respect and join her choices.
"Heh... heheheheh. Can't wait. The day I show your power to all of Gyeongju."
She cackled wickedly in anticipation.
We'll use the cult structure temporarily. Switch to something normal after the big day.
Bahamut thought somewhat complacently as her laughter echoed.