Serabeol (1)
Heo Jin-ho wrapped up only the most urgent business and purges in Daegu before hurrying straight back to Balhut Cult headquarters. After all, his mere presence in Daegu was enough to arouse suspicions within the cult—and Daegu had indeed been his power base. Considering the many holdouts in Daegu who still trusted and followed him, his return could be framed as a king's homecoming, strengthening his independence.
That was precisely why he'd finished the essentials and returned: to prove Daegu belonged to the Balhut Cult.
'That would be trouble.'
If he wanted independence from Balhut Cult, he could seize the cult's police forces stationed in Daegu right now and demand separation. It was entirely feasible. In the pre-apocalypse world, he'd be branded disloyal, faithless, untrustworthy. But this was the apocalypse. Betrayal and double-crossing were commonplace; contracts were broken without a second thought. In such times, failing to betray when the opportunity was ripe made you the fool.
'But Balhut Cult is stronger than they seem. Can't underestimate them. And that Geas Scroll—it's the real deal.'
Betraying someone you could handle was one thing; stabbing the back of an untouchable foe was just begging them to kill you. He'd seen Balhut Cult's power up close many times over. They truly had the might to found a new nation, just as they claimed. Betraying them meant Heo Jin-ho—and all of Daegu—wagering their lives, then fighting them head-on indefinitely. He had no confidence in winning that war, no desire to end up like those traitorous "able mushrooms" who'd crossed him, and no intention of following their fate.
'Even if I betrayed them, I'd just be some minor warlord hunkered in Daegu. But cooperating fully? I'd be a founding merit, wouldn't I?'
Exactly. Betrayal required profit; pointless betrayal was for beasts. Even those Seoul remnants of the old government had stabbed Kim Su-ho in the back for their own gain—if he'd served their interests, they'd never have dreamed of it. Heo Jin-ho knew betraying Balhut Cult now would leave him a lone warlord, offering Daegu no further benefit. Cooperating, on the other hand, profited both Daegu and him personally. And with nation-building underway, this was his golden chance to etch his name among the founding fathers.
"Oh? Back sooner than expected."
"Yes. My place is my place—I wanted to avoid any suspicions from the cult as much as possible."
"Fair enough. It's a position ripe for going independent, after all."
Founding merit—his name on the list! The mere thought sent thrills through him; Heo Jin-ho's ambition for honor was fierce. Back in Gyeongju, he'd secured an audience with Yu-na as Daegu's mayor. Seeing him return after only the bare necessities, she noted his speed, and he gave a wry smile, acknowledging his precarious spot. She nodded, calmly outlining Balhut Cult's demands for Daegu.
"As I said before, we seek a federation—a nation with Balhut Cult at the helm. We'd like Daegu to join. From now on, Daegu will serve as our shield against external threats."
"Understood. The Daegu provisional government agrees. We'll fight on the front lines for you. It's what we're used to anyway."
"Excellent. Your names will go on the founding merit list."
This bound Daegu irrevocably to Balhut Cult—but in exchange, they became founding fathers of the new nation. With Yu-na's promise secured, Heo Jin-ho and his officials stood to rise high in the fledgling state. He'd have to abandon his warlord status, but the rewards more than compensated—no complaints there.
'Now Daegu's the cult's frontline. I can demand more support.'
Best of all, Daegu was now Balhut Cult's vanguard. To use it as a shield, the cult would have to invest heavily—and that meant profit for Daegu. Reconstruction-starved Daegu needed supplies most, and Balhut Cult had free access to America's vast stockpiles.
"What about the others?"
"Pohang agreed ages ago. Ulsan's just the North Ulsan zone, so it's basically Gyeongju, Pohang, all of Daegu, and bits of Ulsan mashed together."
The new nation united Gyeongju, Pohang, greater Daegu, and northern Ulsan. It crowned them Yeongnam's dominant force, a hegemon worthy of the Korean Peninsula. As a standalone power, though...
"I see. Still, that puts us second only to Kim Su-ho among peninsula forces."
"Quite the leap."
One step below Kim Su-ho, who held half of Seoul. If he was first, Balhut Cult was second—but Choi Yu-na saw it as triumphant growth, untroubled by the ranking. Who else but the inheritor of Korea's legacy could claim first? As the saying went, even ruined wealth lasted three years; Korea's inheritance proved vast. The flaw? Multiple claimants, all knives-out for Kim Su-ho's share.
"Anyway, it's time you learned—now that you're one of us. There's something I need to tell you."
"What is it?"
"About the god we serve."
Next came showing Heo Jin-ho—the new Daegu overseer—the Dragon God. Yu-na offered him an audience with Bahamut, and he replied earnestly, brow furrowed in curiosity.
"A god? The one from the rumors? Balhut Cult calls it the Dragon Mountain, right?"
"You've done your homework."
Rumors abounded: Balhut Cult worshiped a real Dragon God that manifested, aiding them. Most dismissed the descent videos as game CGI—no one could name the game, though.
'Everyone waved it off as CGI. But no one could pinpoint the source.'
In a fantastical apocalypse, divine intervention wasn't implausible. Heo Jin-ho figured the rumors held water. Evidence like those videos—dismissed as fake, yet sourceless—lingered in his mind.
"If not for the apocalypse, I'd call a Dragon God pure fantasy."
"And now?"
"Now? Anything's possible. I'd say, yeah, that tracks."
So he trusted Yu-na and awaited the Dragon God.
"Then allow me to guide you."
Yu-na led him to Bahamut's temple.
"...Welcome. Yu-na's told me much about you."
"Ha. Hahahahaha."
Heo Jin-ho could only laugh hollowly at the colossal presence.
"No wonder surpassing Gyeongju was a pipe dream. Utter delusion!"
Bahamut's sheer aura crushed him from crown to toe, pulverizing his lingering warlord pride to dust. He berated his past ambitions as foolish fantasies.
"Cooperate? After this, only an idiot would refuse."
With such a guardian, survival demanded loyalty. Vowing eternal fealty—never to betray—Heo Jin-ho bared his crown to Yu-na. She nodded approval, glancing at Bahamut.
With Heo Jin-ho submitted, one matter remained...
"Then, Bahamut. Name the nation we're about to found."
The nation's name—the crowning rite of founding. Heo Jin-ho lifted his head, speaking up.
"Such an important task... Ah, no issue."
He started to question the levity, then locked eyes with the Dragon God and understood. What better than a name from the Dragon God himself? Symbolic perfection, proof of divine favor—this rite belonged to Bahamut alone.
'I-it's finally here!'
Bahamut, however, broke into cold sweat at Yu-na's words, tensing like a final boss spawn. This wasn't new; it'd arisen casually post-cult founding, brushed off as non-urgent. But time had passed without idleness...
"Draw from Korea's ancient history. How about Serabeol?"
"Serabeol."
"Not bad. Actually, perfect?"
He'd prepared somewhat, having half-conquered Yeongnam. They drew from history: Serabeol, ancient Silla's capital—and synonymous with Silla itself. For the rising Balhut federation, it signaled iron will to unify future cities under one banner.
'Eh, it's Silla turf anyway. Serabeol evokes that.'
No lofty intent—just Gyeongju roots. Yep, don't expect profundity from this fool.
"The Dragon God decrees: our nation shall be Serabeol."
"Ancient Silla's name. Splendid."
The cabinet accepted without fuss, thanks to the divine tag. Thus, under Serabeol, Gyeongju, Pohang, Daegu, and northern Ulsan united as a federation.