18. Why Did You Come to My House? Why Did You Come? (2)
Only after gazing into those gentle blue eyes did Hwang Seung-man seem to muster true courage, boldly voicing the question he had prepared for this very day.
"Then, trusting in that promise, I shall ask! What is your purpose?"
What was the purpose of the first dragon? He believed the fate of Gyeongju's citizens... and more broadly, the entire Republic of Korea... would hinge on it.
"To fulfill Choi Yu-na's wish. The desire she expressed to me... was the restoration of Gyeongju. In other words, the rebuilding of order."
The answer was unexpectedly mild. Rebuilding order meant restoring the shattered order of this country, didn't it? So many survivors already yearned to rebuild the broken system and return to everyday life—no one could oppose the banner of order's reconstruction.
"……"
……Of course, there were those inwardly dissatisfied. Jo Sun-do glared at Bahamut with a displeased expression but could only turn away at the sight of that colossal form.
"And does your own will align with that?"
Hwang Seung-man's second question probed whether Bahamut truly willed this action. If it was merely Choi Yu-na's wish—and utterly opposed to the dragon's own intent—then all their prior assumptions would need reevaluation.
"Of course my will aligns. I have saved those plunged into disaster and deeply empathize with your plight."
It was truly fortunate: this endeavor wasn't solely the will of Choi Yu-na, who had contracted with the dragon. Bahamut's will was clearly there as well. This dragon harbored the spontaneous desire to save humans.
"So you're saying you pity us?"
"Aye. From your perspective, you might see it as pity. But since our viewpoints differ, I cannot render a clear verdict on that."
Bahamut deeply empathized with—and pitied—the plight of ordinary people amid the zombie apocalypse disaster. That was why he had lent his power to Choi Yu-na without hesitation and exterminated every zombie in Gyeongju. At the same time, given the differences in race and ideology between Bahamut's viewpoint and that of the survivors, he left a kind of deferral, declining a definitive answer.
It's going better than expected, isn't it? He truly harbors goodwill toward us.
Yet Hwang Seung-man found even that ambiguity reassuring. He grew hopeful toward this dragon, far gentler and more favorable to humans than imagined.
"Then... may I ask what follows?"
"It matters not."
Satisfied, Hwang Seung-man stepped back, and the next—a woman—raised her hand. Introducing herself as Lee Hyun-ah, she ignored her frightened younger sister whispering for her to stop and questioned the dragon.
"Why do you seek to recruit us? More precisely, why recruit the Gyeongju Support group?"
"To establish the duties and rules that humans must uphold."
When Lee Hyun-ah asked about recruiting Gyeongju Support and the other survivor camps, Bahamut answered without hesitation: the duties and rules for humans. It meant the revival of law—and Hwang Seung-man, listening quietly, was greatly surprised that an otherworldly being like Bahamut cared about human law.
Lee Hyun-ah was no different, pressing on.
"But the Republic of Korea already has laws. Those are laws too."
"That was a tale of peaceful times. The world has changed drastically... crumbled. Thus, I deemed new laws suited to it necessary."
She countered that Korea's laws were still laws, but Bahamut rebutted: those were laws of peaceful eras. Korea had transformed utterly under the zombie apocalypse; its order had collapsed. New laws fitting the ruins were needed, he declared.
He's right. All of it rings true. I can't deny it.
……The dragon's response was irrefutable. Korea's current laws predated the zombie apocalypse... from the peaceful pre-disaster era. Naturally, they weren't crafted anticipating such a cataclysm. Hwang Seung-man, listening silently, deeply agreed: new barrels demand new wine. Hearing Bahamut, he became convinced that laws befitting this age were essential.
"...Then, do you intend to rule us?"
Lee Hyun-ah shared Hwang Seung-man's thoughts but posed the most crucial question—one perhaps paramount for survivors from a democratic nation.
Did the Bahamut before them... intend to dominate them?
"May I take that to mean 'govern'?"
"Yes."
"Nay, I dominate no one. But if the people wish me to reign as their symbol, I shall adapt. Never have I harbored intent to dominate humanity."
Yet Bahamut answered without pause: he had no desire to dominate anyone. Whether truth or lie was for Hwang Seung-man and the other camps to judge. But the questioner, Lee Hyun-ah, was convinced it was truth.
If he'd wanted that from the start, he'd have done it already.
Considering the dragon's deeds, if domination was his goal, he could have seized it long ago. No need for this tedious meeting—he could have forced submission by power alone. Simpler paths to rule abounded, yet this dragon had chosen none.
This dragon... prefers resolution through dialogue, not force.
Even now, he answered her impertinent questions one by one, without a hint of displeasure. Lee Hyun-ah realized Bahamut was of a gentle disposition, favoring dialogue over might whenever possible.
"From the beginning, I am no dominator."
"Then, allow me one question."
Lee Hyun-ah retreated satisfied, and next, Jeong Dong-gun raised his hand. Known among survivors as a retired soldier, he had rallied Gyeongju's ex-military, leading a group that asserted influence there.
"If faced with a situation demanding battle, what would you do?"
What choice would this dragon make if conflict arose? Other survivors didn't grasp the intent; some suspected the soldier sought a place to fight. But Jeong Dong-gun asked earnestly, undeterred by doubts.
"I would seek resolution through dialogue as much as possible. Present views, converse, and find maximum compromise."
Bahamut chose dialogue. Other survivors thought it a disappointing answer for Jeong Dong-gun, who favored force.
"Resolving by force merely devours one's own flesh."
Yet Bahamut declared without hesitation: force was self-destructive. He sought compromise through dialogue, not battle. Force was folly; if solvable by words, that path was paramount. In this apocalyptic disaster, such words were the ultimate luxury.
"If compromise fails, persuasion. If persuasion fails, gentle surrender. Is that sufficient?"
"I shall follow you."
Jeong Dong-gun declared his allegiance without hesitation, as if all doubts had vanished. He bowed deeply, pledging loyalty to Bahamut.
"I... I shall follow too!"
With Jeong Dong-gun leading, Hwang Seung-man bowed and shouted his pledge. Others followed. Survivor leaders and notables who had wielded influence in Gyeongju one by one vowed to follow Bahamut.
"For real?"
"Aye. I... no, we Gyeongju Support shall join Bahamut-nim and the Balhut Cult!"
"You spineless bastard!"
Of course, half assented readily, while the other half refused. Exactly half pledged to follow without qualms; the rest scowled, decrying the pledgers as pride-less.
"No. I've judged this the best path for Gyeongju citizens' survival. Jo Sun-do, your gang refuses Bahamut-nim only because you cling to your petty power."
"How dare you insult me!?"
Retired soldier Jeong Dong-gun retorted to Jo Sun-do's scorn: they refused surrender only to preserve their scraps of authority. Some took it as insult, others felt shame. Some brazenly calculated how to exploit the schism.
"Silence. I permit no meaningless conflict here."
Opinions split evenly; the dissenters and assenter separated into factions. Bahamut's mediation alone prevented clashes.
Thus the Gyeongju power structure solidifies. Balhut Cult's South Gyeongju versus Jo Sun-do's North Gyeongju...
Then I must join the winning side.
The two watching politicians now knew their place.
'Jeong faction is South Gyeongju!'
Naturally, Bahamut's Balhut Cult.
The survivors departed the temple. Each had engaged Bahamut in profound dialogue, gaining much insight. For Bahamut, it was a triumph: absorbing numerous camps under the cult without major strife. One conversation secured half of Gyeongju for the cult.
"Half the survivor camps aligned with us... but the other half refused."
Centered on Hwang Seung-man's Gyeongju Support, half assented to Bahamut's proposal; the rest rejected it, choosing independence. Disappointing for Choi Yu-na—but Bahamut shook his head at her dissatisfaction.
"I never expected perfection from the start. Proceed calmly with compromise, and eventually, they will join us."
"I hope it unfolds as you decree, my lord. Those people... they still deny your very existence."
"Huhu. It troubles me not."
Some leaders, having witnessed Bahamut, still denied him. But the core reason was...
Leaders don't easily relinquish power gained in disaster.
It was too precious to abandon. Some grasped the inevitable tide but held out for a better deal—protesting Bahamut's terms.
Still, it ended smoothly. Truly fortunate.
The rehearsal had worked; answering calmly without fear filled the fool dragon with genuine pride. The success was undeniable—a massive win that even mocked his foolishness.
The rest... begin reconstruction through these allies. Then persuade the holdouts. This will be arduous.
Reconstruction hadn't begun; the city lay in ruins. The unrecruited camps smoldered as embers. Tasks of rebuilding and persuasion loomed—Bahamut rubbed his aching head.
"We shall be quite busy henceforth."
Truly busy ahead. For Bahamut, and for Choi Yu-na as the faction's head.
"No! I'm actually looking forward to it."
Armored in faith for Bahamut, she saw it as mere trial. She declared eager anticipation, unperturbed.
Hm. Before Yu-na causes an incident... I must swiftly codify the laws.
Bahamut resolved to establish laws quickly, before Yu-na's well-intentioned mishaps brewed trouble. No matter how carefully he plated it, her mind brimmed with ideas for benevolent blunders.