194. Regular Report
The evaluations from each Hwarang who received their Dragon Knight Armor were...
"I suddenly want to have a rider battle!"
"You too?"
"Me too!"
Word spread like wildfire not just within the Hwarang ranks but throughout Serabeol itself, sending the unit's popularity skyrocketing. It was only natural—the armor's design was perfect, satisfying everyone from those craving promotion and honor to even the ones just chasing bigger paychecks. Pride swelled in their hearts at being the Dragon Priestess's ace in the hole, her direct imperial guard. They itched to don the armor and charge into battle at her side, like kids unwrapping a heroic robot toy. Morale soared without limit, and they eagerly awaited the training sessions to wield it.
"To think Lord Bahamut made it himself..."
Above all, what filled them with the greatest pride was that no one less than the Dragon God Bahamut had personally crafted it for the Hwarang. That fact alone gave them a story to make anyone turn their head in envy, boosting satisfaction sky-high. But...
"So, what now?"
"Yeah, right?"
The one problem was that while it inflated Hwarang pride, the ways to actually use that power were far too limited. They had this flashy, badass war machine, but nowhere to deploy it? What kind of nonsense was that? Sure, in this apocalypse, there should be plenty of places to fight—but reality around Serabeol had no worthy enemies left.
"Monsters?"
"Civilian hunters wiped 'em all out. Rumors say they even dried up the breeding stock."
"Ah! I'm dying to let civilians join in right now! 'Non-interference' was bullshit!"
Mountain-dwelling monsters? Hunters chasing quick riches had hunted them to the brink, with tales of breeding populations decimated. Not quite extinct, but rare enough that you'd have to scour the hills to find one. Monsters that had barely clung to survival on the peninsula through stubborn breeding were now treated like endangered species near Serabeol, thanks to human greed. Foreign lands still feared them as humanity's foes, but here the government set hunting seasons to manage populations.
"Wild undead."
"You'd have to head past Daegu for those."
"……"
Undead, the peninsula's main scourge, were scarce even in the wild around Serabeol. During the Immortal Cult war, any that popped up got spotted by cult forces and turned into their troops—or preemptively wiped out by the military. Choi Yu-na, the Dragon Priestess herself, patrolled the territory installing Turn Undead spells and purification wards, leaving no room for undead to linger.
"...Join the Immortal Cult front, then?"
"Hell no. We finally got promotions—wanna throw ourselves into that meat grinder at Ulsan?"
"Exactly."
Join the Ulsan front? Jeong Dong-gun's forces already held it, and the Hwarang's commander, the Dragon Priestess, was in Gyeongju or Pohang. Everyone knew launching ops without her orders wouldn't rack up major merits. The "what now?" chatter bubbled up internally, but from Serabeol's view, stationing Hwarang bolstered national security nicely.
"At least with the Hwarang joining, defending the East Sea feels a bit easier."
"Does it?"
The areas mentioned so far fell under Yu-na's watch. For Seol-hwa, handling Pohang, it meant daily sorties to guard the seas—but now Hwarang reinforcements eased the burden on the vital East Sea trade zone. From day one, they embodied their mission, so Seol-hwa happily shared her relief with Bahamut. And what mattered most to her...
"Yes! I was always swamped, but now I get one day off a week!"
"Ah..."
...was the lighter load on herself. Bahamut nearly teared up at that. She wasn't on a five- or six-day week—she'd been grinding a brutal seven-day slaughterhouse schedule. Now it was down to six! A black-company hell improved, but the road ahead was long.
"That's more than enough. I actually want to work more."
"Er... well, you still need one day for self-care, right?"
Seol-hwa hadn't realized she'd become a workhorse. Feeling like a shady CEO, Bahamut urged the perpetually busy East Sea commander to take one day off weekly. Without the new Hwarang unit, she'd have kept burning out at seven days straight.
"How's Daegu?"
"The deal with Gyeon Gwan-im seems to be paying off. They're holding steady against outside influences since bolstering their forces."
Serabeol hadn't forgotten its duties. Bahamut asked Yu-na about Daegu; she confirmed the Gyeon Gwan-im judicial pact had stabilized the front.
"Good to hear."
The Gyeon Gwan-im deal was a gamble for Bahamut and Serabeol, but the Geas Scroll made it stick. No mere threat—it could strip an Awakener's core. He couldn't even dream of rebellion, serving loyally as Serabeol's dog.
"And inside Serabeol?"
"Some internal friction, but the Dragon God Association's partnering with the Heonmin Democratic Party to sort it out."
Internally, the cabinet-level Dragon God Association collaborated with the opposition Heonmin Democratic Party, tackling issues one by one. An unspoken consensus prioritized nation-building over political brawls; they'd tacitly formed a grand coalition. Laws that would've stalled in pre-apocalypse parliament sailed through. They addressed old Korea's contradictions with reforms, birthing new laws for the new era—fixing long-criticized flaws.
Cooperation reigned, except for one sticking point.
"The snag's on Daegu aid plans—they can't agree."
"Daegu, huh."
Parties diverged on Daegu support. The Dragon God Association prioritized completing Serabeol's reforms first; Heonmin Democrats agreed reforms mattered but pushed self-reliant defense without over-relying on Bahamut, ramping up Daegu aid. Neither side wrong, so deadlock.
"Where's the cabinet at on this?"
"Interested?"
When stalled, Bahamut or Yu-na stepping in cleared the jam—Serabeol's edge. Near constitutional monarchy, it leaned British-style on key issues, reflecting the sovereign's will. Bluntly, even the UK's nominal powers were real when invoked; Bahamut and Yu-na wielded theirs.
"It's the front line. We owe the citizens there safety and a decent life."
"Worried about Daegu public sentiment?"
"You could say that. In this defensive war, they're the ones suffering most. Least we can do is shoulder some of that pain."
Bahamut's intervention was warranted. They'd stabilized via Gyeon Gwan-im's pact and force boosts, but variables loomed—Daegu could crumble anytime. Deploying Yu-na's personal guard Hwarang was an option, but Bahamut saw them as her trump card to hoard.
"Tell the cabinet to budget proper aid for Daegu."
"Understood."
Daegu's requests approved for now. Bahamut ordered via Yu-na.
"We shall obey."
The cabinet complied without fuss. Grumbles of "not a dictatorship?" might bubble among members, but leaders Hwang Geun-chul and Park Cheol-gon were thrilled Bahamut took the lead.
Whew. Now I can sway parliament somehow.
The Dragon God spoke—some friction, but they'll buy it.
Most cabinet still thought republican, mistaking the constitutional monarchy. Some inwardly saw Yu-na as a cult leader or ignored Bahamut's constitutional powers. Ideological clashes stalled Daegu fixes—Bahamut's timely nudge resolved it. Both admitted Daegu needed investment; with the party heads on board, others griped but proceeded to budget.
To secure Serabeol, we need Daegu as our shield. Lock down the homeland, finish reforms—then we're truly free of old Korea.
Perfect. Serabeol owes Governor Heo Jin-ho's loyalty payback. And it shuts up fools doubting Bahamut, thinking self-defense trumps the Dragon God.
Hwang Geun-chul saw Daegu stability enabling reforms; Park Cheol-gon valued rewarding loyalty and slapping down skeptics. Both hailed the compromise a win.
Next up...
"What about overseas? You've been focused on Alicia lately."
"Hm? Oh, aside from frequent meetings with Miss Phoenix... nothing major."
Overseas news, as expected. Yu-na probed on "cute junior" Alicia; Bahamut mentioned Phoenix chats and brushed off issues.
"Phoenix, huh."
The phoenix was key too, by European rumors—a divine beast rivaling Dragon God Bahamut. It fueled domestic alarmism, spurring reforms.
"I've heard whispers—power matching the Dragon God. Reality check?"
"Mm. Definitely my equal. A real fight? Can't predict the winner. But I won't lose."
Yu-na pressed on the hype; Bahamut, a touch flustered, confirmed parity as always.
"No certainty of victory, then."
"Right. Neither of us lacks reason to fight anyway. But the Saintess wants Phoenix against me. That's the hassle."
No mutual desire for war. But Orleans Saintess aimed Phoenix at Bahamut—trouble. Alicia's counsel kept clashes theoretical, but the Saintess's provocations at her persisted.
"Guess we bump Orleans Saintess's threat level up."
Diplomacy demanded caution with her allies.
"Peninsula's a headache; now abroad too."
"Haha, no worries. Alicia's help scored big wins. Europe's bound to have a friendly faction or two, right?"
Alicia's intel net was gold; budding European allies meant gains for Serabeol.
"Take good care of my junior."
Yu-na bowed, entrusting Alicia.
"That wraps the report?"
"No. New intel on North Korea."
Thought the monthly done—but one blockbuster remained. North Korea, peninsula's former superstar.
"Ah, that. Regime collapsed?"
"No. Still standing."
Defying warlords' and enthusiasts' bets, it endured.
"Huh? Then what's with recent shakes?"
"Yalu River breached."
"That's..."
"Yes. Hordes crossing from the Yalu are ravaging North Korea."
The variable? Not regime fall, but Sinuiju/Yalu collapse. Meaning...
"Dangerous."
"Yes. We're now under major Chinese influence. Worse, Far East Russia might feel it too."
The peninsula was no longer undead-free from China.