Subjugation Decree (1)
After days of deliberation, Bahamut's final decision was this.
"It's been issued."
"So it has finally come."
It was a strategy of granting a sort of grace period—a policy deferral. First, deal with the immediate raider problem right in front of them, then leave everything to his future self. Of course, the fact that awakeners could be artificially awakened was known not only to High Priestess Yu-na but also to the upper echelons of the Balhut Cult, so the executives judged it as a focused strategy of selection and concentration.
"...War with North Gyeongju, then."
"Yes."
In truth, the threat posed by the raiders operating in North Gyeongju was a frequent topic within the cult. Rather than surprise, they felt it was inevitable. No one questioned the subjugation decree itself that Bahamut had issued.
"...No one's panicking or calling it sudden."
"We all figured a showdown with North Gyeongju was coming sooner or later."
In response to Yu-na's question, Jeong Dong-gun—the military expert—stated firmly that a decisive battle with North Gyeongju was inevitable, early or late. From his position, Jo Sun-do was a dangerous figure, known for his brutality and cruelty. For the safety of the cult... no, the entirety of Gyeongju, Jo Sun-do was an enemy who had to be toppled eventually.
"We've heard plenty about his notoriety."
"Even now, civilians are risking their lives fleeing from North Gyeongju to South Gyeongju."
Lee Hyun-ah and Lee Su-ah nodded in agreement with Jeong Dong-gun, joining the chorus. In their eyes, North Gyeongju's tyrant could never coexist with the cult. Above all...
"But it's war, so no one can afford to slack off. Lives are on the line."
"We have Dragon God Bahamut on our side. Does the word 'defeat' even exist for us?"
"Hah. If you put it that way, what does that make me for cautioning you?"
Bahamut's mere existence was an unshakable bulwark. They believed that with him, every war could be won. That's why Hwang Geun-chul firmly countered Yu Su-seong's cautious stance: with Bahamut, defeat was impossible. Yu Su-seong sighed as if to say it was too much, but even he, the voice of prudence, was convinced that if Bahamut joined this war, victory was certain.
"No. God won't be participating in this war."
But Yu-na declared that Bahamut would not take part. The Balhut Cult executives looked at her in surprise, but there were no vehement reactions. They had all sensed it to some degree.
"Is that Lord Bahamut's command?"
"Yes. If it were a dispute between monsters or zombies, God would intervene personally. But between humans? He drew the line: humans must resolve it themselves."
Bahamut always drew a line at certain points. He stepped in gladly for matters the cult couldn't handle, but for those they could, he deferred to them. Thus, the cult believed he was upholding some ideology or conviction he held dear.
'Anyway, if Yu-na leads the army, subjugating Jo Sun-do is a sure thing, right? Fine. Let the cult handle it!'
In reality, it was closer to laziness—he didn't want the hassle of dealing with it himself, so let Yu-na sort it out. But since the cult was oblivious to that uncomfortable truth, we'll gloss over it.
"Perhaps God wishes to test your abilities."
That was the speculation Yu-na offered the cult. Of course, Bahamut had no intention of testing them; he simply saw no need to involve himself in Jo Sun-do's fight.
"To see if you can stand firm in the harsh world ahead."
Such thoughts never crossed his mind. He wasn't that profoundly considerate to begin with. But the problem was that he'd acted the part of a near-perfect dragon on the surface all this time.
"I agree. We must show that our faction doesn't rely solely on Lord Bahamut."
"He can't join every battlefield forever. If a fight comes without him, we need enough strength to avoid catastrophic defeat, at the very least."
The executives didn't question Yu-na's speculation; they accepted it outright. Even politicians like Park Cheol-gon and Hwang Geun-chul assumed Bahamut had some ideology, and that to uphold it, he'd sit this one out.
In this atmosphere, the Balhut Cult prioritized how to execute Bahamut's command over questioning it.
"Shall we convert the expeditionary force into a subjugation unit?"
"Yes. With the southern liberation front stabilized, we can recall the expedition to headquarters, form them into a subjugation force, and march on North Gyeongju."
The timing was perfect. The front for liberating villages near South Gyeongju was regaining stability. With secure rear lines and supply bases, South Gyeongju was fully prepared for war with the north. Once the expedition returned, they could immediately form the subjugation unit and deploy—troop morale was high enough to guarantee it.
"I'll join the fight myself, of course."
"The High Priestess personally?"
Above all, Jeong Dong-gun and the other executives stared at Yu-na in shock at her declaration of leading the charge. It was tantamount to vowing to seize all of North Gyeongju with full force.
"It's a battle without Bahamut. Awakener fights inevitably produce casualties, no matter how careful. I want to minimize that tragedy."
Yu-na had the sacrifices of war in mind. Even if the Balhut subjugation force was Gyeongju's strongest, the enemy were still awakeners. Variables could lead to severe injuries or deaths among the cult's own. She simply wanted to avert that.
"Of course, without borrowing Bahamut's power, I'm just a healer who mends wounds."
"No, that's help enough. More than that—your presence means Bahamut's presence, in the troops' eyes."
In truth, Yu-na's participation was a massive boon. She downplayed herself as a mere healer, but no one bought it. Her healing could restore minor injuries on the spot and, with enough mana, swiftly mend serious ones. It had cured reconstruction workers without aftereffects and healed expeditionary scratches in a flash. Side effect: troops and laborers threw caution to the wind, trusting solely in Yu-na.
"It'll boost soldier morale enormously."
But in a war with real-time casualties, a rapid healer like Yu-na's value skyrocketed. And with the cult's leader stepping up, troop morale would surge—a leader's courage inspiring multitudes, proven in countless histories and wars.
"Then, for war supplies..."
"No. I don't plan a long fight."
With their High Priestess committing personally, her subordinates couldn't sit idle. Lee Hyun-ah moved to prepare logistics, but Yu-na shook her head: no prolonged war.
"We'll capture North Gyeongju's king, Jo Sun-do, and his minions as swiftly as possible. That's it."
"But Jo Sun-do and his gang are cunning. If they sense defeat, they might flee to another region."
A head-on clash would be a Balhut rout. But the sly, vile Jo Sun-do wouldn't oblige; he'd abandon base and bolt at the first whiff of loss. Sure, they'd claim his abandoned North Gyeongju and assets, but the subjugation would be deemed a failure.
"That's why I'm stepping in."
"Pardon?"
"From Jo Sun-do's view, capturing me—the High Priestess—offers a chance at reversal."
Thus, Yu-na smiled boldly, offering the enemy bait. Fleeing meant abandoning everything, requiring immense resolve. He'd lose claim to 'King of North Gyeongju,' risk betrayal by underlings—calculations galore. But if victory seemed possible?
"If he's lucky, he might even threaten Bahamut with me as hostage. I hope he clings to that delusion."
"That's... bold, to say the least."
Capturing Yu-na could blackmail not just the cult but Dragon God Bahamut. Whether it'd work was doubtful, but with a contractor in peril, Bahamut might act unpredictably. Yu-na's plan was daring and risky—her life on the line, high chance of torment if caught. The non-combat executives eyed her with fear.
"Besides, I'm the highest-level awakener in the cult."
"Ah."
Paradoxically, cult leader Yu-na was the Balhut Cult's strongest awakener. Reminding her worried executives of that, they nodded in sudden understanding—even Jeong Dong-gun, who would command in her stead.
'In this era, forget old norms. Awakeners change everything.'
A new variable: awakeners. A well-trained one could wipe a platoon of normals effortlessly.
'Normally, a captured commander means defeat. Hide the brass, command from safety—anyone can die to a bullet.'
But now? A commander's valor could turn the tide. Magic introduced variables; durable bodies pierced bullet storms, single-handedly shifting battles.
'Awakener wars will transform warfare. One powerhouse might dictate outcomes.'
Even fresh awakeners shrugged off rifle rounds as bruises. Higher calibers? Unknown—but they'd wear protection, not fight naked. Jeong Dong-gun mused that one awakener might end wars single-handedly.
'Like the fierce generals of history.'
He knew well: history's great warriors had reversed hopeless odds with courage alone.