76. Alliance (1)
The alliance was sealed, and the remaining treaty details would be thoroughly handled through internal consultations with the staff. For Yuna, the pontiff of the Balhut Cult who needed to make a public appearance, and Steven, the U.S. special envoy with full powers, their official duties were essentially complete. Yes, all public business was done.
"Well then. Now we have the meeting we've truly been waiting for."
"Meeting?"
Steven dropped his special envoy facade and gazed at Yuna with eyes brimming with anticipation. Yuna recoiled slightly, as if the intensity of his eager stare was burdensome, and repeated his words.
"I mean Bahamut, the Dragon God whom the Balhut Cult serves."
"Do you all truly believe in Him?"
Steven's side had brought up the Dragon God first. Yuna, who had rarely heard anyone mention Bahamut unprompted, narrowed her eyes slightly and asked if he believed.
"Some of us still doubt that video, but with the apocalypse upon us, what's so surprising about a dragon appearing?"
As Yuna hoped, Steven flashed a broad smile and shrugged it off—what did one or two dragons matter in this fantastical end-times reality?
In truth, there were skeptics in the U.S. who dismissed the Dragon God Bahamut as unrealistic, impossible.
But once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth. The Dragon God Bahamut exists!
Like the words of that world-famous detective, after investigating and compiling data on the dragon's existence, America had concluded—even if it defied logic—that Bahamut was real. The White House still harbored doubters, but Steven David believed in Him wholeheartedly. That's why, at such a young age, he'd been appointed special envoy and crossed the Pacific to seek out the Balhut Cult.
My faith wasn't wrong!
Seeing his conviction reaffirmed Yuna's own actions. After all this effort, someone from distant lands believed in the Dragon God! She would have no regrets in this life.
"Heh. I knew at least one person like you would show up."
"Yes. In this reality, where our common sense fails, magic and mysteries are real. So I genuinely believe in the dragon from that video spreading across Korean communities. Honestly, in a situation like this, it might've been more disappointing if no dragon had appeared. Any proper fantasy needs its final boss, the supreme being—a dragon."
Steven cited awakeners' magic as evidence, affirming his sincere belief in the dragon as fantasy's ultimate overlord. Or rather, he might've been let down if there hadn't been one. Anna, standing beside him, sighed at that.
The dragon—known as fantasy's endgame boss and supreme existence. And Steven...
"So, may I meet Lord Bahamut in person?"
"O-Of course... Ah, hold on a moment."
He wanted to see the dragon with his own eyes. His voice was so earnest, pleading with Yuna, that she nearly agreed on the spot. But a sliver of patience held her reason in check. Habitually, she pulled out the Mirror of Foresight to contact Bahamut and ask his will, trusting that the one watching would give a good answer.
[No issue. With the alliance sealed, it makes sense to meet the special envoy face-to-face and converse.]
Bahamut replied that it was fine. Seeing the need for direct dialogue now that America was an ally, he permitted Steven's group entry to the temple.
"He says it's fine. I'll guide you. Seol-hwa, come with us."
"Yes, Sister Yuna."
"Oh! So you can talk to Lord Bahamut in real time?"
With Bahamut's permission, Yuna designated Baek Seol-hwa, another Dragon Priestess, to accompany them, and Seol-hwa followed without hesitation. Steven, astonished at how swiftly the temple visit was approved, asked if real-time communication was possible.
"Yes. Why?"
A lie!? No mana reaction at all!
Anna was the shocked one. Steven's team had come prepared for the talks, with jammers for interference waves and countermeasures against mana. Yet Yuna had conversed with Bahamut in real time, evading Anna's detection as a mana sensor.
Steven glanced at Anna, who shook her head. Even now, she sensed nothing—no precursor mana at all.
"Impressive! So that's how the Balhut Cult anticipated everything. Real-time intel on us through Priestess Baek Seol-hwa, right?"
"Yes. That's why we welcomed you without suspicion."
"That's... uncanny. Good thing we were really from the White House, or it'd have ended in miscalculation. But if we'd come with ill intent, it could've been dangerous, no?"
All the subtle unease clicked into place. If Bahamut had relayed everything in real time, Yuna's sharpness made sense. Steven's expression turned rueful, acknowledging the risk if they'd harbored malice.
"Lord Bahamut said so. I trust and follow."
"So He personally vouched for our identities?"
"Yes."
The Dragon God Himself had guaranteed Steven's group. Their actions and intentions were already known to Bahamut, relayed to Yuna in real time for response. Steven realized why she was so rational and quick on the uptake.
"Haha. For the Dragon God to vouch for us—exciting, yet a bit frightening. But an honor."
"Shall we head out?"
"Yes."
He called it scary, but his eyes sparkled brighter than anyone's. With petty tricks exposed, Yuna led Steven's group to Bahamut's temple. She brought fellow Dragon Priestess Seol-hwa; Steven, just Anna. They reached the entrance.
"A cave here? Fascinating."
"...Why are there power cables and water lines?"
The path to the temple, widened by Balhut Cult construction for easy passage, was marred by countless cables and conduits—an incongruous sight for a Dragon God's lair. Odd for such infrastructure in a remote valley.
"Haha, those are lines Lord Bahamut laid to supply Gyeongju and Pohang with electricity and water."
"...Fascinating in a whole different way. Not like the dragons from stories or comics."
Yuna explained Bahamut provided for the cult, earning a wry look from Steven. Not the mythical dragon behavior.
"Disappointed?"
"Sort of. The mystical aura fades with all this practicality."
He'd imagined a majestic entrance; reality's mundanity shattered that noble vision. Yes, Steven was a bit let down.
"Heh, don't worry. The mystery starts now."
"Really?"
She reassured the childlike Steven, promising wonders ahead. He lit up like a kid, asking if it was true. Anna sighed and spoke up.
"We're on duty, Steven."
"But meeting a fantasy dragon in person? I'm excited!"
"Sigh."
Official business was over, but this was Gyeongju, not America. As envoy, he should maintain dignity—yet here he was, boyishly thrilled. Anna, his aide, sighed understandably. Steven retorted that he couldn't not be excited and followed Yuna and Seol-hwa.
"This is..."
"A chapel for worship. A gift from Lord Bahamut."
"Hm. A massive building inside a cave—impractical, unless... Did He really gift it?"
Next came the grand structure inside the cave for cult rituals. Yuna said Bahamut gifted it all; Steven eyed the cathedral-temple hybrid in awe, deeming it too fine for a cave and questioning if it was true.
"Yes. A priest who saw it says He snapped His fingers, and it appeared like a miracle."
"Wow! I wanna see that!"
Yuna smiled lightly, quoting the witnessing priest. At the miracle tale, Steven exclaimed he'd love to witness it, venturing deeper.
"Ah, this way."
"Ooh, mystical."
Mysterious flames welcomed visitors, guiding them slowly to Bahamut.
"Ugh, stairs. A hassle."
"No worries. Stand here."
The altar loomed atop steep steps and a hill. Steven grimaced, but Seol-hwa assured him and guided him to position. A magic circle formed underfoot, ferrying him escalator-like to the summit.
"Magic too?"
"Yes. For visitors' convenience, installed by Lord Bahamut."
"Haha, convenience guaranteed."
Impressed, Steven reached the altar.
"Seven dragon statues... Not alive, good."
He was awed by the statues at first, then relieved they weren't real. But Anna paled at the suddenly palpable immense power.
"Oh. My God."
"Hey, Anna, what's wrong?"
She collapsed, invoking heaven, trembling and tearful. The violent force overwhelming her body shattered her composure. Her existence felt insignificant before that presence.
"Th-The bottom! Look below!"
Not hostile, she clung to reason for duty. She yelled at Steven to look down. Puzzled by her frenzy,
"Bottom? H-Huh!?"
He soon understood her desperation. Beyond the transparent barrier, a colossal dragon smiled gently at Steven. Bahamut grinned playfully, though Steven couldn't tell. Shocked by the Dragon God below, he gaped.
"Welcome to my temple, strangers."
"Uh, uh, uh."
Bahamut welcomed them, suppressing laughter—less stern, more mischievous than usual. Yuna and Seol-hwa bowed silently; Steven recognized him but was speechless, overwhelmed by the sheer scale and presence.
"I am Bahamut. No need for fear. Today is a joyous day—the alliance is forged, is it not?"
"Y-Yes?"
"Yes! A great day!"
Bahamut eased their dread, calling it a happy alliance day with benevolence. The pressure lifted; Steven and Anna relaxed, responding.
Whoa, He's huge!!!
Steven finally beheld the magnificent dragon properly. In the apocalypse's gloom, he'd abandoned boyish dreams—but giant robots, no, colossal creatures reignited a man's romance.