Somebody Stop the Pope – 112



Episode 112

4.

“I’ve prepared a lot of ideas! This is just the beginning. I’ve been up all night collecting responses to the Limen Church….”

I let out a small sigh as I looked at reporter Seo Tae-ho who had been talking in front of me for 30 minutes.

One of the hardest things in the world is to tell someone who is burning with passion to stop.

He’s been firing off ideas nonstop for 30 minutes so much so that if it were a real gun the barrel would overheat and melt.

“Please speak slowly while drinking some water.”

“Ah! Thank you.”

As I gently pushed the glass of water over him Reporter Seo drank the water in one gulp. Then he continued talking while turning the tablet PC screen to the side.

“I have an article I’m writing that I find very interesting. It’s going to get a lot of attention… or rather a lot of attention. Would you like to take a look?”

Can I just send it back when you say something like that?

I nodded forcing a smile.

“Please show me.”

Then reporter Seo immediately clicked on a file.

<Title: Limen changes everything. Even your hair roots.>

An ominous smell can be felt from the title.

Reporter Seo continued his explanation in an excited voice.

“There is a very interesting rumor going around in the community of the Limen Church these days. It is a rumor related to the sacred stone bracelets that His Holiness has distributed to the believers this time.”

“Has the rumor already spread?”

A lower-grade sacred stone bracelet made and consecrated by our new trainees.

Since the quality was not consistent yet we decided to test the effectiveness by randomly selecting regular believers from the church.

As soon as meaningful data is accumulated we plan to distribute it through the wired group.

Still an interesting story came out of reporter Seo’s mouth.

I straightened my posture and quickly read the article. Then the reporter’s kind explanation continued in my ear.

“People who received the Shinsungseok bracelet are leaving testimonies on the Internet in real time.”

Reporter Seo tapped the tablet PC again. Then an Internet cafe called <Ri-eop-juk> appeared on the screen.

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“This is a cafe called ‘Death Without Limen’. It is a place that can only be entered by recommendation from members and as you can see the faith of the members is very strong!”

As reporter Seo described the atmosphere in the cafe was very hot. No it was so hot that it was almost fanatical.

Praises for Limen and praises for the church leaders including me.

Their faith which at first glance seemed almost madness left me speechless for a while.

“If you look there are testimonies about the effectiveness of the Shinsungseok bracelet. For example hair loss patients are growing back and nights are happy again. Oh and there’s even a goddess who says her skin is starting to glow.”

There were already 20 testimonies posted in the cafe alone. Most of the posts were from people who had seen the effects and joined the cafe. It seemed like they had already become ardent fanatics after seeing the effects.

“Our faith in Limen changes our lives! I plan to prepare a feature article based on these testimonies. There is a saying called the Pygmalion effect…”

“Oh the performance is better than I expected. It exceeds my expectations.”

The reporter looked at me with a blank expression as I spoke. Then with his eyes wide open he asked back.

“yes?”

“These are the effects that are shown in the testimonies. They may not be permanent but they do have such effects. Of course the effects vary from person to person but the stronger the faith the more powerful the effects.”

The results were beyond expectations.

I was planning to conduct a separate survey to investigate the effects later but it seems like it was unnecessary to conduct a survey.

Because there are such good examples here.

But my words seemed to have been received differently by this fanatic. It only took a moment for the burning heat in his eyes to turn into madness.

“Ah! As expected our Lord Limen always takes care of us! I have to write an article about this right now. This will definitely save countless hair loss sufferers around the world.”

…In order to see the effect properly you had to have a basic faith in our church but I didn’t say anything about it.

Instead I smiled softly and asked him.

“I heard that this cafe called Lee Ri-eop-juk accepts members through a referral system. Do you know who has the member list?”

“Oh! I’m in charge of general affairs. The cafe manager asked me to manage the list so I have the list.”

“Manager?”

“This person uses the nickname Elora. He is a very religious person. He is also very knowledgeable about doctrine. He is also helping many people in their religious life. Here he is.”

Reporter Seo took out a document from his bag and handed it to me. It was a real list with brief information about the members.

“Thank you. I have something urgent to write to you.”

“If His Holiness needs it then of course we must give it to him.”

As soon as I received the list from him I immediately called Leo outside. Then Leo quietly entered the office.

“Did you call?”

Leo didn’t flinch at the maddening gaze of reporter Seo directed at him so I lightly wiggled my finger and made Leo put his ear closer.

And after handing over the list he spoke so quietly that reporter Seo couldn’t hear.

“Are there people on the list? You contact them yourself and check.”

“Yes. But this is…..”

I nodded slowly to Leo’s question.

“…Shall we call it a list of soldiers of interest? They are targets of intensive management. Anyway the honor of the school rests on your shoulders.”

Devoted believers were essential to the church but at the same time difficult to control.

It would have been better for us to have known about this in advance as we might have done something that would harm the reputation of the church.

“Understood Your Majesty.”

After Leo bowed his head and walked out of the office again I smiled again and spoke to the reporter.

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“Okay let’s continue.”

But why does this feel so uneasy?

…what did I miss?

5.

Reporter Seo’s story continued for another 30 minutes before it ended.

“I will stop here for today! Your Holiness. I have not yet fully shown you my passion but I will continue to work hard to show you a better side of myself in the future!”

“…Thank you for your hard work.”

It was a hellish hour. My lips were parched as I listened to him.

Besides he seemed to be more knowledgeable than me in his study of doctrine so I wonder where he got his training from.

When I first saw him at the Guro-gu Gate I had the feeling that ‘this person would become a fanatic’ but I didn’t know that he would accept the faith so quickly.

Still I don’t think it was a meaningless time.

Sejong Ilbo which reporter Seo works for is considered a semi-major media outlet if not a major one.

It was also a media outlet that clearly kept its distance from the major media outlets that occasionally reported negative articles about me and the Limen Church. The major media outlets usually wrote articles that were favorable to the Jeon Kak-ryeon.

I had no intention of saying anything about the fact that major media companies were among the companies that supported the large guilds affiliated with the Korean Federation of Trade Unions.

The original way is to bend the arms inward.

The fact that they were trying to keep us in check meant that the position of the Jeon Gak-ryeon was in danger.

I heard that the government is also preparing a big move against the Jeon Gak-ryeon so it seems that Jeon Gak-ryeon the first awakened people’s association in South Korea may be disbanded soon.

“Please take care of me in the future brother.”

In this situation it wouldn’t have been bad to create a media outlet that would cover our church in a positive light.

I reached out to reporter Seo and reporter Seo grabbed my hand with both of his with tears in his eyes.

“Brother… sir. His Holiness the Pope calls me brother….”

“In Limen’s arms everyone is a brother.”

“I won’t wash my hands for a while. Thank you!”

Reporter Seo wiped away his tears with his left hand. Then he spoke with a very solemn expression.

“I had a thorough discussion with the company before coming here. They said that if I could secure regular interviews with His Holiness the Pope they would definitely put my article on the front page.”

“Is just an interview okay?”

“Yes the interview with His Holiness the Pope is very valuable.”

If you think about it I only communicated directly through live broadcasts and I wasn’t that close with reporters.

I think that’s what made my interview more valuable.

But I didn’t really intend to spare the interview so I didn’t feel that burdened by that condition.

“The interview isn’t that difficult so I’ll accept it. Is that really enough?”

“That’s enough. An exclusive interview with the Pope would be more than enough. Then I’ll make sure to convey it that way!”

You can sense a strong energy in someone who is crazy about something.

I could tell just by looking at the reporter in front of me.

Reporter Seo put the papers and tablet PC on the desk into his bag.

“Always remember that your work and your religious life must always be balanced. Limen does not want his followers to have their livelihoods threatened because of their religious life.”

“I will keep that in mind again.”

After he got up from his seat he bowed to me three times in a row.

And he walked out of the office with much longer strides than when he came in.

“ha.”

I sighed and sat down only after Reporter Seo disappeared from the office.

It felt like a huge storm had just passed.

The more you deal with fanatics the more tired you get.

Still it was a meeting that could be evaluated as having had some benefits. Unlike Eden there are many ways on Earth to effectively promote the name of the church.

Although our church primarily uses YouTube as a means of missionary work I don’t think that means we should ignore other media.

As always the more speakers the better.

As I was sitting on the chair in my office taking a break Snow White who had gone out with Luna came back into the office.

“Did reporter Seo go?”

“Oh just now. We had a good conversation. I was planning on talking to the press anyway so you introduced me at a good time. Thank you.”

“I thought you might need it.”

I started to turn the knuckle I had placed on the desk with my fingers. Then I spoke to Snow White in a quiet voice.

“How long are you going to call me ‘you’ now that we’re already on the same boat? Even though I look like this I’m the Pope and I’m older than you.”

“Okay. Then from now on I’ll call you oppa.”

It feels a bit different from when Siyeon calls me oppa… but since Baekseolhwa isn’t a member of our church it’s an appropriate title.

“The world is finally turning right. Then I can comfortably call you Seolhwa. Seolhwa. But why did you introduce that person among all the reporters?”

Then Seolhwa answered as if it were a given.

“Reporter Seo is a fanatic of the Limen sect and above all fits in well here. I think so too Oppa.”

“…write it.”

I felt bad but I admitted it without realizing it.

I took a deep breath.

I feel like something is wrong with my life. Should I ask Limen to take care of this as well?

6.

Seo Tae-ho walked towards the parking lot with light steps.

It was the happiest day of his life. He was able to enter the temple and see in person the Pope whom he revered so much.

It was truly a dreamlike day.

‘I need to go straight to the company report to the manager and then meet the president.’

His superiors would be very pleased with him for getting an interview with the Pope and they would clear the main news section of the press for him.

And he just had to use it to spread Limen’s name even further.

‘I’m itching to write an article quickly…’

Seo Tae-ho arrived in front of his compact car which had been parked in the parking lot and opened the driver’s door with excitement.

But then it was.

“Mr. Seo Tae-ho.”

A low voice came from behind him.

‘A familiar voice?’

Seo Tae-ho turned his head at the voice he had heard several times. Then a large man wearing black priest’s robes was standing there.

It was someone he knew very well.

“What happened to Archbishop Leo…”

“It seems like you left something behind.”

Leo took out an envelope from his bosom and handed it back to Seo Tae-ho. It was the membership list that Seo Tae-ho had handed to Kim Si-woo earlier.

Seo Tae-ho who had received the list back without realizing it opened his eyes wide.

“I don’t know why you’re giving this to me again!”

Leo answered Seo Tae-ho’s question in a quiet voice.

“Didn’t I ask you to manage the list well? I’m disappointed Reporter Seo Tae-ho. Please manage it well from now on.”

“When did Archbishop Leo come to me… No way?”

“It’s as you might have guessed. I’m Elo. Please keep it a secret from everyone else.”

Only then did Seo Tae-ho realize why the man named Elo was so well-versed in doctrine.

A community of enthusiastic believers Liebjuk.

This place which appeared like a comet and absorbed enthusiastic believers was in fact an internet community run directly by Archbishop Leo.

“I would also like you to keep this as secret as possible from His Holiness the Pope.”

“Why…..”

“Educating you through the Internet is just my personal hobby. If His Majesty knew I’m sure he’d say something.”

Surely His Holiness the Pope would have been annoyed with Leo himself saying ‘Please stop raising fanatics!’ He was a man who tried to keep the good as much as possible when it came to missionary work.

But Leo knew.

Sometimes you need one passionate believer rather than ten believers.

Just as the Pope has a mission as a Pope it was his mission to nurture such zealous believers.

“I personally have high expectations for you. Please arm yourself with fervent faith. Become a believer who is a hundred times stronger than a thousand. If you do so you will be of great help to Limen and His Holiness.”

“Oh I see!”

Today too Leo faithfully followed his mission.

In this way future fanatics were growing rapidly.

Our Pope please stop this