Somebody Stop the Pope – 186



Episode 186

60. Busy busy modern society

1.

During the entire Rimen Church’s vacation period a lot happened in the world.

“Chinese civil war enters a serious situation. A total of 14 armed forces. Xinjiang Uyghur Tibet and Hong Kong declare independence.”

“Chinese Communist Party spokesman: ‘The mainland is still under our control… Surrender of armed groups in each region is the only way to protect your families.’”

“In major European cities such as Paris France and London England terrorist attacks by villains belonging to <Union> are continuing….”

“Operation to clear out <Union> bases near the US-Mexico border begins. Commander-in-Chief is ‘Barbarian’ Aiden Howard.”

Even aside from Northeast Asia Europe and the Americas which are reported in the news every day the situation was similar in Africa and the Middle East.

It looked like the whole world was on fire.

The chaos that started from these two organizations the Union Purifiers was spreading rapidly along with the new scenario <The Age of the Strike>.

There is also news that some economic experts are already considering whether to call this situation which is occurring simultaneously around the world a ‘great chaos’.

Collapse of the Chinese market due to civil war. Large-scale terrorism inflicted on developed countries.

These things will inevitably lead to an economic crisis.

“Every time I turn on the news it’s all negative news. I think I’m going to get depressed.”

Inwook who had tanned his skin while on vacation muttered while watching TV.

Inwook eating cereal with milk for breakfast.

I couldn’t help but sigh deeply at Inwook’s words.

“Honestly it’s been so quiet lately hasn’t it?”

“What if there were no gates or dungeons? World War III would have really broken out like this.”

“Little brother.”

“why?”

“Do you really think humans won’t start a war just because there are gates and dungeons?”

Even in the worst of circumstances wars happen.

In peaceful times be peaceful; in turbulent times be turbulent.

The justification for war is different but human greed is not limited by time.

Get notified for updates: https://discord.gg/93rmBjgP6B

Even in Eden which was on the verge of destruction by the demons it was the same.

Even in those terrible circumstances the war broke out.

“Greed is the problem.”

The conflict that starts a war is originally caused by human greed clashing with each other.

But this case is a bit unusual.

“Those who are hiding behind the scenes are pouring oil on the fire of greed. It is my job to catch those guys and bring them to the judgment seat of God.”

“Brother you seem a bit like the Pope today.”

“You don’t usually look like a pope?”

“What do you think hyung?”

“Who is as faithful as I am? I listen to Limen and help those in need.”

Inwook thought about what I said for a moment.

No is that something to worry about?

I’ve been doing a lot of good things.

Inwook finished the milk in the plate and wiped his mouth as he spoke.

“I’ll assume so for now.”

“For now?”

“If I don’t do that you’ll beat my back. Looking at your face it looks exactly like that. I don’t want to die. By the way hyung why are you coming to work so late today?”

The time is already 11 am.

Normally it would be time to go to the temple and do some work but today I was just lazing around at home.

It’s understandable that Inwook would find it strange.

But I also have my own reasons.

“I have to check something.”

“Leave it to me. I was planning on staying home all day.”

“When do you say you went out? It’s not that I have something to check at home but I need to check on myself. That’s why I took half a day off.”

Even if I am a lower god or something it is impossible for me to even take a break at will.

There are many steps to go through including obtaining permission from Archbishop Laparte.

The reason I’m resting at home today is simple.

Because today is the day my system gets updated.

[Time left until system update completes: 34 minutes]

I looked at the message window that was tucked away on one side of my vision.

A week has already passed.

Time really flies. Is it because the world passes by so quickly?

But it seems that Inwook took what I said just now differently.

He dropped the bowl on the floor as if he was shocked by something.

“…Can I be honest with you hyung? Is this a fatal disease?”

“What kind of illness do you have all of a sudden?”

“My brother said he’s not going to work and that he’s going to check on my health. Does that mean he’s sick?”

Join our discord and ping me to update more chapters. Discord: https://discord.gg/93rmBjgP6B

That sounds plausible.

Okay since we’re family I can be honest with you right? In-wook doesn’t have any friends anyway so there’s no way the word would get out.

I decided to be honest. And I spoke to Inwook in a serious voice.

“I am on my way to becoming a god.”

The truth that I confessed after mustering up my courage.

Inwook looked at me with compassionate eyes for a long time perhaps because the truth was shocking.

How long did that uncomfortable silence last?

Finally Inwook carefully opened his mouth.

“…You have a tumor in your brain. That’s why you’re saying such crazy things.”

“No really I…..”

“Or is it a virus that invades the brain? Just be honest with me. You’re strong so you can overcome it. It looks like you’re going crazy but what’s the big deal? You were crazy to begin with. Let’s overcome it together…”

Taaaaaaaahh …

I slapped Inwook on the back and said with a look of annoyance on my face.

“Just get out.”

“You were the one who said that crazy thing first. Why did you hit me?”

“go away.”

This is what it means to be brothers.

Inwook grumbled and headed to the kitchen holding the bowl in his hand. I sighed deeply as I watched his back as he walked away.

And then I lay down on the sofa and closed my eyes for a moment.

I suddenly felt tired. It might be related to the system update.

So I just took a nap.

How long did you sleep like that?

30 minutes had already passed and the message window I had been waiting for appeared before my eyes.

[System update has been completed.]

[Start]

The time has finally come.

2.

Didn’t Limen say that there wouldn’t be much difference?

As expected our goddess’s words were not wrong.

[Some features will be unlocked with this update. <Apostle Management> <Temple Construction> will be unlocked and other features can be unlocked by completing quests.]

The Divine Points system remains the same.

However there are now many things you can do with divine points.

In the past it was said that a temple could not be built without the Relic of Limen but now it is possible to build it with only Divine Points.

In other words expansion is now possible.

Instead the amount of sacred points consumed in building a temple is enormous.

After thoroughly checking every nook and cranny of the new system I went straight to work at the temple.

“Welcome Your Majesty.”

Leo welcomes me from the entrance of the Holy Land.

I waved my hand lightly and took a quick look around the sanctuary.

Although access control has been lifted the crowds are not as numerous as before.

There used to be a ton of tourists but now it seems like there are more pilgrims than tourists.

Most of the people who died at Ground Zero were acquaintances or believers of the Remen sect.

The numbers were definitely small since there were no tourists.

It’s not a good time for tourism.

Prices are skyrocketing and a civil war is breaking out in a neighboring country.

It would be a shame to get slapped if you go sightseeing in a time like this.

“Nothing happened in the Holy Land?”

“Yes Your Majesty. Thanks to the tree spirits of the fairies the sanctuary is cleaner than ever.”

“good.”

I headed to the temple leisurely escorted by Leo.

On the way to the temple many people recognized me and clapped their hands.

People who come to see me and pray.

There were many people praying for me like that in the past but this time it felt new.

Why?

[Someone’s fervent prayer is heard. You gain 10 Divinity points.]

[Someone’s sincere prayer is heard. 10 points of divinity…]

Because I saw that the divine points were accumulating in real time.

There’s only one thing that’s different about me than before.

Became a subordinate god of Limen.

The system itself kindly explained why this was possible.

[As you awaken as a lower god of <Limen> prayers directed at you will now be counted as divine points.]

Oh so those people are praying to me and not to Limen?

…Well that could be possible.

Because to those people I am much more familiar with the visible me than the invisible Limen.

But this feels a little strange.

Should I feel embarrassed now that I know you are praying for me?

“Your Majesty your face has turned red. Are you not feeling well?”

“Why is everyone so worried about my health today? I’m fine don’t worry. I’m just embarrassed.”

I continued forward only after disabling the relevant messaging feature.

After walking for about 10 minutes I arrived at the office.

On my desk in my office there was a mountain of paperwork that I had to deal with.

Even if I become a lower god is it impossible to escape this hell of work?

I should ask Raphael to give me an AI later. The documents are really the scariest.

“I have summarized only the documents that require His Majesty’s final approval.”

“There are too many.”

“Most of the documents are related to the Paladin Priests and Heresy Inquisitors’ training students inquiries about holy relics from the sanctuary including holy water and requests for military support. I can organize it to that extent.”

“Did you organize it yourself?”

“yes.”

“Leo is busy. He’s both an instructor and my secretary.”

“Please provide additional personnel…”

“Please take care of me in the future as well.”

Leo has to be by my side. If he has time I can’t even imagine where he’ll go and what kind of accidents he’ll cause.

I smiled at Leo sat down and immediately started checking the documents.

The documents related to the trainees were none other than those regarding the production of equipment using the dragon byproducts that had been brought last time.

A report written by Toby himself.

It was a report requesting that the byproducts obtained through dismemberment of corpses be made available for use.

“Combining Dragon Bone and Mithril to make plate armor… There’s no reason not to do it. But this is a bit novel. Making thread with Dragon Scale to make priestly clothing? Is this possible?”

I had fully expected that he would be making plate armor but the ‘Dragon Scale Priest’ written underneath was truly a novel story.

Leo answered my question right away.

“It is said that Dragon Scale can be made into fabric using Raphael’s equipment.”

“Is that okay?”

“Raphael showed it to me in person. I left a sample next to the documents. I think you can feel it.”

“I thought I had put a handkerchief down but this was it.”

“It is said that the highest grade sacred stone was mixed into the Dragon Scale. The report on the fabric is attached at the back of the report…..”

“I don’t think I need to look at it.”

Since it was made on a dragon scale there was no need to worry about its defense and since it was made with a divine stone it even had the effect of amplifying its divine power.

The best fabric.

I already thought we lacked equipment for our priests and inquisitors but Raphael’s technology is truly amazing.

I’m secretly looking forward to seeing what kind of monsters will emerge from that lab in the future.

After that I quickly looked through the documents.

“Except for the Gaeseong outpost distribution of goods is the responsibility of the Yuseon Group so I’ll ask them for now. Request for support? This came from China.”

“Yes.”

“Tell them to ask the government. We really need to be careful because we might get involved in a civil war. Let’s work towards providing medical support. Oh do you have any informants in China right now?”

“Do you remember Brother Lin Tao?”

“Oh that guy that Siyeon chased after before? He’s the guy that Archbishop Lapart personally brainwashed or rather made to repent.”

“That brother is currently doing missionary work in Shanghai.”

“That’s great. Let’s find out more local information through that friend.”

The sparks from China’s civil war will one day fly to us as well.

Before that we too must make thorough preparations in our own way.

That way we can weather this typhoon.

“Oh and Leo tell all the executives to gather in the office in 30 minutes. We have something to discuss.”

This is an important topic for the future operation of the church so it is a bit burdensome for me to decide on it unilaterally.

I put the papers down on the desk for a moment and looked at Leo as I said.

“We need to build a second store.”

“If it’s branch number 2…”

“I’m talking about the second temple.”

When you can expand your influence you should expand it right?

Our Pope please stop this