Somebody Stop the Pope – 188



Episode 188

5.

A welcoming ceremony that attracted a huge crowd.

Usually when that many people come there are bound to be people who dislike me but surprisingly no one swore at me.

The atmosphere itself was like that.

I feel like if you curse at me on the spot I’ll kill you.

It was almost like madness.

The bodyguards had erected a wall in case of an emergency but nothing happened that gave the bodyguards cause to worry.

And there’s no way an assassination attempt on me could have been possible in the first place.

Even the Rising Sun Society which can be seen as currently hostile to me could not dare to commit terrorism in a place like this.

The leaders of both Korea and Japan were with me and above all the possibility of breaking through this madness was zero.

“The people have been waiting for Pope Kim Si-woo for a really long time. If you had told us a little earlier we could have had a grander welcoming ceremony…”

“…it’s okay.”

“We always want to repay the favor to Pope Kim Si-woo. If it weren’t for Pope Kim Si-woo Sendai City would probably have become a land of death that could never be restored.”

As soon as we got out of the airport we headed to the Prime Minister’s Office.

We arrived at the Prime Minister’s residence amidst a huge welcoming crowd and security.

It feels both new and strange that the Korean President and the Japanese Prime Minister are among them.

As soon as President Suh and Prime Minister Sasaki arrived at the official residence they got down to business.

“The rebel forces in Shanghai China are currently the strongest. They are openly demonstrating force centered around former Shanghai faction officials.”

As expected the main topic was China.

China engulfed in civil war.

For South Korea and Japan which are close to China the civil war in China was bound to be a more important issue than terrorism in Europe and North America.

Before I came to Japan I received some very interesting information from the United States.

It was information related to China and it was also related to the rebels in Shanghai that President Seo mentioned earlier.

“I have received information that the Purifier’s headquarters is in Shanghai. The Shanghai rebels’ sponsor is probably the Purifier. China is helpless as well.”

There are currently three irregulars in China.

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There were originally four but one became crippled in my hands so there are three left.

The problem is that even the remaining three aren’t properly put together.

What if each person only cares about their own interests in a situation where the country could be torn apart?

The result is obvious.

The division of China.

China which was aiming to become not only a regional hegemon but also a world hegemon with the powerful awakened power coming from its massive population is collapsing.

Even China cannot handle a bomb exploding from within.

Just like right now.

“What are your plans in South Korea?”

Prime Minister Sasaki took a sip of water then asked while catching his breath.

President Seo nodded slowly.

“I think we should push north to the Yalu River line even if it means going to extremes. Pope Kim Si-woo who is here has eliminated the biggest threat to the lost land so the major risk has disappeared.”

“I see.”

“Pope Kim Si-woo is truly the greatest blessing for our Republic of Korea.”

President Seo Shin-woo suddenly tries to groom me.

It seemed like he wanted to show off his friendship with me because the Japanese Prime Minister was in front of me.

Since I can see it it is obvious that Prime Minister Sasaki can see it too.

It may sound a bit childish but there is certainly no better way. After all I told President Seo Shin-woo ‘Use me as you wish.’

So I just didn’t really try to stop it.

It wasn’t a surprising story since I had already heard about the Yalu River front on the plane.

“If you need help from Japan please let us know at any time.”

“Of course.”

“I think that the existence of the neighboring country of the Republic of Korea has become more important to Japan than ever before.”

“Wouldn’t that also be a positive effect for our Pope Kim Si-woo and the Limen Church?”

“Do you have faith President Seo?”

“After I retire I’m thinking about going to the temple of the Limen sect in earnest.”

“That’s great. When I retire I’ll join you…”

No why is the story suddenly going that way?

“By now the staff members must be raising their voices and exchanging opinions?”

“Yes President Seo.”

“Let’s leave the complicated matters to them to discuss amongst themselves and let’s have a leisurely tea time like this. After we drink tea… how about we go together to Sendai City and see the miracle that our Pope Kim Si-woo performs?”

“Okay.”

“Then let’s do that.”

Since it was a meeting between the heads of each country I thought there would be difficult and complicated discussions.

These are just stories you’d hear at a senior center right?

Isn’t it something like let’s go out and have some tea or something?

As I smiled awkwardly President Seo who had been observing my expression from the side said something.

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“Pope Kim Si-woo also entrusts a lot to Archbishop Leo and Archbishop Laparte. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes.”

“It’s the same for us too.”

“Oh I see. I understand.”

That’s what the position of leader is like.

President Seo took a sip of his coffee smiled and continued speaking.

“We are assuming the worst case scenario. We are also considering the possibility that the civil war in China could affect the Korean Peninsula. Pope Kim Si-woo may I ask you one thing here?”

“Please speak comfortably.”

“If the fire that spread from China reaches the Korean Peninsula I hope that Pope Kim Si-woo will protect the people of the Republic of Korea from that fire.”

At those words I raised the corners of my lips slightly. Then I slowly nodded.

“You don’t have to ask for that.”

Because it’s something we have to do.

The President smiled happily at my firm answer.

“Okay that’s it.”

6.

While the South Korean and Japanese aides were fiercely debating with each other I eventually arrived at the Sendai City restoration site with Prime Minister Sasaki and President Suh.

“The wounds left by Yamata no Orochi have not yet healed. However thanks to Pope Kim Si-woo purifying the city things are somewhat improving.”

Sendai City where restoration work is in full swing.

Although it used to be a place that was practically a ruin it is now beginning to regain some of its urban appearance.

“Since Yamata no Orochi was defeated Sendai City has become the safest place in Japan. Not a single gate or dungeon has occurred in the vicinity. This is one of the reasons why the restoration work was able to proceed so quickly.”

The helicopter we were riding on slowly circled the city and soon landed in a huge open space.

An open space slightly larger than Ground Zero in Seoul.

This was a place that remained in my memory.

“This is the place where we fought Yamata no Orochi.”

It was the very place where I had caught Yamata no Orochi with Aiden.

Actually Aiden didn’t really do anything at the time but it was still a memorable place because it was the first battle I fought with Aiden.

“That’s right. Originally we planned to build a memorial park here with a monument.”

“Like the garden of the Holy Land?”

“Yes. We were planning to build a park as soon as the city restoration work was completed but this is how things turned out. If a temple for the Limen Sect is built here… I’m sure the people who sacrificed their lives here will be happy.”

For some reason our church’s temple always ends up in a painful place.

I didn’t hate it.

It was also the mission given to our church to care for the sick and honor the souls of those who sacrificed their lives.

I looked at this vast and desolate land and spoke quietly.

“I’m sure Limen will be happy too.”

“We will bear all the materials needed to build the temple…”

“Oh don’t worry about that.”

Because we have a ‘miracle’.

He waved briefly at Prime Minister Sasaki and then slowly walked forward.

And then he took out the highest grade holy water that he had brought from the temple in advance.

According to Limen it is difficult to set a wide area like the Seoul Shrine until the relics are placed separately.

At most within a radius of 200 meters from the temple and the temple.

But for now that was enough.

It’s a holy relic so you can get it and place it later and that’s a problem that will be solved over time.

The important thing is to just try it once.

A new category opened up when I became a <lower god> of Limen.

[You need 100000 divine points to use the power <Creation of Holy Land>.]

[Would you like to spend Divine Points to make this place a sanctuary of the <Limen Constellation>?]

Creation of the Holy Land.

It’s not that grandiose but the effect stated in the system window is simply to make the area a holy place.

A monster that eats up a whopping 100000 divine points.

All the sacred points I’ve saved up so far will be gone. With these points I could build more sanctuaries but shouldn’t I try it at least once?

I sprinkled the highest grade holy water I was holding on the floor.

And then he closed his eyes and activated his power.

“Let us make this place our holy place.”

A simple starter word.

The moment I uttered the words a great amount of divine power left my body.

Even though the divine power dormant in my body was enormous it was so much that my eyes momentarily became dizzy.

The divine power that escaped like that immediately seeped into the earth.

And after a while.

Paaaaaaaaaaaaaah-!

A brilliant light rose from the white-washed ground.

The lights split like pure white lines and intertwined in the air.

“oh.”

As time passed the light gradually took shape.

Starting with a few pillars it quickly transformed into the appearance of a temple.

How much time has passed like that?

Finally the pure white light that had filled my eyes disappeared and in its place a temple that looked exactly like the Seoul temple was located.

[As of now the area is designated as a <Holy Land>.]

[<Dimension: Earth> is the first player to create a Holy Land. You have earned 30000 Holy Points as an achievement reward.]

All sorts of messages including those informing me of a payback quickly filled my eyes.

I closed the message for a moment and then looked back.

There Prime Minister Sasaki and President Seo were blankly staring at the scene with their mouths open.

“oh my god….”

“really….”

Was it quite a shocking scene even for presidents who had been through all sorts of hardships?

“Would you like to come in together?”

Although the temple had been summoned it was necessary to check whether its internal structure was the same.

Since this is my first time using this power it might be imperfect and it might only look flashy on the outside but not on the inside right?

The two heads of state nodded simultaneously at my suggestion.

“Is that okay?”

“thank you.”

“But since you’ve come this far you should take a look inside.”

So I walked into the temple with the two of them.

I went up the stairs and went inside heading straight to the main hall where the service was held.

The interior was also identical to the Seoul Shinto shrine.

There like the Seoul Shinto shrine stood a faceless statue of Limen.

“It’s all the same up to here.”

“It looks identical to the shrine in Seoul. How fascinating.”

President Seo who had visited the temple looked around while repeatedly exclaiming in admiration.

But then it happened.

“…Both of you please come behind me.”

I put them both behind me and looked up at the stairs leading to the main hall.

If you go down those stairs it leads to the basement and I just heard some noise there.

Even though it was a newly built temple.

In that short period of time they’ve already invaded this place?

Could this be a deity from another world?

It seemed necessary to check it out first.

I left Prime Minister Sasaki and President Seo behind for a moment and then slowly walked down to the basement.

And then carefully opened the underground door.

“uh?”

“…uh?”

There

“What? Why is His Majesty here? Didn’t he go to Japan?”

“When did you come to Japan?”

“What are you talking about? This is Seoul.”

Luna stood there holding a bloody hammer.

How did this happen….

[The Holy Lands are connected to each other. Movement through the Holy Lands is possible.]

“…The Forward Shrine was really a possible strategy?”

Our Pope please stop this