Somebody Stop the Pope – 215



Episode 215

5.

After the banquet.

The second round was held at a food stall in front of our house and we were able to hear more of Lee Se-min’s story.

“After I returned the only thing I wanted was a happy life with my family. But I was blessed because my wife and children were alive.”

I couldn’t help but agree with what he said.

A considerable number of the returnees turn into villains.

Families that is those who have something left to protect try to adapt and survive somehow but it’s different for the returnees who have nothing left to protect on Earth.

I heard that that’s why disaster-class returnees are called Disasters.

A returnee who if allowed to run wild would become an uncontrollable disaster.

Even a Disaster-class one would be like that but an Irregular-class one would inevitably be a disaster beyond imagination.

In that respect Lee Se-min was a lucky returnee.

“I lived in that world for 25 years. Sword magic. It was a fantasy world as they say. I survived there and finally came back. I originally wanted to live a quiet life but… the Chinese government wouldn’t leave me alone.”

“Can we leave the irregulars alone?”

“That’s right but I told them I wanted to keep quiet and they accepted my offer.”

“…That’s strange. There’s no way the Chinese would let us go so easily.”

“It would have been much easier for you to handle it than for me to run wild. In fact it was half a threat.”

I thought I knew why Lee Se-min didn’t show up on the outside.

In the first place the term ‘hermit’ does not make sense if the person has no power.

A power so strong that others cannot manipulate it.

Because that was the essential condition for a hermit.

I took a sip of soju while listening to Lee Se-min.

“But I felt a little awkward about doing nothing so I spent my time mostly nurturing young prospects. There were a lot of childish requests to get involved in politics but I was sick of politics by then.”

As Lee Se-min spoke he followed me and drank soju one after another.

Then he immediately drew out the blue-green energy and melted the soju glass into pieces.

“I was living quietly not being noticed. My family was in Wuhan and I was educating my disciples not far from Wuhan. I was happy. Until last week… I was really really happy.”

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Lee Se-min took out a photo from his bosom.

In the photo a girl of the same age as Siyeon was smiling and hugging Lee Se-min.

“This is my daughter.”

After hearing that I couldn’t speak informally to him like I used to.

A myriad of emotions were racing through this man’s eyes.

Longing regret anger.

And finally hate.

Countless emotions were expressed without reservation.

“…It’s pretty.”

“I collected my daughter’s body with my own hands. My daughter who was infected with demonic energy and could not even die in peace… With my own hands.”

CEO Choi Na and Raphael Ja-hyeon were inside the food stall.

Everyone stops talking.

What would it have been like if I had been there?

Lee Se-min’s daughter would not have died. Like the children I took in at Dandong his daughter would have survived.

But now it’s too late too late.

“I came to Korea with my wife and son who were staying there. My wife and son will stay in Korea for the time being.”

“…Then you….”

“I must avenge my daughter. I must do it even if it means getting help.”

Lee Se-min who told his story drank a whole bottle of soju.

Then he stood up from his seat bowed towards me and said:

“I apologize for using my disciple to call the Pope earlier. I wanted to quickly show the Pope the head of that damn thing.”

“I understand that it was an awkward item to bring into the banquet hall.”

“When the time comes… could you help my wife and son? They are really struggling mentally.”

Short story.

It has been said that the grief of parents who have lost a child is like the pain of having their intestines torn apart.

As for me I couldn’t even dare to guess what was in Lee Se-min’s mind.

Among Lee Se-min’s family the one suffering the most right now is probably Lee Se-min himself.

Guilt for not being able to protect his daughter even though he had the power.

It is guilt that always gnaws away at the depths of human nature.

The terrible guilt of not being able to protect my child as a father. What can I say to him who is living in hell even at this moment?

I quietly poured a drink into my glass and pushed it towards him. Then I spoke in a low voice.

“The Limen Order considers all its members as family. And their families are also our family. Please tell me where your wife and son are. I will send an archbishop.”

“…thank you.”

Lee Se-min drank the drink I handed him in one gulp.

And then he said to me with a weak smile.

“I heard you hate Chinese people but seeing you accept my request like this it seems you don’t hate them so much.”

I smiled faintly at those words.

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“I absolutely hate Chinese people.”

“Is that so?”

“But I don’t go to the extent of hating a father who lost his child. Especially if he has an enemy like that father.”

A father who lost his child became our colleague.

I brought Ja-hyeon’s glass in front of me and filled it. Then I drank the soju silently.

Soju was bitter today.

That too a lot.

6.

The next morning.

As soon as I woke up I told Minister Yoo Seon-ho that China’s number one irregular had entered Korea.

Despite the somewhat surprising news Minister Yoo Seon-ho’s reaction was indifferent.

-Is that so?

It seems like an irregular from a neighbor we don’t get along with came to Korea so honestly wouldn’t it be normal to be a little surprised?

But I couldn’t even refute Minister Yoo Seon-ho’s words that followed.

-There is the Pope the Awakened One of Heaven and even Raphael so there is no need to worry. Besides if the family came with them there is no real ill intention. There may be diplomatic problems with the Chinese government but… From there it is an area that we can fully handle.

There has been no change in the plans established by the South Korean government.

Lee Se-min said he would follow our orders completely.

With the power of Lee Se-min who was able to single-handedly stop the Demon King of Wrath the safety of our temple to be built in Shanghai has been secured to some extent.

This could be said to be an unexpected addition of reinforcements.

So the second day of the Awakened International Exchange Festival arrived and I woke up early in the morning and set off diligently with Leo.

The most important schedule of the second day.

It was a ‘special lecture’.

“Have you prepared anything separately for His Majesty’s special lecture?”

Leo asked me a question while driving.

“Did you do it?”

“Your Majesty is very eloquent so I am not particularly worried.”

“Did you go where I told you to go this morning?”

“yes.”

“Thank you for your hard work Leo.”

Leo shook his head at my words.

“It is my duty as a priest to take care of the wounded.”

Leo went to see Isemin’s wife and son early in the morning.

I was thinking of sending Archbishop Laparte but he said he was busy managing the trainees who came over from the Vatican.

So I just sent Leo away.

“I have even used the highest grade sacred stone to bless you. Your emotional wounds will not heal easily but I believe they will not get worse.”

“You’ve worked hard. You shouldn’t be stingy with the people who will become your family.”

I nodded and looked out the window.

Seoul is moving busily today.

Could it be because it is an international event held after such a long time? I can feel the energy from the people walking down the street.

It was a beautiful sight to see.

How much time has passed like that?

The car we were riding in was finally able to arrive at the location where the special lecture was scheduled to take place.

“We have arrived Your Majesty.”

“Are there a lot of people?”

“I guess it’s because it’s an official event. Almost everyone in the country knew that His Majesty was visiting here today.”

I smiled bitterly as I looked at the large crowd of people waiting in the parking lot.

There are so many people.

From journalists to ordinary citizens and even college students.

There is no particular reason why there are so many college students.

Because this was Korea University.

“Kim Si-woo! Kim Si-woo!”

“Please look here!”

I could hear people’s voices before I even got out of the car.

It was so hot that it was burdensome.

If it were an ordinary person I might have hidden it because it was burdensome but at least not me.

“Leo let’s get down.”

“Yes Your Majesty.”

To be honest I really like the interest.

“Hello everyone.”

He got out of the car with a light wave of his hand.

“Gyaaaahhhh!”

“Kim Si-woo!”

“Kim Si-woo!”

I enjoyed the enthusiastic cheers from the people.

The cameras held by the reporters kept flashing and the cheers of the people continued to grow louder.

I walked with Leo through the hot heat.

If the staff of the Ability Management Department who had been in the parking lot in advance had not controlled the crowd an accident could have occurred.

I walked for about 3 minutes waving at the crowd.

Director Kim greeted me.

“Hello Pope Kim Si-woo.”

“Good morning Director Kim.”

“Everyone is gathered here. I think you can come in and start the special lecture right away.”

“There are still about 20 minutes left until class starts?”

“Isn’t the instructor a lecturer? What are you going to listen to by coming so late?”

In short everyone gathered early because I was scary… Do I really have that scary an image?

Koreans probably don’t think that way.

It’s not like I’ve ever treated foreigners rudely…

There must be a reason because last time in LA I made a foreign awakener a public figure.

“I only deal with bad guys so I guess a lot of bad guys came?”

“Rather than that it means that the Pope’s name is that famous and carries that much weight.”

Our Director Kim who dresses up words nicely.

I nodded with a snicker.

“Since I came early can I just start and end the lecture early?”

“The lecture time was not set in the first place. You can lecture as long as the Pope wants. The lecture fee will be paid regardless of the time.”

“Good.”

“Isn’t the Pope the pride of the Republic of Korea? I trust the Pope.”

Director Kim says in a subtle tone “Don’t take the money and run away.”

My plan to lecture for five minutes and then run away was prevented in advance with just a few words.

“Then let’s go in and give a lecture.”

“i look forward to.”

“Can Leo come in too?”

“Of course.”

Since I’ve come this far I should do it right.

I’m going out to represent the Republic of Korea and the Limen Church.

I stood in front of the classroom door and took a deep breath.

And with light steps he entered the auditorium.

The lecture hall was quite spacious as if Korea University had put a lot of effort into it.

Promising players from each country filled the large auditorium.

They all had faces brimming with passion but I guess that passion brought on anger.

“Hey this dog!”

“What? Say it again.”

“Do you think we’re all on the same level just because we’re sitting in the same seat?”

Even before the lecture started I saw promising candidates raising their voices and fighting.

It wasn’t just one or two people who got into a fight.

They were fighting swearing at each other in a group.

One side is the American flag.

The other side is the British Union Jack.

I could understand what the situation was just by looking at it.

“Your Majesty I will go and speak to you.”

Leo who was next to me spoke to me but I raised my hand to stop him.

And he shouted so loudly that the auditorium shook.

“You become friends while fighting right?”

Then all the promising candidates including the two groups that had been fighting looked at me at once.

“Why don’t you come up here and fight instead of just standing there? I like watching fights.”

Then one of the promising candidates among the group who was wearing an American flag spoke in a voice full of spirit.

“I’ve heard a lot from Aiden! I’m an American day….”

A promising American prospect who openly boasts about his friendship with Aiden.

I said to him smiling brightly.

“You heard a lot from Aiden?”

“Yes that’s right! Your Holiness….”

“Then the story will be faster. Come up.”

“yes?”

What the heck you opened your eyes wide as if you didn’t understand what I was saying.

I concluded my speech by wagging my finger at the guy.

“If you don’t want to get kicked out come up.”

Our Pope please stop this