Somebody Stop the Pope – 252



Episode 252

82. Origin

1.

“We sincerely welcome your decision to become a prophet of the Limen Church!”

“Everyone applaud!”

“Welcome Brother Kang Ju-won!”

“welcome!”

Clap clap clap.

Mr. Kang Ju-won an agent of the Emergency Response Team of the Ability Management Department eventually joined our church.

The welcoming ceremony for our church’s third prophet Kang Ju-won was held immediately.

I personally gave him my blessing under the sacred tree in the holy place and he willingly promised to dedicate himself to our church.

“I can do anything for Limen-nim who cured my younger brother. I ask for your continued support!”

Now I decided to talk to him comfortably.

I decided to call him ‘Juwon’ and he decided to call me ‘Your Holiness’ or ‘The Pope’.

Even though he said he could just leave it at that he said he would remain polite until the end.

Archbishop Lapart spoke highly of that point.

“With this the third prophet following Seungwoo Siyeon has joined the church.”

“Then is this guy Siyeon’s priest?”

“Priest?”

“Yeah! Sister Grace taught me.”

That priest was that priest.

I nodded slowly.

“Can you see it that way?”

“Then Siyeon should teach me well?”

“Well in this case since you’re a new employee with experience I don’t think that’s necessary Siyeon.”

“A new career position? Hmm… I see.”

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

Mr. Joo Won is a person who has already awakened once.

Since I was a member of the Ability Management Department and had been active in many battlefields there wasn’t much to teach about combat.

Instead he must receive the same education as other trainees.

I said to Juwon while patting Siyeon’s head.

“Juwon-ah the third batch of trainees will be recruited soon. When the full-scale training begins you too will have to be trained with them. I have no doubts about your combat acumen but you need to be trained in doctrine and the basic qualities of a priest right?”

“Of course!”

“You are the representative of the third batch of trainees. Please keep that in mind.”

There has been a major change in the curriculum for the third batch of trainees.

In the curriculum for the first and second batches of trainees the proportion of practical training was relatively low.

There was also the hassle of having to bid on dungeons and gates and our sect could not monopolize them.

Of course the second batch of trainees were able to grow quickly thanks to the lost land.

Compared to the previous two batches the third batch of trainees will receive a better quality education.

They will be led by seniors who have gained experience in the Chinese Civil War and they will be able to participate in the dungeons and gates of all three countries: Korea Japan and China.

A privilege granted only to members of the Limen Order.

I will use all of these benefits to nurture the third batch of trainees.

“So that the church can run smoothly without me.”

Worst case scenario.

So that even if I collapse the church will not collapse.

Always preparing for the worst is what I must do for my church family.

Did you hear me mumbling softly?

Luna who was behind her sighed and said.

“Where would we be without Your Majesty?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I always told you that I would die before Your Majesty. So don’t say such things. It’s annoying how you keep saying such unlucky things so early in the morning!”

“Sir Reventon.”

“Yes yes I’m sorry.”

Luna who these days isn’t even afraid of Archbishop Lapart.

It is true that Archbishop Lapart’s mood has become very toxic recently.

Is that why?

Phew phew.

“Ugh.”

Archbishop Lapart gave Luna a cool slap on the back and Luna tried to suppress a groan.

…I bet it hurts.

“Didn’t I always tell you to be polite to His Holiness? Do I sound funny?”

“…The old man has been dating for a while now and he’s regained his prime strength.”

“I can hear everything.”

“I’m telling you to listen. Ugh is this a sad thing for single people to live in? Isn’t that right Leo?”

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

“I won’t say anything.”

It seems to have been more or less proven that Leo is wiser than Luna.

Archbishop Laparte glared at Luna then bowed his head respectfully to me.

“I’ll go give you some training and come back.”

“It’s still meeting time Archbishop Lapart. Be punctual for the meeting time…”

“I allow it. This is the Republic of Korea. This is where the spirit of Jang Yu-yuseo lives on.”

“thank you.”

Archbishop Lapart immediately dragged Luna out of his office.

“Your Majesty!”

Luna shouted at me desperately.

The place they are headed is the basement of the temple.

Perhaps Luna will have her manners re-instilled in her by Archbishop Laparte.

Was it this atmosphere in our church that was disconcerting?

Joo Won was watching the scene with anxious eyes and I put my arm around his shoulder and said.

“It’s just my first time so I’ll get used to it soon.”

“I guess so?”

“then.”

Does it feel like an insult to say that you too will soon become like those people?

I guarantee that the real Juwon will also assimilate into us in a similar way.

It’s just a matter of time.

I nodded with satisfaction and patted Juwon on the back.

And then he looked at Leo and said.

“Is the selection of the third batch of trainees finished?”

“Yes Your Majesty.”

“Then tell them that training will start next week. Also tell those who will be working as assistants in advance.”

“All right.”

It’s time to start nurturing them again with sincerity for the future.

I nodded and looked out the window.

2.

A day before the third batch of trainees were called together.

As soon as I woke up this morning I heard bad news.

-I’m sorry Pope Kim Si-woo.

-I don’t think we can do anything about it.

This is the news that Protestantism and Buddhism have accepted Baekmyeonggyo’s proposal.

It wasn’t that I didn’t understand.

Since our denomination became mainstream in Korea the position of established religions has become extremely narrow.

In a way you could say that this happened because our sect monopolized most of the divine players.

It was hard to tell them I was okay when they called me with an apologetic voice.

They were probably just as desperate for manpower as we were.

Unlike our religious groups that simultaneously bring in manpower from Korea Japan and China they would have had no choice but to recruit manpower only from Korea.

What happened to Catholicism?

Naturally the Catholics took our side.

They and our Limen sect are in fact strategic allies.

They were also a religion that was still strong in Europe. In fact in Europe most of the Holy Series players were choosing Catholicism.

“There are probably various political reasons as well. Since they have a solid foundation they may be strengthening their cooperation with the Limen sect by going over to areas where their religious power is relatively weak.”

“You may be interpreting everything politically Mr. President.”

“As you grow bigger it becomes harder to exclude politics. Doesn’t Pope Kim Si-woo know that?”

This is the government building located in Sejong City.

I was talking with President Seo Shin-woo in the President’s office.

“If Baekmyeonggyo joins forces with established religions and starts to pressure the Limen sect… it might create a rather frustrating situation.”

President Seo Shin-woo nodded after drinking chrysanthemum tea and said.

I sighed deeply at those words.

“I’ve only ever had refreshing cider. It was time to eat sweet potatoes.”

“You’re the type of person who hates sweet potatoes aren’t you?”

“Who would like to eat sweet potatoes? The ground hardens after the rain. I think of this as an opportunity to build a stronger foundation.”

He said that with a bitter smile.

The reason I came here today was to discuss what had happened but there was another reason as well.

The reason is….

“I believe you were briefed on the S-3 gate through Director Kim.”

“Yes I have reported it.”

“It’s a unique gate. It’s a form that has never been reported to the academic world before… and it’s a serious threat.”

It was the S-3 gate that the Ability Management Department successfully detected yesterday.

An extra large S-class gate.

A gate that could plunge the country into crisis has been detected.

“The creation area is 30km east of the Gaeseong outpost. Nothing has been revealed other than that it is an extra-large S-class.”

“Hasn’t this gate been around for a long time?”

“Yes it is extremely unusual.”

President Seo’s expression was still serious but it didn’t look as serious as before.

An expression that seems a little relaxed.

It can’t be helped because there are currently two irregulars in South Korea.

It means that it has become too strong to be broken by the gate.

Moreover the government’s power is stronger than before.

“The Limen Church will respond to the government’s request for cooperation.”

The power to summon all Awakened beings in South Korea in the event of a crisis.

It was difficult when the Jeon Gak-ryeon was there but now it is not a problem.

“thank you.”

“The reason you called me here today is… because of the Baekmyeonggyo gathering?”

“They will certainly be helpful. They are players who use divine power. I personally feel regretful but if they can reduce the damage to the Awakened in the Republic of Korea… it is my role to summon them as well.”

Even if they had summoned me without notifying me separately there would have been no legal problem.

It is natural for the South Korean government to summon the awakened people of South Korea.

Nevertheless the fact that President Seo arranged this event is a gesture that shows that he cares about our church.

I could not help but nod to President Seo’s words.

“I fully understand the government’s position.”

“We will assign operational areas so that they overlap as little as possible.”

“I would appreciate it if you could do that.”

Stand on the same battlefield as Baek Myeong-gyo.

Nothing was as jarring as this.

The battlefield is a place where many variables exist from the beginning. It is difficult to completely rule out the possibility that Baek Myeong-gyo is plotting something on the battlefield.

I nodded slowly.

“Let me state the position of the Limen Church once again: Baekmyeong Church is still the enemy of the Limen Church.”

I could feel it instinctively.

A direct clash with Baekmyeonggyo was not far off.

Will these guys ever give our church time to reorganize?

For them this S-class gate might be the perfect place to mess around.

“ha.”

I took a sip of chrysanthemum tea.

Is it because of my mood?

The car feels really cold today.

3.

Two days after that.

The third batch of trainees’ entrance ceremony was a success.

A total of about a thousand people were admitted and they immediately began training at the sect’s training facility.

In preparation for such a situation we have expanded our training facilities in advance.

I benefited from that a bit.

Although it was a large-scale induction ceremony with over a thousand people entering the attention of the press including reporters was focused on the extra-large S-class gate.

And it was the same for us too.

“older brother.”

“Hey Ja-Hyeon.”

“It’s been a while.”

This is the Kaesong outpost where preparations are in full swing.

Ja-Hyeon came to greet me happily as I was checking the troops in advance.

“How have you been brother?”

“So-so. What about you?”

“Me too. I’m busy educating government-affiliated Awakened people and hunting monsters. It’s crazy.”

“That’s what irregulars are like.”

“Don’t you think I’m doing the work that you’re supposed to do?”

“That’s what government-affiliated irregulars should do. If you don’t like it you can transfer to our church too.”

“…Ahem.”

It seems like you don’t want to be under me even if it means dying.

At my words Ja-Hyeon looked around. Then he quickly changed the subject.

“Aren’t those Baekmyeonggyo guys?”

“that’s right.”

The Baekmyeonggyo fighters are preparing for battle in the distance.

Ja-Hyeon shrugged her shoulders as she looked at the guys.

“How do you feel?”

“Why do I suddenly feel this way?”

“Your intuition is more accurate than mine. It’s almost like a prediction that’s why I’m asking.”

At that question I paused for a moment and looked at them. Then I spoke in a low voice.

“It’s ominous.”

“If my brother says it’s ominous…”

“…I feel like something is going to happen.”

Beyond the eastern sky black storm clouds were swirling and being sucked in.

I let out a small breath.

Our Pope please stop this