Somebody Stop the Pope – 268



Episode 268

3.

After leaving the mission of chasing the remnants of Baekmyeonggyo in the mountains to Leo and Luna I immediately arrived at the bunker located underground in Sejong City’s Shincheonwadae with Ja-hyeon.

All members of the NSC including the President were gathered there.

“Let’s start with a situation report.”

It was naturally President Seo who led the meeting.

The Minister of National Defense bowed his head in response to President Seo’s words and began his report.

“Currently a clash has broken out between the Chinese government’s Awakened and the North Koreans in the northern part of Sinuiju. The number of our soldiers killed has now exceeded 60 and the border checkpoint has been occupied. Accordingly a special task force including Awakened Kang Chae-ah has been formed and an operation has begun to reclaim the checkpoint.”

“Please tell me the size of the enemy forces.”

“It is the size of the five people included in the list of Chinese S-class hunters identified by the intelligence source.”

“Is it possible for Kang Chae-ah to awaken alone?”

“The Goblin Guild’s CEO along with S-class hunters from each guild are also cooperating in this operation.”

“after.”

President Seo took a packet of medicine out of his pocket and swallowed it along with water.

“You rude kids. Why are you doing something like this in the middle of the night?”

The time is 4 o’clock in the morning.

Although it is still a time when you should be asleep the Chinese surprise attack seems to have taken advantage of this ambitious hour.

President Seo took a deep breath. Then he looked back and forth between the Director of the National Intelligence Service and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

“Has the Chinese government said anything?”

“There has been no response as of now.”

“under.”

If it’s an operation that requires the mobilization of S-class hunters it’s definitely not an accident.

Although they are no match for the Irregular or Disaster class S-class Awakened units are also key forces.

“Do you have any connection with the Chinese government?”

“No response.”

“What do you mean let’s start a war!”

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Is it just my imagination that President Seo’s hair seems to have a lot of gray hair?

I spoke to President Seo in a subtle way.

“Please send Ja-Hyeon right now and drive them out quietly.”

“Wouldn’t the Awakened One of Cheonjahyeon be tired? Just a moment ago he was fighting Baekmyeonggyo…”

“I am fine Mr. President.”

Ja-Hyeon shrugged and said.

“In this situation it would be more uncomfortable to rest. Where is Kang Chae-ah’s awakening now?”

The Minister of Defense responded to those words.

“You must be passing the Kaesong outpost right now. We are moving by helicopter.”

“If I run diligently from now on I will catch up. Mr. President please send me to Sinuiju. I will finish the work quickly.”

“Okay Cheon Ja-Hyeon the Awakened One. Please.”

Ja-Hyeon immediately got up from her seat and went out of the bunker.

With Ja-Hyeon’s lightness technique she would probably arrive at the scene much faster than Kang Chae-Ah.

The issue is not simply whether or not to reclaim the checkpoint.

“There is a high possibility of a war.”

If things continue like this war will break out.

That too an all-out war with China.

South Korea was swept by public opinion against the war but if it were reported that China had crossed the border and attacked our checkpoint the situation would change.

“Illegal military action has resulted in bloodshed. This cannot be overlooked.”

President Seo continued his speech in a more passionate voice than anyone else present.

President Seo is not a belligerent person.

He is a quick-thinking person and a quick-thinking person.

His decision to take such a strong stance now was definitely not an emotional one.

“They are already thinking about war.”

“Mr. President isn’t that an opinion that is too forward-looking…?”

“Well? There is no statement of position after a unilateral military action. In this situation there is only one decision we have to make. Isn’t that right Awakened One Kim Si-woo?”

Since this is a meeting of the NSC President Seo calls me ‘the Awakened One’ instead of ‘the Pope’ this time.

It also meant that here at least I would be treated as an ‘irregular of the Republic of Korea’ rather than the ‘Pope of the Limen Church.’

I nodded slowly to President Seo’s question. Then I looked around at the NSC attendees and said

“I think so too. However.”

“but?”

“I don’t know why the Chinese government is trying to start a war. The Chinese government is currently under massive attack from the Purifiers. In such a situation opening a two-front war… frankly it seems like nothing but suicidal behavior.”

It is true that Baekmyeonggyo boasts of great power.

Although it was quickly pushed out of South Korea it still exerts tremendous influence in northern China.

But even if they were a hundred-man church would they be able to handle two fronts at the same time in this situation?

“During the last civil war the Chinese government forces suffered heavy losses. In addition the troops in southern China cannot be mobilized properly and there are only two irregulars.”

Of the four irregulars that China boasted only two remain.

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Li Shimin became independent from the Chinese government and Wang Wei died by my hand.

The only irregulars left are Sun Li who I know and Liu Haojun Sun Li’s subordinate.

It would be virtually impossible for the Chinese government to compete with us alone.

Unlike China South Korea’s military power was greatly strengthened.

But still these guys are ready to start a war.

That means one of two things.

“Either they’re really crazy as a group or they can handle both fronts.”

“Can they really afford it?”

“I don’t know that Mr. President. We still don’t know the extent of Baek Myeong-gyo’s hidden power.”

Now that the influence of the ancient gods is growing stronger.

Perhaps the power of Baekmyeonggyo is greater than we understand.

President Seo who had been quietly listening to what I had to say nodded. Then he looked around at the attendees and said.

“We will now set up a strategy with an all-out war in mind. We will place an embargo until 9:00 AM. Has the Department of Defense established an operational plan for such a situation?”

“Yes Mr. President. We have prepared a plan for the current situation.”

“Okay. Let’s hear the operational plan briefing right away.”

The inevitable wave was approaching with great force.

A huge wave that might swallow everything up.

4.

9 o’clock in the morning.

As the embargo was lifted media outlets began reporting simultaneously.

“Breaking News) Shinuiju Border Checkpoint Illegally Occupied by Chinese Awakeners!”

“Friendly casualties: 67 killed 110 wounded”

“DEFCON 2 raised! Ministry of Defense spokesperson ‘There are no plans to call up reserve forces yet. In light of the recent trends in modern warfare unnecessary call-ups of troops will be avoided as much as possible.’”

“President Seo Shin-woo: ‘We condemn China’s illegal military actions and the South Korean government will not yield to pressure from any foreign powers.’”

I don’t know how long after the Chinese civil war that this is happening.

But this case was completely different from the Chinese Civil War.

The Chinese Civil War was just another country’s war but this incident is different.

The territory of the Republic of Korea was invaded and the Awakened people of the Republic of Korea were murdered.

That too mercilessly.

Naturally public opinion in South Korea was seething with anger.

<Title: I am a pacifist.>

Content: I have now realized that the destruction of ‘that country’ is true peace.

-This is really true

-Should I evacuate now?

└I guarantee you that there is no country in the world safer than South Korea right now?

└If I have to die I should die here.

-The situation in the Middle East is dire right now…

-How can I avoid an open war from that side?

Reversal of public opinion?

That’s long gone.

How can there be people who oppose war in this atmosphere?

“They want blood.”

This is inside our church’s office.

I frowned at the unexpected intruder.

The woman who was drinking a cola from the mini fridge without my permission was Terra.

“Are you stealing cola by suddenly losing contact and then suddenly showing up again?”

“Coke tastes good. You should have one too.”

“ha.”

“Haven’t you heard anything from Limen lately? The dimensional connection is unstable. They’re intentionally blocking the connection with Eden.”

“Are you aware of Limen?”

“But since it is a one-dimensional god it is only natural that I have to be conscious of it.”

At this point I have one question.

Divine power is fundamentally maintained through a connection with divinity.

The concept of borrowing divine power from a deity with faith as collateral.

In other words the connection between dimensions must be intact in order for it to be properly maintained.

However the connection between Eden and Earth is currently so unstable that it could be called a disconnection.

How is the sacredness of our church maintained in this situation?

“The performance of the intermediary is certain.”

Terra smiled as if he had read my thoughts.

“Limen has already transferred some of his divinity to you… and you probably knew that too.”

“what?”

“The more followers you have the more your power grows.”

Terra is right.

I am the one who feels the growth of the church better than anyone else.

Until now I had thought that as Limen’s power grew stronger I who was underneath him also grew stronger.

But that doesn’t seem to be the case.

“In fact it’s closer to the Kim Si-woo sect than the Limen sect right now. Isn’t it?”

I couldn’t completely deny what she said.

“Even if your connection with Limen is completely severed you can still exist as a god. The balance has shifted significantly in your favor. It’s a sort of… independence you could think of it.”

“Is Limen preparing to make me independent?”

“I can’t tell you that much. You two should solve your own problems. I’m not in a position to give you relationship advice.”

Terra smiled with difficulty.

Swish.

Light dust and misty shapes swirled faintly around her figure.

“I’ve been working like crazy to block the dimensional rift for two weeks but then those damn brothers and sisters decide to force their way in. It’s getting a little tough.”

Terra sighed and snapped her fingers.

Then a holographic window appears in the air and the situation in both places is broadcast live through that holographic window.

One place is the Middle East.

One place is Xi’an.

Both places were currently embroiled in war.

“As you can see the situation in the Middle East is very resistant. They are doing more than I expected.”

A unified Middle Eastern power.

As this was a region where religious influence was stronger than anywhere else on Earth they were risking their lives to resist the ancient gods.

Thanks to this the speed of the ancient gods’ advance has not been that fast yet.

And then there’s Xi’an.

Ki-ki-ki-ki-ki.

Ki-ki-ki-ki.

In Xi’an the undead were roughly pressing against the sacred barrier and at the forefront stood a handsome black-haired young man.

“cotton.”

The leader of the Purifiers whom I have never encountered before.

He was and still is an enemy I hate.

The nameless man continued to slaughter with a smile on his face.

Black claws extended from his hands and mercilessly tore apart the followers of Baekmyeonggyo while an endless stream of demons and undead swarmed behind him.

“Originally this guy was another insurance policy that I was preparing. No matter what stopping the ancient gods was the priority.”

“Don’t you dare run that washing machine in front of me.”

“Well… That’s true. Right now I’m all-in on you right? But that human acted a little differently than I expected. He ate two spirits.”

The very spot Beth and Rudolph warned us about.

As expected it seems that it was that guy who killed the spirits.

I could quickly figure out why the nameless one was attacking Baekmyeonggyo.

There is only one reason why that guy who grew stronger by eating spirits would attack Baekmyeonggyo that is the ancient god.

“They even want to devour the ancient gods.”

“That’s right. That man is the greediest man I’ve ever seen. To borrow human terms… the Pope’s antithesis I guess?”

Terra turned the cola he was holding into dust. Then he blew lightly and blew the dust away.

“The stage is finally complete although it is different from what I originally planned. And now the leading and supporting actors have all entered. From now on it is entirely your turn Pope.”

Terra looks at me.

I see myself through her amber-tinted eyes.

“I hope you don’t disappoint me.”

I laughed at that and replied.

“Don’t get the wrong idea I’m not fighting for you.”

“He’s a bad guy. Is that why he fell for Limen?”

“I fight to protect my people.”

I could feel on my skin that a war was approaching that I could neither avoid nor escape.

But nothing changes.

I just have to keep doing what I’ve been doing so far.

I held my breath and closed my eyes.

As expected I was not allowed to rest.

…my poor life.

Our Pope please stop this