Somebody Stop the Pope – 27



Episode 27

9. The First Temple

1.

[A sanctuary has been declared centered around the holy relic <Mark of Limen>. The system of <Dimension: Earth> recognizes the miracles caused by the holy relic of <Dimension: Eden> according to the relevant agreement.]

[As the sanctuary is declared some of the <magic pollution> that had been cast over the area is removed.]

[The power of the Holy Relics is based on the faith of the believers. There are not yet enough believers in the current dimension to draw out the full power of the Holy Relics. Therefore the scope of the Holy Relics is limited.]

As the saying goes you can’t get full on the first drink so <The Sign of Limen> couldn’t cover the entire Ground Zero.

A range of approximately 500m in radius.

It was a relatively small area compared to the area contaminated with magic but it was a fairly satisfactory result for me.

Because there was more than enough space to build a temple.

Moreover there was no reason to be dissatisfied as there was the possibility of further expansion.

“Hoooooo.”

I took a deep breath and smiled.

The air which had felt somewhat stuffy due to the magic pollution became much more comfortable.

As the sanctuary was formed all the magical powers that had been polluting this place disappeared.

Of course that was only true for me.

“hmm.”

Oh Seong and Hye-rim who had been exclaiming with their mouths open just a moment ago had already lost consciousness and passed out.

In some ways this could be seen as a natural phenomenon.

The power of Limen contained in the holy relic is actually a burdensome energy to those who are experiencing divine power for the first time.

The purest form of divine power breathed directly into existence by Limen.

It was in the same context as when Minsu fainted last time.

But what was really funny was that the faces of the two people lying on the floor looked the most relaxed I’ve ever seen.

They had a hard time being conscious of each other and watching out for me in front of me.

I heard they had been at odds with each other for quite some time so this break must have been something they had been waiting for.

“It’s a really sad land. I didn’t know there were places like this on Earth. Right Siwoo?”

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“Sorry. I originally wanted to build it in a pretty place but it ended up like this.”

“I didn’t mean it that way. I just said it because I thought it was a particularly sad place.”

Limen appeared in front of me and said with a forced smile.

She was wearing a white tunic dress and a purple garland on her head.

Her appearance standing on top of the desolate ruins was completely out of place in this space but she was equally exquisitely beautiful.

I nodded looking at her blue hair slightly swaying in the wind.

“It is a sad land.”

“I can see it vaguely.”

“what?”

“So many dreams are buried here.”

Limen frowned as she said that as if she was in pain. But soon as if nothing had happened she gently grabbed my hand and smiled brightly.

“But since you declared this sanctuary I guess you received the gift I sent you through that boy Leo?”

“You’re the only one in the world who calls Leo a kid.”

“But to me it’s a child. Don’t you know how cute Leo was when he was little? You’d be shocked if you knew!”

“…I don’t really want to know.”

Leo’s childhood?

I couldn’t even dare to imagine it. No I didn’t even want to imagine it.

Limen said as he squeezing my hand as if he found me cute as I quickly shook my head.

“I like Siwoo better.”

I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed just listening to that. I looked away and changed the subject.

“By the way why are you here without saying anything? If you have something to say you can just give me a trust like last time.”

Limen answered my words with a bright smile.

“I can’t just sit by and do nothing while the Pope is suffering like this! I came to give him a gift.”

“gift?”

Are you trying to give me a holy relic?

But my worries didn’t last long because Limen immediately showed me the true identity of the ‘gift’.

Wooooow-!

It might be an exaggeration to simply dismiss it as a ‘gift’.

Limen’s divine power descended upon the ruins that had already lost their color and soon began to color the surroundings like paint.

Green trees and grass grow on the barren land.

A pond was created above the place that was torn apart by magic and flowers bloomed around the pond.

In the blink of an eye ruins where no trace of life could be found are filled with life.

I was speechless as I watched yet another miracle created by Limen.

The biggest reason why I couldn’t hate her even though she dragged me to Eden without my consent.

“It feels a little warmer. Don’t you think Siwoo?”

“…That’s right.”

“I hope the dreams buried here become a little warmer.”

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It was because of the kindness she showed to living beings.

The miracle that Limen showed did not cover the entire Ground Zero.

It was a miracle that was possible thanks to the sanctuary created through the holy relics.

As Limen himself said last time it was also proof that he could not be as omnipotent as he was in Eden.

But this is enough.

“I’m sure other people will love it too.”

A place that has become a wasteland due to magic contamination. A land that has not recovered even after five years. A scar from a disaster left in the heart of the Republic of Korea.

Because the fact that life had blossomed in this place where all that could be done was to block magic through barriers was already a miracle in itself.

And the extent of the sanctuary is a question that time will resolve.

As our church grows in influence on Earth in the future the faith contained in the holy relics will increase and the sanctuary will expand accordingly.

“That’s right. I almost forgot.”

“What else?”

“A real gift!”

Paaaaah!

The light spread once more and soon a familiar building appeared on the blue open space behind the pond.

A structure built of white marble and glass windows.

However the building has a unique simplicity and sacredness that is reminiscent of Limen.

“This is the Holy See’s little temple.”

“I guess the sanctuary isn’t big enough to recreate the Great Hall as it is. Sorry.”

“No this is better.”

It was a small temple that could be easily found in the Papal Palace of Eden.

Small shrines built to allow worshippers visiting the Vatican to pray.

Although it is smaller than the cathedral this simplicity may appeal more to the people of South Korea.

And it also fits better with the image of a church that is just starting out.

I was worried about how to build a temple but Limen solved that problem cleanly.

“How is the gift? Do you like it?”

I nodded in response to Limen’s question.

“It’s the best.”

Fortunately I was already worried about how to build the temple.

It was around the time when I was looking at the first temple of our Limen sect with such satisfaction.

“Siu.”

“huh?”

“Listen carefully to what I’m going to say from now on. There’s something Siwoo needs to do on Earth. I think Siwoo has already vaguely figured it out by now.”

And after a while.

A rather disturbing story began to flow out of Limen’s mouth.

2.

If I were to summarize Limen’s story in three lines it would be as follows:

“1. The last Demon King of Wrath that I killed transferred his soul and the souls of the other Demon Kings to the nearest dimension just before he died.

2. The dimension closest to Eden is Earth.

3. Therefore it is highly likely that a fragment of the Demon Kings was transferred to Earth.

It was a story that could explain the magic of the magic stone mine that I had checked earlier including the doppelganger lich.

Limen further stated that it was likely related to the fact that Earth’s system had approved his contract with me.

-There’s not much I can do for you since this isn’t Eden. I think Siwoo will have to find out more about it himself.

In Eden Limen ascended to the throne and gained powers close to omnipotence but Earth was not a world she ruled over.

To conclude what I’m saying is that for the time being I have to take action myself.

If something like this had happened in Eden the Vatican’s own Inquisitors would have been called in to look for traces of the devil.

But this is Earth.

Since I hadn’t even trained the Inquisitors yet it seemed like I would have to take action myself for the time being.

anyway.

Limen who had even explained it to me soon returned to where he was.

Did you exceed your allowed causality threshold by bringing life to the ruins and even building a temple on top of it?

Still it is fortunate that we will be able to contact each other through the temple from now on.

“Phew.”

I sat down on the steps of the temple for a moment and let out a deep breath.

I was really satisfied with Limen’s gift.

Not only did he transform the desolate ruins into a beautiful garden he also built a simple yet beautiful temple that matched the garden.

This was a passage that clearly showed how much she cared about my situation right now.

For now all urgent goals have been achieved.

Leo came to translate the Bible and a temple was built where believers could gather and pray.

At this point we are ready to begin full-scale church operations.

And the system seemed to agree with my thoughts as new message windows appeared before my eyes.

[You have completed the main quest <Cult Expansion>.]

[As a completion reward the level of the sect’s trait <Baptism> increases by 1 and 500 sacred points are awarded.]

[Congratulations! Your sect has taken a step closer to becoming a religion by establishing its first temple. You will now be able to manage the temple facilities through the <Temple Management> command. In accordance with the interdimensional agreement you will now be able to purchase various facilities through <Divine Points>.]

[<Facility> item will be updated in the DLC Store!]

If the system in Eden was closer to an RPG game then the system on Earth should be described as closer to a management simulation game.

Interfaces that fill your eyes.

But it’s not too late to take your time checking out the new system. There are things that come before that right now right?

I nodded and took the cell phone I had brought with me before coming in here out of my pocket.

If it were the original Ground Zero the use of electronic equipment would have been impossible due to abnormal magical contamination.

Ring ring ring!

The phone turned on just fine.

It was also a part that proved that the magic contamination had been resolved through the declaration of the sanctuary.

The communication signal was a bit weak but I think it’s okay.

I immediately called Minsu on my cell phone.

Doo do …

After the call had barely rang a few times Minsu answered the phone in a loud voice.

– I got a call from you Pope! It looks like everything went as you wanted since you called! Congratulations.

“No problem. Brother Minsu where are you?”

-I was waiting with my team near Gyeongbokgung Palace in case the Pope called.

This is why I can’t help but like Minsu.

I continued talking chuckling at Minsu’s powerful answer.

“Things went better than I expected. So I thought I’d ask Minsu for his opinion.”

-Please speak comfortably. I will listen.

“Should we do a live broadcast?”

– Are you talking about a live broadcast? We can set it up whenever you want but where are you thinking of doing it?

I answered that question as if it were a given.

“How about Ground Zero’s first public appearance on YouTube? Don’t you think it’ll be okay? I think it’ll be okay.”

Our Pope please stop this