Somebody Stop the Pope – 37



Episode 37

12. Headhunting

1.

It wasn’t just South Korea that was in chaos.

<A large-scale S-class dangerous gate that appeared in the Sichuan Province of China was successfully subdued. The government announced that there was no damage but according to one Chinese expert it is estimated that astronomical damage occurred.>

<A giant snake has taken up residence in Fukushima. Is Japan’s disaster just beginning?>

<Breaking News: A group of orcs who lost their leader to the awakened Kim Si-woo. They are revealed to be moving north at a high speed bypassing Pyongyang… Is their final destination China?>

Various dangerous situations including the Gate incident occurred simultaneously in countries around the world including China and Japan.

It is only natural that the stories of China and Japan are the ones that we see most clearly because the situations in those countries are directly related to our security.

The case of China was particularly serious.

In the midst of the chaos caused by the strange phenomena occurring in various regions as vast as the country the monster wave heading towards South Korea suddenly changed direction 180 degrees.

In a way you could say that it was a chain reaction of what I did.

So just when I was starting to feel a little uneasy thanks to Team Leader Kim’s kind explanation I was able to somewhat alleviate that unease.

“There’s no need to worry too much. I don’t think Siwoo anticipated this situation did he?”

“That’s true.”

“Once things are sorted out the Chinese side may raise the issue but you don’t have to worry about that either. If they do that it will only end up shooting themselves in the foot.”

Team Leader Kim said that and told me about something that happened two years ago.

It is said that two years ago an Abyss Dungeon created in a city called Shenyang China went out of control and a giant demon-like monster called ‘Behemoth’ appeared.

At that time China was in a state of confusion due to the creation of a giant gate in Shanghai so instead of subduing the monster called Behemoth they tried to guide it to other places as much as possible.

And that other place is of course not one’s own country and at the time it is a land without an owner.

“You guided them to the Lost Land? And Behemoth obediently followed your guidance? Those demons probably wouldn’t listen to humans.”

“It has been determined that among the irregulars possessed by China there are irregulars related to the devil.”

“What a bunch of irregulars.”

I’d like to see your face sometime when you have time.

An irregular who can tame demons… doesn’t sound like a good idea.

“Eventually Behemoth crossed the Yalu River and came to the Lost Lands destroying the balance that had been maintained in the Lost Lands. A large number of monsters began to move south to avoid Behemoth. As a result we had no choice but to suffer great losses near the Military Demarcation Line.”

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The force that suffered the most damage at that time was the Department of Ability Management and after that the balance of power collapsed significantly.

anyway.

To summarize what Team Leader Kim said:

“So you’re telling me not to feel guilty?”

“You can just return the logic that the Chinese side put forth at the time. We tried our best to stop it but unfortunately we failed. That’s all we have to say. This time we can just say that we are sorry.”

“It seems like Team Leader Kim really hates that country too.”

“No matter how hard I try to make her pretty I can’t make her pretty. I have to do pretty things for her to like me but everything I do is met with hate.”

“I agree.”

If there’s anything that’s not much different from before I crossed over to Eden it’s ‘that country’.

I originally felt a little sorry but after hearing the story it all went away.

I nodded slightly and then said while stretching.

“Seeing the orcs suddenly acting like that it seems like something has happened in the upper town so I think the Ability Management Department should also pay attention.”

I have a gut feeling that the orcs’ southward advance was not simply because of the Overlord.

Just looking at them heading north avoiding Pyongyang their original base gives off a suspicious smell.

Modern reconnaissance means such as reconnaissance satellites were disabled five years ago so the only means of reconnaissance is for players to check directly.

I wanted to go there right away and find out the reason but I couldn’t do that.

Because there was something just as important as finding out what kind of entity was lurking in Pyongyang.

“There are more players who have awakened divine powers than I thought?”

I furrowed my brows as I glanced at the people gathered in the large auditorium.

This is the main auditorium of the Southern Branch of the Human Resources Development Institute located in Guro-gu Seoul.

There were about 40 people in the huge auditorium that could easily accommodate 500 people and among them were some with notable personalities.

Starting with a person wearing a Catholic priest’s habit and a person praying while wearing a cross necklace.

“amen.”

“Lord.”

And that’s not all.

“Namu Amitabha Buddha…..”

From monks in their robes to people I’ve never seen in robes before.

This is the first time in my life that I have seen such a confusing scene.

What else could this be but a scene of religious unification?

“Among the newly awakened individuals who are presumed to have developed divine powers these are those whose divine powers have been confirmed through the divine stones provided by Siwoo-nim. The number of individuals will increase in the future as the regional branches of the Ability Management Department are currently conducting ongoing tests.”

“We will provide additional divine stones as soon as they are ready.”

“Thank you so much for your cooperation.”

When people with divine power or the seeds of divine power touch the sacred stone the sacred stone resonates.

Yesterday Minister Yoo Seon-ho asked me about a way to verify divine power so I readily provided him with a divine stone.

For now the most urgent task was to identify the divine players first.

Shouldn’t we identify as many Divine Series players as possible so that we can either bring them into our sect or not?

“I feel more nervous than when I went to break the Orc Overlord’s head.”

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“Please relax. We will give you enough time.”

This is the authority we received in exchange for handing over some of the sacred stones.

Priority access rights.

The right to meet with the divine series players secured by the Ability Management Department with the highest priority.

Today we must seize this opportunity to secure as many people as possible.

“Well then I guess I’ll be leaving now. I hope that your wishes come true.”

“See you later.”

“Please contact me when you are finished.”

Team Leader Kim greeted me politely and walked out of the auditorium and only then did Leo who was next to me slowly open his mouth.

“There are many brothers with great potential. It is more than I expected.”

“Of course.”

I heard that all of those gathered here were people who stood out as soon as they awakened and some of them even performed simple healings with their divine powers as soon as they awakened.

It is extremely rare for someone to be treated without any special training.

In that case one of two things happens.

Either you have a very devout faith or you have a definite talent for divine powers.

In the former case it would be difficult to bring them into our church so we aimed for the latter.

“Let’s start working. Leo you need to find a life with weekends too.”

Has it been really hard lately?

Leo’s previously blunt expression brightened at the word weekend.

2.

We were pretty lucky.

This is because we were able to occupy a very advantageous position compared to existing religions that were ignorant of divine power.

If we were to use a metaphor we could say that he is the first instructor of the Divine Power Realm.

He prides himself on having more extensive knowledge of divine powers than anyone else on Earth.

And that’s not all.

Before we came here we already had a preview of how the system would work for Divine players.

[Players who choose Divine Power can choose the faith that will become the basis of Divine Power in the future.]

[Choose the faith you want and grow your faith and divine power. Conversion is possible but if you do everything you have built up will disappear so choose carefully.]

These were the stories I learned thanks to Seol Se-myeong awakening as a divine player.

It is not yet clear what criteria are used to grant opportunities for awakening divine powers but one thing is certain: one can choose one’s own faith.

That’s why we came here in person.

Because it would be a headache if established religions like Catholicism Protestantism and Buddhism started to move.

“Hello brothers and sisters. My name is Siwoo Kim and I lead the Limen Church. I am honored to have the opportunity to speak with you today.”

I spoke softly smiling as best I could at the five people sitting in front of me.

Three men. Two women.

It was a shame that only 5 out of 40 people responded to my request but what can I do?

The rest of them seem to have already chosen their religion so I’ll have to try my best to persuade these five.

These are the people who stood out from the first day that divine power appeared.

The fact that they stood out despite not being as religious as the others gathered here means that they have considerable potential.

but.

“Wow! Kim Si-woo! Can I call you hyung? Take a picture of me too. And give me about 10 autographs! I’ll sell them to my friends for money. I’m really sick of it. Who would have thought I’d meet Kim Si-woo?”

This Jammin who was barely a middle school student at best wasn’t in my plans.

And Leo who had been silent next to me said with a hardened expression at the unique frivolity of K-Jammin.

“This is His Holiness the Pope. What rude language is….”

“It’s okay Archbishop Leo. There’s no need to be so rigid. Our church isn’t that rigid. Let’s be gentle. Gently.”

“Oh then can I call you hyung?”

“What is our little brother’s name?”

“This is Oh Jae-min.”

This kid’s name itself is unusual.

“Yes Brother Jaemin. We don’t know each other very well yet so let’s talk about it for now. Let’s talk about it when we get to know each other a little better.”

“I want to talk now?”

…Let’s bear with it.

I want to pound his head in right now but even so he looks like a guy with a clear talent for divine powers.

That’s why instead of scolding him harshly I smiled and continued talking.

“I think Brother Jaemin can come to our church and check for himself.”

“Hey with your bare hands?”

“…hmm?”

“Before I came here I heard that the Christian Union would provide support for everything you need to do as a player starting from the private Awakening Academy.”

At the moment when he was about to answer that question the other players who had been silent also cautiously spoke up.

“How did I know that in Catholicism….”

“I am a member of the Jogye Order…”

When on earth did we first meet?

Of course it was easy to guess why they brought up the subject like that.

They may have chosen divine power but they are ultimately players.

Players ultimately move in a direction that benefits their own growth.

If they had religious beliefs that they had to adhere to they would not have come here in the first place.

They may be worldly but I don’t mean to criticize them.

It’s a decision that affects their lives.

Of course it’s right to decide after considering various factors.

and.

“Okay good. I fully understand what you want to hear.”

I expected this reaction too.

Competition with established religions was as obvious as day. Looking at it objectively our church did not have much to offer to established religions at the moment.

From the number of believers to social status and financial resources.

This is somewhat natural since the Limen Church was a new church that had only been around for about a month.

That’s why I decided to focus on what only our church can do.

“We cannot promise you wealth like other religions. Instead we can promise you something else.”

What other religions cannot do only we can do.

“There is an old saying that it is better to teach a man how to fish than to give him a fish. If you come to our church.”

Woohoo!

A sphere of divine power the size of a soccer ball flowed out of my hand beautifully illuminating all directions and I leisurely raised the corners of my lips as I spoke.

“I will teach you how to use and develop your divine power. I will not simply show you miracles but help you create miracles yourself.”

Our Pope please stop this