Somebody Stop the Pope – 43



Episode 43

7.

As you can see from the successful completion of the quest things ended pretty cleanly.

Kim Gun-cheol knew much more than I thought.

Starting with the addictive nature of the Awakening Potion to the places that produced the Awakening Potion and the officials associated with them.

It was quite a refreshing experience to hear in person a story that you would only hear in movies or dramas.

It wasn’t that surprising though.

Even in Eden which had a relatively simple social structure compared to Earth there were noble royals who took advantage of the chaos to collude with criminal organizations.

How much more so would it be in the case of the Earth which is entangled in increasingly complex relationships of interest?

“Team Leader Kim Dong-sik! A total of 70 people have been arrested and there have been no deaths.”

“Thank you for your hard work. The Minister ordered that they be treated as villains and brought straight to the investigation room in the main office.”

“We will work closely with the surrounding military units to begin transport operations immediately.”

The man who reported to Team Leader Kim bowed his head and quickly retreated.

Team Leader Kim confirmed that he had stepped back then sighed deeply and said.

“It’s really unfortunate that Siwoo-nim had to personally get involved in something like this. I’m sorry. If we had done our job well this wouldn’t have happened…”

“I’ve heard a lot about the situation at the Department of Ability Management from Minister Yoo Seon-ho so it’s okay. And it feels refreshing to do some gymnastics under the moonlight for the first time in a while.”

The situation where they came to fetch the first prophet and ended up capturing a big shot called Echidna’s contractor.

For me I’m also getting quite a lot out of it.

“As soon as the morning comes we will mobilize all available personnel to begin a large-scale investigation. We have also urgently reported this matter to the Minister and received his approval so we will do our best to ensure that you do not get disappointed.”

According to Team Leader Kim’s subsequent explanation it is highly likely that it has reached not only the local police but also large guilds and even the political world.

I think so too.

No matter how much the world has changed they were using humans as ingredients to create drugs so there’s no way they could have done this on their own.

Of course this is just the tip of the iceberg.

The main body will still be hidden under the water.

If we dig deeper numerous problems will surface but it is not my job to dig into them.

That was a problem that had to be resolved by Minister Yoo Seon-ho and the Department of Ability Management and it was not something that I and the Limen Church which was just beginning to expand its influence in South Korea could undertake.

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“I’ll tell you in advance that I try not to get involved in political matters. You know? Religious people get lost if they do that.”

Politics is for politicians.

Besides I have some degree of trust in Minister Yoo Seon-ho and the Department of Talent Management.

As of now I’m too busy worrying about Magi.

“If possible…you leave some room for improvement.”

“Who knows? I might suddenly change my mind take off my priestly robes and start a ruckus.”

“…Just hearing that makes my hair roots tingle. Oh and there’s one thing I’d like to ask you.”

To his question I nodded while taking a sip of water.

Then Team Leader Kim looked at the soot in the corner of the closed room and said.

“It’s quite unfortunate that you burned all the drugs called the elixir of awakening.”

“why?”

“The more evidence the better. And to treat drug addicts as many samples as possible are needed…”

“That’s because Team Leader Kim still doesn’t know how vicious that guy Magi is.”

Magi causes those around her to become obsessed with constant desire.

That is because the magic energy is in contact with the desires of mortals.

Even in Eden only wizards and knight priests who had surpassed a certain level could handle magic.

For an unprepared person to come into contact with magic is virtually no different from selling one’s soul to the devil.

“I will tell you about Magi later when we have more time. There is too much to explain right now… I will explain it all at once to Minister Yoo Seon-ho.”

“All right.”

“But didn’t I intentionally leave behind enough to be used as evidence?”

One box contained a total of 30 bottles of Awakening Potion which had already been purified with divine power earlier.

In the process the ability to turn ordinary people into players will of course be lost but at least it won’t be dangerous.

Of course I did set aside 5 of those 30 bottles in an unpurified state.

Our church also needs to do its own research into how it was created.

anyway.

Team Leader Kim who guessed what I meant didn’t ask any more questions about it.

Instead he changed the subject by turning around once again.

“Leo came with us earlier. Where did he go?”

“I ordered some rocket delivery.”

“Rocket delivery?”

“We must have entered Seoul City by now.”

Echidna’s contractor had no intention of handing it over to the Ability Management Department.

Because there were areas we had to investigate on our own.

So I told Leo to take Echidna’s contractor and return to the temple first.

Means of transportation?

Of course he runs like a dog.

“There might be an article about a sighting of a monster tomorrow morning. Haha!”

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“…I don’t think you need to worry about that part.”

“Why?”

“Anyway the whole country will be in an uproar over the story about this Yeonbaek Guild.”

but.

In a situation where a political scandal of all time could erupt how could a bipedal monster that appeared in the middle of the night attract any attention?

I nodded slightly at Team Leader Kim’s words.

“Okay. Then I’ll go back to the hospital. What about Team Leader Kim?”

“I think I should stay on site. It’s something the Minister personally gave instructions for… Oh and patient Jin Seo-jun has currently been moved to the VIP ward so please follow the staff’s instructions.”

No matter how much I think about it it’s amazing how much attention is paid to even this one detail. Is this why I can’t help but like Team Leader Kim?

Okay now that the situation has been sorted out let’s go meet our first prophet again.

8.

As soon as I arrived at the hospital I went straight to the VIP room where Jin Seo-jun was.

Knock knock.

When I knocked on the door I heard a noise from inside and soon someone carefully opened the door.

“Your Holiness?”

“You can call me hyung comfortably.”

I didn’t give permission to Jammin who I admitted last time but I can certainly give a more comfortable title to our precious prospective saint.

But strangely Seungwoo answered while shaking his head.

“You are the one who saved my father and I so I can’t do that.”

“Really? And who taught you the title of His Holiness the Pope?”

“Archbishop Leo told me.”

Even though Siyeon is the same age as him he is a very smart guy.

Just a moment ago he had a dying expression on his face but seeing him smiling makes me feel good.

That’s probably it.

“Seungwoo?”

“Dad! The Pope is here.”

This may be because Seungwoo’s father Jin Seojun regained consciousness.

Seungwoo led me to the hospital bed while holding my hand and I followed him with a smile.

On the hospital bed Jin Seo-jun was looking at me with his upper body raised wearing a patient gown.

He looked at me and immediately tried to get down from the hospital bed but I quickly went over to him and spoke to him to stop him.

“You’re still feeling unwell so please take it easy.”

“No. I heard that you saved my life. I cannot be rude to someone like that.”

“Then let’s just get up like this. I’m really uncomfortable.”

“…All right.”

Jin Seo-jun reluctantly nodded to my words.

And I continued speaking while sitting comfortably on the sofa next to the sickbed.

“You won’t be chased by the Yeonbaek Guild or anything like that anymore.”

“Is that true?”

“Of course. I just quietly disappeared…”

As I was about to continue speaking I saw Seungwoo looking at me with bright eyes.

…Well I guess I should tone down my words a bit.

“You can rest assured because I cleaned everything up neatly.”

“I still have a considerable amount of money that I have not paid back to them…”

“Oh you don’t have to worry about that either.”

Now there is no one to repay the debt to.

Even if he had debts elsewhere I was willing to pay them all back.

Because I felt responsible for the misfortune that happened to Seungwoo’s family after he entered our church.

Seungwoo had been suffering from an unknown disease and his mother had died at the gate two years ago.

And Seungwoo’s father was caught by some bad guys.

It’s not a word I particularly like but perhaps that was Seungwoo’s destiny.

Five years ago on that day when the fate of the entire Earth was turned upside down the fate of this cute little boy must have been turned upside down as well.

That’s why I can’t help but feel responsible.

I smiled bitterly and then said in a very composed voice.

“It’s getting late so I’ll just quickly state my business and then head back.”

“Please speak comfortably. I will listen.”

“I would like to bring my son to our church.”

Jin Seo-jun smiles gently after hearing what I said.

And he soon nodded patting his son’s head.

“I see. Son? What do you think son?”

“I like it too. Both the Pope and the Archbishop are really great people!”

“Okay if our son is happy Dad is happy too.”

Jin Seo-jun nodded with a faint smile as if he had decided on something.

“Please take good care of my son. I’m sure he’ll be in a much better environment than if he were next to me.”

“Dad? Aren’t you going with me?”

“Seungwoo. So this is…..”

I think there is some misunderstanding.

I guess I need to give a quick supplementary explanation.

“I apologize for interrupting but our church is not so cruel as to forcibly separate a father and a son.”

“…then?”

“Of course Jin Seo-jun should come with you. Where are you going to leave such a cute son behind?”

This time Jin Seo-jun opens his eyes wide.

This development seems to have been unexpected.

“Together?”

“I would like Mr. Jin Seo-jun to help manage the Seoul temple of our Limen sect. Oh I was in a hurry so I forgot to tell you the most important thing.”

I took a moment to catch my breath and then presented the trump card I had prepared in advance.

“We will work 4 days a week and set the annual salary to the level of a Class A Hunter from a large guild. We will also provide a house for you to live in with your son as part of the guild and we promise various other benefits.”

This was the least I could do for him.

And Jin Seo-jun asked a question with a look of incomprehension on his face regarding my suggestion.

“Why are you doing this to me?”

I answered that with a smile.

“Because you are a great father.”

“Am I… talking?”

“Of course. Right Seungwoo?”

“That’s right. My dad is the greatest person in the world!”

Not everyone who has the destiny of a prophet can become a prophet.

The destiny given to them is realized only after they take refuge in the arms of God.

As Limen said last time countless prophets have fallen before they could even find refuge in the arms of God.

Perhaps Seungwoo too would have followed in their footsteps if it weren’t for his father’s sacrifice and devotion.

“If Dad doesn’t go I don’t want to go either.”

“That’s what I’m saying? How is it that you really don’t plan on going together?”

Jin Seo-jun laughed with tears in his eyes at my playful words.

And he answered shaking his head.

“No way.”

[You have completed the sub-quest <Small Salvation>!]

[As a reward you have acquired the sect trait <Enlightenment Lv. 1>!]

[3000 Divine Points will be awarded as a reward!]

It’s a small salvation.

At first I didn’t quite understand it but after finishing it I thought it was a pretty fitting title.

[The first prophet <Jin Seung-woo> joins your church.]

I quietly closed those message windows.

And I couldn’t help but smile happily for a long time as I watched the father and son embracing each other in front of me.

I thought it was a pretty good ending and beginning.

Our Pope please stop this