Somebody Stop the Pope – 44



Episode 44

14. New Face

1.

The eventful night passed and morning came.

As they had promised me the Ability Management Department began a massive press release as soon as the morning broke.

<Breaking News) All members of the Yeonbaek Guild the predecessor of the nationwide criminal organization Yeonbaekpa have been indicted on charges of drug distribution. Suspicions of various illegal acts including human trafficking have been discovered during the drug manufacturing and distribution process.>

<Minister Yoo Seon-ho of the Ministry of Personnel Management: ‘We will clearly reveal the incident through close cooperation with the military and police.’>

<Blue House Chief Spokesperson: ‘Declaring War on Villains.’>

I expected the Office of the Special Advisor to the President would make an official statement but I didn’t know it would go as far as the Blue House.

It seems that his words about giving it his all were not a complete lie.

From there it’s up to them to do their part.

I too returned straight to the temple at Ground Zero to do my work.

Because there was a need to confirm the results of the interrogation I had left to Leo.

To conclude the interrogation:

“In the end we’re back to square one.”

Nothing was revealed.

Contrary to my expectations Echidna’s contractor Shin Ye-na didn’t really know anything.

All we could figure out was how the ‘Elixir of Awakening’ was made and what process she went through to become a contract holder for the Demon Tribe.

Shin Ye-na said she was originally a magic player who awakened three years ago.

The process by which she once considered a promising prospect at the Awakening Academy came to accept Echidna’s magic could be said to be very cliché.

A story that is very common in Eden where a promising player who has not grown as much as expected overcomes his limitations through a deal with the devil.

The promise of providing great strength to a promising player who has reached the limit of growth must have sounded like a sweet temptation more than anything else.

Some might think she’s a victim too but I wonder?

All of this was a tragedy that started from her wrong choice.

What this means is that this tragedy would not have happened if she had not made a contract with Echidna in the first place.

I nodded slightly and then spoke to Team Leader Kim who was quietly looking at me in front of me.

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“How long will this woman be sentenced to?”

“You will be arrested on a total of 14 charges including special murder kidnapping and drug distribution. The minimum penalty is life imprisonment and the maximum is the death penalty. I can promise you this on the honor of our Ability Management Department.”

During the interrogation process Leo had already destroyed all the magic she possessed and further sealed all possibilities with his divine power.

In other words Shin Ye-na is no longer a player.

You can never be a player again.

It was also a kind of judgment that our church passed on the devil’s contractors.

But I felt that wasn’t enough so I quietly whispered in her ear as she bowed her head in front of me.

“Ms. Shin Ye-na do you know that? There’s something called Magi. It’s not like it gives you powers you didn’t have before.”

“…What all of a sudden.”

“It’s the power to take your future in advance in exchange for your soul. Should I say it’s a kind of advance payment?”

Magi is not a power that opens new possibilities for mortals.

It is merely a power that draws out the potential of mortals in exchange for their souls.

in other words.

“The story is that if you had worked hard and not made a deal with the devil you would have become a very excellent wizard.”

She shattered that future by her own choice.

She answered me with sobs after hearing what I said.

“What does that mean now?”

“Why is it meaningless? Of course it’s meaningful if you’re going to live the rest of your life regretting what I said.”

It’s a saying that tells you to suffer for the rest of your life.

After saying that I slowly raised my body and said.

“Team Leader Kim?

“yes.”

“You may take him now. The work of the church is finished.”

Then Team Leader Kim bowed politely and answered.

“Thank you for trusting us.”

“Because I promised.”

“Then I will take my leave now.”

With those words the agents of the Ability Management Department took Shin Ye-na and withdrew from the temple.

“I knew Your Majesty would make the same choice as last time.”

Leo spoke quietly as he watched the agents of the Ability Management Department walk away from the temple.

It seemed to be a story about Yoo Se-hyuk and other villains who were crippled at Ground Zero.

I answered Leo’s question with a slight stretch.

“At that time those guys were the ones who did things out of pure will and the new one was just playing around with the tongue of that snake cub.”

“I think it was more merciful than the punishment you gave them.”

“You can’t say something like that when you see the state of those guys from the Yeonbaek Guild or something?”

It’s not like I said anything but actually the Yeonbaek Guild guys came and helped me out a bit.

How could they have just left alone those who were involved in human trafficking and drug distribution?

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After folding their spines equally they were handed over to the Ability Management Department with only their lives roughly preserved.

Most likely these guys will all spend the rest of their lives in prison paralyzed from the waist down.

And the same goes for Shin Ye-na.

“How disgusting it must be for you to realize that you sold your future for a momentary greed.”

She will never be able to forgive herself until the day she dies. And that self-loathing will continue to burn her body until the day she dies.

That was my own judgment upon her.

“It’s a different story with Yoo Se-hyeok to begin with. That bastard did something like that without even being whispered to by the devil. In a way Yoo Se-hyeok is a really great bastard.”

“…I understand.”

“You look like you don’t understand?”

“No. I was just thinking… if Your Holiness were an Inquisitor he would have a great notoriety.”

“Hey where else can you find someone as merciful as me?”

“…hmm.”

“Aren’t you going to straighten your face? Just like that.”

2.

As we saw off the agents of the Ability Management Department and entered the temple a boy approached us with a bright smile.

“Your Holiness!”

The boy’s identity was Seungwoo the first saint of our church.

I smiled as I stroked Seungwoo’s soft hair.

“Are you having fun?”

When I came up to Seoul this morning I also brought Seungwoo with me. Since Seungwoo had decided to join the church there was no need to keep him in Suwon.

“Yes! I don’t know why but I feel really good!”

“I’m glad you like it.”

After all children are much prettier when they laugh than when they cry.

Seungwoo smiled brightly and then bowed politely to Leo who was next to me.

“Hello Archbishop Leo!”

Then Leo nodded awkwardly raising the corners of his lips.

“Congratulations on entering Limen’s arms Brother Seungwoo. I look forward to working with you in the future.”

There’s only one thing that makes Leo laugh awkwardly like that.

When it’s good.

When someone is truly happy they make that kind of expression. It’s easy to tell just by looking at the smile they made in front of Siyeon last time.

“Leo you’re my senior right? As my senior take good care of me.”

“I will do my best. Then Seungwoo’s father….”

“We came up together.”

Mr. Jin Seo-jun was admitted to the university hospital located closest to Ground Zero.

Most of my injuries were cured by my divine powers but I didn’t have to refuse the comprehensive examination that the Ability Management Department offered.

He is a person who has worked tirelessly for five years.

I was a person who had not been able to take care of myself because I was busy taking care of my son’s body so I wanted to take care of myself as much as I could on this occasion.

Is that what you call medical tourism?

“Isn’t it dangerous?”

“Don’t you know how many agents from the Department of Abilities Management are stationed at Mr. Jin Seo-jun’s hospital? And since I left a blessing it’s probably the second safest place in the world right now?”

Seungwoo who had been quietly listening to what I had to say spoke with shining eyes.

“The safest place is next to the Pope.”

…This guy might not be a first timer in his life.

Is this really the social life of a 12-year-old?

“That’s it.”

I nodded in satisfaction and patted the guy’s head.

He’s handsome and good at saying nice things to other people.

We are so fortunate that our church’s first prophet is such a cute little boy.

As I was smiling so contentedly Seungwoo said with his eyes still shining.

“Didn’t the Pope say yesterday that he has a younger sister who is my age?”

“That’s right. Our demonstration. We got in trouble for staying out all night yesterday.”

“I’ve always wanted a younger sister since I was little. I really want to see one…”

“…10 points deducted.”

“yes?”

“I knew it.”

He is a dangerous guy.

This foxy guy is already showing interest in our Siyeon.

I have no idea until I get dirt in my eyes.

anyway.

It was while the three of us were chatting away.

Wooooow-

[Your Lord wishes to issue an <oracle>.]

The message that suddenly came to mind made me stand up for a moment and enter the Pope’s office.

Then soon a familiar voice began to be heard in my ears.

『Good morning! I knew you would bring Seungwoo back safely. How is he? He’s such a pretty boy when you see him in person. I’ll be counting on you in the future!』

“Limen. Echidna’s contractor…”

『I know too so you don’t have to tell me! I was going to look into it anyway. There are some suspicious parts in Eden so I’m having the other kids track them down. If I get any clues I’ll let Siwoo know right away.』

I forgot about it for a moment.

She can see and hear everything within her reach.

Since Leo was the one who conducted the interrogation he would have been aware of all the information revealed during the process.

Because that was also the power that gave her omnipotence.

『You probably haven’t slept properly so I’ll get to the point quickly! As I said last time I’ll send one of the Knight Commanders but the method will be the same as last time.』

“Last time?”

『Yeah! If Siwoo pays the system I will send it through the gate like last time. You should be able to see it by now… Can’t you see it?』

As soon as she said that a new message window popped up before my eyes.

[Items in the DLC store will be updated.]

[You can purchase the special position <Knight Commander (★★)>.]

“…Is the price real?”

The confirmed price of the <Chief of the Knights> is a whopping 5000 points.

It was a score so big that one more celebratory facility could be built in the temple.

This time I had earned 5000 points by completing two sub-quests in a row so it was basically like donating the points I had earned.

But what can I do?

“I buy it.”

[You purchased the special position <Paladin Commander (★★)> using 5000 Holy Points.]

[Because you have paid a fair price the law of causality tolerates the intervention of <Limen> the main seat of <Dimension: Eden>.]

Even though I knew I had no choice but to endure it.

By bringing Seungwoo to the classroom he had already acquired the absurd trait of <enlightenment>.

That is why what we urgently need now is talent first and foremost talent second.

They say we are suffering from a manpower shortage.

“Is it done?”

“huh!”

“If you’re going to send it like last time could you tell me the gate location and the date? I had a hard time because of that last time.”

Thanks to that I was able to form a relationship with the CEO of the Goblin Guild but that was just luck.

You need to know the location in advance and prepare for it….

“Huh? I just sent it?”

“…what?”

『No. I’m sorry I sent it too late last time. So I just sent it right away this time. There happened to be a passageway that was connected. Hehe.』

That was when.

Woof woof woof woof-!

The cell phone in my pocket vibrated. It was a message from Inwook.

-Little brother: <Link>

-Brother: The Hive Guild guys were broadcasting live and suddenly a strange person appeared?

-Little brother: Check it out quickly. There’s chaos right now.

-Younger brother: Last time you said you fought with the Jeon Gak-ryeon guys. Didn’t you send them?

At the place you entered by following the link that Inwook sent you.

-?

-Why are there people coming out of the gate?

-If you look at the monsters you kill aren’t you a player?

-what

-Is it a monster rookie or something like that raised by the Hive Guild?

A knight wearing familiar armor was swinging a mace larger than his body crushing the monsters’ heads.

The camera soon focused on her face.

Then her red hair fluttering with the iron hammer is broadcast on the screen.

She looks at the camera and winks and smiles as if she knows that her image is being shown on screen.

Well let’s say it’s okay to even wink.

But why on earth?

-?

-What just happened?

-Isn’t that guy a member of the Hive Guild? Didn’t the Hive Guild members attack first just now?

-But why are the ones who attacked first doing this instead? Lol

-Please explain the reason

-Explanation bug) I don’t know either lol

Are you saying that you shoot Hive Guild members into the sky while winking?

I put my hand on my forehead as I looked at the dizzying and terrifying scene.

And just as I was about to ask Limen in a hurry.

“Questions later! I’ve completed the delivery so I’ll be going now! I’m busy I’m busy.”

[The trust has ended.]

Limen also ran away quickly.

Left like that I looked back at the live broadcast on my phone.

Just as I was racking my brain about how to handle this situation the woman on the screen shouted in a loud voice.

“I am Luna Reventon the leader of the Palma Knights the third order of knights of the Limen Order. If you really don’t want to be killed why don’t you stop attacking us?”

I muttered wiping my hand over my face at the remark that was literally like a nuclear bomb.

“…This time it failed again.”

Where should I start picking this up?

Our Pope please stop this