Somebody Stop the Pope – 58



Episode 58

18. Strengthening the inner self

1.

Ground Zero Seoul.

A restricted area due to magical contamination located next to the temple grounds where vegetation has grown due to the power of Limen.

“I didn’t know the purification work had already progressed this far. Siwoo-nim always exceeds expectations.”

“You are too kind. It is all thanks to the grace bestowed by Limen. Didn’t you change the mine of the highest grade magic stones into divine stones? The help of the Ability Management Department was also great.”

“No. It was a right that should have been given to the Limen Church.”

Team Leader Kim of the Ability Management Department let out an exclamation and I smiled as I listened to his words.

As Team Leader Kim said most of the existing magical contamination areas had been decontaminated.

This means that the purification work has reached its final stages.

The players dispatched from the Meister Guild <Anarchy> that Minsu introduced last time also played a big role.

They were mining the sacred stones at a much faster rate than we had expected.

According to the story of Kang-ho the leader of the <Anarchy> guild most players who are capable of mining have enthusiastically volunteered for the mining work.

Didn’t the story spread that someone who worked at the Shinsungseok mine was cured of his chronic illness?

That’s not wrong. The divine power that emanates from the Shinsungseok mine maximizes the natural resilience of humans.

“At this rate I think we can dismantle the Ark within this year.”

The Ark refers to the huge wall surrounding Ground Zero in Seoul.

I looked at Team Leader Kim and asked him in a casual manner.

“It seems like you want to disband as soon as possible?”

“The Ark is also a scar left in the heart of Seoul. If the Ark is dismantled and Ground Zero is opened after being purified it will become another source of hope for the people. And above all….”

Team Leader Kim coughed a few times and then continued speaking quietly.

“We will be able to recycle the mithril contained in the Ark.”

“Oh it’s a budget issue.”

“Because the wall costs an astronomical amount of money. If we could just recycle and sell the Mithril we could raise a significant budget. The South Korean government issued a large amount of national bonds to build the Ark.”

In short it means that a great variety of interests are intertwined.

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If you look at it frankly the rather hideous wall contained many meanings.

I nodded slowly looking at Team Leader Kim who was smiling bitterly.

“By the way have you checked the information we gave you about Lee Se-hee?”

“Minister Yoo Seon-ho personally confirmed the situation and reported it to the Blue House. Since there is a possibility that China is behind the terrorism the higher-ups are taking it very seriously. In addition the Chinese government unofficially protested two days ago.”

It was two days ago before the terrorist attack so why did they clash with China?

Team Leader Kim noticed the doubt on my face and quickly resolved it.

“The orc group that Siu had destroyed crossed the Yalu River and attacked Dandong City two days ago.”

“What a pity.”

“The damage was minimal because we had foreseen it in advance but they demanded an official apology saying that the damage was caused by the South Korean government not destroying the orcs. In any case the relationship between the two countries is currently at its worst because of that.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at Team Leader Kim’s words.

“When was it ever good?”

“Of course not.”

“Still I’m worried because it seems like it happened because of me.”

“You don’t have to say that. Thanks to you Siu we were able to stop the worst wave of monsters without any casualties. And we have no doubt that your choice was the best. The problems that follow are our own to solve.”

I looked ahead quietly while listening to Team Leader Kim’s words.

It is certain that the people called <Purifier> are staying in China. Through Lee Se-hee’s testimony we also learned that their evil hands have spread throughout South Korea.

It was highly likely that the last time they polluted the magic stone mine here and pushed the orcs into South Korea was also related to them.

So then where on earth do Baek Myeong-gyo stand?

The fact that the choice is open to Divine series players also means that they are a group that possesses the potential for divine power.

“I don’t know.”

Those who slaughter people without hesitation and those who willingly sacrifice others for their own ends are both pieces of trash in my eyes.

One thing is certain: both groups are destined to eventually fight us.

What we need to do now is to increase the power and influence of the church in preparation for that future.

And that’s why I called Team Leader Kim here.

“Team Leader Kim. Our church is also going to start training players in earnest from now on. I heard that Christianity and Buddhism have already started doing this.”

I heard that established religions have started training divine affiliation players at academies run by each religious foundation.

Can we lose?

Team Leader Kim nodded at my words.

“That’s good. Are you saying that the Limen Church will establish a foundation and run the Awakened Academy? If so we can look for a place for the academy.”

“Oh that’s not it.”

I chuckled and lightly snapped my fingers.

Wooooow!

Then light soon spread out on the side of the temple and soon two buildings that looked similar to medieval Gothic style quickly appeared.

[You have purchased the facility <Knights Headquarters Lv.1> using 10000 Holy Points. The position <Apprentice Knight> is now unlocked.]

[You have purchased <Monastery Lv.1> using 7000 Holy Points. The <Apprentice Priest> position is now unlocked.]

I have no regrets about using up all the divine points I had accumulated so far.

Because these were buildings that should have been built a long time ago.

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“Wow… that’s amazing.”

Team Leader Kim looked at the two buildings with a bewildered expression.

It must have been amazing to witness the process of two beautiful structures being created right before your eyes.

It’s an ability that Limen was able to demonstrate thanks to the pact he made with Earth’s system but it’s Limen’s ability anyway.

“I heard that there aren’t many players in the divine lineage at the moment. For the time being I plan to develop players here. That’s why I need help from the government.”

“Please speak comfortably.”

“I think that even if you are a Divine player you should complete the basic Awakening program. That’s why I would like to form a sisterhood with the National Awakening Academies and receive some help.”

The Limen Church is not a church that encourages people to become fanatics.

What we recommend is a gentle harmony with the world. We may be the best in the world at teaching the use of divine power but raising players is a separate issue.

So the help of experts was essential. And it just so happened that they were nearby.

“I heard that the National Awakening Academy in Seoul is evaluated as being much better than other private academies… Oh I’m not asking you to accept all the members of our sect. If you feel burdened by my request you can forget about it. It’s a little disappointing though. Haha!”

“ah….”

“I absolutely absolutely do not mean to eat you raw. Please do not misunderstand. I just think that this kind of relationship will serve as a bridge between our religious order and the government of the Republic of Korea in the future. Hahaha!”

I think you understand this well enough.

I looked at Team Leader Kim with a smile and Team Leader Kim nodded his head weakly while sweating profusely.

“I will… try to explain… well to Minister Yoo Seon-ho.”

“I believed you. Then shall we go inside the temple and have a cup of tea? Our Leo is a master at making tea. Let’s go.”

“yes….”

Isn’t it true that trust sprouts through the coming and going of feelings?

This is what it means to truly build substance right?

2.

Team Leader Kim promised a positive answer and returned.

I heard that his status within the Department of Ability Management has greatly improved since we first met. That may be because he is trusted by Minister Yoo Seon-ho.

It’s good to grant a lot of power to people who are friendly to me.

If you cross the line you may be labeled as being in collusion with the political world but that is only if you cross the line.

It’s okay to maintain a good relationship while keeping a reasonable distance.

“There won’t be that many players to take charge of yet. So you guys should just suffer for a while.”

“Just for the time being… I heard this is a line that many unscrupulous CEOs use. Well it’s not hard to teach anyway.”

“Easy?”

“Of course. Originally a knight grew stronger by fighting against hardships and adversity. You just have to keep going until you’re almost on the verge of death. When I was in charge of training new knights I threw them into a cave but well….”

Luna proudly tells the story of how she pushed the new recruits into the pit of evil with her own hands.

I felt like praying for the souls of the aspiring knights she would be taking care of in the future.

“Then those who wish to become priests will be Leo and those who wish to become knights will be Luna? No objections?”

“yes.”

“Understood Your Majesty.”

I can confidently say that the Divine series players won’t have that many hands.

As long as the system exists they will grow on their own.

What we have to offer them is the opportunity to develop their faith and the knowledge of divine power.

If they can just meet those two requirements they will be able to grow rapidly along with the power of the system.

I was the proof of that.

“Okay that solves the problem for new players.”

Now let’s move on to the next thing.

“You can also summon a holy relic.”

The <Sacred Relic> category has been newly updated while destroying the divinities of the other world.

I’ve been so busy since I got it that I haven’t been able to check it properly but now is the time to check the relic system properly.

Just as the myths contained in each relic are different the effects of each relic are also diverse.

Of course expectations can’t help but be high.

“what.”

But I couldn’t help but be speechless as I looked at the message window that appeared before me.

[Currently you can summon 1 <random relic> of the Limen Church to Earth through <Command: Summon Relic>.]

“…A probability item?”

I sighed as I looked at the message window that appeared before my eyes. I never dreamed that it would be applied in this way.

The system seemed to notice that I was confused and kindly added an explanation.

[It was determined that summoning the desired relic would greatly violate the <Law of Causality> so we had no choice but to apply <Randomness>.]

In short it is a restriction put in place to prevent the balance from being greatly disrupted….

Why on earth does this apply to a place like this?

“Your Majesty. Why are you looking like that?”

“Just. I feel a little bit like that.”

Somehow things were going too smoothly.

I checked the message window with a disgusted expression and then sighed loudly again.

As the oldest sect in Eden the Limen sect has countless types of relics.

Priests like Leo knew the types by heart but in my case there were a lot of relics that I didn’t know about.

I remember that among them there were several relics that were questionable as to why they were even called relics.

What if one of those relics were summoned?

“…Oh no way.”

He is the Pope of a certain religious order so how could he be so unlucky?

But you never know.

“Children please pray.”

“suddenly?”

“If you tell me to do it do it.”

We have to try everything we can.

At my command Luna and Leo reluctantly clasped their hands and closed their eyes and I nodded while looking at them.

And then he gave the command in a very careful voice.

“Summon the Holy Relic.”

Paaaaah!

[Summon 1 <Random Relic> of the Limen Sect to <Dimension: Earth> using <Relic Points>. <Causality> approves this summoning.]

The light that suddenly burst out lasted for about 3 seconds and I looked at the light and muttered to myself.

“Are you out?”

I don’t even hope for the highest level of relics the <Mark of Limen>.

Something like the <Holy Bulwark> a shield used by the first knight or the <Bracelet of the Covenant> which contains the powerful power of Parma is also fine.

As long as it’s not weird it doesn’t matter…

[The Holy Relic <Branch of Beginning> has been summoned.]

what?

“…a branch?”

Our Pope please stop this