Somebody Stop the Pope – 59



Episode 59

3.

‘I’m screwed!’

That was the first thought that came to my mind when I saw that branch.

There were countless precious relics in the relic vault of the church and I remembered just how many were stored there.

But I don’t remember seeing this branch there.

In other words it means that there is a holy relic that was not in the Vatican.

“what’s this.”

It seems like the same was true for Luna.

Luna frowned as she brought her face close to the branch.

“I can feel the divine power so it seems to be a holy relic… Did you summon it Your Majesty?”

“…For now.”

“There are many others so why of all things… Well it’s Limen-sama’s holy relic so it’s okay right?”

“I didn’t summon what I wanted.”

This is what’s at stake in the draw.

It was around that time that Luna and I were looking at the tree branches with serious expressions on our faces.

Leo also had a serious expression on his face.

However Leo’s seriousness was different from ours.

“This can’t be happening!”

Unlike us who were flustered Leo’s face was filled with a myriad of emotions.

Leo who usually didn’t show his emotions easily was so excited that his face turned red.

“Your Majesty! Could this be a dream?”

“Calm down Leo.”

“Can’t you calm down even if you try to calm down? It’s the Beginning Branch! It’s the sacred relic of the sect that disappeared 500 years ago the Beginning Branch!”

At those words my eyes widened.

A sacred relic that disappeared 500 years ago? That tree branch?

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“Long ago when Limen first descended upon this land he promised mortals a peaceful and prosperous future and as proof he blessed a giant tree. Later it was called the Sacred Tree.”

Leo continued his story in a more enthusiastic voice than ever before.

“The sacred tree was burned down by the gluttonous legions in the war of hatred that took place 500 years ago. One of those guarding the sacred tree was able to escape by breaking off a branch in a hurry and this is that branch.”

I carefully placed my hand on the branch as I listened to Leo’s story.

Then an information window about the tree branch appeared before my eyes.

<Branch of the Beginning>

●Item Type: Holy Relic – Limen Church

●Original dimension: Eden

●Description: A branch of the sacred tree that once symbolized the promise of Limen. Although the sacred tree was burned down by demons the will and sacred power that the sacred tree contained remain in the branch. It is also a seed left behind by the sacred tree. According to legend the sacred tree is said to be asleep guarding it.

●Usage Effect: When a branch is planted in a land filled with <Divine Power> it changes into a <Sapling of the Divine Tree>.

“So that’s why you broke off a branch and escaped.”

I let out a small exclamation of admiration as I looked at the effect of using the relic.

In other words if you plant this branch it will grow into a sacred tree.

“The sacred tree makes the surrounding sacred power more pure and fertile. Also just being near the sacred tree can be expected to have a great healing effect.”

“How on earth did you lose something so important?”

“…I don’t know much about that either. In the history books stored in the Vatican it was only written that it was stolen in a suspicious raid.”

What on earth was the old Limen sect like?

If it was to the extent of having the holy relics stolen it seems like it would have gone as far as it could…

No that’s not important right now.

I looked at the tree branch again with a new expression. Until just a moment ago I had thought it was a dud but after hearing the story it turned out to be not a dud.

perhaps.

“This is awesome.”

“This is awesome.”

“There is no greater blessing than this! All of this is the grace of Limen who looks after us!”

You may have won a holy relic which could be considered the first prize.

A sacred tree of the religious order that was lost 500 years ago.

When I heard about the efficacy of the sacred tree I could understand why Leo was so excited.

I smiled and took the branch in my hand. Then I looked at Luna and Leo and said.

“Let’s just plant it in the front garden without measuring it.”

Leo nodded as if he had gained a great insight from my words.

“That is indeed so. There is no place on Earth so rich in divine power as this place. That is truly a true statement.”

“Should I bring a shovel?”

“When did you buy the shovel again?”

“In the morning. I might have something to ask you.”

What on earth are you trying to bury?

I shook my head to shake off the spiciness Luna was showing off then waved my hand and answered.

“I’m just planting a branch. What’s the use of a shovel? Just follow me.”

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“yes.”

Even a bull’s horn can be pulled out in one go so if the sacred tree is that good it would be right to plant it as soon as possible.

So the three of us headed straight to the garden next to the temple.

4.

A beautiful garden surrounding the temple.

“Wow! It’s the Pope!”

“There’s a folder and a sister too!”

There were quite a few people walking slowly there.

They were mourners who came here through application.

They said they were going to accept up to 1500 people per day starting last week but I heard that once applications open they close within 30 seconds.

That also meant that many people had lost loved ones here.

“thank you.”

“Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to commemorate you in this way.”

Those who discovered us each approached us and expressed their gratitude.

They seemed to be very interested in us just like the people we had met that morning but they didn’t talk to us as actively as the people we had met that morning.

Perhaps that’s because they came here not to see us but to pay their respects.

I looked at the mourners with a soft smile and spoke in a low voice.

“Right now you have to apply to enter but soon you will be able to come and go freely.”

At my words the mourners began to murmur little by little.

“The cleanup work at Ground Zero here in Seoul is nearing its final stages. I would appreciate it if you could wait just a little longer.”

It is certainly unfortunate that we cannot freely come to the resting place of our loved ones and pay our respects.

I know that feeling better than anyone else.

Because in Eden we couldn’t go to the ossuary where our parents were buried.

If the government had given us the authority to do so we could have restricted entry to anyone other than those in our church but that was not what Nana Limen wanted.

A place open to everyone.

As the Limen sect of Eden did so will the Limen sect of Earth proceed.

“We will also work hard to ensure that you can come and go comfortably at any time. May the peace of Limen be with you and those who sleep here.”

I bowed slightly to them and greeted them and Leo and Luna followed suit and greeted me politely.

Clap clap clap.

So we slowly stepped aside to the applause of the mourners.

“His Holiness.”

On my way to plant the branches Luna spoke to me with a smile.

“why?”

“no.”

“say.”

“I just said that you seemed a bit like the Pope a little while ago. You don’t usually act like the Pope but when you see you like this you really do look like the Pope.”

“Your Majesty always show yourself as a Pope Lord Reventon.”

What on earth does it mean to be like the Pope?

Luna smiled broadly again at my displeased expression and whispered quietly.

“May Limen protect our beloved Pope until the end.”

“…Strangely. Ah I’ve arrived.”

“Look at the way you change the subject. You’re so cute.”

I looked straight ahead regardless of what Luna said.

The place that came to mind as soon as I heard that we had to plant tree branches.

It was a large lawn located on one side of the garden.

I was wondering if I should plant something because it felt empty compared to other places but maybe Limen had been looking this far?

She has foresight you see.

I walked to the center of the lawn and took out the branch I had been holding in my arms exhaling.

Then two system message windows immediately appeared before my eyes.

[The current location is rich in <Divine Power>.]

[You can use the Holy Relic <Branch of Beginning>.]

Since the <Proof of Limen> is placed in the basement of the temple it is bound to have abundant divine power.

“Okay let’s plant it.”

I carefully placed the branch that was emitting divine light into the lawn.

After a while.

“oh.”

The light streaming from the tree branches quickly spread out in all directions and in the blink of an eye the branches grew to a height of about my waist.

It could no longer be called a ‘branch’.

“This is the sapling of the divine tree… It is exactly as it is written in the Bible. Even though it is just a sapling we dare to call it sacred.”

“That’s right.”

As Leo said it was a proper ‘sapling’. And it also felt like it had a strong divine power.

“It is written in the Bible that sacred trees are inhabited by sacred animals that protect them.”

“Shin Soo?”

“Yes. But for some reason I can’t seem to see the new person.”

That was when.

Woof woof woof!

Suddenly light burst out from the sapling and soon a shape formed on the grass in front of the sapling.

This looks like the Shinsoo animal that Leo was talking about earlier but it’s small and has pointy ears…

“cat?”

It was just like a cat.

But Luna shook her head at my words.

“Hey Your Majesty. It’s a divine being. A cool thing like a unicorn appears…”

Meow!

“Gyaaaah! It’s a real cat! Your Majesty! Look at this!”

“…It’s a munchkin.”

Before we knew it a baby Munchkin with fur as white as snow was standing before our eyes.

The guy just stared at us blankly then ran towards me and started rubbing his head against my leg.

[<Shinsu> recognizes you as its master.]

[<Shinsu> grows together with <Shinmok>. As <Shinsu> grows it will grant various effects to your sect.]

[<Sacred Tree>’s growth is achieved through the good deeds of the church’s believers and through main quests.]

In short it means that the more you grow it the better it will become.

I closed the message window and smiled as I stroked the head of the Shinsoo who had dug into my arms without me noticing.

It was quite different from the image I had expected but I was satisfied just knowing that there was potential for growth.

And above all.

“cute.”

Deadly cute.

It’s to the point where you wonder if it’s okay to be this cute.

“Can I take you home?”

I heard from Inwook that Siyeon has been wanting to raise a cat lately.

I heard that Siyeon couldn’t adopt a cat because she has a cat allergy but wouldn’t it be okay if it was Shinsoo?

“It’s possible. The divine tree and the divine beast are connected as souls. However they must be close to each other in order to share the divine power so they must not be separated for too long.”

“Leo. How do you know that when you saw the sacred tree for the first time today?”

Leo answered the question by lifting the Bible he was holding in his left hand.

“The Bible contains all the truth.”

“It feels like I studied from a textbook or something.”

I don’t know because I never read the Bible properly during the ten years I was in Eden.

The same goes for Luna.

“I didn’t know either.”

“That’s because even Lord Reventon didn’t come close to the Bible.”

“Hey I’m a saint so it’s okay. I’m sure even Lord Limen will understand that much.”

…Sometimes I wonder if Luna is really a saint.

I stood up from my seat holding the Shinsoo who was singing Golgolsong in my arms. Then I looked at Leo and Luna and said.

“I’m leaving work first.”

I want to go home quickly and show Shinsoo to Siyeon. And I have to give him a name. If I keep calling him Shinsoo it feels a bit awkward.

“What about us?”

“You two should stay and guard the temple. I’ve already set up the monastery and the headquarters of the Knights Templar so go and set things up in advance. Oh and Seungwoo’s father is getting discharged from the hospital today right? Leo go and get him.”

“Then your highness.”

“My grandmother is coming back tomorrow. I need to go home and clean up a bit and give our little one a name. There’s so much to do.”

The two of them soon looked at me unfavorably.

His face was full of complaints about my orders.

So I looked at them confidently and said

“If you want you guys should become the Pope. Right?”

Meowwowwow-.

The divine being in my arms rubbed its head against my chest and made a sound.

Is it because he is a god?

It’s amazing how he can understand what people say. He’s a very smart guy.

anyway.

Now that the details are roughly finished let’s go home. But why do my ears itch so much?

Is anyone talking about me?

5.

Same time.

The new Blue House located in Sejong Special Self-Governing City.

“Okay then let’s start the meeting. Minister Yoo Seon-ho. What did the US and Japan request?”

Minister Yoo Seon-ho sighed deeply in response to the President’s question. Then he answered in a low voice.

“I request that the Awakened People of the Republic of Korea be dispatched to participate in the operation to subdue the nationally critical demonic beast Yamata no Orochi that has appeared near Miyagi Prefecture Japan.”

“A national crisis level demon… second level?”

“Yes that’s right. It’s the second-highest rank in the international horse class.”

“Even so it is unusual for you to ask us for help. But it seems that is not all… Are there any additional conditions attached?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s go in and take a look.”

“The U.S. side is strongly requesting that Kim Si-woo be included in the delegation.”

“Hmm. Minister Yoo Seon-ho why do you think they made that request?”

The smile disappeared from the President’s face at Minister Yoo Seon-ho’s words.

And Minister Yoo Seon-ho spoke softly to the president.

“The US dispatch list includes their Irregular Aiden Howard aka Barbarian.”

“Barbarian? Are you… talking about that barbarian?”

“Yes that’s right.”

Minister Yoo Seon-ho paused for a moment and then concluded with a slightly distorted expression.

“It seems like they want to try out the first irregular in South Korea.”

Our Pope please stop this