Please Stop The Pope

Chapter 85

Taking a Break

1.
Apart from the “Causality Fit Review,” the I used last successfully covered the refugee village.

Thanks to the purification of the tumor mass and its source, the only remaining patients in the refugee village were those infected with the plague.

With the source eliminated, the plague lost its power, and most of the magic lingering in the patients’ bodies was wiped away by my wings.

Of course, some patients who had been branded by the plague were not fully purified.

“We’ll be moving with the employees of the Ability Management Department. Your task is simple. As you practiced through the rituals, you should channel divine power into the patients who still have symptoms. Got it, chicks?”

“Yes!”

“Don’t disappoint me. The one who treats the most patients will receive a special reward. Now, move out.”

The follow-up action was quickly completed by the new recruits of our order, who had arrived as part of the second group.

I nodded in satisfaction as I watched the new recruits move in an orderly fashion under Luna’s command.

“They’re starting to earn their keep.”

“I think it’s a good opportunity to spot the chicks who have a talent for healing or purification.”

“Didn’t you want to make all the chicks into paladins?”

“Well, still, some will choose the path of priesthood. Whether it’s an exorcist priest, a consecration priest, or a healing priest. That way, my workload will decrease. Your Holiness secretly wants it too.”

“True.”

Luna smiled and tossed the mace she was holding onto the floor. It disappeared with a swirl of white sparkles.

The pure white plate armor she was wearing also vanished with the mace, replaced by blue jeans and a rider jacket.

“Your Holiness.”

“Yeah.”

“Your expression has been bad since earlier. Is something wrong? It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you look so upset.”

Since there was no need to hide anything from Luna, I immediately told her about my situation.

The explanation lasted about three minutes.

After hearing it, Luna laughed, as if it were nothing, and said:

“Oh, so it’s that.”

“What’s ‘that’?”

“Sage time.”

“Are you out of your mind?”

“No, it’s exactly ‘sage time.’ Hehe, you look flustered because I know a lot of Korean slang, huh?”

…It’s pretty close, but it feels weird coming from a paladin’s mouth.

At this point, Luna might actually be a walking time bomb, right?

If she casually blurts out words like that at an official event…I don’t even want to imagine it.

“I didn’t realize the system was this impressive. I didn’t think it was possible to suppress you. But that causality thing, the criteria are a bit weird, don’t you think?”

“Tell me about it. That’s why I’m planning to ask once we get this situation sorted out.”

“Ask? Who?”

“By chance, the person who can answer that question is at my grandmother’s house.”

“Oh, that mysterious grandmother.”

The one who claimed to be the representative of the system, Mrs. Emma Miller.

Maybe she can answer my questions. Normally, I would ask Limen, but unfortunately, I still can’t get in touch with her.

Given the circumstances, I have no choice but to choose the second-best option.

At least Emma Miller didn’t return to the U.S. That would have meant I would have had to go all the way there.

Anyway…

While Luna and I were talking about our future plans, we were approached by Pastor Seo, who had been taking care of the children inside the container church along with Heemin.

Pastor Seo’s expression was softer and calmer than usual, as if some burden had been lifted from his heart.

I gently asked him.

“Are the children okay now?”

“They’re much better. And the healed members of the congregation have come out to help. This is all thanks to the two of you. Truly, thank you.”

“Thank you!”

Heemin followed Pastor Seo and expressed his gratitude to us.

It was a stark contrast to when he had pointed a skewer at us earlier.

“I don’t know how to repay this kindness.”

“You don’t need to repay anything. We just did what we had to do. And Pastor Seo, you may not realize this, but you’ve already done a lot. That’s enough.”

If it weren’t for this man, what would have happened to this place?

The plague would likely have spread even faster. The immense divine power within him would have certainly been seen as a thorn in the side by the plague.

If Pastor Seo had been able to use his divine power freely, I probably wouldn’t have needed to come here at all.

In my heart, I wanted to convince him and Heemin to join our order but that was merely my personal desire.

From the beginning, these two were not meant to be part of our group, so I reluctantly had to let go of that thought.

I slightly raised the corners of my mouth.

“By the way, Pastor Seo, do you plan to continue your ministry here?”

“That is my given mission. If I can be of any help to those here, that would be enough.”

“I heard you gave up on awakening training, but why don’t you ask for help from the higher-ups since the situation is like this?”

Pastor Seo just smiled at those words.

Yeah, he probably must have asked for help at some point.

Now that divine power has appeared, religions are starting to gain attention again, but before that, most established religions had been collapsing.

Cults advocating apocalyptic theories and such had been growing, while traditional religions like Protestantism had lost much of their power.

That’s how things were until I came back.

In a situation where their religious power was crumbling, did they have the resources to care for a refugee village like this? I don’t think so.

“Pastor Seo.”

“Yes, Siwoo.”

“I’ll talk to the Ability Management Department to make sure you get properly assessed. Once the results come out, Protestantism will likely take an interest in you.”

I’m sure that soon, Pastor Seo will become a prominent divine player representing Protestantism.

After all, he was the first religious prophet from another faith I encountered when I crossed over to Earth.

“…Can I ask you something?”

Pastor Seo asked me carefully, and I nodded.

“Go ahead.”

“I’m curious why you’re showing such consideration for someone like me, who follows a completely different faith.”

It wasn’t a difficult question to answer.

In fact, it was a very easy question.

I smiled and said.

“Do people need a complicated reason to help others? If you want to help, you help. There’s no deeper reason.”

“…Is that so?”

“If we can’t praise someone who has worked hard and served alone for two years, just because their faith is different, then how could we say we serve Limen? What she wants isn’t a rigid ‘only our order is righteous’ mentality.”

Limen’s desire wasn’t for exclusivity. What she wanted was inclusivity—a soft, warm heart that embraces anyone and shares warmth.

Knowing Limen’s intentions well, how could I reject a kind person just because of different beliefs?

I extended my hand to Pastor Seo. And in a pleasant voice, I said:

“Next time, please greet me like you did today. We’ll probably see each other quite often from now on.”

I’m sure that’ll happen soon.

He has that much potential. It makes me a little jealous, even now. Though he doesn’t know it.

Pastor Seo gave a somewhat stiff smile and shook my hand.

And thus, things were gradually coming to a close here.

Luna stayed at the scene.

She had to lead the players from our order who were deployed for follow-up work back to the Seoul temple.

The condition was that I would buy 50 mobile game packages, and I had no choice but to accept that condition.

After getting Luna separated, I then got into a car driven by Director Kim and headed for my grandmother’s house.

“I feel heavy in my heart, as it seems like I’m using a public servant for personal matters.”

“Such a hurtful remark. I am a public servant existing to accompany you, Siwoo. There’s no need for you to feel burdened.”

“Then, how about moving your office to our temple? We can prepare a space for you.”

“Haha.”

Director Kim just laughed, but did not give a definite answer.

On the surface, he seemed fine, but after hearing my suggestion, he visibly flinched.

Sweat dripped down his neck, so it seemed my suggestion had come across as rather intense.

“But, Siwoo. Was Pastor Seo Seongshin’s potential really that remarkable?”

The way he smoothly changed the subject made me think he was quite good at socializing.

In these cases, it’s better to just let it go.

I leaned back in my seat and nodded.

“It was so impressive, I almost wanted to take him with me if the circumstances were different.”

“It’s the first time I’ve seen you give such a generous evaluation of someone since Representative Choi Seo-jin.”

“It couldn’t be helped. A person who never loses their faith through countless trials and always prioritizes the well-being of others before their own—how many people like that do you think exist in this world?”

Perhaps it was because of such qualities that he was granted such potential.

And there was another reason why I was feeling a bit envious.

The child, Heemin, who was with Pastor Seo Seongshin.

That child was undoubtedly destined to become a prophet.

If he grows well, he might even rival our Seungwoo. But since the seed has not yet sprouted, I didn’t give any indication.

I couldn’t predict what would happen if I interfered with that child’s fate.

“Protestantism also gained a talented individual.”

“They gained talent, but I’m not sure if that talent will ever truly blossom. It’s going to be a tough path for him.”

People like him don’t compromise easily.

That would likely be both his strength and his weakness.

Unlike our Limen order, which has just started settling on Earth, there are established interests within traditional religions. In order for him to shine, he would need to raise his voice against them.

But from here on, it would be something Pastor Seo Seongshin would have to handle on his own.

It was no longer my concern.

“Still, Siwoo, you seem to be favorable toward all religions except Baegmyeong Church.”

“There’s no need to have bad blood with them. The Baegmyeong Church guys were the ones who showed their teeth first.”

“I’m so glad you’re an Irregular in South Korea, Siwoo. I’ve always thought so.”

Director Kim no longer hesitates to speak those words without flattery. It seems that the position has truly shaped him.

When he was just the head of a team in the Special Investigation Bureau, he was uncomfortable with such flattery, but now he casually says things like that.

As I was talking with Director Kim, the car soon arrived at the destination.

My grandmother’s house, located in Yeoju, Gyeonggi-do.

It was a two-story house that might seem a bit much for an elderly person living alone, but this house was filled with many memories.

Every time Siyeon and In-wook had their holidays, they would come here to play.

I hadn’t visited since returning to Earth, but even after a long time, the old memories came rushing back as soon as I arrived.

But before I could get too lost in memories, a group of foreigners in suits approached the car we were riding in.

They looked like they were ready to start a fight at any moment.

However, as soon as I stepped out of the car, they froze in place and saluted me.

These were awakened individuals from the United States, guarding Madam Emma, and they immediately recognized me.

I waved lightly at them and returned their salute.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

By the way, I heard that the barbarian is also here, but I don’t see him around.

He shouldn’t be unaware of my arrival.

But as they say, the tiger appears when you mention it.

“Hey!”

Aiden appeared from behind my grandmother’s house and waved his right arm at me cheerfully.

It looked like he had been chopping wood just a moment ago, as he was holding an axe in his left hand.

That wasn’t all.

Aiden was wearing gray hemp pants, probably provided by my grandmother, as he confidently walked toward me.

His upper body?

Of course, it was bare, as that barbarian would never wear anything on his upper body.

Director Kim, who was standing next to me, quietly muttered as he looked at Aiden.

“…Gardener?”

I nodded and added a few words.

“That guy has probably been eating nothing but large servings of rice this whole time. He’s that kind of guy.”

I’ll have to beat him up a few times to make him pay for his meals.

I’ll make sure of it.