Please Stop The Pope

The next morning, I immediately expressed my intention to Minister Yoo Seon-ho to join the dispatch team to Japan.

After that, things started progressing at a very fast pace.

Minister Yoo formed the dispatch team centered around me, and that Kang Chae-ah, who is called the best Awakener belonging to the Korean government, was included in that dispatch team.

Departure time is 7 p.m. today.

The media announcement was also made immediately.

「President Seo Shin-woo holds an emergency press conference at the Blue House. Decides to dispatch Irregular Kim Shi Yu to Japan!」

「Japanese Prime Minister Sasaki Hiroto expresses great gratitude for Korea’s decision. Will do their best to welcome the dispatch team.」

「The White House: ‘A good opportunity to show the firmness of the Korea-US alliance to the world. Applauds the decision of the Republic of Korea and President Seo Shin-woo.’」

「The meeting of Barbarian and the Black Pope! Will the Irregular Reader recognize Korea’s first Irregular?」

As much as it was featured prominently in the media, the reaction on the internet was also extreme.

It was already in an uproar because three members of the Limen Denomination stopped the terrorism.

When Yamata no Orochi and the American Irregular ‘Barbarian’ were added as spices, an atmosphere bordering on madness was created.

[Title: Is Barbarian the father or the Black Pope the father?]

Content: Just thinking about it makes my heart feel grand. But no matter how much of a Black Pope he is, won’t Barbarian be a bit difficult? There are so many fake Irregulars who were smashed by Barbarian’s hands.

ㄴWhy do you think they will fight?

ㄴThen how can they not fight? That bastard Barbarian rushes in like a horny dog if an Irregular is unverified lol

ㄴIt looks like the US called King Hwang to test his courage

ㄴNo, guys. You say this even after seeing the Yamata no Orochi video? If Japan is destroyed, we’re next;;

ㄴJapan isn’t that much of a pushover. They just don’t have Irregulars, but their Awakener forces are stronger than ours. They have several Disaster-grade returnees too.

ㄴThere’s ‘that bastard’ in Japan

ㄴRyu Wan-yong is a forbidden word. Please refrain from mentioning him.

ㄴJust thinking about that bastard makes me angry

Already, the main topic has become who would win if Barbarian and I fought.

That means the fact that that guy named Barbarian went around smashing the heads of other Irregulars is quite famous.

This feels like putting my neck in a hunting dog’s mouth. Of course, any average hunting dog would break its teeth trying to bite my neck though.

I sat on the chair in the office and briefly browsed internet communities. And seeing the constantly mentioned ‘Ryu Wan-yong’ and ‘Ryu Jin-yeong’, I asked Mr. Min-soo.

“Who is Ryu Jin-yeong?”

Then Min-soo, who was busy doing something on his laptop, answered.

“Ryu Jin-yeong. He was a Disaster-grade returnee who once received all the expectations of Korea. Even at the time of his return, he was evaluated to be at the Irregular level in terms of combat power, an amazing level magician.”

“I think I can roughly guess the rest. The nickname Wan-yong is only given to such people, right?”

“It’s as you expect, Your Holiness. The government promised full support, but for some reason, Ryu Jin-yeong naturalized to Japan with another S-grade hunter. It was only 2 days after he made a vow at a press conference to protect Korea for life.”

“I’ve heard that story a lot somewhere.”

“Well, I’ve heard that in the early 2000s, a Korean singer with a similar surname did something similar. It was Yoo… something.”

I roughly understood.

I thought Korea-Japan relations had worsened compared to before I crossed over to Eden, so there was such a behind story.

I nodded and then looked at Mr. Min-soo and said,

“I’m thinking of holding a baptism ceremony after returning from Japan this time.”

“May I ask what kind of thing a baptism ceremony is?”

“For ordinary people who haven’t awakened, it’s an opportunity to become a sacred-type player, and the same goes for players. But in the case of players, they have to give up the mana they have accumulated so far.”

Last night, through the system, I found out that by checking the trait , baptism can be given to existing players as well.

The trait was acquired relatively early.

As the trait level rose, the number of people who could be awakened through the baptism ceremony increased to 20.

However, the 180-day reuse waiting time has not decreased.

It would be a loss to keep leaving it alone, so I was planning to hold a baptism ceremony soon.

“I’m thinking of giving baptism to a total of 20 people, and I’d like Brother Min-soo to select 5 of them.”

“You mean… me?”

“Isn’t it appropriate to give that level of benefit to the founding members? Ah, and Brother Min-soo.”

“Yes, Your Holiness.”

“Just because someone is a believer of the Limen Denomination doesn’t necessarily mean they have to possess divine power. You know what I mean, right?”

Mr. Min-soo grew MeTube in his own way, and that is an achievement worthy of respect.

Forcing divine power on someone who has been growing through mana so far is like telling them to start over from the beginning.

He is a person who was directly granted the seed of divine power by Limen, but that doesn’t mean he has to give up what he has built up so far.

“Whatever decision Brother Min-soo makes, Brother Min-soo is a person of the Limen Denomination. Just remember that.”

“I fully understand, Your Holiness.”

“Yes. Brother Min-soo is a wise person, so you will find the answer yourself.”

I looked at Mr. Min-soo with a smile.

He is a person who made a great contribution to getting here. From the idea of building a temple in Ground Zero to detailed parts including MeTube.

I will repay him somehow. No matter what form it takes.

“Leo will accompany me on this dispatch to Japan.”

“Will Luna remain at the temple?”

“It turned out that way. One person has to stay behind.”

From today, the education of players coming up from each region will be conducted. Originally, I should stay behind and oversee it myself, but due to the situation, it couldn’t be helped.

Instead, the government decided to temporarily dispatch instructors to educate them on the basics as Awakeners, so there will be no problem with basic education at least.

“I apologize for the presumptuous words, but in terms of education, it would be better for Archbishop Leo to…”

“Leo can at least be controlled, but Luna cannot be controlled. Even if she causes an accident in Korea, it can be handled somehow, but it would be a different story in Japan.”

“My thoughts were short-sighted. Then I will stay at the temple and assist Luna as much as possible.”

“You can discuss with In Wook and create content related to Luna together.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

There’s no need to take the risk of bringing Luna along. By the way, I wonder how Luna will react when she hears this.

…No way she’ll hit me for not taking her, right?

Even at the news that Leo would be included in the Japan dispatch team instead of herself, Luna didn’t even show a hint of annoyance.

Rather, she liked it.

-It’s good that I can lick the fresh newbies all by myself. Huhu. I can go to Japan anytime, but this is the only chance to educate our denomination’s first chicks, right?

It was a line that reminded me of the long-standing tradition of old-timers licking fresh newbies.

You said you adapted quickly to Korea, but I didn’t know you even learned that tradition.

Was it the same in Eden? I don’t remember well.

Anyway, it was good news for us. Leaving Luna alone in Korea is worrisome in many ways, but Min-soo will control her appropriately while staying next to her.

“We’ve passed one hurdle.”

I also said goodbye to my family.

Since today was Saturday, Si-yeon was also at home, so the farewell didn’t take long.

Si-yeon had a dissatisfied expression at first, but she quickly regained her smile with the secret weapon I prepared.

“What did you say to Siyeon earlier?”

“Ah, I said I’d buy a gift.”

“Do you have a gift in mind by any chance?”

“Japan is an island country, so wouldn’t there be many islands? So I just said I’d get an island. When I said that, she told me to get a pretty island. She said she likes an island with lots of flowers.”

I don’t know whose sister she is, but her scale is big.

As someone who caught a magic beast on their behalf, wouldn’t they give me an island or two?

Or what… I should talk to the Korean government about giving one of the islands in the South Sea.

Anyway.

I also told Grandma, who is traveling around Korea with Madam Emma, that I’m going, so the preparations are practically done.

********

“We plan to move using a chartered plane provided directly by the Japanese government, and the airport we will land at is Narita International Airport. After arriving at the site, we will move to the operation area under the escort of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force…”

“Mr. Kim.”

“Yes?”

“You’re going through a lot of trouble in many ways. Going on a business trip to Japan because of me, how can I face your wife?”

I spoke to Team Leader Kim, who was giving me an eager briefing in the VIP room at the airport.

However, Team Leader Kim answered with a brighter expression than ever.

“Haha, don’t worry about that part. Rather, I am grateful to you, Shi Yu.”

“For what…”

“You’ll probably know when you become a married man too, Shi Yu.”

It was something I couldn’t empathize with but could understand. I smiled bitterly and nodded.

“I should finish this as quickly as possible.”

“I would be more grateful if you could drag it out as much as possible. Ah, and Shi Yu. I got promoted this time and also transferred departments.”

“Oh, congratulations. If you say you’re transferring departments, does that mean my person in charge is changing?”

“That’s not it. I was appointed as the head of the Irregular Exclusive Office directly under the Minister of Awakening Management. It’s a special order from the president. The president told me to take good care of you in the future as well, Shi Yu.”

In other words, he’s saying he got promoted thanks to me.

I’m fine with it. It was convenient in many ways because Team Leader Kim directly provided various conveniences. The president probably knew that fact too, so he praised his achievement.

It’s definitely a good thing when someone close to me gets promoted.

Around the time I was talking with Team Leader Kim and waiting for the takeoff time.

A group that looked like Awakeners approached us from far away.

And when they arrived in front of us, the woman standing at the very front politely bowed and greeted.

“Nice to meet you for the first time, Awakener Kim Shi Yu. I am Kang Chae-ah, the team leader of the Ability 1 Team directly under the Ministry of National Defense. I was assigned the role of team leader for this Japan dispatch team, so I am greeting you like this.”

With neatly combed black hair and brightly shining eyes.

Kang Chae-ah, wearing a subtle red lipstick and a tailored suit that fit her body moderately, was a woman who could sufficiently be called an intelligent beauty.

She was a player who uses magic, right? Perhaps because of that, she wasn’t holding any particular weapon.

Instead, the mana she subtly exuded was sufficiently powerful.

I heard that Lee Sehee, who was miserably defeated by Luna last time, had a rival mentality towards this woman, but after directly seeing Kang Chae-ah, I realized that what Lee Sehee had wasn’t a rival mentality.

‘It was an inferiority complex.’

The level of a magician can usually be gauged by how much their internal mana circuits are opened.

It’s really hard to explain accurately, but if Lee Se-hee opened 5 out of 10 mana circuits, Kang Chae-ah is at the level of opening 7 mana circuits.

Considering that battles between the strong are decided by a narrow margin, it’s a clearly significant difference.

I shook Kang Chae-ah’s outstretched hand and smiled slightly.

“I’m Kim Shi Yu.”

“I deeply thank you for catching the villains, including Lee Sehee, on our behalf.”

“I only did what I had to do.”

There was no energy battle or nerve war that other Awakeners would usually engage in. She was respecting me, and I also respected her.

Despite rising to the highest position in Korea in the magic field, I liked her humble attitude that was ingrained in her body.

Moreover, judging by the pride shown on her face, she seemed to be a person with a strong sense of patriotism… There seemed to be no hateful aspect about her.

“On paper, I am the overall person in charge, but if Awakener Kim Shi Yu wants to directly take command, you can do so. We are always ready to follow Awakener Kim Shi Yu’s orders.”

“I have one life motto. Leave the work of experts to the experts. I didn’t even think of fighting over command authority.”

“…Is that so?”

Kang Chae-ah made a somewhat inexplicable expression, as if the situation was unexpected.

She seemed to be the type whose emotions showed on her face unexpectedly.

“In this dispatch, our Ability 1 Team is scheduled to assist Awakener Kim Shi Yu’s combat.”

“I look forward to working with you.”

“We will do our best.”

More of a soldier than an Awakener.

Looking at the Awakeners standing at attention behind her, they seemed enough to be called elites.

The Korean government has also paid considerable attention.

I looked at them and smiled. And I said in a low voice,

“It is an honor to be able to go on my historic first overseas trip with you all. I’ve traveled to other worlds, but this is my first time abroad. Let’s have a pleasant and healthy trip like a vacation.”

The atmosphere was good until then.

Just until then.

3 hours later.

Japan, Narita International Airport.

“All members of the Korean dispatch team, disarm and follow our instructions!”

“The responsibility for what happens if you do not cooperate lies entirely with the Korean side!”

I looked at the truly absurd and suffocating scene unfolding before my eyes and muttered in a low voice,

“They’ve gone crazy, really.”