Please Stop The Pope

They said it takes about 4 hours and 30 minutes from Narita International Airport to Sendai City.

Originally, it would have been best to land at a nearby airport, but they said the air routes were blocked due to Yamata no Orochi.

A national crisis-level magic beast.

Befitting the grandiose name, the number of magic beasts following Yamata no Orochi was considerable.

But thanks to that, I had time to resolve some questions in the car for a while.

Looking at the scenery of Japan unfolding outside the window, I said to Team Leader Kim,

“Did you have a close relationship with Mr. Ryu Jin-young?”

“3 years ago, when Mr. Ryu Jin-young returned to Earth, I personally went to pick him up. In a way, it was quite a similar situation to you, Shi Yu.”

“He seemed to have a very gentle personality when I saw him earlier.”

“He is a serious person with a strong sense of responsibility. He said he served as an executive of an organization called the Magic Tower in a world called Reinad. When he returned, a vast amount of mana was felt from him, so the higher-ups already knew he was a Disaster-grade returnee.”

It seems he was transferred to a world with magic. It wasn’t strange since there was also an organization called the Magic Tower in Eden.

I nodded as I listened to Team Leader Kim’s explanation. And I asked about the question I had since earlier.

“As far as I know, Mr. Ryu Jin-young had been working under the government, but don’t people with a strong sense of responsibility usually not make such a choice?”

“If you mean that kind of choice…”

“People call Mr. Ryu Jin-young a traitor to the nation, a betrayer. No matter what reason he had, it’s true that he betrayed Korea and went over to Japan, right?”

He even promised the people to protect Korea 2 days before going over.

No matter how much leeway is given, that can only be seen as an act of deception.

But Team Leader Kim smiled bitterly and shook his head.

“Mr. Ryu Jin-young has never once betrayed Korea. He was a magician who returned to protect his family, and the Korea that his family loves.”

“How was he able to return?”

“Mr. Ryu Jin-young spent 15 years in Reinad. He said he researched magic to return to Earth with the help of his teacher.”

“Teacher.”

I don’t know for sure, but his teacher must have been a being who reached divinity.

Crossing dimensional boundaries was a power not granted to mortals.

Even in my case, I was barely able to return with Limen’s help.

“After returning to Earth, Mr. Ryu Jin-young readily lent his strength to the government. Moreover, thanks to Mr. Ryu Jin-young’s existence, a large number of Awakeners also joined the government.”

I think I heard it once before.

The heyday of government-affiliated Awakeners.

Judging by Ryu Jin-young’s power I saw earlier, it seemed possible. He must have had the skills to overwhelm even CEO Choi or Kang Chae-ah.

There’s one uncomfortable part here.

If an Awakener with that level of power willingly joined the government and confidently declared it in front of the people, it can’t be insincere.

Considering the attitude of government-affiliated Awakeners including Kang Chae-ah and Team Leader Kim’s story, one conclusion is naturally drawn.

“It wasn’t voluntary?”

“On June 12, 2030, immeasurable Chaos Gates were created in Daejeon and Busan. Two Chaos Gates on a scale similar to the Dimension Opening. It was an extremely unusual occurrence even looking around the whole world.”

The first gate created during the Dimension Opening left a trace called Seoul Ground Zero, where our Limen Denomination’s temple is now located.

The Ground Zeros in Daejeon and Busan seemed to be traces from that time.

Team Leader Kim was already clenching his fist as he continued the story.

“The gate in Busan revealed itself first, and naturally, the government concentrated all its forces there, including Mr. Ryu Jin-young. But 2 hours after the government concentrated all its power in Busan, another problem arose.”

“Daejeon.”

“That’s right. Another unexpected gate was created in Daejeon. And it was even larger in size than Busan.”

Since the government had dispatched its strongest card to Busan, they must have had no room at the time.

I frowned.

“Weren’t there many other large guilds? Like how they were mobilized during the last monster wave, if they had mobilized them too…”

“The obligation of national defense was given to the Former Awakeners’ Association only after the Daejeon gate.”

“Then did they make a deal with them?”

“No, they were threatened by them. They offered to dispatch their main forces to the Daejeon gate on the condition that Mr. Ryu Jin-young’s nationality be revoked and he be expelled from Korea. Their purpose was obvious. To bring down Mr. Ryu Jin-young, who was the symbol and center of government-affiliated Awakeners.”

“And they accepted such a condition?”

“The president at the time, President Seok Woo-san, also refused while enraged. But the one who persuaded such a president was none other than Mr. Ryu Jin-young himself.”

“…Because he couldn’t bear to see innocent people suffer.”

“That’s right.”

Occasionally, very occasionally, there are such people.

Those who truly want to walk the right path, the path of justice. We call such people heroes.

Ryu Jin-young must have been a hero. And the Former Awakeners’ Association couldn’t just watch a hero exist on the government’s side.

Considering what they blatantly did to me, their goal must have been the power to lead this new society.

They had no justification to persuade the hero, so rather than appeasement, they must have taken the direction of driving him out.

“In the end, after that negotiation, Mr. Ryu Jin-young naturalized to nearby Japan. That was also one of the demands of the Former Awakeners’ Association.”

“Vicious bastards. They even want to take away his honor?”

“So that the government-affiliated Awakeners would change their affiliation in disappointment. In reality, that’s what happened.”

Human greed for power always goes beyond imagination.

At this point, I could understand why government organizations, including the Awakening Management Department, hate the Former Awakeners’ Association.

“Not many people know this fact. At most, it would be Mr. Ryu Jin-young’s direct team, a few government officials, and the leadership of the Former Awakeners’ Association.”

“They should have held a press conference when those trash did such a thing.”

“Truth sometimes has no meaning.”

“Is that so?”

I laughed bitterly and looked out the window again.

And I said in a low voice,

“If it’s a truth known only to a few, doesn’t that mean it’s a secret?”

Then Team Leader Kim smiled with difficulty and replied,

“I hope someone remembers that truth. And… it was my own way of confession.”

“And you did that to me of all people.”

“Aren’t you the Pope, Shi Yu?”

“…You’re not honest.”

It was drizzling outside the window.

Listening to the sound of that rain, I couldn’t help but fall into contemplation for quite a long time.

4 hours later.

The car we were riding arrived at the base camp located near Sendai City.

The condition was good.

It was because the divine power regulated the condition thanks to the blessing cast on the car in advance.

And it would have been the same for our Awakeners who followed in the car behind.

“It’s strange. I’m not tired at all.”

“Right? Is the car something special?”

I heard the conversation of the Awakeners getting out of the car with Leo.

Leo silently approached me and said, bowing his head,

“Did you rest comfortably?”

“Oh, yeah. You took care of the car behind, didn’t you?”

“I heard they are people to protect Your Holiness. It’s a small token of gratitude.”

I see.

Around the time I was having a light conversation with Leo like that, Ryu Jin-young, who arrived following us, approached me.

“The American dispatch team, including Aiden Howard, is waiting. We will start the mission briefing right away, so I will guide you.”

“Yes.”

Although I had quite a lot to say to Ryu Jin-young as well, what I had to say now was not it.

First, I’ll deal with the magic beast, educate that guy called Barbarian, and after finishing all the schedules in Japan, it won’t be too late to talk.

“It’s a meeting that only those in charge can attend. We will help the rest of you relieve your fatigue.”

“I will bring only four people: Miss Kang Chae-ah, Team Leader Kim, and lastly, Leo. Is that okay?”

“Of course.”

I glanced at Kang Chae-ah, and Kang Chae-ah nodded and ordered her subordinates to rest. And we all headed to the temporary tent located in the center of the base camp.

The atmosphere of the camp was quite subtle.

Those who seemed to be American Awakeners were looking at us with interest, while the Japanese Awakeners sent us a wary gaze.

Considering the relationship that Korea and Japan have had for a long time, it wasn’t very strange for them to be so wary.

“Everyone seems tense.”

“Aren’t they afraid of Yamata no Orochi?”

“You know, Your Holiness. They fear us.”

“Well, humans always fear the unknown, right? They’re like that because they don’t know what kind of people we are.”

“Will it be different when they find out?”

“It will be different.”

When that time comes, they won’t have that kind of wary gaze, but rather try to avoid us altogether.

I smiled and moved forward.

Like that, we arrived in front of a fairly large tent, and Ryu Jin-young stopped and said,

“This is it. You can go in.”

“Aren’t you going in with us, Mr. Ryu Jin-young?”

“I cannot participate in the meeting because I am not in charge. My assigned task was only to bring the Korean dispatch team here. Then, I will see you after the meeting.”

Ryu Jin-young bowed to us and quickly stepped back.

Kang Chae-ah, who was standing next to me, looked at Ryu Jin-young’s back with a slightly furrowed brow.

Her expression was as if ‘I have a history’ was written on her face.

According to what I heard from Team Leader Kim in the car earlier, Ryu Jin-young and Kang Chae-ah were originally lovers.

Moreover, I heard that Ryu Jin-young’s help was quite significant in Kang Chae-ah’s growth into a powerful magician like she is now.

A lover and a teacher.

Since they were so close, Kang Chae-ah’s heart must be in turmoil as she looks at him.

“Miss Kang Chae-ah.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Let’s go in.”

“…I’m sorry.”

There’s no need to be sorry.

Anyone would be like that if they saw a former lover who broke up sadly. Although the essential condition for a great magician is an unwavering mind, she hasn’t reached that level of enlightenment yet.

I lightly exhaled and entered the tent. Then, I soon began to feel hot gazes from all directions.

In the center of the tent was a table. A wide table divided into left, center, and right.

Japanese Awakeners were sitting on the left, and American Awakeners were sitting in the center.

“Shi Yu. The person sitting in the middle is…”

“Barbarian, right?”

“…Yes.”

“I don’t know who gave him that nickname, but it fits perfectly.”

I could tell who Barbarian was as soon as I entered.

In the middle of the table.

A muscular man wearing only an animal skin on his upper body, even though the weather could be called early winter.

He didn’t even cover his entire upper body. He just wore something like a fur scarf around his neck.

Between that, his upper muscles filled with scars constantly wriggled, and his eyes endlessly scanned me like a beast’s.

The bizarre tattoo engraved on his head instead of hair also took up a large part of his first impression.

Not even the slightest bit of mana could be felt from him.

Instead, something more than that is felt.

[‘Unknown power’ begins to pressure you!]

A force not recorded in my system.

It was not magic, mana, or divine power, but rather a power closer to a certain will than a force.

At a glance, it could be felt that he had a similar atmosphere to CEO Choi, but the essence was completely different.

That was rather…

‘Dangerous.’

It was closer to a truly ferocious beast that cannot be tamed.

Barbarian was undoubtedly a powerful being of such a level that one could readily accept despite being the first Irregular-grade returnee I met since returning to Earth.

After staring at me for a long time like that, Barbarian slowly rose from his seat. And he walked over to me with a physique as large as Leo’s, taking big strides.

At that sight, Leo tried to move, but I raised my hand to stop Leo.

“He doesn’t seem to be your opponent.”

“…Your Holiness. But…”

“He doesn’t seem to want to fight either, so stay out of it.”

Leo stepped back with furrowed brows, and Barbarian soon arrived in front of me.

A large build that required me to slightly raise my head. An overwhelming presence emanated from his nearly 2m tall height and armor-like muscles.

[Passive skill is applied.]

I smiled slightly as I looked at the message window that popped up in front of my eyes. And holding out my hand, I said,

“I’m Kim Shi Yu.”

Then that beast grinned viciously and clasped my hand.

“I’m Aiden Howard. It’s really interesting. You’re speaking Korean right now, aren’t you? But it sounds like English to my ears.”

“It’s one of the many blessings bestowed by the god I serve.”

“Is that so? Your god seems to be a very merciful being.”

“Well, she’s not just merciful either.”

“I’m envious.”

He said in a highly provocative tone while still holding my hand,

“The gods in my world were all trash. So I killed them all.”

A brutal force began to rush towards me.

TN: Motivation to translate waning due to nationalism ughhhhh