Please Stop The Pope

Episode 94
29. Let’s Go Together

In a villa overlooking a sunset-stained beach a girl dressed in a white dress sat on a chair, sipping from her glass.

Before her knelt, Son Ki-Yeol in a white coat, reporting in a low voice.

“…By the time we arrived on site, the situation was already resolved. It appears Kim Siwoo arrived first and acquired the holy relic. I apologize, Archbishop.”

“That is not something you, Archbishop Son, should apologize for. The seers who failed to foresee this event bear some responsibility as well. So don’t blame yourself too much.”

The girl referred to as the Archbishop nodded slightly as she spoke.

Though the cold winter wind swept past her golden hair, there wasn’t a hint of discomfort on her face. Only her crimson eyes glimmered quietly.

“Were you able to confirm which holy relic he acquired?”

“We could not confirm that. However, we discovered something unusual at the scene.”

Son Ki-Yeol took out a small glass vial from his pocket.

Inside the vial was a black, jelly-like substance that writhed intermittently.

“It contains traces of divine power. Its properties are so peculiar that I thought it necessary to bring it here.”

“A crucial clue to understanding what happened there. You’ve worked hard.”

“Shall I send it to the Church’s lab to analyze its composition…? Ar-Archbishop?!”

Son Ki-Yeol gasped at the sight unfolding before him.

The substance had been carried here in a specially treated glass vial.

The process of transporting the jelly-like substance had been so hazardous that it caused injuries to five people.

Yet, before his eyes, the Archbishop had opened the vial without hesitation and touched the substance with her bare hands, unprotected by any safety equipment.

Her snow-white hand and the black jelly briefly created a stark contrast. But that contrast didn’t last long.

Fssssssk—!

The black jelly began turning white the moment it came into contact with her hand.

The girl slowly closed and reopened her eyes. Her voice, now softer, broke the silence.

“Well done, Archbishop Son. Thanks to you, I’ve learned much. Please return to headquarters and assist the seers in making contact with this substance. It will help broaden their vision.”

“I will obey. Then, I shall take my leave. May the great one’s radiant and brilliant light be upon you.”

Son Ki-Yeol carefully placed the now white jelly back into its vial, bowed respectfully, and retreated cautiously.

Only when he disappeared from her view did the girl rise slowly from her seat.

The sunset light brushed against the hem of her dress.

How much time had passed like this?

From within her shadow, a sinister voice emerged.

【Child, my sweet yet impious child, what occupies your thoughts so deeply?】

“I was thinking about Kim Siwoo.”

【He is one who deceives the scales. You need not concern yourself with him. When we return to where we rightfully belong, he will vanish like a fleeting mayfly, leaving no trace. He is merely a hunting dog, meant to sever our traitorous brethren.】

“What happens when the hunt ends?”

【We shall simply devour him whole.】

The girl leaned briefly against the railing, listening to the voice.

“He’s grown too large to swallow now. And…he’s beginning to approach the truth.”

【The full moon always wanes, child. Simply wait. Everything flows as we desire; there’s no need for haste.】

At the voice’s subtle whisper, the girl nodded slowly. Then, she turned her gaze back toward the sea.

The sound of the waves gradually enveloped her.

2.

There’s an old saying: “Birds of a feather flock together.”

To put it simply, it means that people tend to gather with those who are similar to them.

From that perspective, I could clearly see just how wise our ancestors were.

“Do you think we’re public transportation? That you can transfer whenever you please?”

When someone is stubborn, stubborn people tend to flock to them.

Thanks to Baek Seolhwa, who sat in front of me, I could truly understand the meaning of “birds of a feather flock together.”

“I saw it on the Limen Church’s MyTube. They said Limen is endlessly merciful and warm-hearted, always welcoming those who’ve lost their way. Am I wrong?”

“And what does that have to do with the ‘transfers’ your Seolhwa Guild keeps making?”

“The moment we left the Guild Coalition, our guild had no place to go anymore.”

Baek Seolhwa spoke with precise articulation, carefully conveying her meaning. Then, she sipped from the cup of coffee Leo had handed her.

Judging from the small gasp of admiration, she seemed to like the taste of the coffee.

“This is delicious. Thank you, Archbishop Leo.”

“It’s my pleasure. Let me bring out some cookies as well. Please feel free to continue your discussion.”

“Leo, bring me a bottle of whiskey while you’re at it. You know that hidden spot next to the temple stairs? I stashed one there.”

“…Lady Leventon, the temple is an alcohol-free zone.”

“Business hours are over; can’t you make an exception?”

Truly, there’s no topic Luna wouldn’t bring up, even in front of the Pope.

I’m certain there isn’t another person in the world who could tease Leo so relentlessly.

How many people would dare to make such literal “killing jokes” that they’d risk being folded in half for it?

Looking at Luna with exasperation, I said, “Hey, why don’t you go outside and get drunk instead? The moon looked pretty earlier.”

“Just a figure of speech. Besides, it’s my sacred duty to stay by His Holiness’s side and protect him. You never know who might have impure thoughts about him, so I must stay vigilant.”

Luna cast a glance at Baek Seolhwa, who was sipping coffee in front of me, as she spoke.

“If that’s your logic, you’re the most dangerous one here.”

“Oh dear, you’ve caught me.”

“Leo! While you’re leaving, drag your sister out with you!”

“Yes, Your Holiness.”

At my command, Leo bowed once more and dragged Luna out of the office.

Finally, peace returned to the office.

I let out a deep sigh and spoke to Baek Seolhwa, who was sipping her coffee.

“Where were we?”

“I was saying that the Seolhwa Guild has no place to go and that we’d like to join the Limen Church’s faction. That’s as far as we got.”

“Let me make one thing clear: there’s no such thing as a ‘faction’ like what you’re imagining.”

“Limen Church. Dokkaebi Guild. The Barbarian. Department of Ability Management. All of them gathered because of you. No matter what you say, you can’t deny that a faction has formed around you.”

This is why I dislike smart people.

They make it hard to deny things and even harder to keep secrets. You could say we’re fundamentally incompatible.

Anyway, that’s how it is.

I quietly stared at Baek Seolhwa, who was speaking so matter-of-factly.

Did she interpret my silent gaze as something negative?

Baek Seolhwa put her cup down and continued speaking in a calm voice.

“The moment I had to choose between the Baegmyeong Church and you, I anticipated this outcome. I don’t regret that choice.”

Her decision was undoubtedly tied to my actions.

The situation that forced Baek Seolhwa into this position had arisen because I had entered that dungeon.

It was true that I had saved her and her subordinates during the process, but that was merely the price of a deal.

After all, the deal didn’t include a clause requiring the Seolhwa Guild to leave the Guild Coalition.

Even so, she considered the trouble it would cause me and sided with me…

“It wasn’t because of you that I made that choice, so don’t misunderstand. I simply made the best decision I could as a leader.”

…Apparently not.

Could she be shy despite her outward demeanor?

“Even if I had sided with the Baegmyeong Church back then, the fact that I accepted your help wouldn’t change. Naturally, they would suspect me. In truth, that was practically decided the moment I signed the approval form to join the raid.”

“So you were prepared to leave the Guild Coalition even then? Why on earth?”

“Didn’t I just say? Rather than waiting for reinforcements that might never come, it was better to borrow your hand and save even one more of my subordinates. They may not be the brightest, but they gathered around me out of loyalty. Some of them have families to care for…I had to send as many of them home alive as I could.”

Her actions during the dungeon incident suddenly came to mind.

The way she mercilessly cast spells on her own subordinates, who had been overtaken by the black jelly-like substance.

It must have been her best judgment to save even one more subordinate.

The way she coughed up blood to stop the dungeon’s collapse was no different.

For the first time, I felt like I could begin to understand who Baek Seolhwa truly was.

“Now that we’ve suddenly declared our departure, the Guild Coalition will likely impose various sanctions on us moving forward. They’ve always done so, and this time won’t be any different. That’s why we need you, Kim Si-woo. I can manage on my own, but my foolish subordinates can’t.”

The coffee cup in Baek Seolhwa’s hand trembled slightly. Though she didn’t show it outwardly, it was easy to see that she, too, was nervous.

Nevertheless, she quietly sipped her coffee and looked at me with a composed expression.

It was as if she were waiting for my answer.

“Well, this is a pickle.”

I scratched my cheek with my finger and replied with a wry smile.

“If I refuse here, I’ll end up looking like the bad guy, won’t I?”

“I’d appreciate it if you’d consider it favorably.”

“You sure can’t keep quiet, huh. Tsk.”

It was a checkmate.

But it wasn’t the kind of checkmate that felt entirely unpleasant.

“Give me some time. By tomorrow at lunch at the latest. I need to hear what others think, too.”

“Alright.”

Was it because my answer eased her tension?

For a brief moment, I thought I saw a faint smile break through her stiff expression.

3.

The next morning I asked my gathered companions at the temple about their opinions on Baek Seolhwa and the Seolhwa Guild.

Contrary to my expectation that a heated debate might unfold, the results were surprisingly clean-cut.

“What’s there to hesitate about? Let’s accept them.”

“I agree with Mr. Choi.”

“I also cannot bring myself to say we should turn them away. Her dedication to her subordinates was clearly heartfelt.”

“What’s this? With everyone saying this, I can’t oppose either. Fine, I’ll agree too.”

Mr. Choi, Minsoo, Leo, Luna.

Unanimous agreement.

Not one of them had a moment of hesitation.

“She’s a sharp individual. As you’ve probably experienced, she has excellent judgment and adaptability. In fact, she’s often underestimated due to her public image.”

This was Choi Seo-jin’s honest assessment.

“I don’t presume to evaluate her as Mr. Choi does, but… the soft power Baek Seolhwa possesses will be an enormous asset. Not only does she run a MyTube channel with 9 million subscribers, but she was also the public face of the Guild Coalition.”

This was Minsoo’s evaluation.

Since Luna and Leo didn’t know much about Baek Seolhwa, they refrained from making detailed comments.

And so, in the end:

“Then, including my vote, that makes it 5 votes in favor and 0 against. Let’s unanimously accept Baek Seolhwa and the Seolhwa Guild. Any objections?”

The decision for Baek Seolhwa and the Seolhwa Guild to join us was finalized.