Chapter 164: Up ahead, there’s a pervert.

The Korea-Japan leaders began full-fledged talks on establishing the federation.

“Your Holiness, how about we create a new currency? Since it’s the Kanora Federation, I think that would be appropriate.”

“Hmm. Not a bad idea. Also, I’d like Japan to invest a bit in the Baekdu Mountain development project.”

Han Sang-jae seemed to grimace, probably thinking he’d squeeze Japan for profits and then discard them later.

But with so many foreign ambassadors watching, they wouldn’t be able to kick Japan out afterward.

So Han Sang-jae would likely go the route of shackling Japan tightly instead.

As the Pope, that’s not beyond his power.

He might really try to turn Korea into the Rome of the East.

“Of course. As the Kanora faith’s heartland, it should be done.”

Even abroad, this wasn’t seen too badly.

Actually, to be precise, it seemed like everyone was now re-evaluating Kanora.

And it felt like they wanted something from me — I noticed several foreign ambassadors staring at me with lingering looks.

Ah, I see now.

That’s why they’re not objecting to these talks — they’re bald.

Bald!

They must be holding back from protesting because they plan to beg me for hair restoration later.

Even ambassadors from major nations.

If even one or two don’t object, then the rest can’t either, like being swept along by the current.

“Well then, let’s declare it here and now. The Holy Goryeo Theocracy and Kanora Japan are now united as brothers in the Kanora Federation.”

“Ooooooh!”

And thus, the federation was established.

Well, everything after that is outside my business interests, so no need to care too much.

The summit suddenly concluded with the successful “hair reinforcement” of Prime Minister Saito, and the Kanora Federation was formed just like that.

Seems like hair loss is quite the global issue — especially in Japan, where reactions were reportedly great in real time.

Sure, Korea’s national pride played a big role too.

After the summit ended, Han Sang-jae entered the papal office, wiped the sweat from his face, and slumped into his chair.

“‘Brothers,’ my foot. Whew. I really wonder how history will record this later. And why are there so many bald people? Half of the Western ambassadors were bald.”

Indeed.

The ambassadors’ baldness outing shocked everyone.

Especially since I even turned the US President’s head into a lush forest.

Naturally, as I said, they didn’t oppose the federation in exchange for hair restoration treatment.

“Holy Saintess… Did I make the right choice? This federation business.”

“Honestly, wasn’t the wartime economic boom enough for us?”

With China’s internal conflict, the US is pouring in dollars, right?

I heard the undeveloped North Korean regions were booming with reconstruction.

Wasn’t that sufficient?

“That only applies when it’s just North Korea. But then someone suddenly handed over Manchuria without any prep — you think we’re swimming in cash? You have some blame in this too.”

Now he’s blaming me here.

Should I just make him bald again?

“Well, it’s only a federation in name. We set limits, right? This ‘brotherhood’ talk sounds nice. If Japan really becomes a bother, we could just incorporate Namgung’s China into the federation too, right?”

“Ah, right. That’s an option. It would turn into Saito’s so-called Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.”

But in reality, they have no reason to invest there.

And it would just help unify the Kanora faith’s influence.

So our President Han Sang-jae would go down in history as some great man.

All thanks to me.

“Not Co-Prosperity Sphere. Call it Kanora Sphere now. What age do you think this is?”

“So… do you have any future plans?”

Plans, huh?

Not really.

But looking at this president, he seems like he’s itching to assign me some new task.

Sorry, but nope.

“I’ll help out from time to time, Your Excellency — I mean, Your Holiness.”

“Help… but?”

“State governance is Your Holiness’s job. I have other business to attend to.”

Isn’t that much your job?

I’ve been pretty worn out lately, you know.

“What business?”

“Relaxing. I worked super hard. We did.”

Yeah, seriously hard work.

So now, I just want to avoid any annoying things.

“What, you mean all you did was sit back and eat popcorn while watching the deepening North-South China war?”

“No? Of course not. Did you really think those two forces were having some kind of soul-crushing battle?”

If they had, it would have been decent.

But sadly, those fools didn’t even realize they were being played by us.

“So you’re saying you guys staged propaganda to make it look like they’re escalating the war?”

“No, the deaths are real though.”

“But?”

“We’re the ones who did it all. We created dungeons near the border, turned them into battlegrounds, and lured Northern and Southern hunters there.”

I made a slicing gesture across my neck.

“So both North and South forces got weakened.”

“Yep. At this point, neither South nor North China likely has the strength left for full-scale war. Even local control is slipping, especially now that Namgung’s clan got involved.”

“So… a whole century will belong to us?”

“Looks that way.”

Anyway, I already planted the seeds within Namgung’s faction.

And honestly, even within both South and North China, tiny sprouts must be growing by now.

Just like when the communist revolution began in the past.

If it weren’t for the China issue, this old guy here might’ve done pretty well.

“Then we can relax for a while. Let’s assign the North Korea and Manchuria dungeons to the hunters.”

“Yep. So for now, please take care of Korea.”

“Sigh. Fine, let’s do that.”

Okay, so with this settled, I think I’ll lean towards just goofing off for a while.

As I left the Vatican, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.

I got curious.

What’s next for the Kanora faith?

Come to think of it, hasn’t East Asia basically already fallen under Kanora’s dominion?

Buddhism and the others have lost much ground.

—What do you mean, ‘what’s next’? We’ll turn the whole planet Kanora.

“That won’t do. If the water is too clear, no fish can live in it. It’s better if other religions are mixed in to some extent.”

It sounded plausible.

And it wasn’t wrong.

Kanoraism had already established a firm grip on this world.

If its influence expanded any further, physical clashes with other religions would become inevitable.

If that happened, Earth would turn into a permanent warzone.

But—

“Hmm, that sounds good too. Either way, I have to live up to my name.”

“Stick to the basics, Goddess. You can’t do anything without me anyway.”

Honestly, she should say things that make sense.

What’s all this about living up to a name?

That name alone has already caused countless deaths.

“Wow, you just made that judgment all on your own. It was you, dear believer, who used me as an excuse to kill people.”

Not wrong, is it?

Is there anyone on Earth superior to me?

No.

Definitely not.

So maybe it’s time to turn my gaze to other worlds.

Because if our Demon God gets upset, she might refuse to… “connect” with me anymore.

So yeah.

Right now, I feel like one of those guys who offers tribute to his girlfriend for a hot night together.

Now that I think about it, that’s kinda pathetic.

If she were here, I’d just… you know… handle it directly.

“That’s life. But if you don’t like that, shall we aim for another world instead?”

“Another world?”

I am curious about other worlds. Like the world of Cheonma.

Or Battle mage’s world. Or… hmm.

Actually, there’s one that’s been on my mind.

“Like Ttaengchili’s world, for example.”

“Now that’s interesting.”

Ttaengchili… there’s something off about him.

Like… he hides something we can’t quite see.

He’s kind of a sketchy tin can.

Not exactly lying, but also not fully revealing everything.

Not that it really matters, but I can’t just let things like that slide.

“Well, it sounds fun, doesn’t it?”

It’s the 24th century, humanity is extinct, and there’s a satellite searching for humans.

At a glance, they seem like loyal androids trying to find their lost masters.

“Do you really think the android faction that Ttaengchili belongs to wiped out humanity?”

“Yeah. That’s what I believe.”

Even if Ttaengchili himself didn’t do it, the background suggests that kind of scenario.

I saw an old movie like that once — where cyborgs evolve, turn against humanity, and ultimately wipe them out.

Feels like that kind of world.

And Ttaengchili would’ve been one of the top androids there.

Maybe I should just ask him directly?

If I push a few times, he might just spill the truth.

“But how would we even travel to that world? And if humans are extinct, who would worship us? Machines?”

“Ttaengchili worships our Goddess, doesn’t he?”

“That’s… in a slightly different way. But fine. Except, we have no way to go there.”

Ah, well… that’s true.

“Karina?”

“Oh, Mr. Lee Si-yeon. It’s been a while. You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you?”

Lee Si-yeon. Yeah, I have to admit — she really worked hard.

I heard she helped transform Pyongyang along with our propaganda leader.

But now, she seems to be trying to cross the line again with me.

I can feel it — that peculiar vibe she gives off.

“Um, so, uh…”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Would you like to have a meal with me? Or at least a chat?”

This isn’t even flirting.

I mean, grabbing a meal isn’t a big deal, but still…

She still hasn’t gotten over Park Si-woo.

She doesn’t see me as Karina, but as Park Siwoo.

“Hmm, I’m tired, and I’d rather go in early. And as for Park Si-woo — we agreed to move on, didn’t we?”

“Y-yeah, we did. It’s just…”

“Just?”

“Just… I wanted to get closer. We’re both believers, after all.”

“Our ranks are different. And I can see right through you. You have two options, Lee Siyeon.”

“?”

Don’t give me that dumb look.

You made your choice, so…

I grabbed her by the collar.

Just looking at her face, I can tell she’s still clinging to Park Si-woo.

And now she has the nerve to come to me, asking to eat together?

I can’t let this slide. I have to say it now.

“You’re still tied to Park Si-woo. And I’m going to keep using you, exploiting you because of that. If your pride can’t handle it, you can quit now. But if you still want to atone, then close your eyes and obey like a dog from now on.”

At my cold, cutting words, Lee Si-yeon’s eyes trembled.

At first, I thought she was scared, or shocked because I’m not Park Si-woo.

But looking closer — her eyes were practically thrilled by the situation.

Ah, right.

She’s the type to obey no matter what I say.

That’s why I use her.

And now, she’s ecstatic.

She’s redirecting her guilt and pain into submission.

Fine.

If that’s what she wants, I’ll give it to her.