episode_0602

As I walk behind the woman who came to visit me in the middle of the night, I think about the Pope whom I will soon meet.

His name is Alexandro Greco.

I don’t remember my age exactly.

However, I remember seeing an article celebrating the Pope’s 80th birthday about 4 or 5 years ago.

“I guess he’s about 84 to 85 years old by now… .”

Considerable old age.

So currently, due to old age, he has taken a step back from the front line.

That is why the saint currently presides over the major and minor affairs of the Orthodox Church.

I heard from the saint that he has recovered somewhat recently and is waking up longer.

“That kind of guy called me.”

And by using the saint’s exclusive maid, not anyone else, as a messenger.

Why on earth did you call me?

Are you worried because of the news that the saint is hanging out with some guy?

Either that or… , to dig into something else?

“Hmm.”

I don’t know.

Of course, I have never met the Pope in person even during Son Si-woo’s time.

However, I know.

What kind of life has he lived?

“This way.”

As I was walking down the long hallway, she led me to the door at the end.

Two sets of doors that are old, but well-maintained, giving off an old-fashioned feel.

Knock knock!

The dedicated maid knocks on the door, and soon a grayish voice is heard.

“Please come in.”

“Excuse me.”

Rattling!

She opens the door.

Eventually, a dark room is revealed.

“Just go inside.”

The maid stopped in front of the door and spoke as if her job was done here.

I leave her behind and slowly walk inside.

“… … .”

There is a strange smell.

The smell of old books, the body odor of an old man, the scent of acacia in a vase.

Things that don’t fit together are mixed together to create a strange harmony.

Go one step further.

Head towards the small stand that is the only source of light in the dark room.

Next to it, on a spacious bed, an old man dressed in pure white clothes is leisurely flipping through a book.

“… … .”

The moment I saw him, I knew something was wrong.

I heard that the Pope is in such a difficult state that it would not be surprising if he died at any time due to his advanced age.

What on earth?

The thick muscles writhing inside those pure white clothes… ?

That’s the body of an 80-year-old man who doesn’t have much time left to live?

It’s not… ?

Would you believe me if I told you I was in my 20s?

They are puzzled by the completely different appearance from what they expected.

“Hmm… ?”

The gaze of the Pope, an old man engrossed in reading with glasses on his nose, turns to me.

“Oh… , I’m sorry. I was so engrossed in the book that I forgot about the customer for a moment.”

He asks me, putting down the book he was holding in his thick, veiny hand.

“Hunter Dojin Kim, you are correct, right?”

I was mesmerized for a moment by the hand, which at first glance seemed to have enormous grip strength, but when I heard the question, I suddenly came to my senses and bowed my head towards him to show respect.

“Ah, yes. My name is Kim Do-jin. It is an honor to meet the Pope.”

“Heulheul… , Just as I heard, it’s great.”

“Thank you.”

Who did you hear it from?

A saint?

Or other luxury people?

Either that or… , Orthodox paladins guarding him in the rooms on either side?

While I was guessing, he reached out and pointed to the chair next to the bed.

“Don’t stand uncomfortably, let’s sit down first.”

“Ah, yes.”

Obediently follow his instructions and sit down with your butt pressed against the chair.

Only then will the eye level be adjusted.

What can I say about his face, reflected in the dim light of the stand, as if the light bulb had almost reached the end of its life?

It was a slightly different impression than I thought.

When I looked at the photo attached to the article, he just gave me the impression of a warm neighborhood grandfather.

In fact, his face had a warm expression.

Eyes whose wrinkles become longer every time they smile, a long nose, and even a mouth that keeps smiling.

However, a very strong energy is emanating from within.

Something that comes from experience and depth, not strength.

Then I remembered.

Alessandro Greco.

A nickname that was attached to his name when he was young.

“Monk… .”

He was a first-generation hunter who was active during a time of great confusion.

It’s also very legendary.

Healing power and divine power given by God.

He was the only S-class hunter who wore it on his fist and used it as a means of attack.

The smile on the Pope’s lips becomes even deeper when he hears this name uttered without realizing it.

“Heulheul… , I thought it was a name forgotten by young people, but they somehow managed to remember it.”

It’s a forgotten name.

Certainly, his nickname has long been forgotten in people’s memories.

Is it because my performance is less than expected?

Or is it because he was active so long ago?

no.

If we were to just list the achievements, it would be long enough to surround this huge building several times, and his activities would not be shallow enough to cover only a few decades.

However, this is because the position he obtained after retirement was so enormous.

Pope.

The head of the Vatican Orthodox Church and the father of hundreds of millions of believers.

okay.

It’s just obscured by that huge, overwhelming name.

“Aren’t you a hero who protected the world during the most difficult and confusing times? Even if you don’t know anything else, you have to remember the name.”

A strange look appears in his eyes after hearing my answer.

“Ho… , I understand a little bit. Why did people praise Hunter Kim Do-jin so much?”

Who are you?

The person who praised me to the Pope.

I will give you a reward, so be sure to come out.

After nodding his head with a satisfied expression for a while, he asked me.

“Sophia is… , how are you doing?”

Suddenly asking about the saint’s well-being?

There’s no way a person as big as the Pope wouldn’t hear about a saint who lives in the same place.

That means I want to listen to what people close to me have to say.

What was she like now?

“It seemed like he was having quite a hard time.”

“… Is that so?”

“It’s something that can’t be helped. Because I am even taking charge of the work that the Pope used to do.”

His complexion darkens.

He must be thinking that his child, who is like his daughter, is having a hard time because of him.

But that’s wrong.

“Thanks to you, we are growing very quickly.”

“… … ?”

“It’s hard work, but I’m doing it somehow. And we are using that as a stepping stone to grow.”

“Is that so.”

The Pope smiles softly and shakes his head.

okay.

That was enough.

That’s what he seems to be thinking.

I ask him that question.

“Did you call me because you were curious about the saintess’s well-being?”

He shakes his head.

“Of course, it’s hard to say that it doesn’t exist, but it’s not the real reason.”

Then what?

Why did you bother to call me on this late night?

It doesn’t seem particularly hostile to me, and rather seems closer to being friendly.

“There is something I would like to ask Hunter Dojin Kim.”

It’s the Pope’s request.

A request from a big man whom I had never met face-to-face even during Son Si-woo’s days.

Once again, I realize the absurd position I am in.

I ask him, trying hard to suppress my overwhelming emotions.

“What would you like me to do… ?”

He looks into space with moist eyes and falls into reminiscence.

“ Just as Hunter Kim Do-jin said, I fought against countless evil forces in my youth. My blood was so hot that I couldn’t stand still and watch the world fall into ruin.”

surely.

There is a story I heard from the first generation hunters who were in contact with Son Si-woo during his time.

Nowadays, the Pope is treated like a benevolent grandfather, but in the past, he was so eccentric and hot that it was difficult to even say a word in front of him.

If you add up the number of monsters who accidentally died by his hands and villains who were captured, it would be in the thousands at best.

“When I was young, I liked completing any task perfectly. What do you do with just the flowers and leaves? Don’t you think you have to pull out the roots thoroughly for new roots to grow?”

“… That’s right.”

It seems that this story does not only apply to the Pope in his youth.

Most likely, he will still be like that even now.

No matter what happens, we expose it to its roots, and if it is rotten, we boldly cut it out.

He is truly a model of Sakchojegeun.

“So I have no regrets. I didn’t leave anything behind that could be regretted.”

In a way, it was a scary statement.

It also means that they dealt with their enemies with such cruelty and ruthlessness.

He spoke in a stern voice but soon lowered his head.

“Except for just one thing.”

I get a feeling.

The only regret left by the Pope, who left no regrets behind.

That it is directly related to the favor you are asking me to do.

Focus on his story.

“When I was contemplating retirement, I showed mercy to an enemy just once.”

“If it is mercy… .”

“To be exact, the child of the enemy I killed… It would be right to say that.”

“… … .”

“I couldn’t bear to raise my fist towards the crying child holding his father’s body. I was overcome with agony, and the child took advantage of that opportunity to run away from me.”

“Uh, um.”

I don’t know how to react to this.

Should I say it was a good thing I let it go, or should I say it was a shame I let it go?

No, there is a bigger problem than that.

I wonder if that old man is asking me for a favor… .

“The memories of that time are still vivid. The image of him crying, saying he was going to kill all humans, including me, remains vivid and my heart is squeezed.”

ah.

please.

“Kim Do-jin Hunter.”

“… Yes.”

“I don’t want to leave behind any regrets in this world.”

Don’t do that, old man.

No matter how bad the criminal is, it’s not guilt by association… !

“Recently, after some inquiries, I found out the whereabouts of the child. He was secretly hiding in the depths, strengthening his strength and looking for an opportunity.”

“If it’s an opportunity… .”

“An opportunity to fulfill the oath you made to me.”

ah.

Why are you doing this again, really?

No matter how much you hate the world, man.

First of all, your father was a criminal.

Then you should think about living correctly first… !

While lamenting, he clenches his fists and smiles bitterly.

“Sadly, there is no strength left in this old man who is just waiting for the day to die.”

“… … .”

Nope.

Now that you’re clenching your fists, it looks like your forearms are about to burst due to the bulging muscles.

“So please, Hunter Dojin Kim.”

What is this?

Are my hands handcuffed now?

He stretched out his thick hand and held my hand tightly as he continued speaking.

“Won’t you take that child’s life for me?”

There is no need to leave this behind.

“Me, Pope.”

“Please tell me.”

“That child was just born as a sinner, but he didn’t directly commit anything wrong.”

“… So?”

“No matter what, I think it would be too harsh to take one’s life just because one is the child of a criminal.”

So please take this favor away.

Is it because my sincerity was communicated?

I can feel his grip on my hand loosening little by little.

“Umm… , Surely, the child has not committed any crime yet.”

That’s right, old man.

It may have been a long time ago, but now he is the Pope in name and name.

So, have some mercy now… .

“Huh, what should I do with this? No matter what, we can’t just leave the dragon’s child alone… .”

“… … .”

No, wait a minute.

“… A child of what?”

“The child of the dragon.”

Uh, um.

If it’s for “… ,Are you talking about the dragon?”

Well, just.

A crazy monster whose body is over tens of meters long, whose hide is so hard that it cannot be cut by anything other than a sword, and who shoots tremendous breath from its mouth?

He noticed something strange as he looked at me asking confirmation questions again and asked again.

“Hmm… ? Did I not tell you in advance?”

“… … .”

I didn’t do it, you idiot.