The Pope Who Returned After Having Three Children
Ever since Ha In-ha had visited, my life had become more prosperous than ever before.
It was all thanks to the smartphone I now possessed.
Just how comfortable it is.
I had never realized how much I would appreciate it until I started using it for a few days. The invention of the smartphone could rightfully be called a technological revolution.
One device could handle calls, take photos, browse the internet, and even let me enjoy games. Such a versatile tool had become an everyday necessity that everyone owned.
Maybe it was because I had grown too familiar with the other world over the past twenty years. Honestly, I had even felt a slight culture shock.
Before, I had thought magic was more magnificent than science, but now I saw that both were equally grand disciplines.
“Mommy, what are you watching now?”
Erina ran over the moment I sat on the sofa and stared intently at my smartphone.
Erina, who had been amazed by computers, was now equally curious about smartphones and even analyzed them in her own way.
It seemed she wanted to become a beautiful and brilliant intellectual in the future.
“Sit here.”
I pulled Erina onto my lap and showed her the smartphone together. A YouTube video was playing on the screen.
— “No, everyone. The Pope is the strongest among all the returnees, they say. Just look at the holy power he possesses!”
My shoulders puffed up a little from the praise.
Searching YouTube for “Pope-nim” led to one of his videos. I had already watched it seven times and was enjoying it more each time.
“But who is this person?”
At that moment, Erina leaned against my body and asked. I ruffled the head of my first-born child, who was always full of curiosity, and smiled.
“He is an extremely wonderful person. He deserves to be respected by others.”
“What did he do?”
“He praised Mommy.”
“Why is that a wonderful thing?”
As expected, the five-year-old’s questioning was relentless. If I kept answering, I would eventually run out of things to say.
I pretended to think it over for a moment and gently rubbed Erina’s cheek.
“But why is our Erina so pretty?”
Switching topics with a playful tone, Erina forgot her earlier question and laughed brightly instead. Her smile was so adorable that I couldn’t help but grin too.
CRK!
The smartphone suddenly made a cheerful sound. It was the notification chime for the national messenger, KraLaTalk.
I lightly stroked Erina’s head and checked the message. It was from Ha In-ha.
[Ha In-ha: Please inform me of your bank account. The child-rearing allowance will be paid by this week.]
Child-rearing allowance.
It was the content I had confirmed in the returnee support plan last time. Each child received four hundred thousand won.
Since they would keep getting it every month until they turned eighteen, it would be quite a decent income.
I honestly wished they could give more, but for now I had decided to be satisfied with this. Greed had to be restrained; it was a wicked desire.
Anyway, even if I received more, the difference wouldn’t be that big.
I nodded quietly and replied to Ha In-ha with a sluggish, hesitant speed.
[Elluke: I’ve already opened an account yesterday^^]
Even though the sentence wasn’t particularly long, it took quite a while. It had been a long time since I last used a smartphone.
After barely replying, Ha In-ha sent another message within just a few seconds.
[Ha In-ha: ^^ This looks old-fashioned, so don’t use it.]
Ha In-ha pointed out my use of the emoji. It was exactly as I had requested—teaching me terms and expressions I used often nowadays.
But it was a bit shocking. Did that mean I wasn’t supposed to use ^^ anymore to show laughter?
I typed carefully, typing slowly again.
[Elluke: Then how do I laugh?]
[Ha In-ha: Just use the emoji. KraLaTalk is much more convenient with that.]
[Elluke: ^^ is also an emoji, right?]
[Ha In-ha: Ah]
Ha In-ha left only one word that sounded like either a sigh or astonishment and stayed silent for a while.
After some time, she finally spoke.
[Ha In-ha: There’s still a long way to go…]
Somehow, the message felt filled with frustration.
***
The child-rearing allowance that Ha In-ha mentioned was deposited into my bank account right after I told her the account number.
Exactly one million two hundred thousand won.
It was the first money I had acquired since returning. The funds from sponsorships had not yet been settled.
I planned to use this money as fully as possible. As a natural modern person, I would utilize intelligent methods.
TI-RING!
A pleasant notification sound accompanied the vibration. Checking the message, it was the one I had been waiting for.
[5 boxes delivered to the front of the door.]
The items I had ordered directly from the mobile shopping app had arrived.
I immediately called Liam to have him bring the boxes inside from the front door.
“What is all this?”
Liam looked puzzled when he placed the boxes on the floor in the living room. He seemed amazed by the convenience of modern civilization.
Actually, I was a little surprised too. I had ordered them yesterday, and they arrived today. The speed was unimaginable in the past.
“Liam, get used to it. This is daily life here.”
Of course, I acted as composed as a proper member of modern society.
“In that world, you can obtain anything you want in a day without paying expensive money to a wizard. Isn’t it amazing?”
“That’s true for me too? I didn’t even need a day.”
“…”
I pretended to ignore the ex-soldier’s words, which were only useful in irrelevant contexts, and took out all the items.
I handed one to Liam. It was a stylish pair of sunglasses.
“Please take this.”
“What is this?”
“Ah, put it on.”
I personally placed the sunglasses on Liam. As expected, they suited him perfectly thanks to his handsome face.
“How is it?”
“It makes my vision dark.”
“It blocks sunlight.”
“Sunlight is the Goddess’s blessing. Why block it?”
“…”
I couldn’t find a rebuttal and just opened my mouth, then picked up another pair of sunglasses. They were a bit smaller but designed the same as the ones I gave Liam.
“Do they suit me?”
“They look pretty, but is there a reason to wear such things? You can just look at the sun directly, right?”
“…”
“…You need to make an effort to adapt to this world.”
Liam seemed especially sharp today. To avoid being caught for impulsively buying something just because it looked cool, I quickly pretended to organize the other boxes.
The other items were all for the family.
Clothes for the daughters and toys for Rohan to play with. I spent several hours choosing items that looked good in price and quality.
I also prepared a gift for Seoyun. A smartphone case.
I wanted to buy one because the one I was using was worn out, but since money came at just the right time, I bought it immediately.
She should like it.
She would definitely be moved. It was the exact item she needed.
But just in case, I took a photo and sent it to Ha In-ha.
[Elluke: This is a gift for my brother. What do you think?]
[Elluke: (Bear eyes sparkling emoji)]
Using the emoji exactly as I had been taught, I asked. Ha In-ha replied right away, as usual.
[Ha In-ha: Can I speak honestly?]
[Elluke: It’s not good if I’m too direct.]
[Ha In-ha: Then I’ll stay quiet.]
Somehow, her reaction felt quite negative. I hesitated for a moment and then asked her to speak honestly.
Only then did Ha In-ha finally express her true opinion.
[Ha In-ha: That one is exactly my mother’s taste. It’s too out of place.]
[Elluke: What is my mother’s age, then?]
[Ha In-ha: 53 years old.]
I double-checked the messages I had just read and only then felt belated embarrassment.
So a diary-style case… what was so wrong with that…
I had picked the best-looking item on the shopping app, but it seemed my choice hadn’t been that good after all.
[Elluke: Maybe my brother would like it too?]
[Ha In-ha: I’ll just pick one for you. Please stay still.]
[Elluke: Yes…]
[Elluke: (Bear pouting emoji)]
How had my taste become so outdated?
I knew the reason, but stopped myself here before my heart would hurt from continuing to think about it.
Instead of meaningless thoughts, I decided to do something practical that would help my life.
✦ DIVINE BLESSING ✦
“Oh radiant sun,”
I took off the sunglasses and placed them on the floor, then reached out and recited the prayer.
“Please grant a generous blessing to prevent motion sickness when I play later. I can even use all my holy power.”
I didn’t have to be polite. I didn’t have to maintain decorum. After all, faith was determined by the size of one’s belief, not by outward behavior.
Because I trusted the Goddess more than anyone else, no matter how rude I might be, she always granted her blessings.
Right now, for example.
WUUUUNG.
Soon the sunglasses began to shine with an astonishingly bright pink light. The holy power inside me dropped almost to the bottom, but I lifted the corners of my mouth.
“Goddess, I love you.”
As always, the Goddess was a passionate one.
***
At the café, Ha In-ha had been resting for a moment and pulled out her smartphone to turn on the Tribe app. The notification that Elluke had just started broadcasting had arrived.
[Solar Scepter — Today she really does it!]
—Pope-nim (elluke1002)
Ha In-ha frowned slightly upon checking the broadcast title.
What on earth is she thinking?
During the last broadcast, Elluke had complained about motion sickness after only five minutes.
After a short break and even using a holy spell, she barely lasted. That was why Ha In-ha hadn’t been expecting much. She wanted to see Elluke playing Solar Scepter, but she had given up. With motion sickness that severe, what could she do?
Elluke was simply not suited to 3D games. She knew that herself, yet she was trying to play Solar Scepter without giving up. It made Ha In-ha uneasy.
If she overdoes it, I’ll have to stop her.
She had said she would prepare countermeasures last time, but she hadn’t expected much. It seemed better to stop her before she even started.
Fortunately, it wasn’t hard to intervene. If Ha In-ha sent a large sponsorship and told her not to do it, she would probably stop right away.
Ha In-ha thought about how much to sponsor and entered the broadcast.
And soon she witnessed the beautiful Pope sitting proudly with sunglasses on.
…Is she trying to block motion sickness with these?
Inserting Bluetooth earphones just in case, Elluke spoke after a short while. As always, her tone was extremely polite, but her voice carried a slight lift.
— “Many people seem to be asking why there are sunglasses. Everyone, be careful with your words. This is not an ordinary item.”
Elluke pushed the sunglasses up onto her head and smiled.
— “This is our church’s holy relic, the Sun Blocker.”
“……”
Ha In-ha thought seriously for a moment and then sponsored.
[havant has sponsored 1,000 won.]
—Auntie, why are you doing this?
Fortunately, as havant, she didn’t need to maintain etiquette.