The Priest Who Praised the Goddess
Hwang Jun-seok, a devout commoner who had received a permanent blessing from the Goddess, sat in the interview chair with a neat appearance.
His hairstyle was properly arranged, not too messy. His face was ordinary, but his clean skin made him presentable.
Yet his fashion sense was a bit lacking.
He wore a plain shirt and jeans that were comfortable to wear for a long time, as if he had come without any effort at all.
Did I overdo the presentation?
I glanced sideways at Seoyun, who was sitting next to me.
Seoyun, who had even taken annual leave to act as the interviewer, was dressed lightly, like she was going out for a stroll.
Only I had paid attention to my outfit, while the others seemed to have no interest in fashion, which made me stand out relatively speaking.
Of course, that was not a bad thing. After all, I was wearing such well-put-together clothes to prove that I was a sophisticated person.
Feeling a bit awkward, I straightened my coat and pointed to the empty seat.
“Please have a seat here.”
“Yes.”
Hwang Jun-seok answered politely and sat down. Watching him quietly, I spoke again a little later.
“What would you like to drink?”
“Um… I’ll have a caramel macchiato…”
As soon as I answered, Seoyun headed to the kiosk to place the order.
I had tried it once before but kept making mistakes and eventually gave up. Why bother using the machine for an order when there are part-time workers right there?
These days, they say that if you don’t get used to it, you’ll be left out wherever you go. The modern world really was merciless.
I sighed at the complexities of the rapidly adapting modern society and turned to Hwang Jun-seok.
“What did you come by today?”
“I took the subway.”
His gaze didn’t quite meet mine, and his voice carried a hint of embarrassment. He was the picture of a timid young man facing a beauty.
He doesn’t seem like a bad person after all.
At least the first impression was positive. I nodded and took out my smartphone, jotting notes into the memo app.
[Priest Candidate Hwang Jun-seok]
-Seems like a personality that only becomes active online; lacks real-world confidence.
Actually, today’s interview wasn’t just for the external affairs manager position. It was also a day to evaluate Hwang Jun-seok himself.
More precisely, it was an additional task I had come up with on the way here.
Since the Goddess herself had bestowed the blessing, his character must be impeccable. So I intended to focus on other aspects.
Pure divine power is radiating. Is it from the blessing?
Just sitting nearby, a sacred aura was emanating. He was devout, but mostly the blessing’s influence.
I couldn’t tell which blessing it was. If it had come from a human, I could distinguish it, but since it carried the Goddess’s will, analysis was difficult for me.
Anyway, the fact that it was a zero-grade blessing meant a lot of expectations were placed on him.
“Your orders are ready! Two coffees.”
At that moment, the coffees I had pre-ordered arrived. Once again, Seoyun brought them over.
Both were iced Americanos. As per Seoyun’s recommendation, I had two shots of syrup in mine.
Sucking through the paper straw, I took a sip and found it far better than before—less bitter and much more enjoyable.
“Good.”
“Right?”
“But the sweetness is a little lacking.”
“Then ask for more syrup.”
We enjoyed our coffee while chatting lightly like that. In the meantime, Hwang Jun-seok’s coffee also arrived, and we sipped together.
However, for some reason, Hwang Jun-seok kept glancing at me. He would fidget as if he had something to say, then look away.
After seeing him only on broadcasts, the first real viewer of the streamer had a single thing on his mind.
She must be so beautiful.
Her beauty was impossible to hide anywhere. And now that she had put effort into her fashion, she shone even more than usual.
Honestly, I was tired, but I decided to endure it. I couldn’t hide my innate appearance.
“Do you have something you’d like to say?”
I asked, pretending not to notice his nervousness. Hwang Jun-seok flinched.
“Um… I do, but…”
“Then don’t hesitate. Just speak freely. I am the Pope who listens to every one of my faithful.”
With my gentle encouragement, Hwang Jun-seok hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“Um… Your outfit today is pretty, but it doesn’t quite look harmonious somewhere.”
I was prepared to hear praise, but the content was oddly negative. He hadn’t finished, but it wasn’t a compliment.
I frowned slightly, thinking it over.
“Is this a fashion critique?”
“No! It’s not that… but…”
“Are there areas that feel lacking? Specifically, where?”
As soon as I asked, Hwang Jun-seok’s eyes began to shake rapidly. From that alone, I could guess what he wanted to say.
And my guess was spot on.
“Overall, it feels a bit outdated, so it doesn’t look very elegant.”
“……”
I quietly took out my smartphone and jotted it down.
-Straightforward personality that speaks despite being embarrassed.
-Somewhat lacking in etiquette.
It was an objective evaluation without any bias.
***
The Pope must accept all blunt truths. Since judgment is a fragile ability, one cannot afford to ignore loyal advice.
So I decided to graciously accept the criticism that my outfit looked outdated.
I took off my coat and draped it over the chair. It wouldn’t match the one-piece dress I was wearing now.
“Fashion expert Hwang Jun-seok, how about this?”
“…Much better.”
After making a few minor fashion adjustments, we continued chatting over coffee. Before long, it was time for the interview.
“Now, please relax.”
Seoyun smiled lightly, while Hwang Jun-seok stiffened his face. The difference in personalities was clear.
“It’s nothing special. Just relax. You can even stay silent.”
“Yes…”
“The interview will consist of three rounds with one hour each. If you need the restroom, go now.”
There were a total of fourteen applicants. To keep it manageable, I divided them into groups of five, five, and four based on characteristics.
Eventually, all members of the first group arrived. They were all young applicants in their early twenties.
“It’s nice to meet you. I am the Pope, Clitia Elluke.”
I smiled and observed the young man and woman sitting side by side. They all had kind expressions.
Probably, their actual personalities were good too. They had passed the personality test that even included holy orders.
“Please introduce yourselves one by one.”
With that, the serious interview began. For now, I set aside my gentle smile and became the strict Pope.
I reviewed their resumes and asked tailored questions. It was a test to see how they handled emergencies.
“Mr. Oh Jin-woo, you said you’re responsible for Liam, right? If a raging elephant is charging right in front of you, how would you calm it down?”
“An… elephant?”
The applicant asked in confusion. It was a response bordering on disqualification.
Irm was supposed to be managed by a person, and an elephant was not something one should panic over. He was a demigod who couldn’t handle even the God of Elephants.
His answer was disappointing in many ways. Other applicants weren’t much better either. None came up with witty or practical responses.
Was it because they were young? Or because my serious atmosphere from the broadcast made them nervous? It was probably both.
“Thank you for your time.”
In the end, no one in the first group passed. Still, they were all good people, so it was fine to keep them as commoners.
After the first interview, I did the second group.
This time, I had gathered those who hadn’t watched my broadcast. Their ages were a bit older than the first group.
Everyone carried the weight of the years on their faces and hair. I had to call them uncles and aunts instead of calling them me.
“Please tell me the reason you became interested in our sect.”
This time, Seoyun took the lead and asked. Her sharp gaze made several applicants look nervous.
As expected, it was a disqualifying reason. They were far short of what was needed to handle Liam, who was hundreds of times more brutal than Seoyun.
“Thank you very much for your time.”
Ultimately, no one in the second group passed either. It was a disappointing result.
“We’re going to fail everyone?”
Seoyun sipped her extra coffee and chuckled. It was unnecessary worry.
“Don’t say that.”
I lightly flicked Seoyun’s arm and looked at Hwang Jun-seok.
“Jun-seok, I’m truly impressed. Your theological insight already surpasses that of most bishops.”
Hwang Jun-seok hadn’t spoken much during the interview. But in between, he pointed out things I hadn’t even considered.
Especially regarding faith.
“When you said not to talk about faith while not even trying to rely on the Goddess’s heart… I felt I had learned a valuable lesson.”
How could he already be this devout? The depth and quality of faith seemed to be determined by time, not by anything else.
“……”
Hwang Jun-seok didn’t even glance at me and took a sip of his coffee, as if it were nothing special.
That very sight moved me, so I immediately wrote it in my memo.
-Already deeply faithful.
-Sharp at pointing out flaws, so he critiqued my fashion too?
The evaluation of the priest candidate seemed sufficient at this point. He had already proven his abilities and faith.
“Now, please prepare yourselves again.”
Soon, all members of the third and final group arrived at the café. This was the group that had noted on their resumes that they were subscribers to my broadcast.
That alone made me feel favorable. It meant they were interested in me.
However, there was one person I simply couldn’t stand.
That person…
She was the first viewer to call me “Gyojumma,” Leroina, the original source of all problems. She was in the third group.
The young man on the far left had dyed hair and tattoos on the back of his hand.
But he wasn’t the least bit nervous. He looked carefree, as if his nature was laid-back.
Can’t be a bad person.
Since he had passed the personality test, he couldn’t be bad. But the more I looked, the more he seemed like a delinquent. Because of the tattoo on his hand.
Usually, such tattoos were for thugs. At least from my perspective.
For now, I should ask questions to gauge his personality. Just as I was about to speak, Hwang Jun-seok cut in.
“Miss Kim Ji-eung, please answer honestly.”
Our priest candidate glanced at me, then cautiously opened his mouth.
“Um… Why do you call the Pope Gyojumma? Even if it’s true, you shouldn’t just go around saying such things, you know?”
At those words, the applicants burst into laughter. Seoyun, beside me, covered her mouth and giggled too.
Meanwhile, I felt a surge of betrayal.
Why suddenly…?
She had been shy the whole time and now suddenly tried to joke around during the interview, even when it wasn’t her turn to speak.
I stared at Hwang Jun-seok in confusion. The priest candidate who had let me down looked away, refusing to meet my gaze.
Meanwhile, the applicant answered seriously without a trace of laughter.
“If receiving a disadvantage for saying the truth is the rule, then I will accept it gladly. After all, the weight of truth is heavier than anything else.”
His tone and words sounded solemn, but his inner meaning was playful. In the end, he was teasing me.
Soon after, laughter bloomed from various places. Everyone had been tense at the start, but now the atmosphere had turned lively.
It was a feeling I had seen many times before.
“……”
While everyone was enjoying themselves, I was the only one who hadn’t laughed. Slowly, I raised one hand.
I gathered holy power into my palm and unleashed it, releasing a bright light.
Holy Order: Flash.
The bright light that erupted instantly silenced the noisy hall.
Now it felt like a satisfying atmosphere. I slowly surveyed the quiet applicants and spoke.
“From now on, anyone who tries to make fun of me will be excommunicated. Understood?”
Even to me, it sounded like a charismatic warning.