The Pope Who Returned After Having Three Children
The first weekend back in Korea in twenty years vanished in the blink of an eye.
I had hardly had a moment to relax. I had taken on all the household chores in Seoyun's place. She had tried to protest that she was fine, but the thought of me being uncomfortable had forced me to take the burden. If I didn't at least bless her, I would never forgive myself.
Still, there was far too much to do.
Dishwashing, floor cleaning, laundry. Even though the house wasn't large, doing everything for the first time in ages made it feel heavier than it should have.
'I've never done much physical labor.'
As the Pope, my duties had been mostly mental—prayers, sermons, doctrinal reviews, document checks. There had been no heavy physical strain. At most, a little morning stretch.
Yet I hadn't exactly lived in luxury. Still, aching all over from physical work was worse than just a headache.
Thankfully, household chores weren't that grueling.
"Oppa, you worked hard."
Seoyun sat on the sofa after finishing everything and handed me a can of drink.
It was cola. Except the can was black, not red.
"What is this? Is it black sesame cola?"
"No, zero cola."
"Zero…?"
"It's cola with zero calories."
Zero calories? That didn't make sense.
If it had no calories, there was no sugar, so why would anyone drink it if it wasn't sweet?
Maybe it was a new thing. Or perhaps it had been around before and I just forgot.
Curious despite the oddity, I popped the can and took a sip.
"Oh. Not bad."
The moment it touched my tongue, my face felt pleasantly full. Sweet with a pleasant kick. Exactly as expected.
"Isn't it good?"
"How can something this tasty have zero calories?"
"I don't know…."
Yeah, Seoyun was just an ordinary person. She wouldn't know the manufacturing process.
"Anyway, thank you."
I kept drinking. The chicken didn't suit my taste, but this cola clung to my tongue perfectly.
"Mom, what is that?"
At that moment, Erina toddled over and asked. It wasn't really curiosity; she just wanted to try it too.
"Come here."
I lifted my first-born onto my lap and offered her the can.
"Drink."
"Okay!"
Erina carefully brought the can to her mouth.
She tilted her head for a second, then gulped down one after another. It must have tasted good.
Parents always say that watching your child eat makes you full, and there was some truth to it. Just seeing my daughter enjoy it made my tongue happy too.
As I watched Erina chug the cola, Seoyun suddenly spoke up.
"Oppa, I used my day off tomorrow. Let's go out together."
"Go out? Where are we going?"
"To register as a returnee."
"Oh, right."
Looking back, I couldn't just live like this forever. 'Park Si-woo' was listed as missing on paper.
To actively use my returnee status going forward, registering was essential.
"Thank you. You went out of your way to help."
Without Seoyun, my family and I would probably be wandering the streets right now.
Again, I felt how lucky I was that my only known acquaintance was this kind.
"It's nothing. It's the least I can do for a guy named Si-woo."
"For the repayment, I'll cast a blessing stronger than Live's Blessing next time."
"I won't refuse. Does this really taste good?"
"Of course. I said so."
We smiled at each other.
Even after seven years of separation, Seoyun and I had grown closer than before. The thought made me smile happily.
It might be too soon to say, but it felt right.
I was glad I had returned.
***
The first Monday after returning home.
I started preparing to go out with Seoyun from the very morning.
The part I paid the most attention to was my outfit. The robes I had worn were too eye-catching, so I decided to wear Seoyun's clothes instead.
"How is this?"
Seoyun had picked a plain white t-shirt and jeans for me.
I checked myself in the mirror. It actually suited me well.
"It looks great."
Especially the fact that there was nothing flashy about it. It matched my taste, which had grown more modest from my long life as the Pope.
Seoyun nodded with satisfaction.
"But the chest area and hips are a bit tight. Is there no bigger size?"
"…Oppa, how old do you think I am?"
"Mid-thirties, I guess."
"What? This is the body of a mom in her thirties? How much effort did you put into maintaining your figure?"
"…."
I didn't bother explaining the truth about the Blessing's power.
The fact that there was a Blessing to maintain youth was a secret. If it became known, everyone would beg me to cast it on them.
Anyway, for an outing outfit, it was enough.
However, I didn't borrow her underwear.
I didn't want to wear someone else's. The size didn't match, and it would be uncomfortable. Too many disadvantages compared to the few advantages.
Instead, Seoyun suggested attaching nipple patches… and it turned out to be shockingly comfortable.
"Put this on too."
Only after I added the long padding did I finish getting ready.
"Liam, please take good care of the children."
Before leaving, I remembered to leave the kids with the one-armed warrior.
"Trust me and go."
With that, Seoyun and I left the house with Liam's farewell.
The destination was the nearby administrative welfare center. The name sounded unfamiliar, but it turned out to be the district office.
I thought the name had changed while I was gone, but it had been renamed a long time ago.
'District office' was more direct and understandable. Why change it?
Anyway, it wasn't far. We reached it after a leisurely walk.
"Should we have put on a hat?"
Before entering, Seoyun murmured.
"What do you mean?"
"Your pink hair stands out too much. Everyone walking by keeps glancing at you."
"Really?"
Yeah, pink hair wasn't common in Korea. In fact, it was a bold choice only celebrities could pull off.
I idly brushed my long, flowing back hair and shrugged my shoulders.
"It doesn't matter. I've gotten used to attracting attention."
As the Pope, I was a being all citizens revered and worshipped. At one point, my fame had spread across the entire continent.
That was why I had always lived under everyone's gaze.
Even before becoming Pope, I had been the Holy Maiden of the hero party that defeated the Demon King.
And from everything I'd experienced, becoming an existence that drew all eyes wasn't that big a deal.
"Just let them look. If it becomes talk, all the better. It might even be fuel for my interest."
"…You're exactly the kind of personality for streaming. You weren't like this before."
"That's right."
We entered the building while chatting.
It was Monday right after a weekend without any operations, so the center was bustling with people.
Seoyun had picked up a number ticket, but there were quite a few people ahead. It looked like we would have to wait a long time.
"Should have come earlier."
"Seoyun, try to develop a habit of enduring. Patience is a correct virtue that makes life more fulfilling."
"…I see."
She looked a bit reluctant, but she sat quietly as I had said.
I waited quietly too, sitting straight with both hands on my knees.
Murmurs.
Behind me, some aunts were chatting about my appearance, which was unusual by Korean standards.
But besides that, nothing else stood out.
Since it was the most exhausting Monday of the week, everyone was indifferent. They just glanced at my striking hair and eyes.
'Embarrassing…'
They had been cold, even though I had bragged beforehand. Modern society didn't care about others much.
Though a little awkward, I kept my eyes straight ahead without a care.
Before long, it was our turn.
Seoyun and I sat at the window with the number from the ticket.
The staff was startled. Had the famous beauty finally arrived?
"Umm… Can I help you?"
"…."
They must have thought I was a foreigner and were confused.
Of course. They were busy and tired at work. They wouldn't notice pretty appearances.
"We're here to register as a returnee."
Seoyun spoke up for me. This time, the staff really jumped.
"Please wait a moment."
After saying that, the staff disappeared somewhere.
After a short while, he returned with a middle-aged man who looked like a high-ranking official.
The middle-aged man with a shaved head bowed respectfully to me.
"May I ask you to follow me? I'll escort you inside."
This person, is the center director?
Whether yes or no, my attitude wouldn't change.
"Of course."
Seoyun and I followed the guide into the innermost room of the center. From the furnishings, it looked like a reception area.
"Please wait here for a moment. Would you like something to drink?"
The sight of the elderly man bowing made me feel a bit sorry, so I just said it was fine.
Soon after, the center director left and Seoyun whispered.
"That guy looks like the director. Who did he call?"
The question was resolved about thirty minutes later.
Creak.
As Seoyun and I chatted, a woman I had never seen before entered the reception area.
She had a plain appearance and a neat suit.
She wasn't an administrative welfare center employee. So who was she?
"Hello. I am an NIS agent, Ha In-ha."
"…NIS?"
Seoyun's voice rose beside me. Her eyes widened.
I was surprised too, but curiosity outweighed it.
"Is it okay to reveal my identity as an NIS agent?"
Ha In-ha shook her head at my question.
"In principle, no, but since you're the returnee in charge, it's an exception."
With her stiff tone, Ha In-ha sat across from me. Then she immediately pulled documents from her bag and placed them on the table.
Next, she took out a laptop and opened it.
"From now on, we will proceed with the identity verification process. Answer my questions honestly."
The moment I nodded slightly, the questioning began.
"What is your name?"
"Park Si-woo."
"Resident registration number?"
"911002. I don't remember the back part."
"Please tell me about your family relations."
"My father is Park Jung-ho… and my mother is probably Lee Ji-woo."
Ha In-ha recorded my answers and continued with more questions.
Even though she stumbled a bit, the answers weren't hard, and the identity verification was quickly wrapped up.
"Understood. Next, we will proceed with the returnee certification procedure. First, how did you transmigrate to another world?"
"Possession."
"What medium was it?"
"The game Apolis Tales."
My answer made the agent's expression, which had been stone-faced the whole time, crack slightly.
But soon it returned to normal, and he mechanically typed on the keyboard.
After how many exchanges, I don't know. By the time Seoyun started dozing off, all procedures were complete.
"Thank you for your hard work. You will register as a returnee within a few days, and your identity will be newly created as you wish."
After finishing her lines, Ha In-ha quickly packed the documents and laptop into her bag and stood up.
"I'll see you later."
She bowed mechanically and left the reception area without even acknowledging my greeting.
'…Rude.'
Did the NIS give out a 'rudeness license'? There were supposedly no returnees in Korea. The treatment wasn't very pleasant.
Maybe they saw returnees as a hassle to manage.
It was a strong possibility. People who had long held high positions often didn't understand reality well.
That's why our church had once been full of bad habits and corruption. I had fixed everything later.
"What? It's over?"
While I was lost in memories, Seoyun woke up from dozing.
I straightened her messy hair and stood up.
"Let's go."
Since the returnee registration was done, it was time to start making money.
***
Before going home, we stopped by the supermarket to shop. It was for the broadcasting equipment necessary to become a streamer.
Webcam and microphone. For now, these two should be enough.
"Is this okay?"
"Yes. Please buy the cheapest one."
Since it wasn't my money, I didn't choose expensive equipment. Seoyun recommended cheap things too, as her pocket money was tight.
'I'm sorry to be such a burden.'
It seemed like it was starting to feel heavy. She was an ordinary office worker, after all. It couldn't be helped.
Once I started earning, I'd double it and pay her back. For now, I owed her more.
After choosing all the broadcasting equipment, we went home.
On the way, Seoyun asked.
"When do you plan to start streaming?"
I had been thinking about it anyway.
What was the best time? How many days, which day of the week, what time would attract the most interest?
As I was lost in thought, I suddenly got a realization right before we reached home.
"Seoyun. I just thought of an old saying."
"What?"
"Break the bone with a single blow."
There was no need to overthink it.
When in doubt, just strike.
It was advice from a friend who had placed me here now.
"Starting today, I'll begin immediately."
From the moment I decided, everything flowed smoothly.
With Seoyun's help, I set up the broadcasting equipment in the living room and changed into my robes.
Then I connected to the streaming site.
The platform I chose was Tribe.
Unlike Itube, it focused on real-time streaming.
Having studied in advance, the streaming settings were easy. In one breath, I finished all preparations and entered an appropriate title.
[Returnee Pope from the Pope's World]
I thought that would do, but Seoyun shook her head and opposed.
"That's not enough. There's no sense of 'boom'."
Seoyun thought for a moment and typed a new title.
[The Pope Who Dominates with His Looks!!!]
Was this really better? It felt a bit too flashy.
I wasn't sure, but I decided to follow her instructions. For internet broadcasting, Seoyun knew more than me.
"Ready?"
"Of course."
Before clicking 'Start Broadcast', I quickly prayed.
"Oh Sun Goddess… If you are watching, please cheer for me. If you have time, please grant me an appropriate miracle."
When facing a new challenge, one needed the Goddess's strength.