The Pope Who Returned After Having Three Children
Junseok was one of those typical unemployed job seekers found everywhere in society.
He kept looking for work, but things were far from easy. He had no career history, and his qualifications were nothing special.
Endless job applications with no results and an ever-lengthening period of unemployment.
In situations like this, anyone’s self-esteem would dip, and they’d find themselves spending more and more time cooped up at home.
“Another rejection…”
Today had been the day the company he’d applied to last week would send its acceptance message, but nothing came through. It was only natural.
How many rejections was this now? He hadn’t bothered to count, but he was already well past double digits.
Since he’d gotten used to it, he no longer felt the sting. Still, he wanted to soothe his heart, so he decided to take one day off.
“Today should be fine…”
Junseok picked up his phone, repeating the same thought he’d had yesterday and the day before.
He logged into the streaming platform Tribe. By now, watching streams had become as much a part of his daily routine as anything else.
Junseok had zero interest in popular streamers.
“Maybe I can actually score something this time…”
He had a hobby of scouting nameless streamers known as hakkos.
He’d scroll through the bottom of the broadcast list for hours. If something caught his eye, he’d share it on the community site; if not, he’d delete it without a second thought.
Three long years of this relentless work.
No one paid him for it, yet Junseok felt a quiet sense of achievement. There had to be people out there who’d become famous because of him.
“Let me see…”
Junseok immediately started scrolling down the live channel list with his finger.
He reached the true depths of the viewer-count scale, where only a single digit remained.
That was where he needed to find a gem. Of course, Junseok never watched random broadcasts.
Among the four essentials—gaming skill, voice, looks, and eloquence—there had to be at least one that stood out for him to consider it a winner.
“Hm?”
The moment he began his search, he spotted a broadcast title that stopped him cold.
[The Pope Who Returned After Having Three Children Appears!!!]
—Pope (elluke1002)
A returnee? Korea still didn’t have any of those, did it? Or was this some rising trend of fake returnees?
But the confidence in the title was too much. A scammer wouldn’t announce themselves so blatantly.
Plus, they were calling themselves the Pope. Curiosity burned regardless of truth.
Even the small preview image showed a face that was quite passable. He couldn’t look away. This one was definitely worth a watch.
Without hesitation, Junseok clicked in.
His eyes widened instantly.
“Beautiful…?”
Striking pink hair and eyes. Delicate, finely carved features. Flawless, porcelain skin.
Even though the camera was cheap and the quality was poor, the beauty was undeniable.
What truly shocked him was the atmosphere.
She sat there with a quiet, proper posture, and yet she radiated elegance. Junseok almost wanted to bow just from looking at her.
“Ah, someone finally came in. Welcome!”
The streamer’s voice followed, sweet enough to clean the ears like nothing else.
“…Is she really the Pope?”
Junseok typed his doubt into chat.
[Is this for real?]
“Job Seeker-nim, you wanted to know if I was a real returnee, didn’t you?”
Pope answered calmly, without the aggressive self-promotion typical of scammers.
That calm sincerity made him trust her more.
“One direct look is better than a hundred explanations.”
She raised her right hand and glared with intense eyes.
What was she going to do? Junseok watched in confusion until something impossible happened.
“Ssswuuu…”
A soft pink light gathered in her palm. It shimmered like mist, then condensed into a perfect sphere and floated upward, circling around her.
“What…?”
It wasn’t a chroma-key trick. A real sphere of light had formed from nothing, hovering in mid-air.
“This is the basic holy magic spell ‘Solar Satellite.’ It’s simple, but back when I couldn’t even use it, I was called the weakest saint.”
She spoke naturally, as if sharing an everyday story. Not the slightest unease in her words.
Listening to that graceful voice, Junseok sent another chat message.
[I’m sorry for doubting you, Pope!]
Junseok decided right then and there that she would become his first favorite streamer.
He had a strong feeling this broadcast was about to grow into something big.
***
“When did you return?”
His first viewer, Job Seeker, asked politely.
“Why so formal all of a sudden?”
In many streams he’d watched for practice, viewers usually spoke casually with streamers. But some used honorifics. It must’ve depended on the vibe.
Anyway, it wasn’t worth worrying about. Politeness between them was fine.
Junseok brushed aside unimportant thoughts and spoke.
“Last Saturday. From the other world, it had been twenty years. Here, only seven years had passed.”
He could answer immediately because he’d already planned every word.
“I was happy to come home, but I’m short on money, so I just turned on the stream.”
He laid everything out plainly.
There was no special reason. It was simply more comfortable this way. Hiding details wasn’t in his nature.
“You’re really honest.”
His only viewer, Job Seeker, gave a vague response.
Maybe because he was honest? Or the opposite?
“But are you really the Pope?”
It seemed the first answer was correct. Junseok relaxed and straightened his posture.
“Yes, I am. Before returning, I led the church and spread the goddess’s warm light to everyone as the spiritual guide.”
“Ooooh…”
The chat burst out in admiration, and the corners of her mouth lifted.
It was amazing. In this world, no one ever saw the Pope’s face.
“Is she for real?”
“What’s she doing?”
“???”
Even while chatting one-on-one with Job Seeker, the viewer count kept climbing.
There was no need to prove she was a returnee. The Solar Satellite kept circling like a living certificate.
“Viewers… ten?”
Junseok was still focused on the chat when the number jumped to double digits.
It wasn’t lightning fast, but it was satisfying. Unlike the empty start, the chat was finally lively.
She smiled with delight and clasped her hands together.
“Everyone, welcome! Thank you for coming.”
Just a simple greeting, yet the chat picked up speed even more.
“Woa”
“It really is the Pope.”
“The title was humble lol”
“Caaaa”
Why were they all so excited? Junseok scrolled through the comments and found the reason.
“Everyone, do you really like my appearance? I understand. I like it too.”
Of course. She was beautiful.
Anyone with decent taste would agree.
Even in the early days of her possession when she regretted becoming a woman, she had loved this face.
It had become so normal she no longer felt anything about it, but the viewers’ enthusiastic reactions made her chest swell with pride.
“Please keep chatting like that. Normally, people should live with humility in their hearts, but today I’ll allow myself to be a little arrogant.”
The chat exploded with even more excitement.
“Lol lol lol lol”
“Can’t argue with that”
“Lol lol”
“If you get arrogant, what will the goddess do?”
One viewer asked a question and checked the nickname. It was still Job Seeker. Curious soul.
She didn’t mind. She was actually grateful. New topics were being thrown her way so naturally.
“My goddess is quite open-minded. She even tolerates small acts of mischief. I’ve experienced it myself, so I know.”
As long as she didn’t badmouth the goddess and become the devil’s lackey, she would stay by her side until the end. Their bond was that close.
“What kind of goddess is she? I want to believe…”
At that moment, one viewer asked about the goddess.
It was an unexpected question, but Junseok answered easily.
“The goddess is like the sun itself. No matter where you are or what situation you’re in, she is always by your side.”
Now was the perfect time to use Seoyun’s idea.
“For those who supported my stream, I will deliver the goddess’s words in your place.”
Exactly as planned, the reactions turned wild.
“???”
“?”
“Is it fake?”
“What’s happening all of a sudden?”
She watched the chat flooded with question marks, then summoned holy power in her palm. The glowing pink aura looked sacred even to her.
“To the very first supporter, I will give a special remote blessing. If you miss this chance, you’ll regret it. It’s only once, right?”
She gently urged, and the donation finally came.
[Job Seeker donated 10,000 won]
“Please bless me so I can find a job!”
The first supporter was, of course, her first viewer.
But there was no job-blessing to give. What should she do? Maybe something similar.
Just then, an explosive wave of holy power erupted from behind.
A powerful presence made her body tremble.
Startled, she turned around.
No one was there. In the living room stood a woman.
She was no ordinary person.
A glowing halo above her head and pure white wings on her back. Radiant aura and absolute purity.
An angel, the goddess’s servant.
“Um, ahem…”
The angel spoke to her.
“The goddess sent me to visit for a moment. I’ll say what I was told.”
“……”
Junseok quietly shifted to the side. She knew exactly what was coming.
“Job Seeker-nim, thank you for the 10,000 won donation!”
It was the goddess’s somewhat forceful blessing.
“Ah, and Elluke. I’m cheering for you, so break it big out there!”
The angel vanished in a flash of light, leaving just as dramatically as she’d arrived.
After the angel left, silence fell in the room.
“Too much…”
She stared at the fallen feather and let out a helpless laugh.
What she had wanted was a light miracle—words in the sky. An angel descending was way too much.
What now?
Junseok closed her eyes and thought for a moment, then smiled softly.
“Thank you, Goddess, for agreeing to my unreasonable request.”
Maintaining composure was her greatest pride.