Chapter 602 – Black Stone (5)
As she walks behind the woman who came in the middle of the night, she thinks about the person she will soon meet: the Pope.
His name is Alexandro Greco.
I don’t remember my exact age.
However, I remember seeing an article celebrating the Pope’s 80th birthday about 4 or 5 years ago.
“I think 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 oversees the major and minor affairs of the Orthodox Church.
I heard from a saint that he has recovered somewhat recently and has been awake for 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 getting close to one of her men?
Either that or…, To dig into something else?
“Hmm.”
I don’t know.
Not only did I never meet the Pope in person, even during Son Si-woo’s days.
However, I know.
What kind of life did he live?
“This way.”
As I walk down her long hallway, she leads me to the door at the end.
Two sets of doors that are old, but well-maintained, giving off an old-fashioned feel.
Knock!
The dedicated maid knocks on the door, and soon a grayish voice is heard.
“Please come in.”
“Excuse me.”
Crash!
She opens her door.
A dark room is eventually revealed.
“You can just go inside.”
The maid stopped at the door and spoke as if her work had ended here.
Leaving her behind, he slowly moves his steps and enters her.
“…”
There is a strange smell.
The smell of an old book, the body odor of an old man, the scent of an acacia in a vase.
Things that don’t fit together are mixed together to create a strange harmony.
Going one step further.
Head towards the small stand that is the only source of light in the dark room.
On the spacious bed next to it, an old man dressed in pure white clothes is leisurely turning the pages of 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 is it?
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?
While I was puzzled by the completely different appearance from what I 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 absorbed in the book that I forgot about the customer for a moment.”
He asks me as he puts down the book he was holding in his thick, veiny hand.
“Hunter Kim Do-jin, are you correct?”
I was mesmerized for a moment by the hand, which at first glance seemed to have enormous grip strength, but I suddenly came to my senses when I heard a question and bowed my head towards him to show respect.
“Oh, yes. My name is Kim Do-jin. It is an honor to meet the Pope.”
“Heulheul…” It’s just as great as I heard.”
“Okay, 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 you are guessing, he extends his hand and points to the chair next to the bed.
“Let’s sit down instead of standing uncomfortably.”
“Oh, yes.”
Obediently follow his words 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 was almost at 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 look.
Eyes whose wrinkles become longer every time they smile, a long nose, and even a mouth that keeps smiling.
However, a very strong force is emanating from within.
Something that comes from experience and depth, not strength.
Only then did I remember.
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.
The power of healing and divine power given by God.
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 being spoken without realizing it.
“Heulheul…” I thought it was a name forgotten by young people, but they somehow manage 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.
Just to list the accomplishments he listed, it is long enough to surround this huge building several times, and his activities are not shallow enough to cover only a few decades.
However, this is because the position he obtained after retirement was so great.
Pope.
The head of the Vatican Orthodox Church and the father of hundreds of millions of believers.
Yes.
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 I don’t know anything else, I have to remember the name.”
When he heard my answer, his eyes lit up.
“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…, 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 the words of people close to me.
What was she like now?
“It seemed like he was having quite a hard time.”
“… Is that so?”
“It’s probably something that can’t be helped. “I am even taking charge of the work that the Pope used to do.”
His complexion darkens.
He must be thinking that his daughter, who is like his daughter, is having a hard time because of him.
But that’s wrong.
“Thanks to you, we are growing very well.”
“… ?”
“It’s hard work, but we’re 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.
Yes.
That was enough.
That seems to be the thinking.
I ask him that.
“Did you call me because you were curious about the saint’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?
The reason you called 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 Kim Do-jin.”
It’s a request from the Pope.
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.
“Please do me a favor… ?”
He looks into space with moist eyes and falls into reminiscence.
“As Hunter Kim Do-jin said, when I was young, I fought against countless evil forces. “My blood was so hot that I couldn’t stand still and watch the world fall into ruin.”
Definitely.
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 loved completing everything perfectly. What do you do with just the flowers and leaves? “Wouldn’t it be better to pull out the roots 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.
No matter what happens, we expose it to its roots, and if it is rotten, we cut it out boldly.
A person who is truly a model of Sakchojegeun.
“So I have no regrets. “I didn’t leave behind anything that could be regretted.”
In a way, it was a scary statement.
It also means that the enemy was dealt with so cruelly and ruthlessly.
He spoke in a firm 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.
That it is directly related to the request to be made of me.
Focus on his story.
“Just once, when I was contemplating retirement, I showed mercy to an enemy.”
“If it’s mercy…”
“To be exact, the child of the enemy I killed… It would be right to say that.”
“…”
“She couldn’t bear to raise her fist towards the crying child holding her 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.
Could it be that this old man is asking me a favor…
“The memories of that time are still vivid. “The image of him crying and 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 this world with regrets.”
Don’t do that, old man.
No matter how bad the criminal is, it’s not a guilt-by-association system… !
“After some recent inquiries, I learned of the child’s whereabouts. “He was secretly hiding in the depths, strengthening his strength and looking for an opportunity.”
“If there’s a chance…”
“An opportunity to fulfill the oath you made to me.”
Ah.
Why are you doing this again, really.
No matter how much I hate the world, it’s still true, man.
First of all, your father was a criminal.
Then you should think about living properly first… !
While lamenting, he clenches his fists and smiles bitterly.
“Unfortunately, this old man who is just waiting for the day to die has no strength left.”
“…”
It’s not.
Since you’re clenching your fists right now, it looks like the forearms of those puffy clothes are going 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 nothing to look at.
“Hey, Pope.”
“Please speak.”
“That child was just born as a sinner, but he didn’t directly do anything wrong.”
“… So?”
“No matter what, I think it would be too harsh to kill someone just because they are the child of a sinner.”
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 dragon’s child.”
Uh, um.
“If it’s a dragon… “Are you talking about the dragon?”
That, just.
A crazy monster whose body is over tens of meters long, whose hide is so hard that it cannot be cut by anything but a sword, and who shoots tremendous breath from its mouth?
He sensed 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.
