The Life of a Wise Cult Leader - Chapter 108

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Fire

The Sage’s Book was literally a book where the Sage left information that would be helpful to humans.

Why Lumensia went mad, why he must be stopped, and what would happen if he wasn’t stopped.

The text, structured like a university report, was easy to understand at a glance.

No, even an ignorant fool who couldn’t read, even a blind person, if they had the qualifications, would be able to understand the truth written in this book with just one glance.

Because that’s how the book was made from the beginning.

I finished reading the book and closed it. The heavy book made its characteristic thud as it shut.

This book confirmed it. My plan wasn’t wrong.

‘Right, nothing has changed in the end. For now, I need to focus on ruining the festival.’

If I worry about all sorts of big matters for no reason, I’m bound to miss the small task right in front of me.

Let me focus on the project I’m currently working on.

But I won’t forget, so I can be mindful at any time.

“Hah…”

I can feel things getting bigger and bigger.

The scale is growing beyond control.

World? God? Destruction? Rather than such things, worrying about what to eat for dinner tonight was more suited to my nature.

I calmly reviewed my plan again. The plan was taking shape in my head, which had become complicated due to the grand and difficult method of sealing Lumensia.

Tomorrow I would go meet Alderion under the pretext of showing my face to the noble houses once each.

When denouncing the Central Church, the more families I can drag in, the better.

Separately from that, Marquis Alderion’s reputation is easy to use.

Since he was working hard at social gatherings and doing various things to help me, he was all the more valuable to use.

Just by giving him a taste of power through righteous words, the marquis house comes along. What a delicious and convenient chess piece.

However, the one using that is ultimately me. I’m the one moving the piece, I’m the one giving righteous words.

‘I thought I could rest a bit comfortably…’

Let me tell Yelena later. She seemed quite shocked by just that fact earlier, so if I tell her the information written in the Sage’s Book too, she’ll be quite surprised.

No matter how much she makes resolutions, what if she runs away saying “Waaah, I don’t want to fight a god~”?

‘For now… I can only bring up the book’s contents after this matter, at the negotiation site with Harmony…’

I made the divine power infused in the Sage’s Book my own. The book disappeared as if melting into me.

If the system were alive, it probably would have displayed an alert saying I had recovered another sacred object.

‘My insides feel comfortable.’

The discomfort I felt when receiving penalties, and the precariousness as if my fingertips would crumble, all disappeared cleanly.

The traces of cracks were nowhere to be found, and in their place was only smooth, porcelain-like skin.

‘Is it because I recovered the divine power in the Sage’s Book?’

Though there were no system windows like penalty screens or skill screens, the penalties that accumulated from not recovering sacred objects would have continued coming. Since I recovered a sacred object, that must have improved.

Still, I felt this condition wouldn’t last long.

‘The Sage’s sacred object was divided into three pieces.’

If I don’t recover the remaining two, the penalty’s backlash will come find me again soon.

Plop.

I lay down, entrusting my body to the very soft bed. Anyway, since my physical condition is good now, let me rest well. Tomorrow I’ll have another busy day.

The now completely darkened sky outside the window only had a bright white, large moon floating brilliantly.

*

I got dressed up from the morning and started making rounds to the noble houses.

It was a means to show off the Central Church’s power, centered on noble houses that wanted to receive my regards and blessings.

Being conscious of dignity and power, they didn’t do things like rush at me like starving demons.

They were just elegantly drooling.

I gave such people the scent of delicious meat, and when their appetite was properly whetted, I put pieces of meat in their mouths one by one to make them my allies.

The noble houses whose faith foundation had been slightly shaken by my long business trip quickly found stability.

Now, I just need to visit the last noble house. Alderion’s mansion, which is a bit away from the capital region.

I felt the presence of the priest following me like a goldfish’s tail and Yelena following me from about 500 meters away.

“Brother Alderion, it’s been a long time.”

It really seemed like a long time since I’d seen him. After all, after parting with Alderion, all sorts of things had to happen.

Alderion wagged his tail at me enthusiastically like a country mutt.

“Ascetic…! I was waiting for you.”

“Have you been well, Alderion?”

“Yes, I’ve been working hard to help with your path, Ascetic. Please come inside.”

Alderion still didn’t keep servants.

How foolish. Even though his own body would be stronger than any servant now…

Since his body that had already undergone monsterization was recovered, unless a strong person like Erendor or Yelena came, there would be no chance of getting hurt. Trauma really is scary, I suppose.

“I’ve been practicing swordsmanship in my spare time.”

“Is that so? As expected, Alderion is diligent.”

It seemed he was learning the kind of swordsmanship practiced in noble houses. It had no practical application, but it would be suitable enough as self-defense.

“I haven’t forgotten to care for the common people in my spare time either. Since there were many people in difficulty, I formed a relief group in your name, Ascetic, and it’s operating successfully.”

Rice cakes rolled in even while I was just lying down. The priest monitoring me stood quietly behind me.

“That’s really wonderful news. Truly admirable, Alderion.”

“The life you saved, Ascetic. I couldn’t waste it meaninglessly.”

Mm-hmm, as expected, the position of life savior is really convenient for freeloading.

I brought up content that could be sensitive, whether the priest heard it or not.

“How is the management of the demon sword going?”

Alderion, who had been hesitating about whether he should or shouldn’t say this while looking at the priest behind me, opened his mouth.

“It’s well stored in the basement. I’m using a dedicated guardian recommended by Brother Antonio.”

“You’re doing well.”

I thought Erendor would barge in and take it by force, but he hadn’t found out information about the demon sword?

Or maybe Erendor was so busy with work that he couldn’t take it even though he came to the Empire last time.

Even though I didn’t mention the demon sword much, seeing how Erendor was being quite cooperative with me, my dying once must have been some kind of big turning point for him.

‘I don’t know how long this goodwill will last, but for now I have no choice but to use it…’

The aura-like thing from the priest behind me fluctuated. He seemed to have marked that information as useful just now.

The widow could have found out more if she wanted to.

Teacher was always like that. In front of Teacher, I become a 5-year-old who can’t keep secrets.

In that case, it’s better to open up some information. Teacher probably knows about the demon sword anyway…

Alderion brought tea and refreshments with his own hands. The tea was appropriately warm and delicious.

“If the dedicated guardian stays with the demon sword for too long, their mind becomes strange, so I manage it periodically. After my body changed like this… poison and demonic energy don’t affect me well either.”

He spoke bitterly.

“For now, it might actually be good. It’s sad that I can’t receive sunlight like a cursed demon, but… that must be because I committed a great sin that I can’t undo.”

He used his speech pattern of lowering himself to the depths again. I made a comforting statement to console him again.

“Don’t think such things, Brother. It wasn’t intentional, and it’s not your sin.”

He smiled forlornly.

“Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease, Ascetic.”

I tasted the tea once, cutting off the conversation, then brought up something closer to the main point.

“Alderion, are the hunting festival preparations going well?”

“The hunting festival preparations? Yes… I’m preparing in my own way. Since my body improved, my archery skills have gotten better than before. I don’t know whether I should consider this good or bad.”

Alderion smiled awkwardly and sat down.

His pitch-black outfit that covered everything from neck to fingertips and ankles caught my eye.

“I’d like Alderion to take first place in this hunting festival.”

“Is that… a simple request, or a task I must accomplish?”

“It’s a task. I came here specifically to tell you this.”

Alderion straightened his posture seriously upon hearing it was a task, not just casual words.

Even though he didn’t need to be so formal since I wouldn’t assign him such an important task anyway.

Anyway, as long as there’s a monitoring priest behind me, I won’t reveal important matters.

‘If I keep giving instructions only through Voice Transmission without speaking aloud, Teacher might catch on to this ability.’

So I need to cover that up by speaking about something that doesn’t matter whether Alderion wins or loses in front of the Priest.

“Is it important for me to take first place in the hunting festival?”

“Yes, this hunting festival is special. I heard this when I participated in organizing the festival as a Saint…. The Central Church will directly give a Holy Pilgrimage Pass and Holy Water to whoever catches the largest prey.”

“Is, is that really true?”

If he went on a Holy Pilgrimage once, the Marquis Territory could become even more prosperous. And with Holy Water, perhaps Alderion could return to being a normal human.

‘Of course, the chances of that are almost zero.’

But for Alderion, this would be news like a lifeline. Didn’t he have a stronger desire to bask in sunlight and become human rather than having enhanced physical abilities?

‘Honestly, if I had that body, I could have smashed everything by now and lived my own way like Erendor. Ah…. If your body isn’t strong, your head suffers…. That’s my fate.’

Rather than using my head and scheming like this, it would be better if enemies’ heads just got smashed with a single swing of an axe or hammer.

As I was envying Erendor’s nature and Alderion’s body, his expression completely changed.

“You came all the way here to tell me such news for my sake…. I am moved. Actually, ever since I became like this, it seemed like you weren’t coming to see me at all, so I was feeling somewhat hurt inside, but please forgive such impiety. My God….”

Uh, what. Was, was that so?

In truth, I had only used Alderion and given him instructions through Voice Transmission, but hadn’t particularly done anything special for him.

It’s somewhat understandable that he was feeling hurt inside….

I hurriedly comforted him.

“That was something you could think. It’s not for me to forgive, but blame my incompetence for not being able to understand even Alderion’s heart.”

“How could I blame the God who saved me and showed me the way?”

I approached Alderion and patted his head. The middle-aged man entrusted his body to me.

Since it’s come to this, I’ll take full responsibility…!

“It’s because I couldn’t pay more attention to you. Your family house became like that and even your own body changed overnight, yet Alderion navigated through such calamitous days very well.”

My shoulder becomes damp. As soon as I judged it as foreign matter, my damp shoulder was purified and dried.

“Because of that dignity and strength, I trusted you more than other Brothers and Sisters and left you alone in this lonely and desolate world.”

“Sniff….”

Yes! Tears are faith points X2. Of course, there’s no System Window though.

“Will you forgive me, Brother Alderion?”

“Of course. Of course…. Forgiveness, such an excessive thing for me…”

I patted his back a couple times then stepped away. I don’t have a hobby of staying attached to a man for long.

Alderion quietly sobbed while holding back tears, then gently dabbed the tears from his face with his silk handkerchief.

And with a voice still filled with tears, he spoke.

“One thing…. Would it be alright if I tell you something important?”

“…?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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