The Life of a Wise Cult Leader - Chapter 110

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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

Cardil’s expression became fierce. At this rate, he looked ready to grab me by the collar.

The thread of trust connecting me to Cardil grew thin.

Oh no, if this thread breaks, it’ll be a disaster. This is a connection I worked so hard to build. If I lose it trying to strengthen it, it’ll all be for nothing.

“Brother Cardil’s abilities are insufficient to save Lord Austin.”

“Enough, just tell me quickly. Don’t make me use up what little patience I have left.”

“I cannot do that. If you try to save Lord Austin Gerard in your current state, Brother Cardil will die.”

Cardil is quick-witted.

When I spoke this firmly, instead of unreasonably shaking me by the collar demanding information, he was the type to cool his head and think calmly.

Cardil, whether angry or not, showed veins bulging at his temples, swept his bangs back once, and took a couple of deep breaths.

“…I won’t go right now. But that bastard Austin, he’s okay for now, right?”

“Yes. Because he still has utility value. It’s not yet a life-or-death emergency situation.”

The body Teacher was controlling was indeed Austin Gerard’s. Then he must be using some kind of sorcery to dominate Austin Gerard’s soul while inhabiting it himself.

He’s a useful body. His performance alone would be excellent. So Teacher won’t abandon him right away.

Just as I wasn’t abandoned.

His sharpened gaze looked ready to immediately destroy whoever was tormenting Austin Gerard. Truly befitting the Healer of Destruction.

“What’s the deadline?”

It seemed I had successfully planted the desire for improvement. Good thing he’s not being more troublesome.

I pondered thoughtfully. Well, if I were to predict when he’d abandon Austin Gerard…

“Until one month after the festival… I believe.”

“How far should I cultivate my martial prowess… No, never mind. I’ll figure this out myself.”

I smiled slightly.

“Yes. If you need help, please let me know anytime.”

“After gently scratching at someone like that, saying such things doesn’t make me want to ask for help.”

“That’s unfortunate. But I’m always thinking only of relieving the suffering of my neighbors.”

“I know that well. I wonder if I should be glad or unfortunate that you’re such a philanthropist.”

What’s he talking about? It’s because someone like me exists that the world manages to function properly.

Of course, I’m not actually a philanthropist.

I just smiled.

‘Whatever you say… it has less impact than a cat throwing kitty punches, you bastard~’

Cardil tapped my right chest and complained.

“Why are you just smiling like a pushover after hearing such words? Try arguing back or something.”

“But I feel like I’ve done something to hurt Cardil’s feelings. Since I’ve caused you emotional pain, I should bear the consequences.”

Cardil was shocked.

“I didn’t know you were this much of a pushover…”

Hey, you bastard.

‘If it weren’t for this concept, you and I would have had five hundred arguments by now…!’

Me, a pushover? A pushoooover?

What do you take someone who survived desperately in a city full of cold bastards who scam and backstab you for?

No matter how I think about it, playing the saint role doesn’t suit me.

I barely maintained my concept and showed a gentle smile that made my previous serious expression seem like a lie.

‘Smile… smile…!’

I patted Cardil who had come closer with one hand. He made a subtle expression.

“Mental pain and physical pain are indeed sometimes helpful to people, but that doesn’t mean they don’t hurt. This incident will help Cardil grow, but I deeply regret that it became a wound.”

“It’s fine. You said it out of concern for me. What’s there to be hurt about? Just take care of yourself.”

And suddenly Cardil began pouring healing magic into me.

‘Huh, huuuuuh???’

C-Cardil…?

I understand you’re using healing magic on me with good intentions, but the timing is really bad right now…!

I desperately prevented the regeneration of the severed area. In the process, my body shook and the barely attached gap opened again.

My vision turned red. I quickly covered my mouth with one hand.

“Cough…”

“…!?”

Something warm flowed from my nose. A cough burst out as if I was choking. When I blinked, my reddened vision slowly returned.

‘The arm, the arm didn’t grow back, right?’

It’s the arm I saved for a performance later!

When I felt around the empty arm area with my good hand, fortunately I had successfully prevented the regeneration.

‘Phew… almost became a lizard…’

Looking at the situation, a panicked Cardil was supporting me and checking my condition.

“What, showing such a rejection reaction to healing magic is something only monsters do…! Are you okay? S-sorry. I shouldn’t have…”

Unlike his other reactions, Cardil was distinctly worried about me. I never expected to hear an apology from him.

‘He had good intentions anyway…’

The container shook and I nearly spilled the contents, so my body was briefly damaged while preventing it, but I quickly recovered. Right. It’s nothing serious.

“I’m… fine.”

I wiped my mouth with my sleeve.

The Divine Authority I had absorbed as my own exerted its full power. The blood stains disappeared instantly as if vaporizing.

“Let’s rest at the healing center for a bit. Moving around now is dangerous.”

“I have work to do…”

“I’ll handle the explanations, so lie down! We need to run tests again too!”

Damn, I’m going to have to go through all those tests I got when I returned!

“I’m fine-“

“Lie down right now!”

I couldn’t overcome Cardil’s forcefulness and intense gaze, so I ended up resting at the healing center for three hours.

*

During the preparations for the Dawn Festival, a meeting of the Banquet Hall was held.

The new members of the Banquet Hall seemed to be selected regardless of family status or power. There were names I’d never heard before.

However, it was certain they would become the new blood leading this Empire. In a direction favorable to the Widow.

‘What on earth is Teacher thinking…’

Kalebrin, who was standing beside me wearing a mask, tapped me. It was a look of concern.

“I’m fine, Kalebrin. I was just… thinking about what we should do going forward, and it seems like it will be a difficult path.”

“Mm-hmm… I’ll, I’ll, I’ll be helpful…”

“Just having you work hard by my side is something I’m grateful for.”

“As expected, the Ascetic speaks so beautifully.”

“You flatter me, Eon.”

The priest standing behind me became lively quickly after exchanging words with me a few times.

If there’s such a thing as sunlight, it might be like this.

If a saint role was needed, it would have been good to elevate someone like this. The Empire became truly pitiful by making a cult leader-like person a saint. Of course, this is sarcasm.

Eon has too many gaps and is too pure to be a simple surveillance role. Perhaps he was chosen as my surveillance precisely because such a person would invite carelessness.

In any case, Eon was a pure and faithful priest of the sun, a servant of Lumensia who didn’t suspect others, so I had him well under my thumb.

It wasn’t to the point where if I pointed at chocolate and said “That’s poop,” he’d immediately answer “Oh, I see!” but he was the type who would respond “Ah… is that so? I understand!”

“What are you planning to do during the festival, Saint? For now, I want to drink honey wine! The honey wine you can only drink during festivals is truly excellent~ Have you ever tried it?”

Eon had good social skills and would approach me like this without me having to deliberately strike up conversations or make an effort. It was comfortable and nice.

Unlike the other guys around me like Yelena, Cardil, and Kalebrin who lacked social skills and were somewhat uncomfortable to deal with, Eon was different.

‘It’s hard to be mean to him…’

This was the first guy to touch my conscience to this extent. He wasn’t even a character from the game’s main story, and had no military power, intelligence, or position I could use.

“Hmm… I haven’t. I’ve been too busy to try it until now. Since Eon speaks so highly of it, I’d like to try it once.”

“If you have time during this festival, let’s enjoy the festival together. Of course, you’d need guards… but you should enjoy the festival too, Saint! It’s the Empire’s biggest and most important festival.”

That festival I’m planning to ruin.

“Of course. Let’s do that. I’m already looking forward to it.”

“Haha, me too.”

Eon laughed like that.

*

A few days later.

Buuuuuuuu-

The sound of horn pipes announcing the start of the Dawn Festival spread out. At the time when dawn’s light was breaking, the horn pipes seemed to tear through the sky.

It was time for the speech. You’d wonder who would listen at this dawn hour, but the Empire was different.

Befitting those who believe in the Sun God Lumensia, there were many who were not just morning people but dawn people, and being medieval people, they woke up early.

Moreover, today was a festival day, and since I, a Saint who was called outstanding even among Saints, was giving a speech directly, people flocked like clouds.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve been here too.’

The plaza, which had once become chaos during my appointment ceremony due to terrorism, was once again packed with crowds of people.

Since that incident, as if they wouldn’t tolerate any unexpected accidents, Knights and Central Church personnel were densely positioned everywhere.

Looking at this tight security structure, Teacher probably paid attention to it. She really does care for me.

I stepped up onto the podium where I had given a speech before. The fluttering white cloak appropriately covered my missing arm.

I recited the script that the Central Church had told me to memorize completely.

However, I said it a little differently.

“Everyone, the night is now over. The long darkness is retreating, and light is rising from the eastern horizon. The Dawn Festival that begins today is a new beginning that we all welcome together.”

I could see heads of various colors below. The scent of surging excitement made me feel good.

“Let us burn yesterday’s worries in flames and engrave today’s hope in our hearts. This light discriminates against no one. Nobles, farmers, warriors, children – all will be embraced equally in the arms of light.”

Most of the humans down there were believers connected to me.

They were precious minions who gave me strength and held onto my lifeline, so they were worth looking at lovingly.

“So during this festival period, let us hold each other’s hands, laugh, and sing. The fact that we are together in this moment will be the greatest blessing of all.”

It was truly adorable how they shed tears of emotion and praised me even at such a trivial speech.

It would be nice if everyone could become my believers like this and I could swallow up the Empire.

I pointed to the rising sun with one arm. On the 7th day, which could be called the peak of the Dawn Festival, a solar eclipse would occur.

And spectacularly ruining the festival on that eclipse day was what I needed to focus on most right now.

I briefly released my suppression of the Divine Aura. The distance from the audience was quite far, so even if I released my aura like this now, they would only feel a mysterious level of charisma.

“Beloved neighbors, look at that rising sun of life. The sun has risen again for us. That light is warm, gentle, and kind.”

I could see several Central Church members coming to stop my impromptu speech. However, they were blocked by Yelena and Kalebrin.

“But, everyone… there is only one way to hold onto that light until the end. It is to stand on this path that I lead. The Dawn Festival is both a joyful feast and a covenant of our community, a moment of choice. If you gather your hearts and follow me, the light will never abandon you.”

The threads of the believers grew stronger and stronger. I worked my mouth diligently.

“So during this Dawn Festival, laugh to your heart’s content. If you sing my song high to the heavens with your heart, in that moment, we are one.”

I could hear Central Church members shouting from behind. They were probably the Widow’s personnel. However, such weaklings wouldn’t be enough to approach me.

“And the path of light that connects that oneness… I will open it for you. If you follow that path, there will be no suffering ahead and everything will work out smoothly.”

It was the exclusive line of cults. Anyway, if you believe in me, things will work out well! An unprovable blank check, so to speak.

“Now, the sun is rising. The Dawn Festival begins now!”

Waaaaaaah-!!

The cheers pouring toward me were sweet. I smiled.

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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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