The Life of a Wise Cult Leader - Chapter 116

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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

Only Kalebrin’s labored breathing could be heard for a moment before Erendor answered.

“I don’t know.”

“…Is that so.”

“However, their robes were quite unusual. Both wore identical expensive-looking items.”

Identical robes. Coming dressed in expensive group uniforms meant they were an organization, not individuals.

I swallowed dry saliva and answered.

“Mercenaries or assassins hired with money, then.”

Erendor nodded with a smile as if I’d gotten the right answer.

“That’s right.”

Don’t nod at me like you’re looking at some kindergartener. It’s annoying.

“Someone who would hire such expensive guys just to kill our Sorceress Lady… Don’t you have any ideas, friend?”

Erendor was about to spoon-feed me the answer again.

I have too many enemies to know who it is.

Seriously, I have enemies here and there, so I don’t know who it could be.

I’ve also fallen out of favor with the Central Church this time, so they might come to eliminate Kalebrin too.

Anyone who knows me reasonably well would know that Kalebrin is my closest aide….

Just as my head was getting complicated with various thoughts, Tuba opened his mouth.

“The Widow perhaps….”

Teacher… Kalebrin?

“Well, is there anyone else besides her? It’s not certain yet, but. Those two didn’t look like Empire people.”

When I glimpsed through Kalebrin’s vision, I could barely see their faces.

It happened so quickly and was cut off so quickly.

“What did they look like?”

I asked about the guys’ physical descriptions.

Erendor and Tuba fell silent for a moment, then quickly spilled the information.

“One guy might have been from the Demon Race or something. He had reverse eyes with golden pupils, beast-like pupils…. He wore unusual claw-like weapons. The kind of guy I’d like to fight once?”

Erendor answered with a grin. Tuba continued, supplementing the lacking description.

“He was quite large but also reasonably fast… Half his head was blown off but he got up and left with his comrade…”

“The other guy seemed dead with broken limbs. Must have been the Sorceress Lady’s doing, right? Since he was lying face down, I couldn’t see his face well, but… he seemed to be grinning widely as if he had something applied to his mouth, so I thought he was quite an unusual guy~.”

“That guy… seemed to use an unusual weapon called needles….”

An unusual assassin using claws and an assassin using something called needles.

Matching clothes, more companions, a reasonably organized system. A smiling face-like appearance and a wolf-like man.

I traced back through the game story but couldn’t really guess anything.

Could they be people from some very minor sub-quest?

“Since he clearly got up and ran after half his head was blown off, he must have regeneration-like abilities, right? Like my friend.”

Regeneration ability is rare. It’s not an ability that ordinary assassin riffraff could possess.

It wouldn’t be an artifact. An artifact that prevents instant death would need to be at least at the level of a sacred relic of protection. Since it was confirmed death from head trauma….

Regeneration close to resurrection. Strange. No matter how much regeneration ability one has, it defies biological logic.

‘No matter how much I think about it, there’s not much information. I’ll have to give Young Lady a hint to investigate.’

When it comes to information, it’s Young Lady. She and I have been steadily using each other according to our deal, so in this situation, Young Lady would be the most suitable person.

I gently stroked the head of Kalebrin, who was lying in bed sleeping soundly.

She seems to be having good dreams as her complexion looks comfortable.

Her strangely cut hair bothers me.

Soon I should bring a female believer and send her on an Empire outing with Kalebrin to get her clothes and hair styled.

“Then let’s head back.”

“Will it be okay like this? What if that assassin’s comrades come attacking?”

Erendor expressed concern that wasn’t really concern. I stopped stroking Kalebrin and tidied up the disheveled room.

“If the Widow really sent them as you say, they won’t come to kill me.”

I pushed the misaligned carpet straight with my foot.

“Rather, they’ll try to kill you two, so don’t separate and be careful of your surroundings until tomorrow’s decisive battle. The success of this operation depends on how well you two act….”

“Hmm.”

Teacher hired assassins to try to kill Kalebrin.

I can’t completely trust that premise, but conversely, there’s no reason not to think so.

Teacher wants to… make me into a puppet. So eliminating my closest aides one by one is natural.

Yelena was probably expelled that way too.

Cardil was originally a heretic of the Central Church, so there wasn’t much to interfere with.

Since I know Alderion became a monster and can’t be exposed to sunlight, there’s no reason to go out of the way to check him.

And Antonio is officially just a merchant….

‘Wait… if the idea is to eliminate closest aides one by one, they might target Antonio too?’

A sharp uneasiness climbs up my spine and heavily strikes my solar plexus.

I urgently dismissed the two.

“You two should return. You need to take care of yourselves.”

At my dismissal, Erendor made an uncomfortable expression.

“Well. Fine. See you tomorrow.”

Erendor and Tuba leaped over the window and disappeared. I don’t even know when they vanished.

After confirming they had disappeared, I immediately sent a voice transmission to Antonio.

‘Antonio, are you alright?’

Antonio’s vision is pitch black as if he woke from sleep.

-‘Mm…. Ascetic? What brings you at this late hour?’

‘I’m relieved if you’re alright. Kalebrin was just attacked, so I was worried about Antonio’s safety.’

-‘A-attacked? Miss Kalebrin?’

I sat beside the bed where Kalebrin lay. The soft bed sank down.

‘Yes, it seems she was attacked by assassins.’

She showed no signs of waking and was sleeping peacefully.

Usually when healed, even dying old people get up, so why isn’t she getting up? Worry springs forth.

I fidgeted with her limp hand.

‘I hope Antonio will also be careful. Once this matter ends, I plan to assign the most reliable person to you, but… if you’re also attacked before this matter ends, I,’

-‘Ascetic.’

‘I can’t do without Antonio….’

In the tightly closed vision, I could see Antonio getting up from bed and looking at the wall. It was brighter than before, as if he had lit a candle softly beside the table.

-‘Ascetic. I’m fine.’

Even Kalebrin was attacked like this, so Antonio, who has no combat power, would be taken down before I could even make a move.

If Teacher really did this, even if I beg Teacher….

No, she’s not the type to spare someone she’s decided to kill just because I kneel….

-‘Don’t worry about me and focus on your own affairs, Ascetic.’

Worry? No. Without Antonio, I won’t be able to smoothly handle most administrative tasks.

Capable people who build this level of trust with me and solve things efficiently without being told are rare.

He even procures useful items and personnel without me saying anything and handles everything.

I really can’t do without Antonio. Same with Kalebrin.

-‘Would you not worry if I said I have countermeasures?’

‘Countermeasures…?’

-‘Merchants always keep several measures prepared. Moreover, since I met my God after encountering bandits, I’ve already prepared for that type of threat.’

I’m sitting on the bed. Antonio is also sitting on the bed.

It’s as if I’m sitting beside me, beside Antonio.

It must be an illusion.

‘I won’t discuss the detailed countermeasures. Just, won’t you trust me?’

I trust him.

It’s difficult. Trusting people.

I fidgeted with the very thick cord connected to Antonio.

It was a thicker cord than those with Yelena, Cardil, Kalebrin, and Celestia.

It was natural. Antonio was my first believer.

“I believe….”

Others had always said those words to me. That they believed in Sernuan Lumiere. That they wanted salvation bestowed upon them….

But had I ever sincerely said those words to another person?

No.

“I believe in you, Antonio.”

Antonio smiled briefly.

-‘Haha…. Then I hope you have a good night as well, Ascetic.’

I cut off the voice transmission. My vision gradually grew distant. In my hand was not Antonio’s cord, but Kalebrin’s small hand.

“Right…. I have to believe.”

When he says he has a plan, what choice do I have? Honestly, there’s painfully no useful manpower I could assign to Antonio.

Yelena is already protecting Kalebrin, and Erendor and Tuba would tell me to stop talking nonsense the moment they heard the request. Cardil and Celestia are frequently away.

Antonio has always been the one to handle things properly on his own without me giving any hints. I have to believe in him.

I stayed awake all night with open eyes, and welcomed the third sun of the Dawn Festival through the window.

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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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