The Life of a Wise Cult Leader - Chapter 125

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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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Chapter 125

 

I’d heard plenty of talk about how men who cook are sexy, but I never expected the leader of Harmony to be able to cook.

 

‘He’s not ordering someone else to do it, and he’s not buying it either…?’

 

I tried my best to shake off my bewilderment, but seeing Harmony’s leader properly tied up in an apron, I couldn’t hide my confusion.

 

He calmly put down the ladle and untied his apron.

 

“It’s dinner time.”

 

Well, that’s true, but.

 

The leader spoke matter-of-factly as he prepared the meal together with Erendor and Kalebrin.

 

I naturally helped them while speaking kind words befitting a cult leader.

 

“I see. You must be good at cooking. It smells delicious.”

 

“One should at least know how to cook.”

 

The table was filled with hearty food that was simpler than what I usually ate, but substantial.

 

Boss sat at the end of the table.

 

Her sitting at the end of a long table in a splendid banquet hall, and him sitting at the end of a log table used by commoners.

 

The seats and positions were the same, but the atmosphere was different. However, the aura emanated by the leader of a group was similar.

 

He pointed to my seat with his palm. It was next to Kalebrin.

 

“If you have time, let’s talk while we eat.”

 

“I’ll gratefully partake.”

 

Boss really, really seemed to like Kalebrin, taking care of her meal like treating a baby bird.

 

“You’re spilling.”

 

“Mmm.”

 

“Try this too.”

 

I was speechless watching him put various side dishes on Kalebrin’s plate.

 

Could Harmony’s leader be won over this easily…?

 

Erendor just accepted this situation and ate his meal. It seemed this kind of thing happened frequently during the few weeks I had left Kalebrin in their care.

 

“The person called Violin… hasn’t arrived yet?”

 

“She’s temporarily away on business.”

 

“I see. The meal is delicious, it would have been nice if she could have joined us.”

 

Kalebrin roughly emptied her plate and looked up at me.

 

“Candy…”

 

“You have to eat it after your meal.”

 

Kalebrin became sullen at Boss’s words.

 

It was quite a cute sight, but Kalebrin was an ability user who could burst an ordinary person’s head on the spot with a single gesture, and that Boss over there was… at least strong enough to face off against the Demon King. Not to mention Erendor.

 

We chatted like a really ordinary rural family while eating.

 

What did you do yesterday, what did you eat, there’s some annoying guy lately… and so on.

 

Of course, I was more of a listener than a talker when it came to these kinds of conversation topics. My memory of having ordinary daily conversations was hazy, so I might end up speaking like a socially inept loser.

 

After finishing the meal, the atmosphere was more relaxed than at the beginning. Enough for me, who keenly reads people’s emotions and currents, to notice.

 

‘As expected, people need to eat together to become close! Ah, excluding the banquet hall.’

 

It was a very Korean way of thinking, but it seemed these Medieval People felt the same way.

 

We began our conversation while rolling the Candy I had brought around in our mouths.

 

“This incident was quite impressive.”

 

“Thank you for the praise. It’s all thanks to the excellent Brothers.”

 

“Stealing the Sacred Fire was the most interesting part. To think you could deceive them with a Spirit disguised as Sacred Fire… That strategy wouldn’t have worked at all in Senta, which made it amusing.”

 

I couldn’t tell if he was dissing or respecting me, but a Cult Leader doesn’t back down from this!

 

“Thank you. I think I was quite lucky as well.”

 

“The Widow might have already noticed something. Do you have any countermeasures for that?”

 

“The Widow is on my side, unless I do something drastically wrong… For the next few years at least.”

 

“Why is that?”

 

“I cannot tell you.”

 

“Does this incident fall within the category of ‘not doing something drastically wrong’?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Others might think this was a big deal, but it’s just a minor matter in Teacher’s plans and objectives.

 

“I see.”

 

Boss fell into deep thought as soon as he heard my story. I brought up another topic.

 

“I heard that Brother wants to destroy the Empire. May I know why?”

 

His aura was growing terrifyingly powerful.

 

The Table trembled violently. Kalebrin gripped my sleeve tightly.

 

“Do I need a reason? If you’re truly a Saint, you should know. Such a country shouldn’t exist.”

 

If I asked any more, that shaking Table might become my teeth.

 

“I see. I agree to some extent.”

 

“To some extent? So you’re just another lackey of the Empire after all.”

 

Ah! I chose the wrong route in this dating sim game!

 

I could feel his favorability rating hitting negative numbers with just that one statement.

 

“But don’t you pity the Imperial Citizens who would suffer the pain of losing their homeland? Destruction… I respect the choice of eliminating the source of the problem, but I’m more concerned about the suffering of the Imperial Citizens.”

 

The violently trembling Table gradually calmed down. Erendor had already started washing the Plates when this conversation began.

 

Kalebrin quietly moved away from the Table.

 

“Indeed, not just anyone can become a Saint… Or perhaps the Saint of the Empire simply cannot understand the suffering of those who aren’t Imperial Citizens.”

 

Perhaps because he was so powerful, the weight of the air changed with his mood alone.

 

Erendor, who had finished washing dishes, disappeared into a Room with Kalebrin. Only Boss and I remained at the Table.

 

‘Don’t leave me alone here…’

 

But since I had stepped on the wrong choice, all I could do was try to fix it. Work, my mouth…! I’ll show him that I didn’t claim the position of Empire’s Saint through system advantages alone!

 

During those two weeks, I hadn’t only been focused on establishing a religion.

 

I couldn’t just blow off the meeting with Harmony’s Boss that was scheduled for two weeks later. Researching the other party before a meeting is basic business practice.

 

I actively utilized Young Lady, who had become a reliable ally. I needed information, and Young Lady was perfectly suited for that task.

 

Young Lady, the number one in the Underworld, perfectly met my expectations. She thoroughly gathered information about Harmony’s activities and delivered it to me.

 

‘Of course, I did give Young Lady a few things in return…’

 

I composed my emotions.

 

Now focus, focus. It’s time to do some Cult Leader work!

 

“…I know. I know of your suffering, Brother.”

 

Boss chuckled softly. He seemed to know I was about to start my scheming.

 

“I unavoidably had to investigate you, Brother. I heard you suffered terribly at the hands of the Empire?”

 

“It seems some passing crow heard my story and went around blabbering about it.”

 

He smiled slowly like a predator.

 

“I don’t intend to remind you of your pain by bringing it up again. Rather… if it’s not too presumptuous, I’d like to tell you a bit of my own story.”

 

“Know that if there’s any lie mixed in your words from now on, your head will fly.”

 

Boss said this while gesturing with his chin. It was a gesture telling me to go ahead and speak.

 

It was enough to make me break out in cold sweat. Even though I wasn’t restraining my Divine Aura right now, I could feel the pressure.

 

“The reason I bring this up is… because I too have suffered ‘terrible things’ at the hands of the Empire.”

 

“You looked like a Saint who was raised preciously, but this is quite unexpected.”

 

Boss briefly got up from his seat and began brewing tea. His back looked defenseless, but there seemed to be no openings.

 

“Wearing the shell of a hollow Saint, being used like a tool to cover up the Empire’s corruption. That’s what I am now.”

 

No. I was thoroughly enjoying the Empire’s highest echelons of power, committing every corruption a Saint could commit.

 

However, I put on a pitiful expression as if I had never done or even thought of such things.

 

When someone who’s always smiling and kind makes a bitter or upset expression, the impact is tremendous.

 

“I am… a being who received a mission to eliminate all suffering in this world. The Empire is mass-producing suffering. Even if it’s my homeland, if it’s a country that mass-produces suffering, it should rightfully be eliminated.”

 

He poured tea into a teacup. After pouring tea only into his own cup, he sat back down.

 

Seeing that he didn’t give me any, it seems I’m quite thoroughly disliked.

 

“And yet someone who knows that has been doing quite well as the Empire’s puppet.”

 

“Because that’s the only way I can save even one more person. That was the only choice given to me.”

 

His eyes wavered minutely for the first time.

 

I got a sense of how I should deal with Harmony’s Boss.

 

“The Widow, the Empire – I’ve only joined hands with them all to fulfill my mission until now.”

 

“Do you know how much more suffering is being mass-produced by joining hands with them, and how much the Empire is benefiting from it?”

 

He condemned me. But just because he condemns me doesn’t mean a Cult Leader backs down! Rather, the more you condemn them, the more tenaciously they survive – that’s what this weed-like cult is!

 

“I know. Because I know… it torments me.”

 

I quietly clutched my chest area. Seeing how my stomach was churning, it seemed the Sacred Relic penalty was about to hit.

 

I had to quickly persuade him and get the Veil… or it might become dangerous.

 

I continued speaking.

 

“In all this hardship, I have merely deceived and lied to myself that it would be enough if I could save even one more person from life’s unreasonable suffering, even if someone like me were sacrificed. Because if I didn’t, she would kill me.”

 

“You mean the Widow….”

 

I quietly nodded.

 

“The Widow took away not only my family but my entire life….”

 

This part wasn’t exactly wrong.

 

“I lost all my family to the Widow’s Hand. The Empire only uses me. The path to fulfilling my mission is so distant, and I am endlessly powerless….”

 

I slightly grimaced and slowly lowered my head.

 

He covered his mouth with the teacup. I couldn’t see his expression, but I keenly caught onto some shift in atmosphere.

 

His eyes were still sharp, but he was minutely feeling sympathy for me.

 

This is working!

 

A narrative that overlaps with his past self! Drawing out sympathy!

 

“Seeing Brother’s pain of having everything taken away by the Empire, I realize once again that I cannot put down this burden I carry. Are we not both breathing under the weight of this world’s suffering?”

 

I made a bitter expression and tried my best to look pitiful.

 

“Just as Brother stands here now despite enduring that pain, I too am struggling to persevere. But… the moment has come when merely enduring is no longer enough.”

 

I raised my head. However, I didn’t make direct eye contact with him.

 

“Now even my newly made family is being threatened by an assassin hired by the widow.”

 

Boss set down his teacup. The sound was quite resolute.

 

“So. Are you asking for help?”

 

He made an expression as if finding it ridiculous.

 

Don’t get intimidated. This conversation is going well.

 

“Not help, but cooperation.”

 

People with simple goals who take good care of their own are good.

 

Teacher is the type who hides her goals, is complicated, and even casts out her own people.

 

I had seen how Harmony’s Boss carefully looked after his people.

 

‘Honestly, trusting itself isn’t an easy thing for me…’

 

To persuade Harmony’s Boss, I wouldn’t need excellent strategy, useful position, or powerful strength.

 

Excellent strategy, position, and power are all things they already have.

 

I’ll offer what he lacks.

 

“If merely enduring won’t work, then it’s time to fight back.”

 

I met his gaze.

 

“I want to formally join hands with Harmony to overthrow the Empire.”

 

I couldn’t have run my mouth any more than this. Honestly, I think I did a damn good job.

 

I quietly observed his reaction.

 

Sitting in front of the table, he let out a long breath.

 

It was hard to read what judgment was being made within those slow, predatory movements.

 

“…Right. I understand well what request you’ve made to Harmony’s Boss. Saint.”

 

He tapped his teacup with his finger before looking at me.

 

I drew in a breath.

 

Just that one gaze looking at me pressed down on me with an aura close to tremendous gravity.

 

“…!”

 

“Do you think I’ll fall for your scheme just because you lost family to the widow and what happened to me with the Empire are similar?”

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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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