The Life of a Wise Cult Leader - Chapter 130

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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 130

 

“…I really don’t understand this.”

 

I felt disgusted.

 

That bastard who killed even his own ego, yet accepts all of this so calmly.

 

Why does that sight irritate me so much?

 

This isn’t even funny.

 

This isn’t my business. Why am I getting so worked up?

 

But still.

 

I was just angry.

 

-“Why is it our fault that your leg ended up like that? You should have gotten insurance.”

 

-“Personal negligence isn’t recognized as liability.”

 

-“Hanbyeol, let’s be friends until we’re 90!”

 

Because I had unnecessarily dug up my life earlier, memories I had buried deep came flooding back.

 

The bitter taste of stomach acid brushed against the root of my tongue.

 

-“See, what did I tell you? That happened because you handled things wrong. If you had listened to what adults said, it wouldn’t have gotten this bad. Running around doing manual labor to make quick money. Right? If you had taken a different part-time job even for less money, it wouldn’t have gotten this bad!”

 

All those bastards said the same thing.

 

Ruining my life was all my fault, just because I didn’t handle things wisely.

 

So I escaped into games, was wary of people who approached me, and lived like a stubborn fool. But you, why are you smiling so comfortably when everything was taken from you?

 

I know from experience, that’s really hard to endure.

 

“I am truly grateful to you for that, Player.”

 

Is it a sense of kinship? Petty sympathy?

 

Or is it just because I think I’m doing something similar to those bastards who fucked up my life?

 

Something surged up from within me.

 

“Grateful? Grateful, you say.”

 

Both you and I are in positions of being used by society.

 

“What exactly are you grateful for?”

 

As a first act Boss, as a sacrifice to Teacher, and now to me and the system – he was being used.

 

“This is an act of projecting your past, Player.”

 

Sernuan analyzed me emotionlessly.

 

Right. He was correct. My past self couldn’t resist unjust sacrifice and just ran away, avoided, resigned myself saying this was the best option, and the result of getting angry at the whole world was this pathetic state.

 

That made me even angrier. More than guilt about stealing your body, your helplessness in meekly accepting that fact drove me even more insane.

 

I stole your body, so resent me. Because that would make me feel a little more alive.

 

“Wouldn’t it be more comfortable to just resent me? Don’t meekly accept and resign yourself to all this absurdity! Say that you’re really annoyed that I stole your body, that you resent it. Assert that position should have been yours originally! Come on!”

 

So I found myself shouting without realizing it.

 

I don’t really like raising my voice in anger. I hate yelling at someone to their face even more.

 

Even so, strangely, my raw emotions kept bursting out sensitively in this place.

 

“It seems you’re being affected by your ego due to the peculiarity of this space, Player.”

 

“Yeah, I think I’m being affected. But since it’s come to this, can’t you be a little honest too?”

 

It wouldn’t be strange to call it sympathy between fellow sufferers.

 

Because we’re similar, because we’re the same, we can open up to each other, right?

 

The emotions I had accumulated while living the life of an Ascetic overflowed.

 

“You, at least back then at the orphanage, you tried to save the children! At least you had something you could call family. And even after escaping from Teacher… you made a family…”

 

What was I saying?

 

“…Are you trying to say that I’ve lived a good life?”

 

What did I want to say?

 

Did I want to be cursed at by this guy?

 

Did I want to lessen my guilt even in that way?

 

Naturally, it was an emotion I couldn’t confide to anyone, one I couldn’t even define myself, so it was difficult to even voice it out loud.

 

“At least get angry. It wouldn’t be strange if you tried to kill me, so why… why do you give up without even trying?”

 

“The current me can’t do anything-”

 

Sernuan spouted similar words again.

 

Don’t worry about him.

 

It’s fine to use him.

 

“I was originally born with the fate to die. Raised as a sacrifice to resurrect the Forgotten Gods, destined to be used as a vessel and discarded. I simply lived out my natural lifespan.”

 

“So why do you meekly accept that fate?”

 

“There was no way.”

 

Avoidance.

 

Even this was similar to me.

 

Me, who became disabled in my legs and gave up on everything, escaping into games.

 

Sernuan, who lost his life and entrusted his ego to the system, escaping from this situation.

 

As I paused in my words for a moment, Sernuan asked.

 

“Then, Player. If you feel guilty and find it uncomfortable to use this body… would you grant me one last wish?”

 

“Who am I to…”

 

“I have watched you through this body. It may be presumptuous of me to say, but Player, ‘Hanbyeol’ seemed like my lost brother.”

 

“That can’t be.”

 

Brother? Brother, he says. Don’t say such ridiculous things.

 

Sernuan continued talking regardless.

 

“Lumiere. I… have never had a family even once. But through this body, when you were with them… I could faintly feel the warmth you experienced. Kalebrin and Yelena, Cardil… people like them.”

 

Lies.

 

Denial reflexively burst out.

 

“A bastard who’s never had family, what would he know about making one. Kalebrin is just… just a kid who follows me well, and Yelena is just someone I meet because we have the same goal, and Antonio too-”

 

“No. This isn’t a result of me checking their thoughts. This is… what I felt through your heart. You consider them family. …The same goes for Lumiere. You all think of each other that way.”

 

Family.

 

Every time I thought of that word, memories of what happened in the container box kept coming back.

 

What meaning does family have?

 

“You’re avoiding it. The fact that you cherish them is true, isn’t it? Think about when Kalebrin was in danger.”

 

I had nothing to say about that part.

 

Right.

 

I was… intentionally avoiding anything related to ‘family’.

 

To be precise, I avoided anything that might bring up such thoughts as much as possible.

 

The reason I hated seeing Antonio and his daughter and avoided them as much as possible.

 

The reason I deliberately didn’t visit orphanages or nurseries.

 

Of course, even though I could have profited by going around orphanages or establishing nurseries, I didn’t do such things.

 

Didn’t I try my best to avoid seeing Antonio and his daughter because I hated it?

 

The reason I felt nauseous when Harmony’s leader mentioned family for no reason.

 

“Please… don’t lose those people around you. What I couldn’t have… you possess. That is my only wish. That’s enough for me.”

 

Sernuan’s legs were gradually becoming transparent and disappearing.

 

“I want to have a family, Lord Lumiere. Will you fulfill my wish?”

 

If the body’s owner wants to do it, what can I do about it?

 

Let’s think of it lightly as receiving payment for the body—

 

But I didn’t like just brushing it off like that.

 

“…Fine. That’s ‘your’ wish. Since I granted your wish, you have to grant mine too.”

 

Lumiere smiled faintly.

 

“What wish is that?”

 

“You keep talking like you’re about to disappear, so I’m asking. You, no. Can we see each other again later?”

 

“….”

 

Sernuan was left speechless.

 

“I cannot give you a definite answer to that.”

 

“Why? If you’re the system’s proxy, can’t you keep appearing? If we need this kind of space, we can make a contract and use the Veil’s power…”

 

“The God of Light was strong because there were two, and weak because there were two. In other words, if I exist, I’ll become an obstacle to the Player’s path.”

 

“We could become stronger too.”

 

“That’s because Lumensia is the God of Light. We don’t become stronger just because I’m here.”

 

“You said you wanted to have a family.”

 

As expected.

 

You were hiding it.

 

I didn’t like stories that ended like this.

 

You’re going to make your wish and call it even?

 

“No, you’re my family too. Where are you trying to run off to?”

 

Whether it was because he was becoming faint, or because he was really holding back tears.

 

At those words, Sernuan made a subtle expression.

 

“I’m not running away, it’s unavoidable. I’m grateful to the Player and…”

 

The same words again.

 

I felt like I was going to explode with frustration.

 

Damn it, don’t disappear like you’re achieving enlightenment at a time like this!

 

“Stop with the gratitude. Let’s find a way for both you and me to be happy together.”

 

I had lamented my fate plenty of times.

 

I had done that, but it wasn’t like I disliked it.

 

Rather, I was grateful enough to Sernuan.

 

Anyway, just as Sernuan said, I now have people who cherish me.

 

If I hadn’t felt that way, I would have said I was going back home as soon as I met Servantis.

 

Originally, I wouldn’t have even tried to hold on like this.

 

Have I changed a little too, living here with these people?

 

“I’m sorry…”

 

Sernuan made a mysterious expression. An expression where I couldn’t tell if he was happy or crying. He hung his head like that.

 

Honestly, Sernuan himself is a complete stranger to me.

 

But still, I’ve learned about his past, the years he was used, and even now his body and self that are still being used, so I couldn’t just pass by.

 

Damn, he’s just pitiful. Honestly. Even if I’m not a charity organization, this kind of story is worth stepping up for.

 

And unlike my already screwed-up life, Sernuan still has possibilities. Of course, I’m using Sernuan’s body, but there must be some way somehow. Even if there isn’t, I’ll find one.

 

“I don’t know any methods.”

 

“It doesn’t matter as long as we find a way?”

 

“…If that’s what you want, Lumiere.”

 

“…”

 

In a way, isn’t he like a twin brother or something?

 

Since it came to this, I couldn’t let Sernuan go like this.

 

I spoke to Sernuan in an irritated voice.

 

“You, make a contract with me.”

 

The hand I tried to grab him with passed right through like a hologram.

 

Is his physical form already disappearing?

 

“Wh-what?!”

 

For the first time, Sernuan’s expression broke.

 

Seeing his voice crack, he was definitely flustered.

 

Of course, even without that, since we’re in this space together, I could feel this guy’s emotions well.

 

“I can create believers. That’s a system power, but at the same time it’s my power. You’re currently mixed with the system. Then there’s no reason we can’t make a contract.”

 

“In the first place, I exist more like a consciousness, and my soul has already been ground up in a blender… It’s like trying to make a living cow from hamburger steak.”

 

“We’ll figure out the method somehow. In this wide world, how could we not bring you back to life? With my power I can revive even dying corpses, so why couldn’t I make a living cow from hamburger steak?”

 

Sernuan seemed at a loss for words, his eyes wide open.

 

“And if you want to create the family you desire, you need to survive. Whether it’s the system or God or whatever, if you made a wish to me, you have to accept it my way, right?”

 

I think this is the first time I’ve heard such unreasonable logic, but since you chose this kind of possessor anyway, I hope you can handle it.

 

“The contract terms are simple. [The Player will become Sernuan’s ‘family’.]”

 

“…What?”

 

“You got screwed trying to make a family, and I got screwed trying to make friends. We’re in the same boat. However, Sernuan must absolutely stay alive.”

 

“That’s… impossi-”

 

“Since it’s impossible, I’ll set up a ‘witness’.”

 

I shouted toward the void, toward this massive abyss.

 

“Hey! I know you’re listening!”

 

Sernuan was horrified and tried to cover my mouth, but his hand passed right through me.

 

“God of Darkness!”

 

The universe trembled.

 

[…Who… dares…]

 

“You must be dying of injustice, trapped here and framed by Lumensia!”

 

[You… what do you…]

 

“I’m dying of injustice too! My life, and this guy’s life here! We’ve all just been used and that’s how it ends!”

 

A tremendous pressure came rushing like a tidal wave.

 

“So let’s make a contract!”

 

[Contract… lowly…]

 

“Yeah, that’s right! Making a contract with this lowly bastard is better than being trapped here forever playing the role of Lumensia’s ‘penalty trash can,’ isn’t it?”

 

I turned to look at Sernuan, who had become almost transparent. He was looking at me with a shocked expression.

 

“Become the witness to this contract, God of Darkness! In exchange for me getting you out of here, you will ‘protect’ this guy from being completely erased by the system.”

 

“Lord Lumiere, that’s…!”

 

“This is the ‘method’ I found. The only place the system’s power can’t reach. Right here, used as an isolation zone, is where you can survive.”

 

Sernuan’s eyes grew moist.

 

I ignored Sernuan and declared toward the God of Darkness.

 

“Will you remain trapped, being used, forgotten and erased!”

 

And I shouted toward the disappearing Sernuan.

 

“Or will you join me in turning this fucking game upside down!”

 

I shouted once more. Then I looked at Sernuan and the void and said.

 

“Sernuan, God of Darkness! Both of you choose, right now!”

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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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