The Life of a Wise Cult Leader - Chapter 135

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

Chapter 135

 

“It would be good if you stay with Brother Erendor.”

 

“Huh…?”

 

“Currently, Sister Calebrin is in the most life-threatening danger here. Those assassins will devise new plans and try to assassinate Sister Calebrin again.”

 

“But… why would someone like me…?”

 

“‘Someone like me!’ Don’t say such things, Calebrin.”

 

“Right, Sorceress Lady. Boss gets angry.”

 

Erendor got up as his body seemed to ache and diligently poked at the bonfire with the fire poker.

 

“I think Sister might be in assassination danger because of me.”

 

“Why…?”

 

“Because I cherish Sister Calebrin. Of course, Sister Yelena too, and everyone here is precious to me, but…”

 

“Yelena can still be controlled by the Widow for now, and we’re an exception force, so the only one they can touch is the soft-bodied Sorceress Lady.”

 

The crackling bonfire was turned this way and that with the fire poker, scattering sparks. Soot marks were left on the temple floor.

 

“I don’t know why the Widow would go to such lengths to kill Sister. Since we can just ask about that, I think you should act together with Brother Erendor in the meantime.”

 

“You’re going to ask directly?”

 

“Yes. For now, at least. And my collaborator is supposed to bring information about this matter, so it’s fine if the Widow doesn’t answer honestly.”

 

“Then we’ll report this matter to Boss for now. No matter what, if I decide this independently, forget tuning or whatever, I feel like my spine will fold in half.”

 

Tuba nodded slowly.

 

“I’ll be preparing preliminary work in the meantime, so please take good care of Sister.”

 

“But then why is this person…?”

 

Yelena politely pointed at Tuba.

 

Ah, Yelena doesn’t know why Tuba followed along. Right.

 

“This person is… an examiner sent from Harmony to oversee my test.”

 

Tuba nodded as if annoyed.

 

“A test? Did Harmony give you a test?”

 

“Yes, it’s an easy test, so Brother Tuba should be able to return soon.”

 

He let out a quiet, amused snort and just looked at the bonfire.

 

“Then… I… just stay here quietly?”

 

“I’ve prepared the laboratory you requested. If Sister Calebrin requests necessary items from Antonio, he’ll bring them to you. You can comfortably conduct research or study sorcery there.”

 

“Yes…! I’ll do my best!”

 

Calebrin was originally called the ‘Red Witch’, so she was on the mage tech tree. In other words, research was essential for a mage.

 

Now that she had to go into hiding was exactly when Calebrin should contemplate her inner self and grow.

 

With Erendor there too, it might be somewhat helpful for research.

 

If push comes to shove, she could use him as a research subject.

 

‘Then let me organize things for now…’

 

Me: Pass the ‘Corrupt One Elimination’ test given by Harmony and manage the Religious Order. (Building orphanages, etc.)

 

The Empire’s Central Church and my Religious Order need to be gradually separated now.

 

Next is…

 

Yelena: Stay close to Teacher for information gathering and flexible activities

 

Since only Yelena can stay attached as the closest aide.

 

Of course, I’m also an aide who can go to Teacher, but it’s difficult for me to stay attached to Teacher in my current situation.

 

Erendor & Kalebrin: Self-leveling up.

 

Tuba: My surveillance/escort (he’ll probably do it) and supervising the test Harmony gave me.

 

If it goes this way, I can ensure safety without using Kalebrin or Yelena for my surveillance, and in case of any unexpected situations, I can connect directly to Harmony’s boss.

 

Teacher said she’ll prepare for going to the Demon Realm soon, so let’s wait a little longer. That’s beyond what I can handle anyway.

 

I fiddled with the pendant Teacher had given me from inside my clothes.

 

“Now, let’s all go rest. Wasn’t it a tiring day?”

 

*

 

The next day, while Kalebrin was getting ready, I went to find Erendor who was waiting outside the door for her to come out. Erendor’s gem-like eyes sparkled as he asked me.

 

“What’s the matter, friend?”

 

“It’s just that during yesterday’s conversation, I didn’t quite understand why you spoke as if I were definitely not human.”

 

Erendor straightened his body that had been leaning against the door, then burst into laughter that echoed through the temple corridor.

 

“Ahaha…! I wondered what you were going to ask, and that’s what you wanted to know? Friend?”

 

I answered somewhat awkwardly.

 

“…Yes. I didn’t quite understand.”

 

When I lay down to sleep even though I wasn’t sleepy, this was something I thought about while recalling today’s conversation.

 

No matter how you look at it, aren’t I human?

 

I have all my limbs, my mind is okay. The power I use? Honestly, the powers Yelena and Erendor use are closer to supernatural, so that seems less human.

 

“How should I answer this… Well, since I’m a friend of the kind Ascetic, I’ll explain it in detail.”

 

“Yes…”

 

“It’s somewhat okay now, but the people who first met you were, how should I put it, overwhelmed by your unique aura.”

 

He means Divine Aura. I’ll acknowledge that much.

 

The skill name itself is ‘Divine’ Aura from the start, so it makes sense that I wouldn’t feel human. Thanks to this, I was able to use it well for proselytizing and other things.

 

“And?”

 

“You can revive the half-dead without any cost, dozens or even hundreds of people just by touching them… No, just by looking at them. Who would see that as human? It’s not enough to see you as an Apostle of God who fell from the sky, you’re just a God.”

 

“Is that all?”

 

“That’s more than enough. It seems you still have no awareness of what you’re doing, friend.”

 

After that, Erendor ‘detailed’ how amazing my abilities were, how incredible they were, what kind of things I was doing from an objective perspective, and indirectly said that I had no metacognition and terrible self-objectification.

 

‘I’m not that extreme, am I…?’

 

Just then, Kalebrin opened the door and peeked her face out.

 

“I, I’m all ready…”

 

Erendor shrugged his shoulders as if he had nothing more to say. I also just stopped talking.

 

Anyway, I knew I was using quite supernatural abilities, but I learned once again that because of that, I appear so much like a God.

 

In front of the temple were two carriages I had called.

 

Yelena had already mounted her horse and left long ago, and one carriage was for Kalebrin and Erendor to ride to the laboratory. The other one was for me to ride.

 

After seeing them off, I returned to the room where Tuba was staying. Tuba came out slowly smoking a cigar as if he knew.

 

The purple and blue smoke disappeared without even touching me. A body that doesn’t suffer from secondhand smoke, this is the best.

 

“I’m going to handle this quickly.”

 

“Hooh… The Empire’s corruptor… You seem to know who it is…?”

 

“Since they’re already in a state where they can’t move, we just need to confirm their death and collect evidence.”

 

“…?”

 

Tuba didn’t understand. Of course, he didn’t know how I punish people with ‘Punishment’.

 

Tuba’s half-closed eyes opened slightly. If I focus my consciousness on Tuba in front of me right now, I can see just how much sin he has committed. Though I’ve already confirmed it all long ago.

“According to that sin, I can deliver punishment to the sinner.”

“According to that sin, I can impose punishment upon the sinner.”

“That… was possible remotely…?”

“That… was that possible to do remotely…?”

“It’s possible if I’m looking at the target.”

“It’s possible if you’re looking at the target.”

“I don’t think you’ve had any occasion to see that corruptor directly recently…”

“I don’t think you’ve had any reason to see that corrupt bastard in person recently….”

“Yes. If there are those who value me more than their own lives, I can check through their vision.”

“Yes. If they are those who value me more than life itself, I can confirm their vision.”

“You’re telling me everything… more readily than I expected…”

“More than I expected… He’s telling us everything quite obediently…”

“Gaining trust from cooperation partners is important. Besides, there’s nothing to gain from hiding this.”

“It’s important to gain trust from our collaboration partners. Besides, there’s nothing to gain from hiding this anyway.”

“Everyone knows you as a pure and kind Saint… but I don’t believe it… Just looking at what you do… I can see several Serpents hiding in disguise…”

“Everyone thinks you’re a pure and kind saint, but… I don’t believe it… Just looking at what you do… I can see several snakes writhing in your stomach…”

He blew smoke toward my face. Naturally, the smoke didn’t reach me and disappeared with a sparkle.

 

 

Tuba warned slowly. Like smoke crawling across the floor.

I spoke with a smile.

 

“Yes, I understand. Brother. Please watch and be wary of me as much as you want.”

 

Tuba made a twisted smile, then pulled down his Robe Hood that he wore as often as his own skin. That makes him look even more suspicious.

 

 

“Shall we get going now?”

“The destination is the Red Serpent Trading Company in Solaris commercial district that you mentioned last time, correct?”

Once they got in the carriage, the coachman that Antonio had assigned spoke up.

“Yes, please take us there.”

“The destination is the Red Snake Trading Company in the Solaris Commercial District that you mentioned last time, correct?”

Tuba sneered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Then this one… is the one who gathers that ‘blood’ to brew ‘poison’.”

“The Red Serpent Trading Company is used as the Widow’s secret vault. It serves to launder and invest the wealth seized from the Nobles the Widow purged. They conduct forbidden business and monopolize the supply of the finest goods.”

Tuva slowly leaned back against the carriage sofa. His demeanor suggested he wanted me to explain everything, so I told him every little detail.

I familiarly put on the Veil. This Veil that doesn’t obstruct vision is the ‘World’s Darkest Veil’.

 

When I roughly checked before sleeping, just wearing it had no particular effect, but it had the advantage of not obstructing vision.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“This information… Where did you find out about it?”

“I have a good assistant helping me.”

“A collaborator.”

 

“I cannot tell you about this. The collaborator does not wish it.”

 

Tuba snorted and crossed his arms while looking out the window.

 

After that, the inside of the carriage was filled with nothing but silence. There was no particular agenda to discuss, and they weren’t particularly close either.

 

I found myself missing the naturally friendly Yelena and the puppy-like Kalebrin.

 

“We have arrived.”

 

True to its name as a commercial district, all sorts of signs and stalls were lined up. Among them, the largest space and most massive building belonged to the Red Serpent Trading Company.

 

Antonio knew what kind of schemes the Red Serpent Trading Company had pulled to gain wealth and occupy the best land in this commercial district, but he didn’t know the full story behind it.

 

Knowing this full story was thanks to information provided by the ‘Young Lady’, a major information broker in the underworld.

 

Unlike its large building, the Red Serpent Trading Company was very quiet and the lights were off.

 

A sign reading [CLOSED] hung indifferently on the door, but I paid no mind and pushed the door open. The door opened easily without even being locked.

 

*

 

Tuba asked the ‘Saint’ who was entering ahead.

 

“Compared to its notorious reputation… the security is quite pathetic…”

 

“Is that so? That might be the case. The Merchant Guild Leader is on the third floor.”

 

The Saint answered nonchalantly and guided the way with familiarity.

 

Well-maintained stairs without creaking and clean interior design. The dark indoor space and the ‘Red Serpent Trading Company’ with not a single person around created an eerie atmosphere precisely because it was empty.

 

“Why are there… no people?”

 

“This is a front trading company. There’s no need for people to manage it or respond to anything. They’re only needed at certain times.”

 

Just from what the Saint had told him in the carriage, it seemed like quite a lot of people would be needed.

 

Had the Saint done something again? Was this a trap? When he checked by sound, there was only one person on the third floor, but there was no telling what might happen…

 

Tuba internally raised his guard against the Saint even higher.

 

‘Right now he’s acting like he’ll give up everything including his liver and gall bladder along with information, but guys like this are the type who’ll stab you in the back and run away at some point.’

 

The Saint knocked on the central door of the third floor with movements that seemed to come from etiquette manuals.

 

From inside came a pained groan that sounded like ‘grraaahhh’.

 

“Ah, it seems the Merchant Guild Leader is welcoming us just in time. Shall we go in?”

 

His gray eyes gleamed.

 

Creak.

 

When the door opened, a stench that pierced the nose hit them. The sour stench of rotting grain and the nauseating smell of burning flesh.

 

The luxuriously decorated office was truly a scene from hell.

 

“Now, Brother Tuba. Please watch carefully as I punish this corrupt one. And please give my regards to the Commander.”

 

The Saint, who had modifiers like mercy, purity, and goodness, was now forcefully pulling down a sharply crafted axe hanging on the office wall and smiling brightly at him.

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