The Life of a Wise Cult Leader - Chapter 141

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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 141

 

The Central Church was not as foolish a group as one might think.

 

Recently… they had been inevitably caught up in the Ascetic’s unpredictable bomb-like actions, splitting into pro-Saint and anti-Saint factions and experiencing internal strife. And they had simply been unable to properly exert their power due to the Banquet Hall’s successive attacks.

 

However, when the Saint was absent and even the Banquet Hall left the Central Church alone for ‘certain reasons’, they regained their suppressed vitality and tenaciously plotted their comeback.

 

The Central Church, which had grown together with the Empire since its founding, was an important pillar forming the foundation of the Empire.

 

They had merely faltered temporarily due to the Saint’s excellent political skills, but it wasn’t a crisis severe enough for their roots to be completely uprooted.

 

This was precisely why the Ascetic had been so wary of the Central Church and kept them in check.

 

Through their experience of controlling the Empire for long years, the Central Church knew well how to drive political enemies into the abyss.

 

“How could a person wield such power? And such power when Lumensia hasn’t even given any divine revelation. He must have made a contract with a demon!”

 

“The reason he keeps trying to make truces with Senta and get friendly with the Demon Realm…”

 

They began disparaging the Ascetic with righteous indignation. If one gains fame, there must naturally be occasions for that fame to fall.

 

“It must be because he’s a demon contractor who made a deal with demons!”

 

The executives of the Central Church put their heads together and made plans.

 

“Then this orphanage incident too…”

 

*

 

I was listening to the Widow’s message that she had finished preparing to go to the Demon Realm.

 

“The negotiations with Senta went well, you said?”

 

I was currently having a conversation in real-time through a very, very expensive crystal orb.

 

“Yes. I understand. I’ll handle everything related to going to the Demon Realm myself.”

 

I looked at Teacher flickering inside the crystal orb. Then I casually placed the crystal orb on my palm.

 

“The Central Church’s interference… I was already aware of that fact. You don’t need to worry too much about it.”

 

Teacher in the crystal orb asked if I knew why she wasn’t stepping forward to counter the Central Church’s interference.

 

“Well… it’s because Teacher’s dignity would be damaged if you got involved in such things.”

 

I spoke quite innocently.

 

However, those words were the most superficial of superficial statements.

 

The reason Teacher doesn’t step forward to counter the Central Church is obvious.

 

First, Teacher needs a ‘counterbalance’. She wouldn’t want me to seize control of the Empire’s board too quickly under the name of ‘Saint’. The Central Church is the most excellent and justifiable ‘shackle’ that can bind me.

 

Second, her position as ‘Banquet Master’ is weighty. Even if she has the desire to help me, the moment she steps forward directly, it would be like betting all her political assets on the uncertainty called ‘Saint’.

 

The situation itself is different from the previous Banquet Hall incident.

 

Lastly… perhaps she’s trying to test me.

 

She’s watching to see whether I’m merely a ‘tool’ that will shatter upon hitting the old board called the Central Church, or whether I’ll make use of that old board.

 

If I devour this old bureaucratic group, Teacher will upgrade her assessment of me to an ‘uncontrollable variable’ and ‘most useful sword’.

 

If I fail… hmm.

 

How did Teacher used to look at children who failed her tests…?

 

*

 

Time flows quickly when playing, and even faster when working.

 

Of course, they say time passes faster when you’re playing with friends, but since I’ve lived a life without any friends, I wouldn’t really know about that.

 

Anyway, during this time I used Antonio and the Nobles’ funds, plus my own money, to plan and materialize the school construction project. I also worked hard to make the orphanage mine, established plans for poverty relief, and was enthusiastic about welfare.

 

Of course, I only did it because these things would all benefit me! Hehehe.

 

Additionally, I finished all preparations for going to the Demon Realm and confronting the Demon King.

 

‘I’ve even prepared up to Plan D to obtain the Sacred Relic that can only be found in the Demon Realm. Perfect. Mm-hmm. It couldn’t be more perfect than this.’

 

I hummed a tune inside the carriage heading to the Magic Tower.

 

The reason I’m going to the Magic Tower is…

 

An independent force that receives almost no interference from the Central Church, the Empire, or the Banquet Hall.

 

It’s a place that gathers only magic eccentrics, so it’s quiet and relatively easy to use, which is why those other forces leave the Magic Tower alone, but…

 

‘It’s a different story if Celestia is there.’

 

A candidate for Archmage and the Academy’s undisputed top student.

 

The fact that she would become the owner of the Magic Tower once she came of age was something even passing mice knew well.

 

As long as Celestia is absolutely on my side, the Magic Tower is practically in my hands.

 

However, I still need to show my face at the Magic Tower…

 

I plan to recruit the key executives at the Magic Tower to my side, and while I’m at it, meet with Celestia and Cardil, who is studying diligently under her.

 

The most important thing for a Cult Leader is competent unit Believers. Managing Believers is the most basic of basics.

 

“Welcome, Ascetic!”

 

As soon as I entered the Magic Tower, Celestia came running out in her stocking feet to greet me.

 

“It’s been a while, Celestia.”

 

“You said you wanted to meet the Magic Tower’s executives, so I’ve prepared a meeting!”

 

“I feel sorry for always imposing on you.”

 

“Being given the opportunity to assist my God is infinite Glory for me. Now, please leave your luggage here…”

 

On the way, Celestia chattered about how she had taken control of her family, how she was expanding her business, and that she would probably graduate early within this month, sharing various updates.

 

“Admirable, very admirable indeed.”

 

Celestia walked with a proud smile.

 

“Once this Magic Tower business is finished, there are some companions I’d like to introduce to Celestia. They’ll probably be… the people who will accompany me when I go to the Demon Realm this time.”

 

Demon Realm party members.

 

But in reality, they’re party members for a test run of the Prometheus plan.

 

Since it’s hardcore content that must be cleared in one try, we need to gather often beforehand and clear similar content.

 

‘Ah right, to get the cool God Slayer title, I need to do it with a first-time party and first-time clear.’

 

“For me to go to such a place…! It’s an honor.”

 

With Celestia’s mood change, the mana naturally gathered around her body fluctuated.

 

Her hair swayed like in an animation. I wondered if this was what it meant to change the surrounding air just from a mood shift.

 

‘What if Celestia isn’t satisfied when she sees the party members there?’

 

Since I selected the party members based on specs, the personality interview was… hmm.

 

‘Still, Kalebrin is kind, and Yelena has good social skills… Tuba is undecided, Erendor might get picked on but he’s also quite a cheerful guy. Cardil is no problem since she’s raising him well as her disciple.’

 

I haven’t told Cardil about going to the Demon Realm or explained the Prometheus plan, but I’m planning to take him along.

 

There aren’t many trustworthy and reliable Mages who can handle both offense and healing simultaneously.

 

Moreover, since Archmage Celestia is even giving him a corner of the Magic Tower to work with, his skills must have improved considerably compared to before, right?

 

‘He’s the kid who turned a demon’s body into Swiss cheese when he hadn’t learned anything yet.’

 

I asked Celestia with curiosity.

 

“How is Cardil doing?”

 

“Of course he’s fine. I’m working him hard so he can be of help to the Ascetic- ahem. I’m raising him well!”

 

“I see. I’m looking forward to it. I’d like to see Cardil’s skills – if there’s practical training today, could I observe?”

 

“Of course! Let’s make today a practical lesson then.”

 

As expected, being a lifesaver really comes in handy~

 

“We’ve arrived!”

 

Celestia looked at me with sparkling eyes, then opened a very large door with just a touch of her hand.

 

“These are the professors who are also called the pillars of the Magic Tower, who could be said to have pioneered magic.”

 

The door opened smoothly with a heavy sound. Inside the room was really… fascinating.

 

It was a huge circular laboratory.

 

On the ceiling, planetary models were rotating with mana, and sunlight streamed through stained glass, casting geometric patterns on the carpet. Something unidentifiable was flying around in the air.

 

It was filled with the smell of old parchment, ozone, and unidentifiable chemical compounds.

 

And if you climbed the spiral iron stairs a bit more, there was a table that felt free rather than authoritative.

 

There were four ‘professors’ there.

 

Befitting the pinnacle of the Magic Tower, they all had peculiar impressions, but they were shining with annoyance toward Celestia and curiosity toward me.

 

The professors of the Magic Tower. These were the targets I needed to win over to my side this time.

 

‘Still, since these are people who could be called the main pillars of the Magic Tower, they won’t come over easily…’

 

I climbed the stairs and sat at the same table as them. Whether it moved by telekinesis or something, a teapot automatically poured tea and glided smoothly to my front.

 

Times like this really make me realize this is a fantasy world.

 

Looking from right to left in order… Professor Elara, Professor Wolfgang, Dean Theodor, Professor Lumin.

 

I’ve investigated at least this much before coming.

 

They’re geniuses who have almost mastered the subject of magic in this era.

 

They’re also pioneers of magic who reinterpreted the legacy left by the Sage to make it usable for humans,

 

“Oho.”

 

I had my Divine Aura on from the start to overwhelm them, but Professor Elara wasn’t intimidated. He pushed up his round glasses and curved his lips into a smile.

 

And he started muttering at a very fast pace.

 

“So this is what Celestia was talking about. It’s different from the wavelength of Divine Power. It’s not mana either. This is… ‘something’ that ignores existing laws. What’s the source of that aura? What’s the operating principle of that power? A sample… if I could just have one drop of his blood…!”

 

Right. A genius. Different from ordinary people or commoners.

 

The characteristic of such people is… they’re quite eccentric. Yes, my first impression of them wasn’t much different.

 

“Professor Elara… Geez, he’s a Saint, how can you say such things…?”

 

The timid Professor Lumin, who was glancing at me while holding a warm teacup with both hands, said that.

 

“Eek!”

 

And as soon as our eyes met, he pulled down his thick hood to block his vision.

 

It felt like bullying a hamster, so I didn’t feel very good about it…

 

I touched my veil and reined in my aura a bit more.

 

“Right, Saint. Couldn’t you give me just 5ml of blood? I’ve heard all about your exploits. For the sake of future magic, truth, and knowledge, please cooperate with us…”

 

Are all geniuses like this?

 

-Though compared to the Sage, they’d just be ordinary people anyway.

 

Professor Wolfgang twitched his mustache and stopped Elara.

 

“Stop it, Ellara. That one only came here to ruin our perfect neutrality like the Trinity. No matter how much Student Celestia protects him, I don’t think we can welcome such a subversive element to this Magic Tower, which is a sanctuary of knowledge and tranquility!”

 

Professor Wolfgang, with his plump build, declared to me. Ellara still didn’t take her eyes off me as she spoke to Wolfgang.

 

“I won’t give you even 1ml of blood.”

 

“…! That’s too harsh, Ellara! W-we are a knowledge community that cooperates with each other to pursue knowledge and…”

 

Wolfgang whined and rambled on. I was flustered.

 

No, how can you speak so firmly and then come out like that?

 

Only Celestia beside me seemed familiar with this chaos, smiling brightly as she spoke.

 

“Everyone… is really happy to meet the Ascetic!”

 

Mmm. It seems that way…

 

I put on the most gentle smile of a ‘Saint.’

 

“It’s an honor to meet you all, Pillars of the Magic Tower.”

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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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