The Life of a Wise Cult Leader - Chapter 156

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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 156

 

The Demon King’s predatory eyes narrow. The veins bulging at his temples and throat are threatening.

 

If he were to strike me just once with that tightly clenched left fist, my head and torso would part ways without even a chance to say goodbye.

 

The energy that had been gathering in the Demon King’s hand dispersed. Then I felt like my blocked airways opened up a little.

 

He lightly grasped my throat. He gently gripped my neck. Though he was merely touching, my windpipe was crushed and I couldn’t breathe. Above his red pupils, my yellow glowing eyes were clearly reflected.

 

The Demon King’s grip slowly loosened. I let out several dry coughs.

 

“You’re quite bold, more than I expected.”

 

I had been granted a reprieve from death. Now if I don’t present a useful plan to the Demon King’s ears, this won’t end here.

 

The Demon King, who had been silently gathering his composure, roughly pulled me toward him. He dragged me along and threw me into a chair like a sack.

 

I was dragged around like a paper doll and thrown down pathetically. Unfortunately, it was a stone chair without cushions, so my bare bottom stung quite a bit.

 

“Yes, persuasion and dialogue. The greatest tactics available to powerless weaklings…”

 

“Having power doesn’t mean you can solve everything.”

 

“That’s because the power was insufficient. Lumensia is stronger than anyone. That’s why she’s done everything as she pleased, and now is the result. When power is lacking, when power is weak, you have no choice but to go around like you do.”

 

“We are currently weak, powerless beings. Both you and I.”

 

“Yes. It’s true that I’m weaker than Lumensia. So… try to persuade me. If you fail to persuade me, I’ll separate your worthless head and display it in the marketplace.”

 

My head and body really might have a tearful farewell.

 

Still, a stage for persuasion had been set.

 

For a cult leader, eloquence is the greatest skill. When a stage for dialogue is prepared, naturally I should be able to devour at least one PTSD lord before me.

 

And as history shows, beside every great ruler there’s always a sycophant clinging like a parasite. I’ll possess that sycophant…!

 

I calmly caught my breath.

 

“Do you know about it? The Sage’s Book left behind by the Sage.”

 

“The Sage. I know of him… Wasn’t he the god who divided his power into three parts?”

 

I nodded.

 

“It wasn’t something with some great truth written in it… or an object that would let you instantly learn all the magic in this world.”

 

The Demon King crossed his arms and looked down at me. I slipped my hand into my coat and pulled out the Sage’s Book.

 

“It’s a book containing the Sage’s desire to seal Lumensia. No one could interpret it… but I was able to read it all.”

 

Though one page was torn out for some unknown reason. Since it’s a book made by the Sage, its reliability and authenticity should be clear.

 

“Would you like to read it once?”

 

The Demon King obediently accepted the book. Then he flipped through the pages.

 

“It’s in an unknown language. The fact that only you can read it means the Sage must have set up some mechanism…”

 

“I don’t know what kind of mechanism he set up, but as a result of reading that book, it contained methods to seal or kill Lumensia.”

 

“Do I need to hear the same content you mentioned earlier again? Seems like a waste of time.”

 

“Yes, it’s the content I mentioned earlier. However, there was one thing… I didn’t mention.”

 

I took the book back. And while putting it in my coat, I spoke.

 

“After sealing Lumensia, demons will invade next. And after that, the world that has exhausted all possibilities will collapse. If that happens, whether we seal the god, demons invade, or this world’s lifespan ends and it collapses, we’ll face the same destruction. Sealing Lumensia isn’t the end.”

 

“So.”

 

“Yes, so now I intend to become a god.”

 

To maintain the world until the end, this is the only method. Like Sisyphus’s myth, continuously fixing the world that tries to collapse, blocking foreign invasions, and continuing like that, continuing…

 

That’s how Lumensia went mad.

 

“In our earlier conversation, Brother attacked me because I hesitated about what kind of existence I would become, right?”

 

“Yes. If your fear ruins this plan, it would all become useless. But as you say, I’ve failed once, lost everything… and died. So I have nothing left to fear.”

 

I smiled slightly.

 

“Hehe, I’ve also steeled my resolve now.”

 

“What change of heart made you change so quickly?”

 

“It stopped mattering much. As Brother said, I was too weak and mistakenly thought I had many options and was being leisurely. But Brother scolded me sharply.”

 

The Demon King looked somewhat displeased. I almost burst out laughing at that expression. I continued speaking with amusement in my voice.

 

“I just need my family. I don’t care what I become. People are strongest when they have something to cherish, so I must have become quite useful.”

 

The Demon King’s lips twitched.

 

The status window buzzed with warning signs and tip displays opposing my opinion… Unfortunately, such things won’t be able to stop me. Sernuan.

 

“I will become a god. I’ll gather the scattered divinity and take on the role of containing new laws to offset and replace Lumensia’s authority, so Brother just needs to prepare the seal.”

 

“You want me to prepare the seal?”

 

“According to the Sage’s Book, Lumensia is the Empire itself. On the Empire’s land, she cannot be killed or imprisoned. The Empire is Lumensia’s inner sanctum.”

 

I straightened my disheveled clothes.

 

“To seal her, we must drag her to a thoroughly ‘severed space’ where Lumensia’s authority cannot reach.”

 

The Demon King nodded slightly.

 

“Fighting Lumensia in the Empire is like trying to catch fish underwater. But this Demon Realm is different. It’s land dominated by your demonic energy, where divine power is rejected.”

 

“Then…”

 

“Yes. So right here. We’ll seal Lumensia here. If the situation is good, we might even kill her. I’ll make the god fall, so you and my family will weaken Lumensia, and we two will handle the sealing.”

 

I stood up from the chair. And faced the Demon King.

 

“Is this persuasive enough?”

 

The Demon King smiled, showing his sharp fangs.

 

“I like it.”

 

I calmly nodded and let out a big sigh. With the big task finished, my tension completely released and I felt tired.

 

“Then let me meet my family now. I think I’d be quite upset if they’re injured.”

 

“Rest assured. They’re probably having a meal inside.”

 

My sensitive nerves settle down.

 

“…A meal?”

 

I asked somewhat stupidly.

 

“They said they had poor meals getting here. Treating an envoy like that would tarnish the Demon Realm’s reputation. Now, shall we go have a belated meal?”

 

This bastard never intended to harm them from the start… Was this just a conversation to test me?

 

I felt momentarily frustrated but… Well, things working out well is good.

 

I don’t want to spill any more words than this. I don’t want to figure out intentions or calculate! The cult leader’s MP is already in hell!

 

We shuffled out of the broken cathedral. In the meantime, they had taken the kids somewhere, so we had to walk a bit.

 

I almost tripped stepping on broken debris. The Demon King’s gaze clicking his tongue at the sight was a bonus.

 

‘Hey, sorry! I’ve only been able to move my legs for a few months so I’m not good at it!’

 

I only grumbled a little in my mind and followed the Demon King closely.

 

Why did I follow closely? Because two of my steps equal one of that bastard’s steps. Even though Sernuan isn’t short or has short limbs, that guy is just over 2 meters tall… Ugh.

 

Suppressing my subtle irritation as I walked, soon a house appeared. The single-story house was quite spacious. Entering the large house like a rural warehouse, warm air and the smell of food flowed in.

 

“Ascetic.”

 

“Ce, Cel.”

 

Everyone stood up and welcomed me. The food on the table looked completely untouched.

 

Kalebrin ran from the dining table to me. Then she hid behind me and watched the Demon King.

 

“Why hasn’t everyone been eating?”

 

“Poison, sleeping pills… They could put something in the food to do something to us, right? Even with Cardil here, it’s better to be careful.”

 

Celestia answered from afar. The Demon King chuckled.

 

“Do you think I would use such shallow tricks?”

 

“You never know with people. I wasn’t trying to disparage or look down on the Demon King.”

 

Celestia shrugged. Then she defiantly brought a chicken leg to her plate and stripped the meat to eat it.

 

“Sister Kalebrin, aren’t you hungry too? Please eat something.”

 

“Mmm…”

 

“The Demon King and I have agreed to cooperate and have a temporary ceasefire, so you don’t need to worry about related matters.”

 

I gently patted Kalebrin’s head. Then I looked up at the Demon King beside me.

 

“Right?”

 

“…Yes. Since we’ve decided to join hands, I have no reason to harm you. Make yourselves comfortable. The Demon Realm welcomes you.”

 

When the Demon King spoke like a declaration, the expressions of my wary companions visibly relaxed.

 

“Phew, that’s a relief! I was actually dying of hunger.”

 

Yelena picked up a fork and stabbed at a potato dish. Erendor also finally released the subtle tension he’d been holding and picked up a wine bottle, while Cardil quietly began eating soup.

 

“Come, Sister Kalebrin too.”

 

When I pulled out a chair for her, Kalebrin hesitantly sat down.

 

Erendor was already tearing into a large meat leg as if he’d never been tense, offering alcohol to Tuba.

 

Tuba grimaced and deftly dodged the alcohol bottle being shoved toward his face. The Demon King and I sat facing each other at opposite ends of the dining table, watching the scene unfold.

 

The Demon King leisurely propped his chin on his hand and spoke without looking at me.

 

“I understand why you cherish your family so dearly.”

 

“Do you?”

 

“Though they can become shackles, family is also what makes a person strongest above all else. Family is the hardest thing to shake off, but also what you can treat most coldly.”

 

That’s why Teacher created a family for me.

 

“In that regard, you’re the most trustworthy bastard right now. The more someone has to lose, the more they have to protect, the more predictable their movements become.”

 

“Then could I ask you to look after my family when I’m not around?”

 

“That much I can do. But I’d prefer you don’t make me play babysitter.”

 

I chuckled softly and offered him some food.

 

“I don’t need a meal.”

 

“Then how about a drink? It may be too early to raise a toast to victory, but as a commemoration of our alliance.”

 

I raised my chalice and offered him a toast.

 

The Demon King stared at my chalice for a moment, then smirked and raised his own.

 

Clink-

 

A clear sound rang throughout the restaurant. Having concluded a highly successful ceasefire agreement and secured the most friendly and useful ally for myself, a smile naturally formed on my lips.

 

*

 

Meanwhile, at the Central Church of the Empire.

 

He glared down at the paper as if he were about to tear the letter the Ascetic had given him to shreds.

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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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