The Life of a Wise Cult Leader - Chapter 162

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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 162

 

“S-Saint…”

 

I continued my thoughts calmly.

 

This is a place Eon could never enter alone.

 

In modern terms, it’s like a place where nuclear weapons would be stored. Eon in such a place? He definitely didn’t do this alone.

 

Then someone must have deliberately led Eon here and made him cause an accident.

 

“Well…”

 

Then it must be the work of that demon group who was stalling for time earlier, claiming to give information? Surely Teacher wouldn’t do such a thing.

 

‘Was I careless?’

 

Even so, the information the demon gave was true. This is a result given by the system, meaning it’s a conclusion reached by the Forgotten Gods, so it’s trustworthy.

 

“What… what have I done?”

 

Was it really the demon group that used Eon?

 

Could it be someone from the Central Church, or perhaps Eon himself who did this…

 

No. The former might be possible, but not the latter. Let me trust the Eon I’ve seen.

 

“Saint… I’m so scared.”

 

I silently approached him and patted him consolingly. Eon sobbed and cried in my arms.

 

“Brother Eon.”

 

“Was I really out of my mind…?”

 

Normally I would have comforted him with soothing words, but now is not the time for that.

 

“Who was with you?”

 

“I don’t know, there was definitely an injured Saint… who told me to shoot that… After I pressed the launch device, when I came to… I was alone here…”

 

It’s a mental attack.

 

‘Earlier, making everyone fall into madness with just one apple was the demon’s power. Then Eon’s condition must also be the demon’s fault…’

 

Is the culprit that demon from earlier? Mental attacks are troublesome. Even if I’m fine, my companions will all fall victim to group mental attacks.

 

Only those with high mental strength like Cardil or Kalebrin would be able to resist.

 

I silently stroked Eon’s back while continuing to think. It won’t be easy for Eon to resist this mental attack. Regardless of being a priest, his stats themselves are low.

 

Anyway, the fired bombardment must have hit Centa and the Demon Realm directly. There’s no way to undo it.

 

A preemptive strike after negotiating a ceasefire.

 

Perfect result to shake the Empire.

 

‘They said they wanted to see conflict, so they created this mess…’

 

How to handle this situation comes first.

 

“Hic, sob…”

 

…

 

Should I abandon Eon?

 

Honestly, I was at the market at that time, so I just need to report that fact as it is. And I can push Eon as the person responsible for this incident.

 

That’s not even a lie. No matter how much he was played by the demon’s tricks, ultimately it’s Eon’s fault for causing this mess…

 

If I shield Eon and step forward here, what would I gain?

 

If I make Eon the person responsible for the incident, let him take all the blame and go to the guillotine, what would I gain…?

 

I fiercely weighed the sins on a scale in my mind.

 

Even if I run away like Veil, Eon would get caught and die. I’d have to offer my neck to stop the investigation.

 

I laid out various thoughts and plans in my head, but there was no sharp solution that came to mind immediately. The only plan I could choose was for me to die.

 

‘One of us has to take responsibility for this situation.’

 

Otherwise…

 

‘The Empire will start war again and be blockaded. I won’t be able to travel to other countries to collect holy relics.’

 

Though they say I’m destined to be devoured even if I collect the holy relics.

 

…What should I choose here?

 

Thump, thump, thump.

 

Eon’s heart is beating in my tightly held embrace.

 

If I abandon him, this warmth will disappear too, won’t it?

 

The heart beating in regular rhythm will just stop.

 

I’ve always only saved people here.

 

I’ve never killed anyone unless they were truly evil, but now that I’m about to kill an innocent person with my choice, am I trembling?

 

Even I think I’m truly a deceiver. Well, of course, since I’m a cult leader.

 

But if asked whether Eon is precious enough to give up the position I’ve built so far, I’d answer ‘no’ without hesitating for even a few seconds.

 

Even if I put guilt and conscience on the scale, on the other side are many people who will die because of my choice.

 

Let’s say I pressed something like a nuclear launcher here and fired a missile at a place that said they made a ceasefire first. Then not only I, but all those who believe in me would be executed as heretics.

 

Now my choice is not entirely my own, but one I must make while thinking of others.

 

We got along like friends in our own way, but that doesn’t mean we were really friends.

 

I was the Empire’s Saint, and Eon was just an innocent guy placed by the Central Church to monitor me. Placed by the Banquet Hall to periodically monitor me…

 

Nothing more, nothing less.

 

‘It’s not a matter of choosing or not choosing. The truth is…’

 

The answer is already decided, and I’m just trying to delay because I don’t want to voice that answer.

 

-‘You absolutely must try this honey wine at the Dawn Festival!’

 

Memories with Eon keep flashing like a panorama, making me feel nauseous. It seems my conscience is operating normally, and I want to just remove it like in the tortoise and hare story.

 

While I’m hesitating like this, those who have grasped the situation are probably coming down to this underground.

 

‘I can sense all their presence. As if the Central Church people planned it, they’re coming down from the 1st floor to the 4th basement floor…’

 

This is not the time to be comforting Eon here. I need to save myself and plan for what’s next.

 

I tried to create a ceasefire, but since it’s come to this, if war breaks out instead, my value will become greater. Because healers are scarce.

 

One thing that bothers me is that Eon saw a Saint and was tempted to press the weapon’s launch button, but that can be solved by just saying I was possessed by a demon.

 

If I’m branded as a heretic, all those who believe and follow me will also become heretics.

 

How many people are under me. I can’t kill them all…

 

Will Teacher really help me?

 

I let go of Eon whom I had been embracing.

 

“What’s going to happen to me now…”

 

…

 

But why am I conflicted when there’s an obvious answer?

 

The reason for the choice was clear.

 

Choose Eon. -> I will be executed and all those who believe in me will also be executed. We might avoid execution but Eon will also go to prison with me.

 

Abandon Eon. -> Only Eon will be tortured and then executed.

 

Wouldn’t anyone who chooses the former be an idiot?

 

There are no good points to choosing Eon, only bad points crawling all over that choice.

 

The only thing I’d gain from choosing Eon would be Eon’s tremendous favor.

 

If I abandon him? Eon’s tremendous favor would disappear.

 

‘In the end, it’s just that kind of decision. Why do I keep conflicting over it?’

 

I hugged Eon so tightly I might crush him. And for the first time, I started talking about myself.

 

“Eon. I… fell to rock bottom and learned how far down a person can go to hell. Just seeing someone living better than me made me angry, having intact limbs made me angry, and I was annoyed at the society that made me like this and left me neglected. Let this world just go eat shit and burn to the ground. Whether war breaks out or not, why should I care? My life was designed wrong from the start anyway.”

 

“…?”

 

I started lamenting about life to Eon.

 

“Why do I always have to work several times harder than others? If you’re going to take away what I worked for, then don’t even show me hope.”

 

“Saint…”

 

Eon had his face buried in my chest so I couldn’t see his expression, but he’s probably bewildered.

 

“Hah… Why do I always have to lose? Why do I have to have things taken away even when I have them? Even when I try hard not to lose them, damn it. The world was too harsh to me.”

 

Despite not having touched a drop of alcohol, very self-deprecating words flowed out smoothly.

 

“Ascetic…?”

 

“So, Eon.”

 

I let Eon fall from my embrace. They’ll be coming soon.

 

“I can’t just give up. Because I’ve lived a life where nothing was mine. I want to have at least the relationships I’ve made.”

 

Foolish Eon, as if he finally realized something, urgently grabbed at my clothes.

 

“Saint. Just abandon me. I’ll confess that I did wrong! Really. No matter how much the Inquisitor tortures me, I won’t tarnish your name! Please!”

 

“I don’t want that.”

 

I said curtly.

 

“There’s no time, Eon. Now. Listen to me carefully. Understood?”

 

“I don’t want to! I can’t let the Saint die. I can’t bear becoming the main culprit who brings down the Saint!”

 

“I see. It would be better than dying, so I hope you endure it.”

 

“Just kill me, and say the Saint died while confronting the culprit trying to catch them. Wouldn’t that be easier for me to die and better for the Saint too?”

 

I could see desperation in his eyes.

 

Eon immediately pulled out the ceremonial dagger given by the Central Church from his chest. Then he hesitated with trembling, aimed the blade at himself, and stabbed.

 

“Urgh…!”

 

Not a death rattle, but a suppressed groan burst from Eon’s mouth. The blade failed to pierce bone and slipped, leaving a long gash across his chest.

 

Red blood instantly spread across the white priest robes. It wasn’t a fatal wound, but visually it was horrific enough.

 

“Huh, aah, it hurts…”

 

Eon sobbed and tried to raise the blade again, but it seemed he couldn’t put strength in his hands due to the pain. He could only clutch his bloodied chest with trembling hands.

 

“…Did you think human bones could be pierced that easily?”

 

I clicked my tongue and grabbed Eon’s wrist.

 

“Only the ribs are damaged.”

 

“Huu… Please, let me die…”

 

“Eon.”

 

Eon couldn’t speak properly and shed tears. When I placed my hand on his chest, the torn flesh began to stick back together like rubber.

 

“Did you think you could die before my eyes?”

 

Eon trembled violently and clutched at my hem.

 

“Don’t make me become the person who kills you. I’m more afraid of that than death!”

 

“I see. I find it more annoying and hateful than dying to have what I’ve made and achieved taken away.”

 

“If the Saint gets captured instead of me, what the Ascetic has made and achieved will be taken away!”

 

“There must be a way. Though I can’t think of anything specific right now.”

 

“We have an easy path available. Why are you leaving that aside and protecting someone like me? I’m not someone who has anything great, so why is the Ascetic making sacrifices for me!”

 

“This isn’t the time for such arguments, as Eon well knows. And I’m not trying to sacrifice myself. I’m going to live. I can’t enjoy what I’ve built if I’m dead.”

 

I dragged Eon, who had collapsed face-down and was wailing. I also wiped away his tears.

 

“Now, Eon. From now on, you’ll quit being a priest and live with the name Gretchin.”

 

The door was banging as if it would break. Soon people would burst in and arrest me as a criminal in the act. Then I’d be handcuffed again.

 

“Don’t worry too much. I’ll come find you alive.”

 

I went with Eon to drop him off at Antonio’s nearby villa. Just then, I saw the door break and people pointing spears and swords at me.

 

“You came faster than expected.”

 

I saw a familiar face. Austin Gerard continued speaking with an expression of great pain.

 

“Ascetic! I arrest you on the spot! If you resist, I’ll execute you immediately!”

 

“Calm down, everyone. As you can see, I’m unarmed. How could someone who saves lives go around armed?”

 

“Saint and Ascetic. Sernuan Lumiere. I arrest you under Imperial Law Article 1, Section 2 for endangering the Empire’s survival, and as the main culprit who broke the peace agreement. And for deceiving imperial citizens, and under suspicion of heresy, I arrest you for heresy.”

 

I obediently held out both hands and chuckled. My facial expression wouldn’t be visible through the veil anyway.

 

“Quite impressive charges. Please put the handcuffs on gently? These are precious hands, you know.”

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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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