The Life of a Wise Cult Leader - Chapter 165

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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 165

 

Clatter, clatter.

 

The wheels of the transport carriage rolled over the rough stone road.

 

My tailbone ached from the carriage that had no cushioning whatsoever. It was a garbage carriage, but it had double and triple barriers cast on it, making escape or a jailbreak with outside help impossible.

 

Of course, the Demon King could come out and smash the carriage to pieces, but my head would fly off from the magic device around my neck much faster.

 

So this is what they were busy developing for 20 days.

 

The iron chains rattled and swayed. The noise had become familiar enough that I leaned my head against the carriage wall with a thud.

 

Creak-.

 

The carriage came to a stop. The door opened roughly, and soldiers dragged me out.

 

“Walk, criminal.”

 

The white clothes I wore might have had torn spots but weren’t covered in dirt. The gentle purification power I had first obtained could now be handled like my own limbs, so cleaning clothes was nothing.

 

I walked down the long corridor. Soon the yellow sky of approaching dawn came into my view.

 

“Wow.”

 

When I first fell into this world.

 

Walking through that cavern full of corpses…

 

This was the sky when I first encountered this world.

 

It brought back new feelings…

 

When I lowered my gaze slightly, a massive execution platform came into view. The execution platform, built larger than usual, seemed constructed with only consideration for how to kill me in a way that would spread good rumors.

 

The guillotine soaring high into the sky seemed determined to kill even gods, and its sharp blue blade glinted as it caught the setting sunlight.

 

“Go up.”

 

Thud.

 

A soldier struck the back of my knee.

 

As I was about to fall, those beside me who were holding me supported me. Usually they give condemned prisoners a grand last meal and kill them humanely, but I suppose I’m treated as a great traitor.

 

Thinking of the 90,000 who were injured and died, my feelings of injustice completely disappeared. Yes, at least I have a fate where I can choose when to die and how to die.

 

I staggered up the stairs. With each step I took, the shackles made a clanking sound.

 

‘Usually isekai life is supposed to be amazing, but I’m destined to be executed and die – how ridiculous.’

 

Indeed, whether Sernuan Lumiere or Hanbul Park, both have extraordinarily turbulent life destinies.

 

I’d like to give the gods who create destiny the finger. Ah, was it with that feeling that Teacher made such a plan?

 

When I climbed onto the podium, my light-sensitive eyes automatically squinted. Once light adaptation finished, the plaza came into full view.

 

The massive plaza seemed to have been further expanded just for this, drawing in the maximum number of people. People sat packed without room to step, in double and triple rows of chairs.

 

There were not only humans but also demons, and various races like dwarves and elves mixed together sitting there.

 

Compared to the Empire’s usual strict racial discrimination, it was a sight that would cause great surprise. Achieving racial unity in this way – I might feel somewhat proud.

 

In what appeared to be the VIP section building, Teacher and the Cardinal were watching from the front row. I could see professors from the Magic Tower and various people I was acquainted with.

 

What might Teacher be thinking right now?

 

Ecstasy that her plan is about to be completed?

 

Does she have any feelings about Sernuan at least?

 

‘It’s a meaningless assumption now.’

 

Teacher made Sernuan… that is, she deliberately made me into a vessel and devised a plan to kill all the gods in this world.

 

Teacher simply hated being manipulated by others, and couldn’t forgive that even if it was gods.

 

Sacrificing me, sacrificing others, killing family. Even if it meant killing everyone.

 

In some ways the most similar person to me, yet completely different.

 

‘If Teacher’s methods had been just a little more moderate, we might have become quite good partners.’

 

Or if she had tried to have conversations a bit more like the Demon King.

 

Wouldn’t we have been making plans to kill gods from the same position?

 

It was truly a meaningless assumption. I don’t know why I keep making meaningless assumptions. Maybe I’ve become sentimental since I’m about to die?

 

‘Hanbul Park is…’

 

Sernuan Lumiere has a self established even in system form, but Hanbul Park is unknown. I don’t know what will happen either.

 

No matter how much I made prophecies by cutting away my own flesh, that part remained an unknown like wandering through fog.

 

If I become a god, will Hanbul Park disappear?

 

Our eyes met.

 

“Ascetic…!!!”

 

More than half of those who followed me were here. I suppose I lived quite well after all. There are half this many people who like me this much?

 

I slightly raised the corners of my mouth toward them.

 

Don’t be sad. Don’t feel guilty either.

 

This was just the destiny I chose anyway.

 

If all events in the world and human lives are predetermined. If it’s something that can’t be changed by all my efforts and will.

 

Then the only freedom permitted to humans would be the attitude with which they face that predetermined destiny.

 

I didn’t run away.

 

I didn’t beg pathetically to be spared. Not because of the Empire’s pressure, not because of Teacher’s plan. This is my ‘death’ chosen solely by my own will.

 

So there’s nothing to feel wronged about, nothing to be sad about.

 

I’m just taking hold of my destiny’s initiative and making my exit on the most splendid stage.

 

“Criminal Sernuan Lumiere!”

 

A familiar voice. It was the Cardinal who used to visit my cell occasionally to beat me up.

 

“Behold! All citizens! Here stands a fallen saint!”

 

Strong hands pressed down on my shoulders.

 

Thud.

 

My knees slammed into the floor. The texture of the rough floor covered with sand and sawdust dug into my shins.

 

“From now on, I shall declare his crimes one by one under the righteous and glorious gaze of Lumensia!”

 

Whirr-

 

The magic amplifier activated, and an unpleasant resonant sound scraped my eardrums. Soon after, the Cardinal’s voice was amplified like thunder and covered the plaza.

 

“He wore the mask of ‘asceticism’ and impersonated God’s name! He bewitched the ignorant citizens of the Empire and drove them into the pit of evil!”

 

His finger pointed at me.

 

“The false miracles performed under the pretext of healing! They were not salvation, but merely vile deceptions to deceive the world and undermine the Empire’s dignity!”

 

The Cardinal had basically decided I was a demon from the start.

 

“A world without pain? Healing? That was brainwashing to make you his fanatics, to use you as meat shields to bring down the Empire! The proof is that terrible bombardment!”

 

Rather than a judge reciting crimes before execution, emotional ranting poured out from someone who just wanted to incite.

 

The plaza stirred. It was sophistry that twisted good deeds into malicious intent.

 

“He used your faith as fuel to operate the Magic Tower’s forbidden weapons! Ninety thousand people evaporated in that one shot! Those who burned to death without even leaving bones to collect – that was about to be your tomorrow!”

 

The casualties were 90,000, not that 90,000 people actually died.

 

“Due to his arbitrary terrorism, the continent was about to be engulfed in the flames of war again! The Empire’s anger pierced the heavens, and the kingdom trembled in fear! But!”

 

The Cardinal raised his voice to the fullest.

 

“The mercy of our Central Church and the Empire prevented catastrophe! We agreed to prevent history from being stained with blood by executing this demon! This one’s head will save the lives of hundreds of thousands!”

 

The Cardinal glared down at me with bulging veins.

 

“Choose! Will you gain peace by offering this hypocrite’s head, or will you die a dog’s death with him in the flames of war!”

 

It was fairly decent incitement. In this situation, anyone who answered not to kill me would become a heretic and have their neck chopped off on the guillotine with me.

 

‘Now they’ll jeer and condemn and throw stones? Eggs are expensive though.’

 

Normally, jeers and stone-throwing should have poured out here. Shouts of “Kill him!” should have covered the plaza.

 

But.

 

“…?”

 

The plaza was eerily quiet.

 

The crowd of tens of thousands maintained silence to the point where the Cardinal’s rough breathing echoed embarrassingly. When the flustered Cardinal’s eyes began to waver.

 

From somewhere, a small but firm voice burst out.

 

“Who saved our family!”

 

The silence was broken.

 

“When the plague spread, it was the Empire and Central Church that abandoned our village! It was the Ascetic who came to treat my family and share bread with us!”

 

“Right! Do you think we don’t know who tried hardest to prevent war?! You must have framed the Ascetic! Disgusting Central Church bastards!”

 

“Don’t kill the Ascetic!”

 

“The Ascetic fed and supported orphans, and bombardment! Damn it! Even our house dog wouldn’t be fooled!”

 

My believers who I had planted seeds among during pilgrimages. No, it wasn’t just believers. Even those who weren’t believers were agreeing with these voices.

 

The voices from the bottom that the Empire and Central Church had abandoned, but that I had picked up, all burst out at once.

 

“…!”

 

“The Ascetic is innocent!”

 

“Release the Saint!”

 

“He was just trying to stop those Empire bastards from starting a war!”

 

In an instant, public opinion completely reversed.

 

I watched the scene with wide eyes. The stone throwing didn’t come toward me but toward the Cardinal, and wildflowers fell upon me instead.

 

Under the setting sun, only wildflowers fluttered down upon me. The scent of flowers filled the air.

 

The Cardinal’s face turned ashen, then flushed red again.

 

He frantically gestured for the soldiers to stop them, but they couldn’t hold back the momentum of tens of thousands.

 

This massive execution was becoming not a place to judge my sins, but a grand altar elevating me to martyrdom.

 

I spotted several familiar faces enthusiastically joining in these cheers. Erendor, easily visible anywhere, seemed to shrug his shoulders.

 

It was the best birthday gift. The first since falling into this world.

 

The Cardinal approached me. His lips trembled with rage.

 

Fear consumed him that if he delayed any longer, a riot might break out.

 

“You… you silver-tongued bastard… what the hell did you do!”

 

“Even lowly creatures know to cherish themselves. I simply gave my all to serve them with sincerity.”

 

“Shut up! Shut your mouth! Say your last words and be done with it! I’ll cut off your head right now and silence that mouth of yours!”

 

I raised my head. The people filling the plaza. Those weeping for me. And even those desperate to kill me.

 

Everyone was watching my lips.

 

“Do not weep, pitiful lambs.”

 

Everyone fell silent. Though I spoke gently, my voice carried thick ether that reached the far ends of the plaza.

 

“Today, by abandoning this flesh, I shall finally become your true salvation. This is not death, but the path toward promised eternal life.”

 

I smiled.

 

“All these trials and tribulations were the final divine mission given to the ‘Ascetic.'”

 

I spoke what would be my final words.

 

“Having fulfilled my divine mission, I shall now return as your savior.”

 

“Waaaaaaaah-!!!”

 

“Ascetic!”

 

People tried to break through the barriers and pour forward. It was a cauldron of frenzy. Kalebrin, Yelena, Celestia… everyone’s expressions looked sorrowful.

 

The Cardinal, terrified, stumbled backward and let out a scream of desperation.

 

“Damn it all! What are you doing! Kill him now! Execute him! Pull the lever!”

 

“B-but the procedures aren’t complete yet…”

 

“Shut up and pull it!! Cut off that bastard’s head!!”

 

They forced me into the guillotine.

 

At the Cardinal’s urging, the terrified executioner hurriedly grabbed the lever.

 

I tried not to lose my smile until the very end.

 

Clunk.

 

The locking mechanism holding the guillotine’s heavy blade was released.

 

Screech-. Scrape-!

 

With an eerie friction sound, the massive blade fell vertically under gravity’s pull.

 

The sound of wind being cut.

 

A moment of silence as people’s screams were cut short.

 

As my hair was severed,

 

A cool, sharp sensation touched the nape of my neck.

 

And then.

 

Thunk-!

 

With a dull impact, the world turned upside down.

 

Spinning round and round.

 

*

 

[Warning!]

 

[Physical life functions have ceased.]

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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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