The Life of a Wise Cult Leader - Chapter 171

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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 171

 

A dark and damp underground prison.

 

In this place filled with musty mold smells and cold air, the person I had devoted my entire life to believing in was bound.

 

I approached him with trembling breath, my form hidden by invisibility magic.

 

Even though I made no sound, even though his eyes were covered, he raised his head as if he had been waiting.

 

“It’s been a while, Sister Celestia. Have you been well?”

 

A calm voice.

 

His face was so peaceful it was hard to believe he was someone who had received an execution date.

 

That shamelessness made tears well up in my eyes.

 

“Well? Without a single word about being ex-executed, do you know how shocked I was!”

 

When I shrieked and revealed myself, he smiled as if troubled.

 

“I’m sorry. Everyone must be worried.”

 

“Haa… Such an obvious thing to say…”

 

I let out a deep sigh. There were mountains of things I wanted to confront him about.

 

“So why didn’t you tell us? You said we were a team. You have the ability to speak into our minds, so why didn’t you tell us the plan and just…”

 

Why on earth. Were we going to be a burden? Or didn’t you trust us?

 

“But now you all had to figure things out among yourselves without me saying anything.”

 

“Why? Are you going to abandon us now?”

 

My voice trembled, wet with emotion.

 

“How could that be? I’m sorry to the Brothers and Sisters, but I think of you all as family.”

 

Family. That word lingered strangely in my ears. I pouted my lips and forcibly held back the rising tears. I couldn’t understand.

 

“So I thought I could do anything to protect you all.”

 

“So you’re going to die? Like this, so absurdly? So meaninglessly?”

 

“What couldn’t I do to protect you all?”

 

His eyes were sincere. That made me even angrier.

 

“We haven’t even known each other that long. I don’t understand how you can think of us as family, Ascetic.”

 

I asked accusingly.

 

“Kalebrin or Yelena… I could understand if people like Uncle Cardil became precious after knowing them longer, but wasn’t I just a believer who followed you?”

 

Honestly, I had never put him within the familiar boundary of ‘family.’

 

He was my savior, an apostle of God, an object of reverence. He was too high and distant an existence to dare call family.

 

But family?

 

What nonsense.

 

“The depth of a relationship isn’t necessarily determined by time, is it? You all just thought of me like family, and I thought the same.”

 

“I just thought of you as my god, Ascetic. A savior who came to save me or an apostle of God. I never once presumptuously thought of you as family.”

 

He chuckled.

 

“A god… Yes. Gods are loftily in the sky, so they wouldn’t bat an eye even if believers died.”

 

“…”

 

I was struck speechless.

 

“It’s awkward for me to say this, but gods and believers have a transactional relationship. Salvation is given and faith is received. It’s thorough business.”

 

I didn’t expect him to speak so nakedly about gods.

 

“But family is different.”

 

He rattled his handcuffs uncomfortably. The cold sound of iron chains echoed through the prison.

 

“I hate having my things taken by others more than death. Whether it’s money, honor, or people. I’ve lived having things taken from me constantly in this world.”

 

“…”

 

Only as he faced execution could I finally understand you better.

 

“If I were a god, I would have contemplated whether you all got hurt or not, but I can’t stand to see that. My calling you all family is both a declaration that I won’t let anyone who tries to touch you get away with it, and my greed.”

 

He looked straight into the air, precisely into my eyes, and spoke.

 

“So Celestia, I don’t care how you think of me. Whether you revere me as a god or see me as a fraud. What matters is that I’ve decided to put you within my boundary, and I won’t let anyone who touches my family get away with it, even if they’re a god.”

 

The most human version of him was neither saint nor ascetic nor god. Just… an ordinary human living with the same worries as me.

 

Rather than being disappointed that he wasn’t a noble and perfect god… pity and compassion rushed over me like a tide.

 

The countless epithets attached to him were too heavy…

 

“Really… Ascetic, you’re selfish to the end. Deciding we’re family on your own, putting up boundaries on your own.”

 

“That’s just my personality.”

 

“I see. So was I chasing a mirage while revering you?”

 

I said with a sigh.

 

He didn’t deny it. But soon he added with a bitter smile.

 

“It might have been a mirage. All that pretending to be holy and noble was acting. But Celestia.”

 

He chose his words for a moment.

 

“When we exchanged silly jokes and giggled at the Magic Tower, or when we chatted while eating something delicious sometimes… do you remember?”

 

“…How could I forget.”

 

“No matter how much of a fraud I am, I don’t laugh while deceiving even my own feelings.”

 

His eyes held me without wavering.

 

“My duties as a saint might have been acting, but those days I spent laughing with you all… I was genuinely happy too. In those moments I could just laugh without calculation or planning. So please don’t doubt that even those memories were fake.”

 

“Sob, waaah… Don’t, don’t try to get past this with such moving, sob, words waaaah.”

 

“I wasn’t trying to get past anything, it was just my clumsy sincerity.”

 

“Waaaah!”

 

I cried like a child.

 

I poured out tears and snot without knowing shame.

 

I could feel him closing his mouth in confusion, but I couldn’t stop.

 

Only after crying for a while did I take out what I had hidden in my clothes. I came to give this. Not to cry.

 

“Here.”

 

Sniffle.

 

What I brought was one of the sacred relics the Ascetic had requested. From the Magic Tower…

 

The Sage’s Staff.

 

“The Sage’s Staff. It was hard to take out since it’s said to be one of the most valuable of the Sage’s possessions.”

 

“Did you steal it?”

 

He seemed surprised.

 

“No. I just got permission from the Magic Tower and brought it. I’m going to be the next Tower Master anyway… The world’s about to end, so what’s the point of keeping something like this hidden away? I just said I’d use it.”

 

It was actually closer to threatening persuasion, but I didn’t bother mentioning that.

 

“Well done. Really.”

 

“I helped you with this, right, Ascetic? Right?”

 

“Of course. It’s tremendous help.”

 

My shoulders lifted at his praise. Who knew being told I was helpful would feel this good? I took the opportunity to ask what I was most curious about.

 

“…You’re not really going to die at the execution, right?”

 

“Haha. Other guests should be coming soon.”

 

“Why won’t you tell us the plan? You said before that if everyone knows, we can prepare. Right now… it’s too sudden.”

 

He moved his lips before answering.

 

“It’s difficult to tell you everything, but I think if it’s Celestia, you can think well and know how to act. Perhaps Kalebrin or Erendor might know the answer or hints.”

 

He’s not someone who would die easily. Isn’t he someone who’s easily escaped whenever there was a crisis?

 

He won’t die like this.

 

“…I understand. I’ll do that.”

 

I wiped my eyes roughly with my sleeve.

 

“Good.”

 

“Then I’ll see you next time…!”

 

“…Take care, Celestia.”

 

“…? Yes!”

 

Why he hesitated before answering then.

 

Why saying to take care seemed so painful for him.

 

In the end… how heavy the weight of that choice you made was.

 

I couldn’t know at that time.

 

Clap.

 

The widow clapped her hands.

 

“There’s no one to clean up this mess. It can’t be helped. Now, Yelena. As an Inquisitor, please handle the situation.”

 

“What will Mother… be doing?”

 

“We can’t leave God here. Good quarters and good facilities. We must provide the highest level of treatment.”

 

“You’re not trying to use the Ascetic for your own purposes, are you?”

 

“While we’re at it, the now-empty Central Church’s Main Temple would be good.”

 

“Mother.”

 

“Yelena, we need to sort out the situation first. People are hurt and exhausted. Buildings are destroyed and in ruins. To cultivate a sacred place, shouldn’t we clear the debris first?”

 

“Don’t treat that person like a doll as you please.”

 

She pointed her halberd at Mother. The widow’s expression behind the veil was unreadable, but her barely visible lower jaw was rigidly set.

 

“A newly born god needs dignity and mysticism. Rather than letting him stand there blankly, wouldn’t it be much more helpful for inspiring faith to enshrine him deep within a temple hidden by curtains?”

 

Yelena raised her halberd and aimed it at Mother. But the widow only burst into a snicker even seeing that sharp blue blade.

 

“Yelena. You’re still letting emotions get ahead of you.”

 

She slowly pushed away the halberd’s blade with her bare hands. Green eyes behind the veil stared piercingly at Yelena.

 

“Do you have the power to control this situation?”

 

“…”

 

“People are hurt and buildings have collapsed. Do you think you can handle that many crowds without the Central Church’s system? You can’t protect God with idealism alone.”

 

Yelena bit her lips and lowered her halberd. It was frustrating, but Mother’s words were flawless.

 

The realistic administrative power, capital, and systems were held by the widow and the Central Church.

 

“Since the owner is conveniently gone, the Central Church will need justification to welcome a new god. That way they can cover up the disgrace of having a demon behind the Cardinal they served. It’s a win-win situation.”

 

“I won’t let the Central Church monopolize Mr. Ascetic. There are clearly people who followed him…”

 

“Ah, those ‘Pilgrims’?”

 

The widow snorted.

 

“What can a ragtag bunch with nothing but blind faith do? Faith is ultimately built on capital and power. Do they have the ability to operate that massive temple, or the military force to stop the Imperial Army?”

 

“That’s…”

 

“Just stay quiet. That’s your best option right now… You know, don’t you? Our smart Yelena. I didn’t raise you to be stupid.”

 

If we stop Mother from taking the Ascetic? What can we do?

 

Anyway, if Mother takes the Ascetic, she’ll definitely use him as she pleases. We must prevent that, but…

 

How, just how do we solve this situation?

 

A sense of helplessness, like watching a massive wave crash down, dominated my entire body.

 

Step, step, step.

 

Then Celestia walked between them.

 

“Who says we lack ability?”

 

“…”

 

“As the Magic Tower Lord and head of House Evergrace, the Magic Tower will take custody of the Ascetic’s safety. So you should back off.”

 

“Celestia…!”

 

“The Magic Tower? Wouldn’t it be better to entrust him to the Central Church?”

 

“I, I… saved the Ascetic. So, so… get lost…!”

 

The widow couldn’t help but laugh at this protest that wasn’t quite a protest by these young protesters.

 

“Hah.”

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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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