The Life of a Wise Cult Leader - Chapter 179

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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 179

The most crucial topic had come up.

Yelena answered.

“…Nebria.”

“Nebria? Where is that?”

“It’s a small village in the Empire… They said it’s an insignificant village with its back to Whisper Wood, somewhat distant from the capital.”

“Is there some geographical advantage to placing it there?”

“That’s hard to say…”

Yelena trailed off. Celestia shrugged her shoulders slightly and continued.

“That’s not particularly important, so let’s move on. Then for bringing Gretchin, it would be best if Mr. Erendor and Ms. Yelena go together. Professor Ellara and I should stay by the Savior’s side to observe any changes, and you two should be sufficient to extract that Gretchin’s heart.”

“Since freshness is a concern, wouldn’t it be better to bring him here and extract it rather than doing it there?”

“That’s true too. It seems like bringing Gretchin would be easier than just bringing Gretchin’s heart.”

“Then why are we dawdling like this?”

Erendor, who had been leaning against the table, straightened up. Then he stretched and swung the greatsword he’d been constantly maintaining, making a whooshing sound through the air.

He casually slung it over his shoulder and nodded.

“We should depart. We need to get the Ascetic back, right?”

*

They didn’t hesitate. Time was more precious than gold and irreversible.

Yelena and Erendor. The two borrowed two horses and left the Magic Tower.

Using a transmission device was impossible since Nebria, that small village of unknown reputation, had no such thing.

The two fastest horses from the Magic Tower carried the two knights, who easily weighed 100kg each, and galloped away.

To the primordial land where the ‘Ascetic’ was born.

To the place where the ‘Ascetic’ first stood on two feet and saw the sunset world…

To that village.

*

“Gretchin. Just bring me two chicken eggs.”

“Yes, Mrs. Willow.”

He answered calmly and took a basket toward the livestock pen.

Strangely, unlike before, all the animals seemed to hate him with loathing, so while getting the two chicken eggs, he was pecked so much that there wasn’t a healthy spot left on his body.

However, even rotten fish is still fish, even a rotten priest was still a priest. Before bringing the chicken eggs to the lady, he could at least heal the flowing blood. He felt somewhat relieved that he wouldn’t cause Mrs. Willow to worry.

Though he was receiving hatred from animals to an eerie degree, he had a rough idea why.

90,000 people.

It was such a devastating disaster that news reached even this small Nebria.

The authorities expressed deep regret for the weapon fired in error, but that wasn’t enough to solve the problem.

They substituted it with massive reparations to the opposing nation and executing the ‘Ascetic’ who committed that error, but…

The Imperial Citizens were instead competing to say they should have used the opportunity to clean up Senta and other small nations while they were at it.

A nation built through war, land expanded through war, a self-made nation through war. War wasn’t a bad thing. It was just an opportunity to become a hero. An opportunity for advancement.

Hadn’t the Lion Heart Knight Commander also been recognized for such achievements, rising from commoner to the position of commander of the Lion Heart Knights, the most respected by the citizens?

Anyway, the one who committed such a grave act that it shook the Empire was none other than…

‘Me.’

Bewitched by a demon, causing that heinous act with 30,000 deaths… A total of 90,000 casualties – that person was me.

‘Just being alive like this is more than I deserve…’

Though it doesn’t seem like I’ll live much longer anyway.

Eon.

No, the one who had now become ‘Gretchin’ thought calmly.

‘When will they come?’

The Ascetic, or if not him, then Ms. Yelena, Ms. Kalebrin, and others… They said such people would come looking…

Even though enough time had passed for news of the execution to reach this small village, they showed no signs of looking for me.

‘Could the plan have gone wrong…’

No, it couldn’t be. It won’t be. How meticulous is the Ascetic? He’s someone who knows everything, so that won’t happen…

Gretchin suppressed the creeping anxiety and headed toward Mrs. Willow.

Since he was indebted to the Willow family who took him in when everyone else refused, he thought about repaying their kindness.

Then, dust clouds rose from beyond the horizon. Gretchin frowned and used his free hand to shade his eyes, trying to identify what was causing the dust.

‘Knights?’

Two people on sturdy horses were racing toward this place, raising enough dust clouds. The bell used to warn the village of danger soon rang out, alerting everyone to the disturbance.

Mountain birds perched on village rooftops and here and there fluttered across the red sunset sky.

One of the two knights was someone he knew very well. Yellow hair tied high and flowing in the wind, reflecting the sunset light to show a deep red color.

Seeing this, Gretchin didn’t go out to greet them but hurriedly went inside the house. Cold sweat broke out.

Even though this was something he had prepared for, fear sprang up like water from dry ground.

‘Did they come to take my heart?’

To cut through living flesh and slice through ribs to extract the heart…

To receive punishment…

It was a punishment he deserved to face, but he was afraid. He hated himself even more for this.

I hate myself for trembling like this, I hate myself for being afraid. I should just accept the punishment with dignity and leave this world without regrets. I should just receive endless punishment in the Abyss…

Knock knock knock.

There was a sound of knocking on the door. He must have been seen.

Mrs. Willow was startled and opened the door halfway to converse with those outside. The sound of snorting horses could be heard.

He didn’t pack anything, just put on the fugitive’s robe again like when he had come here, and went to the entrance.

“These people are looking for you…”

“Yes, that’s right. I’ve been greatly indebted to you all this time… Thank you.”

Mrs. Willow looked like she wanted an explanation, but he gave no answer and opened the front door.

The old wooden door opened silently, revealing people who were half a head taller than him.

“It’s been a while, Gretchin.”

“…Hello.”

“You know the situation, do you need an explanation?”

Yelena the Inquisitor.

And… though his memory was hazy, definitely a face he had seen before.

“…No. Let’s go. You’ve had a lot of… trouble because of me, haven’t you?”

I hesitantly came outside. Village residents who had come out wondering what was happening watched this entire scene.

Yelena moved aside to let him mount the horse. After a few failed attempts at the saddle, Yelena supported his bottom so he could barely get on the horse.

The horse seemed uncomfortable, bouncing its hindquarters several times trying to throw him off. When Yelena shot a look at the horse, it just showed annoyance but obediently carried him on its back.

Yelena mounted behind the horse with just one leap.

“Let’s go. We have no time to delay.”

*

Even when night fell and it became dark, they rode without rest. He thought they would pass through Astrapolis on the way, but they said that might expose them, so they rode horses all the way to the Magic Tower.

The eerily fast horses arrived at the Magic Tower in an instant. Though calling it an instant, it still took 2 days round trip.

“You came quickly!”

While he stood awkwardly in this unfamiliar place, they moved swiftly.

‘No time? What does that mean?’

During the journey, they didn’t exchange a single word unless it was necessary conversation, so he could only make vague guesses.

Why they had come looking for him so late. Yet why they were pressed for time with no time to spare. What had happened to the Ascetic.

The parting words and the transplanted heart before he last separated from the Ascetic. He made inferences while recalling that urgent situation.

“How are the transplant preparations?”

“Professor Ellara… Um. She’s against it.”

“Why? Didn’t I say it was an urgent situation?”

“We might have to return to Nebria again…”

“To Nebria again? If this was going to happen, we shouldn’t have left.”

“Still, we secured Gretchin, so isn’t that enough for this journey? Yelena and Erendor are just warriors who can’t produce results even when they’re with us…”

“Right, right. You’ve worked hard keeping around parasites who only waste food.”

“I didn’t go that far. Anyway, Erendor, did you find any spirit energy from him?”

“No. I couldn’t find any.”

“You insisted we had to find the spirit urgently and stayed here, didn’t you? Do something about it. A missing spirit won’t come looking just because you’re sitting still.”

“Well now, you’ve been quite sharp with your words.”

“Ahem. So the reason we need to return to Nebria is because that’s where the Ascetic was first spotted. I thought his first activities centered around Astrapolis as a base to expand his influence, making Astrapolis the beginning, but the Ascetic…”

They exchanged conversations incomprehensible to each other. Despite hearing the entire conversation, Gretchin, who couldn’t understand it well, could only fidget restlessly in this ink-smelling Magic Tower like a useless sack of barley.

Gretchin spoke in a mouse-like voice.

“Um, well, the Ascetic…”

Though they clearly heard him, they didn’t respond.

“I heard from Antonio that they first met in Nebria. Anyway, it seems we need to go there. To Nebria… the place where the Ascetic first opened his eyes.”

“We might be able to find out if we ask Mother. Or the Young Lady.”

“It would be much better to ask the Young Lady while slipping her a potion than asking that Widow.”

“That… excuse me, how is the Ascetic’s condition?”

“Sigh, anyway, since we have more work to do, we should prepare.”

“How do you plan to move the Savior?”

“That’s why I’m saying we have a lot to prepare now. We had to leave anyway so it’s not a problem, but there are watching eyes…”

“Hmm.”

“Excuse me? I asked how the Ascetic’s condition is…!”

“Chatter chatter, so noisy. Make him quiet down.”

“There’s no need to treat him so harshly.”

“There’s no need to show affection to someone who’s going to die soon.”

Yelena sighed. Then she looked at Gretchin.

His once vibrant pink hair and lively appearance were nowhere to be seen, only dry, brittle hair, a pale face, and an expression full of hardship remained.

“He’s not the Ascetic. He’s the Savior.”

“Savior…?”

“Since it’s come to this anyway, see for yourself with your own eyes. Celestia, that’s fine, right?”

“Yes, sure.”

Celestia answered indifferently with a tired expression, then moved forward carrying an armful of papers. She retied her blonde hair and led the way as if telling them to follow.

“You always show too much affection.”

Erendor only let out a short sigh and spoke. I followed closely behind Yelena.

After walking down the stairs and through the corridor, a large door appeared. When Yelena opened the door, a dome-shaped Glass Garden was revealed.

And in the center, standing like a statue… something that was not human.

I could tell instinctively. No, anyone would be able to tell.

Gretchin faced the result of being deceived.

“Ascetic… sir…?”

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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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