The Life of a Wise Cult Leader - Chapter 19

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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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Fire

While I was leisurely eating dinner and having a cup of tea, I heard knocking at Antonio’s house door.

It was Ethan who had come with a sword.

“And there’s something the Blacksmith explained to me…”

The sword used by Lion’s Heart. Since recognizing that mark would be too easy, he had made some ‘modifications’.

And as additional functions, he had added an auto-retrieval function that automatically returns to its owner and a function that maintains sharpness without needing to sharpen the blade separately.

Not having to sharpen the blade seems quite convenient. But now that it’s reality, how exactly does the auto-retrieval function work…? It would be troublesome if it came back to me blade-first.

“The Blacksmith has enchanted it with good functions.”

If Golden Merchant Antonio says so, then it must be true.

The changed sword design was quite flashy even to my eyes. This would stand out even if it wasn’t a sword used by the Lion Heart Knights.

Well, whatever. I wasn’t looking for a sword to use anyway. I have the build to swing a sword around, but it’s just a club that’s gotten a bit sharper.

“The Blacksmith had something additional to tell you…”

“Yes, please tell me.”

“He said checkpoint inspection came but he didn’t answer… so please know that he wasn’t the one who reported you. He’s truly a virtuous Blacksmith Brother!”

Ethan said with a bright smile.

“I see.”

I had actually expected this.

I had this strange conviction that no one would mention ‘me’ during checkpoint inspection.

It was true that I wasn’t particularly frightened even when I heard they were pursuing and conducting checkpoint inspections.

Why was that?

Earlier when Ethan first told me about the checkpoint inspection, I was scared enough to feel chills down my spine.

But thinking about it, there didn’t seem to be much need to be that scared… anyway, I wasn’t afraid.

As if the sensation of ‘fear’ had disappeared.

Even bringing my hand close to that sharp sword, I didn’t think I would get cut. Like those lab mice in human experiments where fear and terror have been removed…

But it was truly puzzling.

Why was I… so scared when I heard that checkpoint inspection had started?

Anyway… they wouldn’t have answered the checkpoint inspection.

They couldn’t have answered…

[Faith required for enhancement: 200]

[Would you like to enhance Sacred Relic ‘Necklace of Ranoop’?]

At that moment, a status window suddenly appeared in my vision.

‘What? I didn’t open the status window.’

Not now. I need to send these guys back first.

“Thank you, Brother. It’s late at night, so please return safely.”

“Yes! Please call me anytime if you need anything!”

I sent Ethan back.

“Antonio, isn’t it time for you to sleep too?”

“Daddy… I’m sleepy.”

“Ah, I see. I’ll go in first then.”

Antonio and his daughter returned to the bedroom. I put out the fire, left only the lantern on, and went up to my room on the second floor before opening the status window again.

[Faith required for enhancement: 200]

[Would you like to enhance Sacred Relic ‘Necklace of Ranoop’?]

I had been thinking about enhancing it when I got home, but something got mixed up and the popup appeared.

I brushed it off casually.

‘Y.’

There wasn’t the same flashing light as before. Just a gentle glow emanated from around my neck.

[Sacred Relic: Necklace of Ranoop | +2]

[New additional effect: Auto Purification of bound user’s body]

Oh. So now it’s switched from manual to automatic?

This was a very good additional effect for someone who had to leave for Witch’s Forest tomorrow!

‘Right. I have to go through hell again tomorrow.’

I was getting a mild headache, so I fell asleep quickly.

*

“Have a safe trip, Ascetic.”

“Yes. Please take care while I’m gone, Antonio.”

I departed for Witch’s Forest with one believer who knew how to drive a carriage.

Antonio had worked hard to find a trustworthy coachman, and found a coachman who was following the Ascetic.

Turns out he had watched my healing from the side and came to believe in me, so we communicated well.

“So that place is really a cursed forest… and you’re going to lift that curse, Ascetic?”

It was more comfortable lying like this.

“Yes. It’s a kind of pilgrimage.”

“As expected of an Ascetic. I won’t forget this honor and will serve you well!”

Go ahead~

It was very convenient that he showed enthusiasm on his own. Convenient enough to understand why cult leaders and such operate in the modern world.

‘Hmm… I feel like such trash?’

-But you have to do what you must to survive, right?

‘That’s… true.’

The carriage carrying two people ran for half a day and arrived at the entrance of Witch’s Forest.

“Brother, please wait here. The poison in this place is quite strong, so you’ll get poisoned unless you have Divine Protection.”

“Yes, understood.”

Right, don’t run away? Since he was my believer anyway, I wasn’t too worried.

I headed toward Witch’s Forest, which was dark and emanating an ominous aura.

*

“Ugh~ Why are there so many bugs.”

The buzzing of insects by my ears was absolutely terrible.

Fortunately, they weren’t just regular bugs but poisonous ones, so the bugs affected by the Purification Power surrounding my body fell away as if hit by an electric fly swatter.

“Get lost, you spawn of Satan.”

When I waved my hand, insects burst in mid-air with crackling sounds.

“This isn’t the Amazon.”

The humid air was sticky and unpleasant. It was discomfort that even Purification Power couldn’t help.

“It should be just a bit further…”

A bitter smell came from my nose. It smelled like a traditional medicine shop with licorice.

The further I followed the familiar path, the more poisonous moths and poison frogs disappeared, and even trees and plants became scarce.

‘Found it. The special object.’

It was a skull that had now become completely bare bones.

Probably the skull of the tribal people that Cardil told me about?

If I were a person with good character, I would have buried it in a sunny spot, but unfortunately I didn’t possess that level of character.

Dead is dead, what’s the point. Those bare bones are just lumps of calcium. Unless there’s even a fragment of soul attached…

Hmm, wait. How did I come to think like this? Souls and such, I’m not even a shaman. Haha…

Walking along the familiar path, I reached an area close to the plains. I could hear the sound of water.

“Oh. This is more… terrible than I thought.”

The lake held neither purple nor green water, but simply black water.

Bubble bubble.

Even on the surface, unidentifiable bubbles were rising up and bursting loudly.

‘Ugh, I have to go into that place to find the chalice.’

Me, who can’t even swim well… having to enter a lake where I can’t see the bottom to find a chalice buried somewhere.

Sigh.

It was fortunate that the chalice wasn’t just like a regular cup we drink from but was large like a trophy, otherwise it would have been really hard to find if it were any smaller.

I dipped my arm in. Then, transparent water formed around me before quickly turning black.

‘This level isn’t enough, I guess.’

When I pulled my arm out, transparent water dripped off. It disappeared as if melting the moment it touched the ground.

‘Good thing I brought spare clothes…’

But since I left those spare clothes in the carriage for fear they’d get contaminated too, the worst part was that I’d essentially have to walk back through the forest with a wet body.

Anyway, if this level of trouble was all it took to get one sacred relic, it was definitely a sweet deal.

‘It’s easier than slaying a dragon, after all~’

It was easier than obtaining the holy sword.

I entered the water still wearing my clothes. After all, it was obvious they’d get contaminated and corroded the moment they left my body.

When I submerged up to my waist, the water around me became transparent. My feet touched the bottom, and fortunately it wasn’t too deep.

The Cursed Lake. That name was created because you couldn’t see below due to this pitch-black water.

Since it used to be spring water, it would naturally be shallow. No matter how contaminated it became, it didn’t seem to change the terrain itself.

“Ugh… it’s cold.”

The problem was that since this was a forest where not a single ray of sunlight entered, it was too cold.

Just like how even in the blazing summer sun, dipping your legs in valley water cools your entire body.

I thought I had a body that didn’t feel cold or heat much, but maybe because this was beyond normal levels of cold, my body started shivering physiologically.

“Uuuugh.”

At this rate, I’m going to die from hypothermia.

I quickly moved my body around, hoping that Sernuan Lumiere’s body had good insulation performance.

Thud. Something touched my toes.

The water that reached up to my chest was transparent for about 3 meters around me, so I could vaguely see what had touched my toes.

‘It’s round and pitch black. I can’t see it clearly though.’

Poke poke poke. Pressing it with my foot, I guessed it seemed like something made of metal.

‘They definitely said this lake melts even cold weapons.’

In such a place, instead of fine sand-like dust… the fact that metal remained meant… it was definitely a ‘sacred relic.’

I dove underwater. Even though the water was transparent, it was still dim, so I emitted purification power from my hands. As the lake brightened, my vision opened up.

‘It’s the chalice.’

Grab. Sernuan Lumiere’s arms were long, befitting someone with a height just under 2 meters. When I reached out, I felt the texture of metal.

“Puha.”

When I pulled my head out of the lake, white hair stuck wetly all over my face. I swept my hair back once and pulled out the hand that was holding something.

Where my hand touched, that part revealed its original form as if rust was being peeled away. The pitch-black trophy revealed its platinum shine.

Only then did the system window appear.

[You have recovered a sacred relic!]

[Unrecovered sacred relics: 2/9]

[Next sacred relic recovery period: 30 days]

[Sub Quest reward being selected…]

[Reward receipt loading time: 00:29]

Last time it was an hour, now it’s shortened to 30 minutes.

It seemed like the system had been worked on since the last update, and the time was reduced in these small details.

‘If you’re just going to give me a random ticket anyway, what more is there to load?’

Sigh. This is quite conspicuous, how am I supposed to carry this? If I enhance it with faith, will it show as bound with sub-options this time too?

I turned around to walk out of the water.

In the black forest where sunlight barely entered, someone was standing there.

‘Ah!!! That startled me!!!’

What a surprise!!!

If they could stand in this toxic air, they definitely weren’t human.

‘How did they get here?’

I wasn’t afraid, but it was certainly suspicious.

The distance between me and that thing was considerable, but if it was a real expert, it was enough distance to close the gap and chop off my head.

‘Even with my previous character, I could chop off most guys’ heads by using Flash Step head-on then E, left shift for combo attack.’

I did bring a sword… it was hanging at my waist. But this was actually for cutting grass that might get in the way while walking!

It was great to understand why I carried a machete around, but now I had to stain it with human blood instead of plant sap.

The thing walked forward. Near the lake, there were no trees or grass, so some light came in. Though it wasn’t bright anyway due to the dark clouds.

That thing… its skin was so white it was pale. If it was similar to Sernuan Lumiere’s level, that said it all.

Its clothes looked more like animal hide woven together rather than human clothing, and around its neck was a necklace strung with beast teeth.

My goodness, it might be a cannibal.

Perhaps feeling tense, the thing spoke haltingly in language. Its voice was quite thin despite looking like it would make metallic sounds.

“I… am a spirit…”

No way.

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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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