The Life of a Wise Cult Leader - Chapter 23

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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

I was worried about Kalebrin and Antonio too.

Of course, Kalebrin was capable so I wasn’t too worried, but Antonio is a fragile merchant and my secretary…!

I hurriedly opened the baptized believer window.

[Antonio Tradetore]

[Status: Bored]

[Location: Solaris ??, Indoor]

This is the first time it’s shown with question marks.

Anyway, Solaris? At least I can breathe a sigh of relief for now.

I assessed the situation by stealing glimpses of my baptized believers’ statuses and vision.

It was fortunate I wore a veil. Even when I rolled my eyes around like a Sharingan, no one said anything.

I opened the status window to check the believer section.

[Kalebrin]

-Details-

[Status: Confused]

[Location: South of Astrapolis, Outdoor]

‘I can’t see her vision.’

I couldn’t check Kalebrin’s vision. Her faith must still be weak. Once this matter is over, I’ll definitely discipline Kalebrin.

Having roughly patched up all the holes in the abdomen, Cardil wiped his sweat and stood up from his position.

The relieved party stared at Cardil, then looked around. Among the many believers and patients, the party looked directly at me and asked.

“But who might you… be?”

“It’s none of your business, so please just stay still.”

Cardil answered irritably.

I suppose a tall guy standing around blankly in a robe would be conspicuous.

“Please bandage him. I only treated the vital organs, the external wounds are still there… Ah, this is a big problem.”

Someone acting like Cardil’s assistant hurriedly brought towels and bandages. They seemed to be one of my believers and had adapted quite well.

I stood quietly and quickly assessed the situation.

I’d been half-convinced since hearing what that woman said earlier about ‘demons’ bringing monsters and the city’s bell disappearing.

‘A demon race that controls monsters has appeared.’

Astrapolis is one of the cities you must pass through to reach Solaris, the capital. That’s why the Knights’ headquarters is stationed there.

The demon race would also think they need to capture Astrapolis to attack Solaris.

‘They wouldn’t start a full-scale war yet. This is essentially a probing attack.’

I don’t know why Sernuan Lumiere being alive leads to the demon race’s probing monster wave on Astrapolis, but…

‘I’ll think about that after handling the situation.’

This is essentially a defensive battle to block the demon race’s invasion.

Hmm…

The title of War Hero would probably be useful anywhere, right?

“Ugh…”

“Ma, magic contamination!”

“Step back…!”

“Kyaaah!”

As soon as the hole in the abdomen was somewhat patched up, dark and sticky energy began flowing out. The patient lying on the floor writhed as if in pain.

I stepped forward.

The calculations were done anyway.

Then Cardil blocked my path.

“Don’t step forward.”

He said in a low voice.

“You haven’t forgotten that you’re wanted, have you?”

Despite Cardil blocking my path, I pushed past him and walked forward.

The gazes of those trembling gathered on me.

I knelt on one knee in front of the one writhing in pain and placed my hand on his forehead.

“If you’re not careful-!”

“Even so, I cannot turn away from a soul suffering before my eyes.”

Warm energy emanated from my hand, and light flashed. A warm breeze emerged, making my veil flutter.

“Huh…?”

The one who had been suffering terrible pain opened his eyes wide.

He sat up abruptly, swayed briefly from anemia, then flexed and unflexed his hands.

“I’m… healed?”

The guard felt around his torn and gaping abdomen. The believers skillfully supported him and moved him to a bed.

The one who had supported him sat up abruptly from the bed. I gestured to that guard.

“Brother, please come over here too.”

The guard approached me hesitantly with a bewildered expression.

When I placed my hand on his arm that was roughly bandaged, green and golden light spread beautifully as before, even erasing the bloodstains. It was probably because the target of purification included even the bloodstains.

“This… this can’t be….”

He unwrapped the bandage on his arm with his other hand. There wasn’t even a wound, let alone a scar.

His amazement at the pristine white skin was brief as believers approached and hushed them up on their own.

“Keep silent.”

“If you speak of God’s miracle aloud, the miracle will disappear.”

“Yes, yes? What do you mean? If you happen to be a priest, you must go down to the village right now. Besides me and my friend, there are other people too…”

“How rude! What are you saying right now!”

“The ascetic will handle it himself.”

“Ascetic…? You’re not a priest? Wait… could you please remove your veil? That hair and height look familiar…”

He was quite a bold guard. Usually when people see me, they get scared like that blacksmith and can’t even speak.

Hmm, maybe he was less frightened because of the veil. Veils hide a person’s impression, so he might have been less affected by Divine Aura.

Come to think of it, since wearing the robe hood or veil, not many people have been scared of me.

“What impious request are you making to one who has just bestowed God’s miracle!”

Maybe I should build some merit while I’m at it.

I said with a smile. Though it probably wasn’t visible because of the veil anyway.

“If using God’s power makes one a priest, then I suppose I am a priest. To answer what you seem curious about… I am a being with a mission to descend to this land and save suffering souls. Rather than priest, I would be grateful if you called me an ascetic.”

The guard must have guessed. That I was the person from the wanted posters circulating recently.

Since I’m already found out, there’s no need to keep wearing this anymore. Rather, it’s best to create an atmosphere and make him a believer so he can’t speak.

What binds people together is when they share the most important secret closely with each other, isn’t it?

Of course, since that secret is fatal, they’d die if caught, but…

I don’t think they’ll betray me.

Because

they’re my precious

believers.

Believers don’t lie, don’t tell lies to God, don’t lie.

I lifted the veil upward. The black veil covered my pure white hair like a bridal veil.

“I once lived under the name Sernuan Lumiere… but I abandoned that name long ago.”

“A… a wanted criminal…”

“How rude. Ascetic, what shall we do?”

“It’s fine. Aren’t we all neighbors, brothers and sisters, souls living on this land? If we approach with sincere and honest hearts, everyone can become our brothers and sisters.”

I stepped forward toward the two guards. Since I’m quite tall, shadows fell over both of them.

“It’s alright. Aren’t we all neighbors and brothers and sisters, souls living together on this earth? If we approach them with sincere and honest hearts, they can all become our brothers and sisters.”

I strode forward toward the two security guards. Being fairly tall, I cast a shadow over both of them.

He said with a grin.

“Isn’t that right?”

What’s important for a cult leader is tone of voice, atmosphere, and expression!

With this holy trinity, turning those two into believers and devouring them was no trouble at all!

“…Then, Ascetic sir. Are you perhaps… God?”

There it is! The classic question~!

I hid my excitement and answered solemnly.

“I am merely starting over from the beginning. I simply follow the path of an ascetic. But as you know… the Central Church calls me a heretic. Even though I only seek to save suffering souls like yourselves. It truly is a lamentable matter. To think that doing God’s will should be rejected instead—what a foolish world this is…”

The man whose arm I had healed showed an anxious expression.

“Please trust me and keep this matter secret. Of course, after treating everyone here, I plan to go down to the village to care for wounded souls.”

I spoke as pleadingly as possible.

“For that, I need your help. Please lend your strength so that I won’t be branded a heretic and can fully share God’s miracles. This is not just my path alone, but God’s will that we must all walk together.”

“Ooh…”

“As expected of the Ascetic…!”

“Even while being hunted, you go this far for your mission.”

Praise from believers could be heard from here and there. The sweet scent made me feel good. I could see my faith points steadily rising.

And the believer count was tallied.

The man with the injured stomach sat up in bed with help from the believers.

“Rihen, I’ll believe. That Ascetic just purified the demonic erosion and healed my stomach and arm, didn’t he? There’s no reason not to believe.”

“…Right. This isn’t the time to hesitate. At this rate, the city will become a wasteland.”

“Thank you for believing in me.”

The believer count was tallied once more.

Good.

[[[Since believers don’t lie, if I ask them to keep it secret, they’ll keep the secret. That was both a natural constraint and what I desired. Being praised and glorified felt quite good.]]]

“Then, brothers and sisters. Won’t you lend your strength to save the city?”

I turned around. There were plenty of believers. I shouted loudly.

“Right now, I have seen the city with God’s power. A demon has brought monsters. Cunningly, the demon’s minions have even stolen the bell from the bell tower.”

“Those demons!”

“The things demons do, really…”

The believers were horrified. Even during this time, my faith points kept rising steadily.

Hehehe. I’ll have to level up my sacred relic in a bit. Yahoo!

“All the guards have fallen, and even the city’s residents are in crisis. Isn’t this exactly when God’s miracle is needed? So brothers and sisters, let us join forces together. It’s time for us who truly carry out God’s will to step forward!”

“That’s right!”

“We’ll join you!”

The two guards were also filled with enthusiasm, raising one arm and cheering.

Cardil, who had been quietly watching this situation, grabbed the shoulder of the guard half-lying on the bed and made him lie down.

“Wait a moment. You recovered just before bleeding to death, so you need rest.”

“How can this be. To think I can’t join such a glorious march…!”

“Don’t I know your feelings? You can join us in spirit. Brother, please focus on recovering your body.”

“Understood, Ascetic sir…!”

The guard who had recovered from having a hole in his stomach showed a face filled with emotion.

Making believers is too easy, isn’t it? What am I supposed to do with this cult talent that even turns guards into believers?

I had a brief moment of conceited thoughts as I came out of the hut.

“First, we’ll focus on rescuing and treating those in danger. We just need to hold out until the Knights learn of this news and return.”

After all, this monster wave is too much for low-level civilians to handle…

“Don’t get hurt. And I’ll go check the Relief Center.”

The Relief Center. Right now, the few remaining priests are all holed up in the temple, trembling at the monsters outside.

Going to the temple would be too risky for direct contact with the Central Church, so I’ll pass on that.

Since they’re not believers, they’d be free to talk about me.

To expand my influence while treating many people, I need to go to the Relief Center.

I also need to bring Kalebrin while I’m at it. She’s my only combat personnel, so she needs to do proper bodyguard duties by my side.

“I’ll come with you too.”

Cardil said while gathering bandages and other supplies.

“Wouldn’t it be better for you to go to the temple, Brother?”

“Even if I go, there’ll just be a couple of cowards there anyway. They won’t even heal people because they’re scared. In that case, it’s better to go to the Relief Center with you.”

I didn’t object and just told him to do as he pleased.

When push comes to shove, Cardil will awaken his combat power and beat up monsters, or handle situations when Central Church personnel cause trouble.

‘Once this chaos is sorted out, I need to carefully review the story. I don’t want to experience another situation I can’t control.’

Having life-threatening unexpected situations occur seems rather bad for mental health…

I hurried toward the Relief Center with three believers. It was somewhat west of the town center, but reasonably close.

After walking for about 15 minutes, I could see blood, monster corpses, and human corpses tangled together on the road.

‘Monster corpses…? Who killed these?’

It was even a monster that could be considered fairly high-level.

‘It looks like a wyvern… Looking at the horns, that’s right! A wyvern. Hmm… someone skilled enough to kill a wyvern in this city…’

When the Apostles were collecting the corpses, a clanking sound came from far away.

‘I’m sure the Knights went on their regular expedition…’

A familiar face emerged from the alley.

“Cardil?”

It was Austin Gerard.

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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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