The Life of a Wise Cult Leader - Chapter 25

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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

This Demon invasion was just a probing attack, so it didn’t matter if we didn’t drive out the Demon leading the monsters right now.

The reason I thought it was a probing invasion was simple.

No matter how much Astrapolis lacked its main forces, occupying the city with just one Named Demon would be too much.

Moreover, the talk of pushing all the way to Lumensia, this country’s heart, was almost nonsense.

‘Occupy the capital? As if that would happen.’

Anyway, the Knights who heard news of the Demon invasion would soon return by taking a detour.

This wasn’t some frontier village, and Astrapolis, a city where Knights were stationed, was no pushover.

If they really intended to occupy it, they would have brought at least three more Named General-class Demons and driven far more monsters than this. They would have tried to occupy even the capital in such a lightning war.

‘Though it is puzzling why they came to raise our guard…’

I’ll think about that carefully after this situation ends, while looking at the paper where I wrote down the game story.

Austin Gerard firmly believed my words that even the capital would be occupied.

‘Just buying time until the Knights arrive would be enough, but that’s not sufficient.’

I can’t keep living as a wanted criminal like this.

‘I’ll stop this invasion and become the city’s hero. Hahahaha!’

I released the veil from my hand. The veil fluttered and obscured my vision. Through my blurred sight, I could see Austin Gerard’s flustered face.

“What should I do?”

“Sir Gerard, you just need to draw the attention of the nearby monsters.”

“…Will that really be enough?”

“Yes. Killing that Demon is an extremely simple matter for me, who possesses God’s power.”

“Understood.”

Anyway, that Named Demon becomes defenseless when controlling monsters.

‘With this many monsters, it will surely hide its main body and be in a completely defenseless state. In the midst of that, it would be hard to ignore a powerful enemy like Austin Gerard approaching near the main body.’

When Austin Gerard draws attention and the main body’s consciousness becomes hazy.

That’s when I’ll pierce the Demon’s heart with this sword.

‘Normally, finding the main body of the controlling Demon would be impossible in the first place.’

Demons capable of controlling monsters are rare even among Demons. If it’s the Demon I’m expecting, then surely the main body is…

I looked at the status window.

[Believers: 43]

[01:21]

‘The believer penalty is a bit tight… but anyway, if I kill the Demon, the number of believers will increase rapidly.’

If I kill the Demon within 1 hour and 21 minutes, then go around bragging everywhere and do healing rounds, these numerous citizens of Astrapolis will become my support base.

Moreover, the volunteer work and natural incitement performed by believers!

In that situation, if I bring the Demon’s head, they won’t think I’m a heretic.

‘Kukukukuk…’

As I was running through the collapsed buildings and burning city roads, a frail voice came from somewhere.

“Is anyone there! Please save me!”

Hmm.

Just ignoring and passing by would be a bit out of character. Saving one person on the way would be fine too. Anyway, killing the Demon that caused this commotion won’t even take a minute.

Finding it might take about 5 minutes?

When I stopped, Austin also stopped walking.

“There’s a soul in need of help.”

“Shouldn’t dealing with the Demon come first?”

“If we stop the Demon, this suffering will end too. However, in the meantime, the soul over there might abandon the light. Sir Gerard, won’t you help?”

He made a complex expression.

“Understood.”

He’s going to help anyway, yet he acts reluctant.

When Austin and I went to where the voice was heard, there was a person trapped under a broken carriage.

The woman with long blonde hair hanging between the debris saw us and urgently shouted.

“Behind, there’s a monster behind…!”

As soon as she spoke, Austin Gerard drew his sword from beside me and swung it swiftly. Looking back, the wolf-type monster was already dead.

Nice! I’m glad I’m with Austin~!

Looking around, we were already surrounded by monsters. However, I wasn’t worried.

“Sir, please handle the monsters.”

Austin Gerard will beat them all anyway!

Austin Gerard nodded and headed toward the monsters. I thought one or two would charge at me, but for some reason, all the aggro was drawn only to Austin.

‘This is sweet for me.’

As I approached the carriage… blue eyes were visible between the blood-stained blonde hair. I removed my veil and hood and knelt before her.

“Are you alright?”

*

A gentle and warm voice. Though she couldn’t see his face because her own hair blocked her vision, he must surely be a kind knight.

“Ugh, the carriage overturned… I think I hurt my head. The coachman was eaten by monsters and the guards ran away.”

“For such a tragic thing to happen, this is truly heartbreaking.”

Hearing the man’s comforting words, she quietly fell silent.

‘It must be because I have no talent for swordsmanship that they assigned me such guards.’

She was someone who couldn’t even properly punish the guards who abandoned her and fled.

‘I can’t feel my legs.’

Even if she survived here, she would probably be disabled.

A High Priest’s divine power might heal it, but there would be no High Priest assigned to the troublesome second daughter who had extremely no talent for swordsmanship.

“I am the second daughter of House Evergrace. If you save me, I will repay this kindness with my life.”

But she wanted to live. To live and show her family who looked down on her what for. She would throw all those who abandoned her into the fires of hell.

She would become someone who repays kindness twofold and grudges fivefold.

As she was gritting her teeth and making such resolutions, she felt gentle hands brushing away the hair that blocked her vision.

When she saw his face through her cleared vision, she couldn’t help but be shocked.

“You, you are!”

Surely the wanted criminal from the wanted poster…!

Unlike the high bounty placed on him, he had a face that seemed like it would give people trust.

Right?

“You must have been in great pain. But it’s alright. Now that I’m here. There will be no more pain, no more suffering.”

Thump thump thump thump.

Her heart beat as if it would burst, as if facing a predator, an eerie fear rising to her head.

The gentle voice and smile directed at her seemed like they could melt away even this disaster like sugar.

Of course.

‘But, it’s so scary.’

Her body trembled. The silver blade-like gleaming eyes within that warm smile seemed like they would cut her down in one stroke at any moment.

That can’t be.

Scary!

Just trust.

“Oh my. Please don’t cry, Princess Evergrace. It must hurt because of your wounds, right? Don’t worry. I’ll heal you perfectly.”

He smiled.

“You don’t need to worry too much. As an ascetic, saving suffering souls is the mission given to me. So you don’t need to feel obligated to repay this kindness.”

Cold hands cupped her jaw. Tears flowed and pooled in his hands.

“It won’t hurt. I promise.”

Gentle warmth was felt from the cold hands. In her cleared vision, she saw clusters of golden and light green light.

That

Divine miracle

“Ahh…”

The inexplicable fear disappeared, and infinite reverence filled his heart. Even this heartbeat was life’s vigorous footsteps.

Strength flowed through his entire body. It felt like he could do anything right now. He felt like he could start fires or bring down lightning from the sky.

As naturally as breathing.

He had gained another life here.

His cheeks naturally flushed, and a smile formed.

It seemed like a halo was shining behind him. She looked up at the god.

“Now then, Sir Gerard. If you’ve finished dealing with the monsters, would you mind lifting the carriage? My strength is insufficient to help Princess Evergrace out.”

The knight immediately lifted the carriage and helped her out. But the knight didn’t even register in her awareness.

She collapsed in front of him, grabbing the hem of the god’s robe with trembling hands.

“P-please tell me your name…! Y-you said I don’t need to repay the favor… but I cannot do that. I owe you my life. Please let me repay you…!”

At her desperate words, the god pondered, then gently took her hand and helped her up. The hand she had thought cold was infinitely warm.

What blasphemous thoughts had she entertained earlier? She felt ashamed for having such thoughts about someone so benevolent and sacred.

It felt like standing before this person would expose all her secrets and misdeeds. She listened to his words with a reverent heart.

“First, I abandoned my name long ago. Now, please just call me ‘Ascetic.’ And though you say you’re indebted, there’s no need to repay it. However, if you truly wish to repay me… there is one way.”

“I’ll follow any method.”

“It’s not such a difficult task. As you know, Princess, I’m a wanted man. If I reveal myself and act in this situation, I’ll surely be imprisoned or executed once this crisis settles. When that time comes, I’d like you to defend me in the name of your ducal house.”

“But I… have no power in the family, and I’m only the second daughter…”

He smiled gently.

“I know. Your potential. Don’t you feel strength overflowing through your body right now?”

“H-how do you…”

“You have the qualities of an Archmage. This advice should be sufficient, shouldn’t it?”

With that, the Ascetic turned and departed. Saying he would stop the demon that caused this crisis.

Princess Celestia of House Evergrace thought calmly.

Indeed, she should take control of the family herself.

She would dedicate House Evergrace to the Ascetic, repay his kindness, and prove her faith.

*

“Is it alright to leave her like that? We cleared the surrounding monsters, but it’ll be difficult for a woman’s body.”

We were almost there. The location where the demon’s main body would be.

“Don’t worry. She’s as strong as Sir Gerard right now.”

“How do you know that?”

“Divine wisdom.”

I roughly attributed my game knowledge to god. Gullible Austin nodded.

I didn’t know when she would become an Archmage, but looking closely, I could see a strange flow of air around Celestia, so I made an educated guess. She probably won’t die on the way.

‘More importantly, I didn’t expect Celestia to be there. Since she abandoned her family, I didn’t recognize her when I only heard the family name.’

Finally, the bell tower came into view.

“Sir Gerard, I’m counting on you.”

“Yes. I’ll do my best.”

The area around the bell tower was already filled with human corpses and debris from collapsed buildings. Even powerful monsters were lurking about.

‘Top of the bell tower. That’s where the demon controlling the monsters is.’

Being the highest and most central location in the city, the monster control wifi would work well there.

Austin Gerard drew his sword and charged at the monsters. As the main body approached the bell tower, all kinds of monsters swarmed toward him.

Completely ignoring me.

‘Don’t let your pride get hurt. It’s not that I’m worthless, but Sernuan Lumiere’s job class is Bishop.’

I climbed the bell tower while panting. With Sernuan Lumiere’s stamina, just running here was already at the limit.

When I reached the top of the bell tower, no one was there. That was expected. It’s not the type to be there so boldly.

Instead, there was a bell. The bell they said was stolen.

‘Illusion is basic magic for the Demon Race. The bell has no rough spots and is clean, so this one isn’t good at illusion magic?’

Demon Race members who create really good illusions are troublesome because you have to examine every object and wall. Or sometimes the entire space is an illusion.

‘Damn it.’

I stabbed the center of the bell with the sword I picked up. Normally, the metal would have scraped, but blood bubbled out.

The illusion blurred, and a person pierced by my sword appeared.

“Guhheok…”

The demon, accurately pierced through the chest, spat out dark red blood. Its head slowly turned. Bloodshot eyes stared at me.

“Y-you bastard…!”

When I pulled out the sword, blood splattered. But as soon as the blood was about to touch me, it became particles of light and disappeared.

Staggering back a few steps, the demon that collapsed in front of me clutched its chest and continued speaking.

“G-god’s favor too, you can’t remember… you fool…!”

The sensation of piercing flesh was surprisingly… nothing was felt.

Really fortunate, right?

Originally, you have to faithfully listen to the death dialogue to be called a true hardcore gamer. You have to lick and devour even the worldview to be a game otaku.

‘Can’t remember god’s favor? Hmm, is it about the Forgotten God? There’s definitely some foreshadowing about gods…’

“Heh, hehahaha… That I, in the hands of such a blasphemer… At least you, at least you…!”

Heavy bleeding. It’ll die soon.

I think I’ve heard all the dialogue worth hearing, so let’s wrap this up. It’ll be boring if we drag it out longer.

When I gripped the sword again, the creature shed tears of blood and jerked its head up. Its distorted face was eerie.

‘Wait.’

At that moment, I caught sight of a blade glinting with the sunset light in the creature’s hand.

“Die…!”

With a sharp cry, the sword came down.

Thunk.

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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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