The Life of a Wise Cult Leader - Chapter 28

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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 enjoying the hospital food and calling Antonio and Kalebrin to give various orders, a great commotion arose outside the door.

“You cannot do this!”

“Ascetic! Please get out of the way!”

Bang!

Less than a second after being told to get out of the way, intruders were allowed into the room.

Kalebrin and Antonio stood guard in front of the bed where I was, wary of the intruders.

“In the name of the Empire, the Knights have arrived! Let all raise their heads and worship our procession!”

A solemn voice and splendid armor.

“Is the one behind you Sernuan Lumiere?”

It was the procession of the Lion’s Heart Knight Commander.

The Knight Commander looked like he could kill Antonio with just his gaze.

And Austin Gerard, standing behind him with a pale face and no presence, was clearly watching me nervously.

Antonio asked.

“Who are you?”

“A report has been received that you defile the light of the Church. Following the will of Lumensia, we have decided to imprison you under sacred judgment. Know that not being cut down with a single stroke on this spot is the mercy of the sun, and be grateful.”

“You cannot do this. What crime exactly has he…!”

“The wanted order was issued because of your impious acts, so know this and it would be best to comply obediently. What are you doing! Drag out this heretic immediately!”

“The Ascetic saved this city!”

“Finally showing your true form, remnant of heresy. Stay quiet unless you want your head cut off too.”

I neatly folded the soft and fluffy blanket and quietly got up. Being dragged away pathetically here would cause tremendous damage to my image.

Sigh… the bed was really comfortable though.

“Stop.”

As I slowly got up, my body felt stiff. Suppressing the urge to stretch, I came out from between Kalebrin and Antonio, and the Knight Commander’s expression became very clear.

“You’ve shown yourself, heretic.”

“They have done nothing wrong. If there is any fault, it would be my inadequate self who is at fault.”

“No need to say that. You are at fault anyway.”

He has a way of speaking that leaves nothing to say.

Austin Gerard stood there with his usual expressionless face, but somehow he seemed restless. He seemed to be earnestly insisting it wasn’t his fault.

‘Anyway, I covered for Gerard as much as possible… he knows well… but the problem was that he was Austin Gerard, a mere vice-commander…’

It was also problematic that Austin Gerard was the one who earnestly covered for me, insisting I wasn’t a heretic, but all those who covered for me were equally screwed up.

The Duke’s youngest daughter had the qualities of an Archmage, but now she was almost out of favor with her family. It wouldn’t be wrong to say she was some merchant’s daughter rather than a noble’s youngest daughter.

From what I heard, Cardil seemed to have obtained Bishop qualifications. They recognized his merit in stopping the demon invasion and going around treating people…

I heard it from Antonio so it’s not certain. Of course, since it hasn’t been officially certified yet and there’s been no appointment ceremony, people would know him as 1st Grade Priest Cardil rather than Bishop Cardil.

Though he was Bishop-level, since his influence within the Church wasn’t great to begin with, Cardil’s opinions had limits.

Kalebrin goes without saying. She should be grateful her identity wasn’t discovered.

Besides that, while most of Astrapolis’s citizens supported me, they were just citizens of a half-ruined city now.

The only proper one here was Antonio Tradetore, the Golden Merchant Guild Leader and my useful secretary, but he was ultimately just a merchant guild leader of commoner origin.

Though I saved the city, my position was as precarious as a candle on a lamp.

‘Of course, if I hadn’t stepped forward, it would have been ruined anyway.’

It’s fine. They won’t be able to keep me imprisoned forever, and they won’t be able to execute me either.

The symbol and evil of heresy.

The fact that I’m the one who cut off the demon’s head will spread throughout the entire Empire. In such a situation, they can’t keep me detained or execute me.

Even the Pope is dead causing chaos, and there’s war and turmoil inside and outside the Empire. The stance the Empire, desperately crawling up to strengthen imperial power, will take is predetermined.

“I will quietly head to prison. Only Lumensia will know the truth.”

“How arrogant of you.”

“Ascetic…!”

“A-Ascetic…”

Kalebrin and Antonio looked at me with worried eyes.

Eyes filled with pure concern. How long has it been? I hadn’t received such looks since 3rd grade in elementary school.

I patted their heads with my hand. Perhaps because I’m tall, both their heads fit in one hand.

“Do not worry. If they truly follow God’s will, I will survive… and if not, I will die. Isn’t that also the fate of an ascetic? So please don’t worry too much.”

I quietly patted the Knight Commander’s head while looking straight into his eyes. His blue eyes blazed fiercely. His gaze seemed ready to kill me immediately.

“Are you done with the chatter?”

The Knight Commander gestured to make Austin Gerard do his bidding. He came forward with a constipated expression, bringing handcuffs.

“Accepting fate obediently is also the world’s test for an ascetic, isn’t it? It’s not your fault, so don’t blame yourself too much. I know well that Sir Gerard worked harder than anyone.”

“…”

The handcuffs were fastened. Heavy lead weights were attached to both wrists.

Living my life, I’ve experienced being wanted, wearing handcuffs, and even possession – what a variety of experiences.

I looked back as I was being escorted by the Knights.

“Please don’t worry too much. I’ll be back soon.”

I left the room like that.

[Antonio Tradetore]

[Status: Feeling faith]

[Location: Near user]

[Kalebrin]

[Status: Surprised]

[Location: Near user]

[Cardil]

[Status: Bewildered]

[Location: Eastern Astrapolis, Indoor]

While secretly checking my believers’ status through the status window.

*

I was not immediately imprisoned.

Before being imprisoned in the underground dungeon, time was needed to have a conversation with the Lord who ruled Astrapolis.

“The Central Church Priests didn’t come out because they were busy taking thorough care of their bodies. Your contribution is truly great.”

=The Central Church bastards didn’t come out because they were scared of getting hurt, but you handled all the cleanup? Very praiseworthy~

The Lord held great favor toward me. It was a natural result since Astrapolis would have been ruined if I hadn’t killed the demon.

“You praise me too much. I simply couldn’t ignore the screams of suffering souls. It’s not something worthy of praise.”

“What are you saying. You saved the citizens of my city, how could I not give this much courtesy? It would have been troublesome if my Knights had been seriously injured when the city was barely functioning. I need to spend money on city reconstruction.”

=The Central Church charges money for treatment, right? Even though our city is half-ruined?

“I’m quite worried since we don’t know when monsters might attack again.”

“No need to worry, Lord. Our Empire’s sharpest fang, the Lion’s Heart, has decided to station here for several months.”

The Knight Commander beside me… didn’t back down from the Lord’s words. The Lord looked only at me with a benevolent face.

“That’s fine. Anyway, since the Ascetic and Bishop Cardil will treat the Knights, shouldn’t the Lion’s Heart go protect more important cities rather than a city like this?”

=Yeah, we don’t need you. We sent out Knights and the Central Church to subjugate monsters, but our main base got completely ransacked then, right? And you’re acting like that? If that’s the case, just go to the capital you love most.

The silent power struggle between the Lord and Knight Commander was quite entertaining. I deliberately rattled my handcuffs while speaking in a pitiful tone with my smile erased.

“Not just injured Knights, but if there are injured citizens, please bring them to me. Just knowing there are those suffering makes me uneasy.”

“Oh, you. Ascetic, please don’t worry so much. While rebuilding the city, I plan to build a treatment center where you can stay.”

“Lord, that is…!”

“It’s not a temple, and we don’t need the Empire’s permission to build just a treatment center, do we? Sir, surely you won’t tell us not to build a treatment center in times like these?”

=Hey, tone it down a bit?

“Kuk…”

The Knight Commander ground his teeth.

I smiled. It was a smile of victory.

“I express my gratitude for the Lord’s mercy, vast as the ocean.”

At that moment, the Knight Commander stepped forward boldly. Since he was holding the chain of my handcuffs short, I was almost dragged forward. The Lord’s expression hardened.

“Lord, I understand your opinion well. However, I need to explain why Cult Leader Sernuan Lumiere has a wanted order on him.”

“Hmm. Explain it.”

=If it’s nothing serious, I’m getting angry?

“He has been the cult leader of heretics actively operating throughout the country for the past 5 months. He bewitched people’s hearts and stole the light of Lumensia. This too is just a cunning heretical trick to bewitch people’s hearts…! He was a cult leader who worshipped demons and revered other gods.”

Oh… really?

That bastard Sernuan, he’s quite diligent?

“Lion’s Heart noticed the cult leader’s movements and received direct orders from the Empire to search for the cult leader spreading impious doctrines.”

“Enough. Sir, are you saying the one who cut off the demon’s head and resolved this situation is a heretic? Your words don’t make sense. It would be more fitting to say you mistook someone who looks similar.”

“Lord, are you trying to protect a heretic now? He is a cunning demon’s minion who stole Lumensia’s light and deceived people! Are you saying we should let such a person live?”

The Lord sat in his chair, tapping the armrest and calmly countered.

“Are you truly certain that the ascetic is a heretic? Do you have clear evidence that he worships demons? Rather, he seems like a good person who helps the injured to me.”

The Knight Commander openly sneered.

“Evidence? There’s already more than enough. Before the wanted order was issued, he established a demon-worshipping sect and lived as its cult leader, exploiting poor citizens. There’s even a cavern with evidence of this! Even now, followers bearing his name are increasing throughout the country, and their faith flows in a direction that denies Lumensia. Even if he personally wielded a sword and cut down evil, that doesn’t make him innocent!”

For some reason, his argument was quite weak.

“He simply follows Lumensia’s light in a different way. The mere fact that he cut down a demon, the evil of evils, makes him worthy of respect. What exactly are you so afraid of, Sir?”

The Knight Commander’s eyes turned sharp.

“Lion’s Heart fears nothing. Rather, haven’t you fallen too deeply for his cunning tongue? If he were truly faithful, the Empire wouldn’t have allowed a wanted order to be issued.”

Our Lord fights well!

I kept my mouth shut and earnestly cheered for the Lord.

“Those charges could all be fabricated. Rather than evidence based on unsubstantiated claims, a hero who brought back the head of a famous demon seems to have more value as ‘evidence.'”

“Should I take this as disregarding the Empire’s judgment?”

“Disregarding the Empire’s judgment, that’s dangerous talk. I simply witnessed with my own two eyes him cutting off the demon’s head. I believe that rather than evidence based on mere claims.”

The Lord wore a relaxed smile. The Knight Commander’s lips pressed tightly shut. Then an attendant entered from outside the door, whispered to the Lord, and handed over documents.

After examining the documents, the Lord spoke confidently.

“It seems that wanted order wasn’t authorized by an Inquisitor or the Empire, but was your independent decision? Of course, I understand the urgency of the situation and that Lion’s Heart is busy. However… what more evidence could possibly be needed for someone who has already cut off a demon’s head.”

“…”

Ah.

The rumors must have already spread.

I pieced together the puzzle in my head.

‘So, the Empire tried to quietly dispose of me by using the Knights. In case things went wrong like this, they planned to pin the blame on the Knight Commander. That’s why the Knight Commander’s argument is so weak and he keeps repeating the same things…’

Meanwhile, as rumors of me killing the demon spread far and wide, the Empire cut their losses first and stepped back.

‘As expected, the Empire moved quite cautiously. Well, with the Pope dead and needing to gradually claim that position for the Emperor, there’s no point creating unnecessary trouble.’

Only the loyal Knight Commander ended up in a pitiful situation.

The Lord, confident of victory, rested his chin on his hand.

“We are those who must realize justice. But what you want now is not justice but execution. If you try to kill without even a fair trial, how are we different from the heretics we so despise?”

A heavy silence flowed for a moment.

The Knight Commander gritted his teeth and reached a conclusion.

“…Fine. But by the authority of Knight Commander, I will detain Sernuan Lumiere for one week. However, this matter is not over. If his crimes are revealed, then I will also question your crime of protecting him.”

The situation was on my side. The Lord leaned back deeply in his chair.

“Do as you please, Sir.”

I avoided execution but would be imprisoned for a week.

I was dragged straight to the underground prison.

‘The time remaining until finding the next sacred relic is… 26 days, so that means 19 days left when they release me, but recovering the sacred relic within that time is just physically impossible.’

Just! It’s impossible because of the physical distance! Damn it!

Even when I woke up after being unconscious for 3 days, I felt it was tight, but 19 days?

It would be faster to just consider the penalty.

‘Hmm~ I just hope it’s not my sight. Please, anything but my sight!’

“Stay quiet. Once your crimes are revealed, you’ll have no choice but to stay quiet anyway.”

The Knight Commander seemed thoroughly pissed off. Since he was a Knight Commander I’d never seen in the game anyway, he was clearly someone who died quickly, so there wasn’t much to worry about.

I hoped this incident would go wrong and he’d either die or get exiled to the frontier.

As the two Knight Order Members and the Commander left, only silent air flowed through the underground prison.

Other people would be bored to death being locked in prison for a week with nothing to do, but I was different.

‘System window.’

[point : 50]

[Voice Transmission : 10]

[Ritual : 15]

[Light of Judgment : 25]

[Mind Control : 30]

[? ? ? : ??]

Finally, the beginning of shopping I could do leisurely.

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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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