The Life of a Wise Cult Leader - Chapter 34

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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

Hmm, this ceiling looks somewhat familiar.

“As, Ascetic…!”

When I rolled my eyes, Kalebrin let her black wavy hair fall in front of me as she shouted. I thought she was a ghost.

“I’ll go call Cardil!”

Kalebrin rushed off like that.

Since I had just been under assassination threat, I felt uneasy that my reliable dealer had disappeared, but I tried my best to stay calm.

I quickly regained my composure and checked the system.

‘I slept for about 12 hours, I guess.’

Last time when I got stabbed with a small dagger, it took 3 days. As expected, the Healing Relic was a staple item.

‘My faith and number of believers increased a bit. Word must have spread about me collapsing.’

Gasp~ Our Ascetic protected Astrapolis while taking a blow from such a traitor’s blade~!

The rumor probably spread something like that, right?

Anyway, good things are good. Thanks to that, I accumulated some points too.

I heard two sets of footsteps approaching. I tidied my hair. Thanks to the Purification Power constantly running, my body was clean, which was nice.

“Cardil, it’s fortunate that you don’t seem to have any injuries.”

“Are you calling that words right now…? I suppose what I say doesn’t even sound like words? If you want to end up in the ward, just say so first. I’ll make you look like a Knight Commander.”

Cardil said that while creating an orb in his hand. Kalebrin beside him looked at it with curiosity. Since they’re similar mage classes, she must see something there.

‘I hope those two get along well.’

Wouldn’t it be nice if the extreme dealer and the utility-heavy healing mage got along? Austin Gerard, who handles tanking and close combat, already seems close with Cardil, so that’s settled.

“What happened to the Knight Commander’s punishment?”

“The Empire said they’d handle it and took him away. In handcuffs. He won’t meet a good end. Setting aside the attempted murder charge for trying to kill you, the charge for murdering the Lord is heavy.”

Cardil said while examining my body.

“As expected, there’s nothing particularly wrong. You just collapsed from anemia, so we completed the blood transfusion while you were sleeping.”

“Thank you, Brother.”

So I fainted from simple blood loss. I can regenerate, so why doesn’t blood regenerate? If things go wrong, I might die from blood loss.

“How is your physical condition?”

“I feel refreshed after sleeping deeply. Even when I tried to sleep more, I could hear the voices of souls in agony, so I couldn’t lie down for long.”

“That’s good then. Get up. There’s somewhere we need to go.”

Huh…? Where to?

“The Lord’s son is lying on a sickbed. If you don’t treat that son now, you’ll really end up executed.”

Hmm, since the Lord who was protecting me died, either the Empire or the Central Church will send someone to fill the Lord’s vacant position… Then my postponed execution would be carried out again.

I understood. As expected, Cardil must have become a believer.

His way of speaking was a bit tsundere so it was confusing, but if he’s thinking of me this much, he must have become a believer. I worked so hard to make Cardil my believer, it would be strange if it didn’t work.

When I have time, I should try giving him a baptism.

“Treating the sick is my mission. Thank you, Brother Cardil.”

“I’m also uncomfortable with the fact that there’s a patient, setting aside that person being the Lord’s son. You don’t need to worry about it.”

Such a tsundere.

Kalebrin was circling around Cardil like a dog that needs to poop. I gave a light nod to Ethan who brought me the veil and robe, then put on my clothes.

“Th, that, you know. That thing, how did you, you do it? That, vi, violent magic power… I’m curious, curious.”

“It’s not established in theory yet, but…”

The black veil covered my vision. How long have I been wearing this that the darkened vision felt somewhat uncomfortable? I pulled the robe hood down tight and swept back the white hair that had fallen forward.

“The gentle and kind part of magic power manifests as healing magic, and the violent part of magic power like this…”

“Ooh…”

I don’t understand the mages’ conversation at all. But I felt proud since they seemed to be getting closer. It felt reassuring that my SR characters were getting along so well. Let’s go, my blue-chip stocks…!

“Sorcery is, a form of praying to magic power… I’m seeing a mage for the first time. Amazing…”

In one of Cardil’s hands floated a dark blue magic orb, and in the other a pure white magic orb. Kalebrin played around poking the pure white magic orb like a cat playing with its paws.

“Thank you for waiting, Brothers and Sisters. Shall we depart now? We can’t keep the suffering souls waiting any longer.”

“Yes.”

“Mm-hmm.”

*

I met the guard protecting the Lord’s son.

“Is this the Ascetic?”

“Yes.”

“And this person is…”

“This is Kalebrin. I keep her as my escort, so can she accompany us?”

“Ah, of course.”

The path to the Lord’s son had tight security, but thanks to my easily recognizable features from hundreds of meters away, I could pass through almost freely.

A tall, pure white man with long hair isn’t exactly a common type. The Lord’s guards seemed to have memorized my appearance well.

“They say it’s an incurable disease.”

The Lord’s son’s attending physician was giving me some briefing about the illness from the side, but it was meaningless.

Thanks to the Healing Relic upgrade, I could now save even dying corpses with a single touch of my hand.

Well, it would be useless if someone’s head got chopped off in an instant.

“He hasn’t been able to wake up from the shock of hearing that his father died.”

The Lord’s son was gaunt and resembled the Lord. His age seemed to be… around late teens to early twenties?

I heard he’d been sickly since childhood, so if he couldn’t grow properly because of that, he might be around mid-twenties.

Either way, new members of society are perfect for exploitation. That’s why I got worked to death at that black company… Ah, thinking about it again makes me feel bitter, so let me stop thinking about it.

“Now, there will be no more pain.”

Golden light spread out. Cardil frowned at the light that was stronger than before. The attending physician and Kalebrin’s eyes widened as they saw the golden light beautifully decorating the air.

His eyelids twitched. The Lord had slightly more yellow hair, but his son had lighter platinum blonde hair.

“Ugh….”

“I’ve cured the disease, but the stamina that was eaten away hasn’t returned. Please take good care of him.”

“Th… This can only be called a true Divine Miracle…”

I’m getting tired of hearing admiration constantly.

I stroked the forehead of the Young Master who was still blinking blankly. His light blonde hair brushed over dryly.

“How do you feel?”

“Ahem, ahem…”

The Young Master cleared his throat and slightly raised the corners of his mouth.

“Indescribably good.”

“That’s fortunate. Well then, I’ll go to save other suffering souls.”

“You’re really just going to treat and leave?”

The attending physician looked at me suspiciously. He probably expected me to demand some kind of compensation after finishing the treatment. But revealing compensation would make me a low-grade cult leader.

“Yes. Your father would have wanted his son to be healthy too. It’s regrettable that he couldn’t see it himself…”

The Lord’s protection of me was probably because of his son’s treatment.

“How can such a person exist…”

“If you really want to give me something… wouldn’t you build the treatment center well?”

The gaunt Young Master who had half-risen nodded his head.

“I understand. I’ll take responsibility and have it built.”

“Hehe, take good care of your health.”

Right. Having me say it directly would be amateurish. And asking for rewards for my own benefit would be even more amateurish.

I need to maintain this feeling of ~Cult Leader for everyone~ so benevolent!

‘Anyway, if I save the Lord’s son, my benefits will increase accordingly.’

Cardil seemed to have brought me with the mindset that whether it’s the Lord’s son or whatever, he’s a patient so he must be saved, but I was full of ulterior motives.

“Isn’t Cardil busy too?”

“Ah, well… there are many injured people after the demon attack, so I am busy.”

“I’ll help with the work.”

“Sure, then.”

“Won’t Calebrin help as well?”

“M-me…? I wouldn’t be much help…”

“Sister Calebrin can also be helpful in her own way.”

I need to make the citizens recognize that Calebrin is helping by my side. And if she helps and they feel indebted to her, that would be perfect.

Moreover, my current situation is precarious.

The execution has only been postponed, not canceled. What I need to do to survive is clear.

‘I need to manage the increased believers, talk with Antonio about the mine situation… and build connections with nobles. I have about 15 points now, so I should make good use of them.’

I need to build power.

If the situation in Astrapolis gets resolved, the probability of my execution will likely increase… then someone stronger than the Knight Commander will come and slice my neck in an instant!

‘I should get introduced to nobles through the Lord.’

Before either the Empire or the Central Church does something to me, I need to quickly build up my power.

I headed to the Central Church’s temple, bringing Cardil and Calebrin with me. Thanks to Cardil telling me that all the patients from the relief center had been moved to the temple.

When I arrived and took off my robe, I could vividly hear gasps of surprise. There was a sweet smell mixed with something like an herbal medicine shop.

“What business does a heretic have coming here!”

An old priest came and scolded me. But it didn’t really affect me.

“Whether I’m a heretic or not isn’t important. I’ve been imprisoned and stabbed with a sword. What could I possibly fear now? But there’s one thing – if I’m not even given the chance to save these suffering souls… that would be the most frightening thing for me. Please, allow me the opportunity to save them.”

“Priest…! My child, my child is in pain… please…!”

“Ugh…”

The priest who had ignored the mother’s plea behind him squeezed his eyes shut.

“No proselytizing activities of any kind are allowed here! Keep that in mind and just quietly heal them and leave.”

I smiled brightly.

“Of course. Proselytizing activities? That’s out of the question.”

*

They let a monster in.

The one who smiled slyly like a snake and opened his eyes cunningly hid his expression behind a black veil.

When he took off the hood attached to his robe, his white hair seemed to glow. Yes, I admit it. He looked like he was trying to show how magnificent a demon could be.

‘Looking like that, it’s no wonder the ignorant masses would believe him.’

But I, who received theological education and thorough training from the Central Church, will never fall for that guy.

‘Judging by his build, he’s definitely a man… Tsk, looking like a pretty boy. Everyone must have been fooled by that face.’

The commoners lying on blankets spread on the floor were desperate to receive even one touch from him, as if receiving God’s touch.

But I knew how hypocritical that smile and gesture was!

‘The Central Church will surely come to execute him soon. Hmph, he’s only alive now because of his little tricks…’

Flash.

Light filled the temple.

‘He must have survived through tricks, right…?’

I blinked.

The child’s leg, which had definitely been severed and bandaged, was slowly growing back.

He glanced this way and let out a laugh.

“That, that bastard…!”

Just as I was about to stop him with that sly smile, Cardil blocked my way and casually spoke.

“Alright, next patient~”

That foal-like Cardil has become a heretic’s lackey, directly feeding sick commoners into the snake’s mouth?

‘Lumensia’s unfilial child!’

Other priests and Central Church officials who were dispatched also watched their actions with distrustful eyes.

‘Go ahead and try that again!’

He seems to have Holy Power equivalent to a Bishop or higher, but using it so inefficiently for leg regeneration means he won’t be able to heal the rest of the people.

‘What an ignorant fool who never learned properly. To think he’s acting like a cult leader just because he awakened Holy Power at some remote monastery. He should know his place.’

If he makes an entire leg grow back like that, the patient will be bedridden for at least three days! This fainting episode must also be the result of reckless failure to control Holy Power….

It should be the result of that…?

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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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