The Life of a Wise Cult Leader - Chapter 35

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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

Sernuan Lumiere.

Having abandoned his name and currently referring to himself as an ‘Ascetic’ while actively engaging in relief activities.

In the past, there exists a history of engaging in idol worship and acting as a cult leader.

Has a record of being wanted, then having the bounty canceled.

The ultimate heretic among all clear and obvious heretics.

The highest priority target among those who must be eliminated!

But…

“What the…”

“Well, now we should move to the next location. Hmm? There are no more sick people? That’s truly joyful news, but… there might be those who have difficulty moving around or don’t even know they can receive treatment at the temple and are staying at home. For such people, I will personally visit their homes to provide treatment.”

“Thank you, Ascetic!”

“Thanks to you, I’m alive.”

“How can I express this gratitude…!”

He was definitely just some arrogant bastard who was showing off, relying on his decent holy power.

That must have been the case, it should have been! What the hell is this situation…!

“Saving suffering souls is my mission. I don’t do this work expecting rewards, so you don’t need to feel burdened about expressing gratitude. You don’t need to struggle to repay this kindness.”

With a black veil draped over his face, his long white hair swaying… he deceives the commoners with his gentle tone and firm voice.

Even that ridiculous amount of holy power.

‘Looking like that… doesn’t he really appear like a god.’

I could understand a glimpse of why they praise him as a god.

An amount of holy power rivaling the Pope’s. Even if limbs are severed, he regenerates them quickly and heals the next patient without showing signs of fatigue.

I even heard that those on the verge of death from incurable diseases regain their senses immediately with just one touch of his hand…

“There are no more painful places now, right?”

“Yes… thank you, Ascetic. I will repay this kindness by helping others.”

Even if he went around calling himself Lumensia, it would feel like it wasn’t a lie.

“Those are truly joyful words. Since we’re all born into this world, we are all brothers and sisters and neighbors. It would be wonderful if we all take good care of each other.”

“Understood!”

But I must not be fooled by that ability, appearance, and atmosphere. That bastard is clearly a heretic among heretics who even had a bounty placed on him!

‘I almost fell for it myself!’

A commoner spoke.

“Then would it be alright to bring sick people from the surrounding area here…?”

“I would like to stay, but this isn’t a place for me to be. It would cause trouble if I stayed without permission in a building belonging to Central Church personnel. Fortunately, the Lord has shown mercy this time and said he would build a healing center, so once it’s completed, I would be grateful if you could guide people there.”

“Yes!”

He so easily treated all the patients here and made them his allies.

Several Central Church personnel were also unable to come to their senses, their eyes glazed over.

“Get a grip!”

“B-but Bishop… that appearance is like…”

“Hmph, like the manifestation of Lumensia from mythology? I know without you saying it. But how could someone capable of making such cunning expressions be a manifestation of Lumensia! Get a grip!”

“Y-yes…! I understand.”

Really, they can’t get their heads straight. How can they call themselves priest candidates of the Central Church like this.

He clicked his tongue in displeasure.

Red eyes were watching this.

*

Kalebrin wore clothes that a commoner woman in Astrapolis might wear. In other words, it meant that no one could tell she was a tribal person who had been massacred on heresy charges.

Her hair was also well-groomed, just ‘moderately wavy.’

The reason there was no particularly strange appearance when walking around the city center with her was thanks to that.

Or not? Maybe it’s just that I’m stranger so it doesn’t show…?

“Ascetic…”

“Yes, Sister.”

Cardil decided to stay at the Central Church temple. So by my side was only the reliable dealer Kalebrin…

“That man who was there… shall I kill him?”

Suddenly?

“Hmm… which person are you referring to?”

“The one called… Bishop, with a white beard and, um, a bald head.”

I’ve never seen her in action, but why would Red Witch Kalebrin, whom I had hired as a decent dealer, harbor murderous intent toward that person.

‘Don’t tell me that bishop picked a fight with Kalebrin while I was away!?’

If that’s the case, well, it wouldn’t matter if we killed him… but killing a bishop would be quite risky… couldn’t we kill him a bit later if we’re going to?

Anyway, since I needed to know her true intentions for wanting to kill him, I asked gently.

“Why did you suddenly think that?”

“N-no. Earlier… he kept disliking you, Ascetic. What if you get stabbed again…? I… I need you, Ascetic.”

Ah, I see. The previous Knight Commander kept disliking me, and because of that I got stabbed and fainted for a second time, making Kalebrin very anxious?

Hmm. That’s understandable. The healer who didn’t understand our dealer’s feelings was at fault. Right?

A healer should naturally watch all directions – left, right, front, back, up, down – manage the team’s health as a basic duty, deal with dealers who come to the healer, and mediate when team members fight.

“I see. I’m sorry for not understanding Sister’s feelings.”

“Th-that’s… not it, um…”

I quietly looked down at the hesitating Kalebrin from the side. Then I bent my knees to meet her eye level. I could see Kalebrin’s curly bangs and two red eyes rolling around helplessly.

“I haven’t forgotten that I have a promise with Sister Kalebrin. So until that promise is fulfilled, I couldn’t die even if I tried to. Don’t worry.”

“But this time… your soul…”

Soul? As expected, something must be visible to a sorceress’s eyes. Like a shaman…?

“Your soul is shaken, so your body is fine but… um, if you keep getting hurt, it could be dangerous. So… since that person dislikes you… I’m worried he might harm you, Ascetic…”

So, because I’ve been getting stabbed lately… that damaged my soul… and to prevent further damage, she wants to eliminate that guy?

What is she saying. For the first time, I don’t understand at all…

Since I possessed this body, I thought there had to be something like a soul. But given that it was game-like, I just thought my original world’s data had overwritten Sernuan Lumiere’s data…

“You don’t remember old memories well, do you?”

Kalebrin’s red pupils stared directly at me.

Goosebumps rose on my skin.

“If your soul shakes any more from here… it’ll be dangerous. Ascetic.”

“…I understand.”

What need is there for any more pretentious words in front of eyes that see through even souls.

“Still, don’t worry. I will definitely restore Sister Kalebrin’s forest.”

To purify a forest of that size, I’d probably need to raise the purification holy relic to about level 10, right? An enormous amount of faith would be needed.

Still, it wasn’t as hopeless as before. I could somewhat see a way to survive.

“Yeah. Be careful.”

After having a deep soul conversation with Kalebrin, the system window showed [Kalebrin: Feeling Good]. Successfully managing a team member’s mental state.

‘But if she’s saying that much, I really should be careful with my body…’

Me constantly getting beaten up → unstable connection between body and soul → Sernuan Lumiere or my soul goes bye-bye somewhere or returns to my original body. Sernuan Lumiere’s body + soul dies or reconnects.

‘That absolutely cannot happen. How could I give this account to someone else after building it up this well. That doesn’t make sense.’

Besides, my original self had disabled legs. I had to get in a wheelchair just to go to the bathroom once. That was really inconvenient.

Damn Seoul only had stairs, so to take the subway elevator, I had to walk for a long time, and buses were hard to board. Naturally, I couldn’t drive a car either. I couldn’t press the brake and accelerator.

‘Having a healthy body is really great~’

I walked leisurely, matching pace with Kalebrin. I heard that Cardil’s cabin was half-trampled because of monsters.

I was thinking of looking for patients while wandering around places like shantytowns…

“Ascetic!”

It was a face I hadn’t seen in a while.

“Brother Antonio.”

“Phew, Ascetic. I’ve been looking for you. Please contact me when you get up from your sickbed. I was worried.”

As if to show just how much he had been searching, Antonio wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief before continuing.

“Oh my, I’m sorry. I was thinking of souls writhing in immediate pain, so… my body acted first.”

Actually, I was trying to establish some connections with the Lord’s son.

“As expected of an Ascetic. Ah, I have something to discuss leisurely, if you have time…”

“For my Antonio, I should naturally make time.”

“…! Then I’ll guide you to a good place.”

Antonio smiled like a child at my words.

He walked ahead with nervous steps, and Kalebrin followed with quick little steps. I walked slowly, taking long strides down the path.

The place we arrived at was some upscale-looking restaurant.

The restaurant’s waiter skillfully guided us to our seats. It’s amazing how the restaurant operates normally despite having just experienced an unprecedented situation like an attack. I guess that’s what you’d expect in a fantasy game world.

“I thought you might not have eaten yet…”

Come to think of it, it has been a while since I ate. Strangely, I’m not hungry though.

Grumble.

That only applied to me, as Kalebrin’s stomach made a perfectly timed rumbling sound.

“Haha, the lady seems quite hungry. Now, what menu would you like?”

Antonio pushed the menu the waiter brought toward Kalebrin.

“Could I have whatever Antonio recommends?”

“Certainly. The steak here is quite delicious…”

Kalebrin still hadn’t decided and kept the menu standing while rolling her eyes around. She seems to be having trouble with the numerous and complex menu options.

“Um… I, I’ll have the same as the Ascetic, too…”

It seems she failed at menu selection. Well, it’s no wonder she’s acting like this, having been thrown into the city after living in the forest until recently.

In the end, we ordered three identical steak plates.

Being a private room, it was convenient for having confidential conversations.

“We’re mining magic stones. Soon they should sell well to our contracted buyers, and we’ll be able to pay the fees.”

“Thank you, Antonio. You can use that money however you want, except for keeping aside a portion.”

“I couldn’t possibly do that…!”

“Hehe, anyway, Antonio won’t spend it on frivolous things. I know you’re a Brother who goes around helping neighbors.”

“Ascetic…”

Antonio’s loyalty was well-established too. With the veil off, my vision was clear and good. Kalebrin was staring at me expressionlessly, which made me feel a bit guilty.

“While I was in prison, I saw another future, Antonio. You know the Pope died, right?”

“Ah, yes. Since it’s information only delivered to Bishop-level, it took me some time to hear about it too. They say they’ll announce it to the citizens soon…”

“You’re well-informed. I think a Saint will appear soon. Antonio, please find the Saint.”

“A, a Saint? I heard none have appeared for nearly a century…!”

Antonio’s eyes widened. Meanwhile, the food was served and set up. The conversation paused briefly. I taught Kalebrin how to hold a knife and fork, then continued speaking.

“And… the Thousand-Year Tree, a tree that only grows in Eastern Arcadia. How about trying to use it as a magic material?”

“That’s… just a sturdy and somewhat light tree, isn’t it?”

“If you carve magic into that tree like a magic tool, it lasts several times longer than other wood materials. Some craftsmen might already know this. I thought of this knowledge since Antonio happens to be doing merchant work. Please use it if you find it useful.”

Antonio was like ‘How can you give me such precious information, Ascetic, you’re the best!’ as he wrote it down.

Since we hadn’t met in a while, we were discussing business when the restaurant door burst open with a bang.

“In, In, Inquisition execution!”

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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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