The Life of a Wise Cult Leader - Chapter 39

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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

The new function of the upgraded Weakness Detection.

[NEW! | Real-time access to thoughts of people lower level than yourself]

Such a godly function had been unlocked!

‘Though since I’m only level 2, I can only see level 0 or 1 people…! And I can only listen for 5 minutes with a 5-hour cooldown…!’

Anyway, even with all these restrictions piled on, it was definitely a good function. I’m glad I got maximum benefit with minimal points.

And even with the restrictions, I mainly deal with common people.

Most of them are around level 0-1, and there aren’t many named characters above level 3, so it’s useful.

I couldn’t see people’s levels yet – maybe the function isn’t implemented or something – but Weakness Detection generally worked on everyone.

‘They’ll probably add level viewing in a future update, right?’

And thinking carefully about leveling up, the level being measured now seems different from the game level I used to play.

Of course, even in the game, leveling was harder than other games. Still, by now I should be able to reach around level 15, but seeing how slow it is, the experience system is definitely different.

‘I have no idea what gives experience though…’

Getting experience from hunting doesn’t suit me as a Bishop to be on the front lines. Kill-stealing would damage my dignity.

‘Let’s focus on collecting relics and upgrading skills rather than leveling. If I chase after levels just to try out functions, I’ll end up achieving nothing and dying.’

Even though I’m treated as Astrapolis’s hero and a great Ascetic, I’m still a mayfly whose head could fly off with one word from the Central Church and Empire.

‘Good thing the Pope died at the right time.’

If the chaotic period hadn’t come faster than the original story, my head might have been chopped off without incident.

I looked at Alderion’s crown while leisurely waiting for him to collect himself.

He raised his body. His eyes had lost some redness and were turning pinkish.

“What can only I do?”

Obviously, cover for me!

I’m being targeted from quite a few places to rely on just that Archmage material. I need insurance like Alderion.

Alderion was a really good choice for insurance.

He owes me his life and became a believer so he won’t betray me, making him safe in terms of trust. And since Alderion is the head of house, he can use the Marquis family’s power directly, and as a traditional Astrapolis family, he won’t be ignored anywhere.

But saying that honestly would damage my dignity again.

“You’ll know when the time comes.”

I dismissed it like that. When something happens, I’ll use Voice Transmission and make up some story about heaven’s will to give him tasks.

Having a blank check to use in emergencies warmed my heart. Indeed, what comforts my heart is lots of money and lots of power.

Even if it’s money and power built on lies, I had no choice if I wanted to survive.

[Main Quest! Spread faith to people all over the world.]

[Penalty for failure: Death]

Every time I checked that System Message, it felt like I was given an indulgence, making me feel at ease.

*

Alderion suggested that since it was late, how about staying the night at his mansion and leaving in the morning.

Actually, I didn’t want to travel roads without a single streetlight at night, so I accepted his offer and headed toward Thomson. Since I told him to wait, he’d probably still be waiting in that hall.

The mansion corridors at night were pitch dark with nothing visible, but Alderion walked around just fine. I guess it’s his house after all.

“Oh, this is…”

A corridor with moonlight streaming in. Right under the hall door, red liquid was flowing out stickily.

I could tell from seeing it so many times now. What flowed out under the hall door was fresh blood.

When I opened the door, Alderion looked down with a shocked expression.

“This can’t be…!”

Thomson was dead below.

Actually, I half expected it, so I wasn’t that surprised. Since Yelena wouldn’t die, it was probably Thomson with high probability.

“That insolent attendant who used sorcery on Alderion has laid hands on Thomson too. I, who was treating you, must have been a thorn in his side. He definitely killed Thomson while I was treating you, then planned to go to the garden and tamper with the carriage.”

“Wh-what…”

I delivered my lines like driving a wedge to the flustered Alderion.

“He planned to kill me in this castle like that. After burying Alderion, Thomson, and even Yelena in this mansion, he intended to steal your reputation, power, and wealth. Thinking that our Brothers and Sisters suffered such pain makes my heart feel like it’s tearing apart.”

Alderion was restless. Now came the climax.

“Ah, poor pitiful Thomson… How much it must have hurt. How terrifying and agonizing that moment when the blade pierced his heart must have been!”

I sat down on the floor without caring about blood getting on my clothes. The Purification Power that had been sluggish since earlier slowly purified the blood, floating light in the air like fireflies.

“It’s all because I’m lacking. If I had noticed that attendant’s sinister scheme earlier! I could have freed Alderion from suffering much sooner, and Thomson wouldn’t have died so painfully…”

Alderion could only move his lips. I lifted Thomson’s body in an uncomfortable position. The stiff corpse settled in my arms.

A place only for those who don’t belong to this world

I massaged Thomson’s pained expression with his eyes open to make it look better and closed his eyes.

Whether Thomson or the traitorous attendant go to the Abyss or not, I don’t know such things. I’m not a real god, so how would I know?

But I knew one thing. The attendant who became a tree would die more painfully than Thomson. The Empire doesn’t forgive heretics.

“Ascetic, please get up now. Thomson must have passed peacefully. Didn’t he get the opportunity to meet and serve you while alive?”

Whether he had the tongue of an excellent believer, Alderion naturally comforted me. There wasn’t a single tear stain in my eyes, but his comfort made me feel somewhat better.

I lifted Thomson up. A dead person’s body was heavier than expected. His limp hand dangled in the air.

Clunk.

Then, the hall door opened. I could tell without looking. It was Yelena.

“Sernuan Lumiere~? There’s something you need to see… Oh my. So trouble finally happened.”

I turned around while holding the corpse.

“What’s the matter, Yelena?”

The blade of the halberd Yelena was carrying had blood on it. I don’t want to imagine who she beat up with that menacing thing.

“There’s a pile of corpses and an unknown magic circle in the basement. Even when hunting heretics, I’ve never seen such a magic circle, so I came to ask if you might know… I didn’t expect you’d already made your move.”

Yelena slung the menacing weapon over her shoulder and tilted it. Her face looked nonchalant but she was quietly furious. I hate dealing with that type.

“Could you put Thomson on the bed for a moment and come see the basement?”

Yelena tilted her head slightly. Since Yelena is a difficult type and I might lose control of the situation, I need to try some maneuver.

“Understood. Brother should rest comfortably too.”

“I’ll guide you to the room.”

Instantly, the Marquis with the highest position here plummeted vertically to become a guide.

I laid Thomson down in the bedroom. I don’t need to worry about blood getting on the blankets or sheets. All the blood was already erased when I embraced him.

“But where did your robe and veil go? Your shirt is in tatters too.”

Alderion did it!

Saying that would damage my image too much.

“I had a little incident too.”

“Hmm… I see. Anyway, come quickly.”

Yelena didn’t pry further. She probably made her own deductions from seeing Alderion’s clothes were also a mess.

We headed to the basement, each holding a lantern. Yelena led the way, and honestly, since this is like a horror game, I would have been scared if asked to go first.

“Here it is.”

When we opened the second door of the basement, a stench hit us. Alderion’s black pupils instantly contracted sharply.

‘Is he properly purified?’

I need to examine Alderion’s condition once more after seeing the basement. It would be troublesome if my precious believer died mysteriously.

Yelena strode in and transferred the lantern flame to torches attached to the basement walls. Only then could I properly see the basement’s horrific state.

How many corpses are there? Roughly looks like about 10. There are even children.

The common features were that all their eyes were gouged out, and though they were corpses, their entire bodies were dark bluish-black as if bruised.

Another one was spilling blood and entrails on the stone floor as if freshly killed.

I could guess which one Yelena’s halberd had struck. Probably a collaborator who did this. I have no sympathy. She asked me.

“Do you have any ideas?”

“Unfortunately, no. This was truly a vicious bastard.”

“What about this magic circle? I don’t know much about sorcery or magic.”

Alderion also tried his best to peer around while making a disgusted face, but apparently couldn’t bear it. He was sitting on the corridor stairs.

You were eating just fine earlier, but now your stomach feels bad?

Rather than comforting Alderion and whispering beside him, I pretended to examine the magic circle in front of Yelena.

Since I don’t know anything about magic or sorcery anyway, I could just answer vaguely that I don’t know. For something like this, I should bring Cardil or Kalebrin…

Hmm?

I discovered a familiar mark within the magic circle drawn in blood. And I found something like a common point.

…It seems somewhat similar to the magic circle that was drawn when I first awakened.

I didn’t remember it in detail and just passed it off as some object, but the marks here and there seem somewhat similar…?

Are all magic circles originally similar? Is that why I’m getting confused?

Swish.

I feel a gaze staring intently at me from beside me.

When I turned my head slightly, eyes with the green color of a dark forest were filled with me.

“You know something, don’t you?”

I smiled brightly in response to Yelena’s smiling expression.

“I can’t say that I don’t.”

But how am I supposed to explain this? I really don’t know anything except that it’s a magic circle I saw when I awakened.

I’m not even certain if it’s a magic circle.

Yelena asked.

“What purpose was it drawn for?”

“…It seems like it was probably meant to summon or possess a being from another world.”

I don’t know… But since I possessed Sernuan Lumiere, it’s probably something equivalent to that, right?

“Hmm.”

Yelena seemed satisfied with that and was just looking at the magic circle while stroking her chin with the hand not holding a weapon.

“So it was meant to summon or possess a being from another world… You don’t know anything beyond that?”

“There are Brothers and Sisters who are well-versed in this kind of thing. It would be better to ask them for details.”

“Well, it’s not like we can do anything just by knowing right now. Did you catch the ringleader? Are they still alive?”

For the first time, I could give her a definitive answer. I smiled brightly and said.

“Yes, they’re in the garden.”

Yelena’s expression hardened stiffly.

“…I see. But, Ascetic.”

She answered, abandoning the lively tone she had maintained since we first met.

“Yes. Yelena?”

Come to think of it, she had been addressing me with a stiff expression and tone since earlier.

I really don’t know why.

Yelena deliberately looked diagonally at the corpse and magic circle while asking me.

“I saw a tree from the corridor window that wasn’t there before, but surely that’s not it, right?”

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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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