The Life of a Wise Cult Leader - Chapter 41

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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

There is no Saint.

‘Because the Pope died early? Because an irregular like me appeared? There are many variables, so there’s no need to panic. I had Antonio search for a Saint in advance to prepare for this situation.’

Now the story no longer flows according to what I know.

That was what I realized after getting stabbed during the Astrapolis attack incident. Getting fooled twice would be personally certifying myself as an idiot.

‘It doesn’t matter if there’s no Saint. If Antonio couldn’t find one, then the Empire can’t find one either. Not to mention the Central Church.’

Antonio’s information network is on par with any other information broker in the underworld. So it would be correct to view this under the premise that ‘no Saint was born.’

Then I will…

‘Become a Saint.’

That’s why I gave Antonio the order to find a Saint in the first place.

“I thought as much. I had been expecting this. If Brother Antonio couldn’t find one, then it’s safe to say there really isn’t one. Thank you for your hard work.”

“Are you really okay with this…?”

“Of course I am. Brother, there’s no way I would lie in front of you, is there?”

Pat pat. I stroked Antonio’s hair a few times.

“That’s true. Yes, since you’re on your way to make a report, should I have Kalebrin wait so you can see her after you come out?”

“That would be good.”

“Then I’ll wait at home after you return.”

Home? He must mean Antonio’s house.

I said I understood and returned to my companions.

“Let’s go report to the Lord~”

Yelena said as she put down her halberd in the cargo compartment.

Having been here several times, the path to the Lord was gradually becoming familiar. The attendant who guided us opened the door for us. A comfortable reception room appeared.

The young Lord who had been sitting in the center chair looking at documents looked up at us. He tactfully dismissed the attendants who had brought the documents and greeted us while wearing his monocle.

“You’ve come well, are you feeling alright?”

Alderion spoke with a flustered and uncertain voice.

“Yes… thanks to the Ascetic, I was able to regain my senses.”

Is it safe because he didn’t say he was completely cured…?

Anyway, it’s true that I helped him regain his senses.

“That’s fortunate. If you feel unwell again, ask the Ascetic for help.”

“Yes, thank you for your concern.”

The Marquis gave a polite greeting.

“By the way, where is Thomson whom I assigned when you departed?”

Yelena’s and my gazes met in mid-air.

Yelena’s green eyes seemed to say that to me.

=You tell him.

I stepped forward with a smile.

“Lord, there’s something I need to tell you.”

A benevolent gaze looked down at me.

“Hmm? Speak.”

“Traces of heretics have been discovered in the basement of the Marquis Castle, and I request an investigation.”

“Heretics?”

The Lord looked shocked. I need to spill everything here.

Although the Lord has great favor toward me, he’s different from the previous Lord.

When the benefits of my remaining in Astrapolis exceed the losses, he will abandon me.

“Thomson’s death was also the work of heretics. The reason Brother Alderion became ill was all because of those heretics. Detailed evidence remains in the basement of the main castle of Marquis Alderion Territory, but there’s no one to examine it, so help is needed.”

“You’re saying heretics snuck into my territory like rats? And they even laid hands on Thomson, my direct attendant?”

“I’m sorry to say, but yes. Inquisitor Yelena has confirmed this matter.”

“That would require a dispatch. What kind of help do you want?”

“It’s not much. Inquisitor Yelena and Marquis Alderion, one sorceress under my command and one Central Church bishop. Please assign one coachman.”

“Is that really enough?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll assign one of my attendants who can also serve as coachman. The matter of one bishop will take some time as I need to discuss it with the Central Church.”

“That matter should be fine. I’m thinking of taking Bishop Cardil, and I’ve already received his permission. Taking the bishop falls under the Inquisitor’s requisition authority, so investigation can proceed in the shortest time.”

Of course, I hadn’t asked for Cardil’s opinion. It wasn’t something negotiated with Yelena either.

Yelena’s gaze is sharp. I feel like I’ll be skewered by the halberd she uses, but it’s still safe for now.

“In these chaotic times when the city should be entering a period of stability. We can’t let heretics run wild. We must resolve this situation as quickly as possible and hang the heretics on the gallows!”

It’s funny that a heretic among heretics is saying this.

But to clear suspicion of heresy, you have to hang heretics! If I don’t want to die, I have to push others into danger!

“Fortunately, I’ve captured the heretic remnants and kept them at the Marquis Territory. They’re not in a condition to move, so I left them in the garden of the Marquis Castle, but… we should be able to extract information.”

“Oh, truly befitting an Ascetic. Taking on all the difficult work, I’m truly grateful.”

“This isn’t something I do to receive gratitude. All of this is for a better world, for a world without suffering.”

“But you just departed on a journey, shouldn’t you rest and recover from fatigue?”

“I appreciate the consideration, but I’m fine. Lord. There are still many citizens suffering, and as long as there are heretics gnawing at the city like bookworms, I cannot have peaceful rest. Even if I were to rest, my heart wouldn’t be at ease.”

“Your heart is truly admirable. Then I’ll assign you a good carriage and coachman. Depart as soon as the personnel are ready. I’ll entrust all authority regarding this matter to you.”

“Thank you.”

“Inquisitor Yelena has no objections either, right? Since this happened in my city.”

“Hmm… You haven’t even had a proper succession ceremony as Lord, but well, dealing with heretics takes priority.”

*

Cardil came out running his hands through his disheveled hair. He was dressed in comfortable casual clothes, as if he had been summoned urgently and rushed over.

“Why do I have to be the one to go?”

“Because among the Central Church bishops, Bishop Cardil has the most outstanding abilities.”

When I said this with a bright smile, Cardil looked at the distant mountain once, then let out a deep sigh.

“Let’s go…”

Kalebrin was keeping watch while glancing at Yelena. She was like a Pomeranian getting flustered and wary upon seeing unfamiliar neighbors.

Of course, it’s a rather powerful Pomeranian…

“There was a corpse and some unknown magic circle in the basement. According to the Ascetic… well, they were trying to summon beings from another world or something. But the Marquis, me, and the Ascetic don’t know much about this stuff~ so we brought you two!”

Yelena finished a brief briefing in the rattling carriage.

“I don’t think I’ll be much help.”

Cardil said while pressing around his tired eyes.

“Still, you’re a priest who received orthodox education, so you might know something, right? And the Central Church officials who pursue purely orthodox ways have such rigid thinking~ Bishop Cardil was just perfect!”

He’s a bishop, not a priest, but Cardil didn’t particularly care about the title.

Kalebrin had an expression of feeling suffocated in this situation. It must be because she doesn’t get along with Yelena.

“Well… I’ll do my best.”

Cardil answered in a tone that said ‘I’ll do it since you want me to, but don’t expect too much.’

Yelena swept her long blonde ponytail once with her hand. The ponytail swished and smacked me. This stings quite a bit…

The Marquis kept changing positions as if uncomfortable in the carriage. His robe was pulled deep over his head so I couldn’t see his expression, but he was probably frowning.

Night fell quickly. Despite the dark road ahead, the coachman drove the carriage well.

Driving a carriage relying on just one lamp was quite skillful.

I’m a coward who can’t drive at night, so I found it even more amazing. Of course, later it was more accurate to say I couldn’t attempt it because I wasn’t in physical condition to drive.

Clatter.

The carriage comes to a stop. I opened the carriage curtain.

The blue light of dawn was etched on the faces of Kalebrin who was half-dozing, Cardil who was fast asleep, and Yelena who had been looking at the outside scenery while maintaining her weapons.

Alderion still had his robe pulled deep over his head, so I couldn’t tell if he was sleeping or not. But judging by his abdomen rising and falling steadily, he seemed to be sleeping well.

A swaying carriage and moderate white noise help with sleep. It must have been an intense schedule for the Marquis so far, so I understand.

The coachman knocked on the door and set up the steps.

“We have arrived.”

Creak.

“Ah~ I’m so stiff from being cooped up in there!”

Yelena stepped down first with light footsteps. Then she headed toward the luggage compartment. Cardil also rubbed his tired face a few times with dry hands and asked.

“Did you get some sleep, Ascetic?”

“I was fine without sleeping.”

“Adequate sleep is essential for humans.”

“Hmm… I’ll keep that in mind.”

Why does he seem to look at me like I’m not human? I do sleep too. I just didn’t want to sleep in an uncomfortable carriage.

Even though it was a cramped carriage, it was actually quite comfortable for me with my week-long prison experience.

After making some plans for the future, it was actually good time for grinding faith by stealing glances at the believers’ perspectives while working on the Scale-Punishment tech tree.

“Shall we go straight to the basement then? Marquis~ Please guide us.”

The Marquis put on his black gloves and said.

“Please follow me.”

After walking a short distance, a garden appeared.

In the ancient castle’s garden, there was still the heretic who had become a tree.

Kalebrin approached with sparkling eyes, pattering along.

“Oh…”

Cardil observed the tree again with an indifferent face, while Yelena maintained a composed expression.

The coachman who followed was diligently drawing this scene as a picture. His artistic skills were impressive.

“So, so this is, this is the heretic…?”

“Yes, that’s correct. I delivered punishment fitting the crime, and he became a tree like this.”

“You had the ability to turn people into trees?”

Cardil asked while touching the tree bark.

“No, I can only deliver appropriate divine punishment to evildoers. For instance, making them become idiots, or having their limbs slowly rot away. As an ascetic with a mission to reduce the world’s suffering, punishing evil is a natural right granted to me… but I haven’t been permitted the divine power to completely erase life from this world.”

That was a lie. It was just because my Punishment level was lacking.

“Hmm… I’m not sure. It just looks like a human merged with a tree to me.”

Cardil broke off the tip of a tree branch. Then sap-like blood came out. He touched the sap-like blood with his finger.

“Kreeeeee-“

The tree let out a wind-like scream. Cardil paid no attention and asked me.

“How does the vocal organ work? Hey, Ascetic. How much sin did this one commit?”

“Simply put, he was an evildoer who committed 32 indirect murders and 19 direct murders. Of course, all crimes committed against helpless civilians. Ah, Alderion also became a ferocious beast that harmed people because of this one’s schemes. Against his own will.”

The Marquis flinched.

“I cannot forgive an evildoer who made someone commit such agonizing acts. Moreover, if this hadn’t happened, he would have cleverly escaped again using the heretic’s unknown abilities.”

Cardil held the broken branch against the tree and cast healing magic. Then the branch reattached.

“I see. Then fortunately, I won’t feel guilty about what we’re going to do.”

Kalebrin raised her staff. It was a staff she always carried around and brought along due to its elongated length and ornate appearance.

Her red eyes gleamed through her wavy hair.

“Sh, shall we begin…?”

“Do as you’re comfortable. Our mission is to eliminate heretics and gather as much information about heretics as possible.”

I smiled broadly.

Yelena was watching me like 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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