The Life of a Wise Cult Leader - Chapter 55

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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 murmuring voices of people could be heard from a distance.

Finally, this moment has arrived.

How much hardship did I endure to stand right here, in this very place.

I emerged from behind the curtain. The lighting that the Central Church had set up in advance fell upon my head.

The gold thread and decorations scattered throughout the pure white clothing sparkled brilliantly.

The fabric seemed to glow on its own as it reflected the light, as if showing off that it was made of high-quality material.

Someone who appeared to be an archbishop stepped onto the platform first. It was just as rehearsed.

Right on cue, people who had been waiting throughout the temple and plaza lit the incense burners. Smoke rose from the incense burners.

‘They’re really not going to do anything until now?’

Since the poisoning attempts stopped, not a single assassin had come for me. There were no additional assassination attempts either.

‘Marquis, is what you really want for me to rise as a saint? Are you going to let me ascend just like this?’

The archbishop opened his mouth.

“The new saint is… Sernuan Lumiere, who has been active under the alias ‘Ascetic.’ Please welcome the new saint with praise.”

The amplified voice from the staff echoed through the plaza. By the way, I argued fiercely that I wouldn’t use the name ‘Sernuan Lumiere,’ but it couldn’t be helped.

And I did compromise halfway.

What could I do when they said a real name was necessary. However, since I plan to show discomfort every time my real name is mentioned, those who know me will still call me ‘Ascetic.’

That way neither my concept nor my setting would be broken. Good.

The bishop who came out as the Pope’s representative went in, and I revealed myself through the curtains that the attendant had drawn back.

Instantly, the murmuring voices of the people stopped. I took another step forward onto the podium. The lighting followed me as it shone down.

The people were beneath my feet. The bustling heads of the citizens moved like waves.

There was commotion here and there, but soon it gradually became quiet starting from around me.

Everyone held their breath. I walked slowly while looking down below. After enjoying the silence for a moment, I opened my mouth.

“Hello, Brothers and Sisters. And Neighbors. I am Saint Sernuan Lumiere.”

Negative gazes filled the space. They must be wondering where the hell this guy came from. Well, it doesn’t matter. This level of public opinion can be changed quickly-

“Ascetic! Ascetic! Ascetic! Ascetic!”

A voice burst out from somewhere.

It was a woman’s voice I had heard many times before…

I bowed my head slightly at the right timing, greeting according to proper etiquette.

People began to follow along, calling out the name ‘Ascetic’ as if enchanted. Some even whistled.

Colorful confetti burst out in broad daylight. The paper petals fluttered through the air as they fell.

What I hadn’t seen in the rehearsal must have been something the widow had ordered and installed in advance.

-Ascetic! Ascetic! Ascetic!

I enjoyed the citizens’ resounding cheers for a moment. After a brief moment of pleasure, I leisurely received the staff and began my speech.

“Greetings, glorious Imperial Citizens. I am Sernuan Lumiere, appointed as saint according to Lumensia’s will. However, I now wish to use the title ‘Ascetic.’ Since I have shouldered the mission to eliminate all suffering that exists in the world, I have laid down my past name of Sernuan Lumiere. Please, if you would call me Ascetic from now on, I would be grateful.”

I could feel the priests and bishop murmuring behind me. I continued speaking without yielding.

I didn’t let my guard down. At this moment, an assassin could stab me with a knife or shoot magic at me from anywhere.

“Though I may be lacking, since Lumensia has appointed me as saint, I will do my best to spread light to all people of the Empire. Finally, I would like to say one thing to all citizens of the Empire…”

Bang.

Something exploded.

Thud thud thud.

In an instant, if it weren’t for the red barrier that surrounded me, I would have been hit directly by a stone again.

When I turned my head, Kalebrin was standing next to me, gripping her staff tightly.

It’s fortunate that I kept my guard up.

“Kyaaaah!”

“It’s terrorism!”

I hurriedly turned around.

The top of the temple had broken and a stone statue had almost fallen on me.

If there had been a warning sign, Kalebrin would have cast a curse to bring down the marquis.

Those working under the marquis must have carried out the deed directly.

‘The important thing is my main body’s safety anyway… I just need to prevent assassinations targeting me.’

Getting hurt any more would be troublesome even if I could regenerate. Kalebrin’s warning was starting to seem like more than just a warning.

As long as I don’t get hurt, whether it’s terrorism or whatever-

“Ascetic, this way!”

Rumble!

I was just going to use it.

“Terrorism!? Who on earth!”

The archbishop raged furiously.

It’s not that I hadn’t anticipated this kind of situation.

It’s just that given the marquis’s personality, and for convenience, I thought assassinating me would be more likely, so I had weighted assassination attempts more heavily.

‘Then is it simple bomb terrorism?’

Since there wouldn’t be bombs, it’s probably an installed artifact. A mage’s price is expensive.

Right. Terrorism was actually better. I could thoroughly exploit this situation.

‘Just what I wanted.’

It was an opportunity to solidify my lacking position and reputation.

I abandoned the saint’s benevolence and the ascetic’s composure, speaking as humanly as possible.

“Rather than catching the terrorist, we should prioritize helping the Imperial Citizens who are here right now!”

When I spoke urgently and frantically, veins bulged on the archbishop’s temples.

“Sernuan Lumiere! You are now in the body of a saint! Do you have any awareness that you’re in a position where you cannot move carelessly!”

“If I’m a saint, then I should step forward even more at times like this. Even now, there are people caught up in terrorism because of me! I am… an ‘Ascetic’ who must fulfill his mission, who cannot end his life until then…!”

“Ugh…!”

The archbishop equipped himself with nagging. But would I listen to sermons right now?

“Let’s go, Sisters.”

I ran away like that.

An ascetic doesn’t run. The only exception is when someone is in pain. And right now is such a situation.

The clothes that weren’t made for running hindered my steps.

The shoes were also incredibly uncomfortable. But my height of about 190cm allowed me to match Kalebrin’s full-speed running just by taking large strides.

I took that opportunity to attempt a relic upgrade.

Though I had spent some due to penalty rerolls, I had still gathered enough to barely manage one level up.

[Faith required for enhancement: 1600]

The faith I’ve gathered now is 1608… barely possible. I tried to use the foresight skill a bit, but my faith ran out quickly again.

[Would you like to enhance the relic ‘Asclepius’s Chalice’?]

[Relic: Asclepius’s Chalice | +5]

[New additional effect: Heal all people within sight]

The effect was sweet considering how much faith I used. Healing everyone. It was worth the faith spent.

Yelena had somehow joined my side, grinning cheekily as she drew out a new halberd.

“Geez~ Really can’t be stopped. I came along as a guard, but when the one I’m supposed to guard goes wild, it really takes the fun out of guarding.”

“But Yelena was also concerned about what’s happening outside, weren’t you?”

I glanced at her sideways. She was walking almost running a few steps ahead of me.

The halberd’s design was different, so she must have made a new halberd while I was trapped in the temple listening to various teachings. She must have stubbornly torn apart that otherworldly creature to use as halberd material.

“That’s true, but~”

I smiled slightly and teased Yelena.

“Hehe, I heard you cheering ‘Ascetic’ in the plaza earlier. The support was helpful.”

“Ugh…! That was… the public opinion was so bad-“

Yelena made that excuse, but I didn’t pay much attention to it.

As expected, Yelena fell into the category of ‘good’ one way or another.

In that case, even if they weren’t ‘believers’… he could have kept them under his command and used them.

Dealing with evil people is difficult, but dealing with good people is easy.

The behavioral patterns of those with conscience and common sense are consistent.

“Run!”

Thud! Rumble!

As I went down the stairs and came outside, I saw panicking Empire citizens and crumbling building fragments. Even the temple was being half-destroyed.

‘That marquis bastard sure does things flashily.’

Kalebrin tried to cast a red barrier again, but Yelena was one step faster.

“You need to be careful!”

She struck away the flying stones with the flat side of her halberd, not the blade. It was something she did with basic specs without any skills.

I smiled and said to Yelena.

“With you two here, I can trust you and focus more on my mission, can’t I?”

“You still run that mouth of yours well!”

Clang-!

A dagger that had flown from who knows where was blocked by Yelena’s halberd. It seemed there was an assassin among the crowd.

“Sister.”

When I gave Kalebrin a look, she nodded.

The VIP section is on the terrace of the building across from the temple. It looks like everyone already evacuated due to the terror attack. I briefly borrowed the vision of a nearby believer.

Kalebrin gripped her staff with both hands and muttered.

My vision switched. I was stealing the sight of a believer I had prepared.

“What is happening!”

There was a woman who looked familiar from the banquet hall. The marquis had a peaceful expression. However, he was wearing a sword at his waist.

The believer hurriedly evacuating from the building looked down the stairs. The marquis who had been coming down from the VIP section was clutching his heart and collapsing.

‘The curse worked.’

Now that I’ve confirmed it, that’s enough.

I cut off the vision. The sight disappeared like smoke, and what unfolded before me was that same scene from before.

“Ugh, at this rate we’ll be trampled to death by people rather than die from terrorism.”

Yelena, who had collided with frantically fleeing citizens, said while gasping for breath.

Certainly, if left like this, those crowded at the plaza’s entrance wouldn’t be able to get out and would be stuck. Then there would be casualties, whether from bombs or being trampled by people.

But I don’t have any noble skills for protecting someone.

That kind of ability was something only those who followed the mage route like Kalebrin or Cardil could have.

But do I really need something like that?

I looked at the colorful heads flowing out like water from a bathtub drain and slowly took a breath.

There’s no way I would have jumped out here without any countermeasures.

I immediately brought up a familiar window in my mind. Then I mentally pressed hard on the small radar-shaped icon I had discovered last time.

Then a window appeared.

[Target Search : ]

[Searching for users within 20km.]

[Searching…]

[Users within 20km range : 103 people]

Were there only this many people whose faces I knew?

Still, about a hundred people should be enough.

[Would you like to connect?]

I slowly raised the corners of my mouth.

[Connected!]

-Current thoughts are being transmitted to targets.

“Listen well, all souls standing under the light! At this very moment, the mission being given will be recorded as eternal glory, and this will become an opportunity to prove your faith. Who will step forward first for this glory!”

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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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