The Life of a Wise Cult Leader - Chapter 62

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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

I tidied my hair while glancing at him. Since our sitting heights were similar, there was no need to look up at him.

‘He’s completely hooked now.’

Erendor’s bright blue eyes sparkled even more. I looked at him briefly, then politely gestured toward the greatsword hanging behind his back.

“Since Brother Erendor is a swordsman, I thought you might be interested in stories about such swords.”

“Oh, um. Yes. Of course… how interesting. Would you tell me that fascinating story? Since it’s a tale from across the continent, it’s even more intriguing?”

Erendor was truly a man who couldn’t hide his inner thoughts. No, he probably didn’t need to hide them. Since he had nothing to lose and was only strong…

Desire for power arose but I suppressed it. Since I was born a silkworm, it’s beneficial to live eating only mulberry leaves.

I gracefully began the story.

“From ancient times, a certain rumor circulated on our continent. A sword that calls for blood… a sword that calls for war… The epithets for that sword were endless.”

Having thoroughly cooked the snakes of the banquet hall and the widow, it didn’t take long to draw him into this half-fake, half-real story.

“That sword was extremely beautiful and destructive, so those who wanted it were as numerous as its epithets. But the end of those who possessed that sword wasn’t very good. They all died miserably and horribly without exception.”

“Oh…”

He was so purely naive, similar to Austin Gerard or perhaps just a bit more difficult.

“Perhaps because it harvested others’ screams, even their own souls… might be clinging to that sword even after death? Hehe, unless one dies, the truth cannot be known.”

I smiled languidly while looking at him.

The Ifrit that had been moving back and forth beside him had somehow fled far away. Trembling in fear for some reason.

Was there something around? It certainly wasn’t scared of someone like me. After all, what could be frightening about me, who survives on eloquence with zero combat power?

When I glanced toward the building I came from, the reason for the Ifrit’s flight became clear.

Kalebrin was glaring at me with a menacing aura from the second floor window beyond. Whether she could see the Ifrit or not, she was roughly watching that little thing like a cat watching a bug.

‘Why do I feel like I’ve done something wrong…?’

Should I have told them before coming out…? Come to think of it, Cardil would probably worry a bit too. And Yelena… she’d probably scold me for unauthorized departure from my escort.

‘I only came out for a walk but ended up running into Erendor.’

While I was lost in various thoughts and keeping silent, Erendor smiled brightly and gave generous reactions to my words.

“What an interesting story! So? You received a request to purify that sword. Did the Saint eventually purify it and break the curse? I’m so curious about this.”

I tried my best not to pay attention to Kalebrin and focused only on looking at Erendor.

“From here, the story becomes even more interesting. That sword came into my hands… not long ago. It’s a very recent story.”

“A recent story?”

Erendor pestered me with his eyes like a child asking for more interesting stories before bed.

“As a Saint, I was able to meet many high-ranking figures. Among them, one marquis… possessed a sword. He loved that sword so much that even in spaces where weapons couldn’t be brought, he stubbornly insisted on wearing that sword. Unlike Brother Erendor’s sword, that sword with its sharp and elegant appearance was…”

“By any chance… was it a sword shaped like a flamberge? I’m just curious. Stories become more fun the more detailed the imagination becomes.”

I knew everything from that sword’s appearance to its purpose, but I didn’t bother to say it. The most interesting stories are cut off at the highlight, after all.

“I’m not sure. I have no knowledge of martial arts or weapons. If you could show me what a flamberge is, I think I could give you an answer.”

“Since we’re traveling together anyway and have plenty of time, I’ll show you. Then the Saint can tell me more of that interesting story. How about it?”

He seemed to be trying to wrap up the story. Since there were many watching eyes and listening ears, it would be difficult to continue the story further, so he was probably trying to leave soon.

“That sounds good. A companion for a long journey naturally needs interesting and entertaining stories.”

I smiled brightly while catching a leaf that fell on my thigh and rubbing it between my fingers. The leaf spun around between my hands.

The Ifrit that had been trembling behind the tree floated in the air and slowly approached. For some reason, its movement seemed to bring a warm breeze. Perhaps because it’s a spirit.

The approaching Ifrit briefly made eye contact with me, then circled around me. It seemed to be interested in me.

I tried my best to pretend I couldn’t see the Ifrit. If I showed I could see it here, who knows how Erendor might react… and in this situation, the more I hide my abilities, the more advantageous it is.

‘It was trembling earlier but now it’s even approaching because it likes me? Was there really an assassin earlier…?’

I was anxious since I never knew when or where I might be assassinated. But now that Erendor was here, it should be safe. He wouldn’t let me die before I told him what happened to the magic sword.

He briefly communicated with the Ifrit that was circling around me and making some crying sounds, then made a subtle expression.

‘What? Did the spirit gossip about me?’

In the setting, spirits were just part of nature, wasn’t that all? And they could use abilities of their element… that’s about all I remember.

What came from Erendor’s mouth was an absurd statement.

“You… you’re more frail than I thought, aren’t you?”

Frail…

To be called a frail fellow by a man who was practically a stranger after barely exchanging a few words…

I was slightly stunned hearing those words. However, I didn’t show it in my expression. Sernuan Lumiere doesn’t stand there dazed after hearing such words. Maintain it, my Saint identity…!

“Is that so? Since I have no knowledge of martial arts, I have no talent for physical activities. I suppose I would appear frail to an upright warrior like Brother Erendor.”

Erendor moved his lips.

“No, that’s not what I meant. Um… yes, let’s save this interesting talk for later when we can catch up, friend.”

It didn’t seem like he meant it in the nuance I had spoken.

It seemed like he cut it off because it wasn’t appropriate to discuss here… but what exactly was he trying to talk about that he’s postponing it for later?

“Yes, let’s do that. We’ll see each other soon, so let’s have a leisurely conversation then. Brother.”

Erendor nodded and then swiftly departed with the Ifrit floating in the air. With just one leap, he was already at the edge of my vision.

At that moment, he drew his sword. The large greatsword hanging behind his back was drawn without obstruction, showing off its elegant blade.

Unknown characters were engraved on the edge of the blade. Soon the characters blazed red.

‘Wow… it’s exactly like what appeared in the game…!’

My otaku heart blazed after a long time. I watched with an excited heart as he gripped the sword properly and swung it.

When he grabbed the greatsword with one hand and swung it casually, the characters that had turned red disappeared and blazing sword energy shot out.

“Damn!”

A person hurriedly fled from the grass field where the sword energy flew. But it was already too late. Because the invisible Ifrit burned them alive as soon as it touched the fleeing person.

“Aaaaah! Hot! H-hot…!”

It wasn’t as much fire as Kalebrin’s magic circle, but still a person was burning. Soon a terrible smell arose and then quickly disappeared.

Since the purification artifact was spinning vigorously, even the ash powder flying toward me soon turned into light and returned. The burning stranger tried to extinguish the fire by jumping into a nearby pond, but the flames on their body wouldn’t go out.

Still, seeing a person burning and dying before my eyes didn’t feel good, so I activated the scales.

‘So it was an assassin after all.’

Not quite at Alderion’s level, but still had murder and assault charges. Even infanticide was there. It seemed they had faithfully worked as an assassin throughout their life.

‘Let’s just let them die.’

The fact that this person was hiding in the grass field meant they were trying to kill me. If Erendor hadn’t decided to keep me alive, it would have been me who died.

Soon the movements of the person splashing in the water gradually decreased. Dying from toxic gas would be faster than dying from their body burning.

When I looked back to where Erendor had been, he had disappeared without a trace. He must have returned in the meantime. To just leave after setting someone on fire.

Erendor was indeed cool. Handling spirits and even having a large greatsword with cool special effects. Completely different from Sernuan Lumiere who just wags his silver tongue.

‘So I just need to go to Elar’s Tears, make a deal with Erendor, and bring back the holy relic.’

The original Erendor had little affection for the elf race, so it would be easy to steal away holy relics that could be considered their artifacts. Or he could let me inside.

‘It would be nice if he could just deliver it to me like a quick service. That would be a bit difficult, right? Hmm. Since the holy relic would be inside the World Tree, I’d have to go myself to see what else is there…’

But I’m supposed to maintain my position here as a Saint. If the Saint is away from their post for too long, there will definitely be people who notice. The same goes for sleeping time.

Those guarding me aren’t just Yelena, Kalebrin, and Cardil, but other guards from Centa will be attached too. To shake them off and head to the World Tree with my agility and stealth stats at 0…

It was virtually impossible.

I got up from the bench and brushed off my bottom with my hands. It was time to head back. It was also mealtime.

I walked slowly, swinging my long legs leisurely as I thought.

‘To enter the World Tree, that’s the only method.’

The more I concretized the plan in my head, the more I thought it was a bit extreme… but it couldn’t be helped. There was no other way.

If I carry out this plan, I’ll be sorry to Centa and the Empire, but it can’t be helped. I never had any patriotism to begin with.

‘I should contact Austin Gerard.’

And now that I’ve even confirmed Erendor’s face, I can contact him too, so there shouldn’t be any problems with the plan I’m currently thinking of.

‘Since they’re both physical types, they’re really easy to deceive.’

Using two gullible people in my plan was really easy work. Even considering as a variable that I haven’t yet figured out how this Erendor differs from the one in the original, the work was easy.

I smiled and closed the door.

*

The next day.

I went around Centa meeting citizens like campaigning at election sites.

Cardil had fatigue plastered all over his face and kept yawning, while Kalebrin rolled her eyes around anxiously, perhaps due to the large crowd. Yelena was relaxed throughout.

When I waved to the crowded citizens and recited a few lines of doctrine I had learned, cheers arose. Even so, I was a Saint of another religion who came to a hostile nation, yet their welcome was excessive.

“Saint! Please bestow your grace upon me too!”

The resounding voice was probably coveting the miracle they had received from me.

That blatant desire wasn’t particularly unpleasant. It’s only natural for humans to be honest about their desires.

Wanting to be healthy was a natural thing for any living being. There aren’t many people who enjoy being sick, after all.

“Please bestow a miracle upon us…!”

Yes.

Do you know the story of the ‘Monkey’s Flower Shoes’?

It’s an interesting tale about a monkey who becomes so accustomed to flower shoes given by a badger that it forgets how to walk on its own feet, and without the shoes, it can’t even step on the ground alone, eventually mortgaging its entire life to the badger.

I will tame the people of Senta and make them mine, just like the monkey in ‘Monkey’s Flower Shoes’. Naturally, not just Senta, but the Empire as well. Furthermore, I’ll make the entire world that way.

If I do that, the Quest will end too.

“I pray that a world without suffering will come for everyone.”

Light spread out from beneath my feet. All their wounds disappeared and they rejoiced as if they could fly.

“Ascetic! Ascetic! Ascetic!”

Listening to their chanting voices, I waved my hand to them again.

Yes, rejoice to your heart’s content.

Though you won’t be able to rejoice for much longer.

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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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