The Life of a Wise Cult Leader - Chapter 63

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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 wandered around various parts of Centa, sightseeing and playing the role of a dove of peace.

And during that time, I also busily gave instructions to Austin Gerard, Kalebrin, Cardil, and Yelena through voice transmission.

The plan was perfect. If everything went according to plan, my journey to the World Tree would be no problem at all.

And before long, the day came to head to Elar’s Tears.

The preparations were perfect.

“This is the elf guide who will lead us to Elar’s Tears.”

It was Erendor, whom I hadn’t seen in quite a while. This was probably only the second time we’d met since our first encounter. Though thanks to sharing various plans through voice transmission, my inner sense of familiarity with him was almost on par with Yelena.

“Hello. I’m Inspector Erendor. Please treat me well!”

Cardil, Yelena, Kalebrin, the attendants who came along, and several high-ranking representatives from Centa exchanged greetings with each other.

No one criticized his informal way of speaking. It wasn’t the right timing to point it out, and if they saw the greatsword on his back and his forearms, those words would stick in their throats.

“Are you really an elf?”

The young administrative representative of Centa asked. Whether he was fearless, or a perfect example of a newborn calf not knowing to fear tigers…

Erendor tilted his head for a moment, then lifted one corner of his mouth in an incredulous smile. Then he answered refreshingly.

“If you’re asking whether I’m an elf… I suppose I’d say yes for now? The reason I can pass through this barrier is because I’m an elf. But wouldn’t it be better if you were a bit more grateful to me? Those haughty elf folks all~ refused, saying they don’t have time to waste on some mere envoy’s sightseeing procession.”

Erendor mocked him with exaggerated gestures.

“Oh, but you don’t seem to want me saying such things.”

“Ahem….”

“Why are you clearing your throat like that? Got more to say? Hmm… should I speak first? You seem to have something you want to say.”

The atmosphere was turning hostile, but no one intervened. The Empire’s side was naturally in a difficult position to mediate in such matters, but I didn’t expect even Centa to remain silent.

‘Was Erendor in such a high position? High enough that no one could say anything? And no matter how haughty elves are by nature, they wouldn’t refuse all of Centa’s calls to this extent.’

Not just the Empire, but it seems Centa also has some serious problems going on.

“Why is a half-blood grafted with elf here… wasn’t that what you wanted to say?”

“Th… that can’t be.”

“Mm. Right? A well-educated lord like yourself wouldn’t say such things, would you? Ah~ this is troublesome. I’ve misunderstood again. If I misunderstand one more time, then…!”

Erendor spread his hands like making a “boo!” gesture to scare a child.

The young administrative representative was frightened by that gesture and made a gasping sound. He crossed his arms and stood on one leg as usual, sneering.

“…I might just throw you into that~ dangerous Elven Forest? Actually, elves don’t really live in the Elven Forest. It’s just symbolic, symbolic. It’s exactly like how people don’t live in old castles and just use them as tourist attractions. So there are lots of wild animals, and monsters that came down from up there~ The barrier doesn’t just block poachers, but also wild animals and monsters, you know? That’s why elves don’t want to take on guide roles. Haha.”

Everyone became solemn at his additional explanation. The old and weary one of Centa quietly stepped forward and made eye contact with Erendor. He made a sullen expression, shrugged his shoulders, and stepped back a few paces.

“Yes… as Erendor has explained well… the Elven Forest is dangerous… we said we put up a barrier because unauthorized harvesting of the Elven Forest was a problem… but in truth, it would be more accurate to say we separated it because we lack the ability to manage this vast and dense great nature…”

The metallic voice of a patient. He glanced at me sideways. He has something he wants. Those with desires are easy to use. I looked at him with pitying eyes. Now is not the time.

“So everyone, please refrain from individual actions as much as possible… and stay with Erendor… he’s not just a simple ‘guide’ but also serves the role of ‘escort’…”

Erendor had everyone’s attention focused on him, but he just opened his mouth wide and yawned. He clapped his hands twice.

“Come on, let’s hurry and go see the great nature.”

*

After walking for a short while, grassland with huge stone monuments scattered here and there appeared. They must be barrier stones.

Indeed, seeing it in person is different from seeing it on a monitor. I felt my heart pounding. Since I’ll get to see Elar’s Tears too, I should enthusiastically enjoy the waterfall sightseeing. This is a place I don’t know when I’ll visit again.

“Hold each other’s hands. Hurry up. Don’t hesitate. It’s a system that considers those holding hands as ‘companions’.”

Kalebrin took my right hand. Cardil claimed my left hand.

The people from Centa and the Empire held hands like they were playing ring-around-the-rosy. Finally, Erendor took Yelena’s hand at the end and headed toward the barrier stone.

Whoosh…

It felt like something semi-transparent was brushing past me. It was like the sensation of walking into an invisible spider web on a summer day when you can’t see anything.

Soon everyone entered the [Elven Forest: Recommended Lv. 20~30] field.

I looked around with maximum restraint at this fantasy that seemed to have jumped out of a game.

It was quite difficult trying to react only to the degree of interest that a noble young master who had only lived within the Empire would show, rather than appearing like an excited gaming otaku.

‘Wow~ It would have been even better if there were no quests. This is real fantasy.’

Unknown flowers in full bloom and butterflies flying around them. And trees hanging glass-like transparent fruits and leaves shining like stained glass were quite beautiful to behold.

Thud. Thud.

“What is that sound?”

Yelena moved her hand to her waist, being wary of the mysterious sound. Erendor walked ahead with the excited Ifrit, showing no sign of surprise.

“It’s just animal footsteps, so don’t provoke it and stay still~ It’s an herbivore, so as long as you don’t attack first, it’s fine.”

You know what? Rhinos and elephants can also kill people. If you get hit by a giraffe’s back kick, even a lion would die.

Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.

Another person from Centa got scared by the approaching sound and closely followed behind Erendor.

“Are you sure it really won’t attack?”

“Tsk… I told you it won’t if you just stay still.”

Erendor seemed annoyed by the repeated question.

The dense trees parted to the sides like waves splitting. Soon the owner of the loud footsteps revealed itself from among the thick forest.

A giant tree was walking through the forest on root-like legs. It was a .

It was one of the mobs that appeared in the game. I felt the same excitement I had when first entering the Elven Forest.

To think I’d actually see that! With that huge bulk moving around, the ground shakes like that.

The vibrations trembled all the way up to my legs.

Everyone was staring in fascination at that majestic presence. Erendor also thought it would be better to rest a bit rather than drag these dazed people along, so he just stood still and watched.

The walking tree had something like a human face carved into its center, which somehow reminded me of the miserable end of the criminal I had judged… yes, that criminal who became a tree.

But that was that and this was this. My mental state wasn’t weak enough to be shaken by such things.

The Giant Tree had moss and mushrooms growing here and there. Unlike its energetic walking, it moved sluggishly.

Then, when it spotted insects flying around the flower garden and non-insects that looked like they belonged in the Paleozoic era, it quickly extended vine-like appendages serving as arms and killed them by skewering them like kebabs.

The creature that made a bug tanghulu skewer gulped and absorbed something through its vines.

Only the weak-hearted high-ranking officials from Centa wailed like crying pigs at that scene.

“Didn’t you say it was herbivorous! You said it was herbivorous!”

“Well, it’s herbivorous because it doesn’t eat animals.”

Erendor answered without batting an eye, picking his ear.

“If it can kill such huge bugs, doesn’t that mean it can kill us too!”

Really, if these people were going to be so scared, why did they come along? They must have been young masters and ladies who followed thinking they’d get a few more miracles if they stuck by my side and flattered me before going to Centa.

“Despite how it looks, its intelligence is higher than yours folks’, so it won’t attack recklessly. It can recognize the strong, you know. That’s why I told you not to stray from my side~ You really don’t trust what people say.”

Erendor spoke like an old man. Actually, he was around that age.

Elves are long-lived, so even being half-elf, with that appearance he’d be roughly in his 60s. These are beings whose average lifespan is about 1,000 years.

The tree glanced at our noisy group, but as soon as it made eye contact with Erendor, it quickly turned its head and disappeared back into the forest.

Thud. Thud. Thud…

As the vibrations grew distant and the footsteps disappeared, they began to realize how disgracefully they had behaved in front of the Saint.

“Th… Ascetic. Earlier we…”

“I don’t mind. It’s natural for living beings to be frightened and tremble with fear if they have any sense at all.”

At my words, the people from Centa smiled brightly. Unlike the Empire, though they were different races, it seemed the high-ranking officials being rotten was similar between the Empire and Centa.

Erendor glanced at me briefly as I said those words, then proceeded into the forest without comment.

People also followed behind Erendor while chatting among themselves. Even those who subtly ignored him or harbored dissatisfaction obediently followed his trail. We followed Erendor like goldfish droppings, pushing through the underbrush.

I tried to have more conversation with Erendor, but there were too many watching eyes around. We naturally postponed that discussion for later.

As we entered deeper into the forest, various spirits that hadn’t been visible before began appearing one by one. The spirits rode on giant leaves like innocent children at play.

Among the spirits, those with intelligence. Not quite Ifrits, but spirits that seemed to be at least intermediate-level circled around Erendor, chattering and talking to him.

Spirits in the forms of various animals and insects swarmed around, but only I, Erendor, and Kalebrin, who was showing mild displeasure, could notice them.

-{Erendor! Long time no see!}

-{Erendor, Erendor, Erendor!}

-{Why did you come? Why did you come? Let’s play! Let’s play!}

The innocent spirits spoke to him, but Erendor didn’t respond and just walked through the forest. The spirits who were ignored became gloomy.

-{Erendor is ignoring us!}

-{It’s because there are other humans nearby. That must be it, right? Right?}

-{Let’s chase them away! If we chase them away, he’ll play with us!}

-{Let’s play! Let’s play!}

He seemed quite friendly with the spirits, like his contract with the Ifrit.

A moment later, birds that looked like they were made of glass filled with water chirped. As if spirits also traveled in flocks, those birds gathered and rushed past in front of us.

Then a downpour began. People startled by the sudden rain shouted frantically and struggled to avoid getting wet. I simply accepted this fate. My hair gradually became soaked by the rain.

Erendor, who had been walking silently, stopped and pressed his forehead.

“Alright, alright. Damn it. I’ll play with you if you just take me to Elar’s Tears, so stop that prank. You’re startling my friends.”

Everyone looked puzzled at Erendor speaking to empty air. Only Kalebrin, who sensed spirits’ presence rather than seeing them, and Cardil, who mercilessly turned off his interest in anyone who wasn’t a patient, didn’t look confused.

-{Friends? We’re friends too!}

-{But you said you shouldn’t bother friends.}

-{You said that!}

The Ifrit, who had suddenly gotten caught in the rain, was also angry.

When the Ifrit, with a blazing red cloak draped over its upper body, stamped its small legs in the air to scold the spirits, the spirits just giggled merrily.

I swept up my hair that had fallen forward from getting wet. Then my vision cleared.

“So damp…”

Beside me, Kalebrin, who was completely soaked, seemed to be emitting some kind of dark aura as if her discomfort level had risen. But since the purification power couldn’t eliminate even this pure water, only Kalebrin, who had become unpleasantly damp, ended up quite pitiful.

“Ifrit. Dry everyone’s bodies.”

When Erendor said that, the Ifrit flashed its flames once and then strode toward me. As if others could see this too, Yelena and Cardil widened their eyes in surprise.

“Wow! Wooooow!”

Yelena welcomed the Ifrit like a child. When the Ifrit circled around me once, my clothes and body dried crisply.

“Thank you, Ifrit.”

“Me too, me too, please do me!”

Yelena bounced around while still dampily wet.

As if finding such Yelena cute, the Ifrit’s yellow eyes half-closed and it covered its mouth with its small hand. The Ifrit laughed silently and deliberately sparkled as it circled around her, making Yelena happy.

“Wooow. It’s like magic, thank you!”

While the Ifrit was circling around drying people’s bodies, Erendor approached me as I stood apart from the group.

Then he spoke in a low voice.

“You know the name ‘Ifrit’, don’t you?”

Ah, damn…

I made a mistake.

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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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