The Life of a Wise Cult Leader - Chapter 64

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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

Erendor smiled slyly. With a similar view, I also smiled slightly.

‘I forgot that Imperials treat spirits like false gods…’

Actually, to be more precise, it was closer to an atmosphere where they didn’t acknowledge their existence at all. There weren’t many people who could see them, and in a place that only believed in Lumensia, acknowledging the existence of spirits would make the atmosphere strange.

I had momentarily forgotten that and blurted out the real name of that high-ranking spirit.

It was suspicious behavior that could easily arouse a million suspicions.

Erendor continued speaking.

“Our noble Saint, who has only lived in the Empire and was confined to temples within it, knows about spirits. And even the exact real name of a spirit called Ifrit. This is quite intriguing.”

However, it wasn’t that big of a deal.

“It would just add more topics for conversation on our long journey. Would you like to hear it now?”

I had plenty of excuses prepared.

Ifrit came flying through the air toward Erendor. It seemed he had finished drying everyone off.

I didn’t even think to hide the fact that I could see Ifrit, and smiled back at the flying Ifrit.

He returned to the group with a mischievous smile.

“No. Let’s hear that story along with others all at once later, interesting friend.”

*

Soon, as we approached Elar’s Tears, sparkling crystal chunks began to appear on the ground. They looked hard like glass or crystal chunks, but when I actually stepped on them, they crumbled as if molting skin was collapsing.

‘I couldn’t see details like this even in the game.’

I enjoyed the world within the game with satisfaction. Indeed, this life as ‘Sernuan Lumiere’ was better. What did I care about my original life? There was no one waiting for me anyway.

A pleasant crunching sound accompanied the group’s steps. Despite the dense forest, it was as bright as broad daylight due to the crystal chunks and light-reflecting leaves, even though only a little light filtered in.

As what appeared to be wind spirits passed by giggling, a strange sound like crystals bumping into each other began to be heard.

Tinkle…

“Now, now. The real sightseeing is just beginning, so don’t be too surprised.”

I looked closely at the vines hanging like curtains. The vines looked like curtains strung with crystals like beads. Like those bead curtains hanging at the entrances of Chinese restaurants.

When Erendor pushed aside that leaf curtain, the crystal beads collided and shattered. They became crystal fragments and fell to the ground.

“Welcome to the beautiful world of Great Nature.”

My eyes filled with sparkles.

The verdant plants formed a layer like ice, as if frozen. The leaves were the same.

When I grabbed a leaf at eye level with two fingers, it crumbled like thinly poured and hardened sugar water, scattering silvery powder just like before.

“This isn’t bad for the body, is it?”

Yelena asked innocently. Then Erendor chuckled.

“It would be good for the body if anything, not bad. Miss. I hear mages are desperate to get their hands on it. Since it’s made from the special water and mana of this place combining, it’s nourishing for those who handle mana.”

At those words, Kalebrin’s eyes sparkled as she tentatively touched her tongue to a leaf. She frowned, then immediately opened her eyes wide and licked the leaf like ice cream.

“Does it taste good?”

Yelena asked. When Kalebrin nodded, she also tentatively licked a leaf. Her expression brightened as if it was delicious, and she crunched on the leaves.

Cardil was disgusted at them chewing and eating as if it were snacks. Erendor just watched fondly like he was looking at city folk experiencing rural life.

“Ascetic…”

Kalebrin offered me a leaf. I politely declined. Kalebrin looked slightly dejected, then offered it to Cardil too.

“Do you know what this is to just put anything in your mouth?”

Cardil scolded about street food like a proper doctor. Kalebrin hesitated.

“But… it se, seems to make the bo, body feel better. Ca, Cardil. Won’t you ea, eat…?”

“…”

Cardil pondered for a moment, then slowly sighed and took the leaf from Kalebrin’s hand, chewing it reluctantly.

He looked like a herbivore eating grass to survive. Even though he seemed ill-tempered, he was really a good guy.

“Hehe…”

Kalebrin bloomed with a smile, happy even with that. Since our maxed-out utility character was happy, that was fine. I walked leisurely while sightseeing the surrounding scenery. People were also looking around, admiring this beautiful scenery.

Erendor didn’t give any reproach despite everyone acting individually. Probably because of the ‘plan’ he and I had made together.

Austin Gerard would also need some time to prepare his plan in this treacherous forest, so until then, it was fine to leisurely tour Elar’s Tears.

The sound of flowing water came from somewhere. I moved to listen to the water sound. Yelena and Kalebrin immediately followed behind me. Cardil also followed behind me as if he didn’t mind.

Elar’s Tears. Deep blue water was flowing over rocks that looked like frozen ice.

Unlike the advance description, water wasn’t gushing out like a magnificent waterfall. The single stream of water flowing down the rocks might have looked shabby in some ways, but it had its own tranquil charm.

Rather than the water flowing out, the sparkling stalactites created by the falling water and the mysterious fish living in the pool were prettier.

Since not even one fish was ordinary, I stood quietly in front of them, watching the sparkling fish living in the transparent water.

‘Can such colorful fish really live in such transparent water?’

Even if it’s Great Nature, this is… They look like predators would spot and gulp them down immediately.

‘Maybe they contain poison…?’

Usually flashy ones have poison, don’t they? Or they taste terribly bad.

Come to think of it, it would be stranger if they had no poison and tasted good. Is such an environment without predators really sustainable?

There wasn’t even common water plants in the pool. Just candy-like pebbles and water shimmering with rainbow colors.

Wait a minute. Don’t tell me…

Erendor was standing in front of me before I knew it.

“Everyone who has seen Elar’s Tears praises it as beautiful. What does our Saint think?”

“It’s certainly beautiful. Beautiful and… strange.”

“…Strange?”

“Of course it’s beautiful. But within this beauty, there are strange aspects. There are no ‘predators’ in this place.”

Even the most commonly seen water spirits weren’t visible. Certainly in the game, there were so many that Undines were said to be the most numerous among spirits.

On the way here, the only spirit was the mid-rank spirit clinging to Erendor. The absence of low-rank spirits was also a problem.

“What do the fish in this pond eat to survive? Mana? If it’s mana, that would be even more problematic. Creatures that live only on mana.”

Erendor’s expression hardened. I continued speaking.

“Can we really call them living beings?”

I turned around. Kalebrin’s expression was hardening stiffly.

Eventually, even Cardil, who had been thinking quietly, seemed to understand and was startled.

“Is there anyone who can explain what this means?”

Yelena held her halberd and scratched her head. But there was no kind person here who would kindly explain to Yelena.

“Then… this place is already…”

Kalebrin fidgeted with her hands.

“Right. You noticed well, interesting friend. This Elven Forest is already half dead. Running on mana means…”

“A void of life.”

Kalebrin spoke briefly while gripping her staff tightly. Yelena squeezed between us and waved her arms.

“Wait a minute~! So I still don’t understand what this means, can someone please explain!”

I stayed quiet for a moment, then carefully opened my mouth.

“It means the Life Spirit that should create new life is absent. So nature is being replaced with mana.”

“Spirits? Well, of course I just saw a spirit… Um, does something like a Life Spirit really exist?”

“Spirits exist, friend. Why can’t you believe it after seeing one just now?”

“What I can’t believe is whether a ‘Life’ Spirit really exists.”

Yelena apparently wasn’t doubting spirits, but was just curious about whether a ‘Life’ Spirit really existed.

“Water, fire, wind, earth, lightning… I can understand these spirits. They’re attributes that mages handle. But a ‘Life’ Spirit is… too abstract, isn’t it? Does such a thing really exist?”

“Yes.”

Yelena was left speechless by Erendor’s clean answer.

“Miss, let me give you one piece of advice. Even if you don’t believe and deny that existence, that existence is there. That’s the truth. So… don’t make a fuss about not believing and get yourself in big trouble later.”

Erendor said that while winking at me. I couldn’t understand why he winked at me when he looked at me, but anyway, the kind Saint didn’t ignore even a healthy adult man’s wink. I smiled back at him in response.

Yelena looked at us strangely, raised her eyebrows, then continued speaking.

“No, of course… I wasn’t saying I didn’t believe. The one you have… I mean, um, I also saw a little bit of that cute fire child.”

Yelena said “um” while gesturing around Erendor with her finger. Ifrit silently giggled and did somersaults in the air.

I smiled and stepped forward.

“Sister wasn’t really questioning whether Life Spirits exist or not… but was purely curious about how they exist, right?”

“Yes.”

Hmm. This is a problem that wasn’t well covered even in the game and came out ambiguously… Actually, I don’t know much about it either.

Maybe a GM or producer would know? Or perhaps a scenario writer… Anyway, it wasn’t information that I, who was just a casual game addict, would know.

‘At most, the spirits you could use when choosing the Spiritmaster class were light, darkness, water, fire, earth, air, and lightning.’

After all, life itself was too abstract, as Yelena had said.

‘Of course, I have the Necklace of Ranoop, a healing artifact. Healing has always been deeply connected to life. The World Tree is the same. It’s tied to the keyword of life. Then, when I go to the World Tree this time, I should at least try to find clues about why the Life Spirit that Erendor claims really exists is absent.’

Perhaps while investigating the World Tree, I might discover some secret. Even regarding that thing that interferes with and distorts my ability to think certain thoughts…

‘Could the reason the World Tree was blocked in the game also be related to this?’

Erendor responded to Yelena’s answer.

“Well. You’ll find out about that soon enough, miss.”

Yelena shrugged her shoulders. Meanwhile, those who had finished sightseeing returned and chattered excitedly.

“It was truly beautiful.”

“It felt like something that doesn’t exist in this world. Don’t you think so, Doctor?”

“How can such a fantastic space exist! Not just this waterfall called Elar’s Tears, but all the creatures in this entire forest are truly magnificent!”

Erendor smiled brightly.

“Haha! That’s right, isn’t it? The Elven Forest being the most beautiful among all forests is all because of this.”

“This phenomenon is created when the mana in the air combines with moisture, right? That’s why all the other flora and fauna have forms and ecosystems of new species we’ve never seen before!”

A bespectacled person from Senta, apparently a scholar, spoke excitedly.

“So, I was wondering, could we take a few biological specimens for research? If we could study these flora and fauna and this incredible Great Nature… this could really achieve unparalleled prosperity and strength for Senta!”

Just as Erendor let out a big sigh and was about to say something.

CRASH-!

“I’ve come, come to kidnap the Saint!”

Austin Gerard, poorly disguised, appeared throwing useless smoke bombs left and 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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