The Life of a Wise Cult Leader - Chapter 69

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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 can return home.

I can return to that house right now….

But I didn’t want to return to that house. From the moment I possessed this Sernuan Lumiere, until now.

The old front door opens, passing by the shoe rack with only a few pairs of shoes, through the entrance where no one welcomes me.

When I enter the house like that, piled up trash is the first thing I see. Only the computer that’s whirring away because of the character I left running to get plaza bonuses is shining brightly.

‘Anyway, there’s no one to welcome me, no one who would miss me. I don’t have much attachment to my original body either….’

Is this thought also something someone created by kneading my head?

‘No, it’s not.’

The thoughts that those called ‘Children’ created by kneading my head were jagged and blurry, constantly changing, whereas this will was firm from the beginning and never changed.

I didn’t want to return home.

The reason I kept trying to clear this Quest in the first place was because if I cleared this Quest, I could use Sernuan Lumiere’s body properly.

So I won’t return home.

“There’s one thing I want to ask.”

The serpent’s head tilted. I asked what I was most curious about without hesitation.

“If I complete the Quest…. the commands, can I continue living in this world in Sernuan Lumiere’s body?”

This is the only thing that matters to me. Whether Lumensia destroys the world or whatever, I just don’t want to go back there….

{“Simply put, yes.”}

“Alright, that’s enough then.”

{“Is this answer truly sufficient?”}

“What I want to hear would be blocked by causality and such, so there’s no point in asking more questions. But there’s one thing that bothers me.”

{“What is it?”}

“Looking at those memories you showed me, I understand. When mortals exceed their limits, they become transcendents, and that seems to be the path to godhood. Weren’t you trying to make the Demon King contract with something called time to create another god to kill or suppress Lumensia? But why-“

{“Are you asking why the Demon King couldn’t become a god?”}

I nodded. Then the serpent began explaining calmly.

{“First, there’s one fact you need to know. While it’s true that mortals become transcendents when they exceed their limits, that doesn’t make them gods but rather ruffians wielding power. They cannot truly be called ‘gods.’ They’ve merely walked the arduous path of mortality to barely reach the door to godhood and earned the right to grasp the doorknob.”}

So that’s how it was…

I briefly organized the information in my head.

To summarize, transcendent ≠ god.

{“The reason we made the Demon King contract with ‘time’ was to help him turn that doorknob more easily and open the door. But… do you think Lumensia would just stand by and watch as the spear meant to pierce her was being completed?”}

True. If someone were sharpening a bamboo spear to kill me, even if I were Lumensia, I’d probably take preventive measures.

By now, the Demon King must be raging wildly, unable to become a god and kill Lumensia.

‘This is a good situation. If I’m the final dagger to pierce Lumensia anyway, the Demon King can’t kill me or handle me carelessly…’

I covered my lower jaw. I couldn’t help but suppress the smirk that was trying to leak out.

‘I thought I’d be brutally killed if I met the Demon King… but if this is how it is, I can take the upper hand in my relationship with the Demon King.’

It must have been Lumensia who demonized the Demon Race – those who didn’t believe in her – making them despised. If I mention that, I can make the Demon King even angrier.

Wait. If Lumensia eliminated those who didn’t believe in her to strengthen her own power and weaken the Forgotten Gods’ power….

‘Damn it…. Then I shouldn’t give more power to the Empire, which is Lumensia’s stronghold. This time, I need to somehow give more power to the Demon Realm and Centa.’

For Lumensia, this is a turn-based strategy game.

Collecting the special resource called faith, managing her cities well to invade other countries. Weakening others’ power while strengthening her own, gradually expanding her influence….

The calculations in my head were complete. I’m destined to walk a tightrope between Centa and the Empire, the Widow and the Demon King, playing politics with all of them.

{“Then there’s something you must go through to successfully complete your Quest.”}

“…?”

{“You know, don’t you? That your soul and body are unstable.”}

That was something Kalebrin had repeatedly hinted at. I nodded.

{“Because of that, when you haven’t gathered enough faith, you suffer internal injuries and bleed.”}

I found out the source of the Quest penalty.

Damn, so that’s what it was. Then to take over Sernuan Lumiere’s body and live comfortably in this world, I have to kill Lumensia?

That means I have to jump into that dimensional brawl?

I’m just a fake cult leader who shoots healing beams!

{“I cannot leave this place. When you leave, I’ll probably fall asleep in this World Tree again. For that purpose, I’ll send down a spirit containing my communication and power, so I hope you’ll contract with it.”}

“What does spirit contracts have to do with my soul and body being unstable?”

{“Your possession of this body is, to put it simply, closer to a ‘snatching contract.'”}

Is it okay for someone who’s almost a god, no, actually a god, to use such language?

{“You can think of it as a contract that makes that arrangement officially recognized. By hearing all the facts and contracting with a spirit, you acknowledge that you’re participating in this act of your own free will.”}

In other words, getting official certification for the snatching contract.

Yes, that’s better. Then even if damage occurs during battle, I won’t cough up blood or shed bloody tears due to my soul and body wavering.

{“Originally, we deliberately kept your soul and body loose in case you wanted to return home at any time…. But since you want to stay and help, we should provide what’s necessary. Especially since you came from another world to help.”}

I’m not staying to help. I’m not that good of a person. I made this choice simply because living in a world I like is better than returning home.

More than that, you’ve been giving me information and various things since earlier. You’re giving so much that it’s becoming suspicious.

“What’s the reason you’re being so good to me?”

{“Being good to you?”}

The serpent said that and laughed so hard the cave shook. Ripples formed in the water.

{“I haven’t been good to you at all. We forgotten ones brought a mortal here without consent and used them without explanation, no matter how dangerous the world was. If we have any conscience, any heart that values life, we should at least do this much.”}

Huh, wait. Usually in these situations, don’t divine beings fail to understand mortals, making the mortals frustrated?

I was stunned for the first time while hearing this information.

The serpent said that and spat out a bead.

{“This child will help you on your journey.”}

The bead wobbled and soon cracked. Then a small light green baby serpent was born.

Unlike the enormous serpent before my eyes, this was a serpent about the size of my palm at most.

‘A baby serpent…. Will this one also grow to be like a dragon later?’

{“If you wish to contract with this child, place your hand on its forehead and wish in your heart.”}

The baby serpent’s forehead was small enough for just one fingertip. I gently placed my hand on the baby serpent’s forehead.

‘Contract…. No, usually in situations like this, don’t you make contracts with cool words? Is it enough to just think about contracting? How should I do this….’

Shwoooo-

Suddenly, green light burst from the baby serpent. Pale light green light emerged as wind blew.

And when the serpent raised its head, its eyes had changed from the unintelligent look from before to intelligent eyes.

It shook its head and smiled.

{“Piruung!”}

The baby serpent cried with a sound completely unlike a serpent. That’s not usually the sound they make, right? Serpents don’t have vocal cords in the first place, so they make hissing sounds….

What does it matter anyway. This isn’t a real living serpent but a spirit in the form of a serpent….

I accepted it and stared intently at the serpent. The serpent struggled earnestly in my palm, then climbed up my wrist.

‘This is creepy.’

The feeling of cold, damp scales climbing up my skin was strange, making me hesitate. Then the serpent’s expression changed as if it had read my thoughts.

‘Uh…. Wait.’

The baby serpent, which opened its mouth and stared at me as if shocked, slowly returned to my palm.

‘No, it’s not creepy. It’s cute, cute.’

{“Pi.”}

The baby serpent that made a short cry finally climbed up my body again. It seemed I’d have to be careful with even my thoughts now.

The large serpent laughed lowly. Then it spoke in a slower voice than before.

{“Get along well. With this child by your side, you’ll be able to freely come and go from the Elven Forest. That barrier was originally centered around the World Tree….”}

Yahoo, I got a free pass to the Elven Forest!

I was wondering what to do when I came back again, but it’s fortunate that it became easier.

{“Now I… it seems it’s time to sleep. Don’t come to the World Tree again. You probably won’t even be able to see the entrance to the World Tree then. No, since this child containing all my power has left, the World Tree itself will disappear.”}

It was regrettable that this beautiful place would disappear, but it couldn’t be helped.

After parting like this, I probably wouldn’t be able to see the large serpent anymore. Not until I revive the Forgotten Gods.

Before getting sentimental, I decided to finish what I had to do.

“I need to find the holy relic and return. Could you tell me where the holy relic is?”

{“Ah…. That’s right. I almost forgot something important.”}

The serpent turned its body much more slowly than when it had tried to devour me earlier. Then it stuck its head into another space. Exactly the place the serpent had been facing away from when I entered.

{“The power to create sacred relics was all taken by Lumensia, and only this serpent body, like my alter ego, was guarding another god’s sacred relic. Now, here is Rutina’s Ring of Protection.”}

From the serpent’s mouth came something the size of a bracelet that a giant might wear. Ring of Protection…? For that, it wasn’t really ring-sized.

{“When worn, it will shrink to fit the wearer’s size. With this, I can feel somewhat at ease.”}

As soon as I received it and brought it to my hand, the ring shrank down. If I’m going to upgrade it anyway, it doesn’t matter whether it’s ring-shaped or bracelet-shaped since it’ll be bound to me.

{“Next time we meet, I hope I can see you in my true form, not as a serpent. I’m starting to get curious about what you look like.”}

True form. Is she talking about her main body?

The serpent’s tone gradually became more gentle than when we first met. The large snake slowly lowered the upper part of her body that she had been keeping upright.

{“This body has fulfilled all its missions… Now it’s time to part.”}

The serpent’s head came down and the area around her mouth gently touched my forehead.

{“May your path ahead be filled with life’s blessings… And may the world live long…”}

A warm sensation spread through me. My body, which had always been somewhat tired, returned to being refreshed.

The serpent curled up as she had been before I came. And gradually, starting from her tail, she began turning to stone.

I met eyes with the serpent who was turning to stone without giving any response. It wasn’t pity or any petty emotion like that.

It was because my head was filled only with determination to achieve my goal no matter what.

‘First… I need to meet the Demon King. I should also reconsider the information to throw to the Widow. The Widow will be more of a problem than the Demon King. I need to figure out what kind of thinking drives the Widow.’

Once again, the serpent became a stone statue. And she never awakened again for eternity.

I only felt the coolness of the baby serpent that couldn’t even fully wrap around my neck.

I cut through the water current and headed toward the entrance. While doing so, I upgraded the ring to about level 4. It was fortunate that I had gathered a lot of faith.

Most swords probably won’t even pierce my body now. I also gained some fire resistance.

I pushed through the water current and picked up the book that had been on the podium earlier. With the book tucked under my arm, I shook out my splashing wet shoes. Water poured out, wetting the grass on the hill.

“Should I keep calling you serpent?”

{“Piring.”}

A sound came from near my neck. Piring. But naming it something like Piring would be a bit… It’s supposedly an alter ego of an Ancient God… something like that.

“If you have a name you want, try saying it.”

{“Pip.”}

I moved the snake from my neck to my wrist area. The light green snake that raised its head lacked much dignity to be called a serpent.

“Are you still a baby so you can’t speak…? You can grow, right? Like the Mother Snake I saw earlier.”}

{“Pip.”}

The snake only tilted its head curiously.

“Good grief. What am I even saying.”

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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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