The Life of a Wise Cult Leader - Chapter 72

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Fire

Walking down the long corridor and turning right, I came to a wooden door. The door design was certainly different from those of the Empire.

An attendant opened the door for me, allowing me to enter naturally. Tea and refreshments were prepared on the table.

Sunlight streaming through the window warmed one side of my face through my translucent veil.

“You’ve arrived. I apologize for keeping you waiting.”

“Not at all. You must have gone to great lengths to arrange this fine meeting place.”

The Second-in-Command rose from his seat, bowed respectfully, and shook hands with me. I also greeted him according to the etiquette that ‘Sernuan Lumiere’ had learned.

He began speaking while pouring tea into the exotic teacup placed in front of me.

“So what did you want to discuss…?”

“I received a revelation from the god I serve.”

“You mean… Lumensia? …I see.”

It seemed like the person in front of me was looking at me with an expression like ‘Ah… acting again.’ But it must be my imagination.

I slightly lifted my veil with the back of my hand. Then, without making direct eye contact, I stirred the teaspoon in the teacup.

‘Weakness Detection.’

[system: Activating skill.]

[Activated Skill | Weakness Detection Lv. 1]

[Target: Kalben Sior ‘Second-in-Command of the Empire’ ]

[Would you like to discover weaknesses?]

[Y | N]

‘Y’

[Loading….]

Slowly, the edges of my vision distorted. I grasped the teacup with the hand that had lifted my veil. The veil smoothly covered my face.

[Kalben Sior ‘Second-in-Command of the Empire’ weakness analysis complete]

-Wavering Faith: The target is non-religious.

-Suspicion: The target is suspicious of you.

-Trust Decline: Trust in you has significantly declined.

Not just a decline in trust, but a significant decline. That’s harsh.

‘Is it because I’m still level 2? Not much information is coming out.’

Anyway, I was using Weakness Detection for its cheat option of real-time access to low-level targets’ inner thoughts due to its low level.

[‘Gods exist? The people of that country really believe the nonsense spouted by the Empire’s ruler…. I’m pathetic for being worried about this story and arranging this meeting.’]

That’s really too harsh.

Despite reading his inner thoughts, I continued speaking.

“A disaster will soon befall Centa. In the process, countless people will be hurt and lose their homes. Pain will overflow and form rivers.”

“A… disaster, you say?”

[‘Even if it’s called a revelation, for a saint from another country to disparage my country. What a rude fellow.’]

His inner thoughts are quite candid. It’s impressive that he’s still smiling and treating me kindly despite thinking such things.

“I received a revelation that after a century and a half, the dead buried in the ground will crawl up from the north, and all sorts of impure things will emerge and attack Centa.”

[‘Is he talking about undead? Undead out of nowhere after 150 years. Is this what the Empire appointed as a saint?… He looked dignified, but now he’s barking up the wrong tree. Countermeasures against undead are already in place. When did we analyze holy power to repel undead and strengthen the northern border defenses?’]

The more I spoke, the more the Second-in-Command seemed to struggle with managing his expression.

“I see.”

He sipped his tea to hide his expression.

‘What’s commonly called holy power is just a type of magic used by those with aptitude for combined healing magic and purification magic. If you understand the principle, it’s possible to make it in artifact form, and it’s been distributed for decades now, yet he says such things….’

Hmm. To answer his inner thoughts right now, that won’t work. That’s why Centa was defeated.

I deliberately didn’t tell the Third-in-Command, but I should point this out to the Second-in-Command so they won’t suffer like before.

“Those impure things are returning after nearly 150 years, so they’ll certainly be… different from before.”

I smiled and drew purification power into my teacup. It was an action I took because I didn’t want to face the threat of poisoning like last time.

‘It’s fine.’

It seemed they hadn’t put poison in it. Only then did I feel relieved and take a sip of tea.

‘This is quite delicious tea. I wonder if I can get some later. The Empire’s tea taste is rather…’

Meanwhile, the Second-in-Command’s attitude had changed slightly.

-Wavering Faith: The target is non-religious.

-Suspicion: The target is suspicious of you.

-Trust Recovery: Your trust has slightly recovered.

Trust recovery.

[‘Undead different from before…? Are you saying ones that purification power doesn’t work on are coming?’]

Now he seems inclined to have a conversation.

‘Wait, thinking about it, there was a strange report.’

What report?

‘There was a report about suspicious movements in the north, but could that report be related to this?’

The warning signs were already showing.

I set down my teacup with a sound.

“In the revelation… I saw Centa being destroyed.”

It wasn’t a revelation, but I saw it on a 4K resolution 540Hz refresh rate 32-inch monitor.

‘I should review the reports….’

The Second-in-Command’s demeanor became somewhat more favorable.

“Centa… was overrun by waves of undead hordes, causing domestic chaos, and the Empire, not missing the opportunity of war, pushed in with military forces and fanned the flames of destruction.”

“But isn’t it strange that you, an Imperial, are telling us this?”

“Though I inherited Imperial blood, I am simultaneously an ‘Ascetic’. The boundaries of nations, races, and wars cannot obstruct my mission. If there are those who suffer, wherever they may be, whoever they may be, I must rightfully walk toward them. This body came down to eliminate suffering, so nothing can stop me.”

Upon hearing my words, the Second-in-Command showed a deeply thoughtful expression.

[‘I thought he was simply a puppet sent by the Empire… but he’s a true saint. I definitely saw him healing Centa’s citizens too. Have I been viewing him with too prejudiced eyes?’]

He inwardly admired me.

I smiled inwardly.

You’ve just been deceived by a fraudulent cult leader! Congratulations, sucker!

This is what happens when you accept truth without critical thinking.

You get swindled by fraudsters and even mortgage your life. So everyone, make sure to read the terms carefully when signing contracts!

“I see. However, there’s something I don’t understand.”

“What would that be?”

“Even so, I don’t quite understand why you’re giving such information to me, a high-ranking official of an enemy nation. The theory that you, Ascetic, are giving false information to cause chaos in Centa seems more plausible.”

The Second-in-Command lowered his head. He was speaking very honestly.

It seemed that what I had shown in Centa had given me some credibility.

“I understand having such thoughts. But truth… doesn’t only come when there’s a reason to believe it.”

I set down my teacup and smiled gently.

“People always seek reasons, but God is not an entity that explains reasons. He merely tells facts. I’ve only given you a single fact. Whether to accept it or not is up to the person who received the fact.”

Originally, people believe this kind of thing most when they’re one step behind.

“So ultimately, it doesn’t matter whether we believe it or not?”

“It’s not that it doesn’t matter. I want as many people as possible to avoid suffering. Everything I just told you was also God’s will, meaning I spoke because I hope as many people as possible won’t suffer. While I do hope you’ll believe me, how could everything go according to my will?”

“So the choice ultimately belongs to Centa.”

Begging someone to believe you is something only amateurs would do.

[‘If gods really exist… no, let me just examine the current situation first. Since it doesn’t seem like he’s harboring ill intentions and scheming, it won’t be too late to believe after reconfirming the reports.’]

Thus, the Second-in-Command completely fell for my sweet words.

“Then, do you know the exact timing? And the countermeasures…”

“He told me that when the sky turns red and black and the rivers become pitch black, the dead will open their eyes in the north and crawl forth.”

“The sky is red and black… I understand.”

[‘I think there was content like this in an ancient book. Since I’m not certain, I should tell them to keep it secret from the King and search for materials separately.’]

“God added, ‘Their impure darkness can only be eliminated with sacred flames and the pure energy of spirits.'”

They should understand with this much, right?

For spirits and holy power, not just any holy power but high-purity holy power and high-grade purification magic.

Speaking in roundabout ways is bothersome, but gods originally speak in circles about everything.

“I understand. Though I don’t fully comprehend it, we’ll have to find our own way forward.”

[‘It’s hard to tell whether this person is imitating a god right now, or if they truly heard God’s words… but it won’t be too late to check the ancient books and reports before becoming suspicious.’]

“If we prepare for it, it would indeed be the easiest enemy to face.”

[‘Certainly… if we hadn’t known, we would have suffered great damage… If they know the timing and countermeasures this well, did they really receive a revelation? If that’s truly the case, then that god might be on Senta’s side rather than the Empire’s.’]

How unfortunate that turned out! The god isn’t on the Empire’s side or Senta’s side, but is simply thinking of killing all humans.

[Weakness Detection ended]

Time must have run out as Weakness Detection automatically turned off. Well, our conversation was almost finished anyway.

He nodded his head.

“I see… Thank you for sharing the information. We’ll do our best to prepare countermeasures.”

When he offered a handshake, I shook hands as well. It was time to go.

‘This should be enough spoon-feeding. There’s no need to do anything more. If I say anything else, I’ll just arouse suspicion…’

I returned to my room without regret. Tomorrow my companions would return anyway, and as soon as they did, I would complete the remaining schedule in Senta and return home.

‘Was there an item or something else in Senta…? I can’t remember well.’

I made notes early in my possession for times like this!

I confidently pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from my inner pocket. It was paper where I had written down detailed stories from the game early in my possession, knowing this day would come.

‘I generally remember, but since I’m crossing to another continent, I’m starting to forget things other than important quests, so it was good I brought this.’

[Most Important Things in Senta]

‘I wrote it quite detailed.’

A Priest Staff and Melee Arm Guard.

‘Perfect items for our Cardil and Yelena! The surveillance must have loosened up too… I should go out under the pretense of market sightseeing with Kalebrin.’

I immediately knocked on Kalebrin’s door. I heard movement inside, then the door opened slightly.

Red eyes and disheveled black hair greeted me.

“Why…?”

“Since we’re in a foreign country, why don’t we go sightseeing at the market instead of staying cooped up in our rooms? We don’t have any schedule today either.”

More precisely, our schedule was forcibly cleared because of my kidnapping incident.

“Wait a moment… W-wait.”

I waited in front of Kalebrin’s door, gently touching the snake wrapped around my neck. It was moist, cold, and soft.

“Let’s go…”

Without waiting long, Kalebrin came out of her room. She was carrying a cross bag and holding her staff.

“Do we not need to contact anyone else?”

There would be surveillance personnel anyway, so why bother? They’re probably watching this situation right now too.

“Of course not. We’re a diplomatic mission, not criminals. Let’s go, Sister.”

And so we set off on our market outing.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————