The Life of a Wise Cult Leader - Chapter 74

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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

This robe outfit with a suspicious veil on top. Holding an exotic staff in one hand and walking through the streets with Kalebrin drew quite a lot of attention.

Moreover, since Sernuan Lumiere was on average about 10cm taller than people from this other world, it was enough to get caught by a patrolling security officer and be interrogated.

The security officer showed his badge briefly and asked.

“Could I check your travel pass or identification for a moment?”

Centa’s security officer wore a moderately dark blue uniform like activewear with a long sword hanging at his waist.

Just like the security officer outfit from the game.

Unfortunately, I don’t have anything like a travel pass or identification.

I briefly handed the bread bag to Kalebrin and took off my veil and robe hood.

“I don’t have a travel pass or identification, so I’m not sure how to prove my identity.”

When I smiled and lightly arranged my bangs, the security officer’s expression had noticeably changed.

“Oh…! Are you by any chance the Saint who came over from the Empire?”

“There’s someone who recognizes me.”

“Of course. The rumors are widespread about someone going around healing people with miraculous power.”

I was aware that rumors had spread to some extent, but I didn’t expect even a passing neighborhood security officer to know my face.

‘Well, there aren’t many people with these physical characteristics.’

But still… something seems suspicious.

“I had time to rest for a day, so I came out to look around the city center. Centa’s city center is quite beautiful.”

‘Weakness Detection.’

[system : Cannot view due to target’s high level.]

Since he’s a security officer, his level might be high.

But still… he’s probably not really just an ordinary security officer. He wouldn’t be someone who’d be leisurely patrolling around here.

“I’m glad it’s to the Saint’s liking. Centa values the harmony between nature and humans, so I think it has a different charm from the Empire.”

“Of course. I especially like seeing people of various races getting along together. As you know, the Empire is a single ethnicity, so I don’t get to see diverse people.”

The security officer wearing a hat flinched slightly, though barely noticeably.

What was it about my words that scratched or stung him? He looks human on the outside, but maybe he’s not human? Hmm, this might be too much of a logical leap.

‘Maybe he’s just a diligent security officer who really did check my identity because I looked suspicious.’

I’ve had so many incidents lately that maybe I’ve just become overly sensitive.

‘Right. Kalebrin is by my side right now, and I have defensive sacred items too. Even if someone tries to stab me with ordinary force, not a drop of blood would come out, let alone tear my clothes.’

Since my limbs kept getting blown off, I went all-in on upgrading defensive sacred items, and like ‘Cardil, would you believe me if I walked through fire,’ I even gained slight fire resistance.

Now I don’t need to cower before some security officer whose face I don’t even know and act like I’m poking a fully ripened persimmon.

I relaxed a bit. As my vision cleared, I could see what Kalebrin beside me was doing.

She was glaring at the serpent inside the bread bag, waving her hands around as if she was about to poke holes in the bag.

‘If this person harbors even the slightest intention to harm me, I’ll pour curses on him like lightning.’

I smiled and greeted the security officer.

“Well then, I’ll continue with my sightseeing.”

“Hmm, since this is fate, would it be alright if I helped with your sightseeing? I can serve as an escort of sorts, and I’ve been working in the capital for about 7 years, so I know the area well.”

I don’t want to.

‘Just a moment ago I was thinking I should stop being so wary, but now that you’re acting like this, it makes you even more suspicious…!’

I gently declined.

“That would be difficult. Sister is already taking care of escort duties, so it’s fine.”

The security officer looked flustered. They wouldn’t have sent such a bumbling fool who can’t even manage his expressions to make contact with me.

“Don’t you need a guide? Maren is quite a complicated city.”

So this is just… simple… goodwill and kindness. Affection and fondness, something like that.

‘Is it really okay to interpret it that way?’

I’d have to have experienced such things to know.

I dealt with it as usual. Just as I always do. I just became wary and kept my distance.

That way, I wouldn’t get stabbed in the back or suffer any losses.

It’s a rational judgment.

“I have a knack for finding my way around. Thank you for your kindness, kind security officer.”

But making enemies would make life troublesome. I drew upon the power of healing and purification and lightly tapped the security officer’s shoulder.

“My body feels light. So this is the Saint’s power…”

I’d prefer to be called an ascetic rather than a saint… but since he’s from Centa, it can’t be helped.

“It’s God’s power. I hope you won’t suffer any pain in the future.”

I didn’t exchange any more words and turned away. Thinking about this and that while trying to speak had rapidly drained my energy.

“A-Ascetic. This guy… keeps eating my tart.”

Kalebrin said with a tearful expression.

She seemed frustrated because she couldn’t catch the serpent since it wasn’t visible. Looking inside the bag, the middle of the serpent’s body was bulging.

It seemed it wanted to eat fruit, as it had eaten only the fruit while leaving out the tart crust and cheese.

“Let’s buy a few more when we leave. Yelena and Kalebrin’s portions too.”

I grabbed the serpent, whose activity had drastically slowed due to its full belly, with one hand and draped it around my neck. It was damp and cold.

“Mm…!”

“We should stop by a fruit shop on the way.”

The small spirits I saw when going to see Elar’s Tears could speak well, so why can’t this one speak?

‘When Erendor comes, maybe I should ask more about spirits…’

*

I arrived at the location for the second sub-quest to obtain arm guards.

On the way, I happened to see a fruit shop, so I bought some unidentifiable berry varieties and various tropical fruits.

The serpent ate well. Kalebrin also picked up a few to eat, staining her fingertips red.

The cemetery we arrived at was shrouded in mist, with the slanted sunlight of around 4 o’clock streaming in.

[Liam’s Grave]

I looked around left and right. The cemetery, shrouded in mist and seemingly slightly cooler than other places, had no one else besides us.

Hasn’t Garend come yet?

‘The cemetery is dirty. Isn’t it being maintained?’

While waiting for Garend, I walked back and forth through the cemetery, cleaning it with purification power.

‘Since it gets clean just by walking around anyway. It’s not bad to do it while waiting, killing two birds with one stone.’

I’ve been playing the role of a fraudulent cult leader too much lately, so I should do some good deeds to avoid trouble. Well, it’s not like I particularly believe in Buddhist karma…

‘What if I end up purifying even the ghosts who come here?’

Kalebrin was just sitting under a large nearby tree, holding an apple-like fruit in her mouth while reading a book.

‘This seems roughly organized now. Pulling weeds would be too much. It would ruin my image.’

When I returned to [Liam’s Grave] where Garend usually was, there was a sound from behind.

“Who… are you?”

When I turned around, I saw ‘NPC Garend’. He had spoken to me first even though I hadn’t initiated conversation.

“…Just a passing traveler.”

“You’re saying a passing traveler stopped by this ominous cemetery where no one comes?”

If I become suspicious like this, he might not give me the item. I took off my robe hood.

“I haven’t been in Maren long and stopped by during sightseeing, so please don’t be too suspicious.”

I took off my veil, folded it neatly, and put it in my pocket.

“I just wanted to see souls who could rest without any more pain.”

“…A saint from a neighboring country.”

Even after revealing my face, his wariness didn’t disappear.

“Quite a lot of people seem to know me now.”

“In boring Centa, a saint from a foreign country coming to show off and leave is quite a stimulating event. Especially if that saint used strange powers and completely healed someone who was half-dead without even touching them, the rumors would be even more widespread. If a retired has-been like me knows about it, all the more so.”

Hmm, he just seems to dislike me being a ‘saint’.

Honestly, it doesn’t matter if I can’t get the arm guards. It would be nice to give them to Yelena, but it doesn’t matter if I don’t have them.

I’m not saintly enough to desperately hand over items to someone who isn’t even a believer yet.

But it would be fine to give it a try.

Rather than just leaving someone filled with such hostility alone and letting bad rumors spread, it would be better for my image if I were a saint who personally cleaned up an abandoned cemetery.

Senta is also a place I’ll need to keep under my control and manage later.

Indeed, times like this call for the ‘Do you know the Way’ strategy.

“It’s not good to call yourself obsolete, brother. From what I can see… there seems to be great pain in your heart. You look terribly tormented.”

‘Weakness Detection.’

[system: Activating skill.]

[Activated Skill | Weakness Detection Lv. 2]

[Target: Garend]

[Would you like to identify weaknesses?]

[Y | N]

‘Y.’

Loading…

“Hmph… It seems like you’re trying to deceive me, but it’s useless. What the Empire’s cunning lackey does in Senta is always the same! Since force didn’t work, now you’re trying to dominate us culturally. How shameless of you to come all the way to my comrade’s grave!”

[‘Garend’ weakness analysis complete]

-Anger: The target is greatly enraged at you.

-Suspicion: The target is suspicious of you.

-Illness: The target has a lung disease.

‘He has an illness? This makes things easier.’

[‘This was finally a place where comrades who died in the Senta-Empire War could rest peacefully. But that cunning saint who could be called the Empire’s lackey just sits there spouting righteous words!’]

I erased my smile and showed a pitiful expression.

“Brother, I deeply understand your heart.”

*

Garend felt blood vessels bulging on his forehead.

With snow-white hair grown down to his waist and a face like a male courtesan, his complexion was completely lifeless.

Just listening to him talk, he was no different from a con artist. As the initial surge of anger subsided, he felt a subtle sense of intimidation.

Even from that pitiful facial expression, he subtly felt intimidated and guilty.

‘Why did I say such harsh words earlier…? No, harsh words? That bastard is the Empire’s lackey. He’s the enemy of my comrades. Liam died cold on the battlefield without even seeing his son’s face…’

The more he looked at that pitiful expression, the more subtle guilt crept in, so Garend averted his gaze to the ground.

“If you understand everything, then get lost and go somewhere else.”

“I wasn’t trying to comfort you without knowing the battlefield. I also know what it means to lose precious comrades.”

Garend clenched his fists tightly.

“If you really understood, you wouldn’t have appeared in this place!”

“This place is land where you’ve left people precious to you. That’s why even coming to this spot could be disrespectful… I came to see you knowing this.”

Garend slowly raised his head. The saint before him had eyes showing an expression of pain.

“Even coming here could be painful for those left behind, but I thought it was right to face the Empire’s wrongs rather than hide and deny them.”

“…!”

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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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