The Life of a Wise Cult Leader - Chapter 75

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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

Garend opened his eyes wide and met the Saint’s gaze.

Rather than hiding and denying it….

What sacrifices and pain had brought him to stand on this land. As an Imperial Citizen, it was right for him to face his sins and repent.

“And facing those wrongs and apologizing to those who remain—wouldn’t that be truly repenting for our sins and allowing us all to move forward together?”

That was the proper apology.

‘Being captivated by the word Saint and pouring out anger…. That would be no different from what the Empire has been doing all along. Covering things up, disparaging and tearing down the target…. Isn’t that the very thing I hated most?’

Garend decided to forgive the Saint.

Then, the resentment and anger that had been festering in his chest melted away like snow.

It felt incredibly comfortable.

“And I can see that you, Brother, are wrapped in pain. Not just of the heart, but of the body as well.”

The Saint spoke as if he could see right through his ailing body, as if performing some truly wondrous magic.

He placed his hand on his chest with exaggerated gestures and smiled slightly.

Even those exaggerated gestures suited the Saint so well that there was no sense of discord.

“Would it be alright if I relieved that pain for you?”

“…Give it a try.”

Garend didn’t believe that no matter how great the Saint’s power was, it could be enough to cure his illness.

That’s why he hadn’t bothered to seek him out even when the Saint was making a commotion going around helping people everywhere.

‘All sorts of renowned doctors and those who claim to handle miraculous powers have examined me, but nothing changed. This time will be the same….’

Though his misunderstanding about the Saint had been cleared and he held goodwill toward him, that didn’t mean he trusted the Saint’s abilities.

Garend watched the Saint listlessly. Then, golden light spread from him, brightening the cemetery.

The golden light gently brushed past his body. Then he felt his uncomfortable insides and rough throat become refreshed.

“Hmm?”

Garend felt around his throat and chest. It didn’t hurt. Even though nothing had touched him, his illness was perfectly cured.

The Saint took a step toward his bewildered self.

“Now I can understand your pain, Brother. To think you lived carrying such pain—I should have come to find you much sooner.”

“What… It’s, it’s fine. Ahem. I apologize for treating you rudely earlier.”

“From your position, you had every right to say such things. Please don’t worry about it too much.”

With him taking such a humble stance again, the guilt from earlier seemed to double.

‘Yes, to someone who knows their sins and apologizes like this, I can give Liam’s arm guards. He’ll surely use them for the right cause. It’s like giving Liam’s legacy to an enemy nation, but….’

The Saint’s eyes were more upright than anyone’s.

‘That person will surely use them for the right cause.’

*

Oh yeah! I got the arm guards!

It was fortunate that Garend gave them quite easily.

I left the cemetery satisfied with my achievements.

It took quite a while since I had to win over someone who held negative impressions of me and was wary….

But thinking of it as gaining another believer in Centa while I was at it wasn’t bad.

I also got the arm guards, which was my original purpose.

“The sun is starting to set. It’s almost time for my appointment with the Coachman too. Let’s head back.”

I put my veil and robe hood back on and headed toward where I needed to catch the carriage, taking Kalebrin with me.

*

In a dim hut somewhere. Someone enters with quiet footsteps. It was the ‘Security Officer’ who had briefly spoken with the Saint during the day.

The ‘Security Officer’ threw off his hat and removed his stuffy leather jacket.

Then he clicked an artifact that fit in one hand. The magic circle carved into the hexagonal stone glowed.

“Ah, ah. Can you hear me? Contrary to the boss’s expectations, I’m confirming that he’s a genuine Saint who can actually handle holy power~ It wasn’t an item or anything like that either.”

The person dressed as a Security Officer removed the security badge from his chest and crumpled it in his hand. The thin piece of metal was mercilessly crushed in his hand and rolled on the ground.

-“Did you tail him?”

The light in the artifact hummed and output the other person’s voice. A thick male voice whined.

“Yes~ Of course. I thought I approached quite harmlessly, but the Saint himself was quite wary.”

-“You weren’t caught, were you.”

“He didn’t even notice~ No guards either. He was traveling with some gloomy girl, but she didn’t seem to be for protection purposes. She didn’t look particularly strong either. And the Saint probably doesn’t even know we exist, right? We moved so quietly after all~”

-“Your body seems to be itching for action.”

The Security Officer finally threw off his wig.

“I won’t deny it~ Disguising myself and gathering information is fun, but I’m starting to want to cause some trouble. Too much peace is boring, you know.”

He said this to the air while ruffling his hair.

-“Then let me tell you some good news. Information I heard from Unar Bashelim.”

“Oh…. Isn’t he a high-ranking person in Centa~? Why would someone who usually doesn’t even glance our way suddenly contact us.”

-“He said undead would soon overrun and turn Centa into a wasteland. It was a proposal to join his elite forces, stop the undead crisis, and become heroes. I refused, of course.”

“That wasn’t an appealing proposal~ More than that, I also heard rumors that the Saint was kidnapped during his tour. But seeing his ability to help Centa and inspire people…. How about we win over this Saint and make him a dagger to bring down the Empire?”

-“How do you plan to win him over?”

“From observing him today…. He has a personality that can’t stand to see others suffer. This kind of personality is also good to exploit, so when Centa is attacked by undead, we can call for his help. It’s common knowledge that undead are weak to holy power, right? He’ll come to help even if we don’t call him. We’ll set a trap there.”

-“A trap…?”

“Well, it’s called a trap, but it’s more like setting up a stage for ‘smooth negotiations.’ We plant distrust toward the Empire and then propose that he join forces with us.”

-“What if he refuses?”

“Hmm, would refusal even be an option? That Woman, he seemed to care for her quite a bit. And he seems to have many precious people too~”

-“So that’s the kind of trap you meant. If we plant ill feelings, there won’t be trust toward us. We can’t join forces with someone we don’t trust.”

“It’s a setup. The person who sets the trap and me who helps. We divide into villain and hero roles like this. The one who set the trap… we deal with later and it becomes a perfect plan.”

-“Certainly, if that ‘Saint’ joins us, nothing could be better for our future plans.”

“Right?”

-“Then Viola, you’ll be in charge of the Saint.”

“Ugh. Why am I the only one getting stuck with this? What about the other guys?”

-“You know you’re the only one with brains who won’t get caught, don’t you.”

“Ah~! I shouldn’t have said anything! I don’t have any connections with the Saint either, you know? None of my 23 identities can make contact with the Empire’s reclusive Saint!”

-“You’ll figure it out well on your own. I trust you, Viola.”

Click.

The light from the artifact faded.

“Ah, seriously…! This damn organization, I’m going to quit…!”

Viola was about to throw the artifact on the floor but held back. It was an expensive item. It would be hard to obtain now.

“Ugh. I said I wanted to cause trouble because I hate using my brain.”

Viola grumbled and opened the wardrobe. Inside were wigs of various colors and lengths scattered about.

“Hmm…. He seems to take better care of weak people…”

He picked up a light sky-blue wig.

*

Yelena, Cardil, and Erendor finally returned from the Elven Forest.

“You all must have had a hard time.”

Cardil seemed to have a lot to say, but appeared to be holding back words that had reached his throat at my smile.

Yelena set down her halberd in the room and spoke brightly.

“Well…. Aside from getting caught by some strange centipede on the way and almost getting hit by poison needles, and the party from Centa getting caught in spider webs and almost being eaten alive by spiders, it was fine!”

Hmm, it seems they had quite a hard time.

Anyway, since all these members came along because of where I was going, I should properly reward them.

“I have gifts prepared for all of you.”

“Gifts?”

I received the staff and arm guards from Kalebrin.

First, I gave the staff to the tired Cardil and the arm guards to the excessively cheerful Yelena.

“This is… a staff.”

“It’s a staff tailored for priests, so it should be comfortable for Cardil to use.”

Cardil touched the staff here and there, repeatedly condensing and releasing mana at its tip.

“The efficiency has definitely improved noticeably. Thank you.”

It was a rare expression of gratitude from Cardil. Yelena removed the leather bracer-like thing she had been wearing and put on the arm guards.

“Oh… I can’t really feel much difference, but I’ll use it well. It’s a well-maintained item.”

“Please treasure it. Those arm guards were someone’s precious relic.”

Upon hearing my words, Yelena’s expression became strange.

“Oh… You’re giving me something like that as a gift?”

“I believe Yelena will surely use it for righteous purposes. Both the owner of that relic and the one who passed it on hoped for that. It has finally found its rightful owner.”

The tips of Yelena’s ears turned slightly red.

“If you say it like that, what does that make me…! Besides…! I’m not such a ri-righteous or good person, you know? What do you think of me?”

What else could it be? You’re a justice-obsessed justice fanatic Inquisitor.

“You’re someone who makes the right choices even in disadvantageous and difficult situations. I think it’s a character that perfectly suits an Inquisitor.”

Now even her cheeks turned red. Is she embarrassed because I praised her too much?

I should be careful in the future, as too much praise might have the opposite effect.

“A-ahem… Well. Fine. But I’m not someone who only does righteous and good things. I’m someone who kills people without a second thought, so I don’t know what you’re seeing to think that way…”

Yelena was slightly covering her lower face. It’s more bewildering for me when someone who usually handles things smoothly suddenly acts like this.

“Regardless of what Yelena thinks, I simply see accurately what comes into my view. I don’t care what others say or what Yelena did before meeting me. I just trust and see the Yelena I’ve witnessed.”

“Thank you for trusting me…”

Yelena answered somewhat bitterly. Her face showed subtle guilt at my words.

Normally, she would have shown her usual bright smiling expression management to hide her inner thoughts.

‘She seems weak to words about trust. I should remember this and use it appropriately…’

Erendor, who had been resting on the sofa beyond, saw that our conversation was somewhat finished and lifted his head, waving his arm lazily.

“If you’re done talking, could you listen to what I have to say too?”

“Yes, of course.”

We went and sat on the sofa where Erendor was sitting. We were waiting for dinner to be served.

“When you went out today, did you see any suspicious guys?”

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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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