The Life of a Wise Cult Leader - Chapter 76

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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

A suspicious guy…?

Instead of me who was searching through my memories, Cardil, who had been fiddling with his staff, answered.

“Why are you suddenly asking about that?”

“Well… the Ascetic tends to attract all sorts of strange people. What if some weird guy follows him when he goes out and our precious friend gets hurt?”

“Th-that won’t h-happen. I’m w-with him.”

Kalebrin snapped back. She probably took it as him not trusting her abilities.

‘There was that Security Officer I was overly wary of.’

But I didn’t feel any signs of being followed or anything. If there had been, Kalebrin would have noticed already.

“I don’t think I saw anyone particularly suspicious.”

“…Really? If that’s the case then.”

Erendor left it at that. Yelena’s eyes sharpened alertly, but Erendor was busy sharpening his sword with scraping sounds.

‘What’s with that unsettling reaction…?’

Of course, I know that the game story and settings have changed quite a bit now. I’ve also somewhat accepted that there’s more I don’t know about the characters’ settings than what I do know.

‘There were some rumors about Erendor having hidden settings… Whatever. I have no clue what it could be. No hints either.’

Anyway, I’ll maintain friendly relations with Erendor, so it should be fine.

When giving him the sword, I’ll ask Kalebrin to cast sorcery so I can kill him anytime if needed, so the follow-up measures are perfect too.

“There were no major incidents on the way back, right?”

“Nothing much except Centa’s higher-ups whining.”

“Then why did they even bother following us~”

“I saw many fascinating creatures too. There were lots of rare medicinal herbs… but I didn’t bring any back.”

Cardil, being a doctor, seemed to have been tempted by the herbs.

“Good job. If you brought those back, the Security Officer would go all out to arrest you.”

Erendor gave brief praise, but Cardil didn’t seem pleased with his compliment.

‘Austin Gerard must have returned safely, right?’

Since there’s been no particular news so far, he must have returned fine. I don’t think I need to bother checking.

They each chatted on the sofa before going to their rooms one by one to sleep.

I wasn’t tired enough to sleep, so I was poking at the campfire with a poker. Next to me, only the scraping sound of sword polishing could be heard.

“Do you know that information about you is spreading rapidly in the underworld?”

Erendor spoke while tending to his sword.

Without even looking at Erendor, I stirred the fire in the furnace with the poker.

“Is that so?”

Information about me spreading in the underworld…

Do I need to worry about such things? If the Widow noticed, she’ll protect me to some extent until my usefulness runs out.

That’s probably why she assigned Yelena to me.

‘The underworld… I’m not sure which underworld Erendor is referring to. There aren’t just one or two organizations that appear in the game. There are several organizations close to thugs that appeared in minor quests, so nothing really comes to mind.’

I poked at the charcoal with the poker.

‘Hmm~ Thanks to Fire Resistance, even putting my hand this close just feels warm.’

Even though I was holding the iron part close to the fire rather than the handle of the poker, my hand wasn’t hot. I only felt a warm sensation.

The Baby Serpent hanging around my neck was sleeping with its body completely relaxed against mine. It was probably because of the warmth.

“I think you’re not sensing the danger because… if you keep wandering around like this, your head could fly off without a sound. I’m giving you sincere advice here.”

When Erendor spoke in an unusually serious voice, I finally turned around. Erendor looked at me with a calm expression.

“But there’s nothing a mere saint like me can do about it.”

“…That’s true too.”

“If you’re really worried, couldn’t Brother Erendor protect me?”

I put down the poker. Still, having upgraded my defensive sacred relic, I wasn’t as scared as before.

Now I at least had means to protect myself.

And I have Yelena, Kalebrin, and Cardil too. With the Banquet Hall and Central Church backing me, there’s no way I’d die silently to some organization I’ve never heard of.

At my casual remark spoken without any sense of crisis, Erendor showed a quite surprised expression. Then he pointed to himself and asked.

“Me? Protect you?”

Why is he so surprised? Wasn’t he concerned about my life because of the magic sword I’m going to give him?

“Yes, weren’t you concerned about it?”

I asked nonchalantly.

As my long hair fell forward from bending my head to poke at the furnace, I naturally swept it back. I’ve gotten used to long hair now.

“Well… it would be a lie to say I’m not concerned at all. But I don’t have any particular grudge against the Saint.”

I know Erendor has outlaw-like aspects. So I also know he wouldn’t let someone he needs to receive something from die.

“You’re not the type to let me die, are you?”

That’s all I meant by it, but Erendor showed quite a surprised expression.

“…Hey, doesn’t our friend trust people too much? If you trust like that, someone’s going to stab you in the back.”

Erendor smiled, raising one corner of his mouth.

‘Trust people too much?’

Me, who could compete for first place in the world when it comes to not trusting people?

Trust people too much?

It was the most ridiculous thing I’d ever heard, but since it wasn’t such a bad situation, I just laughed it off.

People’s credit and trust operate on mutual understanding. When that understanding runs out, both credit and trust disappear.

So far, Erendor and I had that level of ‘understanding.’

We both have things to receive from each other, and we know it would be troublesome if we mess with each other, right? Naturally, we also know that maintaining friendly relations is the best option since messing with each other would be bothersome.

“Is that so? But you’re a trustworthy person, aren’t you?”

Erendor’s expression became strange after hearing my words.

Why?

It was an expression I couldn’t interpret.

His expression was so transparent, yet why couldn’t I understand it? I really don’t know anymore.

“The Ascetic really has… a talent for making people annoyed with just one word.”

Eventually, his face changed to half smile, half frown. I answered puzzledly.

“If any part of what I said displeased you, I apologize.”

“Forget it. It’s purely my problem…”

Erendor spoke obediently and then turned around. Since he didn’t seem to want to talk, I decided to leave first.

“Then I’ll head in first. Have a peaceful night.”

He nodded slightly. I touched the serpent that was still sleeping limply.

‘Ah, I forgot to ask Erendor about spirits… I’ll ask tomorrow.’

*

And unfortunately, I wouldn’t have a chance to meet Erendor the next day.

He had left the lodging, saying urgent business came up.

‘I thought he’d stick right by my side until he got the sword.’

It’s unexpected, but he’ll return. I know his obsession with the magic sword. Hadn’t he already gone through the trouble of traveling to the World Tree for that magic sword?

The schedule is to finish the pilgrimage today and return the next day, so he’ll come by then, right? He needs to enter the Empire too…

‘Maybe he found a route to enter the Empire on his own.’

Austin Gerard might have told him. Either way, it’s Erendor who wants the magic sword, and I’m not the one at a loss.

I didn’t feel rushed and stroked the serpent around my neck. I should give it a name soon, but it’s a big problem since I have no naming sense.

I headed to the restaurant on the lower floor.

There was Cardil eating breakfast in a drowsy, disheveled state, Yelena looking relatively bright, and Kalebrin reading the magic book I gave her in front of the furnace.

“Good morning~ Ascetic.”

As soon as Yelena saw me, she waved and welcomed me.

Cardil slowly raised his head and nodded. For him, even that much was probably a warm welcome.

I pulled out a chair next to them and sat down while speaking.

“You look quite tired, Brother.”

“I stayed up late testing the new gift I received, so I’m tired.”

He seemed to like the staff I gave him. Right, if you’re a priest-mage character, you should have at least one staff. It was fortunate that I could progress a sub-quest at the same time.

I naturally infused healing power into him. Cardil’s expression became much more comfortable.

‘What? It’s become easier to draw upon the Sacred Relic’s power than before.’

It felt as comfortable as if we had become one body. It seems to be because we performed some kind of ‘contract’… Anyway, I’m glad it’s become easier.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. So, is that staff convenient to use?”

“It suits me well. However… I’ve spent my whole life just healing people with that power, so my magical knowledge is lacking and I don’t think I can draw out the staff’s true power. I should probably find a magic teacher when I return.”

So basically, his level is high but he can’t learn skills so his magic doesn’t work properly.

Well… Cardil did only use those magic orbs with strong destructive power but slow casting speed. Technically, he was using level 1 skills powered by his high level.

“Don’t mages have high pride and refuse to share their knowledge?”

Yelena asked. Cardil nodded.

“That’s true. But now that I have the qualification of Bishop, I should at least be able to meet with them.”

“If you’re looking for a magic teacher, I’ll put in a word with Antonio separately.”

All-capable Antonio can even find magic teachers!

While I’m at it, I should ask how much progress has been made on the Sacred Relic replica.

When I asked before going to bed last night, he said it was about 40% complete, so by the time I return and contact the Banquet Master, shouldn’t it be finished?

Wait, more importantly…

‘They might bring some kind of detector to determine if it’s a Sacred Relic? Or some test to verify if it’s a Sacred Relic.’

The Banquet Master isn’t a group of idiots who would just say ‘Oh, you brought a Sacred Relic! Well done!’ without testing it once.

‘Then… I need to find a way to make the replica look like a real Sacred Relic. I was just planning to make it glow appropriately at the right timing to show off in front of me.’

Is this a big problem?

But I wasn’t anxious or anything.

Yesterday, I saw something quite interesting in that envelope the serpent went into and came out of.

A sprout was growing from the core part of the fruit Kalebrin had eaten.

The only one who could do that would be this serpent, a spirit blessed with divine power.

‘Moreover, making seeds sprout… that would be inheriting the God of Life’s Divine Authority.’

Cardil began using his spoon again. The smell of thin mushroom soup wafted over.

‘Life… should I call the name Myeong? Ah, but that might sound too much like Myeong sprouts.’

I pondered carefully. Kalebrin had somehow come to the table and was chatting quietly with Yelena.

‘Life… Life. And with that light green color like tree leaves… Good. Your name from now on is Ife. That should be fine, right?’

I couldn’t tell if it liked it or not, but Ife licked the lower part of my cheek with its flicking tongue.

‘Ife can only be seen by people who can see spirits. In the Empire where spirits are almost nonexistent, there wouldn’t be anyone with high Spirit Affinity. Especially not among the Banquet Master’s people.’

So I’ll leave Ife with the replica Sacred Relic ring.

With Ife’s ability, they’ll mistake the Sacred Relic replica I give them for a real Sacred Relic.

After that, since Ife is smart, it will return to my side on its own, so this will work perfectly.

“Saint, let’s go prepare.”

The attendant called me. I stood up from the table, picking up the veil I had set aside, and smiled.

“Well then, Brothers and Sisters, keep up your strength until the last day.”

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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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