The Life of a Wise Cult Leader - Chapter 77

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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

Today’s schedule only included giving a speech in Maren and visiting to help the medically underserved, so I finished relatively quickly.

‘The number of believers has increased too.’

While it certainly couldn’t compare to the number of believers in the Empire, which was growing based on faith, there were still some results.

The number of believers, which had been hovering around the early 1500s, had now grown to 1600. It seemed to be because I had made rounds to places with medically underserved populations.

“It’s about time to return to the Empire. Thank you for everything, Saint.”

“I’m the one who should be grateful that you’re positively considering the ceasefire plan.”

“Not at all. The war between the Empire and Centa was a war started by our ancestors in the first place. It’s time for our generation to see its end.”

We shook hands warmly. My companions were already aboard the carriage we had arrived in.

“I hope you’ll visit us often in the future. And… I’m sorry I can’t give you a positive answer about the ceasefire right now.”

“I never thought a ceasefire would happen from just this one meeting. I’m satisfied just having laid the foundation for peace, so please don’t worry. I plan to dedicate my life to the world to eliminate all suffering in this world.”

The Third-in-Command smiled with satisfaction. Well, time to leave the country.

I greeted each of the people who had come to see me off one by one, then boarded the carriage.

Now it was time to organize my bases.

*

Seven days by carriage. That was how long it took to reach my villa in the Empire’s capital.

‘I’m… I’m exhausted.’

Along the way, we stopped at various places to get food supplies, and I had to heal people one by one who flocked to us saying it was the Saint’s carriage, which took a full seven days to return home.

My companions were also tired, all of them passed out and dozing on and off. They looked more exhausted than after battle.

‘Fortunately, they said the replica was already completed due to the delayed return…’

From seeing too many people, the number of believers had already surpassed 1700. Perhaps from using my abilities too much, I was tired both mentally and physically.

‘Tomorrow I’ll wake up and check the actual replica… and contact the Banquet Master…’

With such thoughts, I seemed to have fallen asleep without anyone knowing.

*

I opened my eyes upon hearing a familiar voice.

“Ascetic… Ascetic…!”

I felt like I had been dreaming about something.

What was it…

“Ah…”

As I blinked, I saw a familiar face. A contoured face that didn’t look Korean at all. A sturdy medieval body and rough hands.

This was the world inside the game. I almost forgot after sleeping so deeply.

“Brother Antonio.”

I sat up. My mind was still foggy. It had been a really long time since I was this tired.

“I was surprised because you slept almost all day.”

“…All day?”

“You must have accumulated a lot of travel fatigue.”

I slept for a whole day? No matter how tired I was, there’s no way I would sleep that much…

[Number of uncollected Sacred Relics: 3/9]

[Sacred Relic collection period: 34 days]

34 days? I really did sleep for almost a whole day!

“To think I was asleep for a whole day… I must have been really tired.”

I dry-washed my face. Antonio smiled slightly.

“You’ve been on a busy and difficult journey recently, so it’s natural to rest. How about fulfilling your mission a little more slowly? While taking care of your body…”

I’m sorry to loyal Antonio, but if I rest, my body will be in worse condition. If I can’t gather believers, I’ll die.

“I cannot do that. How many people in the world are suffering, yet how can I rest? I cannot do that…”

Antonio looked like he had a lot to say, but in the end he finished with a weak sigh.

“This humble Antonio dares to advise the Ascetic that you must take care of yourself to be able to take care of others.”

He had a point.

[Target number of believers: 2000]

[Current number of believers: 1711]

[Main Quest! Spread faith to people all over the world.]

[Penalty for failure: Death]

After a brief silence, I barely managed to answer.

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Yes. Please wash up and come down. The preparations you mentioned and breakfast are ready.”

Antonio left. I quietly turned my head. In the temporary house for Ife that I had made on the nightstand beside the bed, Ife was still sleeping soundly.

“Let’s go, Ife.”

When I headed to the lower floor, I saw Kalebrin and Yelena.

Yelena, who seemed to have been teaching Kalebrin card games, welcomed me brightly.

“You slept so long we were worried~ Ascetic.”

“It feels like it’s been a really long time since I’ve seen you. Sisters.”

“It’s been almost two days since we saw you, so that makes sense. We were shocked thinking your health had gotten worse~? If Kalebrin hadn’t reassured us you were fine, we would have called Bishop Cardil too.”

“You seem to have become quite close with Kalebrin.”

“Yes~! I want to use the nickname Rini~ but Kalebrin still seems embarrassed.”

“That… that’s a little.”

Kalebrin seemed to have her energy completely drained by this extrovert’s energy.

“I’d like you to call me Rena~!”

“Yes, Yelena.”

“Rena.”

“Yele…na.”

“Re.na!”

“Yelena…”

Yelena made a disappointed expression at Kalebrin who absolutely wouldn’t call her Rena. I clapped my hands lightly to divert attention.

“Now, now, everyone. Have you all had breakfast?”

“Antonio said to wake up the Ascetic and eat together, so we were waiting.”

“Is that so? I should have woken up a little earlier. Aren’t you all hungry?”

“We’re not that hungry~ It’s okay. People can get a little tired. And you must be tired from doing all sorts of things in Centa. We all~ understand.”

“Y, yes. The Ascetic’s body was… under main, tenance, so you ne, needed to sleep a lot.”

“You should say recovering from fatigue. If you say under maintenance, it sounds like you’re not human~ Rini.”

“…”

“Ka, Kalebrin is fi, fine.”

“Hmph.”

Soon after, Antonio brought the meal. He spoke to me in a low voice.

“I’ll give you what you requested privately later.”

“Requested?”

But Yelena wasn’t one to let that slide. I naturally changed the subject.

“He’s talking about my new veil. From using it roughly, threads have come loose here and there.”

“Ah~ That’s right. You need to look neat when going to the Banquet Master~”

Yelena seemed satisfied with that answer and began eating. I was relieved she didn’t pursue it further and moved on.

“Then I’ll go take care of some overdue business for a moment.”

“I’ll come with you. I’m your guard.”

“It’s probably boring administrative work assigned by the Banquet Master though?”

“Ah… at the Banquet Hall? Well… I’ll buy some snacks and come back. I’ll be back soon.”

Yelena’s surveillance had become lax.

Perhaps because we’d been together so much, it seemed much looser than the strict surveillance at first when she looked ready to follow me even into the bathroom.

Or maybe there was some other reason.

Either way, it worked out well for me.

‘Good.’

Yelena went out taking Kalebrin with her.

Kalebrin looked at me with eyes pleading to stop her, but…

I had no choice but to ignore it.

Sorry, Kalebrin! But Yelena had to go out so I could receive the replica from Antonio…!

When I went up to the study, Antonio gave me a bracelet-shaped piece of metal he had hidden in his chest.

Just looking at the well-crafted engravings and ornaments, it would really look like a ‘Sacred Relic.’

“Will this really work?”

“Yes. It’s sufficient.”

Anyway, as long as I have ‘Ife’ who can make even a simple iron ring look like a sacred relic, there’s no problem.

“And about the matter of a magic tutor…”

“…?”

“Miss Celestia Evergrace said she would help. She apparently just graduated from magic school in record time.”

It feels like just yesterday she enrolled and set a new record, and now she’s graduated?

Did I mishear…

Of course, the mage’s tech tree involves graduating from the academy, then training more at a Magic Tower suited to their specialty and climbing the ranks, but isn’t this too fast even so?

“How old is she now?”

“17 years old.”

“That’s quite an early graduation.”

“She’s being called a genius of the century. She said she wants to repay her debt to the Ascetic.”

Well, she is the future Archmage, so I suppose she should be able to do that much.

I nodded.

“Then please arrange an introduction to Cardil.”

“Yes. Oh, and… Miss Evergrace said that in exchange for helping, she’d like to meet the Ascetic just once more.”

Well, that’s actually welcome from my side.

“Then please schedule an appropriate day and let me know.”

“Yes, understood.”

*

The invitation to the Banquet Hall was set for three days later. And since Evergrace said she could meet anytime, I just scheduled it for the same day.

Yet she came quickly.

I met Evergrace at a tea house where we rented the entire building. Yelena, Kalebrin, and Antonio would be upstairs.

“Ascetic! This is the first time I’ve seen you since you saved me back then. I really missed you.”

Gone was that noble-like speech from before, and now the noble Archmage showing complete extreme honorifics treated me respectfully.

“You are my life’s benefactor and the precious person who gave me a second life.”

Having the next Archmage serve me devotedly is a good thing…

‘It’s a bit burdensome, but considering the Sage relic series I need to obtain from the Magic Tower in the future, it would be good to give Evergrace a hint now.’

But I also need to convince her of why I want that…

“If there’s any work you need done or anything you need, please entrust it to me. You are my benefactor and my god, so if you wish, I could even place my family in your hands.”

The Archmage’s eyes showed not a hint of wavering as she said this. Her blue eyes meeting mine directly contained only me.

‘This… isn’t this almost fanaticism?’

Not that it’s surprising, but I really felt like I’d become a bad person.

Such tremendous trust and affection… Trust and affection received without compensation really pricks the conscience.

I know in my heart that she won’t betray me since she’s a ‘Believer.’

‘Seeing a minor believe like this really makes me feel bad.’

Right… Since I’m a cult leader anyway, there’s no doubt I’m a bad person. I decided to be a bit more shameless.

“Then would you bring me the Sage’s artifacts from the Magic Tower even if I gave no explanation?”

“Of course, my god.”

Re… really? No, items that would be treated as national treasures and whose disappearance would cause a major incident at the Magic Tower, you’d bring them to me just because I’m your life’s benefactor?

“What if Sister Evergrace gets exiled or executed for it?”

“You wouldn’t let that happen, would you? Like back then… you’d save me.”

Oh… She was so confident I almost nodded along.

“I’m a talent useful to the Ascetic, and I’ve worked hard to become that.”

Evergrace straightened her shoulders with confident eyes.

“If you keep me alive and by your side, I’ll definitely be of great help.”

She grinned.

“Even if I didn’t say so, the Ascetic already knew, didn’t you? Since you’re the one who recognized my talent.”

Huh.

I’ve made several believers and have multiple close associates, but… this is the first one so bold.

I almost failed at expression management for the first time.

For the first time since falling into this world, I burst into hearty laughter.

“Ha, hahahaha…! Haha, hahaha…!”

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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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