The Life of a Wise Cult Leader - Chapter 78

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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

She brightened her eyes and leaned her upper body forward.

“Among the countless believers who shine like stars, the one who shines most exceptionally is none other than me, Celestia Evergrace. If you give me any command, I will not betray your faith. I have polished my talents like the brightest star to serve the Ascetic’s orders!”

It sounded like some idol survival show self-introduction.

I burst into laughter before returning to my usual Sernuan Lumiere persona.

“Hehe… You are quite an enthusiastic Sister. Surely you are the finest talent who would not hesitate to join me in my mission.”

She smiled with satisfaction.

“I heard you graduated from the academy.”

“I graduated with ‘excellent’ grades.”

Without giving any reasons or trying to persuade her, I got straight to the point.

“Go to the Magic Tower and bring me the Sage’s spellbook and staff.”

“Yes!”

She answered as lightly as if I had asked her to go to the market and buy some apples.

‘Is this really enough?’

Kalebrin, Cardil, Erendor, Yelena. Even Antonio wouldn’t act immediately when I spoke without any reason like this.

They would ask questions or try to confirm my intentions. And that would be normal.

‘This is the level of a fanatic.’

Though it made me uncomfortable, the people who could go to the Magic Tower were limited, and among all those believers, this child in front of me was the only one who could bring the Sage’s staff and spellbook.

In short, I had no choice.

‘Honestly, I’m uncomfortable because I’m not used to it, but once I get used to it, I think I might enjoy it…’

She thought for a moment, then asked.

“So when do you need me to bring them by?”

“The sooner the better. But I hope you won’t create any troublesome situations by rushing.”

“This is a chance to show what it means to be called a genius of the century. Then I’ll see you again soon!”

She left cleanly. I sat there for a moment before leaving the room.

Now it was time to meet the ‘Young Lady.’

Since Austin Gerard had provided information about being dispatched to Senta when I went there last time… I had to do a small errand for the Young Lady. That was our deal.

Yelena, who had been waiting for me downstairs, walked down.

“What’s on today’s schedule?”

“I need to attend the Young Lady’s tea party.”

Since I had met her urgently wearing just a plain shirt, pants, and robe, I couldn’t go right now. Even the ‘Young Lady’s tea party’ had a dress code.

It wasn’t a banquet hall so I didn’t need to wear a veil, but since the Young Lady was a high-ranking noble, I had to maintain proper etiquette.

We briefly stopped by my villa to change clothes, then took the coachman and carriage provided by the lord to head to the Young Lady’s tea party venue.

The glass dome ceiling seemed to prove how much money they had and how many glass craftsmen they could employ.

“Please wait here.”

“But I’m a bodyguard.”

“The Young Lady did not permit it.”

“…Well. Then there’s nothing I can do.”

I left Yelena at the entrance.

The artificially maintained garden showed a clear difference from Senta’s.

As I went a little further inside, I began to hear signs of people. Soon, the Young Lady came into view, sitting at an iron table with her face covered by a veil.

“Nice to see you.”

The Young Lady held her teacup and only turned her head to the side to greet me.

Instead of the fancy dress she wore at the banquet hall, the Young Lady was dressed in an appropriately modest dress, so I also showed proper etiquette in my greeting.

“Nice to meet you, Young Lady.”

Anyway, I’m not a noble, and if anything, I’m on the clergy track, so proper etiquette is sufficient.

How fortunate. I don’t have to live bound by complicated noble etiquette that requires attention to even hand angles.

Of course, this ‘Sernuan Lumiere’ somehow knows all that noble etiquette.

“This is tea newly obtained from Senta. Thanks to the Ascetic fulfilling the role of Saint sufficiently, trade with Senta became possible.”

She poured tea into the teacup in front of my seat. A light green tea similar to green tea rippled.

“Thanks to that, I can now drink such delicious tea. Please try it.”

I brought the tea to my lips. It tasted similar yet different from the tea the Second-in-Command had given me. It was probably because the brewing method was different.

“It’s really delicious.”

“Right? The smooth way it goes down the throat is exquisite.”

“I hope the ceasefire negotiations between Senta and the Empire proceed this smoothly too.”

The Young Lady smiled slightly.

“At that time, the information that Sir Austin Gerard had crossed over to Senta wasn’t really precious information, to be honest.”

That was roughly correct too. But it was true that it had definitely helped me.

I drank my tea moderately without giving either a negative or positive response.

“So I’d like to make a very simple request of the Ascetic as well.”

Clink.

The sound of the teacup touching the saucer rang out.

“My… someone I could call father is suffering from an incurable disease. Please cure him.”

Her voice was slightly unstable, unlike usual.

Even though she hid her expression with a veil, she couldn’t do anything about the voice filled with hesitation.

It was truly a simple matter for ‘Sernuan Lumiere.’

I stood up from my seat without even finishing my tea.

“Then there’s no need to delay treatment any longer. Let’s go right now.”

You could call it her weakness, in a way. Normally I would have grabbed that weakness and shaken her with it…

But unconditionally providing treatment is what ‘Sernuan Lumiere’ and the ‘Ascetic’ do.

The Young Lady hesitated for a moment, then stood up from her seat.

“He’s in my mansion, right behind here.”

I followed her out of the garden and into the mansion behind it. The mansion was dark compared to the splendid garden, with black curtains drawn over every window.

‘At least it’s being maintained.’

Click.

The most secluded room on the second floor. In the place with a large open window, some emaciated old man was lying down.

“He’s been bedridden with a disease of unknown cause for quite some time. Neither doctors nor even priests could cure my… father.”

“He must have suffered for a long time. Not only the Young Lady’s father, but the Young Lady’s heart as well.”

“…”

I approached the bed step by step. Then I lightly touched his wrinkled forehead with two fingers.

“There will be no more pain now. Because I am here.”

Golden winding lines rippled through the air around the forehead I had touched. Waves of gold, light green, and white filled the dark room.

Ife on my neck stretched out her head, flicking her tongue as if curious about the sparkling lights.

The Young Lady stared intently only at her father’s face, regardless of the chaos of light around them.

The Young Lady irritably removed the veil she was wearing and threw it on the floor. The luxurious veil with delicately embroidered flowers was cast aside on the floor.

The Young Lady’s father’s thin eyelids trembled.

“Ser, Biana…”

“Uh, uuh…”

Tears welled up in the Young Lady’s eyes. The Young Lady hugged her conscious father tightly.

‘Well, I should give them time to catch up.’

I quietly slipped out of the room while the two were distracted.

It’s not like I was envious or annoyed by the harmonious family. Really.

‘I’m getting hungry…’

For the first time since possessing this body, my stomach, which had never been hungry, was hungry.

*

When I was killing time looking at my status window in a guest room I found on the first floor of the mansion…

Click.

The Young Lady, who clearly looked like she had cried for a while then hastily washed her face, entered the reception room.

“Ahem… I haven’t properly thanked you. Thank you for saving my father.”

“There’s no need for thanks. I have received a mission to eliminate the suffering of this world, so I merely did what I had to do. In fact, I would have helped him even if you hadn’t made that ‘request,’ Young Lady.”

“…I see.”

The Young Lady sat on the sofa across from me. She didn’t seem to have the presence of mind to prepare tea or refreshments.

“But I’m personally very grateful, so I’ll share one piece of… important information with you. This is fine even if you don’t fulfill my separate request.”

Oh, free information. As expected, this kind of reciprocal help is better than just words of gratitude!

Since I’m a man who never refuses anything free, I quickly straightened up my indifferent mindset.

“The Widow has brought in a mercenary company.”

“…A mercenary company?”

Suddenly?

I searched through my memories for mercenary companies that had appeared in the game.

‘There was a pretty famous mercenary company, wasn’t there? It was a concert or music-themed mercenary company, but I can’t quite remember the name.’

The Young Lady continued.

“You might not know about them, Ascetic. They’re not that famous in this business. However, their lack of fame is because they deliberately kept a low profile, not because they lack skill.”

Not a famous mercenary company? Then it’s not the one I’m thinking of?

“The mercenary company’s name is ‘Harmony.’ Various skilled individuals have gathered there, but no one knows what purpose they have. There’s no information about what kind of people are among the members either.”

Wait, it is the mercenary company I was thinking of!

Weren’t they the ones called monsters in the game, a group thoroughly intent on bringing down the Empire?

‘Also known as the veteran player detection device.’

They were the ones who appeared in the main quest.

I asked, hiding my alarmed feelings.

“Are you saying the Widow brought in such a mercenary company?”

“I don’t know the Widow’s purpose, but based on various information I’ve gathered, I suspect…”

Soon, some rather useful information came from her lips.

*

The Widow waved her hand dismissively.

“Yes. Go on now.”

“Yes… Mother.”

Her daughter, who had been standing quietly, turned around with a stiff expression.

Thud.

She pressed down her jet-black veil, which was like another face of hers, while harboring slight irritation.

Now ‘that thing’ is useless.

It had become a discarded item that could neither properly function for surveillance nor serve as a proper guard.

She must have finally developed feelings for him.

She had been such a useful daughter that she had raised, but now she had naively developed feelings for the target.

At this rate, even if she assigned someone else, they would quickly become the Ascetic’s ally.

Unfortunately, there weren’t many who were superior to her daughter.

And excellent ones were hard to control, which was also a problem.

“Ascetic…”

She had thought he was just someone pretending to be crazy while only thinking of his own safety…

But his ability to turn people to his side was annoyingly dangerous.

Considering just that, it seemed like he hadn’t lost his memory…

The Widow called another person into the room.

A large man with a great sword strapped to his back. Someone with pointed ears and long blonde hair in a half-up style, as if showing off his elven heritage.

“Mr. Erendor. I had a good conversation with the Commander.”

Erendor, a half-elf belonging to the Harmony Mercenary Group.

“Yes.”

“My request is just one thing. Stay by the Ascetic’s side and kill him when I give the signal. There’s no deadline, but the payment will be certain.”

“I don’t accept jobs without advance payment.”

“Hehe…”

The Widow brought a small box from the inner room. The small box had a lock and various locking magic spells on it.

She opened the box with a key and showed it to Erendor. A bright red light shone on Erendor. It was the light of a gem.

“This is a sacred relic, also known as the Sage’s Stone.”

“Hooo….”

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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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