The Life of a Wise Cult Leader - Chapter 79

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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

The Young Lady’s tea party was safely concluded.

‘The Harmony Mercenary Group is targeting me…’

I obtained quite valuable information.

I don’t know how she obtained such information with her Young Lady status, but that’s something to think about later.

‘I do have a defensive sacred artifact, but….’

The Harmony Mercenary Group I know was called a veteran detector, with each member being exceptionally skilled.

It’s almost like having about five Yelenas and Austin Gerards on the opposing side.

‘There were members who didn’t appear in the story, so it’s hard to predict which one is chasing me, but….’

If my guess is correct, it would be ‘Viola,’ who specializes in espionage and disguise.

With the nickname “Thousand Faces,” he can use various faces, making diverse disguises possible. And being naturally stealthy, when he uses stealth, his presence becomes less than that of an ant on the street.

He’s practically an intelligence agent, so assassination would be a piece of cake for him.

‘If the Widow decided to use me appropriately and then kill me, it would be rational to assign Viola.’

I decided to upgrade my defensive sacred artifact as soon as faith accumulated.

Anyway, just upgrading the purification and healing sacred artifacts to this extent allowed me to heal all external and internal injuries.

The only thing I can’t do is revive someone who’s already dead.

‘Even that might be conditionally possible if I upgrade enough.’

I returned to the villa. With about two days left until the carriage preparation for the banquet hall, I plan to create a research lab for Kalebrin during that time.

Originally, the house the Lord gave me was too open, and rumors about it being my house spread too much….

I plan to set up a research lab in a corner of the sub-house Antonio found.

Any proper Mage or Sorceress character should have at least one research lab for studying their skills.

I felt a bit sorry since it seemed too late to make one for her.

“Is there anything you need?”

“Uh, umm….”

Kalebrin pondered for a moment, then began earnestly writing down supplies on paper.

‘Blood and heart of a freshly dead lamb, goat skull, wall thorn wood, spirit-inhabited tree, etc….’

As expected of a Sorceress rather than just a Mage, most of what was written on the list was eerily creepy.

Setting aside whether all this can be obtained….

Let’s also set aside the question of why such things are needed for decoding books….

‘If I went around obtaining these things, rumors would spread that the Saint made a demon contract.’

I silently stared at the supply list that Kalebrin had triumphantly written and handed over…. Then I rolled up the paper and put it in my pocket.

“I’ll ask Brother Antonio.”

I’ll make Antonio handle it instead of obtaining them myself!

The spirit-inhabited tree might be difficult for Antonio to find….

But that much can be handled using Ife, so everything written here should be obtainable.

‘Then now…. I should meet Alderion.’

I sighed slowly. There was a mountain of work to do after returning home.

I also needed to show my face at the Central Church once….

They said the healing center for me in Astrapolis was finally completed, so I should visit there once too.

Though it’s called a healing center, it feels almost like a temple just for me. Even with believers I’ve already gained, I need to manage them properly to obtain more faith points.

‘Since upgrading sacred artifacts is urgent, I need to manage believers well.’

As all the sacred artifacts started exceeding level 4, the faith required for the next level-up increased exponentially, so I couldn’t use the most useful prophecy skill.

“Where are we going now?”

Yelena, who was beside me, asked.

“We’re going to meet Brother Alderion.”

“Why?”

“Because I need to check Brother Alderion’s physical condition.”

While I’m at it, I need to check on the sword I left with him.

Yelena nodded. I told the Coachman assigned to me to go to Alderion’s mansion.

I meant his villa, not his devastated mansion. According to Antonio, he seemed to be recuperating well at his villa rather than that mansion lately.

His mansion, which was a bit far away last time, was now at a distance reachable by carriage in an hour.

Since it was time when the sunset was slowly fading, Alderion greeted us with his entire body wrapped in robes and bandages.

“You’ve come, Ascetic.”

“You’ve worked hard, Alderion. Your body must be in pain, and I’m sorry there’s nothing I can do for you.”

“Not at all…. I’m just moved that you came to see me like this.”

Alderion said this while personally opening the mansion door and guiding us.

“Don’t you have any attendants?”

Even if Alderion’s marquis honor has diminished due to his current illness, he shouldn’t be poor enough to not afford a single attendant, right?

Just collecting taxes from the land he owns would allow him to have enough attendants to fill this mansion.

“Ah…. I’m still uneasy about using anyone other than myself… And with my current physical condition, it would be difficult to find trustworthy people.”

Ah. Indeed, he’s a pitiful middle-aged man who fell into his attendant’s scheme and became half-human, half-demon….

Being born into a marquis family but suffering from a young age and ending up like this would be enough misfortune to curse Lumensia.

“I understand. Not just physical pain, but mental anguish is what torments people the most.”

Alderion quietly served us refreshments.

“Unfortunately, there’s no way to cure your illness…. I searched for people with similar symptoms in Senta, but found none.”

“…It’s alright. This is punishment for my laziness all this time.”

Alderion said this while entering the indoor area, taking off his robe, and unwrapping the bandages tightly wound around his body.

Though he pretends otherwise, he must have inwardly hoped that his illness could be cured. That’s human nature.

But unfortunately, even after diligently searching through my veteran gamer knowledge and traveling to foreign countries, there was no way to cure his special rare incurable disease.

It was true!

I wasn’t just focused on obtaining sacred artifacts; I also tried to figure out treatment methods for Alderion.

I even asked the Second-in-Command while I was at it, so my desire to cure Alderion must be very earnest.

‘Because I can only fully utilize his title if Alderion is healthy.’

I decided to put such impure thoughts aside! I’m a very kind fraudulent cult leader!

Of course, being a cult leader is bad and being a fraudster is bad too, but isn’t it fine if everyone ends up happy?

“Why would you, who have been bedridden with illness your whole life, deserve punishment?”

“I…. despite bearing the title of Marquis, have done nothing proper for my Territory Residents, only enjoying the benefits of my title. If this is punishment, then it is.”

Oh~ Our Alderion is very upset about not being able to practice noblesse oblige~

Last time he was depressed about killing and eating people, and now he’s even concerned about such minor things.

Alderion seemed quite bothered by the fact that he was half-human, half-monster. That’s understandable. Originally, people should get sunlight to be less depressed, but he can’t even get sunlight, so he’d be even more depressed.

But digging into such depression and providing comfort is the job of a god, cult leader, and fraudster!

I earnestly defended Alderion as before.

“Looking at it only from such a consequentialist perspective, Brother Alderion deserves punishment, but…. you’ve been sick and ailing frequently since childhood and became bedridden due to your attendant’s scheme. If this were divine punishment, it should have been given with understanding of your circumstances.”

Alderion looked at me with moved, melancholy eyes hidden within his bandages. Yelena was clicking her tongue at me.

“Is, is that so?”

He seemed very moved by my passionate defense of Alderion.

“Of course. Punishing without understanding such circumstances cannot be called godly, can it? After all, human affairs sometimes involve unavoidable actions.”

“That’s… that’s true, but….”

Alderion answered hesitantly.

“Even so, a god who punishes the innocent cannot be called a god.”

I personally unwrapped the bandages around Alderion’s arms and face. Then I gently stroked his disheveled hair.

Rather than being tidied, his hair became more disheveled, but he wouldn’t know unless he looked in a mirror….

“Yes….”

Alderion answered obediently. Satisfied with that answer, I rewrapped the bandages that had covered Alderion’s skin.

“Today I only came to check that information and your physical condition, so I’ll be going back now.”

Alderion looked disappointed, but being his age, he didn’t childishly try to hold me back.

However, his expression looked like a lost puppy, so I left a brief preview.

“We’ll be able to see each other outside soon.”

I was referring to the Empire’s event.

The three-day event’s highlights are the Noble hunting competition, ball, and fireworks display.

Probably as a Saint and member of the Diplomatic Mission, attending would be mandatory for me, and Alderion as a Marquis would also be expected to show his face at such an event.

Moreover, if Alderion who had been bedridden could now walk on his own two feet, everyone would want to see him at this festival.

But Alderion looked puzzled as if he didn’t understand what I was talking about.

“The Sunrise Festival. Isn’t it happening soon?”

Alderion seemed to finally realize what I was talking about.

“But… I won’t be participating in the Sunrise Festival.”

“The hunting competition can’t be helped… but how about at least showing your face at the evening ball and fireworks?”

What Alderion was reluctant about was being exposed to sunlight during the day. He should be able to participate in the dinner, ball, and fireworks events that would proceed from nighttime.

“Everyone will be curious whether you’ve recovered. The only opportunity to officially show how healthy Marquis Alderion has become and how well he’ll manage the territory would be there.”

He listened to my words for a moment, then made an expression as if he understood.

“You’re right. If I’m going to properly manage the territory… it would be better to show myself at official occasions.”

“Yes, showing a healthy appearance would certainly give the Domain Residents more peace of mind.”

That aside, you need to appear at official occasions so my support base can grow!

No matter how much the faction supporting me in the Central Church has grown, my position is still as precarious as a clown on a tightrope.

If the Widow launches sabotage operations and a propaganda war, I’ll be at a disadvantage in various aspects like information and power.

“Then… I’ll prepare for the festival perfectly!”

Alderion is filled with determination!

Alderion finally had a decent look in his eyes. Feeling proud, I patted his head again. The middle-aged Man Alderion made a subtle expression.

Yelena sitting beside us stretched as if she was restless from all the moving around and talking throughout the day.

I glanced at Yelena and got up from my seat. The sun was already setting outside.

Alderion also reached for his Robe as if to see me off, so I stopped him.

“There’s no need to see me off, Brother. Then let’s meet on the last day of the Sunrise Festival.”

Now next…

‘I should contact Austin Gerard.’

He probably holds the clue to finding Erendor’s whereabouts.

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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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