TLWCL 12🔐

Chapter  12 …

A shiver ran down my spine.

White hair, white eyes, a tall man.

Anyone could recognize it as my description.

“I see… the Heart of the Lion has come for me…”

They had begun chasing me.

I had a guess where they would go.

The place where I first opened my eyes.

The countless corpses lying there.

Many were in robes or civilian clothes, but there were also several knights in shining full armor.

Those corpses were probably members of the Heart of the Lion’s knight order, and the main force of the order, having lost contact with them, must have returned to check what had happened.

They must have naturally confirmed that my body wasn’t there as well.

I regretted a little that I hadn’t disguised another corpse as mine, but I had no such skill from the beginning.

If someone reported me, it must have been either the people at Kardil’s hut who would have told on me, or someone who found me suspicious while wandering the market.

The former had mostly become followers, focusing on proselytizing rather than reporting, and the latter—well, I had been wearing a robe… but still, there was always a “what if.”

“How many are still writhing in pain at this very moment… I fear I may fail to fulfill my mission. Even hiding to ensure my own safety feels shameful.”

I erased the habitual smile from my face and spoke seriously.

“Oh, most holy pilgrim, please set aside such worries. Take me as your proxy. I will devote everything to helping you accomplish your mission.”

“A proxy, you say?”

“Yes. I will ease your burden in any way I can. If there is any activity that requires external presence, entrust it to me! I am ready to face any hardship for your sake.”

The merchant, who had spoken in a casual tone at first, now spoke in an old-fashioned manner, crawling at my feet.

It was extremely overwhelming, but it was undeniably a good offer for me.

I’m going to be stuck at home until the knight order leaves this city anyway.

I couldn’t risk wandering outside in such conspicuous attire.

In a game, I could reload as many times as needed, but this was reality, and I had only one life.

“Your effort and dedication will not be forgotten. I hear you wish to become my proxy, correct? Then… I will baptize you here and now. From this moment, serve as my faithful follower and help fulfill this holy mission.”

“Oh…!”

Suddenly, here I am, giving a baptism while eating breakfast.

It looked rather awkward, but that’s fine.

After all, I have the divine aura passive skill for this. Minor details like this would be automatically adjusted and beautified by the skill. And for a follower, it’s 2.3 times more effective! My aura effect is also 2.3 times!

[System: Baptism skill activated.]

I placed my hand on the forehead of the merchant, who was still kneeling with hands together.

[Target: Antonio Tradettore]
[Do you wish to baptize?]

“Antonio Tradettore, my faithful servant. Are you prepared to embrace this glorious mission by my side?”

Antonio’s Adam’s apple moved nervously.

“Yes.”

I clicked “Y” on the status window.

Golden and silver light intertwined from my fingertips, forming lines like yesterday when I baptized the pregnant woman.

Golden particles burst forth, and glowing threads floated in the air.

Even if they touched the skin, they caused no sensation and simply dissipated into nothingness.

Despite bowing his head, Antonio could only look on with admiration and awe at the spectacle.

Wait… was the mark on his wrist?

I wondered if it was always like that, but I couldn’t see clearly because of his shirt.

“It pleases me to be at your side, Pilgrim.”

Hold on…

Near his wrist, I saw something glittering under the shirt. As Antonio moved, the mark I had seen yesterday appeared on the back of his hand!

Wrist first, now the back of the hand. Was there some kind of pattern?

If it were on the forehead, my precious follower would be dragged to the Central Church as a heretic.

I gently helped him stand from kneeling.

“Antonio, look at your hand. This is proof that you are an apostle following the will of the Pilgrim.”

He stared at the back of his hand in a daze. I added,

“This mark is only given to the faithful.”

“Only for the faithful…”

Antonio murmured, a hint of madness flickering in his eyes.

“Now, my proxy, spread my mission throughout the world.”

“Yes, I understand. Pilgrim, may you find peace here.”

The merchant quickly finished his meal and left. I exhaled slowly.

My survival instincts and petty civic sense urged me to clean the house, but as a cult leader, I couldn’t—didn’t need to.

Lying on the sunlit sofa felt wonderful. There was still plenty of penalty time left.

Somehow, it seemed the number of followers had increased by two more. Considering the empire regarded believing in another religion as a sin, this was an abundant harvest.

Opening the window, I saw scenery distinctly different from reality and pondered.

If they’re looking for me… should I disguise myself?

This hair and eye color were too distinctive. Disguise seemed necessary.

Though I can’t change my height… maybe just hiding my eyes and hair would work.

I wondered if there was any dye. Obviously, there would be no colored contact lenses, so I’d need some item to change eye color—but that might be hard to find.

Maybe Antonio, being capable, could help.

I’ll consider disguise only as a single method…

If I disguised myself to remain unnoticed as a cult leader, the effect could be significant.

Charisma and influence come from confidence, eloquence, and ability, not shabby disguises.

I’ll just stay put until the knight order leaves town.

Progress in gaining followers would be delayed, but there was no alternative. I didn’t want to die just because I tried to recruit a few more followers recklessly.

I checked the status window I hadn’t looked at before—and almost fainted.

Fifty?

[Sub-Quest (2): You must create 50 followers!]

And the translation makes it sound even worse.

[Number of followers: 23]

Ignoring the slight increase due to more devoted followers,

Damn. I thought it’d be easy… not 20, but 50? So if I clear this one, what next?

[WARNING!]
[System: If followers remain at 23 after 27 hours, gradual physical decay will begin.]

Ugh… really frustrating…

I nearly cursed out of habit but held back.

After all, I’m in this form now. Swearing would be utterly uncool.

Fifty followers shouldn’t take long anyway. I got 20 pretty quickly before.

I comforted myself and repeatedly opened and closed the status window.

Contrary to expectation, I felt uneasy…

My points… I used them on the baptism thinking I could earn them quickly… sigh…

I skipped lunch. I didn’t feel like eating someone else’s food or even that hungry.

Ah, right.

I had been too busy to have leisure time, so it was actually convenient.

Even if I stay here for years, I might forget the game storylines…

I had been putting off organizing this for a long time due to lack of private time.

I rummaged through Antonio’s house and found paper and pen. Being a merchant, he had plenty of supplies.

I frantically wrote down plans, main storylines, side quests, and game knowledge I could recall.

It wouldn’t be easy to forget the story of a game I’d devoted my life to, but minor details could slip.

For instance, side quests like the Lavatenon Mine I encountered earlier, which didn’t impact the main story significantly, would likely be forgotten in a few months.

Which mine was near the border again? Something like that. At this stage, these small details were necessary for leveling up before following the main story.

I wasn’t a combat specialist.

My skill setup was clearly healer/support-oriented.

More accurately, I manipulated things from behind—a mastermind style.

For me, the advantage of remembering game storylines and roughly knowing the future was better than any skill.

Several dozen sheets of paper stacked beside me.

Written in Korean, so no one else could interpret them.

Lunch was approaching, but I wasn’t particularly hungry. I heard the bell downstairs.

Antonio had returned. Even in a fantasy setting, medieval people left and returned from work quickly.

“Pilgrim.”

“My proxy, how are things outside?”

“The execution will likely take place two days from now.”

Hmm…

What did he mean by that?

I stayed quiet with a smile, and Antonio continued.

“They say a practitioner of a forbidden ritual was caught. The Heart of the Lion is searching for you as well, but they haven’t pinpointed your location.”

So technically, they weren’t coming after me.

“They came to Astropolis not to find you, but to capture that ‘witch.’”

After escaping from that place, I had taken Antonio’s carriage through the forest to Astropolis without encountering anyone.

If they had reported me, the Heart of the Lion would have come after me due to someone at Kardil’s hut or the market. But… it seemed they arrived in Astropolis purely by coincidence.

After all, the heretic inquisitors and the Heart of the Lion were clearly separate groups.

My earlier fear eased a little.

“The execution will probably occur in three days.”

This place was extremely sensitive to heresy and religion. Anyone could be accused and arrested without objection.

A dictator state, an empire ruled by an emperor.

Even if someone annoying was executed in three days, as long as it was called heresy, no one would object. How convenient.

I reflected on his words.

Early in Chapter 1 of the main story, the Pope’s authority was too strong for the emperor…

Later, the Pope dies and the emperor’s power strengthens.

The emperor tries to consolidate power as if he were the Pope… then a saint appears. That’s the chaotic start of Chapter 2.

I still have some time before Chapter 2 begins.

Chapter 2 marks a turning point—the main story truly begins after the Pope’s death.

Since the Pope hasn’t died yet, this is just a preliminary skirmish.

Starting with my death as a mid-boss in Chapter 1.5…

Hmm.

I need to secure a position before events unfold in earnest.

Antonio, rummaging through his bag, handed me a stack of papers.

“Usually, the execution is held in the square three days after interrogation and torture… Would you like to watch? You can safely observe from the carriage.”

Watch an execution?

Hmm… sure, seeing what happens to heretics firsthand might be useful.

“Very well.”

“I will prepare the carriage then. These documents transfer ownership of the mine to me. I handled it this way to avoid attracting attention from the heretic inquisitors. Of course, if you wish, I can transfer it back at any time.”

Ah, mine ownership documents. I expected it to take longer, but he brought them quickly. Antonio must have had some connections. I just responded politely.

“No, that’s fine. Well done, my proxy. My intent is now your intent. What significance does a name on a document hold?”

“Thank you.”

Mine problem solved… saving people and mining magic stones would still take weeks.

“Continue assisting me in fulfilling this glorious mission. I feel very reassured with you by my side.”

“No, not at all. Pilgrim, you have more important matters to attend to. I am merely a tool to carry out your will.”

Ah… a tool. I’ve never considered myself as such…

Still, I wasn’t completely evil, so I hadn’t thought of myself as a tool…

I hid my embarrassment, smiled, and patted his head.

“Truly reliable…”

As I said this, the status window appeared in front of me.