The Cult (TLDP Chap 37)

“How are the preparations going?”

“They are proceeding as planned, Yasaka-sama.”

As Yasaka sat upon a golden throne in a pitch-black room, you wouldn’t know she was the same Yasaka who was the Youkai Queen of Kyoto. Instead of her usual bright orange clothing - yes, orange, as she had changed her usual yellow robe to an orange one after learning about Naruto’s love for orange - she was dressed in a very covering dark robe.

Where her breasts were usually on full display, as she wanted Naruto to have easy access, they were now completely covered. There was even a small monocle over one of her eyes as she looked calculatingly down at the handmaiden kneeling before her.

If this had been your first impression of the woman, you wouldn’t think she was the kind, elegant, and beautiful Youkai Queen, but instead a supervillain on the rise. Which, in a way, she was.

“Soon, the entire world will accept your agenda, Yasaka-sama,” The handmaiden continued, bowing her head down to the woman, “All of Kyoto has already become believers, and soon, the rest of the world will follow.”

“Indeed,” Yasaka nodded, a large, evil smirk appearing on her face, “Then, when the time is right, we will show it all to Naruto-chan. He will see everything I did to make this a reality, and then he will…”

Her face flushed, her smirk dropping as she glanced down at her clothed body with a beet-red face.

“Fuck me so good!”

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“W-We are so honored to have you here, Kami-sama! I hope our food can live up to your expectations!” A male Youkai bowed to Naruto, his back bent low as Naruto stepped into the ramen restaurant.

“You don’t gotta do all that,” Naruto waved him off with a cheerful grin, “Just call me Naruto.”

I can’t believe there’s a ramen place I haven’t been to yet, and it’s even in Kyoto! 

“I-I would never disrespect you like that, Kami-sama!” Naruto blinked as the man fell to his knees, literally bowing his head to Naruto, “Thank you for your kind words, Kami-sama!”

Damn, he’s one of those crazy people?

Naruto had realized that most of the people in this world could be described as crazy, so he just shrugged at the man's weird demeanor.

“Just get me some ramen,” Naruto hummed, and the youkai quickly stood back up with a rapid nod. He turned around, running behind the counter behind him and into the kitchen to get Naruto some ramen.

This place is pretty nice, too.

The ramen restaurant was small, but it had a good appeal to it. 

I don’t like the fancy ones anyway.

As opposed to some of the ultra-fancy ramen restaurants that had sprung up around the world after Naruto’s love for ramen was made public, which charged thousands for just a bowl of ramen, Naruto preferred the simpler restaurants.

It reminds me a bit of Ramen Ichiraku.

The ramen joint from his old world could never be matched, but Naruto could at least hope. He’d found a couple of good places since his love for ramen was popularized, though none of them could truly match the feel of Ramen Ichiraku.

Naruto glanced around the room, nodding approvingly at the decor.

It’s nice and simple. Cheap-looking stools, wooden walls, a small room with only a couple of tables, a picture of me on the wall, wooden ramen bowls, another picture of me on the wall, steam coming from the kitchen, a shrine devoted to me in the corner-

Naruto paused, blinking rapidly as he realized what he was looking at. The pictures on the wall were one thing, as Naruto being Kyoto’s resident ‘Youkai God’ meant he was pretty famous here, and as a result, had a lot of fans amongst the residents.

But I don’t think I’ve ever seen a shrine.

In the corner of the room, there was a small table with a lit candle sitting on it. All around the candle were various Naruto-themed merchandise, ranging from simple pictures to bobble-heads to figurines, and even to a flag with his face on it. Above the shrine, there were the large words ‘Praise the Youkai God’ on the wall.

“Here is your ramen, Kami-sama! I hope you enjoy it!” Naruto was pulled away from the shrine as the restaurant owner returned, placing a bowl of ramen in front of him as he bowed his head lightly.

“Thanks,” Naruto nodded simply, reaching out and grabbing the bowl, which already had chopsticks inside it. He picked them up, raising some of the noodles to his mouth as he took a bite.

Not bad.

“It’s pretty good,” Naruto nodded approvingly, giving the man a bright smile.

“A-Ah! I’m so glad you enjoy it, Naruto-sama!” The man smiled back widely, looking far too excited about the simple compliment, “I’ll continue to pray to you, Kami-sama, so please continue to bless my household!”

Pray to me?

Naruto stared at the man dryly, “I know they call me the Youkai God, but I’m not a god like that, y’know? You can’t pray to me.”

I’d be freaked out if I started hearing people asking for stuff in my head in the middle of the night.

Persuasion Check

[Rolling…]

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Your [LEGENDARY] Debuff - [Bad Timing] has deactivated your [God’s Luck] Perk!

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Check failed!

“Of course, Kami-sama! I know you receive my prayers, so I’ll continue to send them!” The Youkai bowed his head again, and Naruto just sighed.

Whatever. This guy seems kind of crazy anyway, so no use in trying to convince him.

“Whatever you say,” Naruto just said dryly, grabbing the bowl again as he tipped it back, shoveling the rest of the ramen into his mouth in one motion as his next words were muffled, “Hbow mush ist this?”

“Free for you, of course, Kami-sama! I could never accept payment from you!” The Youkai said hurriedly, “Please just help my daughter recover from her sickness quickly!”

Naruto looked at him blandly again.

He thinks I can do stuff like that?

“Despite the fact that you think I just said the opposite, I’m really not a god like that,” Naruto deadpanned, “I can’t just magically cure your daughter.”

Persuasion Check

[Rolling…]

[God’s Luck] has added [ERROR]

Your [LEGENDARY] Debuff - [Bad Timing] has deactivated your [God’s Luck] Perk!

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Check failed!

Of course!

“Thank you much, Kami-sama!” Naruto stared blankly as the Youkai fell to his knees, literally bowing his head up and down, “I’ll worship you forever!”

“Yeah, thanks… I’m just gonna go now,” Naruto sighed, promptly turning around and leaving the bowing man as he walked out of the restaurant.

I’ll have to send a sage to actually heal his daughter now, or I’d feel bad.

Luckily, most powerful Youkai could pretty easily heal illnesses as they manipulated the energy of whoever was sick, so Naruto was sure the man’s daughter would be fine.

I just hope she doesn’t grow up to be as crazy as he is-

Naruto paused, blinking rapidly as he stepped out of the shop.

That’s… me again.

In front of the restaurant was a small road, and across from the ramen restaurant was a large poster with Naruto’s face on it. He was giving a peace sign with a grin on his face, and was also, for some reason that Naruto couldn’t even imagine, shirtless as his pecs were so defined that it looked like there was oil on them. Blow his peace sign were big letters, which created the sentence ‘Come celebrate Youkai-Godism being established as the official religion of Japan! Free drinks all day!’

That’s… not true, right? Is this just a road where all the crazy people live?

Naruto knew that there was something of a budding religion being formed around him, as he was known as the ‘Youkai God’ for a reason, but it being made the official religion of Japan?

Nah, no way.

Even if the youkai in Kyoto were extreme fans of Naruto, it wasn’t like the majority of Japan’s population, that being humans who didn’t even know about the supernatural world, would be worshipping him.

Yeah, there’s definitely no way-

“It is time for the morning worship ceremony. Please stop what you are doing and begin your morning prayer.” Naruto’s thoughts were cut off at the sudden voice, and he glanced up to see a large magic circle with the Gremory symbol on it floating in the air. The circle was far above Kyoto, and was so large that Naruto was sure anyone in the entire city could see it as it projected out a loud voice.

What the hell? That sounded like Yasaka…

Naruto was even more confused as he glanced down the street, watching as various Youkai going about their days suddenly stopped in their tracks and fell onto their knees.

Did someone slip something into my drink this morning? Am I under a genjustsu?

Naruto had no other explanation for what the hell was going on. No one else seemed to be surprised by the sudden voice - instead, they were kneeling down as if this was a usual occurrence.

That couldn’t have been Yasaka, right?

Naruto narrowed his eyes, tensing his legs as he shot upward. He flipped back onto the house behind him, then easily leaped from rooftop to rooftop as he headed back to the temple where he and Yasaka lived. As he arrived and quickly headed to his bedroom, his concerns about Yasaka being the voice in the circle were raised again.

He glanced around his bedroom, taking in the sight of the various naked women lying in different positions, with some sleeping on the bed while others had fallen asleep on the hard floor in exhaustion from last night's activities. Notably amongst the near-dozen women was that he didn’t spot Yasaka. The Youkai Queen had been there when he left that morning, but she was nowhere to be seen now.

Naruto promptly turned around, walking through the kitchen and pushing open the door to the hallway outside, where a handmaiden was always stationed.

“Where’s Yasaka?” He asked bluntly, raising an eyebrow at her.

“Kami-sama,” The woman greeted him, her cheeks blushing as it was the same handmaiden who had joined his bed after ‘helping him’ find Yasaka when she was kidnapped. “She left a few minutes ago, as she does every morning.”

“Every morning?” Naruto blinked at her words, as the woman was usually knocked out in bed from having her back blown out most mornings, “Whatever - where did she go?”

“To your temple, Kami-sama,” The handmaiden said as if it was obvious.

I have a temple?

“I have a temple?” Naruto verbalized his words, looking at the woman blankly.

“Of course, Kami-sama,” The handmaiden seemed confused at his confusion, “You have many of them, but Yasaka-sama went to the main one in Kyoto to lead the morning prayer, as she does every morning.”

Every morning?

“So, that magic circle in the sky happens every morning?” Naruto asked dryly, to which the handmaiden nodded.

“Every morning since you arrived, Kami-sama,” The woman nodded, and Naruto was even more confused.

“...No.”

“No?” The handmaiden echoed confusedly.

“There’s no way that’s been happening this whole time,” Naruto deadpanned, “I’ve been living here for years. I would’ve noticed a massive magic circle appearing in the air every morning.”

“Well, Yasaka-sama used to use a microphone and speaker, but ever since Rias-sama has been here, it’s been a magic circle,” The handmaiden nodded sagely, as if her words explained everything.

That doesn’t make it any better!

“Magic circle, speaker, whatever it was,” Naruto shook his head, “I would’ve noticed!”

I know I’ve gotten a bit soft since being here, but there’s no way I would’ve missed a prayer to me being announced throughout all of Kyoto every day!

“Well, Yasaka-sama does do it during the early morning because you’re usually still asleep,” The handmaiden explained, “She’s been trying to keep it a secret, because she didn’t want you to know that-”

The handmaiden stopped abruptly, her eyes going wide as she realized she was revealing exactly what Yasaka wanted to keep secret.

“Know what?” Naruto pressed, narrowing his eyes at her.

“K-Know that she’s, um, she’s, uh, um, uh,” The woman stuttered, blushing as she tried quickly to think of an excuse, “C-Cheating on you?”

“That’s the least believable thing you could’ve said,” Naruto deadpanned, as the Youkai Queen had an unhealthy obsession with Naruto, “But the fact that you think that’s better than whatever she’s actually doing is concerning.”

“Y-Yasaka-sama wants to keep it a secret, so I won’t tell you!” The handmaiden blushed even deeper at getting caught lying, but turned away in a huff as she clamped her mouth shut.

“You won’t?”

“Nope!”

“Not even if it’s a direct order?” Naruto raised an eyebrow, “A direct order from the Youkai God?”

“N-Not even if it’s a direct order from you, Kami-sama!” The handmaiden surprisingly stood her ground, not budging.

But I shouldn’t be surprised.

The handmaiden in front of Naruto had been in Yasaka’s service for over a decade and had practically grown up inside this temple. She was one of the Youkai Queen’s most trusted subordinates, which was why she was stationed right outside the kitchen at all times. For someone who had been loyal to Yasaka for so long, nothing would convince her to betray her Queen. Her loyalty went as deep as-

“U-Unless you let me into your bedroom again!” The handmaiden said abruptly, her face turning beet-red as she wouldn’t meet Naruto’s eyes, “T-That’s the only way I’ll tell you!”

As deep as that, apparently.

Naruto stared at her dryly, almost tempted to turn her down and go confront Yasaka himself, as she was willing to sell out her Queen for a night in Naruto’s bedroom again.

“That’s it? That’s what you’ll give up her secrets for?” Naruto deadpanned, and the handmaiden only flushed deeper.

“Y-Yasaka-sama would understand! T-That one time was so good…” The woman’s eyes glazed slightly, looking almost crazed as she thought about it, “I can see why your nickname is the ‘Sex-God,’ Kami-sama…”

It is? Who the hell is calling me that?

“Whatever, weird nickname aside,” Naruto sighed, looking down at the woman’s blushing face, “Sure, you can sleep with me tonight. Now, what’s Yasaka doing?”

“Yes!” The handmaiden pumped her fist, looking far too excited at the prospect of having sex with him, “Yasaka-sama is creating a religion around you, Kami-sama! She’s already turned all of Kyoto into believers, and the rest of the world will join them soon!”

Naruto paused, just staring at her blankly.

“...A religion?”

“Yes, Kami-sama.”

“Like, where you pray to God, expect I’m God in this case?”

“Well, you are the Youkai and Sex God, Kami-sama.”

“Don’t let that second one stick!” Naruto blushed lightly at the nickname, not eager for people to start referring to him as it, “But why is she creating a religion- actually, you don’t need to answer, I already know.”

This isn’t even that surprising.

Yasaka’s obsession with Naruto was definitely crossing a dozen different lines at this point.

“I just don’t know how I missed the ‘morning prayer’ every time,” Naruto hummed, his eyes narrowing again, “Have I really gotten that rusty?”

“...It was loud, so I silenced it.” Naruto got his explanation as Ophis spoke dryly from behind him, the petite girl holding a plate of waffles at the door to the kitchen.

Well, that makes me feel a bit better.

Naruto was both relieved and concerned - relieved that he wasn’t actually so rusty that he never noticed a city-wide announcement every day, but also concerned that the Dragon God in the form of a cute girl could so easily trick his senses.

Whatever. I need to go talk to Yasaka about this whole ‘official religion of Japan’ thing.

“Just show me to the temple,” Naruto ordered the handmaiden, who nodded easily. She led him through the large temple he lived in, out onto the streets of Kyoto, and then… across the street.

Across the street from the Yasaka-home temple, there was another huge structure. It looked more like a pyramid than a temple, as it stretched up thousands of feet in the air, and was easily thousands of feet wide as it stuck out like a sore thumb.

“This is it?” Naruto asked, genuinely shocked as he stared up at the huge structure, “But, Yasaka said this was the Great Pyramid of Kyoto-”

Yeah, I’m feeling like an idiot right now.

Naruto didn’t even finish his sentence, just trudging forward dryly as he walked toward the temple’s entrance. The huge structure had been across the street from his house for years, but Yasaka had told him it was a landmark being made known as the ‘Great Pyramid of Kyoto’ to bring tourists to the city now that Naruto was around to protect it.

Of course there’s no Great Pyramid of Kyoto!

Naruto swiftly walked up a long flight of stairs in front of the temple, reaching the top and taking in the sight in front of him.

This is kind of creepy.

Hundreds, possibly even thousands, of Youkai were on their knees as they bowed down to a huge golden statue of Naruto - more specifically, a huge shirtless statue of Naruto as he held up a peace sign.

How have I never noticed that?!

The statue was well over a hundred feet tall, and Naruto had somehow never noticed it despite living across from the temple for years.

“Now, I shall read the next scripture.” Naruto’s attention was pulled to a large golden throne sitting at the base of the statue, where Yasaka sat holding a small orange book. “Then, this worship session will conclude.”

The woman was dressed differently from her typical long orange robe, instead wearing an all-black and less revealing one, along with a black headdress covering her face.

“After the Youkai God purified the Underworld as vengeance for the devil’s actions against us, he-”

“Yasaka! What’s all this?” Naruto called out before the woman could continue reading, and her eyes went wide as she saw he was in the temple.

“N-Naruto-chan?” She spit out, blushing as she saw him, “I-I mean, Kami-sama! What are you doing here?”

“W-Woah, it’s Kami-sama!”

“He came to see us personally!”

“What a gracious god!”

“Do you think he’ll let me see his amazing sex skills?!”

Naruto blushed as the bowing Youkai glanced up, starting to stare at him in awe, and swiftly walked past them to Yasaka.

“Alright, we’re not doing this anymore!” Naruto shouted, stepping in front of her throne as he turned to all the worshippers, “I’m not a god, alright?! You shouldn’t be worshipping me! Stop it!”

Persuasion Check

[Rolling…]

[God’s Luck] has added [ERROR]

Your [LEGENDARY] Debuff - [Bad Timing] has deactivated your [God’s Luck] Perk!

1!

Check failed!

“Yes, Kami-sama confirmed it himself! He is a god!”

“We must worship Kami-sama!”

“We must spread his word!”

Naruto pushed away a headache as the Youkai only seemed reinvigorated, starting to bow down over and over to him.

“No! I’m not a god, alright? Don’t worship me, don’t bow to me, and don’t go around telling other people to do any of that either, alright?” Naruto ordered, pointing his finger out at the Youkai, “I’m just a normal guy like you all!”

Persuasion Check

[Rolling…]

[God’s Luck] has added [ERROR]

Your [LEGENDARY] Debuff - [Bad Timing] has deactivated your [God’s Luck] Perk!

1!

Check failed!

“Yes! Kami-sama wants us to spread his word!”

“I’ll run through the streets of Tokyo praising him!”

“He’s a god unlike us mortals!”

“Y-Yasaka! Tell them to stop!” Naruto stuttered, turning around to Yasaka for help, but the woman was just staring at him with stars in her eyes.

“I-I was worried you would be mad that I did this, but you’re accepting your rightful place as a god!” Yasaka nodded rapidly, her cheeks turning red, “We’ll spread your religion throughout the whole world, Naruto-chan!”

How the hell did this happen?!

On that day, instead of quelling his growing religion, Naruto only made it stronger. As his manga started to include allusions to his god-like powers and influence, Naruto had somehow managed to become something beyond just being the Youkai God.

Through the machinations of Yasaka, Naruto became a cult leader. 

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