The Cult Leader acts as a cult member, but if the Cult Leader dies then the cult loses its ability to attack at night.

The Cult Leader is part of the cult. After Night 1, the cult can attack one player each night. If at any point there is no living Cult Leader, the cult is disbanded and can no longer attack at night. All members of the cult can vote, even if they have lost their original role. The cult decides their victims by voting on whom they wish to attack. The cult’s attack is an end-night ability and is always reactively executed by a Cult Leader.