I Became the Priest of Blasphemy of the Outer Gods

Chapter 43. Capital (2)

Cernun had given me exactly three days, which was just the right amount of time.

Although it was ostensibly for tidying up my affairs, there wasn’t much to do.

Considering I would return, I only needed to concoct a credible alibi. And there was only one person I needed to inform about it.

“So… you’re saying you’re going back to your hometown?”

“Yeah, I’m going to take a short break.”

“Really… Why not just stay there for good with the money you’ve saved? Give up on that Outer God priest.”

“I can’t do that.”

I rejected the idea flatly.

The owner of the Whalebone Inn clicked his tongue at my stubbornness but refrained from further comments.

Instead, he kindly said he’d keep the room empty for me and invited me to return any time.

‘This… really weighs on my mind.’

Such kindness only made my heart more uneasy.

As it was, I was deceiving him using a false identity, Ahab.

Thinking about how I would even unknowingly gain people’s favor due to my abilities made my mind feel even more tangled.

‘The least I can do is leave him a generous tip.’

Suppressing my discomfort, I stepped back out onto the street and then headed to the lodging where I was staying as a mage.

『Lord Ethnos.』

‘What?’

『Are you going to meet her soon?』

Knowing exactly who Eldritch was referring to, I couldn’t help but let out a sigh.

‘Yeah, I’ll meet her once I get to the room and fall asleep. I won’t bother going to the black market.’

I could meet her any time I wanted.

However, meeting her was always something I preferred to postpone.

‘I need to brace myself.’

Eventually, I used fatigue as a pretext to delay the meeting to the next day.

Eldritch seemed to understand my feelings and didn’t press further.

‘You’ve finally come after putting it off for so long.’

Following the method Sevika had taught me, I stepped into a perfectly lucid dream that was indistinguishable from reality.

“Welcome. It’s been a while.”

I found myself in the middle of that garden, and there she was too.

“Congratulations on succeeding with the Awakening Ritual. To think you achieved it through such suspicious means.”

“Huh? What do you mean…?”

“Didn’t it feel suspicious or make you feel doubtful?”

I had no reason to be suspicious.

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“… I see. Let’s just move on. Anyway, welcome.”

Sevika smiled at me.

The surroundings were still decorated with pitch-black roses, casting an eerie atmosphere.

“Thank you.”

There was something subtly different from before.

After succeeding in the Awakening Ritual, my senses seemed slightly altered…

I didn’t notice it much normally, but I felt a certain dissonance from Sevika.

‘I still… don’t exactly understand. Maybe it’s because she’s on a much higher level. What rank is she?’

“But you’re late in visiting. Why not drop by any time for tea?”

Sevika gestured towards an invisible chair, which then appeared before me.

As I acknowledged the chair, a table materialized in front of it as well.

A variety of refreshments and a tea set also emerged.

‘This is remarkable…’

I sat down, and Sevika poured tea into my cup herself.

The tea had floating petals, and its dark hue at first made me mistake it for coffee.

“What does it seem like to you?”

Sevika asked suddenly.

… The black blood I often shed?

“Well, it looks like a dark liquid to me.”

“If you were your old self, this would have appeared as black tea to you. Like this…”

Sevika swiped her hand over my teacup, and the liquid inside transformed into a strongly crimson black tea.

“With their power, as your rank increases, your resistance to hallucinations also strengthens. This happens because you handle higher levels of hallucinations.”

It seemed that this power was granted by performing the Awakening Ritual as a priest of the 『Witch of Dreams』. I wondered what might have been different if I had chosen other Outer Gods.

“The more you undergo Awakening Rituals, the stronger the blessings from the God become, inevitably making the priests of Outer Gods transcend humanity.”

Sevika reached out, grasped my chin, and stared at me. Despite having no visible eyes, I felt her intense gaze, and it gave me chills.

“But you insist on remaining human, don’t you? The pain and side effects you’re experiencing now… you know how to escape them easily, right?”

All I had to do was cease being human. It was indeed a sure method, more certain than any other item.

“I want to remain human. Even if it seems like foolish stubbornness.”

“You will still change. Didn’t I say that with every Awakening Ritual, you become less human? Are you going to abandon your goal just to stay human?”

Sevika spoke with a seemingly joyful tone. Was she mocking me? I could never really understand Sevika.

“Already, your words and presence captivate people. It’s the blessing bestowed upon you by the 『Witch of Dreams』 so that you can bring more people into her embrace.”

“That is…”

“Didn’t want it? But as an Outer God priest, having undergone the Awakening Ritual, it would be the same even if you chose another Outer God. All such beings only serve to corrupt this world. The method may differ, but the outcome remains.”

I knew this as well. The more they harmed the world, the stronger the priests of the Outer Gods became.

“If you give up on future Awakenings and your progression.”

Sevika’s voice resonated sweetly in my ear.

“As a priest of the 『Witch of Dreams』, I shall welcome you as a denizen of this eternal dream.”

Sevika whispered into my ear as she smiled. The peculiar sense of embrace felt like it would engulf me, making my mind reel.

“Thank you, but I cannot do that.”

“Even though repeated Awakenings will strip you of your humanity? And you don’t have any other path allowed to you. People like us can’t remain human. So…”

Even though I sternly rejected her, Sevika tried to sway my heart once more.

“No matter how much my mind and body change, I will remain human. As long as I define myself as human… I am human.”

When I expressed my determined resistance to her temptation, Sevika paused for a moment without saying anything.

“… Interesting words.”

The earlier ambiance vanished, leaving an odd silence.

“You said you were waiting for me, do you wish something from me?”

“… Hm?”

Sevika tilted her head slightly, then burst into laughter.

“Ha! You’re certainly good at some things and terrible at others. So observant, yet… Well, fine.”

Sevika laughed while covering her mouth, then she conjured something onto the table — a mask made of leather. Judging by its appearance, it seemed to be made from human skin.

‘How distastefully designed…’

Through the gaps, small teeth were visible. It looked like it was screaming in agony, hardly an inviting sight.

“What is this item?”

“It’s something I want you to track. It’s called the ‘Child’s Lament’. It was originally an art piece made by a cruel individual.”

I had never heard of such an item, but just by its appearance…

“Is it an item imbued with the miracle of an Outer God? And quite a dangerous one at that.”

“Incorrect. This item does not contain any miracle from an Outer God.”

“Then…?”

“It contains what you would define as forbidden arts. This mask has no less than five forbidden arts enchanted into it.”

I was shocked by her words. The possibility that forbidden arts could be enchanted was surprising enough, but five of them?

“Isn’t it almost akin to a Divine Relic?”

“Without being a true miracle, it can never be a Divine Relic.”

Sevika said, picking up the mask.

“This item is the only one in the world enchanted with forbidden arts. It should never be revealed.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, forbidden arts are considered blasphemous sacrilege. Yet you dared to use them… you are indeed brave.”

Blasphemy.

How could I know that?

“But wasn’t the Outer Law created by the priests of an Outer God?”

“The rituals necessary to perform a miracle originally involve seeking the God’s permission. It is an act of requesting mercy.”

Sevika began to speak solemnly and in a serious tone.

“But touching the divine power without going through this proper process is an affront to the God, an act of blasphemy.”

So, am I not also in danger? Sevika was a very high-ranking Outer God priest…

“I don’t intend to punish you. Probably, the other two Outer Gods won’t punish you either. However, the forces of other Outer Gods might use this as a pretext to attack you.”

“Hmm…”

“Regardless of you using the Outer Law, the existence of the Outer Law must be kept secret. And this item…”

Sevika fiddled with the mask before making it disappear entirely.

“It was something that should not exist. Originally, I was supposed to dispose of it myself, but our collaborators were attacked.”

“Stolen, huh? Who was the culprit?”

“I don’t know. The only clue we have is that they used magic.”

They weren’t telling me this just to chat. It seemed like they wanted me to find it…

“There isn’t much information, though.”

“There is information. Why do you think that resourceful old creature came to you?”

Resourceful old creature…? Could she be talking about Cernun?

“Wait a minute. The task Cernun entrusted to me, you mean…”

“Yes, it’s related. Not only that, but even that unnecessarily flashy girl is connected to it.”

Sevika suddenly spoke venomously, which left me bewildered. Who is this flashy girl?

“The doll-like girl who witnessed the Outer Law with you.”

“… Are you talking about Arian? Has Arian Elata been dispatched there?”

Sevika seemed to hold some grudge against either Arian herself or Luminaries.

‘Whatever the reason, if Arian is also involved in this…’

Then I had a clear idea who the culprit was in this case.

“Sharl… an Outer God priest who sacrificed a noble.”

“That’s right. Unfortunately, even I can’t grasp the details about this Sharl.”

“Why?”

“As you know, I wander through dreams, but this Sharl… does not dream.”

Does not dream? Is that even possible? Maybe Sharl is also undead like his mentor, Ferdinand.

“She possesses an Outer God’s relic, and her existence feels ambiguous… She’s a dangerous character.”

“I see.”

“So I recommend that you stay cautious. There’s no need to retrieve the mask. Just provide enough clues about her and…”

Sevika conjured gift boxes on the table.

“I’ll let you open the next gift.”

“A nice reward. I accept.”

Sevika shook her head.

“No, it’s a gift. I have a separate reward prepared.”

“A separate reward…?”

Sevika took something out.

“What is that? It looks like a black… key.”

“It’s a qualification. The right to open a door.”

“A door…?”

I recalled the various doors I had to open to reach Sevika.

“A special door. A place where people like us gather… It’s a bit early for you, though.”

“What on earth…”

Sevika hid the key and stood up.

“I’ve been wondering whether I should tell you this in advance. Nonetheless, I will tell you this…”

With a light gesture, black flowers gathered and formed an outline. Though human-shaped, the silhouette had peculiar features.

“A gathering of hidden Outer God’s priests. A minimum qualification to participate in the assembly of beings of 3rd rank or higher.”