I Became the Priest of Blasphemy of the Outer Gods

Chapter 57 Red Carpet

As I followed the guidance of the resonance and boarded the ship, a bizarre and unfamiliar scene unfolded before my eyes.

The interior was composed of ominous and eerie elements, resembling a mix of coral and gruesome flesh, with horrifying murals scattered throughout.

‘This is not just a wrecked ship… It must be their church.’

The inhabitants of the deep revered the Father and Mother.

‘The 『Doyenne of the Abyss』 and 『Mother Hydra』…’

An emerald door adorned with carvings of those two colossal beings appeared before me, and I shut my eyes tightly to avoid looking directly at it.

‘Normally, I would never reach such depths on my own.’

Yet the fact that I was unharmed indicated that an Outer God priest awaited me inside, granting my entrance. If that priest’s mind changed, I would be crushed instantly by the pressure of the deep without even time to perceive it.

『Ethnos… Are you truly alright?』

Eldritch was visibly tense. No, he seemed to be suffering from far more severe fear than I was.

『I know where this is. I have a guess who is in here. They are not beings we can dare confront.』

“I can sense it too. But… this is our only option.”

I resisted the fear and revulsion engulfing my whole body and pushed the door. The massive jade door opened more easily than expected, revealing the one who had been waiting for me inside.

‘A person…?’

A room filled with all sorts of gold and treasures appeared before me. However, the numerous spears embedded in the floor were threaded through the heads of various lifeforms, including humans.

The walls were covered with murals that should not be comprehended, and the ceiling, like a cave, had sharp stalactites baring their fangs. In the center of such a room sat a man.

『Come forth.』

The man was adorned with green seaweed and was unmistakably dressed like the captain of this ship.

He wore a coat of dark leather and was embellished with various bones and adorned treasures. The most noticeable feature was the crown on his head, which was worn instead of the tricorn hat commonly associated with pirate captains.

『Creature. Since you dare say you know me, introduce me.』

Eldritch trembled nervously at his command.

『This person is the Conqueror of the Seven Seas. A great priest of the Black Sea Cult. The nightmare of the sea, captain Cajon Tiburon.』

Cajon landed his coral royal scepter on the ground with a thud.

『Just as the creature stated. Though now my era is fading and my name is being forgotten, I am imprisoned here after the battle with the priests of Poseidon.』

As Cajon stood from his chair, the currents shook the ship violently, as if the entire deep sea was trembling.

『You do not deserve to encounter me now. You are not worthy of standing before me. Hence, you cannot discuss negotiations with me.』

I began to feel a crushing pressure, as if my bones were about to break. Cajon was freely manipulating the water pressure of the deep sea.

『Though you were bold enough to come here as an esteemed guest, you are a guest of that one, not my guest.』

“I… understand!”

I barely managed to speak under the crushing weight upon my ribs.

“But Sharl is a thief who stole from Sevika! If you respect Sevika, you can’t just take her criminal away!”

『What do you think my declarations are? Do I look like the owner of a cruise for nobles to you? We are raiders. We take, we kill, we covet.』

“A captain is responsible for his crew! No matter how powerful you are, can you protect all your crew from Sevika’s wrath?”

Pirates, surprisingly, have a democratic system. They have regulations, and the captain is elected fairly by vote. The crew has the right to depose a captain.

Moreover, a captain can only propose raids, which require the crew’s consent to proceed.

‘And this man strongly identifies as a pirate captain. He continues to title himself a captain, not a bishop or high priest.’

At my words, Cajon fell silent for a moment before bursting into laughter. With his laughter, the sea shook as if an earthquake had occurred.

『Indeed, a captain must protect his crew. Moreover, it is an honor I hold as a bishop. However, given that, what can you offer to this table? You initiated negotiations but possess nothing.』

“How about this?”

Without hesitation, I presented the chalice of the Red Sacrament. Though it was said to be an extraordinary Divine Relic, considering it as the cost of my life and those of Eldritch and the children, it was not a sacrifice I regretted.

Cajon’s eyes sharpened.

『You easily offer such a precious relic. Certainly, a treasure that stirs my greed. However, I shall refuse.』

“What?”

『Taking it would undoubtedly incur wrath. Moreover, to us, it is just a precious treasure, but we cannot even use it, so I shall not accept it.』

Cajon sat back down and propped his chin up, looking at me.

『I must admit, you had something to bring to the negotiation table. You have piqued my interest. I will allow you to speak further.』

“How about my cloak?”

『Do not bring forth such blasphemous and disgusting things. I have given you my attention, yet you offer such a disappointing answer.』

『Lord Ethnos.』

Eldritch handed something to me.

It was the dagger imbued with the miracle of the “Distorting Annihilator,” which I thought had been lost in the battle with Albeka.

“When did you…?”

『Did you really think I’d just let this precious relic languish beneath the ground?』

『Another relic, indeed. What do you intend to gain by possessing it?』

Fortunately, Cajon seemed intrigued by the dagger.

“All I ask is for you to step back. If there is something you need to extract from Sharl, I will allow you to retrieve it after catching him.”

『You do not need to bring that man to the negotiation table. I will agree to the negotiation. We will withdraw, and there will be no further damage.』

As I nodded and put down the dagger, Cajon struck the floor with his staff.

Suddenly, bubbles rose and began to envelop my body.

『The negotiation is complete. You should return and convey my regards to her.』

My body, surrounded by bubbles, started to rise.

As I ascended from the dark depths of the sea to the surface.

‘Wait, what’s that…?’

I saw it.

The source of light illuminating the deep sea.

It was a round, bright yellow eye.

A gigantic fishman was pierced by countless weapons and entangled in numerous chains, much like Cajon’s ship.

‘… That’s Cajon Tiburon. That’s his true form. The ship and its captain share the same fate.’

*Boom!*

As I discerned its hazy outline, my eye began to bleed.

“Ugh!”

Blood foamed from my mouth, and I hastily swallowed a sedative.

『Lord Ethnos, clear your mind! Do not gaze directly upon it!』

Eldritch’s urgent voice filled my head as I tried not to focus on Cajon but on something else.

‘Students… students!’

The memories of the students helped anchor my sanity. One by one, their images flashed by.

Dominic’s brilliant crimson star was the last image I saw before regaining composure and emerging from the water.

“Professor!”

Lia began to pull me with her weak arms.

With a splash, Sinia plunged fearlessly into the water to support me, and Dominic added his strength to drag me fully out of the water.

“Huff, huff…”

“What were you thinking?”

“It’s all resolved now, so you can rest assured…”

I paused to quickly check my hair color.

As I suspected, the shock had dispelled the illusion, and I had returned to the form of Simon Magus.

“The water is receding!”

The water that had filled the mansion gradually drained and soon disappeared entirely.

The chaos left no trace of the dead, not even a wet stain. They must have been taken to the depths to become a feast.

*Bang!*

“Is everyone safe?”

The barrier seemed to have lifted as Arian burst in, covered in blood. Behind her, the corpses of Dwellers of the Abyss laid in heaps.

‘She must have slain all the ones waiting outside and attempted to breach the door all along.’

Arian’s dress was in tatters, especially around the shoulders.

“Yes, the forces of an Outer God have retreated. I managed to negotiate by offering them a treasure I found on my journey.”

Arian nodded in acknowledgment.

“Thank you so much. And I’m sorry. I couldn’t be there when it mattered most…”

She noticed the missing members and clenched her fist tightly.

“Their objective was to abduct Sharl. According to the information they provided, the one disguised as Sharl was… Caelo.”

Caelo stood helplessly, as if guarding Lilybell, alongside the Pale Guard.

“So it is… Caelo Belacre!”

Upon my words, Elrave aimed her staff at Caelo, but Arian raised her hand to stop her.

“The reason I briefly went outside was that my comrade urgently relayed some news. The authorization had been granted.”

“Permission? Then!”

Arian nodded.

“It was time to put an end to this. Caelo Belacre! You must answer the summons of Lord Hayat!”

At those words, the members of the Belacre family were all perplexed.

“What?! We offered so much money, and yet, why!”

“No! The great work was right in front of us!”

They had already lost hope at the Luminaries’ declaration.

“Sharl! Do something!”

The Baron shouted towards Caelo.

‘Even if everything was over, to speak so openly.’

“It’s no use! The Luminaries will be here soon! It won’t even take twenty minutes! And…”

Arian once again summoned a sphere of light without any incantation.

〈White Light of Truth Detection〉.

Now that permission had been granted, their lies were about to end.

‘They practically admitted it, might as well end it. There’s no need to go through further procedures…’

I forced a tired smile.

Well, today isn’t turning out too bad.

“Caelo Belacre! Are you the murderer known as Sharl?”

Caelo swallowed nervously.

“I, I am…”

Elrave was on the verge of casting magic.

“… I am not Sharl!”

“Of course, that’s what you’d claim.”

We watched the sphere of light, hoping it would reveal the truth… but there was no reaction. Even Arian couldn’t hide her unease.

‘Caelo isn’t Sharl? Then where on earth is Sharl?’

Immediately, Caelo, now pale-faced, started to spill everything he knew.

“H-he must be disguised as another man! They used a spell called 〈Flash Doppelganger〉!”

“〈Flash Doppelganger〉, you say? It’s that spell that creates a perfect duplicate using flesh and blood… but isn’t that…”

“Yes, I used it to create my double and went around disguised! They said it’s hard to control the body if the genders differ, so if you investigate the men…”

*Bang!*

A loud noise came from behind. The door, which had been broken, was sealed again and shut tightly.

“Sharl, Sharl, what are you doing?! Come out and kill them all at once! Fulfill the contract!”

The Baron was elated, showing a renewed gleam in his eyes. But he didn’t seem to know where Sharl actually was.

Arian picked up a sword from the floor and stayed vigilant. It was then…

“Allow me a correction.”

The suddenly heard voice was very familiar.

“When using 〈Flash Doppelganger〉, it’s true that the gender must match, but if you use 〈Corpse Stitch〉 to disguise a corpse of the same gender beforehand, you can fulfill that condition.”

Caelo turned around, incredulous.

“What…? How…? No, Sharl was definitely a man…?”

Leaving the shocked Caelo behind, the Pale Guards moved as one. Standing in line, they kneeled simultaneously. In lifeless voices, they shouted.

“Now entering, the honored Miss Charlotte Prellati!”

*Boom!*

The faces of the Pale Guards exploded, scattering blood and flesh everywhere, leaving only skulls behind. And beyond them, holding the hem of her skirt and greeting elegantly, was Lilybell.

*Sizzling!*

She split in half, staining the floor red.

“No, no! Lily! Lily!!!”

Caelo screamed, watching the blood splatter on his face.

Charlotte Prellati walked along the carpet, brushing her blood-soaked platinum hair.

“Ah… what a pleasant evening.”