I Became the Priest of Blasphemy of the Outer Gods

Chapter 66 The Chicken Game

Loan sharks were generous enough to lend money, but one could never wholly trust them. Likewise, even as I received the favor of an Outer God, I couldn’t bring myself to trust them, prompting me to make several risky moves.

This led to a man standing before me, trying to finish me off, though I had other outcomes in store.

“Even seeing this, can you really treat me that way?”

I pulled out the key that Sevika had given me. The man, evidently surprised, looked quite flustered.

“How on earth did you come to possess that?”

“Did you attempt to recruit me without knowing who I am?”

To avoid using the “Forbidden Transformation!”

I stood using Gluttony. The tendrils of Gluttony had gradually become as familiar to me as my own limbs.

“Even though the formless residues were enraged, they seem unable to treat Sevika’s distinguished guest recklessly. Even Captain Cahon treated me as a guest. Clearly, you rank lower than Cahon….”

“……”

The half-human face of the man contorted with displeasure.

“To hear that name… You possess knowledge that a mere mortal like yourself shouldn’t have.”

Despite the intimidation, the man swung a brutish arm at me. I blocked the strike from the hammer-sized as a human torso with Gluttony.

“Urgh!”

However, I couldn’t prevent the impact; the shock that Gluttony couldn’t absorb made me cough up blood. I suspected some bones were broken.

“Did you not anticipate such a conclusion? I thought it best to handle this before it becomes more difficult to gather more individuals.”

“I consider it excessive concern over just one mortal priest.”

Dizziness set in due to the bleeding. Although I attempted to refrain from using “Forbidden Transformation”, honestly, I couldn’t hold out much longer. To fill the chalice of the Red Sacrament, I would have to drain all the blood from my body to satisfy its greed.

“I’ve reached a conclusion as well.”

“…?”

“Perhaps dying might be the better choice, so maybe I should just die here… that’s my conclusion.”

I wasn’t genuinely wishing to die, but when entangled with an Outer God, usually suicide was the cleanest solution.

“I despise the idea of becoming another being more than death itself. If I commit suicide, you’d have to bear full responsibility for losing me. Are you prepared for that?”

“If that’s your stance, then I have my thoughts as well.”

The man transformed his gelatinous torso into a spear-like weapon and attempted a piercing strike.

*Thunk!*

I felt the man’s spear penetrating my body, opening scars and burrowing within.

“Ugh!”

“If you refuse to change voluntarily, then I’ll gradually invade you. You won’t be able to die easily either. Your body is no longer that of an ordinary human.”

Although I severed the man’s spear with Gluttony, the portion lodged in my body had already begun spreading inside me.

“It will blend within you. As it gradually consumes your insides, your being will change, much like black and white mixing to become grey. And if more black is added….”

The grey would ultimately turn entirely black. If I were mutated in that manner, my existence would fade even more than if I had used the “Forbidden Transformation”!

As expected, the man began to urge me to use a miracle.

“It won’t be a pleasant experience. Instead, accepting the transformation and using a miracle yourself would be much easier.”

The sensation of being forcibly transformed by something devouring the inside of my body was horrendously unpleasant. I wanted nothing more than to tear my flesh apart and extract the residue.

“Ugh… By the way, you still haven’t told me your name.”

“Because I am just a mongrel.”

“Still, I’d like to know.”

The man seemed taken aback, wondering what nonsense I was spouting. But realizing I was stalling for time, he didn’t give me a moment’s reprieve and pierced my shoulder again.

“Belido Lancers. What could you possibly achieve with the short amount of time you’ve bought with that curt answer?”

Belido pushed more residues into me.

“Belido… If this is truly how you intend to proceed.”

I had pulled something out from inside Gluttony.

“Shall we try a game of chicken? Let’s see who wins.”

Belido could not comprehend what I was saying, nor could he recognize what I held in my hand.

“Phew…”

I felt parts of my body transforming into pitch-black residues. Given the state, my self-healing ability was likely also transforming, resembling the formless residues.

Without hesitation, I drove the long needle I held into my head. The needle pierced through my head and lodged into my brain without any resistance.

Suddenly, although it was daytime, it seemed as if the stars in the sky shone brightly.

“What are you doing…?”

“Have you still not realized, Belido? Well… it doesn’t really matter.”

I wondered just how strong that bastard’s mind was.

“Didn’t your master simply tell you to handle things as you saw fit? Turning me into residues and completely converting me was a decision made by you.”

It was time for you to suffer.

“So… it wasn’t a direct order from ‘Chathogua’, was it?”

Belido froze in place.

“To appease Chathogua’s wrath, you’ll have to try a bit harder.”

Though the needle embedded in my brain occasionally made itself felt, sending a chilling sensation through me, my mind remained unaffected. Unlike my temporary freedom to speak as I wished, Belido had no right to even hear the name of an Outer God.

“A little while ago, my associate suggested I serve ‘Cthulhu’ and devote myself to their side.”

*Drip.*

Blackish blood trickled from every opening of Belido’s face—eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. It was a tar-like blood, befitting formless residues.

“How could you… speak those great names…”

Knowledge of an Outer God was a mental poison by itself. Especially their names, so perilous that they had to be mentioned using pseudonyms. It resonated well with Belido, who was, after all, not part of a pure serving species but a mere hybrid.

“I know even more. Not long ago—”

“Enough.”

Belido, spewing blood, raised his hand.

“Please, stop. I concede. Please refrain from uttering those great names any further.”

It was an effective weapon.

“If you forgive my rudeness, let’s explore ways to negotiate.”

“That alone won’t suffice, will it? Or perhaps Chatho—”

“Compensation! I will also compensate you.”

Terrified, Belido took a moment to steady his breath and smacked his own head to shatter it.

‘Did he destroy his brain to temporarily halt his thoughts?’

Extreme as it was, it might have saved him from madness. I downed a bottle of sedative and removed the needle.

The sensation was indescribably nauseating, but the final ‘pop’ of extracting it felt refreshingly relieving.

“… Ugh!”

For a brief moment, I seemed fine, but then blood gushed from every hole of my face, too. Even though using the needle had reduced the impact, the damage I should have received was significant, likely leading to lingering effects.

“A reckless human… Recklessly speaking the name of an Outer God like that…”

Regaining some of his composure, Belido muttered with a voice full of contempt and then cleared his throat.

“Here… Take this. As an apology and as compensation for the damages you sustained.”

Taking out something like a bag from his belongings, Belido handed it to me. Opening the bag with curiosity revealed a key and a black gemstone about the size of a fist.

“What is this?”

“The key to the ancient castle I own and an enchanted item allowing teleportation there once a day.”

“A castle?”

Belido nodded.

“Yes, a secluded castle. It’s somewhat small and neglected, but it should be quite useful. I originally intended to transform it into the temple of the ‘Slumberer of the Abyss’ and appoint you as the archbishop.”

Although I demanded a reward, I was dumbfounded by the unexpected content.

I did need a hideout, but…

“It must be difficult to acquire such a residence without a proper status. Is this sufficient compensation for you?”

“It’s not bad. Did you say this gem, enchanted with teleportation, can be used only once per day?”

“Correct. It requires about ten minutes of concentration.”

Ten minutes felt too long.

While it couldn’t be used in emergencies to quickly escape, having a hideout wasn’t a bad deal at all.

“But there’s no guarantee it isn’t trapped, right?”

“I swear by the name of the ‘Slumberer of the Abyss’ that there are no traps.”

I couldn’t help but ask incredulously.

“You expect me to believe that on just those words?”

“… You’re likely the only priest who regards an oath made in the name of a God so lightly.”

It sounded proper, yet I found this person difficult to trust.

If I went to the castle, I’d have to investigate thoroughly.

“Understood for now. Then, the compromise?”

“You brought the Heart of Hue, didn’t you? That should suffice for performing the Awakening Ritual. I will, as your envoy, negotiate with other residues so that you won’t face similar troubles today.”

It would be a good thing if such issues didn’t occur again.

I nodded.

“There should be no problem conducting the Awakening Ritual. The divine will is upon it.”

“Alright. Then, I have concluded my business as well.”

Shortly after, Belido departed, leaving behind a pouch full of money where the corpse had been.

‘Now, the problem is… my body.’

Due to Belido, my body had undergone considerable changes.

The skin had darkened and parts of it turned gelatinous.

If left as is, it would continue to mutate.

‘The scoundrel left without handling this.’

Extreme measures… It’s time to try the solution I’d devised for such a situation.

I utilized Gluttony to delve into my body.

“Ugh… grrrh!!”

Gluttony typically craved human flesh but had a penchant for devouring things linked to an Outer God.

Using that, I aimed to consume only the mutated parts within me, leaving the human portions intact.

“Seriously… devouring indiscriminately!”

The intense pain turned my vision blood red, provoking curses.

Gluttony rapidly consumed, leaving behind only the vestiges it deemed necessary for my survival.

“Hoo, hoo…”

Previously, I had needed to recover my body during battles, but fortunately, I could now do so at leisure.

With the location on an isolated island, concerns about ambushes were minimal, allowing time to use recovery techniques.

“Awaiting the hour and resting. Enwrap me in pure threads. 〈Cradle of Purity〉.”

Spider silk began enveloping my body like a cocoon.

Inside the cocoon, I rested, invoking a miracle to heal.

However, I couldn’t exit the cocoon until recovery was complete, and I had to remain asleep.

It meant being entirely vulnerable for a while.

‘No ambush… I hope?’

Feeling a sudden bad premonition, I quietly closed my eyes.

As the cocoon finished forming, my body began healing, and just as I slipped into slumber…

“There it is! There’s something suspicious over there!”

“That shape! It’s definitely one of the spider creatures’ cocoons!”

I started hearing shouts.