I Became the Priest of Blasphemy of the Outer Gods

Chapter 94. Priests of the Outer Gods (1)

Under the yellowish full moon, I began to dream.

The sensation differed noticeably from when I was usually invited to the Dream Room. Neither flowers nor Sevika were in sight.

“Sevika? Are you there, Sevika?”

“I’ve heard you’re a madman, and it seems the rumors were true?”

A sultry voice came from beyond the darkness. Just hearing it felt like a sticky sensation lingered in my ears, as if a tongue was rolling around inside.

“Calling Her Eminence so freely.”

In the direction of the voice, a woman sat in a chair. The first impression was that of an aristocratic lady. Her face exuded a luxurious and elegant beauty. However, what caught my eye in the opposite sense was…

‘What an enormous size…’

It was an overwhelmingly large bust. Even her outfit exposed much of her skin, leaving no place for my eyes to rest.

A woman who not only exuded an alluring aura but also stirred up one’s lust. But no matter how much of a man I was, it was strange enough to make me wary.

“Or are you really the child who shares a close acquaintance with Her Eminence, as the rumors say?”

“It seems you know about me…”

I felt like a bug ensnared by a carnivorous plant. Realizing the danger yet still tempted by the sweetness.

“Who are you?”

“Just a bad woman intrigued by bad boys.”

It wasn’t just her appearance or sultry voice that was the problem. Her graceful, serpentine movements and seductive words were snake-like.

And the innate aura that seeped into my mind like a subtle perfume, stirring primal and fervent desires.

‘Get a grip. You’re not a teenager…’

Even if this woman said nothing, or even did not reveal herself, the aura she exuded was enough to provoke instinctual reactions.

“Now, my dear, before others arrive, let’s quietly—”

“That’s enough, Temptress.”

A voice that recalled a fierce storm and rough waves intervened. I knew the owner of that voice.

‘Cahon Tiburon.’

The woman slightly grimaced.

“‘Tib’… Just when it was getting interesting, you came at the wrong time, didn’t you?”

“Trying to seduce even in this place, with Her Eminence’s esteemed guest no less. Have your inflamed desires completely burned away your reason?”

‘Tib’…?

Was that a nickname or something?

“Enough. I’m not worthless enough to be swayed by your loose body.”

“Hmph! Didn’t you once enjoy this body as well? You seem to have enjoyed it quite a bit.”

“Amber, what I enjoyed that time was…”

Cahon, who seemed more youthful and spirited than when I saw him last, sat on a chair adorned with a tangle of an anchor, a wheel, and a skull.

“The time spent with you, not your body. A joy now lost to someone who can no longer distinguish the two.”

Amber, as she was called, quietly watched Cahon.

“How long do you plan to call me by that name? I am Beatrice now.”

A dreamy expression reminiscent of past times briefly crossed her face.

“And I’m not reckless enough to mess with someone Her Eminence cherishes.”

Numerous hands emerged from behind her. She sat down, seemingly embraced by the hands stretching as if to explore her body, making a chair out of them.

“Unless that person comes to me willingly? A pleasure that would make all you’ve experienced so far seem like trash. If you wish to feel such bliss, do come.”

A chill ran down my spine from Beatrice’s seductive gaze. Trying to ignore it, I moved to sit down, and a rather plain chair appeared for me.

“Do we start once Sevika arrives?”

“Don’t address Her Eminence so casually. While you might not care, we don’t wish to upset Her Eminence.”

Everyone, including Eldritch, was cautious around Sevika. But why were they so protective of someone so amiable?

“Today, we have three present.”

A new, unfamiliar voice joined. An elderly-looking figure, though not entirely human, more like a mummy. Wrapped in black cloth like a shroud, his face could not be seen; only that he was male and quite tall.

“A new face, I see. Elise. Now the young man known as the Gray Calamity. So young.”

Black liquid gathered behind the old man, forming a chair shape. Recognizing the characteristic viscosity and murkiness, I guessed this old man was the representative priest of the residues.

“I am Johann West. The Lancers that you are familiar with, those children, are my creations.”

“Creations?”

I asked back unconsciously, and Johann chuckled.

“Still not complete, but they’re shaping up to be decent creations.”

Johann seemed like someone who spoke only what he wanted. Nevertheless, I could see that it was this man who led the Lancers’ family to become residues.

“Quite a gathering today?”

“Because there’s a new face today.”

The voices of two more people joined.

‘… Children?’

A boy and girl who looked alike in appearance and voice. They appeared with their arms chained together like prisoners. Draped in black beast hides, they wore the beast’s head like hoods.

‘With such characteristics, there’s no doubt.’

They must be priests of the 【Twins of Blasphemy】. On a closer look, the hide they wore seemed to be ghoul skin.

‘They’re not truly children; perhaps they haven’t aged. Ah, it might be a case like Pleroma’s, so who knows.’

The twins sat on what appeared to be a sofa made of bones.

“Won’t you introduce yourselves to Elise?”

“Elise isn’t introducing himself either?”

The indistinguishable twins bickered, and I decided to speak first.

“I am Ethnos.”

“In the end, they introduced themselves first.”

“As they should. We’re much older.”

Slowly, I began to differentiate. The girl spoke formally while the boy used informal speech.

“My name is Kapalla.”

“I’m Bati.”

An unexpectedly ordinary interaction. What struck me was that all gathered here were human-shaped. Of course, like Cahon’s true form, others might not be showing their real forms.

As the twins arrived, stone pillars began to rise around us. Each pillar bore unique markings, symbols indicating which God each priest served.

“Seems we’re the only ones today.”

“Even with Elise joining us, they didn’t come. I wonder what they’re up to.”

The twins’ symbol depicted two stars shining in a cross shape from a cracked skull.

‘Looks like there are more absentees.’

Since the pillars appeared to match the current number of participants, it was impossible to determine who was absent.

“Even Tib came.”

Beatrice added. Her symbol showed a goat’s skull with countless horns, enclosed in a circle of hands connected like a halo.

‘She must be from the Black Willow Cult.’

Followers of the 【Black Goat Who Spawns All Things】… Come to think of it, it suits her well.

“It is indeed unusual for Cahon to join.”

Johann’s pillar depicted a pattern of a skull seemingly melting away in blackness.

“Isn’t it overreaching, Cahon?”

“You should have stayed beneath the sea instead of being here.”

A pattern of a wave with an eye in its center gleamed on Cahon’s pillar.

“Youngsters, don’t overestimate yourselves. Even imprisoned, do you think you can match me?”

“As long as it’s not underwater, I can.”

“Kapalla, it doesn’t sound impressive. It actually seems weak.”

Despite the apparent lack of concern, the squabble fizzled out quickly. Then my pillar rose, and everyone looked at it as if on cue.

“An interesting shape indeed.”

Cahon chuckled deeply. My symbol, as he said, was unique. A tightly shut eye from which black tears flowed, encircled by a burning halo.

“Three symbols of an Outer God?”

“It seems true that you awakened with multiple faiths.”

“Incredible.”

The twins looked perplexed, Beatrice was filled with curiosity, and Johann had a meaningful gaze as they studied my symbol. Yet despite their interest, they moved on to the main matter without much fuss.

“Johann, I’ll buy three ships. Do you have any galleons?”

“And how do you plan to make the payment?”

“Half in money and the other half in corpses. I have a total of 120 corpses.”

120 corpses…? They must have collected quite a few. At the same time, given Johann’s faith, it was intriguing that payment could be made with corpses. I might find a use for it later myself.

“We have something to discuss with Elise.”

Kapalla addressed me.

“You know something about a man named Sharl, don’t you? It’s rumored that you had a clash with him.”

Charlotte? What could she have done to warrant mentioning by these two? I relished the chance to sell information and spoke.

“Of course. Her real name is Charlotte, and she’s not a man but a woman.”

“Charlotte? And a woman? She’s always been spotted as a man.”

“Her physique is entirely different from a woman cross-dressing as a man. Perhaps you’ve mistaken her for someone else?”

I briefly explained Charlotte’s magic. Although it was new to them, as Charlotte had invented it, they seemed inclined to trust my information.

“We’ll buy as much information as you have on her.”

“How do you plan to pay?”

“What forms of payment do you accept?”

They offered various options, from jewels and gold to corpses, living monsters, and rare plants.

“Gold will be fine.”

“You’re in the empire, right? Arrange a suitable meeting place. We’ll send someone.”

“But, how can I trust this deal? I might be ambushed when I go to trade.”

Kapalla and Bati looked at me, bewildered.

“Who would disrupt the order at a gathering Her Eminence inaugurated without being insane?”

“No one foolish enough to do so would even make it here.”

Cahon interjected silently.

“As long as there’s no official declaration of war, we are bound by an oath not to harm each other’s forces. The moment you set foot here, you became a part of that oath.”

… Is there such a rule? Why didn’t Sevika mention this to me?

“So, are you going to trade or not?”

“We’re not here to cheat each other. We’re not some insignificant underlings.”

I eventually agreed to the transaction, deciding to hand over the information on the spot.

“But why are you looking for her?”

“He looted four of our ghouls’ havens.”

“He’s so crafty—no, she’s a woman, and our pursuit failed.”

… Diligent as ever. I snickered internally, nodding. As the deal was settled, Johann, who had been quiet, spoke.

“Does anyone here know about the great mage Cernun’s disciple, Lyla Eldenwillow?”

The mention of an unexpected name caught me off guard.