I Became the Priest of Blasphemy of the Outer Gods

Chapter 68. Bustling Streets (1)

There were many differences between playing the game and the experiences I actually faced, and the ascension of ranks was one of them.

‘To think I’m only at 2nd rank now.’

When it came to TRPGs, leveling up, or the Awakening Ritual, happened much faster. I used to rise to 2nd rank in an instant and soon reached 4th rank, but now I had only just reached 2nd rank.

‘… No, I shouldn’t think like that. A game is a game, and this is this.’

That was right. In this world, unless someone was extraordinarily gifted, humans typically only reached around 2nd rank.

Especially for a priest, dedicating their entire life to faith often resulted in merely reaching rank 1 by the grace of the divine.

Considering that, my Awakening Ritual was remarkably fast, but since I tended to face nothing but monstrous figures, it didn’t quite feel that way.

‘There’s no choice. I have to reach 3rd rank as quickly as possible.’

Surviving encounters with formidable opponents like Albeca and Charlotte was only possible thanks to the numerous favorable conditions that supported me.

I took many risky gambles and faced countless dangerous situations. However, if I could reach 3rd rank, then I could truly engage in proper battles.

‘First, I need to check how much I’ve changed after reaching 2nd rank.’

It seemed like my mana capacity had increased, and I felt considerably stronger, but one could never be sure until actually testing it.

Trying it out didn’t seem like a bad idea. If I wanted to know where they were, I could set some webs and spy. I was walking through the streets of Waver Reach, lost in thought, when it happened.

“Huh?”

“Isn’t that…?”

It seemed the surroundings were buzzing with excitement. Wondering what it was about, I looked around and realized people were whispering about me.

‘Why are they doing that?’

Since I was using an illusion to conceal myself, there shouldn’t have been anything noteworthy about me.

“Red hair…”

“Is it true? But to walk around so boldly?”

I slightly pulled my bangs forward to check. Red. Unexpectedly, the illusion failed, revealing my true appearance.

‘What in the world…?’

Upon closer inspection, it wasn’t merely that the miracle failed. My hair was alternating between the illusion’s dirty blonde and the natural red.

‘The illusion is unstable. Why…?’

Considering recent changes, it was likely due to the Awakening Ritual. Perhaps something was clashing because I attained the ritual through two different faiths. I wasn’t sure, but for now, there was no time to dwell on it.

“Th-the red-haired Outer God priest! Call for the Luminaries!”

“Didn’t they leave Wave Reach already?!”

The commotion turned into chaos. Seeing everyone fleeing in panic, my notoriety must have been quite known.

‘I need to get out of here right away.’

If I stayed there and encountered Luminaries, there would undoubtedly be trouble. For some unknown reason, the miracle concealing my appearance was unstable, so I started running without hesitation.

“Huff!”

“…?!”

The attacks had already begun. Unbelievably, a stone came flying at the back of my head. Gluttony easily blocked it, but it was swift and fierce.

It didn’t appear to be a casually thrown rock; if it hit, it could have critically injured the back of my head.

‘The self-healing blessing would have recovered it, but… it’s dangerous.’

Stone-throwing might seem primitive and insignificant, but in reality, it’s not.

Even if I’d ascended to 2nd rank, my physical durability was that of an ordinary human. A misstep could shatter my skull and prove fatal.

Additionally, the strength of the one throwing the stone was anything but ordinary.

*Smack!*

Feigning a move to duck deliberately and sidestepping, a rock came hurtling to the spot where I had just been, smashing into pieces.

If it were just a rock breaking, it would be one thing, but seeing the dent in the floor, this attack was anything but ordinary.

‘It’s not an arrow, so it’s likely a mercenary…’

Weapons possessed by members of Stigma were said to be strictly regulated. They faced penalties if they carried anything other than issued weapons.

I’d never heard of a sling or slingshot being among those weapons.

He might just be a guy who relied on his strength to hurl stones, but considering that no other members of Stigma seemed to be around, the likelihood of a mercenary was highest.

*Clang!*

This time, a dagger flew towards me.

‘The attacks are fast. The dagger that just flew had the sound trailing behind.’

A mercenary specialized in ranged attacks, particularly throwing. A skilled one, likely in the 2nd to 3rd rank. But…

‘Unlucky fellow, isn’t he.’

I let Gluttony autonomously block the attacks, instructing it to catch the next projectile instead of deflecting it.

‘My first character had a throwing build. I’ve become seasoned in this build.’

Sure enough, if I had just deflected what he threw this time, it would have been disastrous. It was a small ceramic jar, probably containing poison or acid inside.

‘A throwing build is about preparing various throwing weapons and finding the most effective one to strike the enemy’s weak points.’

Grabbing the jar, I started to run away from the location. There was certainly going to be a gap before the next attack.

‘To avoid having his location pinpointed by his trajectory being read, he’s likely to move around.’

I examined the roofs of the buildings. If he’s sniping with throwing weapons, he’d prefer a high vantage point. However, a meticulous mercenary wouldn’t reveal himself so easily.

‘If a miracle is used wrong at this distance, it’ll be a disaster.’

People had scattered, making the area somewhat deserted, but there could still be people hidden. I tried to gauge the enemy’s location and read their psychology.

‘If it were me, having confirmed the attack was ineffective, I would have fled.’

It may seem cowardly, but it’s a significant strategic advantage. When I ran a throwing build, I often attempted hit-and-run tactics.

*Swoosh!*

But unlike me, the enemy continued to attack. As Gluttony tried to catch the dagger that flew towards it, an enchantment on the dagger activated.

“Damn!”

A porcupine or sea urchin-like array of ice shards materialized and were fired wildly. Although not all were blocked by Gluttony, leaving some embedded in my body, the wounds healed almost instantly.

‘If it were before the Awakening, I would’ve had to resort to 〈Forbidden Transformation〉.’

Surely, the blessing was quite beneficial.

‘I doubt I’ll lose to that guy… But no matter how skilled he is, I can’t keep engaging until he runs out of things to throw.’

Surely, Luminaries would arrive soon. Just as I was about to use a miracle to locate him…

“A sudden chaos descending upon a city kissed by the sea breeze~!”

From somewhere, music resembling a harp accompanied by singing reached my ears.

‘What on earth?’

Looking towards the direction of the voice, I saw someone swiftly closing the distance, aiming to stab with a sword. In the moment Gluttony deflected the sword, flames erupted from its blade.

“Our righteous Lady Ansandy will judge an Outer God priest who has lost their way~!”

Convincing harp-like music and a man’s singing voice.

‘The heat of the flames… seems to be getting stronger.’

As the flames intertwined with the melody grew fiercer, I pushed off the ground, putting some distance between us.

“Indeed, even an Outer God priest steps back in the face of your dazzling dance of flame, lady Ansandy.”

The man, adorned in a wide-brimmed hat and an elaborately embroidered cloak, resembled a bard cradling a lyre-like instrument.

“What did you think of this piece? Did the passion within you blaze as fiercely as those flames?”

The woman, who towered over him, held a slender sword akin to a rapier. She was clad in leather armor reinforced with iron plates. In contrast to the man’s sly, flippant demeanor, she felt as cold as steel.

“I always say, I hate your songs.”

“Oh dear.”

“They’re distracting.”

‘Lady Ansandy… it sounds like a name I’ve heard from the Whale Tendon. Is this the skilled mercenary duo they talked about?’

Surely, the other must be Delion. They said it was a team composed of this distracting fellow and a masterful swordsman.

Playing an instrument and singing during a fight, they were certainly a disturbance.

“But isn’t my music helpful in battle? We’ve been fighting together for years now; a little praise wouldn’t hurt.”

“No. It’s noisy.”

The pair seemed unlikely to have any coordination, but their surprise attack had been surprisingly effective in catching my attention.

“Surprisingly intact, I see. When I heard of a red-haired Outer God priest, I imagined a fiery-faced monster. Wouldn’t that be more fun and make a better story? I’ll have to amend your song and tale to reflect that.”

The man, tuning his instrument, took liberties with my appearance. There was something particularly annoying about the way he spoke.

‘This is quite perplexing. Yet… there wasn’t a class like a bard before?’

Bards or minstrels, commonly found in fantasy, were known for enhancing and de-buffing by playing an instrument. Such a profession didn’t exist in ≪Orders≫.

‘If I had to pull something comparable, perhaps it’d be Luminaries’s choir or military band… but even that doesn’t quite fit.’

Could he simply be a lunatic playing an instrument amid battle?

“For the tale of vanquishing you; for the bounty hanging from your neck; and to establish our Lady Ansandy as the finest swordswoman! I’m afraid you’ll need to take your exit here!”

The bard-like man proclaimed boldly, as if acting in a play, offering a formal bow.

“…”

“Idiot. Seems your taunt is having an effect.”

Lady Ansandy fixed her gaze on me, never letting her guard down as she pointed her sword.

“That quiet guy suddenly became hostile.”

“I didn’t particularly taunt him, so what’s that about?”

I sighed, looking at both of them.

“I tend to dislike flashy types like him.”

His ceremonious manners were irksome…

“While I understand your intentions, I have no wish for conflict. Could we please disengage peacefully?”

“Hah! Look here!”

The man yelled theatrically, breaking into a jesting smile.

“A suspicious Outer God priest causing trouble can’t go unchecked by a righteous swordswoman. Where our Lady raises her blade is truly my stage!”

The instrument rang with a clear tone.

‘If no projectile’s been thrown since, that just might have been that guy…’

Could be a separate individual, so caution was necessary. But if it was only about projectile attacks, Gluttony could block them all, so I wasn’t at a disadvantage.

Eldritch was absent, dealing with those asleep over there, but such a commotion might draw him here on his own.

‘Might be worth the effort.’

As I thought to assess how strong I’d become and prepare to deal with the pair, that moment arrived.

“The song spreading through the air is the bard’s prayer~! Let all who hear it gain the strength to vanquish a hundred foes with your blessing~! 〈Ballad of Battle〉!”

The bard began wielding a miracle along with his song. The miracle of an Ancient God.