I Became the Priest of Blasphemy of the Outer Gods

Chapter 69. Bustling Streets (2)

In this world, there were minstrels who performed in inns or on the streets to earn a small living.

Therefore, I initially suspected that this man named Delion was both a minstrel and someone who engaged in battles using other means.

‘It was a foolish thought, too focused on ≪Orders≫! There were clues that should have been noticed earlier…….’

I should have realized that when the flames intensified with Delion’s song, it wasn’t an ordinary tune.

Under normal circumstances, I would have been suspicious sooner, but I was so engrossed in the music that it escaped their notice.

‘…… It’s incredibly irritating.’

*Chara-rang~*

As the clear sound of the lyre resonated, Ansandy charged towards them.

She closed the distance with light and-nimble footwork and swung her sword, her speed much faster than before.

‘A miracle focused on buffs.’

I couldn’t identify which God he served, but the fact that he was a priest of an Ancient God was unexpected since priests not aligned with the Church of Hayat were deemed heretical in the empire.

‘This is troublesome. This is more dangerous than anticipated.’

In the brief moment she swung her sword, a triple strike flew towards me.

‘Swordsmanship using a rapier. Starting with a triple strike followed by smooth and swift strikes.’

The technique, displaying graceful yet fast and relentless continuous strikes, was called “White Egret Frenzy”.

Gluttony also increased its speed to confront the sharp sword dance, surging with intense flames.

‘Indeed, Gluttony has become stronger too.’

Despite the enemy’s astonishingly swift attack, Gluttony managed to withstand it effortlessly.

Since it was crafted using my blood as a medium, it naturally grew stronger as I underwent the Awakening Ritual.

However, as the continuous strikes persisted, I began to slowly get overwhelmed.

Particularly, my focus kept getting disrupted due to the song.

‘I should aim for the priest first.’

He seemed much easier to target than Ansandy, who boasted quick movements.

It was a classic strategy to take care of the supporter first.

“By the overflowing defilement, may my greed engulf the earth. 〈Guide to the Abyss〉.”

Ansandy halted her attack and retreated to create some distance.

This was due to the fact that the 20-meter radius floor around me was transforming into a black swamp under the miracle.

The expression of Delion, who was focused on the song, began to stiffen.

“Changing the terrain…? I’ve never heard such rumors.”

A melee dealer and a supporter.

An extremely disadvantageous combination for long-range battles.

Now, I had gained overwhelming superiority.

‘First, I’ll skip the miracle of the 『Witch of Dreams』.’

Since the miracle of the 『Witch of Dreams』 had already been disrupted once, it was uncertain whether it would be effective if used again.

In that case……

“Master of the threads that enshroud the space beyond. Bestow upon us the threads that cover the land. 〈Heaven Shrouding Net〉.”

The surroundings began to be enveloped by spider webs.

The webbing, forming a dome-like barrier, was a spectacle, yet this was only part of the preparation.

“White threads, as part of me, shall become the whip to punish. 〈Whip of Condemnation〉.”

When spider webs were present, the miracle involved bundling and intertwining them like ropes to attack the enemy.

Due to such conditions, it required quite an extensive setup, making it rather impractical under regular circumstances.

‘Plus, using just a couple of miracles would drain all the mana.’

However, I had traits specialized for utilizing the miracle of an Outer God.

*Kwoooom!*

“My goodness! What level is that priest at?!”

The miracle exhibited even more power than I anticipated.

A whip made of spider web as thick as a human torso lashed the ground, presenting a formidable threat.

“Ansandy! Ignite the flames quickly!”

Evading the whip with my characteristic swift movements, Ansandy lunged to burn away the advancing strands of web with her fiercely blazing sword of flames.

“… Tsk.”

However, the whip was only slightly singed and continued to move unscathed, forcing Ansandy and Delion to run in order to avoid the attack. Despite being made of cobwebs, it displayed remarkable fire resistance.

‘As my rank increased, things definitely became different.’

Recalling that I nearly burned to death in a cocoon just a short time ago, the difference from one Awakening was indeed significant.

“Delion!”

“… Just calling my name, how am I supposed to know what you want me to do?!”

Grumbling, Delion immediately began to use a miracle.

“With melody and resonance~ Harmony of the blending notes~ Grant strength through the echoing sound~! 〈Harmony of Amplification〉.”

*Woosh! *

As if responding to his song, the sword’s flames began to blaze with even more intensity. Ansandy swung the sword, setting the web on fire, but I noticed something peculiar.

‘Although the firepower has strengthened, the movements have become slower.’

It seemed that using a new miracle caused the previous buff to disappear. Striving to overcome the disadvantaged situation, Delion played enthusiastically, while Ansandy swung the brightly blazing sword.

〈White Egret’s Wing〉. It was a gentle sword stroke, like the wings of an egret slicing through the sky.

‘Even so, she seems to still be struggling.’

Despite Delion applying buffs, his miracle was overwhelming Ansandy.

Initially, the swordsmanship Ansandy used focused on swiftly piercing weaknesses with a thin and long sword like the current rapier.

While she could counter the webbed whip by surrounding the sword with flames, she generally faced unfavorable alignments.

Moreover, with Delion also being targeted by the whip, Ansandy was preoccupied with blocking attacks.

‘The enemy is not weak. Even if Delion is uncertain, Ansandy seems to be around 3rd rank.’

In long-range combat, despite the enemy being a duo, they appeared completely helpless.

Moreover, thanks to the 〈Heaven Shrouding Net〉, interference from other mercenaries or the intervention of the Luminaries was delayed.

‘Anyway… I need to wrap this up soon.’

He still didn’t know whether the one who had been throwing earlier was either of the two or a separate figure entirely.

“Ansandy! The alignment is too unfavorable!”

“I know that too.”

The two exchanged glances.

‘They must be planning something.’

I also made Gluttony wary, but the two slightly surpassed my expectations.

“The instrument is my mouth, the performance is my prayer. Please, lend an ear to my peal. 〈Silent Hymn〉.”

Delion closed his eyes and solely focused on playing.

*Ting~ Tang!*

As the melody changed simultaneously, Ansandy leaped to an astonishing height.

It was almost as if she was flying through the sky. At that unexpected leap, the moment she was caught off guard, Ansandy began to run on the air.

‘Walking on air?! That’s a technique that can’t even be mimicked at the level of 3rd rank. But she can’t be above 4th rank.’

In that case, it was a miracle used by Delion. When I swung the cobweb whip at Ansandy rushing through the air, Delion’s performance switched to a faster tempo.

In tandem, Ansandy’s speed increased, allowing her to evade the whip effortlessly, though she descended to the ground as if losing the ability to walk on air.

‘As the melody changes, the miracle changes.’

The hint lay in the prayer of 〈Silent Hymn〉 used by Delion. An instrument for the mouth, a performance as a prayer.

〈Silent Hymn〉 was a miracle that substituted the prayer for a miracle with an instrumental performance.

‘It’s difficult to discern what miracle he is using, while swift buffs are dispensed without delay. Is this them fighting at full strength?’

I repeatedly swung the cobweb whip, but each time it was countered with a speed buff. Delion rapidly switched miracles and bestowed buffs, and Ansandy evaded attacks and leaped back into the air.

Approaching from above made the swamp around me irrelevant, rendering both the cobweb and the swamp useless.

‘Even though I restrained myself, to have the situation turned around like this.’

This was why negligence was prohibited.

I had placed my hands on the ground and recited a prayer.

“The net of Despair holds all life. Please recreate the net that sways with your movements. 〈Wave of the Net〉.”

A spiderweb spread widely over the swamp.

*Fwosh!*

Ansandy charged at me, aiming a rapier. I raised my hand and then slammed it down, creating ripples. The spiderweb surged upward like a tsunami, forcing Ansandy to click her tongue and retreat.

“… Tsk.”

“Ansandy! My mana… it’s depleted!”

Finally, it seemed as if Dellion’s mana had run out, as he showed signs of exhaustion.

‘Shall I finish this now?’

I whipped a spiderweb lash towards Dellion, and observing this, Ansandy began running towards him.

“Ansandy! What are you doing?! Don’t come this way!”

Dellion’s voice turned stern as urgency filled his tone, indicating he was truly flustered.

“Shut up.”

Ansandy stood before Dellion, trying to block the approaching whip.

“…?”

The whip stopped right before their eyes. Of course, I was the one who halted it.

“It seems a decision has been made. Could we now talk calmly? It appears there has been a misunderstanding.”

As I ceased my attack and tried to converse, the two looked at me with confusion.

“Everyone… I have obligations.”

Approaching them slowly, I continued, “In this city… there are foolish ones who have tampered with scriptures that should not be touched. I had passed judgment on them once, but like a littering rat, they have multiplied again.”

“What are you saying?”

Ansandy, still wary, glared at me while speaking.

“Hmm… There’s no benefit in delving deeply into matters concerning an Outer God, is there? To put it simply… there are those who, in conducting an unauthorized ritual, drew the wrath of an Outer God. I am eliminating them before an Outer God expresses their anger directly.”

Ansandy merely glared silently without speaking further.

“Besides them, I’ve also judged despicable individuals who indulged in sin, but unfortunately, only misunderstandings arose. To think my true intentions would be so misconstrued.”

“You didn’t use them as sacrifices?”

“They were filthy enough to be considered sacrifices, that’s all there is to it. In other words, I have no intention of harming innocent mercenaries. The same goes for innocent citizens.”

Wearing a smile, I gently put away my spiderweb lash.

“As for the bounty on my head, it is regrettable, but I ask that you leave quietly.”

“… We’ll withdraw this time.”

While she might not have fully believed my words, it did not matter. Ansandy carried the panting Dellion, and I moved the web to allow their escape. However, there was still one more person left.

“I assume you’ve heard everything. Wouldn’t it be your turn to answer by now?”

I addressed the expert thrower who had yet to reveal themselves. The opponent landed quietly at some distance, appearing as light as a feather.

“…”

A masked woman cloaked head to toe, revealing not even a strand of hair, stood there, a mystery in every sense reminiscent of an assassin, identifiable only as female through her silhouette.

“How about it? Will you retreat?”

The masked woman remained silent, merely taking out several daggers.

“So, you wish to see this through to the end.”

No sooner had those words left my mouth than dozens of daggers came flying at me.