I Became the Priest of Blasphemy of the Outer Gods

Chapter 75. Red Castle (3)

Concealing a deadly weapon within one’s body for surprise attacks was a tactic that held little significance for me. Not only were my physical abilities subpar, but I also lacked the knowledge of how to wield a weapon.

“But this isn’t about that level.”

Simply drawing out a spear or transforming a part of the body into a spear for an ambush would never work against Mary, a third-tier warrior.

Moreover, the process even involved extracting an arm. Yet, Mary was unable to react to my attack.

“… What was that just now?”

Mary stood, staring blankly at my spear, seemingly unable to comprehend what had just happened to her. The spear’s blade extended in a cross shape.

I called it a cross spear arbitrarily, though it was slightly different from the cross spears used in the East. Perhaps it had a more fitting name, but unfortunately, I wasn’t well-versed in weapon nomenclature.

“… Compression?”

“That’s right.”

The reason the spear emerged so swiftly that Mary couldn’t react was that this spear had been compressed and then released.

“Forcibly compressed and released, the speed is on a different level from simple transformation. It burst out with explosive force.”

Both the formless residues and Mary shared the commonality of having a slime-like body. Such a form could transform freely, and could also be compressed into a small size. Albert Lancers used this characteristic to create a tactic that could surprise an opponent.

“First, you extract the tainted blood, shape it, and solidify it. Then, after using 〈Forbidden Transformation〉 again, you implant that shape inside the body, precisely inside the bone.”

For a human, this method would be unimaginably grotesque. Despite using 〈Forbidden Transformation〉, cutting the body open and splitting bones to insert a compressed spear was a method that seemed detached from reality, bringing an involuntary laugh.

“That alone won’t suffice. Explain.”

“Exactly. If it were just compressed and then expanded, you would easily counter it. It doesn’t even split your body in half.”

Mary nodded, reattaching her own body. Though I managed to take a shot, it was effectively no damage. Considering her race, there was no other choice.

“I used the thickness of the blood.”

This was an application that not even Albert himself had known… or rather, had never needed to use.

“〈Forbidden Transformation〉 was unnecessary once full formless residue transformation was complete.”

When 〈Forbidden Transformation〉’s retaliatory effect triggered, the most transformed blood and flesh within the body would be prioritized for use. Typically, when one gets injured, that area heals and undergoes transformation.

“Therefore, the attack originates from the damaged area.”

But what if there were already more mutated parts within the body?

A spear made from already altered blood would naturally be far more transformed.

Thus, the retaliatory effect of 〈Forbidden Transformation〉 utilizes the spear hidden within the body, not the newly mutated body.

Unleashing the spear at the same time as the retaliation and compression release makes the attack so fast that even Mary couldn’t respond.

“My only regret is he can only implant it in the bone, instead of the marrow.”

Though it was horrifyingly painful, only the bone could maintain sufficient compression. If merely inserted into the body, the compression would release and immediately burst out.

“A truly crazy person.”

“I agree.”

“Utterly inefficient.”

Mary said this while simultaneously severing both my legs. It happened so suddenly that I only realized I was attacked when my body hit the ground.

Thunk!

Two spears sprang from my leg bones, piercing through Mary’s body. Did she really think I had only implanted them in my arms?

“… Truly mad person. Seriously.”

“Well, it was really tough, you know? I had to crack open my bones and implant them without anesthesia, fainting several times in the process.”

“How many?”

“Approximately… around 20 spears, I think?”

I had embedded sharp objects in various bones that could break upon impact, like the ribs and shoulders. In essence, I was no different from a human porcupine.

“I… I’ve lost.”

Mary admitted defeat. It wasn’t simply because her body had been pierced. These dark spears were made from my blood, which possessed the properties of formless residues.

If desired, it was possible to transform the spears that penetrated the enemy’s body back into blood, allowing it to seep into their system.

It was akin to a deadly poison capable of causing fatal damage from within the enemy.

“Still, no.”

“Huh?”

“I’m sane.”

Mary shook her head and walked away upon witnessing the transformation of the formless residue portion of my body being fed to Gluttony to restore it.

And when she discovered a groove in the desk used as a mold for creating spear shapes, she was highly annoyed.

Consequently, I decided I wouldn’t recklessly damage furniture like that again.

After completing various errands outside, Eldritch returned and expressed his astonishment before inquiring subtly.

“So, why spears?”

“Well… it wasn’t like I chose it. It just initially came out that way.”

“Pardon?”

“When altering my body, transforming it into a simple and quickly imagined form is crucial both for speed and the perfection of manifestation.”

Hence, whether it was formless residues or Mary, they usually selected straightforward shapes. In my case, when visualizing a weapon, the form that was transformed and created most swiftly was this cross spear.

“It’s also important to immediately envisage this shape when deactivating its compressed state.”

“I see. But in that case, it’s rather peculiar.”

“How so?”

“Typically, doesn’t one think of a pike-style shape when it comes to spears?”

Just as Eldritch stated, simpler forms like pikes do exist among spears.

“Yet, these spears bear cross-shaped blades!”

I thought.

Despite everything, given my persistent struggle and the hatred nurtured towards religion, it seemed the cross shape had been strongly imprinted in my mind.

Though it was a bit unsettling, I decided it wasn’t worth dwelling on too much and chose to let it go.

“So, how are things outside?”

“Wave Reach remains chaotic, as expected. It seems double the number of Stigmata were deployed. And…”

“…?”

“Three copies of the Scripture of the ‘Weaver of Destruction’s Threads’ have reportedly been discovered overnight.”

They should have been recovered last time. I frowned.

“Does this mean someone is deliberately spreading them… but what’s the purpose?”

Spreading them indiscriminately would lead only to a catastrophic disaster in Wave Reach. Without the intent to destroy Wave Reach, such actions made no sense.

“It could simply be that they are unaware of the inclinations of the ‘Weaver of Destruction’s Threads’, but finding three copies seems excessive, doesn’t it?”

Duplicating scriptures wasn’t a simple task.

“Perhaps Charlotte… that cursed individual is concocting some scheme?”

I immediately thought of the person I least favored, yet, in truth, Charlotte had no significant connections to the ‘Weaver of Destruction’s Threads.’

“Understood. So, what of my bounty situation?”

“The red-haired Outer God priest is still wanted. Naturally, the bounty has increased. It’s quite a substantial sum. However….”

“What now?”

“Contrary to what you expected, ‘Aihab’ and ‘Simon Magus’ have not been listed as wanted.”

… Still?

“Is Arian still unable to recover?”

“I think it’s unlikely. Despite the high destructive power of that miracle Charlotte used, with Hayat’s Divine Relic and miracle, she would be able to recover as long as it’s not a lost body part.”

“Then, is she unable to overcome some mental shock or… No, it can’t be Arian.”

Could this be a trap?

A scheme to make me complacent by deliberately not listing them as wanted…

Despite Eldritch’s connections in the black market allowing him access to various information, he wouldn’t have knowledge of Luminaries’s internal affairs.

Thus, without a clear understanding of the situation, it seemed wise not to use the identities of Aihab and Simon Magus.

“Other than that, nothing significant. With the funds you provided, I purchased a carriage and a horse and stocked up on food and daily necessities.”

“A horse and carriage? Eldritch, do you know how to drive a carriage?”

“Before entering the black market, I did indeed engage in various activities to blend into human society.”

A carriage driven by an octopus. Truly, I live in a remarkable world.

“And here… I managed to acquire a transformation potion. Due to Stigmata’s relentless crackdown, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to obtain.”

Though asking Cernun was an option, it was generally wise to avoid owing favors to a mage. I accepted the transformation potion and drank it as an experiment to see what form I would take…

“… What?”

My body started to twitch uncontrollably. Something had undoubtedly gone wrong.

“Lord Ethnos, are you alright?”

“I don’t feel a significant pain, though.”

My skin twisted and undulated in a bizarre manner. Such a process was not part of transformation potions.

I suspected a faulty potion, but given that Eldritch had procured it, that seemed unlikely.

“Oh… I’m back to normal.”

“Let’s try drinking it again.”

The result was the same. The transformation didn’t occur, and I returned to my original form almost immediately.

“What in the world…?”

Unable to use the potion, I found myself in a rather troublesome situation, but Mary seemed puzzled, tilting her head in confusion.

“What is it? A problem?”

“Lord Ethnos often creates false identities and disguises himself as different people for safety or strategy. But now that has become impossible…”

Mary looked even more bewildered.

“Why not use a human skin?”

“That’s a bit…”

Regardless, wearing human skin was crossing a line.

‘Not everyone remembers my face, so shaving my head might help avoid recognition.’

Having to live as a bald person was a terribly bleak thought. If only my hair wasn’t such a striking red, this wouldn’t be an issue.

“Should I try dyeing it?”

“That won’t help, probably.”

Suddenly, Mary, who had been silent, leaned in and enveloped my head completely with her mouth. It happened so quickly I couldn’t react.

“Twe.”

After holding it in her mouth for a moment, she spat my head back out. My hair, tainted by saliva or something unknown, had turned a dull purplish color. But in an instant, the color faded, reverting back to red.

“… As expected.”

Mary seemed to have realized something.

“Mary, did you find out anything?”

“Did you receive. The Ugly Toad’s Blessing?”

To refer to an Outer God in such a disrespectful manner… I liked it.

“Yeah, I did. It’s a blessing for healing.”

However, Mary shook her head.

“I am certain, it is not a blessing for healing.”

Mary shifted her form repeatedly before me, demonstrating, “It is a blessing of transformation.”