I Became the Priest of Blasphemy of the Outer Gods

Chapter 85. Spider Hunt (2)

In the vast harbor city, there were plenty of places where one could escape the watchful eyes of the Stigmata Guard.

Not only were there many criminals, but the constant flow of people through the port made it perpetually bustling.

This made it the perfect location for the Leng Spider’s scheme.

“And it’s the worst choice of place.”

Without me, it would have been difficult to prevent whatever objective he had.

However, Wave Reach was a place I had been stationed in for quite some time.

Moreover, I had a map stolen from the Stigmata.

An incredibly accurate map based on Cernun’s tracking magic, providing me with a decisive advantage in this city.

“Familiar place, detailed map, allies, the power of rank three, and the surveillance network previously set up. Thanks to these, it’s complete.”

In just about a week, I had succeeded in spreading webs throughout the city.

Webs were stretched in various parts, such as crevices between stones and grooves on wooden planks.

“But it’s definitely burdensome.”

An overwhelming amount of information kept pouring in.

Having already pushed my mind to its limits, exerting further caused a nosebleed to start trickling.

“When is the Golden Blood coming?”

While grumbling, I continued to gather information.

Illegal deals happening in suspicious alleys.

Ordinary homes secretly offering sacrifices to Ancient Gods.

An influx of every conceivable noise and information rushed in until…

Ting!

Hundreds of webs were severed all at once.

Leaving only one web vibrating subtly at the center of the rupture.

“Finally showing a reaction.”

I wiped my nosebleed and left a note on the parchment.

Clad in a cloak, I headed towards where the reaction had occurred, finding a distinguished-looking man standing in an alley.

Around him, taut and sharp webs were strung.

“Isn’t it rather impolite among those who spin threads?”

The man, seemingly in his old age, spoke with a dignified tone reflective of his appearance.

However, a closer approach revealed something else.

“Though you maintain a facade of dignity… You can’t hide your disheveled state and actions.”

The luxurious outfit, befitting a noble, was patched and worn in many places.

As if being forcefully repaired after long being unsuitable to wear.

“Isn’t that right, count Freurutus?”

Levant Freurutus.

A fallen count, known to the public as having committed suicide.

“You’ve already figured me out.”

Levant stroked his mustache, casting a sharp gaze.

“There shouldn’t have been anything to arouse suspicion.”

Indeed, there wasn’t much notable about his fall.

“At a glance, it’s just a common tale of downfall.”

Twelve years ago, the countess began to fall ill.

Count Freurutus invested much of his wealth in seeking a cure, neglecting other affairs.

During this time, members of his faction plotted a rebellion against the emperor and were purged.

The Freurutus family was arduously recognized as unrelated to the matter, but the total collapse of their faction dealt a severe blow.

“And coincidentally, a poor harvest occurred in their territory, if I recall.”

With no children, the count saw no hope for recovery and committed suicide.

The countess moved to the countryside with the household, living quietly until her worsening illness led to her death.

The household members, as per her will, divided the inheritance and dispersed, leaving no trace of their whereabouts.

“Many others fell back then, making it even harder to find peculiarities.”

I had noted a few points of interest.

From these, I formed a certain degree of conviction.

“The previously healthy countess suddenly falling ill. The complete lack of information regarding what illness it was. And the count, who cherished his wife, committing suicide despite having enough money to care for her and live comfortably.”

“Although it wasn’t sufficient evidence for all, when considering the paths followed after the downfall…”

“The spider cocoons that began to spread shortly after your wife’s death a year ago. Loyal subordinates of a similar age to those who were continuously at your wife’s side. I deemed the possibility quite high, wouldn’t you agree?”

Levant silently smirked at me.

“You managed to reach that point, didn’t you? But what’s your goal here? We are both marginalized in this world, do you intend to report it to the Luminaries?”

“I could certainly do so indirectly. Especially if you hand over the evidence that you are a Rank 4 Leng Spider, what do you think might happen then?”

Levant let out a chuckle.

“Hah! I’d be finished, wouldn’t I? So, you’re suggesting I surrender peacefully? No, you won’t report me. I am an indispensable existence for you.”

Levant tapped the ground softly with his staff. The spiderweb hidden cunningly beneath began to resonate with vibration.

“Do you think you’re the only one who set up a web in this city? Golden Blood. It seems that’s what you were supposed to receive in exchange for my bounty.”

Damn, he had heard everything I said.

“I know the selection you’ve hired for, too. You’ve trailed off several times. Frankly, I was impressed by your pathological caution. But such tricks only work at your level.”

As Levant’s shadow quivered, it morphed into the form of a massive spider. It was a fear of powerlessness, just like watching a spider approach while ensnared in its web.

This was the difference between Rank 3 and Rank 4. However, there was something he was unaware of.

“You deem my tricks as such? Perhaps being a spider, your vision is indeed poor.”

Gluttony raised its tentacles, igniting flames.

“Do you still believe I cannot hunt you?”

“…… Remarkable. The flame of 『Eternal Blaze』, thought lost to history, yet here it burns. How deeply are you entangled in faith?”

Levant did not back down. The hidden spiderwebs began to turn a shade of purple. The venom spread across all the webs.

“Is that something a heretic like you should say?”

“Heretic, you say? I haven’t abandoned faith. It’s just that those who disagree with me play the role of believers.”

“Sigh… Seems you’re inept at factional warfare, whether it be among humans or spiders.”

Levant twisted the corner of his lips at my provocation.

“Dealing with an abnormal lunatic like you is certainly burdensome. You’re quite the nuisance in numerous ways… Perhaps, being twisted as such, have you caught the favor of an Outer God?”

In that moment, I immediately recited a prayer.

“As the fluttering flames dance.”

“So let it be that you perish here. For me and my dear ones.”

A cluster of purple webs formed into the shape of a colossal spider leg.

“Burn along with me. 〈Dance of the Mysterious Flame〉.”

As I transformed into flame, the web rushed toward the spot where I had stood like a blade.

Levant seemed genuinely surprised, clearly unfamiliar with the miracles associated with 『Eternal Blaze』.

“Oh? In that case… 〈Thread of Chaos〉.”

An all-too-familiar miracle manifested, and the webs clinging to the walls extended outwards. These threads could not be burnt by the blaze of flame transformation.

“O Eternal Blaze that devours all, reveal your fire to the antagonist. 〈Scarlet Flames of the Hungry Ghost〉.”

A ferocious circle of flames, legitimately living up to its name, flared intensely.

Within the center of the circle, there existed a pitch-black hole that reflected no light, as if everything burned to ash.

The 〈Thread of Chaos〉 was drawn into that hole, intensifying the flames even more.

“…… That’s not an ability you should possess at your rank.”

Levant, upon sensing my body transform back to its original form as the miracle concluded, slammed his fist against the ground.

A tidal wave of white, as gigantic as the sky, surged forward.

“As the flames of the Eternal Blaze shake the heavens and the earth, arise, o fire! 〈Inferno of Thunder〉!”

The fiery pillar emerging from the ground struck the wave. The white wave couldn’t withstand the blaze and crumbled apart.

“He was suppressing himself. You must know that the miracles of the ‘Outer Gods’ aren’t meant to be used like that? Are you perhaps afraid of something beyond?”

Levant had raised the corners of his mouth as he launched a slashing attack with spider webs.

The slashes, flying in from all angles, were dreadfully abundant and fast.

‘Absolutely merciless!’

The power, which sliced through buildings as though they were tofu, also severed parts of Gluttony, which had been blocking the slashes.

“It wouldn’t do at all to be pushed around by you, who hasn’t yet given up being human.”

Swish!

Eventually, unable to block it, my hands flew off in an instant…

Thud!

Two cruciform lances embedded in my arms pierced through Levant’s body.

“Grgh…?!”

A green fluid oozed from the pierced body.

“What on earth is this!”

Even the creature of the fourth rank seemed to not fully comprehend what had happened due to the insanely fast reaction, as though it couldn’t fathom what had struck it.

“Under His grand name, may all flames gather. Bring me to the utmost limit. 〈Release of the Extreme Point〉.”

I connected the tendrils of Gluttony in place of my severed arms as if in prayer.

Then, the scattered flames converged into one place, compressed into a small red dot.

And it culminated in a concentrated explosion of flames.

For a fleeting moment, everything was engulfed in a red glow. It was a formidable force powerful enough to incinerate everything in the vicinity.

‘Damn it… No easy way out, is there?’

The expanding flames and heat were tightly ensnared by the spider’s web.

“Those favored by the ‘Outer Gods’ are remarkably different. Even while you’re self-restricting, that is. Were you perhaps bestowed the blood of a God?”

At Levant’s feet.

From the spider-shaped shadows emerged dozens of cocoons as large as a person.

The fire, draped by the threads emanating from the cocoons, dwindled away as it was.

“Hah… To think I would suffer such indignity.”

Levant extracted the lodged lance and used the threads to close his wounds, adjusting his poise.

“I see now why you are so prized. But do you know this? If there were no option of you…”

Levant transformed the bundle of spider webs into the form of a sword.

“Even those who sent you to kill me would eventually choose me.”

As Levant’s muscles twitched as though he was ready to pounce at any moment, I too opened my mouth to recite incantations.

Zing!

A sharp resonance echoed in my mind.

『Want! Want! Want!』

Something hidden in this city was clamoring in fits of madness.

Relentless and turbulent telepathy, closer to a scream.

『Wantwantwantwantwant!!』

At the brink of losing clarity due to the close-to-maniacal cries.

“Yes… I’ll go there then.”

Levant had been looking somewhere.

“As it stands, I’ll fail anyway, so might as well…”

With those final words, Levant disappeared, enveloped by the spider webs.

I clenched my lips as I ground my teeth.

Levant was indeed strong.

Undeniably befitting the strength of a monster of the fourth hierarchy.

‘… This was unexpected.’

The unknown being that had been shrieking moments ago felt several times more dangerous than him.