I Became the Priest of Blasphemy of the Outer Gods

Chapter 143. The Path of Struggle (1)

“After that, I went to see the priest to hear the details! Even though I couldn’t hear the voice of the God anymore, I learned miracles through ancient scriptures!”

Talia looked to me with hopeful anticipation, as if expecting admiration for her story.

“Why did something like this happen…….”

“Uncle?”

I made an excuse that I needed some time to think alone and sent Talia out of the room.

‘Why Talia, of all people?’

I couldn’t fathom the criteria by which a God made their choice.

Talia had indeed shown courage and conviction, but were there truly so few people capable of mustering that level of courage?

My fists clenched with tension.

‘Talia has now become the enemy and top target of the Foreign Gods’ forces.’

The Ancient God, Zeus.

I didn’t know why he’d left, but he was known to be the victor of the Holy War.

Which meant he was naturally the greatest enemy of the Foreign Gods.

Talia seemed to have been bestowed divine blood by such an entity.

‘Was there no better choice? She’s going to be at the heart of the upcoming great war, and they gave such a heavy role to someone who’s not even an adult yet……!’

Perhaps even Ancient Gods were indifferent to the individual lives of humans.

Thinking of the numerous heroes of Greek mythology and their tragic ends, I tugged at my hair.

‘Is there a way to spare the bearer and only take the divine blood?’

I tried to find answers using the Enlightenment of the Prophet, but nothing came of it.

“This is so frustrating. It shouldn’t be like this…….”

It was distressing to see her so uncertain.

I composed myself and stepped back outside.

“Oh, uncle.”

Talia was waiting, leaning against the wall.

“…… Are you very angry?”

“Me?”

“Yes, your expression was really frightening.”

I touched my face and realized it was contorted with anger.

“It’s because I became a priest…….”

“It’s not that. Becoming a priest isn’t impossible.”

I let out a sigh, burdened by heavy thoughts.

‘Should I tell her too?’

About the impending war and the dangers?

As I fell silent again, Talia hesitantly spoke.

“You might have told me to live a normal life, but this is what I hoped for. I mean, being chosen by the highest God of Olympus is like being a hero straight out of a fairy tale, isn’t it?”

“Talia.”

“So, it’s a good thing; I’ve been chosen by Zeus. Shouldn’t you be surprised or happy for me?”

To tell such a naïve child the harsh reality…

Yet, it felt like the most I could do for her.

“Look at this.”

I used Gluttony to draw blood from my arm.

“It’s pitch black? But why are you showing me this…….”

“It’s not that I used that miracle from before. My blood became special. You said yours turned golden, but mine is black.”

Talia blinked, curious.

“Then, uncle, were you also chosen by Gods…… Oh.”

Talia’s face paled as she realized which Gods had chosen me.

“Yes, I was chosen by the Foreign Gods. The Foreign Gods want to use me for something, but I’m planning to resist that. As part of that plan…….”

I looked at Talia seriously.

“I’m seeking others like me, those given divine blood by Gods.”

“Do I also… have divine blood?”

“Give me your hand for a moment?”

Talia obediently held out her hand.

“Talia. You should learn to be a bit more suspicious.”

“If I have to doubt you, then the world’s already finished, isn’t it?”

What was she saying?

I gently pricked the tip of Talia’s finger with Gluttony.

As expected, her blood was golden.

“Hmm… would this sell for a lot of money?”

“What? I don’t know……. The relics of people classified as saints do sell for quite a bit-”

“Just kidding.”

I cleared my throat, seeing Talia frown, and explained everything earnestly.

Only then did Talia seem to understand why I had reacted the way I did.

“5th rank…….”

“Yes. Plus, there are other priests of Foreign Gods I don’t know about yet.”

“What rank are you, uncle?”

“I’m 4th rank.”

“Oh? Then we’re the same!”

Surprised, I looked at Talia again.

“You became 4th rank how?”

“After getting struck by lightning that day, I became 3rd rank, and then I learned miracles and prayed diligently to the God, which recently raised me to 4th rank.”

Capturing and learning miracles from the Dwellers of the Abyss and fervently praying to the God elevated her rank.

“Even with divine blood, though…….”

Well, some were born as 3rd rank.

After all, being a priest means one’s strength is determined by divine favor, so perhaps it’s not so strange.

Unlike me, who didn’t actively pray to the Gods, she did, so it made sense for her to ascend so quickly through the Awakening Ritual.

“Sigh… Still, hearing you’re 4th rank makes me a bit relieved.”

“Right? I’m really strong now!”

“But how did you find this place?”

“I kept hearing about strange things happening around here, so I was planning to come over, and then suddenly, there were these flames shooting up.”

So she came because of the spectacle I had caused.

Originally, she was heading toward the sea area on a small boat but decided to use a miracle when cannons sounded, thinking the dwellers mvstust have appeared.

“So, uncle, what’s your plan now?”

“First, we need to dock at the island. Everyone needs some rest.”

Lyla, Mary, and Eldritch were all resting.

The sailors were also taking a break.

Everyone was burdened by the recent battle.

‘I can handle the physical aspect, but mental stress is beyond my help…….’

At least, it was fortunate that no one had completely lost their mind.

“Wow! Then let me guide you around the island. I’ll ask the priest to let you stay at the temple. I’ve been staying there lately.”

“Wait, didn’t you have a place?”

“Oh, I sold it and donated to the temple. I prefer living with the children there.”

I restrained myself from reprimanding her.

It was a donation for the orphans, after all.

“That’s all well and good, but you need to take care of yourself too. If you push yourself too hard and break, there’ll be no one left to take care of those orphans.”

“Yes!”

Talia nodded energetically.

Seeing her cheerful face, I decided to set aside some of my worries for the moment.

‘Seeing her so happy, it wouldn’t be kind to only talk about worries, would it?’

Perhaps my mind was recovering quite a bit.

Emotions I hadn’t felt vividly in a long time felt clearer.

“You know? I caught every monster I saw.”

Talia entered the room with me, boasting, and as she sat down, she recounted her numerous adventures and achievements.

With each story told, Talia’s face blossomed with a smile, and I found myself smiling in return.

“When that bad creature attacked the ship, bam! Lightning struck down from the sky!”

“Sure, it must have been impressive.”

“What about you, uncle? You’ve had your share of adventures too.”

I began recounting my exploits.

Like hunting Leviathan and my adventures in the wildlands.

Talia listened with shining eyes, and as the night wore on, she eventually fell asleep.

I carefully moved Talia to my bed and stepped outside quietly.

“Eldritch, how’s Mary doing?”

I approached the two of them first.

Though gravely injured before, they seemed at least outwardly fine now.

『The bundle of webs given by Ethnos worked wonders. A day’s rest should be enough.』

“For me too.”

It was uncertain if anyone other than me could use them, but both had injuries severe enough to warrant trying it.

Luckily, there appeared to be no complications.

I decided not to use it on anyone unrelated to the Foreign Gods, just in case.

『Lord Ethnos, I apologize.』

“For what?”

『I nearly caused disaster.』

Eldritch’s voice held deep resentment.

『It grieves me, Lord Ethnos. Had I pursued greater strength and honed my magic, I could have reached 4th rank. I’ve squandered too much time.』

“You’re finding your path and progressing well. You’ll soon reach 4th rank.”

“I never thought I couldn’t face a 4th rank opponent.”

Mary seemed to have her own realizations as well.

『I must increase my training.』

“I agree.”

Each vowed to improve, and after urging them to rest for the day, I went to find Lyla.

“Ugh… What’s going on?”

Lyla was completely exhausted.

She was utterly drained.

“You worked hard.”

“I’m not done yet. I still need to restore the barrier.”

“Just rest. With your mana needing time to recover, let Eldritch handle it tomorrow.”

“No, I’ll be fine after a day’s rest…….”

Suddenly, a voice echoed in my mind.

『It’s a lie. She’s already reached her limit.』

The eye of Gluttony peered at Lyla and vanished again, having developed the power to discern falsehoods.

『Her mana’s depleted. She’s low on stamina and mind. Even her fatigue level is high.』

It seemed capable of fairly detailed assessments.

“I appreciate your efforts, but when you reunite with Talia, you should be in one piece.”

“I don’t even know where she is…….”

“She’s in my room. She’s Zeus’s priest, you know.”

“…… What?”

Talia was surprised and staggered slightly.

“So, don’t worry. I’ll be on the ship, and our priest of Zeus is a 4th rank after all.”

“Talia is 4th rank?!”

“Yes. So, if you’re genuinely concerned, you should focus on your Awakening Ritual. Eldritch plans to challenge it as well, so you can research together.”

With Talia reaching 4th rank, Lyla’s anxieties might lessen.

And surely Lyla could ascend as well.

Cernun, who favored talent, wouldn’t overlook her abilities.

“Anyway, get some rest today. I’ll make sure nothing comes near the ship.”

“…… Okay.”

Barely had the words left her mouth before Lyla collapsed onto her bed.

“If she’s just going to do that, why be so stubborn.”

I then made my way out onto the deck, formed gills on my body, and…

Splash.

I dove straight into the water.

『It’s over here.』

The eye of Gluttony guided me effortlessly through the dark waters to find the three dwellers I had bound.

『You’ve returned.』
『Do you need us now?』

I sneered at them.

“Your foolish plan was a failure. Even the 4th rank guy on the ship has been dealt with.”

『He failed too?』
『This cannot be…….』

I closely observed their responses and reactions.

It seemed they were unaware of what happened on the ship.

“I have questions for you. Information regarding Zeus’s priest. Be it whereabouts or identity, tell me everything you know.”

『We wish to know that too.』
『We have no idea where they live. We assume it’s on one of the islands in the archipelago.』
『No fellow dweller has seen Zeus’s priest.』

As I listened silently, Gluttony’s eye noticed my intent and blinked.

『It’s all lies!』

“As expected.”

I then fed the dwellers to Gluttony.

“What now…….”

The path of struggle for Talia had already begun.

TL’s Corner:
I will use Foreign Gods(외신) instead of Outer Gods to prevent confusion with other Outer Gods(아우터 갓).