I Became the Priest of Blasphemy of the Outer Gods

Chapter 133. Carlos (1)

Preparing for the voyage took quite some time. As we began repairs here and there, we found more issues than expected, which were resolved with abundant funds.

“So… you’re suggesting I come along if I enchant the ship to make it usable?”

The problem was Lyla wanted to board the ship as well.

“Yes. Anyway, you’re filling the crew with those fake Outer God cult members of yours, aren’t you?”

“What does that have to do with you coming along? Besides, you’ve been declared dead, so creating a new identity for you is a hassle.”

I chose those people as crew members because they knew my true identity, which meant I didn’t need to maintain a disguised identity when fighting enemies.

And with the Ospryng family vouching for them, there was no concern about a royal inspection before we set sail.

However, since Lyla had been officially declared deceased, creating a new identity for her would be a cumbersome process.

“Besides, you’re being pursued by formless residues. Why not stay in the castle and be safe?”

“Mary is coming with you too!”

That’s right.

Mary was to join this voyage. Due to schedule conflicts, I couldn’t bring Ender or other companions, so I chose someone to protect the crew.

“Belido will protect us. Ender and Ansandy promised to check in from time to time.”

Moreover, Lyla’s obsessive enchantments filled the castle, serving as protective charms. Though Mary did smash a few out of frustration.

“It’s suffocating to stay inside the castle all the time… I want to get out too.”

“I won’t let you out of the castle just for that reason—”

“Navigation equipment!”

Lyla interrupted my refusal.

“The ship prepared by the Ospryng family has outdated navigation equipment. It needs to be replaced with my enchanted items.”

I clicked my tongue.

“If you wanted to persuade me with that alternative, you should’ve suggested it before throwing a tantrum.”

“Ahem… Anyway, look. I’ve brought some modification plans.”

“Modification?”

“Yeah! Are you just going to sail it as is with minor repairs? While we’re at it, let’s attach lots of enchantments to it.”

Lyla spread out the diagrams she had prepared.

“The ship currently lacks enchantments. Let’s cast spells on the keel, the mast, and… here on the sides too.”

Lyla’s explanation continued for a while. In short, it was about heavily enchanting the ship to make it safe and fast, and asking to be let aboard to personally manage those enchantments.

“Hmm… But don’t you have bad memories of islands?”

“That island and these islands are different! So are you letting me on board or not?”

I thought about it momentarily. Even Johann would find it difficult to chase across the sea.

“Alright. But before modifying it, I need approval from the Ospryng family. They likely won’t mind, so start working on it.”

I assigned the task to Lyla, and the Ospryng family indeed allowed the ship’s modification without any complaints.

While preparations were underway…

“Eldritch, Mary. You know well enough, a mere severing of the head should suffice.”

I attempted meditation once again.

Ever since the Being of the White Night acknowledged me, I had refrained from attempting meditation casually.

Given that Johann might declare war at any moment, I couldn’t openly use the miracles obtained from the residues.

“Do you really have to do this? If things run wild like last time, it’ll be trouble.”

“That incident had nothing to do with this.”

The invasion of my mind by the presence of the white night was the culprit.

“Lord Ethnos, you really must be careful. You’re holding the Dragon Crown, and this time we can’t stop it.”

“Uh… I’ll be cautious.”

Though cautious, I was unsure of the exact precautions. With the aim of maintaining my sanity, I began meditation using a new miracle Carlos seemed to have employed first.

* * *

“… Ack?!”

“Again, it’s you. We’ve crossed paths before. Or is it… in the future?”

Carlos was gripping my neck.

This timeline where the miracle is recorded was clearly in the past relative to my previous meditation.

Yet, Carlos not only recognized me but was aware of having recognized me in a future timeline.

“Who are you? Not only are you peeking at my accomplishments, but you’re momentarily aligning with me.”

“Urgh…”

I deliberately broke a bone to unleash the Cross Spear. Reaching the 4th rank, my power was strong enough to blow away half of Carlos’ body.

“Are you… kin?”

Holding the Cross Spear drawn out, I aimed at Carlos, who recovered in the blink of an eye.

‘What’s this? The mana in the atmosphere is incredibly dense. It’s like a different dimension.’

Now seemed like the perfect time to wield miracles as powerfully as ever.

It felt like breaking free from shackles I hadn’t even realized were binding me.

‘Is this an unrestricted world? They said restrictions start from the 5th rank, but that wasn’t the case.’

The restrictions of heaven applied to everyone. They only intensified from the 5th rank onwards.

“Hmm… Around the 4th rank? You’ve built up some skill.”

Carlos quietly observed me and then let out a mocking laugh.

“I’m one step closer to the divine than you. Regardless of who you are and how you managed to appear here…”

Rumble.

The ground shook as black liquid soared so high it obscured the sky. Underneath the wave, hundreds of formless residues reached out with grasping claws.

“You too will become a part of me!”

“Reveal the flames that consume everything! 〈Scarlet Flames of the Hungry Ghost〉!”

Flames that devoured the black wave.

Normally, I would have been overwhelmed, but with the Dragon Crown, the flames began to eat away and scorch the black liquid, matching its power.

“Oh… Could it be a replica of the Dragon Crown?”

As I lowered the output, he seemed to think it was a fake Dragon Crown.

Indeed, during this era, the Dragon Crown had a different rightful owner.

“A usable replica, I shall take it!”

Whoosh!

Black liquid flew at me from every direction.

If it simply flew at me, it wouldn’t have been a problem, but it stretched thinly in every direction, encircling me like a net.

Even the net was a fake.

‘The real threat is coming from below.’

I sensed pillars of residues rapidly rising from the ground. I defended the lower area using Gluttony and crossed my fingers.

“〈Black Flame’s Annihilation〉!”

As starlight twinkled and flames exploded, the net vanished, and Carlos retreated.

“You use strange things. Not typical for a priest of the Eternal Blaze.”

Carlos’s attacks continued unabated despite his puzzlement.

Giant fists formed from black liquid flew at me, and I countered with a massive fist formed by Gluttony.

At that moment…

“Ugh?”

“What… what’s this?!”

Carlos and I briefly fused. I saw myself through his eyes and felt his emotions.

“This isn’t just an illusion. You… tried to enter my mind again!”

Enraged, Carlos produced numerous weapons from black liquid. Each one was larger than an adult male. I countered with Outer Magic.

“〈Planetary Resonance〉!”

Distorted rocks rising from the ground collided with the weapons Carlos created. Each clash caused our minds to merge and separate repeatedly.

“This guy, over and over… Ugh! This feeling like I am that guy, what is it…?”

I couldn’t fathom how this meditation became so chaotic.

“How can I not overpower a mere 4th rank with my strength!”

Carlos, fueled by determination, began reciting an incantation.

“Hear my desire and grant it! Devour all… Kill…”

Carlos halted mid-incantation, an expression of realization sweeping over his face.

“This miracle… wasn’t meant for you.”

As if suddenly comprehending the situation, Carlos silently stared at me.

“Originally, this place and this time… there was no battle with you here. Is this not reality?”

Following Carlos’s gaze, I noticed that the floating debris remained suspended in mid-air, unmoving. The world had come to a halt, with just the two of us moving.

“What was I supposed to do?”

Further conflict seemed pointless. Opting to clarify the situation, I spoke softly.

“You were meant to cast a new miracle.”

“… Yes. I sought greater power. That was the prayer I intended.”

The miracle Carlos was meant to showcase was 〈Essence of Darkness〉.

It involved compressing and absorbing formless residues, significantly enhancing one’s body.

“How do you know that? No, you aimed to glimpse it from the beginning.”

Carlos narrowed his eyes at me.

“Why? Why are you trying to observe such things?”

A scenario both baffling and clear—the intent to ascertain the current situation from both sides.

“To understand miracles and wield them more proficiently.”

With that rationale, I decided to be honest. Carlos gave me a puzzled look.

“What does that mean, understanding miracles?”

It seemed further clarification was needed, so I explained everything.

I meditated using the miracles recorded in scriptures.

Through this, I could understand and wield miracles proficiently, and inexplicably, Carlos could recognize me.

I laid it all out.

“… You don’t realize how strange what you’ve said is, do you?”

“What do you mean by that?”

Carlos pointed a finger at me.

“This meditation you mentioned, it’s an act unknown even to someone like me who’s reached the 5th rank. There’s meditation during the Awakening Ritual, but experiencing each miracle like you said?”

Indeed, whenever I described this meditation, everyone found it peculiar.

Seeing Carlos also bewildered by this method confirmed that it wasn’t merely an ‘obscure training technique’.

“But I’ve genuinely experienced many miracles, and my understanding improved, increasing their potency.”

“So you’re saying nothing strange about that to you? Or do you just misunderstand?”

Carlos tapped his forehead with his fingers.

“How do you, exactly, ‘understand’ a God’s miracle?”

“Well, that’s…”

I was at a loss for words. The fundamental difference between this world’s magic and miracles was ‘understanding’.

Magic could be understood, allowing humans to adapt and develop it. However, miracles, by any means, couldn’t be comprehended.

‘Then what on earth have I been comprehending? How was I able to handle miracles well through understanding?’

I realized I was comprehending miracles to some extent, albeit in a way that couldn’t be articulated.

“It’s common knowledge. Even at the 6th rank, known to be closest to the Gods, miracles cannot be understood.”

Carlos, arms folded, gazed at me. As if failing to comprehend my identity.

“And yet you claim to understand miracles… who or what are you exactly?”