I Became the Priest of Blasphemy of the Outer Gods

Chapter 142. The Call of Lightning

After parting ways with Lyla, Talia had pondered deeply in her own way.

A plain life was handed to her.

With the money given by Ethnos, she could settle down comfortably if she chose to.

“But… this isn’t the life I want.”

To lead a life that helps others.

That was Talia’s greatest wish.

“…like uncle.”

She realized after enduring the horrifying ritual covered by spiders in Wave Reach.

The high-reaching spider webs and the misfortune they caused.

Ethnos stepped in to remove them, maintaining peace.

Despite having complicated circumstances, he was ultimately a good person who pursued goodness and helped others.

Watching Ethnos, Talia thought she wanted to be like him.

“I should try boarding a ship once!”

Talia decided simply.

In her time at Wave Reach, she had been instilled with the idea that a seafaring person was a real man.

She thought becoming a sailor would make her strong too.

Of course.

“What? With such a weak body, how do you plan on boarding a ship? Find another job.”

Or.

“You’re too young. And you’re a girl.”

The responses were all negative.

Talia tried to show she was quite strong, but naturally, she was ignored.

“In times like this, I should use what uncle taught me!”

Talia attempted a disguise.

It wasn’t particularly difficult to dress up like a boy.

She tried lowering her voice as much as possible, acting as if she was an entirely different person, just like Ethnos did…

“Child, no one will be fooled by such a clumsy act.”

No one was deceived.

Even after cutting her hair, it proved futile, and in frustration, Talia decided to try stowing away.

Even that was caught.

“Kiddo, why are you so desperate to board a ship?”

The captain eventually sighed and asked.

“I want to become strong. I heard sailors are strong.”

“Well… It’s true that sailors are strong. But do you really need to board a ship for that?”

The captain said with a serious expression.

“The waters around here are very dangerous. I can’t take someone like you.”

“I’ll be an adult next year.”

“Don’t worry. It seems you’ll still be treated like a kid even when you’re an adult.”

The captain chuckled.

“If you want to become strong, train your body. Or try becoming a mercenary.”

While thinking that she’d get a scolding from the uncle if she became a mercenary, part of her was also tempted.

“Become a mercenary like the famous Ansandy who helps people!”

* * *

Bonk!

“Aagh! Why did you hit me suddenly?”

I, unable to hold it in any longer, finally smacked Talia on the head.

“I sent you off to lead a safe life with so much effort… What? A mercenary?”

I felt frustrated.

Had she always been a kid who didn’t listen?

“It’s possible.”

“No.”

I said firmly, letting out a sigh.

If Lyla or Eldritch had been here, they would have sided with me, but unfortunately, both were currently recovering.

In the end, I was left hearing the whole story alone.

“Being a mercenary is tough and doesn’t pay well, it’s all hardships… Let’s drop the subject.”

I wanted to scold her more, but there was a more important question right now.

“So why did you end up becoming a priest of Zeus?”

“Oh come on, I’ll get to that too.”

* * *

To become stronger, Talia had started basic physical training.

Knowing nothing, she began with running and chopping wood randomly.

Most of Talia’s days were filled with exercising, and outside of that, she spent time helping her neighbors in various little ways.

Buying food for orphans frequently gained her their affection.

“Why do you always buy us food, sis?”

One child asked.

“Yeah! And didn’t you donate money to the temple last time?”

When asked by the children, Talia recalled her old self.

The days she longed for someone to give her alms.

“If not me, who would take care of you? Don’t worry; come find me whenever you’re hungry!”

The children just laughed joyfully.

“But where’s Marco?”

“I heard he went to another island? Adults took him.”

“Wow, he found a family? That’s great!”

The children chatted, hoping they would find one too.

“Kids, time to go,” an elderly priest from the temple would come to take the children when it got late.

“Miss Talia, thank you as always for your kindness.”

“Oh, it’s nothing. They’re welcome anytime.”

Talia waved to the children as they moved away from her sight.

‘It’s nice that the orphans can live well here compared to the Empire.’

Since this was an island serving Ancient Gods, there was no concept of a Hayat baptism, reducing discrimination.

The temple also protected orphans.

Satisfied with these facts, Talia gradually shelved her thoughts of becoming a mercenary and grew accustomed to island life.

Then one day.

“Are you taking this small boat to that island?”

An elderly neighbor asked for help visiting children on a nearby island.

The islands were close enough for a small boat, but it was still difficult for an elderly person to go alone.

The young man who usually helped was too ill recently, unable to assist, and thus the elder sought Talia’s help.

“Yes! Leave it to me!”

Talia assured confidently.

Rowing a small boat was tougher than expected, but she managed to take the old lady to the other island without any issues.

However, the real problem only began there.

“Please wait here for a moment.”

“What is it?”

“I hear strange noises coming from the village. I’m going to check it out!”

While the noise was inaudible to the elder, Talia could hear it clearly.

Screams were coming from the village with a small port.

Approaching cautiously, Talia was shocked and froze on sight.

Numerous adults prostrating.

In front of them were children tied up in ropes on a cart.

‘Orphans.’

Talia recognized them immediately.

Those ragged, unkempt appearances.

A sight she once faced herself.

‘What are they doing tying up kids? Are they accused of theft?’

Images of children getting beaten for stealing came to mind.

But this situation didn’t look like that, and soon Talia realized something far more horrific was happening.

‘What is that…’

She later learned they were the Dwellers of the Abyss, but at the time, Talia didn’t know.

They were just horrifying and grotesque enough to make her body shiver with fear at the mere sight.

‘Monsters related to a Outer God! I need to escape quickly!’

Talia’s legs trembled.

The sheer terror kept her from stepping forward, further drowning her in fear.

‘Why in this peaceful island… Wait.’

Amidst the paralyzing fear, Talia realized something terrible.

The one people bowed to, the reason children were tied in a cart.

‘Are people offering the kids to the monsters of an Outer God?’

Orphans taken from various islands.

She recognized one she knew among them.

‘Marco? Heavens, there’re even kids from the temple!’

The Ancient Gods, known as Olympus, mostly left this world long ago.

The temple remained a shell, the priest unable to perform even a single miracle.

In reality, the orphans had no one to protect them and were perfect sacrificial lambs.

“Please, accept the offerings this year too, and bestow mercy…!”

The adults, though trembling, were resigned.

Because the reality was that no one would protect those like the orphans.

‘If someone like uncle were here…’

Ethnos surely would have saved the children.

Even if it were beyond his power, even if he risked great harm.

However, no such person was there now.

So Talia wished.

‘I wanted to be someone like that too.’

To be someone like Ethnos who performs good deeds and can save others.

‘I want to save those kids too!’

Talia clenched the wooden necklace Ethnos gave her tightly.

『If you are bestowed with power…』

A voice sounded in Talia’s mind.

It was faint enough that she couldn’t tell if it was her own thought or someone speaking directly to her mind.

『Would you follow the command to throw the branch next to you to save them…?』

Talia then noticed the stick lying at her feet.

Strangely, no trees were around.

But the branch was far too thin and flimsy to be used as a javelin.

『Will you heed that call?』

The voice seemed like a reflection of Talia herself.

『Or will you run away? If you flee, at least you will be safe.』

Did she truly want to help them?

Or was it merely admiration or folly?

『I won’t fault you whichever you choose.』

‘I…’

Talia gripped the branch.

It was clear a toss wouldn’t harm the monsters.

Especially if this voice was merely a figment of Talia’s delusion.

However, distracting them temporarily might delay the children being taken.

Though this was a pitiful hope, it could slightly alter the current despair.

‘Even if it costs my life, I’ll save the children!’

Talia assumed a throwing stance.

The measly branch in her hand, she prepared to hurl it with all her strength.

And as it left her fingers…

『It’s been so long since someone acted so selflessly.』

Zap!

A brilliant flash enveloped Talia.

The branch that left her hand became a dazzling spear.

Boom!

The event unfolded too fast for her to comprehend.

“Just now…?”

The village people, bewildered, stared at the charred monster.

“Could it have been lightning!”

“If so…?!”

As they began to plead to the sky, Talia felt puzzled.

There were words she had never heard before.

“What’s lightning…?! Ugh, cough!”

Talia spat blood and collapsed.

Her entire body burned painfully.

Only then did she realize smoke was rising from her body.

『My child.』

The voice resonating in Talia’s mind grew clearer.

Heavy and resonant, like the thunder she just heard.

『I am one who had chosen to watch, a being who decided to let you depart from my hands.』

A profoundly benevolent voice.

『Yet now, I am undoing that decision.』

Talia’s blood began to shimmer gold.

Her wounds healed, and the pain disappeared.

She became aware of an incredible power flowing through her that she had never sensed before.

『I am the king of the Olympus Gods. The master of all lightning, the God of the sky that governs the order.』

Talia rose to her feet.

Golden electricity constantly sparked around her.

『From today onward, you are a child bestowed with my blood.』