I Became the Priest of Blasphemy of the Outer Gods

Ender’s resentment was expected. But a god who had left this world? What on earth did that mean?

“Dionysus, you say?”

This was news to me, too. Perhaps Dowol had deliberately withheld some information. Or maybe ≪Orders≫ hadn’t described this world perfectly.

“You do know how much havoc the followers of that ancient god wreaked, right?”

“Of course.”

I had experienced it in ≪Orders≫. In modern times, Dionysus was perceived as a cheerful god of wine and festivities. Even in Korea, where Greek mythology was somewhat familiar, he had become something of a joke.

‘In reality, he was a terrifying god.’

Greek mythological gods were inherently frightening and often very strict. Even a god of wine and festivities was no exception.

“He did have quite a number of followers.”

“Followers? More like insane rioters. As a god of such beings, he was among the ones God Hayat personally purged during the ‘Holy War’ to restore order.”

Ender scoffed.

“Dionysus escaped, and now he no longer interferes with this world.”

“What is this ‘Holy War’ you’re talking about?”

“You don’t know?”

Ender looked at me with utter disbelief.

“The Holy War was the greatest war in history. It was a crusade executed by God Hayat to expel gods of heresy who were akin to evil gods.”

‘So something like that happened?’

It seemed there was still a lot I didn’t know. It would be useful to have access to a library, but in this era, that wouldn’t be easy.

“For more details, you should ask Lyla. She’s a mage, after all, and would know more than a mercenary like me.”

“I understand. To sum it up, you’re saying the god I mentioned has no influence over this world now?”

Ender nodded.

“Moreover, such heresy—”

“The important thing isn’t whether it’s heresy or not. It’s your current condition.”

Ender suppressed his resentment and listened quietly. He must have been that desperate.

“I bring up Dionysus not as nonsense, but because it genuinely offers a path to cure your madness.”

“How?”

“It’s true his followers are known for their madness, much like being excessively drunk.”

There were even legends about them tearing apart anyone they encountered. This was true in my original world as well.

“Given my condition, you’re suggesting I pray to a god of madness?”

“Calm down. Not all of his followers were such lunatics. They held regular festivals, disrupted order slightly, and enjoyed themselves—that’s what true Dionysus worship was like.”

While the rules were set because of their frequent chaos, there was no need to go into detail. Especially when he was no longer influencing this world.

“The key isn’t madness, festivals, or rioting. The key is ‘release’.”

“Release…?”

“Yes. You manage it by unleashing your madness and rage at specific and necessary times.”

Ender still seemed skeptical, but I had my own conviction. Ender’s condition was very similar to the 〈Blood of the Berserker〉 trait of the warriors in ≪Orders≫.

‘There might be other methods, too.’

The only miracle I had experienced for sure was that of the Father of Freedom.

“Nonsense! There’s no way a miracle from an ancient god of heresy could help!”

Ender shouted, his neck veins bulging, but I had no intention of backing down.

“Are you going to keep being stubborn?”

“What did you say?”

“I don’t know how important your faith is to you, but is it more important than your family and the people around you?”

Ender was struck speechless. His face, which had turned red, slowly regained its color. Instead, he looked utterly drained.

“I think that even though the ancient gods are no longer influencing us, the remaining relics or enchanted items would still be effective.”

“…How can you be so sure?”

Initially, ender’s remarks had taken me aback, but something came to mind.

‘The abandoned worshipers mentioned in ≪Orders≫.’

Though it was an old memory and I had almost forgotten, elements like ‘those who worship departed gods’ and ‘items imbued with the power of departed gods’ began resurfacing. It felt as if Dowol had meticulously set this up for me.

‘He gave me knowledge through ≪Orders≫ and then tossed me into this world out of nowhere. What on earth is going on, Dowol?’

It was possible that just as in the TRPG, Dowol was still continuing my story now.

‘I’ll worry about this later. For now, I need to persuade Ender.’

After organizing my thoughts, I began to speak.

“There are those known pejoratively as ‘the abandoned worshipers’.”

“Oh?”

“They are despised for clinging to meaningless beliefs even though their gods no longer care for them.”

Ender raised an eyebrow inquisitively.

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“They are dangerous marauders. Difficult to deal with as they use relics imbued with the forgotten or lesser-known powers of ancient gods.”

In ≪Orders≫, these characters were like rare mobs from which items could be acquired.

“The fact that they use relics imbued with the miracles of departed gods is something I have directly encountered.”

Although it was a story from ≪Orders≫, it wasn’t a lie. The enchantment methods had worked exactly the same, so this wouldn’t be any different.

“I didn’t know even Dionysus had left this world, but it doesn’t matter. The miracles of the departed gods still work here.”

“In that case, I have indeed been foolish.”

Ender looked down at the symbol of Hayat’s faith around his neck, lost in thought.

“I have a son. Takes after me, which means he often gets in trouble. No, it’s not even trouble worth scolding him over.”

I stayed silent, while Ender quietly confessed.

“I just wanted to scold him a bit. He retaliated, naturally, at that age.”

“…”

“When I came to my senses, my son was bleeding. He lost both legs. At least… he survived.”

Ender gritted his teeth.

“I was no longer fit to be called a father. How can a man who causes seizures by merely being looked at be considered a father?”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“No… No! It’s entirely my own foolishness!”

Ender threw the necklace away. The symbol of Hayat’s faith broke, but nothing happened.

“He does not punish me. Perhaps he has never even considered me at all.”

“What on earth…”

“All this is my fault. I offered prayers that went unanswered, while oppressing a son exhibiting the same symptoms as me.”

That must have been what he meant when he said it wasn’t something worth scolding over.

“My wife, unlike me, was wise. She found an old… relic. Wealth certainly helps.”

“Was it a relic of Dionysus?”

“Yes, though it was a lower-tier one. And I destroyed that gift—my son’s share too. Clinging only to prayers that went unheard.”

A sigh full of regret escaped from Ender.

“Do you think it will truly work?”

“There were warriors who showed even worse madness than you, and they benefited from it. If it doesn’t work, I’ll hear from you and return.”

Ender chuckled wryly.

“How can I believe that?”

“You already do, don’t you? You were hoping for this from me.”

I reached up to touch my hair.

The fairly long red hair, which slightly covered my ears, still felt unfamiliar.

“A mercenary group of a certain size would be sensitive to information.”

The Hayat faith likely issued a bounty for my capture.

Red hair wasn’t common, and he must have noticed it right away.

“Did you come here without even trying to hide? Do you have any idea how much the reward on your head is?”

“It’d be nice if it were small, but I doubt that’s the case.”

“Still, you’re lucky. The Stigmata, Luminaries, and even that gloomy Inquisitor are all too busy focusing on other matters that concern not you.”

Was there something more important than a heretical priest?

“What exactly is happening?”

“If you promise to bring me good liquor next time we meet, I’ll tell you.”

I understood the hidden meaning behind those words. A faint smile spread across my lips.

“Alright. I guess I’ll have to try hard to satisfy you then.”

“Two barons and a count were killed in a ceremony related to an Outer God.”

A ceremony related to an Outer God? And a count no less. This was no trivial matter.

“Are these events connected?”

“They all died in the same way, and the ceremony was confirmed to be identical. There’s a real dangerous one out there, not a softie like you.”

A softie, huh.

“I’m a heretical priest too, but you trust me?”

“I’ve seen how peculiar you are. I thought there might be a way to suppress madness with the power of an Outer God, but you went on about ancient gods.”

Suppressing madness with the power of an Outer God was impossible to begin with, but it seemed Ender didn’t know that. Besides, knowledge about an Outer God should never be too extensive.

“The ones hunting you are mostly mercenaries aiming for the reward. The Luminaries are also tracking you.”

“Thank you for letting me know.”

“Consider it as a future drink payment. So, how much gold do you need?”

Ender extended his hand to me, and I shook it. But the moment I mentioned the amount, his expression twisted.

“Hey, you crazy ba-”

* * *

“You really brought it? How did you manage to borrow so much?”

Lyla stared at me in disbelief. Five heavy pouches of gold coins. Ender wasn’t wrong to call me a lunatic.

“I gathered everything, but if you mess up again, they won’t let it slide.”

“… Why me?”

“Because you’re the one who borrowed it.”

Lyla grabbed me by the collar, echoing Ender’s words, but eventually resigned herself.

“How did I get into this mess… How much loss is this even?”

“Don’t try to trick me. You know the enchantment method and material combination are much more expensive than this.”

“Tsk.”

Not even the faintest chance.

“What about the oil I asked for?”

“It’s already finished.”

Lyla grumbled as she pointed to the cauldron. I moved each heavy gold pouch and poured the coins into the cauldron.

“My God…”

Seeing the immense amount of gold dissolving in the oil, Talia stood dazed, staring at it. Lyla also seemed to share the sentiment.

“This much should definitely be enough.”

“Will there be any left?”

“Not a chance.”

Ignoring Lyla’s miserable hope, I reached out to the bowl prepared on the table.

“Talia.”

“Yes, should I?”

With one arm missing, I needed Talia’s help. She cut my palm with a knife. Enduring the sharp pain, I let the blood gather in the bowl.

‘Hiss, that hurts…’

Wrapping my hand in a bandage, I looked towards the basement.

“Alright. Let’s wrap up this problem now.”