I Became the Priest of Blasphemy of the Outer Gods

Chapter 31. Underground of the City (2)

To detect vibrations, I had cast the 〈White Hunting Ground〉 once more, covering the entire floor with webs.

Normally, casting it on the soles of his shoes would suffice for detecting a lot, but it meant sacrificing some accuracy and range. Though it became messier, there was no other choice.

‘It’s certain. There’s something the size of a person… but it’s not a living being.’

*Ting! Ting! Ting!*

The things in this underground only responded to relatively large vibrations.

“Eldritch. Do you think there could be a necromancer or a puppeteer in this city?”

『Necromancers are common everywhere, Lord Ethnos.』

Eldritch spoke with a slight hint of disgust, indicating that it was not his preferred type.

『Those worm-like creatures go wherever they can get corpses. But as for those who practice the lowly magic of puppet making… well, I’m not sure if they can be called mages.』

Calling puppetry lowly? The one he had met during ≪Orders≫ was quite a formidable foe, but it seemed like Eldritch thought differently.

“Hmmm… this underground. It definitely feels like a necromancer’s corpse storage.”

The Stigmata must have intended to investigate this underground.

『Like cockroaches, they must have settled in the dark, fiddling with corpses.』

Eldritch’s tone dripped with contempt. Necromancers possessed many repulsive traits, but it felt odd to see Eldritch, who wasn’t even human, react this way.

“Do you dislike necromancers?”

『I have unpleasant memories. When I was still inexperienced… a necromancer discovered my true identity and attacked me for months, intending to turn me into a corpse for his use.』

Eldritch shivered involuntarily.

『Despite being inferior as a mage, he kept reviving corpses and sent them my way non-stop. It was long ago, but the memory still disgusts me.』

“Maybe we’ll see another one soon. Considering there are at least 100 bodies here, it’s not just a dump.”

I picked up a shovel and struck the ground covered in webs.

『Must you really confirm this?』

“Anyone who gathers this many corpses is dangerous. It’s better to handle it in advance.”

『Even though we aren’t their target, I don’t quite understand, but it’s true that we’re better off without necromancers.』

Eldritch had previously questioned why I only targeted criminals and Stigmata. Despite his long involvement in human society, he had argued that homeless people or the poor were easier and more efficient to target, which had incurred my wrath.

It seemed there were limits to understanding humans as a non-human.

“Why is this so deep?”

Despite the considerable amount of digging, there was no result yet.

『I’ll help too. At this rate, we won’t meet that blacksmith today.』

Eldritch transformed into a human form, picked up a shovel, and began digging alongside me. Even with all the tentacles from my cloak at work, it took a while before we hit something stone.

“Good grief… standing on such a door.”

What we uncovered was a heavy-looking stone door. It seemed to require a key, but neither Eldritch nor I had any means to open it.

“Can’t you use your grotesque cloak’s tentacles?”

“I can’t handle them that precisely.”

Though I had tried before, it had ended in failure.

“And breaking this stone door is too dangerous.”

We didn’t know what lay below, and there could be severe repercussions.

『…… Should we just leave?』

Eldritch, back in his octopus form, subtly suggested. But that wasn’t an option.

“There’s a high chance that Stigmata, Luminaries, or the necromancer themselves could come in the meantime.”

Then this place would become an investigation site, too difficult for me to meddle with…

“…… Wait a moment.”

That was it.

A smile blossomed on my lips.

『Lord Ethnos? What are you planning to do?』

“I’m going to report it. Like an exemplary citizen.”

『What?』

“Let’s go with Whalebone. I have a good idea.”

* * *

“Ahab are you sure it’s him?”

“Yeah, isn’t that bastard with the red hair? I found that too.”

I handed a strand of my pre-plucked red hair to Belmot.

“That scumbag, it’s definitely him. Because of that bastard…”

Belmot complained, still annoyed by the two Luminaries lurking in the shop.

“Did he cause you trouble?”

“… Somewhat. And that guy doesn’t have high-quality information. His movement range has only recently become clear.”

As expected of Belmot. As the owner of this information hub inn, he had already figured out my activity range.

“How did you find out?”

“By accident. I smelled blood and went in, but there was no corpse. But that stone door, it certainly looked like it was his hideout.”

The suspicious stone door within Ethnos’s activity range. By omitting the story about the corpses underground, it would certainly make them think it was a heretical conspiracy.

“Indeed, good information.”

Belmot handed me two gold coins for the information.

“This much?”

“It’s a tip for a regular. Spend it generously in our inn if you’re grateful.”

“Then… how about I use half of it to buy everyone a drink.”

“… It’s broad daylight.”

Belmot glanced around the bar, seemingly bewildered. It wasn’t exactly a busy time. Being overly showy like in the movies I’d watched would just be embarrassing.

“… Save it for the night customers.”

“Ah, I will.”

Belmot smirked and nodded, but then his expression suddenly sharpened.

“What’s this? Can’t you see I’m talking to a customer?”

“It’s a matter of grave importance.”

“Share that information with us too.”

It was the two undercover Luminaries again. Typically, no one would be around when sharing information with the owner. It was a given for an informant, but these two, under the guise of employees, were exempt from that rule. To be precise, they were undercover Luminaries listening in on the information without getting kicked out.

“Why? Thinking of catching that heretical priest and hitting the jackpot? Give it up, rookies.”

“We used to be mercenaries too.”

Keeping my rough and arrogant act, I deliberately glared at Belmot as if to say, why are these employees bothering us?

“… Tell them. These annoying bastards will just leave us alone.”

If the information were truly legitimate, these two wouldn’t be here any longer, so Belmot grumbled and poured me a free drink.

“It’s a pricey one. Do me a favor.”

“… You had this stashed away?”

Though I hadn’t taken a liking to the food and alcohol of this era, the drink Belmot presented had a pleasant scent, surprising me.

“It’s expensive wine from the Kingdom of Are. There’s not much left…”

The Kingdom of Are… I hadn’t been there, as I mostly stayed within the Empire while playing ≪Orders≫!

The mercenaries from that land were quite strong indeed.

“Good. Let’s explain then.”

Honestly, a drink or money wasn’t necessary. From the start, I intended for the information to spread.

The two Luminaries, upon hearing my information, pretended to think for a while and then shook their heads.

“We’re just novices, so this is beyond us.”

“This is definitely a matter that needs to be reported to the Luminaries.”

Yeah, I expected that reaction from you.

“Hey, that guy is my prey—”

“If you report this case to the Luminaries, you’ll likely receive a hefty reward!”

“You’ll get at least half of the bounty without any hassle.”

Really, now?

I blinked and then deliberately smirked.

“Not bad. But I plan to go to the scene myself. If I invoke the ‘First Discoverer’s Accompaniment Permission Rule’—”

“That’s dangerous!”

One of the Luminaries exclaimed hastily.

When the other glared at him, he seemed flustered by his outburst and cleared his throat.

“Uh… he’s probably just concerned for your safety, sir.”

As if.

The ‘First Discoverer’s Accompaniment Permission Rule’ is a regulation followed by mercenaries, Luminaries, and Stigmata.

When a mercenary finds a place or person that Luminaries or Stigmata are investigating, both parties are allowed to request the others to step back to ensure mutual safety and security while the mercenary fulfills their contract and earns their bounty.

‘I’ve heard there are a lot of actual conflict cases.’

This agreement was created due to those conflicts. Although not an official law, if Luminaries or Stigmata find the mercenary to be the first discoverer with valid rights, they designate the mercenary as a companion and provide 80% of the loot and bounty received.

‘I heard the Luminaries hate this. Looks like it’s true.’

Probably because it affects their achievements. The two Luminaries exchanged glances, realizing they had no choice but to accept.

“Then… I’ll go and call for the Luminaries, sir.”

“Hey, I’m no sir.”

Although I tried to stand up, the two Luminaries quickly stopped me.

They probably wanted to report themselves, but I, disliking these priest-types, wanted to make their lives a bit more difficult on purpose.

“My legs work just fine!”

“You’re about to hunt down that infamous heretical priest, so you should save your strength.”

“In exchange, just buy us a drink, and we’ll run the errand.”

“Damn you guys. Working at a bar and asking customers to buy you drinks!”

After some bickering and seeing them sweat, I finally agreed and sat back down. It seemed Belmot, finding my harassment of the two Luminaries amusing, brought us some complimentary nuts.

“Fire those two idiots already.”

“I wish I could.”

As I munched on the nuts and waited, the sound of people chattering and armor clanking reached my ears.

“Excuse me!”

A thunderous voice echoed through the area, causing Belmot to grimace.

“Now what? My ears are going to burst.”

“I received a report! Are you Mr. Ahab?”

A Luminary clad in their signature pure white armor and sword, and Church of Hayat’s embroidered cloak reserved for high-rank members, stood before me. Despite being such a distinguished figure, his unnecessarily loud voice rang through the place.

‘Damn, no way!’

I knew well the one who matched these characteristics. The military officer of the Luminaries, Arian.

No matter how distinguished, capable of commanding 100 soldiers and 10 knights, without a miracle or enchantment item, he wouldn’t see through my disguise.

That’s a relief, at least…

“Luminary Waverly Military Officer, Arian Elata! Dispatched for the investigation of the red-haired heretical priest!”

A strikingly polished knight, befitting the ideal Luminary, with excessively bright blonde hair and overly sparkling blue eyes that looked like they were reflecting gemstones in the sunlight.

‘… It just had to be Arian.’

This psychopathic woman had killed me before.