I Became the Priest of Blasphemy of the Outer Gods

Chapter 134: Carlos (2)

“You don’t even know what you are, do you? And yet you’ve risen to the 4th rank in such a state?”

Carlos sneered at me.

Regardless of his mockery, I was trying hard to calm my confused mind.

‘Where did I initially learn about a method like Meditation?’

I first thought it was knowledge forcibly injected by the formless residues.

But if even Carlos didn’t know, how could the other residues have known and transmitted it?

‘The one who arouses suspicion… is the presence of the White Night.’

The mastermind behind everything. That presence seemed so likely but impossible to figure out.

“Carlos, do you know anything about an Outer God related to the White Night?”

“White Night, you say……. But why should I bother answering your question?”

Carlos created gigantic arms using a black liquid.

“I don’t care what you’re curious about. What matters to me is using you for my own power.”

Carlos remained hostile. But there wasn’t anything to gain from fighting him.

‘It’s not like I could gain anything from a world within Meditation, and who knows what would happen if I lost and got absorbed?’

The problem was his overtly violent nature, so focused on absorbing me for his power.

‘Based on his demeanor in the previous Meditation, perhaps…….’

I had to try, but there might have been something convincing to say.

“I don’t particularly want to fight you. However….”

I said this, feigning puzzlement.

“To think someone as powerful as you had everything taken away by someone like Johann… It’s unfathomable.”

A moment of silence followed.

“…… What did you just say?”

It got to him. A greed-driven man wouldn’t stay quiet hearing that someone took everything from him.

Of course, I had no idea if Johann actually took everything from Carlos or not.

“Didn’t you hear me? Everything you’ve achieved will be taken by someone named Johann.”

“You claim to know the future?”

“You must’ve felt it when we synchronized. You’re not the real thing; you’re an echo of the past. I’m from your future.”

I didn’t need to explain further since Carlos seemed to grasp the situation to some extent.

“In that future, you don’t exist.”

Carlos’ facial muscles twitched. It was clear he was fuming.

“Say it again. Who do you claim took everything I achieved?”

“I’m referring to someone named Johann, but it seems you knew of—”

“My servant, of all people, dared to do what?!”

Carlos shouted in anger.

“That fool dared to…!”

“Even if you are that enraged, I admittedly don’t know exactly what you’ve lost.”

I drove the point home.

“There’s hardly anything left recorded about you. Very few people even know you existed.”

Carlos froze as if struck by a blow.

He mumbled in disbelief and charged toward me at a terrifying speed. Feeling his speed, I was convinced.

‘This dude… was testing me all along. His true combat power is much higher.’

I suspected it, and now it was confirmed. He was that strong even without using full strength.

“Was Johann really your servant? The Johann I know is the highest rank priest among the formless residues.”

“Incredible. That guy? You mean that idiot who only created humans akin to garbage elements?”

I figured Carlos must have had those hobbies even back then. While I stood calmly before the agitated Carlos, I maintained my composure.

“Yes, he does seem to have such a hobby. And now that I think about it, he used a 5th rank formless residue’s corpse to create a powerful being… It seems akin to the aura I sense from you now.”

I peeked at Carlos.

“That bastard…!”

“Carlos, I, too, am currently opposed to Johann. I am supported by some formless residues as well.”

I said, transforming my body into a residue-like form.

“So, you’re implying I should teach you so you can take revenge on that wretched fool in my stead, aren’t you?”

“Not just that. I’ll ensure your achievements and strength are properly recorded for all to know.”

Carlos raised an eyebrow.

“Those are favorable terms. Very well. Let’s make a deal.”

I sighed in relief at finally persuading this difficult priest.

“To think I’ve to teach someone, what on earth is this misfortune….”

“Pardon?”

“Don’t mind it. Just a personal matter.”

‘Why say it aloud then?’

Carlos muttered to himself, then turned to speak to me.

“You haven’t been trained by other priests or anything like that, judging from your inability to define your self-identity.”

“Uh, yes, that’s correct.”

“And yet you’ve reached the 4th rank and use various miracles. You must have undergone initiation either forcibly or, masking it as coincidence, fate must have made it happen. Seems like the Gods demand much from you.”

I was secretly taken aback.

Until now, I figured he was purely a greedy and ill-tempered Outer God priest, but he seemed to possess the insight of someone who’d reached the 5th rank.

“You see it accurately.”

“That makes it all the more strange. Let’s assume you belong to a species that sustains itself on one’s mind— and even manipulates time— and yet you’re allowed to deteriorate like this?”

Though the details of my identity or abilities were grossly misjudged, that wasn’t the crucial point.

“What do you mean, ‘deteriorate’?”

“You should know if you’re an Outer God priest. No matter how high a human ascends, we’re ultimately human. Our end is ruin; eventually, we become mad monstrosities.”

Carlos stated that fact rather calmly.

“However, there have been many efforts to delay that downfall for as long as possible. Selecting a self-identity is one such effort.”

“An identity…….”

Such an imperative piece of information made his annoying tone negligible.

To think I could delay the inevitable ruin from associating with an Outer God.

“That’s why it’s odd. With several Outer Gods concerned with you, their underlings would want to keep you useful for a long time. Yet, you’re visibly in a very precarious state.”

Cahon scrutinized me.

“Did you make an enemy out of other priests? Judging everything, one of them would have likely told you.”

I couldn’t help but shrug.

‘Thinking back, it’s strange. It implies other Outer Gods’ priests have already undergone such actions.’

Considering Cahon’s obsession with competition and being called ‘captain,’ it hinted at a pirate-like persona.

In Johann’s case, with his fascination about creations, he seemed to belong to an artistic type.

“What did you choose as your identity, Carlos?”

“I chose to be a conqueror as my identity. Living that journey helped maintain the core of myself.”

It seems Johann’s identity is a conqueror. Given his monstrous greed and attempts to seize everything, it was an understandable identity.

“But strictly speaking, saying ‘choosing’ isn’t apt. As one who teaches, I must correct that. It’s not ‘choosing’, but ‘being chosen’.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“It means it’s akin to self-awareness about who you are.”

Acknowledging who you are and holding onto that core resists the ruin provoked by the power of an Outer God, preventing losing oneself.

“How do I become aware? Is there any special method?”

While I have some understanding of who I am or my tendencies, it can’t be trivial like drafting a self-introduction.

“The method… it’s vague. In my experience, which is probably among the most general cases…”

Carlos closed his eyes momentarily, reminiscing.

“I became aware through things I do and desire.”

He found that just taking from others never satisfied him.

Carlos relished plundering and trampling over others, basking in his victories and enjoying standing superior to them.

Soon, he realized blinded as he was by that, he noticed nothing else.

Thus, Carlos realized his identity as a conqueror.

“Most realize it on their own one day. It’s similar yet easier than the Enlightenment mages undertake.”

Carlos suddenly gave an example of a mage.

When mentioning mages, a subtle, emotional undertone appeared, indicating mixed feelings.

“Still, it usually gets pointed out by senior priests by the time one reaches the 2nd rank.”

“Were there others like me who found theirs late?”

“I wouldn’t know. You’re the first to rise to the 4th rank without an established identity.”

It seemed increasingly crucial to establish an identity before encountering inevitable moments of mental breakdown that even a Golden Blood Elixir couldn’t prevent.

“I’d also like to hear what you know about Johann.”

“That detestable servant….”

Carlos ground his teeth.

‘It’s ironic to hear this from someone like you.’

Honestly, from my perspective, Carlos was equally revolting. Wrecking lives and absorbing people indiscriminately like a butcher.

“He’s only at the 2nd rank. At least, that’s how it is now.”

“2nd rank…….”

“I took him in when he begged for his life, offering to do chores. There’s nothing commendable about him.”

With Johann still weak at the time, Carlos seemed uninterested and unaware of much about him.

“Do you know anything about his main tactics?”

“Why should I know how a servant fights? Except for his bizarre hobby, I know nothing.”

Bizarre hobby likely refers to modifying humans—an act never too far from his creed.

Realizing there wasn’t any useful info on Johann, I decided to move on.

“While confronting you earlier, I felt it again—formless residues are tough to deal with due to that tenacious vitality and peculiar bodies.”

Surely, he could provide a proper answer to this.

“It’s difficult, I agree. But what’s the best way to take down such formless residues?”

“Weren’t you transformed into a kind of kind with us?”

“I’m incomplete. Besides, you employ various methods to utilize your body, so it’s hard to discern how to eliminate you.”

Using Outer Magic like 〈Origin Cluster〉 and 〈Eclipse Starfall〉 might prove effective but…

‘Still, who knows how the opponent has countermeasures like burying some part deep underground or something….’

“Hmm… In that case, it’s simple.”

“What? It’s simple?”

“Yes. While formless residues can indeed be difficult to kill…,”

Carlos calmly mentioned what I most desired to hear.

“There’s a way to kill them instantly.”