Surviving without God

As I said, this hidden stage is fundamentally different from the trials we forced our way through with brute strength. Here we have to gather clues step by step and connect them, thinking as if we’re solving a puzzle. Like in a detective game.

First, Gunther reminded the platoon members of their main objective.

■■■. We must find Kate when she was still a maid.

She hasn’t become a monster yet. The very turning point when she devours her master and becomes the shadow of the Bellamor family. That beginning will inevitably be connected to the arrival of the priest who is supposed to come tomorrow. We must make contact with her before that and prevent the incident from starting.

Prevent the tragedy of Moretia. That is probably the real condition for clearing this stage.

The problem was the method.

“I understand what you’re saying, but... we don’t have any leads at all, do we?” Levain said in a voice full of heavy sighs.

They didn’t even know the name Kate had been called when she was a maid. ■■■. Every time Moretia or the housekeeper pronounced that name, the sound distorted and was drowned out by interference, making it impossible to understand. Appearance, age, personality, workplace—everything was unknown. The estate was enormous like a labyrinth, and there were more than several dozen maids alone. Most importantly, the platoon members were trapped in the roles of “new recruits” and couldn’t even move freely.

How were they supposed to find her before tomorrow arrived? Especially since today was already coming to an end.

“It feels like everything is hopelessly tangled...”

The moment despair began to settle over them, the fighters instinctively looked at Gunther first. Tarsha’s eyes flashed.

“Whoa, no way?”

“Yes, there is a way.”

Like I said, this stage takes the form of a detective game. The clues had already been given.

“Do you remember that bloody garden?”

“Yes. So what?”

“There we met ‘different forms of Moretia.’ And spoke with them for a short time.”

“That’s true. And then we were suddenly dragged into this illusion.”

Gunther nodded slightly.

“She complained to me about one maid. Said that maid was ugly and lazy.”

The expressions of his comrades became strange.

“I heard her insulting a maid too, but the content was different.”

Bingo. Gunther immediately asked:

“What exactly?”

“She said the maid was a notorious thief.”

“And I heard that she clings to men.”

“S-she told me that for a maid, she’s terrible at absolutely everything.”

“And I heard she’s a glutton.”

Gunther summarized clearly:

“Ugly, lazy, a thief, obsessed with men, an unbelievable glutton, and someone who has only ‘one single thing’ she does properly.”

His conclusion was simple.

“No matter how many maids there are in this estate, someone like that can be identified. We’ll keep working, and when we return to the dormitory, we’ll find among the senior maids the one who fits that description.”

...

The fighters exchanged silent glances, then burst into enthusiastic cheers as they began ruffling Gunther’s hair.

“Waaah, you’re a genius!..”

“This is insane, unbelievable!”

“O... the two brains of the Fourth Platoon.”

“Gunther, could it be she’s a prodigy maid?!”

Their commotion continued until the housekeeper reappeared in the wing.

“Hic.”

The platoon members instantly scattered back to their assigned areas. Gunther also grabbed a rag and flopped flat onto the floor. However, the housekeeper didn’t leave for some reason, staring at them with her pitch-black eyes.

“Tarsha! Blanc! Guntra! You three, come here.”

...?

“Guntra, are you deaf?”

Gunther, unable to believe that such a ridiculous name was directed at him, realized the harsh reality only after Tarsha burst into laughter. But the housekeeper’s order could not be resisted. Gunther... no, Guntra stepped forward before the housekeeper, suppressing the trembling caused by the humiliation flooding through him.

“You know that very important guests will arrive tomorrow.”

“...Yes.”

“You three will handle service at the banquet in the main building.”

Gunther glanced at the two who had not been called.

“Excuse me? But why only the three of us...”

“You’re asking because you truly don’t understand? It’s more pleasant when pretty girls are the ones serving.”

Doing his best to ignore the explosions of laughter from Levain and Parco behind him, Gunther forced a strained smile.

“...Madam Housekeeper.”

“What is it, Guntra?”

For a “new maid,” asking the housekeeper questions was natural. Fighting his embarrassment, Gunther brilliantly did what he had to do. Gather clues.

“Will that person also be in the main building?”

“That person?”

“Well, that senior maid... The other maids whispered to me that I should be careful around her.”

Maid gossip. A believable reason had been created for why a newcomer might know about ■■■.

“...Be careful?”

The housekeeper’s face hardened. However, the irritation was not directed at Gunther.

“You mean ■■■?”

“Yes! I think that was the name... I’m just a little afraid of running into her...”

“You won’t. She’s always stuck in the kitchen. Cooking is the only thing she knows how to do...”

Workplace confirmed. Gunther’s eyes flashed. He wanted to continue questioning, but—

“We’ve talked long enough. Finish your work by the end of the day.”

“May I ask one more quest—”

“Guntra.”

“...Yes.”

“A maid must be diligent and speak little. Don’t ruin today’s good impression with idle chatter.”

Under the cold gaze of the housekeeper, Gunther had no choice but to retreat. The housekeeper left, and Gunther returned to his companions.

“...First of all, everyone shut up.”

“Guntra, a maid must express herself elegantly.”

“Why are you making such a face, Guntra? For this situation you did great.”

“That’s right, and you even got a clue. Relax your face, Guntra.”

“Heh-heh-heh. Guntra. What a cute name.”

The fighters were absolutely delighted with the achievements of their leader, who was acting like a seventeen-year-old maid. Of course, Gunther smacked each snickering comrade on the back of the head, but his mood wasn’t bad. Now that they had obtained an additional clue, finding ■■■ had become only a matter of time.

And just as he was finishing the housework with a light heart...

Dong!

The sound of a bell rang out, announcing the end of the day in the estate. Once, twice, three times.

A heavy, deep echo seeped into their ears through the walls and floors. With each strike of that majestic sound, a wave of inexplicable relief and calm washed over them.

It was the same for the others. With slumped shoulders they trudged back to the dormitory. It felt like there was something important they needed to do, but after a long day of work they had no desire to think about anything complicated.

“Phew, what a day...”

Whether out of consideration for the exhausted new maids or for some other reason, the fireplace crackled warmly in the room. The moment he lay down on the neatly made bed, a low, soft whisper slipped through the crack of the door.

“Good night, Guntra. See you tomorrow.”

The voice was so gentle it didn’t sound like a human greeting but like a spell whispered by the estate itself. And Gunther’s consciousness quietly sank into deep darkness.

.

.

.

Ding!

[The day in the estate has ended]

[“Required conditions” not fulfilled]

[Synchronization coefficient rapidly increases]

[Hunger and madness are knocking on the doors of the estate]

***

“Ah, I «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» slept well.”

Guntra woke a little earlier than the scheduled time. Today was the day they had to serve at the banquet in the main building. She had only recently arrived at the estate, yet she had already been entrusted with such an important task.

“I must do my best. Otherwise my entire life in the estate will go wrong! Just like that strange maid!”

Guntra headed toward the main building together with the visibly nervous Tarsha and Blanc. The two who couldn’t go with them watched them leave with extremely miserable expressions.

“Is everyone here?” the housekeeper’s sharp voice rang out.

The maids responsible for preparing the banquet bowed their heads at once.

“Today our estate will receive very important guests. What do I always emphasize? Behave modestly and speak as little as possible! The guests’ mood is the master’s prestige, never forget that...”

The housekeeper’s instructions continued for a long time. Suddenly, a commotion began inside the estate.

“They say the guests have arrived!”

“What, already?”

Burning with curiosity, the maids rushed toward the windows in a crowd. The housekeeper didn’t restrain them much. Guntra also looked curiously at the procession entering the main gate of the estate.

“They say they’re guests from the distant Theocracy?”

“Oh my, are they all priests?”

“So we can’t even touch them... I wanted to give them pleasant memories, what a pity.”

While the senior maids exchanged sarcastic jokes, Guntra carefully observed the arrivals.

Both the priests and the holy knights guarding them had such appearance and bearing that it was no wonder the maids were making a fuss. Especially dazzling was the man walking at the front. A snow-white, immaculate priest’s robe, and on his chest and banners was embroidered a crest in the shape of tree roots. It seemed they served the “God of Abundance.”

But something was strange. The sight was clearly sacred and noble, yet—Guntra felt an inexplicable disgust and a slight nausea. Probably because of excessive excitement.

“All right, that’s enough staring. Return to your posts.”

After the housekeeper’s words, the maids reluctantly dispersed. Guntra also cast one last glance at the priests’ backs and quietly turned away. For some reason Tarsha and Blanc had exactly the same expressions.

.

.

.

The banquet was magnificent. Lady Moretia herself appeared, whom they called the “Flower of Bellamor,” while the priests and holy knights invited as honored guests behaved flawlessly. In an atmosphere filled with good wishes and laughter, the banquet hall shone with splendor.

“May the alliance of the Kingdoms and the Luthien Theocracy last forever!”

However, a small incident occurred in the middle.

“You! Weren’t you told to stay in the kitchen?!”

“S-s-sorry...”

That troublesome maid had been caught peeking at the guests through a crack in the door. The housekeeper was already about to explode with shouting, but the priests only smiled gently and shook their heads. Most impressive was the noble demeanor of the man who seemed to be the leader of the delegation.

“It’s all right. Light and abundance will be with this child as well.”

At those words the useless maid blushed and hurried away. The atmosphere in the estate returned to peace, and Guntra’s group finished their service without mistakes. Because of this, as newcomers they left quite a good impression. Guntra was satisfied.

[The second day in the estate has ended]

[Required conditions not fulfilled]

[Hunger gauge increases]

Over the following days, while the guests remained in the estate, that “problem maid” continued getting into small troubles and receiving reprimands. But Guntra no longer paid attention to it. It was safest not to get involved with her at all.

[The fourth day in the estate has ended]

[Required conditions not fulfilled]

[Hunger gauge increases]

Guntra fully adapted to life in the estate. She spent her days obeying orders and performing assigned tasks. She wasn’t particularly concerned with what hardships that troublesome girl was going through.

...Although she did feel a little hungry. No, very hungry.

[The final day in the estate has begun]

[Hunger and madness have crossed the threshold of the estate]

.

.

.

And... what happened after that? Guntra never found out until the very end.

[You have died]

[Counting number of deaths]

[18/100]