Surviving without God

Bellamor Mansion in the Border City. A luxurious chandelier, something a commoner could never afford even if he worked himself to death his entire life, illuminated the refined interior. Yet beneath this splendor echoed an utterly inappropriate, hysterical shriek.

“No, no, no, you can’t! Get out, Marien!”

Kate Bellamor. Her jewel-covered fingers viciously tore at her own arm. Her nails snapped as they dug deep into the pale skin, but she paid it no attention. Each time the wounds closed, she ripped them open again, snarling like a beast.

Her grandson, Giles, watched the scene while holding his breath. Fear, confusion, and complete incomprehension mixed in his eyes.

Soon Kate strode forward decisively and stopped in the middle of the corridor where “the Fourth Platoon and Gunther” had literally evaporated. She muttered as if confronted with the greatest mystery of her more than one hundred years of life, something she simply could not comprehend:

“How... how are they still staying here?..”

Whenever Kate’s mind occasionally returned to her, she clearly realized that her personality was collapsing, interwoven with countless others. But this did not frighten her in the slightest.

Because the place of the weak, insecure, pitiful Marien had been taken by the largest fragment — the strong and beautiful Moretia. Since then, the personalities of her excellent descendants, born from unions with great dynasties, had layered one upon another.

Why would she dislike that! The miserable girl who once cowered in the corner of the kitchen, catching people’s glances and wiping her tears with soot-stained hands, had long since disappeared. Kate hissed, as if spitting out the words:

“...They are mistaken.”

What do they hope to accomplish inside this phantom vision that is nothing but an illusion? She could not understand why they struggled in a world devoid of meaning and substance.

But one thing she knew for certain. These insects who had dared to examine, in the smallest detail, her most shameful and nauseating times... she would erase them with her own hands. Feeling a sudden headache, Kate gestured for Giles.

“...I’m hungry. Set the table.”

***

“It’s simple.”

Gunther began explaining the plan. His idea really was elementary. Make Albino open the Feast of the Devouring God just as originally planned.

In fact, in the previous life, the moment the Feast of the Devouring God began, the run was considered failed. Even Gunther, who had undergone the stomach operation, received such a debuff to hunger that he could barely move. In that condition nothing could be done. But this time it was different.

Because now he had the “Savior” trait. Not only Gunther himself, but also those he protects — Mari and the platoon members — receive partial immunity to hunger. They are fully capable of acting.

But for Albino the situation is different. No matter how much of a “Master of the ritual” he may be, the platoon’s sabotage had thoroughly wrecked the preparations in the annex. He would have to perform the ceremony with damaged reverse sigils and ritual tools, which would inevitably place an enormous burden on him.

“Right after the ritual begins, Albino will be at his most vulnerable.”

Of course, as the ceremony progresses he will become stronger than usual, but it is precisely at “the very beginning” that all the risks are concentrated.

“The Feast of the Devouring God begins at midnight.”

At that exact moment when the hunger in the mansion reaches its peak and the people completely lose their sanity.

“We’ll strike when they are certain that all resistance has already been suppressed.”

Gunther was firmly convinced that he could crush the Feast of the Devouring God. Not only did he possess knowledge of the ritual’s structure, but he also held in his hands the power capable of destroying it. Hearing this, the platoon fighters quickly exchanged glances.

“So until then we just hide and stay inside the mansion?”

“I think it’ll work. The place is damn huge, and we left fake traces in the annex leading outside the mansion. They’ll surely think we ran off long ago.”

Gunther silently nodded. Fortunately, as veterans should, they solved all the practical issues themselves.

However, there was one point. A critical problem was hidden within this plan. The platoon and Mari, who had been silently listening, soon realized it.

“Mari.”

Mari would have to fall into Albino’s hands again. She was the key sacrifice, and without her the Feast of the Devouring God would never begin.

“......”

Mari was perceptive. Even if she could not fully understand the conversation between Gunther and the fighters, she grasped one thing clearly. She stood at the center of all these events. She had ended up at the heart of a terrible conspiracy that had been prepared for a very long time.

“Why... why me? Why me of all people?..”

Mari wrapped her trembling arms around her shoulders, but soon even her hands began shaking more violently. Gunther tried to find words to convince her. It felt like an unbearable burden he was placing upon her, but there was no other way. Only when the Feast of the Devouring God began could Albino be defeated and Mari freed.

“...?”

But before he could open his mouth, the trembling in Mari’s body began to subside. She took several deep breaths and, without saying a word, quietly nodded. Instead of fear, determination was now visible on her face. Her expression was so firm and pure that even the platoon fighters watching her were astonished.

“Everything will be alright, right?”

Mari was the first to say it. Gunther closed his eyes for a moment, then nodded.

“Yes. It will.”

“...I believe you.”

Watching this, Tarsha muttered softly:

“You’re strong, Marien.”

Mari, realizing what she had to do, silently turned away. After taking several steps she hesitated for a moment, then smiled brightly and waved.

“Bye. See you soon.”

With those words she walked alone deeper into the corridor. Her steps were uneven, yet she looked more dignified than anyone else. The desire not to betray someone’s expectations was enough to suppress the thick fog of fear.

.

.

.

Time passed, and the Feast of the Devouring God began.

***

Uuuuuuun—

Gunther opened his eyes at the strange vibrating sound. He had not been sleeping. He had simply kept his eyes closed to chase a bit of fatigue from his body.

This was a storage room for maids that Mari had told them about. A place where dishes and linen were temporarily stored, though it had long since been abandoned, covered in dust and mold. Cramped and stuffy, but in the end it allowed them to safely wait for the beginning of the Feast of the Devouring God.

Shhh—

Barely audible rustling came from nearby. The platoon members silently checked the weapons they had managed to gather throughout different parts of the mansion.

“Let’s go.”

After Gunther’s brief words, everyone stepped out into the corridor. No human presence could be felt. It seemed that even the few summoned creatures that had been wandering nearby had already been recalled. However, the view outside the window proved that this silence was anything but peaceful. Levain felt uneasy.

“...So this is the Feast of the Devouring God.”

A blood-red barrier enveloped the entire mansion. Sinister patterns spread across the walls and ceiling, and vibrations of mana seeped from the cracks, making the ground tremble. It felt as though the mansion itself had turned into a monster tormented by unbearable hunger.

“The mansion’s hungry, right? Because it sounds like Tarsha’s stomach is growling.”

“Yep, mine. Maybe I should just eat our ‘baby’? Am!”

“Ta-Tarsha! That’s enough already!”

Knowing that their frivolous tone was merely a way to drive away tension, Gunther did not scold them and instead focused on the system messages appearing before him.

Ding!

[Hunger inside the mansion has reached a critical level]

[Thanks to the ‘Savior’ trait, those you protect are partially shielded from hunger]

— Save the mansion by preventing Marien from becoming the ‘Vessel’

Madness and hunger hung in the air. At that very moment low howls began echoing behind the walls, above the ceiling, and beyond every door. It felt as though they had found themselves in the middle of a zombie movie, but Gunther only felt his heart begin to beat faster.

This was the first stage of the run.

“Suppress anyone who’s gone mad from hunger as much as possible. Under no circumstances kill them.”

Gunther’s voice was quiet, yet there was not a trace of doubt in it.

“Stay in formation around Tarsha. Protect her so she can use magic freely.”

Lightning. The best element for stunning. Tarsha’s magic could neutralize those consumed by hunger while keeping them alive. Gunther intended to use that.

The power Albino was trying to pour into Mari was the authority of Devouring, born from “murder and cannibalism.” But what if the very hungry people meant to provide that power were paralyzed by lightning strikes? Obviously the ritual’s efficiency would drop sharply.

“Move!”

The platoon members were filled with determination. Their guilt over sending ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) Mari alone into danger also played its part. The desire to rescue her quickly and escape this damned vision pushed them forward.

“Alright. Now I’ll act separately.”

Gunther had already drawn the map in his mind. While the platoon severed the supply channels feeding the Feast of the Devouring God, he himself would destroy the ritual’s core.

‘Moretia.’

The Feast of the Devouring God would end when Mari “ate” her. He had to reach her before Albino threw her to Mari as feed.

“Stay alive.”

After exchanging glances with his comrades, Gunther dashed through the dark mansion. Servants and soldiers who had gone mad with hunger lunged at him like zombies, but he advanced forward, suppressing them with minimal movements. He had to hurry before Albino noticed something was wrong.

‘Moretia should be...’

Finding her was not difficult. All he had to do was follow the horrific curses and screams echoing through the mansion. Gunther stopped before the closed doors of the banquet hall.

[Skill ‘Serpent’s Nest’ Lv.1 activated]

Using both Mana Perception and “Serpent’s Nest,” he saw the situation inside as clearly as if it had been drawn before his eyes.

‘Albino isn’t here. Is he with Mari?’

Only a few paladins and priests guarded the banquet hall. Without hesitation, Gunther climbed along the outer wall using “Lizard’s Wall Walk” and entered through a second-floor window.

“Who is that?!”

“Inform Father Albino—”

Whoosh!

The scarlet flame that ignited along the “Straight Line of Despair” instantly melted their screams and their bodies. The followers of the Cult of Abundance were famous for defense and regeneration, but before the Flame of Eternal Torment they were helpless. Moretia, it had to be said, was quick-witted. She stopped screaming and called to him in a voice both martyr-like and noble:

“Knight! Knight, I’m here! Please, help me!”

Gunther cut through the chains binding her. However, the cuffs sealing magic around her wrists remained untouched. Moretia collapsed weakly to the floor, her gaze becoming sorrowful. But Gunther did not miss the fact that she did not even glance at the bodies of the Bellamor vassals covering the banquet hall floor.

“Thank you for your kindness. For punishing these villains... I will repay this mercy in the name of Bellamor...”

“Where are Albino and Mari?”

“...What?”

“I don’t repeat myself. Where are they?”

Moretia hesitated, assessing the situation before speaking.

“He said he would go to the kitchen. That cursed sinner Albino... poor Mari...”

Feeling Gunther’s icy gaze upon her, Moretia fell silent. Gunther spoke slowly.

“What was done to Mari... was that Albino’s order?”

Moretia’s eyes trembled almost imperceptibly. But she did not open her mouth. Instead, a smile appeared on her beautiful face, and she raised her shackled hands.

“Perhaps you’ll remove these as well?”

Gunther looked down at her. In the brief silence it seemed that a single glance was enough to obtain the answer.

“With pleasure.”

Whoooosh—

With a heavy whistle, the “Straight Line of Despair” cut through the air once again. Moretia’s head fell silently to the floor. The flame bursting from the wound dyed the banquet hall crimson. The magic of the Feast of the Devouring God attempted to absorb her death as energy, but the Flame of Eternal Torment, which burns all that is impure, devoured it.

However, Gunther’s gaze had already turned elsewhere.

‘The kitchen.’

Judging by the fact that the noise throughout the mansion had begun to subside, the platoon had apparently succeeded in their task. Now all that remained was to punish Albino and save Mari. Gunther took a deep breath and quickened his pace.

.

.

.

He ran at full speed along the corridor leading to the kitchen. Once the battle with Albino began, the platoon members would soon join him. Finally, the last stage. Save Mari, escape this vision, and safely return together with the Fourth Platoon and Dimona. There was not a shadow of doubt in that determination.

Step—step—!

For a long time, the empty corridor echoed only with the sound of his footsteps.

Ding!

Gunther stopped. He stood before the kitchen door.

[Personal Scenario Update!]

[Your choice has led to unexpected results]

...Unexpected results? But Gunther did not manage to read the next message immediately.

“Gunther...”

Step—step—

Mari staggered out of the kitchen doorway. It looked like a repetition of the scene from several hours earlier. Mari, her entire body covered in blood. But this time something was wrong. There were no bite marks from her own teeth on her body. Gunther froze as he looked at her.

“I’m hungry...”

A message began blinking at the top of his vision.

[Albino filled the vessel for Jean Daet and invited him. However, thanks to your astonishing ingenuity, that vessel turned out to be completely empty]

Gunther had overlooked one detail.

[For Albino, a faithful servant, it is unacceptable to serve a god with an empty vessel. In order to satisfy the god’s hunger, Albino himself climbed onto the dining table]

This was reality, not a scripted game. Human madness knows no limits.

Gunther looked past Mari toward Albino lying on the kitchen floor. A radiant smile was frozen on his face.

[Vision: The true boss of ‘Bellamor’s Darkness’ appears — ‘Mari’]

[Defeat her to escape the vision]