Surviving without God

Kalian Ladenbach, being responsible for personnel selection, had recommended many newcomers to “Night Raven.” His criteria had always been cold and meticulous: trust, ability, values. Strict screening was carried out on all fronts.

However, this man. In Gunther Sirhe, he felt something beyond logic—an instinctive premonition.

“This is a big fish. I can’t let him slip away.”

And it wasn’t just about his astonishing strength. In truth, Kalian had been watching Gunther closely even before he revealed his skill. Partly because his daughter kept pestering him, demanding that Gunther be hired as her personal bodyguard, and partly because Gunther simply drew the eye.

“Extraordinary.”

Gunther, as Kalian had seen him over the past two months, was...

“It sounds ridiculous, but still.”

He resembled a man who viewed this world from the outside. In dangerous moments, when life hung by a thread; in situations where power and status intertwined; even in relationships with comrades—he observed everything as if it were a theatrical performance, intervening only when necessary and taking the most correct measures.

Authority, pretense, hierarchy... Things others clung to desperately slid past his ears as easily as dust brushed from a shoulder. And paradoxically, that was precisely why everyone wanted his favor. Even the seasoned Kalian felt a strong pull toward him. Gunther was truly special.

“...That quality is called charisma.”

But that wasn’t all. He was kind. From the outside, it looked as though only cold calculation drove him, but the truth was different.

Kalian remembered a village where they had stopped to rest during the grueling journey. The voice of a crying woman behind a rickety fence. A child kidnapped by bandits. For a mercenary working for money, there was no reason to get involved, and most did not. But that night, Gunther was not seen in the tavern—and the next morning, the woman’s sobbing had stopped.

Kalian knew perfectly well how rare and valuable such people were.

“And besides, it seems he has accumulated quite a few grievances against the Luthien Theocracy.”

That “single strike” with which he wiped out the paladins and the Holy Army. There was no hesitation or mercy in his actions—only hostility, perfectly aligned with the values of “Night Raven.”

“...Special Class. If someone like him isn’t Special Class, then who is?”

Incidentally, “Special Class” was a rank Kalian had never once assigned to novice candidates. Of course, that didn’t mean Gunther would immediately become a member of the organization. There would be decisions from the upper echelon and trials ahead. And most importantly, Gunther’s own will had yet to be voiced.

“However...” — Kalian smiled faintly. — “I think we’ll be walking the same path.”

Someone might say the odds were slim. Most people avoided thorny roads leading to a clash with the Theocracy. But, strangely enough, Kalian’s intuition—honed by years of deals and negotiations—kept telling him: this man would ultimately plunge into that battle.

— What kind of work is it?

To Gunther’s question, Kalian answered with unusual directness:

— What needs to be done if you want this damned world to change.

Words that tacitly made it clear: this was no mere mercenary job. Something deeper and more secret awaited. Gunther nodded silently, as if weighing the meaning. His face showed full comprehension of the context, though that seemed impossible.

— So I’m counting on you.

The future of “Night Raven” was bleak. The Luthien Theocracy grew stronger by the day, and soon its banners would cover the entire continent. Soon, evil gods would come to trample and devour humanity’s prosperity.

That was why Kalian Ladenbach fervently wished for this man to become another torch piercing the darkness.

— Likewise, — Gunther shook his hand.

***

“Done.”

His heart felt surprisingly light. This whole nightmare in the first chapter of the first act had been for this moment.

“I’ve safely entered the Night Raven route.”

This was the most important branch not only of the first act, but of the entire scenario. Joining “Night Raven” was a mandatory condition for obtaining the true ending. If the main character was Iron Man, then “Night Raven” was the Avengers. Only by becoming part of them could one begin interacting with the key figures of this world and high-level allies. Fat quest rewards that fueled growth were a pleasant bonus.

And what if Kalian had died in the first chapter, or I had failed to earn his trust?

“Goodbye, true ending.”

The so-called “lone wolf route” would begin. I’d have to fight the enormous enemy that was the Theocracy alone. Only hardcore players chasing a collection of bad endings chose that path. But fortunately, I had saved Kalian and preserved my connection to the organization.

“Now all that’s left is to clear the trial disguised as Kalian’s errand.”

Of course, it was infamous for its difficulty as well. But it wasn’t the same as the first chapter, where I had to charge headlong with bare hands. Besides, the border city that would serve as the arena for the first act was packed with all sorts of “hidden stuff” and “bonuses” I could exploit. ...I’ll manage.

[Alphonse of Red Street clears his throat and says his talents will definitely be useful in the city]

[The King of Ninety-Nine Defeats nods and expresses hope that future allies will be noble and just]

[The Drug-Addicted Saint suggests dropping by an herbalist]

[...The one who sends letters never meant to return watches you furtively]

As I was reading the messages, an uninvited guest suddenly cut in. I turned around. Eddie stood there awkwardly.

— What is it?

— ...U-um, well.

He hesitated, working his lips, then lowered his head. I narrowed my eyes, looking at his slightly balding crown.

— Thanks. I felt I had to say it.

He squirmed with embarrassment but didn’t stop.

— If it weren’t for you, we’d all be dead. Me, my people... and the lady. You saw it. I froze like an idiot.

...Gratitude. Eddie scratched the back of his head and looked aside, toward where Yor was joking and laughing with other members of the caravan. A smile appeared on his lips on its own.

— You bastards! Touch the lady with even a finger and I’ll kill you!

At that moment, images from past lives surfaced before my eyes. The previous Eddies who, bleeding out to the last, tried to protect Yor, breaking and dying. ...If they could see this scene, they’d surely be happy. A strange feeling, available only to a “returner.”

— Fine, there’s your share of credit in this scene too.

Eddie tilted his head for a moment, then smirked.

— What? Ha-ha... So you know how to comfort people too?

— Believe it or not.

It was time to move on. There were still a few things to take care of before reaching the border city.

— Wait a sec.

— ...What now.

— So prickly. Here, take this.

Whik—

Eddie shoved something into my pocket.

— You’re staying in the border city, right? This’ll come in handy. My cousin runs a fairly big operation there.

The status window told me what it was.

[Item acquired! Eddie’s Letter of Recommendation (Brodie Office)]

Another effect of increased Affinity? Rewards that didn’t exist in canon kept dropping. I gave a brief nod.

— It’ll be useful. Thanks.

And at the end, I couldn’t help saying what I’d wanted to say for a while:

— You should confess to her already, before you go completely bald.

— ...I will. When you’re gone.

We traded short jokes. It wasn’t bad at all.

.

.

.

— Oh, m-m. So, how was the date in the closed carriage? Oho-ho-ho!

...Until I ran into Ryan, whose awkwardness was visible from a mile away.

***

When a mercenary hides his strength, that’s—broadly speaking—almost a betrayal. It’s tantamount to putting comrades in danger on a mission where lives are at stake.

“He probably thinks I’ve been deceiving him the whole time.”

Technically, it was a misunderstanding, but there was nothing to be done. The power I displayed through Descent wasn’t something you could obtain in a short time. From Ryan’s perspective, I was the kind of guy you couldn’t trust—possessing immense power yet hiding it. Still, he seemed to be avoiding the topic.

— Whew, now I’ve got enough drinking stories to last a lifetime. Though I wonder if the girls will believe them—sounds too unbelievable.

— .......

— By the way, border city’s coming up soon. How does it feel, huh?

— .......

— You’ve been going on about it forever.

— Since when was I going o—

I was about to reply on autopilot, then just sighed. Noble tact on his part—not asking anything. But the discomfort didn’t go away. Especially when you saw his face, which looked complicated no matter how much he pretended everything was fine.

“I’ll need to talk to him when we arrive.”

In truth, there were future plans to discuss as well. With that thought, I looked ahead again, and the massive silhouette of the border city filled my entire field of vision. Exclamations of awe rippled through the column—mostly from mercenaries.

— Whoa...

It was understandable. Even I, used to modern cities, was stunned by the scale. Even a small portion of what we saw overwhelmed with its grandeur. On the faces of caravan members and guards, for whom this city was home base, pride flickered.

A magi-engineering city composed of three tiers.

The very top level, the Upper City, floated in the sky like a separate world severed from the earth. The heart of the city and its main ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) engine—the opal “Core”—slowly rotated at a dizzying height, brightly illuminating orderly streets. This was where the city’s rulers—the “Labyrinth Clan” and other influential families—lived.

Below, on the ground, lay the Middle City—the district crowded with adventurers and the establishments that served them. The streets pulsed with life; noise and bustle carried even from afar. Professions and social classes of every kind mingled here.

And finally, the Lower City. The place where all the waste, garbage, and failed experiments of the border city flowed. The city was divided cleanly, like a gigantic cutaway diagram.

“Worlds completely divided.”

Some above bask in light and warmth, while those below wander in darkness.

[Alphonse of Red Street gapes at the scale of the city; says cities like this didn’t exist in their time]

[The Drug-Addicted Saint quickly wipes her eyes]

[The King of Ninety-Nine Defeats crosses his arms, remarking that the city doesn’t look cozy]

I agreed with the Knight-King. If I didn’t need to advance the main scenario, I wouldn’t step foot in this gloomy place.

A few more minutes passed. The outskirts of the city spread before us—dozens of checkpoints and endless lines. At that moment, Kalian halted the column and ordered everyone to disperse and pass inspection individually.

The attack had failed. Naturally, Luthien would try to ascertain every detail of what had happened.

— Once inside the city, behave cautiously and don’t draw unnecessary attention. Leaving quickly is also a good option.

Companions with grim faces nodded. Even without knowing the full situation, everyone would be careful. No matter how brave you were, no one wanted to tangle with the Luthien Theocracy. Ryan and I stepped out of formation together and stared once more at the city spreading before us.

“...Well then, it truly begins.”

Chapter 2 of the first act—the main scenario leading to the initiation trial. In this merciless city, I would have to become a member of a secret organization and fight a gigantic empire of evil. Instead of the hero chosen by the world.

Me. A background character.

.

.

.

Ding—!

[New location discovered!]

[Location: Border City]

A city located at the very center of the continent. Thanks to the existence of the “Labyrinth,” it is the only place on the continent where magi-engineering has reached a high level...

[Skip]

[※ Warning: Border City itself is a labyrinth. Beneath the mask of liveliness and prosperity lie endless darkness and secrets, so exploration must be done with caution]

[Act 1, Chapter 2 begins] [Summary of Act 1, Chapter 1]

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[Level: 37]

[Strength: 33, Endurance: 28, Agility: 25, Mana: 5, Charisma: 50, Luck: 10]

==================

-Level ups x 12

-Total stat increase: 26.

-Stigma acquired: “Raising One’s Head”.

-Passive skill of rare rank acquired: “Knightly Swordsmanship”.

-Active skill of epic rank acquired: “Eyes of the Tyrant”.

-Magic-rank equipment acquired: “Ladenbach’s Fortitude”.

-Current Karma: 158, Accumulated Karma: 753 (before calculation for the twelfth life).

※ Calculating rewards for clearing Act 1, Chapter 1.