Surviving without God

— You are Mikhela. A pleasure to meet you.

Mikhela first met Ellen Beyra before she had even reached adulthood. It was on a winter day when the city seemed wrapped in gray fog. For the first time in months, she had been reluctantly allowed to go outside, and she was wandering through the market.

Born a half-blood from the union of a human and a member of the Labyrinth Clan, she had always lived surrounded by contempt and isolation. Perhaps that was why, as she pushed her way through the crowd, Mikhela froze when she heard an unfamiliar voice gently call her by name.

— ...Who are you? Do you know me?

Curiosity—one of the traits of her raccoon-like nature—played its part. In the middle of the bustling market stood a stranger, as if she had been waiting specifically for her. When Mikhela asked, she answered:

— I’m Ellen. Ellen Beyra.

Only a moment later did Mikhela realize how unreal the girl’s beauty was. A clear, ringing voice. A delicate face framed by hair as black as a moonless night. And her large eyes shone with the color of ice.

“W-wow...”

Anyone with eyes would have had no chance of resisting her charm. But it wasn’t just her appearance.

There was a depth in Ellen’s pupils that did not belong to someone who looked barely twenty. Layers of time, knowledge, and wounds accumulated over years. That dissonance with her youthful appearance made her overwhelmingly captivating.

...However, Mikhela’s curiosity and fondness turned into wariness within seconds.

— You will become the mayor of this city. So you should start thinking now about how you’ll govern it.

An absurd lie that made her doubt her own hearing. Mikhela was momentarily struck speechless by the sheer audacity.

Her position within the clan as a half-blood was extremely fragile. The current mayor and clan head did not even acknowledge her existence. Only her father’s pleas had prevented her from being cast out of the city. Moreover, even though the clan’s population had dwindled over generations, there were still more than a dozen pure-bloods remaining. Why would she ever become “mayor”?

But Ellen simply smiled and said:

— You don’t believe me yet. I’ll visit you again later.

The conversation was brief. Yet, strangely enough, Mikhela could never forget that ridiculous prophecy. Later, a thought occurred to her: how had that stranger even known she was a “member of the Labyrinth Clan,” when Mikhela had spent most of her life locked away?

...And now, several years later. When those words had become reality. They say Mikhela met Ellen Beyra again.

Gunther, who had been listening attentively, let out a short breath.

— So she read the Tablets and saw your future.

— ...Yes. Since you know about the Tablets, it makes things easier to explain. Ellen definitely “read” the future. Otherwise, too many things would be impossible to explain. In any case...

The reappearing Ellen looked more worn than before, yet still dazzlingly beautiful.

— Mikhela, in the end, you’ll become a good mayor.

— Me?..

— Yeah, it’s destined. And I believe it.

It was difficult not to give your heart to a being so mysterious, charming, and kind.

— Just like now—you’re basking in the love and respect of everyone around you.

— ...You flatter me.

— Not at all.

Smiling brightly, Mikhela searched her memory and continued:

— She was always elusive. Appearing and disappearing like the wind.

— Did she continue giving you... prophecies like that?

— No, not exactly. More like advice, warnings... and sometimes she left requests.

Mikhela admitted that for a time they had been quite close. However, Mikhela was consumed by the “mission” entrusted to her by the clan, and Ellen had her own affairs, so eventually they drifted apart. Listening to this, Gunther cautiously asked:

— Did you know that Ellen Beyra was the first secretary of the “Circle of Oblivion”? The “Staff of the Ruler of the Oceans” was found in the Labyrinth, so I thought you might be connected somehow.

— ...No. Back then, I had no idea. And I have nothing to do with the staff.

[The Ruler of the Oceans narrows her eyes slightly, as if deep in thought]

Mikhela lowered her gaze for a moment and sighed quietly.

— We were definitely friends, but we didn’t share everything. Ellen... the day before she disappeared, she left me only two sentences.

Gunther’s gaze sharpened, sensing something crucial.

— First, no matter what, I must fulfill my mission... in other words, never open the “Gate” at the deepest part of the Labyrinth.

Gunther tried to press for details, but Mikhela only shook her head.

— I’m sorry. That’s «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» all I know.

— Is there anyone who might know more?

— Not anymore. I’m the only one left of my clan...

The mission of the Labyrinth Clan. Even in the original game, it remained an unresolved mystery. The only confirmed fact was that the ancestors of the Labyrinth Clan had built the city to obtain the “energy to open the Gate,” and sent adventurers into the Labyrinth. His intuition told him this would need to be uncovered someday—but now was not the time.

— And second.

Mikhela continued calmly:

— Second, to give the item she left behind... to the Savior of the city.

Her thick tail slowly swept the floor, betraying her tension. Mikhela took a breath and pulled out a small wooden box from her clothes.

— The Savior of the city... In the thirty years since Ellen disappeared, there hasn’t been a single person worthy of that title. Except you, Gunther.

Gunther’s gaze was inevitably drawn to the box. It was impossible not to understand what lay inside that small container covered in layers of magical seals and symbols.

— I don’t know what kind of fate awaits you... but I’m very curious.

With those words, Mikhela opened the lid without hesitation.

Wuuuuuuuuuun—!

At that very moment, a new gift responded.

.

.

.

This happened during the twenty-first death in the Labyrinth. While attempting to destroy the source of the Sixth Root, he failed due to a lack of firepower and, after taking a counterattack, was sent flying into the sky like a baseball. For that death, Gunther received an enormous amount of Karma. Saving Mikhela from a fatal illness and his contributions in the battle against Albino likely played a role.

[Remaining Karma: 1516]

[Accumulated Karma: 5341]

By the twenty-fourth life, when he finally defeated Albino, his Karma had reached nearly seven thousand. Excluding what had been spent along the way, the remaining balance was an impressive 2,500.

[Remaining Karma: 2500]

[Accumulated Karma: 6944]

And that didn’t even include the rewards for clearing Act 1, Chapter 5. He had experienced firsthand just how immense the positive Karma for saving an entire city was.

And, as promised, the moment his Karma exceeded 5,000... one feature of the “???” trait was unlocked.

[Trait: ???]

Rank: ??

-Unable to form contracts with gods.

-Can obtain and use Karma. (Acquisition chance +15%)

-Regression upon death available (limited number of times). ※ Partial Co-Regression unlocked.

-Signature of the One-Eyed King obtained.

-“Compass” function unlocked (Updated).

[Gift: Compass]

-Occasionally guides you to a source of enormous Karma.

※ Other effects are locked. Will not activate until conditions are met.

At first glance—a perfect bonus. But Gunther, being a true “hardcore player,” immediately saw through the catch.

Karma accumulates regardless of good or evil. And “enormous” almost always means extreme difficulty. In other words, the “Compass” is a double-edged sword. Which meant that with the “item” in his hands—the one this gift was reacting to like madness—he had to be extremely careful.

Step—

After leaving Seraz’s mansion, Gunther opened the box again in a deserted alley. His gaze was inevitably drawn inside.

“Seriously... how do I even describe this...”

Gunther had never considered himself lacking in vocabulary, but this item was truly difficult to put into words. From afar, it looked like transparent glass. But up close, it became clear that strange colors and textures were sealed within. Every time his fingers touched it, dozens of rays of light refracted like a prism, and residual images flickered inside—as if hundreds of films were playing simultaneously at insane speed.

[Do you wish to read the “Fragment of the Tablet”?]

The item Ellen Beyra had entrusted to Mikhela thirty years ago, to be passed on to him. A “sheet of answers” of this world, containing both future and past.

Ironically, he possessed the ability to “read” it. But Gunther hesitated.

There were several reasons for his hesitation. The first was his conversation with “◇”.

“Do not gather the Tablets.”

“Gather the Tablets.”

“The Tablet draws you, and you draw it—but when the Tablet is completed, everything will simply repeat.”

“Only the one who connects the scattered fragments into a whole will reach the hidden truth. The nearest fragment is in the Upper City.”

After those unclear words, she had definitely said:

“Curse you, brother.”

That meant the involvement of “◆”—and that the two held completely opposing views regarding the Tablets.

“Damn it... should I collect them or not?”

Gunther’s head grew heavy with thought. On one hand, Ellen—a prophet clearly inclined toward “Good”—had left this specifically for him...

“But the One-Eyed King said I don’t exist in the Tablets at all.”

In that case, using “Reading” on something useless could backfire. ...But there was another reason he hesitated.

“A predetermined future.”

The very idea that some transcendent order could overwrite human choice repulsed him. For someone who changed the future through regression, it was a natural reaction.

“Besides, I have no idea what these Tablets even are...”

An item that didn’t exist in the original story. At the end of his thoughts, Gunther suddenly recalled the face of Grand Crow. And then the promise—after finishing this matter, he would arrange another meeting with the One-Eyed King. A meeting with the only being who could currently clarify the truth about the Tablets.

[Remaining Karma: -2133]

Gunther reflexively rubbed the top of his head. Until then, he would need thorough preparation. He had no desire to lose consciousness again, lose most of his memory, and fall into debt like last time. Which led to only one conclusion.

“I need to increase my Hierarchy.”

Only then would even a minimal “dialogue” become possible. And right on cue—

Ding!

The notification sound rang at the perfect moment.

[Revealing Tasks for Hierarchy Advancement]

The first thing Gunther noticed was the difficulty. He was momentarily speechless.

— What is this, an Askona ad slogan? Five stars?

[Complete the following task to rank up]

Task Name: Bonds of Fate

Content: Increase affinity with members of your group.

Estimated Difficulty: ★★★★★

Completion Conditions:

-Affinity 100 or higher: 1 person.

-Affinity 70 or higher: 5 people.

-The task fails if any group member’s affinity drops below 40.

Reward List:

-Advancement to 3rd Hierarchy.

-Level cap increased to 100.

-If completed at high difficulty: Special reward table applied.

※ Time limit: one month.

※ This task activates immediately. If declined, the opportunity to advance Hierarchy will be lost.

...It seemed it was time to deal with things he normally avoided.

***

— Jean, are you awake?

— ......

— It’s alright, you can open your eyes. It’s only me here. I came to save you.

A warm voice pierced through the darkness. The young man slowly lifted his eyelids.

— Jean, I’m so glad to meet you. You are too, right?

A name that only one person in the entire Theocracy could bear. The young man who had been given the name of the god of abundance—Jean Daet. He looked at the one who had awakened him.

— Why the long face? The important thing is—you made it back alive. That’s enough.

— ...Rev.

— Don’t mind what the elders say.

The girl who bore the name of the god of justice—Revmael—smirked and shook her hair. Drops of blood fell with dull sounds onto the old floor. The drops that splattered across shattered and torn masks slid down them like tears.

Step— 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Stepping over the bodies of the Night Raven enforcers sent to track the missing entities, the girl approached and gently wrapped her arms around the young man’s shoulders. At that soft touch, Jean’s rigid body relaxed.

— Don’t worry about anything. From now on, you’ll move with us.

— ...Really?

Rev laughed brightly and lightly flicked his forehead.

— Of course, dummy. Come on—let’s go look at the sea.