Surviving without God

She submitted a false report that the brainwashing was proceeding successfully. Even though she had seen the “variable” with her own eyes yesterday, her hand reflexively wrote the lie. Gunther, waiting in the corner of the room, was surprised, but the one most shocked was Remesia herself.

“...I’ve gone insane.”

Remesia regretted it immediately.

“What kind of ingratitude is this?”

She could not lie to Masiu. How had she dared to lie to the benefactor who had saved her from the orphanage in the Holy Capital?

Before her “aptitude” had manifested, Remesia had been nothing more than an ordinary orphan. It was Masiu who had recognized her, reached out a hand, helped her realize her great power, dressed her in silk, and granted her the status of a Hierarch before whom thousands bowed. Even if the price had been a cruel fate—a limited lifespan—Remesia had always been grateful for meeting him. A sharp sense of guilt seized her for a moment.

[Well, if everything is proceeding smoothly, I’m glad. You’ve worked hard.]

But the deed was done. Masiu smiled, something that happened extremely rarely. A smile on his always dry, expressionless face... If she took back her words now, that smile would instantly freeze into disappointment and coldness. That was what Remesia feared most.

— Well... this is my job, of course I have to handle it.

So Remesia forced herself to smile, lifting the corners of her lips. Then, feigning indifference, she turned her head and looked at Gunther.

“Right. I just need to make it stop being a lie.”

In the corner of the room, Gunther stood motionless like a mannequin. The priests had worked all night and healed every wound from yesterday, so outwardly he looked flawless. However, since yesterday, she herself had no longer touched Gunther’s mind.

[Remesia].

— Ah, yes.

[I know this is difficult in many ways].

At Masiu’s softened voice, Remesia’s lips trembled.

— ...Yes.

[This is your first real combat experience, after all. No matter how exceptional your aptitude and talent are, you can’t become a master immediately].

It had not even been a few months since Remesia had properly inherited the previous Hierarch’s power. To be thrown alone onto the front lines, command, and carry out large-scale brainwashing could not possibly be easy.

[But this “Gunther” is the first “Reader” to appear in a very long time].

[It’s possible he still has more ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ Tablets on him].

[That means he could become the key that places the final period on the Theocracy’s victory].

— ...Yes, I know.

Masiu’s dry attitude gradually changed. His voice grew warmer and softer, and something resembling tenderness appeared in his gestures. That change triggered an immediate reaction in Remesia.

— ...I... I’ll do better. Yes.

All doubt vanished completely from Remesia’s face. It seemed as though all her attention had focused on this moment alone, as if Masiu’s recognition and attention were the sole purpose of her life.

Watching this, Gunther felt intense disgust. He finally understood how their grotesque relationship worked.

“...Ha, this really is genuine brainwashing.”

A twisted variation of the bond between savior and saved. Gratitude and power... interwoven with an immature ego, creating absolute dependency.

[Good. Everyone is waiting for your success. So hurry and break this man’s will completely, seize control of the Barkel troops, and advance to the next front].

— Yes!

[By the way, as soon as confirmation arrives directly from the border, the report will be sent to His Holiness. Under no circumstances, absolutely under no circumstances, can there be a mistake].

Hearing that, she nodded firmly again. After a short pause, she carefully opened her mouth.

— Um... Masiu.

[What is it?]

— Maybe...

As if asking for something impossible, Remesia bit her lip for a moment.

— Could you send the others to me for a little while?

[The others?]

— Jean should have recovered by now, right? Or Rev, she’d work too.

A crack appeared in the warmth on Masiu’s face.

[...You’re asking me to send Hierarchs?]

— Ah, or Dominic would also do. He’s already entered a stable state.

Masiu’s answer that followed was cold and unwavering.

[Impossible].

In truth, Masiu understood why Remesia was asking for reinforcements. Yesterday’s clash report had already reached him. She must have been frightened after seeing that the Ravens’ combat strength exceeded expectations. She had always had a soft disposition.

But Masiu’s answer did not change.

[Enemies of that level will be sufficiently contained if you brainwash the local knights].

[Didn’t the Round Table Knights fall into your hands? And the troops you brought with you are still operational].

— Ah, yes... I understand. I just asked, just in case.

[Don’t worry. The authority granted to you is not so pitiful that it can be shaken by a few “Ravens.”]

Masiu said those words to the crestfallen Remesia in a casual tone.

[Well then, I’ll contact you again].

With those short words, the light of the magic sphere slowly faded. Darkness once again settled over the room. Remesia let out a heavy sigh and turned her gaze away from Gunther.

“......”

If someone asked her why she had loosened her grip on Gunther’s brainwashing...

In truth, she had a very clear reason.

From yesterday until this very moment, one scene had been replaying endlessly in her mind. The scene where Gunther took the incoming sniper shot for her.

Remesia knew.

At that moment, he had most certainly acted against the brainwashing.

Maybe that was why the scene had lodged itself in her memory so strangely?

Had there ever been anyone in her life who, of their own will, threw themselves into danger for her?

Would Masiu... do something like that for her?

Shurrk—

Remesia stopped in front of Gunther and looked up at him with a strange expression. The fact that she would have to erase with her own hands that very “will” which had made him shield her... left a bitterness in Remesia’s heart that was difficult to describe.

— ...No.

But Remesia immediately severed that feeling and drove it away. She had no time for unnecessary thoughts. The current situation demanded that she devote all her strength to plunging Gunther into a state of absolute brainwashing.

U-u-u-u-un—

A strange light flared at Remesia’s fingertips, but...

— Ah.

Suddenly it went out.

— I almost forgot.

Before continuing the brainwashing, there was one matter she needed to settle.

.

.

.

— Fool.

— ......

— You’re a real fool.

Those were the words Rem had left to her original body before dying by Gunther’s sword. Remesia recalled all the other doubles scattered throughout the kingdom after Rem. And she directed every ounce of power available to her into Gunther’s brainwashing.

***

Arder family territory. A tavern in a small village. Under dim lighting, two men clinked their mugs and carried on an unhurried conversation. Their clothing made it obvious—they were mercenaries. In the past, mercenaries had been looked down on in the Kingdom of Valloren, but that was already the past. Once the front began to shake, the kingdom had started gathering mercenaries from all across Badland, and these two were among them.

— Heard it... they say he showed up again?

— Who?

— That “Black Knight”! The one sealed head to toe in black armor!

One of the men glanced around nervously and lowered his voice.

— ...They say he was skulking around Barkel’s inner castle again. He shattered the reinforcements heading to Laska Plain into splinters. You know Hans? The guy was so terrified he barely escaped with his life.

— Ha, really now. Where did a monster like that crawl out from at a time like this...

— Creepy stuff, really. They say it’s like he’s searching for someone. Sweeping through everything like a comb!

— If he’s on Luthien’s side, then what, a mercenary? Or a fallen knight? Either way, I hope they nail him soon.

The conversation had apparently gotten lively enough that they brazenly addressed their neighbors.

— You lot should be careful too. Going around on business in times like this... wouldn’t want money to come back and bite you. Run into the Black Knight and that’s the end of you.

— ...Talking a lot for people who don’t know anything.

— What?

A sharp reply followed. Bright blue eyes flashed at the mercenaries from beneath a hood. Fortunately, the tavern noise and the alcohol kept them from immediately realizing it was a challenge. At that moment, a large man sitting beside them hurriedly stepped into the conversation.

— We’ll keep it in mind. I wish you the best in finishing your business as well.

After ending the conversation with the mercenaries, Parco turned to his companions with a sigh. All of them, as if on cue, were looking at each other with the same expression. Cheonmae irritably set her mug down on the table.

— So the Black Knight is looking for someone.

A sigh followed.

— Us, right? That damned witch wants to kill us with Gan-za Samurai’s hands, it’s obvious.

— ...Most likely.

— Damn it.

A week had already passed since the Black Knight—that is, Gunther under brainwashing—had started appearing in public. Brutal rumors about him had reached even the outskirts of Arder territory, and now they could be heard even in a village this remote. Once the heavy snowfall fully stopped, his infamy would spread across the entire kingdom.

For the Black Knight, whom the Hierarch of Repose had thoroughly brainwashed and strengthened, that was entirely possible. Tarsha muttered blankly:

— We should have... pulled him out sooner. Or maybe we shouldn’t have abandoned him and run?

But if they had not done that, none of them would be here now. Ryan and Levain stared at the floor in frustration. The weight of guilt pressed down on them in full.

Yes, only a week ago hope had still been alive.

— Gunther resisted the brainwashing. If we pull him out now, there’s still a chance!

Parco and Cheonmae had discovered hopeful signs during the “reconnaissance.” Even Cheonmae, who had nearly despaired after seeing Gunther protect Remesia, had softened a little after hearing those words.

— Fine, first we’ll try to save him.

They believed that if the reinforcements from Border City arrived and everyone regrouped, they could tear Gunther away before the brainwashing completely set in.

But an unexpected variable had intervened. Blanc stared out the window with a grim expression. Through the veil of falling snow, hateful images seemed to float before her.

— ...Who would have guessed the Society of Holy Flame would get involved.

Everything had gone wrong the moment Ryan and Levain came out of the Second King of Flame’s vault carrying the sacred relics. Whether it had been a trap set by the King of Flame himself, or the relics had tracking magic on them, or it had simply been a string of terrible coincidences—no one knew.

Only one thing was clear: from that moment on, the Society of Holy Flame had been on their heels. And it was not some small squad, but the main force under the command of the Grandmaster.

Because of that, the squad preparing to rescue Gunther had been forced to abandon the plan. Gunther, whose rescue success was uncertain, or the entire Fourth Platoon, which could be saved here and now. The choice had been too obvious.

In the end, two of the five rescuers died. Though they had forced the Society to retreat because of it, the others had to flee Barkel territory, scattering in the course of endless skirmishes. It was then that Ryan, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke.

— So what... do we do now?

Unconcealed anxiety bled through his voice. He feared that their leader, Cheonmae, would voice the worst possible option. Ryan clenched his fists tightly.

But fortunately, Cheonmae did not immediately speak of extremes. She only nodded toward the door.

— That’s exactly what we’re about to discuss.

Creeeak—

The tavern door opened, and three silhouettes appeared in the doorway. A slender figure in a deeply lowered robe. An old man with an enormous magical firearm slung across his back. And finally, a woman quietly shaking snow from an umbrella that seemed to attract eyes.

These were the three survivors from the rescue squad sent from Border City. Looking at them, Cheonmae quietly finished:

— Whether to eliminate him or save him.

Meanwhile, Gunther opened his eyes in a completely unexpected place.

The memories leading up to this point were vague and tangled, as if he had seen several dreams in succession. Only one thing remained vivid.

The final moment when the brainwashing intensified.

The moment when his consciousness was swallowed by a powerful wave and dragged down into a black abyss.

“......”

How long had he spent in this place without light, sound, or even time itself?

His eyelids slowly lifted, and the moment hazy outlines blurred into his field of vision, Gunther drew a heavy, unfamiliar breath—like a man seeing the world for the first time after decades.

Tiling!

[Something that makes up your essence comes into conflict with the authority of the Evil God that has penetrated deep into your mind].

[Consciousness is forcibly plunged into the depths].

[Entering Hidden Stage, “■■■”!]