Surviving without God

Valloren, the lands of House Barkel

The road leading to the main gate of Barkel Castle.

Blanc, walking at the front, let out a quiet sound of admiration.

“How beautiful it is here.”

Gunther remembered this place as something entirely different—a dried, dead land. Black barriers had towered everywhere, and there had not been a trace of life on the faces of the people trapped inside. And that was no surprise: neighbors had turned into enemies overnight under the effects of brainwashing, while the knights and soldiers who were supposed to protect them had succumbed to madness and carried out a massacre. Everyone had held their breath, waiting for the horrific finale.

But the current Barkel was different. Beyond the vanished barrier stretched an unbelievably clear sky. The winter sun slowly slid over the ancient walls of the castle, bathing the old stonework in warm light. Across the snow-white plain, glittering like a jewel, swept not an icy wind, but a brisk, refreshing breeze.

“Hey, I told you not to run!”

Even children’s laughter could be heard in the distance. Gunther stopped for a moment and looked around.

“It feels so much cozier here than Border City. It’s nice to look at.”

Beside him, Rietta curiously studied the castle. In that instant, an indescribable feeling washed over Gunther. Once, she had stood atop these walls as a conqueror, giving orders to kill without knowing what was righteous and what was not. But now she was here as a member of an organization fighting for the continent’s justice and freedom.

“How strangely things turned out...”

He had always known that the same person could become an entirely different being depending on circumstance. But this was the first time he had felt it so vividly. How many fates had been sacrificed, how many people might have lived happily if they had never fallen into the claws of the Luthien cult? The question chased him unbidden.

“Wow, what times we live in! We’re being welcomed by a whole crowd. Never thought Night Raven would be treated like this.”

“Lady Cheonmae, you sound just like a grandma right now.”

“Shut it, Rietta. I’m only thirty-five.”

“Ooooo, granny.”

The bickering between Cheonmae and Rietta made Gunther look ahead. There, another change revealed itself—the fruit of his own efforts.

Rustle.

The first to appear were the twin knights, Seril and Servan Barkel. Their bearing was dignified, yet there was sincere warmth in their greeting. Following behind them at a measured pace came a middle-aged man with a gentle face.

It was the head of House Barkel—Kylis Barkel.

“Honored guests, you must be weary after the long journey to our lands.”

He extended a hand stained with ink—apparently having interrupted work on important documents.

“I am deeply grateful for your tireless struggle against great evil. Welcome.”

Gunther took the offered hand without hesitation. He knew far too well what an honorable man this seemingly frail ruler truly was.

Meanwhile, Seril and Servan studied Gunther closely. Their eyes held a mixture of confusion and fondness. When their gazes met his, they dipped their heads slightly. A muffled whisper reached the hero’s ears.

“Oh... he’s actually pretty handsome.”

“Seril, stop disgracing House Barkel, for heaven’s sake.”

“What? It was a compliment.”

“There’s something called tone...”

“Tone?”

“Forget it.”

Gunther ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) could not help but smile as he gave Kylis’s hand an energetic shake.

“Thank you for the warm welcome. We’ll be happy to rest here.”

...Of course, he had no intention of merely “resting.” Gunther’s gaze lingered for a fraction of a second on the window of the upper floor of the inner fortress. There stood a person with short silver-white hair and stark black eyes. The traitor, Krest Royen, was watching him from above.

[The Fifteenth Finger of Remesia reaches toward you]

[The Fifteenth Finger of Remesia freezes upon sensing a familiar soul]

Ding!

[Skill Activated: Red Lantern (Lv. 1)]

[Target: Rietta]

[Rietta’s entire existence is temporarily hidden from the eyes of the world]

Gunther let out a heavy sigh as he maintained the effect of the skill. Well. There would always be people who made the same mistakes no matter how many chances they were given.

In past worlds, it was this bastard who had colluded with Luthien, killed Seril, and brought the lands of Barkel to ruin. The prophetic message confirmed it—this time too, he was plotting something similar.

“Well then, let’s go.”

Gunther smiled casually and followed Kylis into the castle.

***

The banquet was far from luxurious. There were few dishes, no orchestra, no dancers. However, every dish carried the careful touch of a master’s hand. Gunther’s companions were not disappointed in the slightest by the modest reception. Night Raven was being treated with such honor here, and Kylis’s reputation for spending the treasury on the people’s needs rather than extravagance preceded him.

“Everyone on the way here did nothing but praise Kylis’s rule.”

For those who had arrived from Border City, which until Mikhela’s return had been a nest of corruption, this inspired nothing but admiration. As the banquet began drawing to a close, Gunther raised his glass.

“To your health.”

“Ah, yes, of course.”

Gunther took a sip of wine and, as if casually, let a phrase slip. There was almost no one close enough to overhear them... except for one person lingering nearby while pretending to be drunk.

“I’ve heard some interesting rumors, Lord Kylis. I’d like to know if they’re true.”

“Rumors? About what?”

“They say there’s a secret place in the dungeons of Barkel Castle capable of elevating a swordsman’s mastery in an instant.”

He was referring to the “Ghost Knight Dungeon.” In the original story, the player also learned of it through “rumors.” If you wandered the taverns near the castle, you could encounter a distant descendant of the architect who, while drunk, would let slip the existence of a hidden place where one could summon the souls of Barkel ancestors and learn their techniques.

“Oh...”

Kylis looked at Gunther in surprise. Naturally—an outsider had touched upon a family secret. But he was not the only one surprised.

Gunther did not turn around, but he clearly felt Krest’s breathing nearby grow uneven as he listened in.

“Got you.”

During this period, Krest Royen had come to Barkel precisely for the sake of an “unknown treasure.” But he had already spent a week searching the castle without finding so much as a clue, and he was surely burning with impatience. House Royen were hereditary judges and inspectors of the Kingdom of Valloren. Krest, acting as the family head, could not afford to remain in one province for long.

“My apologies, it seems I touched on something too personal.”

The only question was what exactly this “thing” was. Still, it would reveal itself soon enough. Gunther had planned it all this way. All that remained was to watch and wait for the results.

Kylis lowered his voice to a whisper.

“These rumors... where did you hear them?”

Gunther narrowed his eyes slyly.

“Haven’t you heard that the Ravens have very sharp ears?”

“That’s the first I’ve heard of it.”

“We’re called informants for a reason.”

“What?”

Gunther shrugged as he looked at the stunned Kylis.

“I was just trying to imitate Lady Seril’s way of speaking, but I guess it didn’t come out quite right.”

“I’d say that’s an entirely different genre.”

Pretending to be tipsy, Gunther rambled nonsense to dispel Krest’s remaining suspicions. Kylis sighed and shook his head apologetically.

“I’m sorry, but that place is closed to outsiders.”

“That’s a shame... a real shame.”

“If you’re concerned about your swordsmanship, perhaps you’d like to have a sparring match with our knights, or with my children? I may lack talent, but they are masters House Barkel can be proud of.”

Gunther nodded readily.

“Excellent. In that case, let’s hold a friendly match tomorrow.”

“Ha-ha, you’re decisive. Then I’ll have them go to bed early tonight.”

The conversation ended, having handed Krest a clue as to “exactly when he needed to act.” After that, Gunther chatted idly about trivial things, and Kylis politely kept the conversation going. Once Seril joined them, it turned into complete chaos.

But Gunther could feel it in his skin: someone behind him had quietly risen. A person, staggering as though from wine, slipped unnoticed out of the hall. Soon enough, Gunther too excused himself from the gathering.

“I should rest as well. The fatigue from the road is catching up to me.”

He left the other squad members to continue enjoying themselves. For this “operation,” a crowd was unnecessary.

Rustle.

Returning to his room with a servant escorting him, Gunther shut the door and collapsed onto the bed. Using the mana of Flame of Eternal Torment, he instantly neutralized the effects of the alcohol.

[Alphonse of Red Street praises you for masterful “fishing”]

Shhhhh...

A thick scent of wine spread through the room—the evaporating fumes. With his mind perfectly clear, Gunther began to wait. A cautious enemy would not keep him waiting long.

...Rustle.

Finally. Through the shadow serpent he had left by Krest’s door, he caught the faintest movement.

[Skill Activated: Red Lantern (Lv. 1)] 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

[Target: Gunther]

“Let’s go see what exactly you’re after.”

If he still had the abilities of Vanguard of the Dark Night, tailing him would have been easier. Gunther felt a small pang of regret at losing them, but with his current power, careful movement would still be enough to achieve what he wanted.

Tap.

Gunther’s silhouette melted into the darkness of the room like an extinguished flame.