Surviving without God

“...So you became a king?”

Gunther watched as Tarsha Everlight burst into loud laughter the moment she stepped onto the deck.

— Kya-ha-ha! Seriously, what kind of idiotic country is this, where they make a pervert who enjoys getting beaten into a king?!

Noticing the darkening expressions on the knights around her, she hurriedly tried to correct herself.

— ...Could this really be that same Valloren, famous for its ancient traditions, the reliable pillar of the Union of Kingdoms and a symbol of justice?

There were clear differences in the current Tarsha compared to the one in his memory. Her skin had taken on a slight tan, fitting for someone of the sea. The long golden hair that once fell past her shoulders was now tightly bound. She still wore a robe, as befitted a mage, but several new rough tattoos adorned her rolled-up left arm.

Uneven lines, clumsy drawings of stars and waves. It all looked like something a child had drawn for fun.

[The Ruler of the Oceans carefully observes and explains that these are traditional tattoos wishing for a safe return home]

She had mentioned before that her younger brother had returned. Most likely, his work. Tarsha planted her hands firmly on her hips and smiled widely.

— Anyway, I’m really, really happy to see all of you!

...The last ten minutes of her appearance could be summarized like this:

Tarsha had mistaken the ship of the Black Wind flotilla, captured by Gunther’s group, for an enemy vessel—and attacked it. As it turned out, she had been tracking that very flotilla due to the recent surge in coastal raids.

— Everywhere you look, it’s nothing but complaints, so I couldn’t just ignore them.

She explained that a few months ago she had joined the “Blue Blade.”

— They say they mostly gut Luthien’s trade ships, so there was no way I could stay out of it.

Even though it was an elite privateer fleet that didn’t accept just anyone, a fourth-hierarchy mage—especially a lightning mage who, at sea, was practically a reaper of death—was more than welcome.

— The Great Admiral? Yeah, I’ve seen his face a couple of times. Whenever I join an organization, I stand out right away. I’ve got a talent for being an ace.

For Gunther’s group, this was incredible news. An old comrade who had become one of the Blue Blade. It meant a lead on the Great Admiral’s whereabouts, and insight into the current situation in Nereus. For those who had been drifting blindly across the vast ocean, it was like suddenly gaining both a compass and a map.

— Oh, and even my former boss is here...

— Ta-Tarsha, stop squeezing her!

Tarsha, who was kneading Blanc Ibel like a favorite doll, smirked... and finally turned her gaze to Gunther.

— I see a new face too. So you’re the one leading our guys now? I’ve heard about you in letters. The feats they described were so ridiculous I started wondering if they’d all taken to drinking.

The moment their eyes met, and Gunther saw her familiar golden irises, he froze for a brief second. A sense of déjà vu struck him—like a flash from the Labyrinth.

“Commander. I’m the commander.”

“Ha-ha! So you’re saying you want to lead us?”

“Hmm, thanks for saving my life and all... but those bold ambitions are a bit much.”

Back then, it had been irritating. Now, it felt like a precious memory. Still, there was no need to ruin the first impression by sinking into a past only he remembered. Suppressing the strange feeling, Gunther greeted her:

— Keeper of the Moonless Night... no, Gunther. Nice to meet you. I’ve also heard a lot about you from the platoon.

In the Fourth Platoon, there was a tradition of calling each other by name instead of code names. Even though Tarsha was no longer part of the platoon, Gunther wanted to introduce her that way. As soon as he finished, her face lit up.

— Moonless?

— ......? So what?

— What a coincidence! My ship is called “Moonless Moon” too!

She pointed at her vessel, docked beside Parco’s official ship. Right in the center of the hull, a silver crescent pattern gleamed in the light. Next to it, in equally uneven letters, was written: “Moonless Moon!” Gunther was momentarily speechless.

“What is this? Residual affinity influence? Like with Albern?”

Unaware of his thoughts, Tarsha simply looked happy.

— Hmm, I like our new leader even more than I expected. And everyone looks lively. I was really worried when I left the platoon.

She smirked and nudged him lightly with her elbow. From the others came quiet sighs. Some whispered that it was their first time seeing Tarsha act so warmly toward a stranger, others were surprised by how talkative she was.

But Tarsha, unconcerned, continued:

— So, you’re looking for the Great Admiral?

— ...Yes. They say he’s gone missing. Do you know where he is?

Tarsha smirked and shook her head. For a brief moment, her pupils gleamed coldly.

— No, not exactly. But I have a rough idea why he disappeared. And I know who’s responsible.

She extended her staff toward Gunther, as if for a handshake. A distant memory flashed before his eyes—her offering him a hand the same way back in the Labyrinth, when he had been in despair.

— Alright, Captain Tarsha will help you, boss. Boss... huh, that word just feels right.

Gunther stared blankly at her childlike, sincere smile for a second, then chuckled. Yes, some things never changed.

— I’ll be counting on you, Tarsha.

.

.

.

— Then ten minutes later, in the captain’s cabin. We’ll adjust the plans based on Tarsha’s input.

Tarsha stared at Gunther’s retreating back. A complex expression passed across her beautiful face—one he didn’t see.

“Should I... become a priestess or something?”

The strange dreams had started a couple of months ago. Hard to believe, but Tarsha had been constantly dreaming about Gunther—the same man she had only just met today. These weren’t ordinary dreams ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) that faded with morning—they were so vivid they could be mistaken for reality. In them, she experienced adventures with the platoon that had never happened.

They fought the Perfumers in the Labyrinth, found themselves trapped in the illusion of some mansion dressed as maids, ran through a ruined Border City trying to save it... and afterward drank wine in a luxurious, cozy shelter.

All of it supposedly happened “after” she left Night Raven. The dreams were disturbingly detailed, and every time she woke up, a strange emptiness lingered in her chest.

But now... the moment she met this man again. Strangely, a sense of relief bloomed deep inside her, as if she had finally returned to where she belonged.

Tap-tap.

Without realizing it, Tarsha quickened her pace and caught up with Gunther. He looked at her in confusion.

— Gunther~, how about we make good use of the time before the meeting and get to know each other better?

And for some reason, she already knew what he would say. Even the tone. As always, he would pause slightly, then answer in a calm voice:

— Of course.

— Of course.

— ......?

— Well then, let’s go!

Tarsha cheerfully slung her arm over his shoulder. The motion was light, but confident. In that moment, she felt like she could forget all the terrible whirlpools engulfing Nereus. No—not just forget them, but solve everything.

Humming softly, Tarsha headed toward the captain’s cabin.

***

Ryan spoke, stumbling over his words:

— So... if we sum it up. The leadership of the Blue Blade... didn’t just betray the Great Admiral—they actually tried to kill him? Their own boss? Aren’t they supposed to be fighters for justice? Bastards.

A heavy silence settled over the room. The news Tarsha brought was the kind that was hard—no, unwanted—to believe. The Barkel twins and the knights, for whom loyalty to one’s lord was absolute, openly frowned. Cheonmae let out a contemptuous chuckle.

— Looks like their true nature came out in the end.

The story of how the Great Admiral founded the Blue Blade was known not only in Nereus, but in neighboring countries as well. He had personally persuaded and reformed pirates who still had even a shred of conscience, turning them into privateers. For years, he maintained peace in Nereus. A benefactor who turned those destined for the gallows into people respected and loved.

— And they threw that benefactor into the Black Route...

The Black Route. That was the name given to a region of the Northern Sea filled with the most ominous zones—Ring of Reverse Currents, Bay of the Dead, Fangs of the Sea God, Blood Moon Strait... Even veteran sailors never returned from there alive.

— I was too late. By the time I suspected something and started tracking them, the Great Admiral had already been abandoned somewhere in the Black Route.

Pinpointing his location was nearly impossible. So first, she had decided to return to the coast to stop the Black Wind’s rampage. At that moment, a bandaged woman who had been silent until now spoke up.

— And why did they betray him? They were on good terms, weren’t they? Surely they swore eternal loyalty.

Her tone was dry, like she was asking about breakfast. Tarsha hesitated for a moment. What she was about to say sounded so absurd even she wasn’t fully convinced.

— ...No one knows for sure. But the captains’ attitudes changed after a certain treasure map started circulating within the Blue Blade.

— A treasure map? Hmm. And where did it come from? How convenient.

— Its origin is unknown... There were only rumors that it marked the location of an artifact that could make someone the master of the Sea Dragon.

— Sea Dragon? The one from the legends?

The reaction was lukewarm. The Sea Dragon was a legend of Nereus. A legend. A creature from folklore. No one believed it truly existed.

But Gunther knew.

The Sea Dragon—the last dragon of this era, capable of controlling the currents of the Northern Sea—did exist.

“It’s just asleep.”

According to the scenario, only the Great Admiral, who possessed special blood, could awaken it and gain its support. He had never heard of any “artifact from a map” that could grant control over the dragon. But at that moment, Gunther sensed something off.

“What if such an artifact really exists?”

And if it fell into Luthien’s hands—that would be the end of the game.

His thoughts rapidly assembled into a coherent picture. This wasn’t his first time dealing with Luthien. The scattered pieces fell into place naturally.

“They didn’t kill the Great Admiral immediately because they need him to awaken the dragon.”

“The map was planted to provoke betrayal—most likely the work of the Cult of Trust. Spread everywhere.”

“Soon there will be a battle for the artifact: Black Wind, Blue Blade, and Luthien...”

He could already see the Northern Sea shrouded in a bloody mist. A troublesome and thorny future. Yet a strange, confident smile appeared on Gunther’s lips.

— ......?

It didn’t take long for those in the cabin to notice the change. Gazes filled with hope and questions turned toward him at once.

— O-oh... grandson of a prophet... — Blanc muttered quietly.

Gunther smiled faintly. Yes, just as she said—it was time to show his “prophetic” abilities again.

The logic was simple. Whether it was the Great Admiral, the artifact, or the eventual victor—everything would converge at one point.

“At the place where the Sea Dragon sleeps.”

And the Sea Dragon scenario was one of the key ones in the game. Naturally, as an experienced player, he knew exactly where the dragon’s lair was—and how to get there.

“Time to use the privileges of a transmigrator.”

While they beat each other senseless, he could simply wait and take everything for himself. Gunther silently glanced over the sea map. Then he took a dagger and drove it into a single point without hesitation.

Crack!

— We’re going here.

At that very moment, system messages began to appear one after another.

.

.

.

Ding!

[Part of the scenario objectives has been completed, tasks updated]

✔ Determine the cause of the Blue Blade’s split

→ Unite the loyal members of the fleet and prepare for a great naval battle.

✔ Track the location of the Great Admiral

→ Intervene so that the Great Admiral does not die and can reach the Sea Dragon’s lair.

Ding!

[New information obtained: “Signs of intervention by the Cult of Trust.” New scenario objective added]

Beware betrayal by those close to you. Betrayal will become strength for the Cult of Trust.

Ding!

[The Vanguard of the Dark Night whispers that his temple is nearby]