Surviving without God

I slowly repeated Brody’s words.

“...Missing? And ten years ago?”

“Yes. I heard he entered a nearby forest and disappeared. In his hometown they nearly concluded he was killed by monsters or wild beasts.”

“Heard...?”

“As soon as I received the request, I contacted adventurers from Rete. It seems your relative’s family was influential in Leta, because they remembered it clearly, even though it happened long ago.”

After hearing her full report, only one sentence escaped me — all my emotions compressed into it. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

“This makes no sense.”

“...I’m very sorry.”

A shadow fell across Brody’s face as she lowered her head apologetically. She probably thought I was grieving over a lost relative.

But inside me, only one stubborn question grew.

This is strange.

Dominic Wolf’s past — the protagonist’s childhood and youth — occupied a massive portion of the story. There were countless flashback scenes dedicated to it. It was the formative stage that shaped him into a hero capable of opposing Luthien.

And now... he simply disappeared?

If he had never existed at all, that would be one thing.

But “missing” was abnormal.

And if it was ten years ago, then it wasn’t even a butterfly effect. It happened before I ever entered this body.

Brody continued cautiously.

“I’ll push harder on the other parts of the request as well.”

“...Yes. Thank you.”

“Is your visit today only to check on the order?”

I shook my head.

“No. There’s another matter I’d like to request.”

“Oh?”

At the mention of business, a spark ignited in her eyes. A born entrepreneur.

Before explaining, I asked:

“You seem well-connected. Do your threads reach the Upper City?”

Her expression shifted.

As expected.

For people doing business in Border City, the Upper City wasn’t just a location.

It was a symbol of ascent. A mark of success.

For merchants, having connections there was almost equivalent to a silent test of influence.

“...I have a few threads. But what kind of job involves the Upper City? You only recently arrived in Border City.”

“Just write this down for now. ‘Society of Forgotten Books.’ Ellen Beyra.”

The scholar who confirmed the possibility of time reversal.

The research society devoted to forgotten benevolent gods.

Clues I had uncovered in Seiran Library.

I had concluded that tracking them in Middle City would be difficult. The Upper City, where far more confidential information circulated, was another matter.

Scratch scratch—

Brody quickly wrote the names into her notebook.

“Hmm. I’ve never heard of them.”

“Can you gather all existing information on both?”

I had considered using other informants in the city. I knew how to contact them.

But at this stage, establishing ties with them would bring more harm than benefit.

“Society of Forgotten Books” and Ellen Beyra were entities outside the scenario.

My intuition told me I should entrust this to someone outside the scenario as well.

“Price doesn’t matter.”

Jewels and gold coins from the smuggler’s warehouse.

Night Raven rewards.

Savings from mercenary work.

The budget was sufficient.

If necessary, I could even sell the magi-engineered prosthetic.

But then Brody, rubbing her chin thoughtfully, gave an unexpected answer.

“I won’t take money.”

“...What?”

“Instead—”

She chuckled lightly and tapped my shoulder.

“Resolve one matter for me.”

“...You want labor instead of payment?”

My mind moved quickly.

A task even Brody’s capable office wouldn’t handle themselves.

Outsourcing.

And thanks to Eddie’s stories, she likely believed I was a powerful contractor capable of killing a paladin in a single strike.

No need to guess further.

The difficulty must be insane.

Better to pay.

“And if I refuse?”

“Then I would beg you at least to hear the details, wouldn’t I?”

“....”

“Oh, guest, how cruel you are! You toss me an extremely difficult request requiring Upper City connections, yet won’t even hear me out! Just because you’re handsome, you think you can do anything?! I’d rather have unattractive but loyal Eddie!!!”

I sighed.

“...What is it.”

“Of course, a job worthy of your value.”

Her feigned distress vanished instantly, replaced by a bright smile.

In that smile coexisted merchant instinct and childish mischief.

A faint unease crept over me.

“Please find my damn cousin.”

“...Cousin?”

“Eddie. He’s missing.”

.

.

.

Ding!

[Personal Scenario Generated! “Brody’s Request”]

Brody, a born trader.

She rarely forms deep attachments.

She calculates benefits strictly and shortens distance only when necessary.

Yet this time, she makes a personal request.

Her desire to save her cousin Eddie is genuine.

However, another calculation can be sensed beneath it.

A reason to bind herself more tightly to you — a variable.

Perhaps she has already perceived value in you beyond mere business.

Answer her expectations.

This is an opportunity to gain a reliable partner.

Mission Details: (omitted)

Clear Reward: “Eddie” joins your scenario as an ally (if he survives). “Brody” joins your scenario as an ally. (Ally affinity functions, stat distribution, party formation unlocked.)

※ Corresponding “easter egg” unlocked.

***

Day of the incident.

Eddie was drinking in his favorite bar.

The session had begun in the early afternoon and dragged on until dawn. The number of empty glasses was impossible to count.

Yet he wasn’t getting drunk.

When your mood is rotten to the core, intoxication refuses to come — a tragedy familiar to any seasoned drinker.

“Damn it... unemployed overnight.”

The Silver Compass merchant guild had dissolved that morning.

It was predictable.

Eddie didn’t know the full details, but Guild Head Kalian had apparently gotten entangled in something ugly with Luthien. Continuing the guild’s operations would have been life-threatening.

“And still...”

Even the enormous severance payments Kalian distributed — seemingly emptying the guild’s coffers — did not comfort him.

All that gnawed at him was the thought that he would never see Miss Yor again.

He let out a long, ragged sigh.

“I thought he’d take me with him.”

Five years working together.

Was that not enough trust?

Or was he simply lacking talent?

If he were as capable as Gunther — who had scattered those monstrous paladins and the Holy Army in an instant — he would have been taken no matter what.

As he lifted another glass bitterly, a familiar voice reached his ears.

“Captain! Captaaaain!”

The shout came from beyond the bar doors.

Muffled.

But unmistakable.

After years, that tone was engraved in memory.

Doran.

The elder of the Doran–Dorin twins, his subordinates.

“C-Captain! Trouble!”

The doors burst open.

Doran stood there.

The problem was his face.

A grotesque mosaic of bruises, blue and green.

Eddie’s expression twisted instantly with fury.

“What the hell did you do? I told you to lie low and stay out of trouble!”

“N-No, it’s not that—”

“And where’s Dorin? Why are you alone?!”

The irritation was justified.

They were indirectly tied to the Luthien situation.

Even if Luthien’s influence wasn’t overwhelming in Border City, they needed to keep their heads down for at least a few days.

This idiot hadn’t lasted one.

“...?”

But as Doran stepped closer into the light, irritation froze into shock.

The injuries were worse than he’d thought.

This wasn’t just a beating.

It was torture.

One ear was half torn and hanging in strips.

Bang—

Eddie overturned his chair as he stood.

“You little bastard... What happened? Speak clearly!”

“I-It’s...”

Stammering, Doran finally confessed.

With their massive severance pay in hand, once night fell, the twins visited a newly opened casino.

After brief early wins, they lost everything.

And—

“You went into debt?! Are you insane?!”

“We just wanted to win it back and leave. I swear.”

“Win it back... That’s a guaranteed scam, you idiots...”

Mid-rant, realization struck.

He grabbed Doran by the collar.

“Where’s Dorin?”

Tears burst from Doran’s eyes.

“They have him. They said if I don’t bring something valuable, they’ll start with his °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° fingers...”

“You useless piece of—!”

He raised his fist to strike.

Stopped.

Lowered it.

Doran shrank back, trembling.

This is my fault.

He knew what kind of fools his subordinates were.

Normally after caravan operations he kept them close, preventing stupidity.

But today—

Lost in depression, he had locked himself in a bar.

And this happened.

What now?

Report to the security department?

No.

Those dogs served whoever paid best.

No one would help Middle City residents.

Especially now that the guild was gone.

“Damn it.”

Grinding his teeth, Eddie grabbed sword and shield.

“Lead me.”

“Huh? Where?”

“To that den, idiot!”

Anxiety mounted.

Not only for Dorin.

Some gangs had ties to Luthien.

Brody had mentioned it.

And Eddie himself once moved in such circles.

What if Dorin, terrified, talked?

About the recent attack.

About the men who raised swords against the Holy Army.

About Gunther, who personally killed a paladin.

Dorin wasn’t loyal to someone outside the guild.

He’d sell Gunther without hesitation.

“...Luthien might retaliate.”

Fine.

Call it repaying a debt.

He wasn’t a monstrous paladin.

Nor Gunther.

But Eddie was a trained swordsman.

A contractor.

For a back-alley fight, that was more than enough.

Smash the place.

Rescue Dorin.

End it.

That was the plan.

“Shouldn’t have drunk.”

Smack—

He slapped himself to steady his head.

Then rushed to the casino.

It was the last time anyone saw him.

.

.

.

Two days ago.

Eddie left Doran outside and entered the casino alone.

Later, Dorin was thrown out half-dead.

Doran took him to a clinic and waited.

Eddie never emerged.

Ryan, listening to all this, tilted his head and questioned Brody.

“So this gang traffics people? How strong are they that you’re outsourcing?”

“...We are information brokers. We create reasons for others to draw swords and direct where they strike. We don’t wield steel ourselves.”

“So good intel, poor combat strength.”

“...You’re not popular with women, are you?”

“I am.”

“....”

“I said I am.”

Brody sighed and continued.

“The gang’s scale is unusually large for Lower City origins.”

“And the security department?”

“They won’t help.”

“Why?”

“...Because the gang pays them more than I do.”

“What kind of city is this?”

Even speaking of her missing cousin, Brody seemed calm.

Until she spoke, I hadn’t even realized something was wrong.

But now—

I noticed the faint tremor in her fingers.

Her dry lips.

I nodded.

“Anything else we should know?”

“I’ll provide all collected documents. But there’s one irregularity...”

“Irregularity?”

“Eddie isn’t the only one who disappeared. And most share something in common...”

I cut her off.

“They’re all contractors.”

Her eyes widened.

Of course.

Contractors of other gods.

A delicacy for the Evil Gods serving Luthien.

Now this was different.

A side scenario tied to Luthien.

I requested every scrap of information.

After reviewing it carefully, one conclusion formed.

If handled properly—

This could be a major gain.

And I was relieved.

Relieved I didn’t have to refuse Brody’s hopeful gaze.

“I’ll save your cousin.”

Preparation would be necessary.

But it was doable.

“Yes! I believe in you!” Brody beamed.

.

.

.

Ding!

[Personal Scenario in Progress!]

— First, determine Eddie’s location.