Surviving without God

...Karma. A sweet and at the same time terrifying energy that influences the growth and decline, the existence and extinction of gods.

From the moment “She Who Flies Ahead of the Wind” sensed its scent, she could not regain her composure. Without exaggeration, this would become the most shocking day of her long life. More shocking even than the day the spider that had secretly crept into her nest bit off half her wing.

‘Just a human... but how?’

Even other Officers hundreds of years older than her could not directly touch Karma. No — if it were High Gods, that would be different. But ordinary Officers barely understood what Karma even was. Where it came from. By what principles it functioned...

Like primitive humans who did not comprehend the existence of air and simply breathed it, they longed for Karma but never dared to touch its essence.

And now this.

Right before her eyes.

A lowly human was handling it as if it were nothing.

[“???” places “100” Karma on the scales]

Not only that — he had drawn it out in a fixed “currency” form. She could not comprehend what kind of sorcery that was.

Yet amidst the chaos, one realization struck her with brutal clarity.

100 Karma.

How that handful of energy would affect her.

If she possessed it, she could finally break through the stagnation of her divine rank.

‘It wouldn’t be enough... but...’

Judging by this human’s behavior, he clearly had more. If she managed to appease him properly, she could rise above those arrogant deities who had always looked down on her — perhaps even above the Weaver of Despair. For someone who had endured humiliation as the weakest among the Officers, this temptation was unbearable.

‘...I cannot let him go.’

Calculation complete.

“She Who Flies Ahead of the Wind” slowly licked her lips. Then, with a faint smile and feigned concern, she spoke:

[Hm... Mortal. You likely do not understand, but this is a very dangerous power.]

— Hm?

[Moreover, for a human it is nothing but a useless burden. Neither body nor mind is suited to accept Karma.]

[Therefore, I wish to extend some mercy. I possess many things beneficial to humans...]

At that moment... Gunther, who had been listening quietly, curled the corner of his mouth.

— Is that because you’re a beast? Slow to grasp things?

[...What?!]

Before she could erupt in outrage—

[The scales empty.]

The mesmerizing energy shimmering before her eyes vanished in an instant.

Like realizing the oasis discovered in the desert was nothing but a mirage.

A cold sensation of loss flooded her heart.

[W–wait...]

Gunther cut her off in a cold tone.

— I thought since we met so conveniently, we might conclude a mutually beneficial deal even without a contract. But you kept trying to toy with me until the very end.

Grinding his teeth, Gunther turned toward the exit. He looked genuinely angry.

‘A–ah? So suddenly?’

The goddess was bewildered.

He was about to terminate a Summoning Ritual that had cost a fortune — in less than five minutes. Worse, he was leaving behind even the “Crystal of Superspeed.”

The message was unmistakable:

‘I will never interact with you again.’

And then, casually — like a dagger driven into her chest:

— ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) Tch. Hopefully the next deity is more reasonable.

Her heart plummeted.

‘Next deity?’

Her vision swam.

What if... this man contacted other Officers and showed them Karma? No matter the conditions, no god would refuse Karma. The great power that could have been hers would belong to another.

And most Officers possessed far greater influence than she, who had only just stepped into their ranks. If he began negotiating with them, he would not even glance her way.

‘And what... if he ends up making a deal with the Weaver of Despair?’

The likelihood was low, given their enmity over the Mother’s death — but who knew? A chill ran down her spine.

If that creature gained a higher divine rank through unexpected Karma... she would be his first prey.

An image flashed before her eyes.

A colossal spider, glittering with hundreds of eyes, crawling toward her.

A beautiful white crane ensnared in webbing, slowly drained dry.

‘No. I cannot let this slip away!’

She admitted it now.

She had underestimated him.

This was not a mortal chosen.

...This was one who chooses.

[I–I spoke rashly. Let us discuss this again...]

He did not turn.

[Mortal, there is so much I can do for you!]

Step.

[Mortal! Wait!]

If this continued, he would soon exit the ritual hall. The Summoning Ritual would break. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity would vanish.

[...]

She squeezed her eyes shut.

[P–please forgive me! I... I was wrong!]

Step.

His footsteps stopped.

No time to dwell on humiliation.

[Can you forgive my arrogance...? In truth, I became a god only recently! I am inexperienced in proper conduct! Ah, foolish bird that I am!]

After a silence long enough to unsettle the heart, Gunther spoke.

— Now we’re beginning to understand each other.

.

.

.

I looked at the avatar of “She Who Flies Ahead of the Wind,” standing with her head lowered.

A woman with cold sky-blue eyes, imposing and majestic.

Now completely stripped of arrogance.

[Three gods watch your blackmail... negotiation with interest.]

After brief consideration, I made my decision.

[Places “200” Karma on the scales.]

The reaction was immediate.

[A–two hundred?!]

— Three conditions.

[Speak...!]

Her eyes shone.

— First, you will keep silent before other gods about everything concerning this deal.

She nodded eagerly.

[That... is not difficult.]

As expected.

She did not want competitors either.

— Second, you will inscribe a Stigma upon me and grant the corresponding abilities.

[...What? I–I mean, how?]

Confusion surfaced again.

[But... the esteemed mortal’s body cannot form contracts.]

— If the payment is Karma, it can.

[Is... is that so...]

She froze for a moment, then suddenly lifted her head.

[Wait. Are you saying you have conducted similar deals with other gods...?]

— Does it matter?

A trace of wounded pride flickered in her gaze.

[...Not that it matters, but... let us say it concerns feelings.]

— Then let’s move on. Third.

I stated the final condition.

— You will tell me everything you know about the “Forgotten Era.” And if you acquire additional information in the future, I will purchase it with Karma.

Her expression changed.

Confusion. Wariness.

And... interest.

What kind of human, who wielded Karma, also sought secrets of the Forgotten Era?

The bewilderment was written across her face.

‘...So she does know something.’

She should.

“She Who Flies Ahead of the Wind” was ancient. She had lived long and witnessed layers of history. Even vaguely, she must know something.

I met her eyes.

— Do you accept the deal?

***

Ryan had not yet returned.

Gunther waited on a bench in the corridor, reviewing the flood of messages from ten minutes earlier.

Ding!

[Stigma activated: “Wind Beneath the Wing”]

— Fall Immunity (20m)

— Agility +5%

— All movement-related abilities +10%

[“She Who Flies Ahead of the Wind” watches you from afar.]

[She flaps her wings in extreme satisfaction.]

Gunther touched his left shoulder blade.

There, the Stigma shaped like a crane’s wing had been engraved.

‘...An Officer is still an Officer.’

A 2nd-level Stigma was qualitatively superior to a 1st-level one.

The most obvious difference — percentage-based stat increases.

The gap might seem small now.

In late stages, it would become decisive.

Of course, that was not his only gain.

The main objective had also been achieved.

[You have brilliantly completed the task and advanced to Hierarchy 2!]

[Your faint name begins to carry weight.]

— Divine Resistance +5

— Stat Efficiency x1.2

[High-difficulty completion reward applied: “Early Class Advancement.”]

[You are no longer a nameless mercenary.]

[On battlefields destined to fall, in fates meant to become defeats, you always survived and forged victory.]

[You are “Commander.”]

New Class: Commander

— Minor adjustment to allied combat capabilities within group (max +7%)

— Charisma +5%

— Morale, recovery speed, and will to win of group members receive constant positive adjustment.

※ Additional privileges unlock as class experience accumulates.

Normally, class advancement depended on the contracted god and past deeds. As a player, he had favored the warrior path. It had always been available.

But now, he had contracted no god.

Thus, the class was determined purely by his actions.

Commander.

Unexpected.

But not bad.

It seemed to be a hidden-type class with strong potential.

‘...Truly killing two birds with one stone.’

Even if this had not been a hierarchy quest, he would have negotiated with a new god using Karma. Before meeting “that deity” guarding Night Raven in Act 1 Chapter 3, he needed to understand how gods reacted to Karma.

Everything had gone perfectly.

‘And the goddess I chose will suffice.’

She pretended to be majestic, but bore no hatred toward humans. Recently ascended. Not yet hardened. And with the Weaver of Despair looming over her, she desperately craved power.

Which meant she could be guided.

And fed.

— What are you smirking about?

Gunther looked up.

— You’re one to talk.

Ryan stood there, attempting a neutral expression. But the corners of his mouth kept betraying him.

[Party member “Ryan Parker” has formed a contract with deity “The Great Tree That Withstood Thunder.”]

He held a stack of business cards he hadn’t possessed earlier. Temple scouts must have handed them to him. In Earth terms, he had just received dozens of job offers from major corporations.

He shoved them into his pocket, pretending indifference.

His gaze fixed on Gunther.

— ...Damn. I think my debt to you is becoming infinite.

— Don’t bother.

— Don’t play cool. I’ll repay it somehow.

Gunther did not need gratitude.

Act 1 Chapter 1.

The calculation had been finished then.

He stood and reached into Ryan’s pocket.

— Enough with the courtesy...

Among the business cards was something foreign.

A scrap of paper.

A map.

— What’s this? Why is this in my pocket?

— If it’s there, someone put it there. Let’s move.

As soon as he examined it—

Ding!

[Act 1 Chapter 3 begins: “Into the Raven’s Nest.”]

[Proceed with Ryan to the rendezvous point.]

At last.

Time to return to the main scenario.