Surviving without God

After leaving the Labyrinth, the 4th Platoon headed straight to the safehouse. Later, Luthien’s forces were fully mobilized and swept through the entire city, but finding those who had removed their masks and blended into the crowd was practically impossible.

— Phew... Finally free.

There was a minor incident along the way when Blanc and Tarsha, seeing Gunther’s face without a mask, caused a commotion.

— N-no, no, no, that can’t be!

— I-if Tarsha starts stuttering, my character image will be ruined!

— I thought you were ugly!

— ...Why would I be?

In any case, the platoon members safely reached the safehouse. Levain removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes hard. He always tried to look composed, but now he seemed to have reached his physical limit.

— Everyone did great. Gunther, you can head back as well. Rest for a couple of days, then we’ll see each other again.

Usually, after major operations like this, leadership granted a few days off for recovery. After that, as usual, a new mission would be assigned.

“Act 1, Chapter 5 begins.”

Act 1, Chapter 5 was not just another stage. It was a grand finale that would completely shift the balance of power in the Border City and determine the future of Night Raven. Even in the game, the slightest mistake could leave you merely watching the scenario plunge into the abyss without influencing anything. To prevent that, one had to prepare thoroughly during this downtime.

— I’m heading out.

— See you, Gunther!

— Catch you later!

Before leaving the safehouse, Gunther suddenly stopped and looked back at his comrades. Parco, half-hugging the hood of his “relic car,” was carefully tending to it. Levain had pulled a book from the shelf and stretched out on the couch. And on the mat on the floor, Tarsha lay sprawled, hugging a disheveled Blanc. ...A scene far too sloppy for members of a secret organization. But warm. Tarsha, her hair a tangled mess, sharply turned her head toward Gunther, who still hadn’t left.

— What? You look like someone who’s got something to say.

...He had nothing to say. He simply thought that since they would continue to be thrown into the same pot together, perhaps they should get closer during their free time.

But for Gunther, this was an extremely unfamiliar and awkward challenge. While other kids in kindergarten developed social skills by asking, “Will you play with me?”, he was digging under jungle gyms for loose coins.

So the sentence—a mixture of duty and genuine desire—came out with difficulty.

— ...What do you usually do during leave?

However, contrary to his hesitation and inner struggle, Levain casually turned a page and replied:

— We always spend time together. Nothing special—just lazing around, resting... Sometimes we cook something tasty. Parco’s an excellent cook.

Though it bothered Gunther that Tarsha was staring at him with a sly grin.

— I see. Then I suppose I’ll—

— Hold on.

Levain jumped up, rummaged through a drawer, and pulled out a map. Pointing at several locations, he added:

— Besides this safehouse, we’ve got a few other places. We’ve arranged separate housing too. Parco and I live together. Tarsha and Blanc as well.

— ...I see.

— If you’re busy, that’s your call... But if you find the time, drop by. We’ll be seeing each other often now. We should tighten up as a unit.

— I’ll stop by.

Blanc, who had been lying down, abruptly sat up.

— You have to come, Gunther!

— I will.

— Ahem! As your senior, I should show you everything properly... Ah, Tarsha! Why are you laughing?!

In that noisy atmosphere, Gunther hesitated a moment before finally nodding. After saying goodbye to the platoon for the second time, he headed straight for Brody’s mansion.

— O-oh...? 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

In the first-floor living room, Brody, Eddie, and Roanna were gathered. Since Ryan was still at the combat unit training camp, one could say the entire group was present. They had been discussing something in a heavy, serious mood, but upon seeing Gunther, they jumped to their feet with relief.

— Oh, handsome brother’s back.

— Gunther! You’ve returned? Is everything alright? Oh, you look exhausted!

— Hey, Gunther. Has it been a week?

They all greeted him with smiles. Gunther, who had intended to go straight upstairs and rest, froze again. And at that moment...

Tiliing!

An unexpected status window appeared.

[While you were away, group members spent their days at their own discretion]

[As a result, they have gained the reputation of “New Authorities” in the back alleys of the Lower City]

[This result will be taken into account during Karma calculation]

...New authorities of the back alleys? Indeed, on the living room table lay a map of influence zones, with the Lower City’s alleyways meticulously drawn. On the color-marked map, game pieces were placed here and there. The peaceful atmosphere vanished instantly. Gunther couldn’t help asking:

— You... what the hell were you doing for a whole week...?

Roanna, twirling a dagger in her hand, smiled brightly.

— Beating up bad guys.

...Here was the situation. While Gunther was away, Brody had created something resembling a “gang” in the Lower City.

— To be precise, it’s a branch of “Brody’s Office” in the Lower City.

Thanks to Eddie, his subordinates, and Roanna’s connections, the organization quickly secured a foothold. Eddie’s contribution was said to be particularly impressive.

“Looks like allocating those remaining stat points is paying off.”

If they had previously needed to hire subcontractors to gather information in the Lower City, soon, according to her, they would be able to handle most matters themselves.

— ...This feels dangerous. There are plenty of gangs connected to Luthien there.

In response to Gunther’s concern, Eddie shook his head.

— We’re only extending into areas we can handle. If we sense danger, we immediately hit the brakes. We’ve gathered quite a few capable people, so for now there are no problems.

— Capable people?

— A lot of folks are fed up with the crap going on in the Lower City.

Roanna added:

— My friends are the same. They may live at rock bottom, but they’re not trash.

When Gunther’s look asked “What’s the difference?”, she answered firmly:

— They’re not the kind of bastards who teamed up with the religious fanatics and sell out their neighbors.

— ...If that’s the case, then fine.

At first, concern had surged, but after listening to them, Gunther leaned toward approval. In the future, Luthien would sink its claws deeper into the Border City. The more forces capable of resisting that, the better.

Moreover, by expanding influence in the Lower City, Eddie and his people would gain experience, turning into useful fighters, while Karma steadily accumulated.

“After all, we’re saving people from villains.”

In short—automated income. That was the beauty of capable allies. Gunther looked at Brody and smiled faintly.

— I guess I didn’t make a mistake becoming your partner.

— Oh my, that’s the best compliment.

Brody replied with a smile. Gunther continued, asking the question on his mind:

— By the way, how are the commissions? Any progress?

— Hmm....

Brody’s expression darkened slightly.

— There are results.

An evasive answer—unusual for her.

— On the first matter you assigned, there’s definite progress. After questioning around, we’ve almost localized the location.

— Good work.

The owner of the hidden development method—apparently pinpointing his coordinates would soon be complete. If so...

— What about the “Society of Forgotten Books” and Ellen Beyra?

— Yes. We picked up some minor fragments of information, but nothing substantial.

Brody looked frustrated, but Gunther wasn’t troubled. He hadn’t expected to unravel the mysteries of such an enigmatic group overnight. But the search had to continue. Gunther recalled the new personal scenario.

[Old Is Always Better]

Main content: ??? Completion conditions: ??? Expected reward: ???

His intuition told him information about the “Society of Forgotten Books” would be key to resolving this scenario.

— I don’t know if these leads will help.

Gunther told Brody about the sniper and the man with the scar. Brody narrowed her eyes and listened attentively.

— Hmm, those are quite valuable clues.

— Really?

— Of course. There’s a huge difference between digging from scratch and knowing a specific individual who belongs to the group.

Regaining confidence, Brody said briskly:

— I’ll investigate the leads you mentioned today separately.

— Good.

— And I was planning to report all collected results tomorrow at noon. Will you have time?

— ...Tomorrow? ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) Why tomorrow?

— You can’t hold a briefing with someone who’s about to collapse from exhaustion. Go rest today.

Gunther involuntarily brushed a hand over his gaunt face. Then Brody, pinching her nose playfully, added:

— And don’t forget to wash before bed.

Gunther could only smirk.

— Alright, I will.

Eddie and Roanna followed him with their eyes all the way to the stairs.

— Get some rest, Gunther.

— Brother! It’s cold outside, wrap yourself in a blanket!

It was a moment when his ever-tense soul strangely relaxed. Gunther looked at them thoughtfully, then headed to his room. A distant, wistful feeling he had long forgotten enveloped him.

.

.

.

Tiliing!

Gunther abruptly opened his eyes at the notification sound. In the dark room, a blue message floated in the air.

[Ruler of the Oceans silently watches you]

A faint irritation crossed Gunther’s face. He had already lost count of how many times he’d been woken up that night.

“...What am I supposed to do?”

He had already handed the Ruler of the Oceans’ staff to Levain. It was likely to be returned after leadership conducted an investigation. But perhaps because a connection had once been established...

[Ruler of the Oceans stares at you intently, as if studying]

Even without the staff, messages from the Ruler of the Oceans continued appearing every few hours. Gunther attempted communication in his own way.

[You place Karma “85” on the scales]

But even staking all the Karma he possessed produced not the slightest result.

[Ruler of the Oceans pretends not to notice you and looks away]

[The One Who Runs Ahead of the Wind licks their lips, then coughs awkwardly]

Not enough Karma? Gunther, with no means of obtaining more at the moment, could only feel frustrated.

[King of Ninety-Nine Defeats speaks up for you, saying he has always been cautious]

“...Can any of you tell him to just trust me?”

[Alphonse of Red Street clicks his tongue, saying that under the current conditions it is impossible]

[He adds that they are currently in a separate isolated space, and the Ruler of the Oceans is unaware of their presence]

Gunther let out a quiet sigh.

“...The more I learn, the more limitations you all seem to have.”

[Drug-Addicted Saint gloomily spins a vial in her hands]

It was strange. Judging by the Ruler of the Oceans, the power of relics remained immense—it had even restored Tarsha’s mana. So why were these three gods—the King of Ninety-Nine Defeats, Alphonse, and the Saint—who had lived in the same era, reduced to lesser entities incapable of manifesting power without Karma?

“What exactly happened to you in that forgotten era?”

The period when the Seven Evil Gods and their followers exterminated all benevolent gods. Had these three been deities standing at the center of those events?

“...No need to rush. In time, everything will become clear.”

Unlike before, when there had been only uncertainty, now tangible clues were accumulating.

The man with the scar. The mysterious sniper. The leads gathered by Brody. And the Ruler of the Oceans.

The puzzle pieces destined to play a crucial role in this distorted scenario were assembling successfully. It was time to place them properly.

“All means are acceptable as long as I reach the goal.”

The condition for the true ending—complete destruction of the Luthien Theocracy and the Seven Evil Gods. The “old gods” would certainly help achieve that.

“If I make contact with the ‘Society of Forgotten Books,’ there will be even more clues.”

With that thought, Gunther tried to close his eyes again. However...

“.......”

A sense of dissonance pricked at him. Gunther’s gaze slowly shifted.

Shhh—

Moonlight filtered into the room. In the cold lunar glow, a silhouette suddenly appeared against the window. The shadow watching him from the windowsill spoke:

— You’re awake?