Surviving without God

Gunther silently watched the scene in the kitchen, looking at the bickering pair with a tired, disappointed gaze.

“I want freshly cooked food too!”

“Hey, there’s still food left, why cook again? That’s a waste of ingredients!”

“I don’t want that! I’ve suffered enough and I deserve something tasty! This is what you cooked for Gunther, it’s already cold, you damn bandit!”

“...Sniff! How can you so casually reopen the old wounds of a poor woman!”

“What wounds? You’re still in the business.”

“Anyway, eat this.”

“Ahh! I’m not even asking you to cook, I’ll do it myself, so why are you stopping me!”

The desperate scuffle eventually ended with Roanna’s victory. Having lost the strength to keep arguing, Eddie finally plopped down onto a chair and began stuffing himself with the cold food. It was around that moment that both of them noticed Gunther’s presence.

“Oh, brother! You’re awake? Want me to cook something for you?”

“This damn...”

Fearing Eddie might completely lose his spirit, Gunther declined Roanna’s kindness and sat down beside him.

“Where did Brody disappear to, if you came alone?”

Eddie yawned widely and picked up his spoon again.

“Where else would that workaholic go? Still at the office. Told me to leave first, said she’d sort through some documents and come later.”

“What documents?”

“She met with an informant. Said she caught a big fish today. Apparently there’s a lot to organize to make a report for you.”

A big fish. A flicker of interest passed through Gunther’s eyes. Was it a lead about the hidden cultivation technique? Or something about the Society of Forgotten Books? Either option suited him. Gunther was about to ask further when—

“Just so you know, I have no idea what it’s about. The informant only wanted to talk to Brody alone. And I, damn it, just stood outside while snow kept falling on my head.”

“......”

“And even if I did know, I wouldn’t tell you. Brody would kill me. She wants to show off in front of you so badly—how could I steal her initiative?”

Gunther looked at the grumbling Eddie and couldn’t help but smile faintly. Seeing his former prickly boss now spilling everything like a child who had just come home from school was strangely amusing and even a little endearing.

“You worked hard. How about I tell you one piece of good news as a reward?”

Eddie snorted.

“Kid, did you think I’d jump on you like a child whose candy was taken away?”

“Yor Ladenbach.”

“......?”

Crash!

Eddie didn’t just jump like a child whose candy had been taken away—he lunged at Gunther like a dog that had gone hungry for days.

“You... you! You saw the Lady?! When? Where? Is she alright? She’s not hurt?”

“Ha, Kalian would be upset if he heard that. You found his daughter before the employer you shared hardships with for years?”

“Ghk...! If the Lady is safe, then the guild master must be safe too! So, did you see the Lady?”

“I did. We even hugged.”

“You crazy bastard!!!!”

After waiting for Eddie to calm down, Gunther calmly relayed Yor and Kalian’s words. Their apology for the sudden separation, their deep gratitude for his loyalty, and their promise to meet again someday. As he spoke, Eddie’s stern face gradually twisted, and eventually his eyes began to shine with tears.

“U-u-hu-hu-hu... Laaady...”

“...Sigh.”

The reaction was expected, but the sight was rather grotesque.

“Uncle, here are some tissues. Wipe your tears—and use the rest to cover your face.”

Just as Roanna, unable to watch any longer, shoved a bundle of tissues into Eddie’s hands, an unexpected message appeared.

Ding!

[Affinity with ‘Eddie Wilder’ increases by 10]

[The combat power increase effect during joint battle is strengthened]

[The one who sends unreturnable love letters wipes away his tears]

[The one who sends unreturnable love letters feels deep affection toward you]

[As if having made up his mind, he tried to hand you something... but hid it behind his back]

“Huh?”

Gunther’s eyes narrowed.

“...What was that?”

What had he wanted to give him but changed his mind? Was the affinity level not high enough? Gunther stared into empty space, but no further messages appeared.

“Well, if it’s from a trash god, it’s probably nothing worthwhile.”

Meanwhile, Eddie, having calmed down a little, muttered something. He looked into his empty plate as if it were a mirror and sighed heavily.

“Damn... I look like crap. If the guys see this, they’ll definitely start talking nonsense about how I was bawling.”

“The guys?”

“Ah, the boys downstairs have technical training today.”

Gunther nodded. He was referring to the Lower City gang Brody had formed by combining Eddie’s former subordinates and Roanna’s friends.

“A gang, huh...”

Bandits, gangsters, thugs. Under normal circumstances those words would make Gunther recoil, but ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) a gang in the Lower City was something different. In a district where law enforcement barely existed, they instead maintained a semblance of order, protected their neighbors, and served as a pillar of the community.

“Though a gang is still a gang.”

So Gunther didn’t feel strong negativity.

“Still, you run regular training and operate quite systematically?”

“There are plenty of bastards who need to be dealt with, but not enough people. So we’ve got to raise the quality of every fighter if we can’t win with numbers.”

Eddie’s voice sounded serious. He admitted he spent all his spare time training them and had even taught them his secret fencing technique. He said everyone was studying hard and had reached a respectable level.

“Hmm...”

Gunther became curious about what kind of people they were. He had gotten to know Eddie’s former subordinates well during the months they spent together. Grumbling and prickly, but not bad people. Just like Eddie himself.

The problem lay with the newly recruited ones. He trusted Brody’s instincts, but what if suspicious individuals had slipped among them? What if they secretly harmed people?

Just as Gunther was thinking that, Roanna smoothly approached him.

“Brother, want to come with us today?”

“What?”

“My friends said they really want to see you.”

“...Why would they?”

Roanna shrugged.

“What do you mean why? You’re the boss.”

“...Me?”

Gunther couldn’t believe his ears.

“Didn’t sister tell you? That was decided from the start.”

He hadn’t heard a word about it. He had started as a mercenary, briefly become a host, and now apparently he was also a gang leader. Gunther chuckled at the absurdity of the situation.

[Alphonse of Red Street snickers at your frequent career changes]

[The King of Ninety-Nine Defeats sighs and holds his head]

Roanna narrowed her eyes as well and smiled slyly.

“Anyway, how about watching the training today? You’re curious too, aren’t you—whether my friends are scum or not?”

Before he could answer such bluntness, she continued:

“The boss has to show up at least once to boost everyone’s morale. Let’s go!”

Roanna grabbed Gunther by the arm and pulled him along. Eddie was already outside the door.

“Well then...” Gunther sighed briefly and followed them. “Since it turned out this way...”

They had said it was technical training. His gaze lingered for a moment on the two-handed sword on his back.

.

.

.

Soon they arrived at a remote vacant lot in the Lower City. A dormitory with fairly decent infrastructure stood there. And the participants were... quite peculiar.

“How are you, big brother!”

“Hey, hey! If I hear ‘big brother’ again I’ll kill you. You’re supposed to say ‘Boss,’ Boss!”

“S-sorry, Boss. My name is Roy. Use me however you like!”

“Boss! As they say, your gaze is incredible. Just one look makes my heart stop!”

“Boss! Please let me shake your hand just once! It will be the honor of my entire life!”

Noisy voices. Bodies covered in all kinds of tattoos. Fierce faces and bulging muscles. Gunther looked at them indifferently as they bustled around him, then shifted his gaze to the radiant Roanna beside him. She cheerfully began introductions.

“These are my friends—we grew up together in the orphanage! Their faces are a bit problematic, right? But they’re all good guys.”

Orphanage?.. Seeing Gunther’s confusion, Roanna added:

“There are orphanages in the Lower City too. Of course, not exactly official ones.”

For a moment Gunther remembered the past. He himself had once lived in an orphanage. Though he had quickly run away from there, tightly holding his sister’s hand.

“...Friends from the orphanage.”

At that moment Roanna appeared in a different light to him.

Orphanages in poor districts were basically jungles. Food, clothes, and adult attention were always scarce. Children often fought each other for crumbs. Seeing that they had maintained such bonds after so many years, Gunther realized Roanna’s loyalty and humanity were genuine.

“...Your friends seem rather friendly toward me.”

“Hmmm, well, you’re valuable to them in many ways.”

“Me?”

“To be precise, sister Brody.”

She had promised those whose income had been unstable all their lives a regular salary. And instead of dirty, crumbling rooms she provided clean, orderly housing. A sense of stability. As someone born in the Lower City, Brody knew perfectly well what its residents wanted most.

“Alright, greetings are over—everyone prepare for training! Let’s show the boss what we’re capable of!”

Roanna spun a dagger in her hand and lined up her friends in a row.

[The Salad Butcher (Reaper of Steel and Blood) hums under his breath]

Gunther remembered she too was a contractor of a deity connected with battle. Her position in the Lower City had not been built from nothing.

“Well... might as well take a look at their skills.”

Eddie’s former subordinates were already standing in formation. Checking their weapons, they spoke to Gunther.

“Gunther, we heard. Thanks for saving our captain.”

“Last time we parted ways without properly saying goodbye. We owe you again.”

When they had first been hired as mercenaries in the guild, they had been almost enemies, but now none of that remained. In any case, Gunther was pleased to receive such a warm welcome from both sides. Eddie clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention.

“Alright! We’ll start with the first form of Yor’s fencing that we learned last time! Don’t embarrass yourselves!”

“...Even the name is embarrassing.”

“Shut up! Get into stance!”

The response came simultaneously from Eddie’s men and the gang members. Everyone looked far more serious and energetic than they had seemed at first glance. Soon demonstrations and sparring began—Eddie’s fencing, physical techniques, Roanna’s dagger fighting. Watching them, Gunther slowly nodded.

“Hm... just as expected, complete chaos.”

Stretching, Gunther rose from his seat.

***

When Gunther suddenly stepped forward, silence instantly fell over the training ground. The sparring stopped, and everyone stared at him in confusion. Gunther ignored them and stood in the center of the field.

Strictly speaking, the level of techniques they were teaching wasn’t bad. It was clear they had thought them through carefully, striving for completeness, and there was real combat experience behind them.

[The King of Ninety-Nine Defeats shakes his head]

[Alphonse of Red Street clicks his tongue, saying that with such an approach the limit is obvious]

However, in the eyes of those two deities, everything looked extremely clumsy. And it looked exactly the same to Gunther, who had already grown accustomed to techniques of a far higher level. The foundation was good, but the details were lacking.

“Good thing I came today. If I adjust things a little, it’ll become much better.”

Gunther beckoned Roanna with a gesture.

“Roanna first. Teach the master first, then the students will improve as well.”

The onlookers burst into low exclamations.

“Ooooo...!”

“The boss and Roanna are going to clash?”

While Eddie’s men—who had already seen Gunther’s strength—expressed genuine excitement, Roanna’s friends exchanged strange, evaluating looks.

“But can he block Roanna’s daggers with that ridiculously huge sword? Roanna is insanely fast.”

“They say the boss is strong?”

“Still, this won’t be easy. The weapon types just don’t match.”

Their words carried deep trust in Roanna’s skill. But at the same time there was an unspoken desire in the air—to see whether the new boss could surpass that trust and prove his strength.

“Hmmm, I didn’t know you understood dagger techniques too. It’s a bit different from fencing.”

That strange excitement appeared in Roanna as well. Gunther smirked. After all, Roanna had never actually seen him fight.

“To some extent. Enough to teach you.”

“Hehe, I’ll look forward to it.”

Shhk. There was no reason to delay. Roanna immediately took her stance. The deity she had contracted with bore the name ‘Salad Butcher.’

Scrape. As expected, she assumed the characteristic assassin posture. Two daggers held in a mixed grip—one forward, one reverse. A low, wide stance, feet slightly wider than shoulder-width to lower her center of gravity. For an assassin with a light body, it was the perfect distance to close in an instant.

Step.

However, Gunther instead took a step forward.

“Eh? What’s that?”

“A handicap.”

“Heh...”

Only then did Roanna’s eyebrows twitch.