Surviving without God

According to Levain’s words, the mayor was supposed to return to the city today, closer to noon. It was a strict secret known only to a handful of people in the city, and even within the platoon the information was accessible only to Levain, who was acting as leader.

“They’re moving faster than expected. Why?”

He had assumed he would still have a couple of weeks to prepare, so this came as a surprise. Gunther thought it over while carefully reading the messages that appeared.

[Influence of Luthien in the Border City: 9722]

[Luthien’s influence will affect all future events]

[Your past actions will also influence the further development of events]

The finale of Act 1, Chapter 5, “Before the Black Wave,” unfolds completely differently from previous scenarios. The main framework remains “the attempt on the mayor’s life,” but the details are undefined.

Depending on the player’s actions, Luthien’s influence, and relationships with other characters, the assassination attempt may unfold through different scenarios.

A classic contract killing. Secret poisoning. Chaos under the cover of civil unrest. A large-scale armed invasion. Or even illness (death) through curses and rituals.

“Or all of it at once.”

Players must determine which assassination scenario is unfolding and prevent it. The problem is that the methods of murder change endlessly — even a veteran of the game like him could not predict the outcome.

Especially now, when the game had become reality.

The scale of the intrigues woven in the shadows was impossible even to imagine. Gunther’s face gradually grew tense.

“Most players fail the mission to prevent the assassination here.”

The scenario Luthien had been building for many years was not something a player at the level of Act 1 could easily destroy. From the very beginning, many believed that the feeling of helplessness caused by the overwhelming difference in power was an intentional design decision by the developers.

Perhaps that was why, strangely enough, there was no “game over” in Act 1, Chapter 5.

Regardless of whether the assassination succeeded or failed, the scenario continued. Only the subsequent development of events changed drastically.

One thing was certain.

For obtaining the true ending, it was far more beneficial if Mayor Michela survived.

Gunther had to overcome an extremely small probability and prevent the assassination.

At that moment Levain opened his mouth.

— In short, this is the calm before the storm.

The expressions on the platoon members’ faces grew heavy.

— ...As you all know, during the years the mayor was absent, Luthien has been undermining the city with all sorts of dirty schemes. Do you think the mayor will simply turn a blind eye and restore things to normal?

No, she would not leave it like that.

The mayor would respond with extreme measures and restrictions.

Levain exhaled heavily and continued.

— The unit will soon shift to emergency status. And it seems the leadership intends to give us an order to “respond actively” in the near future.

— Respond actively?

— That means we’ll be left without clear instructions. Of course, support will be provided where possible, but essentially — gather information, make decisions, and act on your own.

At those words Tarsha tilted her head to the side while tapping her staff against the floor.

— Strange. In a situation this tense, giving autonomy to an ordinary platoon.

— There was another message. If Seraz contacts us, we are to provide her with priority support.

— Ah... the same person who was throwing those very heated looks at Gunther yesterday?

— Exactly. It seems she intends to cooperate only with our platoon.

— So until then we just wait. I don’t like that.

After those words everyone fell silent, sinking into heavy thoughts.

It was obvious the platoon had taken the leadership’s order as a kind of indulgence.

However, Gunther thought otherwise.

He felt in his bones that this was not indulgence, but trust — trust Grand Crow placed in him personally.

“They’re hoping I accomplish something during this time.”

At the moment when Gunther was organizing his thoughts about the upcoming tasks, Levain looked at him with a faint expression of guilt.

— And according to my assumption... soon, Gunther, you may officially become the platoon commander.

Tarsha immediately cut in.

— Hm. I know our Gunther is insanely capable — it’s hard to believe he’s a rookie... but are such drastic changes really possible?

— According to my calculations — yes. Considering today’s combat achievements, I wouldn’t be surprised if the order arrives tomorrow. Whether we like it or not, the burden will have to pass to you at a rather unfortunate moment.

Tarsha chuckled and poked Levain in the side.

— Isn’t that because you yourself kept telling the leadership you’d rather die than be the leader?

— Well...

Levain’s gaze wavered.

Only after biting his lip several times did he meet Gunther’s eyes. It seemed the thought of placing such a heavy responsibility on a rookie weighed heavily on him.

— I didn’t think things would turn out like this...

— It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.

Of course, for Gunther this was not a burden.

...After all, he had wanted that position himself, and he was confident he could handle it.

“If anything, it’s even advantageous.”

Once he established himself as platoon commander, he could retrieve Ryan sooner.

The only pleasant thing was the realization that the others reacted not with jealousy or resentment, but with concern.

His “possession” of this body had been full of problems, but in terms of good people he had clearly been lucky.

That alone was enough to lift his spirits.

— Alright. As temporary platoon commander, I give an order.

— Oh? Suddenly?

— Oh-ho, quite serious.

— We’re listening.

— ......

Gunther lightly patted Blanc on the shoulder as she sat beside him.

— Platoon member Blanc, now open your mouth.

Blanc blinked her huge golden eyes in shock and took a deep breath.

— F-first order and it’s something absurd like this. As a commander you’re making people doubt the abilities of a rookie— A-a-a!

Tarsha grabbed Blanc’s chubby cheeks and bit them, and the tense atmosphere instantly dissolved.

Blanc protested for a moment, but soon started giggling.

Gunther smoothly moved on to business.

— It seems we’ll have quite a bit of free time before Seraz contacts us. What do you plan to do?

— Us? I guess we’ll train a bit as usual, then drop by the Nest.

— ...I see?

As it happened, Gunther also needed to go to the Nest.

His armor set from Dramcrow was waiting there — the one he had paid 500 merit points for.

And there was also the “personal scenario” where he would assist with Sharin Vega’s experiments.

Tarsha smiled with anticipation.

— Time for a little shopping at last.

In reality, although the Fourth Platoon had repeatedly completed dangerous missions, they constantly suffered from a shortage of merit points due to small acts of disobedience and reckless spending.

— More precisely, since Parco started driving that insane magical car. How many merit points have we already poured into old Dramcrow, huh?

— Oh come on. You were all enjoying the rides yourselves!

However, combined with the recent outstanding results in the Labyrinth and Gunther’s suppression of the Perfumer today, there should now be more than enough merit points.

— So what are you planning to spend them on?

— We already have equipment, so let’s finally feed our “Shiny One” properly.

— Shiny One?

— Yep, the god I made a contract with.

[Executor of Thunder returns with an irritated expression]

Like a veteran platoon, they already had equipment.

Tarsha explained that they mostly invested merit points into strengthening their “contracts.” In simple terms, they exchanged them for offerings to their gods.

Gunther suddenly grew curious.

— By the way, what do you usually offer as contract payment?

Unlike Gunther — who, thanks to Karma, did not need to pay any additional tribute — other contractors had to constantly provide offerings to maintain their power.

If he knew what they needed, he had plenty of ways to help them “level up.” As a veteran player, he knew where even the rarest offerings could be obtained.

— Payment?

Tarsha spoke first.

— It’s nothing too complicated. Something with lightning attributes, maybe? Since the god fell in love with my talent and practically begged me to make the contract, he doesn’t demand much. Well... he’s happy if I go outside during thunderstorms.

The name of Tarsha’s contracted deity was “Executor of Thunder.”

Likes offerings with lightning attributes.

Gunther nodded, memorizing it.

Indeed, very gentle contract conditions.

Levain also spoke calmly.

— Mine doesn’t demand anything impossible either. Just constant tomb raiding. He enjoys the process of excavating ancient ruins. And if you add rare antiques, he’s even happier.

The name of Levain’s deity was “Spell Thief.”

Likes tomb robbery and valuable antiques.

Also quite manageable.

Gunther nodded and looked at Parco.

— My deity also... nothing special.

[The One Who Takes and Divides smiles slyly]

While Gunther felt an inexplicable chill, Parco cheerfully continued.

— He needs suffering. He wants to experience all kinds of suffering. Doesn’t matter whether you give it or receive it.

— ...I see.

Parco glanced sideways at Gunther and grinned.

— Hm, thinking of helping?

No. Not even slightly.

Finally, Blanc.

When Gunther’s gaze fell on her, she spoke in a rather depressed voice.

— My deity... actually hasn’t been responding for some time now. Even when I bring offerings, there’s no reaction.

She said the reason was unknown.

The power she received was simply gradually weakening.

In such cases this usually meant either the deity itself was on the verge of disappearance, or it was signaling a desire to terminate the contract.

After adding that she was currently searching for a new deity to contract with, Blanc fell silent.

Gunther looked at the discouraged Blanc and said:

— Yet even in that condition, you fought very well.

— ...R-really?

It was not empty praise.

In the Labyrinth she had performed her vanguard role excellently.

Thanks to Seren Gless, the gap in divine power was almost unnoticeable.

“Even better?”

That meant she still had potential for growth.

If she contracted with a worthy deity, Blanc could possess the strongest spec in the Fourth Platoon.

“Which deity would suit an evasion-type tank...”

[One Who Flies Before the Wind quietly peeks out]

Meanwhile Tarsha, who had been observing Gunther for a long time, suddenly smiled strangely.

— Hey, don’t do that.

— Do what?

— You two are alike even in this.

Tarsha suddenly came closer, rested her chin on Gunther’s shoulder, and giggled.

— What seems “simple” to us is simple only because we’ve been dealing with these gods for years. Finding suitable offerings is not easy.

Gunther, whose thoughts had been read, replied calmly.

— We’ll see about that.

After clarifying a few more details, he arranged to meet the platoon in the Nest in a few days.

— Alright then. See you that day.

— And before that, you can drop by our hideout. I’ll cook something delicious.

The platoon members dispersed.

Once alone, Gunther called Brody and gave her two tasks.

Monitor the status of magical tool smuggling through the gangs of the Lower City.

And focus on investigating the situation in the Upper City through servants, especially the movements of nobles from other countries.

This was necessary to determine whether Luthien was preparing a large-scale armed uprising.

Brody’s eyes sparkled.

— By the way, the mayor’s return... hm. That alone is first-class information. A gold mine.

— Have I served well enough as a “ladder”?

— Oh, absolutely. You’re the best ladder.

Brody, smiling broadly, immediately headed toward her office.

She was probably already calculating how to combine investments and connections based on the information she had obtained in order to extract maximum profit.

As an entrepreneur, she was incredibly reliable.

“Alright... what next...”

Left alone in the reception room, Gunther continued thinking and walked toward the window.

The cool air had barely cooled his heated head before his thoughts began racing again.

Dimona. Seraz. The ancient gods and the Society of Forgotten Books. The Gods’ Shop. The Nest. The Lord of Flame...

Resources he could use surfaced one after another.

To prevent the mayor’s assassination, not a single one of them could be wasted.

He stubbornly calculated which resource should be deployed at which phase to achieve the optimal result, when suddenly—

“...?”

He abruptly ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) stopped.

— Ha...

Gunther’s gaze froze on a single point in the open space.

In the middle of a place where nothing should exist stood a crooked, pitiful tent covered with tattered pieces of cloth.