Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Chapter 1.
Lee Jong-hyun took great pride in his own life.
He had endured 26 years as the sole breadwinner of a poor family, taking care of his younger sibling and even managing to secure a deposit for a house, so it was understandable.
He believed he could overcome any adversity that came his way.
‘…Ah, this is a bit much.’
That was until he was reincarnated into his favorite game, <Forgotten God>.
And until he checked his first status screen.
[Trait: ???]
You cannot form a contract with any god.
※ The remaining effects are unrevealed. They will not activate until the conditions are met.
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<Forgotten God> could be summarized in one sentence:
‘A game where you defeat evil gods by forming contracts with various deities and wielding their power.’
In other words, a character’s overall growth depends on their ‘god.’
Even the most important job class is determined by the god they contract with.
Contract with the God of Archery, and you become an archer.
Contract with the God of Magic, and you become a mage.
The stronger the god you align with, the stronger you become.
Skills and equipment are also mostly bestowed by the gods.
It was a simple, clear rule.
‘But it says I can’t form contracts?’
Lee Jong-hyun… no, Gunter, who had now become an extra country boy.
He glared at the status screen with a bewildered expression.
Such a critical penalty trait shouldn't even exist in the first place.
But if it did exist, it absolutely had to be accompanied by an overwhelming, commensurate merit.
However, the status screen only listed the penalty.
His misfortune didn't end there.
[Main Scenario Act 1, Chapter 1, ‘The Lutian Army’s Raid’ will begin in ‘3 years’]
[Your current location is more than ‘3,000km’ away from the main scenario’s starting point. Move quickly to proceed]
By chance, ‘Gunter’s’ hometown was on the opposite side of the continent, far from the stage of the main story,
and the scenario he had to clear hadn't even begun yet.
‘Ah….’
But Gunter didn’t give up.
‘I will definitely go back.’
Precious things he had painstakingly built and protected remained on Earth.
He would clear this game and return to embrace his only family.
So, what should he do?
The body he had taken over was that of an unknown character.
The timing and location were thoroughly mismatched.
There were no special privileges for being reincarnated.
Yet, the task given was immense.
The annihilation of the seven evil gods and the Theocracy.
He had to defeat the monsters called Outer Gods and the fanatics united by their faith in them.
Ultimately, there was only one answer.
‘Meet the protagonist.’
The protagonist, unlike him, was a hero with brilliant talent, whom countless gods vied to contract with.
By sticking by his side and supporting him with the knowledge of a veteran player,
he should be able to see this extremely difficult ending.
And so, his journey towards the opposite side of the continent began.
For a country boy with a modern mind, it was a path that demanded more than a few lives.
But Gunter had one talent he hadn't known about.
Swordsmanship.
He learned to thrust, slash, dodge, and block with astonishing speed.
Considering that most modern people would be terrified even if presented with a kitchen knife.
His growth, becoming able to make a living with a sword in just one year, was truly miraculous.
On top of that, Gunter possessed perseverance.
The shrewdness and tenacity cultivated through years of enduring as the sole breadwinner of a poor family were immense assets.
[‘Black Dawn’ judges you as worthless dust and departs]
[‘Walker of Oblivion’ forgets your existence]
…Well, that was about it.
<Forgotten God>.
In this world, there was a clear limit to becoming strong on your own.
Without the ability to contract with a god, any talent would eventually fade.
[‘Merciful Judge’ deems there is no reason to embrace you and withdraws]
[‘Countless Eyes’ turns away, stating you are not even worth looking at]
A person abandoned by the gods, a godless one.
It was the brand Gunter bore.
But instead of complaining, he pressed on silently.
‘It’s just like Earth, I guess.’
He continued to swing his sword.
Many gods passed him by, and he joined numerous mercenary groups.
He didn’t achieve great feats, but with each mission, he grew a little stronger.
Small changes also occurred.
[‘King of Ninety-Nine Defeats’ shows interest in your perseverance]
[‘Addicted Saint’ gazes at your festering wounds with hollow eyes]
[‘Pillar of the Red Street’ praises your face, which resembles his own in his youth]
These were obscure epithets he heard for the first time.
They were likely minor gods, too low-tier to even appear in the main narrative.
Being so small-scale, they couldn't find proper contractors, so they clung to a half-wit to mimic them.
‘…It’s not bad.’
They couldn’t grant him direct power, but they accompanied him on his journey, offering minor advice and teachings.
[‘King of Ninety-Nine Defeats’ imparts field tactics]
[‘Addicted Saint’ teaches how to meticulously apply bandages]
[‘Pillar of the Red Street’ subtly reveals the location of the black market]
Someone watched over his lonely journey.
That fact alone gave Gunter strength.
And so, three years passed.
Gunter, who never gave up, finally reached the starting point of the main scenario.
“Gunter? Hmm, I can trust you. Please take good care of the escort for the Silver Compass Merchant Guild.”
He had reached the time and place to meet the ‘protagonist.’
His assigned task was the escort for the ‘Silver Compass Merchant Guild.’
Soon, for reasons unknown, this guild would be attacked by fanatics.
At that moment, the player—that is, the protagonist—would appear to save them.
This was why Gunter had traveled such a long distance to take this commission.
‘It’s soon.’
According to the official records, it was tomorrow.
The raid by the Lutian Theocracy Army would begin.
Meaning, the protagonist would reveal himself.
‘…I can go back.’
In the guild’s camp, where everyone else slept,
Gunter gazed alone at the night sky.
The starlight was different from the sky he saw in his hometown, but within it, he could picture the things he missed.
\ \ *
“Gunter, you have to get up.”
“…….”
“Hey, you punk Gunter!”
“…Not sleeping.”
From atop a cart piled with hay,
Gunter sat up, his body stiff.
As he habitually reached out, the hilt of his sword, half-buried in the hay, came with it.
Click—
[‘King of Ninety-Nine Defeats’ smiles with satisfaction at your thoroughness]
The companion who woke Gunter asked in a puzzled voice,
“What, is it dawn already?”
“Yeah.”
“Look at you, pretending not to care, but you were tossing and turning all night thinking about the border city, weren’t you?”
“Want me to move?”
“Hmph, so prickly.”
The name of the burly man laughing heartily was Ryan Parker.
He was the only companion Gunter, with his unsociable nature, was close to.
“Hey, listen. I checked, and the taverns there are amazing.”
“I’m going ahead.”
“Hey!”
[‘Pillar of the Red Street’ spins his waist in anticipation of the city’s night]
[‘Addicted Saint’ covers her eyes with annoyance]
Leaving the chatty minor gods behind as usual, he quickly got off the cart.
The camp was already filled with energy.
“Hurry up and load the cargo! Are you planning to leave after sunset?”
“You slugs, the city is waiting for us!”
His companions and merchants moved busily.
‘Finally, today.’
It was the moment Gunter let out a sigh mixed with anticipation.
“Everyone, to your positions!”
An irritable shout cut through the morning air.
Gunter met Ryan’s eyes.
“Let’s go.”
“Yeah, we gotta go before that bastard Eddie throws a fit.”
Ryan and Gunter’s role was rear guard.
More precisely, they were the guards for the most luxurious carriage carrying the Guild Master and his daughter.
Rumble—
The roar emitted by the Core Engine-powered vehicle spread long on the road.
The guild advanced in formation.
A while later, a delicate voice cut through the ranks.
“Gunter! Did you sleep well?”
Seeing the woman who poked her head out the window, Gunter grunted silently.
“Please take good care of the escort today too.”
“Alright.”
Awkward silence.
The Guild Master’s daughter’s eyes darted around, as if searching for something to say.
“Um, aren’t you a little sad that today is the last day?”
“I suppose so.”
“…….”
The conversation ended as she, looking dejected, closed the window.
[‘Pillar of the Red Street’ despairs at your conversational skills]
Even Ryan, tired of the same scene repeated for two months, shook his head.
“Sigh, what a strange guy.”
“What is it now?”
“Try being a bit more friendly. Being the Guild Master’s son-in-law is better than being a wandering mercenary, isn’t it?”
Just as he was about to retort to that absurd remark, it happened.
Thwack—!
A strong impact landed on Gunter’s shoulder.
“You damn bastards, do you think we get paid to flirt with you?”
The man brushed off his shoulder and looked Gunter up and down.
A sarcastic sneer was deeply etched on his face.
Eddie, the head of the guild’s security.
He muttered softly, gazing wistfully at the closed carriage window.
“…You leech.”
He glared as if expecting Gunter to attack, but Gunter didn't react at all.
Today was too important a day to get caught up in such trivial disputes.
“…Tch.”
Eddie then began berating the surrounding mercenaries.
“Don’t tell me any of you idiots are letting your guard down just because the border city is close? You never know when or what might happen in the Badlands. Stay alert until the end.”
The mercenaries listened with uniformly annoyed expressions.
“Especially you mercenaries. Your eyes are already half-glazed over thinking about drinks, it’s disgusting. Get a grip.”
Ryan whispered lowly.
“Argh, that guy really…”
“Ryan Parker, what did you just say?”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“…Be careful.”
Eddie clearly discriminated between the guild’s direct guards and the hired mercenaries.
Despite this, no one openly rebelled.
It was likely due to the faint symbol etched on his neck, a Stigma.
The mark of a contractor.
Something Gunter didn't have.
And something he would never have.
‘It doesn’t matter.’
After all, he wouldn’t have to draw his sword himself anymore.
Gunter narrowed his eyes and gazed at the horizon.
He couldn’t see them yet, but he could feel them.
The dust clouds gradually rising from beyond the edge of his vision.
‘They’re coming.’
The fanatics.
And the protagonist who would defeat them.
Gunter’s breath hitched.
Under the sky of a distant, foreign land, he thought of his home.
The old front door, the small room, his sibling’s smiling face.
Everyone was waiting for him.
It was unfortunate that he was reincarnated into a trash character, making him three years late…
Now, he would help the protagonist clear this damn game and go home.
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[‘◈’ designates you as the protagonist of this game]
[‘◈’ is preparing to unlock Trait ???]