Chapter 14
Chapter 14
Chapter 14.
Jedriel was always assigned to guard Haven during his off-duty hours.
It was a damn bothersome task, but there was no helping it.
It was an order from ‘Grand Crow’.
But today, his mood was different.
It was thanks to the report that a new candidate, recommended by the Golden Fox, was arriving.
‘They said he was Special Class.’
…In this manpower drought, could there be any more welcome news?
Recalling her own performance when she last received the ‘Special Class’ designation (which was three years ago, at the earliest), Jedriel couldn’t hide his anticipation.
He already wasn’t fond of the recent recruits.
‘I wish he’d join our unit.’
Jedriel waited for the new candidate with such sparkling eyes.
But….
‘What is that?’
The moment he saw him, his anticipation vanished in an instant.
‘Did they call him Special Class based on his face?’
…He certainly had a rare appearance.
Deep black hair and jewel-like blue eyes.
A sight that, once glimpsed, would never be forgotten.
Even Jedriel, who had wandered the continent and seen all sorts of human beings, had never seen a face like that.
The intelligence division would surely covet him greatly.
It wasn’t for nothing that Dane approached him first.
But that was all.
His aura was unremarkable, and he didn’t even seem to be a contractor.
‘If he were a contractor, I would know.’
The god Jedriel contracted with was the ‘Demon Behind the Moon’.
A high-ranking Divine Rank, who earned that epithet because no one in life had ever seen him.
Most Divine Ranks couldn’t escape his gaze.
Yet, Jedriel felt nothing from that fellow.
Jedriel’s expression turned cold.
‘The Golden Fox is getting old and past her prime.’
Yes, defeating a Rank 2 Paladin in a single blow was impressive.
But there were many Order members with that level of skill.
‘Special Class? Don’t make me laugh.’
Sleepiness washed over him.
Jedriel stifled a yawn and decided it was time to head back and sleep.
The aftermath of the assassination operation against the Priesthood yesterday had yet to subside.
Just as he was about to look away.
‘…Huh?’
Gunter’s eyes caught his.
“Come down.”
Huh?
“Dust is falling into the drink.”
Jedriel, possessing top-tier stealth abilities.
There were only a handful of people within the Order, or even the entire city, who could find him if he truly hid himself.
Grin!
Jedriel’s eyes sparkled.
.
.
.
Jedriel did not come down.
Naturally.
His mission was to guard the shop from an unseen vantage point.
It would be ridiculous for a Special Class assassin of the Order to reveal himself at a mere word.
However, merely sensing his presence and calling him out was enough to achieve the intended purpose.
“……”
“……”
Dane and Maya stopped talking.
Jeremy, who had been serving, also fumbled in mid-air.
I, like a magnet, drew the gazes of the shop.
Distrust and wariness… and surprise.
There was no trace of the appraising or disappointed glances.
[The Demon Behind the Moon is observing you intently]
[Three gods hastily conceal themselves]
I placed a silver coin on the table and stood up.
“If you’re not up for it, we can do it next time.”
No one stopped me until I walked out of the bar.
“Why are you leaving so soon?”
“The alcohol is weak.”
“Heh, still a child.”
The refreshing air of the late autumn dawn.
The guard’s boring joke.
And messages welcomed me.
Ting-!
[A change has occurred in the progress of the branch quest: ‘Under the Crow’s Wings’]
[The Combat Division feels immense interest in you]
[The Support Division shows surprising curiosity towards you]
[The Intelligence Division strongly desires you]
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.
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[The Execution Division is watching you carefully]
* * *
A safe house somewhere in the Border City.
Several figures, their robes pulled deep, sat around an old round table.
Whoosh-
In the magical artifact at the center of the table, a video of the ‘new candidate’ was playing on repeat.
It was the latest footage, directly recorded and sent by the Golden Fox, and the one just transmitted from Haven.
“……”
In the silence, everyone watched Gunter intently.
A wizened voice opened the conversation.
“The upcoming test for the new candidate.”
All eyes in the room focused.
“Which division will be in charge?”
Two hands shot up simultaneously.
Those of the Combat Division and the Intelligence Division.
“What about the Support Division?”
“We will yield.”
“Good.”
The old man nodded.
It would have been troublesome if the Support Division had also wanted the recruit.
This was already a situation where the Combat and Intelligence Divisions both desired the new candidate.
‘The nominations from two completely different divisions overlapping.’
Truly an unprecedented event.
It meant this new candidate was exceptionally special.
The representative of the Combat Division spoke first with a resolute expression.
“Setting aside the fact that he detected Jedriel… sending a warrior who defeated a Paladin in one blow to the Intelligence Division is a waste of manpower.”
The representative of the Intelligence Division immediately retorted.
“Idiot, look at his face. He was born for espionage.”
“Are you going to make a warrior like that dance in your party hall just because he’s a little handsome?”
“What’s wrong with my party hall? With a little training, he’ll bring back intelligence. Can’t you hear the upper-class ladies swooning?”
“Althea!”
“Enough. Hand him over to us this time. You already have plenty of skilled swordsmen in your division.”
“Plenty my ass. We’re severely lacking. Too many have died recently due to the Theocracy’s pressure.”
“Yes, us too. How many of our division members’ bodies have been found dumped in the upper sewers?”
The two glared at each other sharply as their opinions failed to converge.
However, their fierce debate ended unexpectedly quickly.
Another hand rose from the round table.
The moment the owner of the hand was identified.
A strange tension filled the room.
“Our division will test the recruit.”
“……”
“……”
“In our own way, of course.”
A calm but firm declaration.
The owner of those words was ‘Moon Wolf’.
The representatives of each division fell silent.
They had much they wanted to say, but there was no choice.
The nomination rights of the division Moon Wolf belonged to had to take precedence over any other division’s rights.
“Then.”
Thump-!
The silence was broken after Moon Wolf left the safe house.
“Ah, damn it. Like a dog chasing a fleeing hen.”
A moment of grumbling followed.
* * *
Ting-!
[‘Moon Wolf’ has been appointed as an interviewer for the admission test.]
[The difficulty of the test will increase sharply]
[Special rewards have been prepared]
Such a message appeared right after Gunter found and entered a lodging.
Naturally, Gunter was not surprised.
It was as he intended.
“Hoo.”
With a short sigh, Gunter lay down on the bed.
As expected of a high-class hotel, the bedding was excellent, making him feel like he was on Earth.
Normally, he wouldn’t spend this much on lodging, but now he had no comrades to watch over him while he slept.
He needed to pay a little more attention to safety.
“……”
Sleepiness came.
But he couldn’t sleep yet.
‘I need to clean up the mess I’ve made.’
The impact shown through ‘Divine Possession’ and the gimmick at Haven.
Through this series of events, he had become a candidate receiving unprecedented expectations.
Like the protagonist in a formal narrative.
However, Gunter’s reality was that of an extra with combat power similar to a low-ranking member of the Night Crow.
If he made one wrong move, everything could be exposed and ruined.
[The Red Street Pillar clicks his tongue, asking why you bluffed]
Why?
‘That’s how the Night Crow will support me with the resolve to uproot the pillars.’
The Night Crow is an organization where skill determines status.
If you appear as an mediocre person, you will receive mediocre requests, mediocre comrades, and mediocre support.
To run the future scenarios like the original work, he, the stand-in, must also stand out like the protagonist.
No, he had to receive even more attention.
[The Red Street Pillar states that even bluffing requires a minimum level of skill]
‘That’s why I’m going to start upgrading my specs now.’
Before the admission test began.
It was the moment Gunter was meticulously planning, thinking of possible ‘spec-up methods’ for the future.
‘First, I need to visit the Shop of the Gods, and I need to find the Hidden Cultivation Method I intended to give the protagonist… I can get help from Eddie’s cousin for that. Also….’
Ting-!
‘Huh?’
An unexpected notification chimed.
[Settlement of rewards for clearing Act 1, Scene 1 is complete]
Gunter shot up from the bed.
[Estimated Deaths: 23, Actual Deaths: 11]
[Clear Rank: S]
[Act 1, Scene 1 clear rewards have been distributed]
- Karma 150
- Box of Chaos x3
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.
.
It was perfect timing.
Gunter’s eyes quickly scanned the status window.
‘…Everything has changed.’
The criteria for the clear rank had become the number of deaths.
In the game, the criteria were hit counts or clear times, so this was a significant change.
But it wasn’t a bad thing.
He received a high rank of S because he died far fewer times than expected.
Consequently, the rewards were very generous.
‘I’ll set aside the Box of Chaos for now.’
Also known as random boxes.
These were comedic items responsible for the laughter in Forgotten God.
Opening a box would grant an item of random grade (Normal ~ Primordial).
Hearing this much might pique your interest, but Gunter had never seen a player pull a Primordial grade item.
No, even Rare was uncommon.
99 percent of people ended up with trashy junk.
So, what he should focus on now was…
‘Karma.’
The amount of 150 was substantial, but more importantly, he was overjoyed that he could receive Karma settlement even without dying.
Karma, which allowed for the most intuitive spec-up.
As his Karma balance grew, Gunter’s heart found peace.
Indeed, a person is better off with a full wallet.
[Current Karma: 308]
…Of course, Gunter wasn’t the only one who rejoiced.
[The Red Street Pillar clears his throat, making his presence known]
[The Addict Saintess’s eyes sparkle, certain that this time it is her turn]
[……!]
[Two gods glare at each other]
[The Ninety-Nine Overlord Knight King watches their scuffle with a pathetic expression]
…The deliberation was short.
Gunter decided which god’s Stigma he would receive.
[The Addict Saintess brandishes a flask]
[The Red Street Pillar dodges with an aerial somersault]
‘Calm down.’
There was no need to fight.
[The two gods look at you with puzzled eyes]
Because they would both give it to him equally.
[The two gods tilt their heads]
But before that, there was one point he absolutely had to address.
‘Hey guys. I’ve done some deductions, and since you can’t talk due to Prohibition anyway, just listen.’
[……?]
Gunter shared his deductions, or rather, his certainty.
‘The reason you guys want Karma, right? To raise your rank?’
[……!]
He clearly remembered the message that appeared when the Knight King underwent Divine Possession.
It said that Karma had temporarily raised his rank, allowing him to regain his former noble form.
The implication of that statement was obvious.
‘You guys… you’re not actually the pathetic minor gods your epithets suggest.’
[……]
He speculated they must have been higher-ranking Divine Ranks.
But for some reason, they had fallen, and were now barely surviving in a precarious state.
Then, the answer to why they were so obsessed with Karma became clear.
At the same time, one of Karma’s effects was revealed.
‘A currency that directly influences Divine Rank.’
A thrill ran down Gunter’s spine.
This was a world where even gods were not free from the law of the strong preying on the weak.
Here, where gods abound who would do anything to raise their rank.
What kind of being had he become, holding the key?
Someone with absolute bargaining power?
A target to be exploited at all costs?
One thing was certain… when Gunter’s existence was revealed in the future, there would be many who would welcome his appearance and many who would not.
He needed the strength to protect himself.
‘If I keep pouring Karma into you, perhaps you’ll regain your past strength someday.’
[……]
‘I’ll help you. So, you guys too….’
Surprisingly, the answer came before his request.
[Three gods swear on their existence that they are on your side]
‘…….’
Gunter stared silently at the messages floating before his eyes for a moment.
‘Alright, let’s begin then.’
First, the Pillar Servant.
[‘125’ Karma is offered to the Red Street Pillar]
[The Red Street Pillar widens his eyes and waits]
He remembered that 100 was ridiculously insufficient last time, so he offered a little more.
125 each, for both of them.
The remaining 50 or so was emergency money.
Charr-!
As the sound of coins brushed past his ears, Karma was paid.
Soon, a Stigma would be engraved, and through it, he would gain new skills.
‘…Huh?’
But then.
A very ominous premonition struck Gunter’s mind.
‘Wait a minute!’
Tsutsutsutsu-
A burning pain… he felt it in his groin.
‘You crazy bastard! Not there!’
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[The Red Street Pillar asks in confusion why you are rebelling against a long-standing tradition]