Chapter 40
Chapter 40
Chapter 40.
"Then, first of all..."
Brody looked straight at me and suddenly stood up.
Her clear, crimson eyes shone softly.
"I should start with my thanks. Thank you so much, Gunter. Thanks to you, Eddie returned safely."
"You surprisingly care about Eddie."
"My aunt... she passed away."
A moment of silence.
Brody continued speaking clearly again.
"For a merchant, having a debt that can never be repaid in a lifetime is a truly agonizing thing."
"...Did I help you repay that debt?"
"Yes. A great deal."
Brody smiled faintly again.
Her face tried to appear calm, but her voice trembled.
At this point, it was embarrassing.
I shook my head.
"...I just took on a request. If you do my requests well, that's all there is to it."
Currently, I had entrusted Brody with three requests.
The owner of the Hidden Cultivation Method.
The Society of Oblivion.
Ellen Veira.
Actually, the Hidden Cultivation Method wasn't that urgent.
Even if I obtained it now, I wouldn't be able to learn it without further progress in the Heart Calming Technique and additional essential items.
But the other two—
My curiosity about the Society of Oblivion, in particular, had intensified sharply since my encounter with the Scarred Man.
'An organization that researches ancient gods...'
I had many questions.
Why did they research ancient gods?
Did they know more people connected to ancient gods, like me or the Scarred Man?
If they found out about my existence, would they contact me first, and so on.
"Keep him in mind, as he might be someone related to the Society of Oblivion."
After passing on the information about the Scarred Man to Brody,
I asked what I had been curious about.
"By the way, how are you able to reach the upper levels with information?"
The upper levels were closed off and exclusive.
Just seeing them floating as if they were a separate world was enough to tell.
It was a manifestation of their superiority complex, not wanting even to make contact with the lower strata.
Thus, there was a gap between the upper and lower strata that was greater than the difference between the middle and lower levels.
Yet, for a promising businesswoman, born in the lower levels, to have connections in the upper levels... it was astonishing even from the perspective of someone who had hired her.
"Ah, that?"
It was a story that could be considered a trade secret, but Brody answered straightforwardly.
"The upper levels are also where people live. No matter how much Golems do the work, there's always a corner that requires human hands."
"So?"
"I arrange skilled... and simultaneously verified servants for the upper levels. From household chores to document management, personal assistance, and nursing care... people in the upper levels never leave such positions vacant."
"Are they your confidants?"
"It's a bit much to call them confidants... they are people who owe me a debt."
...A connection of servants.
It reminded me of the Hao Men from martial arts novels.
On the surface, they seemed like insignificant errand boys, but in reality, they were the ones who held all sorts of news and secret information.
They entered the homes of upper-level nobles, becoming their ears and eyes.
Most surprisingly, it was Brody's skill to be able to conduct business while holding such sensitive information, walking a fine line.
"May I ask a question too?"
"If it's something I can answer."
I had just tried to pry into her trade secrets.
I nodded, intending to answer most things.
"It's not a difficult question."
She said so, but for some reason, Brody hesitated considerably.
The confidence that always clearly reflected in her eyes began to fade.
'What kind of question is she going to ask...?'
It made me tense up as well.
After much hesitation, avoiding my gaze, Brody finally—
"...What do you think... about...?"
She finally threw out such an unexpected question.
* * *
Gunter laughed, dumbfounded.
"No, you..."
"Why?"
Why?
"W-What do you think about a business partnership?"
The reason was that what came out after such a long pause was a proposal for a business partnership.
The tension in my shoulders, which had unconsciously tensed, eased.
"...Why are you proposing a business partnership like you're confessing something? You surprised me."
But as I laughed, Brody's face suddenly became indignant.
"What do you mean, business partnership...?"
"Huh?"
"A business partnership is a hundred times harder than a confession."
...A confession?
That's an excessively bleak view of romance for a girl her age.
But Brody was resolute.
"What confession? It's just letting you know I like you, right?"
"Th-That's right?"
I wanted to say something, but Gunter was overwhelmed by her momentum.
"But a business partnership? It's telling you that I trust you enough to stake my future, my assets, and the dreams I've envisioned on it. It's conveying that sincerity."
"...Hmm."
"So it's natural to be nervous."
Brody nodded, satisfied with her own argument.
"If you're going to compare it to romantic feelings, it should at least be on the level of a proposal, right?"
Only then did Gunter understand what 'business partnership' meant to Brody.
The message from last night came to mind.
[‘Brody Wilder’ is incorporated into your scenario as a colleague]
Everyone carries a different weight in the word 'colleague.'
For Brody, it was literal 'trust.'
Deeper and more solid than I had imagined.
"So, your answer...?"
Gunter looked at her quietly for a moment, then replied with a serious expression.
"I will consider it positively and let you know."
"Hoo... Thank you."
Brody nodded, relieved.
"Aren't you going to ask why I'm not accepting it immediately?"
"Isn't it something that requires careful consideration to join forces with someone who was a complete stranger just a month ago?"
Brody continued with a slight smile.
"If you had accepted right away, I would have been a little disappointed. I like people who take me seriously."
Gunter smiled faintly and nodded.
"Who else would I take seriously if not you?"
Ting-!
[Affinity with Brody has increased.]
"I-If you need any documents or materials for your decision, please request them anytime. I'll provide everything transparently!"
"Thank you."
Gunter didn't hide the smile on his lips.
This partnership was clearly a win-win.
Brody would gain power, and he would gain a stable foundation.
'We can fill each other's gaps. It's a perfect transaction.'
Most importantly, gaining a connection to the upper levels from Act 1 was a huge merit.
'With Brody's help, I can enter the upper levels early.'
Early acquisition of Hidden Pieces.
Contacting useful acquaintances.
Proactive response to Rutien's schemes, etc.
The immediate benefits alone were endless.
'Good fortune is pouring in...'
Just a few months ago, Gunter was barely managing to meet the protagonists of the main scenario.
Because of that, he hadn't thought of utilizing characters not covered in the main scenario and had implicitly underestimated them.
However, now that he was in the main scenario, characters 'outside the scenario' like Brody were greatly helping him achieve his goals.
'I need to broaden my perspective from now on.'
He would need such a vision for the true ending.
The moment Gunter made that resolution,
Brody said with a bright smile.
"I should head to the office soon. Gunter, what are your plans for today? Are you planning to rest at home?"
Gunter shook his head.
"I was planning to..."
Ting-!
His gaze was fixed on the message that had just appeared.
"Something came up."
[The task for Rank Assessment has been confirmed.]
[Would you like to check the details?]
...Something very important.
.
.
.
Rank.
What is Rank?
Currently, Gunter, despite being only Rank 1, possesses power comparable to Rank 3.
So, is Rank merely a decorative ornament?
'Absolutely not.In this world, Rank is—
'A measure quantifying how far humanity has progressed towards divinity.'
The higher the Rank, the stronger the resistance to transcendental influences like Divinity, Madness, Curses, and Prophecies.
Furthermore, the risk of losing consciousness or having one's existence eroded when contacting higher-tier gods is greatly reduced.
The opening of more interactions is a bonus.
'...As a simple example, if my Rank increases, I'll be able to maintain my memory even when meeting the Witch I encountered before.'
Of course, the system rewards are also substantial.
Stat efficiency and Divine Resistance increase, and sealed job classes are unlocked.
In some cases, specific choices and unique skills are unlocked based on past actions.
It's more than just getting stronger; it's the power to 'approach' the laws of the world.
That is why one builds Rank in this world.
Therefore, Gunter couldn't help but feel tense.
[Revealing the task for Rank advancement.]
The Rank Assessment differs depending on the path the player has walked.
There is a hero's path for heroes, and a commoner's path for ordinary people.
For Gunter, who has endured much hardship since arriving in this world... what kind of path awaits him?
Gunter's eyes widened, fixed on the subsequent message.
Ting-!
[Complete the next task and ascend.]
-
Inscribe the Stigma of a New God upon your body.
※ Divine Rank of Properly Positioned God or higher.
Estimated Difficulty: ★★★★
Reward List
-
Entry into Rank 2.
-
Maximum Level expanded to 80.
-
High-Difficulty Clear: Special Reward Table applied.
The first to react were the Three Gods.
[Ninety-Nine Overlord Knight King frowns.]
[Addict Saintess looks at you with concern at the absurd difficulty.]
[Red Street Pillar stares intently at the term Properly Positioned God, then snorts.]
There was a reason for the gods' reactions.
Properly Positioned God.
This term refers to a Divine Rank one tier higher than the minor gods Gunter has formed connections with so far, such as the Knight King, Saintess, Pillar Servant, and the sender of love letters.
Even if the Knight King's Rank had increased previously, it would still not reach Properly Positioned God.
One must at least have established faith in a village and possess a formal shrine to attain that status.
These are beings who wield far greater influence than minor gods.
'...They can grant a Rank 2 Stigma.'
They also grant separate rewards to Contractors through trials or revelations.
Among them, Properly Positioned Gods who have spread their faith to the city level have shown completely different levels of power.
[Red Street Pillar grumbles, mentioning his prime.]
Gunter didn't take his eyes off the message.
"Hmm..."
Indeed, it was a difficulty befitting four stars.
Contacting a Properly Positioned God and receiving their Stigma was something that even an ordinary human would find difficult to achieve in a lifetime.
But strangely, a deep smile spread across Gunter's lips.
'...What a stroke of luck?'
He had a way to easily resolve this task.
'I should just finish it today.'
Gunter finished preparing to go out with a light heart.
[Ninety-Nine Overlord Knight King narrows his eyes, wondering what you're thinking.]
'There's something the old guys don't know.'
[Addict Saintess looks at you with a shocked expression.]