Surviving without God Chapter 235

Accepting the trial of the Vanguard of the Dark Night had been inevitable. The Great Admiral was in his hands.

He was an unpredictable evil god. If angered, there would be nothing strange about him handing the Great Admiral over to the Luthien Theocracy. And if that happened — this iteration would # Nоvеlight # end right there.

But it was also a gamble. The constant anxiety inherent to a Regressor: if the save point was bugged or set incorrectly, there was a risk of permanent ga over.

In the end, there was only one conclusion.

“No matter how many tis I have to die, I have to clear this trial.”

Above all, there was sothing else he could obtain from the Vanguard of the Dark Night.

[No... are you even human? A being that holds the authority of ◈, capable of crossing the boundaries of ti.]

[Therefore, accept my trial. I will grant you everything you desire.]

A deity close to the Higher rank. From a human perspective — nearly omnipotent. And yet, there was sothing even such beings could not easily do.

Lie.

Especially in situations intertwined with trials, hardship, and bargains — lies were almost impossible.

“◈...”

He had never heard the na of that god before, but from the context, it was obvious. This was the very deity connected to ti he had been searching for.

“For the first ti, I’ll get reliable information.”

If “everything you desire” had been promised, then information about ◈ had to be included. He needed to obtain it before eting Ellen Beyra, imprisoned in Pendrox.

“Alright. Let’s do this.”

The Vanguard of the Dark Night — a god of betrayal. Naturally, the trial would be related to that. But the bonds between Gunther and his companions were anything but ordinary. They would overco anything.

With that thought, Gunther looked straight ahead.

—......?

And imdiately realized the form of the trial differed from what he had expected.

—What the...

The presence of his companions, who had been standing beside him just monts ago with determined expressions, was gone. No Fourth Platoon. No Fifth Platoon. It was too dark to make out anything clearly, but Mi-dohlya’s fluffy tail and Zahara’s bandages were faintly visible even in the extre darkness.

...Both were sleeping peacefully on the ground.

[These two aren’t particularly bound to you, so I thought I’d let them rest comfortably.]

Gunther’s gaze shifted slowly. To the center of the darkness filling the cave. The silhouette stepped forward. Watching it, Gunther spoke:

—You said I was to undergo a trial.

The Vanguard of the Dark Night replied calmly:

—Everything has its order.

The voice that had echoed through the cave now sounded as if it ca right beside his ear.

—First, it is your companions’ turn to undergo the trial.

—...Hm.

Gunther narrowed his eyes.

—I expected a trial we would overco together.

Outwardly, he showed dissatisfaction. In truth, he wasn’t particularly uneasy.

His companions undergoing a trial. Betrayal, temptation, choice. The Vanguard had surely prepared sothing along those lines.

“Betrayal... what nonsense.”

Of course, he hadn’t spent an exceptionally long ti with them. But they had already been through too much together. Seen too much.

From the blood-soaked Labyrinth to the raging waters of the Black Paths. Countless monts where they fought back-to-back. Bonds where one could throw themselves into battle without hesitation for the other’s life.

Those were the ties they had forged.

“And besides... as long as I can see their Affinity levels with my own eyes, there’s nothing to worry about.”

Gunther slowly shook his head.

—...You’re wasting your ti. They would never betray .

In the darkness, the Vanguard of the Dark Night tilted his head slightly. Then, as if casually, he spoke:

—Then why do you keep secrets from them?

—......

The mist parted as if in a smile.

—Why do you hide that you are a being capable of turning back ti... a transcendent existence that interferes with the past through the Tablets?

—That’s because...

—In Audrey House, you said... sothing about the butterfly effect.

The Vanguard chuckled again.

—A very amusing taphor. The flutter of a butterfly’s wings creates a storm.

Gunther listened in silence as the voice continued. The mist seed to thicken.

—There must have been a way. A way to free your companions from the shadows that suffocated them their entire lives... to erase the tragedies they endured in the past.

—......

—But you didn’t do it.

He could feel the Vanguard’s gaze.

—Because you feared that interfering with the past would distort the present. If their tragedies disappeared, so would their reasons for fighting at your side. And the “butterfly effect” might reduce everything you’ve built to dust.

Rustle—

Footsteps echoed.

—So you left their tragedies untouched.

At that mont, Gunther could no longer remain silent.

—...What ridiculous sophistry.

His voice was cold.

—The conditions for ti travel through the Tablets aren’t even fully understood. If it were such a convenient power, one that could fix the past—

—Aren’t you the one engaging in sophistry, Gunther?

A faint laugh.

—Not knowing ans there are still untapped possibilities. To not even attempt to explore that chance, and simply claim it doesn’t exist... that’s nothing more than an excuse.

Sothing tightened in Gunther’s chest. He needed to respond.

—What if your companions find out? Do you think they’ll look at you the sa way? A being capable of returning ti... have you ever imagined how that would appear to ordinary people?

But just as he opened his mouth, the words caught in his throat.

At that mont, the Vanguard’s tone softened.

—I’m not trying to bla you. You must have your own grand design, your own plans. You see much further ahead. And even if that’s not the case, it doesn’t matter. Self-centeredness is a human instinct.

—I...

—You are special among your companions. Even among those who chose to oppose the Luthien Theocracy.

A brief silence followed.

—Just like I once was among those who defended my holand.

At that mont, Gunther’s mind cleared.

“...So that’s it.”

He recalled the story of the Vanguard of the Dark Night.

A war hero betrayed by his own comrades and subordinates. A condemned man waiting for death, only to be dragged back to the battlefield during a national crisis. Forced to fight with his family held hostage, promised restored honor and safety — only to be betrayed again.

And in the end, he turned his blade against humanity.

“...Ah.”

It clicked. A chill ran down Gunther’s spine.

“...So that’s what this is.”

The “trial” of the Vanguard of the Dark Night. Its outline finally began to take shape.

Shhh—

The darkness parted. From the deep black veil, a figure erged. Sothing with a human form, yet not quite human. Along its outline flickered a dark blue fla.

Cold. Deep. Ancient. As if betrayal and hatred accumulated over centuries had solidified into that fire.

The Vanguard spoke quietly:

—I abandoned a hundred to save a thousand. I listened to the screams of a thousand to save ten thousand. But no one knew of the deaths I prevented. They respected my victories, yet feared them. And so ca the night of betrayal... the Dark Night.

The darkness deepened.

—The sa happened to the Great Admiral. In this sea of greed, where gold and incense flow, she tried to establish justice. But ordinary people could not understand such intentions. And the conclusion they always reach is the sa — betrayal.

From within the thick darkness, deep blue eyes surfaced. For so reason, they seed... sorrowful.

—And what about you, Gunther? What do you think will happen if your companions learn your true nature? What do you think they see right now?

At that mont, system ssages appeared before Gunther’s eyes.

[Affinity with “Tarsha” is rapidly decreasing]

[Affinity with “Yuria” is rapidly decreasing]

[Affinity with “Rietta” is rapidly decreasing]

[Affinity with “Blanc” is rapidly decreasing]

[Affinity with “Parco” is decreasing...]

Sothing he had never imagined.

—You, a Regressor living in a ti others cannot grasp — they won’t understand you.

—You may cherish your companions. After all, these are bonds forged through blood and death across dozens of lives.

—But what about them? They haven’t walked even half of that path with you.

—A leader who, despite being a Regressor, did not save their pasts. That alone is enough to plant resentnt in their hearts.

—They might even fear you. Who wouldn’t fear a monster who can rewind ti and manipulate lives at will?

The dark blue flas flickered.

—The fate of one who sees a vast future incomprehensible to ordinary people is always the sa.

The Vanguard finished:

—Misunderstanding... and betrayal.

...From sowhere in the middle, Gunther stopped trying to argue. In the darkness, those words sounded like undeniable truths.

And then he understood.

This was not a trial ant to make his companions betray him. From beginning to end, the target had been Gunther himself.

A story of being betrayed. A story that ends in betrayal.

Just as the Vanguard had tried to impose upon the Great Admiral... he was trying to impose it on Gunther.

—Why?

Gunther’s voice, silent until now, cut through.

The Vanguard answered imdiately:

—What do you an, why? Your companions cannot accept what you are—

—No.

Gunther interrupted quietly.

—That’s not what I ant.

He wasn’t asking about betrayal.

His question was far more fundantal.

Gunther slowly lifted his gaze.

—Why did you abandon a hundred to save a thousand? Why did you listen to the screams of a thousand to save ten thousand?

—......

Silence.

Why did the Great Admiral try to reform hopeless pirates into a privateer fleet? Why did she try to change Nereus? Why did Child of Miracles, El, keep reaching out to heal until the very end despite resentnt and scorn? Why did Blood Oath, Kalos, continue making cold decisions with information even as his heart crumbled? Why did Executioner of the Apocalypse, Dietrich, never lower his sword even after every familiar face had fallen?

Why did Levain still fight the Theocracy after losing everything? Just revenge?

Then what about Parco? Blanc? The others?

The answer was simple.

Too simple.

Sothing he had already been taught once by the three gods at the Starlight Watchpoint.

Gunther spoke calmly:

—So people may be special, sure.

His voice remained steady.

—But we’re not looking in different directions. We all saw the sa thing... and stood on the sa starting line.

Gunther didn’t believe he fully understood the Vanguard’s feelings. But one thing he was certain of—

When soone speaks of being unable to trust...

More often than not, it ans they desperately want to.

—Do you regret it?

The darkness trembled, as if in anger. But Gunther did not step back.

—Your story.

—That Dark Night that began brilliantly, turned into tragedy, and ended up burning even those uninvolved... do you regret it?

Gunther t the gaze of the dark blue fla. The darkness and fire began to disperse slowly, like a curtain rising.

The pressure intensified.

Yet Gunther continued calmly:

—So this ti, you want to see a different ending.

A reason to fight. An absurd world. The ambiguity of his own existence.

None of it could shake him anymore.

—I’ll show you the ending you wanted. So—

Gunther raised his hand and pointed directly at the figure erging from the darkness.

—Stop talking and hand over the Great Admiral.

The Vanguard of the Dark Night laughed.

Then let out a long... long sigh.

—You’re right, Gunther.

.

.

.

Tiling!

[Authority of Illusion deactivated]

[The illusion created by the Vanguard of the Dark Night collapses]

[Companions’ locations confird]

[Amazing! Your group was not sent into separate trials — they observed your entire conversation with the Vanguard of the Dark Night together]

[Bond System updated]

[Affinity with companions greatly increased]

[Divine Status Anomaly]

[Vanguard of the Dark Night denies his own history]

[Divine status collapse in progress...]

[A deity on the verge of disappearance is attempting to leave sothing behind]