The Berserker’s Second Playthrough in the Game - Chapter 114



Only Krnovel

Episode 114. Atala’s Judgement (17)

Goltaran screamed and jumped up.

“Kuhuhuhuhuh!”

The pain was so sharp that it felt like my skull was going to split open, and the bridge of my nose crinkled up on its own. I hurriedly felt the top of my head, thinking that my head had really split open.

Fortunately, my head wasn’t split. What was split was his horned helmet, which was his symbol.

The broken helmet fell to the left and right with a thud, thud. Goltarran looked up in surprise. The great spirit that had taken away the pitch-black axe came into view.

“Yes, you… … You… … .”

Puck – !

“… … Keuk!”

A vicious kick brought the body back down. Kadim pressed his knee hard against Goltarran’s chin and pressed the blade of the axe tightly against his throat.

“Since it doesn’t have horns on its head, it’s a bit unfair to call it Agon’s Angry Horn.”

“Ugh, what is this… … .”

“How much do you remember? Do you remember wearing a magic hat and causing a ruckus here?”

Goltaran’s eyes widened.

Memories that flicker intermittently. A ruined arena and mounds of corpses were captured in the shaking pupils. The voice that came out with difficulty trembled slightly like the cry of a tentacle.

“Did I, did I… … make this place, these people, like this?”

“About half.”

“No… … But… … Surely the divine power will protect me from all harm and curses… … Why, why, did I lose my mind and do such a terrible thing… … .”

“… … .”

The ‘berserk’ spell cast by the shaman was a buff, not a debuff, unlike ‘madness’. Rather than just eliminating reason, it greatly amplifies combat ability. Shinki’s blind spot was that even if the price was close to a curse, it could not be avoided if the essence was a blessing.

Kadim did not kindly add any further explanation. He simply pressed the axe blade against his skin until blood flowed out and muttered ominously.

“Ugh… … .”

“The shaman of the wilderness was judged and died. She acknowledged all her mistakes, including manipulating the fake Great Master, taunting the Great Master, and desolating this land with forbidden fetishes, and returned to the dust of the wilderness.”

“… … !”

“You too, as you enjoyed the clown show, deserve to be judged. However, the priestess begged for your life, saying that you are a deluded fool. So, I will give you one last chance.”

“… … .”

“Tell me. “Who are you?”

“… … “What?”

“I asked who you were.”

It was a question without context, but it was loaded with a sense of pressure that made the listener feel very tired. Goltarran calmed his trembling heart and fell into thought.

‘Damn it, who am I? Of course I… … .’

As I was about to reply, I was speechless.

Because he was nobody.

Agon’s angry horn? No. The horned helmet that gave it that nickname was now split, so there was no reason to call it that anymore.

Arena champion? It wasn’t. After killing so many spectators, no one would praise him that much anymore.

A hero who saved an ally? It wasn’t. Killing the central demon and ending the outbreak was not a feat he accomplished.

Leader of an indomitable army? It wasn’t. I wondered if the car that had sent away even my most trusted subordinate deserved to be called that.

… … The Great Warrior of Atala?

To put it bluntly, no.

That was just a name impersonated by Myeonpi-seong for fear of losing his life. He knew better than anyone else in the world that that glorious title was not his.

“I, I, I… … .”

My tongue became hard. I stuttered like an idiot. Numerous names were denied again and again. My entire life, which I had built up with lies, was collapsing completely because of a single question.

In the end, he was left with only one name.

“I am… … Goltarran.”

“… … .”

“Nothing, coward, Goltarran. That’s… … me.”

A heartbreaking confession, followed by an uneasy silence.

After looking down at the insignificant man for a moment, Khadim put away his axe and slowly stood up.

“Contrary to what the priestess said, you don’t seem to be an idiot. It seems you know very well who you are.”

“… … .”

“Now, swear by the name of Atala that you will never again covet the title of Grandmaster or the ‘Judgment of Atala.’ And that you will never again hinder my journey in any way.”

Goltaran’s eyes and mouth twisted roughly. He asked a sad question with a face filled with mixed emotions, whether he was crying or laughing.

“As expected, you… … “You were the great warrior of Atala?”

“… … .”

The ax blade returned, urging an oath instead of an answer. In the end, Goltaran followed suit. As soon as he had finished his oath, he picked up a piece of Kadim’s horned helmet and began to walk away as if he had done his business.

Goltaran quickly got up and chased after him.

“Now, wait a minute, please wait a minute! I have something to ask you!”

“… … .”

“If you were truly a great warrior, why were you acting like a madman in Soltana? If I hadn’t seen you like that, I would have had a better conversation with you… … .”

Kadim nodded toward the debris and corpses.

Just like you did, I also didn’t do it of my own will.

Goltarran, who had interpreted the meaning of the gesture, was speechless and blundered. He realized that he had tried to kill him without any reason, but the great warrior had shown mercy even after seeing the same thing. He tried to collect his feelings that were collapsing and asked the question again.

“Well, then the one who left! Why did you leave this world without saying a word? Even if I had left only a few words, people like me wouldn’t have called Daejeonsa… … .”

The footsteps that were leaving suddenly stopped.

Kadim’s eyes stared into the near but distant past. It was a coincidental question. As he pondered the past, he realized that the life of the fake warlord and his own life were strangely symmetrical.

That was why. The reason I left detailed answers to questions that I would normally ignore.

“… … She thought her mission was accomplished. Therefore, I tried to return to my original position. “My mind and body were torn to pieces like rags, so I had no time to leave a comment.”

“… … .”

“However, it was a mistake. Just as you thought yourself a great warrior, I thought I was no longer a great warrior. I never imagined that those who remained would endure the years of suffering and that a tyranny would once again come to this world.”

“… … .”

“However, there is no need to run away now. I know that I have a mission left to complete. I realize that this world is also my place. I will fight and perish, but I will never abandon this world again. So you too… … Find a mission that only a nobody can do.”

A clear question mark appeared on Goltaran’s face as he listened as if fascinated. Kadim let out a weary sigh and added a few words.

“I heard that you have saved your compatriots from constant persecution.”

“… … .”

“The mission of Daejeon Temple is not relief, but struggle. In that case, wouldn’t it be possible for someone other than Daejeonsa to make relief instead of struggle their mission?”

“… … !”

A great wave rose in Goltaraan’s eyes. But soon he lowered his head weakly and sighed.

“How dare I… … be worthy of doing so? So many people have died because of me… … and yet I have the audacity to try to save someone again… … .”

“It’s the law of cause and effect. Those who enjoy the pain and despair of others without getting a single drop of blood on their hands are closer to the devil than to humans. Instead of being buried in the deaths of the worthless, think about saving the worthy.”

“… … .”

Black eyes filled with turbulent waves. After a dangerous sway, he finally came to his senses. Goltarran asked with a determined, choked voice.

“Then, the mission of the relief… … “Can we regard this as a mission personally entrusted to us by the agent of Tushin?”

Kadim waved his hand roughly, feeling belated regret for saying something pointless.

“… … “Think good thoughts.”

The moment I took a step back, I heard a heart pounding sound and a solemn cry coming from behind me. It seemed to roughly say something like apologizing to Daejeonsa, offering up glory, or something like that, but it was difficult to understand because of the mixture of lamentation and sobbing.

In any case, the planned judgment was coming to an end.

The ‘Hall of Corruption that Insults the Struggle’ collapsed. It became a miserable ruin without even a foundation. The ‘Wilderness Priestess’ self-destructed. She belatedly repented her mistakes and returned to dust. The ‘Angry Horn of Agon’ died. Only a man who was nothing remained.

Now there was only one target left.

He dragged his red sword body downward. The blood demon swallowed the blood that flowed from the pile of corpses and healed its owner’s injuries. As I climbed over the hill of rubble and left the arena, a small Shinyoung came rushing towards me like a moon.

Duncan, who had been sent off first, stopped running and abruptly stopped.

“Your Majesty, are you, are you alright… …? I saw a sandstorm coming at me with incredible force earlier, but are you feeling okay, no, is your chronic illness okay… … .”

“Okay, everything is fine now, so don’t worry. Then let’s go to that rich guy’s mansion.”

“Huh? Why are you suddenly… … .”

“Didn’t you beat the champion? “You should get what you promised.”

Duncan blinked in bewilderment, not knowing whether to be happy or bewildered.

*

A piece of a helmet with a single horn was placed next to the empty liquor bottle.

I couldn’t figure it out. What are you asking me to do? The king of the arena, Ubik, looked at the giant with his sturdy chin trembling.

“What is this…?

“This is a piece of the horned helmet worn by Agon the Wrathful. Here, I also brought the axe he stole.”

“No, asking that… … Isn’t it? “What is the purpose of putting this in front of me now?”

“It’s proof that you won by defeating the champion. I kept my promise to be a clown until the end. So now it’s your turn to hand over the gold you promised.”

Ubik was in a very rational state. After escaping from the arena to avoid the collapse, he drank three bottles of strong liquor in a row to soothe his mind and body.

However, due to the words I had just heard, the strong dam of intoxication collapsed. His face turned red like an overheated furnace, and his fat maw suddenly spewed out angry flames.

“Oh my gosh, you’re a crazy, asshole-like, topless, crazy barbarian that’s no bigger than a broken ogre bone!! Damn, that’s what I’m saying in this situation! If you had eyes, you would have seen it too!! The arena has collapsed! uh?? “My arena has collapsed, you bastard with no foundation for nursing care!!!”

“… … .”

“You turn a deaf ear to a word I say, and you’re always trying to bribe me, and now you want gold? You want gold because you defeated the champion? How the hell would I know you killed Goltarran or picked it up from his corpse after he got hit in the head with a brick!!! Damn it, I still haven’t figured out why the arena collapsed and my head’s about to split open, and what the hell are these savage bastards, their heads are full of dirt… … .”

Kadim did not retaliate against the rich man’s anger. He calmly listened to the banquet of swear words and motioned for Duncan to bring the items he had prepared.

Seeing that, a furrow like a knife mark was carved between Ubik’s eyes.

“What the fuck?? What else is that… … .”

“It’s a treat.”

“No, I asked because I didn’t know… … .”

“I said if I break my promise, I can bring a bowl and tear off the flesh. Then, I will just rip off just enough to fill the bowl.”

“… … What!?”

The moment Kadim stood up with his sword in his hand, Yubik’s reason, who had been out, hurriedly declared that he would return home.

But that didn’t mean he was prepared to compromise. He had already prepared a last resort in case something like this happened.

“Damn it, outside! outside!! What are you doing!! Come in quickly and chase this bastard… … .”

“I’ve already taken down all the mercenaries outside. Maybe it’s because the equipment is better, but it’s definitely more annoying than last time.”

I was dumbfounded.

Ubik didn’t just equip his mercenaries with good equipment, he also bought expensive relics like the Northern Relic Soldiers and armed them with them. And yet he defeated them all so easily?

The rich man’s complexion became more blue than lapis lazuli. Still, there was one last hope left. If you spread a protective shield with the ring that was expensively brought from this magic tower, even the worst barbarian cannot touch it… … .

Tsk tsk tsk tsk – !

The translucent protective film was gently torn like the shell of an egg.

“……uh?”

Before I could come to my senses, the blade flew out and pierced my plump stomach.

Phu! Crunch, crunch… … .

“Uh, uh, billion… … .”

An unreal haziness, a strange sense of absorption.

A yellow lump was pushed out from beyond the torn hem of his clothes, and the blood that was seeping out was sucked into the red blade. The scene of slaughter was familiar, but since it was the first time he had been involved, the king of the arena could not feel the reality at all.

Is that my flesh? No, is that? Is that red stuff my blood?

Tsk tsk –

After a rough cut, a piece of flesh fell off. Only then did the abyss-like reality sink into the rich man’s mind and body.

“Ah, ah, wow!!! Kwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!

The fallen chunks of flesh were not enough to fill a bowl. But Kadim glanced at them and threw them away without putting them in.

“Oh my, there’s nothing but pure scaffolding. “I’ll have to stab a little deeper to dig out the flesh.”

“Kuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!! Ah, no!! Nooooooooo!! I’ll give it to you, I’ll give it to you! Gold, I’ll give you gold… … Please, just that, just that, Kuaahahahahahahahahahaha… … .”

In Ubik’s eyes, Khadim now looked like living, breathing death, something even more terrible. As a human, I couldn’t fight him at all. I gasped and calmed my breathing, drank strong liquor to soothe the pain, stuffed some salve into my tattered abdomen, and waddled helplessly to my feet and headed to the underground warehouse.

I passed through the layers of iron cages and security doors. I went through a maze-like passage and reached the most intimate room. After looking inside, even the barbarian, who was aloof from everything, slightly raised his eyebrows, and the peddler opened his eyelids so that his eyeballs popped out.

“Oh my God, my God, my God, Remillion… … . Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god… … .”

“… … .”

Gold coins, silver coins, gold bars, silver bars, diamonds, lapis lazuli, rubies, green jade… … .

Colorful treasures shining like stars. At best, there was a huge pile of gold and silver treasure worth hundreds of millions of Luden. It was the crystallization of wealth accumulated through hard work in the arena.

Ubik, who had lost all his strength from coming, collapsed on the floor. Even though his complexion was already as pale as a live corpse, he did not lose his venomous spirit and fired back with a frown.

“Ugh, of course… … but I’m not saying you should take everything… … . You didn’t forget that you swore in Atala’s name… that you would keep your promise, right?”

“of course.”

The savage’s answer readily agrees. Ubik could not overcome his anxiety and reaffirmed his promise.

“Like I said before… … Fill the small bag with just enough gold to fill it… … . If I took even one bit too much, I would lose all of my remaining assets… … On your neck… … I’m going to put a bounty on you… … .”

“Oh, of course. Is there any reason for that, Your Majesty… …?”

Duncan nodded vaguely, the corners of his mouth quivering.

Then, he started filling the ‘inventory’ with gold.