The Berserker’s Second Playthrough in the Game - Chapter 123



Only Krnovel

Episode 123 Star that pierces the truth (8)

Heavy footsteps echoed across the corridor, clank clank clank.

The regular sound could be vividly heard even inside the VIP room. The white-haired old man lying in bed quietly lifted his eyelids.

The moment I put on my bishop’s uniform and sat down on the velvet chair, the owner of the footsteps entered the room. An elderly Archpaladin wearing white plate armor. Not only was he skilled, but he was well-respected, and he was a great figure who was respected by many paladins within the church.

The 3rd seat of the Decagram, Hendark, ‘the star that pierces the truth’.

He looked down at the old man and nodded slightly.

“Even if you wander through the long night, I hope you can find your way by looking at the brilliant stars. I have finished my mission early and returned, Archbishop.”

“… … .”

Second Archbishop Erensko’s white eyebrows trembled slightly. Because I realized that Hendark came empty-handed.

Still, he smiled kindly and spoke softly.

“Indeed, I guess you didn’t leave anything behind.”

“… … .”

“I expected this. It was the demon that mercilessly slaughtered Lord Hendark’s beloved disciple. As expected, you completely annihilated him without leaving a single bone fragment. Furthermore, the weapon you are using is the ‘Meteor of Lucaon’, which boasts incredible firepower, so it is understandable that you did not bring any evidence.”

“… … .”

“Of course, you don’t know that I didn’t mean everything I said earlier. “Now then, please explain why you left the evil spirit alive and came back empty-handed, Sir Hendark.”

Erensko’s voice was unwavering, and his expression was unwavering. However, it was not at all difficult to discern the fierce anger in his mind.

Hendark answered in a businesslike tone.

“There was concern that there would be serious damage to the surrounding area. There was a village called Quirn within 5 kilometers, and if we had confronted the demon slayers, the place would have been devastated and there would have been great casualties. Also, because it was geographically close to the magic tower, the intervention of the magicians could not be overlooked.”

“… … .”

“More than anything, there was no guarantee that I could subdue him safely with my own strength. He displayed force comparable to that of the Arch Paladin, even though he had hidden some means. If he had displayed his full power, no matter how much I tried… … .”

A sound of laughter that sounded like scraping metal cut off the paladin’s words.

Hendark furrowed his brow slightly. The air flowed in unstable eddies. Erensko swept his white hair up as if pulling it out, then lightly interlocked his hands and asked.

“I heard that one of the holy relics stored in the Holy of Holies has become empty.”

“… … .”

“‘The lamp that burns the pitch black’. “What part of the mission did you use it for?”

Hendark’s face hardened.

Archpaladin, who could only tell the truth, could not give an answer. The archbishop held back a self-deprecating sneer. His dry voice continued, like the roots of a withered old tree.

“I thought we shared the same heartbreak… … .”

“… … .”

“Linton Felippus, Helia Munell… … Both were truly bright children of Elgar. One was a promising young knight, the other was the youngest Arch Paladin in the Empire… … If only more time had passed, they might have become stars like Kyung and brought glory to Elgar’s name.”

“… … .”

“So, I thought that if I couldn’t protect those children’s future, I would at least take revenge on them in a terrible way. But instead of taking revenge on that heinous evil spirit… … “You’re giving me a sacred relic?”

Hendark did not waver despite the harsh criticism.

“I only believe what I have seen and experienced with my own eyes, Archbishop. That man was not a demon, and Linton and Helia did not meet unjust deaths.”

“Sir Hendark, Sir Hendark… … I think you are gravely mistaken. Your stigmata are for personal truth, not absolute truth. If you met a lunatic who was convinced he was Elgar, would you worship and serve him as your true god?”

“… … .”

Hearing those words, Hendark’s thoughts suddenly flew in the wrong direction. Because it reminded me of the famous story of ‘Gordon, who turned his back on the light’, who called Elgar a false being. In his eyes, perhaps the entire Elgar Church seemed like people who worship mentally ill people as gods?

… … It was a blasphemous thought that should not be done. Hendark made the sign of the cross and regained consciousness.

“I didn’t just come to see the truth in a convenient container, Archbishop. Rather, I looked more carefully at the way the bowl was made. The Demon Slayer was never a vessel to distort the truth. A more reasonable guess is that the church’s paladins made a big mistake first… … .”

“I am worried about the young disciples of Kyung-ui. The teacher, who is called the star of the religious order, is supporting evil spirits. Since the relationship between the teacher and the disciple is so deep, it will not be easy to prove that he is not related to the teacher… … .”

“… … .”

A tone of genuine concern. However, the intention was clearly a threat. A cold fire flashed in Arch Paladin’s eyes.

“It would be better not to touch my disciples.”

“Oh my, how dare I touch Kyung’s disciples? If things continue this way, they will become much better knights than the two who have already died… … .”

“… … “Don’t forget that I see the truth, Archbishop.”

“So what do you plan to do? Will you fight back? As you know, I have nothing left to lose, Sir Hendark.”

“… … .”

There was a cold frost on the archbishop’s mouth. The pupils under the small eyebrows were dark, like an abyss swallowing up light. While the two people glared at each other without retreating an inch, the tension that was rampant was felt as if they were walking a tightrope on a knife edge.

Erensko once again ordered the Holy Knight, who had abandoned his duties.

“Let me get straight to the point. Return to the Alliance Territory and kill that demon. Otherwise, your disciples will face great hardship. Isn’t losing a disciple you raised with love and care enough to be lost once?”

Hendark quietly closes his eyes and suffers.

However, the conflict did not last long.

“I refuse. That is wrong. And if you touch even one hair of my disciples, I will completely erase your existence from this world.”

Erensko burst out laughing at those words and laughed quietly. As if I wondered if there would ever be anything more enjoyable like this in the world.

Then, at some point, he straightened up, stopped laughing, and waved his hands.

“Go out. I will find someone else suitable for this mission. And I will not harm the disciples of Kyung.”

“… … .”

“For now, I guess.”

The Arch Paladin glared heavily at the Archbishop, then bowed slightly and left the VIP room. The sound of heavy metal footsteps faded away into the distance down the hallway.

Erensco, left alone, folded his arms and sat on the edge of the bed. He looked at the stone slab, curled the corners of his mouth again, and let out a hoarse laugh as if his lungs were perforated. Only when he was out of breath did he finally calm down and gather his strength to snap his fingers.

Woohoo –

A sphere of light floating in the air.

Erensko scolded in a low voice.

“… … Is there still no message from the ‘Star that Swallows Darkness’ that left for the Demon Realm?”

A coded transmission flowed from the sphere. Erensko was silently lost in thought and secretly gave instructions.

“Stop searching for the archdemon’s body for the time being and tell him to come to me immediately. There’s something more urgent that needs to be done… … .”

*

At Quirn, Kadim and Duncan were treated very warmly.

We rented out the entire inn for free, and were treated to a sumptuous meal of seasoned fish stew, bread stuffed with wheat noodles and spinach, and cider and beer to wash it down. Considering that they had been starving for a while due to the lockdown, it was a feast made up of all the remaining food supplies in the village.

But there was no regret on the faces of the villagers. Now they could freely go out and get food. Rather, they were anxious that they could not treat him better. As a hero who defeated the demon and the knight, he deserved such treatment.

“Thank you again, mercenary! Please come back to our village whenever you feel like it!”

“Next time, I’ll treat you with better drinks and food!”

“May the mercenary’s journey be blessed with golden blessings from Remillion!”

The people’s hospitality continued even until the moment we left the village after a night’s sleep. They came out in droves to the entrance of the village, waving rags and waving their hands.

“… … .”

“… … .”

However, Kadim and Duncan’s expressions were not very bright.

It wasn’t just that they were rewarded for something they didn’t do.

When Duncan heard about the circumstances of the negotiation with Archpaladin, he was shocked as if he could not believe it, but could not hide his relief. But Hendark’s last words turned everything around.

A warning that another Archpaladin might come.

‘The one who sent me is the Archbishop of the Church, and he will most likely send you another ‘Decagram’. I will try to block it with my own methods, but… … It would be better to prepare yourself in advance.’

That story was enough to make the two people distraught.

Kadim clicked his tongue. There were ten Decagrams in total, and Hendark’s position was the third. He alone was monstrous enough, so it was unbelievable that there were stronger ones. On top of that, if there were several relatively weaker ones, they would be a threat in their own way.

I had no idea that killing the paladin at the starting point would become such a cumbersome shackle. Even if that guy wasn’t the archbishop’s favorite nephew… … . There was no effective solution to the problem at hand, and the only conclusion was that the denomination needed to increase its power to the point where it could not be touched.

Still, it was fortunate that a collision was avoided this time.

It wasn’t that he was afraid of defeat. However, if he had continued to fight, his comrades would have suffered fatal injuries again, and there might have been problems entering and exiting the magic tower. It was a great stroke of luck that Hendark was an Arch Paladin who could communicate, which was extremely rare even 300 years ago.

Even so, it couldn’t be completely trusted.

Even the brightest starlight is obscured by dark clouds. Given the state of the sect, Kadim’s distrust of the paladins did not disappear. It would have been more appropriate to regard them as just a one-time trading partner, giving information about the Magic Tower in exchange for information about Gordon.

Various thoughts continued to roll through the two people’s heads. The shadow of a leaf’s veins was cast over a face filled with deep thoughts. Spotted waves seeping through the shade of the trees, the eyes were swimming not on a green forest path but on a waterway of contemplation.

There was no fork in the road ahead. The cozy path just continues straight. Naturally, there was no need to discuss where to go. In silence, only the off-beat steps continued repeatedly.

“… … .”

“… … .”

How far did you walk like that?

Duncan suddenly realized that there was a bright light in the corner of his vision.

“uh… … ?”

It was the exit of a dense forest.

As soon as I saw it, I ran out as if I was possessed. The refreshing wind brushed my hair, the inexplicable excitement tickled my heart. I was so excited that I didn’t even realize how heavy the load I was carrying was. I ran breathlessly and threw myself into the halo of light, and finally I saw it.

“Whoa… … .”

Duncan turns around and flaps his hands, a loud cheer coming out of his lungs.

“Me, Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Come here quickly! Come here quickly and see! Finally, finally, I have arrived!!”

Kadim also rolled out of the forest with light steps. And he too was seen.

The sea spreads out in eye-watering colors, and the pure white city breaks apart like foam.

There was no wall at the edge of the city. Instead, it was surrounded by a translucent barrier. Behind the fluttering curtain of light, white buildings are lined up tightly like handicrafts made by craftsmen, and the white streets on the left and right lead to the white sand beach and blue ocean, creating a dramatic change of color. In a city filled with landscape paintings, there was no place to take your eyes off.

Above all, what captured the most attention was the tower.

In the center of the city, a towering white tower rises like a horn striking the sky. The lowest part is the land, the center is the sea, and the upper part is the sky, creating a clear contrast throughout. Faced with a building that fills me with awe just by looking at it, I couldn’t help but understand the city’s nickname.

Vestana, the city of miracles.

“……under.”

Kadim thought he had become very dull.

The arduous journey had robbed him of his ordinary emotions. He thought he would never be able to express his emotions as richly as a peddler, or to let out a sly exclamation. But at this moment, at this moment, he could not help but be immersed in a quiet sentiment and have a gentle smile on his face.

After a forced march of nearly half a year, from the center of the continent to the eastern tip.

Finally, they reached the first destination of their journey.