The Berserker’s Second Playthrough in the Game - Chapter 128



Only Krnovel

Episode 128. Five Pillars (5)

At Magic Tower, a brilliant and mysterious tower, magical achievements are considered more important than anything else.

In that respect, Elder Lee’s position was extremely solid.

He created the ‘Eldra’ spell, and raised the status of ice magic, which was only one of the sub-branches of water magic, to the level of a major attribute. He is the master of all existing ice magicians. Anyone with even the slightest interest in magic could not fail to know his name.

3 seats in the Magic Tower Presbyterian Council, Sage-rank wizard, ‘Frozen Heart’ Coltran Spellacion.

The great wizard was having a private conversation with a subordinate in his laboratory. He stroked his sparse beard and asked in an approving tone.

“therefore… … “Are you saying that some barbarian brought the corpses of the Lamacren army and the ‘steel pillars’?”

Asilus Concertor, a Conjurer-ranked wizard and acting battlemage commander, responded with a resounding affirmation.

“Yes, Elder! We have finally secured one of our own ‘pillars’! And it is the ‘Steel Pillar’ that was expected to be the most difficult to secure… … .”

“… … I think you’re too excited, Mr. Asillus. ‘Secured’ can only be said when it is in our hands. Why didn’t you kill the barbarian and retrieve the ‘Pillar of Steel’?”

“… … .”

His name is Battle Mage. I couldn’t honestly say that I did it because I was afraid of the barbarian’s axe. Asillus made up a lame excuse, saying that cooperation with the barbarian would definitely be of great help in securing other ‘pillars’.

Coltran slowly frowned and lamented.

“Assilus-kun… … Magic is not a simple manifestation of mystery. Its source is of course a power beyond human understanding, but we must not forget that the subject that handles it is human. Judgment, reasoning, discernment, comprehension… … . As you reach higher levels and gain greater knowledge, you will need many human abilities in addition to magical abilities, I am sure you are aware of this.”

“… … .”

“Then I ask you. Have you really made a judgment befitting your position as a high-ranking wizard? Is it really the best decision to cooperate with the suspicious savage who brought the corpse of the vice-captain?”

“… … .”

“So, in other words… … do you think you are worthy of being the first Battle Mage to rise to the ‘Rank of Sage’?”

The blood drained from Asillus’s face.

That wasn’t a question, it was an assertion. I am disappointed in your foolish judgment, and I assure you that I will never give you a chance to ascend to the throne.

Soon, his facial features became distorted. That cool-headed elder never goes back on a decision once he has made it. Unless a miracle occurs that causes fire to freeze and water to burn… … .

But he couldn’t just comply. The effort Asilus had put in to ascend was incomparable to that of other wizards. He was on the verge of kneeling, banging his head on the stone slab, and begging.

Suddenly, a noise was heard inside the lab.

[… … I am truly sorry to interrupt you while you are having such an important conversation, Elder. This is an extremely urgent matter, so I am taking the liberty of contacting you like this.]

Coltran’s brow twitched. When I allowed him to tell me the news with a displeased expression, something unexpected came out.

[Now at the entrance to the Magic Tower, the barbarian who came yesterday has come again and is requesting a meeting with Asillus. however… … He says he brought not only the ‘pillar of steel’ but also the ‘pillar of the earth.’]

““… … !!””

A look of great shock spread across the faces of the two wizards who had been talking secretly. Coltran stared at Achilles with eyes that were unusually wide.

A miracle occurred where fire froze and water burned.

*

Kadim silently blinked his eyes.

All I could see was a plain white passage. A wizard wearing blue robes was leading the way. My mind was like a blank sheet, and all my senses were hazy. On the other hand, the fragments of the past that had been playing just a moment ago were vivid as if they had just happened.

This time too, it was a memory from the first time.

Memories of when Melissa tried to teach him magic somehow, before the other companions had joined him yet.

No matter how hard he focused and tried, Kadim could not even succeed with the most basic magic. His mana sensitivity was completely at a standstill. After wasting several days of meaningless time, he finally lost his temper and ended up destroying the target he was supposed to hit with magic with an axe.

When Melissa saw that, she whimpered as if she was going crazy and jumping up and down.

‘no! why! That! Take the ax! Throw it! Are you destroying it? You muscle idiot! Like this, use magic to hit it! Like this, huh? ‘Why can’t I do this simple thing?’

‘… … ‘You can’t throw an ax like me.’

‘Ah – you! If I practice for just half a day, I can throw like you. Bring it here and see!’

That evening, Melissa got her foot hit by the back of the axe I threw at her and cried like a little child.

Kadim, who had almost smiled faintly without realizing it, suddenly erased his emotions when he realized belatedly that she had died.

“… … .”

After experiencing the same thing twice, I was certain that this phenomenon of the past suddenly playing back like a film was not a coincidence. Someone was trying to convey something by doing something…

“… … You can go inside. The person you are about to meet is someone who is highly respected even in the Magic Tower, so please be careful with your words and actions.”

The warning from the wizard ahead brought him back to his senses. This was the Magic Tower, and right now, it must be… …the time to meet the vice-captain’s superiors.

It was not the time to think about anything else. He had already experienced the temperament of magicians. Kadeem cleared his mind of distracting thoughts, pulled himself together, and entered the reception room with his nerves alert.

“Welcome, savage… … Ah, no, our comrade! Haha, wasn’t the journey difficult?”

As soon as I entered, the vice-captain, Asillus, approached me, acting overly friendly. It’s probably because I heard that they brought two pillars. Kadim just ignored it and passed by.

In front of the low floating table, an old man with a cold expression that even a thick beard could not hide was sitting. Judging from the black robe, he was the second-highest rank of the vice-captain, and he was most likely a wizard who was said to be the master of the ice magic world.

Although there was no permission to sit down, Kadim sat down without hesitation. He noticed that the old man’s white eyebrows were slanted.

“Are you… the savage who saved two of those pillars?”

“Yes. “That person would be the elder who said he couldn’t find a single pillar.”

“… … Let’s be brave and check the items first. Otherwise, there is no way for this meeting to take place.”

The old man’s tone became sharp due to his rude words and actions. Asillus was nervous and swallowed dry saliva. However, Kadim just calmly placed the iron staff and stone staff on the table.

The two wizards’ eyes trembled slightly. The ‘Steel Pillar’ and the ‘Pillar of Earth’, without a doubt, were the keys to the secret passage.

Eventually, the old man glares at Kadim harshly.

“I heard that the Iron Pillar was found by chance in the ruins of Soltana, but how did you obtain the Earth Pillar?”

“I happened to go to a place called Magul, and there I happened to know the location of the pillar. “I cut down all the people who got in my way, looked for them, and picked them up.”

“… … This is ridiculous. Did you do something like that because you knew where it was? Do you know why we didn’t approach the Demon Cave carelessly even after receiving the intelligence?”

“I don’t know. Even if I knew, it probably wouldn’t have anything to do with me.”

The old man’s face froze even colder. He spoke in a gloomy, subdued voice with a hint of cynicism.

“The Magul was created with the tacit approval of the Chairman of the Vesta Council and the Lord of the Tower. In this city, they are the only two people that even the elders of the council cannot touch.”

The old man gave him a malicious, expectant look, as if he wanted him to regret it later or tremble in fear.

However, Kadim answered calmly without the slightest hint of agitation.

“is it. But who cares? “Didn’t the owner of the tower say that he is currently away?”

“… … .”

“And if you master the records of the first magic tower owner and learn ancient magic, it wouldn’t be impossible for you to become the owner of this tower.”

““… … !””

The two high-ranking wizards raised their eyes grimly.

There was one elder who had already declared it out loud, but that was by no means something to be said casually. For a country, this is a proposal that is no different from rebelling and taking the crown and becoming king. Asilus broke out in a cold sweat, fearing that sparks would splash on him.

However, the reactions of the parties involved were different.

The old man, who had calmed down from his surprise, looked at Kadim with eyes that seemed to be filled with great interest. When he opened his mouth again, the coldness in his voice had subsided.

“Well, you are an interesting fellow. I am Coltran Spellacion, the fourth elder in the Council of Elders. What is your name?”

“Kadim.”

“Yes, Mr. Kadeem. As you probably know, I hope that what we are going to share from now on will never get out.”

Although he was almost embarrassed by the unfamiliar name, Kadim managed to nod. Coltran clasped his hands together and slightly stuck out his upper body.

“The wizards in this tower all want to see that record in order to learn the ultimate mystery. But you… … You want to see it simply out of curiosity about her life?

“Yes.”

“Why? If you’re curious about her life, you can just look at her biographies. Rather, the record is written from the perspective of the first Mage Tower owner himself, so wouldn’t objectivity be even lower?”

The tone of voice was a bit strange. It was a tone that showed no respect for the poet, and rather, it seemed as if he was seen as an untrustworthy person…

“… … Didn’t the first magic tower lord build this magic tower? Then why do you say something like that?”

“Hmm… … Just as giving birth doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be a good parent, just because you founded something doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be a good progenitor. She may have been a great archmage, but she was not a respected leader. “She wielded her power by monopolizing her achievements, and in her later years, she went out of her way and almost neglected this place.”

“… … .”

“Well, there are still those who respect the progenitor, calling him the progenitor… … The number is not that large. The fact that the magic tower has grown so much is the credit of the previous magic tower owners. “I will retrieve the literature in detail, so would you like to check it yourself, Mr. Kadim?”

A dark shadow settled into Kadim’s pupils.

Melissa was never a great person worthy of it. I thought that that evaluation was probably distorted by later generations.

“No, those words are hard to believe. “I have to see the records with my own eyes.”

Coltran lightly shrugged his shoulders as if saying so.

“Well, if that’s really the reason, then it’s worth cooperating with. Since you brought us two pillars, we only need to bring us three more. A pillar of light, a pillar of fire, a pillar of water… … Of these, we’re still trying to figure out where the water pillar is, so we’ll have to start with the first two.”

“Didn’t you say those two are in the hands of another elder? “How do you plan to get it?”

“Of course you have to take it by force. You also have a position on the top of the tower, so you wouldn’t just give it up to them just because they ask you to, right?”

An overly blatant declaration. Asilus hesitated beside the elder as if trying to dissuade him. However, Coltran ignored him and stared intently at the savage before him.

“Why are you nervous about having to deal with wizards?”

Kadim snorted as if he would listen to all that nonsense.

“No, I like that method. I’ll go and get it right now. Where are they?”

Hahaha, the cold-hearted elder burst into laughter. Asillus froze in surprise, and Kadim frowned as if he had seen something he couldn’t see.

Coltran waved his hand, shaking off the residue of his laughter.

“Phehheh… … Seriously, Khadim-kun. I know it’s embarrassing to say it myself, but wizards are definitely not easy opponents. Even if we make a surprise attack, we need to be fully prepared before making a surprise attack, not like we’re going to roast beans in a lightning strike.”

“There won’t be much time. “Didn’t you say that if that tower lord returns, you won’t be able to see the records of the first magic tower lord?”

“Yeah, hmm… … That’s not wrong either… … But if you try it rashly and fail, it’ll be a disaster… … .”

Tododok, Tododok, the elder rested his chin on his hand and tapped the table, deep in thought. Kadim also silently pondered his thoughts, and then suddenly felt an ominous intuition and asked.

“Wait a minute, didn’t you say that guy, the tower owner, went out on an inspection tour?”

“That’s true, but… … ?”

“Where did they go? “It must be quite important to be away for a long time.”

“Soltana was the center of the Golden Road outbreak. Oh, you said you stopped by there too, right? A large number of elders and battle mages sent there disappeared. He also said that he doubts whether it was really ‘Agon’s Raging Horn’ that killed the central demon… … “The tower owner himself said he would come after finding out the truth.”

“… … .”

Kadim tightened his stomach, imagining that his facial muscles had turned into stones.

In order not to show the agitation that was flooding in like a tidal wave, I had no choice but to do so.

*

The second meeting ended with the group saying that they would plan a robbery operation starting tomorrow.

Just before Kadim left, Asillus became greedy and made the same offer as yesterday.

“Don’t you want to leave those pillars to me and the elder? Now our competitors will be targeting those pillars just like us… … .”

“I will decline, unless you are willing to stick two of them in your and the elder’s assholes respectively.”

“… … .”

… … Of course, this time too, it was concluded that the ‘pillars’ were kept by Khadim.

I heard some disturbing stories from the elder. But for now, I put my thoughts about him to a corner. He Kadim came out of the magic tower and walked for a long time. He deliberately chose to go only to shaded areas, until he reached the end of a deserted alley.

There was no sense of presence at all. Still, I intuitively realized that my companion was following me. I looked at the empty space and thought to myself as if I was talking to myself.

“Good work. “You can come out now, Duncan.”

The hem of a black cloak suddenly appears in midair.

An unfamiliar face was revealed within the ‘Cloak of the Night Shadow’. Pooh, the peddler sighs and takes off his cloak. He must have been so nervous that his beard was soaked with sweat.

Kadim asked in a quiet voice.

“Yeah, it seems like the magicians didn’t catch on… … Did this scouting of the magic tower yield any results?”

“Whoa… … Yes, I will be better. “I figured out how to get to other floors, and I found these things and brought them back.”

Duncan set down his inventory. Numerous scrolls and thick books were sticking out from inside.

Kadim smiled wryly and picked them up to examine them.