The Berserker’s Second Playthrough in the Game - Chapter 133



Only Krnovel

Episode 133. Five Pillars (10)

The auction showed a development that no one expected.

After a brief introduction to the auction item, the ‘Column of Water’, the discussion began with Kadim asking questions to the chairman, who was the host… … .

“Does the deposit have to be paid in Luden?”

“Payment with jewels or valuables with high liquidity is possible, but… … . Ahem, before that, you must first have it appraised by our aide.”

After seeing that, Oklamud and some elders started laughing at the development… … .

“Ha, are you planning on giving away the underwear you were wearing? … . Hey, Coltran. “It looks like the animal you are raising lacks common sense, so I need to teach it to behave well in important situations.”

“… …Sigh.”

“Phew… … Hum hum.”

After going through a crisis where the highest bid instantly jumped dozens of times due to the reckless bidding of the barbarian… … .

“8.5 million luden.”

“8.5 million Luden has been raised! I will increase the asking price to 500,000 Luden! Those who wish to bid, please raise your finger in the air!”

“9, 900….”

“9.5 million.”

“9.5 million, 9.5 million Luden came out! We will maintain the asking price of 500,000 Luden! The person bidding puts his/her finger up… … .”

“Oh, oh my god, 1000… … .”

“10.5 million Luden.”

Ocklamud, which has exceeded its available budget, explodes and reaches its peak… … .

“Oh, shit! What the hell are you trying to do!?”

“… … .”

“You, you, you, what are you doing? What the hell are you doing, you punk? Do you think this is some kind of savage dogfighting gambling hall? If you win the bid, you don’t even have money to pay, so why, why do you keep meddling without even being able to control your shit and piss? Huh?!”

“Who do you mean you don’t have money to pay, you bastard?”

Screaming – !

… … In the end, Kadim took out a huge amount of goods from his inventory and proved his wealth.

So the ‘pillar of water’ was sold for 10.5 million ludens. To a barbarian with a suspiciously large amount of money.

Payment of the winning bid was made immediately with jewels valued at 7.2 million Luden and gold coins worth 3.3 million Luden.

“Oh, shit! Stop the fucking nonsense!! It’s all fake, fake!! How could that savage who looks like a beggar have so much gold and jewels… .”

There was a fierce protest from Oklamud, a relative beggar, but it was easily ignored. All the gold coins and jewels had already been determined to be genuine through the appraisal magic tool.

Nevertheless, the enraged Oklamud continued to protest. Finally, when they tried to threaten the successful bidder by reciting a spell, the organizer, Chairman Conrad, hurriedly stepped forward.

“Uh, that… … Elder Oklamud… … ? Calm down. This auction was disappointing, but there will be a better opportunity next time… … .”

“Shut up, you bastard pig!! I’ll turn you into charcoal along with that smelly barbarian!!! [Keruna!! Grun!! Agrippa… … .]”

“… … Stop, just stop there. “If you really use magic, I won’t stay silent.”

The chairman lifted the main necklace around his thick neck, lowering his voice.

It was a necklace that summoned the ‘Matapju’, a magical tool that guaranteed mutually assured destruction. Even the elder who had lost his mind and was running wild had no choice but to shut his mouth and stop for a moment.

Even after that, Oklamud was unable to recite the spell again. He continued to curse and cause trouble. Eventually, he was dragged out by the other elders and subordinates, holding his arms and legs.

“You bastard!!! If I see you again, I’ll kill you!!! I’ll really kill you!!! If you want to live, don’t even come near the Magic Tower, you savage who’s worse than a dog!!!”

“… … .”

After the muddy loach left, the auction house became quiet enough to make you wonder if it had ever been this quiet.

Soon, meaningful glances were exchanged in that silence. The remaining elders, especially Coltran, seemed anxious to ask Kadim where all the money came from.

However, it was Chairman Conrad who struck first.

“That… … Sir? Could you please come over here for a moment? There are still steps left before I can formally hand over the winning item.”

From a barbarian to a teacher, he rose to prominence in a short period of time. Kadim laughed and followed the chairman.

In fact, there wasn’t much to do in the handover process. After just a few checks, the aide took care of the rest. The chairman must have had another reason for calling him to the secret room in the back.

Sure enough, after some light chatting, the main point emerged.

“Teacher… … Please don’t misunderstand and listen to me. I’m asking not because I’m an Atalain, but because the amount of money involved is so large. May I ask where the jewels and gold coins come from?”

Kadim answered honestly. It was the money he received as a gladiator in Agon’s arena. In fact, that money was nothing compared to the total profit he had made.

However, because the amount of the prize money was so large, it gave rise to unexpected misunderstandings.

“Sir, by any chance, are you… … the renowned champion of the arena, ‘Agon’s Angry Horn’?”

“… … .”

It’s been a while since I heard that sound.

Kadim shook his head. Then he said that the one called ‘Agon’s Angry Horn’ no longer existed in the world. The chairman fell over in shock again at those words.

“yes?! Oh, you mean ‘Agon’s Raging Horn’ is dead?! “Whose hands are you talking about?”

“… … .”

Kadim did not open his mouth.

The uncomfortable atmosphere was gloomy. The chairman seemed desperately curious about the answer, but he could not bear the silent pressure and eventually changed the subject. After easing the stalemate with small talk, he brought up another question.

“This is a bit of a sensitive question, so if you find it difficult to answer, you don’t have to… … . But may I ask what your intention was in purchasing the ‘pillar of water’ by spending that much money?”

Kadim nods with a glance.

“Don’t you already know this? “It is to enter the lowest level of the Magic Tower.”

“Ah, haha, that’s right! In that case, could it be that the teacher has a ‘frozen heart’…? … “Are you the one who supports Elder Coltran as the new magic tower lord?”

“No, I am just cooperating with that elder because we have the same goal. “The reason I want to go to the lowest floor is because of personal business.”

“… … .”

The chairman was fidgeting with his fingers as if he was anxious, his eyes rolling around busily. Kadim narrowed his eyes sharply and slightly closed the distance between them.

“Since you kindly answered my questions, I also have one question.”

“… … .”

“I heard that you are in a cooperative relationship with the magic tower owner. But why did they try to hand over this ‘pillar’ to the elders? The elders seem to believe that if someone reaches the lowest level and learns ancient magic, he can also threaten the position of a modern tower lord.”

That question became a trigger that touched my innermost thoughts. The Chairman, half impulsively, spat out what was inside.

“Teacher, maybe you too… … “Aren’t you willing to help purge the owners of the modern tower?”

“… … “I don’t even know who the owner of the tower is.”

“Ahhh. Ah, hahaha, ahahaha! Is that so? Well, I see. Oh no! What I just said is a joke, a joke… … . Haha, what kind of nonsense did I say… … Well, there’s no way to kill him… … .”

It wasn’t a joke. Just moments ago, Lee Ja’s eyes showed a sincere desire to purge the owner of the tower. But there is no way to kill him?

Just as I was about to ask in detail what that meant, the chairman lowered his voice and began to say something else.

“However, if you are… … really going to the lowest level of the Magic Tower… … I have one warning for you. Excluding the modern Tower Lord… … I am the only person who has been to the lowest level of the Magic Tower, in front of the tomb of the first Magic Tower Lord… … .”

“… … !”

“I’m neither a wizard nor a mercenary, so I couldn’t clearly see what it was. However… … there was something very, very ominous about that floor that I simply couldn’t ignore. That feeling, haa… … what should I call it? It’s like, if you stay still, all of your senses go dark… … ?”

“… … .”

“Anyway, it’s definitely not a place you can feel comfortable visiting, so you should definitely prepare yourself mentally before going in… … .”

The warning did not reach Kadim’s ears properly. After the Chairman mentioned that he had been to the lowest level, his attention was focused on only one thing.

“… … “Did you personally see the body of the first Mage Tower lord there?”

“Huh? Oh, no. The body was probably placed inside the coffin… … I only saw the outside… … .”

“… … .”

When I thought about it, it was like that. If it were a normal tomb, there would be no need to expose the body. Khadim, who had some hope that it might be a fake tomb, could not help but be disappointed.

But it was still too early to be disappointed.

The chairman started off quietly as if he had something he couldn’t say… …

“That, ahem… … But… … Since we’re on the subject, that… … The first Matapju… … Lady Melissa.”

… … It rekindled the hope that had already faded away and left only ashes.

“Maybe he’s still alive.”

A spark lit up in the empty eyes.

*

The greatest guide, Duncan Wheeled, was pacing the interior of the tower in red robes.

He wasn’t doing some sort of high-level wizard daily experience. He was a spy who wasn’t allowed in, and this outfit was taken from the high-level wizard that Khadim had killed.

“… … .”

I heard that the elders and high-ranking magicians were away in large numbers due to some auction. It was a great opportunity to explore the depths that I had never been to before.

But how could he be cheerful when he was sneaking into the dangerous den of wizards? And even if he had almost been killed by wizards just yesterday?

“ha…….”

Still, Duncan did not neglect his duties.

Last night, Khadim gave a frightened Duncan additional explanations. Why he had ordered him to scout the tower, about the ancient mana and the demonic infestation.

The importance of this mission was different from the ones I had been given up until now. It wasn’t just a matter of gaining Khadim’s approval, but it was also a matter that might affect the fate of the continent. Even with a grim expression, I had no choice but to put on the ‘Night Shadow Cloak’ and head towards the staircase entrance.

“… … Orgo, Al, Marchine, Encio, Grun. “To the 80th floor.”

As I recite the secret code while touching the mysterious letters carved into the wall, the wall recedes in a zigzag pattern.

Coo coo coo coo coo… … .

Duncan had almost mastered the method of going up and down the steps of the tower. He had spent the whole day spying on the wizards coming and going, and had learned the basics of magic from the books he had brought. Still, it was his first time going deep, over 80 floors, so he was inevitably nervous.

A dark hallway appeared as I passed through a hole in the wall. I cautiously stepped forward. As I took a step forward, the open door closed by itself.

Kookookookookookook… … .

And just as the wall closed, a sound approached from the other side of the hallway.

“… … You see. Even Conjurer alone can’t overcome it anymore… … .”

“… … There’s no hope, but I’d rather be a battle mage… … .”

“… … !”

At first, I tried to run away through the road wall. She belatedly realized that she had put on the ‘Night Shadow Cloak’, and instead of running away, she observed the situation.

Thump thump, thump, thump –

The sound of wheels approaching with footsteps, two wizards in blue robes were pulling a cart. Inside, there was a pile of unidentifiable luggage. Feeling an ominous aura, I looked to see what the luggage was.

Duncan almost screamed.

The corpses of demons, mercilessly slaughtered, were piled high. Rotten entrails spilled out of their split stomachs, and severed limbs were stuck into the fleshy piles like the landscaping trees of hell.

Duncan was horrified and trembled… …

‘Ah, no, how can you cut up a devil like butcher meat and carry it around… … Oh, by the way, I tried it too.’

… … I quickly regained my composure after recalling the memory of pulling a similar cart on the Golden Road for over a week.

“Wow, I’m rotten and poking my nose. Fortunately, we are only able to fly within the magic tower… … .”

“Well, if I think about carrying this all the way here in the summer, it’s something I wouldn’t even be able to do as a battle mage.”

Grumble, rumble –

The wizards did not notice the presence of the intruder and just passed by.

Duncan narrowed his eyes sharply. As the surprise subsided, suspicion set in. A demon’s corpse deep in the tower… … . It was a combination that was suspicious at first glance.

‘… … Let’s follow along.’

The dark hallway gradually became brighter, leading to a well-lit open space. Still, the view wasn’t that clear. Thick smoke was everywhere, preventing smooth reconnaissance.

Gulp, gurgle, gurgle –

The wizards stopped here. Coughing softly, he poured out the things in the cart. The devil’s corpse was sucked into a hole in the floor, and smoke rose up like a thick smoke from a bear’s room. Apparently, that hole was the culprit behind the raccoon den.

Fortunately, there was a light breeze blowing through the window, so I couldn’t breathe at all. Duncan moved closer, covering his mouth with his sleeve.

But there was one thing he overlooked.

The ‘Night Shadow Cloak’ is only effective at night or in the shade.

The moment I was covered in the sunlight scattered through the smoke, the cloak’s hiding effect completely disappeared. But Duncan didn’t even know that and kept walking.

No matter how shallow the presence was, it was impossible not to be caught.

“What, what! “Who are you?”

“Who are you!” Who dares enter the controlled area without permission… … .”

“… … .”

The best guide, Duncan Wheeled, was unfazed. Stumbling around in a situation like this is a poor guide.

… … Actually, I was so shocked that I froze, but decided to just play it that way. Since he was already firm, he thought with a solemn expression on his face, like a high-ranking executive who had come to supervise whether things were going well.

Sir, please save me.