The Berserker’s Second Playthrough in the Game - Chapter 144



Only Krnovel

Episode 144. The Devil and the Archmage (6)

Kadim went back up the stairs he had first come in from and opened the coffin lid.

Grumbling –

The death of the demon cleared the magic and the funeral home became brighter. However, no one would visit this empty tomb anymore. The last mourner left the coffin empty and stepped on the scattered flowers as he headed out.

A man wearing a white robe was sitting in the corner of the waiting room. He seemed to have sensed everything that was happening inside, and he had a twisted smile on his face.

The Mage Tower looked up at the warrior covered in blood and spoke calmly.

“You destroyed my body and saw Melissa’s records.”

“… … .”

“It’s hard to believe… … but it would be ridiculous to say such a thing now that it has already happened. It seems that even the malice of a high-ranking demon that has accumulated over hundreds of years was not enough to devour you. Instead, my true self… … has become your prey.”

Kadim indifferently wiped the corner of his torn mouth. The scent of blood was still prevalent on his red-stained face. The Mage Tower asked carefully, trying to feign composure.

“… … By any chance, was it your job to subdue the demon-possessed elder and kill the central demon in Soltana?”

“… … .”

The gaze that looked at him indifferently without a wife. That alone was enough to realize that his guess was correct. Matapju let out a hearty laugh.

“From a general perspective, humans are infinitely weaker than demons. However, I believe that humans have infinite potential, even greater than demons.”

“… … .”

“It is not a story about some abstract will or belief. Just as the devil feeds on pain and despair and ascends, I believe that humans also rise to a higher level of existence by satisfying ‘certain conditions’. Otherwise, if you do this… … “It wouldn’t have been possible to kill the mystery seekers and high-ranking demons.”

Kadim slowly stroked his chin.

It was a pretty interesting hypothesis. In fact, didn’t he gain power beyond common sense by killing countless demons and monsters? Even Archpaladins and past warriors have reached a point where they can hardly be considered human… … .

“So I didn’t see Melissa’s transformation into a human being as a regression. I thought it opened up new possibilities. It’s just that I… … hadn’t found the key to those possibilities… … .”

But now was not the time to have such small talk.

Wedge – Awesome!

Kadim interrupts the conversation by pointing a jet-black ax at the head of the neck.

“No matter how much you say that, the dirty devil you are will never change.”

“… … .”

“Isn’t that right, ‘Aculanos’?”

The demon whose name was called dropped his gaze in confusion. Kadim gave him a cold look.

The ‘Bing-ui-jong’ demon does not lose its possessed thoughts even when its main body dies. Most of the thoughts disappear when the main body dies, but if this split body is kept alive, it is difficult to say that the demon is completely killed.

Of course, he wasn’t a guy who could last long even if left alone. He was bound by all the restrictions Melissa had imposed, and now that his body was dead, he wouldn’t be able to think straight. When his physical body’s lifespan ended, he would naturally die.

But Kadim did not forget his principles of action.

Never leave behind regrets.

This guy was the culprit who used people as sacrifices to use magic and turned magicians into corrupted beings who had reached a higher level. He couldn’t justify all his evil deeds just because he received a mission from Melissa. If you leave it alone, you might do something again in the name of mission.

The ax blade struck my forehead in an unpleasant way. Mabju bit his lip. The cloudy eyes looked like those of a dead person who had already turned his back on life.

However, just before the head split, the magic tower lord spoke desperately.

“… … You are right, Master Kadim. No matter how much I try to imitate humanity, I am nothing more than a fragment of a wicked demon. However… … As the successor who has carried out Melissa’s will for hundreds of years, may I ask you one last favor?”

Kadim stares at her trembling eyes as if he wants to pierce through them.

After almost an hour, he finally gave permission to remain silent. Matopju sighed deeply as he looked at the receding axe blade. After calming his heart and lungs, which felt as if they were being crushed by a rock, he finally began to tell his story.

“… … The Melissa of today may not be the Melissa you remember. She has lived a life beyond what is allowed for humans, and has suffered more severe pain and despair than anyone else. Perhaps her mind has already become a mess, twisted, rotten, and corrupted, like that of a demon possessed person or a madman.”

“… … .”

“Still, her… … Please embrace it. Please understand. Don’t throw it away. Please don’t leave her side again, and listen to the story that festered because she couldn’t tell it to anyone. No matter how ugly it may seem like mud, if you look deeply, you will find out. At the bottom of it all, there is a naive and foolish wizard who has drawn only one person for a long time… … .”

“… … .”

“But what if…” … And yet, even so, if she is so horribly out of whack that you can’t even contain her… … .”

The Mage Tower narrowed his eyes. It was as if he was cutting out a part of his rotten heart, and he was barely able to drag out the words he didn’t want to say but had to.

“… … Please at least give Melissa peace with your own hands, not someone else’s.”

“… … .”

“This is my last request.”

still.

The sounds of the whole world were muted and silence fell.

How long has it been like that? The tip of Kadim’s chin made the slightest movement. It was an infinitely faint nod, but the deep blue eyes caught it without missing it.

Only then did the Mage Tower calmly close his eyes and accept death.

As if declaring the end of probation, Atala’s judgment fell mercilessly.

Pur – Wow!

Blood splashed out with a heavy bursting sound.

*

The man had a dream. No, he was immersed in old, dirty memories. In the flashback, he was desperately chasing after a woman leaving the magic tower.

‘Oh, Melissa! Melissa! Where are you going now! Did the great magic to open another world succeed? Why, why are you leaving after erasing all traces left on the magic tower…?

‘… … .’

There was no answer from the woman. She just staggered along like she had lost her mind, stared blankly at the sky, and called the man’s name.

‘Acula.’

‘… … Yes, yes, Melissa. I’m listening.’

‘I’m sorry. I brought you here.’

‘……yes?’

‘I thought wrong. A devil can never become a human. Humans, humans, can never realize the idea of ​​using demonic energy as the source of new magic. You are neither a devil nor a human… … ‘It’s just a hybrid created by my childish mistake.’

‘… … .’

‘So… … Acula, I’ll give you one last choice.’

Will I continue to live as a shackled hybrid like this, or will I return to my original form and live as a devil now?

A sentence engraved like a scar after repeating it countless times.

Sometimes, some moments escape the moment and remain forever. Raindrops falling down, red hair tangled and stuck together, eyes out of focus, a distorted smile. If you were to create an exhibition hall of memories of your life, that moment would most likely be hung on the central wall where it would be most visible.

Back again to the present.

No, it was neither the present nor the past, but Akula monologued from a gap in his consciousness.

– You know what, Melissa? I still don’t regret choosing to continue living as a hybrid. Even though the fundamentals are imperfect, my life has always been a series of complete success.

It was indeed so.

Finding a replacement for depleted ancient mana, establishing a new magic system, suppressing rampant demons, protecting the Magic Tower from threats from external forces, and completing all the missions she entrusted… … . It was a series of successes that were more brilliant than the lives of many great people.

– On the other hand, your life has been a series of failures. An endless series of fatal failures. But if you look at life not as a series of small pieces, but as a magic circle drawing a great mystery… … your life has been a success, and mine has been a failure. Do you know why?

There was no one there to give him the answer. The gap in consciousness stretched on endlessly. After waiting in vain, Akula answered his own question.

– The person you’ve been waiting for your whole life… … has finally returned like this.

But the one who saved me, created me, imprisoned me, abandoned me.

– The person I’ve been waiting for my whole life… … never came back.

And above all else.

– I was like this… …because I couldn’t become human until the end.

The moment you speak out and admit it, the pain suddenly seeps in.

Acula slowly opened his eyes and looked at reality.

Hot blood flowed out, staining my vision red. The ax blade stuck in my forehead caused pain that felt like a thousand dollars. A pitiful moan rose up from my throat.

“Ahh, ugh, ahh, ughhhh… … .”

Yet he had not yet reached death. A face darker than the abyss looked down upon him.

“… … “Are you sick?”

There was no need to say anything. It hurt terribly. I felt like I could do anything to end this pain even just for a second.

“… … It must be painful. Death is truly an equal friend. Whether demon or human, when they die, they all die helplessly, engulfed in excruciating pain. The magicians who followed you, your high-ranking demon self, and the humans who ended their lives as mere materials for magic stone fragments, they all probably died in the same way.”

The low-pitched voice had the power to overwhelm the listener. A harsh question was asked to Akula, who was as stiff as a corpse.

“Still, is there anything you can picture other than pain and despair?”

“… … .”

“The devil lives alone. Even though I serve a devil higher than myself, I do not accept him as part of me. However, humans coexist. He builds himself up from all the memories of meeting someone, interacting with someone, and breaking up with someone. Therefore, even when he dies, he is not buried in pain, but thinks of that person who became a part of me.”

Tsk – Tsk!

The axe blade that had been stuck in his forehead was pulled out. Another question was asked before the scream of pain.

“So, let me ask you again.”

“Ugh, ugh… …”

“Think about it, devil. Is there a face that can be drawn other than one of terrible pain and despair?”

“… … “Off, ugh.”

“Is there someone’s face being drawn?”

there was.

There was definitely a face there. A face clearer than death, a face that would never disappear even if my mind was painted red.

A shiver ran through my heart. I bit my lips so hard that they burst. My throat was so choked up that I couldn’t even moan. My blood-stained eyes were slowly diluting and shimmering with a dim light.

After seeing that, Kadim opened his mind and thought honestly.

“I guess there isn’t any.”

“… … .”

“Then you have finally become human.”

Soon, a faint smile appeared on Akula’s lips.

A smile that has given up on the long wait, a smile that realizes that the wait was not in vain, a smile that realizes that one’s life was ultimately a success.

Born as a devil of the lowest kind.

I am dying as a human being, albeit so late.

Just as you have spent your entire life yearning only for the departed warrior.

I too have longed for you until the day I die.

The axe blade rose again. The moment had come to break free from the rusted chains of life over the years. Acula swallowed his rising emotions and said his final goodbyes.

“Ah, thank you… … Mr. Kadim… … and… … .”

“… … .”

“Your waiting… … It’s not in vain… … Good luck, Melissa… … .”

The axe blade fell. This time, with no chance of survival, sternly and fiercely.

Tsk – Tsk!

The sound of destruction erupted harshly.

The blood of those who were born as demons but died as humans was sprinkled like dew on the clean, shining stone slabs.

*

Duncan, the best guide, was lost in the magic tower.

“… … .”

I myself had doubts. Kadim just told me to hide well, so I wonder why he crawled back into the magic tower… … . To put it bluntly, the reason was that I came up with this idea while I was hiding.

‘Wait a minute, you said you were going to go to the lowest level of the Magic Tower, right? But if you get lost nearby… … .’

Anything could have happened without Duncan, the best guide. However, with Duncan, the best guide who can freely enter and exit the Magic Tower, the risk of something like that happening is significantly lowered. Therefore, Duncan, the best guide, came to the Magic Tower to help the party in time in time.

… … In other words, the main reason was that he was excited by the praise he received from Kadim and acted recklessly.

Things were different now. All that excitement had long since volatilized.

Specifically, he encountered bad weather as soon as he left the inn, and about 30% of his thoughts disappeared, 50% of his thoughts disappeared after seeing the corpses of wizards piled up in front of the magic tower, and about 20% of his thoughts disappeared after wandering around the magic tower in search of Kadim. Now, the only thing left in Duncan’s mind was the thought that he should have just not come.

“Phew… … .”

It was a consolation that he had come wearing the robes of a high-ranking wizard and the cloak of night shadows. Duncan got up again to look for the exit.

At that moment, a loud noise was heard from across the hallway.

Dream, drag!

“Damn, this is ridiculous! How could that Elder Oklamud die… … .”

“Hurry quickly! You must never be seen by others! If you get caught, every penny will definitely be taken away… … .”

I saw wizards running hurriedly, pulling carts. Since their robes were light blue, they were of a lower rank than him. Still, in most cases, I would have just sent it away without taking any unnecessary risks… … .

After seeing the chests loaded on the cart, my eyes rolled back.

Duncan lifted his cloak and made every effort to block the path ahead. The wizards were distraught and stopped walking.

“Huh!”

“Ugh!! Big, conjurer… … .”

The cart shook and the contents of the chests glowed brightly. Duncan scanned the pale faces and solemnly brushed his beard back.

“Hey, you guys… … . Where are you taking all that gold?”

“… … .”

“… … .”

The wizards who had been stealing the slush fund left behind by the dead elder, Oklamud, became dumb as if they were drunk on honey.