The Berserker’s Second Playthrough in the Game - Chapter 146



Only Krnovel

Episode 146 At least one friend like that (1)

Before we knew it, the season had entered the boundary between late summer and early fall.

The hot wind that had been blowing through the air was filled with a soft coolness like the breath of a newborn baby. The fields covered with green leaves were also faintly tinted with a light brown color. As the diligent migratory birds left their nests, the impatient autumn grasshoppers also began to rub their forewings, knowing that their time had come.

A man was sitting on the shore of a rather spacious and quiet lake. Duncan, a peddler with a goatee. He was looking at a map intently.

A night with a full moon and stars shining brightly. After the sun went down, he lit a fire so that the group could find it easily. Of course, his group would also look for coal particles that fell into the dark abyss, so it wasn’t a particularly meaningful action…

After about two meals, the group returned. A giant, Kadim, whose size was becoming more like a monster than a human. Duncan jumped up from his seat to greet him.

“Oh, have you come, get well! however… … “Where have you been?”

“… … I left a note to convey to the Arch Paladin I met before. I was told to bury it under a large rock in the southern part of Vestana, but I was confused about which rock it was, so it took some time.”

Kadim shook off his dirt-stained hands. Duncan nodded, paused, and then held out the map.

“Your Majesty, take a look at this for a moment. As you can see, our destination, Maltana, is in the lower center of the alliance territory. So, usually, we take the route that goes south and then west, but if you want to go faster, you can also take the route that goes diagonally across the rough terrain… … .”

“That’s enough. Now you can do whatever you want. You don’t have to worry about what I think or do whatever I say.”

“… … .”

Duncan blinked blankly. He seemed completely unadapted to the freedom he had suddenly been given. He scratched his head, wiggled his fingers, hesitated, and asked softly with a sidelong glance.

“Excuse me, Your Majesty… … ? But could you please tell me clearly where your next destination is? I need to go in a different direction, so I hope you are not making a detour because of me… … .”

“I am going to the great forest. “It’s in the south anyway, so the direction is the same.”

“Great forest? You mean the forest where the elves live in hiding? Why is that place suddenly… … .”

“They said the person I’m looking for is there.”

“… … .”

The Great Forest is an unknown land filled with all kinds of strange rumors and mysteries. It was definitely not a place for an ordinary person to stay. Duncan, who carefully retraced Kadim’s movements, came to this conclusion at some point.

“Then, is the person you are looking for… … the first Matapju, Melissa?”

“… … .”

A silent affirmation returned amidst the rustling and cries of grasshoppers. The narrow, narrow eyes opened to the size of large drops.

“Oh my god, really? Is that archmage still alive? Did it say so in the records at the lowest level?”

“… … .”

“Oh, really… … Anyway, it’s surprising. The legendary great wizard who built the magic tower 200 years ago is still alive… … . Well, it’s said that the modern magic tower lord lived a similar life, so I guess the lifespan of wizards of that level is something that ordinary people can estimate… … .”

The air grew heavy. A deep shadow fell over the savage’s face. Duncan knew he should change the subject immediately, but he continued hesitantly because he had some concerns.

“Well, by the way, that… … If he had been hiding there for over 200 years, wouldn’t that wizard be a bit mentally unstable? Why, he talks like the old lady I saw last time in Agon. I don’t know what those people will suddenly change and do… … Unless you secretly prepare just in case… … Moreover, the roads in the great forest must be extremely complicated… … .”

“… … .”

“Hmm, that… … As expected, I think it would be too dangerous to go see him alone… … .”

It wasn’t a malicious remark. Rather, it was a well-intentioned remark that was genuinely concerned for the group. However, sometimes ignorant good can lead to worse results than clever evil.

Because of those questions, the dam that Kadim had built in his mind broke and evil hallucinations began to overflow.

Crunch, crunch, crunch… … .

Duncan’s flesh was mashed into a doughy mass, reassembled into a mess of past figures. The whispers of sorrow overlapped and rang in my eardrums.

– … … Why on earth, why did you abandon us and leave?

– No matter how much I tell you to leave, you can never leave… … . You have to continue to be by my side… … .

– Perhaps the mind has already become twisted, rotten, and broken, like that of a person possessed by a demon or a madman… … .

– In order to forge steel that will not break for a thousand years, there must be an undying ‘fire’ next to it…

“… … .”

Kadim’s limbs stiffened like metal. I was fortunate that I still had the mental capacity to realize that it was all in vain. She spoke, trying to disguise her composure by squeezing her lungs out.

“… … I’ll take care of that, so don’t worry. “It looks like they’re out of firewood. I’ll go and collect it.”

“Huh? Oh, no! I don’t do such dirty work… … .”

“No, I will go.”

“… … ”

He stood up, carrying the judgment of Atala. As I left, the gaze filled with anxiety made the back of my head sting.

I reached a corner where the eyes of my companions could not reach and recited a prayer. The yellow energy lingered and calmed my unstable mind. I waited until the illusions and auditory hallucinations disappeared, and after controlling the side effects to some extent, I set out to find firewood.

At the top of a hill, I found a fairly large arborvitae tree. It was a bit too much for a single firewood, but it was better than too little.

But just as he was about to cut down the tree, a hole in the tree suddenly split open and a mouth sprang out spouting nonsense.

-Where did you go? When are you coming back? Why did you leave without saying anything? How much longer do I have to wait? It’s so painful… . I didn’t want to live like this… . It’s all your fault… . It’s all your fault… . It’s all your fault… . Cluck clap clap… .

… … Was the madness still there?

Suddenly, a feeling of discomfort welled up in me, and I swung my bare fist instead of the axe.

― …

Kookookookookook… … Kook – Whew!!

That alone was enough. The inside of the pillar was ripped apart miserably, and the beautiful tree was easily broken like a newly grown sapling.

Kadim looked down at his tightly clenched fist. Thanks to defeating another high-ranking demon, his physical abilities had already become more than half of what they were in the first round. At this rate, he might surpass his first round’s power in the not-too-distant future.

But it was the same with madness and cynicism.

The truths of the past that were gradually revealed became sharp spears, arrows, and awls that were deeply embedded in my brain.

I wanted my old comrades to be alive. But I didn’t want them to spend their days in pain and despair. Even though I knew it wasn’t true, I couldn’t help but think about it. Maybe all the problems of the second round were caused by me leaving my comrades without saying anything…

Kadim had a firm belief. All problems can be solved through strength. If there is a problem that cannot be solved through strength, it means that strength is not enough.

But what if you come across a problem that cannot be solved by force?

With the power to cut down the Great Devil who reigns over all demons, defeat Atala, who gave him the mission of endless struggle, tear apart the false Elgar who voyeurizes the world, and even crush the origin that dropped him into the world of the game. If you encounter a problem that cannot be solved.

At that time, what should I do?

What should the Great Warrior, who has sworn to fight forever, do?

What should a foreigner do when he has lost his way back home?

“… … .”

Even steel that is tempered with thousands of pains and despair and beaten with tens of thousands of trials will eventually shatter if cracks spread from within…

Kadim looked up at the sky with a sad expression like a piece of split iron.

The crescent moon drifted leisurely across the pitch-black ocean, and the darkness that covered its shining surface quietly looked down at the suffering warrior.

*

Enrico Turis, the councillor of Remtana, who had suddenly disappeared for several days, was found dead under the drawbridge of the north gate of Delutana.

And his older brother, Pellico Turis, immediately brought his younger brother in for questioning without giving him time to relax.

Felico’s brotherhood was not superficial. However, there was too much at stake for this wild little brother to give him a chance. After hearing the situation in the mansion’s study, Felico let out a sharp sigh and touched his throbbing forehead.

“Whew… … So to sum it up… … The one who kidnapped you was Archbishop Erensko, who already knew the whole story, and threatened to help detain the ‘Demon Slayer’ before releasing you?”

“That’s right, brother. And the archbishop confirmed that he had sent one of his ‘Decagrams’. It definitely didn’t seem like a false threat, so I had to be prepared… … .”

“… … It’s too late. Archbishop Erensko has left the same message to the chapter. We already received intelligence reports of sightings of the ‘Light Horse’ over the border and Untana a while ago.”

“… … !”

‘Bright Horse’ is also given to Arch Paladins, but it is safe to say that the flying Bright Horse is the exclusive property of ‘Decagram’. Enrico’s face gradually became pale, like a person on his deathbed.

But for some reason, his brother didn’t seem that urgent. As I was staring, Felico calmly shrugged his shoulders.

“But the rider on that horse didn’t do anything and just went back the way he came.”

“… … .”

“I contacted other jurisdictions, but there was no damage. If the ‘Decagram’ really attacked, there would have been no way that no traces would have been left. Furthermore, no one has seen the body of the ‘Demon Slayer’… … .”

“… … .”

On the surface, it was reassuring news. However, instead of feeling relieved, Enrico had other thoughts. Then, suddenly, he met her dazzling eyes and realized that Felico was thinking the same thing.

“then… … That action itself must have been a message.”

“Huh, right… … . Actually, I think so too. It’s not like I can be happy that I didn’t die when the blade grazed my neck. Since I broke the rules once, it’s not strange if ‘Decagram’ invades the allied territory again.”

“… … .”

They invade deep into the territory of the alliance and do nothing.

In fact, the ‘Decagram’ had already done its part. The implications of that tour to the Alliance were clear. The Empire could enter your lands at any time and usher in the end, and it was a clear warning not to mistake survival through mercy and calculation for survival through one’s own strength.

… … Although this was not the intention of Hendark, the ‘star that pierces the truth’, they had no choice but to interpret it that way.

In any case, there were only two ways to deal with that warning: expose your belly and your gall bladder to the Empire, or sharpen your teeth and claws and prepare for an all-out conflict.

Of course, the former was an impossible option for the Turis brothers, who had already decided to fall out with the Empire and take on the title of ‘demon slayer.’

“… … Phew, I don’t know what kind of crazy shit this is. You’re willing to go to war with the empire just to protect a mercenary from a foreign country… … .”

“No, it was going to happen at some point anyway, brother. The Empire only pretended to step back for a moment because of the demons, but it has never for a moment shied away from its ambitions toward its allies. Even if he wasn’t a demon slayer, he would have tried to find some way to regain control.”

“… … .”

That was right. Felico agreed with his brother’s opinion. Instead of looking for a way to lie down, they began to plan ways to prepare for war.

The role of incorporating, coordinating, and militarizing the Delutana Council was the responsibility of the heavyweight councilor, Felico. However, Delutana alone was absolutely impossible. Without the cooperation of the two major cities of Galentana and Vestana, the alliance would never be able to stand up to the giant that is the Empire.

“Galentana suffered greatly from the Golden Road outbreak, so if you offer a large amount of subsidies as bait, they will bite. Of course, I have to hide my intention to prepare for war with the empire. The real problem is with Vestana… … .”

“Don’t worry about that. This time, I’ve been negotiating behind the scenes and have gotten in touch with a high-ranking magician named Cecilion. I’ll somehow open the floodgates to the Magic Tower through him. We’ll cover up Ymir’s death more thoroughly… … .”

Even if it went to full-scale war, it wasn’t a fight with no chance of winning. The sect wouldn’t be able to immediately mobilize all of the scattered knights and ‘Decagrams’, and this side had prepared a trump card.

‘Demon Slayer’ Khadim.

If Feldrick, the confidant sent to Vestana, could safely deliver the message, he might be able to mobilize him to fight against Decagram.

But now there were more important issues. Because war is not a melee that ends when someone fights his way through battle or kills the enemy.

“Brother, then the most urgent issue seems to be the defense of Delutana. This is the closest major city to the imperial territory, and the only troops that can be mobilized at all times are the Sacred Army. We need to somehow supplement the guards to protect this place right away… … .”

“… … .”

Pelico made a mysterious expression. It was an expression closer to recalling a very useful problem than to having encountered a difficult problem.

“No, wait… … . That’s it, Enrico. Umm, this is so… … What should I say… … . Well, there were guests who came to visit while you were missing. If we can persuade them well, we might not have to worry about that… … .”

“… … ?”

“… … no. It would be more clear to show it directly than to say it a hundred times. “Follow me.”

Enrico followed Felico with a puzzled look.

They reached the annex of the mansion, the area where VIPs stayed. The normally quiet place somehow became noisy as if a festival had taken place. When the door to the banquet hall/meeting room was opened, the identity of the visiting guests was revealed.

Enrico stopped, doubting his eyes.

Warriors with bronze skin and sharp tattoos, and giants with bushy beards and sharp eyes.

The harsh gaze and sudden silence created a strange sense of tension, but Pelico didn’t care. He waved his hand at the giant and pointed at his younger brother with his other hand.

“Hey, the person you’re looking for is here. This is my brother Enrico. Didn’t you say you had something to show my brother?”

“… … !”

At those words, the giant suddenly stood up. Enrico felt the urge to immediately turn around and run away, but he displayed indomitable courage and stayed calm.

The giant, who had come near with loud thumps hitting the floor, spoke to Enrico in a surprisingly polite manner when he stood in front of him.

“You’ve finally found me. It’s nice to meet you, Commissioner Enrico. The person who sent me said that if I showed you this, you would recognize it and help us.”

What he held out was a crumpled document with the council’s emblem stamped on it.

A pass for the Golden Road. It was definitely the pass he had issued to Kadim a few months ago. Enrico’s eyes widened.

“How do you have this… … ? Who are you? … ? What is your relationship with Lord Kadim? … .”

The Geohan spoke solemnly, as if swearing in the name of Tusin.

“I am the leader of the indomitable army and the one who has been given the mission of relief, Goltarran.”

“… … .”

“… … “It is a name that is no longer used, but it was once called ‘Agon’s Raging Horn.’”

Enrico’s eyes, which were already sufficiently large, began to swell even larger, like cooked bread dough.