The Berserker’s Second Playthrough in the Game - Chapter 150



Only Krnovel

Episode 150. One Friend Like That (4)

There was no need to cause a ruckus, break houses, or beat up debtors as before. At the house of the peddler Duncan, the clerk’s mercenaries got what they wanted with ease.

Screaming – !

“50,000 Luden! Here’s 50,000 Luden! “With this, you’ve paid off your debt, so don’t even come near my house again!”

“… … .”

The man in charge of the mercenaries, Aluven, raised his eyebrows slightly. The gold coins shone brightly, and the bag Duncan handed him contained over 50,000 ludens.

But once Aluben had tasted the money, he had no intention of backing down easily.

“Hey, Mr. Duncan… … . What if you just give me the principal and then brag about it? While Mr. Duncan was away, the money piled up and started growing… … .”

“… … !”

In the end, the mercenaries ended up ripping off all the ridiculous interest that was higher than the principal. The faces of the mercenaries who were tinkering with the gold coins were full of big smiles.

“Wow, to the awards ceremony. How much does this all cost? … .”

“Thank you, Mr. Peddler! Make a lot of money in the future! Good – at home! Massage your fat wife’s buttocks as much as you like and live happily! Haha haha!”

“… … .”

Conversely, Duncan’s face was rotten and dull, like rotten fruit. Aruben smiled pretentiously and made eye contact with him.

“Thank you, Mr. Duncan! Oh, and a word of advice. Don’t think about leaving town just because you’ve paid off your debts. If you leave without paying the clerk your transfer fee, you’ll have to meet with us again. You don’t want to introduce us to your precious son, do you? Kkkkkkk… …”

The mercenaries left only after making threats. Duncan’s fists trembled as he glared at the backs of the people walking away.

The excitement of the mercenaries who had staged a festival of plunder did not subside even after they left the house. No, it became even more noisy. Aluben raised his heavy purse and shouted in a proud tone.

“Yeah, what did I tell you? That peddler now thinks a few thousand ludens is just pocket change? Did you see how he obediently gave up 80 thousand ludens even if you asked for interest?”

“Kuuuuu… … But since you’re asking for it, why don’t you just take out a few hundred thousand Luden, Commander? Then everyone’s share would have been much larger… … .”

“That won’t do, kid! It’s obvious that the calculations don’t add up. Even if it’s money that you can’t afford, you have to be careful and take it out… … .”

The interest that had to be recovered was originally about 50,000 luden. After taking his share and dividing the difference fairly among his subordinates, Aluven calmly added an explanation.

“And there’s no need to be impatient. There’s no way that guy, the clerk, will allow us to leave the town anyway. Then we can just make excuses and keep that guy’s money hidden in the cupboard like a honey pot, just like that.”

“Hahahaha! Now that I hear it, the captain is right!”

“Won’t this soon be considered as a few tens of thousands of Ludens worth of change for us too? Hehehe… … .”

But there was just one catch. An unidentified companion brought by Duncan.

“But what about that… … savage?”

“… … .”

The mood of the mercenaries suddenly sank as if cold water had been poured on them.

Rumors were already spreading throughout the town. That he was the ‘Demon Slayer’… Even if the mercenaries had never seen him in person, they had heard of his infamy. Because of his origins in the Galentana underworld, they would hear the news over his shoulders even if they didn’t want to hear it.

If that savage is really the ‘demon slayer’ who single-handedly devastated the underworld in a single day… … he will definitely not be easy to deal with.

In fact, the savage had been waiting for the moment when he was away. However, Aluben waved his hand, pretending to be calm.

“Oh, don’t worry. There’s some weird rumor going around these days that he’s a ‘demon slayer’. Do you think there’d be a mercenary like that following a peddler around? If you just cleaned the asses of the rich in the big cities, gold would pour out.”

“… … .”

“And even if by chance he is a demon slayer, what are you worried about when I have ‘this knife’? With this, all you have to do is cut off the parent branches in an instant… … .”

Wedge – Liquid!

Aruben took a quick step and pretended to slit his throat. The mercenaries flinched and trembled, then slowly shook their heads.

“That’s true. The captain’s sword skills are definitely… … .”

“Hehehe… … Well, what size do you fight with? Even trolls and ogres can’t move if their heads are cut off… … .”

Fear was vague, and greed was clear. The atmosphere that had been subdued was revived. The mercenaries were soon filled with grand dreams and were absorbed in drawing a rosy future, thinking that if they made a lot of money, they would call in a lot of women and make this rural area a bustling entertainment district like the underworld of Galentana.

Because of that, no one noticed them.

“… … .”

In the dark night far away like a shadow, the giant spirit with a small person on his shoulder overheard the whole conversation.

*

A quiet empty lot outside Malta. The faint stars blemished the dark sky, and the chilly night wind swept the damp earth. Looking at the fallen leaves rolling together, it seemed that it would not be long before I would miss the nights when I could sleep without a blanket.

Kadim was sitting on a rock, lost in thought. As the moonlight reached the end of the earth, a faint sound appeared behind him.

“Oh, I’ll get better! Were you there!”

Duncan naturally sat down next to me, holding a bottle of liquor in each hand.

“This is wild apple wine that my wife made last year. I found it rolling around in a corner of the storage room and picked it up. This woman is so absent-minded that she forgot about the wine she made.

“… … Did you take care of your son’s home?”

“Dunsan? Of course not! But how did you play with him during the day to make him so excited?”

About an hour ago, Duncan, who was wandering around the village with a droopy face, ran into Kadim, who had his son on his shoulder.

Duncan was in perfect condition, without a single scratch. Before coming, Kadim had caught some beasts in the forest and had absorbed their blood through the blood demon. Thanks to this, Duncan had no idea that his son had fought a bloody battle to the death, and he had just returned home, wondering why the boy was so excited.

Kadim took the bottle Duncan handed him and drank it down. It was sour and bitter, but it was better than having nothing to drink. Duncan also took a sip and wiped his mouth. Maybe it was because he had had a bad day, but he felt hot after drinking just a little bit.

The time spent quietly blowing the whistle didn’t last long. Duncan began to speak frankly, taking advantage of the quiet night air and the lingering taste of alcohol.

“… … Actually, I’ve been worried a lot for a while. I heard that my son was bullied a lot because she was small and her father had moved away… … . But hehe, while Nauri was playing, I felt relieved because it seemed like the other kids couldn’t even dare to touch my son.”

Kadim shook his head.

“I have never played with your son. She just taught me how to fight. And since he won his fight today, he will never be bullied again after I leave.”

“… … yes?”

Duncan tilted his head, but soon misunderstood that Kadim was saying that because he was embarrassed. Well, it would be a bit odd to say that he played with a child like a nanny when he was a great warrior of the gods… … . Anyway, he said a brief thank you and tactfully changed the subject.

“But, Your Majesty… … When do you plan on leaving for Daesurim again?”

Kadim took another sip, then downed the bottle.

“We should leave tomorrow morning. There’s nothing more to see here, and we’ve wasted enough time.”

“… … Ah, is that so? Bird, you’re leaving sooner than I thought… … . Well, I think it would be okay if you took a longer break. To relieve some of the fatigue that has accumulated over the years… … . Well, my son seems to like Naeuri a lot too… … .”

“… … .”

Kadim did not answer. She closed her mouth and just looked up at the southern sky, where someone was anxiously waiting. An awkward silence suddenly seeped into the night.

What broke the long silence was a voice without any emotion.

“After listening to the kids coming and going in the village, it seems like they don’t get along very well with their neighbors.”

“Huh? Oh, hahaha… … That’s what happened. Somehow, rumors spread that I made a lot of money… … . Doesn’t money always bring about various problems?”

“Was it because of debt?”

“… … yes?”

“I started working as a peddler and risked my life for money throughout my journey. Was it because of debt?”

Duncan raised his eyes wide.

How did he know? I was momentarily confused, but soon remembered that Iza was a great man who could hear the sound of ants crawling in the next neighborhood. He hesitated for a moment to check Duncan’s mood. He smiled bashfully and scratched the back of his head.

“Ah, that, that’s not wrong either… … Actually, the honest reason is that I’m just greedy. I want to buy nice clothes for my wife who works hard, and feed my son nice things, and just live a life of luxury… … And I’ve paid off all my debt, including the interest, as of today, hehehe… … .”

“Right. “Then, is there anything else you can do to help me before I leave?”

The moment Duncan heard those words, he stopped dead in his tracks.

In an instant, countless words bubbled up beyond my throat.

Please help me, that I can’t leave the village, that I’m being threatened by the office’s mercenaries, that not only I but my family are in danger, that with your powers, I can sweep away those petty mercenaries with my eyes closed…

“… … .”

however.

Duncan never said anything in the end.

… … Because those who do not struggle cannot achieve anything.

Kadim is the one who will eventually leave. He couldn’t depend on it forever. Even if we somehow get help this time, what will we do next time a crisis comes? A person who can’t even protect his own family, what else can he do?

Everyone has a fight to fight. This fight is his, not the warrior’s to slay demons. Duncan suppressed all the emotions that were welling up in him, jumped up from his seat, and clenched his fists.

“Yes, yes! No! And who am I, your lord? The greatest guide! The peddler acknowledged by your lord! The very same Duncan Wheeled who struck down Agon’s angry horn with one blow? Even if something goes wrong, I will handle it well, so don’t worry… … .”

“… … One room? Didn’t he confess before that he was only pretending to fight because he was so badly wounded?”

“Uh… … Ahem, that, that’s true, but… … Please, keep it a secret from my wife. I told her that I completely destroyed her in one blow when she was in perfect condition… … .”

“… … .”

After that, Kadim and Duncan talked about various things.

About their half-year journey, about the people they had met, about the future ahead… … Duncan usually talked while Kadim listened silently, but neither of them cared. Their conversations were always like that. So, it seemed like it would continue to be like that.

Even after emptying the bottle, even though the moonlight was slowly fading away.

The two men’s masterpiece showed no signs of ending for a long time.

*

The next morning, Duncan woke up with a sore hangover on his head.

“Oh my, my head… … .”

I removed the cloak that was covering me. Even though I was half-asleep, I tried to make my bed and prepare a meal. If you don’t prepare diligently… … .

“ah.”

It stopped with a single exclamation. Because she realized she was not on a journey.

There was only an empty liquor bottle left where Kadim should have been.

Just in case, I thought I would get better and called into the air. As expected, no answer came back. It seemed that Kadim had indeed left as soon as morning. Like the blunt savage he is, without a word of farewell.

Duncan flopped down in his seat. He stared at the empty liquor bottle for a while.

“… … .”

Somehow it didn’t feel real.

The journey of the past six months seemed like a one-night dream. If it was really a dream, he must be a pretty great person. If a normal person had such a bad nightmare, they would probably go crazy or have a nervous breakdown. Duncan snickered and let out a small laugh.

Of course, it wasn’t a dream. The hellfire dagger at his waist and the black cloak scattered around clearly proved that the journey was real.

A gift left by a great warrior to those who have proven their worth. As long as these remain, no one will be able to deny that they were with the great warrior of Atala!

But then, as the peddler was lost in deep thought, this thought suddenly crossed his mind.

‘Oh, wait a minute… … Your Majesty, it seemed like you weren’t carrying anything yesterday… … ? If you left your inventory behind and just went… … .’

Duncan ran towards the village. It was still morning, so he couldn’t have gone very far. He was planning on finding the inventory at home and giving it to Kadim.

But when Duncan returned home, he realized that it was not the time to worry about such things.

Onlookers crowded around the house, the house was a mess as if struck by lightning, and my wife’s eyes were swollen and bloodshot.

Duncan approached his wife in horror.

“Hey, Julia!! What’s going on? What happened?”

“Duncan!! Duncan, Duncan… … Our son… … . Ugh… … .”

“… … !!”

I looked around hurriedly, but my son was nowhere to be seen in the house.

My narrow shoulders were shaking. An ominous feeling welled up in my shaking pupils. Among the onlookers loitering outside, the most oblivious ones were still talking like this.

“Wow, you’ve been so stingy and not generous to others… … . Retribution is due, retribution is due… … .”

“Tsk tsk tsk… … What would you do if you made a lot of money? I didn’t do a good job guarding one of the cubs, so it took me four months… … .”

“Huh, I don’t even know where my son was taken all night, that’s a good thing… … .”

Duncan’s eyes rolled back.

He drew the dagger from his waist and lunged at the onlookers like a ferocious beast baring its teeth.

Whoosh whoosh – !

“……uh?”

“Aaaah!”

In an instant, one of the bystanders who had been talking at the front was suppressed. The movements were so fast and there was no sign of presence at all, so the person who was attacked felt as if they were possessed by a ghost. Without hesitation, Duncan scolded the man’s shoulder, burning it with hellfire.

Chii Iik –

“Tell me where my son is… … .”

“Uh, uh… … Aaaah!!! Kkaaaah!!!”

“Shut your mouth and tell me where my son is right now, you son of a bitch, before I shove this thing down your throat… .”

“Kwaaaaaa!! Ugh, huh… … .”

Bloodshot eyes like a madman.

The onlookers who encountered the completely unexpected side of the peddler could not help but feel a deeper and more intense fear than the pain that burned their skin.