The Berserker’s Second Playthrough in the Game - Chapter 16



Only Krnovel

Episode 16. The Devil Baron (2)

A tall castle wall standing on a green plain. The spring sun stretched warmly over it like a freshly dried blanket. It was a light that brought forth new life.

But the soldiers could not welcome it at all. On the castle walls without any shade, the sunlight was nothing more than a dull light that aroused thirst. The soldiers each held a pebble in their mouths to get even a little moisture.

The senior soldier who put two stones in his mouth kicked the junior soldier. Then he muttered and opened his mouth.

“Huh, hul. I don’t know how far you’ll go, Barbara. If you suck my penis, you’ll get bloodshot.”

I’ve been quiet for four months, and this is an attack that will make me freeze to death…

While complaining inwardly, the junior soldier lazily got up and looked outside the castle.

The situation outside was the same. The flag of the Adlen family fluttering in the wind. About four hundred soldiers scattered scattered around the castle. Although they seemed to be stretched out like sloths, they would rush in at the first sign of the gate opening.

It has been four months since we were besieged by Viscount Adlen’s soldiers. Malden’s battle situation showed no signs of changing.

In the early days, something similar to a siege took place. However, soon after, his son, Viscount Wren, changed his stance to surround the castle and hold out. On this side, the number of soldiers was so overwhelmingly low that it was impossible to attack first, so a stalemate was inevitable.

The ones who were gradually becoming disadvantaged were the Molden side. Winter food supplies had long since run out. For a while, only sunny weather had continued, so drinking water was not plentiful. And since this was happening during the peak planting season, they were even more worried about the future.

If it weren’t for their lord, the soldiers would have surrendered long ago, their morale running low.

The junior soldier, who was looking around the castle while looking outside, couldn’t help but get angry all of a sudden. He spat out a pebble and shook his senior’s shoulder violently.

“Tch! Brother Delton, Brother Delton! I think you should spit out that rock and get up!”

“What the… … Why are you so excited… … .”

“Baron! “The Baron is coming up to the castle!”

“Tsk, tsk! What, what?”

The soldiers who had been lying down quickly stood up and prepared for alert in unison. Soon, a middle-aged man with a stylish mustache poked his head up the stairs. Delton, the nominal top officer, immediately saluted.

“Loyalty, nothing more than working! There is no significant movement on the enemy side! “I will report to you as soon as I detect any abnormalities, Baron!”

“Uh, yes, yes, hahaha! In the meantime, you have become a full-fledged soldier, Delton. My parents will be proud when they see it. Ah, it’s not a big deal that I came here like this, just drink this and take it easy while working… … .”

Baron Molden dropped the leather water bottle he had carried on his back onto the ground. The soldiers’ eyes widened in unison.

“No, Baron. You can ask other soldiers to do this… … .”

“Oh my, shouldn’t those guys get some rest too? And what’s so hard about carrying a water jug? It’s much harder to stay on guard all day when you never know when the enemy will attack. Isn’t that right? Hahaha!”

Delton and the soldiers averted their gaze with stinging faces. However, the Baron paid no attention and smiled kindly.

“I feel very sorry for you. You made me suffer like this just because of me. If a person of no virtue like me had not been the lord of this place, this would not have happened… … .”

“Oh, no, Baron! It is the wicked Adlenian collaborators who are at fault, not you! It is our great honor to be able to follow you!”

“Haha… … I really appreciate you saying that. But I don’t think I should make things difficult for young people like you any longer. I should take responsibility as the one who caused this.”

“Huh? What do you mean… … .”

Instead of an answer, only a faint smile came back.

After that, Baron Molden encouraged the soldiers one by one and left. Delton muttered in bewilderment as he watched their backs moving away.

“… … What are you thinking? Sgelon, do you know something?”

“Well, I don’t know… … .”

“Huh, I hope you’re not thinking of something strange… … Where in the world would you find a lord like that again?”

“That’s right, brother. Those damned Adlens, how could they slander such a kind man by calling him the ‘Devil Baron’… … .”

The junior soldier raised his brow and glared at the Adlen family flag. He wished that a bolt from the blue would strike down upon them.

While looking outside, the junior soldier raised his eyelids.

A very large man and a small man carrying a bag.

Two men were approaching Malden.

“Uh… … Brother Delton? Do you see that?”

“What? You little brats are being stupid?”

“Oh, no. Beyond that. I think someone is coming this way… … .”

“Leave it alone, you’re either a wanderer or a tactless traveler. If you saw that you were surrounded by troops, you would have avoided it on your own, right? Unless you’re crazy because you want to die… … .”

Indeed, when they saw the soldiers’ camp, they turned around. Two people taking a detour around the castle. Delton thought that the travelers would now leave behind.

But instead of leaving, they returned to their original place.

“… … What is it? What are you thinking?”

Delton scratched the back of his head as if he didn’t understand English for the time being.

*

Baroness Malden’s room was incredibly simple for a noble lady’s room.

To put it in a good way, it’s old-fashioned, but in a bad way, it’s worn-out furniture and beds. In Chengdu and big cities, it had long since gone out of fashion and no one was using it. There were no decorations hanging on the rough brick walls. It looked more like an abandoned castle than a noble lady’s room.

Knock, knock, knock.

A regular knocking sound echoes through the neat ruins.

‘Can I come in?’

Even though entry was not permitted, the uninvited guest calmly entered.

Baron Molden was drenched in sweat after carrying a bucket of water. He sat down on an old chair, fanning himself diligently, forgetting about his dignity.

“Whew, the weather is starting to get warmer. Fortunately, I don’t have to worry about running out of firewood anymore.”

The Baroness, who has become thinner these days, secretly glances at her husband.

“… … What brought you here? “You probably didn’t come here to talk about the weather again.”

“Ah, it’s nothing special. “Do you remember the tulips you bought and planted last year?”

You’re suddenly talking about tulips while the entire community is suffering from famine? The Baron continued speaking, not paying attention to his wife’s puzzled look.

“You thought the landscaping around the inner castle was too bare, so you asked a peddler from the alliance territory to order twenty bulbs of each color, didn’t you?”

“… … “It was like that.”

“That would have been very beautiful when it had bloomed. Every time I saw it, I thought the world around me was so empty, but I don’t know why I didn’t think of that. Anyway, I should know that you have a great aesthetic sense. If I lived in a big city instead of here, I would have created a beautiful garden that would rival the envy of an imperial palace. ha ha ha!”

“… … .”

“Let me see… … . The colors you bought were red, purple, yellow, and what other color was it? Was it blue? It would have been really colorful if they had all bloomed, hahaha… … .”

“… … “Did something happen there?”

A gaze filled with dark depression. The Baron hesitated, but eventually told the truth.

“… … When I came back, I saw the children of the castle picking flower buds and digging up bulbs to eat.”

“… … .”

“With my skinny hands, without even a shovel, I was digging into the dirt until my fingernails broke.”

“… … .”

“When he saw me, he was so startled that he trembled and hurriedly stuffed the lump into his mouth. “When I get scolded, I guess the thought was, even if I get scolded, I have to fill my hungry stomach right away.”

“So, you scolded the kids?”

A sad smile appeared on the Baron’s lips.

“No, how can I do that when the children are going through all that hardship because of me? “I called Meldin and told him to check if the kids were in trouble.”

“Well done. But Meldin… … .”

“Ah, I know. That’s a quack. But, what can you do? Borchen, the only doctor, passed away last month.”

“… … .”

Borhen, who was old, starved to death after repeatedly passing the small loaves of bread provided as rations to his grandchildren. Not only Borchen, but many of her parents and elderly people were dying from dehydration because they had given up food to their children.

What’s even more terrifying is that there are parents who fill their hungry stomachs by depriving their children of their share of rations.

But even after being caught, he couldn’t bring himself to punish him. The Baron took a deep breath and exhaled deeply. After washing his face dry and taking a long pause, he finally got to the point.

“ma’am. “I have something to confess.”

“… … .”

“I am a person who is lacking and immoral, so I have always been worried about where to place my grave. But today, after thinking about it carefully, isn’t there a glorious grave right in front of me that could save countless lives?”

“… … .”

“Madam, listen carefully. “Today I will put an end to everything and die with honor.”

The Baroness raised her gaze. A faint smile appeared on the Baron’s lips.

“If I die, Viscount Adlen will no longer have any justification to besiege this place. Children will be able to eat soft bread instead of muddy bulbs, and young people will be able to hold plows instead of spear knives. “This sluggish battle ends with the death of the ‘Evil Baron.’”

“But that’s not the real reason they attacked you. You have nothing to do with demons… … .”

“… … .”

For a moment, his cheek twitched slightly. The Baron quickly hid the trace.

“The truth is not important. What is important is practicality and justification. “If they only pursued the truth, wouldn’t they have called the church’s paladins a long time ago?”

“… … .”

“If Count Adlen does not step down even after I die, send a messenger to His Majesty the Emperor and spread the rumor. If His Majesty still condones the atrocities, then simply switch to the Allies and receive help.”

“… … .”

“I entrust the future of Molden to you, Madam. It won’t be easy, but I hope you will lead the territory wisely, rather than this foolish country bumpkin.”

Fluttering lips. Her wife had so much to say that she was at a loss for words. The Baron shook his head as if there was no need to say anything and left the lady’s room.

A declaration that does not expect an answer. The back of someone walking away. The room where the unexpected guest left was left with only the coldness of the brick walls and a dreary silence.

The Baroness looked away for a while.

Then, with a look of resignation on his face, he finally opened the closet and took out the faded shroud.

*

“What should I do now, my lord?”

“… … .”

Kadim bit his lip tightly.

The troops were evenly distributed and surrounded the castle. I looked around from a distance to see if there was a hole I could sneak through, but there was no result. If there had been such a place, then Molden would have fallen long ago.

Since it had come to this, there was no other way. I had no choice but to resort to a somewhat drastic solution.

“Peddler, find a safe place to hide nearby.”

“Yes, yes?”

“I will go to Malden alone. “I will come out as soon as I find the treasure written on the map.”

Although he should have gotten used to it by now, Duncan couldn’t help but feel scared once again. Did that mean that he was going to charge the troops head-on and climb over the walls?

“B-but it’ll get better… … . Ah, no matter what, dealing with hundreds of soldiers alone… … .”

“I’m not saying I’m going to kill all of those troops. If you cross the camp under cover of darkness, it will be enough to take out the sentries. But it won’t be easy to get over the wall with you, so you should wait nearby… … .”

… … Device Device… … .

subtle vibration. Kadim had no choice but to suddenly look away while speaking. Duncan also turned his gaze. Then an unbelievable sight came into view.

The iron bars were raised and the central gate of Malden was opened.

“Huh? Huh, why is the gate open now… …?”

“… … .”

“no way… … “Is Baron Malden planning an all-out war, or is he?”

It was a question that even Kadim could not answer. However, unlike the peddler who was filled with doubt and his thoughts were frozen, the barbarian quickly made a decision.

Never miss this opportunity.

He opened the canteen and drank the remaining blood in one gulp. Then he relaxed his muscles and lifted Duncan.

“Hold on tight, peddler. “You’ll feel a little dizzy.”

“……yes?”

He carries a peddler on one side and holds a ‘mosquito’ in the other hand.

Boom!

Kadim kicked off the floor like a gale and ran towards the castle gate.

Hooooooooo –

A fast gallop that no other horse can keep up with. The wind was strong and my ears were tingling. The scenery passing by was blurred like an oil painting with smudged paint. With each step, the gate got closer.

“Ugh, euaaa …

A peddler’s scream announced their approach. The attention that had been focused on the castle gate returned. All the soldiers in the camp looked at the rushing barbarians with bleary eyes.

Wedge – Suck, puck!!!

The blade, which had been carrying the same momentum as the charge, pierced the head of a soldier. The helmet was crushed like a tin can, and the skull was crushed and turned into a slurry. As I pulled out the sword, the blood flow was sucked cleanly into the blade.

Ugh – Ugh!!

The enemy cut down another soldier. A sticky hitting sound erupted, and the forearm and upper body were cut off in an instant. The dismembered pieces of meat rolled around on the floor, leaving red marks.

puck!

The soldier behind him simply took the blow with his shoulder. He fell for a long time, his entire body’s bones shattered as if he had been hit by a battering ram.

“… … .”

A merciless charge that stirred up a storm of blood. It was impossible to stop it. Wherever the savages passed, torn and twisted corpses piled up like a mess.

However, strangely enough, the soldiers showed no sign of moving aside.

It doesn’t move, doesn’t scream, and just stares blankly at the barbarian with unfocused eyes.

Kadim felt an uneasy sense of unease.

‘… … Your comrades are dying right in front of you, and you don’t feel any emotion?’

But there was no time to analyze the cause. I didn’t know when the gate would close, and the peddler who was stuck next to me was going crazy.

“Eww, ugh, whoop, ugh!”

Kadim eventually passed through the camp, killing only the soldiers blocking his path.

Before long, we arrived at the central gate of Molden.

“… … .”

“… … .”

What greeted him there were not the soldiers of Malden preparing for an all-out war. There was only one middle-aged man wearing chain mail and a handsome mustache.

The middle-aged man, disgusted by the sight of the blood-stained savage, gave him a blank stare. Kadim frowned and asked.

“Who are you?”

“Uh, um… … Except for the lord of this place, Baron Malden… … .”

“Oh, are you the ‘Devil Baron’?”

“Um, that… … I’m sorry, but the rumors about me being related to the devil are not true. There are circumstances behind that… … .”

“is it? Let’s go inside and hear more details. “It’s not a good place to have a conversation.”

“Oh, no, haha, wait… … I don’t know who you are, but I’m here to sacrifice my life for Malden. I can’t just go back… … .”

“Die later.”

The Baron had no choice.

The barbarian grabbed the back of his armor and lifted the baron up. He was dragged away like a kitten bitten by its mother. Duncan, who had been captured earlier, greeted him awkwardly.

“Uh… … Hello, Baron… … ?”

“Hahaha, really, this is embarrassing… … Oh, hello. Who are you?”

“More, Duncan, Duncan Wheeled, my lord… … .”

“Oh, what a nice name. You don’t seem to be from this area. Are you perhaps from the Alliance?”

The peddler thought. I never thought that in my life I would end up talking to a lord who was about to commit suicide, carried around like a burden by a barbarian.

Life was something to live and see for a long time.