The Berserker’s Second Playthrough in the Game - Chapter 184



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Episode 184. The Last Dragon (3)

About 300 years ago.

A human coveted the dragon’s treasure and entered its nest.

Usually, this is an incident that will end with the person being torn to death by the dragon’s claws, being burned by the dragon’s breath, or dying as a mere bite of prey. But at that time, it looked completely different. Because the man’s father, a wealthy man, asked a barbarian to rescue his son.

The barbarian went to the dragon’s nest without hesitation. He didn’t care even when the girl wizard who was his colleague shouted that he had turned away. Even though it was impossible for him to fight a dragon, no matter how strong he was, he still had faith in him.

That I’ve already completed this quest dozens of times ‘in-game’.

Indeed, just like in the game, the dragon, hungry for fun, proposed a bet instead of just killing the cowardly barbarian.

– If you can withstand the breath of the dragon head-on for 10 seconds, I will spare your life, your companions, and even the life of this wretch who dared to covet the dragon’s possession. Of course, if you can’t withstand it… … You know what will happen after that without me having to tell you.

‘… … .’

The dragon’s breath vaporized even the oceans. In fact, it was the same as telling him to just die. The dragon knew that the bet would not work if things continued like this, so he gave the barbarian one favorable condition. He would let him choose one of his ‘treasures’ piled up like a mountain and use it as armor.

The savage chose the same ‘treasure’ as the game.

‘… … ‘Let me choose with this shield.’

And he survived the dragon’s breath for 10 seconds, saving everyone’s lives.

The savage didn’t stop there.

He knew that the dragon didn’t give it his all for fear of damaging the treasure. He taunted the dragon, saying that he could only produce this much firepower, and that he could withstand even stronger flames. He then suggested that if I held my breath for 10 seconds with all my might, I would be granted one wish this time.

And after holding my breath for 10 seconds, I finally got a chance to make a wish to the dragon.

Even though his shield almost completely melted at the last minute and he suffered serious injuries, and the dragon did not properly grant his wish… … .

‘Huh, oh oh… … Ugh… … Sooner or later, the army of the great evil will spread… … I will destroy this world… … . Please help us defeat that great evil… … Lend me your strength, dragon… … .’

– … … That won’t do. Make another wish.

… … Still, what happened next could be considered a happy ending.

The barbarian eventually made a wish to move the nest so that there would be no more victims, as a game option. The dragon gladly accepted this wish and left secretly for the Great Forest. The tycoon was so moved that the barbarian not only saved his son but also eradicated the dragon threat, that he treated his injuries with care and gave him a much larger reward than he had promised.

This was the first episode’s memories of the barbarian, the dragon known to Kadim, and the rich master’s master.

But even if the wanderer leaves, the torrent of time does not stop, and its flow moves in an unpredictable direction.

Who would have expected that the young master who was saved at that time would become a great man who united the eastern part of the continent, and that he would once again seek out the dragon and become its close friend?

The process went something like this.

After Kadim left, rumors spread and the young master who barely survived unintentionally gained the nickname of ‘the one who defeated the dragon and returned’. Hearing of this reputation, people from all over came to him and asked him to solve their problems.

The young master could not turn down the request. The savage’s fighting spirit, which did not yield even before the dragon, awakened something inside him. He graduated from his foolish and rascally behavior and used his own wisdom to help those in need. Then, he recruited them as his people and helped other people, gaining even greater fame.

In an era of war, a high reputation was like a magnet, and talented people flocked to him like water, and the young master naturally formed a large power.

By the time he was thirty, he had become more influential than the monarch of a small kingdom. By the time he was forty, he had become the most powerful man in the eastern part of the continent. By the time he was fifty, he had finally unified the eastern part of the continent and established the Free Cities Alliance, becoming its first leader.

Until he was over sixty, he focused solely on performing his duty as the ruler of the alliance. But when he passed 70, he suddenly realized that the time he had been given was running out.

Then a huge impulse took over my mind.

‘… … I must apologize to that dragon before I die. I am truly sorry for intruding into its nest without permission and disturbing its precious treasure… … .’

It was one of the last debts left to the hero who had repaid all his debts and accomplished all his great deeds.

If someone had heard it, they would have dismissed it as senile nonsense… … This master, who was over seventy years old, was not an ordinary person. He really put everything aside, went into hiding, and set out to find the dragon alone. Underlying his unstoppable ability to act was the conviction that a dragon that lived for thousands of years would remember that incident as if it were yesterday.

The only clue he had about the dragon was that it had left for the Great Forest. He was able to find the dragon’s nest in the Great Forest without dying, thanks to the relics and magical tools he brought with him, but it would be more accurate to say that it was simply the help of the gods.

Anyway, the prediction was right. He had turned from a bright green magpie into a wrinkled old man, but the dragon remembered him clearly.

– Why did you come here again, you punk? Have you still not forgotten your bad habits and come here to steal something again?

‘No, this time I came to apologize for my past mistakes.’

I didn’t have much life left anyway, and I wasn’t afraid of the dragon’s razor-thing that would tire my soul. He calmly put down the treasures he had brought as a gift of apology. The dragon snorted his.

– I’ve seen mortals do crazy things when they’re about to die, but this is the first time I’ve seen this kind of madness. What was your insignificant name that would be scattered more in vain than letters written in the sand?

‘My name is Remillion. On behalf of mortals who are about to die, I dare to ask, what will happen to your sacred name that will not be broken by any storm and will remain as a star in the heavens even if it falls?’

– The name of the main dragon is… … Rahphuh-sthran.

‘… I see. It’s hard to pronounce, so why don’t we just call it ‘Lafustran’?’

– … … .

It was the moment when the strange friendship between a dragon that lived for thousands of years and a human that lived less than a hundred years began.

*

A passage leading down to the deepest part of the cave, the dragon’s lair.

Even though not a single piece of scale had appeared yet, its presence was already weighing down the entire passage. Lemilion clutched her forearm and looked worriedly at her shivering Duncan.

“If you can’t hold on, you can go up and wait. “It took me quite a while to fully adapt to that friend’s attitude.”

“Oh, no! My best guide, Duncan Wheeled! “I can handle this as much as I can!”

Although he pretended to be okay, Duncan was unable to loosen his grip on his forearm. A different kind of pressure from Kadim’s life or the devil’s magic. The overwhelming gap as a fundamental organism repeatedly made my bones and muscles ache.

So, I couldn’t help but wonder.

‘No, such a being… … I’m so scared and scared… … ?’

I couldn’t imagine it. A legendary monster that exudes a tremendous presence even outside of sight, is trembling with fear like you? And that’s because he was defeated by just one person? It was a story that was even blasphemous in some ways.

Lilia couldn’t come because she was mentally and physically weak. Although not as much as Duncan, it was clear that Ilenia was also nervous. Before she came to the Great Forest, she had been fighting dragons so much, but now she doesn’t say a word.

Of all those who saw the dragon for the first time, only Kadim remained calm. No, strictly speaking, this was his second meeting… … It would be safe to say that no one remained calm at first sight.

The group eventually reached the entrance to the nest. Remillion warned in a low voice.

“I say this again out of anger, but please do not provoke Lapustran with unnecessary actions or words. Just because he’s scared doesn’t mean he’s a docile and safe little animal. On the contrary, for helpless field mice like us, a cornered cat is much more dangerous than a leisurely lion.”

“… … .”

“But, well, he’s not like he’s a bad guy by nature… … It’s best to be as careful as possible. I’ll try to persuade you step by step, and if I feel it’s dangerous, I’ll tell you right away, so all you have to do is answer my questions or interfere with what I say.”

The group nodded bitterly. They calmed down and entered the entrance one by one.

A cavity with a very high ceiling was revealed.

It was a sight that made me understand the long time it took to come down. It was not only tall but also spacious, but compared to the actual square footage, the space did not seem that large.

There were so many colorful gold and silver treasures piled up like a mountain that there was no room to move.

Gems and precious metals, dwarven equipment, axes and new soldiers… … . The brilliance of the treasure, like the Milky Way, chilled the iris. The warehouse of Ubik, the king of the arena who controlled a city, was nothing more than Toho’s barn compared to this treasure trove that seemed to have swept up all the wealth in the world.

Nevertheless, no one in the party was amazed at the sight of the treasure.

Even Duncan, the peddler who was more interested in gold and silver treasures than anyone else, was like that. His wide eyes were fixed on only one place.

Over there, in the center of the treasure pile, is a scale-covered spirit that shines more brilliantly than any other treasure. Shinyoung is so huge that it is hard to believe that it belongs to a single living thing, and that it cannot even be captured with the naked eye. Shinyoung, whose mere existence preaches the irrationality of fate, turns predators into prey, and teaches fear to those who do not know fear.

When we met up close, I could tell right away. The presence I felt upon coming was just a taste.

An unimaginable pressure came over me. The tendons of my entire body relaxed and my muscles became mushy like rotten meat. Ilenia closed her eyes tightly and broke into a cold sweat, and Duncan sat down like a broken doll.

“Huh, huk… … .”

“… … .”

Even if I had come here without knowing anything, I would have figured it out automatically. That being is the ‘strongest creature on earth.’

The dragon was curled up with its huge body covered in golden scales, and was curled up elegantly like a golden castle. Even when he sensed the presence of the group, he didn’t even lift his eyelids. He just spat out an indifferent greeting with sharp teeth.

– Go away, before I burn it down.

Rumbling… … .

The voice that shook even the will of the soul, and despite the dry vocabulary, were more threatening than any ugly threat. Even Remillion, who was his close friend, almost lost his composure for a moment.

“Ahem… It’s been a while since I last saw you, Laphustran. It’s the first time since you borrowed the flame, right? How have you been feeling lately?”

– Shut up, you mortal who is worse than a worm… … I don’t know what nonsense you came here to spout, but it is a grave mistake to think that the original dragon will not continue to kill you just because he made you a dragon.

“Haha, judging by your temper, you still have a lot to live for! But open your eyes. You’ll probably be surprised when you see what kind of guest I’ve brought.”

As the full moon emerged after a lunar eclipse, the eyelids opened through the gaps in the scales and the reptilian nictitating membrane was removed. Kadim calmly looked into those majestic eyes, like celestial bodies.

“It’s been a while, Dragon.”

Dragon, Laphustran, twitched his eyebrows.

– … … You are a foolish pawn of a lump of dust. Was he really still holding on to his name?

Sensing the displeasure contained within, Remillion quickly joined the conversation.

“Haha, as expected, you recognized it right away. Of course, 300 years is a long time for us, but it may not be that long for you. By the way, I have good news! This guy has decided to help you deal with the ‘World-Warring Calamity’!”

– … … .

“You remember, don’t you? That interest endured even your breath, even though you had exerted all your power? Last time, when we attacked the ‘World-Changing Fire,’ we were disappointed by an unexpected mishap, but this time it will be different! With such a strong ally, we will definitely be able to avenge our last defeat… … .”

――――――― Bang – !

A front paw the size of a large mountain struck the floor.

– … … If you bring up that magician one more time, I will crush you.

A sunken ground, treasures pouring down. The entire group avoided being crushed by a single stroke.

Yong-in was speechless. He tried to somehow pull himself together and continue his persuasion, but seeing the front legs lift up every time he changed direction to the main topic, it didn’t look good. Duncan, who was watching the deaths going up and down, eventually fainted from the extreme tension.

Meanwhile, Kadim carefully observed the dragon’s form.

One broken horn, wings and back muscles trembling intermittently, defensive crouching posture, scars so deep that scales are peeling off here and there… … .

Remillion’s expression of ‘a cornered cat’ was accurate. Although he was acting threatening, the dragon looked noticeably more intimidated than he remembered from the past.

What’s odd is that it doesn’t seem like Melissa is the cause.

Kadim asked directly.

“How did you end up losing to Melissa, Dragon?”

– … … Watch your mouth, you worthless thing. If only the main dragon had exerted his power, that lowly magician would have already turned to ashes along with the World Tree.

“Then go now and prove it. If we don’t stop Melissa, the rift will collapse soon and the world will end.”

– Shut up… … . Being fooled by the tricks of the little creatures once was enough. Going to punish that magician was the most unfortunate thing the main dragon had done in his long life.

“I see. Was there something that was preventing you from using your power? For example, the scars carved into your bosom.”

– … … !

The dragon’s eyes wavered for a moment, as if he had hit the nail on the head. Kadim did not miss that moment.

“Tell me, Dragon. “What is it that makes you tremble with fear that there is no equal on this earth?”

Although he was a small creature, no bigger than an ant, his warrior’s presence was not at all inferior to that of the golden dragon. His firm gaze and majestic voice contained a spirit that even the most powerful beings could not ignore.

– … … .

The last dragon glared at Khadim.

Soon, he began to pour out his story as if he was chewing and spitting it out.

*

After telling the story like that.

– … … But the main dragon cannot help you. You either kill that magician or boil him. Now it’s up to you to figure it out among yourselves.

The dragon once again firmly stated his refusal.

Kadim recalled what he had heard from Remillion before coming in.

‘… Don’t provoke Lafustra with unnecessary actions or words.’

Given that heartfelt warning, I tried to be as provocative as possible, using vocabulary that was as mild as possible.

“You’re still a coward to your core, as always. “The name ‘Dragon’ is a waste, so I think it would be better to rename it to Golden Gecko.”

“… … .”

Ilenia felt her body temperature drop by about ten degrees.

“… … .”

Duncan woke up for a moment, then fell asleep again.

– … … .

A passion like a thousand fires filled the dragon’s pupils.

“… … .”

Remillion’s eyes suddenly darkened.