The Berserker’s Second Playthrough in the Game - Chapter 221



Only Krnovel

Episode 221 Star Crusher (10)

A horse without legs can travel a thousand miles.

Although Delutana, the ‘Golden City’, is the largest city in the alliance, it is much smaller in diameter. Within a few days, the rumor spread throughout the city, and one person’s name was constantly on the lips of all citizens.

“Did you hear that? The demon slayer killed the imperial paladins who attacked Delutana… … .”

“… … It’s not just a Holy Knight, it’s a ‘Decagram’ who once destroyed a city overnight… … .”

“… … The demon slayer swung his enormous hammer, and both of them were killed in one blow… … .”

“The reason the western wall collapsed was because the demon slayer and the paladin fought… … .”

“Oh my God, Remillion… … . Is that possible with human power… … .”

A mercenary who once slaughtered demons on the Golden Road and now brings down the stars of the empire, the ‘Demon Slayer’.

He wasn’t the only topic to discuss. The disappearance of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, the numerous victims, the treatment of those who were evangelists, the restoration of the destroyed city, the future prospects of the war… … In fact, Delutana had many more realistic and urgent agenda items. Nevertheless, citizens were busy talking about the demon slayer all day long.

Because he was the ‘hero’ who saved Delutana.

A ‘hero’ who saved the ‘Golden City’, which was on the verge of destruction due to the asymmetrical power of an empire that was ignored by other large cities, even members of the Council of Councilors were divided, and high-ranking people fled, and the asymmetrical power of an empire that could not resist, with only the force of one god. ‘Because it was.

It is truly a great feat that can only be seen in legends and myths. The golden leader, Remillion, who saved the city with a single gold coin, was a feat that could barely be matched. It was a natural progression for the demon slayer to become Delutana’s biggest celebrity, and for his every move to become a topic of great interest to everyone.

Of course, not everyone reacted the same way to the demon slayer.

Overwhelming strength breeds intense admiration, but it also breeds intense suspicion and jealousy. Some revere and praise him, while others denigrate and suspect him, and soon heated conflicts over the mercenary erupt in various places in Delutana.

“No, think about it! Does it make sense for one person to defeat thousands of monsters with shining swords on their backs and lay waste to the castle walls and land?”

“Why not? There are cases like the wizards of the Magic Tower, and I have already seen the imperial knights do this… … .”

“The case is different from those guys, the case! Wizards do that because they use magic, and paladins do that because they receive Elgar’s blessing… … .”

“Anyway, why don’t you serve the god of war that the Atalans believe in? Considering how strong General Goltaran was, it’s not entirely absurd… … .”

“Ah, that’s enough! Everyone, have full faith! I will never believe it until I see it wielded with my own eyes… … .”

However, suspicions about force were quickly dispelled.

The gospel body was exterminated, but Elgar’s familiars still remained throughout the streets. The demon slayer stayed in Delutana and sorted them out, personally proving that the pseudonym was not fictitious.

――――― Huh – Huh, boom!

– Ke- Heung!!

– Kekeke!!

The pure white dogs were mercilessly crushed by the devastating hammer blows, and dozens of corpses were strewn across the streets. As long as they had two eyes and two ears, no one could help but acknowledge its overwhelming strength.

Those who had lost their minds raised another question.

Why on earth would a monster of that size suddenly show up and help Delutana? And why would he even risk going up against the Empire, the greatest power on the continent? Could it be that he has ambitions to seize the entire city?

“Of course, you must have made some kind of agreement with the Turis family councilor. “That family has been supporting the demon slayer for a long time, knowingly or unknowingly, right?”

“No, I heard it was related to the old man who worked at the sledgehammer workshop near the north gate… … .”

“When he was in Agon, he was a rival of General Goltaran, and he tried to take over the city while the general was away… … .”

It was a problem that could be solved by asking the person in question, but no one had the courage to do so. He had a ferocious and murderous aura that was scary to look at from afar. No one dared approach him, much less talk to him. Compared to his fame and popularity, the demon slayer lived a rather leisurely life.

In any case, the citizens’ predictions were all wrong. The reason why Kadeem came to Delutana and stayed behind instead of leaving was the peddler who left this note.

‘… … Your Majesty, if you are reading this note, it means I am no longer there. I, Duncan, a poor bastard, first of all, deeply apologize for leaving without your permission… … .’

It’s basically about him going to go find his family on his own, so he asks you to stay here and watch over the people.

Perhaps worried that he might be treated like a child left out in the water, he hesitated and added a long explanation.

Untana, where his family left, will soon return; that the suffering people of Delutana are the only hope for him; that seeing the lord and the soldiers who went to rescue the old man with the sledgehammer without hesitation made him think about the value of life and true struggle; that he will take on the mission of bringing his family alone and grow further before returning home in glory… … .

Kadim thought as he put away the notes filled with empty words.

‘… … ‘You crazy bastard.’

*

War does not allow time for the fire in the smithy to be extinguished. Not only to make armor and spear knives, but at the very least, to make a shovel to bury the body.

However, it seemed unlikely that the fire in this workshop, which was once the biggest boom in Delutana, would be rekindled. Not only did the walls and pillars that supported the building collapse, but even the skilled craftsman who had maintained his reputation was reduced to a handful of dirt.

There is now only one customer left in the ruined workshop: a gaunt girl with swollen eyelids.

However, today, even a large man added his footsteps.

“As expected, you were here.”

“Uh, uh… … Mercenary.”

Kadim approaches beyond the rubble. Gulak’s granddaughter, who had been in a daze, suddenly came to her senses. Although the two people seemed to have no connection whatsoever, they had one common denominator.

In my heart, I carry the legacy left behind by a lame blacksmith.

“Ah, mercenary… … . Sorry, sorry. Thanks to the mercenary, I was able to safely retrieve his grandfather’s body… … I haven’t even been able to say thank you properly… … .”

“… … No, it doesn’t matter. “I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner and ask for inspiration.”

“No, no, that’s definitely not your fault, mercenary… … . But I heard you’re busy cleaning up the monsters left in the city these days… … What brought you here… … ?”

“Well, I have a question to ask you about ‘this’.”

Boom – !

It was placed on the ground where the masterpiece of the sledgehammer, ‘Star Crusher’, was made. The girl looked at the shape with a complicated look, and Kadim looked at it again.

It has already been completely proven that this hammer is no ordinary weapon. The size and weight that are faithful to the mantra of ‘big one’, the durability without a scratch even after such a rough fight, the fit and balance designed so perfectly for the user that you feel obsessed, and the ‘impact accumulation’ that showed unparalleled power… … .

Even with the above conditions alone, this weapon is easily worthy of being rated Epic. However, this hammer has a different value.

Woohoo!

After crushing the paladin’s bone, a white engraving was added next to the bright blue ‘Enchant’ engraving. An engraving of a ten-branched star and a ten-pointed star pattern.

It was the 7th seat of the Decagram, the ‘stigmata’ of the ‘star that gives life’.

It was not just a decoration that imitated a shape. I just came to test that when activated, it really has the same effect as the ‘Stigmata’.

Given the circumstances, I thought that the naming of ‘Star Crusher’ had given the hammer a new special effect, similar to when ‘The Name-Crusher’ was used. Perhaps… … ‘If you kill a member of the Decagram with this weapon, you will steal their stigmata.’

It was an incredible morale effect. Are you robbing Elgar of a feat worthy of ‘unique characteristics’? If that were true, this hammer could easily surpass the highest grade, ‘Legendary’, and be on par with ‘Atala’s Judgment’.

Of course, it was not unreasonable, since he was a ‘divine soldier’ ​​blessed by the god served by the dwarves of the north with such a great reputation… … But it was still unknown how the creator summoned him. Therefore, this was what Khadim wanted to ask.

While the Hammermaster was making this, was there any sign or hint that the Dwarf God might appear?

The girl initially replied that she didn’t know, but after thinking about it for a while, she hesitantly confessed her thoughts.

“As you know, my grandfather… … really, risked his life to make this hammer… … . Although I only met him for a short time, the reason I thought my grandfather was such an awesome and respectable person was because I saw him put all his effort into making this… … .”

“… … .”

“So, maybe the dwarf god… … I think he was impressed as a blacksmith before being the god of the dwarves. I thought that a human who was not a dwarf who was born with dexterity, and even an old and physically disabled human, could forge iron like that without sparing his life… … .”

He impressed the heavens with the intelligence he dedicated his life to, La… … .

It was a cliche and absurd. However, cliche is the fate of all legends, and absurdity is the virtue of all miracles. There was no doubt that the ‘struggle’ of the old man with the hammer was worthy of it. Kadim nodded with eyes that seemed to have found some sort of answer.

Gulak’s granddaughter also had something to ask Kadim.

“I… … Mercenary. But how did you feel about using that hammer? … ? It was truly worth my grandfather sacrificing his life… … Was it a great weapon?”

He didn’t have the knack of putting it into words that were pleasant to listen to. Kadim answered honestly and sincerely.

“It’s a weapon that’s too good to be true. However, I don’t know if it was really worth sacrificing your life.”

“… … .”

“There are certainly better weapons somewhere in this world, but nowhere in this world is there a blacksmith better than your grandfather.”

“… … !”

After hearing that, the girl stood there dumbfounded.

The pupils became colorless, and the hues that had been swaying inside them slowly, slowly returned.

Time reversed in an instant. Memories of the past covered the present. The ruined workshop regained its original appearance. Along with the constant sound of metal, the roaring heat of the furnace, and the figure of an old man who never put down his hammer despite the hardships of life.

‘Grandpa, Grandpa, how did you hold on all this time? If I were Grandpa, I would have just given up and sat down because it was so unfair and difficult.

‘Kkeu kkeu, why wouldn’t this old man have done that? It’s just… … I believed that a time like this would come someday, and with the support of my benefactor, I barely managed to get back up again… … .’

‘yes? ‘A time like now?’

‘Yes, right now. Like this, I will give my all to create a masterpiece for my benefactor… … .’

Kka – ang! Kka – ang! Kka – ang!

‘… … Just for the moment when I get to meet and talk to you like this, baby.’

A bright smile that puts even broken front teeth and wrinkles to shame. Fading memories came flooding back, and the girl couldn’t stop her vision from becoming blurry once again.

Meanwhile, Kadim noticed something in the girl’s hand.

He opened his eyes wide and burst into laughter. Blood is thicker than water, I guess.

“But who knows? One day, a blacksmith who surpasses even the old man with a hammer will appear here.”

“… … yes? … … “Wow!”

The girl asked a question without thinking, but then got startled and hid her hands behind her back. She excused herself by saying she was just collecting her grandfather’s belongings, but it was already too late. Even the calluses she had developed from secretly practicing her hammering were revealed.

“What is your name?”

“Oh, my name is…” … Hephaes… … “Hephais.”

“Yes, Hephaes. May the fighting spirit of Atala and the blessings of the furnace and anvil be with you. “I look forward to seeing what other ‘masterpieces’ that sledgehammer will create in the future.”

With those words, Kadim turned his back.

Hephaes looked at the warrior leaving in confusion. Behind it was a steel-like strength that could last for a thousand years. However, her focus gradually shifted to something else. A huge silver hammer tied to the warrior’s back and the blood and sweat of an old blacksmith that will surely write more legends than the stars in the future.

If, like my grandfather… … I could create a work like that with my own hands.

My heart pounded inexplicably. I picked up the scrap metal that had fallen to the ground as if possessed. Step by step, I gathered my excitement and approached the anvil. With one hand, I held the iron piece firmly in place, and with the other, I lifted the hammer with all my might.

Although it is just a meaningless pounding now, I hope that someday this hammering will create another ‘masterpiece’.

Kka – Aang!

The hammer that brought an era to an end has sounded its first new sound.

*

Time passed helplessly. The major events that occurred in Delutana so far were as follows.

The missing Chairman Pellico was finally found dead. The mastermind behind the Gospel incident was revealed to be Ramulek Bolgaruis, a member of the council who was in collusion with the Empire. And most of all… … The demon slayer captured one of Elgar’s servant horses and released it into a brewery, turning the surrounding area upside down.

The misunderstanding was barely put to rest when it was revealed that the intention was not to harm the brewers, but to brew gaeapsul and bury it in someone’s grave. However, the very idea of ​​making alcohol with the milk of a fierce dog larger than a wolf is already beyond common sense. Among the citizens, the number of those who feared or were wary of the mysterious barbarians increased.

Regardless, the demon slayer was an indispensable sentinel. Thanks to him drying out the seeds of familiars and protecting the city, the Golden City maintained peace despite its instability.

However, Kadim slowly thought about leaving. There was no word from Duncan, who said he would return soon.

In the end, the wait got too long, and by the time I decided to leave Delutana… … .

Duncan is back.

The family he had been searching for so desperately, and… … along with a huge crowd he had never imagined.

“The first head of the great Wheeled family, the ‘Savior of Untana’ who saved the city from a cataclysmic crisis, and the ‘Reaper of the Silver Mirror Lake’ who slayed the shameless Holy Knight of the Empire! Duncan Wheeled is coming! Everyone, please get out of the way!”

The rider in the vanguard shouted at the top of his lungs. The military band that followed beat drums and blew horns.

Thump, thud, thud, thump – ! Pouuuu, pouuuu – !

In the center of the main body was a peddler on a white horse, and on either side of him were his wife and son on black horses. Behind them, noblewomen and their families bowed their heads like criminals, and the outer perimeter of the procession was strictly guarded by Atalan warriors and soldiers of the slaughter army. The citizens who had gathered to see the spectacle opened their eyes wide and chattered busily.

“What, who is that guy…? Why is he growing his beard like a goat…?”

“Oh my, the person next to you seems to be Mrs. Wheeled… … .”

“Huh? Hey, those people following me, they’re the descendants of a noble family that took refuge in Untana… … .”

“… … .”

What is this… … It’s not like a golden return.

Kadim had unusually glassy eyes. All this time, I couldn’t even guess what had happened. Before long, Duncan also found Khadim.

“What! “I’ll get better!”

I tried to come closer with a smile, but… … Unfortunately, this great peddler had no knowledge of horseback riding. The stubborn white horse never changed direction and kept moving forward, so Duncan had no choice but to break his head and cry out.

“Well, I caught the ‘Decagram’! I’m alone! Save your family too! Save all these people too! We also caught one Archpaladin belonging to Decagram… … .”

“Duncan Wheeled! Duncan Wheeled! Duncan Wheeled!”

“Savior of Untana!! May the golden glory of Remillion be upon the ‘Reaper of Silver Mirror Lake’!!”

Boom, boom, boom – ! Boom – !!

The shout was quickly buried in the commotion and disappeared. Kadim thought as he looked at the first head of the Wheeled family riding backwards on his saddle in the distance and the followers chanting around him.

‘… … crazy peddlers and ragtag bunch of bastards.’