The Berserker’s Second Playthrough in the Game - Chapter 223



Only Krnovel

Episode 223 Reaper of Silver Mirror Lake (2)

What is the most beautiful spot in the Alliance Territory?

If you ask this question, people’s opinions will be divided. Delutana’s central square, the Vestana Street with its towering tower, the scenery of Galentana University with autumn leaves, the vast forest, etc… … . However, if you change the question to choose five places, the name of one place will most likely not be left out.

Silver Mirror Lake, a bright mirror reflecting heaven on earth.

A powerhouse that shines brightly like a blue jewel. The water surface is calm enough to withstand a hundred years of wind and waves, and the water volume is abundant enough to withstand a thousand years of drought. At the edge of the lake, beautiful cedar trees stand like sacred candlesticks, following the sun’s rays and laying down on the water’s shadow.

Although it is a beautiful sight in any season, the lake’s true value is especially revealed in winter.

When frost falls on the water’s edge, the surface of the lake freezes. Without any flaws, as clear and calm as a silver mirror. Then, during the day, the lake will be filled with fluffy clouds, and at night, the lake will be filled with the sparkling Milky Way, and the snow-covered trees will follow the wind and set off silver fireworks, creating an unbelievable scenery that is hard to believe is out of this world.

It is truly a place that can bring deep emotion to even the hearts of those with a dry spirit. There was no need to say anything, especially if you were a noble lady who liked to make a fuss.

“Oh my! Oh my goodness, such a different world exists in the Alliance Territory!”

“Oh, Remillion! I have never seen such a beautiful place before! It’s like entering a treasure chest hidden by the heavenly gods… … .”

The noble ladies who finally reached the lakeside were busy competing to admire it. Their eyes scanned the area busily, and all sorts of beautiful words poured out until their mouths were dry.

After the long tour, food and conversation continued. Under the tents that the slaves had spread out, they gathered together and enjoyed expensive tea and snacks while chatting. The topic of conversation was definitely a certain shabby woman who had gone a different way from them.

“Really, what would have happened if I had followed Madame Wheeled to Untana right then? I would have been trapped in that stuffy castle without being able to see such a beautiful view… … .”

“That’s right. It’s right next door anyway, so why bother stopping by for a bit? Maybe it’s because of where I’m from, but I don’t know if I should say the people are stuffy or dirty… … .”

Even the king is cursed when he is not seen. The noble ladies freely denounced the evils they could not bear to see in person. The gossip that started out as criticism of his old-fashioned personality and shabby appearance soon spread to groundless and dirty rumors such as that he had made all his wealth in the entertainment industry or that he had such and such a relationship with General Goltarran.

Then, one noblewoman suddenly changed the subject to a different direction.

“But maybe, the reason Mrs. Wheeled didn’t come… …was because she thought this lake was dangerous.”

“Yes? Why… … ?”

“There is a famous legend about Silver Mirror Lake. It is said that when winter comes and the lake freezes over, a ‘death god’ appears… … .”

As the saying goes, this lake has an ominous legend that doesn’t match its beautiful scenery.

There is a ‘God of Death’ living in the Silver Mirror Lake. The God of Death feeds on the souls of the drowned, and in other seasons, he hides in the deep water and does not come out. In any case, even if he stays still, people who die while playing in the water will appear from time to time.

However, in the winter when no one goes into the water, they open their black eyes beneath the ice and stare aimlessly upward. Then, whenever someone passes by, they grab your ankles like hooks and pull you to the bottom of the dark lake until you suffocate to death… … .

“… … It’s a legend that they just eat it as is, you know.”

““… … .””

Realistically speaking, it’s probably just a legend that arose because so many people fell to their deaths while walking on the ice while intoxicated by the beautiful scenery.

But the story was so creepy that it made my spine shiver. The ladies all moved their chairs away from the lake.

“however… … Where has Madame Bolgar-Louis gone? “I don’t think you’ve seen me since a while ago.”

“Um, really? I had a great time thanks to your wife, so I should at least say thank you… … .”

At that time, the water’s edge was a bit far away.

Madame Bolgar-Louis was wandering alone without an attendant. The trembling hands, the wandering eyes, and the dark look did not show that he was enjoying the leisurely scenery.

“I… … Are you there? Where are you… … ? As you said, I brought the entire group to Silver Mirror Lake… … .”

I called out desperately, but there was no answer. I had clearly promised to contact you when I was alone at the lakeside… … . In desperation, I repeated the words he always said.

“He is looking down from heaven on all ages… … All for the light… … .”

At that moment, a light flashed on the lake.

Mrs. Bolgaruis flinched and shook her shoulders. She approached the waterside as if in a trance. Nothing seemed particularly special at first. All she could see was the figure of a dazed noblewoman covered in water scales on the ice as clean as a mirror.

But somehow I felt strange, so I kept staring at the reflected image.

The statue suddenly broke the ice and stretched out its hand.

Damn it – !

“… … “Wow!”

A rough hand grabbed her by the collar. With a splash, the noblewoman’s figure disappeared completely.

After a while, Mrs. Bolgar-Louis jumped out of the water again.

Strangely enough, not even the tips of her hair or the hems of her clothes were wet. As I was walking around, another noblewoman approached me.

“Oh my, Mrs. Bolgaruis! There you are! Where have you been?”

“Oh, I just wanted to get some air alone for a moment. however… … Where are Mrs. Wheeled and her companions? I have something important to share with them… … .”

“yes? What are you saying… … ? “Mrs. Wheeled went to Untana, not here, right?”

“… … .”

Mrs. Bolgaruis’s face was distorted in a strange way that was not typical of a cultured person.

*

Julia, Duncan, their families, and the Dauntless Army of Warriors realized as soon as they arrived at their destination.

Why did Mrs. Bolgar-Louis say she would ‘regret’ if she went to Untana?

“… … .”

“… … .”

The vast fields looked as if they had been bombed or were compacted with the footprints of military boots. Bodies with arrows pierced here and there were rolling around, and dark smoke was rising. The castle gate was broken as if it had been cut by a huge sword, and the ten-pointed star flag, the symbol of the Elgar Church, fluttered above the castle.

This means that Untana has already fallen to the imperial army and crusades.

It was completely unexpected. The Empire attacked Untana first, not Delutana? It must have been difficult to march all the way here in the cold north. Unfortunately, those guarding Untana also thought the same thing, and so they were caught off guard and surrendered the city.

A difficult situation where one tries to avoid war but ends up in the middle of it. Madame Bolgaruis must have really been in collusion with the Empire. Otherwise, there would have been no way to know in advance that Untana was in danger.

The warriors asked Yulia, who had a confused look on her face.

“… … What would you do, madam? Please just give me your name. We can attack Untana like this, or we can go to Silver Mirror Lake and capture and interrogate that rude woman.”

“… … .”

It was impossible to attack Untana. No matter how well the Atalain warriors fought, it was absurd to engage in a siege with a mere thirty or perhaps even a few enemies.

However, I couldn’t go to Lake Silver Mirror. Madame Bolgaruis, the traitor, might have already made contact with the Empire. On the other hand, she might be captured by the ambush and taken hostage, so there was no need to risk my life trying to capture her.

In the end, the decision Julia made was this.

“Let’s go back to Delutana.”

“… … Are you talking about Delutana?”

“Yes, I think that would be the best option for now.”

“… … .”

Even if they were exhausted, there was no other way. It would be difficult to simply flee to another place, and they would have to report to Delutana about the betrayal of the Bolgaruis family and the fall of Untana. As if they had heard the order from their leader, the warriors obeyed without question and prepared to return in unison.

But at that moment, Dunsen pointed towards Untana and said.

“mom… … ? Why are people swimming… … ?”

“… … huh? What do you mean, Dunsen?”

“Hey, there are people swimming in the pool of water under the castle wall? Aren’t they cold… … ?”

Julia quickly covered her son’s eyes, thinking he had seen the bodies in the water. But that wasn’t it.

“… … uh?”

It was blurry because it was far away, but it was visible. Shadows moving busily between the cracks of the wide moat and beneath the frozen sheet of ice. Too dynamic to be a corpse, too big to be a fish… … .

Shinyoung is like a true swimmer. The Atalan warriors followed suit and completed the confirmation.

“… … The person is right. They don’t seem to be imperial troops, and may be survivors from the Untana side. “I will check and come back soon, ma’am.”

“Oh, no! wait a minute!”

“Don’t worry. I will be very careful so as not to be detected by my enemies… … .”

“Oh, no, that’s not it… … .”

Julia pointed to the eastern plains with a trembling hand. The warriors who looked away were shocked and raised their eyes.

A group of people were riding on horseback. They numbered about 50 people, and they were soldiers from the disaster force that had left for Silver Mirror Lake. It was disconcerting that they were charging toward us with their weapons raised, but there was another reason why everyone was so disconcerted.

The leader running from the front is none other than… … Because it was Mrs. Bolgar-Louis.

From the cumbersome dress and long sword to the large warhorse and perfect horsemanship, it was an appearance that did not seem common sense at all. However, the confusion only lasted for a moment, and the warriors’ eyes clouded for a moment before nodding their heads as if they had understood something.

“Extreme, extreme, extreme… … She may be a rude woman, but she certainly seems formidable as someone who leads soldiers.”

“That pole, that pole, that pole… … Step back, madam. I sense hostility. “We will deal with them for now.”

“… … ? ah.”

Julia, who thought something was strange, soon cleared her doubts and agreed. Yes, Mrs. Bolgar-Lewis… … Among the noble ladies, she was the only one who had been an officer in the Chamsa Army.

A collision is just around the corner. While Julia hugged her son and retreated, the warriors of the army activated the tattoos on their bodies and raised their axes and javelins.

“The Father of the Wilderness is with us!!”

“Atalaaaa …

“… … .”

Thrash – !

In order to slay the infidels who attacked like mayflies, something in the shape of a noblewoman raised a shining long sword.

*

It’s been three days since I left Delutana alone, leaving behind only a note for Kadim.

Duncan finally arrived at his destination, Untana.

“Wwiuuuuu… … .”

It was truly an arduous journey. Not only did they cross half the continent in six days, but they had to run for three more days and nights to reach the northernmost part of the Alliance Territory… … It was a brutal gallop that would have caused even the strongest of horses to die of exhaustion.

Perhaps it was because I trained hard on the way to Delutana. The road to Untana was somewhat manageable. During the journey, there were both good and bad things that happened.

The good thing is that I picked up the free money.

It was not a small coin like 10 Luden or 100 Luden, but a gold coin worth a whopping 1,000 Luden. If you collect 10, you can buy three ponies. I couldn’t help but be happy because I had satisfied one of the three major needs of a peddler: material greed, recognition, and family love.

And the bad thing is that Untana fell.

“… … .”

The banner of the Order of Elgar fluttered above the distant castle walls. Duncan looked at it in bewilderment.

Wasn’t the Empire’s top priority Delutana? Why Untana, where my family had fled? It was something I couldn’t understand at all. In normal times, I would have panicked and fidgeted for a long time…

If that’s the case, there won’t be any reward for leaving a note saying that you will grow even further.

I slapped myself on the cheek to pull myself together and remember what I had to do right away.

‘It’s not yet confirmed whether Julia and Dunsen are alive or dead. Let’s go into Untana and look around inside. Then, if we find the two people, we’ll rescue them… ‘

Duncan waited for the day to set, then put on his nightshadow cloak.

After scouting around the castle, I couldn’t find any secret passages. The only remaining option is to pass through the castle gate. Imperial soldiers stood strict guard in front of the drawbridge. Actually, that didn’t really matter, but the problem was that the torch was brightly lit.

The Night Shadow Cloak only works in the shade. You can’t hide yourself in such a bright place.

So… … Duncan simply chose to attack head-on.

“hmm… … Ugh, what, what!”

Thanks to the silence, the sentries only noticed Duncan’s presence a few steps ahead. They belatedly extended their spears and made a noise.

“Stop, stop, stop!”

“Stop! Stop! Who are you… … .”

“Ah, I, I will lead you all safely to the dreamland… … .”

I could see people hesitating and stiffening. Moved one step ahead of the enemy. Without hesitation, I dug in, thrust the dagger of the World Tree at the back of one’s neck, and made him turn away.

Goooow – !

“… … “Uh-huh.”

“Wh, what are you doing!”

Phew-!

As expected, another sentry’s spear flew in. I easily avoided it thanks to changing direction in advance. In fact, it was a too slow and honest attack compared to the fabric of the gospel body.

Goooow – !

He quickly dug in, took down one more person, used that one as a shield, and took care of the remaining two, then finished his mission while looking at the sentries who had fallen asleep peacefully.

“… … The best guide, they say, is Duncan.”

The sentries let the best guide through without any complaints.

However, while crossing the drawbridge, Duncan also discovered what his family had seen under the moat. Shinyoung swimming busily under the black ice. Too dynamic to be a corpse, too big to be a fish… … .

Duncan opened his eyes wide.

‘Unbelievable……’

Then he opened his mouth as if he couldn’t believe it.

‘… … Those are huge fish. ‘

After admiring the abundance of great vessels, the peddler entered Untana, calculating how much it would cost to sell them all.