The Berserker’s Second Playthrough in the Game - Chapter 231



Only Krnovel

Episode 231 Golden Lord (4)

Remillion kept his promise to Duncan.

A promise to come right away and help with anything if you call me.

The necklace given to Duncan was an artifact that transmitted his location when the bead was broken. He sensed the bead had broken and immediately stopped what he was doing and spread his wings. Thanks to his speedy flight, it only took him about four days to get from the Great Forest to the ‘Golden City’, Delutana.

But when I actually got there, the ‘help’ I was asked to do was quite different from what I had expected.

‘… … ‘Do you want me to help you persuade other cities to stand against the Empire?’

‘Yes yes! Yes, that’s right, Remillion! The Empire needs to invade the alliance and join forces, but other cities besides Delutana are holding back… … ‘

‘… … .’

Everything was confusing. That there was a war, that the alliance was split, that I was being asked such a grand favor by a peddler. I thought I would just be asked for something more personal, like delivering treasure or saving someone from a crisis…

But I had already promised that I would ‘help in any way possible’. I couldn’t go back on my word once I said it.

‘First, let’s hear the details of what happened… … .’

After listening to the current situation for a long time.

Remillion stood in the middle of the conference room.

Peace was barely restored at the conference site. The shattered seats and tables were replaced, and the lawmakers who were speechless came to their senses and sat down. Above all, the fact that the ‘demon slayer’ left and no longer had to feel threatened for his life contributed greatly to the sense of stability.

But everyone had a hunch. This is just a momentary peace that will soon be shattered.

“Some people have heard it before, but let me formally introduce it again. My name is Remillion. As someone asked, it is not a person with the same name, but the person who founded the Free Cities Alliance and ruled it as the first leader.”

““… … .””

Under the stinging silence, the lawmakers watched in amazement.

How dare you claim to be the founder of the great alliance… … . The blasphemy that had continued for so long had finally reached its end. However, no one was as enraged as before and denounced him. He had only left the hall, but the ‘demon slayer’ was still in the building.

A situation where you can neither protest nor run away. Those in power had no choice but to act according to their occupational disease. This infers Delutana’s true intention in naming the author ‘Remillion’.

Of course, no one believed that the creepy monster was the real ‘Remillion’. Is it even possible that a great man who disappeared 200 years ago is still alive? I’d rather not believe the rumor that the elf god came down to earth and turned into a tree… … .

How much was he just paying attention?

A Galentana representative raised his hand and asked.

“Uh, Remillion… … sir? “If I may be presumptuous, may I ask you one thing?”

“Try it.”

“How are you still alive? I heard that more than 200 years have already passed since you left the alliance… … .”

“I drank the blood of dragons, and I also drank the blood of dark elves. However, the former only strengthened the body, and the latter played a decisive role in extending lifespan.”

Ah, the sound of multiple simultaneous gasps.

It was a boast that even a child would not believe. The members of the National Assembly barely suppressed their laughter that reached their Adam’s apple. From that moment on, questions poured in from all over.

“Then why did you abandon your position as the leader for all eternity?”

“Didn’t I, when I was young, covet treasure and break into a dragon’s nest on my own? “I left because I wanted to meet that dragon again and apologize before I die.”

“Then what happened to the outfit and scales?”

“Ah, this golden armor is a relic I received from that dragon. As I said before, these scales were created by drinking the dragon’s blood.”

“Huh, huh… … Then, what is your relationship with the Demon Slayer?”

“Demon Slayer? Oh, you mean Lord Kadeem? He saved my life when I was young, and he is the one who saved this world twice. He made a great sacrifice that is hard for the culprit to fathom.”

The lawmakers couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing or shook their heads.

Even though the intention was explicit, it was too explicit. After creating a fake Remillion, you use that authority to turn that heinous monster into a hero and try to cover up your past mistakes… … . One lawmaker asked a key question in a very sarcastic tone.

“But I’m sorry, but isn’t there some kind of sign that we can use to identify you, Golden Leader? I don’t dare to doubt your sincerity, but I am gravely concerned that when false claims appear in the future, there will be no way to distinguish them… … .”

“… … .”

Remillion was no fool. He had expected such skeptical reactions.

“Yes… … . You suddenly showed up after 200 years as the founder of the alliance and asked me to believe you. Even I thought that was a bit too much to ask.”

“… … .”

“Hmm, then how should I prove it? Those who knew my face have long since returned to dust… … . I heard that you swear by my name when you prove something, but it’s ridiculous for me to do that… … .”

A confident attitude without any hesitation.

For a brief moment, a few sensitive lawmakers felt a sense of foreboding. However, most of them were still grumpy and fit in with this ridiculous skit.

“How about telling me an old story that only you, the leader, would know? Oh, yes, the story of ‘the city being saved with a single gold coin’ would be perfect! Everyone has heard the story at least once, but the exact details of the incident are still controversial… … .”

“Hahaha… … Is that story still being told? Yeah, well, if that’s enough… … .”

Remillion smiles like a hero and accepts.

The moment the story began, the atmosphere suddenly changed.

“In the year 848 of the solar calendar, during a particularly hot summer when the gods of the heavens seemed to have poured hellfire upon them, the stronghold city that would later become the birthplace of the alliance fell. The culprit was General Murkel, fourth in line for the succession to the Duchy of Adriffen, and his heavy infantry corps. The succession ceremony was imminent due to the death of the previous archduke, but he was trying to establish his own stronghold before being purged by the small duke who was chosen as the successor.”

In the unexpectedly full-fledged introduction, the pupils open wide.

“At that time, the city was no different from Muju Gongdang. Only the minimum number of troops were left behind to conquer the nearby small kingdom. The city’s general manager was the person I had adopted as my foster nephew, and although he was young, he was an extremely intelligent strategist. “With that small force, we held out for nearly a month against a reversed general and an elite heavy infantry corps.”

““… … .””

“Nevertheless, the city was eventually captured, and the child’s lower body was cut off, his intestines pulled out, and he was placed on top of the castle wall like a scarecrow. “By the time the body was taken away, the flesh was all covered in black flies, and slime and maggots were flowing down from under the pole, so much so that it was difficult to open your eyes and look at it.”

The expressions on the members’ faces became blank as if they had been hit with an axe as a group.

The story continued calmly. Receiving news from a messenger who barely broke through the siege, retreating just before the conquest of a small kingdom, drinking horse urine and licking sweat while marching as drinking water ran out on the way, and collapsing from dehydration and heatstroke on every route. Soldiers’ corpses remain like footprints… … .

Although the tone of speech was monotonous, the story contained extreme detail and liveliness that could not be known unless you had experienced it firsthand. Everyone was speechless and overwhelmed by the experience of a vague legend, with only its bare bones remaining, coming to life and manifesting itself as a vivid reality.

What was especially surprising were the university lawmakers from Galentana. They once avidly read records related to the above legend in the university library. I was astonished by the testimony that almost perfectly matched the rare historical records that only officials were allowed to view.

Eventually, the story reached its climax. The part where the city was saved with just one gold coin.

“When we returned to the city, all the soldiers were already exhausted. It was absurd to fight a siege and retake the city in that condition. But I found a way out in an unexpected corner. “The captain of the guard who guarded the north gate of the city was someone I met and knew during my wanderings.”

““… … .””

“I met him privately and negotiated. I gave him a gold coin and said, ‘Open the gates secretly at night.’ Then, when I unite the eastern part of the continent, I will definitely exchange this gold coin for a mountain of gold. However, if you refuse… … I will do whatever it takes to make this gold coin your travel money on your way to the afterlife.”

““… … .””

“He accepted the deal and opened the gates. The heavy infantry corps was helplessly annihilated by the unexpected night attack, and General Murkel was executed in the same manner as my adopted nephew. And as you all know, after many years, I truly united the eastern part of the continent.”

The past guard captain never forgot and came to visit him. He gave Remillion a mountain of gold as promised, and returned the gold coins he had given him at the time. A member of the National Assembly cautiously asked if it was a waste to give that much gold to collect only one gold coin.

“Is that possible? “It’s a gold coin that saved a city and formed the foundation of an alliance that united the eastern part of the continent?”

Remillion searched inside his arms. Then she took out something and threw it into the sky.

Ting-!

A gold coin that has been stained by the passage of time, but still retains its luster.

“This is the gold that made today’s alliance possible.”

The council members’ eyes widened. Remillion showed it to everyone clearly and then put the old gold coin in his bosom.

“And I hope that just as a single gold coin turned into a mountain of gold, the poor base I saved will also one day become a metropolis overflowing with gold and abundance… … From that day on, the city was named this way.”

““… … .””

“… … “It’s called Delutana, the ‘Golden City.’”

At that moment, the audience froze with fear.

My heart ached as I suddenly felt a thrill at the legend that had suddenly come to life in the present world.

For a moment, the politicians disappeared from this place. Forgetting the decades of ups and downs in a political world seething with intrigue and betrayal, he returned to his innocent youth. To the distant past, when I heard the legend of a great lord from my mother and father, from my teachers and books, and harbored overwhelming dreams and ambitions.

When I stopped doubting and distrusting and looked at it, I saw it. Shining behind the man in golden armor, the glow of a hero they admired so much, whom they revered so much, who had achieved the greatest feat a human being could achieve.

Everyone felt it without even saying it. Maybe the author is not a fake, but is truly the golden leader, Remillion himself.

… … And that’s why I can’t leave it alone.

The politicians quickly erased their sentiments and squeezed their hands.

The reason they had always paid absolute respect to Remillion was, paradoxically, because he was dead. While the ‘Dead Lord’ never actually posed a threat to power, it had high value as a divine symbol that bound and controlled citizens.

However, the ‘living leader’ was a different story. As the leader of the alliance, Remillion had ‘absolute legitimacy’. If he were to ascend to the position of leader again and unite the alliance members, all of those who had previously held power would inevitably be reduced to puppets.

Moreover, he had a demon slayer as his ally. ‘Absolute helplessness’ that not even the elders of the Magic Tower can do anything about. If that ‘absolute force’ and this person’s ‘absolute legitimacy’ were combined, it was clear that an absolute monarch who could not be kept in check by anyone but a god would be born.

Therefore, regardless of whether it is true or not, for the preservation of power and the balance of alliances… … This is a situation where the ‘legitimacy’ of interest must be damaged.

“that… … Impressive story, I enjoyed listening to it. But that story seems to be lacking in proof. I don’t know if the gold coin was really genuine from that time, and the contents can be made up as much as I want… … .”

A member of the Galentana side argued again. Les Million’s brows furrowed slightly, but she quickly asked back.

“Then how can I prove it this time?”

“Well, aren’t there a lot of stories worth telling? If you are truly the golden leader who founded the alliance a long time ago… … .”

“Then, let’s talk about your ancestors. “What family are you from?”

“… … yes?”

The lawmaker asked back in confusion. After hesitating for a while, when everyone’s attention was focused, I reluctantly confessed my origins. Remillion asked back after careful consideration.

“The Voltarud family… … . “Could it be that the progenitor of the family is Lord Bachrell, who ‘never looks back’?”

“uh… … . Yes, it is, but… … .”

“This is amazing. “Lord Bachrell’s descendants are still alive.”

“… … “What do you mean?”

“The Duke was a famous sodomite. He suffered great embarrassment when it was discovered that the mistress he took in his later years was a cross-dressing man, and that all of his children were adopted children. I heard that after his death, there was a big fight between his successors and the family was on the verge of extinction… … “But I’m glad it seems like the story continues without interruption.”

The congressman who suddenly became a descendant of the Namseok family opened his mouth wide.

The murmur spread like wildfire in the hall. The lawmakers nearby slowly widened their distance. Even though I was spreading rumors around, no one believed me. The congressman, who was completely angry, ended up scolding the man in front of him, saying that he had never had an ancestor like that.

Now even Remillion couldn’t stand it anymore.

“Well, when I first saw you, you were crawling on your stomach in front of that exit.”

“Well, damn it, that’s right!! But what does that matter now… … .”

“Shut up. Lord Barquerel may have been ridiculed by many as a bedridden man, but he never once bowed down before the enemy on the battlefield. He conquered five cities in his lifetime, fought against rebels until the very end, and died after fulfilling all his duties as a loyal subject and a brave warrior.”

“… … .”

“Are you ashamed of your ancestors who committed traitorous acts? Then ask again. “Are you truly a descendant who is not ashamed of your ancestors?”

It was a sharp remark that pierced his heart, and the congressman froze and could not move as if he were in front of a predator. Remillion frowned grimly and looked back at the other lawmakers.

“You guys are no exception.”

““… … .””

“Your ancestors established alliances by shedding blood, and protected them by burying their bones. They would slander each other to the point of death, but when foreign powers invaded, they poured out all their gold and even sacrificed their lives to save each other. It was the unwritten law of blood that bound the allies who were foreigners together as one blood family, the foundation of the great castle that allowed the alliance to stand tall and occupy one axis of the continent, and the impenetrable barrier that prevented foreign powers from daring to look down on the alliance.”

““… … .””

“But you guys… …you stood by and watched this city being invaded in order to protect your petty power and vested interests?”

The fierce voice pressed down on my lungs. The air cut through my skin like a blade. The faces of the people lined up in a row turned pale as they felt the suffocating pressure that had come upon them again, despite the fact that it had been a while since they had caught their breath.

“[Even though the Empire dared to invade the Alliance and massacre our compatriots – !!! They just kept quiet and said it wasn’t the city’s business – !!!]”

Furious words exploded, and fists struck the stage.

―――――― Kwa-Ang!!!

The solid stone platform was crushed into no shape. Under the eerie aftershocks, the shrunken shoulders trembled as if struck by thunder.

“I will ask. My foolish, irreverent, selfish descendants… … .”

The golden lord chanted with his eyes burning with anger, as if spitting out the blood that had accumulated in his heart.

“You guys… … Have you even forgotten what ‘alliance’ means…? … ?”