The Berserker’s Second Playthrough in the Game - Chapter 234



Only Krnovel

Episode 234. The Star That Turned Its Back on the Light (2)

The capital of the Lucaonia Empire, the Holy City Lucaon, has lost its light.

The candles that burned in every window went out. The street lights that brightly illuminated the streets were extinguished. As the dusk fell, the afterglow hanging on the horizon faded, and even the flames that burned in the cathedral spires gave off only a faint smoke.

In the place where the ten-pointed star flag used to wave, a black flag was planted. The buildings that had once sparkled white were lined up like rotten teeth. People walked the streets at night wearing clothes soaked in ash. Their appearance was like a ghost wandering around looking for its own shadow.

A city of darkness that has turned its back on the light and lost its vitality. A sight completely oblivious to the excitement at the time of launching the ‘holy war’ and sending off the crusading army that would enhance the glory of Elga.

A man looked down at the street from the window.

The gray hair became pitch black as it was stained with night sounds. A dark shadow appeared on her face, stained with scars and wrinkles. Although he was wearing his weapons and armor, the ten-pointed star symbol on the back of his hand proved that he was the so-called ‘star’ of Elgar.

But he was different from the other stars struggling on the battlefield. He was a star that had lost its light like the distance it faced, a dark star that no one used as a landmark.

An old man entered the room where the abandoned star lived without any message.

“It really can’t be anything but tragic.”

“… … .”

“Not long after the war began, three of Elgar’s stars fell… … . Rather than ending the memorial period as specified, I feel like I want to appeal to the owner of eternal light to turn off the light of all ages for a while.”

The old man was different from the man buried in darkness. Behind it, a pure white halo shone. The unwavering and holy radiance even in the dark clearly proved his famous faith and status.

“But no matter how heartbroken I am, it is nothing compared to the sadness you feel. You have been my teacher, my senior, and my twin star walking on the same orbit since the time when the ‘stars’ that have set in the past were nothing more than specks of dust… … .”

“… … .”

“Isn’t that so, Lord Hendark?”

Hendark, the ‘star that pierces the truth’, looked blankly at Archbishop Erensko.

The ‘Temple’ pushed the stars of Elgar into battle. And the stars achieved brilliant results, living up to their reputation. When the ‘Star of the Gospel’ took Delutana and the ‘Star of the Water’ conquered Untana, it seemed that the war would proceed similarly to the past wars that the Decagram had ended in three days.

The prediction was wildly wrong. The two stars lost their lives in vain, and even the 7th star, the ‘Star that Burns Life’, burned up all 10,000 years of life and dissipated. To make matters worse, the legendary ‘Golden Leader’ declared his return, and all the allies gathered under him, so the war was going overwhelmingly in the alliance’s favor.

However, the real ‘stars’ have not yet emerged.

The imperial people firmly believed. If the top-ranking Decagrams, from the 2nd to the 5th positions, who are different from the lower ranks, step forward, the game will change again.

Meanwhile, Hendark, the third in command, had been somewhat of an outcast in the ‘temple’. He was the only knight who did not side with the archbishop because his disciples had been kidnapped. However, Hendark thought that now that the situation had become unfavorable, he had come to borrow his power in some way.

But that was not the only business the archbishop came to see.

“By the way, isn’t it really strange?”

“… … “What do you mean?”

“It is said that the ‘life-saving star’ died after sacrificing all of its life. Let’s say the ‘star that illuminates the water’ somehow got discovered and died. But I couldn’t understand the death of the ‘star who spread the gospel’ at all. Lord Angelion, who had been hiding in a secret room, was summoned to the center of Delutana and died. It was like… … .”

“… … .”

“… … Doesn’t it seem like someone told me about the ‘restrictions’ of the stigmata and incited me to kill the stars?”

Erensko gently raised the corners of his mouth. A smile that looks extremely benevolent, but is actually closer to looking at prey that has been entangled in a spider web.

“Immediately after the opening of the temple, he left the capital for over ten days.”

“… … .”

“Who did you meet, where did you meet, and what did you do, Lord Hendark?

Hendark tightly pursed his lips again.

He didn’t show any signs of agitation. He kept the fact that he had reported all the ‘stigmata’ information tightly hidden behind his dark face. However, ironically, because of the limitations of the stigmata he possessed, he couldn’t lie outright. From what he was saying, it seemed like the Archbishop had already figured out the whole story…

So I turned the topic to something else that had been bothering me earlier.

“… … What is that thing you brought behind your back, Archbishop?”

“Oh, you mean this?”

Erensko held out one hand, holding something he had been hiding behind his back.

It was a small box. It had an elegant appearance, like the Ark of the Covenant containing holy relics. The archbishop placed it on the table naturally.

“This is a gift to the Lord. “I hope this can be a little bit of consolation to soothe the heartache of losing the stars we shared joys and sorrows with.”

“… … .”

Hendark’s eyes trembled slightly. Stigmata, a ‘star that pierces the truth’, immediately recognized that it was a lie. Even if it wasn’t actually stigmata, I would have easily realized it was a lie.

Inside that box, there was a terrible smell of blood.

“Would you like to open it yourself? I am sure you will like it.”

Intuition warned me that I shouldn’t continue to be manipulated by that snake-like archbishop. But my inner anxiety urged me to check first. I didn’t even want to imagine it, but if what was inside that was the product of one of the kidnapped disciples… … .

In the end, Hendark could do neither one thing nor the other and just stood there watching. Erensko swallowed his breath and laughed silently.

“Well, if you don’t want to look, I’ll open it for you.”

Click, a white box was opened. The contents inside are none other than… …

… … They were fingers. Blood was seeping out of their crimson cross-sections, and the bones and cartilage were all torn and attached.

“It belongs to someone you know well. “It’s just been ripped open, so it’s very fresh.”

“… … !!”

Shinyoung, who was by the window, jumped up like lightning.

Kwa-Ang!!

However, Hendark could not reach the archbishop clad in light.

―――――― Guuung, ter – Hung!!

Suddenly, the darkness came together, forming the shape of a black hand bone, and pushed him away with absurd force. Then, pitch-black hands rose up from the wall and entangled my limbs.

Kung, kuhung – ! Kung, kuhung – !

The power of the second seat of the Decagram, the ‘Star that Swallows Darkness’.

Hendark struggled with bloodshot eyes. However, it was not enough for him to free himself from the restraints imposed by the strongest member of the church. A mocking gaze fell on the struggling paladin.

“That’s great. Judging from your reaction, I guess you really liked it.”

“You… … I will tear you to pieces and kill you without leaving a single piece of flesh behind… … . The same goes for the ‘Star that Swallows Darkness’, who joined forces with you… … .”

“Ah, a death threat from someone who can’t lie. It’s truly as terrifying as Elgar’s divine punishment. But don’t worry. I said that these were the fingers of ‘someone you know well,’ not ‘your beloved disciples.’”

“… … .”

Erensko took the fingers out of the box with one hand. Then, like a leper, I grafted all of his fingers onto my other hand.

Wow – !!

“These are my fingers. I was just playing a little prank on you, so don’t be too upset.”

“… … .”

“Well, if you don’t follow my orders… … “I really don’t know what gift I’ll give you next time.”

Hendark was speechless and frozen.

It may be due to the madness of the archbishop who played a trick on him by cutting off his own finger, or the sacred method of light that restored it in an instant, or because he was so scared that it wasn’t a joke at all… … It wasn’t just because of that.

“I will give you a straightforward order. Go to the border area immediately and personally kill the ‘demon’ that you were unable to kill last time. If you do so, I will not hold you responsible for betraying the sect, and I will also guarantee the safety of your beloved disciples.”

The Archbishop wasn’t lying. But something felt terribly off. Hendark, who was searching for the culprit, looked inside the box again and finally realized the answer.

“why… … “There’s one finger left in the box, right?”

“… … .”

Erensko had a warm smile on his face.

“But I never said I only took my fingers.”

“… … !!!”

“Jorben was truly a brave child of Elga. It must be an unbearable pain even for adults, but they didn’t shed a single tear… … . “I also admired your courage and promised to put this back on as soon as you leave.”

“… … “You, nenoooooom – !!!”

―――― Guuuuung – !!

Just as Hendark roared and tried to jump out, darkness engulfed his vision and eroded his consciousness.

*

A knife for cutting fruit is called a gwa, a knife for cutting bread is called a bread knife, and a knife for cutting meat is called a butcher knife.

In the same context, this battle ax fully deserved to be called a ‘paladin axe’.

Boo – Hung ―――――― Kwakagagak – !!

“… … “Wow!”

The heavy axe blade struck the paladin with a thud. The solid plate armor was crushed to pieces, leaving only a slight scratch, and the life that had once shone with the glory of Elgar was left with only a fiery stain on the axe head.

The giant quickly took away his battle axe. Even though I defeated the High Paladin who was stirring up the battlefield like it was my front yard, I didn’t feel much emotion. The paladins and soldiers he had cut down with this one axe were now reaching three digits of water weight.

It was the enemies who showed richer emotions.

“Uh-huh… … . Relius-sama, Relius-sama fell from one blow… … .”

“The ‘Border Butcher’ has defeated Lord Relius!!”

“Retreat!! Everyone, get away from the ‘Border Butcher’ and fall back to the rear!!”

The crusader soldiers cried out the enemy’s name as if they were screaming. The simultaneous bursts of breath looked like spirits escaping in fear.

‘Butcher of the Border’. It was a newly gained notoriety for a warrior who had once been a legendary champion in the arena and was now the commander-in-chief of the allied forces. The parties considered it a better nickname than ‘Agon’s Raging Horn’ in that it was a name won through true struggle.

The Holy Army, having lost their focal point, began to run away like a rabble. Goltarran immediately ordered a pursuit.

“Chase them!! Tonight, I will have the hearts of the Holy Knights for dinner and the gallbladder of those henchmen as a snack!! For the great father of the wilderness and the golden lord, Remillion!!”

No, he made his men follow him by charging ahead like an angry bull. Bloodthirsty Atalan warriors and soldiers of the Chassa Army, half imbued with barbarian ideology, chased after Captain Burinake.

“Atalaaaaa – !!!

“Take up your axe!! The Father of the Wilderness wishes for the death of his enemies!!”

“Remillion will protect us!! Slaughter the dogs of the evil empire!!”

However, the allies could not reach the enemy camp.

――――――― Kwa-Ang!!!

“Hwaaaaa!!”

“Ugh -!!”

Because of the flash that exploded out of nowhere and shattered the path ahead.

There were no casualties, but it was enough to stop the assault. As the halo of light subsided, the cause of the explosion was revealed. A spear stuck deep in the middle of a pit. A man heavily armed with pure white armor approached and took away the spear.

“… … That’s about it. Since both sides have shed a lot of blood, I recommend that you step aside for today.”

“… … .”

Goltaran glared at the elderly man with an evil gaze.

This wasn’t the first day or two that something like this had happened again. When they wanted to take advantage of the momentum and attack the enemy’s main base, the author blocked their way and stopped them. Conversely, even when the allies were pushed back and in danger, the author ordered a retreat and postponed the decisive battle. As a result, the front line continues to remain in a stalemate.

Until now, I had retreated because I was tired of the overwhelming firepower… … I had no intention of doing so until today.

“… … The name was Hendark, the ‘Star that Pierces Truth’?”

“… … .”

“I didn’t know that the highest-ranking paladin, praised as the ‘star’ of Elga, would be such a coward.”

“… … .”

“You probably don’t know that. This battle will only end when one of you or I dies. If you continue to waste time like this, there will only be more useless sacrifices. If there is even a single drop of warrior’s blood flowing in your body… … Today, don’t give up and face me with iron fists.”

The man, Hendark, silently watched the savage warrior swinging his axe fiercely.

In that gaze, there was no anger at the provocation, nor any determination to flatten the enemy’s nose. There is only a feeling of despair that makes everything seem meaningless. He sighed as if he was vomiting smoke, then took off his gauntlets and showed the ‘stigmata’ on the back of his hand.

“I have a reason, I can’t lie… … .”

“… … .”

“… … “If I give my all, you die.”

Goltaran’s eyes widened.

Woof woof woof – !!

The tattoos on his entire body glowed yellow. As soon as his strength rose, Goltaran rushed forward and swung his ax like a wallop. The eyes of the allies sparkled with anticipation that their leader would finally defeat the enemy general.

However, the ‘Star that Pierces Truth’ immediately proved that my words were not a lie.

Jj- Ugh ――――――――― Kwaaaaang – !!!

The spear blade pierced through the slash, causing a violent explosion and shattering the ax head. The ‘Paladin Ax’ that had slaughtered countless Paladins became scrap metal and was scattered in all directions.

Goltarahn froze with a face of bewilderment. Hendark calmly put away his spear and walked away as if nothing had happened. The cold wind blew for longer than the time the two had been fighting.

The warriors and soldiers were also in great shock. The adjutant who had barely escaped the aftermath hurriedly approached Goltarran.

“Are you okay, General? Are you hurt anywhere?”

“… … .”

There were no physical wounds, but the warrior’s pride was shattered like a broken axe. Goltarran chewed and spat out words with his eyes burning with defeat.

“Bring all the shamans from the wilderness… … . “I have to find a way to defeat the author somehow.”