The Berserker’s Second Playthrough in the Game - Chapter 253



Only Krnovel

Episode 253. A brief counterattack (7)

“So… … which way do you guys think is better to go?”

Kadim asked his companions. The bustling but safe County of Gorden, the secluded but dangerous Isdol Rock Plain. Which of the two will you go to?

The answers that came back were different.

“Gordon Bag… … Order… … .”

“It seems better to go towards the Seomdolbawi Plain, Daejeonsa.”

The former was Duncan’s, and the latter was Jebril’s. Duncan looked at the shaman with wide eyes. As if there was nothing to see in her eyes because she was so bandaged.

Yebril calmly explained the reason.

“The County of Gorden has a direct road to the north. As you said, the distance is close and the road is well-built, but there are not many people looking at it. It is clear that the sound of the ground is much more dense than in the west. furthermore… … .”

The shaman, who had been speaking without hesitation, drove the wedge in with one last point. There are quite a few ‘remains’ where old shamans live on the plain of Seomdolbawi Rock. If that were true, it was worth looking forward to massively strengthening tattoos by collecting not only the stigmata of Decagram and the blood of high-ranking demons, but also the ‘Needles of Engraving’.

Duncan’s evidence to counter his opponent’s strong claims was extremely weak.

“Go, go, if you run into a high-ranking demon or a Decagram, won’t you waste a lot of time fighting them? Those ruins? Yes, once you enter the ruins, it will take up a lot of time! We are busy at 1 o’clock, so if we waste time like that… … .”

“At best, it will be over in one or two hours. Whether it’s hitting Decagram or passing through ruins. “It would be hard to see it as a big waste of time.”

“T, t, but still, waste is waste! Besides, what if, what if someone gets hurt along the way… … .”

“As long as it’s not a serious injury that could lead to instant death, it’s fine. I can use my supernatural powers to cast a simple regeneration spell, and I’ve also created a little ‘elixir’ that can heal wounds… … .”

Once was the warrior’s rebuttal, once was the shaman’s rebuttal, and the other party members took turns breaking down the peddler’s fumbling argument. Despite his title as ‘the best guide’, Duncan was unable to follow his lead and was swayed.

It was obvious that if I continued like this, I would be dragged down a dangerous path. Duncan, who was struggling and struggling, used his special move of appealing emotionally, as logically defeated debaters usually do.

“I, I, I might be a father, Your Majesty!”

“… … .”

“… … .”

Silence fell. Eveli looked puzzled, and Kadim looked at him like he was looking at a neighborhood madman.

“You are already a father. Have you forgotten the existence of your reckless nine-year-old son?”

“uh… … Ah, ah, that’s true, but… … Well, then I might become a new dad, I’ll be better!”

“… … So you’re saying you have a second child?”

“Yes, yes…” … . Well, it’s not certain yet… … .”

When I heard the whole story, it was like this.

Duncan’s wife, Julia, was only informed of the situation the day before Operation ‘Short Counterattack’ was to be carried out. The details were kept secret, but she quickly realized that her husband was once again taking a very dangerous risk.

At first, I thought he would accept it calmly, but at one point, he brought me a glass of alcohol saying let’s have a farewell drink, and then he suddenly got angry and started screaming loudly, then got drunk and started sobbing sadly, then complained about his life, and then he said that Duncan was playing with the orphanage kids and wanted a little brother, and then out of the blue, he suddenly kissed me…

“Yeah, well… … . Uh… … So that night… … that’s how it happened.”

““… … .””

The impressions of the group who heard such personal details against their will were simple.

“… … You’re a woman warrior.”

“You are a lady… … .”

Duncan scratched the back of his head, feeling awkward now and then.

Of course, it was impossible to know the successor after only one night. In order to confirm whether Duncan really had a younger sibling… … he had no choice but to return after finishing the operation. However, if there was any good news for Duncan, it was that there was a priestess among the group who could see the secrets of the heavens.

“I can feel the wind calling for spring.”

“……yes?”

“It is the season when new life sprouts. The seeds you sow will bear fruit in the future, and the high expectations will return as joy. It would be a good idea to prepare gifts for three people on your way back.”

It was not a direct implication, but it was enough to understand what it meant. Duncan slowly opens his face and finally smiles. However, Kadim had a moment of doubt about the shaman’s excessively outstanding abilities.

The reason why Duncan wanted to avoid the dangerous path was revealed. He was expecting his second child at the most, so he couldn’t make his wife a widow again.

But Kadim sharply pointed out the blind spot in his thinking.

“Your family will be safe only if we take the dangerous path.”

“yes? Well, what does that mean… … .”

“If our existence is discovered, the Elgas will feel free to cross the border and invade our allies. Then, just like last time, Delutana will be the top priority target. “If you want to keep your family staying there safe, you must take a path less traveled by, even if there is great danger lurking there.”

“… … .”

After realizing that my thoughts were shallow, I was like a stone for a moment.

Duncan soon agreed to go to the Seomdolbawi Plain. It wasn’t a reluctant agreement. A firm determination shone in his eyes. He was determined to protect his family no matter what, even if his body was destroyed.

The group headed west without hesitation, toward the setting sun. On the way, Duncan asked casually.

“But, Your Majesty… … ? Is this operation to execute the Archbishop… … something you suggested to Lord Remillion?”

“But that’s true.”

“Is there a reason you came up with this kind of operation? Well, the war is over quickly, the better… … But it seems like you pushed for the operation quite suddenly… … .”

“… … .”

Suddenly, the iris turned red and shook. Kadim quickly closed one eye. As she grabbed her canteen to suppress her impulse, she glanced at the figure of the woman following behind her.

“… … There is no particular reason. “I have to finish this before it’s too late so I can do other things.”

“ah. Ah, that’s right… … .”

“… … .”

Duncan didn’t notice anything wrong and shook his head. She walked quietly, touching the bandage that the shaman had covered her eyes with.

*

When Yebril first joined, Duncan was secretly uncomfortable with her.

I heard that she was a descendant of the ‘shaman of the blind eye’, who was Kadim’s colleague 300 years ago. However, after all the ups and downs of her life and death, Duncan was barely able to recognize her value and join her group, and he treated her as if he were just joining her thanks to the name passed down to her by her ancestors. It was difficult to see it with beautiful eyes.

In fact, when he was designated as a member of the assassination squad by Kadim, Duncan felt a sinking heart on one hand, but a sense of pride on the other. Yes, I am the only one who can help someone as worthy as him. However, the ability of the priestess who was designated belatedly was several times greater than his own.

Not only does it play the role of a scout to identify the enemy, but it also acts as a shaman who can see the heavenly spirit, a healer who heals wounds, and even a guide who shows the right path… … . His versatility was so great that it was hard to believe he was blind. Duncan, whose only talent is hiding his presence, cannot help but feel a sense of crisis.

But that uncomfortable feeling quickly reversed. Thanks to her for pointing out Duncan’s new second generation.

“Excuse me, Priestess… …? Are my wife and unborn child doing well today?”

“By any chance… … can you tell if the child is a boy or a girl? I’d like them both, but if it’s going to be a girl, I’d probably like the cute girl better, hehehe… … .”

“What should I ask my child to do when he grows up? Dunsen wants to do something useful, so his younger brother teaches him how to make money and become a person who will dominate the entire continent… … .”

Since their last conversation, Duncan has been pestering the priestess whenever he has a chance. He keeps asking her questions, regardless of the vague answers he gets. Eventually, Everill, who thinks he is going too far, gently reassures him.

“I understand, Duncan. However, if you continue to waste your magical power by looking for heavenly powers, you may run into difficulties when you really need magic. “Keep confirming your child’s future as a joy for the future.”

An irrefutable argument. Duncan immediately woke up and left the priestess. Instead, he clung to Kadim and pestered him.

“Well, well, will it get better? Could you please name my second child? If a warrior as great as Nauri gave me a name, it would be a great honor for both me and the child!”

Kadim thought for a moment and then gave some examples.

“Duncan too.”

“Duncentu.”

“Dundurma.”

“Dungeon and… … No, no matter what, this doesn’t seem right.”

“… … .”

A puzzled expression appeared on the peddler’s face.

I forgot for a moment. The author is a great warrior who can do anything, but his sense of naming is so poor that he would name someone else’s sword ‘Razor’…

But in the words that followed, this time a look of bewilderment appeared on Kadim’s side.

“Oh, no, but why do all examples start with Dun? “Well, my family’s last name is ‘Wheeled’, not ‘Dun’, that’s right!”

“… … .”

Then why is your son’s name Dunsen?

… … Kadim was about to ask, but he swallowed his words. Somehow he felt that if he took it seriously, he would lose. In the end, he decided to decide what to name his second child later and let it slide.

Even amidst all the commotion, Kadim and his party steadily advanced.

It was surprising that Duncan finally caught up with Khadim’s marching speed. What’s even more surprising is that, as if by some kind of trick, Yebril was able to keep up with the two and match their speed. Thanks to this, the group covered a distance of nearly 100 kilometers in just one night and reached the Seomdolbawi Plain.

‘Seomdolbawi Plain’, as the name suggests, was an area where large stones and rocks were scattered sparsely like islands. If you look at it from above on a plan view, it certainly looks like a ‘plain’, but when you stand on the ground and look at it, it feels like you’re halfway up a rocky mountain.

Still, that didn’t mean it looked barren or ugly. The stones arranged in regular and irregular patterns gave off an artistic vibe of their own. Also, the fluffy sprouts growing through the cracks relieved the dreary air, making the plain look like the garden of a skilled sculptor.

And for the first time in a while, Kadim felt a sense of déjà vu in the scenery.

At the time, I didn’t know because it was a land without a name, but this was an area I had been to the first time. When I met up with Melissa and left the eastern part of the continent, I got lost while looking for the village where Cyril was. That stone seemed to be the same stone, so I circled around the same spot for a while, and eventually, I got tired and sat down on a boulder…

“… … I have to be careful not to touch the rocks carelessly. “There might be ancient golems among them.”

“… … !”

“Huh?”

Kadim and Duncan simultaneously focused their attention on the blind shaman. Yevril himself seemed to be in a daze, perhaps because he said it without thinking.

“No, it’s just… … I said this out of concern. There wouldn’t be this many stones in a plain like this for no reason. In fact, the power source of the ancient golems is ancient mana, so there’s no need to worry too much. Rather, as the Great Master said, it’s better to watch out for demons or holy warriors hiding among these stones… … .”

“… … .”

Kadim narrowed his eyes narrowly. The shrine maiden’s keen eye for detecting the presence of golems at a glance is questionable, but the fact that the golems’ power source is ancient mana… … .

But suddenly, a bright beam of light burst out and interrupted my thoughts.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh -!!

The source of the beam of light was none other than the ‘Stone of Chasing Ruins’ tied to Khadim’s waistband. The light from the jewel embedded in the center was split into three branches, no, three bright branches and two faint branches, shining brightly.

I was puzzled by this new phenomenon, and then Everill explained it to me.

“… … Yes. Also, since this is the center of the continent and an area with many rocks, it was an area where it was easy to secretly place stone slabs leading to the ruins. As I said, the previous ‘Mad Men’s Priestess’ concentrated the ruins, old priestesses, and ‘Needles of Engraving’ in this area.”

“… … .”

Kadim let out a small laugh. His expectations were way off. He thought there would be at most two or three ruins… … .. So far, he had only found five ruins, but to find the same number in one breath… … .. He couldn’t help but feel a small sense of emptiness, and a great sense of anticipation.

It was an opportunity not to be missed.

I don’t have any blood to tattoo right now, but I have now discovered that there is a new use for the ‘engraving needle’. Just strengthening the existing tattoos was enough to be useful. Not only that, it was necessary to give rest to the shamans who had been waiting for 300 years before it was too late… … .

Kadim gathers his weapons as if he will leave immediately. Yebril also prepared to assist the departing warrior. Duncan, who saw this, gave a slightly uneasy look.

“Me, Your Majesty? Priestess? Surely you will visit all five of those ruins?”

“Yes, because if not this time, I don’t know when I’ll be able to come again.”

“Well, instead of doing that, how about just visiting one or two places? Well, it’s not that I’m scared of running into a golem if I’m alone… … .”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon.”

Kadim held out two fingers. Duncan swallowed his saliva and looked at the rocks, wondering if he had to stay here alone for two days.

However, as always, the Great Warrior of Atala made promises that exceeded expectations.

“Two Si-jin, let’s get everything sorted out before the sun hits the sky.”

“… … !”

A moment in which Duncan is startled in an incredibly short amount of time.

――――― Kwa – Ang!!

On one shoulder, Atala’s Judgement, on the other, the Priestess of the Blind Eye. With a load on both sides, Kadim leaped over the huge rock in one breath.