The Berserker’s Second Playthrough in the Game - Chapter 28



Only Krnovel

Episode 28. Twin Canyon (1)

An ordinary forest scene.

Leaves sprouting densely between the forked branches. Parts of the sun shone softly, as if sunlight was seeping through the cracked roof. There was quite a bit of bushes and bushes, but that was all there was to it. Now this place has become an ordinary forest that can be seen anywhere.

The eerie atmosphere and strange happenings of this forest originated from a powerful evil species. Now that the demon was exorcised, it was natural for the forest to become normal.

However, the vast area and dense forest have not changed. Abnormal growth and regeneration stopped, but what had already grown did not disappear. Kadim and Duncan had to walk through the forest for another half a day.

But now the boring forest walk is finally coming to an end. Duncan climbed a tree, looked ahead, and shouted in a very excited voice.

“Sir! I can see the village! I think it’ll be fine if I just walk a little further!”

“… … .”

I walked along the forest path for three days straight. Unless I was just going around in circles, I must have already crossed the border and entered the allied territory.

According to the peddler, the Free Cities Alliance nominally belonged to the Lucaonia Empire. However, he said that in reality, it is no different from any other country. Because the infestation of demons made it difficult to govern the territory, the former emperor gave up some of his rule and granted autonomy.

Duncan was certain that even an ‘Arch Paladin’ would not be able to enter here without permission. If it was known that such a force had crossed the border and invaded without permission, it would surely become the seed of a major diplomatic conflict. From now on, it was safe to say that there was no need to worry about encountering the Paladin.

Duncan came down the tree like a flying squirrel. His steps as he headed toward the village were light and brisk. He had been like this ever since he had received the promise of gold and silver. He even started talking without Kadim telling him to.

“The Alliance people’s perception of Atallain is not that bad! This is because there is a strong belief that they are usually quiet and good warriors for God! Well, some senseless people treat them like slaves… … “But you can’t be so arrogant in front of me!”

“… … .”

“Oh, if you go to a big city, you will be surprised! The largest cities in the alliance are Delutana, Vestana, Galentana, and Agon. They all have enormous land areas and are crowded with people! “If you go to the central square of Delutana, there will probably be more people than you’ve ever seen in your entire life.”

“… … .”

It was a funny story. Kadim originally lived in a city with a population of over 10 million. Still, there was no harm in getting information about this era, so I just let him talk.

“The road we will pass, the ‘Golden Road’, is a trade route that crosses the entire alliance from Delutana to Vestana, and is one of the safest roads on the continent. There are not only guards in each area, but also wizards from the magic tower… … .”

At some point, the peddler’s voice gradually quieted down. The brisk steps gradually turned into hesitant movements. Kadim, who sensed her presence, also slowed down his steps and looked ahead of her.

A group of people were screaming and screaming, buried in the recording.

It didn’t take long to figure out what was going on.

– Hiss! City profit!

“Damn it, get off me! “Get away!”

“Fuck, radish, I got bitten! I was bitten! Is this a poisonous snake? “It’s a poisonous snake, right?”

“Uh oh, be careful back there! There’s a snake in the back too… … .”

– Hiss!

“Ahhhh! “My ankle!!”

“… …Fuck.”

A simple military officer, their number is probably about fifteen. Those who appeared to be mercenaries were waving military flags like scarecrows dancing in the wind. It may seem funny from afar, but the people involved were extremely serious. Several of the group members had already fallen to the ground after being bitten by poisonous snakes surrounding them.

Even though the demon was gone, the forest did not disappear, and neither did the snakes that the demon had been using. They did not regenerate when cut down like before, but it was not much of a consolation to the mercenaries. The snake pack was threatening enough with just their large numbers and venomous fangs.

“Oh my, how did it happen…?” … Well, that… … . If we do that, we’ll all die… … .”

Duncan fidgeted and looked at the mercenaries. Then he turned his gaze towards the savage. Even when he saw people in dire straits, Kadim’s eyes were as indifferent as wood.

Before we knew it, the mercenaries also spotted the two people from a distance. They shouted with joy as if they had seen their savior.

“Hey, you barbarian! “He’s a barbarian mercenary!”

“Hey! Help me here, help me here!! There are snakes, there are so many snakes!”

“Come and kill these things!”

“… … .”

Kadim didn’t move a muscle. All I could do was keep my mouth shut and stare blankly. The mercenaries’ voices raised slightly when they saw this.

“Hey! Can’t you hear me? You savage! Come and help me!”

“Why are you just watching! “Are those weapons on your waist just decorations?”

“shit! Shut up, Torenon! “It’s not enough to beg for help, so what if I provoke you?”

“No, that bastard just looked at me like he was watching something… … Uh, be careful out there!”

“Ahhhh!”

It was enough to just watch it up to that point. Kadim turned in a direction to bypass the mercenaries. The indignant voices of the mercenaries followed behind.

“Hey, yaaaaa! Where are you going! Damn it, I need some help!”

“You little shit! Can’t you understand what people are saying!”

“The barbarian and the little beard next to him! I remembered all your faces! “Just go and get caught later, blah blah blah!”

Duncan, who was also singled out, trembled. I walked up behind Kadim and asked carefully.

“Well, I’ll be better…” … They are truly rude, but wouldn’t it be okay to help them and punish them? Still, leaving people behind when people are dying right in front of you… … .”

Kadim shook his head firmly.

Having been deceived and betrayed countless times in this world, he has set a rule: he will not rashly save anyone unless they meet these conditions.

There will definitely be no risk while you are saving it. There will definitely be no risk after you save it. There will definitely be something beneficial after you save it.

Those mercenaries were eligible for rescue because they did not meet all three criteria. The peddler would be defenseless while rescuing him, there was no guarantee that he would be safe even after rescuing him, and there seemed to be no particular benefit even after rescuing him.

No, in fact, the probability of the opposite happening was much higher.

“Most weapons seem unfamiliar to me. They’re wearing armor that doesn’t fit. “Maybe they are using equipment stolen from someone.”

“… … !”

Duncan is startled.

Now that I look at it, the mercenaries’ outfits really looked like they were wearing things stolen from others. Well, it wasn’t that surprising since the line between mercenaries and thieves was blurred when they didn’t make much money.

Even though he had been watching the mercenaries, Duncan had not noticed any such clues. He realized once again that this savage was not only good at fighting, but his observation and judgment were also far superior to those of ordinary people.

Eventually, Duncan agreed not to rescue them. Kadim pushed past the mercenaries, and Duncan followed diligently.

As he was walking, Kadim suddenly stopped.

“… … “Why are you doing this, Nauri?”

“… … .”

“Do you have any problem… … ?”

“… … “No, no.”

Kadim glanced back and continued on his way. Duncan tilted his head and then hurried on.

*

A log cabin with the smell of delicious wood and a pastoral atmosphere. The nameplate creaked and shook along with the movement of the rusty chain.

‘Eccles’ Feast’ was the only inn and restaurant located in a remote village on the outskirts of this alliance territory. The owner’s cooking skills are not that bad, so it has served as a popular hangout for the village, but recently, the number of residents has decreased. Because a wandering mercenary group occupied and used this place for a while.

But not today. Now that the mercenaries have gone out in groups and strange travelers have come, the villagers are gathering for the first time in a while for ‘Eccles’ Feast’.

Rye bread, potatoes, and thick soup were set out on the table, and a crowd of people formed a circle around them. The main characters who sat in the center and monopolized the attention were the dazed Duncan and the indifferent Kadim.

A man asked in an excited voice.

“You guys, you really made it through that ‘Forest of No Return’?”

“… … .”

“… … Well, uh. Right.”

“Oh my god, I can’t believe it! You guys are the first to completely cross that forest and come to our village! Numerous travelers set out to discover the secrets of the forest, but often disappeared… … .”

The townspeople all gasped in shock. Taking advantage of the confusion, a girl stepped forward.

“How did you get by, guys? My mom said that there are tons of snakes and scary monsters living in that forest? “Did this big guy defeat all the monsters?”

“Hmm, honey, don’t interrupt when adults are talking…” … .”

“No, but really, how did you get through? Did nothing happen on your way here? It’s not called ‘Forest of No Return’ for nothing! Not only did you break through, but no one has ever gone deep enough to come back… … .”

“No, there’s really no one there! There was once a person who came back alive. “What a woman, traveling alone to find strange ruins, carrying around a bundle of strange antiques!”

“that’s right! This woman said she came from some kind of university back then! When the wife and daughter came back, they said that in that forest there lived a monster who bewitched travelers and a demon the size of a house… … .”

Duncan couldn’t tell him the circumstances. He looked around. As if he was telling him to do it himself, Kadim didn’t even look at him and focused on tearing open the rye bread. Duncan accepted it as tacit permission and opened his bag and took out the sack.

“Ahem, don’t be surprised at what you see. This is the spoils of war that the one-hundred-strong warrior next to me single-handedly defeated and took from a demon as big as a house!”

Duncan took out a large scale that glowed olive green.

The already bright eyes of the villagers grew even wider.

I couldn’t even guess. If a piece of scale is that big, how big of a demon can it be that has been defeated? People were rushing around trying to touch the scales.

After touching it directly, my reaction changed to a puzzled one.

“hmm? “These are scales?”

“It doesn’t look like scales?”

“Isn’t this just a piece of painted iron?”

Ding, ding – !

When I struck it, there was a clear metallic sound. People’s heads tilted, and Duncan’s face became tinged with embarrassment.

“Oh, no, that’s… … It really was a devil with scales like that… … .”

The peddler’s reaction aroused suspicion. People looked at him with suspicion. He took a few steps back from the table and began whispering so that everyone could hear him.

“… … Doesn’t something seem a bit suspicious?”

“if… … To sell that scrap metal to us… … .”

“Where are you telling us to use that… … .”

“No, if I sell it directly to wizards, I’ll get caught…” … .”

“Well, the fact that we broke through the forest in the first place… … .”

Duncan was struggling to control the situation, but Kadim didn’t care. It was none of his business whether the villagers suspected it or not. In fact, I liked it better if they left because I could eat comfortably.

But by the time Kadim was taking a bite of the potato and dipping the rye bread into the soup.

BAM!

Someone kicked down the door roughly and entered the inn.

“… … Phew, phew.”

A mercenary was holding a sword and snoring vigorously, followed by others holding clubs and axes. They all looked covered in wounds and blood and sweat.

I had already met Kadim and Duncan once.

“… … “Inhale!”

“… … “Huh.”

The townspeople cowered like a herd of scared rabbits. The sword-wielding mercenary glared at them with his eyes wide open.

“Fuck, what the heck? Why are you guys here?”

“… … .”

“Hey, owner! I told anyone to come in as they please! “I told you not to let anyone into the inn while our mercenary group is using it!”

“That, that… … .”

“Nigimi, we’re dying to protect this village, and you are doing a feast of people like this?

“Oh, no! Sorry, mercenaries! I’ll send it all out right away, so just wait a little longer… … .”

The innkeeper urgently motioned for us to leave. The villagers rushed out in a hurry. But Kadim was still sitting at the table, dipping the rye bread into the soup until it was soft enough to eat.

The moment the innkeeper approached with a face that looked very tired.

“Oh, wait. “Leave those bastards alone.”

A spark flew from the mercenary’s eyes.

He walked towards Kadim and Duncan, and when he was right in front of them, he kicked the table.

Crunch, crunch – !!

The table fell over, breaking its legs. Plates shattered, scattering bread and soup. The mercenary stepped closer and thrust his blade at Kadim.

“다시 만나서 반갑다, 이 개새끼야. Did I tell you? “I remembered all your faces.”

“… … .”

“Oh, I guess you didn’t know it would end up like this when you were just excitedly looking around, right? Four of us kids ran behind. If you guys had searched instead, we would have both been in peace. Hehehe, you cowards who are worse than maggots… … .”

“… … .”

“… … If you chew on people’s words and stand out, you have to pay the price. Even if you regret it, it’s already too late. “Obviously remove your head and prepare to be stabbed, you barbarian.”

Kadim didn’t argue.

Just by looking at them, you can tell why we should help those thieves who steal other people’s equipment. Or, you can’t even catch a snake. Where are we passing the blame to those thieves?

Kadim simply put a piece of rye bread in his mouth, chewed it, swallowed it, and said:

“I certainly regret it. Not killing him then.”

“Ha, what a funny kid, this is… … . Yeah, you’ll regret it. If you had caught a snake back then, you wouldn’t have been lost here like this… … .”

“no. Not snakes, you guys. “I should have killed him a long time ago so I wouldn’t be left behind, but I did something uncharacteristic of myself.”

“what? This… … .”

Kadim sat down on a chair and kicked the mercenary in the shin.

Squeak – !

The shin bone was instantly fractured and the joint snapped backwards. The mercenary lost his balance and fell down like a broken table. With a snap, the broken bone tore through the skin.

“Uh, oh… … .”

Then Kadim stood up and kicked the mercenary’s jaw with all his might.

Wow – 100 million!!

The lower jaw shattered and the lower part of the face was crushed. The head, which had been bent backwards, fell to the floor. Bam, the plank broke and a loud noise rang out, and the unconscious mercenary let out a strange groan while his hands and feet trembled.

“Eh, eh, eh… … .”

This happened without any time to catch my breath.

No one could really see what was happening. The mercenaries behind them looked dumbfounded.

“… … uh?”

“what?”

“Wh, what’s going on… … .”

Kadim relaxed calmly. He took out the axe hanging from his waist and gestured to the innkeeper.

“I’m really bored with just bread and soup. I’ll give you the money, so if you have any good liquor hidden away, just take it out, boss.”

“… … Yes, yes?”

“We don’t need any side dishes. We can just chew on those guys’ flesh.”

The mercenaries’ faces became stiff and blue like corpses.

Kadim bared his teeth like a wild beast and threw the ax.