The Berserker’s Second Playthrough in the Game - Chapter 30



Only Krnovel

Episode 30. Twin Canyon (3)

On a night when the crescent moon was slowly waning, the people of Eckel were gathered together in the village chief’s house for a meeting. The village chief had just finished explaining the agreement he had made with the mercenaries.

“… … So, I’ve decided to kill the monsters for 20,000 ludens. I’m sorry, but I’ll have to collect more money to cover the cost. Does anyone have any questions?”

The faces of the residents were all frozen stiffly. Starting with one person opening his mouth, the residents began to express their opinions one after another.

“How does the mercenary know that there is another monster? Surely, when I went there and saw it, there was only one?”

“20,000 luden is too much, village chief… … . Even 10,000 luden is the money we barely scraped together when we were in such dire straits. If we collect more money, how are we supposed to last until harvest season… … .”

“Can’t I talk to the mercenary again? Still, that mercenary is also a human being, so shouldn’t he have a human head?”

“That guy is really going too far. Using the plight of people in need to line his own pockets… … .”

The village chief listened to the opinions in silence for a while. The more he listened to the story, the deeper the wrinkles on his forehead became.

After the residents’ complaints, he washed his face and washed it dry. Even though they were idiots who lived in the countryside their whole lives, they couldn’t be this stupid.

“Are you guys stupid?”

“… … .”

“Then, is there anyone among you who would risk his life and go fight that monster in exchange for 20,000 ludens?”

silence.

The commotion subsided at once. The residents looked at each other awkwardly. The village chief sighed softly.

“Don’t look down on people’s lives just because they aren’t yours. Life is precious to everyone, even those who make money by mortgaging it. “If someone were to come and negotiate for the price of your life, would you agree?”

The woman, who had resented the man and the mercenary who had offered to bargain, lowered her head. However, the middle-aged man who had visited the canyon in person still could not shake off his suspicions.

“Still, isn’t it strange that there are two monsters, Chief? My friends who went with me clearly saw that there was only one animal. “How can that mercenary know something that even we don’t know after seeing it in person?”

“I don’t even know that. But I do know one thing for sure.”

“… … .”

“If that mercenary gets upset, he can slaughter us in an instant and leave with just the money.”

A chilling, sinking atmosphere.

People all took a deep breath. Shock filled my eyes and goosebumps appeared on my forearms. Hi, someone hiccuped loudly.

The village chief’s words were absolutely correct. Didn’t the author kill the mercenaries alone, whom the villagers had no idea what to do with? If he had wanted to, he could have done even worse things than the dead mercenaries.

“… … Of course, that’s not very likely. All the Atalan mercenaries I met valued loyalty. However, that doesn’t mean we can treat that mercenary carelessly.”

“… … .”

“Hey guys, think carefully. This is an opportunity you can’t miss. When will a mercenary with that much military power and no ill will ever pass through our village again? Lost money can be recovered as time passes. But you can never catch an opportunity that is gone.”

People who drop their gaze and become deeply lost in thought.

It was a worry that wouldn’t last long. Although I didn’t feel like it, I couldn’t refute the village chief’s words. The villagers had no choice but to all agree to give 20,000 Luden.

Few people knew that they had been pushed to the edge of a cliff and had survived dramatically.

*

Spring rain fell for the first time in a while.

The cloudy sky is a grayish color. The ground was moist and the fresh greenery reaching out onto the dirt floor held fresh water droplets. The raindrops drew gentle, slanted lines along with the occasional gentle breeze. The day was warm and the rain was not too heavy, so it was a weather that people who were thirsty for spring rain could welcome with open arms.

However, those in the procession did not have time to enjoy the spring rain. There was a tremendous sense of tension in the off-beat footsteps that advanced. The young villagers who guided the route and the peddler carrying the luggage nervously glanced at the sight of the barbarian again and again.

A warrior about to go into battle didn’t care about what others thought. He just calmly checked the condition of his weapon.

I raised my thumb and lightly placed it on the blade of the ‘Mosquito’. It cut my skin as deep as a sheet of paper. I had just applied camellia oil, which was left over from sharpening it on a whetstone last night, because the blade seemed dull. Seeing that it was going to rain, I thought it was a good idea to apply oil in advance.

There was no need to take special care of the throwing axe. Even though it smashed many hard heads and even pierced the iron-clad scales, the ax blade was still as sharp as if it had been freshly forged. It made me wonder why the dwarves were defeated by humans when they could make such excellent weapons.

His attire consisted of a cloth garment with a drawstring at the chest and leather-lined trousers. The villagers had hastily tailored Kadim to his measurements. He had thrown away his original clothes and did not wear armor because it was too cumbersome. The monsters at his destination were not ones for which armor would be of any help.

Twin Canyons.

Kadim knew the place very well. It was a famous place in the game, and he had even passed by it himself the first time.

It was a place where many legends passed down orally from long ago were intertwined. Which twin broke her promise to the wizard? Which twin said she incurred the wrath of a god? Which twin killed each other after an argument? Anyway, the ending was the same, with the twins who were cursed and turned into monsters to be reincarnated for eternity and guard both entrances to the canyon.

However, the reality revealed during the quest was not a curse. It’s just that this place is the perfect environment to live in, so the monsters keep coming. The reason two monsters always appeared was not because twins were reincarnated, but because a male and female pair built a nest to reproduce.

‘The truth is sometimes more shabby than expected. Well, the reason this place became famous wasn’t because of the legends, but because of the beans… … .’

The monsters of the ‘Twin Canyon’ gave quite a salty experience. In addition, as the legend goes, monsters periodically respawned at both entrances. Just waiting and catching them gave you more experience than hunting them around. Naturally, it became famous as a level-up spot.

In the first round or now, Kadim could not gain experience points like in a game. However, this time, he was promised a sweet reward of 20,000 Ludens. Even though he had nowhere to spend it urgently, the money was good. He had to earn it steadily so that he could pay Duncan later.

Monster hunting is as familiar as demon hunting. It was also a good opportunity to test physical growth. Although he had brought a canteen just in case, Kadim decided to try to kill the monster without drinking the devil’s blood.

“If you go down this inner path, you will come across a valley. We will wait here, mercenary.”

The village youths had finished their guidance even though there was still quite a distance to the canyon. Judging from their expressions, they were clearly frightened. Only Duncan, who acted as a porter, continued to follow Kadim.

As we continued along the muddy path, we soon came to a high terrain. On one side was the forest, on the other side was a rock. Two high cliffs towered like the shoulders of a giant in robes. Between them was a narrow path that dug deep, as if an axe the size of Mt. Tai had struck down.

And then, at that entrance, the monster stood there, firmly guarding the entrance, oblivious to the rain.

“Wait here, Duncan. When the fighting seems over, come to me.”

“Joe, be careful, sir!”

Kadim left Duncan behind and approached the monster alone.

As I got closer, I realized how huge the monster was. Its height and bulk were comparable to that of a large tree. Its bluish-gray skin seemed as hard as rock. The small eyes above its hooked nose gave off a grotesque rather than comical aura.

The troll, the guardian of the Twin Canyons.

– Gurgling, rumbling… … ?

As I approached, it was just as I had seen it before, tilting its head. It felt as if I had gone back in time.

‘hmm?’

However, nothing has changed at all.

The appearance was similar, but there was a very subtle difference. This vague, gloomy, and warm aura was… … .

‘… …Magi?’

That couldn’t be happening.

If the troll had been transformed into a monster by the influence of magic, there should have been a clear change in its appearance. The creature’s appearance was not much different from when I had seen it before.

Moreover, this energy was much lighter than the original demonic energy. If it was a haze filled with magical energy, this was worse than candle smoke. It was like something had been diluted and mixed with something else…

‘… … .’

I had no idea what change had occurred. But that wasn’t what mattered now.

– Gurgling, rumbling!!”

First of all, we had to deal with the trolls.

‘If you cut it open, you’ll be able to see what’s different… ‘

Boom, boom, boom, boom!

The troll ran forward, overcoming the strong tremors of the ground. In her hands was a dry, uprooted tree. She waited for Kadim to get closer.

The representative characteristics of trolls are thick leather and the ability to regenerate. However, it is not armored like Hydra, nor does it have great regenerative power to repair vital areas. Just cutting off the head or bursting the heart will easily kill the troll.

So Kadim aimed for the head, waiting until it was close enough that his mediocre reflexes wouldn’t be able to dodge it.

– Kuwaaa!!

Approaching within ten paces, the troll prepared to swing the tree in his hand. At the same time, a gust of metal shot out from Khadim’s hand, splitting the teeth of the comb.

Pararaerararak – !

The aim was perfect, but the troll raised his arm to swing the tree, which was a variable. The blade was blocked by the forearm that covered his face, and only managed to tear off one of the troll’s arms.

Ugh – Ugh!

– Kuwok, quaoooooo!!

As the ax blade was buried, the flesh began to recover. Kadim did not regret it. Battles are always full of variables. It was better to cut me one more time when I would regret it.

I ran low under the troll, which was screaming in pain. Holding a mosquito in his right hand and a handful of mud in his left hand. The distracted troll narrowed the distance and missed the advancing enemy.

After occupying the rear like that, he slashed across the horizontal axis like a flash of light.

Seo – Ugh!

The troll’s heel leather was much thinner than the other. The flesh and ligaments of the heel were torn, and the blade was sucking up gore. Kadim quickly sprinkled mud on the cut before it could regenerate.

– Wow!

The mud particles prevented the tendons and flesh from sticking back together. The troll, whose legs were missing, fell to her knees. In the meantime, he swung the tree aimed at Kadim, but he was one beat late. He was already turning to the other side and cutting off another heel.

Seo – Ugh!

As soon as this side was cut, mud was scattered to prevent regeneration. The troll’s body was completely unbalanced. Kadim threw himself out in the opposite direction of the fall and then quickly burrowed in again.

– Kuwok, Kuwok, Quoaaa!!

The troll swung his last remaining arm in a frenzy. Kadim used that power in reverse. He straightened the sword and pierced the wrist that was coming down, then pulled the blade aside. Muscle and flesh were torn apart, and pieces of flesh and blood flew out.

Tsk-tsk!

– Wow!

The troll screamed and fell down. Now he had no intact limbs left. He tried to move anywhere, but all he could do was blood mixed with mud.

The warrior did not miss the moment when his enemy was weakened. He quickly retrieved the axe buried in his forearm and struck a decisive blow.

Kwa – Jik!

Blood gushed out from the thick section. However, the neck was thick to begin with, so he couldn’t cut it off in one go. Kadim repeatedly struck the neck with his axe as if he were a lumberjack cutting down a log.

Crunch, crunch, crunch!

Finally, the severed head rolled across the mud. A sigh-like sound escaped from the exposed throat.

– Turn it off… … .

Barely, my trembling limbs fell. The spasms of the affected area, which were struggling to regenerate, also stopped. Lukewarm raindrops fell on the monster’s cold body.

“… … .”

The victory was easily achieved even without the blood of the devil.

Kadim wiped the blood stains from his face with rainwater and carefully approached the corpse.

He was no different from any troll I had ever seen. No, it was even easier to kill him thanks to the rain. It was an unexpected finding that mud was more effective than plain dirt in preventing regeneration.

‘… … Then what was that energy?’

As the troll took his last breath, his energy was fading away quickly. She hastily tore open her skin and dug through it.

As I crossed the peritoneum and flesh, I felt the squishy internal organs. I grabbed each organ and squeezed out all of the long intestines. I even saw bloody excrement pouring out of the buttocks, but there was nothing particularly unusual. There was no sign of having consumed the devil’s blood or flesh.

But Kadim didn’t miss it. The moment he took his eyes off it, he saw a dark shadow fading from the blood pooling in his abdominal cavity.

“… … !”

“Well, will I get better? What are you doing now… … uh? Ouch! “Wook, wow, kweek!”

Before I knew it, Duncan was next to me. When he saw the troll with all its internal organs ripped out, he vomited violently. Kadim said he couldn’t afford to pay attention to that. I took a quick step forward.

The other guy, I thought, I should go to the other side of the canyon and take a look at the other guy too.

*

The raindrops kept hitting the leaves of the maple tree. The village youths were taking shelter from the rain under the tree and chatting nonsense.

“Can that mercenary really take down that monster by himself?”

“Well… I don’t know. If I don’t catch it, it’ll be 20,000 ludens, I guess.”

“The problem is not that money is tight, but if I continue like this, I will be trapped in this corner of the country for the rest of my life… … .”

They were doubtful about the abilities of the mercenary who boldly stepped forward.

It was certainly a great feat to take down that band of wandering mercenaries alone. But dealing with trolls was another matter. If you wanted to take down a monster that size, wouldn’t it be common sense to bring an army or wizards?

“Hey, it’s still hard to catch a troll by yourself… … .”

“Do you think I can? “Didn’t you see that mercenary throwing an axe?”

“An axe like that is only good for people, not for hunting monsters… … .”

There was a heated argument between the young men who had never caught a wild boar, let alone a monster. Then someone suddenly pointed upward.

“Uh, what is that?”

“huh?”

“uh? “Isn’t that smoke?”

Black soot was spreading across the gray-white sky. They furrowed their eyebrows at the same time.

“There… … It’s the ‘Forest of No Return’. “It looks like it was struck by lightning and started a forest fire?”

“Shouldn’t we go and check if it’s a big fire?”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s raining so hard. What are you worried about? Just leave it alone for a bit and it’ll go away on its own… … .”

At first glance, that sounded reasonable. The sky was pale and the rain showed no sign of letting up. If it were a normal forest fire, it would surely go out on its own if left alone.

But that fire was no ordinary forest fire.

The smoke gradually became thicker. Spicy claws raked the air. Sharp fangs of flames rose above the dense forest. The flames did not go out, but rather spread with increasing ferocity as time went by.

“Uh, what, what is it? The fire seems to have gotten bigger… … .”

“Why, why is that, that thing? Why won’t it turn off?”

“Damn it! If this continues, the fire will spread all the way to the village… … .”

Scarlet reflected light shimmered over the eyes of the village youth.

The flames of hell were running through the forest that was the devil’s home.