The Berserker’s Second Playthrough in the Game - Chapter 34



Only Krnovel

Episode 34. Twin Canyon (7)

The soldiers jumped back in shock.

“Uh, uh… … .”

“Yes, yes! I understand!”

“Mom, everyone step back! Hurry up and give us space!”

Kadim let out a faint laugh and lifted the longsword with his bare hand. His palm burned hotly, but soon slowly regenerated. The eyes of the soldiers watching widened.

Kadim quickly lifted the dwarven axe with his other hand.

Then he hit the red sword body with all his might with the ax blade.

Wow! Grumbling –

The new recruit let out a sharp cry. The flames of rejection flared sharply. But the savage simply continued to strike the axe blade indifferently.

Kka – ang, kka – ang, kka – ang!

The material of the new bottle is red iron. It is a very hard metal that comes only from southern volcanic regions. In addition, due to the blessing of Elga, most weapons could not even make a scratch on the blade.

However, the material of the dwarven axe is cold iron. It is a metal of cold iron that boasts strength superior to that of red iron. In addition, the sword is structurally weak to side impacts. Since it is a long sword with a longer blade than other swords, its ability to withstand impacts is even weaker.

Tick, tidick, crack – ah!

After a fierce swing of the axe, the sword cracked and broke once. Kadim continued to smash the blade without stopping. Sparks and debris flew like firecrackers, and the long red blade was soon split into six short iron shards.

Hwareuk, Hwareuk… … .

As the pieces were scattered, the firepower of the rejection reaction was also greatly weakened. However, it was still stronger than an average furnace. Kadim raised the corners of his mouth and gave orders to his soldiers.

“Bring me the paladin’s armor. “It’s heat-resistant, so you can put these pieces in it and carry it around.”

The soldiers followed the order without complaint. They carefully picked up the iron shards and placed them inside their breastplates. As expected, just enough heat escaped, just as Khadim had said. The armored soldiers carefully carried the breastplates as if they were carrying a treasure chest, and the others followed, carrying the remaining debris.

Kadim thought. If I get the chance, I’ll try to find a blacksmith who can process those pieces of iron into weapons.

The spring rain had stopped. Ashes were scattered and the gleaming sunset filtered through the blackened canyons. The end of a long day stained with blood and flames. The lined up procession moved forward, overwhelmed by the afterglow of an indescribable wonder.

*

In Eccles, a remote village on the outskirts of the alliance territory, an unexpected event occurred.

The first slope was the extermination of the trolls in Twin Canyon.

The only road connecting Remtanawa to the village was finally reopened. They regained the Councilor’s touch and trade routes. Now, there would be no more wandering mercenary groups carrying out vicious acts in the village or the residents suffering hardships due to lack of daily necessities.

The second slope is that the money is solidified there.

Enrico, the councilor of Remtana, agreed to pay the compensation that the chief had promised to Kádim. Of course, this was a similar expense to pay the overdue tribute and taxes, but for the residents who had almost been paying twice, this was a welcome move.

The third one was something no one expected.

When a forest fire broke out in the forest of no return, everyone was terrified, thinking that the village would be completely burned down. However, the fire reached the entrance to the village and was suddenly extinguished alone. When the threat of the forest fire disappeared and the debris of the fire was cleared away, fertile plains were revealed. The forest that was full of ominous rumors disappeared, and a wide land suitable for farming fell from the sky.

If one of these things happened, it would be enough to cause a neighborhood party. But when three of them happened at the same time, it was only natural that smiles would spread across the villagers’ faces.

“Hahaha, good morning!”

“Oh, everyone, please take some of this and eat it!”

“Hahaha, how about having a drink this evening?”

The villagers burst into laughter at the mere sight of a pebble on the road. I hugged and danced shoulder to shoulder with my neighbors who were annoying to me. The children gathered together for the first time in a while and played, and the women chatted and shared food. The men gathered at ‘Eccles’ Feast’ from time to time to drink, and the innkeeper generously poured precious mead.

It will take some more time to deal with the effects of isolation, but the future looks brighter and rosier in everyone’s eyes.

And little by little, the rumor spread. Who was it that made this double blessing happen?

“Huh, you really caught two trolls by yourself… … .”

“Really? You only caught him with the help of the disaster force, didn’t you?”

“No, the soldiers said in unison. If it weren’t for that mercenary, they would all be dead… … .”

“Oh my god, I had a feeling since you were beating up all those thugs… … You’re not human, you’re human.”

“I heard that it was thanks to that mercenary Nauri that the forest fire was extinguished… … .”

“What do you mean by that? Are you saying that you are not only good at fighting, but you can also use magic?”

“I don’t know, I heard it over my shoulder from the soldiers… … .”

The rumor grew like a snowball as it passed from mouth to mouth. At first, Khadim was known as a great mercenary who could kill two trolls, but later on, he was transformed into the incarnation of the Atalain god of war and a great sorcerer who could freely control the weather and fire.

Not everyone believed that seriously. Still, every single one of the villagers wanted to see the face of the great warrior again. The area near the village chief’s house where Kadim lived was always crowded with excited onlookers.

However, Kadim remained in seclusion for a while and did not show his face easily. He simply conveyed his intentions through the village chief, saying that he did not want to cause a commotion. The onlookers could not hide their regret and glanced back as they dispersed.

Instead, it was someone else who benefited from that fame.

Duncan, the self-proclaimed capable guide and peddler who contributed greatly to spreading the word among the townspeople, was Kadim’s only companion. He had become such a famous person that he was welcomed everywhere he went in the town.

And today, as always, Duncan opened his bundle of stories while enjoying free food and drinks at ‘Eccles’ Dinner’.

“… … And then, oh my god! Isn’t that a huge demon like Taishan, which resembles a snake, torn to pieces and buried in a swamp? “The foul blood overflowed, flooding the swamp and turning the entire forest soil red!”

“Huh!”

“Is that how it was?”

“Oh my god, I can’t believe it… … .”

Even though they had heard the story more than a dozen times, the villagers and soldiers of the disaster unit were amazed as if they were hearing it for the first time. The closer a story is to oneself, the more powerful it becomes. When they thought that the protagonist of that legendary anecdote was staying in their village, they couldn’t help but focus.

Looking at the bright eyes, Duncan had a hunch. Yes, right now. He placed the heavy sack he had brought with him on the table. Then he proudly raised his olive-colored scales like a triumphant general.

“And this is the scale of the demon you slaughtered back then! Look at this! This mysterious color, this cold aura, this steely hardness! Isn’t it amazing? There are only a few left! Now, you can sell these mythical trophies for a thousand ludens each, or a hundred ludens a piece… .”

The villagers’ reaction was completely different from when they first showed the scales. No one had any doubt that those scales were really the scales of a devil as huge and vicious as Taishan.

“Okay, wait a minute! Just wait a minute! I’ll bring the money right away… … .”

“Give it to me first! “I’ll buy three pieces, no, four pieces!”

“Give me one! Here, here’s the money!”

Not only the villagers but also the soldiers were scrambling to get even a piece of the scales. Duncan internally squealed with happiness as he watched the money piling up in his pockets.

Ironically, Duncan, who was falsely accused of selling the devil’s appendage and captured by the paladins, actually ended up becoming that kind of person.

*

In the dim light of a swaying lamp, a middle-aged man with a solemn expression was sitting in front of the table. The village chief and his family members left the place for a moment at the request. Judging by the lack of human presence, it seemed like no one was eavesdropping on the conversation.

Kadim relaxed his stern shoulders and sat down in front of Enrico.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you. What brings you here, Commissioner?”

“… … Well, first, take this.”

With a bang, the bag the councilor placed on gave off a heavy sound. Kadim twitched his eyebrows and took it. When I looked inside, there were much more gold coins than expected.

“That’s quite a lot of money. Wasn’t the promised compensation 20,000 luden?”

“It was originally the money I had put up as a bounty for the troll subjugation. 50,000 luden. It was the money I had promised to give to a certain mercenary group after completing the quest… … But since those guys are all dead or have run away, it should go to the person who completed the quest.”

Kadim looked at the councilor in silence. Unlike the villagers who were excited as if it were a festival, his face had become noticeably gaunt over the past few days.

He slowly swept his chin. There is nothing wrong with receiving a lot of money. However, there is no money in this world that is spent without purpose. If you don’t feel sorry even if you give 20,000 ludens, then it is human to give 20,000 ludens. Even so, the fact that the commissioner gave 50,000 ludens means that there must be some other purpose.

Enrico also noticed the gazes scanning him. He roughly washed his face and let out a deep sigh.

“Your guess is correct. I didn’t give you the money just to show off. I gave it to you for a reason.”

“… … .”

“I’ve had countless negotiations, contracts, secret agreements, and talks before I reached the position of ambassador. In such a situation, preliminary battles to gauge each other’s intentions and conversations filled with diplomatic rhetoric are essential knowledge. However, I’ll boldly skip that now. If you try to make a fool of yourself, you might end up getting your axe thrown at you.”

“… … .”

“I will be honest with you. I owe you a favor that I cannot repay, but I am in a very difficult situation. The death of a high-ranking paladin is not an incident that can be covered up by a mere councilor from the frontier. No, it is not an incident that can be covered up by the councilor society of Delutana, which I belong to.”

The Empire’s Archpaladin invaded the alliance territory. In this case, there is clearly only negligence on the part of the empire. But the Empire’s Archpaladin invaded alliance territory and was killed? In this case, the alliance’s negligence becomes much greater. They only granted autonomy, but strictly speaking, the alliance is still part of the empire.

“… … The soldiers were thoroughly silenced about the death of the paladin. However, several villagers have already witnessed the paladin’s plate armor. In this situation, if the sect launches an investigation, it is only a matter of time before the truth is revealed. The sect will likely demand a huge amount of compensation and the extradition of the culprit.”

“… … .”

“If that happens… … We have no choice but to capture you somehow and hand you over to the church. Otherwise, war will break out. “The flames of the empire in the name of God will once again burn the lives of innocent people like fallen leaves.”

Kadim crossed his arms dryly and leaned back against the back of the chair. Even though he had simply adjusted his posture, the action had an unbearable sense of oppression. Enrico’s eyes, lit by the lantern, gleamed dangerously.

“… … But I don’t want to turn you into an enemy any more than I want war. No, rather, I want to do whatever it takes to draw them to our side.”

“… … .”

“This is the first time I have seen a warrior as big as you with my own eyes. I couldn’t help but wonder about its identity and the source of its strange power. The paladin called you a demon, but that is not the way I saw you. Rather, I am guessing that you are related to the other side. For example, I wonder if there is some kind of connection with ‘Agon’s Raging Horn’… … .”

Suddenly the air changed completely. Kadim’s eyes went dark and he slammed down on the table.

“I don’t want you to be torn to pieces like rags, so don’t ever mention that name in front of me again.”

A chilling warning. It didn’t seem like it was hit that hard, but the table split in half and the legs were shattered.

Enrico swallowed in bewilderment.

He thought the author was a mercenary working under the legendary arena champion. No, even if it was unrelated, there were actually very few Atalans who disliked ‘Agon’s angry horn.’ Because he is a hero who raised the status of Atallain. But why that reaction?

“Okay, I’ll keep that in mind…” … . “I apologize for my mistake.”

I couldn’t understand English, but I could only apologize. It took a lot of courage to pull myself together and open my mouth again.

“I have been thinking deeply for several days. How can I settle this matter without betraying my benefactor, avoiding friction with the empire, and even avoiding the flames of war?”

“… … .”

“And today, I finally found a way.”

Kadim’s eyes widened slightly.

Even he thought that killing the Paladin was impossible to reverse. Although he didn’t know anything about the diplomatic issues between the empire and the alliance, he predicted that something troublesome would definitely happen to him as well. But when I heard that this counselor had found a way, I couldn’t help but be curious.

Enrico leaned forward and lowered his voice secretly.

“Ymir, do you remember? “The wizard assistant who said he worked for me.”

“I remember. “I said I have a different political stance than you, I guess.”

“exactly. I’ve been thinking about it, and it seems like he was the one who pushed the troll into the twin canyons. The timing of the troll’s appearance and his appointment coincide perfectly, and he is the only one who can stop the messenger sent to request support. Moreover, the biggest clue was that Ymir Demil was good at ‘spirit’ type magic.”

“… … .”

“I never imagined that he would be able to control the mind of a monster, but he’s the mastermind behind a lot of things. If we leave that guy alone, similar things will probably continue to happen in the future.”

The commissioner had never changed the subject to something so random. Kadim let out a hollow laugh. He had a feeling what was going to happen next.

Enrico continued his explanation in a determined tone.

“In my judgment, we cannot let this matter pass without bloodshed on the part of our allies. In other words, we need a scapegoat on par with Archpaladin. If we shed the same blood, it would be difficult for the Empire to hold us responsible. “In the first place, the incident started when the paladin violated the border without permission.”

“… … .”

“And someone like Ymir is on a par with a high-ranking paladin. Not only is she the aide of this area, she’s also a Conjurer, the third-highest rank in the Magic Tower.”

“… … .”

“I’ll get straight to the point. Kill Ymir Demil. Then I’ll create a painting. It’ll show a knight and a wizard fighting each other and dying. I’ll erase your traces from this incident.”

A high-ranking paladin of the sect invaded the border, a high-ranking magician of the magic tower tried to stop him, and a fierce battle ensued, with both sides suffering fatal injuries and dying. Even if we leave out Khadim, the events fit together without a hitch.

That was the picture Enrico was talking about.

“Of course, it’s not an easy task, so I don’t plan on asking you bare-handed. Let me give you an additional compensation of 250,000 Luden. And whatever your purpose, I will support you with all my might.”

“… … .”

“Although I am only a councilor in the frontier, my family is not like that. The Turis family’s reputation is second to none even within Delutana, and my brother is a multi-elected member of the council and is aiming to become the next Chairman of the Council. “That information and influence reaches the entire alliance, so it will definitely be of great help to you.”

“… … .”

“You and I will both exploit each other’s weaknesses, so there is no need to worry about being betrayed. I eliminate my opponent, you avoid being tracked, and the alliance avoids the flames of war. Isn’t this the perfect deal where no one gets hurt?”

A cool gun flashed in Enrico’s eyes. He no longer looked like the gaunt and tired middle-aged man that was common everywhere. Although his physical strength was less than that of an ant compared to Khadim, his true strength lay elsewhere.

Wasn’t it for nothing that he was appointed to the position of inspector? Kadim twisted his lips and smiled bitterly.

At times like this, I thought that even the devil might not be able to keep up with the cunning of humans.