The Berserker’s Second Playthrough in the Game - Chapter 51
Only Krnovel
Episode 51 Golden Road (3)
Golden Road, fields near the 8th Gate Defense Line.
The battle with the demon was over. The soldiers of the disaster army looked around in a daze.
Broken arms and legs rolled around on the floor like pieces of meat. Crushed flesh and skulls protruded from between the crushed helmets, and pierced iron armor tore through the internal organs. There were no corpses with intact limbs or bodies. It seemed like he was the only living thing in this cruel street butcher shop.
No, there was just one more person. Someone still alive. A person struggling to crawl out of a pile of corpses.
“Hey, cluck, are the rest of us dead…?” … ? We are the only ones who survived… … ?”
It was a familiar face. A kind senior soldier who sometimes shared snacks while on guard duty. The soldier raised the corners of his mouth and was delighted at his comrade’s survival.
But soon that smile had no choice but to turn cold.
The senior soldier had nothing left below the waist.
Behind the protruding marks, the intestines were hanging out in a slimy manner. Feeling a sense of discomfort, the senior soldier looked back and opened his eyes wide.
“What is it, why is it like this, this… … . This, what is this… … .”
“… … .”
“Uh, uh, uh… … Can I live? Can I live? I have to live… … I, I don’t have anyone to take care of me… … Uh, Mom, I have to go see… … Please save me… … .”
“… … .”
Before he could finish his words, he collapsed. The soldier in the disaster unit trembled with reddened eyes, then fell to the floor and vomited violently.
The manifestation of a nightmare that I never imagined would happen. No matter how much I tear my head out and vomit, I cannot wake up.
There was one culprit that caused all these tragedies.
The soldier of the disaster army stood up, holding the spear. He strode forward with bloodshot eyes. Among the dismembered corpses, he could see strange shapes. Tentacles with blades and maces, split heads and leaking eyes, and a single horn growing from the temple.
The soldier was furious and stabbed the devil’s corpse.
“AAAAAHHHH! Eww, eww, eww!! Eww!!”
Puff, puff, puff, blah blah blah – !
There was no way that the thirty comrades who had been turned into pieces of meat by stabbing the already dead devil would come back to life. Even so, the soldier did not stop. Even though the spearhead broke against the tough flesh, he held the spearhead like a dagger and continued to strike recklessly.
What stopped the blood-covered hand was a mystery that defied common sense.
“[Eldra, Noen, Abita, Khulamad].”
A clear beautiful voice that does not match the cruel scene. A cold chill came over the soldier and froze him so hard that he could not move his hands.
Blah blah blah –
“Thank you for your hard work in slaying the demon, soldier. But stop this pointless activity. It’s more useful to leave that corpse intact.”
The soldier put down his frozen hand and turned around. I saw a soft-looking man wearing a blue robe, and a group of people in light blue robes lined up behind him.
“… … Wizard? Are you from the Magic Tower?”
“Yes, the Tower Lord himself sent us as reinforcements.”
“Oh, where have you been, and why are you only coming now… … . If you had come just a little bit earlier… … we wouldn’t all have died like this… … .”
“We are not omnipotent gods, so we can’t know where the demons are running rampant. We came as quickly as we could after hearing the news, so don’t feel sorry about it.”
“… … That’s a lie.”
“hmm?”
The wizard’s beautifully curved eyebrows shook. The soldier let out the anger in his heart that had hardened like a crust of blood.
“Don’t lie, you bastards!!! It was five days ago that I asked for support after hearing that I was at the next gateway!! The devil was hiding nearby, waiting for the devil to die, and came out. Why, why, are you now pretending to have heard it? Other, ugh, everyone is already dead, so why, come now, s-ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss For… … .”
The wizard’s eyebrows drew a steep slant. But soon he smiled brightly and gave a light applause to the soldier who was shedding tears of blood and slurry.
“My goodness, he’s a quick-witted and very smart soldier. You have such a brilliant mind that I can’t help but admire you. Normally, I would just think that he came now because he had a lot of work to do.”
“Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu. … .”
“But why didn’t a guy who was so perceptive know that he would die if he said something like that?”
“Ugh… … Huh, huh?”
“[Eldra, Xanic, Clecia, En, Kulamad].”
Tsk tsk tsk –
A darker cold than before flowed from the wizard’s hand. The cold froze the blood and tears, instantly hardening the eyeballs, then covering the soldier’s mouth and nose, turning the soldier’s entire face into a cold ice mask.
Puseok – !
The wizard kicked the frozen face hard. The nose collapsed, the surface denting and shattering. A bright red ice flower bloomed on the soldier’s shattered face.
The wizard shakes off the red thin ice by knocking off his shoes and looks back at his subordinates.
“Put the devil’s body in the chest. “Be careful not to lose the damaged part.”
The wizards in light blue robes trembled as they followed orders. The wizard who had scouted the situation using stealth magic appeared, approached the wizard who was handling the cold, and bowed.
“As expected, what Lord Gayardo said was right. Thanks to that, we’ve already secured a body without any damage.”
“So, what did I say, Denovan? There is no need for us to step forward and exert our strength. If there are about 30 of the Chassa Army, they will somehow catch even the mid-level demons. All we have to do is wait for the battle to end and pick up the unclaimed corpses.”
The wizards talked calmly as if they couldn’t even see the mangled bodies. The wizard of stealth magic flattered me by saying that it was a reasonable thing to say, but suddenly asked in an anxious voice.
“Well, Gallardo, is it okay to go straight to the next gate? There was a rumor that several scouting parties from the village beyond had not returned. Perhaps a high-ranking demon had appeared… … .”
“There’s no need to worry. If you find a high-level demon, all you have to do is lure it to the 9th gate. If you don’t want to see the city destroyed, the Galentana Council will step in and subdue it somehow.”
“Oh, that will do! And once the battle is over… … .”
“Yes, then we can go first and take the body. “If we rescue the corpse of a real high-ranking devil, it will be obvious who will be the ‘Conjurer’ at the next promotion evaluation.”
Dnovan praised the wisdom of the senior wizard until his mouth was dry and worn out. The wizard with the rank of Invoker, Gayardo, smiled gently and raised his head.
“Instead of doing this, let’s quickly move to the next line of defense. “I don’t know who will pick up the unclaimed body.”
Their eyes could not see the surrounding area that had become a sea of blood. All I could see was the vast sky and the golden road in the distance.
*
Kadim and Duncan were surprisingly able to cross the defense line without any problems.
The guards were on high alert when they saw an unlikely passenger, but as soon as they saw the pass with the emblem of the Council of Ministers stamped on it, they simply got out of the way.
“Excuse me. I didn’t know you had permission from the council. Please be careful, as demons and other monsters may appear in this area.”
Even the guards politely apologized for the search. Duncan couldn’t hide his awkwardness. Up until then, there had been commotion and trouble wherever he went, but it was so easy to get rid of it with a piece of paper. But Kadim seemed indifferent, thinking that this was a problem that could be solved with an axe.
The road leading to the 4th gate, past the defense line of the 3rd gate. There was no noticeable change yet. The road was smooth and well-paved so as not to inconvenience the pedestrians, and the landscaping still exuded a quiet and peaceful atmosphere. The rampant demons felt distant, like a rumor heard from a faraway land.
But while walking, Kadim took over.
The high wind blowing south, carrying lukewarm warmth, and the murky, foreign feeling and disgusting, bloody smell mixed in between.
It was a trace so faint that even beasts could not sense it, but the savage’s senses, heightened by slaughtering countless demons and monsters, did not miss it. The stench of magic that he had smelled after a long time was welcome. Every single cell in his body was reacting with fierce hostility.
“There is a devil.”
“yes?”
“Follow me.”
With those words, Kadim climbed over the fence and ran. Duncan was dazed, as if the path in front of him had completely collapsed, and then hurriedly chased after him.
“My lord! My lord! Where are you going!”
“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”
“I’ll be better… … Hehehe, hehehe… … .”
The running of the barbarian, who was more like a horse than a human, was difficult for the peddler’s legs to keep up with. The distance between the two grew hundreds of meters in an instant, and as more time passed, it began to widen in kilometers.
No matter how hard I ran, there was no sign of the distance narrowing. Nevertheless, Duncan could not give up. If Kadim was lost here, it would be a huge problem. Isn’t it impossible to advance to the defense line or the next gateway without a pass, or to navigate the path filled with demons alone?
“Ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh… … .”
Drool flowed from the corners of his mouth. His heart pounded as if it would burst out of his chest. His lungs ached as if they were going to burst. His vision was blurred and a dull dizziness rang in his head. Duncan squeezed his eyes shut and repeated the promise of the journey’s reward as if he were hypnotized.
‘A huge treasure of gold and silver, an enormous treasure of gold and silver, a treasure of gold and silver so enormous that you can never use it all up in a lifetime… ‘
How long did that desperate run continue?
After following the savage’s back as he disappeared into the forest and followed the deeply rutted footprints, Duncan was finally able to see him.
– Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrn … .
Black reptilian beasts cut, slashed, sliced, and torn to pieces. A demonic corpse with its head torn in half and its tongue dripping with dregs and blood. And a savage taking blood from that corpse.
The hunt was already over.
“Hehe, kehe, kew, kew! Guwack, hooah, heek… .”
“… … .”
Duncan collapsed on the mossy floor, sweating and crying, and retching. On the other hand, Kadim was completely calm, with only a vague look of regret. From the looks of it, it seemed like Kadim was just sitting and watching, while Duncan was fighting the monsters with all his might.
Kadim filled the small bottle and closed the cap. Then, as Duncan finally regained his breath, he spoke.
“He was a low-level devil. It’s the most common and has the least effective blood. “It’s been a long time since I hunted, but it’s a shame.”
“Huh, oh oh… … Well, then all the demons and monsters in the area have been eliminated, right?”
“No, there is still one left behind. “Follow me.”
Duncan noticed that Kadim’s words were a little strange. He’s not the one left behind, he’s the ‘one left behind’? Even though he could have been killed, did he deliberately keep him alive instead of killing him?
I soon realized why he said that.
“Do you see that thing in the crevice of the rock? It’s the shadow lizard that ate all the eggs I laid and is curled up and sleeping.”
“Yes, yes… … I can see it, but… … .”
“I’ll lend you this dagger, so this time, you try to kill that monster yourself.”
“Yeah… … Ugh!!”
Just before a scream escaped, a rough, rough hand covered Duncan’s mouth. Kadim looked down at Duncan with a shadowed face.
“Didn’t you ask me to teach you how to fight before? This is also part of the training. Surely you didn’t want to master combat without getting a drop of blood on your hands for the rest of your life?”
“… … .”
“Let go of mercy and acceptance. After all, it is a creature that has been possessed by the devil and has lost its sense of self. And kill the sight. “If you pull it out of the sheath, flames will come out, so you must take the dagger out right before you kill it.”
“… … .”
“If you successfully complete this task, I will entrust you with one of those daggers.”
Duncan’s eyes lit up.
This dagger was no ordinary dagger. It was made from the armor and sapphire of the Arch Paladin. I had heard about it from the old man with the hammer and was curious about what kind of weapon it was, but he was giving me one? I couldn’t help but be surprised.
It was also the first time since Castle Molden that Kadim had entrusted him with such a task. It was a rare opportunity to prove his worth. Duncan’s desire to be recognized by the barbarians was still as strong as a mountain.
Duncan’s eyes lit up with determination. His sense of duty calmed his nerves. He had been prepared for the day when he would have to face monsters and demons. It was just that it had come a little sooner than he had expected. He once again reflected on the rewards of his journey and slowly stepped forward.
‘A huge treasure of gold and silver, a treasure so enormous that you can’t use it all up in a lifetime… ‘
And the mission failed.
Just one step, just before I reached my nose, I sensed a presence.
– Kueeeek!
The shadow lizard bared its sharp teeth and threatened fiercely. Duncan fell backwards without even being able to draw his dagger.
“Whoa! Whoaaaaah!”
Kadim quickly drew another dagger and threw it at the lizard.
Grumble, rumble – !
– Queeeeeek!
The flames that penetrated the temple took the monster’s life in an instant. The shadow lizard, which was rolling around on the eggshell and writhing in excruciating pain, soon turned into a lump of cooked charcoal.
Kadim mechanically retrieved the two daggers, glancing at Duncan with a knowing glance.
“For the time being, just focus on guiding.”
“… … .”
Duncan lowered his head in despondency.
*
Just before the ceremony, Duncan lowered his head in despondency.
Kadim chased Magi until he reached the forest. She left Duncan alone, but she believed that in time he would catch up with her.
“… … .”
I knew that there were demons and monsters inside. However, the bushes and trees were blocking my view. I stepped forward, trying to make as little noise as possible. Stealthily, so as not to be detected by my prey.
It was a futile effort.
– Kueh, kueh!
– Kuehhh!
A vision of pitch-black reptiles running towards Khadim with flashing red eyes. Kadim clicked his tongue.
‘Damn, it had to be a shadow lizard.’
The shadow lizard is a monster that is extremely sensitive to even the slightest presence in the shadows. No matter how well Kadim hid his presence, his limitations were clear due to his natural size. To begin with, they were monsters that were almost impervious to surprise attacks or assassinations, even when it was a game.
But it wasn’t difficult to deal with.
Crackle crackle – !
– Queeeek!
– Queeeeeek!
He slaughtered the lizards that came near him by swinging his blade like a whirlwind. He quickly threw his axe and tore apart those far away. Before they could run away, he advanced straight inward and easily hunted down even the lower-level demons that had turned them into monsters.
The mosquito, which had swallowed the devil’s blood for the first time in a while, gave off a faint vibration as if it was satisfied. Kadim didn’t let his guard down and moved on.
‘There may be some monsters left nearby, so I’ll have to take a look.’
During my exploration, I was able to find a shadow lizard a little way off. It had broken and eaten all of its eggs and was fast asleep in a crevice in a rock.
– Crrr, rrr… … .
The distance was still dozens of meters away. But Kadim could sense it. If you take even one step closer, the lizard will definitely sense its presence and wake up.
It wasn’t a problem to kill them, since you could just throw an axe or dagger at them. However, one thing made me curious.
If the peddler kills the sight, how close can he get to that lizard?
‘… … Even if you only get ten steps away, you’re pretty good at it.’
He rubbed his chin and thought for a moment, then deliberately left the shadow lizard behind and returned to the place where he slaughtered the demon.
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