The Berserker’s Second Playthrough in the Game - Chapter 52



Only Krnovel

Episode 52. Golden Road (4)

Days of bloody hunting continued.

The order in which things happened was similar every time. Kadim catches the scent of demons and monsters and runs. Duncan chases after him with all his might. I catch up with Kadim just before he faints. We witness corpses with torn mouths, torn limbs, and internal organs spilling out. Receive the blood of the devil and burn them all. end.

At first, Duncan was so surprised that he almost fainted, but after repeating it five or six times, he gradually got used to it.

“Whew, whoosh, whoosh… … .”

It was difficult to keep up with Kadim, but I had the time to control my breathing. The shattered corpses were still disgusting, but I had the stomach to not feel nauseous just by looking at them. Even without being told to do so, they took the blood and piled the bodies up for burning. He lamented, wondering what kind of devil could be scattered here and there like a wild animal.

However, even after hunting numerous demons, Kadim seemed not satisfied at all. He muttered as he wiped the ax blade that had fleshy residue on it with an oiled cloth.

“Just minnows.”

“… … yes?”

“They are all low-level devils. “I thought there would be better game.”

In order to find another ‘relic’ and carve a new powerful tattoo, I had to secure some usable demon blood before doing so. However, since I couldn’t find a decent demon, I couldn’t even use the tattoo I had. It was good for preventing the madness from getting worse right away, but I was more disappointed because I didn’t know what would happen in the future.

Duncan, who had finished piling up the corpses, tilted his head. After hesitating, I asked.

“Your Majesty, if you drink that demon’s blood, won’t you be able to display great powers for a short while?”

“… … .”

“Then, the reason you hunt demons is… … Is it purely for blood? or not… … “Is there another reason why the devil must be killed?”

“… … .”

Kadim hung the ax on his belt and fell into deep thought.

In the first episode, the devil was a goal, a means, and a motive for him.

He mistakenly believed that he could only return to reality by defeating the Great Demon, so it became his goal. He also became a means to gain power by drinking its blood. He also became motivated by seeing his comrades suffer terribly because of the demons. When these three reasons came together, Khadim’s obsession with the demons was extremely strong and justified.

Although it later degenerated into an obsession with the devil’s blood itself… … If it weren’t for those reasons, it wouldn’t have gotten that far in the first place.

But now, in the second round, the root of that obsession has become blurred.

It is unknown whether there is a great devil in this world, and it is even more unknown whether killing him will allow him to return to reality. The companions who reminded him of his resentment toward the devil were no longer by his side. With the two biggest milestones gone, all that was left was the ‘means’.

Is there a need to continue obsessing over demon hunting? Even after the body reaches a superhuman level? Even at the risk of mental-corrosive mania?

Kadim slowly agreed.

That reason alone was enough.

He woke up in the first session. All problems can be solved through strength. If there is a problem that cannot be solved through strength, it is because strength is not enough.

The life of a warrior is a series of struggles. It is impossible to predict how difficult the challenges and strong enemies will be blocking the path ahead. He had to be equipped in order to break the pain when he met the culprit who put him in this world, or at least to continue his journey without leaving any regrets like he is now.

A ‘destructive power’ that can crush the enemy at any cost.

Even if we leave aside such practical reasons, aren’t devils disgusting and harmful creatures who deserve to die a hundred times?

“There are so many pests in the world, there is no reason not to kill them.”

“… … .”

“Let’s go back to the road. “I hope next time there will be someone who is more willing to step on and kill.”

The two who returned to the Golden Road soon reached the 6th Gate Defense Line. There was no problem passing through there either. The guards were suspicious of passing through here at this time, but when they showed the pass with the Society emblem on it, they opened the way without a word.

But before leaving, the guard gave some meaningful advice.

“You two, do you really plan on continuing along the road?”

“Yes, that’s right, but… … ?”

“Then I recommend that you avoid the town of Kibon in the middle. The Galentana disaster force sent out scouts there several times, but they haven’t returned yet, as if something happened. They might have been attacked by a powerful demon or monster, so it would be best to avoid them.”

“… … .”

An uneasy feeling of foreboding squirmed like a cicada crawling across the back of his neck. Duncan barely managed to turn his stiff neck. When he checked Khadim’s expression, his intuition became certain.

As he listened, Kadim raised the corners of his lips as if he was glad to hear the news.

Duncan, who predicted the future, sighed.

*

The road to Kibon wasn’t that complicated.

They took a fork in the middle of the road, just as it was written on the map. A narrow side road appeared, with a tangled hedge of ragweed and nameless weeds. Although it was not as neatly polished as a highway, it had its own rustic flavor.

The sun, which had already covered half of the sky, had reached the horizon and was disappearing. The sunset that had touched the bushes stretched out like a scarlet cloth with holes here and there, and soon sank into the shadows and disappeared. A sign with the crooked letters of ‘Kibon’ appeared in the dark twilight.

Near the village, Kadim could find two signs.

One is a stench that resembles strong scented candles soaked in sewage and burned, and the other is a procession of hundreds of caterpillars crawling into the bushes in a colony.

“Eww, surprise! Eww… … Why are there so many bugs… … .”

What was odd was that only the horned caterpillars were heading straight for the bushes, while the hornless ones were moving aimlessly and erratically. Duncan only saw it as a disgusting sight, but Kadim could infer a lot from it.

‘You came to the right place.’

I had a rough idea of ​​what kind of demon it was. I also had a rough idea of ​​what had happened to the village and the scouts.

Kadim told Duncan to hand over the vials containing the demon’s blood. Duncan followed the savage’s orders, nervous and anxious, but obedient.

The village was covered in the darkness of night. Kadim slowly looked around.

It was a scale that could be taken in at a glance if you stretched your neck. Houses were lined up along the main street that opened in the middle. There were still people living there, so soft lights were shining through the cracks in the windows, and the sound of dishes clinking and people talking could be heard occasionally.

“Has the devil not touched the people here yet? … ?”

A question that contained a glimmer of hope. Kadim shook his head firmly. Grabbing the axe handle, he approached a nearby house and knocked on the door.

Thump, thump, thump –

The door squeaked open and a woman popped her head out.

“Who are you?”

A trembling voice and plain brown eyes. There was no bad smell. He had several scars on his forearms, but he showed no signs of being possessed by a demon. This woman was just an ordinary woman.

However, Kadim did not let go of the axe handle.

“It’s a mercenary passing by. He is looking for a devil, has he seen any devils or monsters nearby?”

“Oh, the devil? Are you looking for the devil?”

“Yes, I plan to catch him and kill him when I find him.”

The woman stopped in shock and glanced outside with a wary gesture. She was once again surprised when she saw Duncan standing behind her, but when he told her that they were with him, she lowered her head in relief.

“You’re mercenaries who hunt demons, right? First, both of you, please come inside… … It’s getting late, have you had dinner?”

The woman brought me a thick stew mixed with broccoli and potatoes and sliced ​​oat bread the size of my forearm. She wondered if it was okay to eat, but then she saw Kadim tearing off the bread and consuming the bowl, and Duncan ate his food with peace of mind. When the woman repeatedly asked about the circumstances that brought her here, Duncan gave her a brief explanation.

“okay. He came here on purpose after hearing that there might be a devil… … .”

“yes. Yes, ma’am.”

“What’s the situation on the Golden Road side? Are the Disaster Force and the demons still fighting fiercely?”

“Well, well, it doesn’t seem like the disaster force is fighting very hard… … .”

Kadim looked around the house carefully while the two talked.

The shadows cast by the cheap candles flickered, the plank floor was covered with dirt footprints of various sizes and many scratches and drag marks. Rusty leather knives, iron belts, and liquor bottles were strewn about like junk on wooden shelves, and wooden boxes stacked high cleverly blocked the door in the corner.

… … full… … .

Beyond that, a faint stirring sound could be heard.

It was as expected. Kadim interrupted the conversation between the peddler and the woman and asked:

“Why doesn’t my husband come out?”

“… … .”

“You don’t live alone, do you? There must be someone in that room.”

A silence that sways precariously like a candle.

Duncan froze in surprise. The woman swallowed tensely. She squeezed her eyes shut and struggled to speak.

“… … Originally, I didn’t want to tell you. I didn’t know what would happen if rumors spread among the townspeople.”

“… … .”

“However, since you said you came to catch the devil, I will give a special word to you two. To my village and my husband… … what happened.”

The woman wiped the wound on her forearm and told the story.

Recently, there have been a series of disappearances in Kibon. Several men who went to the nearby forest to hunt have not returned. The atmosphere was tense due to rumors that the devil had taken them, and at that moment, a reconnaissance team from the disaster force arrived in the village. The villagers asked them to search the forest.

“But… … the scouts that went into the forest didn’t return. Not even the villagers who went with them to guide the way.”

Similar things happened several times after that.

The scouts who had gone before arrived at Kibon to search for the scouts. Every time, the villagers said that they had gone into the forest and disappeared. The scouts who had gone like that and the villagers who had been in charge of guiding them never returned again. The woman’s husband was among them.

“Then, the scouts stopped coming. There was no one left to look for my missing husband. I suggested to other neighbors who had lost their families that we go into the forest together… … but they all looked serious and waved their hands. Actually, that’s understandable. Who would want to go to a place where dozens of men had disappeared without a trace… … .”

“… … .”

“But… … I couldn’t give up. For others, the person who disappeared was just one of many family members, but for me, it wasn’t me. I had no children, no siblings, and my parents had all passed away, so he was the only family I had left… … .”

“… … .”

“at last… … “I decided that I had to go there on my own and left for the forest.”

The forest was a different place from the woman’s memories.

The dazzling sunlight and refreshing air were everywhere. Wherever I went, a thick fog rose and strange-looking poisonous insects were everywhere. Occasionally, I heard a noise that I couldn’t tell if it was an animal’s cry or a scream. The fear that made me want to run away from the forest at any moment was holding my breath tight at every moment.

But after wandering for a long time, the woman finally found her husband, lying unconscious on the dirt floor.

Even though it wasn’t a great feeling… … I had found it anyway.

“… … I couldn’t say anything because I was afraid that if other people saw it, they would think my husband was possessed by a demon. So he stayed in that room ever since he came back. But since you two seem to have a lot of experience dealing with demons, I’m sure you’ll be able to tell that my husband isn’t possessed.”

“… … .”

“Please, the two of you, go and see your husbands for yourself. And… … please convince the villagers so that there is no misunderstanding. Then, I will reward you generously as much as you both want.”

The woman moved the wooden box away with trembling hands. Behind her, Kadim had a stern expression and cleared his throat, and Duncan waited quietly, observing the situation. Finally, when the woman opened the door she had hidden, they could see.

Darkness spread like a translucent curtain in a narrow room.

And a large monster, a thorn bug, tied tightly to the bed.

– Crackle, crackle, crackle… … .

A wet, sticky cry. The horns that grew above the single eye twitched like antennae. Venom flowed from the forked snout, and the countless legs that were tightly packed together wavered like waves. The creature was so large that it swung its body joints and blew its pores wide open, making the bed shake as if it were going to break.

“No, what, what is this… … .”

“… … .”

Duncan froze in shock, and Kadim frowned silently. The woman looked at him with a mixture of anxiety and anticipation, rubbing the wounds on her thorny arms.

“This is my husband… … . I’m still not able to speak clearly because I’m so shocked, but other than that, everything is fine. I eat well, walk well, and do other things… … .”

“… … .”

“Oh, anyway, is my husband okay? He’s definitely not possessed by a demon, is he?”

Kadim looked at the woman intently. Cheeks flushed by the light and brown eyes trembling slightly. There was still no sign of demonic possession.

However, the fact that one was not possessed by a demon did not always guarantee sanity.

“Hold on to that woman, Duncan.”

“… … yes?”

Before Duncan could follow the order, and before the woman could stop him, Khadim pulled out the axe from his belt and hurled it with the force of a wall.

Bang, blah blah blah – !

– Sizzle, sizzle!

The gray-gray axe blade struck the insect’s shedding line. A slimy, cracking sound erupted, and sticky green fluid splashed everywhere. The thorn bug, its head split in half, struggled with its horns and thorns erected, and finally, after destroying the bed and making a mess of the floor, it collapsed in exhaustion.

– Jjiiii… … .

“… … uh?”

The woman froze like a stone.

My breathing gradually became more rapid. My pupils shook dangerously. I stood there for a while as if the world was falling apart. I looked at the savage and impulsively grabbed the sickle from the cupboard.

“Oh, oh, oh!”

Duncan, who saw this, was scared and grabbed the woman’s arms from behind. She managed to stop the indiscriminate use of the scythe, but she screamed and struggled like a demon, paying no attention to the woman.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!! My husband!!! You killed my husband!! How did you get it back!!! How did you get it back!!! Aaaaaaaaa!! Aaaaaaaaaah!!!”

“… … .”

Kadim walked up to the woman and slapped her on the cheek. The shock was enough to make her jaw turn and immediately stop her movements. Seeing that she was somewhat calm, she cupped her woman’s cheek with one hand and forced her head to look in the bug’s direction.

“Look carefully. Does this really look like your husband?”

“… … Ugh.”

“I really want this dirty and insignificant bug to be your husband.”

“Eup, eup, huh, huh… … .”

“Do not sell yourself to false comfort. While you are serving this worm as your husband, your real husband is suffering from the devil’s possession. Do not expect me to find and save your husband. Why? Because if I find a possessed human being, I will kill him before he gets in my way.”

“… … .”

“Hold on tight. And leave for the forest again as soon as possible. Before your husband loses his life to the devil or to me.”

“… … .”

“Never, no one will do your work for you.”

A voice resolutely penetrates into my ear. The woman’s shaking eyes regained their original position.

Soon, the strength left her body. She dropped the sickle and collapsed on the floor. Her back trembled and a muffled sob leaked out from her face, which was stuck in the plank.

“Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu… … . Kkeup, keup, keuheuheugh… … .”

Kadim looked at the scene coldly and then left. Duncan also followed suit.

Will you fight to the end to find what you truly want, or will you once again choose false comfort and forget what is precious?

The choice was up to the woman left behind.