The Berserker’s Second Playthrough in the Game - Chapter 79



Only Krnovel

Episode 79 Followers of the Forgotten God (1)

At the same time, a storm was blowing in Galentana, a large city where demons had invaded right up to the front yard.

“… … So, to summarize, since the ‘central demon’ has been subdued, the outbreak is essentially over, right?”

“I see… … .”

“And in that process, ‘Agon’s Raging Horn’ and the barbarian warriors it raised contributed greatly?”

“… … That’s right.”

“Huh… … .”

“Oh my… … .”

In a secret space covered by blackout curtains, sighs and lamentations erupted among the neatly dressed old men. They were the senior members of the council from the University of Galentana, commonly known as the ‘University Faction’.

The city was on the verge of collapse due to the demons’ rampage, so it was good news that someone had defeated the demons and put an end to the rampage. However, no sign of joy could be seen on the faces of the council members.

There was no choice. The new members of the Agon Council, known as the Agonists, had brought the ‘Agon’s Angry Horn’ faction under the Galentana Council, and they had been strongly opposed to it. Since the fighting dogs raised by their enemies had saved the city, it was obvious what their position in the Council would be in the future.

“Tsk, what did I say? I told you to leave room for compromise with those Agonists. You wouldn’t listen to me and just kept nagging me to death… … .”

“Oh, you used to say you hated hanging out with country bumpkins at the synagogue, and now you’re trying to get away with it yourself… .”

“The problem was that they were allowed to be sponsored by Agon’s wealthy people in the first place. If they didn’t have money, they would be nothing more than scarecrows with loud voices… … .”

“Isn’t the current Councilor of Agon an alumnus of Representative Valerio? “What on earth were you doing while those Agon guys were messing around over there?”

As always happens whenever a big problem arises, lawmakers were busy criticizing each other and passing the blame. But since they were already in the same boat, it was meaningless to argue whose fault was greater.

“How about we stop and have a constructive discussion from now on? “If things continue like this, it’s not just a matter of getting a seat as a member of the National Assembly, but it looks like we’re going to be purged by the fighting dogs of the Agon faction right now.”

A thin old man with a stubborn look suggested. It was Vittorio, a big name in the university world and a senior lawmaker who was a strong candidate for the next chairman. The other lawmakers silently agreed and began to shake their heads.

“… … How about we first turn people’s attention towards the Magic Tower? Those magicians have been dealing with the demons in a half-hearted manner, so there’s enough justification to condemn them… … .”

“It’s not a bad idea, but it’s not a fundamental solution. “It’s not like we’re going to engage in an all-out war against the real Magic Tower, and eventually when the weak shots run out, won’t the arrows come back to us?”

“How about we turn public opinion against the barbarians? Let’s have the underworld forces cause a few riots involving the barbarians. This will make the citizens think that they are violent and dangerous.”

“Well… … I don’t know if it will be effective since this incident has just brought about a change in awareness. If the fact that I ordered it is discovered by those who know, it might backfire… … .”

Various opinions were exchanged, but no clever plan emerged. While the debate continued in a lukewarm tone, someone spoke resolutely.

“We need a superman too.”

Everyone’s attention was focused. The lawmaker continued speaking in a firm tone.

“The forces of the Disaster Army and the Dark World are meaningless now. Was it Keybone? Didn’t nearly a hundred soldiers die just from catching a single demon in that small village beyond the Seven Gates? Whether the demon was caught or not, its whereabouts are unknown… … .”

“… … .”

“So, just as the Empire has its paladins, the North has its relic soldiers, the Vestana have their sorcerers, and the Agon have their barbarian warriors, so we too should have superhumans with ‘special powers’ in addition to the mortal army.”

“… … .”

There was no one among the assembled members who did not know that fact. Half of them looked indifferent, and the other half looked as if they had thought about something and said it.

“So, are there any superhumans around you that you know well?”

“… … That’s not it. But, everyone, haven’t you heard the rumors about the ‘Demon Slayer’? If someone like that suddenly appeared, doesn’t that mean there are still people left on this land who don’t belong to any force?”

The lawmakers kept their mouths shut and looked at each other.

‘Demon Slayer’. Everyone had heard rumors about the mercenary who was single-handedly slaughtering countless demons on the Golden Road. In fact, until a few days ago, it was a hotter topic than ‘Agon’s Angry Horn’.

However, since the stories of his activities that were being reported were so absurd and questionable in many ways, most of the university faction lawmakers reserved their position on responding to him or making judgments about him.

“But isn’t it the same as ‘Agon’s Raging Horn’? I heard he joined a punitive force made up of his subordinates… … .”

“That’s not true. According to the report from the 9th gate, it had nothing to do with the punitive force. Rather, it seems to have some kind of connection with the Delutana Council.”

“Delutana? “Then hasn’t he already been persuaded there?”

“… … Please think about it a little more carefully and give me your opinion. If you had, you would have been protecting Delutana. There would have been no reason to come here in the first place, right?”

A lot of words were said, but there was no meaningful information. In the end, the lawmakers were unable to come up with a clear solution right away, and after gathering information and organizing their thoughts, they said they should meet again and dispersed.

Even though all the other lawmakers left, one person did not leave. Vittorio, the senior councilor who provided this space. He clasped his hands together and rested his elbows on the table, lost in thought.

A silence that makes it seem like the bustle just a moment ago is a lie.

“… … .”

It wasn’t for nothing that I was left here alone. The old man, as dry as an old tree, glanced into the dark corner of the space.

There was a guest standing there who had not been invited.

“You didn’t run away, so your purpose wasn’t wiretapping… … You didn’t come near, so your purpose wasn’t assassination… … Why did you come to see me?”

A yellow light shone in the darkness. The intruder approached the congressman with shadowy steps.

“I ‘accidentally’ overheard that you were looking for people with special powers, Representative Vittorio. “I think I can help you with that.”

Vittorio glanced up. I could see flowing dark brown hair, eyes sparkling like jewels, and a subtle smile as if embracing a moon halo.

I didn’t forget her because she had a strikingly pretty face. I had seen her before at a fellowship with Galentana University.

“Aren’t you… … a bachelor from Galentana University? Your name is… … .”

“Ilenia. It’s not my real name, so you can call me something else.”

“… … Yes, Junior Illenia. I am glad that I met you again by ‘coincidence’ like this. However, I wonder if you are still not experienced enough to enter the world of politics… … .”

“I have no intention of going into that area. I’m sure the lawmakers who are already there will take care of it. As I said, I just came here to help solve a problem.”

Vittorio looked straight into the woman’s eyes.

Something was different from the last time I saw it. There was a faint sense of inhuman discomfort in his yellow eyes. The senior member asked, feeling both unspeakable reluctance and curiosity.

“I don’t think you’re helping me out of respect for your senior… … What do you want?”

The woman raised the corners of her lips as if she liked the quick conversation. She leaned down and whispered in a secret voice.

“The Death of the ‘Demon Slayer’.”

“… … .”

“and… … ‘These’ the congressman hid.”

Ting! Tingrrrrrr… … .

A bright red silver flash rolled in. Vittorio slowly picked it up. It was a silver coin with a strange pattern instead of a denomination or a portrait.

He didn’t know what it was. He had been collecting it in secret his entire life, thinking that he might use it someday.

A relic of those who followed a forgotten god who was exterminated by the Elgar Church in the distant past.

Vittorio stared at the woman again with trembling eyes.

“… … .”

“… … .”

The poisoned sword that could cut down my master finally fell at his feet.

*

On the way back to the 9th Gate Defense Line from Soltana.

Kadim returned to Silmont, a town where the corpses of old people were strewn about.

“… … .”

There, the face I was looking for was nowhere to be found. There was a path between the furniture walls, and the house was empty. Judging from the fact that the corpses that had been strewn about the street had been collected to some extent, it seemed that others had already passed by.

Duncan scratched his head and asked.

“Is there something you’re looking for, Your Majesty? When I came by, this place was just an empty ruin… … .”

“… … “No, let’s just go.”

Kadim left the village, praying that the old woman would return to her original form and be rescued.

Peace was restored to the Golden Road. The road was still a mess, but at least there were no demons or monsters appearing every few hundred steps. This was thanks to the disappearance of the central demon and the scattered demons that had gathered together.

And even if the devil had appeared, he would probably have been scared and run away if he had seen the cart pulled by Duncan.

Rattling, rattling, rattling –

“… …Can you hold out, Duncan?”

“Whew, whoosh, of course, Your Majesty! For me who has fought and won against the ‘Agon’s Angry Horn’, this is nothing! Whoosh, it’s not hard at all, not at all!”

“… … .”

Like a farmer who had a bountiful harvest, Duncan pulled the cart with a proud face. Every time the wheels rattled, the piled-up devil heads shook uneasily. Kadim laughed inwardly and occasionally helped by pushing from behind.

After advancing for nearly four days, we arrived at the defense line. Duncan was exhausted and half dazed, but he still had a happy smile on his face. Kadim looked at the peddler, wondering if he had this much physical strength in the first place.

And there was a commotion at the defense line.

“Stop, stop! What… … No… … Th, what is this… … .”

“What, what is that? Aren’t those the devil’s heads?”

“Oh my god, Remillion… … . “You caught as many devils as I did?”

“Ah, the ‘Demon Slayer’… … The ‘Demon Slayer’ is back!”

A soldier on guard duty, another soldier preparing to switch with him, a soldier returning from a reconnaissance trip, a soldier organizing supplies, a soldier oiling and repairing armor, and even soldiers waiting in a tent… …

All the soldiers of the disaster force in the camp swarmed like bees to see the returning ‘Demon Slayer’ and his spoils. Without exception, they opened their eyes like rabbits and gaped like hippos.

Among them were soldiers who had been in the punitive force together. As soon as they saw Kadim, they were delighted and rushed towards him.

“Oh, sir! Sir! You are safe!”

“You are truly amazing! You have caught this many more demons since then!”

“Whatever, stop shouting! Glory to Atala! Glory to the captain who judged the great evil!”

“Glory to Atala! Glory to the captain who judged the great evil!”

A few soldiers were imitating Atallain by beating their chests.

“… … .”

Kadim looked at them as if they were crazy, then ignored them and went out to find the captain of the guard.

The captain of the guard, Yulitan, also noticed the commotion and quickly ran out. He, too, could not help but faint like the soldiers. The tip of his finger pointing at the piled up demon heads trembled.

“No, that… … “You mean you caught them all by yourself?”

“Okay, that’s not all we caught.”

“What, what else is there over there?”

“About five high-level demons. But it’s a bit difficult to prove. “When the central demon died, they all returned to the form of lower-level demons.”

Yulitan was left speechless.

There was no humor in Kadim’s expression. As can be seen just by looking at the mountain of supply and demand, this person was not the type of person to bluff with his tongue. I thought saving my life thanks to ‘Agon’s Raging Horn’ was the most amazing thing in my life, but I never thought I would experience something even more amazing in just a few days… … .

Yulitan’s shock was more realistic than that of the soldiers. He was not just surprised, but he had to settle the bill. Kadim spoke to the embarrassed captain of the guard.

“I won’t ask for something I can’t prove. However, I will definitely pay for the evidence that was brought in like that. That was the request from the beginning.”

“… … .”

Yulitan got over his surprise and quickly started counting.

After counting, there were 35 low-level devils without horns and 24 mid-level devils with horns. Therefore, if you consider the additional compensation alone, it is 1.55 million Luden, and if you add the 50,000 Luden reward for participating in the punitive force, the total reward is 1.6 million Luden.

For a moment, my mind became dizzy. The amount of money is almost 20 years’ worth of salary. It was an enormous amount of money, enough to buy a luxurious mansion in a big city.

Of course, no gateway in the world normally has that much money saved up. After scraping together the budget and emergency military funds provided by the council, the total came to 146,000 luden.

Yulitan rolled his eyes anxiously and put down the bundle of money.

“Well, this is all the budget we have… … This alone is definitely not a small amount of money, so just take this amount… … .”

Bang – !

An ax blade with the force of splitting the tabletop. The gold and silver coins that had been piled up poured out.

Kadim motioned for Yulitan to continue talking. Yulitan trembled and then banged his head on the ground, cracking his forehead.

Puck – !

“I sincerely apologize! But this is all I can give you right now! Instead, I will write you a certificate of completion so that you can receive the full reward when you go to Galentana! The person who requested this subjugation operation is the Galentana Council, so you don’t have to worry about your money being stolen!”

“… … is it? But what if the council over there delays payment and becomes a nuisance?”

“Uh, that’s… … .”

“Do you mind if I come back and break your skull?”

“… … .”

Yulitan turned pale and looked like a frozen toad. He could not answer easily, only his lips trembling pitifully. Kadim sighed inwardly and asked Duncan.

“Duncan, how much longer will it take if we go to Agon via Galentana?”

“Hmm… … I think it’ll probably take four or five more days. They’re both north of here, but Galentana is a bit to the west and Agon is to the east.”

“… … .”

I had already wasted quite some time hunting high-ranking demons. I had to stop by Agon, which was unavoidable. I didn’t really want to waste any more time here.

But I couldn’t just give up that huge amount of money and go. Also, my clothes and equipment were in tatters from the continuous battles, and I had run out of supplies, so I needed to get some reinforcements. In a big city, it would be easier to get quality goods than in the remote villages I’d been through so far.

“After stopping at Galentana, plan your route to Agon, Duncan. “I don’t care about the terrain, just take the fastest route.”

“Whoop, yep! “I understand, I’ll be better!”

Duncan unfolded the map and thought earnestly about which way to go. Yulitan, with a face that seemed to have come back to life, was trembling as if he had died, saying that he would quickly write the certificate.

Kadim poured cold water on that sense of relief.

“There is no need for that. “You too are coming with us to Galentana.”

“……yes?”

“It would be more certain to have witnesses and evidence than just scraps of paper. If they’re right next to you, it’ll be easier to get your act together when things go wrong.”

Yulitan dropped the quill with a soulless expression.