The Berserker’s Second Playthrough in the Game - Chapter 99



Only Krnovel

Episode 99. Atala’s Judgement (2)

As promised, Kadim met again with Ubik, the ‘King of the Arena’.

Yubik did not laugh heartily like last time, did not say anything out of the blue, and did not insult me ​​in anger. He simply drank his liquor and maintained a calm and composed attitude. He had figured out from their previous encounters that this attitude would be most advantageous for negotiations.

The handsome man emptied the bottle of alcohol in one go and brought a new bottle himself.

“It’s a bit odd to drink alone while leaving the guests alone. Would you like a drink? This is a liquor made from fresh ogre bones full of marrow. It has a unique taste that sticks to your mouth.”

“… … .”

Kadim declined. Yubik drank alone without showing any sign. After emptying another bottle, he expressionlessly wiped the corner of his mouth and clasped his chubby hands.

“I heard you entered the gladiator’s waiting area in the arena. Were you trying to find Agon’s wrathful horns there too?”

No, but he didn’t bother explaining the complicated details. Yubik shrugged.

“Well, I don’t think there were any significant results. Agon’s angry horn really disappeared without a trace. I thought his subordinates knew where he was, but after investigating, it seems that wasn’t the case. There were definitely quite a few people who saw him return to Agon… … This is truly a case of a ghost crying.”

“… … So, you couldn’t find a contact point either?”

Ubik clenched his fat chin as if he was regretful.

Strength went into Kadim’s strong muscles. It looks like he’s really going to tear off all the flesh with his bare hands. Nevertheless, Yubik was not afraid and spoke calmly.

“Wait a minute, but I didn’t say there was no way to find Agon’s Raging Horn.”

“… … ?”

“Pooh, of course this…” … This is a method that should never be used in the first place… … .”

After dropping his gaze and pausing, Uvik took a deep breath and began to talk in earnest.

“Our first meeting wasn’t very pleasant, but let’s let go of past resentment and talk honestly.”

“… … .”

“Yes, I want to make you a gladiator by any means necessary. However, unlike other mercenaries, you seem difficult to tempt with material things like money, fame, and women. Don’t you think so?”

“… … .”

“The only way to recruit you is to help them with their goal. The blind goal was to find Agon’s angry horn and kill him. I don’t know if the reason for this is to avenge the enemy, whether it’s Atallain’s unique desire to win, or because he covets the name and possessions of a hero, but I’m not interested. “What’s important is that I can help with that, and you can help me, too.”

“… … The introduction is long. So what are you proposing?”

“I will summon the wrathful horn of Agon and allow you to face him. However, on the condition that you fight in the arena, not anywhere else. And since I am the champion and you are the challenger, you must first earn the right to challenge through several games.”

A deep furrow was etched between the barbarian’s eyebrows. Uvik waved his hand calmly, as if he wasn’t particularly surprised.

“Yes, I know. I know you won’t be very happy with this offer… … . However, I must make something clear. The method I am about to attempt to summon the ‘Horn of Agon’ is one that carries great risk, even on my part. I would probably never attempt it unless it was to help you… … .”

“… … How on earth do you do that?”

“I can’t tell you that. If you tell me, won’t you try it? Anyway, I wanted to tell you that I, too, am risking my own luck to bring you under my wing. therefore… … “If something goes, there must also come.”

“… … .”

A gaze sharper and more fierce than a freshly sharpened blade flew towards Yubik. Yubik didn’t feel any particular hesitation as he looked into those eyes. Everything he said was true.

In negotiations and deals, lies are a sword, and truth is a shield. With a strong shield in front of me, I could stand tall even in the face of that ferocious mercenary.

Kadim was also vaguely aware of that fact. That meant that if he didn’t really act like a clown in the arena… … he would have no hope of killing Agon’s angry horn and reclaiming the ‘Judgment of Atala’.

But it was not easy to accept the offer.

It wasn’t just a matter of pride. Kadim now realized why everything about the arena was so fundamentally unpleasant.

There, the ‘struggle’ was treated as a spectacle and was being insulted.

At the high peak of the heart, there stood the great warrior of Atala, burning with anger. It’s not just a matter of rejecting the offer, it’s the hall of corruption that shames the struggle, the rich people who made their fortune through it, Agon’s angry horn, the shaman of the wilderness, all of these must be torn apart and judged, he solemnly recited… … .

But on the other hand, there was also someone who wasn’t like that.

Deep down in my heart, there was a man who said that all of that was meaningless. What did it matter whether the place treated the struggle as a spectacle or not? In a game, it was just an event dungeon. Your true place was outside of this world anyway, so don’t get too caught up in being a great warrior…

You are not Kadim.

I am locked in conflict within such a contradictory self… …

Suddenly, a commotion was heard outside the door.

‘Uh, what is it?’

‘Who are you, you bastard! Since when have you been here… … .’

‘Ahh, put this down… … .’

Boom, boom!

The door to the reception room opened and a tangled mess of people poured out. There were the mercenaries guarding the door, and Duncan.

Ubik frowned and lowered his voice.

“… … What are you doing? “I thought you told me not to interrupt you because we were having an important conversation.”

“Well, that’s it, Great Lord… … . This guy was secretly eavesdropping on the conversation in front of the living room… … .”

“Oh, you misunderstand, what are you, the great king of the arena! I am not a suspicious person, but I am Duncan Wheeled, a member of Mr. Kadim’s group over there! It’s just that, as a member of Nauri’s group, I heard what you had to say, and if there was anything I could help you with, I wanted to help you in some small way… … .”

“… … .”

Ubik secretly turns his eyes towards Kadim. Kadim nodded, confirming that they were in the same group.

Ubik burst out laughing and made the mercenaries retreat. Then he asked Duncan arrogantly:

“Okay, well, did you overhear the whole story? “Is there anything you could help with?”

“Oh, yes, of course! That… … Of course, Your Majesty is a person who values ​​other things much more than worldly values, but still, as you live in this world, don’t you think you need money quite a bit? Surely, the king of the prestigious arena would not be stingy in that regard… … .”

“… … .”

Duncan went on a tirade. In summary, the content was, ‘Our Nauri, since we are already playing as gladiators, please give us plenty of money.’ Kadim, who had not yet accepted the offer, was just dumbfounded.

However, after hearing the conversation that followed, my thoughts changed.

“Okay, so how much do you want me to give you?”

“Oh, that… … I’m definitely not asking for much! If you overcome Agon’s angry horn and win! So, if you become the champion of the new arena! Well, then gold… … .”

Duncan, very nervous, told me the full details of his proposal.

“… … .”

“… … .”

Ubik snorted and snorted.

I was shocked. Judging from the way he spoke, I thought he would ask for billions of won, but that was all he had. Of course, to a commoner who had only ever touched small change, that amount would seem like a huge amount of wealth… … .

But Kadim’s reaction was different.

He knew it well. How crazy the suggestion just now sounded. I looked at Duncan. The corners of the mouth were stiff, and the legs were trembling due to extreme tension. It’s so trivial that it’s impossible to imagine that they’re committing such a bold fraud.

But if you accept the offer and Khadim becomes champion… … A wealthy man who enriched himself through that arena will undoubtedly lose all his wealth and go bankrupt.

Soon, Kadim felt an extremely rare emotion rising up that he had never felt since falling into this damn game world.

He felt like bursting out in laughter.

Let the reception room leave, holding the stomach, boldly, very coolly. To dare to make such a crazy remark without fear, the peddler has grown a lot. Yes, it is not necessary to tear flesh and see blood to judge.

However, if you laugh that loudly, the owner will notice something suspicious. Chimi quickly suppressed her emotions and made an expressionless face as usual.

Ubik rubbed his palms together, rubbing his chin.

“Okay, well, it’s not a difficult request. “If you really become a champion, that’s it.”

“… … Thank you, Lord of the Arena!”

“But, before that… … “I think this side will be the first to accept my offer.”

The warrior in his heart took a step back. He willingly entered the halls of corruption to face a harsh judgment. After pretending to agonize for quite some time, Khadim accepted the offer to become a gladiator.

Yubik’s eyes sparkled and the corners of his mouth rose refreshingly. But soon the smile disappeared from his face and he added seriously.

“good… … . Oh, by the way, I almost forgot the most important thing.”

“… … ?”

“If you really face the angry horn of Agon, I don’t care if you cut off its limbs, break its bones, or inflict any serious injuries and abuse on it. However… … I would prefer that you not kill it. If you kill the angry horn of Agon right now, it will be difficult for both you and me to deal with the consequences. Now is not the time, so let’s wait for a later date.”

What Ubik wanted was the birth of a new champion, not the death of the hero who saved the alliance. Besides, if Agon’s angry horn died completely, he wouldn’t be able to continue holding on to interest… … .

“If you keep this, I will definitely keep my promise to summon Agon’s angry horn and fill his bag with gold. I swear on Remillion’s name. “If you break your promise, you can really bring me a treat and rip off a piece of my flesh.”

“… … .”

“Instead, you too… … “Swear on Atala’s name that you will keep your promise.”

With a considerable number of Atalain warriors under his command, Ubik knew how to make sure that the Atalain would never break their promise. Khadim frowned at the unexpected poison clause and the appearance of the countermeasure.

However, a solution was soon found.

“… … That’s right. “I, Kadim, son of the wilderness, swear in the name of Atala, the warrior, that I will keep my promise and never kill ‘the great warrior of Atala.’”

‘The Grandmaster of Atala’ is the title most commonly used by the Atalains when referring to the Horn of Agon’s wrath. Only then did Ubik smile with complete satisfaction.

Even after downing two bottles of alcohol and coming to his senses, the king of the arena still failed to realize that he had been fooled twice.

*

The arena was the center and heart of this huge wasteland city. However, the area in front of it was not always crowded with people.

On days when the champion makes an appearance or there is a big competition, crowds as large as a big city festival gather, but on normal days, it is rather quieter than the city center. There are only bloodthirsty spectators, gamblers addicted to gambling, and tourists from far away, just hanging around like flies.

But today something was different.

Even though the champion hadn’t arrived, there were quite a few people gathered around the arena. Not only spectators and gamblers, but even ordinary citizens.

“what? It’s not a special anniversary, so why suddenly… … .”

“I don’t know, is the king of the arena going crazy… … .”

“Oh, don’t push! Hey, that guy is pickpocketing!”

From the entrance to the entrance again, even after circling the arena, the line continued to grow. The third-rate entertainers continued to solicit customers, blowing horns and clapping.

“Come on, watch the arena match today, it’s free! free! Completely free! You can go in even without a ticket! “An opportunity that doesn’t come around every day!”

“We’re not showing a cheap game just because it’s free! An amazing match that you won’t see anywhere else is planned! “Quickly, everyone, get in line before it’s too late!”

The biggest reason why so many people gathered was because, as the saying goes, admission was free without a ticket.

The cheapest ticket to the arena costs around 100 luden. It’s a somewhat burdensome amount for the common people who live hand to mouth. However, this time, it was completely free, so everyone couldn’t help but turn their eyes.

Of course, that wasn’t the only reason.

“Hey, let’s ask something. “Who is competing and what game is taking place today?”

“Oh, sorry! Because it’s all a secret! Let’s go inside and see it with your own eyes!”

Normally, it would be common sense to promote the games with the gladiators and events, but this time, for some reason, the promoters were hiding everything. The citizens looked puzzled, and the gamblers left, grumbling about how they could win money like this.

However, in reality, the mouths of the entertainment companies were already open locks.

When people in the know repeatedly complained, they secretly leaked information as if they had no choice.

“Oh, I really shouldn’t tell you this… … I’m telling you this especially because you treated me to dinner last time? You can’t tell anyone else, right?”

“Okay, so tell me quickly! It’s so tantalizing… … .”

‘In this match… … the… … ‘Demon Slayer’ will be participating.’

“… … !!”

Of course, there was no way that such a scoop could be uncovered.

Agon is a city that is more interested in famous mercenaries than any other place. The reputation of the ‘Demon Slayer’ was already widely known. Rumors spread like wildfire. After a few meals, almost everyone in line had heard the story.

“Oh my god, a demon slayer is coming out… … ?”

“No, really? The one who stained the Golden Road with the blood of demons… … .”

“Aren’t those all pure rumors? How can one person kill so many demons… … .”

“Well, if you look at it that way, then the Angry Horn of Agon and the Knights of the Empire… … .”

A story of anticipation, a story of doubt, a story of analysis… … .

The sound of demon slayer being discussed constantly was heard from all directions. Rumors and curiosity attracted more people, and the queue wrapped around the arena two more times. The entertainment companies had proud smiles on their faces as they anticipated additional pay.

As time went by, the audience started to enter the theater.

Finally, everyone finished entering. The spacious spectator stands were about 60% full. A haze rises above the heated seats, a sight that literally looks like a wave of human beings. It was an unprecedented success for an irregular match without any prior promotion.

“As expected… … Your Majesty’s skills are extraordinary, hahaha! To be able to gather so many people in such a short period of time… … .”

“My lord, the councilor expressed his apologies for not being able to attend. Instead, let me give you this alcohol, even if it’s just a little bit… … .“

VIP seats with a great view, mercenary leaders rubbing their palms and flattering themselves, and servile aides. The king of the arena, sitting at the head table among them, smiled meaningfully.

Of course, this was an empty show that didn’t even make a single luden, but it didn’t matter. This match wasn’t held to make money in the first place.

The purpose of this game is to ‘show’ as many people as possible what you saw.

The host’s greetings begin on a podium under the stinging sunlight… …

“Welcome to all who have come to witness the brave gladiators’ performances under this dry land and hot sun! The victors will leave their glorious names in the minds of all people, while the vanquished will leave only bloodstains on the dirt… … .”

Big – ah!

… … Finally, the gong signaling the start of the game rang out.

The iron bars opened and the gladiators entered. The audience opened their eyes and stretched out their upper bodies forward to get a better look at them.

And then they all let out exclamations of bewilderment.

“……uh?”

“… … what?”

“No, that… … It just keeps on like that… … .”

The words of the promoter who was talking loudly at the entrance were not exaggerations or boasts to attract customers.

In front of a huge crowd, an ‘amazing game like no other’ was about to begin.