The Berserker’s Second Playthrough Novel - Chapter 80

Chapter 80
## Chapter: 80

### Chapter Title: Followers of the Forgotten God (2)

—

Holding the rank of captain at the Ninth Checkpoint along the Golden Highway was a position of significant prestige.

Since this post served as the primary threshold into Galentana, its commander wielded more influence than any of his peers at neighboring stations. Provided one maintained a clean record and avoided any catastrophic blunders, the role was a proven stepping stone toward becoming the captain of the Galentana city guard or securing a high-tier commission within the regional garrison.

Yulitan had even managed to distinguish himself further. Despite a terrifying ordeal that occurred midway through his tenure, he had successfully repelled a demonic assault and defended the stronghold until the crisis abated. Under normal circumstances, he would have overseen the final cleanup, waited for the public anxiety to fade, and been celebrated as a local savior, guaranteed a rapid ascent through the military hierarchy.

At least, that was the life he had envisioned.

Instead, Yulitan was currently hunched over like a beast of burden, straining against the weight of a heavy wooden cart.

Rattle, rattle—

“Huff, huff, huff…”

The man who once dreamed of a glorious future now panted with his tongue hanging out, groaning in sheer agony.

It had been a lapse in judgment. When the directive arrived to recruit skilled mercenaries for the suppression efforts using a dedicated council budget, the plan seemed foolproof. Even during his initial meeting with this particular sellsword, when he had enticed the man to join the fray, Yulitan had harbored secret hopes for a notable performance.

The issue was that the man’s performance had been far too efficient. Who could have predicted that a single warrior would massacre more than fifty demons alone? Was such a feat even possible for a lone human?

If Yulitan attempted to pay out the full bounty for those kills on his own authority, the council would surely accuse him of financial fraud and execute him. Furthermore, he simply didn’t have that kind of capital on hand. Usually, one might simply feign ignorance and chase the mercenary away, but Yulitan knew that if he tried to cheat this man, the mercenary would likely add his head—and those of his subordinates—to the pile of demon trophies.

Thus, Yulitan found himself coerced into a grueling march toward Galentana, forced to haul a wagon overflowing with the severed heads of monsters.

“Are you doing okay, Captain? You’re looking a bit ghostly…”

“Huff… no, I’m… far from okay… I can barely catch my breath, so… just shut up…”

“…”

Duncan peered back, contemplating whether to offer his assistance. Kadim gave a sharp, negative tilt of his head.

Kadim hadn’t expected the small outpost to hold much coin, but the way they handled the aftermath had been an insult. Attempting to dismiss him with a pittance or a worthless voucher while trying to slip away… Out of pure irritation, Kadim decided the captain would pull this load all the way to the city gates of Galentana.

“Huff, huff, huuuuh…”

In less than two hours, Yulitan’s strength gave out and he collapsed.

Kadim merely shifted his axe a few times in a casual threat, sending the captain scrambling back to his feet in a state of terror. However, by the third time he fell, Yulitan remained on the ground with his eyes rolling back, essentially inviting death over further labor. Kadim stared down at the exhausted officer with a frigid gaze.

“Stand up. The journey is far from over.”

“Huff, huff, p-please… have mercy… This wagon is immense… It’s not a job for a man—get some cattle or horses…”

“Stop your bellyaching. How can you find this heavy?”

Kadim hooked a single pinky finger around the cart’s handle and gave a light tug. The wagon glided forward as if it were weightless. Yulitan’s hollow eyes widened in disbelief.

The captain lunged forward and tried to duplicate the feat with his own finger, but it wouldn’t budge. Even when he gripped it with both hands and strained until his face turned purple, it barely shifted. Kadim watched the captain’s shock and delivered a cutting remark.

“You are pathetic.”

“…”

Yulitan choked back the desperate urge to scream that Kadim was the one who was unnatural.

An hour later, once the captain had truly lost consciousness, the duty of pulling the cart finally passed to Duncan. Meanwhile, Kadim revived Yulitan to squeeze him for any pertinent intelligence.

It was during this questioning that he received a piece of news that was utterly preposterous.

“…Agon’s Furious Horn claimed credit for killing the central demon?”

“Sigh, that’s right… He’s the one credited with ending the frenzy and scattering the pack. I suppose for someone like you, who was profiting off the kills, that’s unfortunate news…”

“…Are you saying that to my face?”

“It’s not my word. A group of his devotees—Atalain warriors—passed the checkpoint and spread the story. They claimed Agon’s Furious Horn led his men straight back to Agon afterward. Did you not cross paths with the champion?”

“…”

In front of them, Duncan felt a cold shiver run down his spine as he pulled the wagon. Kadim’s eyes sharpened as his brow twitched.

The validity of the claim was suspect.

It was possible the champion’s subordinates were spreading lies of their own volition, or perhaps Agon’s Furious Horn himself had orchestrated the deception. Regardless, if the tale had reached this far, it wouldn’t be long before the world believed the lie.

Ultimately, it was of little consequence. Kadim hadn’t hunted the demons for fame, and this wasn’t the first time that idiot had tried to claim his achievements.

Besides, he fully intended to split the man’s head open in the near future anyway.

Kadim ran a hand over the edge of his axe and pivoted the conversation.

“Tell me about Galentana.”

“…Hm? You’ve never visited?”

“I don’t believe so.”

“Very well… I’ll give you the short version.”

The major hubs of the Free City Alliance were defined by their specific reputations. Delutana, known for its immense prosperity, was called the “City of Gold”; Vesta, the seat of the Magic Tower, was the “City of Miracles”… and Galentana was honored as the “City of Knowledge.”

That triggered a fragment of a memory.

“Is that due to ‘Galentana University’ being located there?”

“Precisely. When it comes to historical depth or academic standing, Galentana University is unrivaled in this world. Scholars travel from every corner of the continent to study there. Because of them, Galentana has stood for centuries as a grand library of human understanding and the intellectual heart of the alliance. Though, with the damage from the recent demonic surge, things will likely be somber for a time…”

Kadim listened with only half an interest, his mind wandering.

The woman who had been hunting for ruins had introduced herself as a “Galentana University scholar.” Whether that was her true profession remained to be seen.

If that university truly was a “repository of knowledge,” it was bound to house significant records. Even if he couldn’t track her down, there might be documentation regarding the silver coin she had given him or other pertinent data.

‘If the opportunity arises, I should visit the campus…’

Kadim made his decision and cut off the soldier’s rambling complaints about the city’s current state.

“…The demonic outbreak proved that defense is paramount, but relying on mercenaries from other regions creates massive gaps in our security…”

“Understood. Now, take over for Duncan and start pulling again.”

“…I beg your pardon?”

“You’ve had your break. If you have more to say, you can vent while you work.”

Yulitan felt as though the world was spinning.

—

A thin, pale moon cast a weak glow over the landscape. Because the other two had spent the day in manual labor, Kadim took the first watch.

Despite his bone-deep weariness, Yulitan found it difficult to drift off. He was uncomfortable leaving his life in the hands of a barbarian. Kadim offered a blunt reassurance.

“Go to sleep. If I wanted you dead, it wouldn’t matter if your eyes were open or shut.”

“…”

The comment had the opposite effect. Yulitan fought to stay awake even harder, but eventually, his exhaustion won out, and he slipped into a deep stupor the moment his focus wavered.

Kadim slowly surveyed the darkness.

The lengthy spring had faded, and summer had arrived unannounced.

The peak heat had not yet arrived, leaving the night air lukewarm. Thick vegetation swayed like dark green waves in the breeze, and a bird by the water’s edge took flight, startled by the rhythmic chirping of insects. The moon’s glow bled through the canopy, while the stars and the Milky Way twisted through the sky like a river of light. If not for the persistent, buzzing insects, it would have been a peaceful summer evening.

Kadim reached down and grabbed a small stone. He pressed it between his fingers, applying pressure. It disintegrated instantly, crumbling like soft earth.

His physical form had undergone another significant evolution. This was the result of slaying several formidable greater demons and high demons.

He had long ago moved past the physical constraints of a normal human. At his current level, he could likely fight a mid-ranked progenitor demon using nothing but his hands. If his strength during his first life was measured at 100, he was currently at roughly 30.

“…”

But it remained insufficient.

Just as it had been in his previous life, the enemies appearing were becoming increasingly monstrous.

He had hoped that gaining natural strength would lessen his need for demon blood. He was wrong. As he grew more powerful, the world threw even more terrifying threats at him. The path he walked was a relentless one, constantly whispering that his current state was inadequate. It demanded he become stronger—by any means. To survive the coming storms, the temptation to consume ‘demon blood’ was always there…

Kadim tightened his grip on the flask filled with the dark liquid. A sharp, stinging desire flared in his mind.

A craving for the blood was beginning to take root. If these urges intensified, he would find himself hungering for it even outside of combat. His instability would worsen. The symptoms would become more frequent, the episodes longer, and the recovery more difficult…

And in the end…

“…”

Kadim forced the dark thoughts away, his gaze turning sharp and predatory.

His senses had been heightened by his recent growth. That was why he picked up on the anomaly—a presence so faint it was almost non-existent.

Whoosh, rustle—!

“Eek!”

He launched his axe into the thicket, eliciting a startled cry. Kadim beckoned the weapon back to his hand like a returning predator and dropped into a low crouch.

“Show yourself before I come over there, or I’ll kill you where you stand.”

“I-it’s me! Surely you remember? The researcher who studies the Wildland Witches! We were together in the ruins—that one time…”

A familiar figure emerged from the brush. Tanned skin, dark hair in braids, and a lithe frame that her loose clothing couldn’t quite hide. Her amber eyes darted around like a flickering flame.

Kadim’s expression darkened. She was the last person he expected to see.

“What are you doing here?”

“Wait, hold on… Just take a breath… Please…”

The scholar, Ilenia, took a moment to steady her breathing, holding her hands up as if trying to calm a wild animal. She gestured subtly for him to lower his weapon.

Kadim remained motionless, his axe ready. He remembered clearly that this woman carried her own hidden sting. Ilenia eventually started talking rapidly to fill the silence.

“Anyway, uh… it’s been a while—I’m actually quite happy to run into you… Who would have guessed our paths would cross again? It seems our destinies are still intertwined…”

“Stop talking nonsense.”

“R-right, I hear you! To the point: I was stuck in Galentana for a long time because the Golden Highway was blocked by the demon surge. I told you I was a scholar at the university, right? Well, just recently, they announced the roads were safe again. I headed out immediately, and along the way, I spotted a figure that looked just like yours…”

“How did you get out of a walled city at night? And why were you sneaking around like a scavenger?”

“I left during the day, obviously! And I was being quiet just in case I was mistaken—if it wasn’t you, but some bandit or monster, I’d be in trouble. I’m just a defenseless woman, after all…”

“…”

The explanation was suspicious, yet internally consistent. Kadim very slowly began to lower his weapon. Ilenia let out a long breath of relief.

“Phew, I appreciate the benefit of the doubt… But I didn’t just come to say hello. I have a specific reason. I was actually looking for you—this is perfect!”

“…”

“Ahem. Last time we met, I gave that elderly man a silver coin to give to you. He’s right over there sleeping, I see. But I realized I gave him the wrong coin by mistake. It was supposed to be a standard 100-luden piece, but I accidentally handed over something very precious to me…”

“…This one?”

Kadim produced the silver coin marked with ancient symbols. Ilenia’s eyes brightened as she moved closer.

“Yes! Oh, thank the gods you still have it! You see, it isn’t just money—it’s an artifact from a lost civilization…”

The sharp edge of the axe suddenly blocked her path. As Ilenia looked on in confusion, Kadim spoke with a chilling finality.

“I won’t be returning it.”

“…What?”

“Not until you tell me the truth about who you are, what you’re after, and who you’re working for.”

Ilenia’s facial features shifted almost imperceptibly—a tiny twitch of the eye and lip. Kadim saw it with perfect clarity.

“Um, well… didn’t we settle all that when I gave you the tablet from the ruins?”

“It was settled for you. You ran away before I could finish the conversation.”

“Honestly… I am exactly who I said: a Galentana University researcher studying the Wildland Witches. If you don’t believe me, we can go to the campus together and I’ll prove it…”

Something was wrong.

Her voice, her look, her mannerisms—they were a perfect match for the woman he knew. It was almost impossible to tell the difference. But Kadim had seen that split-second of inhumanity in her eyes.

He laid his trap.

“I still find it hard to believe. Back in those ruins, didn’t you personally kill those three tree-monsters? How does a simple researcher do that?”

“Oh, that! That wasn’t my own strength—I used a magical tool! I could never have done it without…”

Kadim brought the axe down with absolute lethal intent.

Splut—crunch!

“…Huh?”

The blade split her skull perfectly down the center. Dark fluid and brain matter spilled out. The force of the blow shattered the bone, causing the flesh to warp and bulge into a hideous, distorted mess.

Kadim looked at the ruined face of the woman and spoke coldly.

“There were no ‘tree-monsters’ in those ruins. There were only ‘stone warriors.'”

“…”

“Tell me what you are.”

The eye hanging from its socket began to spin frantically. A hidden blade flicked out from her sleeve. Kadim stepped back, wrenched his axe free, and buried it back into the center of her head.

Crack—crunch!

“No more games. Speak.”

“…Grrr.”

The thing wearing Ilenia’s skin never uttered another word.

The blood pooling on the ground turned a deep, oily black, and the convulsing body began to hiss and bubble, dissolving into a foul-smelling foam until nothing remained.