The Berserker’s Second Playthrough Novel - Chapter 81

Chapter 81
Chapter: 81

Chapter Title: Followers of the Forgotten God (3)

—

When dawn broke, Yulitan and Duncan were greeted by the sight of a charred, obsidian pile of filth.

“…Uh? What on earth is this mess?”

“Eek! What is that supposed to be, my lord?”

Within the viscous, tar-like sludge lay mangled bits of muscle, shards of bone, and the corroded remains of sword blades. Tiny bubbles continued to surface from the mass, indicating the chemical dissolution was still underway.

Kadim, who had been observing the melting heap throughout the night, provided a brief explanation of the darkness that had unfolded. Yulitan and Duncan turned ghostly white, looking like children who had just stumbled into a nightmare.

“…Heavens, so you’re claiming that thing was masquerading as a human last night? And it took the shape of someone you recognized?”

“Ah, could this be the malice of a demon, my lord? Or perhaps that silver piece from the researcher was… some kind of hexed object…”

Kadim shifted his gaze from the remains to the silver coin.

It wasn’t demonic in origin; no trace of hellish energy came from the pile. However, the theory about the coin held some weight.

The object itself didn’t strike out at people. Yet, if a succession of owners holding a specific jewel were slaughtered by avaricious brigands, society would eventually label that stone “cursed.”

In that sense, this silver coin was certainly “cursed.” The hollow imitation of a man had arrived specifically to slay Kadim and retrieve the currency. Had Duncan been the one standing watch, he would have been slaughtered in his sleep and robbed.

“…”

Kadim fell silent for a moment before stowing the coin securely in his tunic. He then gestured to his comrades with a sharp nod.

“We move out. We need to reach Galentana quickly.”

“Huh? B-but… we’re just going to leave this rot here, my lord?”

“Shouldn’t we look for tracks or clues before departing? Something so unnatural occurred…”

Kadim brushed off their concerns.

“There is nothing left to find. Get to the cart.”

“…”

He had already scouted the perimeter and tracked the source long before they had even stirred. The trail originated from the direction of Galentana. Since the assassins had failed to retrieve the coin, whoever orchestrated the attempt would surely strike again once they entered the city.

Regardless of who they were, Kadim had no intention of granting them a peaceful end. Since they had drawn first blood, they needed to be exterminated entirely, leaving no loose ends behind.

Kadim marched forward with heavy, purposeful strides. Duncan and Yulitan shared a nervous look at the sludge before trailing after him, the cart rattling with its cargo of demon trophies.

Thick, moss-like vegetation swayed in the breeze, framing a simple dirt track that rose and fell like waves across the landscape. Traversing the hills felt like a ship navigating the swells of the sea. Finally, under a vast, brilliant blue sky, a range of low peaks and massive, sand-colored ramparts came into view, protecting a sprawling urban center.

The metropolis of intellect, Galentana.

It stood as one of the three primary foundations of the Free City Alliance. It was a sanctuary of erudition, anchored by a legendary university with a long history and esteemed reputation.

The sight of the city’s massive gates usually inspired a sense of reverence in young scholars who had spent their lives dreaming of this place, or in rustics seeing a real city for the first time. Unfortunately, the current atmosphere was hardly conducive to such wonder.

The drawbridge and the main entrance to Galentana were now a scene of utter chaos.

The area was more congested than a frantic market, with massive queues of people stretching out like long lines of ants in both directions.

“…Stop shoving! I’ve told you a dozen times, stop pushing!”

“Hey, get your hands off that! Why are you touching my bags…”

“I already paid! I gave you the money earlier, why are you asking for more…”

The oppressive summer heat, combined with the collective warmth of the mob, made the air thick and stifling. In the middle of the madness, some fought to get in while others fought to get out, everyone elbowing and straining against one another. The guards stationed at the center were drenched in sweat, struggling to maintain any semblance of order.

Observing the mayhem from above, the captain of the gate guard ascended to the relatively quiet tower to vent his frustrations.

“Haa, damn it all to hell…”

He looked as though he had been dunked in a river. As he pulled off his helmet, a cloud of steam rose from his damp hair.

His timing was miserable. For nearly two months, travel had been choked off due to demon activity on the Golden Highway, and the gates had been thrown open on his specific shift.

The volume of travelers was overwhelming. There were traders transporting supplies to capitalize on the shortages, messengers sprinting to other cities with updates, camp followers looking for better markets, academics traveling to and from the university, residents returning home, and displaced families from Soltana who had lost everything…

He would have loved to squeeze them for extra taxes, but he had been caught in a scandal once before. Another infraction would mean losing his post or being executed in University Square as a public example. From the perspective of a now-honest official, the crowd looked like a plague of vermin.

“Phew, damn it… I wish a demon would just show up and clear them all out…”

He didn’t mean it, of course. He wasn’t truly that malicious. Furthermore, if a demon actually appeared, he would be the first one in the line of fire. It was merely the grumbling of a man exhausted to his core.

However, words have a way of manifesting in reality, and one should be mindful of what they summon.

‘KyaAAAAH!!’

‘UwaAAAAH!!’

Startled by the sudden outbursts of terror, the captain looked down. He let out a confused gasp.

“…Huh?”

His dark wish seemed to be coming true right before his eyes.

The crowd began to split apart like a fraying rope. People near the gate dove out of the way as if dodging a projectile. And the source of the panic was…

A demon.

An entity composed of a horrific mass of tangled heads was barreling toward the entrance on top of a wagon.

“Gah, shit! Wh-what the hell is that thing?”

The captain recoiled in sheer panic. It was a waking nightmare. He might be a bit of a scoundrel, but he still possessed the instincts of a soldier. He jammed his helmet back on, grabbed his spear, and charged down toward the gate.

By the time he reached the ground, a tense standoff had formed. Through the swirling dust, the monstrous shape of the demon remained imposing. The guards were in a state of total disarray, waving their weapons frantically.

“Uh-uh-uh? Uh-uh?”

“Stop! D-don’t take another step or we’ll impale you!”

“C-Captain? What’s the plan? Should we ring the alarm for the main force?”

Having seen the situation from the tower, the captain was able to keep his head. He soon noticed a familiar face standing in front of the monstrous pile.

“…Eh?”

It was the commander of the Golden Highway Ninth Checkpoint, Yulitan Jermani.

He looked significantly more exhausted than usual, but he was unmistakable. He was a veteran officer who held a much higher rank and was well-regarded within the Galentana military.

“N-Ninth Checkpoint Captain? What… what is going on here? That creature in front of you…”

“It’s good to see you’re still breathing, Captain Dokran. Perhaps you should order your subordinates to put their weapons down? Unless they have a hobby of fighting demons that are already deceased.”

The pungent odor of rotting flesh finally hit the captain’s nostrils. It was only then that he realized the mass was a collection of decapitated demon heads, not a living beast.

The captain’s mind raced through the recent reports. The demonic surge on the Golden Highway. The reports of the ninth checkpoint being a slaughterhouse. And yet, Yulitan had held the line, surviving the onslaught…

He reached the only conclusion that made sense.

“C-Captain? Did you… did you actually bring every single demon head from the ninth checkpoint defense all the way here?”

“…”

“Hah, I can’t believe it! That is absolutely staggering! I knew the situation at the ninth checkpoint was dire, but this is beyond words! Not even the imperial holy knights have a tally that looks like this!”

“…”

“But why… why are you here alone? Where are your troops…”

The captain asked, bewildered. Yulitan let out a dry, hollow laugh and shook his head.

“…No, these kills don’t belong to the garrison. This mercenary here wiped them out single-handedly. We’ve brought them as evidence to collect the bounty from the city council.”

“…”

“…”

“…Excuse me?”

The word tumbled out of his mouth before he could stop it. The captain’s neck felt stiff as he followed Yulitan’s gesture.

There stood a terrifying Atalan combatant who looked like he could make demons weep with fear.

Thanks to Yulitan’s presence, Kadim’s party moved through the checkpoint without further resistance. However, the gate captain still had procedural concerns to address.

He spoke to Kadim with newfound, nervous politeness.

“Th-that wagon… dragging it through the streets might cause a riot, so why don’t we park it in the secure impound lot? We can release it once the council verifies the trophies.”

“…That is acceptable.”

“And, uh, master mercenary…? I hate to be a bother, but the law forbids bringing such an arsenal into the city… We will keep them under lock and key and return them when you depart. Could you perhaps surrender all but one of your blades…?”

“…”

Kadim met his gaze with a cold, silent stare. The captain winced and swallowed hard.

Kadim weighed his options.

He could easily overpower these men and vanish into the city, but that would make collecting his pay nearly impossible. Nor was he willing to leave his essential gear in the hands of some random gate guards. He knew the city was dangerous, and he needed his tools ready at a moment’s notice…

Ultimately, Kadim decided to use a bit of practical sorcery to settle the matter.

“Do these look like weapons to you? They are merely iron rods for tending my hearth.”

Clink.

The captain’s eyes practically bulged out of his head.

The satchel Kadim dropped was overflowing with gold and silver. It was a sum equal to several months of his salary. Though he feared another disciplinary action, the lure of the coins was nearly overwhelming.

“N-no, I really can’t, sir. I’ve been in deep trouble for this before, I made a vow…”

Clink.

“Haa, th-this is a difficult position… It’s not the money! Truly! It’s about my integrity as an officer of the law…”

Clank-clink!

“There’s no doubt about it! These are definitely just fireplace tools! My apologies! My vision must be failing me—I almost caused a major misunderstanding!”

The captain folded completely.

He had no desire to provoke a barbarian who looked like a walking engine of death anyway. Whether he was dismissed from service or ended up on a gallows in the square didn’t matter as much as being wealthy enough to enjoy his final days.

The captain personally led Kadim’s group to a secondary exit that was less crowded. Yulitan immediately understood what had transpired when he saw the grinning junior officer and noticed Kadim was still fully armed.

“Hey, Captain Dokran. A quick word.”

“Uh, y-yes, sir…”

Before they moved on, Yulitan pulled his junior aside for a private conversation. When he returned, the gate captain looked like he had aged a decade, while Yulitan’s expression remained grim.

Kadim asked Yulitan casually.

“What did you say to him, Captain?”

“…I told him I’d overlook it this time, but if he does it again, his career is over. I also told him to tighten his inspections—there’s a risk of things mimicking people trying to slip through the gates.”

“…”

Kadim doubted either piece of advice would be followed and continued walking.

The group navigated through side streets into the city’s outer districts. True to its reputation as a major power, Galentana was strikingly clean, even at its borders.

Broad stone avenues were wide enough for two coaches to pass, lacking the filth and waste common in smaller settlements. The streets were filled with people and lined with sturdy brick structures topped with vibrant red roofs. Looking toward the horizon, one could see high spires and towers draped in greenery, reaching toward the sky. That was likely the legendary Galentana University.

For a brief moment, Kadim felt a strange twinge of memory.

This was nothing like the villages he had visited. It was, in fact, the first proper city he had seen since arriving in this world. Even the royal capital from three centuries ago couldn’t compare to this. He felt the weight of the passing ages, realizing the world had not stood still while he was gone.

But there was no time for sightseeing. He had tasks to complete and enemies to find.

Kadim decided that finding a place to stay was the first priority.

“Captain. Do you know a reliable inn around here? I don’t care about the luxury—I just want good drink and a place that doesn’t attract attention.”

“Follow this road, turn at the fork, and go to the very end: the ‘Elm Barley Field’ inn. It’s where I always stay in Galentana. It’s tucked away with very little foot traffic, but the ale is excellent.”

“We will set up our base there and then move on to business. Lead the way.”

Yulitan nodded and increased his pace. They moved through the main thoroughfares and into the quiet back-alleys until they arrived.

In the permanent shadow of the city walls, where the sun barely reached, stood a sign depicting a field of grain and a single tree. It was an aged brick building with a thick layer of history on its walls. Just as Yulitan had promised, the area was eerily quiet. Nevertheless, the heavy wooden door at the top of the stairs creaked open.

Creeak, creeak—

It looked like the wind had caught it. Yulitan began to walk up the steps toward the entrance without a second thought.

But Kadim felt it.

Faint, ghostly shadows lurking just inside the threshold.

“…Get back here, Captain.”

“…?”

Yulitan stopped, looking back in confusion. Kadim’s expression turned stone-cold as his hand clamped onto the hilt of his axe.

“Don’t ask questions—just get down and take Duncan with you. Find a place to hide…”

Bam—crash!

Before he could finish his warning, the door was kicked off its hinges.

Swoosh—!

A blade lunged forward with blinding speed, intended to draw blood, but it found no purchase. Kadim had anticipated the move, throwing his axe a split-second early to intercept the strike.

Crackle-crack, thud-crunch!

“Whoa!”

“Gahk!”

Duncan and Yulitan cried out in shock. Dark, blackened blood coated the doorframe as the assailant stumbled. When the figure finally regained its footing, everyone could see its face.

It was a woman with sharp, amber eyes, and Kadim’s axe was buried deep in her chest.

“Impressive instincts, mercenary. Was sensing me a fluke… or was it bound to happen?”

“…”

Ilenia—or whatever entity was currently using her form—twisted her face into a grotesque grin.

Slash—crunch!

With a violent, wind-splitting swing, Kadim took its head clean off.

“It was bound to happen that you monsters would die.”