Chapter 137: The Berserker Witch (1)

“Uhh…”

Karlstein’s eyes fluttered open to a searing pain coursing through his body. He shook his head to clear his mind. His sluggish limbs, heavy as if waking from a deep sleep, slowly stirred with a flicker of energy.

As his senses slowly returned, he propped himself up to take in the surroundings. Empty, lifeless desolation welcomed him.

“What the…”

Just moments ago, he had been having a normal conversation…

Karlstein struggled to piece the events together.

Right…

He had been investigating the Sephiroth stronghold in World when he touched the illusion of a tree masking their hideout. And then—only his consciousness had been whisked away somewhere. There, he’d spoken with someone.

“Mm.”

Images flickered in his mind: A colossal white tree. A white bird.

Yes… He had spoken with someone, likely Sephiroth.

Suddenly, a sharp pain stabbed at his brain, like needles piercing his skull. His memory of the conversation remained fragmented.

“Mmm.”

Karlstein shook his head again to steady himself, exhaling deeply. As the fog in his mind slowly lifted, the ache in his body faded.

“Sephiroth. Ahh…”

With the pain subsiding, he began to remember the conversation.

Right… It claimed to send me back to where I truly belong.

The details were still riddled with holes, but he remembered the gist of it now.

Where he truly belonged… Not just World. Not the Galactic Empire, either. What Sephiroth meant was painfully clear.

My past life…

It referred to his life before the transmigration.

“Haha.”

From the moment he first entered the Community—and even long before—he had searched relentlessly for any trace of his past, only to find nothing.

Yet he was offered a way back to the Earth he once called home.

“…”

Karlstein admitted it was all normal up to that point. Regardless of motive, he was made an offer. Regardless of his response, he was given a choice. Putting aside whether that offer was genuine or not, everything went fine until that point.

But then… they continued talking, and something went wrong.

A sharp pain shot through his skull again, as if he were recalling something forbidden.

“Phew…”

Once the pain ebbed away, his fragmented memories began to realign.

“…”

《Sephiroth》 was this powerful?

It even knew about his transmigration, which no one except Aria knew about, and offered to help him return.

However, Karlstein was no longer the greenhorn from the early days of transmigration who whined about wanting to go home. He had spent much of his life in the Galactic Empire and accomplished many things. He did not lack attachment to his current life enough to abandon everything and leave abruptly.

To begin with, he had no lingering attachments to his former life except for just one thing.

Right. I remember why I argued with it.

The one regret he left behind: his younger sister. The child who was left to face the world alone after her only family was gone.

“…”

That was why Karlstein clashed with Sephiroth. Though truthfully, it was more like him one-sidedly venting his anger. It was uncertain whether it was unable to contain his fury or was bound by certain limitations, but Sephiroth shattered the pitch-black dimension, hurling him into an unknown place.

“Damn it…”

Beyond that, everything was a blank. It felt as if his memory had been forcibly wiped.

Karlstein sighed.

Bastard Sephiroth. You really are worth a good shakedown.

That tree was not to be taken lightly, of course. The fact that it could summon him in such a way—despite his near flawless mental defenses granted by Mental Invariability—proved how formidable it was.

It was rather shocking. Karlstein’s mind should have been immune to any sort of tampering.

Though I’m sure it’s because I’m in an Avatar…

It made sense, in a way. Right now, he was just wearing an Avatar. His mind was basically detached and anchored into it.

Vulnerabilities might have emerged during that process. The Avatar Connection System was extremely tricky, and not all so convenient to use.

“For now, I’ll discuss this with Aria…”

Logout. Eh?

“Logout.”

…

Logout?

“Mm.”

Apparently, the logout function was broken. Was it just temporary?

“Integrated Dimensional Community!”

…

Even the Community was not responding.

Scratch scratch.

“Looks like I’m screwed?”

It seemed things had taken a slightly troublesome turn.

“That asshole Sephiroth.”

Whether this was intentional or not, it definitely needed looking into.

***As Karlstein surveyed his surroundings and pieced together what had happened, he managed to get his bearings.

That’s a relief.

He had not been thrown into an unfamiliar realm. This was a world he recognized.

“I feel for your situation, but see, we’re not running a charity.”

“…”

“Right? Lucky for you, we could use a porter.”

Karlstein gave noncommittal replies and fell in step behind the group. Their attire was an odd mix of medieval and modern styles.

“In any case, having an A-rank healer in the party is reassuring.”

“Hehe. Just leave it to me.”

“You’re the only one to count on, Miss Ayoung. You’ve got a big heart, too. Hem-hem.”

Huh… I got a feeling that guy isn’t really talking about her heart.

The male party members’ gazes shifted awkwardly, drawn to the healer’s heart that swayed prominently with every step she took.

“Let me know if you need any buffs.”

Her priestess robe, with its oddly modern design, only heightened her allure, accentuating an air of immoral sensuality.

Mm. A woman who knows how to work the art of concealment…

“Miss Ayoung could’ve taken it easy while raking in those bonuses, given her healing power. If only the Association wasn’t so pushy.”

“I gotta do my part for humanity too.”

“Haha! That’s our Miss Ayoung!”

Well, that about explains the atmosphere.

This was the , a world where Hunters formed parties to conquer the Towers spread across different countries.

Hmm…

It was the same world where Perpe lived, which was why Karlstein did not worry much. Once he met her, he could connect with Aria and resolve the Avatar link issue.

Perpe was usually buried in training, but she came and went using Merit Points often enough. He figured it would be no big deal.

However…

“I heard Team Supreme from the U.S. has their eyes on our Tower.”

“You mean the party led by that new S-rank prodigy?”

“Yeah. Tsk.”

“Ugh. The Berserker Witch’s rewards are enough to make anyone drool, sure enough.”

“Don’t they know business ethics? I dunno what the higher-ups are even doing. Tsk-tsk.”

“What if Team Supreme takes down the Berserker Witch?”

“Then well… we’re screwed. Where else in the world do you find a boss that hands out rewards without being defeated?”

The fact that Perpe was a boss monster in this was a bit iffy.

…

“Still… our country may have been the only one lagging behind, but maybe Korea will finally break through the 50th floor and reach the 51st.”

“Most other countries are already past the 70th floor, you know.”

“How complicated.”

“Don’t lose hope. The boss is a problem, but perhaps even we can make it to the 50th floor.”

“Yeah, who knows? We might even defeat the Berserker Witch.”

… Defeat Perpe with their pitiful level?

“Hmm…”

“You there. You need to stop falling behind and stick close, my friend. Sometimes they come at you from behind.”

“…Yes.”

In any case, Karlstein easily pinpointed his location thanks to meeting a good-hearted(?) party. Moreover, among the various Towers of Trials, the Tower they were currently ascending was the one erected in Korea.

Korea. In some ways, it could easily be mistaken for the place he lived in his past life, but…

That can’t be.

There were several worlds with modern settings in the Community, just not the ordinary Korea he had known.

It was a parallel world. A Korea that was the same yet different. Still, Karlstein felt it was worth taking a look around.

Since I’m here, it might be good to see how Perpe has been doing.

Given Perpe’s talent, it would definitely be worthwhile. Of course, meeting her and solving the logout issue would be top priority.

Karlstein hurried to catch up with the group ahead.

***After he left.

Thud.

“Uugh… That f-fiend…”

“What the hell is that man? He really isn’t a monster?”

Three Hunter agents in suits, who had been hiding using concealment skills, revealed themselves in the spot the party had just vacated.

“Koff.”

“The measuring device?”

“…It’s broken.”

“This is insane… Does this mean he’s on par with the Berserker Witch?”

“He wasn’t on the entry list.”

“…”

“Let’s head back and report first.”

“What about them…?”

“A-rank healers are rare, but this is more urgent.”

“Understood.”

“Phew… What in the world.”

The agents, appearing to be government affiliates, quickly cleaned up the area and withdrew.

Their fingertips still trembled at the memory of what occurred moments ago.

****Hmm… They held no hostility.

Although the Hunter agents had shown no signs of killing intent or hostility, he had no idea what they were up to, struggling to hide in that cramped spot like compressed cushions. It was such a pitiful sight that he simply left them be.

But they were still stronger than the ones in front.

Another reason for his lenience was that their attire suggested they were more management personnel or government workers than combatants.

“Miss Ayoung! We need a shield!”

“Leave it all to me! [Barrier of Protection]!”

“Out of the way! [Fire Arrow]!”

“Vanguard, catch your breath for a moment!”

“Huff… huff…”

“Persistent bastards!”

“But it’s almost over! They’re tired too!”

“Let’s go! [Glorious Charge]!!”

“Support him!”

Vooom-

Hmm…

Karlstein pondered the strength of this party compared to other Hunters. To be frank, he viewed their strength as little more than that of Imperial civilians who had undergone body enhancement injections.

Yet they spoke of defeating Perpe? Regardless of the rank differences among Hunters, it struck him as utterly comical.

Karlstein glanced at the beast drooling at him from outside the shield—supposedly some Barrier of Protection or whatever—encasing them in a hemisphere.

Growl-

The creature had three bright-red eyes, a body the size of an average horse, and fangs sharp enough to chew through iron. While the other beasts focused on the Hunters in front, this one glared only at him, drooling.

“Hmm…”

What’re you lookin’ at?

Karlstein casually positioned his middle finger against his thumb, ready to flick. He returned the glare and lightly flicked his fingertip.

Whoom-

Crash-

“Ahh!! The Barrier of Protection!!”

“Miss Ayoung!”

“Vanguard! Shields up front!”

Mm. Their party members could attack from inside though…

“Everyone stay alert! I think something’s out there!”

“F-for the Barrier of Protection to be breached like this…!”

“Miss Ayoung! What’s the cooldown?”

“Ranger! Drop out of combat and guard the surroundings! There could be someone hiding!”

Uh…

Apparently, a porter was not considered part of the same party. Karlstein had unintentionally ended up trolling. He quietly looked away from where the wolf monster had been, now completely disintegrated.

Still, I shouldn’t troll.

He was a little more generous to big-hearted(?) people.