CHAPTER 26
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Locked in a tense staring contest with Jehee, Chorok suddenly sprung upwards, nearly reaching the ceiling. In a seamless motion, his slender longsword transformed into a colossal battle axe, its rear end sharpened to a point like a spear.
A deafening boom reverberated through the room, accompanied by startled cries.
"Aaah!"
"Oh no..."
With a single, mighty swing of the axe, the bed was cleaved in two. As if this act served as a gruesome signal, Chorok's eyes, previously dark and shimmering, now gleamed with a malevolent red hue as he turned, searching for a target.
At this spine-chilling sight, I clung tightly to Jehee's neck and yelled in panic. "Do something! Use an engraving skill or anything!"
"Stay quiet. Making noise will only draw more attention."
"No, how can you be so calm at a time like this, ah!"
This time, the massive axe swept horizontally, and overwhelmed with the fear of impending death, I squeezed my eyes shut and buried my face in Jehee's shoulder. In this huddled position, Jehee, bent low, charged out of the bedroom and into the living room.
[The enchanter of party member 'Han Chorok' issues a command.]
[The Berserker refuses the command.]
[The enchanter of party member 'Han Chorok' issues a command.]
[The Berserker refuses the command.]
[The enchanter of party member 'Han Chorok' issues a command.]
[The Berserker obeys the command.]
Amidst the fierce combat between Jehee and Chorok, they continued to alternate between issuing commands and defying them. After two refusals, a welcome status message finally appeared: Lee Jehee, as Han Chorok's enchanter, had successfully commanded him.
Among the Berserker's awakening skills were 'Berserk' and 'Enchanter Designation', and, naturally, the enchanter for Chorok was none other than the protagonist, Lee Jehee.
The only means to quell the maddening frenzy of a Berserker was through the commands of their enchanter.
"Krr, krrk, krrrk…"
Even though his movements were restrained, forcing him to kneel in place, Chorok continued to twitch, his grey skin swollen and pulsating. His eyes still shimmered with inner light as he glared at both Jehee and me.
"Why is he still like that? Didn't you stop the berserk?" I questioned.
"The engraving skill only makes him obey commands; it doesn't stop the berserk. We have no choice but to hold him until the berserk ends," Jehee explained.
Fuck, this wasn't something that had happened in the game!
"Then... he definitely can't move?" I inquired desperately.
"Yes," Jehee confirmed.
Damn it! Blast it! If only I didn't feel this guilt towards Chorok!
The guilt of having abandoned young Han Chorok repeatedly during gameplays still lingered in a corner of my heart.
I first patted Jehee's shoulder to signal that I needed to get out of his embrace, then looked at him with pleading eyes, silently asking him to save me if anything happened. I wasn't sure if he understood.
With a heart full of anxiety, I cautiously approached Chorok. He sat on the ground, knees bent, arms hanging loosely as if bound by invisible chains. The problem was that he still held the axe in his hand.
"Chorok, you're good, right?" I cautiously called out to him.
"Krrk!"
"Aaah!"
Startled by my voice, Chorok, who had been bowing his head, raised it abruptly and bared his teeth. Up close, he truly looked like a wild beast.
Fortunately, he seemed unable to move, so I took steps around his back. Then, very slowly, I reached out my hand towards the nape of his neck. My fingertips trembled at the touch of his muscular, swollen, grey neck.
"Krrk! Krrrk!"
"Stay still, please just stay still... Ugh."
[Party member 'Yeon Seonwoo' is preparing the auxiliary skill 'State Transition'. Please set the state to be transitioned.]
[State Transition skill activated. According to the set values, the 'Relaxing' state is bestowed.]
As soon as I activated the skill, a familiar sensation washed over me. A warm energy gathered in my hands and spread through Chorok's nape.
However, Chorok, transformed into a Berserker by his awakening traits, proved to be a formidable challenge to calm. Despite his struggles and continuous growls, I chose not to deactivate the skill. There was no indication, as before, that the skill had failed.
Time seemed to stretch out endlessly as I maneuvered around Chorok's agitated state, joining Jehee to closely monitor the situation.
After what felt like an eternity, the rumbling in Chorok's throat gradually subsided, and he lowered his head, becoming motionless. The muscles that had swollen so greatly began to return to their original size, and the grey tint of his skin slowly regained its natural color.
"It worked, didn't it?" I inquired, seeking confirmation from Jehee as I observed Chorok's transformation back to his familiar state. Only when he nodded did I feel confident enough to deactivate the skill.
[Party member 'Yeon Seonwoo' deactivates the auxiliary skill 'State Abnormality Inducement - Relaxing'.]
[Party member 'Han Chorok' deactivates his awakening traits.]
Finally, the awakening traits were deactivated. I gazed at Han Chorok, who remained on the floor, head bowed, and asked in a trembling voice, "Han Chorok?"
"...What?" came his reply, his voice heavy, as if emerging from a deep slumber.
Slowly, he raised his head, and I let out a sigh of relief as I saw his eyes returning to normal, with the whites once again visible.
It had been a success. We had awakened Han Chorok from his dream and successfully calmed his berserk state.
However, just as Chorok had been sitting quietly, he suddenly collapsed to the side.
"...What?" I gasped in surprise at the sight of Chorok.
Just moments ago, he had been rampaging like a wild beast, and now he lay helplessly on the floor like a vulnerable protagonist. Without hesitation, I rushed over to him, refraining from picking him up and instead gently poking his cheek with my fingers.
Jehee, calmly observing the scene, spoke in his usual relaxed manner. "When the Berserker state ends, that's perfectly normal. It's a power that pushes physical abilities to their limits. Since it wasn't sustained for long this time, he'll wake up soon."
"Then maybe we should take him back to the bed to let him lie down..."
As I spoke to Jehee, I followed his gaze. Through the gaping hole where the door had once stood, I saw the bed split in two, collapsed on the floor.
"He'll wake up soon, like I said. Instead of that..."
I surveyed the ruined room with a dazed expression.
Jehee approached me from behind, wearing a casual smile even in the midst of his wrecked house. I heard his faint laugh and turned to look up at him. Uncharacteristically, there was a hint of emotion in his eyes as he gazed down at me.
"You're more useful than I thought."
The meaning behind his words eluded me, though it seemed like he was implying something.
Too drained to offer a retort, I sighed and shook my head.
This day had been excruciatingly long.