Berserk: The Prophet

"These two children are Hanks and Bazzo, and the future of the Flame Dragon Knights is now secure," General Kirsten said with satisfaction.

Gurenberdo looked at the two children in front of him and thought: I thought they were two very strong children. They are so thin and small. Can they really become qualified knights? But since it is Kirsten's order, I will give it a try.

“I see. From today onwards, I will train you.” Gurunberdo’s voice was serious and firm. “If you don’t want to suffer, you can leave now.”

Green and Bazzo exchanged a glance, gritted their teeth, and said in unison, "We are willing to accept the training!"

“Very good.” Gurunberdo nodded. “Then let me see your determination. See you at the training ground tomorrow morning.” With that, he turned and left, leaving Green and Bazzo, who had just mustered their courage.

"Haha, my adopted son is a stubborn and old-fashioned fellow."

"However, he is very powerful. When he was 18 years old, with the help of Hickel and Edward, he killed a tiger from Kusha all by himself."

“If you train hard under his guidance, you will definitely become excellent knights in the future,” General Kirsten said proudly.

Upon hearing this, Green and Bazzo couldn't help but feel admiration for Gurunberudo.

"We will definitely work hard!" Green said firmly.

"Yes, I believe in you." General Kirsten patted them on the shoulder. "Go and rest, take care of yourselves. There's tough training waiting for you tomorrow."

Green and Bazzo nodded and left the room. Bazzo was still recalling the astonishing and terrifyingly tall figure of Gurenberudo, his eyes burning with a fierce fire, as if he had made a decision in secret.

Green was also searching his mind for information about the Fire Dragon Knight, only remembering that Jiang Yue had mentioned it briefly, a few years after Griffith's sacrifice, when he was a member of the so-called new Eagle Band.

Has he become an apostle now? Green didn't understand; that terrifying height was simply beyond the realm of normal people.

Hickel and Edward had gone off to do other things, while Green and Bazzo returned to their rooms, having lost a lot of weight due to their recent experiences.

Baziso is doing well; the fat-covered muscles he had before due to obesity are all showing, and he doesn't have any excess fat at all. He looks like a pretty sturdy young man.

Green, in particular, had shrunk due to malnutrition and overwork. He was so thin and small that he was practically skin and bones, just like the skinny young man from his previous life who was as thin as a reed stick—with hardly any flesh on his body.

Because the children were all emaciated after suffering torture, those who were willing to stay and join the army now eat three meals a day, including milk, eggs, fish, and meat.

Since Grant's naval defeat, even fishing boats and villages along the streams have rarely caught fish, and meat has become increasingly precious and rare.

At noon, Green had eaten his meal. The ample nutrition was gradually restoring his health. However, the child's body always felt hungry, even though the food provided by "Fire Dragon's Nest" weighed a full two pounds per meal.

The eyeballs on his neck were wriggling restlessly under the skin, and Green knew that Cady was calling him to do something important.

“I’m going out for a bit, Baziso.”

“Okay, boss,” Bazzo replied. Ever since Green took on the identity of Hanks, he’s gotten more and more used to calling him “boss.”

Green stepped outside and went to a secluded corner. The magic eye on his neck opened, and Kadi's voice rang in his mind: "Green, I need you to investigate all the information about the Fire Dragon Knight."

"Hmm." Green muttered to himself. The sandworms would transmit the information back completely based on the vibration frequency of their vocal cords.

"How's it going? Did it go well?"

"We've entered the dragon's lair, and everything is proceeding smoothly as you predicted," Green replied listlessly, preoccupied with tomorrow's training and the fact that he hadn't eaten enough.

“Very good. Try to find an opportunity to investigate the layout of the Fire Dragon's Nest. If things go well with Grant this time, I can grant you one wish.” Kadi was quite used to using coercion and enticement to win people over.

"Well, it would be best if your daughter warmed my bed then." Green mumbled, taking an oat bread from his spatial storage. He had been hiding it away for the past few months and was practically starving.

After all, he understood the principle that "a common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime."

“...What did you say?” Cardi didn’t hear what Green was mumbling at all, only something about a woman warming the bed.

Precociousness at such a young age is not a good sign.

"...It's nothing." Green chose to fill his stomach first before thinking about the future. Kadi had already made plenty of promises to him, and if he actually heard them clearly, things would get out of hand.

"Eat more, and stop thinking about things that are inappropriate for children. That kind of thing between adults is too early for you. That's all for now. Report back to me if there are any new developments." Cardi had no idea who Green was after. After giving him this simple advice, he went to attend to other things.

"...Cough cough." Green felt like he was choking on his bread. All he wanted was a simple hug, for crying out loud. This body was still just a tiny kid's body, what could he possibly do? Seriously, who would be as lewd as you think...

Green couldn't help but think to himself.

Although some bastions are integrated with towns, the walls of "Dragon's Nest" are not places that ordinary people can freely enter and exit. In one day, Green only managed to walk around the various bastions and streets of "Dragon's Nest".

The currency here is not exchanged with that on the mainland. The taverns are always filled with folk music from bagpipes and harps, the sound of blacksmiths hammering away, the sound of carpenters sawing wood in tanneries, and the barking of wild dogs and domestic pheasants by the roadside.

Unlike the mainland, which was once ravaged by the Black Death, the simple city of Grant even has public bathhouses open to the public. Perhaps due to its proximity to the volcano, there are also many hot springs in the nearby mountain villages.

As the sun sets, its afterglow spills onto the streets of "Fire Dragon's Nest," adding a touch of warmth to this vibrant place.

Green dragged his somewhat weary body and slowly walked back. A day of exploration had given him a preliminary understanding of the "Dragon's Nest," but it was far from enough.

Back in the room, Baziso was resting on the bed.

"How was it, boss? Any success today?" Baziso asked.

Green shook his head: "It will take more time. It's more complicated here than we imagined."

“...Is that so?” Baziso paused. “We’re pretty free now, boss. Are you really going to continue working for that guy?”

“…” Green remained silent.

The current situation was unexpected for him; he had thought that the Netherworld artifacts, which only appeared later in the story, were already being controlled by someone so early on.

“I can’t answer that question, but if the opportunity arises, I will let you escape their control.” Green chose a compromise, since no one knew if Cardi would suddenly use the sandworms to monitor him.

Upon hearing Green's words, the glimmer of hope that had just flashed in Bazzo's eyes quickly faded again. "Of course I believe you, boss, I just don't want you to end up like this..."

...being bossed around by others his whole life.

Green patted Bazso on the shoulder, interrupting the conversation, as the writhing of the demonic eye on his neck made him more alert.

"Don't think too much, go to sleep first. Who knows how tomorrow's training will go?"

.........

At night, Green and Bazzo lay in their respective beds, tossing and turning.

"Training starts tomorrow. Are you scared, Baziso?"

“A little, but I look forward to becoming stronger.” Baziso clenched his fist, the tall and imposing figure of Gurunberudo lingering in his mind.

Even though he grew up listening to the story of Moon Knight and never sincerely admired him, he developed a deep-seated longing and admiration for Grünberudo.

“Me too, we can definitely do it,” Green said firmly.

The two were silent for a moment, then laughed at the same time.

"Keep it up!" they encouraged each other before drifting off to sleep.