Berserk: The Prophet

Kirsten gently patted Benedict on the shoulder. "Haha, child, Grandpa has come to tell you something from the heart."

“Mmm.” Benedict nodded obediently.

"Hmm...you've probably already heard that Gurunberudo has won another battle, right?"

"Of course! After his victory, my brother Gurenbeldo rushed here to share the latest battle report with me! I am his goddess of victory, Grandpa, because I will pray for everyone in the Dragon's Nest day and night." The girl smiled innocently, because the real dragon was always protecting Grant.

"Haha, Grandpa has come this time to take you to the Dragon's Nest." Kirsten's eyes held a hint of anticipation.

“Really? That’s wonderful!” Benedict exclaimed excitedly, dancing with joy as white butterflies fluttered around her.

"...You've grown up, and you're even more beautiful now, Benedict Cuth." Kirsten looked at the happy Benedict Cuth, her heart filled with joy.

"Child, let's go and report to the elder first, and then we'll set off."

“Okay!” Benedict took Kirsten’s arm and went to the elder’s residence.

.........

In the afternoon, General Kirsten rode his horse to the dragon's lair, while Ludwick, carrying the witch, followed behind him, his tongue lolling out, as they entered the city together.

The guards of the Fire Dragon's Nest were not surprised by this, after all, the silver wolf and the witch were already familiar faces, and they welcomed the two people and the wolf with great enthusiasm and a grand ceremony.

Kirsten smiled and led Benedict to the stables. Although the stables were well maintained by the grooms, the smell of horse manure and hay still lingered in the air.

Upon seeing Benedict's arrival, many horses neighed happily, or snorted and bared their upper teeth.

"Shall we go to the city gate together?" Kirsten asked kindly.

"No, you go ahead. These horses seem to want me to stay."

Benedict walked up to a black horse and gently stroked its mane. The horse lowered its head, enjoying her touch, its eyes filled with tenderness.

“It seems you like me quite a bit,” Benedict said with a smile. “...I see. I’ll go get the things.”

Benedict possesses the ability to communicate with animals and can see the colors of everything. Almost no animal ever intentionally harms her; even if one does, Ludwick either chases her away or throws her onto his back and runs away.

Kirsten shook her head indulgently. "Fine, let's just consider it a surprise for that kid."

"General Kirsten."

Kirsten heard Heckel's voice as soon as she stepped into the city. The female commander was full of energy, and her undeniable aura made her the center of attention wherever she went.

"Oh, Hickel, you seem to be getting better and better!"

"I dare not accept such praise; I am still in the process of cultivation."

Kirsten and Hickel walked side by side into the castle tower, which was the so-called castle tower. It was a square, five-story stone building with a double spiral staircase running through the center.

At the top of the city gate, Gurunberudo, shirtless, was constantly swinging a 200-kilogram iron bar.

"One thousand and one hundred..."

With his rough and large hands and arms, coupled with his terrifying height of 2.7 meters, he could probably crush a person's skull with his bare hands without any problem.

Hearing the approaching footsteps from the city gate, Gurunberdo placed the iron bar on his special iron stand and wiped the sweat from his brow with the towel around his neck.

"Excuse me, I was just exercising." Seeing General Kirsten and Heikel arrive, Gurunberudo's face softened considerably.

"Is it urgent?" Gurenberudo thought carefully, as no one seemed to have informed him that General Kirsten would be coming today.

“No…it’s not urgent.” Kirsten’s face showed a serious expression.

"You know about the gruesome and bizarre murders that happened in the capital, Naurudkahuati, right?" Kirsten looked at Hickel, after all, he had told Gurunberudo about it before.

“I’ve heard about it,” Hickel replied. “The crime must have been expensive, and the killer must be a high-ranking nobleman.”

“Hmm…” Kirsten nodded, seemingly unsure.

"Judging from your reaction, you should have already figured out the culprit's identity?" Hickel smiled.

“Hickel, your insight is a bit too sharp,” Kirsten exclaimed, though he was reluctant to admit that there was a very high probability that the murderer was Grand Duke Hokun.

...After all, the Shadow Hand only serves the Grand Duke.

"I said too much."

"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter."

Just as the two were saying this, Edward arrived, though he set off a step later than General Kirsten.

"General Kirsten."

“Edward is here too.” Kirsten’s face changed from serious to a loving smile.

Gurenbelud, Heckler, and Edward stood together. Even after so many years, in General Kirsten's eyes, the three children were still exactly the same as when they first arrived at the Dragon's Nest.

"Haha, the three of you really look like siblings," Kirsten said with a friendly laugh.

Hickel looked at Gurenberudo with embarrassment, while Edward took turns looking at both Hickel and Gurenberudo.

From that moment on, Edward decided to take good care of them both. So even knowing that Heikel liked Gurenbelludo, he didn't show it. If Gurenbelludo married Heikel, he would silently protect her without any complaints.

But... he's already quite old, and Gurunberdo hasn't shown any interest yet.

Edward had tried to sound out Grünberdo's intentions, but each time the rigid Grünberdo brushed him off, leaving Edward quite puzzled by his ambiguous attitude.

What a strange guy. Even if he's two years younger than her, he shouldn't have no needs in that area, right?

I wonder if it's because I've been lifting weights too much, but I don't seem to have any of the lust that a man should have...

Speaking of which, the last time I got drunk and went to the hot springs with Gurunberdo, I showed him a picture book about matters between men and women, but Gurunberdo ran away in a hurry without even looking back.

That was a picture book that Edward had treasured for a long time and studied repeatedly. How could such a big guy not even have the courage to look at something like that?

Seriously... such an innocent big guy... a bit too clueless.

Besides, if the other party didn't have this intention in the first place, then as their brother, I simply can't bring myself to ask. As for Hickel... never mind.

Edward thought that their situation must be the same as his own; they had both waited for each other for so long and were now in a dilemma.

"To be honest, my mother plans to come to the Dragon's Nest this week to celebrate our victory," Edward said after a moment's thought.

In short... this wasn't the first time his mother had come to the Dragon's Nest.

Although Edward was also quite embarrassed by this, no matter how open the Duchy of Grant was, it was still very indecent for a young woman with a lot of scandals to keep coming into groups of men.

Let alone Edward... In this feudal society, practically no man would consider such behavior respectable.

For entertaining the troops, just send grooms and guards. It's best for women to avoid constant contact with an army that only smells of sweaty men...

"What!" Kirsten's eyes widened. "Her Highness the Princess's willingness to condescend to come to the front lines will surely boost the morale of the troops, but..."

“Then let’s prepare to welcome them,” Gurunberdo said expressionlessly.

Edward quickly waved his hand in refusal, "My mother wants to travel incognito, she wants to travel incognito."

“Her Highness’s arrival is certainly important, and it’s been a long time since the three of us have had a proper chat. General Kirsten is here too.” Hickel patted Edward’s shoulder and Grunberdo’s arm. “Why don’t we take this opportunity to have a good drink?”

"Alcohol is truly an incredible thing..." Seemingly moved by his old friend's words, a subtle change could still be seen on Gurunberdo's face, with the corners of his mouth slightly turned up. "It doesn't taste particularly delicious, so why can it make people so intoxicated by it?"

Gurunberdo was a little puzzled, but he did enjoy the atmosphere that everyone created while drinking.

"For you, drinking alcohol is probably no different from drinking water, right?" Edward gave a wry smile.

...It would probably take eight barrels of malt liquor to get Grunberdo drunk; he was just a carefree youth.