Berserk: The Prophet

...Perhaps, this old man truly misjudged Glenn Belluddo's feelings for Benedictine? If it were merely brotherly affection, it wouldn't be too bad; after his passing, Glenn Belluddo would take care of her.

“To be honest, I’m completely confused…” Gurunberdo frowned.

“We must not let our guard down at a time like this. I will investigate in my own way.” Kirsten felt a pang of sympathy. If the Grand Duke was indeed behind it, then it was not impossible to follow Hekun’s plan and use it to put Gurenberudo on the throne.

...He was not a blindly loyal person.

“Investigate...why is this?” Gurunberdo’s mind was a complete mess.

Because their conversation at the Dragon's Nest had been interrupted, and because Edward was present, Kirsten couldn't bring himself to speak about the Grand Duke. At the moment, they still didn't know that the real culprit in the serial murders was Grand Duke Hokun.

However, it is not advisable to accuse the Grand Duke with almost no strong evidence at present.

“To be honest, the Grand Duke has been acting a bit strange lately,” Kirsten stroked his beard.

"Hickel," Kirsten called out to Hickel, who was still walking forward, seemingly lost in thought.

"Hickel, although you'll probably be busy with the wedding preparations, could I do you a favor?"

"You said it, General."

"I hope you can secretly serve as Benedict's bodyguard. She has been afraid ever since she entered the city. Her reaction is definitely more than just an 'ominous premonition'."

General Kirsten recalled the image of his granddaughter trembling as she clung to his arm and sensed something was amiss. He hoped the Grand Duke wasn't planning to harm her, otherwise he would only go to greater lengths.

“Yes, sir.” Hickel nodded and walked toward the stone pavilion where Green and Benedict were.

Edward rushed back to the Halvorsen family, hoping to find some confidants and friends to try and find out the Grand Duke's intentions from the noble circles.

Shortly after he left, Folda returned and found a quiet inn near the city walls for Benedict and Heike.

Due to his enormous size, even the hotel couldn't provide enough space for Gurenbeldo, so he wanted to head straight home. He had his own residence in the capital, but it was neglected and overgrown with weeds, so Folda eventually dragged him back to the Halvorsen family mansion.

Folda had already had the servants tidy up the room.

In short, under Folda's arrangement, all the men settled into the Halvorsen family's mansion.

Hickel didn't choose to return to the Eugensen family. She didn't know how to face her two increasingly estranged family members. As an unmarried woman about to be married, it wasn't appropriate for her to stay in a mansion with an unmarried man. The same reason applies to a priestess who hasn't yet returned to secular life.

In short, everyone seemed to be extremely busy throughout the day, while Green had nothing to do, but he had a vague sense of unease.

Because it was already dark...

Green recalled the witch's hesitant words during the day. Had she realized that he did not belong to this world?

I wonder if she has any way to get me back. Although he also struggled in his original world, at least he didn't have to live in constant fear, and he could play games to pass the time.

"Sigh." Green had had enough of lying in bed and decided to go find Benedict Cuth.

Speaking of which, during the day at the stone pavilion, they always felt like someone was watching them, but fortunately, Gurenberudo and the others came out of the palace in time, and that uncomfortable feeling of being watched disappeared.

After nearly half a year in the Fire Dragon's Nest, Green's muscles were even more muscular than before. Ever since Belial swallowed that black Belialite, the totem's buffs had been significant, increasing his strength by ten points, and he had inexhaustible energy.

The feeling of power was reassuring, and Green did not ignore the unease Benedict mentioned, so he went out fully armed.

......

hostel.

From the moment she entered the city, Benedict could feel an evil aura surrounding her, intent on harming her. All she could do was pray.

All she wants to see right now is Grunberdo...

Late at night, Benedict, alone in the hotel, was too scared to leave her room. She refused to eat or drink, desperately hoping for the enormous figure with its red aura.

Just as the day was about to end, there was a sudden knock on the door.

"Lord Gurenbelud is waiting for you in the dining room downstairs."

The maid's voice rang out from outside the door, sounding devoid of any hostility. Benedict happily went downstairs.

Green had just arrived at the inn and was about to ask Benedict Cuthott which room he was in when he noticed five burly men with palpable murderous intent staring at him menacingly near the stairs.

...That look in your eyes seems so familiar.

Green paused in his tracks. Was it a shadow hand?!

Green sensed this was not a good thing, so he spent a few copper coins to order food and sat down, preparing to play it by ear.

The five men's target was a little girl, and finding that Green did not do anything unusual, they continued to stare at the stairwell.

When Benedict arrived downstairs, she didn't see the aura of Grunberdos. Instead, she was surrounded by five extremely malevolent, dark crimson figures, each carrying a dark crimson dagger.

"Why...why did you kill me?" Benedict cried out in terror, tears streaming down her face.

These five men were professional assassins, specifically ordered by the Grand Duke to take her life. Since it wasn't the first time they'd done something like this, they didn't even bother to answer Benedict's questions before swiftly and decisively attacking her.

...The trajectory of history has undergone subtle changes.

Green suddenly stood up from his seat, but a faster figure rushed past like a silver-white lightning bolt, and blood splattered everywhere in an instant.

However, it wasn't Benedict's blood, but rather the blood of one of the assassins who had been pierced through the chest from behind. The assailant was a silver-haired female swordsman wielding a two-handed sword.

At the critical moment, the silver-haired female swordsman pulled Benedict from the blades of the four assassins. Only then did Green realize that the silver-haired female swordsman was none other than Heechul.

However, no matter how agile she was, the other four had already reacted, their killing intent undiminished. Their precise and ruthless assassination techniques were no less than those of Bakikara. Even Hikel alone was struggling to cope, not to mention that she also had to protect Benedict behind her.

Heikel was extremely agile, her movements as smooth as flowing water. Before the other four had even become familiar with her swordsmanship, she had already swiftly slit the throat of another assassin.

Seeing that things were going badly, the remaining three immediately launched a joint attack. Heikel was stabbed in the shoulder, and blood slowly flowed from the broken shoulder armor.

However, the female swordsman was not afraid at all. She dodged the opponent's attacks with amazing speed and kept protecting Benedict as she retreated, looking for an opening to counterattack.

The hotel's already small number of guests had already fled in panic, leaving behind only overturned tables and chairs.

Green watched the fight while searching for an opportunity to strike, secretly marveling at the female swordsman's skill. But how could Shadow Hands be just a bunch of good-for-nothings? They received extremely brutal training from a young age; they were a group of people who licked blood from the edge of a knife.

However, Hickel was clearly at a disadvantage in protecting Benedict Cuth.

Just as the three Shadow Hands were fully focused on combining their attacks to deliver a fatal blow to Heike, Green took advantage of the commotion from the crowd to sneak up behind one of the Shadow Hands and strike him squarely in the heart. [Shadow Hand Killed *1, 735 Experience Points Gained]

"Damn it!" one of the shadow fighters cursed, this brat actually dared to attack them.

Green's sudden attack disrupted the Shadow Hands' rhythm, and Heechul seized the opportunity to launch a counterattack, instantly reversing the situation.

Green knew he couldn't be careless at this moment. He flashed around to the side of another Shadow Hand and thrust his short sword straight at his opponent's vitals.

The remaining two shadow fighters were caught off guard by the seemingly weak boy's fierce attacks, each strike aimed directly at vital points, and they frantically tried to block.

Without the restraint of others, Hickel immediately resumed his usual offensive style and cooperated closely with Green.

In the end, Heikel defeated the last assassin with a magnificent swordsmanship.