Berserk: The Prophet

Invisible threads wrapped around Edward's body, like a puppet in a shadow play being manipulated by unknown strings, while the negative emotions hidden deep within his heart were joyfully wailing.

"Hehehe, dragon... curse... fall."

In the blink of an eye, the distorted lines vanished, as if it had just been a hallucination. But the current situation left him no time to think further.

Seeing that Edward showed no sign of letting go, Green raised his right hand and chopped down at the back of Edward's neck.

Edward released his grip in pain, his bloodshot and crazed eyes immediately fixed on Green, clearly still in a state of rage.

Folda collapsed to the ground like a doll, slumped down, clutching her neck and retching and coughing incessantly. This must have been the closest she had ever come to death. Blue handprints had appeared on her neck; Edward had almost snapped her neck.

"Are you crazy! Do you even know what you just did?!" Green shouted angrily, showing no fear, at Edward, who was still completely bewildered.

Edward's eyes, which had been blazing with rage, regained some clarity. His usually sharp eyes stared blankly and empty at Green. "I..."

Greene, disregarding everything else, quickly checked on Folda's condition. Folda hadn't recovered for a long time and looked like she was about to faint at any moment. "Madam, are you alright?"

Folda coughed, unable to speak, and could only shake her head weakly.

A deathly silence fell over the room. Edward stood frozen in place, unsure of what to do.

He... almost strangled Folda to death.

"Ah..." Edward looked at his hands, belatedly realizing they were trembling. There were still bloodstains on them from Folda's fierce struggle. His face was filled with disbelief and regret. "Mother...I..."

He was like a child who knew he had almost made a terrible mistake, his anger overwhelmed by overwhelming regret and intense grief... What was he doing? He almost lost his mother.

...Even that kind of mother is all he has right now.

"...Why did this happen!" Edward knelt on the ground, filled with fear and grief, and could only hug himself tightly with his slender arms, crying helplessly.

That posture was very familiar to Green; it was the kind of posture only someone with an extreme lack of security would adopt.

Green was at a loss for what to do, and his eyes filled with pity as he looked at Edward. Regardless, this was a conflict between mother and son, and no matter what...

Okay, Green has never had a mother since birth...

Although he didn't understand, he still couldn't possibly do such a cruel thing to his mother.

The thought of his mother filled Green with sadness. But it was better than nothing, wasn't it?

Sure enough, here...

Green felt that he was the clown.

After regaining some strength, Folda looked at Edward with a complex mix of emotions—fear, helplessness, and heartache.

“...Edward.” Folda’s eyes welled up with tears as she spoke in a hoarse voice.

Edward's trembling, weeping body froze, his gaze towards Folda filled with complex emotions: disgust...love...guilt...resentment...reluctance.

He just wanted to escape; he never wanted to see his mother, who was driving him to the brink of collapse, again.

Edward just wanted to get up and escape. He staggered to his feet and ran to the door, but then he seemed to hear Folda's faint voice: "I'm sorry..."

Edward froze outside the door. All the grievances he had accumulated over the years burst forth like a flood, and tears streamed down his face uncontrollably. He staggered out of the house, crying like a child.

Yes, he had been waiting for this apology for far too long...

......

Just as he was about to have a real relationship with the former duchess, Gulenberu rushed out of the room, walking around outside wearing only a loincloth.

He felt a little dizzy, as if he had forgotten something, but... that didn't matter. What mattered was that he just wanted to see Benedict Cuth.

"Come to me if you feel lost. I can divine your future as the priestess of the 'Fire-Suppressing Palace.'"

Benedict's words suddenly echoed in Grunberdo's mind. Right now, he didn't need Folda; he suddenly felt an urge to see Benedict...

...Then I wanted to ask her to do a divination, hoping the spirit could guide me through my confusion.

Gurenberudo searched everywhere for Benedict, but unexpectedly encountered Heikel on the city wall.

“Grunberdo, you should know about the attack on Benedict, right?” Hikel’s eyes lit up as he looked at Grunberdo.

Gulenberudo's golden pupils contracted sharply. "Who committed the crime? Where is Benedict now?"

Gurunberdo placed his large hand on Hickel's shoulder, and the pain from the aggravated old injury made Hickel break out in a cold sweat.

"You're injured?" Gurunberdo withdrew his hand. "Excuse me, where's Benedict?"

"The other side consisted of five highly skilled assassins. Fortunately, Hanks was also at the hotel, otherwise I might not have been able to handle them alone."

"What!?" Gurenberudo's face tightened, only then belatedly realizing that Green was still in the closet.

“I’ve already sent guards to protect her, don’t worry.” Hickel hadn’t finished speaking.

Gurunberdo impatiently said, "I want to go there," and started running.

“Wait a minute, Gurenberudo!” Hickel called out to him, his melancholy blue eyes seeming to have a lot to say.

"What are you doing?" Gurenberudo, who was passing by Hikel, turned around impatiently, his impatience as undisguised as his straightforward nature.

"...No, it's nothing. Benedict is terrified by those assassins. You should go quickly." Hickel caught the impatience in Gurenbeludo's eyes and his eagerness to see Benedict immediately.

Gurenberu paused, a flicker of guilt crossing his face upon seeing Heike's forlorn expression, but he still turned and quickly left. Heike watched his retreating figure, murmuring to himself, "Actually, I just wanted to tell you that it's not just Benedict Cuthour who admires you..."

When Gulenberudo arrived at the hotel, he found Benedict sitting unharmed on the edge of the bed. He breathed a sigh of relief and went over to her, quietly asking how she had been. Benedict looked up, saw it was him, and smiled slightly, "I knew you'd come."

Meanwhile, Hikel stood alone on the city wall. The evening wind howled through her hair, and her heart was filled with complex emotions. On one hand, she was relieved that Benedict was safe, but on the other hand, she was secretly saddened by Gurenbelud's attitude towards her.

An owl flew overhead, hooting softly, as if awakening her from her slumber. Hickle took a deep breath, thinking that perhaps she should let go of some of her conflicted emotions; perhaps silently protecting each other was the most important thing.

Hikel stood alone on the city wall, tears streaming down his face, and it took him a long time to calm down.

Edward didn't catch up with Grünberdo. He had just calmed down a bit, and he must look quite pathetic. It was so obvious... it must have already happened, so why should he ask Grünberdo and humiliate himself?

Edward chuckled self-deprecatingly. Did he really consider him a brother? How could a brother be having an affair with his own mother?!

You're absolutely damned!! Gurunberdo!

"Damn it!!" Edward slammed his fist against the wall, as if only by smashing his hands until they were bruised and bleeding could he alleviate the anger in his heart.

In short, after venting like this, the tears finally stopped.

Edward stumbled onto the street near the hotel, panting from venting his emotions. He no longer wanted to go to Grumberdo; he just wanted to find a tavern and have a good drink.

A quick glance revealed Hector standing alone on the city wall.

Edward gazed at Hickel on the city wall, a complex mix of emotions welling up within him. Did she really want to marry the eldest son of the Olsen family? He hesitated for a moment, but ultimately composed himself and walked toward the city wall.