Berserk: The Prophet

"Hmph, think what you want," Edward replied lazily, as if he couldn't be bothered to defend himself at all.

“But I have a big gift for you before the war starts, Gurenbeludo.” Edward, who had been uninterested, suddenly became excited. With a wave of his hand, the soldier behind him handed him a leather bag containing some round object, which seemed to be stained with blood.

Edward, fearing that Gurenbelud wouldn't be able to see clearly enough, carried the bag to the front of the city, completely disregarding whether he was within Gurenbelud's and the others' shooting range, and took out the contents of the bag.

—It was a bloody human head.

—It is General Kirsten's head.

"...General!!" Gurenberudo and Heike exclaimed simultaneously, their eyes wide with surprise.

“...Hahaha.” After admiring the expression on Gurenberudo’s face, Edward burst into laughter and continued, “After you led the troops out to attack, he seemed worried about you and came to find out what was going on.”

“I originally wanted to capture him alive and make him take those two hostages instead… but he said, ‘I can’t be a burden to my son,’ and chose to end his own life.”

Just as Gurenbelud was furiously preparing to go out of the city and tear Edward to pieces, Edward put Kirsten's head back into the bag and threw it violently next to Gurenbelud on the city wall.

Grunberdo disregarded everything else and hurriedly caught the leather bag containing General Kirsten's head.

“He really loves you. Why won’t you just call him ‘Father’? Hahaha…” In that brief moment, Edward turned and ran back to his position.

Guren Belludo gripped the leather bag tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force, his eyes filled with grief and anger, his golden pupils fixed on Edward's departing figure.

"Edward! Why did you betray me?!" Gurunberdo's roar echoed throughout the entire Dragon's Nest.

Hearing his former best friend's question behind him, Edward's slightly sickly smile froze for a moment. Back at his base, Edward gazed at Glenberudo standing atop the dragon's lair. Although he couldn't see Glenberudo's face clearly, Edward could guess that the expression on his usually stern and rigid face must be quite interesting at this moment.

“There are many reasons,” Edward said in a flippant tone. “The biggest reason is that you have everything I desire, yet you still pretend to be aloof.”

“I own...?” Gurunberudo had never felt that he owned anything.

"You didn't notice, did you? That's the kind of man you are. Completely unaware that you hold something precious in your hands, you crush it." Edward sneered. Guren Belludo always prioritized his own affairs, and no one else... including their group of close friends, could bother him.

He was a strict soldier who never wanted to open up to anyone and have a long talk all night, and he never got drunk. He was a rigid guy who never bowed down to anyone and made no compromises. It was as if he was born to break the rules of the world.

“You possess unparalleled courage and strength, the revered God of War Grant, and a father who has always silently loved you.” Edward paused, his voice turning cold. “And I have nothing. A disgraceful bastard child despised since childhood, a rat in the street that no one would truly care about even when captured! I had to fight my way up to where I am today.”

"And you? Even though you were captured, you received love from someone who wasn't your father but loved you more than a father! Everyone adores you; you are a 'dragon' revered by all!"

"Compared to you, I am so insignificant! I am the quartermaster who racks his brains to pay for the army's expenses. They eat my rations and pay, but everyone only remembers you, Gurenberudo! Why should I be the shadow behind you and be forgotten by everyone?!" Edward took this opportunity to vent all his grievances over the years, his voice hoarse and desperate.

Gurunberdo was stunned; he had never imagined that Edward harbored such deep jealousy and resentment.

“But this wasn’t my fault,” Gulumberdo retorted loudly.

“But you always appear before me with that superior air, and that innate sense of superiority always stings my eyes!” Edward gripped the reins tightly, and the horse neighed uneasily.

“You always took the lead, even in Judas’ prison! And you dragged Heechul into it too…” Edward’s eyes reddened; this was his most painful memory.

But how could he protect her now? He was the one who had hurt Hekel. He had still let her down, the person he felt most guilty towards...

Edward suppressed the memory that was threatening to suffocate him, and sneered, "You wouldn't understand." With that, he drew the iron spear hanging from the saddle and pointed it at Gurenbeludo. "Anyway, there are countless reasons! Today, let's draw a clear line!"

“...Since you have made up your mind to fight, then I will not back down!” Gurenberu's hands gripped the stones on the city wall tightly, almost trying to crack the bricks. In short, his heart was heavy; when he saw General Kirsten's head, a sudden, profound sorrow gripped his soul...

Gurunberdo felt as if he had lost something precious...

...Is it the 'fatherly love' that I always found nagging and troublesome? But now that I've truly lost it, why do I feel a tightness in my chest?

...Is it "sadness"? Guren Belludo never understood what sadness felt like. Even when his mother was raped by the Juda soldiers in front of him, he only felt anger.

Hicker silently shed tears, overwhelmed with grief and indignation, and utterly bewildered by Edward's actions...

Even though Edward said those things, Heechul still refused to believe it...

What else? What do the times they spent together and the heartwarming moments of laughing together matter?

This is truly an unbearable reality...

But she could only consider Gurunberdo's condition first; with a formidable enemy at hand, she needed to calm her general down first.

“Grunberdo, we must not act rashly at this moment. Edward’s actions are probably intended to provoke you, make you lose your temper and panic,” Hickel advised in a low voice.

Guren Belludeau's chest heaved violently, and it took him a long time to squeeze out the words through clenched teeth: "...Even when I heard you say that Edward betrayed me, I still refused to believe it."

“He really did... he really betrayed me…” Gurunberdo’s hands instantly crushed the cracked bricks.

"General Kirsten... I will make him pay for his crimes in blood!!" Gurenbeludo's fist slammed into the city wall, leaving a deep crater.

“If we rashly attack now, we might play right into his hands. Not only will we fail to win, but we will also betray the general’s sacrifice,” Hikel said earnestly.

Gurunberdo took a deep breath, slowly closed his eyes, and recalled Kirsten's teachings and love as he tried to calm himself down. "You're right, Heikell, I can't let hatred blind me."

At this moment, Kadi also regrouped and led 20,000 Juda troops to the "Dragon's Nest". Abecassis had already bandaged his wounds, and he could hear Gurenbelud's loud voice from a great distance.

"You two good friends should just go and kill each other!!" Abecassis roared, trembling with pain and rage. He was absolutely furious.

Not only was the "Dragon's Nest" not captured as agreed with the Grand Duke, but Gurunberdo even escaped back, and he also lost an arm.

However, now caught in the crossfire, even Gurenbelud wouldn't be able to hold out for long. Abecassis smiled slyly to himself. In any case, he believed the Grand Duke would absolutely not give up the opportunity to enjoy wealth and luxury on the mainland.

Faced with Abecassis's provocation, Edward and Glenn Belluddo both snorted coldly. This former enemy was someone they both desperately wanted to eliminate.