Berserk: The Prophet

Chapter 276 Equestrian Competition

The next day.

Green sat in Charles's yard chopping firewood for starting a fire. The old fisherman Charles wasn't home; he and Chief Edgar had gone to town for help.

Several rustling footsteps reached Green's ears, sounding like those of the few children in the village.

"Hey kid, you're called Green, right?"

A child's voice, going through puberty, drifted in through the low fence.

...This voice sounds like Gorkas.

Green stopped what he was doing, straightened up and looked in the direction the sound came from. Sure enough, he saw Gorkas leading a few children standing outside the fence.

"It's me. What can I do for you?"

Green knew this guy; he was the boy who worked for the coachman Dubull, an orphan who had lost his parents at a young age, and Dubull's nephew.

"I didn't realize you were such a quiet kid, but you were pretty good at dealing with that bastard Stuwin! I heard about it from my uncle." Gorkas said with a hint of pride, while the kids beside him stared at Green with curiosity.

Ever since Green came to this village, he has rarely interacted with the other children. He is either working or practicing swordplay and running. When he has nothing to do, he spears fish in the river in the forest and grills them to eat. Occasionally, if he is lucky, he can also spear a few field mice and rabbits.

"..."

"Is there anything else?" Green just wanted to chop the firewood quickly so he could practice his sword.

"Uh... don't be so formal, we're on the same side after all."

As Gorcas spoke, he nimbly vaulted over the fence and jumped into the yard, his face bearing his usual nonchalant and slightly provocative expression. He casually patted Green on the shoulder, then sat down by the woodpile and picked up a small twig, idly drawing lines on the ground.

Seeing this, the other children also climbed over the fence and surrounded Gorcas, like a group of lackeys waiting for their leader to give orders.

"Hey Green, if you're really that good at playing, you might as well just come and join us from now on."

Gorkas tilted his head, a sly glint in his eyes.

"You've dealt with Stuwin, but he definitely won't let this go. If the higher-ups come looking for trouble, you can acknowledge me as your older brother and I can protect you a bit, how about that?"

Green frowned, showing absolutely no interest in Gorkas's suggestion.

"No need. I'm used to being alone and don't think I need anyone to protect me. You can all mind your own business," Green replied coldly, then turned around to continue chopping wood.

Gorcas, however, was relentless. He jumped up and stood in front of Green, saying, "Hey! You little brat, don't be so disrespectful. We're all kids from the village, we should look out for each other."

"Besides, we can help you too. If you want to practice swordsmanship, Vili is the blacksmith's son and can help you find a better sword blank. As the boss, I can also keep an eye on the higher-ups' movements so you can hide in advance. Why not?"

Green looked up, his gaze sweeping across Gorkas's face and landing on the expectant little faces around him.

He knew perfectly well that Gorkas's so-called "benefits" were nothing more than child's play, utterly useless in the face of a real crisis.

But looking at the group of children in front of him, he was reminded of his own lonely childhood, and a subtle ripple stirred in his heart.

“I appreciate your kindness,” Green said, softening his tone.

"However, I practice swordsmanship for my own goals, not to avoid anything. As for better sword blanks, I will find them myself."

Gorkas was jumping up and down in frustration: "Hey, why are you so stubborn?! Who's going to save you when the higher-ups come looking for trouble?"

Green frowned slightly. He had considered these consequences, but in his opinion, simply avoiding them was not the solution.

“If that day ever comes, I will face it,” Green said in a deep voice. “However, I will not let things get to that point.”

...because he will leave here sooner or later.

At this moment, Willie, who had been hiding behind Gorkas, whispered, "Green, actually we just think you're really good and want to play with you, it's not that we specifically need you..."

"Tch, what an ungrateful bastard." Gorkas scoffed, interrupting Vili.

"Want to have a horseback riding contest with me? If I lose, I'll acknowledge you as my older brother, how about that?"

Looking at Gorkas's somewhat anxious and unconvinced appearance, Green felt a little helpless. He wasn't particularly interested in whether Gorkas was the older brother or not.

“Okay, let’s have a competition.” Green agreed.

"Tsk." Gorkas revealed a cunning look of certainty.

The boys around them exchanged glances, because they all knew that Gorkas was the best horseman in the village.

They arrived at a meadow outside the village, where Gorcas brought two strong hunting horses from his uncle. He nimbly mounted the black horse.

Green then mounted a brown horse and sat down comfortably.

"It's settled then. I'll give the order and we'll all run out together. Willy and the others will be waiting for us at the finish line."

"Don't say I'm bullying you, kid. These two horses are some of the best you can find!"

Gorkas introduced the horse with confidence, as if winning in equestrian sports was an easy task for him. Besides, he had been riding this black horse for quite some time.

Once Green was settled, he pulled on the reins with a nimble and natural ease, as if he had become one with the horse. The horse's condition could also be observed in the lower right corner.

[Mount: Hunting Horse, 100%/100% Health, requires Riding Skill +3, current Riding Skill +4, speed increased by 2%]

"Bring it on, Gorkas."

Green was not afraid at all. After all, he was skilled enough to control military horses, and he had experienced the daily life of riding a horse in Barkley before.

"Tch, just you wait and see behind my horse! Ready—go!!"

At Gorcas's command, the two horses galloped off like arrows released from a bow.

Gorkas leaned forward slightly, his legs gripping the horse's belly tightly. He gently swayed the reins, guiding the horse to gallop along the predetermined route. A confident smile graced his face, as if victory was already beckoning to him.

Green sat steadily on the horse's back, his eyes fixed on the front, feeling the wind whistling past his ears.

Although his brown horse lagged behind at first, it gradually found its rhythm as it ran, and its pace became more and more steady.

At first, Gorkas's dark horse took the lead, and he glanced back at Green with a smug look. But gradually, thanks to Green's excellent riding skills and control of his horse, the brown horse began to accelerate and caught up.

As they approached the finish line, Green's horse easily overtook Gorkas's horse.

Gorkas looked resentful, and his smug expression immediately vanished.

Are you kidding me? This is his area of ​​expertise!

"No, this doesn't count. It must be because I wasn't in good form. Let's have another match!!"