Berserk: The Prophet

"Heave-ho! Heave-ho!!" the old horse cried mournfully, the wound on its hind leg so deep that the bone was visible.

Fortunately, the noise from the battlefield subsided, and the number of throwing axes and spears being thrown this way gradually decreased, allowing Green to finally breathe a sigh of relief.

I went over to check on Old Ma's injuries. His bones were split open, and he could no longer ride. With such serious injuries, Old Ma probably wouldn't live much longer.

"Ah, my old friend," Green could only pat the old horse's head in consolation. Better to die a good death than live a life of suffering.

"I'm sorry, old friend, I'll try my best not to make you suffer so much." Green blindfolded Old Ma, a hint of reluctance flashing in his eyes. Holding the dagger given to him by Gambino, he stabbed Old Ma through the throat and carotid artery. The weakened Old Ma soon fell silent.

He withdrew his dagger and wiped the blood off it with a handkerchief he carried with him. Ali and the others had returned from the battlefield after it had been quelled. Because of Barkley's army, they hadn't been able to help much. They planned to go to the village to lend a hand after the army left.

Hearing Ali's footsteps approaching, Green still felt a sharp pain in his heart because of Old Ma's death. What would he do if Bazso or Ali were to suffer the same fate one day?

"Do you think I'm being too cruel, Ali?" Green squatted on the ground, wiping away the bloodstains that had long since disappeared. The knife was white, but his hands were covered in blood.

"...No, it has already completed its mission. Rather than suffer a painful departure, it's better to leave quickly like this."

"You did the right thing, boss."

Ali put his hand on Green's shoulder. Although he was just the son of a free farmer in the village, he knew that a horse with a broken leg wouldn't live long, let alone an old horse like this.

"Well, let's go see if we can help in any way." With that approval in mind, Green stood up, glanced regretfully at Old Ma's body, and prepared to head towards the village.

A "thud" came from behind, the sound of a tree branch snapping underfoot.

"Who?!" Green's sharp eyes locked onto the darkness of the woods behind him, and he immediately drew his greatsword from his back.

Ali held his shield and remained vigilant, while the other two took out their crossbows and aimed them at the darkness.

"What the hell? Didn't I tell you to be careful?" Two people in the darkness pushed the guy who made the noise out.

That accent...it sounds like someone from Vanscare! Green tensed up, ready to dodge the axes and spears flying from the darkness.

"Uh, hehe...hehehe, we surrender, please don't kill us." The figures gradually appeared in the darkness, three Vanscare pirates who were unarmed.

Green sized up the three men, and after confirming that none of them had any weapons, he was about to take a rope from Old Ma's corpse when the system notification sounded.

[Captureable prisoners: 3 Vanskerry pirates, can be added to the party. Yes/No]

【Yes】

"Why not take it?" they thought, but they still threw the rope over and told them to tie themselves up.

Although the three seemed reluctant, Barkley's army had already looted most of their supplies and some were already heading their way. If they didn't want to die, they had better do as they were told and quickly tied themselves up.

Hey! Where are you travelers from?

The captain of Barkley's Guards walked over in a friendly manner and greeted Green, then turned his attention to the three Vanscare pirates who were tightly bound.

"Hey, you guys managed to catch one alive! That's impressive. Could it be that I've run into the famous little hero? What's his name again? What...what was it again?"

"Yes, sir."

"Aha! That's right, it really is you. Still wandering around outside so late? Aren't you afraid of being carried off by wolves? Hahaha."

"Ha, because the goddess of justice, Astalia, will protect me!"

To be honest, he had never seen a wolf in Mount & Blade before, and Green began to boast and charlatan in the local Barkley dialect.

"Haha, just as amazing as the rumors say! Let's have a drink together in the village later!!"

"no problem!"

.........

At night, the naked corpses of the Vanskeri were piled on the firewood, a luxury in the winter. With so many fewer people in the village, supplies were actually more readily available. Smoke billowed from every chimney, and the aroma of food wafted from the houses. Tables were already set inside, laden with steaming meats, bread, broth made from wheat and meat, pickles, smoked fish, sausages, cheese, ale, and all sorts of delicious food that the villagers could afford.

All that's needed is a small "bonfire opening ceremony".

"Long live the Barkley Empire! By the Goddess of Justice Astalia, send these sinful Vanskeri people to hell!!" The village chief of Relancel stood at the front of the crowd, torch in hand, facing the people. His eyes were red, and he wept with joy.

"Wow! Wow! Long live Barkley!!"

"Go to hell, you dog of a Vanscare!"

"May the flames of Astalia's justice forever burn away your filthy and defiled souls!!!"

Immediately afterward, as he threw his torch into the pile of firewood burning the corpses, the villagers followed suit, throwing their torches into the fire as the flames roared and engulfed the bodies of the Vanskellians.

As the flames grew larger, the villagers let out screaming laughter, some even bursting into tears as they laughed, releasing almost all their emotions in that instant.

It wasn't until the flames subsided that everyone came to their senses. With the soldiers' comforting words, the villagers wiped away their tears and gradually returned to their seats with the soldiers to prepare for tonight's feast.

Fortunately, the three men had been locked in the woodshed early on; otherwise, if the villagers of Relancel had seen this scene, they would probably have been beaten to death with stones and fists.

.........

The villagers sat at a table, all drunk, their faces flushed, laughing and crying, but life had to go on.

The plan was well-prepared. The villagers had already locked their doors. Since it was winter, the thatched roofs were not easy to burn, so no villagers were injured or killed. The urban thug in Green's team said that he had met a girl he liked and that the village was short of able-bodied men, so he wanted to settle down and live a good life there.

Green didn't insist; he simply told the two city thugs to pay him his salary and bonuses and let him go.

That's great. At this age, having a girl you like and a stable home is wonderful. In this day and age, being able to live a good life is already quite good. I left some words of blessing and we drank and chatted happily.