Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 101 (Part 2):
“Who’s going to face that first-year girl? I have a cousin in the first year, and when I asked him, he said she’s pretty good.”
“I heard she’s a strong candidate for first place in the first year?”
“No way, she’s a girl. The swordsmanship department is different from other departments.”
Once you can properly handle Vis, the difference in gender was not very important. Just like mages.
Of course, it’s very difficult to reach that level. There were countless cases where they couldn’t endure the process of training their bodies and creating a vessel for Vis.
“If she’s a girl and she’s good enough to enter our academy’s swordsmanship department, she’s not ordinary. There are only a handful of girls in our department, right?”
“Is she constantly training her sword in such a harsh environment?”
“I guess so.”
“I heard that the first-year girl is from a well-known family.”
“Do you have someone you know at the academy? You know all that!”
“Speech, behavior, swordsmanship. That’s enough to know.”
“I’m looking forward to who will face her.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Me neither.”
While showing curiosity, the fear of losing made them reluctant.
No one would want to be humiliated by losing to a pretty girl.
“By the way, Asuka has been sharpening his sword and living in the training ground.”
“I’ve never seen him so serious about a duel.”
To be precise, it was the first time they saw him having a duel to win, not to torment someone. And it was the first time they saw him focusing on his own development in a duel.
Since the instructors instructed them to change their match opponents, Asuka and Helmut couldn’t face each other after that day.
Asuka, who quickly became less talkative, was also unfamiliar to Helmut. He heard that he was stuck in the training ground all day even on holidays.
“Did he get pretty upset because he lost?”
“Asuka has never lost before that, probably ever.”
The guys who were talking about Asuka suddenly fell silent. It was because Asuka, whom they were discussing, appeared.
Only after finishing the morning practice at the training ground, Asuka, who had been there since early morning, finally left.
Looking around, Asuka approached Helmut with a lively demeanor.
“Hey, good morning!”
Today, he seemed more willing to talk than usual.
“Sian told me to tell you to study a bit.”
“I don’t care. That kind of thing. Besides, it’s him who’s going to run around the field, not me anyway.”
He spoke as if he didn’t care about the bet. Asuka, who spat out words that would make Sian grab the back of his neck, stretched out.
“Ah, I hope I get a decent opponent. Is there such a guy among the first year?”
“I heard there are a few good swordsmen among the first-year.”
“Even if they’re good, so what? Most guys are just ordinary.”
Seeing his confidence, it seemed that he had quite a bit of results from his practice. Of course, Helmut had his own accomplishments too, although it was a bit problematic in terms of written exams.
Alan, the instructor, appeared in time and lined up and called the roll.
“Everyone is present. Let’s move right away.”
He gestured and led the way. It seemed that he was going to join the first-year students for their dueling session.
The second-year students of the swordsmanship department followed Alan with anticipation.
The destination they arrived at was another courtyard where the first-year students’ classes were held.
Greta Academy was a large institution, and the swordsmanship department had a total of seven buildings, including the main one, each designated for different years.
With such a scale, unless it was a general education class, students rarely encountered those from other departments.
Interaction between different years within the same department was also infrequent.
Even if they crossed paths occasionally, the classroom spaces were separate, and since they had different dormitories, there was little chance for mingling.
Naturally, there was an atmosphere where unity within the same department and the same year was inevitable.
“There, there are the first-year students.”
Instructor Patricia and the first-year students gathered in front of her came into view.
Whether on this side or that side, all belonged to the swordsmanship department. Generally, they were of similar build, but the first-year students looked a bit younger.
The first-year students eyed the second-year arrivals with a bit of anticipation. The atmosphere wasn’t particularly friendly.
Helmut and Asuka particularly felt the gazes directed at them. The glances were mixed with curiosity and disdain, as if observing a spectacle.
“Are those, the commoners?”
“Be careful with your words, they are ‘senior’ commoners.”
“Crazy, should I call someone crazy or a commoner a senior?”
A mutter of discontent was faintly heard. It was a familiar atmosphere. As Asuka tightened his grip on his wooden sword, he smiled.
“I’ll take back what I said earlier. This sparring won’t be ordinary. It’s going to be fun.”
It sounded like a promise to make it fun. The atmosphere of the second-year students naturally became strange.
Although they themselves had once disregarded commoners, Helmut was acknowledged, and Asuka was also recognized for his skill.
While it was okay for them to insult each other, it felt unpleasant when others did it. Besides the discomfort, there was a sense of sympathy.
“Hey, look at Asuka’s expression.”
“He’s probably about to cause another accident.”
“Condolences to the one who faces him.”
“Everyone, pay attention! You all know that the duel between the first and second years starts today, right? I will explain the duel rules!”
As instructor Patricia exchanged greetings with Alan, she briefed as usual. Some time was given before the dueling for a light warm-up and practice of basic movements.
“Before the duel, warm up and practice basic movements for 30 minutes!”
Asuka stretched out her arms and legs as if doing gymnastics. He was ready to start the match right away.
The first-year students stood a bit apart, glancing at the newly arrived second-year students. The looks were not friendly.
The conversation that had momentarily subsided resumed. They didn’t bother to keep their voices down and, arrogantly, chatted as if they were showing off.
“Those second-year seniors don’t look like anything special.”
“Because the overall level is low, rumors have it that commoners have the best skills in their year. Does that make sense?”
“To lose to commoners, how pathetic.”
“Who’s the crazy dog of the swordsmanship department! Dogs only listen when they’re beaten.”
Hearing that, it was too much. The expressions of the second-year students hardened.
Although each year had separate classes, the relationship between seniors and juniors was usually respected. Such a situation was rare.
Ever since the instructors mentioned that the first-year students’ skills were better than usual, the rumors began, and with the prominence of Helmut and Asuka as skilled commoners, the situation became even more peculiar.
Beyond the class, the existence of the two was widely rumored even in other departments.
The upperclassmen would have thought so, but the first-year students who had just entered the academy after treating the commoners like slaves couldn’t accept the fact that commoners, in some sense, were placed above nobles.
Naturally, they looked down on the entire second-year as a whole.