Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 102 (Part 2):
The roll call continued. Helmut’s opponent was soon decided.
“First-year, Jeffrey! Second-year, Helmut!”
Helmut observed his opponent. Among the first-year students, he seemed to be a skilled opponent who could compete with Charlotte.
Among the second-year, there were few guys who had as much momentum as Asuka.
‘Didn’t they said that the overall level of the first-year students is high?’
He seemed to understand what that meant. If a duel is randomly attached to the first-year, it seemed that the second-year would win at a ratio of about 6 to 4. The second-year would be superior, but the difference was not big.
“Senior, I look forward to this duel!”
Jeffrey spoke confidently. However, unlike his respectful tone, there was a hint of thorns in the gaze directed at Helmut.
Even Helmut, who wasn’t particularly sensitive, could feel the prickly thorns.
‘Is this commoner the strongest in the second-year?’
Being a commoner unconsciously lowered the opponent’s status.
‘Isn’t the second-year level low?’
While he didn’t have a particularly twisted personality, Jeffrey was arrogant.
As a noble heir from the swordsmanship family, he had skills recognized even within his family.
Entering Greta Academy known for attracting talented individuals, he became confident in his strength.
Apart from a few exceptions among the first-year students, there were hardly any guys comparable to him. He was full of confidence.
However, in Helmut’s eyes, the guy who seemed nothing special was provoking him without even understanding the subject.
A slight irritation set in. Before he could showcase his skills, they wouldn’t know at all. They all seemed the same.
‘Well then, I’ll show them.’
The junior in front of him will soon doubt whether he has the skills to be confident. Because Helmut make sure of that.
“You, your name is Charlotte, right? Why did you come to Greta Academy?”
‘She’s pretty.Not my type, though.’
Asuka, who was staring at the opponent, showed curiosity. It was also a kind of exploration. It was to induce the opponent to give a pretext, as he found it uncomfortable to pick a fight with someone who seemed innocent.
Asuka could read negative emotions or malice directed at him quite sensitively.
That was enough. He had reasons to crush someone who disliked him.
Rather than facing an opponent with no emotions, stepping on someone who hated him was much more motivating.
However, the opponent responded calmly.
“Greta Academy is an excellent academy.”
“You could find other good academies in Baden, and female students are rare in Greta Academy’s Swordsmanship department.”
“I didn’t come here to make friends. I came to become stronger.”
‘Huh?’
He liked the response. Asuka was slightly taken aback. It was rare to encounter someone who seemed so intact and sincere. Moreover, she answered without any reservation.
It seemed more like a concept of responding because a senior asked, rather than because she likes it
“Your name is Charlotte, right?”
“Yes, Asuka-senpai.”
Charlotte raised her wooden sword, aiming it at Asuka.
The instructors were surveying the students. The dueling would begin soon.
“I’ve heard about the seniors’ reputation. You don’t have to go easy on me. It’s better for both of us that way.”
“…Who said I’d go easy?”
Momentarily surprised by the unexpected response, Asuka quickly regained his composure. If this was some kind of hope torture, there was no hobby in going easy.
“Begin!”
At the instructor’s command, the dueling commenced immediately.
As Asuka and Charlotte faced each other, on the other side, Helmut and Jeffrey also began their match.
‘The sword is heavy.’
Feeling the impact of the descending wooden sword, the hand grew numb. Jeffrey was a powerful opponent, his strength concentrated in his sharp bones.
Jeffrey, raised in a noble mansion with quality food and nurtured alongside noble offspring, differed in nutritional status from Helmut who filled his stomach roughly in the Forest of Roots.
Although he seemed to be growing taller and his physique improving, he still had a long way to go.
Helmut wasn’t physically larger compared to his peers, but his slender build gave off a deceptive impression.
‘Let’s see his skills.’
The wooden sword that cuts the air with a buzzing sound was powerful. If hit properly, bones would likely break.
But who would willingly get hit by that? Helmut leisurely observed Jeffrey.
Well-developed muscles and good balance. Usually, dodging from this side would create an opening, but he used strength to redirect the direction of the wooden sword, minimizing the gaps.
“Don’t just avoid it, try to attack!”
Jeffrey shouted. Since the first encounter with the sword, Helmut had been skillfully avoiding his attacks.
It was enough to make him angry because he only scratched the air with a narrow difference.
“Let’s see about that.”
At the same time as Helmut muttered, he flicked the wooden sword like a sword and stretched it out.
Jeffrey’s eyes widened. The wooden sword was aimed exactly at his throat.
Without a chance to react, he received a blow to his neck at once. Helmut counted the number.
“One. It won’t end like this, right?”
Had it been about two minutes? There was still a long time left for the duel.
“…Of course not.”
Jeffrey grinned. If it had been a real battle, he would have been dead by now. A chill ran down the spine.
‘There’s a reason he’s known as the top in the second year.’
Tension spread throughout his body. Jeffrey adjusted his posture more cautiously.
Helmut movements were unexpectedly fast, making it difficult to predict.
“This time, I’ll be the one to attack. Defend yourself.”
Helmut said leisurely. It wasn’t necessary to be too harsh against a first-year, even if he revealed a bit of his thorns.
However, that didn’t mean he would go easy on him.
Tick, tick, tick! The end of the sword that pierced like an arrow was blocked by Jeffrey’s wooden sword. He was able to block it because he was concentrating all his mind.
But those three strikes were the end. Not intensely powerful, but the short, choppy shocks left his hand paralyzed.
The fourth strike stabbed directly through Jeffrey’s shoulder. Thud!
Jeffrey’s eyes widened. The entire shoulder ached with the shock that reverberated through his bones. The ripple of the impact spread through his body like an earthquake.