Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 110 (Part 1):

Asuka quickly came to a simple conclusion.

“Well, I have the skills, so I’ll manage to survive when the time comes.”

Asuka was confident in his abilities. However, he had beaten up more than a few noble children, and it was doubtful whether anyone would employ him as a knight. Unless they were planning revenge.

“I’ve never thought about what will happen after graduation, so maybe that’s why I have been beating up the nobles like that.”

Then a familiar voice came from somewhere.

“I’m most curious about whether you’ll be alive after graduation.”

It was Sian. His tone was the same as usual, but his face was unusually heavy. Even Asuka, who was about to throw a punch, hesitated.

“What’s wrong, did you fail the exam?”

“As if. If things go as they are, my grades this semester will probably be similar to last semester.”

“Another second place?”

“What about you?”

“Well, I am…”

Asuka, who was about to give a vague answer, paused. It was because he remembered something he had forgotten. Sian looked back and forth between Helmut and Asuka with a faint gaze.

“Remember me well. I’ll be remembered as the first mage of Greta Academy who died running around the field.”

“Hey, there’s no guarantee that I’ll lose. The results haven’t been announced yet.”

However, Asuka’s voice, saying so, sounded oddly subdued. Sian ruffled his hair.

“I must be crazy. Why did I make such a bet!”

It wasn’t about betting something on Asuka. Asuka sneakily dodged the question.

“Ah, I’m done for today! I need a good sleep. It’s the first time I’ve studied so hard since I entered the academy.”

Usually, it’s Sian who suggests going for a drink or a snack, but he didn’t seem to be in the mood for it.

As Asuka quickly disappeared, Sian glared at Helmut. Although his expression was gentle, it didn’t feel like he was glaring at all. He muttered.

“Helmut, your nonsense answer fooled me. How do you learn so quickly?”

“You just need to concentrate. The results haven’t been announced yet, but how about starting to run around the field from today? Considering your stamina, it might be good to start today.”

Helmut responded coldly and turned away. Sian, who had been usually teased by the same sarcasm from Asuka, opened his mouth wide.

“Hey, you!”

“I’m going in too.”

Helmut casually waved his hand.

He was thinking of doing the postponed training, but he didn’t feel like doing anything right now. Was he getting lazy?

These days, his eyes were dry from looking at white and black, paper and letters all day long.

Unlike his body, which still had energy, his mind was screaming for a break. This feeling was unfamiliar.

‘I need to rest for now.’

“How was the exam?”

When he returned to the room, Alea, who had come first and was organizing the textbooks on the desk, asked.

“The questions were almost as you said. But there was one unique question.”

“What is it?”

Helmut recalled and recited the question that Alea couldn’t predict in the ‘Understanding of Magic’ exam.

“-You accidentally gained the forbidden power of darkness. If you lose the power, you will die. What will you do in this situation?”

“The power of darkness.”

Alea narrowed her brow. Helmut felt a chilly sensation for some reason.

“That professor always gives one such question. The scoring criteria are vague, but if you write sincerely, you generally don’t get deducted points. How did you answer?”

Helmut slowly opened his mouth.

“I accept the power of darkness. I will fight to survival, and find a way to control that power.”

Giving up life was excluded from the choices from the beginning. It was not his will to have the power of darkness.

However, what he would do after that was his own affair.

Even if he became a target for the people of the temple, he would fight to survive and one day completely make even the power of darkness bend to his will.

There was a will in Helmut’s words. Strong and firm, and destructive enough to crush everything in his path.

A sense of pressure pressed down on his body. Alea was surprised.

‘Why do I feel like this…’

After a while, Alea organized her thoughts and spoke.

“It’s not a bad answer. Depending on the professor, but at least, it’s not a response that Professor Luxen would dislike.”

Helmut asked softly.

“What would you have written if you were me?”

Strangely, the anticipation for Alea’s response grew. It wasn’t an answer close to the correct one; it was her response that was awaited.

“If it were me…”

Alea, who had been pondering, shook her head.

“Usually, people would go to the temple to seek an answer. That’s the standard procedure. The power of darkness falls under the jurisdiction of the temple. And…it would be difficult for nobles to write anything other than that.”

It was a class mainly attended by mages called ‘Understanding of Magic.’ Having the power of darkness meant becoming a black mage, something these exam-takers would have accepted as a philosophical examination. They would likely have written exemplary and model answers.

However, what Helmut wanted to know was Alea’s answer. Not an ordinary one.

Before he could ask again, Alea spoke.

“But if it were me, I would have given an answer similar to yours.”

“Even if it means going against the temple?”

“Even if it means going against the temple.”

At the straightforward response, Helmut looked at Alea. The moment he heard her answer, he felt strange.

A feeling filled him from within, as if sharing something deeply buried. It was odd yet fulfilling.

Alea elaborated, “Anyway, the temple of Lumen is stubborn about the power of darkness. Even if you ask for help from the temple, won’t you end up dead? It’s a common story.”

After all, Alea didn’t think she’ll need to fear or hesitate about becoming an enemy of the temple. Regardless of her will, she had already become so the moment she gained that power.

A destiny to live avoiding the temple for a lifetime or to fight against them. Even if Alea lived as an ordinary person, not a mage, she could not avoid it.

That’s why Alea chose to build up her strength and confront the temple.

“But be careful when talking about such things. Don’t talk about it just anywhere. If you happen to be accused by the temple, it could be troublesome.”

“Okay.”

Helmut nodded. Alea asked as if to confirm.

“So, aside from that question, you did well on the exam, right? Everything else too?”

“Of course.”

“Then you’ll probably be the top of the Swordsmanship Department. I’m looking forward to seeing Sian running around the field, aren’t you?”

A cold smile spread across Alea’s lips.

“Good job.”

Having finished speaking, she went to bed claiming fatigue.

Helmut also soon buried himself in the bed. Unlike the other guys who were noisy with parties and stuff after the exam, rest was a priority for Helmut and his friends.

As the heavy darkness descended with closed eyes, Helmut, before falling into unconsciousness, recalled one thought.

What he had already realized became clearer. Alea… was different. From anyone else.

Even so, he couldn’t tell her the truth.

Otaku_Tensei

I'm currently Translating the following novel: Helmut: The Forsaken Child. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!

•