Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 113 (Par 1):
“Hey, is it really like that? You’re a mercenary.”
Asuka grimaced in disgust as he looked at Helmut.
“Have you never camped out?”
“I’ve done it by the roadside while traveling through Baden, but never in a full forest. Ugh, if it’s like that, it gives me the creeps.”
“It’s not that bad.”
Helmut had no such hobby of scaring others like that. He kindly explained to the disgusted Asuka.
“You can drive away mosquitoes with incense, and for excrement…”
Helmut seriously replied.
“I can distinguish whether a spot has been dug up by someone or not. Plus, if there are few people, we just tell each other where we did it.”
“Ugh, stop talking! I feel like I’m going to puke!”
Asuka was strong when it came to seeing others bleed, but he seemed weak when it came to this. Despite Helmut’s kindness, Asuka’s deathly pallor did not improve.
“Jeez, why go on a hunting picnic or whatever? If you’re going to go on a picnic, just go to Baden. They do all sorts of things.”
It was unexpected for Asuka, who was a wild type, to react this way.
‘Maybe a dog can’t be a wolf after all’
Regardless of Asuka’s grumbling, the plan was set. He pondered over an excuse not to attend the picnic.
However, citing health reasons wouldn’t work as Asuka was too healthy, and he couldn’t find a reason to absolutely stay at the Greta Academy.
“If only I had an accident and broke my leg.”
Asuka grumbled and feared the coming of next week. Helmut was the opposite. The forest was his hometown.
‘Even if it’s Black Hawk, they won’t target me while I’m with the academy students.’
It was a chance to leave Baden without worry.
“Hey, I heard about your grade. The second year of the swordsmanship department is going on a hunting picnic, it must be fun!”
When Sian spoke up as they returned to the dormitory, Asuka showed a blatantly displeased expression.
“What’s so fun about it? Having to dodge who knows where the dung pits are. That forest, for a while, a tree will grow well!”
“What are you talking about? It’s fun to light a bonfire, roast sweet potatoes, and grill meat.”
“Have you ever camped in the forest?”
Despite having just said he hadn’t, Asuka asked as if it was pathetic. Sian scratched his nose.
“There were forests near where I lived, but.”
“Is sleeping in a proper house the same as sleeping dew-soaked?”
“Mages are all envious, aren’t they? We can solve almost anything with life magic, so it won’t be much of a hassle, even in the forest.”
It was an incredibly annoying statement. Magic was a useful power in all aspects of life. Though weaker in combat compared to swordsmen.
“So, what are you guys doing? If the second years have a department event, you must be doing something too.”
“We have a disgusting assignment for a week instead of classes. Presentations next week. Painful stuff like researching magical anomalies. Some need to go places, but mostly, it’s tasks that keep us cooped up in the lab. Alea seems to choose my spirit magic research as a topic. It’s comfortable because there’s already a lot of research data.”
Asuka muttered enviously, shocked by what he had heard. Sian shook his head.
“Hey, I’m envious of you. It hasn’t been long since the midterms ended, and it’s headache-inducing. If I could, I’d switch with you.”
Asuka looked at Sian’s frail hands, incapable even of wringing a chicken’s neck.
“Are you confident in hunting?”
“Uh, maybe? Shouldn’t be too bad. With detection magic to find their location and spirits to lure them, it should be easy to catch.”
“Seeing you faint at the sight of a bleeding boar.”
“…Ah, I’d rather not see that. I’ll choose jerky.”
“It’s a hunting picnic, you know, hunting! Wouldn’t it be wrong not to hunt?”
“Just because it’s the swordsmanship department. Poor animals will just be disturbed for nothing.”
“If you pity the animals, don’t eat meat. Aren’t the ones in your stomach pitiable?”
“I’m eating the ones already dead. The animals in that forest are alive. The pitiable ones are those yet to die.”
Asuka looked incredulous. Sian solemnly advised.
“If you’re going camping, it might be good to buy some stuff in town. If you don’t want to waste money for just a few days, live uncomfortably. Ah, those who have to travel a long distance home during the holidays have a lot of stuff with them.”
Sian shrugged.
“Or borrow… But you guys don’t have anyone to borrow from, do you?”
His expression read, ‘You friendless folks, tsk tsk!’
Asuka made a face but didn’t get too worked up. Helmut didn’t even bat an eyelid.
“Well, yeah. Since I’m going to Baden on holiday anyway. I’ll stop by the shops. I’ll see what I need after tomorrow’s announcement and prepare accordingly.”
Asuka, who would have hesitated to spend money not long ago, was in a different situation now. His pockets were now comfortably full, enough to splurge and still have leftovers.
He would be able to finish preparations for the following week during the holiday.