Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 113 (Par 2):
“What, is this it? Bows and arrows, sleeping bags, food, horse feed, flint for starting a fire, and that’s it. Everything else is self-sufficient. Personal food is not allowed without a special reason. And no alcohol.”
Asuka frowned as he looked at the bulletin board. It seemed he was most displeased with the clause that prohibited bringing alcohol.
“Come on, not being able to drink alcohol while camping! That’s too much.”
“It’s more of an experiential learning than just a trip, so it’s telling us not to let our guard down.”
Someone spoke up. It was Andro. Asuka flinched and looked at him.
It wasn’t common for someone to initiate conversation with Asuka.
Everyone would talk to Helmut, but as soon as Asuka showed up, they’d quickly pretend not to notice.
“What are you, a transfer student?”
“Right.”
“Does it count towards the score?”
Helmut interjected, partly to prevent Asuka from exploding in rage, asking what business it was of his. Helmut was also getting used to handling Asuka.
“That won’t be the case. Hunting, huh. It’s too advantageous for those from mountainous regions.”
Helmut felt a slight regret, being in a favorable position.
“It seems likely we’ll end up in the same group, so I look forward to working together.”
“How do you know?”
“You two will be together, and the others are desperately trying to fill up their groups with 8 people. Those left over will naturally end up in one group. We’re four.”
The reason for the desperate group formations was obvious. To avoid being in the same group as Asuka.
“I’m worried about the hunting. They won’t let us use hunting dogs, probably not traps either, and it doesn’t seem like they’ll provide ample food. We’ll have to purely hunt with bows.”
Archery was a higher-year elective, but those from a sword family typically had a basic proficiency.
Andro knew how to shoot, but having hardly held a bow recently, he wasn’t confident in hunting in the forest.
“What if someone gets hit while we’re shooting arrows?”
Asuka suddenly asked as if it just occurred to him.
“With so many people shooting arrows in the forest, someone could get hit.”
“We have to be careful not to cause casualties. As long as you aim at the target, there shouldn’t be a problem. Unless someone intends to hit someone else.”
As if hit by the comment, Asuka clamped his mouth shut.
“If you want to practice shooting, there’s a training ground at the far left end of the academy.”
With that, Andro turned his back.
“Hey, want to go practice? It would be trouble if we ended up hungry in the forest. I don’t want to eat just potatoes.”
“Do you know how to butcher meat? Can you cook?”
Helmut was concerned. Although confident in hunting, he was terrible at cooking. Anything he made turned out inedible for humans.
Perhaps it would be better to eat roasted potatoes for about five days. That would be physically fine.
“I can cook, but I’m not sure about butchering meat. But with eight of us, someone must know how.”
That made sense. Asuka suggested again.
“Let’s go practice shooting later. We need to catch something to eat, after all.”
“Alright.”
After class, Helmut and Asuka headed to the archery training ground side by side.
The training ground, lined with dozens of targets, was mainly used by upperclassmen taking related classes.
Though there were mercenaries and knights among them known for their impeccable archery, Greta Academy did not officially offer archery as a course.
There were those skilled with spears or axes, but similarly, Greta Academy did not cover these.
Approaching the manager, he asked.
“It seems you didn’t bring your own bow.”
“Do we need to bring our own?”
“No, we provide rentals. They might not be in the best condition. How many arrows do you need?”
“50.”
“Isn’t that too few?”
“That’s enough for me, get more if you want.”
This was merely a warm-up. Helmut was a marksman who had pierced through numerous living targets.
“No, that’s fine. I’ll also take 50.”
Grumbling, Asuka did not ask for more arrows. Perhaps he felt a sense of competition.
Armed with bows and arrows, they found a spot in the nearly empty training ground.
Several arrows were already stuck in the distant targets, each in different positions.
“Okay, is this how you do it?”
Helmut glanced at him. Asuka held the bow awkwardly.
He pulled the string taut, aimed at the target, and released. If only the arrow had hit the target! Instead, it flew and stuck into the ground.
The arrow vibrated as it half-buried itself in the earth. The force was more than enough, even if the aim was off.
It seemed like his first time handling a bow.
“What’s going on?”
Grumbling, Asuka pulled the bowstring several times. Aiming a bit higher, he managed to skim past the target.
After a few tries, Asuka successfully hit the second smallest circle on the target.
The wind’s effect didn’t matter much to him. He used force to cut through the wind. Helmut sensed his use of Vis.
‘Quite impressive.’
For his level of swordsmanship, his use of Vis was excellent.
As swordsmanship advanced, the use of Vis became crucial. Asuka had the potential to rise above the other students in the swordsmanship department.
This went beyond mere effort; it was a matter of talent.
“Helmut, look at this!”
Asuka, who managed to hit the target decently, shouted excitedly.
“You hit it well.”
Helmut praised him, albeit formally.