Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 118 (Part 1):
“That’s strange.”
Helmut tilted his head in confusion. It was odd, but it posed no threat to him.
Even if he had been caught in the trap, he could have used Vis to prevent the trap’s teeth from piercing his leg.
It was fortunate that White hadn’t been caught in the trap. Although Professor Dwayne would have used healing magic if there had been an issue, the professor probably wouldn’t have been too pleased to use magic on an animal, not a student.
“White.”
His white horse seemed fine, munching on some tasty grass. When Helmut approached, White lifted its head, seemingly unaware of its name. It was unfair to blame it for being dumb; after all, the name was just given today.
Helmut hadn’t properly looked after or even paid much attention to White up to this point.
“I should call you more often so you can remember your name.”
This was, in a way, the first creature he was raising. Unlike the magical beasts, this one was a gentle creature.
Just as Elaga had placed Helmut under her, Helmut had, for the first time, placed this creature under him. He felt a bit of attachment.
“Come here.”
Helmut pulled on White’s reins. Having eaten its fill of grass, White obediently followed him.
Helmut tugged at the rope he had used to carelessly tie White. He intended to check why it had come loose.
A chilling sensation ran through him at that moment. The end of the rope was cleanly cut, as if sliced by something sharp.
After leading White back and securing him properly, Helmut returned to his previous spot without any issue. His juice was still there, untouched. However, Helmut didn’t reach for it.
“Helmut, did you see a corpse in the forest? What’s with you?”
Helmut was almost always expressionless, but Asuka, who had been sticking around him for a while, keenly noticed the change in his demeanor.
Helmut seemed a bit tense, almost as if he was startled.
“…No.”
Helmut considered speaking up but then closed his mouth again. Telling Asuka would only cause a commotion.
Asuka might immediately start grabbing the necks of anyone who was near White, accusing them of the deed. That would only cause headaches for Helmut.
Helmut needed time to think.
‘Who, why, how.’
That was what mattered. He hadn’t sensed anything suspicious while bringing White back.
Helmut sat down, staring intently in the direction where he had tied White. It was about fifty steps away, a considerable distance.
With several horses overlapping in that area, White’s figure was not visible from here.
Nothing special had occurred from the time he had tied White there until he had returned to this spot.
‘The reason for cutting the rope was to make White stray.’
He was troubled by the timing of White’s sudden movement.
If the rope had been cut, White might have moved sooner, but until that moment, he had been completely still. Hence, it was unlikely to be the doing of a student.
‘Who lured White? If someone had cut the rope in advance to lure me too. But there was no sign of anyone in the direction of the forest.’
But there was a trap waiting. A trap that could cut off his ankle. If he had been injured there, there was a mage within shouting distance. Helmut’s ankle would have been healed soon.
Considering Alea’s magic, a professor of the Magic Department would not have had difficulty in healing that level of injury.
‘It would have hurt if I got caught.’
Just to give him a hard time? Was there someone who approached the horses while everyone was distracted with their meal?
Helmut tried to recall a faint memory. If there had been someone, they would have caught his eye.
No matter how good his memory, it’s hard to remember something he hadn’t consciously noted.
However, one thing was clear. If the person who set the trap and the one who cut the rope were the same, then the culprit wasn’t a student from the swordsmanship department.
They had not been here long enough to sneak such a large trap into the forest and set it up.
‘If it wasn’t the doing of someone from the swordsmanship department, then who?’
The answer came easily. The Black Hawk. He had killed one of their members and foiled their plans. It wouldn’t be strange for them to wait for Helmut to leave Baden to start their mischief.
Or would it? They knew how strong Helmut was. They should understand that such tactics wouldn’t work on him.
Unless it was a thorough trap, such methods would only put him on alert.
‘No need to be overly concerned.’
Perhaps a poacher had set the trap, and someone with a grudge against Helmut had casually cut White’s rope, causing him to move towards the forest later. It was easier to think of it this way.
Yet, this explanation couldn’t shake off an uneasy feeling.
There was another hypothesis.
If someone strong enough that Helmut couldn’t sense their presence had stealthily cut the rope to lure White, intending to lead Helmut there.
‘But even if caught in the trap, it could be healed. Were they planning to attack when I was caught?’
It was unclear. Helmut definitely hadn’t sensed anyone’s presence.
A subtly chilling feeling. An ominous premonition that stimulated his instincts. But Helmut soon shrugged it off.
Worrying over such trivial matters was a mindset for the weak. Helmut was strong. No matter what anyone planned, he could just smash them when they showed themselves.
He would speak to someone when things became clearer.
Finishing his thoughts and standing up, Asuka persistently asked.
“So, what happened in the forest that had you so preoccupied?”
After considering what to say, Helmut replied lightly.
“Someone had set a trap. I almost got caught.”
“What? This is a no-hunting zone. Shouldn’t we report it?”
“There was a trap?”
Someone suddenly interjected. It was Patricia, the instructor.
“What a dangerous act. This is near the resting area; setting such things here is dangerous. Previously, an academy student was injured wandering the forest and getting caught in a trap. Can you show me where? I should take a look.”
“Sure.”
Helmut readily agreed. Given his unease, this turn of events seemed for the best.
He led her to where the trap had been.
“Over there…”
As Helmut began to point, he hesitated and lowered his hand. A chilling sensation ran down his spine.
The spot where the trap had been was now empty.
“Is this the place?”
“…Yes.”
Patricia inspected the area.
“Seems like you were mistaken? There’s nothing here.”
Asuka scratched his nose, mumbling.
“Maybe a bear dragged it away.”
“Yeah, right!”
Patricia, who had smacked Asuka on the head, chuckled.
“Getting excited, are we? Not like you, Helmut. To see things wrong. Anyway, it’s good there’s no trouble. I thought we might have stumbled upon a poaching scene.”
She didn’t seem upset about the wild goose chase.
“We’ll be leaving soon, so make sure to gather when I call.”