Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 123 (Part 2):

Helmut lifted the doe. Returning with it on his back, Asuka, who had been dozing off on the bear, lifted his head.

His senses were sharp. Despite being told to stay alert, he had fallen asleep in such a short time.

“Ah, you’re back already?”

Asuka stood up.

“You’re pretty skilled. To catch a deer already. You wouldn’t starve even if left alone in the forest.”

Asuka was impressed, looking at the deer Helmut was carrying.

“Did you catch it in one shot?”

“It seems that what Basil saw was this deer.”

“Good thing he didn’t see something false. It would be bad if he got hurt at his young age because of it.”

Asuka snorted dismissively, confident he would never fall for such traps.

‘He’s a quick-witted guy.’

“Were there no more traps?”

“There was another, but I avoided it. A wire flew at me.”

“What? A wire? Crazy, that’s almost like hunting people. Whoever set it up, if I catch them poaching, I’ll break their limbs.”

Was his outrage merely because it made it unsafe for him to wander? Helmut didn’t ask further.

“Let’s go back.”

Helmut gestured, and Asuka asked.

“But with this, winning first place might be difficult, are you okay with that?”

“I don’t care.”

“Alright.”

Asuka half-lifted, half-dragged the bear. Being shorter, he couldn’t lift the bear completely. If the fur got damaged, so be it.

The return journey took much longer than the trip there. Asuka seemed a bit tired from walking the same path twice.

By the time they arrived, his face was dotted with sweat beads. Yet, he didn’t ask for help.

Asuka’s independent streak, not relying on others, was something Helmut could relate to.

“Ah, I’m dead tired!”

As soon as they arrived at the campsite, Asuka exclaimed.

The instructors and members of Group 9, who had returned to the campsite, were astonished at his catch.

“Is that a bear?”

“My goodness, Asuka, you caught a bear?”

“Lucky, I guess.”

Asuka scratched his nose with a triumphant look. The atmosphere, previously dampened by Basil’s incident, was now lively again. Everyone was busy admiring the bear brought by Asuka.

“What’s this? This could be the winning catch.”

“It was worth going all the way to that far water’s edge.”

Helmut, who had brought back a deer but received little attention, glanced around.

Not many people were left in the campsite. Only the three members of Group 9, who had not been gone long, along with instructor Patricia and Professor Dwayne, were present.

Instructor Alan had gone to check the surroundings after hearing about the accident.

A large cloth was spread out in the center of the campsite, apparently for placing the catches. Helmut also placed his catch there.

“A doe. Deer meat is delicious.”

Instructor Patricia finally showed interest in Helmut.

“Good work, soldier!”

He might rank after all. Helmut decided to look forward to receiving something. Since he participated in the tournament, it’s better to win something.

The members of Group 9, belatedly attempting to hunt again, left the tent.

Asuka, who had left the bear at the same spot, sprawled out inside the tent of Group 9.

“Ah, I’m exhausted. I need to sleep.”

Helmut also found a comfortable spot and lay down. It was time to sort out his thoughts.

Traps scattered everywhere, a suspicious campsite manager, the Forest of Pedica. And the Black Hawk. A tension as if something was about to happen but didn’t.

The sure thing was, the enemies were putting in effort for some plan.

‘It’s like solving a mystery.’

But Helmut would find the answer. The answer he would find is one that the enemies targeting him wouldn’t want.

As the afternoon came, second-year students began to return with their prey.

Helmut and Asuka finished their meal inside the tent. After a nap and filling his stomach, Asuka seemed to have regained his condition quickly.

“Let’s see if anyone caught something better than me.”

Asuka kept an eye on the catches placed in the center from the tent’s entrance, like a hawk.

Fortunately, the additions were mostly small animals like rabbits, raccoons, and birds.

As 5 PM approached, every student had returned.

Instructors Patricia and Alan checked the attendance while moving around.

Only Basil had an accident. Wesley and Michel, who had left with him, had not returned yet.

The two instructors and one professor gathered the students after finishing the assessment and announced the award results starting from fifth place.

“Second place, Asuka!”

Asuka was stunned to be selected as second. He had never doubted he would win.

Since there were no mighty predators like tigers or leopards caught by anyone in such a forest.

‘Who could possibly be the winner?’

As if answering his question, the announcement came.

“First place, Bruce!”

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