Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 13 (Part 2):

Since being betrayed and falling into the Forest of Roots, Darien was destined to end his life here.

He knew there was a way out, but he had given up long ago because reclaiming everything would mean spending his remaining life fighting in the mire.

Knowing the bloody path he would have to walk allowed him to give up.

‘The regret was that I couldn’t leave my swordsmanship to this world.’

It’s human nature to want to leave a mark. By isolating himself and not taking any disciples, Darien couldn’t see the signs of betrayal. Regret always comes too late.

But Darien was given an opportunity. Helmut, who came to him on his own, was his only chance. Darien was thrilled by Helmut’s arrival, but the child bore the seed of darkness.

‘But what’s there to hesitate about?’

Darien had nothing to lose.

‘All I can hope is that he continues to control himself as he has until now.’

Time was running out. Humans age and die. Even with a strong body and plenty of Vis, the dense magical energy of Roots erodes life. Darien was no exception.

‘I thought I had more time, but it seems it’s nearly time.’

Darien hastened. He pushed Helmut harder, imparting all his knowledge and experience. The results were successful.

Not only had Helmut nearly mastered Darien’s swordsmanship, but he had also become quite human compared to when they first met. A child who grew up in the wild from birth could now mimic being human.

Having taught him common sense about the human world, he would manage to adapt outside as well.

The problem was leaving the Forest of Roots, but with the help of the leopard Elaga…

The rest would be left to fate.

Darien felt a sense of regret. He thought to himself,

‘If only you had been born ordinary.’

He was a persistent and hardworking child. Born of good status and talented. Even without the seed of darkness, if properly educated, he could have become a great swordsman shaking the continent.

The seed of darkness deprived Helmut of all that. The child raised in the embrace of monsters would face a harsh fate.

‘He’ll endure. Having survived in the embrace of a monster must be his luck.’

But there was a concern.

‘This child hasn’t mingled with humans.’

Since being thrown into the Forest of Roots, Darien was the only human Helmut had encountered. Over four years, Darien and Helmut had grown quite close.

But Darien deliberately kept his distance, not wanting to get too attached.

‘Would it have been better not to?’

He wasn’t of a savage nature. But like a beast, a person can harm another without malice or anger, simply because it’s necessary.

Even if he remembered Darien’s teachings at first, how he would change was uncertain.

Lacking money, he might kill and steal; driven by lust, he might violate women; hungry, he might eat anyone nearby without having to worry about hunting down prey. Without any remorse.

Not knowing the warmth or relationships between humans, how could he understand the value of life or morality, having only learned them in theory?

He seemed to get along quite well with the monster Elaga, but that was part of the problem. Monsters and humans are different.

‘There’s one more thing I can give him.’

Darien made one last plan, to help Helmut adapt to the human world.

A few weeks later, Darien said to Helmut,

“It’s time.”

“Time for what?”

“Time to leave this Forest. Boy, did you think you’d stay here forever?”

“So suddenly?”

Helmut immediately took a defensive stance, expecting Darien to strike him as was often the case. But Darien, with a look of disappointment,

“The words are short.”

said simply, without throwing a punch. It was uncharacteristic.

Helmut tilted his head. Darien spoke in a heavy voice,

“If your seed of darkness grows any more, you’ll never be able to pass through the sacred barrier. Now is the right time.”

“I don’t feel much stronger. Is it really possible for me to leave the forest?”

A natural question. It had only been a few weeks since Helmut had successfully landed a hit on Darien.

Not long ago, he had charged at Elaga with a wooden sword for a spar and was soundly defeated.

Darien nodded,

“There’s no perfect time. But there is a possible time.”

“What will you do?”

“You think after receiving free teachings from me for four years, you’d also have me help you leave?”

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

Helmut felt slightly wronged. His arrival had likely made Darien’s life easier, not harder.

‘I did all the menial tasks.’

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