Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 136 (Part 2):
Helmut dedicated his holiday to intense training. After the eventful picnic week ended, classes resumed.
Soon, Helmut realized he had become quite famous. He was known as the guy who fought a rank 1 mercenary assassin!
Academy students, juniors and seniors alike, whispered as they looked at him. The second-year Swordsmanship Department students gazed at him with admiration when he appeared in class.
Asuka, who had fought bloody battles, grumbled unhappily.
“No, I was the one who put the knife in him, and that guy just chased after the fleeing one.”
“He fled because he was scared of Helmut, that guy.”
“Then it’s all thanks to Helmut.”
Scaring the opponent into a panicked flight seemed cooler than a bloody fight. Asuka had to acknowledge this fact, even though his face soured.
Andro and James, who had experienced the same, were quieter. Perhaps realizing their own powerlessness, they holed up in the training room. Basil, Wesley, and Mitchell, who had left Group 9 earlier, wore awkward expressions.
“We didn’t know such a thing happened after we left.”
“You went through a lot.”
“You were unlucky.”
Helmut knew they were scions of powerful noble families. Fasho had said he excluded them for that reason.
If Asuka knew, he would make a twisted face, but fortunately, he didn’t know. Helmut blandly accepted their words.
“Yeah.”
“Well, it would have only been a distraction.”
Asuka also passed it off with a snort.
***
As Helmut and Asuka left the Swordsmanship Department building after class, they ran into a familiar face.
“Ah, senior.”
Charlotte bowed and spoke. It was rare for them to run into each other, but she had been engrossed in training since her one-sided defeat in a duel with Helmut. She seemed to have calmed her mind since then. She was alone, apparently waiting for them. Helmut asked,
“What’s the matter?”
‘Not Alea again, I hope.’
Charlotte liked Alea. Regardless of the truth, that’s what Helmut thought. Fortunately, her request wasn’t about Alea. She opened her mouth with a serious expression.
“I’ve heard the rumors. You were attacked by an assassin from a group called Black Hawk. Both of you went through a dangerous ordeal. I’m glad you’re safe.”
She was the only one who reacted normally. Upon seeing Charlotte, Asuka grimly opened his mouth.
“You.”
“Yes?”
His face twitched, as if struggling with something. Asuka finally chose his words.
“You helped a lot.”
“What?”
Charlotte widened her eyes in surprise.
“Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that I learned from you; I just applied it on my own.”
With that, Asuka turned and walked away first, leaving Charlotte looking at Helmut.
“Do you know what he means?”
“No.”
Asuka was always a bit strange. Charlotte didn’t dwell on it and got straight to the point.
“Senior, if it’s not rude, could we have a duel on the holiday?”
That seemed to be her purpose. After all, she was from the Swordsmanship Department. She wouldn’t have sought him out just to offer condolences for the assassin attack.
Helmut, feeling a bit annoyed, was about to reply ‘it’s rude,’ but he hesitated.
“…Alright. But there’s a condition.”
“What is it?”
“Answer my question.”
“If I can.”
“Fine.”
The deal was made. Helmut set up an appointment with her and turned to leave. It was a deferred matter. But before asking Black Hawk for information, he thought it better to confirm with her first.
He had achieved something and decided to advance things he had been hesitating about. He wanted to know first. The timing for action was still undecided.
***
“Howdy!”
A few days later, Dino, who had returned after three days of recuperation, waved at his classmates. He was naturally cheerful. Considering when he had gone berserk and his eyes rolled back in a frenzy a few days ago, he was in pretty good shape.
Helmut sensed that the remnants of magic had completely disappeared from his body. It was a relief.
‘Maybe sacred magic really is effective against dark magic.’
Dino’s treatment costs were covered by the Academy. They had paid a substantial amount to the temple to perfectly purify the magic. It was a cruel scheme, where you couldn’t get treated without money.
If Helmut hadn’t extracted the magic, Dino would have died before getting treated. But Helmut had no intention, nor could he claim to be Dino’s savior of life. However,
‘Maybe I should have asked then.’
The heart-eating worm that Fasho tried to feed him was also a unique method. Black Hawk used techniques Helmut hadn’t heard of. If there were more such techniques, knowing them would be helpful for defense.
Lost in thought, the lively conversation continued around him.
“Hey, Dino! Is it true you got captured by an assassin while peeing?”
“Were you caught with your pants down?”
“Pathetic piss boy. So shameful it’s beyond words.”
“Shut up! What was I supposed to do when I needed to go?”
Dino quickly became the butt of jokes. Thankfully, he seemed not to have taken too much psychological damage from the experience, given how brazenly he responded.
It was another peaceful day in the Swordsmanship Department.