Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 137 (Part 2):

“Hey, Helmut. How’s your exam prep going?”

Around midnight, Helmut returned to the dormitory. Sian waved at him. He was always hanging out with Asuka. Whether they were studying or going out for late-night snacks, Helmut thought he knew the answer. Sian’s cheeks had become chubbier since the exams started.

“This year, the swordsmanship department’s second-year practical seems interesting. I saw the magic department professors talking with the instructors. It’s going to be a combat-type exam.”

Asuka snorted.

“That’s good. Those who can’t do anything in real combat will see their grades plummet.”

After facing a first-class mercenary assassin, Asuka felt confident in his combat instincts. Even if Fasho had taken it easy, not many academy seniors could withstand a blow from him. Luck played a part, but for Asuka, luck was also a skill at such times.

“I’m definitely a genius.”

Suddenly, Asuka muttered. He stared at Helmut.

‘Just because this guy is more of a genius doesn’t make me any less of one.’

Genius is not a unique word. The few who stand out from the many are called prodigies, and only a very few among those prodigies are termed geniuses.

Asuka had the right to be called a genius. Losing in duels and being overshadowed by Helmut had stressed him out. The frustration of losing something he possessed was distinct, but that didn’t mean he harbored ill feelings towards Helmut.

Still, he was Asuka. Other students of their year couldn’t come close to him. The experience of effectively handling real combat against strong opponents was rare. Yet, in front of Helmut, even Asuka felt ordinary. Annoyed, he asked.

“Are you confident in the written exams now?”

Asuka seemed irritated by Helmut.

“Somewhat.”

“Do you know? If I score full marks on the written exam, I might surpass your grade.”

That… was not entirely impossible. The practical exam scores between Helmut and Asuka were likely close.

“Wait and see, I’ll win this time.”

Helmut observed Asuka’s competitive spirit. It was better to have such motivation than to resign oneself to being second best. But Asuka’s ambition also sparked a sense of crisis in Helmut, who responded slightly aggressively.

“Suit yourself. In the end, I’ll be the winner.”

“Oh? Look at you, getting arrogant. Are you becoming like Alea?”

Mentioning Alea seemed to be taken as an insult by anyone. Sian interjected.

“Want to make a bet? The loser has to write their name with their butt in the sports field.”

He quickly added.

“You can keep your underwear on.”

He already anticipated Asuka’s loss. And there was resentment. Remembering being forced to run around the field because of Asuka still irritated him. Asuka snorted.

“That would lead to suspension, you know? I can’t let my friend get suspended.”

Despite his confident talk, he wouldn’t accept such a bet. Asuka was not as gambler at heart.

“Coward! You’re just scared you’ll lose, aren’t you? Just bluffing now?”

As Sian teased, Asuka’s eyes grew fierce.

“Will you shut it? You think I’ll fall for such provocation?”

“Just big talk.. Ahhhh!”

Asuka choked Sian by the neck with his arm, and Sian flailed. A light spirit attached to Sian’s shoulder warned Asuka not to mess with his mage, pretending to pull Asuka’s hair. Even during exam period, their energy and compatibility were evident.

“…I’ll leave now.”

Helmut quietly withdrew. While Asuka was occupied, he planned to focus on maintaining his top rank. Helmut returned to his room. Alea wasn’t there.

Lately, Helmut had been falling asleep around midnight. After studying in the library and reviewing a bit more at home, he would wake up early for training and then attend classes. That had become his routine.

Alea would come in later and sleep in late. After a shower, Helmut noticed a notebook placed on his desk.

‘What’s this?’

Upon opening it, he found ‘Predicted Essay Questions for the Understanding of Magic’ exam listed on the first page. There were five. Flipping through, he saw Helmut’s answers scribbled in a rushed handwriting, but at a glance, they were impressively well-crafted. The logic, vocabulary level, extensive knowledge, and his perspectives were perfectly integrated.

Had Alea remembered what he mentioned in passing about the exam scope? The tutoring had officially ended, so this was some sort of after-service, it seemed.

“…How thoughtful.”

Since Helmut had survived an assassin attack, Alea had been treating him well. Was it out of pity? Helmut was puzzled. Ever since that day, he hadn’t taken off the bracelet Alea gave him, following Alea’s earnest advice.

“I’m not dying yet.”

It wasn’t that dangerous. Yet, the feeling of someone caring for him wasn’t bad. Surely, Alea wouldn’t expect anything in return for such a gesture.

‘Is it normal to pay this much attention to a roommate?’

It didn’t seem so, but even if it was a bit much, it didn’t matter. Helmut knew Alea had a unique personality.

‘This will definitely help a lot.’

As Helmut transferred Alea’s predicted questions to paper and worked on them, he became sleepy. He left the completed answers on his desk and went to bed. Since Alea came back late, it seemed unlikely they would meet that night.

‘If we do meet, I should thank him.’

Helmut closed his eyes. Even if Alea came and went, he wouldn’t wake up. Living with Alea had dulled his sharp sense of alertness.

However, his sleep was short. Helmut slept no more than four to five hours a day, rarely exceeding seven, especially during exam periods. But in that brief time, Helmut was completely engulfed in deep sleep.

In the early morning, after waking up, he washed his face and headed to his desk. He wanted to check the answers he had written before training. Yet, what Helmut found on his desk was an answer sheet marked up extensively in red.

‘Alea saw it.’

Helmut awkwardly reviewed the corrected sheet. It seems his answers were still inadequate for Alea. The corrections, seemingly done in frustration, had a lecturing tone.

‘It’s like having a dialogue.’

Alea was asleep. It was dawn, so it was natural for her to be asleep if she had come in late. Helmut revised his answers based on Alea’s corrections before heading out for training. The dislike of staring at text first thing in the morning showed he truly belonged to the swordsmanship department.

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