Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 142 (Part 1):

Helmut and Alea left the exam hall side by side. Outside, Asuka was sitting in the same spot as before, and Sian was there too, having arrived at some unknown time. There were also students gathered around, curious about what had happened, but they were few.

It was the examination period. The competition within the academy was fierce. There was no time to be spectating when exams were ongoing.

“What’s this? Did you blow up the building?”

Asuka squinted his eyes at Alea, who simply brushed past him without a response.

“Hey, are you ignoring me? Look at that?”

Asuka grimaced and stood up abruptly. If Alea had been a student from the swordsmanship department, Asuka would have grabbed and beaten her right away.

However, Alea was someone Asuka dared not offend – the top of the second-year students in the Magic Department. Sian quickly grabbed Asuka. It was his role to clean up the mess in situations like this.

“Asuka, let it go. It’s not the first or second day. Even I’ve been getting ignored most days lately too.”

Asuka lost his temper again today.

“Is that supposed to be normal for you? Idiot!”

“Only because I’m your friend, you’re not calling me a moron, right?”

“Ah, cut it out with that friend talk! It makes me want to strangle you, it’s so irritating!”

“It’s embarrassing. Why are there so many people around me who can’t be honest?”

Ignoring their bickering, Helmut approached Alea, who had stopped. Alea usually acted alone. She was waiting to say goodbye before leaving.

“See you at the dorm later. Good luck with the rest of your exams.”

“You too.”

Alea nodded towards Asuka.

“That noisy guy, make sure to step on him again.”

“…Sure.”

It seemed impossible for any warmth to grow between these two. Alea turned and left first.

Helmut watched her departing figure for a moment, then returned to his two friends. By then, they had shifted the conversation. Specifically, Asuka was pressing Sian about his test. Sian shrugged.

“I made it through to level 7.”

“Made it through?”

“Yeah, after level 7 test, from level 8 onwards… it seemed like I shouldn’t take the test.”

Asuka had a skeptical expression.

“Did you cheat using a spirit?”

“No! Who even knows who would make it to level 8 to cheat. Ah, maybe Helmut?”

“I made it to level 8 too!”

“What appeared in level 8?”

“…Don’t ask. I don’t want to remember.”

Helmut answered instead.

“A giant centipede.”

Sian grimaced. He then nodded.

“I’ve heard about the dean’s hobbies. Hmm, he likes some bizarre stuff. I heard that last year’s exam had some extremely disgusting monsters like worms or sea cucumbers. Seems like there were some changes this year.”

“Isn’t the dean a pervert? Would be better if he just died.”

“Hey, don’t say things that could get you in big trouble! You really talk recklessly. You could get taken away for that.”

Sian looked around warily and covered Asuka’s mouth.

The dean was a powerful mage who occasionally checked on the academy. It wouldn’t be strange for him to appear anytime, anywhere.

“But you did well not to bet. If Helmut had passed stage 10, it would have been over, right? You do have a good sense.”

“Shut up! If it weren’t for that weird test, I could have won.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

‘It looks like they plan to hang around here.’

Helmut had finally figured them out. They were the type to slack off at any opportunity. He shouldn’t get dragged along.

“I’m heading to the library.”

Given the level of the practical exam, the score gap must have widened, so the written exams weren’t a concern. However, he decided not to be complacent. After all, being first place comes with its responsibilities.

***

After the exams ended on Saturday, Helmut visited the Kudrow mansion at Ethan’s call. After all, hanging out in Baden’s downtown wasn’t permitted.

Asuka and Sian wanted to come along, but Ethan seemed to have something to say, so Helmut brushed them off. Ethan, the busiest as an instructor during this period, casually asked Helmut once he was seated.

“So, do you think you did well on the exams?”

Ethan knew the practical exam results, but the scores for the written exams, including liberal arts subjects, hadn’t been calculated yet. Helmut replied simply.

“Of course.”

It was certain he would secure the top spot in the swordsmanship department for his grade, by a large margin compared to the midterms.

“Good, I’m glad to hear you’re excelling. I’ve heard you’re getting along well with your friends. Darien would have been happy if he were alive.”

‘He doesn’t know. Darien wasn’t that kind of person.’

Darien would have taken it for granted. If he had missed the top spot, he would have been considered the biggest fool in the world. But Ethan considered Darien a benefactor, not someone he knew well.

“I guess so.”
Social skills have improved. There’s no need to shatter illusions about the dead. Helmut replied formally.

“What I wanted to talk to you about…”

Ethan Kudrow furrowed his brows as he was about to get to the point.

The term ends with the announcement of the grades. Ethan thought Helmut might suddenly disappear, whether taking on mercenary jobs or pursuing some goal.

And he might not return. To Ethan, Helmut was someone who could vanish at any moment. Free because he was strong, unbound by anything.

Ethan didn’t know Helmut came from the Forest of Roots and was searching for his parents. He only knew Helmut was an orphan and a disciple of Darien Deferth, raised outside. He sensed there might be a story tied to his birth, but Helmut kept silent, and Ethan didn’t pry.

Though only 15, Helmut was no less than an adult. He chose and led his own life by his will. Even as a guardian, Ethan Kudrow couldn’t interfere.

But today, he had to ask.

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