Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 154 (Part 1):

On the stage, two individuals stood in confrontation.

One was a blond young boy. Despite his youth, the restrained atmosphere that he commanded around him hinted at his achievements.

However, his look didn’t quite fit the setting of such a martial tournament, especially in Basor.

But his movements were chillingly fast. As soon as the match began, he launched his sword at his opponent without hesitation.

His opponent, having made it this far, barely managed to block the attack. Several exchanges happened in the blink of an eye.

Watching the exchange on the stage, Kevin spoke up.

“That boy, is he one of Sir Michael’s people?”

Michael did not deny it.

“And if he is?”

“I came to deliver a sword to a Palma Knight only today, as my work was delayed. I ended up near the stage and saw him by chance. His skills were indeed impressive. But what caught my eye wasn’t so much his skill.”

Kevin continued, noticing Michael’s curious tilt of his head.

“…His sword looked familiar.”

Kevin narrowed his eyes, observing the stage. From this distance, even a blacksmith’s eye couldn’t follow the movement of the sword.

“There are only 37 weapons officially endorsed with master Layton’s personal inscription. As you know, master considers any weapon without his inscription, even if it passed through his hands, a failure.”

“I’ve heard about Master Layton’s stubbornness.”

“Master doesn’t make swords for just anyone. Only those deemed worthy to wield his weapons receive one with his inscription. Some criticize him for being too proud for a blacksmith, but that’s a craftsman’s pride. Unlike me, who would make weapons for anyone with the money.”

Kevin chuckled, and Michael responded softly.

“I see. Layton’s reputation is indeed well-known.”

“Among the 37 endorsed weapons Master made, 3 are nearly identical swords. One day, inspired, Master locked himself in the forge and devoted days to crafting the first one. Unsatisfied with just one, he forged two more. I was there and saw it all. Being a blacksmith, I don’t easily forget about weapons. The freshly forged brilliance of those swords! I’ll never forget that shine for the rest of my life.”

“…”

“The moment I saw that boy’s sword, I doubted my eyes. It had the same shine as those from back then!”

Interest sparked on Michael’s face. He interjected.

“And?”

“There’s one strange thing, though. Of those 3 swords, only one went missing with its owner, and its whereabouts became unknown.”

Kevin’s expression turned serious in an instant.

“The Sword Saint Darien Deferth’s sword.”

Michael’s face twitched slightly, but he soon laughed lightly.

“Aren’t you mistaken? He’s not from Basor. It’s hard for him to have a connection with the Sword Saint. I’ve heard it’s trendy in the empire to precisely imitate Layton’s swords. So skillfully that even Layton himself would burst in anger.”

Layton’s endorsed weapons were among the finest swords. Even if there was a qualitative difference, mimicking the exterior was possible.

But Kevin’s discernment was exceptionally sharp. Without even verifying the inscription, he recognized the sword by its appearance and the light it carried.

Thus, Kevin was puzzled, clearly unconvinced.

“Could I possibly examine his sword? I’d like to verify it.”

“Of course. But not today. He’s quite sensitive, especially after a battle. Please visit the Golden Leaf Inn tomorrow.”

“Ah, I understand. Thank you for your time.”

Kevin bowed deeply and withdrew contentedly, his curiosity not urgent.

Once he was gone, Michael’s smile vanished, his expression turning icy as he spoke.

“Cinus.”

“Yes, Sir Michael.”

A man stepped forward to stand by his side. Robert tensed uncomfortably.

Cinus was a man with a cool, unsettling aura. He didn’t quite fit the image of a knight. More like someone who walked a darker path.

Michael smiled again, thinly.

“It looks like Cinus will have to take care of it.”

Meeting Michael’s gaze, Cinus faced an order from the seemingly innocent-faced Michael that sent chills down the spine.

“Kevin is a fine blacksmith, a pity really. But it can’t be helped. Silence him, and do it when you find a chance.”

“Yes.”

Cinus accepted the command without objection.

Blacksmiths are busy, and Kevin had no family. Known for his procrastination and missed deadlines, his sudden disappearance wouldn’t be surprising.

As soon as he left, Robert hurriedly spoke.

“Sir Michael, he makes swords for the Palma Knights. A well-known blacksmith in the kingdom of Basor. If there’s a problem…”

“With the tournament going on, no one has the time to worry about a wayward blacksmith’s whereabouts. Besides, let’s keep today’s conversation among ourselves.”

“Yes.”

As everyone complied, Michael’s gaze returned to the stage.

‘He has the Sword Saint’s sword.’

The thought was both intriguing and unsettling. Hyde used common swordsmanship. Could that have been an intention to hide his true skill? Michael’s eyes narrowed.

In the meantime, the match had ended.

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