Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 155 (Part 1):
Luke Yeager’s match had ended. As always, he had emerged victorious.
Helmut had no intention of waiting around to offer his greetings and leave.
On his way out of the waiting area, Helmut somehow received a bouquet of flowers from a lady who appeared to be of noble birth.
It seemed to be a continuation of the bouquets that had been thrown onto the stage earlier. Holding the bouquet, Helmut inspected it from various angles.
He was suspicious that it might be a plot to harm a semifinalist.
The unnamed lady who had handed him the bouquet spoke with a flushed face, “Mr. Hyde, if you have the time, I would like to treat you to a meal…….”
Right after her words, a storm of shouting burst out from afar.
“There he is! Kyaahhh!”
“Mr. Hyde!”
It was like they were hunting prey. The high-pitched cries, the throng of women in colorful clothes rushing towards him, felt oppressively overwhelming.
Helmut calmly pulled his hood over his head and, like lightning, kicked off the ground and ran.
“Mr. Hydddde!”
“Don’t gooooo!”
Ignoring the shouts calling for him, Helmut felt it was better to leave, or he wouldn’t end up in a good situation. It was strange for him to experience a situation that Alea often encountered.
When he arrived at the Golden Leaf Inn, the entrance was already crowded with strangers.
Fortunately, it was a high-end inn that did not indiscriminately allow people in. Despite having his hood on, people recognized him by his physique and attire and called out his name.
“Mr. Hyde? Is it really you?”
‘How annoying.’
Dodging hands reaching out for him, Helmut stepped into the inn.
Sounds of the inn staff arguing with the people chasing him could be heard from behind.
“Just let us speak to him for a moment!”
“How dare you! To treat nobility this way, you mere employee!”
“This Golden Leaf Inn is a prestigious inn recognized by the royal family. If you wish to meet someone, please seek permission or wait outside!”
“I am a guest, I tell you, a guest!”
“What guest, you’re obviously chasing after that person!”
The inn employee whom Helmut had slapped seemed to work even harder afterward.
This was enough to be worth the night’s stay of 2,000 Marks, which was paid for by Michael, so it was free for Helmut.
‘Quite the benefit.’
Pleased with the minor details, Helmut returned to the Emerald Room and cooled himself with cold water, washing away the heat.
Having advanced to the semifinals, he was now a legitimate candidate for victory. He had always been a candidate for victory, but now it was more evident.
‘2 million Marks.’
He wondered how it would feel to hold such a large sum of money. To claim the prize money, however, there was still one barrier left.
Defeating Luke Yeager using common swordsmanship. That restriction actually appealed to him. A victory earned despite constraints was all the more valuable.
Sitting on the sofa, lost in thought, Helmut sensed Michael returning.
“Ah, Hyde. You’re back early. Did you have any trouble on your way here?”
“I shook them off well.”
“I had a bit of trouble myself. Apparently, the rumor has spread that you’re my man. Well, it makes sense. We are staying at the same place.”
Despite claiming to have had trouble, Michael had a sunny expression.
“But when I pretended to faint on the street, they all let me go.”
“…….”
Helmut could imagine how skilled Michael was at pretending to faint, and was conflicted about whether to commend him for a moment.
Michael noticed the bouquet Helmut had brought.
“What’s with this bouquet? Don’t tell me, you brought it for me?”
“…No.”
Michael seemed somewhat disappointed, It was creepy.
‘Why does this guy want to receive a bouquet from me?’
Knights may present bouquets to ladies, but Helmut was neither a knight nor was Michael a lady.
“It must be nice to be so popular with the ladies. Considering the impact of the tournament, you could marry a princess within three months in Basor.”
“I’m not interested in marriage.”
Marrying so soon at the age of fifteen seemed too early. Michael just smiled.
“Anyway, well done today. Congratulations on making it to the semifinals. The victory is not far off now.”
“Ah.”
With the number of matches decreasing, Michael seemed in noticeably better spirits for not having to sit long in the heated tournament arena.
Now, there seemed to be no one left for him to recruit. From today on, aside from Helmut, only members of the Palma Knights remained.
It was now just for entertainment.
“But you know what? Something interesting happened today.”
Regardless of Helmut’s response, Michael was going to say what he wanted. Helmut just listened quietly.
As Michael took a seat across the sofa, his story continued.
“Today, a man named Kevin came looking for me in the stands. He’s interested in you. Precisely, in your sword.”
Helmut’s posture stiffened on the sofa. Michael looked at him with narrowed eyes.
“He’s a disciple of a famous craftsman. Have you ever heard the name Layton? I think you might know.”
Helmut’s hand reached out. A soft neck was caught in his firm grip. With a little more pressure, he could end the life in his grasp. Helmut asked coldly.
“What do you know?”