Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 173 (Part 1):

“Hello.”

Helmut and Alea greeted calmly. Instructor Patricia raised both hands, as if pondering what to think.

“Oh, don’t get me wrong! We’re definitely not like that…….”

“I’m not misunderstanding.”

Helmut cut her off succinctly. It’s enough to judge by appearances. And he was not interested in anything beyond that.

Alea glanced at the two and added,

“I’ll turn a blind eye.”

With a subtly more nuanced tone.

Regaining his composure, instructor Alan frowned and retorted,

“What do you mean by turning a blind eye? This is just… No, we’re not in that kind of secretive relationship.”

Alea sharply pinched in,

“Are you saying you’re not cheating on your fiancée?”

Alan was terrified.

“Cheating! It’s been years since the engagement was called off. And let me be clear, that’s not why it ended.”

He added, just in case there was a misunderstanding. It didn’t seem like he was lying.

“But why are you surprised?”

“Well, that’s…”

Alan and Patricia looked at each other. Patricia added as if making excuses,

“We just thought it was too early to be known by the students of the swordsmanship department… We haven’t been seeing each other for long.”

Surprised to be caught by a student all of a sudden. Somehow, it seemed odd and vulnerable to be stuck together in such a place.

Even if the restaurant is considered upscale and quiet. It’s not strange for two instructors to be together. The problem was they were acting like a couple.

Alea smiled lightly.

“Then you wouldn’t mind if rumors spread.”

Instructor Alan said seriously,

“…I’ll pay for the meal.”

They soon left the restaurant. It was an unexpectedly lucky day to get a free meal. Helmut glanced at Alea.

“Why are they acting like that?”

Helmut was just curious why Alan was so keen on silencing them.

Alea explained lightly,

“It seems true that the engagement was called off. But since it’s not known, it must have been broken against the family’s will. Moreover, the Baden noble family is conservative. It’s not without problems for him to be seen with an outsider like instructor Patricia.”

“Would it be troublesome if rumors spread?”

“Yes.”

“Here, I was supposed to pay.”

“Let’s do that next time.”

Apparently, they won’t let it go with just this. Naturally, it led to a ‘next time’. Avoiding Alea seems impossible after all.

‘Is this okay?’

Helmut decided not to worry. They enjoyed the free meal.

Meanwhile, Helmut felt something odd.

Even if this restaurant tends to be quiet, Alea was here. Stores that Alea visits, even if initially empty, would suddenly become busy. It’s said to become bustling.

But today, strangely, that wasn’t the case. Even while walking together on the street, they didn’t encounter those who would normally be bothersome. It seemed like they weren’t attracting much attention either.

“That’s strange.”

“What is?”

“Why isn’t everyone looking at you?”

Alea smiled lightly. His smile had been mysteriously frequent these days.

“I wonder why.”

Helmut soon found the answer.

“Magic… it’s being blocked.”

Alea’s magic, like pheromones, naturally attracts people, especially women, like bees to honey. The charm of magic, even without using spells, naturally emanated from her body like a fragrance.

But that fragrance itself felt significantly weaker.

“Yeah, I haven’t just been playing during the vacation.”

Though not in a position to talk, considering Alea was the top student of the magic department, Helmut wondered why she was working so hard. Alea’s study had a desperate quality to it.

Perhaps that was the reason, Helmut finally realized.

Alea’s expression was more relaxed. Her attitude became more laid-back.

She no longer walks around secretly with her hood up. She moved from the shadows to the sunshine.

“I can’t believe it’s this difficult to be normal.”

Alea said with a sigh.

Helmut looked at Alea’s sparkling appearance and thought her words were wrong.

Alea could never be ordinary. Even if she could perfectly block her magic.

*

After the meal, they browsed the shopping district. They bought textbooks and items, then went to another store for tea. It was a dessert shop known for its delicious shaved ice.

True to Alea’s choice, it was pricey. Although not crowded, quite a few people were inside.

“Have you ever tried shaved ice?”

“No.”

“It will be delicious.”

What Alea ordered was a slightly bitter coffee shaved ice, and Helmut chose a plain milk shaved ice.

After ordering, they casually looked out the window, and it seemed like footsteps were approaching them.

“Excuse me, can we sit here too?”

Someone asked and quickly took the seat next to Helmut. Another person squeezed next to Alea.

Alea’s expression turned cold, a chill similar to anger.

“There are seats over there.”

Helmut pointed out first. He immediately recognized the person. There was no one else who bothered him like she did.

The red-brown-haired senior from the magic department, Teresa. And the one who sat next to Alea was her friend, someone unknown.

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