Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 207 (Part 2):

“What? What do you mean? I’ve seen her… well, she does look like you.”

Thinking hard about Charlotte’s appearance, Alea had to admit it.

“Remember when I told you about the pendant? She knew my mother’s name. She didn’t answer definitively, though.”

“You felt like she was close to your mother?”

“Yes.”

“Then you should have told me that.”

Alea’s eyes widened in protest. Helmut shook his head.

“I wasn’t sure.”

There are facts you can’t carelessly speak about unless you’re certain. Anything concerning his mother was like that.

Alea lowered her voice and asked,

“Then you can find out where your mother is. Why haven’t you gone to see her?”

“…Not yet.”

It was a hesitation mixed with many things. Alea understood his answer.

Her expression softened compared to earlier, and she muttered,

“Still, I don’t like it. Others don’t know.”

“You mean I shouldn’t talk to her?”

Although Helmut generally didn’t care, he thought that was a bit much.

“A greeting is fine. Just don’t act in a way that causes misunderstandings. Got it?”

Alea warned with a sly look. Avoiding misunderstandings? That was difficult.

How could he avoid misunderstandings just by looking at someone?

But Helmut didn’t argue.

“Okay.”

Anyway, it wasn’t hard for Helmut.

Talking to Charlotte like this had been an exception. He usually didn’t talk to anyone.

“So, what did you talk about with her?”

“Charlotte told me my mother might be in the Principality of Renosa.”

He had been thinking of telling her this. Alea’s face showed surprise.

“That’s…”

“When the swordsmanship tournament starts, I will go to Renosa and meet my mother.”

A heavy feeling came over him. Like a rock weighing down on his shoulders.

He had been waiting for this his whole life. But as it approached, it wasn’t light or entirely welcome. It felt like being caught in the current of fate.

“Should I do some investigation?”

“No.”

It seemed better not to know in advance. Alea realized this and said,

“Then I won’t see you for a while.”

“Probably. I thought you were more interested in the dungeon than me.”

Alea made a guilty face at his comment.

“It’s not entirely like that.”

“You can focus on the dungeon. With peace of mind.”

Helmut didn’t know it, but he had some resentment about it.

“It’s not like that. I’m also considering your training ground. I’ll try to have it ready before the vacation.”

Alea scratched her cheek.

“You can contact me with the first bracelet I gave you. I’ll upgrade it before you leave.”

Alea returned to her usual self, as if she hadn’t been angry.

“During the vacation… I might go to Renosa too, if you’re staying there.”

She was calculating the time. One of Heike’s conditions was that Alea spend part of her vacation with him.

But now Alea had Lampione’s legacy. Even if her willful, self-centered mentor would consider that and might adjust the schedule.

Heike was aware of Alea and Helmut’s relationship. Spending part of the vacation with him would be acceptable.

“Well, it will be after the swordsmanship tournament.”

Alea put her hand on Helmut’s shoulder encouragingly.

“Do well in the qualifiers. It starts tomorrow, right?”

Helmut quietly placed his hand over hers. Hoping this strange feeling would subside.

*

The day of the qualifiers dawned. It was essentially a final exam, so even the talkative second-year swordsmanship students were quiet today.

Excuses like not feeling well wouldn’t work. Managing your condition was part of your skill.

First, the second-year students competed. The top-ranked ones would then face the top first and third-year students to select two final representatives from each year.

The qualifiers were like a preliminary for the tournament, so its format was similar. There was even a consolation match for the losers.

The round of qualifiers, which involved the top-ranked students, was held publicly in the academy’s affiliated arena, in front of spectators.

External spectators were allowed, so the audience was mainly citizens of Baden or those interested in seeing the swordsmanship department’s skills.

The announcement had been up for a while, and many were interested.

The tension on stage was incomparable to dueling in front of classmates or instructors.

Failing to show your skills under this pressure was also part of your ability.

The qualifiers were smooth sailing.

Helmut had fought stronger opponents on bigger stages. Winning back then hadn’t been hard, and it wouldn’t be hard against second-year academy students.

For Helmut, the word ‘condition’ was almost meaningless. He was used to fighting in peak conditions.

Unlike regular dueling, the qualifiers were closer to a real tournament. Real swords were used.

Helmut didn’t need to hold back and give opponents time to demonstrate their abilities like in duels.

“Helmut, victory!”

Hearing his own name declared in victory was exhilarating, even if this stage was insignificant compared to the martial arts tournament in Basor.

Helmut ended the match with a single strike. There was no need to swing twice.

Facing a real sword at their throat, his opponent froze, unable to block or dodge. It was an incredibly fast sword.

‘Too weak.’

Helmut thought calmly. His classmates should be somewhat on the same level.

But the gap grew daily. As if they were born different.

His classmates were herbivores, and he was a predator. Just as a rabbit couldn’t become stronger than a weak tiger, the gap between them was that significant.

‘Maybe someone like Asuka would be different.’

Helmut hoped. The result wouldn’t change, but at least it wouldn’t end in a single strike.

But he didn’t encounter Asuka until he reached the second round.

The draw separated the first and second rankers.

This wasn’t about choosing a winner, but filtering the top participants for the second round.

As expected, Asuka also advanced to the second round after Helmut.

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