Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 208 (Part 1):

“Have all the kids been slacking off? Why are their skills like this?”

Asuka boasted confidently. He, too, finished most of his matches within a minute.

Asuka felt that the gap between himself and the other students had widened even more than before.

Since meeting Helmut, Asuka had been relentlessly training. His rate of improvement was astonishing.

When talent is combined with hard work, it’s like adding wings.

Asuka, too, was slowly outgrowing the academy level. If not for Helmut, he would have easily monopolized all the attention.

‘The representatives will be either me or Asuka.’

Helmut judged that to be a certainty, no matter how much effort others put in.

Although two representatives were to be selected across the first, second, and third years, both of them would come from the second year. Helmut and Asuka.

Asuka grinned and said,

“The kids from the Principality of Renosa must be disappointed. It’s a chance to compete in their home country. Just bad luck.”

At that moment, a figure flashed in Helmut’s mind. Charlotte.

“They say they’ll pick an additional reserve. If she makes it, who knows.”

“Yeah.”

Helmut replied briefly. If she performed well, she might make it as a reserve.

In Renosa, he would also find out the truth about his relationship with Charlotte.

At the venue of the second qualifier round, Helmut and Asuka encountered Charlotte.

Her face hardened as soon as she saw them. It seemed she had heard about the ‘rumors’ as well.

Charlotte, who mingled freely with her peers, would have been more plagued by rumors than Helmut. Everyone must have asked her about it at least once.

But since they had met face-to-face, they couldn’t pretend not to know each other.

She greeted them politely.

“Hello.”

“What? You too? Are there so few people in the first year?”

Asuka acknowledged Charlotte’s skills to some extent. But even as he recognized her, he spoke with a smirk.

Charlotte replied confidently,

“I’m the top student in the first-year swordsmanship department.”

“As if the spot will go down to the first years. Isn’t it a waste of time?”

While the surrounding first-year students flared up, Charlotte remained unperturbed. She wanted to go to Renosa more than anyone.

“You never know until you try.”

“Sure, sure. Well, good luck!”

“Yes, senior.”

Despite Asuka’s sarcastic tone, Charlotte showed no reaction.

Watching them, Helmut realized for the first time that Asuka had initiated a conversation with Charlotte.

Even if it was in a provoking manner, it was a surprisingly mild exchange for Asuka.

Asuka himself didn’t realize this, but Sian’s talk of a love triangle wasn’t entirely baseless.

Asuka, interpreting Helmut’s gaze, pointed a finger at him.

“Don’t be so confident. You never know the outcome.”

“Sure.”

Helmut responded indifferently. Unless he went into hibernation for about ten years, the gap between Asuka and Helmut was that significant.

Soon, Instructor Patricia appeared and announced to them,

“Everyone, compete fairly. Those selected will represent Greta Academy, so keep that in mind.”

Her glance at Asuka seemed to be a preemptive warning.

Instructors were objective. They already knew who would be the representatives.

Asuka snorted arrogantly, not understanding why he always got reprimanded.

Sighing inwardly, Instructor Patricia declared,

“Now, let the second qualifier round begin!”

The second qualifier round would span two days, including a loser’s bracket, to ultimately select two representatives.

Since the goal was the qualifiers, there were no additional awards even for high rankings or being chosen as a representative.

“Helmut! Step onto the stage.”

After a brief wait in the waiting room, it was Helmut’s turn. He glanced around as he stepped onto the stage.

The academy’s affiliated arena was more than half full. The atmosphere was charged with excitement.

Some students’ families from nearby Baden seemed to have come to cheer.

For a moment, he thought of Basor. Though there were no blazing sun or excited crowds here, and no opponents to match his skills, it was still a competition.

‘I guess I did enjoy the martial arts tournaments.’

When he thought of martial arts tournaments, he thought of him. The one who always cheered for him in the arena.

Helmut looked around for Michael. The boy with the bright blonde hair that stood out even at a glance.

But he couldn’t find him.

Otaku_Tensei

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