Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 227 (Part 2):
Waaaah—!
Amidst the thunderous cheers, two selected participants stepped onto the stage.
One was a slender girl with black hair.
Her face bore some resemblance to the Grand Duke, but few in the arena had seen the Grand Duke of Renosa, so her identity wasn’t questioned.
‘There seem to be more people here than during my match.’
Helmut glanced around.
He had thought he could leisurely watch the tournament, but that seemed unlikely.
Unlike yesterday, the stands were quite full.
Many who failed to get tickets for the senior matches had obtained tickets for the junior matches, but today’s matchups were particularly interesting.
Charlotte. She was the only female among the selected participants.
Her presence had garnered much attention since before the tournament began.
Helmut wasn’t particularly interested in Charlotte’s match.
It would be preferable if she didn’t get eliminated, but even if she did, it wouldn’t matter much to him.
Helmut’s reason for being here wasn’t to scout his competitors.
It was a sudden impulse to watch a swordsmanship tournament from the audience’s perspective. He had always been a participant, never having sat in the stands.
He also wanted to see who watched these matches, especially the high-ranking individuals in the best seats.
Fortunately, most of the spectators didn’t recognize him, and those who did merely glanced his way without approaching, allowing him some peace.
Not having any special privileges as a selected participant, Helmut had to purchase a ticket at full price.
Nevertheless, he succeeded in securing a decent spot to watch the tournament.
‘I only need to watch Charlotte’s match.’
For a while, he wouldn’t have to think about how to get eliminated.
Helmut still hadn’t found an answer to that problem.
Though some might recognize Charlotte, many high-ranking nobles filled the best seats.
Helmut focused his gaze on the highest, shaded seats.
He sensed a concentration of skilled knights there.
Helmut narrowed his eyes.
‘Is there a high-ranking noble up there? I can’t see.’
Even with good eyesight, it’s hard to see from below unless the angle is right. Not unless the person reveals themselves.
They seemed to be hiding due to potential assassination attempts, making it hard to identify them.
‘No rush.’
He wasn’t expecting much anyway. Helmut decided to watch the match calmly.
Soon, the match began.
-Booooong!
Charlotte had certainly improved her skills. Helmut could feel it.
Though he usually paid no attention to others’ skills, Charlotte was different.
She was diligent, treated him as a senior, was presumed to be related by blood, and they had exchanged quite a few words. They were relatively close.
He had enough interest to compare her current achievements to the past. Helmut realized anew.
‘Even if we’re not related by blood, I might hesitate to kill her if she became an enemy.’
Charlotte was one of the few who gave him such a feeling.
Helmut watched Charlotte’s match closely.
This time, her opponent was challenging. Not a large, clumsy one, but a small, agile one.
The opponent was stronger than Charlotte. But Helmut didn’t feel like she would lose.
Though it wouldn’t be easy, she would win if she didn’t lose focus. But since they were using real swords, there was a risk of injury.
And then it happened.
Charlotte deliberately created an opening, and her opponent’s sword rushed in.
Blood trickled down Charlotte’s cheek. But in exchange for that small wound, she thrust her sword under her opponent’s neck.
“Charlotte, wins!”
The arena echoed with thunderous cheers. Charlotte calmly wiped the flowing blood.
The wound would heal without a trace after receiving healing magic.
In the midst of the deafening noise, Helmut sensed a commotion above and looked up.
And he saw her. A blonde woman leaning over the edge with a shocked expression.
Even from a distance, her figure stood out clearly against the railing.
‘That woman is….’
It was like a lightning bolt. His heart momentarily froze and then beat rapidly.
Something growled inside him, like a solid rock beginning to roll.
Helmut instantly recognized her. It was instinctual.
A distant memory etched in his mind surged up.
‘Helmut!’
The cry resonated vividly in his ears. Helmut stood up abruptly.
But his legs wouldn’t move. He just stood there.
Despite the shock, he knew he couldn’t go to her.
Helmut just stared at the blonde woman.
A complaint soon came from behind.
“Hey, what are you doing standing there? Sit down, I can’t see.”
“Who is that woman?”
Helmut asked.
The man who had spoken was about to get angry, but he calmed down upon receiving Helmut’s fierce gaze.
‘This kid, his eyes look like he just killed several people!’
“Which woman?”
“The one standing at the top, by the railing. Is she a noble?”
Squinting, the man looked in the direction Helmut indicated and spoke.
“If you mean that woman, she seems to be the Grand Duchess of Renosa. Probably. I heard the nobles gossiping about her being here. She must be startled by the girl bleeding. They say she’s a beauty, and indeed, she is!”
“The Grand Duchess…of Renosa?”
Helmut repeated the title the man spoke.
He had never felt his mind go blank like this. He couldn’t remember what to do.
Helmut recognized her. His mother. The reason he wanted to leave the Forest of Roots.
But then what?
The blonde woman soon turned back towards the shaded area, led by others.
Because Charlotte had left the stage to receive treatment.
As she kept looking back at the stage, her gaze suddenly shifted. As if sensing someone watching her.
She looked toward where Helmut was standing in the audience.
She seemed to freeze, having discovered something.
Clear blue eyes and dark eyes met in a straight line.
For a moment, it felt like their eyes met.