Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 239 (Part 1):

It seemed he had been waiting. Charlotte silently turned to look at Michael, who was staring at her with his arms crossed.

His face wore a smile different from usual. A cold smile closer to his true nature.

“Charlotte.”

His tone was coaxing. Soft yet subtly coercive.

“You’re close to him.”

Charlotte frowned. Helmut was an outstanding swordsman.

It would be more strange if Michael, who loves talented individuals, didn’t covet him.

However, Michael’s words seemed to imply something beyond that.

‘Michael must also be suspecting that Senior Helmut might be of our family’s bloodline.’

If Helmut were the Grand Duke’s illegitimate child, he could potentially threaten even Michael’s position.

Michael would never tolerate such a situation.

But Charlotte didn’t clumsily defend Helmut. She had no intention of telling Michael what she knew.

“We became close while coming to Rinosa, but I’m not that close to Senior. As you know, we can’t reveal our identities at the Academy.

Senior only recently found out that I’m from Rinosa. I don’t know what you’re curious about, but I don’t know much about Senior Helmut. I probably don’t know more than you do.”

Charlotte guessed that Michael must have done some background research. There probably wasn’t much information available about Helmut.

Michael didn’t take his eyes off Charlotte for even a moment. His gaze was observant.

“You’ve known him since the first semester. Do you know what your Senior Helmut did during the vacation? Where he went, for instance?”

“No, we never talked about such things. I told you. I’m not that close to Senior Helmut.”

Charlotte firmly denied it. Her words were true. But Michael didn’t stop.

“Then when you saw him after the vacation, was there anything different about him?”

“Well, something different…”

Charlotte, about to answer without much thought, suddenly flinched.

Helmut had changed after the vacation. It was such a noticeable change that many people talked about it.

Charlotte wasn’t sure if she should mention it. There was something that felt off.

‘During the vacation, Senior Helmut’s skin had tanned, which became a topic of conversation. There were rumors that he might have gone to train in a hot region.’

Helmut is a famous figure in the Swordsmanship Department. Even trivial rumors about him reached Charlotte’s ears. Her thoughts naturally connected.

‘A hot region, Michael went to Basore. Then perhaps…’

Could they have met? Charlotte didn’t voice this suspicion.

But Michael sensed a slight agitation from her expression. He spoke in his characteristic gentle tone.

“Charlotte, answer me.”

Charlotte, lowering her gaze, blurted out.

“…I don’t remember anything.”

“You, you’re hiding something from me.”

Michael smiled. It was a smile that felt chilling. As if directed at his enemy.

To Michael, Charlotte was a being that easily crossed the line between family and enemy.

Especially when Charlotte tried to hide something from him, he became more hostile.

“If you can’t say it, I’ll tell you what I know. During the vacation when you came to Rinosa, I went to watch the martial arts tournament in Basore. And there, I met someone with extraordinary skills.”

Charlotte’s gaze returned to Michael.

One way to draw words out of someone is to speak your own. By doing so, he could elicit a reaction from the other person. That reaction sometimes becomes the answer.

Michael continued speaking smoothly with a bitten smile.

“His name was Hyde, age sixteen. That’s what he claimed. I didn’t think it was the truth. I wanted him. I wanted him so badly.

To the extent that I’ve never wanted someone so much in my life. Because he was truly strong. I knew it.”

“So what are you saying about this Hyde person?”

Charlotte asked, feeling a vague sense of unease.

“His skills were truly remarkable. Enough to defeat countless strong opponents and Palma Knights to reach the finals.
Although the final match couldn’t be held due to some incident, I consider him the winner. The Basore martial arts tournament is incomparable to this mere Academy swordsmanship tournament. The skill level of the participants is incomparably different.

If Hyde were an Academy student and had participated in this swordsmanship tournament, he would undoubtedly have won.”

Michael smiled and said clearly.

“I think Helmut is that Hyde guy. Even though his appearance, swordsmanship, and the sword he holds don’t match.”

Charlotte’s eyes widened.

“As you know, my eyesight is quite good.”

“Isn’t that just groundless suspicion? No matter how skilled Senior Helmut is, it’s hard to believe that a mere Academy student won the Basore martial arts tournament.”

“You’ve seen it too. Your senior’s skills.”

Charlotte couldn’t deny that. Inwardly, she thought that if it were Senior Helmut, it might be possible.

In Charlotte’s eyes, Helmut had no reason to attend the academy. Even the instructors didn’t try to teach him anything.

But then why was Helmut at Greta Academy? It was a puzzling question.

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