Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 24 (Part 1):

“No… I’m just out of breath.”

Finn’s expression became enigmatic. Indeed, the slope had been getting steeper.

It would probably flatten out again soon, but forest paths are naturally quite uneven.

‘We’ve only been walking for less than 30 minutes, and already?’

Finn was flabbergasted. Even though he was merely running errands in the mercenary corps, he was a rank 4 mercenary himself. Naturally, he was a sturdy boy with good stamina.

Being surrounded by individuals far stronger than himself, he had little concept of those who were not.

‘To think such a weakling exists in this world! Isn’t this just like a noble young master?’

It was more of pity than contempt. Finn had completely forgotten the fact that Helmut carried a sword and had been in such bad shape that he had lost consciousness until recently.

With a look of pity that was almost humiliating, Finn offered,

“Why don’t you ride in the carriage? You’ll fall behind otherwise.”

Even as it pulled the luggage cart, the draft horse moved briskly ahead.

Helmut, now seemingly the weakest of the weak, felt oddly irritated but replied calmly,

“I will not fall behind.”

“Hey, do whatever you want!”

Helmut was indeed troubled by the current situation. He had seen weak beings in the surrounding where monsters were lurking, but he had never been so easily tired because he was born with the seed of darkness. The term ‘weakling’ had been foreign to him since childhood.

‘Why is this so hard?’

When he regained consciousness for the first time, even taking a few steps was difficult. Hadn’t there been pain just last night? Perhaps it was too ambitious to walk at the same pace as the mercenaries in just one day.

However, Helmut’s body had undergone rigorous training without fail for four years.

Fortunately, his condition improved noticeably with each day of their three-day journey.

‘I’ll be able to resume training soon.’

The minor cuts inside the bandaged body had almost healed, leaving only scars behind.

Though his strength had not fully returned, he was now capable of walking and lightly running without much trouble.

Finn, who had been by his side throughout these three days, had grown more favorable towards Helmut.

‘Weak, but persevering.’

Mercenaries value those with a strong will.

*

“Hmm, doesn’t seem to be anything particularly wrong. He’s naturally strong. Such a body heals well.”

This was when Tanya had accompanied him to visit the village doctor. After carelessly poking and prodding at Helmut’s upper body, the doctor declared.

“Did you examine him properly?”

“Hey, woman! What do you take me for! I’ll prepare some medicine, so just take care of it yourself.”

“No, this boy was unconscious until recently, you quack!”

“Who’s a quack! He woke up because he was supposed to. Was he supposed to die instead? He’s perfectly fine now! Rarely seen such a good recovery. These types rarely die! So take this and be off!”

It seemed the doctor wasn’t a quack, after all.

“This fellow, you say he’s suffering from memory loss, and you speak so lightly of it.”

“Memory will return eventually! What can I do about that?”

The doctor, annoyed, carelessly mixed some herbs to make a pill.

Tanya received the pouch of pills with a clearly displeased expression.

After she paid, the doctor bluntly instructed Helmut,

“Take the medicine three times a day.”

“Are you really okay? Finn said you were trembling from the difficulty of walking.”

Helmut frowned. He was aware that Finn saw him as weak.

He had endured it so far thanks to Finn’s kindness, but it was starting to irk him. He felt a need to set things straight.

“It’s not that bad. I was just weak because I had been lying down too much. I’m okay now.”

“Really? Well, I’ve seen your grip. And your body… it’s well-trained. You know how to use a sword, right? You must have trained under a master. Properly.”

Tanya had hit the nail on the head. Muscles may shrink, but the calluses formed from gripping a sword for a long time don’t disappear easily. They were the evidence of Helmut’s extensive swordplay.

Helmut nodded.

“…Yes. It feels familiar in my hand. I must have swung it a lot.”

It was Darien’s sword, and Helmut hadn’t wielded it for long enough for it to feel familiar, but that detail wasn’t important.

“Then, how about dueling with me?”

“Dueling…?”

“Don’t feel pressured. Just think of it as loosening up. I’ve been swinging my sword at the air recently, bored out of my mind.”

The mercenary band was staying at an inn with a spacious courtyard. They would meet up with their client tonight or tomorrow morning.

Until then, the Pace Mercenaries planned to rest and recover from their travels.

“Okay.”

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