Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 25 (Part 1):

Other mercenaries also began to stand up one by one, approaching to share their impressions of the duel they had watched.

“This guy, he has a competitive spirit and his movements are decent. With a bit of refinement, he could be quite useful.”

“Isn’t his judgment quite good? The way he dove in earlier. If only his leg strength had been a bit better, it would have been effective.”

“Hmm, right. He didn’t flinch like Finn, responding properly instead.”

Finn, who had come late and was just watching, suddenly got angry.

“Hey, why are you comparing me again!”

“You cowardly kid, you’re too scared to even go fetch water by yourself, always calling him to go with you!”

“We can go together! He can help out that much at least!”

“Anyway, since he’s the same Rank 4 as you, don’t act all high and mighty and get along. You don’t have any other peers, do you?”

“What do you mean I’m acting high and mighty? I’ve been so accommodating and caring because he’s a patient!”

“Yeah, yeah, just do that. It’s good for you to have a friend, isn’t it?”

“Friend, what friend.”

Finn grumbled while sneaking glances at Helmut. However, he seemed somewhat excited.

Finn already considered himself to have become quite close with Helmut.

Helmut cocked his head, thinking the conversation took a strange turn, when a man with bright brown eyes patted his shoulder and said.

“Anyway, you passed.”

“Passed?”

Was this some kind of test? He hadn’t heard anything about that.

Tanya grinned, showing her teeth, and raised her thumb.

“Well done!”

“Yeah, you’ve passed the entrance examination. You are now a member of the Pace Mercenary Corps. We didn’t tell you about the test because, if you had failed, we were just going to leave you in this village. We have missions to carry out, and it’s difficult to do so with someone who’s not a member of the group. And we can’t just let anyone join the mercenaries.”

‘I could have been left behind.’

He wasn’t particularly upset about it. He had looked around the village to understand how humans lived and survived.

He thought this would be a farewell, but the sudden acceptance was somewhat awkward.

“Everyone was watching you from a distance. But, well, you didn’t seem like a troublemaker, and it’s common for young ones to often crawl to Tanya, but you didn’t. So, everyone agreed when Tanya suggested an entrance test.”

He had wondered if human men naturally distanced themselves from strangers because they only whispered among themselves and didn’t talk to him.

It turns out they were just observing from a distance.

“My name is Phien. I’m one of only two Rank 2, Gold medal mercenaries in the Pace Mercenary Corps, and I’m the overall in-charge of this mission.”

Rank 2 Gold medal mercenary and the mission’s leader?

Helmut looked at him skeptically. He thought Phien was a subordinate since Tanya was so casual with him. Phien smiled and added,

“Tanya is my younger sister.”

If both siblings were skilled mercenaries, it meant their family had a talent for swordsmanship.

“Now, everyone, introduce yourselves!”

“My name is Bern. Rank 3 Silver medal mercenary!”

“I’m Uter. I’m also Rank 3.”

“Maros. Rank 3 Silver medal.”

“Do we need to mention Rank 3 Silver medal? Except for Finn, we’re all Rank 3. I’m Sean.”

“Ah, always picking on me. Fine, I’m Rank 4 Bronze medal. Finn.”

With Finn’s introduction, everyone finished introducing themselves. Phien began to explain as he pushed Helmut’s back to lead him somewhere.

“To officially register as a Rank 4 mercenary, you have to visit the Mercenary Guild. Since our mercenary corps recognizes you, it should be valid, so we’ll write you a mercenary certificate.”

The certificate he handed out was densely written with Helmut’s physical characteristics. The Pace Mercenary Corps vouched for his skills.

“Mercenaries often hide their pasts, so there’s no need to write about your identity. Unless you’re a major criminal with a bounty on your head. Even if you were of noble birth, there’s no special treatment. It’s rude among mercenaries to pry into each other’s past.”

He had easily accepted when Helmut claimed to have amnesia, likely influenced by such an atmosphere.

No one had pressured Helmut to recall his memories quickly, though they were concerned about his physical recovery.

“A mercenary job is a profession that lives on power and experience. The former is more important, but the latter cannot be ignored either. But what’s clear is that skilled mercenaries are wanted everywhere.”

Helmut remained silent. He belatedly realized that becoming a new member of the Pace Mercenary Corps had become a foregone conclusion.

Even the amiable mercenaries didn’t seem to consider asking for his opinion.

Staying with them for a while wouldn’t be bad, but he had planned his next destination.

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