Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 262 (Part 2):

When Alea finished her story, silence fell among the four for a moment.

Charlotte silently stared at the floor, and Asuka scratched his head vigorously.

Sian was the first to open his mouth.

“No matter what you say, Alea, I…”

Sian’s face was full of distrust. He might be a bit weak, but he’s not the type to betray others or use them in that way.

Also, he couldn’t tolerate repaying kindness with treachery. Even with the excuse of ‘possessing the Seed of Darkness.’

When Alea told them all the facts, it wasn’t the hot-tempered Asuka who was most indignant, but Sian, who usually calmed down quickly even when he got upset.

“Nobles separate emotions and thoughts. I don’t think Helmut was deceived by false affection. He’s not that naive. But they must have had to abandon him regardless. Charlotte, you are also Renosa’s blood. How can we trust you?”

The Renosa bloodline is rumored to be cold and strictly separate public and private matters.

Charlotte didn’t refute those words verbally. Instead, she placed her hand on the stone pillar next to her.

“A swordsman proves their will by cutting off their finger.”

Charlotte immediately drew her sword. The white blade reflected an eerie light in the air.

The moment that sword was about to plunge towards her hand, Clang!

Charlotte looked up in surprise at the person who had blocked her sword.

“Charlotte, what kind of girl acts so recklessly? What, cut off your finger? Why aren’t you guys stopping her?”

Everyone looked at Asuka at once. Uncharacteristically quiet until now, Asuka had drawn his sword like lightning to stop Charlotte’s.

“We can reattach it if you cut it off. And living without one finger isn’t a big deal.”

“Uh…”

Alea answered coldly and simply, while Sian opened his mouth and stuttered. He seemed momentarily intimidated by Charlotte’s intensity.

But Charlotte, who was actually embraced by Asuka, spoke with a hardened face.

“Senior, please don’t say things like ‘girl’. I am a swordsman.”

“Right, a swordsman. But how can you think of shedding blood here, it’s unsightly.”

Charlotte flinched at the word ‘unsightly’. She bit her lip before speaking.

“If fingers are the problem, I’ll cut my hair.”

This time Charlotte grabbed her hair. Asuka quickly reached out and grasped her wrist holding the sword.

“Hey, if you cut your hair you’ll look even uglier! You already look ugly next to Alea.”

Charlotte raised her eyebrows and glared at Asuka, who was restraining her with a horrified expression.

“Senior, don’t stop me. This is the only way I can prove myself, isn’t it?”

Asuka turned his gaze and gave Sian a look. Only then did Sian wave his hands and blurt out.

“No, it’s okay! You don’t need to do that. I understand.”

Unlike the cool-headed Alea and Asuka who used to beat up other students, Sian was among the most timid.

His heart had been pounding since they started talking about cutting fingers and whatnot.

“But you won’t be convinced otherwise…”

Charlotte’s words conveyed a firm will to join the plan to rescue Helmut. That’s why she was acting as if she absolutely had to gain the trust of her comrades.

Sian finally sighed.

“I’m not sure. Alea, since you decided to bring Charlotte along, I’ll go with your judgment.”

Sian glossed over it, thinking that smart Alea must have figured it out.

“Right, Charlotte will be a useful force in the Forest of Roots. One swordsman is too few. It’s not like we have someone we can hire without the secret leaking out. And too many people would be hard to control. Plus, there’s a safety measure.”

Alea extended her hand and scanned Charlotte’s entire body with magic. She was thinking of removing any tails if she had come with any.

“Charlotte won’t be able to contact Renosa at all from now on. In other words, Renosa won’t know whether Charlotte lives or dies. That should be enough, right?”

Alea concluded chillingly. In other words, it meant they could use Charlotte like a disposable item and throw her away.

Even if they killed Charlotte as part of their revenge, it couldn’t be helped.

But Charlotte accepted even the threat that Alea subtly implied.

“I don’t mind.”

“By the way, the same goes for you all. I told you to leave messages for your families, right? I’ll do my best, but there’s no guarantee we’ll all come back alive.”

Alea issued a warning with a cold face. As if to say, turn back now if you’re afraid.

However, Asuka just grinned, and Sian merely shrugged his shoulders.

“Yeah, when else would I get to see the Forest of Roots? Sounds fun.”

“I’m prepared. I didn’t know I’d be risking my life for a friend, but it’s loyal and good, isn’t it?”

Both responses were close to ‘not thinking much’.

“If Senior Helmut hadn’t saved me four years ago, I know my life would have ended. So I don’t mind if it’s just postponed.”

Only Charlotte was serious.

“Good.”

Alea looked around at those who had agreed to join her.

They had all honed their skills waiting for this day, but none of them were as desperate as Alea herself.

Her heart was pounding. Longing pierced deep from within.

She had never shared such emotions with anyone since birth.

The bond formed then hadn’t faded even after four years.

‘Finally, at last.’

I’m coming to meet you.

Alea closed her eyes for a moment.

And soon she opened her eyes again and declared.

“Then, we move.”

At that moment, Sian raised his hand.

“But one question, how are we going to get to the Forest of Roots?”

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