Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 267 (Part 2):

‘So this is how it feels to have humans groom your feathers? Elaga has been enjoying such a good thing all by itself!’

It felt like experiencing a new world. Actually, Igrelle had known for a while that Helmut had returned to the Forest of Roots.

He couldn’t have missed it, with all the noise Helmut made smashing up the Forest of Roots right after his return.

Fortunately for Helmut, he quickly approached the central region and caught Elaga’s attention not long after going berserk.

If the ruler of another region had stepped in, they wouldn’t have spared Helmut, who was rampaging under the influence of the Seed of Darkness. Igrelle could also guess why Helmut had returned.

‘For a guy who left with such desperate eyes to come back, well, he must have been backstabbed by humans.’

Even the demonic beasts of the Forest of Roots, who rarely interacted with humans, knew enough about human nature to predict this.

It wasn’t particularly a lowly view of humans. Relationships among demonic beasts were just more primitive. Eating each other, using each other, that kind of bond-less relationship.

Of course, Igrelle didn’t feel any sympathy for Elaga that Elaga didn’t have.

‘Tsk, so weak. He should have been more cautious out there.’

Regardless of what happened to Helmut, Igrelle was slightly envious of Elaga in a corner of its heart.

He had heard that Elaga, as if it’d hit some kind of jackpot, had not only grown stronger by eating the core of Naho, but had also rescued human women to use as masseuses.

Because of that, its white fur had become as white as snow and gained a sheen.

So Igrelle tried to imitate Elaga a bit, and it turned out to be really good.

Its initial hesitation about whether to let these humans go or not tilted towards one side. Towards not wanting to let them go.

‘If they entered my domain, aren’t they mine? If you don’t like it, be stronger than me.’

In the southern region of the Forest of Roots, Igrelle itself was the law. It thought like an outlaw.

And as time passed, everyone’s feather grooming came to an end.

Even Asuka, who wore a bitter expression, had somewhat diligently completed the task assigned to him.

The colorful feathers sprouting from Igrelle’s vast body now held a more brilliant light than before.

Igrelle, lost in self-admiration, looked down at its own feathers. They looked much better than when it groomed them itself.

[Excellent! Indeed, humans are useful. This is something demonic beasts can’t do!]

“Are you satisfied now?”

At Alea’s question, Igrelle immediately shook his head.

[It’s still not enough. If you’ve trespassed into my domain, you should pay a proper price.]

Igrelle, who had suddenly reverted to an arrogant attitude, scrutinized the four of them. And he declared.

[Hmm, isn’t there anything interesting? Show me something, all of you.]

***

When Sian brought out all the spirits he had and showed a performance of tricks, Igrelle watched with satisfaction.

But his demands continued. Something was lacking. Show me more.

Alea used illusion magic to paint scenes in the air that were hard to see in the Forest of Roots, and Asuka and Charlotte performed a sword dance at Igrelle’s request.

But Igrelle’s demands knew no end.

[Is there nothing else to show? Something grand, something eye-opening!]

Finally, Sian secretly sent a message to Alea using magic.

“How long do we have to keep doing this? It seems like there’s no end to this.”

“I thought it might let us go if we indulged it, but it doesn’t seem to be working.”

Igrelle wasn’t as ferocious as Alea had assessed. Didn’t say it doesn’t even eat humans?

But Igrelle was persistent and, above all, had too much free time. Enough to hold them and try to extract fun or whatever until they died.

Alea spoke to Igrelle.

“Now, as promised, please let us go.”

[Huh? Did I make such a promise?]

Igrelle asked innocently.

[I clearly said I might let you go, not that I would let you go.]

“We are humans, and the Forest of Roots is not a place for us to stay.”

[I can protect you. Now that it’s come to this, how about staying here with me? I can guarantee your safety. If you want to build a village, you can do that too.]

Igrelle’s attitude was leisurely, but somehow ironclad.

“We’re going to leave the Forest of Roots after we find Helmut.”

[Leave after you find him? Well, you might be able to leave again, but isn’t it impossible for dear Helmut? And he might not want that? Helmut might want to live in the Forest of Roots.]

As Igrelle rebutted, Alea’s eyes narrowed. She realized one fact from Igrelle’s words.

“Helmut is in the Forest of Roots. And you, Igrelle, have heard news about him.”

[Uh, um?]

At this direct point, Igrelle flinched and rolled its eyes. Alea pressed further.

“Helmut is in Elaga’s domain, isn’t he?”

Finally, Igrelle sighed.

[As beautiful as you are smart, human kid. Alea, was it? I like you more and more.]

Greed appeared in Igrelle’s eyes. It was an emotion more intense than before.

It envied Elaga for having Helmut.

But if it could have this beautiful, talented, and smart human before Elaga, it wouldn’t have to envy Elaga.

Alea realized that she couldn’t persuade this giant with kind words. She immediately spoke in a cold and clear tone.

“Igrelle, of course we can’t defeat you. But Elaga is different, isn’t it?”

Igrelle, who had seemed to shrink earlier when Elaga’s name was mentioned, showed a similar reaction this time as well.

[…Do you think Elaga would fight me for your sake?]

Alea quickly noticed their hierarchical relationship. Although they were both rulers of regions, Elaga was above Igrelle.

“Charlotte over there is Helmut’s younger sister, and the rest are Helmut’s friends. If anything happens to us, Helmut won’t stand idle. And if Helmut steps in, Elaga will too.”

Igrelle whined.

[But I don’t want to let you go? It’s over if it doesn’t reach Elaga’s ears. Do you know how far it is from here to the central region!]

“If the four of us split up and run, even you, Igrelle, won’t be able to stop us.”

Igrelle flinched at Alea’s declaration. But the stubbornness of one who had lived as a ruler of a region rose up.

‘How dare you threaten me? No matter how much I like this human, I can’t yield to threats from mere humans!’

Demonic beasts are sometimes like children. If they don’t like something, they don’t like it regardless of any rational reasons.

Sensing Igrelle’s reaction, Alea threw out a compromise in a softer tone.

“Then, how about this?”

Otaku_Tensei

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