Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 271 (Part 1):

Helmut calmly refuted.

“That’s wrong. I had the Seed of Darkness, and those with the Seed of Darkness are threatening. They are not.”

Even as he said it out loud, his heart ached, and Helmut frowned. Yes. There must have been unavoidable circumstances.

However, the ruthless decision made under those unavoidable circumstances was deeply bitter.

Helmut was ruthless, but only towards his enemies. Being abandoned by those he couldn’t bear to be ruthless toward was unspeakably cruel.

If forgiveness means forgetting what happened to you, Helmut would probably never know forgiveness for the rest of his life.

[But they are weaker than you. And you were lucky enough to be able to return to the Forest of Roots, but they might be killed without even getting such a chance? Is there any guarantee that coming out alive from the Forest of Roots will absolve your sins or whatever? Humans tend to kill first if someone bothers them. It’s safer here because I can protect you inside the Forest of Roots.]

It was an uncharacteristically reasonable argument from Elaga.

[Do you think I saved you all just to have you die in vain? Don’t be ridiculous. I’ve had enough with sending that Helmut guy out.]

‘You saved us as a hobby.’

Everyone thought, but for Elaga, raising humans was quite an endearing hobby. Naturally, it became attached to the subjects of its hobby.

“Then I just need to become stronger,” Sarah said firmly.

“Elaga is right. I’m weak and my mother is even weaker. But if I become stronger…!”

[Even if you get stronger, you won’t be able to catch up to Helmut. He has the Seed of Darkness and you don’t.]

“S-still. We can hide our identities and live, right?”

[Helmut must have hidden his thoroughly too. Wouldn’t he have? But once it was revealed, look what happened. It’s not something you can control.]

It was an unexpected insight. Helmut had never spoken about what he had gone through.

As Elaga said, there are risks. If Sarah stands out in the human world, news might reach those who branded her family as traitors in some way.

Even if they live quietly, someone might recognize Susan if she’s with her.

One way or another, the risk can’t be zero. It’s clear that the human world is more dangerous than the Forest of Roots, where Elaga has overwhelming control and can regulate almost all variables.

But still.

Just as Susan was about to open her mouth to persuade it, Elaga turned away, unnecessarily losing its temper.

[If you really want to leave or whatever, then do it! But don’t ask me for help!]

An uncharacteristic harshness. The remaining three could only watch Elaga’s retreating back. After a moment, Helmut spoke.

“It will be difficult without Elaga’s help.”

“Even if it’s hard for me, couldn’t Sarah still leave?”

“She could. But Sarah is too young to go out alone.”

Twelve years old. Even in a country where early marriage was common, one couldn’t deny it was a young age. Too early to leave her mother’s embrace.

Helmut left the Forest of Roots at fourteen. And the Helmut of that time was incomparably stronger than Sarah.

“There’s no need to rush. Let’s wait a few more years.”

“Yes, I guess I was too hasty. Elaga has taken care of us, and we’re being ungrateful… It’s just that this place is so bleak.”

Susan’s face visibly fell. Helmut looked at her face somewhat questioningly.

He couldn’t quite understand why she, who had lost everything, would want to go outside and take risks.

Helmut asked.

“Is it because life here is uncomfortable?”

Elaga’s domain is safe, and Susan knows that. So it can’t be because of threats to her life.

As the daughter of a noble family who grew up comfortably, she must find it particularly difficult to live in a place where she had to find or make substitutes for everything she needed.

Susan shook her head.

“That’s part of it, but I’m human. Shouldn’t humans live among humans? Even with whatever dangers and hardships that may bring. I’m sorry to Elaga, but I feel that the Forest of Roots is not where I should live. Even though I’m living here now.”

Susan added in a deflated tone.

“Maybe it’s different for Helmut since you grew up in the Forest of Roots.”

Helmut was about to agree, but he closed his mouth.

The air of the Forest of Roots was familiar. The place where he had grown up for over ten years. The Seed of Darkness within him would feel at home in the Forest of Roots, filled with demonic energy.

Yet humans among humans… Why did those words dig so deep into his heart?

It was those very humans who had left him with wounds no beast could ever inflict.

‘I have no reason to leave the Forest of Roots. No, really… do I not?’

He suddenly suspected that maybe he had just been running away, buried in despair and fear.

A certain memory was instantly brought to mind.

Darien. His words were always deeply engraved in Helmut.

Darien always spoke negatively of humans.

But looking back, Darien never told Helmut that he shouldn’t leave the Forest of Roots because humans were like that. He only said not to lose himself.

‘But I did lose myself.’

If Elaga hadn’t stopped him, Helmut would have gone berserk and died.

Either consumed by the Seed of Darkness, or killed by the ruler of another domain.

After a moment, Helmut blurted out.

“…I don’t know.”

“What?”

Susan looked at him with wide eyes. Helmut answered her concisely.

“I’ll talk to Elaga.”

Somehow, Sarah had already disappeared somewhere.

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