Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 274 (Part 1):

It was Susan who noticed that Sarah was missing.

Since it was normal for Sarah to train late into the night, Susan had fallen asleep waiting for her without much concern.

But Sarah hadn’t returned by morning. Only then did Susan realize the seriousness of the situation.

“I thought she was just out getting some air because she was upset, but where on earth did she go?”

Susan paced back and forth.

This was the dangerous Forest of Roots.

Susan hadn’t forgotten that fact, but 12-year-old Sarah was different.

Sarah, whose skills had recently improved significantly, was full of confidence.

Having lived safely under Elaga’s protection for half her life, it was understandable that her sense of caution had dulled.

Helmut extended his senses to survey the surroundings.

“She doesn’t seem to be in the vicinity.”

“And I don’t know where Elaga went either…”

Elaga hadn’t appeared since its conversation with Helmut, perhaps needing time to organize its thoughts.

That’s why Susan had come to ask Helmut for help.

“She wouldn’t have gotten hurt and collapsed somewhere, would she?”

“I’ll go look for her.”

Helmut spent the entire day searching for Sarah at high speed throughout Elaga’s territory.

But Sarah’s whereabouts could not be found even after looking carefully.

Only then did Helmut also become alarmed.

‘Could it be, she’s not in the territory?’

Helmut was unable to track Sarah’s missing whereabouts.

There were very few traces of Sarah, and they were already scattered throughout Elaga’s territory.

Even if he found traces, it was difficult to distinguish whether they were from yesterday.

‘I hope she wasn’t kidnapped by a beast.’

The Forest of Roots.

Even though it was Elaga’s territory, some bold beast might have attempted something.

Human flesh was the most favored delicacy for demonic beasts. If a strong one targeted her, Sera wouldn’t have been able to resist.

If so, Sarah was already dead.

‘But if something that strong entered the territory, could Elaga not know about it?’

Beasts that can hide their demonic energy are rare.

Revealing one’s demonic energy to make others feel one’s strength is the way of survival in The Forest of Roots.

Elaga appeared, sauntering over just as Helmut finished searching and returned to Susan.

[Hey, I’ve been thinking… Huh? Where’s Sarah?]

Looking at the two of them, the atmosphere was clearly not good.

Helmut replied:

“She’s gone.”

Susan asked Elaga with an urgent expression:

“Can’t you sense Sarah’s presence within the territory?”

[She’s not around here. But if there had been a fight in my territory, I would have noticed.]

At that moment, something suddenly occurred to Susan. She muttered as if frozen:

“Those people.”

[Who? The humans?]

“The people who entered The Forest of Roots. Sarah said we must go and save them, remember? Could she have gone there?”

It was an insightful motherly deduction.

Elaga replied indifferently:

[How would Sarah know where they are in this vast Forest of Roots?]

“But you know, don’t you, Elaga?”

[Yes, near the southern sacred barrier.]

“Then could you please search the southern part of your territory?”

Susan was indeed sharp.

Elaga found in the southern part of its territory what Helmut couldn’t find.

It was Sarah’s trace. And next to it, the faint trail of a beast.

Only then did Elaga become serious.

[There are no signs of resistance. They moved together. What was this girl thinking, following a beast? Both Susan and I told her never to trust beasts and never to leave the territory!]

Helmut calmly pointed out:

“She’s only 12, still young. Without the Seed of Darkness, she’s just a child. She could be easily deceived.”

Helmut knew about the general developmental process of humans.

Unlike Helmut, who was calm and cautious, mature early due to having the Seed of Darkness, Sarah had a lively and impulsive personality.

She had been subdued by the ominous atmosphere upon entering The Forest of Roots, but her personality came back to life after learning swordsmanship.

She was also overflowing with confidence due to being praised for her recent improvements.

But how could she think she could go rescue other humans in this Forest of Roots?

‘It’s true that she’s had some success hunting beasts and has decent skills, but she’s still far from ready. Did I praise her too much?’

Objectively speaking, Sarah wasn’t skilled enough to roam freely in The Forest of Roots.

But unlike Darien, Helmut wanted to teach her, so he occasionally said things like “well done” to Sarah, in line with the level of ordinary humans.

Sarah firmly believed Helmut’s words.

Moreover, one fact she was overlooking was that Elaga’s scent was on her body.

Few beasts near the Central Region could properly fight a human with Elaga’s scent.

She had caught beasts stronger than her level. So her arrogance was somewhat justified.

‘I hope Elaga’s scent keeps Sarah safe.’

After swallowing Naho’s core, Elaga’s scent had become even stronger. All nearby beasts trembled at Elaga’s presence.

‘But what kind of beast could it be?’

Sarah was also a child who grew up in the Forest of Roots. She wasn’t the type to lack caution, so how did a beast manage to deceive her? It must be a very intelligent one.

‘I have a bad feeling about this.’

“Let’s go, Elaga. We know where they’re headed, so we need to find her.”

I hope we’re not too late.

Feeling a sense of crisis for the first time in a while, Helmut naturally climbed onto Elaga’s back.

Feeling the same, Elaga just frowned a little without resisting.

Otaku_Tensei

I'm currently Translating the following novel: Helmut: The Forsaken Child. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!

•