Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 277 (Part 1):

“This guy, it’s like we don’t even exist.”

Asuka, who had just appeared, grumbled with dissatisfaction.

Helmut, who was tightly embracing Alea, seemed completely oblivious to their presence.

Even though his friends had risked their lives to rescue him, their existence paled in comparison to his reunion with his girlfriend, Alea.

“Friendship and all that doesn’t matter in front of a girl.”

Sian sniffled as he looked at the scene with an emotional gaze.

“Why do I feel so moved? I think I might cry.”

“Disgusting.”

Asuka glared at Sian as if accusing him of being a ‘crybaby’.

Sian looked back and forth between Helmut and Alea with renewed curiosity.

“But Alea really was a girl, huh?. Why didn’t I realize? She looks like a girl when she’s next to Helmut.”

“Yeah, and that makes it even creepier. Did you ever imagine we’d see those two like this?”

Asuka added sarcastically.

To him, Alea was an entity that could never be considered a woman, almost like a third gender.

Sian nodded his head.

“It’s as shocking as talking birds or leopards.”

[What’s this, a tearful reunion or something?]

Igrelle muttered, its eyes gleaming.

Ever since meeting this human called Helmut, it’s been having one strange experience after another.

Seeing humans leave the Forest of Roots, then seeing other humans enter the Forest of Roots again to find the one who had returned.

‘How interesting. I’m glad I helped that guy back then.’

Igrelle nodded its head.

Elaga, who had been closely observing Helmut, frowned.

Although it had pressured Helmut to breed, now that Helmut was with his girlfriend, the feeling was quite unfamiliar. It was ticklish and strange…

[So that’s Helmut’s girlfriend? I can certainly see why she’d be hard to forget.]

Even as a leopard, Elaga had to admit that Alea was quite a sight. The absolute standards of beauty were similar between beasts and humans.

Sarah stared at them with wide eyes.

“So she was his girlfriend…”

She had thought of her as a pretty but cold and scary older sister.

Somehow, the way she had asked about Helmut felt strange, but it was a relief.

‘I’m really glad.’

The image of Helmut from four years ago, lying like a corpse with an empty gaze towards the sky, flashed before her eyes.

Though his body was intact, what remained were broken and shattered fragments.

Even as he taught Sarah swordsmanship, Helmut’s eyes were filled with deep emptiness.

All that emanated from that expression and gaze was a dry, barren feeling. As if he had lost his soul.

‘It felt like he had lost everything.’

Through him, Sarah understood the word despair in its literal sense.

But in this moment, Helmut seemed alive. As if hope had returned to him once again.

A bittersweet emotion washed over her like a wave.

She was witnessing a miracle. A miracle that had never occurred in the Forest of Roots before, one that no one expected to happen.

After a moment, Helmut released Alea and asked:

“How are you here?”

His dark eyes held an especially intense light.

“I’m a mage, remember? It took some time, but I found a way to cross the sacred barrier. Because I knew you’d be alive in here.”

And she had resolved to find him, no matter what.

Alea smiled and looked back.

Though they hadn’t done much since entering the Forest of Roots, having avoided danger thanks to meeting Igrelle right away, they were still comrades who had risked their lives to come this far together. She hadn’t forgotten their contribution.

“I’m not the only one who came here.”

Only then did Helmut turn his gaze to his friends. It was a delayed reaction that could be perceived as indifferent.

“Helmut, long time no see. Can you finally see us now?”

Asuka, waving his hand, had a completely different impression from when they had last met.

Four years ago, he was a delicate, pretty boy, but now he had grown into a tall, handsome young man.

Though not burly, he had a build and frame befitting the name of a swordsman. Only his sarcastic expression remained the same, but the difference from the past was clear, beyond simple growth.

Helmut evaluated that difference simply:

“You’ve grown twice as big.”

Asuka immediately flared up.

“What are you talking about? I wasn’t that small!”

Sian rubbed his nose and greeted calmly.

“I’m glad you’re alive, Helmut.”

Unlike Asuka, Sian had only matured a bit from his previous appearance.

Though not as much as Asuka, he had grown much taller and looked like a slender scholar.

Helmut paused for a moment to choose his words before speaking:

“You all seem to be doing well.”

Asuka grinned.

“Of course. How have you been living in this gloomy forest?”

“I grew up here.”

“Right, of course. Hey, you should greet him too!”

As Asuka gestured towards the back, she who had been hesitating walked forward.

Charlotte.

She looked stiff, as if not knowing what to do.

“Charlotte.”

Helmut’s expression disappeared.

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