Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 280 (Part 2):

Sian quickly interjected.

“That’s right. Just like a golem has a core, a barrier needs a core to be implemented. With a barrier this large, there couldn’t be just one core.

Also, a barrier can’t be established properly if even the slightest thing is off. Barrier magic is extremely difficult to cast. There’s a reason Archmage Antiol, who can create large-scale barriers, is so famous.

The sacred barrier is a perfect circle, so cores with equivalent holy power must exist in precise locations, and those cores balance each other to form the sacred barrier.”

“The east, west, south, north, and the center. That’s what Antiol speculates.”

Igrelle countered.

[I’ve never seen anything like that in my territory. I’m extremely sensitive to holy power, so there’s no way I wouldn’t notice something like that.]

“It wouldn’t be something distinct. A sacred barrier created by a god wouldn’t be so poorly constructed. It’s probably right below the barrier, on the line that divides the sphere in half.”

[Then what about the central region?]

Alea pointed upward with her finger.

“Lumen’s symbol is the sun. It exists at the center of the sky. That’s a fact Archmage Antiol confirmed by risking his life to fly up there.”

Elaga, scratching the ground absently in frustration over the headache-inducing discussion, asked,

[So what does this have to do with Helmut leaving the Forest of Roots?]

“The sacred barrier is weakest in the underground of the central region. That’s because it’s the furthest point from the core in the sky.
But digging underground to escape is nearly impossible. It would require digging a straight line deep underground, which would take an immense amount of time.
That’s why we plan to break through the exposed core and escape. We’ll go up to the sky.”

At those words, everyone looked up at the sky.

The ominous, gray sky. They would probably have to climb to an incredibly high altitude, so high that falling would shatter their bodies.

[How are we supposed to get up there? You said the core of the barrier is up there. Isn’t that the strongest part of the sacred barrier?]

“To be precise, the central core connects the forces of the four sides and establishes the barrier. Therefore, while the center of the sky is the strongest part of the sacred barrier, it’s not the most powerful core itself. That’s why there’s a weakness. We’ll exploit that weakness.”

Alea paused her explanation at this point.

To exploit that weakness, there was something they needed to do first. And that task wasn’t going to be easy.

Igrelle muttered as it looked up at the sky.

[I don’t understand. I’m not from the central region, but I’ve flown up to where the sacred barrier is in the southern region. Up there, the sky is blue and beautiful. It’s not the gray, ominous sky tainted with demonic energy.
But it’s also hard to breathe up there, and the air is so cold it feels like it could freeze you. Even as a beast, it’s tough for me. Can fragile humans really withstand that?]

“There are two mages here. It won’t be easy, but it’s possible. It’s a much more feasible method than the way Helmut left the Forest of Roots. That’s the conclusion Antiol and I came to.”

Alea spoke in a calm voice, looking at Helmut. His black eyes were somber.

If not for Helmut, the group wouldn’t have to take such a dangerous route over the barrier.

They could pass through the barrier more safely.

Elaga could remove their demonic energy, and they could pass through the sacred barrier then.

But because Helmut can’t pass through the sacred barrier that way, they have to take this risk.

‘After all, entering the Forest of Roots was a life-risking endeavor from the start.’

There was no need to hesitate about taking a risk now. Alea was even slightly excited.

As a mage, she was about to verify the results of her research. Four years of research, to be exact.

That was why Antiol had helped her. Mages never help others for free.

“So, what exactly do we have to do? There must be a reason you brought us along.”

Asuka asked.

He had only followed Alea here and hadn’t even properly drawn his sword yet.

From the very beginning, they met Igrelle and had an all too easy journey.

He was brought to fight beasts, but surely that wasn’t the only reason.

“I’ll tell you tomorrow. This place is safe, so everyone should rest and recover their strength for now.”

Everyone scattered to prepare food and set up their sleeping arrangements.

Igrelle and Elaga remained lying down, lost in thought.

The new information about themselves as rulers of the regions and the Forest of Roots was shocking, even for them as demonic beasts.

Alea approached Elaga and asked,

“I have a question. Elaga, you absorbed Naho’s core and grew stronger. Why didn’t you try to expand into other regions?”

Elaga looked at Alea as if she were asking a strange question.

[Huh? What would I get out of that? What good would it do me to defeat the others and rule the Forest of Roots?]

“You could have made them your subordinates and taken control of the entire Forest of Roots. You could have become something like the king of the beasts.”

[What’s the point of becoming the king of beasts? I find raising humans more fun. You’re saying weird things.]

Elaga’s response was blunt, and Igrelle chuckled from the side as if the idea of Elaga being a king was ridiculous.

But Alea thought differently.

If survival of the fittest was a beast’s instinct, then it was also instinct to rise to the top once one gained the power to stand at the pinnacle of the food chain.

The fact that Elaga hadn’t followed that instinct meant it had completely transcended its instincts.

Elaga had grown by absorbing Naho. It wasn’t just physical growth or an increase in demonic energy, but a growth of its demonic nature.

Elaga had become capable of things that Igrelle or the other regional rulers could not do.

It had surpassed the title of a regional ruler and become something transcendent.

The emergence of a being with unparalleled strength in the Forest of Roots.

What consequences this would bring in the future was still unknown.

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