Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 281 (Part 2): Crossing the Barrier.
Charlotte stood up immediately.
“I can’t take the easiest job!”
Following Igrelle to install the core and returning was the simplest and least risky task.
Charlotte felt she hadn’t fully atoned for her sins yet.
She felt obligated to take on the most dangerous task. A privilege like this wasn’t something she deserved.
But Alea’s response was cold.
“You’re mistaken. You’re taking this job because you’re weaker than Asuka. And Sian, being a mage, has a separate task. So you’re the only one left. I can’t send a child to do this, can I?”
Sarah, who was pointed at by Alea’s finger, flinched. She looked like she wanted to protest, but she couldn’t muster the courage to stand up to Alea.
To her, Alea was stunningly beautiful but also cold and intimidating.
[Well, I’m fine with anyone as long as it’s not that blue-haired one. Black-haired human woman. I might even let someone like you ride on my back.]
Igrelle shrugged.
Its eyes were particularly sparkling, having found a new interest.
Elaga issued a threat.
[If you try anything funny, I’ll tear your wings off! I’ve eaten a snake, so I won’t hesitate to eat a bird.]
[Who said I’d do anything funny? The noble Lord Igrelle doesn’t do such things!]
Igrelle, who had been slightly curious about what would happen if it sneaked off with one human, bristled defensively.
Alea wrapped up the discussion smoothly.
“Then that settles the south. Now we need to decide on the north, east, and west.”
Elaga grumbled.
[The east is Naho’s territory. With Naho dead, it shouldn’t be too dangerous, right?]
Helmut shook his head.
“No, since Elaga left it alone, the east has become overrun with beasts. It’s a region without any rulers to keep things in check.”
[So should I take a human and go to the east this time?]
“No, Lord Elaga shouldn’t waste time dealing with such demonic beasts. You’re meant to face much more formidable opponents.”
Elaga was meant to face other regional rulers.
That was Alea’s calculation. Her violet eyes shone brightly.
[…Right, Baharek in the west and Kantara in the north. I almost forgot about them.]
Having absorbed Naho’s core, Elaga was the strongest among the regional rulers.
At this point, where they had to inevitably pass through other territories, Elaga couldn’t be wasted on the east.
“And we don’t need to waste many people in the east either. Except for Igrelle and Charlotte, everyone will start by going east.
We’ll leave one person in the east and immediately scatter in our respective directions. That one person just needs to activate the item at the set time and come to the central region.”
Asuka objected.
“It’s easy to go, but in the end, when coming back, they have to fight through all those demonic beasts alone, right?”
He looked excited yet anxious, wondering if it might be him. His fighting spirit hadn’t gone anywhere. Even if the opponents were demonic beasts.
“With Lord Igrelle’s speed, it could finish its task in the south and then fly straight to the east. Lord Elaga can do the same. But time-wise, you’ll need to join up with them while heading from the east to the central region. And there’s someone perfect for the job. Sian.”
Everyone’s gaze fell on Sian, who had been quiet.
“Me? Alone?”
Sian made a nervous expression.
Unlike Asuka, he was more worried about his own safety.
He was far from taking risks proactively, even if he acted in a supporting role.
Even though he was a spirit mage familiar with the forest, this wasn’t an ordinary forest.
His principle was that a mage should always move with a swordsman in combat situations.
“You’re a spirit magician, so you can hide from demonic beasts, and it’s easy for you to let Igrelle know where you are. That’s why it’s you.”
Alea’s reasoning was logical. Undeniably so.
Sian nodded with a gloomy face.
“I understand.”
“Then now we need to decide on the north and west. Where is Elaga going?”
Helmut asked.
His eyes, staring intently into Alea’s, were intense. An expression he hadn’t shown in years.
He was certainly alive now. Not just listlessly surviving like before, but filled with more motivation than when he left the Forest of Roots.
And the one who had given him that motivation answered in a softened tone to her lover.
“The west. Because Elaga will have to face Baharek of the west.”
[It’s certain that Baharek of the west is more unreasonable and hot-tempered than Kantara of the north. Though not as much as Naho.
Baharek doesn’t sleep much and has a keen sense of smell, so if you guys with my scent on you infiltrate Baharek’s territory, it’ll come charging at you, making it hard to avoid it.
But that doesn’t mean Kantara will be easy to deal with. Well, if you’re lucky, you might pass through without encountering it.]
“Lord Elaga, you should go with Asuka. While you deal with Baharek, Asuka can head towards the sacred barrier. And as for the north…”