Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 289 (Part 2):

“Loyalty my a*s, that guy probably just had to sit still and set up the Adamantium, but here I am, going through hell. Did Alea make me do this on purpose?”

Suspicion arose. Grumbling refreshingly, Asuka immediately took out the Adamantium. He deliberately moved slowly towards the barrier.

He was aware that as soon as this was over, he’d have to cling to Elaga’s back again.

“There it is.”

The beam of light from the Adamantium pointed to somewhere in the air above the ground. Asuka moved towards it without hesitation.

He was a stronger swordsman than Charlotte. Because of that, entering the sacred barrier was easier for him than for her.

Among those heading in four directions, he would likely have the easiest time entering the barrier.

When the Adamantium was placed in the designated position, it emitted a white light.

A white crystal-like object that had been invisible appeared and then disappeared at that spot. As if swallowed by the light emitted by the Adamantium. It was the core of the barrier.

“Is that it? That was easy.”

Being inside the sacred barrier continuously eats away at one’s Vis. Asuka, who had leapt out of the barrier, suddenly muttered:

“Charlotte and Sian will succeed easily, and what’s left is Alea and Helmut… Well, they went together so they’ll manage somehow, right?”

The results could be confirmed in the central region.

*
The activation of three Adamantiums – west, east, and south – was complete. Now only the north remained.

The north, where the two strongest humans had gone – even with the northern region ruler Kantara there, it was thought there wouldn’t be much of a problem.

Even Elaga had thought so. Though it looked down on Helmut, that was only because it had easily subdued him.

Elaga’s instincts told it that Helmut and Alea together could handle the northern region’s ruler, Kantara.

That’s why it had let them go without much fuss.

But the environment was the problem. Even Elaga hadn’t anticipated what they would face in the northern sea.

To Elaga, the Forest of Roots was a space that existed on land, not above water.

Helmut and Alea were approaching the northern sacred barrier. Not letting their guard down until the very end.

It was a close distance that could be reached in three minutes at full speed.

So the fact that they didn’t sense it wasn’t because they were careless. It’s unavoidable that senses become dulled as one gets closer to the sacred barrier.

There were no signs. As if something that had been quietly submerged underwater suddenly surged up, it awoke the moment they approached.

A sudden sense of presence.

“Back off!”

As soon as Helmut shouted, Alea pulled the sled back. Just as they retreated, the ice below shattered.

Crack, crackle! It was like they had almost fallen into a trap. Alea frowned, chilled to the bone.

“A demonic beast?”

“No, that’s…”

The seawater under the broken ice was dark from within. As if absorbing light. Black demonic energy spreading like ink, dyeing the sea.

A violent whirlpool was forming within, shattering the surrounding ice as it swirled, revealing a massive maw at its center.

At the heart of the whirlpool was the beast.

“Kantara.”

Helmut recited that name heavily. The one causing the whirlpool was a turtle with a body as massive as Elaga’s.

Unlike the black demonic energy it was emitting around its body, it had a golden shell. A deep golden color that dazzled the eyes. Its limbs were a lighter reddish-brown.

Helmut muttered:

“If that shell is solid gold, it’d be worth a fortune.”

“Is this the time for jokes?”

Alea snapped.

The turtle’s golden eyes, which had been hidden beneath its heavy eyelids, slowly opened.

[I smell… Elaga. That… leopard… from the central… territory! Who… killed… Naho. Who… are… you?]

The slow, halting way of speaking was infuriating. The golden pupils fixed on Alea and Helmut.

‘Why is a region ruler camping out near the barrier?’

Igrelle might do it out of curiosity, but there’s no reason for this Kantara to do so.

Did it appear at the last moment, befitting a region ruler? When they were almost there, the final hurdle turns out to be Kantara.

‘What a damn situation.’

Alea spoke:

“We are just humans with business at the sacred barrier. Please let us pass. We’ll leave soon.”

[Elaga’s… smell… is strong… Did Elaga… send you… to eat me? You’re here to… scout… right?]

In an instant, Kantara’s aura, which had seemed slow, changed dramatically. Demonic energy surged fiercely from its body.

Crack! The whirlpool grew larger, shattering the ice closer to where Alea and Helmut stood. Alea pulled the sled back a bit more.

Helmut observed the opponent.

‘My sword probably won’t pierce that shell.’

Thick skin and shell. The vital abdomen was submerged underwater. Needless to say, even for Helmut, diving underwater to stab the turtle’s belly was impossible. Alea calmly attempted dialogue:

“We’re not here to scout. We just have business at the sacred barrier. Elaga has no intention of harming you.”

[Don’t… lie! That leopard… said from the first time… we met… was curious… about how turtle meat… would taste! Elaga wanted… to eat me…!]

Wariness and killing intent rose in Kantara’s eyes.

They must have met in the distant past. Elaga, who had spoken thoughtlessly, probably didn’t even remember what it had said.

[That… can’t… happen!… I won’t… let you leave… alive!]

The demonic energy surging from Kantara’s entire body intensified. It didn’t seem like words would get through. It seemed to have a personality full of paranoia and wariness to begin with.

Encountering intruders with Elaga’s scent, it was consumed by the thought of killing and eliminating them.

Alea said with a sigh:

“…Staying alone in cold water for too long must have driven it mad.”

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