Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 297 (Part 1):

“So that was your scheme. No wonder.”

Sian muttered with a sigh.

It had seemed strange that Igrelle was cooperating so willingly, despite not appearing to have such a pleasant personality. It didn’t seem like it was just intimidated by Elaga, but to think it had such ulterior motives.

Igrelle had also heard Alea’s explanation about how to break through the barrier.

And according to that, it was entirely possible for Igrelle to break through the sacred barrier together with them. Igrelle had figured that out as well.

Asuka raised his voice.

“What nonsense are you talking about? How can we leave together with a demonic beast powerful enough to rule a region! It’s too dangerous.”

Surprisingly, Asuka was looking at the situation from the most altruistic perspective.

Igrelle was a demonic beast capable of destroying an entire country. It was far too dangerous to be allowed outside the control of the sacred barrier’s limited range.

No matter how strong holy power might be against demonic energy, Igrelle was a bird.

If Igrelle, who could freely fly through the skies beyond human reach, started moving against humans, it wouldn’t be easy for even the temple to deal with it.

The same was true for Helmut’s side. In other words, once Igrelle left the Forest of Roots, it would become an entity difficult to control.

Igrelle shook its head.

[I don’t eat humans. I only dream of freedom. A bird as large and fast as me has the right to freely roam the skies of this world!

Why should I have to be trapped here just because I was born in the Forest of Roots and am called a demonic beast? Tell me.]

Igrelle’s gaze held pure curiosity rather than resentment at having its freedom restricted.

The humans exchanged glances, unsure of how to respond. Because from their perspective, the reason was simple—danger. But that logic only applied from a human perspective.

In the meantime, Alea, who had finished thinking, calmly spoke up.

“Escaping the barrier would be a life-risking endeavor even for you, the ruler of the southern region.”

[But I’ve seen that child, Helmut, escape the Forest of Roots. I didn’t know if he’d succeed, but I was envious. That child had at least a small chance of making it.

That’s why Helmut was able to try. And succeeded.]

[If you were envious, you could have jumped into the barrier yourself.]

When Elaga responded indifferently, Igrelle snorted.

[Don’t be ridiculous, Elaga. I circled around the sacred barrier for a long time, but I knew. Even though I’m the ruler of the southern territory, if I had tried to pass through the barrier, my body would have turned to ashes instantly.]

[Well, if even I can’t cross it, how could you? At least you know your place.]

Igrelle didn’t flinch at Elaga’s provocation.

[That Helmut risked his life to leave the Forest of Roots, and I thought for a very long time about risking my life for something.

I’ve dreamed of escaping the Forest of Roots my entire life. This might be the only chance in my life. So I have to seize this opportunity. Even if I have to risk my life.]

[I knew you were crazy, but I didn’t realize you were a methodical kind of crazy. I should have kicked you out as soon as you entered my territory. So, what do you all think?]

Elaga asked, dismissing Igrelle’s determination as if it were absurd.

Unlike Igrelle, Elaga was content with life in the forest, befitting a leopard.

The thoughts of a flying beast and a land beast are different.

Moreover, unlike the idle Igrelle, Elaga had been living quite busily lately, raising Helmut and looking after Susan and Sarah.

‘Sure, I’d probably get a bit bored if they all disappeared, but whatever,’ Elaga thought.

Helmut, however, responded seriously.

“Elaga, let’s leave together.”

[…Huh? Why me?]

Slightly flustered, Elaga blinked. As if hearing something absurd. Sian, looking concerned, spoke up cautiously.

“Helmut, even if Elaga raised you, it’s still…”

The others also just looked at each other awkwardly, seemingly at a loss for words.

Hope rose in the expressions of Susan and Sarah, who had been living with Elaga all this time.

They had grown quite attached. To them, humans were more dangerous than Elaga.

But it wasn’t the same for the other humans. Elaga was a demonic beast that could be described as an uncontrollable being.

Moreover, Elaga was the strongest demonic beast in the Forest of Roots. If it went berserk, the damage would affect not just a country, but the entire world.

It might even reach a level that could bring about the extinction of humanity.

While Igrelle could at least be overwhelmed by numbers if confronted on the ground, Elaga was a demonic beast among demonic beasts who could easily subdue even Helmut.

No one thought anyone could stop it.

But that very logic was why Helmut had been cast into the Forest of Roots as an infant.

He was just a baby and had committed no crime. He simply possessed the Seed of Darkness.

Because of that, he was treated as a potential monster, destined to lose his mind one day and slaughter humans.

Even though he had saved the Grand Duke and Duchess of Renosa from a true beast, people still saw him as a threat.

No one had the right to confine Helmut—or Elaga—within the Forest of Roots just because they were strong.

If it’s natural that Elaga can’t leave the Forest of Roots because it’s strong, then it becomes natural that Helmut was exiled to the Forest of Roots.

It becomes natural what the people of Renosa did. It becomes natural that he was betrayed.

Helmut couldn’t accept that logic.

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