Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 298 (Part 1):

After looking back and forth between Igrelle and Elaga, Alea finished her calculations and said:

“It’s actually better that you two are joining forces. Rather than just trying to pass through the barrier as before, we are planning to create a temporary breach and slip through.”

Igrelle tilted its head with interest.

[You mean we’re going to break the sacred barrier, even if just for a moment?]

“The sacred barrier has a powerful regenerative ability stemming from its infinite source of power. So, the breach will only last for the briefest of moments. Igrelle, you’ll need to pass through the barrier with all your might at that time. There’s also a risk that you may lose all your demonic energy when you break through the barrier.”

[There’s no use trying to scare me. I’ve already made up my mind. Let that powerless leopard be the one who’s scared.]

Igrelle flapped its wings confidently. Elaga snorted.

[Who are you calling powerless? I’ll tear through that barrier without a problem.]

However, despite its bravado, a flicker of doubt briefly flashed in Elaga’s eyes.

“But even if you manage to break through,” Charlotte spoke up with a worried expression, “won’t you two, with your enormous size, cause chaos wherever you go?”

A bird and a leopard as big as houses. The bird might be hard to gauge in size while flying, but Elaga was the problem.

Elaga’s body size and the magical energy emanating from it. Even if it resided in a forest to avoid being spotted by humans, it would cause quite a commotion in the area.

In other words, all animals in the forest would not be able to withstand Elaga’s presence and would flee. Animals are more instinctive than humans.

That kind of disturbance would surely be noticeable. Not to mention, Elaga was not someone who could easily go unseen. Even if it posed no immediate threat, just seeing it would evoke fear and panic among humans.

No country would simply accept the presence of such a creature. Charlotte’s concerns were valid.

Alea shook her head.

“While the magic we can use is limited here, due to the demonic energy-dense atmosphere of the Forest of Roots, things will be different outside. Once we’re out, we can rely on two cooperative archmages.”

The demonic energy filling the Forest of Roots interferes with the use of magic. Unless one is a spirit mage like Sian who manifests power through spirits, one has no choice but to use simple and easy magic as much as possible.

But it’s a different story outside.

When they talked about Helmut and Elaga going out together, Alea had already thought that far ahead.

Alea retrieved the golem and pushed it into subspace. There was no choice but to repair it outside.

“Let’s not waste any more time. We should leave before the temple makes a move.”

A moment later, Elaga, who had a lightweight spell cast on it, lifted its front paw as if curious.

[Oh, my body feels light! So this is magic, huh? Amazing. I feel like I could leap into the sky.]

[And then come crashing down, squawking all the way.]

Igrelle mocked.

But even if it fell from that sky, Elaga’s body wouldn’t be hurt, and only a huge hole would be left in the forest. That’s how tremendous the power of Elaga’s demonic energy was.

“Now, once Elaga climbs onto Igrelle’s back…” Alea began.

[Ah, this is annoying. Why does this leopard have to come out, why can’t it just stay stuck here?]

[What are you whining about? Hurry up and offer your back before I dig my claws in.]

It was natural for Igrelle to feel uneasy about having to expose its defenseless back to a demonic beast stronger than itself.

But its will to leave was stronger.

As Alea suggested, Elaga climbed onto Igrelle’s back.

Igrelle’s eyes widened.

[Oh, you’re lighter than I thought. But Elaga, are you going to be able to stay up there?]

Igrelle had a point. While the weight wasn’t an issue, Elaga’s sheer size took up the entirety of Igrelle’s back.

Birds don’t always fly horizontally. When piercing through the center to go up, the body will tilt, and it would be difficult not to slide off without digging in claws to hold on.

Alea came up with a solution.

“We’ll need ropes. There’s no place for people to sit. People will have to ride on Elaga’s back.”

If the golem had been operational, the humans could have ridden in it while Elaga rode on Igrelle’s back, making things simpler. But thanks to the impulsive bird, they now had to improvise.

“We’ll need to find a rope suitable for such a task…”

Susan looked around with a bewildered expression.

But Alea had already come fully prepared when entering the Forest of Roots.

She immediately searched her subspace and pulled out a long rope with reinforcement magic cast on it. It was as thick as a thumb and forefinger pressed together.

“It may be uncomfortable, but please bear with it.”

Otaku_Tensei

I'm currently Translating the following novel: Helmut: The Forsaken Child. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!

•