Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 301 (Part 1):
Whoosh!
The holy knight’s sword sliced through the spot where they had been standing, missing by a hair’s breadth.
A look of dismay flashed across the holy knight’s face. He immediately bowed to the High Priest.
“My apologies, High Priest.”
Levina, who had already emerged from the barrier, stood there calmly. She raised a hand slightly.
Her complexion wasn’t great after pouring all of her holy power into the sacred barrier. But she knew she had succeeded.
“It’s alright. We’ve finished what we came to do…”
Levina’s gaze lifted upwards. Towards the sky, high above the sacred barrier.
A noble gaze, as if looking up at Lumen.
She spoke as if making a vow.
“With this, the barrier has been reinforced, and whatever they were trying to do has been thwarted. Let’s return to the temple and continue our discussion.”
Levina had sensed something in the barrier suppressing the source of power. Quite a powerful magical device.
But as soon as Levina infused the sacred barrier with power, it crumbled without resistance.
‘Like ice melting away.’
She couldn’t understand how those mages had installed such a thing in the sacred barrier.
Perhaps it wasn’t impossible for an archmage to enter and exit the sacred barrier, so there was no need to be overly concerned.
‘But why do I feel this lingering unease?’
Levina tilted her head. However, the very fact that the sacred barrier had been shaken was unprecedented.
Levina barely managed to calm her anxiously stirring heart.
Whatever happens, this world will eventually flow according to Lumen’s order.
Just as it had been decided a thousand years ago, after the Demon King War.
*
It was just before Levina made contact with the barrier.
Elaga was trembling on top of Igrelle, and Igrelle was flying hard, feeling intense fear that Elaga might urinate on its back.
“We’re about to enter! Everyone, get ready!”
Alea stood up and shouted. The endpoint of the light beam, indicating their target, was drawing very close.
The center point in the sky where the forces from the four directions of the barrier converged, at the highest point of the barrier.
Helmut also raised his sword. Even while riding atop a giant bird soaring through the sky, he gazed steadily at the barrier.
Igrelle muttered.
[Hmm, it’s definitely weaker than the southern barrier?]
Feeling confident, Igrel pushed itself toward the barrier, thinking it could break through alone.
Igrelle’s movement was the signal. The energy gradually condensing from Igrelle’s beak struck the sacred barrier in a straight line just before collision.
Kwagaggang! Kagaggang!
Simultaneously, Helmut’s sword swung, and magic unfolded from Alea’s hand.
Charlotte and Asuka also swung their swords towards the barrier.
All the group’s powers struck the sacred barrier at once, as if unified.
With a thunderous noise, the blue sky appeared on the other side.
As the intense impact scattered the holy power at that point, the barrier momentarily disappeared, creating a vacuum passage.
[Great!]
Igrelle let out a cheer.
Having briefly slowed down due to the repulsive force of the sacred barrier, Igrelle now put strength into its wings to pass through that passage.
As they passed through the barrier, Helmut suddenly noticed something.
A glowing pattern appeared on the surface of the barrier maintaining its shape on the other side. It seemed as if that sparkling thing was facing towards them.
Helmut thought.
‘It looks just like an eye.’
Lumen’s eye. It was gazing at those trying to escape the Forest of Roots against his will.
Lumen’s will. The will to protect the human world and confine all evil things to this Forest of Roots!
One couldn’t say it wasn’t right, but neither could one say it was right.
Helmut put strength into his eyes as if making a vow.
‘I will continue to be human, and live as a human!’
He would never again be controlled by the Seed of Darkness.
But at that moment, an unexpected event occurred.