Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 305 (Part 2):

Elaga was now the very picture of a proud, preening cat. Even Igrelle, for a moment, found the sight adorable before quickly shaking the thought from her mind.

‘Get a grip. That’s Elaga! I, Igrelle, can’t be swayed by something just because it looks cute.’

[But you can’t fly in that form, can you? You said you wanted to fly outside the Forest of Roots? I thought you’d at least become something like a hawk.]

Igrelle’s expression faltered. She immediately turned to Heike.

“Can’t this transformation be undone and redone?”

“It’s possible. However… creating an artifact will take some time. You’ll need an artifact to transform freely without me. Since demonic energy resists magic, the artifact will have to operate on demonic energy instead of magic power. Your current transformation will last for more than a month, but it will be undone if you use even a little bit of demonic energy.”

The demonic energy possessed by Igrelle and Elaga was immense. If they hadn’t cooperated, casting the spell would have been impossible. The magic power would have dissipated due to the demonic energy’s repulsion before the spell could take hold.

Igrelle realized that creating such an artifact wouldn’t be easy, and that only the Archmage before her could do it.

In the Forest of Roots, she could simply overpower others to get what she wanted.

But the human world was different. Igrelle was quite willing to adapt to the ways of the human world. She was the most adaptable demonic beast in the Forest of Roots.

Igrelle smiled brightly.

“I know that in the human world, getting something requires payment. How about it, Archmage? Want me to pluck out some of my feathers?”

“Just as Antiol and Alea activated the sacred magic circle to the Forest of Roots despite being mages, it should be possible to operate an artifact with demonic energy. I’ve been researching this, so creating an artifact for you, Igrelle, has research value for me as well.”

A smile appeared on Heike’s lips as she spoke.

“But if you offer payment, I won’t refuse. I don’t want feathers. I’d like something else instead.”

“What is it?”

“I’ll tell you later.”

“Hmm, sounds like you’re going to ask for something significant. Alright, fine. The chance to get something from the great Igrelle doesn’t come often. Make sure it’s a big request.”

“Your way of speaking is the same even as a human.”

“She’s got a queenly vibe.”

Some of the humans nearby whispered among themselves. Helmut spoke up.

“So, will Elaga and Igrelle be staying here for the time being? Until the artifact is made?”

While Igrelle might go her own way, Elaga felt more like a member of Helmut’s group than anyone else.

Helmut had a rough idea of what to do with Susan and Sarah, but Elaga was a different matter. Elaga was a magical beast whose mere presence was a disaster in the human world, and Helmut had to keep an eye on it to prevent trouble.

He wasn’t just looking after Elaga—he was managing it.

“I’ve already done some research, but it will still take about a month. More importantly…”

Heike fixed her gaze on Helmut. Helmut flinched involuntarily.

Her gaze and appearance, so similar to Alea’s, felt unfamiliar. Alea’s blood relative. Helmut had never had a proper conversation with Heike.

This was partly because Alea had been acting as a shield, and partly because he knew Alea didn’t approve of her.

But Alea was currently drunk and unable to interrupt their conversation.

“I heard about you from Alea. You know about me, too, right?”

“…Yes.”

“It’s nothing much, but please take good care of Alea. You should. Alea risked her life for you.”

Heike’s gaze was sharp. Her tone became increasingly disapproving.

It was as if she was thinking, ‘My granddaughter risked her life for a man?’ Even if their relationship wasn’t good, she was still Alea’s grandmother. Helmut recalled some random trivia he’d read at the academy, something like ‘How to Converse with Your In-Laws,’ from a magazine he couldn’t remember. He immediately opened his mouth.

“I will risk my life for her too.”

“You should.”

A satisfied smile appeared on Heike’s lips. It seemed like the correct answer.

Meow!

Suddenly, Elaga jumped onto Helmut’s lap. As it put strength into its legs, a meow escaped involuntarily.

Helmut stared at Elaga with strange eyes. Such a small Elaga. It was awkward and unfamiliar, even creepy.

“What?”

[You’re quite big from this angle.]

Then Elaga naturally settled down and sat.

Alea leaning on his shoulder, Elaga sitting on his lap. He felt like some kind of living, breathing sofa.

“Why are you sitting there?”

[You’ve sat on me plenty of times. Got a problem with it?]

Elaga scoffed. Since childhood, Helmut had often slept leaning against or lying on Elaga. Now, Elaga was taking the chance to return the favor. The problem was that it looked undeniably cute, despite being so out of character.

Helmut looked away.

“Do what you want.”

Sarah, still excited from the alcohol, stomped her feet and whined from nearby.

“My lap is empty too!”

“Should I sit on it?”

Igrelle, now walking over, picked up a bottle of alcohol. She intended to try drinking properly, with a glass in her hand, like a human.

Even if she became human, her alcohol tolerance didn’t change. While her appearance had transformed, many of her characteristics remained the same.

“Well, I should go and work on the artifact.”

Heike winked and bid them farewell before disappearing. Sian gently placed a hand on Helmut’s shoulder.

“Hey, Helmut. We haven’t had a proper conversation since we reunited, have we?”

Now that Alea was asleep and there were no interruptions, this was his chance. Helmut looked directly at him.

“You said you had something to tell me, didn’t you?”

“You remembered. Well, about that… You haven’t made any concrete plans for the future yet, right?”

“No.”

“In that case, I have a suggestion. Would you like to hear it?”

Helmut immediately nodded. Sian’s lips curved into a smile as he began to speak.

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