Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 328 (Part 2):

Toward their bickering, Helmut firmly declared.

“Both of you are capable of causing trouble, so you’ll keep each other in check.”

He was now sick of carrying Elaga around. It was bothersome.

Even during his childhood, Helmut didn’t recall being stuck with Elaga this constantly. But hadn’t Elaga played the role of a steed for him enough to last a lifetime?

Elaga shot back indignantly.

[Then who’s going to protect a weakling like you?]

That “weakling” comment was incredibly irritating, but Helmut suppressed whatever was rising inside him and said.

“…Alea will take care of that.”

After uttering those words, some inexplicable sense of humiliation came over him, but regardless of how Helmut felt, it seemed to work well on Elaga.

[Hmm, fair enough. Well, your mate does seem good at cleaning up after you.]

Elaga seemed to think that Helmut was completely unreliable and weak, while Alea was capable since she had come all the way to the Forest of Roots to rescue Helmut.

Regardless of their actual strength, that was how he perceived it.

Helmut unconsciously clutched his forehead. Alea stared at him blankly.

“…What is it?”

“It’s nothing.”

His expression was strange, but Alea didn’t press him further.

As Elaga began to focus on the scenery outside again, the carriage fell back into silence.

*

It was dusk when they entered the royal palace.

Teresa had come in the afternoon, and considering the travel time, meeting the king that same day was impossible from the start.

Since the king was busy with his royal schedule, they arranged to have dinner together three days later.

As promised, the Rodril group received lavish treatment. Luxurious accommodations and meals within the royal palace. And several days of rest.

“You won’t find your stay uncomfortable. There’s a bath supplied with hot spring water, and there’s also a training ground suitable for swordsmen.”

Teresa, who was guiding the group, looked at Helmut while saying this.

It was an unreadable look that seemed devoid of emotion.

Her gaze quickly shifted to Charlotte and Asuka.

“This level of treatment is only natural for the Duchess of Renosa, right?”

Charlotte furrowed her brow.

“The fact that I’m here…”

Teresa smiled faintly.

“We haven’t informed Renosa. It wouldn’t benefit either of us if they knew. If our discussion ends amicably, Renosa need never know about this.”

Her words seemed to suggest they should cooperate to ensure that outcome.

“I hope you all enjoy a comfortable stay at the royal palace. If you need anything, please inform the attendants. I’ll see you again in three days.”

With those final words, she turned and left cleanly.

Despite being in the heart of the enemy’s stronghold, it didn’t feel like an ambush or betrayal was imminent.

Everyone had relaxed somewhat because they instinctively felt this fact.

After dinner, everyone dispersed to their assigned rooms.

“Helmut, are you going to practice sword training?”

Alea asked as if it were obvious, without even asking what he planned to do. Helmut nodded.

“That’s right.”

The recent revelations about Black Hawk had stirred something within him.

And now he had come here to the royal palace. Helmut could now contact Black Hawk at any time.

But before that, he needed to organize his thoughts. Helmut was a swordsman. To organize his thoughts, he needed not to sit quietly and contemplate, but to swing his sword.

“Then I’m going to take a bath. My body feels a bit sluggish.”

[Bath, you say? I’m in.]

Elaga eagerly followed her. As a cat, he hadn’t been assigned separate quarters.

He had followed Helmut, saying he didn’t want to share a room with Igrelle even if they were supposed to act together. Alea raised her eyebrow.

“…Aren’t you male?”

[So? I’m a cat and you’re human, what does it matter?]

“Well, I find it uncomfortable and unpleasant.”

[Fine, I’ll use a different bath.]

After reaching a compromise, Alea and Elaga moved off together.

Left alone, Helmut picked up his sword and headed to the training ground attached to his quarters.

Charlotte and Asuka’s quarters were somewhat distant, so they would be using a different training ground. Therefore, no one else would be using this training ground.

It was a moonlit night. The tip of Helmut’s sword reflected a cool light in the moonbeams.

His mind was clear, and his breathing remained steady without disturbance.

Completely refined movements. Lines and curves beautiful enough to be obsessive were embroidered in the air.

In the realm of swordsmanship, even if you try to hide your energy, it cannot be completely concealed. It shows in those movements.

If any swordsman had seen Helmut training, they would have been overwhelmed, eyes wide open. Powerful and fast swordsmanship taken to the extreme.

When wielding his sword, Helmut always became terribly absorbed in it.

Sadness and pain were forgotten in complete immersion.

Helmut was a born swordsman. Beyond physical talent, his spirit too. That’s why he could reach his current level.

At some point, Helmut stopped his sword. Someone’s presence.

His gaze immediately fixed on the other person.

It was a young man. His clothes weren’t flashy but were elegant, and he was dressed casually as if out for a stroll. His neat face, which looked scholarly, was suffused with composure, leisure, and an undeniable dignity.

In the darkness, Helmut’s sword-wielding figure, intertwined with his unique energy, was even threatening.

But the other person raised his hand casually, as if it were nothing.

“Ah, excuse me. I seem to have interrupted.”

Helmut stared with an expressionless face at the man who smiled gently.

Not a swordsman. Since no special energy could be felt from his body, not a mage either. But neither was he a servant or ordinary person. That much was certain.

Even setting aside the fact that this was a place not just anyone could approach.

The man began walking straight toward Helmut.

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