Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 337 (Part 2):

Sian shrugged and spoke.

“What thoughts do you need to hear? It’s obvious. I’m free until the Earth Spirit chooses me. I’ve graduated, so I have nothing better to do.”

His expression suddenly turned serious.

“But my mom wants me to get a job and earn some money. Since I can’t just be unemployed like this, how about hiring me? You could promise to make me the court mage of Renosa later.”

As a rare spirit mage, Sian could even become an imperial court mage.

Helmut answered clearly.

“When I achieve my goal, I’ll pay you and appoint you as court mage. But is Rodril okay with that?”

Wasn’t their policy to not interfere in worldly affairs? Which had already caused complications in Veneta.

“I’m not an earth spirit contractor, am I? I’m just Spirit Mage Sian. I can work without that title, like I did at the academy. My mom will pretend not to know me. Besides, there are two other potential heirs for Rodril if something happens to me.”

Sian replied lightly, mentioning his two younger siblings. As soon as he finished speaking, Asuka raised his hand.

“I’ll join too. Sounds quite interesting. My sword will rust if I stay like this.”

Clearly, Asuka didn’t seem to be motivated by burning friendship. He was already grinning at the thought of facing Renosa’s knights. The Black Wing Knights of Renosa were considered one of the finest knight orders on the continent.

Asuka’s skills would rank in the upper ranks even among their knights.

Alea looked at Asuka. Her purple eyes gleamed sharply.

“Before that, there’s something we need to clear up.”

“What is it?”

“You’re not a commoner, are you?”

At that moment, Asuka’s body jerked violently. A cough burst from his mouth.

“*cough* Wh-what? Who said that?”

“Senior Asuka isn’t a commoner?”

Charlotte’s pupils shook greatly. Born as the Duchess of Renosa, she didn’t discriminate against commoners, but she did think of nobles and commoners as distinct.

In other words, Charlotte had preconceptions about how nobles should be. By those preconceptions, Asuka didn’t fit the image of a noble.

That’s why she had never once suspected Asuka’s true identity.

Alea pressed on with a cold voice.

“Playing dumb won’t work. A mere commoner wouldn’t be so secretive about themselves. You disappeared without a trace every vacation.”

“That’s because I was worried nobles might harm my family!”

“Don’t be ridiculous. If you were afraid of nobles harming you, why would you act like that at the academy? Behaving as if you were trying to make enemies.”

He would beat up anyone who provoked him, noble or royalty, and acted as if he had no future after graduating from the academy.

To live so recklessly, one must either be thoughtless or have something to rely on.

Until now, people had assumed the former about Asuka. But Alea thought differently.

‘Probably both. Thoughtless and with something to rely on.’

That reliance wasn’t belief in getting help. At least, it was the belief that his family wouldn’t suffer because of his behavior.

In other words, Asuka’s parents must have sufficient status.

Asuka wiped his lips with the back of his hand after stopping his cough. He finally admitted it.

“Yeah, fine. I’m not a commoner. But I never lied about it. I grew up as one.”

“So, you thought you were a commoner, but turns out you weren’t?”

Sian muttered while propping his chin. Sian was a pure commoner. Rodril was an entity not belonging to any country.

And since there was no class system in small villages like Greencana, he could only be a commoner. He quickly raised his finger.

“I think I know what happened. Asuka, you said you lived with just your mother, right? Your father who left later came back, and it turned out he was a noble. That’s how you became noble.”

Asuka’s bowed head confirmed Sian’s deduction. Raising his gaze, Asuka added.

“Why does that matter? I am Asuka, and I’ll live as Asuka. That’s why I didn’t reveal it.”

What showed on his face was antipathy. Probably antipathy toward his father and his family.

Alea crossed her arms and pointed out.

“Going against the Temple and Renosa isn’t a simple matter. It’s very different from just beating up nobles. Have you considered how this might affect your family?”

Asuka looked at her with an expression that said ‘I haven’t considered anything like that.’

“Well, they’ll handle it themselves. It’s none of my business.”

By this point, it wasn’t just irresponsibility; it was outright indifference. While the others silently judged him, Alea frowned.

‘Unless his family is so powerful even the temple wouldn’t dare touch them. This guy… He might not just be any noble.’

One thing needed to be made clear.

“Your family could end up obstructing Helmut because of you. How can you be sure they won’t?”

“That won’t happen, and if it does, I’ll go and turn things upside down myself, so don’t worry about it.”

Asuka’s frown deepened as he raised his voice.

“So, are you saying I can’t join? Even though I went to the Forest of Roots with you?”

Everyone’s gaze turned to Helmut. He would have to make the decision.

Helmut shook his head.

“No. But we’ll need to maintain some distance on the surface, so I’ll hire you as a formal mercenary. Get yourself a mercenary badge.”

“Got it.”

Asuka’s expression brightened immediately. It was a fair solution, and just like that, Asuka’s participation was settled smoothly.

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