Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 345 (Part 2):

“So, does that mean you’re enemies with that Archmage? Is she going to come after you?”

Alea answered smoothly.

“No, she already finished her research with those experiments. That cat and this bird are the fruits of her research. She’s achieved her goal, so she won’t be showing up again.”

“I’m not sure I follow, but… so you’re trying to undo their curse?”

“More or less.”

They might have deviated by a margin of a grain of rice— but Alea’s reply satisfied Luke Jaeger, who gave a nod.

A talking cat and bird were strange indeed, but not harmful.

Elaga and Igrelle stayed quiet. Although they readily chattered when Helmut talked, they would clam up the moment Alea spoke.

Regardless of their power, they instinctively understood the situation. That Alea held the most authority in this group.

“In any case, welcome back safe and sound.”

Wearing a broad smile, Luke Yeager patted Helmut on the shoulder.

It was a greeting from someone who had waited four years to see him return, free of any flowery phrases, yet it left a gentle warmth in one corner of Helmut’s heart.

Not everyone had been hoping Helmut would never return; there were those who truly wanted him back. One of them was right here.

‘Luke Yeager is indebted to me. Still, that doesn’t mean I can relax.’

It was never again wise to place blind trust in someone.

His mother had not betrayed him because she hated or resented him. She had betrayed him simply because there was something more important to her than Helmut.

Luke Yeager was the Palma Knights’ commander— he had to protect Basor.

Helmut had to remember that the debt Luke owed him might fall behind his duty to Basor, even though Luke was Darien’s descendant.

‘I can only hope he doesn’t turn into an enemy.’

He himself wished to avoid cutting down Darien’s descendant if at all possible.

“Yes.”

Helmut answered shortly.

After that, the conversation turned to how Luke Yeager had spent his time in the four years since their separation.

*
Before long, the carriage arrived at the royal palace. Stepping down from it first, Luke Yeager spoke.

“I have to file a report, so why don’t you rest for now? You are the ones who slew a demonic beast that inherited the Red Scorpion’s core, after all. We can’t just escort you straight to His Majesty without any formality.”

Evidently, he had already sent word; servants came out to greet them at the sight of the carriage.

As she descended, the chamberlain attending them addressed Alea:

“My lady, please lower your hood. No one may enter the palace with their face concealed.”

Without argument, Alea removed her hood. The moment she did, it felt as though the air currents themselves paused.

Her hair, akin to strands of silver silk, fanned out with a shower of radiance, and within it shone features that resembled an incarnation of beauty itself.

Even the palace attendants—trained not to display their emotions—unconsciously sucked in a gasp, momentarily forgetting themselves.

It was only after a short delay that one of them regained his senses enough to ask,

“M-may I have your name, my lady?”

“Alea.”

Guided by the handmaid, Alea began to walk away.

Because the servants were so utterly taken with her, Helmut was left overlooked, even though he was hardly someone with an unremarkable presence.

Just as Helmut was about to follow, Luke Yeager—who had yet to depart— grabbed Helmut by the shoulder.

“Hey, how exactly did you meet that girlfriend of yours?”

“Why are you asking?”

“You said her name’s Alea, right? She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.”

Luke Yeager lowered his voice conspiratorially and added,

“From today onward, we’re rivals. Let’s see which one of us does better.”

It was impossible to tell if he was joking or serious. Helmut looked at him intently. Elaga, who was trailing at his feet, burst out in anger.

[Hey, this is a challenge! That guy is after your woman! How lightly must he think of you to say such things!]

Helmut let it pass in one ear and out the other, answering,

“Try beating me first, then talk.”

“How arrogant.”

Luke Yeager grinned, patted the back of Helmut’s head, and walked off.

Left alone for a moment, Helmut started toward the path Alea had taken.

But he soon ran into an unexpected turn of events.

“You think I’m just some object? ‘Beat me first, then say that’? Are you implying you’d hand me over if you lost?”

The moment he stepped into the room Alea had entered, she coldly snapped at him.

He didn’t need to ask how she heard— if it was Alea, she would be able to hear it just fine. Taken aback, Helmut opened his mouth.

“But I wouldn’t lose—”

“You made it sound as if my thoughts, my choice, didn’t matter at all!”

Faced with Alea’s barrage of criticism, Helmut fell silent. After a moment, he asked,

“Then what should I have said?”

“You seriously don’t know?”

The door connecting to the reception room slammed open and shut violently.

Bang!

A powerful gust of wind whipped across Helmut’s face.

A snow-white cat brushed past him and leapt onto the sofa. Tilting his head, Elaga spoke in a mocking tone.

[You stupid fool. Even I know the right answer: ‘Alea is my girlfriend, and it’s her choice to make.’ That’s what you should’ve said.]

With Elaga’s spot-on correction and mocking click of the tongue, Helmut had no words to defend himself.

Igrelle also joined in the scolding, flapping her wings.

[You’re even more clueless than Elaga. You really are a hopeless cause.]

After that, Helmut’s silence dragged on for quite a while.

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