Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 375 (Part 2):

Asuka tilted his chin upward, looking down at them with disdain. At ten years old, he had been much smaller than them. But now, he towered over them, gazing down imperiously.

Moreover, Asuka wasn’t just a member of the imperial family—he possessed formidable swordsmanship skills honed through relentless effort. His confidence stemmed from undeniable talent and hard-earned achievements.

Anthony calmly replied, “It wasn’t only Mr. Asuka who studied at the academy. We attended as well, learning and observing many things during our time there.”

‘These bastards probably bullied some commoner back then, didn’t they?’

Doubt flickered in Asuka’s eyes as he recalled the past. Yet, contrary to their earlier behavior, both men now seemed too mild-mannered to torment anyone. They reeked of bookishness, as if they had spent their academy days buried in studies.

Levi took the lead in responding. “We’ve come to realize how foolish we were to side with Gwen’s cruel actions because he was a noble. We understand why Mr. Asuka distanced himself from us.”

“We now recognize that oppressing the weak is unjust and believe we should have intervened to stop Gwen.”

Asuka snorted derisively. “Are you pretending to have changed your ways just because I’m here?”

“If we spoke falsely, it would show. Thoughts inevitably manifest in actions. Why don’t you test whether our mindset has truly changed?”

Anthony’s bold reply hinted at their lingering sense of injustice. Back then, children were easily swayed by the loudest voice, and Gwen had been the most influential and domineering among them. Everyone had catered to his whims, leaving them little choice but to condone his actions.

Add to that the thoughtless cruelty typical of children, and the incident unfolded naturally. Over time, as Gwen’s personality grew increasingly malicious, their relationship with him had become strained.

“Is that so?”

Asuka regarded them with an ambiguous expression. In truth, it was nothing more than a childish episode from a distant past—one he could dismiss. Besides, he hadn’t suffered any real harm. At worst, it provided him with an excuse to distance himself from court life.

Or perhaps it had been the tipping point. Back then, Asuka had clearly struggled to adapt to the life of royalty.

“Well, fine. I’ll give you another chance.”

Asuka replied haughtily. Levi and Anthony exchanged relieved smiles, though their true feelings remained hidden. Asuka decided to let the matter rest. He had promised his father to adapt to this life, and he intended to keep that promise.

“Now then, are you ready to enjoy the game I’ve prepared?”

The tense atmosphere eased as the Crown Prince interjected casually.

Asuka shrugged. “I’m skeptical about the level of competition. You made quite the boast earlier, Your Highness, but adding two bookworms hardly makes this a contest.”

“I anticipated you’d say that, so I prepared a few more participants.”

At the Crown Prince’s signal, four imperial knights stepped forward. Asuka recognized them—they were the ones who had escorted him back to the Empire.

“You damn kidnappers!” Asuka shouted, pointing accusingly at them. Weren’t they the same elite knights sent by Grand Duke Farnese to forcibly bring him back to the Empire? While adapting to royal life was one thing, the decision itself had been forced upon him.

Asuka hadn’t forgotten those knights—or those annoying imperial mages.

Had it been one-on-one combat, he wouldn’t have lost. But they had overwhelmed him with sheer numbers.

The Crown Prince asked, “Does this ignite your fighting spirit?”

“Absolutely.”

Asuka nodded eagerly, his eyes blazing with determination.

“I’m here too,” a voice piped up belatedly. One of the knights sheepishly raised his hand—it was Ralph, one of the few commoners in the imperial knight order. Asuka vaguely remembered him as someone below his rank, posing no real threat.

“Well then, give it your best shot!” the Crown Prince remarked offhandedly.

“Ralph won last year’s Imperial Palace Archery Tournament. Don’t underestimate him.”

“Archery? So what?” Asuka scoffed. Arrows imbued with Vis ignored wind resistance entirely. All he had to do was aim and shoot. What could possibly be difficult about that?

However, his expression immediately soured when the Crown Prince added, “Ah, but the use of Vis is prohibited. Since this takes place in the garden, we must avoid damaging the trees. Besides, it’s only fair for everyone.”

The Crown Prince’s smile gleamed like porcelain—porcelain Asuka wanted to shatter.

“Someone so confident shouldn’t end up in last place, hmm?” The Crown Prince clicked his tongue and picked up a bow.

His long fingers held it steadily as he nocked an arrow onto the string. Every movement was precise and fluid, exuding the aura of a master.

He was the first to take his turn.

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