Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 376 (Part 2):

*They say that when you reach the pinnacle of one skill, it translates to others.*

He had been observing the others as they shot their arrows.

Each time, he noted the flow of the wind, the angle of the arrow’s flight, and the force applied to the bowstring. The principles and trajectories all seemed to click into place.

To him, the target seemed excessively large. It would be strange not to hit the bullseye.

Even if he were asked to hit a target the size of a fingernail, it wouldn’t feel difficult.

The Crown Prince, annoyed by Helmut’s attitude, casually remarked.

“There’s a penalty for last place. It might be a bit humiliating.”

The Crown Prince’s eyes, as he devised the penalty on the spot, held an emotion that was hard to decipher—whether it was mischief or something else.

While part of the gathering was to reunite Asuka with old friends, this event was also a test for the hidden son of the Grand Duchy of Renosa.

Archery, which required maintaining composure, could reveal much.

‘Let’s apply a bit of pressure,’ thought the Crown Prince.

But no matter what the Crown Prince had in mind, Helmut responded indifferently.

“I’ll hear about the penalty after I shoot. Either way, I won’t be receiving it.”

The Crown Prince let out a thoughtful “Hmm” and stepped back. He couldn’t quite adjust to this attitude. It was refreshing, yet strange.

Suddenly, a strong gust of wind swept through. The garden trees swayed, shedding leaves.

It was a powerful wind, enough to feel as if one’s body was being pushed.

At this point, hitting the target would be difficult for anyone.

Yet Helmut released the bowstring effortlessly amidst the chaos.

*Whooooosh!*

The arrow he shot seemed to cut through the wind’s currents, gliding effortlessly through the air.

Drawing a gentle curve, the arrow quickly reached its target.

*Thud!*

But the moment the arrow struck, the leaves scattered by the wind swept past the participants, obscuring their vision.

*Whoosh!*

Everyone had to close their eyes, so they couldn’t immediately see what had happened to Helmut’s arrow.

The next moment, they wore puzzled expressions.

“What happened?”

“Where did it hit?”

“Did it miss?”

The arrow had clearly been heading toward the target, and they had heard the sound of impact.

But the target still had the same number of arrows stuck in it as before Helmut’s shot.

Helmut nonchalantly stated.

“10 points.”

Everyone looked at him in confusion. Only two people had scored a 10 so far—the Crown Prince and Ralph.

Two arrows were embedded in the smallest circle. So where was Helmut’s arrow?

It would have been easy to dismiss his claim as nonsense, but no one could doubt the truth in his words.

He had that kind of power—an inexplicable ability to make even lies seem believable.

The Crown Prince furrowed his brow. Staring intently at the target, he gritted his teeth.

“Fine, 10 points.”

He then pointed below the target.

“Look closely. That’s my arrow.”

Helmut’s arrow had pushed the Crown Prince’s arrow aside, embedding itself precisely in its place.

As a result, the Crown Prince’s arrow had fallen to the ground.

Everyone’s faces stiffened as they saw the arrow lying pitifully on the ground.

This wasn’t just a display of archery skill—it was a provocation.

Who dared challenge the Crown Prince so boldly? It wasn’t merely about breaking rules or facing penalties—it was unprecedented audacity.

While everyone was in a state of shock, Asuka blurted out without thinking.

“Wow, Helmut, you’ve got guts! That’s so satisfying!”

True to his nature as a friend, he didn’t hesitate to provoke the Crown Prince.

“Your Highness, it’s your turn next. You can pay him back in kind. Crush that arrogant guy’s pride. With skill.”

Asuka wasn’t foolish. His words carried a warning—not to hold a grudge or seek petty revenge against Helmut.

The Crown Prince, with a face that looked as if he had bitten into a bug, maintained his composure and picked up his bow.

But his arrow, fired with a shaken composure, scored a pitiful 5.

Asuka laughed uproariously.

“Ahahaha! That’s the lowest score! At this rate, you might end up last! You should’ve told us what the penalty was. I was thinking something like running around the knights’ training ground in your underwear.”

Asuka seemed genuinely delighted. In the face of a greater annoyance, a lesser one was easier to bear.

But Asuka’s behavior was more than enough to grate on someone’s nerves.

The Crown Prince, having set down his bow, quietly placed a hand on Asuka’s shoulder. His gaze was icy enough to make Asuka flinch.

“Your attempt to defend your friend is admirable, but you’ve gone too far.”

The Crown Prince whispered through clenched teeth.

“If you keep running your mouth, I can arrange for you to meet with the Grand Duchess Farnese to discuss your etiquette education.”

Needless to say, Asuka’s mouth snapped shut after that.

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