Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 393 (Part 1):

“……The one I faced.”

Sian’s expression grew serious.

“He’s really strong. Just facing him in the arena, I felt a pressure different from that of a demonic beast.”

Alea’s eyebrows slightly raised. Sian added,

“I knew there was no way I could win. It was like meeting a mage far stronger than me.”

For a moment, silence flowed between the two. Alea seemed to be deep in thought.

‘Perhaps among us, only Helmut can stand against him.’

Sian swallowed his words. While it’s true that mages are generally weaker in one-on-one combat compared to swordsmen, that’s only in ordinary cases. Alea might be different.

After all, the one who taught her magic was none other than Heike, the best when it comes to artifacts.

Alea pointed out,

“He tried to kill you.”

Clearly, he would have gauged the difference in skill between Sian and himself. Yet he attacked excessively.

Even in a martial arts tournament, intentional murder is not tolerated. One could be disqualified from participating.

Sian nodded with a grim expression.

“Yeah, I heard he hates mages.”

The moment before losing consciousness, the sword strike that seemed ready to split his body in half was vivid.

The sword carried a killing intent akin to rage. A fierce and stubborn conviction that mages must be eradicated from the world.

“He hates mages, huh…”

Alea murmured. Sian realized she was thinking the same thing as him.

“And… he’s no ordinary swordsman. What he uses isn’t the usual Vis.”

Because of that, Sian felt he knew who that man was, or at least what power he wielded.

Having finished organizing her thoughts, Alea spoke to Sian.

“We’ll handle the rest, so get some rest. You’ll need to stay in bed for a while.”

Sian had nearly died, and the shock must have damaged his mind. Yet, Sian forced a smile and replied,

“Are you worried about me, Alea?”

“Worried? Take care of yourself.”

Alea turned her back, wearing the same strict expression. She wasn’t one to accept having her feelings misunderstood, even if the other person was a patient.

As she left the room, two men came into view.

Asuka, leaning crookedly against the wall as if to show his personality, and Helmut, standing straight unlike him. It was clear they had overheard the conversation.

“That golden-eyed bastard…”

Asuka’s expression was uncharacteristically serious. His jaw was clenched tightly, and his eyes burned fiercely. He was genuinely angry, ready to grab his sword and charge in at any moment.

Alea shook her head as if to dissuade him.

“It’s an accident that can happen in a martial arts tournament. Plenty of people fight at the risk of their lives. It’s hard to call this level of accident intentional.”

Asuka, his face scrunched up, retorted,

“No, that bastard was strong. He could’ve just subdued Sian, but he went further.”

Alea calmly replied,

“……Maybe he wasn’t being careless and was doing his best. There’s no rule that says you have to go easy.”

“No, that bastard tried to kill Sian. If he hadn’t been stopped in time, he would have done it.”

Asuka had watched the match. He had clearly seen the strength of the man Sian faced.

After a brief moment of awe at his skill, Asuka knew. He had seen the killing intent in that sword.

“There are plenty of swordsmen who hate mages.”

Asuka’s eyes flared in anger.

“Are you siding with that bastard? Did you want Sian to die?”

“Enough.”

Helmut, who had been silent until now, intervened.

“Alea just doesn’t want you picking unnecessary fights.”

“So, Helmut, you’re just going to stand by and do nothing?”

Facing Asuka’s furious expression, Helmut calmly responded,

“We’ll settle it in the tournament. He didn’t break any rules.”

“Rules, my a*s…!”

Helmut warned the fuming Asuka.

“Remember who you are. You’re not just Asuka, the mad dog of the swordsmanship department anymore, are you?”

As the heir to the Grand Duke Farnese, a member of the imperial family, he had secretly participated in the tournament. He had to consider the Grand Duke’s reputation.

Helmut’s gaze was oppressive. Like a deep abyss, it gradually subdued Asuka’s fury.

“Damn it.”

Asuka, who had been leaning against the wall, punched it in frustration and turned away.

As soon as he disappeared, Helmut turned his head toward Alea. Seeing his expression, Alea spoke.

“It’s not just Asuka who’s angry.”

Though he had stopped Asuka, Helmut wasn’t unaffected either. His unusually cold gaze was unsettling.

Sian was also one of Helmut’s people. The fact that his life had been threatened was no different from pointing a sword directly at Helmut. Helmut muttered,

“Elaga was right.”

Elaga had said he felt something was off. Indeed, that leopard demonic beast’s instincts were accurate.

A swordsman sent by the temple. Since the temple couldn’t disguise a mage, they had no choice but to send a holy knight to participate in the tournament.

A powerful holy knight who could conceal his holy power.

“The Temple and even the Mage Association are involved in this tournament. It’s no wonder they couldn’t let it slide quietly. It’s only natural they’d want to ruin it. If the Temple wins in spectacular fashion, this tournament, held under the banner of anti-temple, will end up just serving to glorify them.”

Alea muttered as though it was someone else’s problem, then emphasized,

“That means they must have sent a force they believe can definitely win the championship.”

A cold light flashed in Helmut’s eyes.

“In that case, I need to crush their prized champion.”

Otaku_Tensei

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