Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 393 (Part 2):

Helmut had faced holy knights before.

They possessed weaker holy power than High Priests, though as swordsmen they were still strong.

But even back then, when he was weaker than now, he hadn’t found them particularly difficult to deal with.

This was a tournament he had to win anyway. His motivation to climb higher grew stronger. Motivation springs from emotion. A strong emotion. The desire for revenge. Both in the past and now.

“The bracket will be redrawn in the round of 32. It would be best to face him in the finals.”

Helmut’s eyebrows slightly raised. If he were to face a holy knight, there was a risk of his identity being exposed.

No matter how much he prepared, facing him would have to be on the finals stage.

“He could be eliminated before that. The possibility is low, but it exists. And it might not be you, but me who faces him.”

Alea laughed as if amused.

“But you know what? Before facing him, you and I might face each other.”

Helmut flinched. There was no hint of reluctance in Alea’s clear eyes.

Then Alea naturally shifted the topic.

“As for that man… I’ll try to find out more.”

“It might be good to inform Charlotte. Seems the tournament organizers themselves don’t know about him either.”

If Charlotte knew, she would have given Helmut a heads-up. Alea nodded.

She noticed Helmut’s gaze shifting toward the door.

“Sian will be fine. He’s an optimistic guy.”

From inside, the sound of steady breathing could already be heard.

Sleep is always helpful for recovery, whether the injury is to the mind or body. It was too late for a visit.

“Anyway, he’s already eliminated, so there’s no risk of things getting worse.”

Helmut, who had indifferently concluded, left the place with Alea.

*

Among the numerous participants who had advanced to the main tournament, the numbers were gradually narrowing.

Everyone except Sian had safely made it to the round of 32 after going through the loser’s bracket.

As the bracket announcement approached, Asuka grumbled with a slightly anxious expression.

“It’s going to get tougher from here. This is nothing compared to the academy swordsmanship tournament.”

In his previous match, Asuka had engaged in a fierce battle. His opponent was a seasoned mercenary.

Having already researched Asuka, the opponent moved as if reading him.

In the end, Asuka won because he used Vis to completely overpower him. An absolute difference in strength.

But what if he met an opponent with skill on par with his own, who had also thoroughly analyzed him?

Asuka was a genius, but this tournament wasn’t held at the academy.

There were plenty of swordsmen in the royal knights or imperial knights with more experience and skill than the average student. Letting out a deep sigh, Asuka muttered:

“It feels like there are fewer people just straightforwardly fighting their way up, like we are. Most have come carefully prepared, doing research on potential opponents.”

“Hardly surprising. The rewards are too great.”

Helmut spoke up. Asuka stared straight at his face.

His annoyingly noble and handsome face showed no trace of tension.

He was always as calm as still water. The reason was simple. He was so strong that no variable could affect him.

As far as Asuka knew, Helmut hadn’t faced any difficulties reaching the round of 32. It was as if he had only faced easy opponents.

Meow. With a small sound, Elaga appeared, swishing his tail and brushing against Helmut’s leg.

Who would guess that this small cat was the strongest demonic beast in the Forest of Roots?

[You three might end up facing each other before the finals. Exciting, isn’t it?]

The preliminary fights are always the most entertaining. Elaga, a thorough spectator of the tournament, was full of leisure.

“More than that, I’m more excited about who will face him first…”

Asuka, who had carelessly opened his mouth, immediately swallowed his words upon receiving simultaneous glances from Helmut and Alea.

Elaga was completely unaware of the incident where Sian had nearly died. He only knew that Sian had lost and been eliminated.

As a demonic beast, Elaga hated holy power. Since they didn’t know what sudden actions Elaga might take, the fact that a holy knight was participating in the tournament had been kept a secret.

[Who’s that guy anyway……?]

Elaga’s eyes narrowed. Alea quickly changed the subject.

“It’s not excitement, but tension, right?”

“It’s normal to feel tense. What about you?”

However, Alea’s gaze, meeting Asuka’s, was indifferent.

Despite it being her first tournament, she seemed to have no particular excitement about her achievements.

Helmut and she were different. It’s not easy for a mage with almost no experience in one-on-one combat to come this far in a martial arts tournament.

“Come to think of it, I’ve never actually seen one of your matches,” Asuka said with a tilt of his head. Their match times often overlapped, so he never got the chance. Obviously, she’d won if she’d made it this far.

Alea, or rather Violet, was the only mage in the round of 32.

A martial arts tournament isn’t exactly an event suited for mages. Many were reluctant to participate, fearing injury.

High-ranking mages already enjoyed high status and wealth. There was no reason to risk their reputation by participating in a martial arts tournament. In fact, Alea was no different.

If Helmut hadn’t participated, she wouldn’t have had a reason to join either.

And having joined, she had to win. It was a compulsion ingrained in her, having never lost the top spot from her admission to graduation at Greta Academy.

Perhaps even surpassing her affection for Helmut.

And soon, the bracket was announced.

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