Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 397 (Part 2):

After Asuka’s elimination, the tournament continued without incident. Helmut and Alea smoothly advanced to the quarterfinals.

For a mage, Alea’s performance in one-on-one duels was unprecedentedly strong, drawing enthusiastic support from many other mages.

Some even correctly guessed her identity, noting her resemblance to Alea, who had graduated top of her class from Greta Academy’s magic department before disappearing. However, no one could confirm it, as Alea skillfully avoided anyone who tried to approach her.

Above all, “Violet” was known as a woman, and it was hard for people’s common sense to link Violet and Alea as the same person when they also mistakenly pictured Alea as male back in her academy days.

“Once this tournament ends, Violet will have to disappear,” Alea said, sounding rather annoyed.

Alea said with a hint of annoyance. Rumors also swirled around Helmut, the mysterious man with the steel mask, but no one dared approach him directly. Most who neared Helmut felt an overwhelming sense of intimidation and instinctively stepped back.

In contrast, Alea, the beautiful female mage, attracted supporters not just among fellow mages but also among casual spectators of the tournament.

Especially women, who cheered wildly for Alea.

’Lady Violet, you’re incredible!’

’You’re so strong and beautiful!’

They showered her with flowers and gifts after each match, to the point that her room was nearly overflowing.

Alea didn’t particularly react to her sudden surge in popularity.

“These expensive items can be resold to fund my research.”

For instance, a stuffed bear with jewels for eyes and nose would fetch a nice price.

Since Alea had gained followers, Helmut had stopped acting familiar with her in public.

He observed the situation and thought simply.

‘It’s similar to what happened at the academy.’

He wasn’t envious. Helmut didn’t need to hide or avoid people like Alea did.

‘That golden-eyed Holy Knight also made it to the quarterfinals.’

He, too, generated plenty of buzz. The organizers were keeping a close watch on him after learning he was from the temple, but so far, he hadn’t shown any suspicious behavior.

Like Helmut and Alea, he had advanced to the quarterfinals without any difficulty.

The tournament had been smooth sailing, but as the quarterfinals approached, Helmut felt a growing unease.

‘If I win this one, my next opponent will be……’

Alea. Beating her would be his ticket to the finals. Helmut frowned slightly—he rarely disliked the prospect of an upcoming fight, but this was one such case.

At the same time, he didn’t hope for Alea to be eliminated in the quarterfinals.

Helmut admired strength. He felt a quiet pride in seeing his girlfriend demonstrate her own might, and he was certain Alea felt the same about him.

‘Let’s see how the semifinals shake out.’

Helmut rose from his seat. His quarterfinal match was about to begin. There was a fight ahead, and he would return victorious.

“You’re a small one.”

When Helmut stepped onto the stage, his opponent smirked. Despite facing Helmut’s steel mask and intimidating gaze, he showed no signs of being intimidated.

‘An axe?’

Helmut hadn’t bothered with any pre-match research, so he only learned about his opponent upon stepping onto the stage.

His quarterfinal foe was a warrior wielding an axe, huge enough to make the floor quake with each step.

He was a head taller than Helmut, with a massive frame and a bare torso crisscrossed with bulging veins.

His rock-like muscles served as their own armor. In contrast, his closely shaven head gleamed in the light, revealing a thoroughly bald scalp.

‘A mercenary, perhaps.’

Helmut studied the man’s weapon intensely.

It wasn’t a common double-bladed axe but a single-bladed one, looking somewhat like a woodcutting axe.

However, the head was longer and sharper than a typical woodcutter’s axe, with a thick, weighty metal shaft that could double as a hammer if need be.

A single swing from that big man could cleave an ordinary person’s skull like firewood—even without channeling Vis. Or perhaps just crush it entirely.

It was a weapon Helmut had never encountered before.

Most swordsmanship was closely related to the use of Vis. As one trained in swordsmanship, they accumulated Vis and became adept at using it.

Mastering Vis utilization with weapons other than the sword is significantly more challenging. This is why the term “Swordsmanship” is widely recognized, while “Axemanship” is scarcely ever mentioned.

Nonetheless, this warrior was skilled enough to make it into the quarterfinals of a prestigious, well-rewarded open tournament. The powerful Vis radiating from his body was formidable. By Helmut’s estimate, he was only slightly weaker than Luke Yeager.

‘A strong one indeed. Possibly more powerful than many high-ranking knights. If he’s a mercenary, then he’s at a platinum level.’

His bearing suggested he had never in his life been cowed by anyone. That fierce gaze, combined with his perfect build for power rather than speed, was truly something to behold.

He seemed to hail from a distant land, given his unfamiliar appearance and attire.

“A strong bald guy.”

Helmut murmured absently. The man’s eyebrow twitched.

“You little runt, are you itching to die?”

Most bald men hate being called bald to their face. No one else dared say it outright to this giant.

But Helmut was simply stating his observation; he had no idea it might offend. After all, he’d rarely seen bald humans. Demonic beasts like Elaga shed fur only during seasonal molting, not from baldness.

Helmut tilted his head thoughtfully.

“Is it bald by nature, or did you shave it? I’m asking because it’s hard to tell.”

A bit of hair at least helps protect the head. Although shorter hair might provide better visibility, it’s usually left at some minimal length. Even if someone was balding, unless they were completely bald, it was better to leave some hair—but this man had shaved everything off.

Helmut’s curiosity was entirely genuine, but his calm tone came across as pure mockery to the giant man.

“You bastard! Wanna die that badly? You dare criticize my head?”

“I’m just asking if you’re naturally bald or if you shaved it.”

In Helmut’s measured voice, the man heard only provocation. He slammed the butt of his axe against the stage. **Koom!** The entire platform shook as if struck by an earthquake.

A roar rang out.

“You rat-faced whelp in a tin mask! I’ll smash that mask of yours, so you look just as bald as me! Then we’ll see who’s laughing!”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

Irritation flickered across Helmut’s face. He couldn’t understand why the man grew so hostile simply because Helmut had asked a question.

‘Is he looking down on me?’

A chilling light passed through Helmut’s eyes.

If that was the case, the solution was simple: defeat him and extract the answer afterward.

Otaku_Tensei

I'm currently Translating the following novel: Helmut: The Forsaken Child. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!

•