Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 405 (Part 1):

Helmut gazed out the window where sunlight streamed in.

The sky on the day of the final match was astonishingly clear. A refreshing morning.

From head to toe, every sensation in his body was alive, in peak condition.

As if he had honed both body and mind solely for this day.

Early in the morning, someone from the martial arts tournament staff knocked on his door and spoke to him.

“It’s almost time to depart. You should finish your preparations.”

The final was set to begin past noon, at the hour when the sun hung highest in the sky. A tournament attended by the imperial family of the empire and the Grand Duke of Renosa and his wife. Since high-ranking figures would be observing, participants had to arrive early for safety inspections.

There was no need to don armor, so there wasn’t much to prepare. Once dressed, Helmut reached for the iron mask.

Though Alea’s magic had made it surprisingly comfortable to wear, few people enjoyed hiding their faces.

Since entering the tournament, Helmut had made it a rule to wear this mask whenever he went out.

Especially recently—with the Iron Masked contestant rising as a strong favorite for victory, curiosity about the face beneath had grown rampant.

Some had even attempted to infiltrate his lodgings.

‘My real face feels unfamiliar now.’

Today would likely be the last day he wore this mask. Helmut pressed it firmly onto his face.

It fit snugly, as if tailored for him. Sword in hand, he stepped out of his room in the same attire as always.

It was time to depart.

—

The comprehensive martial arts tournament, co-hosted by the empire and the Principality of Renosa, had drawn more attention than any previous event.

The city where the tournament was held teemed with people who had flocked from all over.

A competition where the strongest proved their might—where, perhaps, a commoner could rise to nobility.

Ticket prices had skyrocketed, and despite strict bans on scalping, the black market thrived.

Naturally, the hardest tickets to obtain were for the finals.

Even though the finalists—Helmut and Servant—were unknown figures, neither famous knights nor mercenaries, anticipation ran high.

Everyone buzzed with excitement, eager to see who would emerge victorious from this fierce battle.

“That guy with the iron mask… Dark, was it? Anyone here seen his matches?”

“No. But I heard he’s never dragged out a single fight until the final. Well, except for the semifinal.”

“They say his matches give you the least bang for your buck. Shortest fights in the tournament.”

“Ah, what a shame! I was rooting for Violet.”

“I think most people who watched that match felt the same.”

But after defeating Violet, the iron-masked man, Dark, had instantly become the undisputed favorite to win—surpassing even the golden-eyed Servant.

“Who’d you bet on? I put my money on Dark.”

“Isn’t it the warrior of light who triumphs over darkness? I’m with Servant.”

“The quiet ones are always stronger.”

“I heard that Dark guy wears the mask because his face is disfigured from burns.”

“Goodness, how tragic.”

The arena buzzed with unfounded rumors and whispers.

“They say the emperor himself will attend today’s final?”

“Along with the Grand Duke of Renosa and his family.”

“Heavens, to have such esteemed figures gathered in one place… When will we ever see a tournament like this again?”

“Exactly. Good thing I didn’t resell my ticket.”

Commoners and nobles alike—those who had secured seats for the final match—were all satisfied.

Though the general stands and the noble-exclusive VIP sections were separated, it wasn’t absolute. Wealthier nobles snatched up as many tickets as they could, even in the general seating.

Separately, a lavish, shaded seating area had been prepared at the very top of the stands for the imperial family and the Grand Duke’s household.

A large contingent of imperial knights and mages stood guard around them, ensuring no unsavory incidents befell the distinguished guests.

Since the day before, they had scoured the arena and its surroundings for any suspicious individuals.

Today, entry was strictly controlled under heavy surveillance.

If spectators didn’t arrive before the imperial family was seated, they would be barred from entering until the match ended.

Thus, from early morning, the arena was packed.

Alea, Sian, and Asuka—eliminated contestants—arrived fashionably late.

The moment Alea appeared, cheers erupted around her.

“Good heavens, it’s Violet!”

Alea still maintained Violet’s signature purple hair.

Even if she reverted to her original appearance, her face remained the same—people would still recognize her as Violet. It was more convenient to maintain Violet’s identity.

“Wow, nice seats.”

As Alea took her seat, Sian followed, whistling as he glanced around. They had front-row seats with a perfect view of the stage.

Alea had pulled some strings to secure tickets for Sian and Asuka as well.

After all, wasn’t it better for friends to cheer on her boyfriend together?

Sian ribbed Asuka.

“Hey, you could’ve just watched from the noble seats. What a waste of a ticket.”

“Isn’t it an honor for you to watch with me? Don’t be so stingy.”

Asuka had barely survived last night’s dinner with the high-ranking guests.

His father had been uncomfortable enough, but the emperor was there too. The emperor had looked down at Asuka with an amused glint in his eye.

‘I’ve heard your swordsmanship is excellent. Though I’ve also heard you’re rather… hot-blooded.’

The implication stung. Had his constant clashes with the Crown Prince reached the emperor’s ears? But Asuka couldn’t help himself.

He hadn’t been outright disrespectful, but he’d needled the Crown Prince at every opportunity.

Had the Grand Duke and Duchess of Renosa not been present, the Crown Prince might have slapped him.

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