Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 406 (Part 2):

The surroundings were chaotic, a cacophony of voices spreading in disarray.

Had the tournament grounds ever been this restless, from the preliminaries to the final?

And yet, the sky above the stage looked impossibly clear.

‘A fine day.’

Helmut ascended the stage calmly, unhurried. The air around him felt detached from the surrounding atmosphere—utterly still.

About ten paces ahead stood his opponent. A Holy Knight. Of all things, his fated final adversary turned out to be the sword of Lumen.

Lumen—the one who had twisted Helmut’s fate and trapped him in the Forest of Roots.

And now, it was as if that very Lumen had sent forth his sharpest, strongest sword.

It felt like standing before the final barrier.

‘Then all I have to do is overcome this… That’s all.’

Suddenly, a voice called out.

“I’ve heard much about you. They say you’re quite the skilled one.”

Though the man seemed to be offering praise, his tone lacked admiration. If anything, there was an air of detached judgment, as if he were assessing Helmut from above.

Helmut slowly studied the man’s face.

A chiseled visage. Golden eyes that blazed like the sun.

He recognized that look. People like that believed themselves right, unwavering as they pursued their path. Whether born of arrogance or flawed conviction, it didn’t matter once it was set.

They rejected all opposition as if shaking off raindrops. That unshakable faith would destroy anything that stood against it.

‘But is yours… truly that unshakable?’

Helmut questioned. Were those neatly cultivated beliefs truly strong enough to withstand any shock?

‘No.’

He already had the answer. Because he had a clear standard of comparison.

This man’s life had been like that of a greenhouse flower. There was no way his foundations were as solid as Helmut’s.

He had never experienced true hardship. That’s why he clung to his convictions so confidently—his inevitable victory, Helmut’s inevitable loss.

‘Disgusting.’

A cold smirk flickered across Helmut’s lips.

For someone raised in the Forest of Roots, there was nothing more infuriating than being looked down upon by someone weaker.

He knew instantly. This man was strong. Stronger than Luke Yeager, stronger than the former commander of the Palma Knights. Among all the people Helmut had met since leaving the forest, the strongest.

Someone the Temple could proudly claim as their trump card. A once-in-a-generation prodigy with the sword.

But he was still weaker than Darien.

And someone weaker than Darien could never defeat Helmut. That much was beyond question.

‘And when it comes to talent, I’m not inferior either.’

Hadn’t he never once met a true rival since entering the human world? Helmut asked plainly,

“Holy Knight. Have you seen my sword?”

“No.”

“That’s a shame. If you had, you would’ve already known.”

Known just how strong his opponent was—and just how weak he himself was, compared to him. If he had seen that, he wouldn’t have dared show up today dressed like that. Misfortune, truly.

Only now, at this moment, would he come to bitterly understand what he had never known before.

Defeat is always a meaningful teacher.

The man with golden eyes raised a brow, seemingly irked by Helmut’s provocation.

“Confidence is fine. But unfortunately, I do not lose.”

His voice deepened with emphasis.

“I am Lumen’s First Sword. Defeat is not permitted to me.”

It was the first time he had revealed his identity. Lumen’s First Sword. Helmut didn’t know, but the Holy Knight commander was known as Lumen’s Second Sword.

The First Sword position had remained vacant for ages. Only one chosen by the Sacred Sword could claim the title.

And this man was both Lumen’s First Sword and wielder of the Sacred Sword. The Temple’s most powerful sacred relic would surely deliver him victory.

The Sacred Sword’s power, said to burn away all evil, was terrifying. It pushed his skill to the very limit.

Though he sensed his opponent would not be easy, Servant was unshaken.

‘Even if he’s the Sword Saint, he won’t beat me.’

Even the High Priests had said so. Determination like stone filled his eyes.

“What a pity. I’ve never lost either.”

A fierce grin formed on Helmut’s lips. There was no more need for words. Everything would be settled with the outcome.

The moment of destiny ignited like a flame. Helmut had been burned by that fire, wounded by it, and forged within it.

And so, here he stood.

No matter how strong Lumen’s light was, it would not extinguish his darkness.

For light was fleeting, but his darkness had grown long and deep.

‘It’s been a while… Mother.’

His gaze flickered briefly toward where she sat before his hand tightened around his sword’s hilt.

Finally, with a loud signal, the duel began.

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