Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 41 (Part 1):

“Would it be insincere if it weren’t?”

Helmut countered. His expression was so impassive it felt cold. Finn knew those deep, black eyes of Helmut always carried a serious light.

Helmut wasn’t one to falsely bolster someone’s confidence by lying about their talents. There was no reason for him to need to impress Finn.

Finn felt pleased. Helmut was a stronger swordsman than Phien, a prodigy deserving of the word “genius.” A warrior among warriors who had single-handedly defeated fearsome beasts.

For such a Helmut to acknowledge something Finn was secretly proud of was gratifying.

“Do you really think I have a talent for cooking?”

“You said yourself the food I made tasted good.”

Finn scratched his cheek sheepishly.

“Well, yeah. You did seem to enjoy it a bit more than others.”

Elated, Finn gulped down his beer. A terrible hangover was certain tomorrow, but no one was there to stop him. Lost in his thoughts, Finn murmured.

“I do cook well, huh? Yeah, no one ever complained about my food.
But isn’t being a mercenary cooler than being a cook? Handling a knife to slice meat is one thing, but swinging a sword in battle is something else.”

“I don’t know about that.”

To Helmut, neither seemed particularly “cool.” In fact, he wasn’t sure what feeling “cool” even meant.

Finn was seriously considering a career change.

“Well, famous chefs do make a lot of money. Maybe that’s a better path for me. Honestly, even though I’ve been trained in swordsmanship, I keep forgetting it. Training till I’m sweating isn’t fun either.”

Then he asked outright.

“Hey, what do you think is higher: your talent for swordsmanship or my talent for cooking?”

‘Is that even a question?’

Helmut couldn’t help but smirk at the absurdity.

‘Obviously mine…’

But when it came down to outright comparison, he found himself at a loss for words. Even Helmut wasn’t entirely sure how skilled he was.

‘I’m stronger than Phien, so I must be at least a 2nd-rank mercenary or higher.’

But when asked if there were as many 14-year-old boys with more than 2nd-rank mercenary skills as there were 14-year-olds who could cook as well as Finn, he was stumped. He might lean towards his own skills, but he couldn’t be certain.

Helmut chose to remain silent.

“Hey, if I really become a chef and open my own restaurant, I’ll invite you! You better come.”

“Sure.”

Regardless of what the drunk Finn said, Helmut gave non-committal responses and brushed it off.

Soon, Finn reached his limit and collapsed onto the table with a thud.

He seemed unbothered by any pain, snoring away as Helmut looked down at him in silence. Now alone with his thoughts, Helmut reflected on everything that had happened since leaving the Forest of Roots.

Things were going smoothly from his perspective. The human world was new and fascinating, making the pain of crossing the barrier worth it.

But this was just the beginning. His body had recovered, and he knew his strength.

‘Once the mission is over…’

He wasn’t sure about the exact amount but expected to be quite well-off.

He had a destination in mind, though he was skeptical if going there was the right choice.

But Darien had mentioned it was necessary. He must have his reasons.

‘I need time too.’

To sharpen his sword skills, gain more experience, and slowly learn more about the human world.

About the woman in his pendant, Helmut’s mother.

Helmut was swimming against the current. If he encountered a wall on his path, he would overcome it, as he always had.

Leaving Finn passed out at the table, Helmut returned to his room alone.

It wasn’t until dawn that Finn awoke, uncomfortable and clueless about how he got to his room, before falling asleep again.

Luckily, the departure wasn’t until later in the morning; otherwise, he might not have been able to get up at all.

As they were leaving the inn, Phien winced at the bill.

“How much did you guys drink, exactly?”

“Finn can barely stand straight.”

“Ah, my head… Hey, how can you be the only one who’s fine? That’s so annoying.”

Holding his head and groaning, Finn complained. Helmut remained indifferent.

Unlike Finn, Helmut was perfectly fine. It wasn’t water but alcohol he had drunk, and he had evaporated any lingering drunkenness with his Vis.

Now, there were only a few days left. The Pace Mercenary Corps members looked noticeably better in the morning after a full rest.

Focused on resting rather than unwinding to the end like Finn, they were scolded naturally.

“This guy, already slacking off as a rank 4 mercenary. The mission isn’t over yet!”

After getting smacked on the back, Finn nearly fell forward. Smirking, he shouted back.

“Sean, you’re not getting invited to my restaurant! Wait until I open a high-end place you can’t afford on your salary!”

Sean looked incredulous.

“What are you even saying?”

It seems Finn hadn’t forgotten their conversation from the night before, despite all the alcohol.

Boasting to Sean, Finn winked at Helmut. A new chapter in the life of a young man contemplating a change in direction had begun.

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!

•