Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 424 (Part 1):

The night in the Temple was as deep as the night in Renosa. Each day had passed with nerves on edge, sharp as a blade.

Perhaps Renosa secretly wished for the situation to erupt.

If compromise was impossible, the only path was to clash until one side was utterly shattered.

Neither side entertained the thought of defeat in this battle where their fates hung in the balance.

The victor would be just, and because they were just, they would prevail.

In the pitch-black dawn, the gate opened by sacred magic shone blindingly. It was as if the sun had risen in the night, bathing everything in light.

The moment the gate, connected to the Temple’s heartland by immense holy power, opened, the very air of Renosa stirred.

“They’re here.”

Helmut, Alea, and all those who had reached the pinnacle of their power immediately sensed it.

It was closer to Latona than expected.

The closer to Latona, the closer to the defensive barrier, which meant significant resistance to such large-scale teleportation magic.

Suppressing that resistance would consume an enormous amount of holy power.

But for the Temple, even such a daunting task was merely a matter of expenditure, not impossibility.

Their plan was clear: conquer Latona as swiftly as possible upon arrival. Their arrogance was palpable.

[It’s a revolting sensation.]

Elaga, sensing the faint holy power permeating the air, furrowed his brow.

His fur bristled. For a demonic beast, it was an inherently unpleasant feeling.

Facing those imbued with holy power was a first for him.

‘Not that I’m the one dealing with them.’

His gaze flicked to Helmut.

Helmut, leaping from his bed, calmly gripped his sword, prepared himself, and glanced at Elaga, who was perched by the window.

Then he reached out toward Elaga’s head.

“I’ll be back, so don’t cause any trouble.”

The hand that lightly tapped him withdrew.

Elaga, momentarily stunned by the gesture as if he were a child, watched as Helmut deftly opened the door and slipped out.

Only then did Elaga erupt in indignation.

[Kraaaah! Does this guy think I’m an actual cat?]

But no matter his inner fury, appearances mattered. The angry white cat was, frankly, quite adorable.

The outside, suddenly illuminated, descended into chaos.

Just as the Temple had prepared, so too had Renosa made every preparation.

The door burst open, and Alea appeared.

“It’s begun. We have somewhere to go.”

She reached out and scooped Elaga into her arms.

As she strode forward, Elaga narrowed his eyes at her.

[What’s that? Where are we going? Why didn’t you tell Helmut?]

“Because Helmut wouldn’t like it. But I think you’ll enjoy it, Elaga.”

A chilling smile curled on Alea’s lips.

Beautiful, yet somehow eerie, that smile sparked a premonition in Elaga.

[Oh, is that so?]

She didn’t answer. Holding Elaga, she headed straight for the teleportation circle within the castle.

To prevent escape, the magical currents around Latona had already been sealed by sacred magic.

In such an unstable atmosphere, large-scale teleportation was difficult.

But for a mage of Alea’s caliber, moving a small group was feasible.

It would only take a moment. Though leaving Helmut alone, even briefly, didn’t sit well with her.

This was her way of helping.

Alea’s violet eyes gleamed with a strange light.

At that moment, the Black Wing Knights and Renosa’s army had finished assembling.

*

“Let’s try talking to them first.”

The dean of Greta Academy, along with a few mages from the Mage Association, stepped forward.

The Mage Association had long been at odds with the Temple, but that was entirely because the Temple had dismissed mages as inferior.

The Mage Association had contributed to countless aspects of human life, filling gaps sacred magic couldn’t, by hunting dark mages and providing widespread conveniences, proving they weren’t targets for the Temple’s blade.

As a result, the Temple grudgingly acknowledged their existence as a necessary evil.

The Mage Association had worked to solidify their position without giving the Temple cause to suppress them, and their approach was never openly hostile.

This wasn’t solely because they were weak.

Fundamentally, the Mage Association recognized the Temple as a faction of mages wielding sacred magic.

No mage was unnecessary in this world. The Temple had once defeated the Demon King, saving the world.

Mages were a rational breed.

Though the Temple now shut its eyes and ears, if the Mage Association stood before them, vouched for Helmut’s Seed of Darkness, and proposed a proper verification process, they might be persuaded.

That was the Mage Association’s belief—a final attempt to avert a war that could reduce Renosa to ashes.

War was always best avoided.

Not just Renosa, but many nations stood on the brink of being consumed by the flames of a holy war.

If the Mage Association could prevent it, their standing would rise further.

The dean of Greta Academy, who had dealings with High Priests, believed that approaching openly wouldn’t provoke an immediate attack.

But that calculation was brutally shattered.

Otaku_Tensei

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