Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 449 (Part 2):

Igrelle couldn’t transform into her human form until her wounds and damaged feathers had fully healed. Staying transformed halted her recovery entirely.

So she had gone with Heike to her hideout.

Elaga, on the other hand, had traveled all the way here in his cat form.

“If you get close, the High Priest might recognize you,” Alea replied.

“But does it matter? They must have their suspicions already.”

After all, if the demonic beast attack had hit right when the Temple forces were away, it would be strange not to suspect Renosa’s involvement.

[I destroyed their place. If they see me, won’t they get pissed and ruin the conference?]

“Buildings can be repaired. People can’t be brought back to life. You didn’t kill anyone, did you?”

Probably not. From what Alea had seen while trailing him, Elaga had swatted down anyone who attacked him and then left immediately—inflicting enough force to disable, but not to kill.

It wasn’t mercy by design—it was habit.

He had once cared for humans, including a young Helmut, and so naturally pulled his blows when facing them.

That mercy might now serve them well, given their new alliance with the Temple.

Even if Elaga was a demonic beast, one could make peace with an enemy—if not with a sworn nemesis.

[Humans are too fragile,] Elaga grumbled.

But being Temple folk didn’t mean he could kill them indiscriminately.

It was like how a person who loved animals couldn’t bring themselves to abuse them.

Elaga basically saw humans as pets.

Helmut spoke quietly.

“They’ve already seen your power. Even if they recognize you, they can’t do much about it.”

Even if the Temple gathered all their High Priests, they wouldn’t be able to handle Elaga.

If he offered his active support, they would have no choice but to accept.

Alea nodded.

“Still, it’s better to reveal it after the conference is underway. And we should tell them about what we’ve discovered.”

The Root of Rosetta—an unprocessed form that awakened resistance to magi. Its effects on demonic beasts were proven, but whether it worked the same for humans remained unknown.

“It’s normally processed into a sedative, but raw, it boosts resistance.”

“Especially against magi.”

Helmut picked up where Alea left off.

“Mages are sometimes tempted. Mana and magi are different, but they’re very close forces. So… in front of the Demon King, some might give in.”

Even when the Demon King was sealed, dark mages had appeared from time to time.

Once the Sacred Barrier fell, his power would begin to seep into the world.

For all they knew, it was already happening.

More mages would be tempted—and some would cross the line.

The greatest gift dark magic could offer was immortality.

A way to escape death itself, something even an archmage could not do.

Mages sought to transcend limits and reach higher.

If tempted openly with the promise of freedom from the constraint of lifespan, some would surely succumb.

The Root of Rosetta might keep their minds safe.

By now, their carriage was passing through the palace gates. Faint traces of holy power could be felt in the air.

The High Priests were inside—sharing a roof with their enemies.

Not long ago, they had fought to the death. Ironically, now a common enemy had forced them together.

Alea muttered under her breath.

“It’s going to get crowded soon.”

Every nation with the strength to stand against the Demon King would be sending envoys to the Imperial Palace.

“Guess we’ll be seeing some familiar faces,” Helmut murmured suddenly.

After being declared Renosa’s heir, he had gone straight there.

Many of his old classmates from Greta Academy were Imperial-born, now serving as knights in the Empire.

The thought of meeting them again felt strange.

Sian, now in better spirits, chuckled.

“Familiar faces? Not exactly. You were in the swordsmanship department.”

“So what?”

“By the time swordsmanship students graduate, they’ve bulked up a lot. Even the cute ones from back then will be all muscle now. You won’t want to talk to them.”

“Asuka didn’t turn out like that.”

“He was naturally handsome, so even grown up he’s still like that. But the others? They were like that as kids—imagine them bigger.”

Indeed, swordsmanship students tended to lose their boyish charm early, which probably made raising them less “fun” for their parents.

Helmut’s lips curved faintly as he brushed the hilt of his sword.

“They’ve all improved a lot, I’m sure.”

“Somewhat? But still nowhere near your level.”

With that, Sian clenched a fist.

“Fighting the Demon King on the battlefield with our old Greta classmates—that’s actually kind of cool.”

“Cool doesn’t matter. Survival does.”

Alea’s dry remark coincided with the carriage coming to a halt. The door swung open.

Helmut stepped out first, extending a hand to Alea.

“Let’s go.”

From here, history would begin again.

To face the resurrected catastrophe. To finish the fight they had failed to end a thousand years ago.

Defeat would mean the end of the world.

They had to win.

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