Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 457 (Part 2):

In the heavy silence, they could only nod solemnly.

The topic quickly shifted.

“By the way, about Asuka… I mean, *that guy*.”

“Did you know?”

Their eyes changed, filled with old grudges and suspicion, directed at Helmut.

The reason was obvious. Even after Helmut disappeared, Asuka had continued posing as a commoner, lording over others until graduation.

There’d even been someone who tried to punish Asuka, only to fail miserably and hit rock bottom.

These guys were lucky they hadn’t tried.

Instead, they’d spent their academy days being trampled on, unable to take revenge, and now faced the infuriating reality.

Asuka was royalty.

The eldest son of Grand Duke Farnese, cousin to the Crown Prince!

To think he’d pretended to be a commoner, acting like a victim of noble oppression, playing every card in the book while at the academy.

As if he were some extraordinarily talented commoner!

They’d already vented their frustrations among themselves before speaking to Helmut, but bringing up the topic reignited their anger.

“That guy’s insane!”

The one who blurted it out quickly added, “No subject intended.”

“Yeah, no subject. We’re just talking about some crazy guy.”

“I was so shocked, I couldn’t believe it!”

“I thought my ears were playing tricks on me. Can you believe it? His attitude, his speech…”

Nothing about him screamed royalty. That’s why no one had suspected a thing.

“What are you all talking about?”

At that moment, Asuka appeared out of nowhere.
As if he weren’t Asuka enough, he showed up like a ghost. Those who’d been gossiping about royalty froze in panic.

“You guys talking trash about me? Still haven’t learned your lesson?”

“N-No way!”

“As if we’d do that!”

Many of them were part of the Imperial Knights.

To them, Asuka was a towering superior. Who could’ve predicted this back at the academy?

They’d known that with Asuka’s skills, he’d likely land a decent position despite his foul personality.

But to rise *this* high?

They’d never be able to speak their minds to him, let alone seek retribution.

The world was unfair. Even the nobles felt it.

So, a bit of gossip in this unfair world wasn’t too much, was it?

Helmut replied quietly.
“I didn’t know either. I had my suspicions at times, but I only found out recently.”

“What suspicions? You *were* talking trash about me!”

Asuka shouted, his voice booming.

As always, the guilty ones yell the loudest. His attitude screamed it.

“And you lied too, Helmut, so why am I the only one getting heat?”

“At that point, I didn’t know the truth about my parents, so it wasn’t exactly a lie.”

Helmut drew a cold line between them.

Asuka, at a loss for words, bit his lip.

Back then, his identity was that of a commoner. That was the truth. But he was, in fact, royalty.

His plan to pose as a commoner and show up arrogant nobles had already crumbled.

His own outrageous behavior had seen to that.

After a moment of thought, Asuka doubled down shamelessly.
“I acted that way to set an example as royalty! If you’d treated me as an equal, per the academy’s rules, without regard for status, it wouldn’t have mattered, right?”

There was some truth to that.

Helmut agreed.

“If I’d flaunted my royal status, you lot, with neither skill nor status to match, would’ve been groveling at my feet. I didn’t want to see that pathetic sight!”

…His arrogance was as infuriating as ever.
Back then, they’d let it slide, thinking he was a commoner. But now, hearing a royal say such things made their blood boil.

The faces of his old classmates twisted. Combined with his large frame, it made for a rather menacing scene.

“In the end, I graduated from the academy splendidly despite the penalty of a commoner’s status. How’s that for grit and greatness?”

He wasn’t wrong, but no one wanted to admit it.

To hear him boast like that!

‘Royalty or not.’

They wanted to challenge him to a duel. Of course, they’d lose.

“Enough, Asuka,” Helmut interjected.

These were the people who’d defend the barrier. Crushing their spirits wasn’t wise.

“You wouldn’t want these guys cursing you to get eaten by demonic beasts in the Forest of Roots, would you?”

A few flinched, as if they’d actually entertained the thought.

Asuka shut his mouth, looking uneasy. Then he spoke again.
“Fine, I did deceive you all. It wasn’t my intention, but… I’m sorry.”

His stiff neck dipped ever so slightly. It was a sight Helmut had never expected or imagined from Asuka.

Even Helmut was surprised.

But the sincerity in that rigid apology softened the mood.

“No, it’s fine. Like you said, if we’d known you were royalty, we wouldn’t have treated you so casually.”

“You never benefited from your status at the academy anyway.”

“We heard you volunteered for this life-or-death mission.”

“We wish you luck. May you both achieve your goals and return safely.”

And so, the reunion with old classmates flowed warmly. The banquet was in full swing.

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!

•