Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 468 (Part 2):

Baharek, who had been eyeing the humans, suddenly sniffed the air. [There’s a strange scent. It clears the mind.]

The fragrance of Rosetta was emanating from Alea.

As the scent filled the surroundings, it carried Rosetta’s effects.

This place would be safe from the Demon King’s influence for a while, until the fragrance faded.

[Are you alright, Elaga?]

[Me? What about me? I’m not some weak-minded fool like you.]

Elaga brushed it off, though he felt a pang of guilt.

The Demon King’s influence likely affected him in a similar way as it had Baharek.

[Now that I think about it, didn’t you leave the Forest of Roots? Why are you in my domain? I definitely sensed you and Igrelle leaving the sacred barrier.]

Baharek growled, his territorial instincts kicking in belatedly.

He had thought Elaga was gone, yet here he was, intruding on his domain again—with humans, no less!

Some of them even radiated an unsettling holy power and had attacked him.

Even though he had lost to Elaga before, this was not a situation he could tolerate.

Elaga replied nonchalantly, [They say the Demon King is reviving. So I came back to stop it.]

[The Demon King? Didn’t that thing die a thousand years ago? Isn’t that why the Forest of Roots was created?]

Baharek rummaged through the knowledge his demonic nature provided.

Having had little contact with humans, his need to recall such knowledge was limited.

He had lived contentedly, ruling the western domain, occasionally lording over other demonic beasts.

This was the first anomaly to disrupt his life.

[They say the demonic energy we possess is the source and will of the Demon King. If he revives, all demonic beasts will fall under his control.]

[What? That’s nonsense! Who could control me?]

[Exactly, ridiculous, right? So, want to fight with us?]

When Elaga asked, Baharek, who had been fuming, flinched.

Instinctively, he calculated the odds of victory. But the feeling was ambiguous. There was no guarantee of winning.

This cunning tiger was loud but quick to back off when he sensed defeat.

Elaga preempted him. [Kantara, that coward, says he’ll stay holed up in the northern sea until he dies. You’re not that kind of coward, are you?]

Elaga had never spoken to Kantara.

But given that Helmut’s party carried Kantara’s scent yet wasn’t with them, it was a reasonable assumption.

It was a sharp insight.

Unable to tolerate being called a coward, Baharek cautiously asked, [Even Igrelle… the three of us together?]

“Of course.”

Baharek narrowed his eyes at the sight of a woman with pink hair who had suddenly spoken up.

[Igrelle, huh? Why do you look so… tasty and weak?]

To the man-eating tiger Baharek, the human form of Igrelle made his mouth water.

Especially since Igrelle was brimming with immense demonic energy.

“No matter what form I take, I’m still Igrelle,” she warned, crossing her arms.

“You’ve got nothing better to do anyway. If we leave you here, you’ll either eat more mato and go mad or fall under the Demon King’s control. Come with us.”

[Can’t I just keep that Rosetta stuff with me? If we go to the central domain, the Demon King’s influence will only get stronger.]

Baharek quickly added, [I’m not saying this because I’m scared! Think about it. The closer we get to the central domain, the harder it’ll be to resist. Most of the demonic beasts in my domain have already headed there. It’ll be crawling with them.]

[Since when were you afraid of lesser beasts? No matter how many there are, they’re just rabble.]

As Elaga exuded confidence, Baharek shook his head.

[I’ve been in the Forest of Roots this whole time, seeing, hearing, and feeling what’s happening. The central domain is probably swarming with nearly every demonic beast in the forest. There’ll be as many as a plague of locusts. Even if they’re lesser beasts, fighting them off will take serious effort. We’d also have to endure mental attacks while spewing out demonic energy.]

“You keep talking a lot. Sounds like you’re just scared to go,” Igrelle said, raising an eyebrow.

In truth, she had never once doubted that she would fight alongside the humans.

It wasn’t that she cared for humans like Elaga did.

Igrelle’s reason for fighting aligned with why she had wanted to leave the Forest of Roots in the first place.

Back then, she had longed to soar freely in the skies beyond the sacred barrier.

That’s why she had cooperated with Helmut’s party.

For a bird, the freedom to fly through the skies was paramount.

But if the Demon King revived, Igrelle would lose her free will.

Under his control, she wouldn’t be able to enjoy the thrill of soaring through the world’s skies.

Even if the sacred barrier ceased to exist by then.

“We are the rulers of our domains. Let’s uphold our pride as rulers! Do you want to live as a puppet?”

Baharek flinched. He, too, had no desire to be controlled.

Wasn’t that why he, a tiger, had resorted to eating a hill’s worth of grass in a desperate act of resistance, even to the point of madness?

Even if the Demon King succeeded in reviving, there was no guarantee that mato or Rosetta alone could keep him at bay.

A coward like Kantara might hide in the sea and escape, but standing back and hoping for a favorable outcome was not the way of a domain ruler.

Igrelle was right. A glint of determination flashed in Baharek’s eyes.

[No, I am Baharek, ruler of the western domain! Demon King or not, nothing can control me! I’ll fight and ensure he never raises his head again!]

[Good! Three against one. Let’s see how long that Demon King lasts!]

Elaga responded with vigor.

Thus, for the first time since the creation of the Forest of Roots, an alliance of the three domain rulers was formed.

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!

•