Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 469 (Part 1):

The rulers of the three domains, who had boldly united their resolve, soon found themselves ensnared by the illusion of Rosetta’s Root.

No matter how much they boasted, their pitiful reliance on that substance remained unchanged.

As long as they were demonic beasts.

“It’s like some kind of drug addiction. You have to keep consuming it,” Igrelle muttered, grimacing as she tossed out a phrase she’d picked up somewhere.

Baharek shot her a sidelong glance.

For some reason, Igrelle’s pink hair seemed to make his mouth water.

Helmut spoke coldly, “One thing’s certain, Baharek. You’re not eating humans from now on.”

Luke Yeager flinched beside him.

“Not eating humans… You mean to say there are demonic beasts that *eat* humans?!” he exclaimed.

Hadn’t Elaga said something earlier about not eating humans, or something like that?

To the Commander of the Palma Knights, such a creature was a target for extermination. His hand instinctively moved to the hilt of his sword.

Levant reacted similarly.

Despite the immediate hostility shown by the humans newly arrived in the Forest of Roots, Baharek remained unfazed.

[What’s wrong with eating humans? In the Forest of Roots, there’s no meat more tender than that.]

[You ought to be grateful I bothered to snap a crazed bastard like you back to your senses. So, you’re not eating them, okay?]

[…Fine, not until this is over. And I won’t touch the humans here.]

Once this was done, though, any humans trespassing into his domain would be fair game, as always. It was like prey flying straight into his jaws—impossible to resist without biting down.

And even if they fought together, there might be casualties among this group.

Wasn’t it fine to eat a human who was already dead? Baharek thought in true demonic beast fashion.

Elaga issued a warning.

[No backstabbing after this is over, either. If you try, I don’t care if it’s the Demon King or whatever—I’ll end you myself.]

As if their earlier unity as rulers of their domains had never happened, distrust filled the air.

Baharek reluctantly nodded.

[Fine, I get it.]

[You’re not exactly trustworthy, so keep your distance.]

Baharek’s expression was one of clear dissatisfaction.

Alea spoke up, “There are… nine of us, counting Igrelle as a human. It’ll take a long time to reach the central domain on foot.”

“Should we have kept Kantara around? We could’ve used him a bit longer,” Helmut said. Their group was indeed sizable.

The massive shell of that turtle would’ve been perfect for carrying so many people.

Even if the golem could carry them, the situation was far different now.

In the magi-heavy atmosphere, the golem’s flight consumed far more magical energy than before.

Back then, escaping the Forest of Roots was the goal, so they could use magic stones liberally. But now, facing the Demon King, they needed to conserve their strength.

Being attacked mid-air was another concern.

Back then, Elaga was below to prevent attacks, but the closer they got to the central domain, the more likely the demonic beasts there would attack without hesitation.

With magi clouding their senses, detecting approaching beasts was difficult, and dealing with attacks—like something hurled at them like cannon fire—would be troublesome.

Having already scattered once, splitting the group again wasn’t ideal.

They needed to keep Elaga and Baharek, who might be swept up by the Demon King’s influence, close by and under watch.

At the very least, a High Priest needed to stay near them.

Helmut turned to Elaga immediately.

“Couldn’t some of us ride on Elaga’s back?”

Igrelle had decided to maintain her human form for now, and no one trusted climbing onto the back of the man-eating tiger, Baharek.

Elaga was the most suitable option.

“That would mean losing the fighting strength of everyone riding Elaga,” Asuka warned, his face stern with genuine reluctance.

Sian, Levina, and Levant felt the same. They’d already experienced hell riding with Elaga.

Elaga grumbled, [I don’t want to carry them either. These guys are so full of themselves. After all the trouble of getting here comfortably.]

“It *was* fast, though. Let’s just ride the golem,” Asuka suggested, nodding toward the golem.

At that moment, Alea tapped her chin with her index finger. A glint sparked in her violet eyes.

“I have an idea.”

She immediately reshaped the golem. Light flashed from the golem, which had been standing in place.

Moments later, a four-wheeled carriage appeared in its place.

The seats were elevated, and the top was completely open.

A carriage needed power to move. There were no horses here, but there were suitable substitutes.

All eyes turned to Elaga and Baharek. Alea pulled a long rope from her subspace and said, “This will make a sturdy carriage. Baharek can be trusted to pull it, and we can all move together. It’s a satisfying solution, isn’t it?”

Baharek and Elaga roared in unison.

[Who’s satisfied with this?!]

[Do you think we’re livestock raised by humans? Tying us up to pull a carriage?!]

The very thought was humiliating. Baharek’s outrage was especially fierce.

[Demon King or not, have you ever seen a tiger pulling a carriage?!]

[Do you think a leopard pulls carriages? I’m not doing it either!]

“No choice, then. A bird can’t exactly pull a carriage,” Igrelle said smugly, shrugging her shoulders.

Even if she reverted to her true form, she wouldn’t be pulling a carriage. She might carry humans by flying, but that was different.

Both Igrelle and Elaga had carried humans before.

But pulling a carriage was another matter entirely—full-on domestication, so to speak.

And these weren’t ordinary demonic beasts; they were the mighty rulers of their domains!

“You can’t defeat the Demon King by only doing what you want. Sometimes, you have to do things you don’t like,” Helmut said firmly, as if to silence their complaints.

Elaga’s eyes gleamed.

[Hold on. Doesn’t one beast suffice to pull a carriage?]

It was just a carriage for about ten humans. There was no need for both Baharek and Elaga to pull it side by side.

That would only get in each other’s way. One beast could generate enough speed.

Baharek flinched.

[You’re the one who’s friendly with humans, Elaga!]

[True. But I’m stronger than you.]

In the Forest of Roots, the strong were the law. But Baharek didn’t back down.

[Strength isn’t the issue—it’s about who’s better suited! I’ve never even carried humans on my back! I can’t pull a carriage.]

No way, no how. No experience, no talent. That was Baharek’s stance.

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