Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 49 (Part 2):

It was a bit early, but it was the time when carriages heading to Baden began to increase.

The academies in Baden start the new school year in about two months. Xenia was heading to Baden a bit early for the entrance exam.

Due to the unstable situation in the Kinan Kingdom, many were taking alternative routes, but in their case, Xenia’s insistence led them to choose the fastest path.

Moreover, in the unstable situation, it was unlikely that anyone would dare to easily trouble a family from the empire’s Zahringen.

Besides Helmut, there were four more mercenaries hired. He was the last to join.

Four third-rank mercenaries. It wasn’t common to suddenly find a second-rank mercenary.

The mercenaries who had arrived earlier treated Helmut coldly. Mercenaries who take on requests involving fussy nobles tend to be neatly dressed and less talkative, giving off an experienced vibe.

They stick to their duties without causing unnecessary trouble or asserting dominance.

Monster hunting or escort missions often paid less and were more dangerous than noble escorts, which tended to be safer and better paid. It was important not to cause problems and lower one’s reputation.

Helmut followed the servant to the stables. In Zahringen, they had brought enough trained horses.

The stable, being part of a not-so-ordinary inn, was quite spacious. Horses from Zahringen were kept together, and horses with and without owners were separately managed.

Knights usually rode their own personally trained horses, and mercenaries did the same occasionally.

For those in combat professions, having one’s own horse was important. The harmony between the rider and horse could sometimes decide the outcome of mounted combat.

“Please come this way.”

The stablemaster, taking over from the servant, led Helmut to a corner of the stable and said,

“From Zahringen, these are the only two horses without owners.”

Two horses greeted Helmut with snorts. One was a white horse with a black spot on its snout, and the other was a chestnut horse with gentle-looking eyes.

As expected of horses raised by a noble family, both had shiny coats and appeared well-nourished.

“Which do you prefer? I’ll saddle up the one you choose.”

“Which looks better to you?”

One of Helmut’s strengths was his readiness to listen, due to his lack of knowledge.

“Well, it depends on what you value more. The white horse is more majestic and stronger, but the chestnut is much gentler.”

A stronger horse seemed more suitable for Helmut. He made his choice without much thought.

“Let’s go with the white one.”

The stablemaster looked worried as he saddled the white horse.

Until that moment, the horse had seemed gentle, but as soon as Helmut mounted, it revealed its true temperament without restraint.

Neighing loudly, the horse immediately began to prance as the stablemaster released the reins.

Dancing around, shaking its entire body, Helmut lowered his body to cling onto the horseback to maintain balance.

“Ah, I knew this would happen!”

The distressed stablemaster ran after the prancing horse, attempting to grab the reins. Helmut stopped him.

“Leave it. I’ll handle it.”

He had defeated beasts; taming a horse was nothing in comparison. It was actually a good opportunity.

Helmut took out his whip. Putting strength into his legs, he squeezed the horse’s sides, slowing its movements. The horse must have felt like a heavy iron was placed on its back.

Helmut spoke with a tone of authority,

“Stay still.”

After a moment of further resistance, the white horse, breathing heavily, stopped. Sweat dripped down its nostrils.

Submission was stronger in such wild creatures. Their instincts were alive.

Helmut soothingly said,

“That’s right, we need to save our strength for the departure.”

He tried riding the white horse. Walking at first, then lightly trotting. The stable was too small for a full gallop, but it seemed fine. There seemed to be no problem in riding.

The stablemaster, watching Helmut tame the horse with admiration, tilted his head.

“Well, you seem to handle a horse well, but you’ve hardly ridden before, right? Your posture is a bit…”

“How should I do it?”

After receiving some tips from the stablemaster, Helmut felt more comfortable.

He paid the stablemaster a little for his help.

‘That settles the horse riding.’

It might not be completely resolved. Helmut had never fought while mounted.

But if that happened, he could just dismount and fight. There was no problem.

*

Helmut, having finished preparing, waited near the carriage. Soon, he saw Xenia and that mage, Alea, walking towards it together, followed by a butler and several knights.

“Lord Alea, please, get in the carriage. I’m looking forward to what stories we’ll share today.”

Unlike Xenia, who clung to him with an excited face, chattering away, the mage maintained a ‘just polite’ attitude, seemingly annoyed as he looked straight ahead.

As he passed by Helmut, their eyes seemed to meet again, just like before. The mage looked at Helmut.

He was aware of Helmut’s existence. Why that was, Helmut couldn’t say.

Was it an instinct to sense danger? As mages grow stronger, their senses tend to sharpen.

‘A strong mage.’

Helmut reassessed the mage named Alea. He was quite a powerful mage, enough to conceal his magic from Helmut.

Helmut could sense his magic because it leaked from his center, wrapping around his body in a very subtle way.

This was not ordinary. Normally, before using magic, a mage holds their magic within, like a vessel.

Even if he had a magical item, it wouldn’t cause the flow of magic to act like this.

‘Then, this mage must be…’

Helmut found the answer. This Alea was constantly employing some kind of magic.

Others, not as sensitive as Helmut, would find it hard to detect magic, much less assume it’s just part of being a mage.

But clearly, this was a trace of magic.

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!

•