Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 5 (Part 1):

“Speak!”

The stranger didn’t let Helmut remain silent.

Even when dealing with a ten-year-old child in the Forest of Roots, one must not let their guard down.

The blade that had been slightly away from his throat now pressed against it. Helmut hurriedly spoke.

“I’ve never seen a human here before.”

Helmut is ten years old. So far, the only one he has spoken to is Elaga.

Expressing what he thinks and feels in a plausible way is a daunting task for Helmut.

However, the meaning of his brief words seemed to be understood. The stranger sheathed his sword.

He didn’t seem pleased to see Helmut. With a look of annoyance, the stranger waved his hand.

“Get out of my territory.”

“No.”

The stranger looked down at Helmut, who stubbornly retorted, with an incredulous look.

“If you miss the warmth of humans, you’ve chosen the wrong person.”

“What is the warmth of humans? Does it mean that humans are warm?”

Helmut asked out of curiosity. He couldn’t understand such an abstract expression.

The stranger scrutinized Helmut with a penetrating gaze, an observing look.

“Are you a human born in this forest?”

“No, I was sent here after I was born.”

“Probably because of the Seed of darkness.”

“Yes.”

“Most children would have been killed outright, so you must be of noble status.”

Helmut tilted his head, unable to understand what ‘noble status’ meant.

What Helmut knew about the human world came from the sporadic words thrown by Elaga.

His knowledge was limited to the brief moment he spent in his mother’s embrace and the memories of that time, holding only trivial knowledge.

“Whether you’re the child of an enemy or an ally, all destinies belong to the past. You owe that leopard. Not bad.”

The stranger, muttering as if talking to himself, suddenly asked.

“Do you have something to prove your status?”

“Something to prove my status?”

When Helmut repeated the question word for word, the stranger raised his eyebrows. It was a frustrated look, as if looking at a child just learning to speak.

“It’s something you had when you were thrown into this forest.”

Helmut searched his memories. There might have been something else besides the loincloth that wrapped around him. Elaga would probably know.

But given her nature, she probably didn’t keep it well.

“I’m not sure.”

Meaning he wasn’t certain. The stranger nodded his head as if he hadn’t expected it.

“I never thought I’d have a human guest in my lifetime. But since you’re here, let me ask.”

And he asked Helmut with a heavy gaze.

“Do you have a wish?”

It sounded like he would grant it if there was a wish.

Helmut swallowed dry saliva. It was a difficult question because it was vague.

Helmut blurted out as best he could. He hadn’t expected those words to pop out of his mouth.

“I… want to leave the forest.”

According to Elaga’s words, this human might know how to leave the forest.

Helmut hadn’t thought about it until now.

But the moment he let those words out of his mouth, a heavy lump hit somewhere inside him. A vacuum in his chest rang like a bell.

Helmut discovered a longing he didn’t know he had.

He wanted to leave the forest. Like a salmon swimming upstream, it was instinct. Returning to his origin.

No, maybe he just wished for it at this moment. But why?

There’s no particular dissatisfaction with his current life. It’s a familiar life that’s neither harsh nor difficult.

However, humans are not creatures satisfied merely by the resolution of physiological needs. Something more was needed.

That was the case for Helmut too. A struggle, like constantly pouring questions and striving for something, a struggle with that something unknown.

It could be natural. Having been abandoned since birth, he had no choice but to live in the Forest of Roots.

This is not a human’s territory. Helmut is human. Humans should live in the realm of humans.

Elaga’s attitude was ambiguous. She didn’t provide detailed information or push Helmut towards the human world. But she always subtly reminded Helmut of his humanity and the existence of the outside world.

Was it gradually being painted in Helmut’s mind?

His eyes became moist. Helmut, pressing against his teary eyes, said,

“I, I lived in the Forest of Roots since I was abandoned as a baby.”

“So?”

“What’s in the outside world? What’s different between this Forest of Roots and the human world?”

Helmut asked. The stern gaze of the stranger softened a bit.

“The world of humans is not as beautiful or peaceful as you think. The outer world is not without its dangers. Humans there lack sharp claws and teeth, and their bodies are fragile. However, with weak bodies, they are cruel and know how to unite.”

Helmut grinned. If the human world, with its lack of sharp claws and teeth and weak bodies, is less safe than the Forest of Roots, the stranger’s words didn’t sound convincing.

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