Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 5 (Part 2):

“The reason you were abandoned in this forest is because of the ‘Seed of Darkness’. As long as that’s inside you, even if you escape from this Forest, you might be chased and fight with humans and meet death. Do you still want to go to the outside world?” said the stranger.

Helmut nodded without hesitation. There was no need to ponder. After all, a choice is one of two similar options.

Helmut thought at first that his destiny was to live and die in Elaga’s territory.

Of course, that might not be bad. Living and dying like the monsters that were born and grew up in the Forest of Roots. It’s not despair because it’s natural.

But what if there’s another choice?

The moment engraved in the distant memories occasionally flashed back. Helmut remembered his mother, the blonde woman who embraced him and shed tears.

If he didn’t remember anything, it would be different. That memory sometimes surged and touched him.

The place where Helmut fell from that comfortable embrace was the Forest of Roots, spoken of as a place no one could escape.

It wasn’t premature hope. Helmut had no childish optimism. Instead, he had determination and resilience.

If there was a path to take, he had to take it. It brightly emerged as a mission.

Helmut held his head high.

“Still, I want to leave.”

He squinted and asked.

“Why don’t you want to leave? Why are you living here?”

“If I go, the world will be stained in blood.”

The stranger spoke in a low and heavy voice like the echo of a gong.

“If I go to the human world, I must duly revenge against those who sent me here. For revenge, I will stain this hand with the blood of countless people.”

Regret was in his eyes.

“But my age, ninety-six. I’ve already seen enough blood to become a river. Even if I do that, what will be left in these hands, aside from the anger turned to ash?”

“I… don’t know.”

Helmut shook his head from side to side, taking the stranger’s monologue as a question.

“Anyway, I want to leave the forest.”
The more he repeated that, the stronger his longing became. A sensation as if the blurry world was becoming clear. It was soon engraved in Helmut as a goal.

Something sat in the empty spot. A purpose of life that he hadn’t had until now.

Whether it’s possible or not wasn’t important. After all, it’s a miracle that he’s living and breathing here.

It was a longing that ignited within him. It was a spark he didn’t know existed.

Heat rose in Helmut’s eyes, which had been calm enough to feel empty.

Sensing his change, the stranger nodded his head.

“I don’t know exactly how to get out because I didn’t want to leave. But I know someone who might know.”

“Who is that?”

Is there another human? Helmut’s eyes widened.

“I can’t tell you yet.”

The word ‘yet’ implied someday. Helmut understood that.

“The way to the sacred barrier is far. And the one who knows that way is dangerous. He won’t treat you kindly just because you’re a human being or because you’re young. He enjoys human flesh, so he might cut off your flesh alive and eat it.”

“What should I do?”

“You have to become stronger.”

That short proposition sounded like the truth.

Helmut knows what it means to become stronger.

Growth.

As time passed, or by consuming the core of other creatures, monsters became stronger.

Humans also become stronger by eating cores. However, humans can’t accumulate magic power as much as monsters.

Magic is a power that doesn’t go well with humans. If you keep accumulating magic, you’ll go crazy or your body will explode.

Helmut’s magic power was minimal, just for eating and living.

He learned how to hunt, but that was recent. No matter how much he had the Seed of Darkness and a trained body, Helmut was just a human child.

At the bottom of the food chain of the Forest of Roots, a child who would have been eaten at any time if Elaga wasn’t there.

“How can I become stronger?”

“If you do as I say.”

The stranger spoke decisively.

“I guarantee that you can’t cross the sacred barrier in your current state.”

Helmut’s eyes widened. It sounded as if he could cross the sacred barrier if he met certain conditions.

Crossing the sacred barrier was something that had been impossible until now. But the stranger in front of him was discussing that possibility!

“How can I cross the sacred barrier?”

A question returned to a question.

“Have you ever consumed the cores of other monsters?”

“No.”

“That would make things easier.”

The stranger, frowning and given a look of contempt, suddenly grabbed the back of Helmut’s neck.

“Before that, I need to fix your appearance first.”

“What are you doing?”

Smack! A huge fist struck the back of his head. It stung.

Helmut clutched his head. His pitch-black eyes glared vividly at the stranger.

‘He’s got a personality.’

It’s better than being flabby. A swordsman is supposed to be like that.

“If you want to return to the human world, you have to become a human first.”

The Helmut reflected in his eyes was an entirely unpolished child who had just stepped out of the realm of beasts. Fortunately, he wasn’t ferocious.

The stranger declared confidently.

“I will make you a human.”

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