Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 61 (Part 1):

The exam began promptly. In the end, they didn’t even get a proper look at Helmut’s swordsmanship. This was because the exam ended just one second after it started.

“Is it over?”

Helmut asked. Andro’s face, which had been astounded, soon turned pale with humiliation. In contrast, Helmut’s expression was entirely impassive. The supervisor, flustered, raised his hand.

“No, this is…”

The exam concluding in just one second. What exactly is this? This was the first time a duel format was introduced in the transfer examination, but ending so quickly left no chance to assess their skills or anything else. Helmut slightly tilted his head.

“Is there a problem?”

“No, if you do that…”

The supervisor, who had been about to point out that they hadn’t been able to see any swordsmanship, closed his mouth. He couldn’t exactly ask them to go easy while evaluating them. The three swordsmanship instructors were equally bewildered.

“Your sword is incredibly fast and powerful. It ended before we had the chance to react.”

“Starting a one-on-one fight like that, your chances of winning are very high. With such quick sword drawing.”

“But if we can’t see the swordsmanship, it doesn’t really fit the purpose of the test, does it? We didn’t expect such a gap.”

It wasn’t even a brief fight; it ended with a single stroke. If winning the fight is the criterion for passing, that’s one thing, but if the displayed swordsmanship, however brief, is poor, you could fail. The three swordsmanship instructors began discussing what to do. Helmut waited leisurely for the conclusion. Andro, glaring murderously at him, shouted.

“Cowardly!”

“What is?”

“There’s no way to just swing your sword like that all of a sudden!”

Andro felt as though he had been ambushed. Expecting a battle where they would gauge each other’s openings and start the offense and defense, Helmut’s wooden sword flew at him like an arrow. Andro, struck precisely on the wrist, had no choice but to drop his wooden sword.

Of course, to Helmut, this was an incomprehensible complaint.

“They said to start the duel, so I started it. Is there a reason not to?”

Helmut had never once in his life spared an opponent’s circumstances during a duel.

‘It wasn’t full power. I could have killed him.’

A swordsman using a Vis could kill with a wooden sword in one strike. But Helmut intentionally aimed for the wrist, making Andro drop his sword. It was an efficient and peaceful way to secure victory.

‘Killing is not allowed in the academy exam.’

The three instructors, having decided to conduct the transfer exam through a duel, were discussing the unprecedented situation they faced from the start.

“Wouldn’t it be fair to conclude the duel as is?”

It was a natural opinion for the strict Ethan Kudrow. He knew that repeating the duel two or three times would yield the same result. However, the other two instructors, Patricia and Alan, had different thoughts.

“There’s no doubt that this boy Helmut is one of the successful candidates, even though there’s still one more duel to go.”

Although the outcome of the duel wasn’t decisive, being able to end it so one-sidedly, whether it be agility or something else, proved his ability. To that extent, swordsmanship wasn’t important. Patricia’s words made Alan nod in agreement.

“That’s true. However, we should give the other applicant who unfortunately met such a strong opponent another chance. After all, the purpose of this exam is to assess the applicants’ swordsmanship skills.”

“It’s a bit ambiguous, so it would be better to ask the opinions of the two applicants.”

“Probably the other side will want to start the duel again, and we should ask Helmut if he would like to duel again under the assumption of his acceptance. Of course, even if he refuses, he’s still passed.”

With this conclusion, the three instructors agreed not to include duels in the examination items in the future.

“So, the three instructors have said this, what do you think?”

“Then, I have passed.”

“Yes, congratulations. But since this is an exceptional case, don’t talk about it in the waiting area, nor about the results of the duel. Understood?”

Andro nodded with a tense jaw. The one who had been confrontational towards Helmut was now cautious, having been thoroughly defeated. If Helmut does not agree, he would lose one of his two chances.

Helmut answered without hesitation.

“Let’s do the duel, one more time.”

Since his pass was already decided, serving once wouldn’t hurt. The opponent was not even a workout, let alone exhausting.

“Just so you know, the duel is only considered valid if the swords clash at least three times.”

It seemed a new rule had been created. Helmut agreed and picked up his wooden sword.

“Yes.”

Andro tensed his face and gripped his sword.

‘I won’t be taken down as easily as before!’

Though he had learned that one of the eight transfer admission slots had been taken, just having the opportunity was enough. The bruised wrist still throbbed, but he was determined to concentrate right from the start.

“The injured area will not be treated. We start on the count of three.”

The supervisor retreated to a distance. The three instructors seemed determined to closely observe the duel this time. And then the signal was given.

“One, two, three!”

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