Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 62 (Part 2):

Alea took something out of his pocket and handed it to him.

“Take this.”

It was a money pouch filled with money. Inside, a hefty amount of gleaming gold coins caught the eye. Helmut asked suspiciously.

“Why are you returning it?”

“Only returning half. If you were from a noble family, I would’ve kept it all, but since you’re a mercenary, I’ll give you a break. I was worried my reputation would suffer if you failed the exam, but you passed.”

It was a kind of reward. Helmut speculated about the reason behind Alea’s generous gesture.

‘So the gift had an effect.’

Receiving back 50,000 marks was a tremendous gain. Helmut did not refuse and took the money pouch. His pocket felt heavier, and his mood lifted. It was a good congratulatory gift for his admission. Alea gave one last piece of advice.

“The nobles differentiate themselves from commoners by their attire and possessions, so it would be good to match their level.”

“Is being a commoner a big issue at the academy?”

Alea asked, raising an eyebrow at the nuance.

“Did they already find out you’re a commoner?”

“It just happened.”

Alea frowned. He had known that being a mercenary was known and that Xenia Zahringen knew Helmut, so the rumor would spread eventually, but it was too fast before even starting school.

‘Must have carelessly talked about it.’

What’s done is done.

“The academy’s policy is that all students are of equal status. If someone belittles you for being a commoner or flaunts their own status, they can be disciplined. If anyone causes trouble, report it to an instructor immediately. Many in the swordsmanship department are from sword families who value hierarchy, so commoners tend to stick together.”

Alea gauged Helmut’s reaction. The brazen and confident guy didn’t seem likely to be hurt, but academy life might not be easy for him. Commoners didn’t talk about their background. But even if they didn’t, it was subtly evident. Nobles and commoners grew up in completely different environments, and nobles often knew each other before entering the academy.

“You were in the magic department, right?”

“Yes, the magic department. Our department is quite independent. We’ll overlap with the swordsmanship department in a few classes…”

In general education classes attended by students from various departments, magic department students preferred classes with many from the swordsmanship department. It was a relative grading system, and the scores were set low by them. What caught Alea’s attention was something else.

“If we happen to meet, there’s no need to greet or acknowledge me. As of today, you and I are strangers.”

Usually, people say to acknowledge each other, but Alea’s words were the opposite. Helmut was curious about whether he had passed, but this was also why Alea had sought him out. Alea added firmly.

“Pretending to know me will only cause you trouble.”

That was true. Alea was a celebrity at Greta Academy. There were countless people who wanted to be close to him, some even to the point of stalking. However, Alea himself didn’t want to mingle with anyone, so the number of people he talked to at the academy was limited. Apart from taking on the tutoring job, showing that they knew each other would unnecessarily attract flies to Helmut.

Above all, Alea wanted to maintain the distance that had closed between him and Helmut. Over the past fortnight, they had become too close. Being in the same space and having conversations didn’t feel awkward. They exchanged thoughts, shared time, and became surprisingly close. Alea was astonished that he had allowed someone to get that close.

There might be unintended entanglements in the future, but that was for later.

‘Have I grown attached?’

A part of him felt slightly empty. But Alea was accustomed to solitude. That solitude would follow him until he graduated from the academy.

“Alright.”

A silence fell between them for a moment. Alea looked up at Helmut’s calm eyes. Wondering what he was thinking. A mercenary upbringing, raised by his grandfather, wasn’t it? Alea suddenly suppressed the curiosity welling up inside him. Wanting to know someone was a luxury for him.

Alea was the first to turn his back.

“Goodbye.”

It sounded almost like a farewell. Without looking back, Alea walked away. Helmut watched his back for a while before moving on. He felt eyes on them from somewhere but ignored them and left.

That evening, at the Kudrow Mansion, a sumptuous meal including a whole roasted pig and various delicacies welcomed Helmut. The house’s chef had outdone himself.

“Congratulations on your passing.”

A smile appeared on Ethan’s lips. He was as happy for Helmut’s success as if it were his own. Initially stern and aloof, Ethan turned out to be a guardian completely different from Darien, who had only reprimanded him.

“Thank you.”

‘Is this what being an adult is like?’

Helmut tilted his head in wonder. After stuffing himself at the meal and about to grab his sword for practice, Ethan stopped him.

“Going to practice swordsmanship again?”

“Yes.”

“It’s good to practice, but you should also learn to enjoy yourself.”

Ethan patted Helmut’s shoulder.

“It might be better to take it easy until the academy starts. Prepare for admission, take a look around Baden. Isn’t the purpose of entering the academy to adapt to the world of humans?”

He was right. Helmut nodded.

“Yes.”

He needed to think about what to do with the remaining time.

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