Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 67 (Part 2):

“By the way, what’s your relationship with Alea? I’m not prying, just curious. As you know, Alea isn’t the type to get close to anyone.”

Helmut, already weary of tutoring him and enduring the hassle, wondered how Alea managed with such exhausting attentiveness from everyone. Wherever he went, people recognized him. He gave the same response he had to the girls.

“We don’t know each other.”

“You don’t have to be that way with me. I’m not one of Alea’s followers.”

“Then let’s remain it that way. Alea said not to acknowledge knowing him.”

“Well, that’s so like Alea.”

Shrugging, Sian asked.

“What brings you to the academy? There are no classes today.”

Helmut pondered whether it was okay to share information about the task with someone like him. If he meddles unnecessarily…

‘That thing they say appears doesn’t have a form, right.’

Perhaps similar to that strange spirit. And here stands a spirit mage. This guy might be useful in solving the task. It was said the mysterious entity doesn’t appear before mages. That means mages pose a threat to it. Having concluded his thoughts, Helmut acted promptly.

“Will you come with me somewhere?”

“Eh? Sure, I’m free now anyway.”

Though he had no intention of sharing the reward, Helmut, having acquired an assistant, headed deeper into the academy. Showing a certificate from the mercenary guild at the entrance, the guards let them through, eyeing Helmut curiously.

‘Escorting five young ladies already, this young lad sure is handsome.’

Following along, Sian asked.

“You’re a mercenary?”

“Only until the semester starts.”

“So, is this a mission?”

“Yes.”

“What’s in it for me if I help you?”

Helmut turned to look at him, his black eyes unreadable yet carrying an intimidating and somewhat arrogant air.

“You’ll be able to get along with me in the future.”

‘What kind of person is this.’

Sian chuckled dryly. Could this guy really be a commoner? How could a commoner, supposedly tossed around by life, have such a gaze? Despite being isolated due to rumors of his commoner status, he didn’t seem to lack companionship. Sian felt intrigued when approaching him, but that interest deepened.

‘If he’s really a commoner, he’s no ordinary person.’

“So, to become your friend, I first have to help you? Fine. I like challenges. They bring more satisfaction.”

Helmut looked at him strangely before handing over a document.

“Take a look at this.”

After reading about Helmut’s task, Sian showed genuine interest.

“A strange phenomenon at Greta Academy?”

“Ever heard of it?”

“I might have heard something, but thought it was nothing. Like a cat or dog. It’s not a very interesting rumor in the magic department.”

Weird noises and faint shapes, almost ghost-like. There are witnesses, yet it never appears. But no one had the leisure to cling to such tales. The magic department was fiercely competitive. During vacations, most either stayed in their dorms or went home to immerse themselves in research. Alea, maintaining an overwhelming lead as the undisputed top of the magic department for the entire year, was exceptional.

“The appearances are mainly from night to dawn. It mostly appears when it’s dark. Hard to see a pattern here.”

Sian joked.

“Perverts also come out in the dark. Maybe it’s a mage using invisibility magic, wanting to scare people.”

“All the witnesses are male.”

“Must be a female mage then! Maybe she wanted to shyly spy on her crush.”

Helmut suddenly asked.

“Are there female mages at Greta Academy?”

“Of course. Magic doesn’t differentiate between genders. Half of the magic department is female. They’re educated equally in a vibrant environment. Of course, females are rare in the swordsmanship department, where physical disadvantages play a role.”

“Then why……”

Helmut hesitated, then swallowed his words.

“But you shouldn’t think of female mages as women. No matter how many beauties there are in the magic department! They are as abnormal as Alea’s followers. Each has a unique and peculiar personality. It’s said mages have strong egos, but wow. Telling someone who confessed their liking, ‘If you let me use you for my magic experiment, I’ll date you.’ Sounds like a joke, right? That just happened the day before yesterday.”

“I get what you mean.”

Helmut muttered unknowingly. He cut through Sian’s chatter and pointed at a building.

“Over there. The place where that ghost was reported. It’s not dark yet, so it probably won’t appear, but let’s check it out.”

Sian, who had butted into Helmut’s business, found himself involuntarily offering his services for free. Helmut observed the location mentioned by the witnesses, a classroom building frequented by students. Nothing special about the place. Rather than feeling any particular energy, it seemed as if wisps and magical energies were intertwined. Nearby were the academy’s dormitories, a magic research lab, and the swordsmen’s training grounds. With various forces pulsing within the academy, it was hard for the atmosphere to be anything but chaotic.

“The atmosphere is too chaotic, even for the academy. Wonder if it’s possible to read the earth’s memories.”

Muttering, Sian seemed about to say something when his eyes suddenly widened. After a quick glance at Helmut, he placed his hand on the ground. After looking around, Helmut quietly asked.

“Find something?”

“Maybe?”

After a while, Sian stood up, a mild smile on his lips.

“Uh, not sure. Shall we go somewhere else? Yeah, let’s check all the reported sites while we’re at it.”

Helmut readily agreed to the proactive suggestion.

“Sounds good.”

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