Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 78 (Part 2):

 

 

At the Greta Academy, outings to Baden were only allowed on holidays, including weekends.

 

If caught wandering the streets of Baden during non-holiday periods, ignoring their studies, they would face disciplinary action.

 

This was a rule even the so-called crazy dog of the Fencing Department, Asuka, had to follow.

 

Asuka, who had already faced all sorts of disciplinary actions for fighting indiscriminately since his first year, had resolved to keep his behavior in check for this year.

 

And even if he got into trouble again, it might not end with just disciplinary action.

 

The Academy was tiresome, but he had his reasons. He couldn’t afford to go back without completing his studies.

 

That’s why he endured for a week and now walked the streets feeling frustrated, the only moment of freedom allowed to him.

 

It was late afternoon, almost nearing night. Asuka cursed under his breath, recalling the events of the week.

 

‘Damn nobles.’

 

Life at the Academy wasn’t bad. At first.

 

But what was hard to endure was the people. It was difficult to tolerate seeing nobles act as if they were invincible in trivial matters, muttering insults behind his back, which he found unbearable.

 

Contrary to his concerns about disciplinary actions, Asuka was picking fights as he pleased, at least verbally. If he didn’t even do that, he would have gone crazy.

 

And whenever Asuka went crazy, the situation always got serious. It never ended nicely.

 

Asuka had been feeling uneasy lately.

 

‘What’s with that guy?’

 

That guy named Helmut. At first, Asuka thought he was a noble.

 

However, unlike other commoners who either flattered nobles, pretended not to be commoners, or acted as if they were dead, Helmut was different.

 

It is not the habit of a man who turns out to be a commoner to bow down to nobles. It’s just a survival strategy.

 

Asuka behaved as if he didn’t care about what happened after graduating from the Academy, acting without a plan, but other commoners had to consider their relationship with the nobles.

 

Commoners had to lower themselves in front of the nobles. They had no choice but to tolerate rumors, insults, or petty harassments.

 

But Helmut didn’t do that.

 

He didn’t behave like Asuka, picking fights left and right, but Asuka thought that Helmut was not to be taken lightly either.

 

He didn’t like how they used their mouths to suppress things like the magic department guys or nobles did.

 

‘Well, not that we’re going to be friends anyway.’

 

Having a friend didn’t suit Asuka.

 

He had a bad temper, spewed foul language, and got into fights easily. That’s why he had many enemies. It was a problem that Asuka had to deal with on his own.

 

It would only give him a headache if he tried to make friends.

 

It was on a narrow alleyway. Several big men blocked the path ahead.

 

Asuka casually spoke up, “What’s this?”

 

 

Since Baden was a place where people lived, there were troublemakers, especially in the outskirts of the bustling areas.

 

However, occasionally, in the alleys slightly removed from the main streets, you’d encounter these gangsters.

 

But Asuka was a trained Fencing Department student. There was no reason for him to be afraid.

 

One man who looked poorly dressed sneered and said, “Hey, you there, you look like you’ve got some money.”

 

Although he seemed like a suitable target for venting his frustration, something felt off.

 

One of Asuka’s strengths was his intuition. He replied with a casual tone, “Greta Academy, Fencing Department, 2nd year.”

 

Even though he was in casual clothes, mentioning the Fencing Department made most people flinch.

 

In Baden, there were three academies, and all three of them had a Fencing Department. Even 1st-year Fencing Department students were not to be messed with.

 

But his opponent didn’t even bat an eyelash.

 

“Fencing Department? That’s funny. You think you can hold a sword with those wrists?”

 

“You’ll break your wrist if you try to carry a sword with it.”

 

His tone was mocking, but it wasn’t disbelief in Asuka’s words. Still, he remained nonchalant.

 

“These guys…”

 

Asuka sharply assessed his approaching opponent.

 

Four guys in front. He could sense someone behind as well. They had swords at their waists. The narrowing gap, their movements. It was not ordinary.

 

They weren’t typical troublemakers. They hadn’t received formal fencing training, but they were skilled in their own way.

 

Asuka’s mind raced.

 

“What’s the deal, did someone hire you? The client’s name, is it Jerome? Erun? Sabbat?”

 

Asuka chuckled and threw out the names of the guys he had crossed paths with.

 

There was no response. The expressions on the men’s faces revealed nothing.

 

Since they were most likely working together, the possibility of them conspiring was high. Engaging in a one-on-many fight, even outside, was not tolerated according to Greta Academy’s rules.

 

Alone, he was no match, both in skill and numbers. All they had was their family name and money. They had chosen to use money.

 

They didn’t dirty their own hands. While not exactly like fencers, they were truly aristocratic in that regard.

 

‘These sneaky bastards, I should’ve provoked them into making a move!’

 

The new transfer students seemed less informed about academy rules, as they didn’t hesitate to hire people for their dirty work.

 

In fact, Asuka didn’t expect things to escalate to this extent. He reached for his waist, but his sword wasn’t there.

 

It had been left at the blacksmith’s shop. After all, there was no need for swordplay in Baden.

 

‘Just my luck.’

 

Four men drew their swords upfront.

 

Even if they had taken a contract to kill him, it wasn’t surprising. They might have received a commission to teach him a lesson.

 

Asuka didn’t have a sword in his hand, but he had one weapon left.

 

“Instructor Alan! Over here!”

 

As he charged straight ahead and shouted, the four men flinched and looked back.

 

Asuka crouched low, slipping past the men swiftly. His quick legs were his weapon.

 

“You rat!”

 

“Chase him!”

 

He heard the pounding footsteps behind him. He knew he could outrun them.

 

But as he turned the corner of the alley, he was confronted by two men holding swords.

 

“Damn it.”

 

“Hey, this guy’s fast for real.”

 

“We didn’t expect him to come all the way to us.”

 

It was a multi-layered ambush. Two double-digit fencers had been hired.

 

They didn’t look like mercenaries, but Asuka knew that even outside of the Mercenary Guild, there were groups that took on this kind of job.

 

‘Black Hawk.’

 

“Guess you’re out of luck. Should’ve been a good boy.”

 

“You thought you could swagger around just because you got into the academy?”

 

The two men laughed heartily as they approached with their swords drawn.

 

Now, all Asuka had faith in was the narrow alley. It was a suitable space for fighting against multiple opponents.

 

It wouldn’t be easy, but he didn’t think he’d lose.

 

Asuka was the top student of the Greta Academy’s Fencing Department, at least in practice if not in official grades.

 

“Let’s see what you’ve got.”

 

A malicious glint shone in Asuka’s eyes. They would soon understand why he was called the crazy dog of the Fencing Department.