Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 8 (Part 2):

Days passed quickly. Life with Darien was unfamiliar and diverse.

It was a complex and challenging life compared to living with Elaga. Though freedom was limited, there was much to learn.

Helmut learned basic knowledge about the human world, how to read and write, find food, cook, build a fire, sew, and make necessary tools, among many other practical skills needed for living in the Forest of Roots and beyond.

He dug up clay to make cly pots, and he also pulled out tough threads from tree trunks. Through these, he fished, occasionally shot arrows to hunt, and set traps. He cooked meat and trimmed and cut fur to make clothes.

Darien’s teachings on human hunting techniques were very useful for Helmut, who didn’t have strong claws, fangs, or a massive physique like Elaga.

Now, Helmut could survive and provide for himself no matter where he ended up.

Helmut was like a large and seamless vessel. Even if the size of the entrance was limited and some things leaked out when poured, everything that entered became his own.

From the time he met Elaga as a baby to when he met Darien.

He didn’t realize it himself, but Helmut was fortunate. It was extremely rare to receive help from someone in this forest.

About two weeks into living with Darien, Helmut gained his freedom.

“Sometimes taking breaks enhances the effectiveness of training. Instead of training separately, take some rest.”

Darien left the cabin, leaving behind his stern advice, and headed somewhere from the morning.

Helmut, who had a good sleep for the first time in a long while, groggily left the cabin around noon.

It’s good not to train, but there was a sense of emptiness. His gaze lingered on the wooden sword, but he quickly diverted his attention. Today was a day off.

The tightly packed schedule wasn’t as unbearable as it used to be. Despite harboring the seeds of darkness, Helmut was adaptable, born with a strong disposition to roll with the punches and get used to things.

-Hey.

As he descended to the water’s edge, a leopard appeared from somewhere, swaying.

“Elaga, hello!”

Helmut waved his hand. Since her territory was nearby, he didn’t think it was a farewell.

‘Still, it’s nice to see after such a long time.’

They weren’t exactly friends. But haven’t they been living together closely until recently?

Helmut often couldn’t deny the emptiness that was pushing in. Especially, he missed that warm and soft fur.

Elaga might have thought it was good not to have to take care of the annoying kid.

Looking at Helmut wearing a well-made black fur coat, Elaga sneered.

-You’re a human without fur, are you imitating a beast?

“Humans have to wear clothes.”

-The flesh is weak, that’s why you need it. It’s a lowly species that doesn’t even have rough skin like snakes.

“But it’s good to wear clothes. Anyway, you had a good meal, right?”

From time to time, a hot animal carcass placed near the hut was noticed to be Elaga’s doing.

The prey caught by Elaga was all big, and Darien and Helmut ate full for several days and still had leftovers.

Darien only said about Elaga bringing prey, ‘It’s like she left her child for me to look after.’

In return, Helmut took out what he had brought.

“I made this, want to try it?”

-What is this dead rat-like thing?

“It’s a dead rat. It’s delicious. Here, try it.”

Elaga took the meat and mushroom mixture offered by Helmut as if it were a bitter pill, and immediately spat it out.

-Gross!

She spat it out so forcefully that fragments flew to the ground. Helmut grumbled in disappointment.

“I made it with great effort. What a waste.”

-Ugh, why does it taste so disgusting? Have you turned completely human now, making meat like this?

“I’ve been a human from the beginning.”

-Well, that kind of food is bad anyway, so eat it alone. Don’t bring it to me.

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