Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 84 (Part 2):
“Let’s see, is everyone here?”
Instructor Alan scanned the faces of the students lined up in pairs. His gaze lingered on one particular pair for a while.
‘Helmut and Sabbat.’
Both of them were skilled individuals. However, based on what Instructor Alan had seen in the entrance exam, Helmut had an overwhelming advantage. It might end quickly.
The duels began simultaneously. He wanted to keep an eye on Helmut’s duel, but unfortunately, he couldn’t. There was someone he had to watch closely.
‘Asuka and Jerome, these guys are trouble.’
Instructor Alan knew what had happened between them.
The investigation into the man who had attacked Asuka had become complicated after the attackers escaped.
Devious deeds. There was no concrete evidence, but the instructors in charge of the interrogation were convinced that Sabbat’s gang was involved.
No one had confessed, but the defiant attitude was evident. Without concrete evidence, they couldn’t label anyone as the culprit.
Instructor Alan, fundamentally, was a fair instructor.
He couldn’t just let Asuka retaliate as much as he pleased, but he was willing to turn a blind eye to some extent.
‘Still, if things get out of hand, I’ll have to intervene.’
Asuka didn’t know when to stop. It would be difficult if someone ended up seriously injured during the duel.
Instructor Alan briefly explained the rules of the duel.
“The duel will last for 15 minutes. The goal is not to win but to gain experience by exchanging blows with your opponent. If one side loses consciousness or is unable to continue, the duel will be immediately stopped.
Other than that, there will be no interruptions until one side surrenders. If the attacked opponent drops their wooden sword, count the number of times it happened and give them time to regroup. After that, the duel resumes.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Remember, even if you have a bad relationship with your opponent, do not engage emotionally. Physical attacks are strictly forbidden. As students of the Swordsmanship Department, you should duel with honor and fairness. Understood?”
“Yes, sir!”
“Alright, spread out and take your positions. When I give the signal, the duel will begin!”
“Yes, sir!”
With a thunderous response, Instructor Alan looked satisfied as the students dispersed.
While Asuka and Jerome had mixed emotions, Sabbat arrogantly tilted his head, and Helmut stood emotionless.
“I hope your skills match your boasting!”
Sabbat gripped his wooden sword and assumed an attacking stance. A smug smile appeared on his thick, rugged face.
Helmut stared at the ground, waiting for the signal to begin, holding his wooden sword loosely, appearing relaxed.
‘He seems surprisingly calm.’
Sabbat pushed aside an odd premonition that had crept up on him.
After all, his opponent was a commoner. Sabbat was a talented sword apprentice recognized even in the Empire. As for Asuka, he might be a genius among geniuses, having attended the academy since last year, but there was no way he could lose to this sudden newcomer.
That was a level of blind, brainwashed thinking.
Soon, Instructor Alan’s voice resonated loudly.
“The duel begins!”
Sharp wooden swords moved in various directions. The duel between Asuka and Jerome, which had caught Instructor Alan’s attention, ended quickly as expected.
Jerome couldn’t defend against Asuka’s rapid footwork. Instead of drawing his wooden sword, it shot up diagonally from his side.
Asuka’s sword was as fast as a streak of light. It was his specialty, the Swift Sword.
“Oops!”
Jerome, stabbed in the abdomen, barely managed not to drop his wooden sword. He felt a surge of nausea rising from within.
“You’re dead meat!”
Asuka’s lips stretched into a long, maniacal smile. A wild grin spread across his face.
Without paying any attention to Jerome’s staggering, Asuka immediately resumed his attack.
“I’ll kill you today!”
Swift and agile movements. Asuka wasn’t known for diligent training.
However, his talent was exceptional, especially when it came to combat. His sword moved relentlessly, striking head, side, and limbs without mercy.
Despite being called a wooden sword, it felt far from it. It was more like wielding a blunt, heavy sword and pounding with it.
“Ugh!”
Jerome, covered in bruises, couldn’t resist.
Being beaten from the beginning, he had no chance to regain his composure. Tears welled up in his reddened, swollen eyes.
He was a fifteen-year-old boy, big in stature and trained, but his resolve was not particularly strong.
Fear was taking over. He had lost track of how long the duel had been going on. His pride and everything else were unbearable.
“Ugh, ugh!”
Plop! His mouth, trying to open, was blocked by the words he couldn’t pronounce.
Asuka’s wooden sword had risen as if it would pierce Jerome’s abdomen deeply.
Deep pain, reaching even his internal organs, left Jerome half-conscious.
“Ugh!”
Vomit spilled from his mouth. Kneeling on the ground, Jerome’s face was a mix of tears and snot.
“Hey, look over there. Asuka’s going crazy, isn’t he?”
“Is that even allowed? Isn’t it dangerous?”
“Looks like Asuka’s really off today!”
Without paying attention to the ongoing duels, some of the onlookers turned their gaze toward Asuka and froze in place. Among them were Sabbat’s gang members including Erun.
Especially Erun, he realized how lucky he was to have escaped with his face intact. He turned pale as a sheet, shivering with fear.
Despite the multitude of eyes fixed on him, Asuka continued to grin and swing his wooden sword.
“Not there yet!”
The crazy dog’s anger was far from subsiding. He sent his wooden sword toward Jerome, who was half out of his senses.
Jerome couldn’t even remember when he had dropped his wooden sword. Struck on the head, Jerome huddled, covering his head like a child.
“Thud!”
It was a one-sided beating. Jerome’s only thought was that he had to surrender.
When he tried to open his mouth, vomit sprayed in all directions. Words that were about to come out turned into screams and moans. When he tried to open his mouth, he was struck in the jaw or abdomen.
As Asuka relentlessly pummeled Jerome with a savage look in his eyes, it seemed like he had truly lost his mind.
“Stop! Asuka! Stop the duel!”
From the other side, Instructor Alan shouted and rushed over.
Asuka acted as if he hadn’t heard. If he didn’t vent properly when he had the chance, his own blood pressure would rise and he might collapse.
Asuka mercilessly continued to beat Jerome, who could only mumble incomprehensible words, without even properly pronouncing the word “surrender.” From head to toe, he pounded him like grinding meat.
“I said stop!”
Asuka’s actions only ceased when Instructor Alan grabbed his wrist.
It was a gruesome scene. The ground was covered in vomit, and Jerome, covered in bruises, tears, and snot, crouched in a pitiful state.
The other students around looked at them with disgusted faces.
“Asuka, what’s gotten into you?”
Instructor Alan sighed heavily. He had only turned his attention away for a moment, thinking there was an interesting duel, but he never expected such a one-sided and brutal outcome. It was his mistake.
Asuka was undoubtedly a skilled fighter, and especially, he excelled at overwhelming his opponents.