Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 99 (Part 1):
The rumors about the bet between Asuka and Helmut for the midterm exams seemed to have spread everywhere.
“Helmut, did you really bet with Asuka?”
It was during the swordsmanship department’s class time before the tardy Asuka showed up.
At times like this, even the swordsmanship department students approached Helmut to talk.
As soon as Asuka appeared, they would turn away as if a curtain had been drawn.
Helmut, who stared intently at the face of an unfamiliar student, soon recalled his name.
“James.”
He was someone Helmut saw often, but he was weak, and his impression was vague, separate from his memory.
If it wasn’t a troublemaker and a foul-mouthed person like Asuka, whose features were clear, it wouldn’t be well remembered.
In fact, even when he was in the Pace Mercenary Corps, besides the chatterbox Finn and the female mercenary Tanya, he could hardly distinguish anyone.
“Is it true that if you lose, Alea will run 100 laps around the stadium?”
“It’s true. Although that won’t happen.”
Helmut spoke firmly. Alea’s expression, which seemed to be chewed, began to soften a little.
It was evidence that Helmut’s essay answer sheet was starting to improve.
“If you win, does Asuka suffer any loss?”
James’s tone suggested that he very much, desperately hoped that Asuka would suffer a loss.
“Well, not really?”
He is the kind of guy who doesn’t seem to be offended even if he becomes second chair.
James seriously grabbed Helmut’s shoulder.
“We only trust you. Everyone is counting on you. You are our hope to defeat Asuka.”
It was a somewhat powerful statement.
Sometimes effort surpasses talent. However, just as there were talents that couldn’t be caught up with in a short period, there were also talents that couldn’t be surpassed by effort alone.
Most students at Greta Academy are diligent, but not everyone can make the bone-grinding effort beyond the expression of being diligent.
Moreover, lately, Asuka seemed to have become unusually diligent, perhaps influenced by Helmut, who was stuck in the training ground. Effort was being added to his talent.
‘So, they’re leaving it to me.’
He didn’t feel any particular excitement about unexpectedly becoming the hope of weak guys.
Judging by the murmurings, it seemed everyone was interested in his bet.
Helmut mainly focused on smoothly getting through academy life, but unintentionally, he was a noticeable presence from his appearance.
A noble, smooth, and beautiful appearance. Handsome and skilled.
Helmut thought that being close to Asuka, a renowned figure in the martial arts department, was attracting attention to him.
But that wasn’t the whole reason. A transfer student, Alea’s roommate, Asuka’s friend, a guy who received private lessons from Alea, and even a protege of instructor Ethan Kudrow. Appearance, skills, and epithets – nothing was ordinary.
“Work hard.”
It’s good that they have expectations, right? Helmut responded positively.
Asuka’s reputation still seems to be hitting the ground.
‘It’s worth it.’
Perhaps due to staying up late studying, Asuka became sensitive again. He is full of complaints about everything.
As soon as Helmut thought of Asuka, a noisy sound came from the other side.
As everyone’s attention turned, Asuka, facing someone, was raising his voice.
Due to staying up late the night before, Asuka, who was yawning and walking from the other side, bumped his face into someone’s back. And as soon as he bumped into him, he lost his temper.
“What, you brat? What’s your problem? If you bump into someone, you should apologize!”
“You’re the one who bumped into me!”
The other person raised his voice in disbelief.
“You took a step back too! Why are you blocking the path?”
“This is a sports field, what do you mean by path…!”
“You’re bound to pass right here when you walk from the building! You should have avoided it. Are you a blockhead?”
“Eek!”
“Hey, hey, stop it.”
“The instructor will be here soon.”
“Don’t make a fuss.”
‘Asuka, he’s making a fuss again from the morning.’
‘Why are there all these bastards?’
While trying to gloss over the situation, the inner thoughts of the classmates who witnessed Asuka’s rampage were like that.
Asuka pointed his finger confidently.
“Hey, apologize quickly.”
“Why should I apologize?”
“If you don’t want to apologize, why don’t you spar with me later?”
As Asuka grinned, the opponent’s face turned red and blue.
He’s angry, but if he spars, he’ll be beaten one-sidedly. It’s unfair, but there was nothing to be done about it. The other party just wouldn’t listen!
Asuka was a predator of the second year of the swordsmanship department. And he was a very savage and ruthless predator.
Around him, they quickly grabbed the arm of the guy who was unlucky to get caught by Asuka and whispered. The obvious lines that you should endure.
But Asuka showed no sign of stopping.
“Hey, why are you running away? Are you a coward? Are you going to be wrapped up in your friends’ arms like a girl!”
The more you look, the more suspicious it is. It’s not common for a commoner to shout at a noble, let alone pick a fight.
There was a clear difference between bowing respectfully to nobles and charging at them.
‘Is that guy really a commoner?’
For the first time in his life, Helmut had doubts about others.
However, contrary to common perception, there’s no rule that commoners must suppress their temper in front of nobles. Asuka didn’t even seem to know that in front of emperors or royal family members.
Helmut wasn’t well-versed in the human world, but occasionally, there seemed to be people like him.
“Can’t make a peep, can’t respond to a duel, what can you do if you’re pitiful, huh?”
“You try to stop him.”
Unable to bear it, James pushed Helmut’s back. Now this had become Helmut’s part. The job of restraining Asuka’s leash.