#142
Helmut
Episode 142
Helmut and Area left the testing site side by side. Outside, Asuka was sitting in the same spot as before. And when did you come to Siando? There were students who came, wondering what had happened, but they were few.
It’s exam period. Competition at the Academy was very fierce. The exam is taking place right now and there is no time to look around.
“what? “Did you blow up the building?”
Asuka narrowed her eyes at Alea. Area passed by him without answering.
“Hey, are you ignoring me? “Look at that?”
Asuka’s face contorted and she jumped up from her seat. If she had been a swordsman, she would have caught her right away and beaten her up.
But Area was someone who dared ignore him. 2nd year senior at the Faculty of Magic. Xian quickly grabbed Asuka. In times like this, it is up to him to take care of things.
“Asuka, do it. Not even for a day or two. “I’ve been feeling a bit ignored these days, too.”
Asuka lost her temper again today.
“Is that natural for you? “You idiot!”
“I guess the reason you don’t call me an asshole is because I’m your friend, right?”
“Oh, stop talking about that damn friend! “It’s so ticklish that I want to strangle you?”
“It’s embarrassing. “Why are there so many dishonest people around me?”
Helmut ignored their bickering and approached Area, who had stopped. Originally, Area acted alone. Say hello and wait to go.
“I’ll see you later at the dormitory. Do well on the remaining exams.”
“you also.”
Area pointed at Asuka with her chin.
“That noisy guy, step on me again.”
“… … okay.”
I don’t think there can be any affection between these two. Area was the first to turn his back and leave.
Helmut looked back for a moment and then returned to his two friends. The two had just changed the topic. To be precise, Asuka was questioning Xian’s steps. Sian shrugged his shoulders.
“I passed up to level 7 and came out.”
“You came out?”
“Yes, after taking the level 7 exam, from level 8 onwards… … “I didn’t think I should take the test.”
He was a guy with a good feeling. Asuka looked suspicious.
“Didn’t you cheat by ordering a spirit to do it?”
“no it’s not! First of all, you don’t know who will get to level 8, so why are you cheating? Oh, what if it’s Helmut?”
“I got to level 8 too!”
“What came out in stage 8?”
“… … Don’t ask. “Because I don’t want to think about it.”
Helmut answered for me.
“Giant centipede.”
Xian made a disgusted expression. He immediately nodded his head.
“I’ve heard about the dean’s hobbies. Hmm, you like something a little weird. When I heard about that test, I heard that last year there was a really creepy monster that looked like an earthworm or a sea cucumber. “I guess things have changed a bit this year.”
“Isn’t the dean a pervert? “I wish I were dead.”
“Hey, this is going to be a big problem! This kid is speechless. “Then you get caught.”
Xian looked around and covered Asuka’s mouth.
The dean was a skilled wizard. He is said to often check out the Academy, so it is not strange for him to appear anywhere and anytime.
“But you did well not to bet. Isn’t it over once Helmut passes level 10? After all, one persimmon is good.”
“Noisy! “If the test wasn’t like that, I could have won?”
“Yes, yes.”
‘It looks like they’ll keep playing here.’
Helmut had finally figured things out about them. These are the guys who will seize the opportunity and make fun of them at any time. I shouldn’t have been swayed.
“I’m going to go to the library.”
Considering the level of the practical test, the score gap would have widened significantly, so the written test is not burdensome. But I decided not to let down my guard. That’s what being first place is like.
***
On Saturday after the exam, Helmut visited Kudrow Mansion. Because there was a call from Ethan. We weren’t allowed to go out and play in Baden’s city anyway.
Xian and Asuka also wanted to follow, but Ethan refused because he had something to say. Ethan, who had been through his busiest time as an instructor, sat Helmut down and asked him leisurely.
“So, do you think you did well on the test?”
Ethan knew the results of the practical exam, but the written exam scores, including the liberal arts, had not been calculated yet. Helmut responded simply.
“Of course.”
Without a doubt, he will be the top student in the swordsmanship department. A big gap compared to the midterm exam.
“Good, I’m glad you got excellent grades. I heard that you are getting along well with your friends. “If Darian were alive, he would have been happy.”
‘You don’t know what. Darian is not that kind of person.’
Darian would have taken it for granted. If I had missed the top position, I would have been treated like an idiot like no other in the world. But even though Ethan said Darian was his benefactor, he didn’t say he knew him very well.
“I guess so.”
Social skills have increased. There is no need to shatter your illusions about the dead person. Helmut responded formally.
“I called you… … .”
Ethan Kudrow, who was trying to get to the point, frowned.
The semester ends on the day the grades are announced. He’s a guy who’s strangely good at following the rules, so he’ll probably be at the academy until then, but Ethan thought Helmut might just disappear. Whether he takes on a mercenary request or for some other purpose.
And it may not come back. To him, Helmut was someone who could suddenly leave at any time. Because he is strong, he is free and has no bounds.
Ethan didn’t know that Helmut had come from the Forest of Pahe and was looking for his parents. All we know is that he was an orphan and grew up in a remote area as a disciple of the betrayed Darian Defert. He had a hunch that there might be some story connected to his birth.
However, Helmut kept completely silent, and Ethan did not try to guess his intentions.
Although he is only a 15-year-old boy, Helmut is no different from an adult. He chooses and leads his life with his own will. Even though it was his guardian there, Ethan Kudrow couldn’t interfere.
But today, he also had to ask.
“It’s vacation soon. “What are you planning to do during vacation?”
Helmut also thought about that. During his vacation, Asuka, Xian, and Alea all leave Baden. The only one who has no reason to leave is yourself.
When Sian suggested that he go to their house with her, Helmut only said that he would stop by if he had the chance. Asuka never suggested that she had anything to hide. Areaya, she is not the type to make such an offer.
Greta Academy students hid their identities from each other. Normally, acquaintances cannot help but only close friends talk to each other, but for that reason, they usually refrain from saying what they will do during vacation.
“I think I’ll do some traveling while working as a mercenary.”
There are no specific plans. But the world is wide. As he lived trapped in the forest of Pahe, there were countless places for him to wander.
“You’re not planning on leaving Greta Academy, are you? When it comes to swordsmanship, there is no one among the instructors who can teach you. “It’s the same no matter what grade you are in.”
“I learned a lot at Greta Academy. “I think I still have something to learn.”
Unfamiliar emotions, unfamiliar relationships, new knowledge. I learned a lot. The sword is an endless and arduous path that must be trained alone anyway.
There was no one in this academy who could teach him how to use a sword. But the same applies when you go out.
Even if Darian is alive, I can no longer teach him. Because he is no longer at a level where he can learn from anyone.
Helmut’s level depends entirely on himself. Training is also possible at the academy. There had been progress recently, so it couldn’t be said to be a waste of time.
Among classmates of the same age, belonging to a group. That is a life Helmut has never lived. Helmut once again realized that he was satisfied with this place.
And here… … Several faces passed through my mind. Among them, one face stood out in particular. Helmut was shocked. It wasn’t a good sign. Helmut struggled to think of another face.
‘If you follow in Charlotte’s footsteps, things might get easier.’
I keep that in mind too. Ethan shook his head.
“The Black Hawk is coming for you, so it might be dangerous to go out.”
At the instigation of someone in Black Hawk, they attacked a student at Greta Academy. It was only known that way to the outside world.
From then on, Black Hawk withdrew his forces near Baden to avoid being pursued.
Helmut had to say this.
“Black Hawk won’t come after me anymore. “I can’t tell you, but there is a reason.”
“Are you sure?”
“yes.”
It was also frustrating for Helmut to continue attending Greta Academy and not be able to go to downtown Baden on holidays. It’s clearly overprotective. He’s not even a child.
Ethan didn’t ask any more questions.
“Let’s put it that way. “So that means there’s nothing special you have to do?”
You can do anything, there are things you shouldn’t do, but there’s nothing you have to do.
“yes.”
“Then, let me make a suggestion. “Would you like to listen?”
Helmut nodded. Ethan’s mouth opened again.
***
99.3
That was Helmut’s final exam score announced a week later. And he was also the score of the 2nd year swordsmanship department head of Greta Academy. It’s confirmed.
Asuka grumbled in front of the bulletin board where the grades were announced.
“I’m at 96.5.”
The gap widened further due to the difference in the practical exam. Helmut’s score was close to perfect.
‘I’ll have to aim for a perfect score next semester.’
For some reason, I felt proud. After living in the forest for 14 years, he achieved better results than those who had lived their entire lives in the human world. Even though he has something called a sprout of darkness.
‘What on earth are you all doing?’
The moment Helmut thought about it dismissively, he realized that it was an Area-like thought. At that moment, I heard Area’s voice.
“Good job, your score is worth writing about.”
Area was shining again today. Silver hair without a single stray corner, and vivid purple eyes. My vision became brighter.
He seemed in good spirits. I think it probably started after I found out that Sian was eliminated in stage 8.
“It’s pretty good for the first semester.”
Helmut thought that this was not something Area should say, as she was the first in the academy’s history to get a perfect score on the entrance exam, came in as the top student, and maintained her top spot with a perfect score. Of course, this time too, it’s a perfect score. His position as head of the magic department in his grade was constant.
Asuka added a word from the side.
“Area, did you eat something wrong? “Are you the type of person who knows how to acknowledge someone?”
“No need to make a fuss. “Because you will never be acknowledged by me.”
“You don’t know, right? Because people change. “I’m getting used to your crap.”
In Helmut’s view, Asuka went back and forth between adapting and not adapting. I see you getting angry often.
Before Area could respond, Xian, who had suddenly appeared, suddenly joined in.
“I’m in second place again! 95.1 points!”
Asuka said in a sullen tone.
“The score went up. “I guess I studied more than last time.”
“yes. From now on, it would be better not to rent a study room. “The reason I was scared during the midterm exam was because of the study room!”
Sian subtly covered up the reason why I did something else. Asuka grumbled.
“It’s annoying. “If it weren’t for that weird practical test, I could have won.”
“indeed?”
“shut up.”
‘I definitely have to catch up during vacation.’
Asuka made up her mind.
Anyway, after the exam, all four of us gathered together. It is rare for such a unique combination to come together. In terms of grades, it was an elite group that got along well with each other. Although the content was a bit different.
Starting tonight, everyone leaves Greta Academy and returns to their homes. As the three academies begin their vacation at the same time, there will be a line of people leaving Baden.
This was the end of gatherings like this for this semester. The vacation lasts almost two months.
Perhaps aware of this, Area didn’t leave first either. Sian suggested.
“Okay then, shall we have some fun one last time today? “It will be hard to see you during vacation.”
“good!”
This time, Area didn’t even bother.
