#207
Helmut
Episode 207
It seemed like that was the end of it for the swordsmanship department. But it wasn’t the end.
Helmut, who returned to the dormitory, received the same question from Sian.
“Hey, Helmut. “What happened to you and Charlotte?”
His eyes were curious, as if he was very curious. Helmut thought he was getting tired of this question.
Asuka, who seemed to be in a bad mood from earlier, somehow kicked the ground.
“I’ll go in first.”
When the man who spoke bluntly disappeared, Xian made a humming sound.
“Is it a love triangle?”
“It’s not like that.”
Helmut cut off firmly. I don’t know if Asuka is interested in Charlotte.
As far as he knew, Asuka never specifically talked about Charlotte or talked to her.
The guys from the swordsmanship department often talk about Charlotte, but Asuka has never joined in.
Sian added with a chuckle.
“You stand out so much. Even more so these days as the selection process gets closer. “Your story is even known in the magic department.”
“To the Faculty of Magic.”
Helmut pondered those words and frowned.
Area was surprisingly knowledgeable about rumors. You may have heard
Helmut only told Area that he was trying to find his parents, but did not tell her about Charlotte. That she may be her own blood relative.
Because that was just a guess.
‘I guess it doesn’t matter.’
It seems unlikely that Area, who has become obsessed with dungeons these days, would care about such trivial matters.
Helmut did not feel the need to explain.
She will know that it was a misunderstanding. As for Charlotte, I’ve said before that she’s just a junior.
However, the area I met in front of the door that night was somehow cold.
First of all, a coldness appeared on his face, and the answer was short.
Helmut inadvertently asked if anything bad had happened today.
Area smiled slightly. It was a smile that conveyed a chill.
“Something very bad happened.”
Then he asks.
“Do you have anything to tell me?”
“What do you want to talk about?”
Area also knew about Helmut. He is not clever and tactless, but in some ways he is very dull.
The gap is so large that sometimes it is necessary to speak directly.
“So, for example, there was a rumor that you liked a certain female junior?”
‘You were paying attention.’
Helmut briefly denied it.
“You know it’s a misunderstanding.”
Area crossed her arms.
“misunderstanding? How do I know? “I wonder if it’s a misunderstanding since you didn’t say anything.”
He thought he would know without saying anything, but Helmut didn’t know that there were things that had to be said in words, separate from what he knew in his head.
He denied it simply because Area seemed angry.
“… … “You must be mistaken.”
“Are you going to tell me if I ask you in detail why such a misunderstanding occurred?”
“We talked, we looked, and that’s how the rumor started.”
Helmut felt that Area was a bit sharp today.
If it’s a misunderstanding, isn’t it over? I felt a little down. Maybe you don’t trust yourself? What was the secret they shared all this time?
Helmut did not understand that beliefs and emotions are separate things. Because he had never faced the opposite situation.
“It doesn’t matter why. “There were rumors like that, and I’m offended by those rumors.”
“Even if the rumors aren’t true?”
“Even if it’s not true. “Everyone else will think there’s something between you and Charlotte, right?”
In fact, Charlotte also seemed to have a straight face for being swept up in such rumors.
A shallow sigh formed at the corner of Helmut’s mouth.
“What do you want me to do?”
So I knew why Area was angry. I don’t know how to solve it.
“You even said you spoke first?”
“Because she said hello.”
“You said hello and started talking? You don’t do that to anyone else. Why is it different for him?”
There was doubt in Area’s eyes. The good thing about her is that she doesn’t have much patience when it comes to letting her imagination run wild.
Area was the one who honestly wanted to speak out and get an answer right away.
This was more comfortable for Helmut, who was not good at understanding the other person’s feelings.
“Charlotte is with me… … .”
Helmut hesitated for a moment about what to say.
“It’s a blood relationship. maybe.”
A younger sister or cousin or something like that. Area looked embarrassed.
“what? What does that mean? I’ve seen her too… … “She does look like you.”
Area, who had been thinking about Charlotte’s appearance, could not help but agree.
“I told you about the pendant before, right? She knew her mother’s name. “She didn’t answer for sure though.”
“Did you feel like you were close to your mother?”
“that’s right.”
“Well, then you should have said so.”
Area raised her eyes in protest. Helmut shook his head.
“Because I wasn’t sure.”
I’m not sure, but there’s a fact that I can’t just say. That’s what it was about her mother.
Area asked lowering her voice.
“Then you know where your mother is. “Why didn’t you come find me?”
“… … Not yet.”
It was a hesitation mixed with many things. Area understood his answer.
Compared to before, her expression was much more relaxed, and she muttered.
“Still, I feel bad. “The other guys don’t know.”
“Does this mean we shouldn’t talk?”
In general, he didn’t mind, but Helmut also thought it was a bit harsh.
“I can at least say hello. Instead, act to avoid misunderstandings in the future. Understand?”
Area threatened with a mischievous face. Act so as not to cause misunderstanding. It was a difficult problem.
What can I do if I get misunderstood just by looking at it?
But Helmut did not bother to protest.
“okay.”
Anyway, it wasn’t difficult for Helmut.
Talking to Charlotte like this was a more special case, and he rarely talks to anyone in the first place.
“So what did you talk about with her?”
“Charlotte told me. “My mother is in the Principality of Linosa.”
I was thinking of telling this story. Surprise appeared on Alea’s face.
“that… … .”
“When the sword fighting competition starts, I go to Linosa and meet my mother.”
A heavy feeling came over me. As if a heavy rock was pressing down on both shoulders.
It was something I had been waiting for my whole life. However, its coming was by no means light or welcome. As if caught up in the currents of fate.
“Shall I do some research?”
“no.”
I thought it would be better not to find out in advance. Area said as if she had finally realized it.
“If I go, I won’t be able to see you for a while.”
“Sure, but I thought you were more interested in the dungeon than me.”
Area looked pricked at Helmut’s point.
“Not necessarily.”
“We can focus on the dungeon. at ease.”
Helmut himself didn’t know, but he seemed to be a bit dissatisfied with it.
“It’s not like that. Your training center… … I’m thinking about it. “I’m going to try to make it realistic before the vacation.”
Area said, scratching her cheek.
“You can still contact me with the first bracelet I gave you. “I still have some time left before I leave, so I’ll try to improve the features.”
Area returned to her normal attitude as if she had never been angry before.
“During vacation… … I could go to Linosa too. “But only if you stay there.”
Area measured the time. Heike’s condition was that instead of enrolling at the academy, she should come to him during vacations.
But now Area has obtained Lampione’s legacy. Even if your teacher is self-indulgent and self-centered, you will be able to make adjustments by keeping that fact in mind.
Heike had noticed the relationship between Area and Helmut. He wouldn’t mind spending part of his vacation with Helmut.
“Well, I guess it takes place some time after the swordsmanship competition.”
Area placed a hand on Helmut’s shoulder as if encouraging him.
“Play well in the tryouts. “Does it start tomorrow?”
Helmut quietly placed his hand on the back of her hand. Hoping that this unknown premonition will subside.
*
The day of the selection competition dawned. Since it was actually a final exam, even the talkative second-year swordsman students were quiet today.
The excuse that you are not in good condition does not work. Condition management also counts as skill.
First, a selection contest is held in the 2nd grade, and the final two students from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades are selected through the top ranked students selected there and the top ranked students in the 1st and 3rd grades.
The selection competition was similar to the actual competition as it was like preparing for a swordsmanship competition. There is even a resurrection of the loser.
The second selection match, which pitted the top ranked players, was held publicly at the academy’s attached stadium. In front of the audience.
Since viewing from outside was also possible, the visitors were mostly citizens of Baden. Or maybe they are people who want to see the skills of Greta’s swordsmanship students.
The notice had been posted long ago. Many people showed interest in it.
The tension of being on stage is nothing compared to sparring in front of classmates or general practical skills in front of instructors.
If you lose without being able to show your skills because you cannot overcome the pressure of that tension, that is also a result of your skills.
The selection process was easy.
Helmut fought against incomparably stronger men on a bigger stage than this. Victory, which wasn’t difficult back then, can’t be difficult against only second-year academy students.
To Helmut, the word condition had almost no meaning. Because he was used to fighting at his optimal level.
Unlike previous sparring matches, the qualifying round was more like a competition. Use a real sword.
Helmut did not need to wait for his opponent to show off his skills like in sparring.
“Helmut, victory!”
The decision of victory, ringing out as his own name rather than Hyde’s, was thrilling.
Even if I stood on a stage that was incomparably insignificant compared to Basor’s martial arts club.
Helmut ended the game with a single sword. He didn’t even have to swing twice.
The opponent, facing the real sword extending in front of his neck, froze and could not even think of blocking or dodging. It was a frighteningly fast sword.
‘You’re too weak.’
Helmut thought calmly. If he was a student taking classes together, he would have to be on the same level to some extent.
But the gap grew bigger day by day. As if they were different from birth.
His classmates were herbivores and he was a predator. Just as a rabbit cannot become stronger than a weak tiger no matter how hard it tries, so was the gap between them.
‘Wouldn’t it be different if it was a guy that looked like a wild dog?’
Helmut was hopeful. Asuka. The outcome will not change, but at least we may be able to avoid a situation that ends in a trivial way.
However, he did not meet Asuka until the second selection match was decided.
The brackets were separated so that the senior and vice-president did not face each other.
This is not a first round selection competition to determine a winner, but to filter out a certain number of people to select representatives for the second round.
Naturally, Asuka decided to go to the second round of selection, following Helmut.
