# 42
Helmut
Episode 42
Normally, a deal is made after receiving a portion of the request fee first, but it was a different story when making a secret deal with a wizard hiding in a hiding place like this. The process of receiving advance payment first is difficult.
So, Butan Trading Company planned to collect the entire request fee on site in return for delivering the goods.
Since I have done similar transactions quite a few times, the transaction is done without a down payment.
Antiol clicked his tongue.
“I can tell by the way the carriage is in tatters. The number of people is small compared to the number of carriages. There are blood stains down there too. It’s a trace of human life force draining away. “I guess a lot of people have died?”
I felt insight as he talked about what he had observed with his keen gaze shining. Miles nodded bitterly.
“There are about a third of the people left here.”
“My God, it has been a very difficult journey. If that’s the case, you must have met a lot of monsters. “I can feel demon energy inside that carriage over there. Is it a corpse of a demon?”
As expected from a wizard, that was his interest. Antiol’s green eyes sparkled. Miles spoke willingly.
“That’s right. “I’ve cleaned it up, so it would be nice if you could buy it together.”
“Well, let’s talk about the situation first.”
The fresh, fresh corpse of a monster that had just died seemed to satisfy this talkative wizard.
“Okay, I’ll take over everything. “How much was the request fee?”
“You said 100,000 marks.”
“I’ll give you 130,000 plus the satisfaction of your prompt delivery of the monster’s corpse. Is it enough?”
As expected, wizards spent a lot of money. The amount was sufficient, but Miles’ lips twitched as he felt like he would give more if he asked for more.
The bright Butan merchant did not accept this risky wizard’s request for no reason.
Although he was labeled as a benefactor and all, Antiol was a profitable customer.
“Looking at your expression, I know the answer. I’ll give you 150,000 marks. “If your greed is too much, you will be lazy, so please be satisfied with this.”
Antiol smiled with the generosity of an archmage and handed over a fat bag of money to Miles.
Miles, who counted the money and checked the amount, bowed his head. Since ancient times, the customer has been king.
Legendary wizard. Inheriting the hideout and laboratory from their teacher, they accumulated enormous wealth over several generations. The income that could be earned by selling magic potions and weapons was truly enormous.
If they had wanted to build power against the temple, they could have done so.
However, they played separately and did not try to get together. He was eccentric and independent, and devoted his life to research.
However, it was also true that they were powerful beings.
“Should we leave the carriage behind or collect it?”
“I’m of no use to you, so take it. “You can just leave your luggage on the floor.”
“I will do so.”
“Hurry up and give it to me. You have to go before the path you came from gets lost. Come to think of it, the boy over there is staring at me. Does he have something to say?”
Helmut was not embarrassed by the accurate designation. Helmut was standing next to the carriage the whole time, observing this old man with the title of Archmage.
It was definitely different from that cunning old man Erugo from the Forest of Pahe. This old man, who had a faint sense of sagacity, was completely hiding his magical powers.
It is not easy to measure human strength. Especially if he can hide his magical power like this, this old man is a strong man.
The combat power of a wizard and a swordsman is difficult to distinguish between superiority and inferiority unless they fight. Although I had a strong desire to win, it was not an opponent I could hastily start a fight with.
The archmage’s gaze was observing Helmut. In fact, Antiol was conscious of Helmut’s existence long ago.
A swordsman who appears young but possesses powerful Vis. And, although it was a little bit, there was something that caught me off guard.
A faint but uneasy feeling can be felt from him.
After checking all the requested items, it was only then that Helmut got nervous. Antiol, who had looked closely at Helmut, approached him and said:
“This is interesting.”
He spoke seriously, spreading his arms as if he were absorbed in religion.
“You are a very special child. “I can see that.”
“Helmut! “It would be nice to be recognized by the Grand Wizard.”
Finn, who was standing at a distance, tapped Helmut on the shoulder. I was muttering to myself, ‘Can’t a chef be recognized by an archmage?’
“Your eyes are alive. That’s what a prosecutor should do.”
Antiol burst into laughter. But the next moment his face became serious. His eyes were as deep and distant as an old forest.
“Sometimes a wizard can glimpse the truth. “Especially for a wizard like me, even things that others wouldn’t dare guess.”
Helmut’s energy became sharper. Finn was frightened by the murderous vis and took a step back.
I don’t know if the author is talking as if he knows something or if he really knows, but if it’s the latter, it should be cut down.
Even though his murderous intent was blatantly displayed, Antiol did not even raise an eyebrow.
“Yes, we need a secret.”
As he got closer, a thin curtain formed around him. The space seemed to separate with a humming sound.
If he can immediately implement such delicate yet difficult magic, he is definitely a wizard worthy of the title of Grand Wizard.
I couldn’t hear Finn’s voice shouting something next to me. Antiol said.
“I am a wizard. And wizards don’t think in terms of ordinary humans. Both enemies and allies. Until now, I have been exposed to many secrets of the world and have remained silent about them. Secrets reveal themselves to those who keep them. I have always respected the truth that must be hidden beneath the surface. So what you’re worried about won’t happen.”
“Can you swear?”
Helmut mentioned something he had heard before. A ‘Wizard’s Oath’ that, if broken, will result in a huge loss of magical power.
Although it is not a life-threatening issue, wizards are obsessed with magical power. There was no violation unless a knife was held under the neck.
Antiol stroked the long beard on his chin.
“Yes, the wizard’s oath. You know it well! “I, the wizard Antiol, will not reveal that the boy named Helmut has a seed of darkness.”
As expected, it was clearly understood. Powerful language gave effect to his words.
Feeling the magic energy spreading, Helmut calmed down.
He changed his tone. It was a favorable sign that he was ready to talk to Antiol.
“I heard the temple is against you.”
“Yes, they are against me, and I am hell-bent on ruining what they are doing. “It is a healthy relationship that never favors the other.”
The tone of speech was strange. It seems like they are enemies, but he says it cheerfully.
“I want to ask you something.”
“I know what you’re wondering. “Aren’t you worried about the dark power deep within your heart?”
Helmut nodded.
“I thought you, the Archmage, might know how to get rid of this.”
“You know what power that is.”
“The traces of the devil. A lump of Magi. “If you leave it alone, it is a potential danger that will grow bigger and eat up your intelligence.”
Sometimes it felt as if the sprout of darkness was not just a force that existed, but had a will of its own.
It is said to be a trace of the power left behind by the Demon King, so it may be the Demon King’s will.
Will of destruction.
“Since you are a swordsman who has reached the peak, you will have some time to spare until the sprout of darkness grows large enough to eat Izzy. Unless there is a huge incident that depletes both mind and body. Even at first glance, you seem to be a person who maintains composure well.”
An expressionless face and calm eyes. The sprouts of darkness dull emotions and bring out malice and anger.
However, the boy in front of me was calm and did not seem like a vicious person. There will also be an impact of his achievements.
Reaching a state means that you have become better at controlling yourself.
Although he still looked young, I felt an enormous amount of charm from the boy in front of me.
If you want to build that level of wealth, you can’t rely solely on the talent you have. He probably had a teacher. A renowned swordsman must have taught him how to use a sword.
“Not much is known about the Sprout of Darkness. There were few samples to study. But I am an archmage. So I know a little bit.”
The old man spoke proudly and stroked his beard. He began reciting his knowledge as if organizing his thoughts.
“A child with a sprout of darkness manifests demonic energy at birth. The temple has a means of detecting the waves of manifested demonic energy. Any child found is either killed or sent to the Forest of Pahe. If you use that method, you can isolate the baby’s magical energy into the Forest of Pahe. However, sending it to the Forest of Pahe costs a lot of sacred power, so it is difficult to choose.”
He cleared his throat and continued speaking.
“A child sent away like that will probably be eaten by a monster. Because Pahe’s Forest is a forest filled with all kinds of monsters. The sprout of darkness helps with physical growth and intellectual development, but humans need time to grow. “Unlike animals, human children grow slowly, and that is a problem that cannot be overcome no matter how talented the child is.”
“Couldn’t there be a child who is lucky enough to survive and come out of Pahe Forest?”
Helmut asked, feigning indifference.
“Once you have demon energy, you cannot pass through the sacred barrier. It is the most powerful barrier on earth. It’s a level of barrier that can’t even be compared to the one that detects wizards. “It’s been handed down since ancient times.”
Fortunately, Antiol seemed to be focusing on his own thoughts rather than Helmut’s words.
“To explain in detail, the sprout of darkness is closely related to life. The accepted theory is that it resides in a child who should have died in the womb due to a weakened body. By saving a mortal life, you use that child as a host instead. But the sprout of darkness is ultimately a lump of demon energy. When purification is achieved through the barrier, the sprouts of darkness will burn away. If that happens, the life of the host will also end.”
‘Then I really survived because Vis protected the sprouts of darkness.’
It was really a one-off. Helmut’s sprout of darkness was really close to being extinguished. And at that time, Helmut was almost on the verge of death. It was a miracle that he was revived.
Therefore, it cannot be said that Helmut left the Forest of Pahe in accordance with a successful theory. It was literally heaven’s help.
Antiol concluded.
“That’s why what you’re talking about is theoretically impossible as far as I know. “I wonder if there are other theories.”
Although he said he was guessing beyond common sense, the wizard in front of him seemed unable to imagine that Helmut would have come from the Forest of Pahe.
“Your case… is actually rare. In rare cases, the sprouts of darkness were so weak that they did not appear when babies were born, so they did not come to the attention of the temple. In that case, if you grow up to be a wizard or swordsman, you will rise to the level quickly, but such people cannot live long.”
“Why?”
“Because they are captured and killed in the temple. Because their mental growth cannot keep up with the speed at which the sprouts of darkness are devouring their minds, they become more and more ferocious and go berserk or show signs of abnormality before that. Magi seeks magi, and sprouts of darkness seek growth. However, it is not easy to obtain demonic energy while living among ordinary people. Unless you’re chewing on the monster’s core. So instead, I chase after the feeling of negativity. It’s about fear, murder, and anger. It is said that all of the cruel and ruthless killers that have appeared throughout history have had a seed of darkness in them. “It’s an unofficial fact.”
