# 62
Helmut
Episode 62
Helmut’s second sparring was the last of all sparring. And it was also the shortest sparring. The sparring ended as soon as Helmut countered his opponent’s attack. After the third attack, the opponent felt as if light flashed before his eyes.
‘what?’
The next moment, the opponent was lying sprawled on the floor. With tremendous pain on the top of my head. Helmut hit the opponent’s head without realizing it and missed it. If I hadn’t let go of my hand at the end, I would have smashed the opponent’s head. Murder in an academy exam.
‘I was so bored that I almost made a mistake.’
He put down his wooden sword. It was a weak opponent that made me yawn. I don’t know how I passed the first test. From Helmut’s perspective, this guy is going to fall.
“It’s over, right?”
When I asked with a bored expression, the supervisor nodded with a stern expression. This is the first time I’ve seen a guy like this while taking an exam. There were quite a few applicants with differences in skill, but this is not something that can be explained by the word skill difference.
The other person, trembling with humiliation, left first as if running away. Helmut also slightly bowed his head and greeted the instructors and left. The three remaining swordsmanship instructors chatted.
“It looks like we’ve been selected now.”
“Eight people. “It’s good that there is no disagreement.”
“The difference was clear enough to separate those who passed and those who failed.”
And in Dalian a little while ago, the difference was clearly the most obvious. The swordsmanship instructors looked at each other and nodded.
“More than anything, that guy.”
Instructor Alan pointed to Helmut, who had disappeared with a gesture of his chin.
“I’m looking forward to it. “I wonder how much he will stand out at the academy.”
Ethan Kudrow tried to keep his proud expression blunt. I had no doubts that Helmut would pass the test. Ah, I was a bit anxious about the first test. He watched Helmut’s efforts with his own eyes. I go out in the morning, study until late at night, and even practice at dawn. I wondered how a fourteen-year-old boy could do that.
‘He is not only the most talented student I have ever seen…’
After spending the past few weeks with Helmut, Ethan Kudrow could not help but hold his tongue. No matter how incredibly talented he is, it is ultimately hard work that backs up talent. Laziness destroys sharp talent. There is no such thing as a unique talent. When you meet someone who has comparable talent and puts in more effort, your talent loses its shine.
Moreover, swordsmanship was a talent that rewarded effort. Helmut is a sword made by top craftsmen. Moreover, the sword did not stop refining itself. Ethan Kudrow hoped that more people would know about the famous sword called Helmut. It was also an instructor’s joy to watch outstanding students gain fame.
‘I definitely hope to see the light.’
There is nothing to worry about. Helmut is an awl in the pocket. Brilliant talent is sure to stand out. However, Helmut is a disciple of the sword saint Darian. If Darian was betrayed and disappeared as Helmut said, then the fact that he was Darian’s disciple should not be known. Fortunately, few people knew about the relationship between Ethan Kudrow and Darian. No one will doubt it right now.
‘But how long can I hide it?’
Ethan Kurdo was skeptical. I never show off my sword skills against students who are weaker and less skilled than me. However, if Helmut truly demonstrates swordsmanship, someone will find out who that swordsmanship originated from.
“I hope the academy becomes his hiding place.”
Trees hide in the forest. Ethan hoped that Greta Academy, full of talented people, would become Helmut’s Forest.
‘I guess I’ll have to find out about the traitor.’
Helmut seemed to think nothing of it, but Ethan thought differently. Helmut had to clearly know who his enemy was and what power they had. Knowing and being prepared is better than not knowing at all.
I was on my way out after hearing the announcement of successful applicants. Helmut suddenly stopped. Because I felt a familiar presence. Alea motioned towards him from the far corner.
“What happened?”
Have you committed a sin? Why are you calling me in secret? Helmut approached him and asked.
“Why are you hiding?”
“There are a lot of annoying people. “What happened further?”
Helmut glanced at Area, who was questioning her as if questioning him, and slowly opened his mouth.
“…I passed.”
The purple pupils widened slightly.
“Congratulations on being admitted to Greta Academy.”
Area held out her hand. Dazzlingly white hands. It felt like it was the first time I saw Area smile. It was an incredibly beautiful smile, even for Helmut, who was insensitive to someone’s appearance. Helmut stared at Area for a moment. Area, who has an impatient personality, urged.
“What are you doing?”
Helmut slowly stretched out his hand and held it. I felt strange. Is it because I achieved something for the first time in the human world? Is this what it feels like to be congratulated by someone? Area quickly withdrew her hand. He seemed proud as if I had passed the test. He seemed proud of successfully leading his first tutoring session.
“I have to pass. “It took up 15 days of my time.”
Area smiled and said something that could not have been a good word.
“The guys in the swordsmanship department will be a bit territorial towards transfer students, so try to get along.”
As soon as the announcement of successful candidates was made, all eyes turned to Helmut. Although they couldn’t openly fight in front of the supervisor, everyone except the two who lost to Helmut showed an unconvinced expression. A guy who seemed to be Sabat Rugal pointed a finger at him and shouted.
‘Don’t think that just because you got lucky and passed the commoners topic, you’re on the same level as me!’
He wondered why he was sure it was ‘because he was lucky’, but it was absurd for Helmut to assume that he would be on the same level as him.
‘It’s a good day, so I’ll hold on today.’
There is no need to make a fuss before entering school. They say that in the swordsmanship department, there are a lot of rough encounters between students due to sparring and other things, so it’s okay if you just fix them. I will make you pay dearly in front of everyone. Helmut decided to be patient. I felt good about passing the exam after a long time.
And something more pleasant was waiting. Area took something out of her arms and handed it to him.
“Take this.”
It was a money bag full of money. The shiny gold coins piled up inside catch the eye. Helmut asked suspiciously.
“Why are you giving it back?”
“You’re only giving half back. If he had been from a noble family, he would have received the same amount, but since he is a mercenary, they accept it. “I was worried that if you failed the test, my reputation would suffer, but you passed.”
It was some kind of award. Helmut guessed the reason why the prickly Area was so generous.
‘As expected, the gift had an effect.’
Getting 50,000 marks back was a huge profit. Helmut accepted the money bag without hesitation. It feels good to have my empty pockets filled again. It was a nice gift to celebrate admission. Area gave one last piece of advice.
“Nobles distinguish themselves from commoners by how they dress and what they own, so it would be good to match the level.”
“Is being a commoner a big problem at the academy?”
The nuance was strange, so Alea raised her eyebrows and asked.
“Have we already found out that you are a commoner?”
“It just so happened.”
Area frowned. He was known to have been a mercenary, and Xenia Zheringen knew Helmut, so I thought the rumor would spread somehow, but it became known too quickly before he entered school.
‘You must have been talking without thinking about it.’
There is nothing we can do about what has happened.
“According to academy policy, all students have equal status. If you disparage someone because they are a commoner or say something that emphasizes your status, you can be disciplined. If someone starts a fight, report it to the instructor right away. “At the swordsmanship department, there are a lot of swordsmen who value hierarchy, so they say people from commoners play separately.”
Area looked at Helmut’s complexion. He’s a shameless and confident guy, so I don’t think he’ll get hurt. However, even if you are not the type of person to care about bullying, life at the academy will not be comfortable. Commoners did not talk about their origins. However, even if they did not say it, commoners were implicitly noticeable. Nobles and commoners grow up in completely different environments, and nobles often know each other before entering school.
“You were in the magic department, right?”
“Yes, Faculty of Magic. Our faculties are independent from each other. Some classes will overlap with the swordsmanship department…”
Students from various departments gather in the general education classes that are taken in common. Students in the magic department preferred classes with more students in the swordsmanship department. It’s a relative evaluation, so the scores are listed below. What Area noticed was something different.
“If you happen to run into me, there is no need to say hello, so don’t pretend to know me. No, as of today, you and I don’t know each other.”
In times like this, it’s normal to tell people to pretend they don’t know, but Area’s words were the opposite. I was curious about whether Helmut passed or not, but I also came here to say this. Area added firmly.
“If you pretend to know me, you’ll only end up giving yourself a headache.”
That was true. Area is a celebrity at Greta Academy. There were countless people who wanted to become friends with him. There are some malicious followers who are not only passionate but even stalker-like. However, because he did not want to mingle with anyone, there were only a few people he spoke to at the academy. If you pretend to know that you are not only tutoring him, Helmut will get angry for no reason.
More than anything, I wanted Area to increase the distance between her and Helmut. We have become so close in the past fortnight. It wasn’t awkward to be in the same room with him or to talk to him like this. We talked, exchanged ideas, and shared time. The distance is surprisingly close. Area was surprised that she allowed someone to be this close.
I may end up getting involved again against my will, but that’s for later.
‘Have you become attached to me yet?’
A part of my heart feels a little empty. But Area was used to solitude. That loneliness will follow him until the moment he graduates from the academy.
“okay.”
There was silence between the two for a moment. Area raised her head and looked into Helmut’s calm eyes. This guy doesn’t know what he’s thinking. Did you say you were raised by your grandfather, who was a mercenary? Area suddenly cleared away the curiosity in her heart. Because the desire to know someone was a luxury for him.
The first to turn away was Area.
“hi.”
It sounded like a breakup. Area walked to the other side without even looking back. Helmut stared at the back and immediately took a step forward. He felt eyes on them from somewhere, but he left without paying any attention.
That evening, Helmut was greeted at the Kudrow Mansion with a hearty meal featuring various delicacies, including roasted whole pig. The mansion’s chef showed off his skills to the fullest.
“Congratulations on passing.”
A smile appeared on Ethan’s lips. He was happy about Helmut’s passing as if it were his own. At first, he seemed strict and blunt, but contrary to his impression, he paid a lot of attention to Helmut. He was a completely different guardian than Elagan, who was somewhat immature, and Darian, who only pushed him hard.
“thank you.”
‘Is this what it means to be an adult?’
Helmut tilted his head. After eating until his stomach was full, Ethan stopped him as he grabbed his sword and tried to leave.
“Are you going to practice swordsmanship again?”
“yes.”
“Training is good, but you also have to know how to enjoy it.”
Ethan tapped Helmut on the shoulder.
“It would be best to take it easy until you enter the academy. Preparing for entrance and looking around Baden. “Aren’t you entering the academy to adapt to the world where people live?”
He was right. Helmut nodded.
“yes.”
I need to think about what to do with the remaining time.
