T/N: Will try to translate at least a chapter a day - finals are coming up, so I won't have time until the weekend
"However, would the temple truly be aware of Hyde's existence?"
The second prince, almost having Luke Yeager, the successor of the Sword Saint, in his pocket, would want to erase any record of Hyde's achievements to highlight Yeager's legacy.
In Basor, the temple's intelligence network was limited. Hyde was merely known as a skilled boy who participated in demon hunting and was a candidate for winning the martial tournament.
The focus was naturally more on Luke Yeager, the successor of the Sword Saint and someone with a grievance, than on Hyde.
It might become known to the temple later, but it seems too early for them to have noticed and tracked him down at this point.
Moreover, Helmut deliberately chose less traveled paths to cover his tracks on his way here. Having been pursued by the Black Hawk once, he took great care to cover his tracks thoroughly.
"Even if they are not specifically after me, but merely monitoring Baden, I still need to be cautious."
High Priest Dolos had recognized the Seed of Darkness within Helmut. Thus, the high priest visiting Greta Academy could likely do the same.
It would be best to avoid meeting him. Given his stature as a high priest, he wouldn't likely appear without notice, but vigilance was necessary.
His senses were as sharp as ever, as if an enemy from afar was approaching him.
Encountering the high priest in Basor was unexpected for Helmut. He had to abandon the thought that they were far away.
"After all, they are the enemy I will eventually have to face."
The most formidable adversary. Given the Seed of Darkness within him, a confrontation with the temple was inevitable.
For now, he could only hope to merely brush past them from a distance.
"Still, I'm not fully prepared yet."
Helmut glanced at his hand. He had been fortunate enough to kill a high priest.
However, Dolos was alone. It's rare for a high priest, usually guarded by knights, to travel solo.
Unless he could face the entire Palma Knight Order alone and win, openly opposing the temple, with its superior forces, was currently implausible.
They, too, would fight to the death against someone with the Seed of Darkness. That was the essence of the temple's existence.
"Especially since I'm vulnerable to holy magic."
Just being near holy energy causes the Seed of Darkness to flare up, making it difficult to exert my full power. I would have to fight both internally and externally.
However, this could be used to my advantage. The Seed of Darkness would sensitively alert me to the approach of a high priest.
"The high priest."
Helmut recalled the names of the other two high priests involved in sending Darien to the Forest of Pahé, shared by Dolos. The one visiting could be one of them.
"It would be nice to eliminate him if the opportunity arises… Unfortunately."
It couldn't happen in Baden. In Baden, of all places, he couldn't afford to be discovered. His resolve was strangely strong, leaning clearly towards avoidance.
An impending crisis loomed, yet Helmut, as before, would find a way to navigate through it.
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Soon, class started, and sensing the distracted atmosphere due to the festival, Instructor Patricia raised her voice.
"Everyone seems to be excited about the festival. Focus!"
She surveyed the students before announcing,
"Today, we will have sparring sessions!"
Helmut's opponent was Andro, the second in command of the swordsmanship department, right after Asuka.
But even Asuka couldn't last long against Helmut, so being second didn't make much difference from the others. They were all significantly weaker.
"Please take it easy."
Andro greeted him nervously. Facing Helmut in the first match of the session was undoubtedly stressful for him.
Under normal circumstances, Helmut might have given Andro a chance to attack a few times, following the academy's usual practice.
However, Helmut did not do so. Or rather, he did not even think to do so.
This was the first sparring session since the end of the vacation, during which Helmut had fought in a completely different manner. The opponents he faced in the martial tournament weren't the kind you could afford to be leisurely with, not with conventional swordsmanship.
To end the fight with a single strike, using full power. The most efficient way!
Helmut immediately parried Andro's initial thrust and surged inside like lightning.
Such a vulnerable and weak opponent. Ending him was as easy as snapping a newborn's wrist.
Helmut's sword tip, almost instinctively, aimed for Andro's neck. Even though it was a wooden sword, it was threatening.
The neck is a fragile area, a proper hit could break the neck bone. A chillingly sharp intent was in the air.
"Stop the match! Helmut, stop!"
A sharp cry intercepted the trajectory of the wooden sword. With a loud crack, the wooden sword was blocked and vibrated intensely.
Helmut, who was about to unleash his killing intent on the interrupter, suddenly came to his senses.
"Instructor."
Instructor Patricia's stern face was behind Andro, who looked pale and bewildered, not fully grasping how close he had come to serious injury.
"After class, come with me, Helmut. For now, I won't allow you to spar today."
Instructor Patricia spoke decisively. Though several more sparring matches took place, Helmut was not allowed to participate.
In the meeting room after class, with her arms crossed, Instructor Patricia asked,
"Helmut, is there a problem? Your swordsmanship wasn't as composed as usual. Did you have a disagreement with Andro?"
"No."
"Then why were you so aggressive? If I hadn't intervened in time, Andro could have been severely injured."
If Andro had died, it would have been a serious matter. It's rare for someone to die or get injured in a sparring session using wooden swords. Even Asuka, who beat his opponents mercilessly, never killed anyone.
"Perhaps I was too tense from real combat during the vacation."
"I see. You've gotten a tan, so you must have traveled far. But remember, this is the academy, and your opponents are not enemies. You're banned from sparring for the time being."
Instructor Patricia tapped his shoulder lightly. She didn't scold him harshly or get angry at him, but rather seemed to be steering him back on track.
It worked. Helmut felt something swelling inside him slowly subside, as usual.
Only then did Helmut realize he had been somewhat agitated.
"If you're facing difficult times or problems, don't suffer in silence. Talk to us."
With a bit of advice, Instructor Patricia let him go. As he left the instructor's office, Helmut felt disheartened.
'I almost killed someone without realizing it.'
If Instructor Patricia hadn't intervened, he doubted he could have stopped in time. This lack of control was troubling.
The last time he fought was against the leader of the Palma Knight Order. The tension from fighting to his full capacity during the martial tournament was different. Such spontaneous restraint in a fight felt as cumbersome as being weighed down by lead.
Helmut realized he no longer fit the level of the swordsmanship department.
He was like a predator hiding among herbivores. Though other disciplines might be beneficial for his education, the basic training of the swordsmanship department was still useful.
He was suited for the swordsmanship department, but the problem was the lack of students capable of a proper duel with him.
'Would the Palma Knight Order suffice?'
There, similar to the Forest of Pahé, strength was respected. Moreover, the members of the Palma Knight Order were of decent caliber. He might find worthy opponents there.
But even they, despite being adversaries of the temple, wouldn't welcome someone with the Seed of Darkness.
And there were other issues: the weather, periodic demon hunts.
Above all, he didn't feel like leaving. Not yet.
"Do you have a grudge against Andro? You were quite frightening there."
Asuka approached, clicking his tongue.
"What were you so angry about?"
"Nothing, really."
"Did Patricia drag you out to lecture and smack you on the head or something?"
"That didn't happen."
"What? That witch is biased! If it were me, she'd have smacked me on the back of my head, telling me to get my act together."
Asuka seemed indignant. Helmut glanced at him and said,
"I should head to the practice grounds."
He needed to blunt his sword's edge through practice. But Asuka followed, chatting away.
"You really should take it easy during the festival. You almost killed someone earlier. Must've been stressed from training so hard during the vacation."
Helmut nodded. He was indeed on edge. Not because the high priest was lurking around Greta Academy, searching for a threat, but merely because he was visiting Baden.
"Perhaps I should."
"Oh? What's this? Then listen up. I've got plans for the festival..."
Indeed, no one could distract him quite like Asuka.
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The festival was almost upon them. Teams for participation were almost formed, and the departments were abuzz with preparations.
Greta Academy didn't officially elect representatives for each year. Instead, students with excellent grades were informally granted the right and responsibility to lead their peers, with no other specific duties.
Of course, Helmut played a significant role in maintaining peace within the swordsmanship department by keeping Asuka in check.
While the academic department was well-organized, the magic and swordsmanship departments focused more on individual achievements.
As a result, top students in the swordsmanship department, including Helmut and Asuka, quietly honed their skills, leaving the more vocal and active students to take the lead in initiatives.
Members of group 9 from the hunting picnic, such as Wesley and James, fit this description. Though not top students, they were loud and enjoyed various activities.
The swordsmanship department was unusually quiet that day. Given the festive mood lately, the pre-class chatter had been a constant, making today's silence noteworthy.
Specifically, the silence fell when Helmut and Asuka appeared side by side in the courtyard.
James approached Asuka with a solemn proposition. It was rare for anyone to attempt involving Asuka in department activities, given his reputation for being uncontrollable.
The urgency in James's face was evident. Asuka tilted his head slightly.
"Hmm? What is it?"
His face hinted at mischief, ready to overturn the conversation if displeased.
Lately, Asuka had mellowed somewhat, not starting fights or getting upset without reason, but he was still Asuka. Personalities don't change that easily.
"Well, there's an event where each department selects one student per grade to participate. The event offers great benefits."
"The winning grade will receive 3,000 marks worth of vouchers for Baden's shopping district per participant."
3,000 marks was no small amount. Helmut's attention naturally drifted towards the conversation.
'Why Asuka, of all people?'
He wondered what the nature of the event was that specifically required Asuka's participation.
"Don't beat around the bush. What event is it?"
Asuka crossed his arms. The other student swallowed nervously before explaining.
And as soon as he finished speaking, Asuka's fist flew.
"You trying to get yourself killed!"