Chapter 58: The First Year at the Academy - First Semester Field Training 1
The classroom was noisier than usual.
All of them were either combat or alchemy students.
In Cartilard, they held field exercises in June and October, with students of combat and alchemy participating in the first semester, and combat students for three days and two nights in the forests near Selene, the combat and magic students learn practical courses, while those of alchemy learn to gather.
After Desindo, the combat instructor finished his explanation. The students began to move in unison.
They let the student do their grouping, with twelve groups of four students and one group of three more. The alchemy students will receive a brief lecture at the site, but other than that, it seems that group activities are the basic rule. Everyone seems frantic, as this is the key to having a good time during the three days and two nights.
Well, I'll get lost if I don't move too.
I looked at Lambert, who was coming toward us.
"Let's partner up."
"Yeah, I'm looking forward to working with you."
We decide on our group. I was grateful to be in their group because we knew each other well, and we trusted them purely as a fighting force.
And if I had to choose one for sheer strength, there's no one else I'd go.
I wondered about a woman in a group of three men, but when I looked for her, I didn't have to worry about it.
Elphimia had already got her group.
What was her name again?? She was Doris's first crony, a blonde driller. She is a young lady of noble birth who is neither qualified nor motivated but is taking a lecture on alchemy.
I wondered what she was doing here, but Doris sent her. I've heard her say before, "She's all over me, that woman. Like that one of yours," Elphimia complained.
No. 2 has tiny black hair. She looks like a small animal, but she is a child who always looks up to others and doesn't know the meaning of her existence.
It seems that Doris has been gathering up her childhood friend. And in addition to her cronies No. 1 and No. 2, several others were also being caged in. Elphimia already got the better of her, but her purpose is unknown. She is not interested in it. Perhaps it was for some unimportant reason, such as to make the academy a bull's-eye or something like that.
The first such person and two girls who were her childhood friends are surrounding Elphimia.
If they were overbearing, there might have been a way to deal with them, but No. 1 and her two child keepers were bowing low and begging to be part of the group. I could not be unobtrusive. Elphimia was in a quandary.
"No Elphimia? Silesia has her."
Lambert says resignedly.
I didn't know he had a name like that, No. 1. Well, I don't remember him telling me his name. The baron's son is not wanted.
"What do you say? The three of us go?"
"Well, it's going to be troublesome if we add …… someone strange."
As I was looking around thinking that, a girl suddenly caught my eye.
She is a student in an alchemy course. And I was being stalked by a round pervert for pointing out that girl's material.
She is looking around the classroom with a tearful look on her face.
I guess she doesn't have her group. She didn't take the combat arts, so her alchemy friend must have teamed up with the others.
Two girls approach her.
She smiles at them, but she returns to her original face.
From the conversation that I heard leaking out, it seems that they have come to apologize. As she listens to it, she almost chuckles.
The friends leave, and the girl's gaze wanders around again.
"She doesn't seem to have anyone to team up with."
I muttered, and Lambert and Felix followed my gaze.
"That seems to be the case – don't tell me you're planning to put her in a squad?"
"It seems like a commoner, sir."
I looked at Lambert and Felix.
They both had cold expressions on their faces.
Unexpected, perhaps. Maybe a natural reaction. Even the baron's father and brother were separated from the commoners. The son of a viscount or the son of a knight in his service would be even more so.
They didn't care about my attitude as the son of a baron, refused to take a carriage, and ate and bought food. I had assumed that we were on the same side.
With that, I am reminded that I am a heretic.
But even so, I still think the aristocrats are off.
They don't understand a simple mechanism.
I open my mouth cautiously, looking for Lambert and Felix's reaction.
"Lambert, what do you think the nobility exists for?"
"It's so sudden. To rule the realm – right?"
"Ultimately. The nobles protect their fiefdoms because that's where the people are. They pay the taxes and we protect them."
"Then they are just mercenaries, aren't they?"
Lambert rebutted with disapproval.
I'd like to say he's right, but that would be the end of the story.
"That's one aspect of it," I said. "When you have an abundance of resources, it doesn't matter whether you have more or fewer people. Gold is plentiful, and if you use it to protect your golem as Selene does, even soldiers can be kept to a minimum. But most nobles can't do that."
Lambert made a gesture as if to look into the distance.
He seemed to be thinking back to the golem on the outer wall but pulled back because he didn't want it to shift as it did.
"What if, for example, Keten is attacked and the war is going against us? Would you abandon your people?"
"No, of course not…"
Lambert cut me off.
The nobles are too elective. Imagine that in concrete terms, and he'll soon realize it. They'll be corrected in their thinking, I suppose, when they're children.
"That's how it is. A decent aristocrat would know their role. Like you are now. But don't despise them as mercenaries. We are the wish of the people who do not have the strength to fight.
"Wish ……"
Lambert looks at his hands.
Felix, too, had a serious expression on his face, as if he was having second thoughts.
"Besides, it'll be a good rehearsal."
To their confusion, I continue.
"There will come a time when you will fight for someone. It may be the people of Keten, or it may be a noble lady."
They both look into each other's eyes.
"Look at her. Isn't she cute? I'm sure the Lady of the Deep Window is just as impotent, regardless of her status."
"What about this …… duchess?"
"You've come up big. You should at least be a count."
"Well – no, that's not quite …… it."
All three of them must have thought of one person.
They looked at each other and involuntarily burst out.
After getting Lambert and Felix's approval, I approached the girl.
I hadn't talked to her since that time.
When I turned my head to face her, I saw two nobles and a knight. And a group of men.
She immediately became suspicious, but I didn't care and started talking to her.
The most important thing for the group is to manage supplies.
The group must discuss and decide on the food and other supplies needed for the exercise. After that, they apply to the institute, and if the application is approved, they receive their supplies. Who will carry the supplies and how will they be managed?
Lambert and Felix are upper-class Yux in both culture and academics, but they are more of a warrior type. Furthermore, because they participated in combat art, they will be on the front lines if they encounter demons. I can't entrust the management of supplies to someone who is at risk of injury. That includes me.
We needed someone to support us from the rear, the so-called "Soldier Logistics Unit".
"I'm in charge of that?"
As I listen to her, I regain my composure.
Unlike me, she has been steadily building up her knowledge of alchemy. She must be good at detailed work.
Lambert looks at me curiously.
"I know what you're saying, but it's three days and two nights. Can't we manage this on our own?"
"It's an exercise. We should take on the challenge of the outside world. Maybe we'll be asked to submit a report later. We should have a person in charge of managing the supplies."
"A report, that's possible. I'll keep you posted on the consumption of food and supplies."
Lambert and Felix again held their hands, saying, "Thank you for your help.
The girl responded tentatively and then opened her mouth hesitantly.
"Um, what else should I do?"
"You mean?"
"We don't have a lot of people, so I think we'll be done managing supplies soon."
"Oh, that's what you mean. It's easy, just watch my back in your spare time."
"I can't!"
"I'll leave that to you, Roland."
"I'm Lola! Who's that?"
Roland sometimes goes crazy. He's getting kind of small.
For some reason, Lambert and the others gave me a half-glance.
"You didn't just say that, did you?"
"I think it's not fair. Our escort left without even seeing the entrance. Why does Lambert have Felix?"
"You're a lonely guy! I was stupid enough to be a little touched…"
Running a hand over his forehead, Lambert was taken aback.
Then we discussed and decided on the supplies we needed.
After submitting them to Desindo and receiving permission without incident, we disbanded to make our preparations.
I went into town to get supplies.
I thought it was a good idea.
◇◇◇◇
A few days passed, and the morning of the field exercise arrived.
When I went to the front of the school building where we were to meet, most of the students had already gathered.
Most of them were in their dormitories, so it was easy for them to get around.
Looking at the students, I think there were a lot of them.
No, there seemed to be a lot of them. There was a student I was not familiar. He was tall, and I guessed he was in the fourth or fifth grade.
At a distance, several instructors of the art of combat, including Desindo, Rackendale, is scheduled to give a lecture, and Cody, his assistant.
When I spotted Lambert among the students, he noticed me, too.
"So you're finally here."
Lambert, Felix, and Lola approach me.
"You're very lightly clad. Isn't your sword different from the last one?"
"I'm afraid I'm
going to stand out. I'm wearing my usual equipment this time."
The Rhino sword and stilettos take time to maintain, so hI had purchased a regular small sword as a spare. I also wear the cloth armor that I bought while I was at the shop.
I'm keeping my valuables, such as the Rhino sword, in my dorm room, while I send the leather armor to be repaired.
"Are you the Lambert team?"
Suddenly, a young man called out to me.
He's a tall, unfamiliar face. He's a senior student.
By the way, our leader unanimously decided to be Lambert. There is no way a Baron can tell a Viscount what to do.
Lambert steps forward and responds.
"Yes, but who are you?"
"I'm Tobias, a fourth-year student. I'm your advisor."
Lambert asks a question after we say our names too.
What is your position as an advisor?
"As it is. Many of the students have never camped before. The advisor must help them if they have any problems, from how to camp to cooking. But you guys seem to be okay with it. You've done this before, right?"
"It's just us. But she's not."
"Three of you are enough. Oh, good. I've never been an advisor before. Between you and me, some of the students might think I'm a little bit of an errand boy."
Tobias was truly relieved to hear that she was really worried.
Suddenly curious, he looked for Elphimia. There are only two women there, the two small servants, but they have the biggest baggage, the first one.
When I found her, I found that her advisor greets her.
I wonder if No.1 is from an aristocratic family because she is very polite.
From his height and atmosphere, he seems to be a fifth-year student.
At first glance, he is just receiving the greeting, but – he is quite a senior student, isn't he?
It's as if there is no gap.
"Ah, it's about time."
Tobias' voice brings me back to consciousness.
I follow his gaze and see Desindo and the others walking toward us.
Behind them, more than a dozen fully armed men were following them.
Why are they here?
I gently move my body and enter the shadows of the other students.
"Silence!"
At the sound of Desindo's voice, the students quieted down.
Taking one look at everyone, Desindo explains a brief note about the field exercise, the formation, etc.
Then he looks at the armed group.
"We'll have adventurers with us, just in case. Greetings."
Prompted, a man in his mid-twenties with a mace at his waist advances.
Oh, it's made of mithril, huh? He's got money.
"I'm Haleist, leader of the C-rank party "Serps". I am also the leader of the adventurers. I'll be accompanying you as your escort, but I've heard that the students of the art of combat are intended for actual battle. We will only move when you are out of control. Don't expect us to protect you at all times."
His face was fearless and his gestures were calm.
The students' expressions brightened a little, which must have made them feel somewhat uneasy.
Haleist urged the party next door.
The next party is a D-rank party called "Ezras" and their leader is Dickel.
He is mainly in charge of scouting.
Dickel then passed the baton to the next, but the students were already buzzing.
A large man with a skinhead advanced.
He looks around to lick the rising murmur, then suddenly raises his right hand to the heavens.
"I'm Zeret from "Everlasting Crop"! I'm going to smash them altogether!!!!"
A barbaric voice shakes the schoolhouse.
Zeret is pleased with the screams and cheers that roll in.
Do something about it, Corpus. I don't understand his request.
The lecturers are anxious, looking sideways at Zeret's back and Haleist's.
Haleist was holding his head, but if you looked closely, his eyebrows were twitching and shaking.
Corpus rushes over and forces Zeret to leave.
During that time, Zeret and Valden also shouted, "I'll smash t off!".
Who hired these guys?
"Yeah – so we're leaving. Each group, please follow the instructions of your instructors and advisors."
Then Desindo announced the departure.
The students agreed but were anxious to get behind them.
There, Haleist was struggling against Zeret.
He is trying his best to explain his role this time, but all he gets back is, "Leave it to me. I'm going to blow it all away," he said with a wry smile.
The exchange continues several times, and Haleist realizes it is futile.
He told Corpus and Ismira to explain the situation with a mixture of complaints, and ran away. Is this the first time you've teamed up? I would have given up the moment I saw their faces.
The "Serps" led by Haleist was a C-rank party, but their abilities were good.
Still, it is not bad.
Haleist is a warrior who uses mithril mace, and Odiles, another warrior, can use sacred magic. The remaining one was a wind magic user, skilled in assistance. Just having a recovery magic user makes a difference in stability. And since Haleist seems to have leadership skills, he would be useful if several parties were to work together.
Well, Zeret immediately busted it up.
One of the instructors took the lead and the students departed from the academy.
Lambert's group was the last.
As they were leisurely waiting for their turn, Lambert spilled out as if he was impressed.
"That was awesome."
"I wonder if he understands his role."
Felix voices his concern.
Yeah, he doesn't understand it at all.
"Don't try to understand that. You'll go crazy."
"You sound like – like you know him, don't you?"
Lambert looks at me suspiciously.
Oh no, I've been influenced by him.
"You guys saw the guy who put it all together, right? He was shaking his hair at the end."
"I certainly …… don't want to be like that."
"Everlasting Crop" was moving forward in high spirits, without regard to the lineup.
That imposing back made me feel uneasy.
I think I'll just go get the Rhino sword.
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