Chapter 59: The First Year at the Academy - First Semester Field Training 2
The destination of the field exercise was the western forest.
We set out and headed west along the road in a string of beads.
We arrived near the forest in the morning, took a short rest there, and entered the forest.
Soon after, we arrived at a clearing.
It was large, and there were still remnants of campfires here and there.
This was our campsite for the first day.
Desindo instructs us to pitch our tents.
Leaving the site selection and setup to Lambert and the others, I, as a scout, decided to take a look around the plaza.
In the center of the square, the instructors build a large bonfire with the help of adventurers. A cooking area had already been set nearby.
They're fighting over it.
The aristocrat-centered group dominated the area around the bonfire. Although the teachers were not taking a forceful approach, they could not resist the silent pressure. The group of commoners headed for the perimeter with their shoulders slumped.
Such a struggle was going on even among the nobles. After exchanging names, they exchanged euphemisms, and one side maturely backed away. It seems that superiority or inferiority is determined by family rank, economic power, and the influence of the donor parent, but this is a world I don't understand it.
I looked back to see what happened to Lambert, one of the nobles and saw that he had taken up a position near Seren, just before the perimeter of the plaza.
A good choice. It was a good choice. In an emergency, there would undoubtedly be chaos in the center. It was an easy place to retreat to without getting caught up in the chaos.
But still, you are throwing a lot of energy into your students.
In this world, the power of the individual is so great that tactics have not developed, but of course, the military exists. We learn about military tactics and the chain of command. We decide who the student leader will be. So you're throwing it all in my face, whether I'll decide or not. I don't know how much more laissez-faire you can take.
I'll keep this quiet.
Leaders are determined by their status, and if they are of the same rank, there will be a struggle. And a ten-year-old with no real combat experience, the chain of command would not work. It would only confuse them even more.
After taking a look around, I returned to the tent.
Lambert and the others had unloaded and were resting.
"Oh, you're back. Can you bring me some water?"
They fill the pot offered to them with "Pure Water".
Lambert and the others poured from it into wooden cups and refilled their water bottles.
I think the reason the campsite is not in the northwest, where there is a river, is to teach them the preciousness of water. When the group was divided into groups, those with good eyesight actively brought in water magic users. Those who were not would bring in large quantities, and those who were unaware would need water tomorrow.
Since I can use water magic, we also brought in little water. Anyway, the water was heavy.
After unloading, I also quenched my thirst.
Most of the mixed-group teams had two tents. Lola refrained from doing so because it would add to the bulk of our luggage, but I was too worried about it.
"Well, what about Tobias-san?"
"I heard that the advisors are in another tent. If you need anything, call on him anytime."
"That would be great. Frankly, four people in this tent are a bit cramped."
I looked for Tobias and the other advisors and found them running around.
Nearly half of the students were still struggling to set up their tents.
They look busy, so I won't call on them unless they're not busy.
After a while, when all the groups had finally settled down, one of the instructors called out, "The representatives should gather."
Lambert returns as if it wasn't a big deal.
"The alchemy students will do some hands-on collecting, and the combat students will patrol the perimeter. Alter, I want you to prioritize the collecting."
"Understood."
We parted ways, and Lola and I headed for Rackendale.
Weaving between the countless tents and luggage, I spoke to Lola.
"Do you have any experience in collecting?"
"This is my first time. But I think I can tell the difference. We have a store."
"Heh, I didn't know that. In Selen?"
"Yes. It's a small store."
It's called Breos Trading Company, a small but well-established business that's been around for over a hundred years.
Come to think of it, Danil also said he learned it while helping out at the store.
If people learn "Mixing" they can raise the value of your products. Perhaps the commoners are learning with a clear purpose.This chapter was first shared on the Ñøv€lß1n platform.
We arrived at the outskirts of the square where they instructed but Rackendale had not arrived.
The alchemy students were almost all there, chatting away at hand.
One of them, Elphimia, notices me.
She turns down the first one, who is making an impassioned speech about something and walks up to me.
"Your place looks like fun."
"You too."
"You want to switch?"
"I'm sorry."
I immediately apologized. I can't stand that kind of suffocation.
Elphimia slumped her shoulders.
"Huh. ...... why is this happening? You know that guy, talking on and on and on? He's talking about which sweets are good, which clothing store has bad taste, and which prince is good-looking. Do I look interested?"
"Odd. I've had similar experiences. But this one is worse because I'm interested."
That's why I get caught so often.
We sighed, and Lola asked us if we were okay.
Elphimia turns her slightly disheveled face to Lola.
"You–Lola, was it?"
If it was just an assessment, I'm fine.
But what if they felt the same way I did?
I don't think they would return Kaluas and the others to the city. They would increase their influence.
Should I be prepared?
I stop and look at the treetops.
The presence is rapidly approaching. The direction is around the perimeter of the plaza.
It seems to be reinforcements – or is it them?
"Goblins!"
With a mysterious shout, a skinhead and a scarred man jump out.
Then, upon seeing me, they hurriedly raised their hammers. They hurriedly stopped the hammer they raised.
Don't jinx it up.
Corpus and Ismira also show up.
Only Ismira was not surprised to see me.
"It's Cartilard, isn't it? I didn't expect to see you here."
"I'll just return it. I'll just return it to you. Do you have time?"
"No, we're just here to blow up some goblins..."
We're done.
Zeret and Varden are astonished.
They still don't seem to understand what they are asked to do.
After waiting for them to revive, I take "Everlasting Crop" to a place where there is no sign of life.
There, I asked them not to tell anyone that I was an adventurer.
Zeret and Varden nodded with mysterious faces.
You don't get it, do you?
As I was wondering how to explain, Ismira twisted her head.
"What does that mean?"
"Meaning?"
"Cartilard doesn't prohibit adventurers, does it? It's natural to work for a living, and not everyone is as wealthy as you are – oh, maybe you're a poor aristocrat? Sorry."
"Sorry doesn't exonerate you. Besides, I'm not poor."
I didn't need Ismira to confirm that it wasn't forbidden.
What I'm worried about is if my parents find out I'm an adventurer.
They would increase my remittances. I wrote them a thick letter with a lot of small talks.
"Anyway, I don't want to spread the word too much that I'm an adventurer. Would you please keep quiet?"
"I don't mind. I'm sure you have your reasons."
Ismira and Corpus agreed.
The rest were these guys?
Zeret looked down at me suspiciously.
"Hey, ......, you're an adventurer, right?"
"That's an uneasy start, isn't it?"
I can't predict what he's going to say, which is a problem.
Zeret folded his arms and wrinkled his brow in contemplation.
Then, suddenly, he looks up as if he had been played.
"Then you're an adventurer!"
"So you've thought it through."
Was it a stumble, or was it the end of twists and turns? I'd like to take a peek into his train of thought.
Yet another troubled fellow had also reached a mysterious conclusion.
"Wait a minute, bro! Maybe this guy is a fake–"
"What! What fake?
"I don't know! I don't know who you are!"
"Yes, wait a minute. Let's just calm down a little bit."
I calm them down.
After all, their problem is that they have a lot of assumptions, and they process everything in their world. The only way to get them to understand is to dive into their world.
I think for a moment and open my mouth.
"A man – he has a secret that he can't tell anyone. Right?"
"Hmm."
Zeret and Barden stroke their unshaven beards and chuckle.
I knew it. They seem to like this kind of thing, don't they?
"I have a secret too. So please don't tell me I'm an adventurer."
"Oh, leave it to me. A man's secret!
"I'll protect it too! I'll protect your secret!
Somehow, they seemed to understand.
I breathed a sigh of relief, and Corpus looked at me happily.
I'm not going to be one of them, okay?
