Grand Hall
"You'll take him under your wing?"
"Yes, Oli."
"Okay!"
Oliver removed the goofy smile attached to his lips as he spoke seriously, "I'll send some men to check the second area. Just a few tweaks and it will be back. Aside from that, we've had more pressing matters to discuss. We've been stagnant on reclaiming this region for almost two years now—"
I exited the room after jotting down my statements on a piece of paper, asserting my innocence.
And it seemed they believed so.
Currently, I've been directed to proceed to the grand hall where fellow cadets have already gathered.
'Here we go again with this getting to know each other.'
Numerous factors contribute to this recurring phenomenon. People, including myself, often perceive it as a monotonous task; nevertheless, it seems to be a requisite for all of us.
The essence lies in building connections and fostering companionships. The common saying asserts that people cannot thrive in isolation in the wilderness, and I believe them.
Well, not really.
I aimed to present myself as such so that my stay here wouldn't be jeopardized by some prideful bastards who wanted to mess around.
And by any chance they decide to interfere, I'll give them a mouthful of reasons, dissuading others from emulating their behavior.
'Okay, I'll do it.'
Once more, I've accepted the reality of being powerless, as if it has become the norm. It does irk me to some extent, though not to the degree of driving me to madness.
One problem at a time. Doing things simultaneously wouldn't get me anywhere, that's what my mother told me, and my mother is always right.
Whose mother isn't anyway?
Positioned right in front of the designated area, my hands instinctively moved, autonomously opening the door. Revealed inside was an expansive field with makeshift camps dispersed throughout.
In the center stood a cluster of cadets, or now private officers, arranged in a cohesive formation.
'Oh, there's some people I recognized.'
It's not a remarkable feat when someone is delving into others' backgrounds.
Some individuals might be acquainted with me as I garnered commendable academic achievements during my time in the academy. There were also events when I showed my physical prowess.
What I intended to emphasize is that there's no harm in conducting such research. Understanding whom to trust and whom to be cautious of is a crucial factor that everyone should consider in this world.
Your life will depend on them if a situation calls for it, after all.
'Am I the only person sent to the fourth building?'
Positioned at the end of the cadet line, my mind began to drift, contemplating the absurd encounter I had experienced earlier today.
When Ariana sent me to Oliver.
'It must be…'
As for its reason, I think I've figured it out.
They probably speculated that I was fabricating my personal information, given the history of incidents where individuals concealed their capabilities, leading to first-rate or second-rate disasters.
Hence, it's imperative to disclose all information to the supervisors, a step I sincerely took. However, due to their suspicions, they assigned Ariana to monitor my activities closely.
Ultimately, the baseless accusation of me being untruthful was put to rest once the commander and his vice received reassurance and clarification.
As for how they did it, I'm not really sure.
"Well, in the end, all is well."
Quietly immersing myself in my thoughts, I vividly recalled the moment when Ariana effortlessly dispatched a Horror on her own, using only a few gestures with remarkable ease.
'Her Horror is probably related to specters…'
And a powerful one at that.
Releasing a sigh, I timidly shook my head. "There's no denying it. Obtaining a Horror is a necessity. Haha, well, It's just incredibly ironic – using a Horror to eliminate Horrors."
It's not the sole method, but it's undeniably the most challenging and, consequently, the most straightforward way to eliminate a Horror.
'Well, I can also eat them and see the mysterious power I will get, I guess.'
"Attention!"
A masculine man with a deep scar attached to the bottom of his right eye called the minds of the cadets present in the grand hall. The others who were previously daydreaming and loitering about promptly straightened up and formed a line in the same area as mine.
"So, you brats have graduated a week ago. Congratulations, you are now private! Anyways, what you learned from the academy will be put to the test here in the outside world. First, we're going to deploy you into squads with squad leaders. Unless you have been invited by someone already from the officials of this place."
The masculine man let out a small cough, "First, let me introduce myself. My name is Captain Dune. As for how we will group you, we're currently assessing it as of now and we're almost done with it. So, sit down and relax. That would be all."
Dune exited from the platform he was standing and joined the other people who were busily moving around the place.
'Are they not going to announce that this place is currently under attack?'
Contemplating that thought inwardly, I carefully surveyed the surroundings. Apart from the cadets spontaneously forming circles, there was a uniform spread of iron-clad armor and military uniforms throughout the area.
Even though they haven't announced anything yet, it doesn't seem to appear they are being complacent about it.
'I see. Are they afraid to alert us? There should be no other reason than this.'
With that, I positioned myself at the corner of a makeshift bonfire and observed quietly as people around me formed connections. I made mental notes of others' quirks, looks, and backgrounds as they engaged in conversations with fellow cadets.
'It's funny how they were chatting without any worries. Well, it was good that the commander is keeping this crisis hidden but the question is, how long? Sooner or later, even idiots would realize something isn't right.'
While I was deep in my thoughts, a hand suddenly tapped my shoulders.
"Hey, are you alone?"
Upon turning around, I noticed the individual was encircled by a group, all casting discerning gazes in my direction.
"Yes. Who are you?"
The individual flashed a benevolent smile and responded, "The name's Loid. A Third Division cadet, ranked 16."
Surveying him from head to toe, I offered a slight smile and replied, "I'm Gin. A sixteenth division cadet, ranked 1206."
Once I revealed a bit of myself, they started whispering amongst themselves.
Chatter—!
"Sixteenth Division…"
"A very low ranking too…"
"Looking at him closely, he didn't exclude any type of strength in his side…"
The individuals surrounding Loid engaged in conversations filled with ridicule and mockery, some expressing pity, fully convinced that someone like me wouldn't endure the challenges ahead.
As for Loid's expression, it was the former.
Judging by their demeanor, they are above a thousand or even ranked hundreds on their rankings which made sense for their actions. Might be close to Loid.
"Tsk."
There it is.
"Do you need me for something?"
I inquired, pretending ignorance about the disdainful expression he had just displayed, an expression I couldn't care less about.
"No. Hope we never talk again.
"Likewise."
Detecting that our conversation had attracted considerable attention from the onlookers, I began to walk away from the main group after delivering a brief response. However, he clearly didn't appreciate my response, evident from the glaring look he directed my way.
Nevertheless, his gaze didn't instill as much fear as that guard from the dock earlier. Geez… I hope I never have to encounter him again.
"You did a pretty good job avoiding the fight with him."
After the hum of the crowd subsided, a woman approached from behind to congratulate me. I wasn't entirely sure about the reason for the congratulations, and I preferred to keep it that way.
What truly grabbed my attention was the woman herself.
'What is this troupe? I've met a monster, villain, background, and side characters today. Now with the protagonist? I must be having a tough day…'
Casting a glance at the woman, whom I happened to identify as the top-ranked individual in division two of my year at the academy, instantly recalling seeing her from a distance amidst the crowd earlier, I offered a greeting.
"Hello, Neon. It's been a while since the final exams."
Of course, I knew her.
"Gin, it's been a while."
And she knew me.
Long story short, we exchanged 'guarantees' with each other. She possessed formidable strength, while my forte lay in surprising intelligence. A quick read of the situation would reveal that we were mutually assisting each other.
She would teach me relating to battle prowess and essentials while I taught her theoretical learnings, military strategies, and many more.
"When did you come, Gin?"
"Today."
"Ohh, it must be the reason I couldn't see you for the last few days."
"You're saying as if you're expecting me to be enlisted here? That's harsh, even for me. In fact, I would like to be enlisted in an area that is not as dangerous as this place."
There was a particular instance where we engaged in a profound conversation, and from that moment on, the bond between us deepened.
The inception of this companionship, akin to friends with benefits, occurred during a sparring match between us.
While we may not fit the conventional definition of friends, our connection resembles more of companionship, where we derive mutual benefits from each other. Whether it's precisely the same, I can't say for certain.
"Well, anyway, hope we can work together as well in here," Neon stated as if signaling herself to leave.
No need to extend this further. The announcement for individuals to be paired with officials in this place should be imminent. Alongside that, I must also stay vigilant regarding the ongoing events in this place.
Remaining complacent in a situation where a Horror could emerge at any moment could be a fatal mistake.
It appears my intuition was correct, as the same speaker from earlier returned with a resounding shout that captured everyone's attention.
"Once I called your name, step forward!"