Single digits stats limit? I was not worried. Her limit will probably increase after this quest finishes. I believe in her status as a Hero.

"Tsk. You truly are a fool. Trying to be a soldier with those limits."

-17/50 Bad deeds completed. Insult successful. Intimidate successful-

Ah she winced. Ah. This mouth of mine. Why can't you say things nicely?

"But fret not, I have chosen you. I will not abandon you now."

"C-Claud..."

Yes. I'm Claud. Why are you just saying my name but not saying anything...?

Seems like she's run out of words. Feels awkward.

Let's reexamine the status.

I wonder what Willpower is.

"Sophie, are you informed about the Willpower stat?"

"T-that's the stat used when people use their skill, if I'm not mistaken. I-I only have two Willpower..."

From her explanation, most likely I'm utilizing a skill to override my dialogue. So expensive...

"Trainees, we have arrived at Goblin Forest. Kill 5 goblins. Subjugated monsters will be recorded automatically in your status. This is your first test. If your partner dies, you fail. Your time ends when the sun rises again."

Finally our first quest. It's kind of spartan to just throw us in though isn't it? Not to mention our weapons are made of wood.

About an hour later, we still haven't found a goblin... not good.

All the trainees must have encountered most of the goblins already. Due to our low Dexterity, we were much slower than the rest of the pack.

And it's getting harder to walk. The Hero is struggling even more than I am.

"C-Claud! A goblin!"

You idiot! Why are you giving us away!

Also where. I can't see the damn thing.

"Haa!"

The goblin launched the first attack, ambushing us from the bushes. The Hero received the club with her sword but that knocked it flying out of her hand and she fell backwards.

I quickly swing at the goblin to prevent it from finishing her off.

"Find your sword! Hurry!"

This nimble shit. All my swings are missing their mark. It's not even that it's fast.. It's just smart!

"I-I found my sword! I'm coming!"

Don't announce it. Just sneak up on it, darn it.

The goblin's attention is split between its back and front. But I'm approaching faster than Sophie, I have a feeling it might decide to go after the weaker of us two.

Just as I'm thinking that, it does exactly as I thought.

These monsters, they actually think!

Unlike before, with both hands, she gripped her sword tighter. She managed to block and get a few strikes in.

I come up from behind and land a blow onto the back of its head. In an unskilled frenzy, we manage to beat it down. There's just a messy pile of red on the forest floor now.

Sophie and I collapse at the same time next to each other. That was mentally exhausting more than anything. I wasn't expecting the goblin to put up such a resistance.

-Hero's Strength has increased by 1. Your Strength has increased by 2-

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-Subjugated first monster. Unlocked classes: (Common) Warrior (Common) Swordsman (Common) Priest-

Swordsman? Heh. We pretty much clubbed it death though? These wooden swords don't cut for shit. Mine's cracked all the way across the blade, the hilt and falling apart. It's unusable in this state. Sophie's sword is pretty much broken too. Fuck.

She looked happy but unfortunately I was not.

"Good job, idiot."

-19/50 Bad deeds completed-

"Why did you announce your attack to it? You had its back, stupid."

-22/50 Bad deeds completed-

Urgh. Usually I would have kept those words in. This foul mouthed trait just unleashes the worst parts of my thoughts. At least the quest is almost halfway done.

"Also you didn't have to join in beating the thing. Now both our weapons are broken. How are we supposed to kill 4 more goblins?! I have the higher Strength stat, you should have just held back and saved your weapon!"

Okay, that last part's not really fair to say. Now I'm just venting my frustrations.

-27/50 Bad deeds completed-

Oh no she's tearing up again.

"W-why.. Why do you have to be so mean? I'm.. trying my best! I know I stink and that I'm weak.. but I don't understand! You chose me as your partner and now you're still being mean!"

She must've felt that was unfair of me to say, as she started flailing wildly, hitting me. Which is true, that was my actual irrational feelings just now. It wasn't the foul mouthed trait. Well whatever, it's part of my quest anyways.

But right now, the way we're going is seriously going to hinder us. I need to apologize even if I don't mean it.

-Current Willpower: 3/4-

"I'm sorry. I'm just stressed about how we're going to fight the next four goblins."

She immediately stopped her rolling thunder assault on my shoulder. Our dear Hero, you're too easy. She even seemed embarrassed.

"I'm sorry, Claud. I didn't think about how you were feeling too."

How I was feeling? Why would you care about that?

She must have led a pretty sad life up till now.

Regular people wouldn't have let themselves get stepped on so much without retaliating. She's pretty weak minded.

Convenient for me. I can manipulate her into doing what I wanted.

"If you're really sorry, take this club and let's go find another one to kill."

"B-but you're stronger.."

"And you need a weapon or else you'll be useless."

From that brief scuffle, I could see she had some skill. She managed to block a few hits. I couldn't do that. My eyes weren't fast enough to follow the goblin's movements. She had to be the one using the club.

"..O-okay."

She put her head down with a disheartened expression.

I don't know why but my hand moved towards her face.

-28/50 Bad deeds completed. Embarrass successful-

"Erm Claud?"

I pinched her. What's wrong with me?

"Wipe that look off your face. We're going to pass this for sure."

"... It's not that." She just looked at me with a worried expression.

"Hmm?"

"I unlocked some classes. I don't know which to choose."

So she can pick her classes but she can't see her status. I'll keep this in mind.

"I have the Warrior, Swordsman and Priest classes, which ones do you have?"

"Umm, Mage, Archer, Fighter, Swordsman, Priest."

Damn, she's got a lot of options. Thinking about it, a Hero can heal, cast magic, attack and protect the party. It makes sense she's got a lot of classes available.

But a Hero's definitely got to go for the Swordsman class. She'll carry the team in the future.

"I think I want to be a Priest, Claud..."

Oh hell no.

"Then I could support you with my healing-"

"No."

"B-but I thought you'd want me to choose it? I'm not strong or fast and my magic is very weak. The least I could do is-"

"No. You're choosing the Swordsman class."

"S-shouldn't we think this through? I'm not going to be of much help.."

"You fought well against the goblin. You're fit to be a swordsman."

"Th-that was just me being lucky."

"No. You were following its movements very well. That kind of talent is wasted on a priest."

".. O-okay. I trust you, Claud."

No. Don't say that. You're making me doubt myself.

"By the way, Claud? Could I ask which class you chose?"

"... I chose the Priest. It doesn't make me incapable of fighting and I can heal people at the same time."

What a load of bull, it's because they stand the furthest back in the party and are the safest.

"I intend to class up to be a Paladin."

"Ah that way you want to heal your comrades and be on the frontlines!"

What a convenient way of interpreting things.

Being a Paladin gives me the best chance of survival. I'll be able to sponge dangerous hits and heal myself. If things ever went to shit, I'd pick up the Hero and start running like hell.

"B-but I think you need to be a bit kinder to be a Paladin."

"Hah."

"Hehe."

True. I'd be lucky if the system didn't make me a Dark Paladin.

In the distant forest, we heard a scream.

"Claud."

We're just taking a look. If they're outnumbered, we're absolutely not getting involved.

From a good distance, we could see a pair being surrounded by four goblins.

This is it for them. Good luck in your next life.

"Claud. We have to help them."

"We barely fought off one, we don't stand a chance."

"But we have classes now. We're stronger."

"And we have no weapons."

"But this club-"

"Isn't aided by your Swordsman class!"

Both of us were standing at this point, nose to nose.

"I-I don't care! I'm helping! You have to come!"

Ah shit. I tackle her to the ground before she can take two steps. You cowardly weak willed Hero! Don't let your kindness kill you!

"Let go!"

"No. You need to think this through."

"We can't let them die!"

Her kick lands square on my head, knocking my grip loose.

-Villain class trait: Stats lowered by half while fighting the Hero-

Guh. Of course there's a setting like that.

"S-sorry."

She easily broke free from my hold while I was dazed.

Now I have no choice but to stick my hand in the fire.

"Wait!"

From far away, the two trainees spotted and started looking at us with shimmering eyes. Disgusting, don't look at us like that. Expecting us to save you.

I have no intention to help anyone except the Hero. If she's in danger, I'm leaving all of you to die.