"Back at home, I had a hard time... I couldn't make any friends and my parents-"

Please stop.

"They... they..."

I can already guess what she's about to say.

"Abandoned me."

I don't want to hear this.

"They kicked me out of the household. I was very weak and not smart at all."

Quit sharing your burdens with me...

"I had no other choice than to come here-"

I'm not someone suitable to talk to about this.

"T-that's why! I! Thank you!"

We're still in the forest. Can this wait?

"I was so happy when you came for me! I didn't listen to you, I even kicked you, then the boy pushed me and I thought I was going to die. I thought you would abandon me too..."

Her story's getting more incoherent.

I didn't even get any bad deeds completed because she decided to cry on her own...

We've even stopped walking.. I wanna have food when we make it back to the academy gates. I'm already out of water.

"T-that's why I'm..."

When is this girl with mommy, daddy issues going to stop...

At least you had your parents didn't you? If I ever found mine, I don't know what I'd do to them.

I sighed inwardly. In times like this, it's nice to be comforted isn't it.

I awkwardly walk next to her and pat her back.

The system might be able to control my words but my actions for the most part are unaffected. There's no need to waste Willpower.

-Willpower: 0/12-

"It's okay... It's okay..."

But I feel like I have to say something anyway. Just something to fill the air.

"T-thank you for listening patiently to me, Claud. Sniff sniff."

Patiently? I want to collapse right about now.

Maybe my mental tiredness can be attributed to my Willpower being low. I'm too tired to even act kind right now. My actions say one thing but my face must be showing how I really feel.

I pull her hand so that we can keep moving. I want to get out of this place and back to civilization quickly.

----------------------------------------

After an uneventful walk back to the academy, we recorded our subjugations into the status orb and both of us plopped down gracelessly onto the floor. Around me, I could see some other pairs. It seems half had already returned, but some wouldn't. Most of the ones who returned early were really well prepared. They had proper metal equipment and items. Goblins must've been easy pickings to them.

This nobles academy is pretty avantgarde huh... No explanation of the test, just get two people and figure it out by yourselves. They'll give us free rein to do whatever and die however we want. How innovative. That explains the compensation in the event of death, retainment of noble title for ten more years as well as monetary compensation... I bet that's why Sophie is here too. She didn't explain it so well but her family must have sent her here to die.

"Looks like the piece of shit survived."

Ah damn, who is interrupting my thoughts.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

It's that ponytail girl from earlier... Is she still pissed?

Now that I think about it, it feels like I've been seeing her hovering around Sophie... Could it be she wants to take the Hero for herself? She's been stabbing me with her eyes too... Does she wanna pick a fight?

She should be careful or else she might suffer an accident sometime soon...

Oh I should be careful, my facial expression was very bad just now.

Did Sophie notice-

She didn't seem to notice. Rather she's looking at that ponytail girl. Her expression, I can't quite place it..

"Trainees, stop crowding the gates! The first round of examinations is over! For the next test, you have till tomorrow morning to form a group of up to four. Proceed to the barracks before sundown and rest up!"

Tsk. I need to find more people to join. But I'm not convinced I can persuade anyone... If I inadvertently insult them, they're definitely out. And I don't think Sophie's poor social skills can handle this.

"Oi, shit head. You and that girl can join my team."

Your team? Tsk. I hate people like this.

-Option 1: Why would we ever need help from the likes of you?-

I don't need to see the rest of the options. I don't think I want to get along with this person anyways.

"Why would we ever need help from lowly filth like you? It seems to me, that you're the one who needs help. Shouldn't you be asking nicely?"

Good job, system dialogue! Great comeback!

She's sure got a mean mug but mine is meaner.

"A-ah, Claud, please don't fight... We have to find two more people..."

Sophie, it's clear she wants to fight me so I should reciprocate her feelings. Come on, just one smack. Hmm?

"Ah Silas, it's that guy..."

Those voices are familiar. Where there's one cockroach, there are more huh. Those damn cockroaches managed to kill five goblins... They should have just dropped out quietly, instead of drawing my ire.

Forget public perception. Just maul those two idiots who tried to kill the golden goose.

And while you're at it, pony tail girl can join them too.

My frustration's already long overdue for an explosion.

No, Sophie is right next to you, keep calm. Yes, think about your golden goose. In front of the dearest Hero, you must show your good side as much as possible.

"Umm, umm, this is Claud Branford and I'm Sophie. Lets please get along? I'm sure we can work things out amicably..."

"My name is Adrian Hildegard, Miss Sophie."

Uggh, she even bowed. What a bunch of theatrics.

"Actually you don't need this bumbling fool, Sophie. I'm sure he's asked unreasonable things of you. It's okay, you can come with us now. It's safe here with us."

Who does this broad think she is? Trying to headhunt Sophie. She knows, doesn't she? That Sophie's the Hero. It's undeniable. I doubt she's doing this out of the kindness of her heart. She must have one of those appraisal eye things to see other people's statuses.

That's seriously gross. Peering at other people statuses secretly...

"Atchoo!"

"..."

-Eww-

M-my sleeve... it's green. Even the system reacted to that...

"Ehehe sorry, Claud... Umm, Miss Adrian I'm sure that we can work together. All 4 of us? I-I won't join you if Claud doesn't come! He supported me during the examination a lot. He's nicer than you all perceive him.."

S-Sophie~ I knew I could trust in you, my dearest friend! I forgive you for your transgressions against my personal hygiene!

I did my best to act out a surprised happy expression. With this Sophie should see that I'm happy to be called her friend.

She was beaming at me with her smile again.

But don't be a pushover, Sophie. Join their team? They should join ours!

"C-Claud, she could be a nice person... I'm sure we can get along", Sophie beamed at me with her smile the whole while to get my guard down.

A nice person? How, what, when? She's been hostile to me this entire time and trying to break our partnership apart. Sophie, you're a poor judge of character. Don't let the bad people whisper things in your ears and just follow me.

Guess I'm going with this option.

"If you want us to join you, Miss. Hildegard... You'll have to get down on your knees and beg-"

"C-Claud?! Ahaha I'm sorry Miss Adrian, he doesn't mean what he says. He just has a foul mouth. I think what he wants to say is that we will join you gladly."

Did she... Did she just interrupt my dialogue? I didn't know that was possible. Ah Hero, you truly are special. If we're ever talking with higher ups, I'm counting on you to monitor me...

"Gladly? I don't think so, Miss Sophie. Claud here clearly asked me to beg, didn't he? I don't see in any way how he couldn't have meant that."

True. I did mean it.

"Claud's a good person! He's just a little bit coarse with his speech. Please overlook this.."

Sophie grabbed my hand and pulled me towards Adrian.

"Please shake each others hand and let's get along, Claud, Adrian."

"If you say so, Miss Sophie. For our team..."

Tsk. Since it has come this far, I have to shake her hand. I don't want to disregard Sophie's feelings...

Oh this bitch. Hildegard can put some weight into her grip, huh. Two can play at that game...

"..."

Are you gonna give up anytime soon? I'm sure this must be painful for you...

"C-Claud, I think you can let go of her hand now."

She's the one holding on, my dear Hero. I'm just returning goodwill.

"Please stop holding each others hands! Sei!"

Aggh!! My hand! The Hero karate chopped my hand with her 50% bonus stats! I'll be careful not to anger her ever. Although I keep saying that, she doesn't seem the type to get truly angry. But I don't want to overstep my boundaries. Because the kind Hero becoming furious and annihlating the villain is a common trope, ain't it.

"Then tomorrow we'll meet each other here again, okay? Good bye, Miss Adrian!"

Sophie dragged me away by the collar before we could get into another scuffle.

Once again, Sophie demonstrated the stat differential between the Hero and Villain...