Things might get tough today. My mind feels refreshed so the legendary foul mouthed trait is active again. I'll have to refrain from talking as much as possible.

I hope Sophie will take the lead again.

I wonder what the 4th member will be like?

"Claud, what are you thinking about?"

-Willpower: 11/12-

"Our party's harmony might be affected if I'm the one doing the talking. Can you converse with them in my stead?"

"Of course, Claud~"

I honestly don't care about harmony. But if the party is in turmoil that might put me and the Hero at risk. They might stab me in the back, if they really disliked me enough.

I'd already made such a bad first impression on the people. I don't think anything I say will be worth the Willpower I spend on it either.

Double checking our equipment, I made sure the bag was fastened tightly to my back. Previously I only carried a small pouch and flask. But now I've packed eight pouches and sixteen flasks of water. The canteen was generous enough to give me these.

On top of the bag, 3 extra goblin clubs from our previous hunt were tied loosely enough to be pulled out quickly. If our weapons break again, we have extras. There were blankets too, taken from my room for warmth and for emergency gauze.

And lastly the lantern, tied securely to the side of the bag so that it doesn't take up one of my hands.

"Claud, isn't that heavy? Lets get another bag, I can carry half."

I shook my head. You've got lower Strength and Vitality just save your energy...

People were gathering their groups in the yard, waiting for the announcement of the test. Some groups still had not found four people yet.

Looking around, I saw my least favorite person in this other world.

"Shithead! Sophie! This is Adelard, say hi."

Sizing him up, he looked like a reliable person, carrying an iron sword. Tall, big body, but not fat with a lot of muscle. He's definitely a tank. I'm more worried this guy will stab us in the back rather than the enemy. He gave off that strong of an impression.

Isn't the party kind of unbalanced? I may be a Priest but I'm more or less a frontliner for now. Our whole group is very imposing physically but I'm worried about the magic side of things.

"I'm not happy with the shithead being here but we've got a great balanced party. Two vanguard, a Priest and a Mage."

Sophie's eyes were as wide as mine at that statement.

"You're a Mage, Miss Adrian?"

"Huh? No, I'm a Priest. Check the mace. I thought you were the Mage, Sophie."

"Eh.. I'm a Swordsman."

"B-but you're so small and fragile! And you're holding a club!"

"My wooden sword broken while fighting goblins..."

"T-then we don't have a Mage. That's bad. I don't have enough Willpower to support three vanguard."

"That's okay, Miss Adrian! Claud here is a Priest too!"

"Eh..?"

It seemed that Hildegard was slowly coming to a conclusion because she turned in my direction.

"Shithead you! You're making this small defenseless girl fight up close while you're hiding in the back?!"

How scarily accurate that assessment was. She had summed up my character very well in the short time we had met.

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"Umm... I'm a Priest as well."

Adelard had finally spoken... but it was words nobody wanted to hear.

Then why the hell do you have so much muscles... Everyone present must have been thinking that.

Three Priests and one Swordsman. What a balanced party.

The commotion didn't go by unnoticed by people around us as well.

"Those three are Priests? I thought they were all Warriors!"

"Same! Look at how many clubs that guy's carrying!"

"Even that big guy is a Priest too?"

"At least they don't have 4 Priests pfft."

"The runt is their Swordsman. Hahaha."

Red in the face, Sophie tried to hide between Hildegard, Adelard and me.

-Willpower: 10/12-

"Don't pay any heed to them, Sophie. We'll prove our worth."

She looked up at me with the most trusting eyes. I definitely earned more points with that line.

During all this, an instructor went on stage.

"Attention! Everyone who completed their subjugation will now be officially given the title of Academy Enlisted. To graduate as an Academy Soldier, you will be required to attend and pass an exam in a class of your choice.

Some of you may be wondering why were you sent to the Goblin Forest before having had any classes. Would the casualty rates not have been reduced, you might be thinking. Well I'll tell you. This academy is where you will be for the next 4 years. In that time, the academy will have spent a lot of resources to train you into capable soldiers. Even a foolish child could have killed a group of goblins. Instead of training incompetents who would drag down the army, it would be faster to send compensation money to their families. At least then, it wouldn't be a waste of the Empire's resources!"

All the trainees started murmuring amongst themselves.

Arguably that could be true, even Sophie outran goblins with her pitiful Dexterity, deflected blows and beat them with her paltry Strength.

If someone couldn't beat a goblin, that was on them.

"The next test will only take place after 4 years. This non mandatory test, sends a group of 4 on a dangerous mission, formally commissioned between the academy, army and guilds of the country.

You may leave now with no repercussions if your only goal is to become an Academy Soldier. This test is only for those who wish to become elite! Academy Elites who are capable of fighting battles that ordinary soldiers cannot!"

This is such an obvious bait. But it was enough to shake a majority of people into leaving immediately. Like water through a sieve, entire swathes of people left. Some were left in a duo, trio or by themselves.

Roughly 300 people came for the initial test, half of them passed and now only 30 people remain?

These were the cream of the crop. Unlike the other noble kids who were probably sent here cause their houses were declining, these ones were armed extremely well. Sleek armor, extravagant weapons. They had come here for a purpose. Their groups were probably premade as well.

"If you can gather achievements during the mission, you will be placed into the upper echelons of not just the academy but Imperial society! Based on the level of contribution, you may be offered a position by the Church, the Royal Knights, the guilds or the Magicians' Tower. You may even be allowed to found a new noble family with a higher title than you have now!"

Hearing this, some of the ones who had left decided to return.

"Trainees, do not be hasty. You have up to 4 years to decide whether to embark on these missions. For now, continue training and strengthening yourselves. The people with you now, may not be the same people you embark with. The reason we asked you to gather a group by morning was to separate the willing from the unwilling. Now you have seen who is an ally you can rely on and who is not."

That comment seemed to be directed at those who left but returned after hearing the potential benefits.

"Keep honing your strengths to build a team worthy of being called elite. Although I said it takes place in 4 years, if all members of your party can obtain recommendations from an instructor before then, you will be eligible for departure. Otherwise you can get a recommendation by just staying in the academy for 4 years."

"C-Claud, did you hear that?"

The sarcastic 4th option really stood out to me here.

"No, I didn't hear it, Sophie. My ears are for decoration."

"What are you going to do now? Do you know which class you're going to join?"

She ignored my sarcasm... also I don't even know what classes are available.

"Besides the mandatory supplement classes, I was thinking about joining the Swordsman and Priest courses. You should follow me too, then we can spend more time together!"

I could visualize Sophie's metaphorical tail wagging. If Sophie were an animal, she would definitely be a dog. Just a little bit of kindness could get her to follow you loyally. I smiled at her to convey that I thought it was a good idea.

"T-that's great, Claud! We'll be together for all our classes!"

"Sophie, are you planning to become a Paladin perhaps?"

"Yes, Miss Adrian! And Claud does too!"

"Uhk. This guy, a Paladin? He could become a fallen Paladin maybe... I can't believe I have to share a class with you."

My expression soured.

"Claud! Don't!"

Don't what? I haven't done anything...

"Miss Adrian, please give Claud a chance. Don't provoke him!"

Hah! Serves you right, ponytail. You got told off.

"Alright... only because you said so. But if he provokes me first, I'll retaliate no questions asked."

Is this girl aware that I've never said anything to her first?

"Lady Hildegard."

"Yes, Adelard?"

"I believe this current party may be incredibly strong in the future. All 4 of us intend to be Paladins. We could be a force to reckon with."

"I hate to admit but you're right. Branford, Sophie, in 4 years if we don't have a party, I hope we can count on you?"

"Y-yes! Absolutely, Miss Adrian! Claud?"

I smile a tiny smidge.

"He's smiling! That means yes!"

"Hahaha! I wonder how you can tell if he's smiling... Okay, Sophie. In 4 years..."