“What is this act…!”
“You told me to show my abilities befitting the holder of the fastest record. It seemed to me that you forgot why I became the record holder, so I reminded you.”
Since the compass Chloe had found in the bandit gang’s bag contributed to accelerating the pace of finding the way, it was true that the scuffle Theodore initiated had granted her the title of the fastest record holder.
‘It will be bothersome if this rascal continues to watch me.’
If Theodore continued to target Chloe and show interest in her, it would certainly hinder her mission, which had to be completed without drawing attention.
Therefore, she had to rearrange the hierarchy now, to extinguish his enthusiasm and deter him, so that he would not dare to think of her as prey again.
“I also do not like making a temporary residence out of wretched trash… but, shall I make a tent out of your somewhat intact clothes?”
With an enthusiasm suggesting she would strip him of his clothes at any moment, Chloe gripped Theodore’s collar firmly and shook him, while looking him up and down with searching gazes and clear intentions.
“I think this is enough to make a tent roof.”
Perhaps Theodore realized that this was not a threat but real intent, as he began to struggle violently like a madman. He did not want his clothes to be stripped off in front of everyone.
As soon as Chloe released his shirt collar, Theodore tumbled to the ground, then rose nimbly like a terrified mouse and fled, hugging his arms to his chest like a girl protecting herself for fear that Chloe would strip him of his clothes.
While shifting the remains of the temporary residence, which had become non-reusable scrap, with her foot, regret stung Chloe’s tongue.
‘Trifling… if only we had the supply bag, we could have slept for two days without worry.’
But they had been forced to return the supply bag as soon as they returned to Northfort, and thus she had lost the waterproof fabric and the military shovel that had saved their previous night.
‘Where did the upperclassmen get these materials?’
Roselyn approached her, a solid faith appearing on her face as she asked her:
“Hey, Chloe. Where are we going to sleep? Are we going to dig into the ground like we did in the desert?”
“If we had the basic military training supplies with us, perhaps, but not now. Do you want us to dig the earth with our hands?”
Roselyn blinked in surprise and asked:
“Weren’t you capable of doing that?”
“What exactly do you take me for…?”
“Impossible! I thought the Miss could even use a stone axe to dig the earth and make a complete shelter!”
Even Lucian seemed shocked as he stared at her, and Chloe sighed internally.
After their basic training, small groups had formed within the 87th batch. There was no truly useful person among them. Even so… she also refused to have someone like Theodore Callins join her.
“That was a special case, and we relied on Chloe then. But you cannot ask for something like that from her now.”
While Finny was gathering a pile of fluff and shaping it into a small pillow, she directed her words to the clowns surrounding her in a harsh tone.
“This looks like wine foam….”
“Marielle! This is not wine foam but dirty fluff! Do not put it in your mouth! It was lying on the ground!”
Despite that, Roselyn took advantage of the situation and hurried to ask for half of the fluff from Finny instead of pulling Marielle away from her.
Thanks to the one-eyed instructor who arrived hours later, Marielle’s chaos regarding the search for wine ended before Roselyn could snatch the remaining half of the fluff from Finny.
“Everyone, move to the dining hall!”
The members of the 87th batch followed the instructor, leaving behind the gloom of this barren residence which was not much different from the desert land.
The dining hall was crowded with older batches, and there were four serving lines, but one of them was completely empty.
“Each of you will pay for your food from the points you earned. When you choose your food, points will be deducted directly, so choose well.”
Finally, Chloe discovered the purpose of the points she had collected so far.
At Northfort Academy, points were not just a proof of commitment, but a currency used within the place.
Food that resembles dog food: 0 points.
Soup and two hard pieces of bread: 1 point.
A plate of dry meat with vegetables: 2 points.
Special meal of the day: 5 points.
With the exception of Chloe and her companions who received ten points for breaking the record, the 87th batch could not eat anything except the 0-point food.
Yes… that completely empty line in the middle of the crowded dining hall.
“Trainee Altair Targon of the 87th batch, I have a question. Can we pay later?”
It seemed to be a recurring question every year, as the one-eyed instructor replied with a stiff face:
“This is the Academy dining hall, not your fathers’ tavern. If you want real food, earn points.”
“Oh, since I have ten points, I think I’ll try the special meal! It’s roasted chicken!”
Roselyn began provoking her colleagues clearly, while Chloe, after short thought, headed to the soup line for one point.
As soon as she paid the point and took her tray, Lucian rushed to her, offering his back in front of her face as if it were a barrier.
“Miss, you leave the roasted chicken for soup and bread? Are you sick? If you are sick, come, I will carry you on my back to the clinic immediately!”
Chloe stared at him in bewilderment.
“Who knows when we will need the points. Besides, I don’t know how you eat in your home, but people eat three meals a day, you know.”
Upon hearing that, Roselyn abandoned the special meal line and took the soup tray. As for Finny and Marielle, they were already behind Chloe without giving them time to ask.
“As I expected! The Miss has a plan!”
“Step back.”
Chloe grabbed Lucian’s shoulder and threw him back toward Roselyn, and Roselyn—as she only does in these situations—read her intention and tucked him into the end of the line.
As soon as they sat and began to eat, sounds of vomiting broke out from everywhere. The dog food was disgusting in appearance and taste.
They finally understood why the older trainees looked polite and quiet during their meals.
Amidst the symphony of vomiting, Chloe consumed her soup. It was so bland that boiled water seemed to have more flavor than it.
“Trifling… it doesn’t satisfy anything.”
As for Roselyn, the glutton, she had finished her portion long ago and was staring at the plates of others.
After finishing the food, they returned to the demolished sleeping area and began thinking about the sleeping issue again.
“Tools or materials cannot be found here, so it seems we will clean what we can and sleep on the ground until we find what is necessary to set up a tent or something suitable.”
Chloe pushed the remains of the destroyed residence with her foot, then tapped the ground with her toe.
“Huh? I can’t sleep on the ground! Isn’t there a way to make a portable bed?”
“And how did you sleep in the barren land then?”
“As Finny said… it was a special situation.”
“The situation now is also special. And as you saw, a human can do anything when forced. If you cannot sleep, I will give you my breakfast portion tomorrow.”
Roselyn’s face lit up, then she pushed the trash aside and stretched out on the ground.
After five minutes.
Zzzzzz—
‘She sleeps well, it seems.’
With the sound of Roselyn’s snoring, the first day officially ended in Northfort.
* * *
Tan-tan-tan-tan–! Tan-tan-tan-tan-tan–!
As soon as the first beats of the wake-up bell rang out, Chloe opened her eyes immediately. It was a compulsive reflex she was accustomed to.
Therefore, she sat up at once, and saw Marielle sitting up as well while blocking her ears with both hands.
‘Is her hearing sensitive?’
Now she remembered… Marielle was the first to notice the approach of the bandit gang in the barren desert.
The 87th batch began to rise one by one, heavy due to a fragmented and annoying sleep. And surely… some of them remained asleep despite everything.
The one-eyed instructor entered the place, which looked like a mixture between a dormitory and a trash dump, early in the morning and said with sharp coldness:
“Those sleeping… will be woken within 30 seconds. And if someone remains asleep after 30 seconds… the punishment is collective.”
After experiencing yesterday’s punishment, no one hesitated to kick those sleeping or drag them by their shirt collars until they woke up.
“Damn… who wakes people at dawn even before the sun rises?”
Roselyn growled, having been woken by Chloe as she was still lost in the world of dreams.
After everyone woke up and avoided the collective punishment, they received new orders.
“Arrange your clothes… and gather in the parade ground within ten minutes!”
It was a task… carrying within it a great trap.