Field Training: Yuki's Trial
As soon as they stepped into the practice field, the party's atmosphere shifted instantly.
"Everyone, maintain formation. We'll move a bit slower."
Namgung Seojun naturally took the lead as the pathfinder, while Jo Jaehun acted as the shieldbearer in the guard role. Lee Guho, the attacker, prepared for instant casting at any moment, and Gisohee held her bow at the rear, vigilantly watching behind them.
The issue was Yuki.
"....."
At the command to form up, she panicked, unsure of her role. Seojun kindly handed her a shield he'd brought in advance.
"Stay next to Jo Jaehun and hold the shield with him. If combat breaks out, buff Lee Guho and protect him—that's your mission."
"I.. I'm..."
"A buffer. But when you're not buffing, hold the shield and endure the attacks."
It was an unexpected role. Still, Yuki's timid nature wouldn't let her refuse.
"Yes..."
With that, she gripped the shield and positioned herself between Jo Jaehun and Lee Guho.
As they moved, Namgung Seojun explained the purpose of this expedition.
"This outing is to check the teamwork among the team members without me."
With Seojun participating, it wouldn't be a proper test of combat. They needed to gauge the team's fighting power and individual capabilities in his absence.
"I'll adjust goblin and kobold numbers to six or fewer. Then the four of you handle the rest."
He turned to Instructor Sharon.
"Instructor Sharon, only step in during emergencies."
She nodded.
The 1st floor field was a quiet plain terrain dotted with hills. Visibility wasn't wide open due to the rises, but it wasn't a major hindrance to combat either.
Namgung Seojun deliberately relied on his Super Sense to seek out areas teeming with goblins and kobolds. An hour after entering the field, he first detected monster presences.
He immediately raised his hand.
"Enemies ahead, 600 meters—kobolds expected, about 10 in number."
He gave a quick additional briefing.
"I'll use the hill for a rear ambush and thin them out. You handle the rest."
The group understood the brief instruction, and Yuki astutely cast her buff right away.
Grace of Intellect
After buffing Lee Guho, she immediately raised her shield beside Jo Jaehun and entered combat stance.
Namgung Seojun circled to the opposite side of the hill and approached the kobold pack cautiously, using the waist-high grass for cover.
'Kekeke!'
'Kikik!'
The kobolds wandered about, chattering happily. Spotting a few rabbits in their hands, they seemed pleased with their fresh hunt.
The 10 kobolds' path aligned perfectly with where the party waited. Seojun planned to reduce their numbers first.
'Rustle... rustle...'
He crept forward with extreme caution. The faint sound of brushing grass went unnoticed as the kobolds pressed on.
Once in close range, Namgung Seojun dashed out.
'Keik!'
One kobold spotted him and screeched, but it was too late.
'Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh!'
He hurled three daggers in rapid succession, each aimed precisely at necks and hearts.
'Kwek! Kek! Kwek.'
The three kobolds, unable to react to the high-speed throws, died instantly.
The remaining kobolds, enraged, gave chase. Seojun deliberately ran toward his party, luring the seven behind him.
Then, an unexpected energy blast struck.
'Boom!'
Once in range, Lee Guho fired an energy projectile, exploding a kobold.
"Nice one."
Seojun flashed a thumbs-up as he passed the group. The battle between the remaining party members and six kobolds began.
"Block!"
Jo Jaehun shouted from behind his large shield, and Yuki pressed close, shielding alongside him. The kobolds charged.
'Clang! Clang! Ching!'
Their crude daggers struck the shields perfectly. Yuki, terrified as the sub-guard, held firm.
'Thud. Kek!'
Just then, Gisohee's arrow struck a kobold, leaving it combat-ineffective though not dead.
Perfectly timed, Lee Guho's Firebolt rained down.
'Boom. Kek! Kek!'
The fireball's flames spread among the kobolds. As they panicked, Jo Jaehun charged.
'Thud! Thud!'
He bashed the disoriented kobolds with his shield, knocking them down. He kept attacking until they stopped moving.
"Well done."
Namgung Seojun approached with a satisfied expression. Main guard Jo Jaehun had shown stable defense, attacker Lee Guho timed his spells perfectly, and Gisohee fired at the right moments. Yuki had frozen without much action, but her mid-tier stamina let her hold the shield well.
"I'll clean up the battlefield."
Seojun retrieved the three kobolds he'd killed, recovering the daggers from their chests and necks first.
"Ah... these are one-use, huh?"
The cheap academy daggers were heavily damaged after a single throw—partly from his strength, mostly from poor quality.
"One broke, one bent, only one reusable."
He collected the daggers, sliced off the kobolds' noses, grabbed their copper helmets, and returned.
By then, the others had nearly finished cleanup. Jo Jaehun bagged the noses, Gisohee inspected for loot. Yuki stood frozen like a statue.
'What's up?'
To read her thoughts, Seojun checked her status window with God's Eye.
She hated combat. Even just holding the shield and enduring had been too much. Trembling, she'd frozen up completely. Her fear of battle lingered.
They roamed the 1st floor field for five more fights. The party members' combat proficiency rose without Seojun. Lee Guho trusted his allies with his spells, Jo Jaehun performed perfectly as guard, Gisohee supported aptly despite slight clumsiness. Yuki buffed reliably before fights but only held the shield as sub-guard—expected for a beginner. The real issue was her aversion to battle.
The party proved they could handle goblins and kobolds easily without Seojun. Yuki was the problem.
Seojun checked the time and called out.
"Good work today. We'll camp down by that hill."
Only two hours from Starting Village, but as leader, he ordered camp. The group, understanding, prepared without complaint.
Lee Guho and Jo Jaehun pitched tents in a concealed spot. Seojun and Gisohee scouted for monsters and set simple traps—more for alerts than damage.
Meanwhile, Instructor Sharon and Yuki built the fire and cooked.
"Oh......"
Sharon was impressed watching Yuki cook. They'd brought only combat rations: jerky, hard bread, grain flour, and spices. Yet Yuki made a meal from them.
'Bubble bubble...'
Jerky and grain flour became soup.
'Slice! Slice!'
Thin-sliced bread topped with jerky, grilled and peppered—decent food.
Seojun returned from traps to Sharon's whisper.
"Once Yuki joins, cooking's covered, right?"
Yuki lacked cooking talents or skills but made edible meals from rations.
After dinner from Yuki's food, they discussed watches.
"Five excluding Instructor Sharon, so two-hour shifts."
The group, including Yuki, agreed. Seojun was relieved at her lack of complaint.
"Draw lots for order?"
All consented. He was glad Yuki stayed agreeable.
The next day, around noon, they returned to Starting Village—out since yesterday lunch, a full day in the field with 11 battles. They'd performed their roles well, no issues, so quicker return.
Passing the village, they reached the academy.
"Great job, everyone!"
Instructor Sharon praised with a smile.
"Perfect secondary practice. No notes from me."
She asked him additionally.
"Help with cleanup?"
"No, we'll handle it."
Sharon grabbed her gear and left. The group went to the temporary shrine priest.
"1st floor monster hunt results."
Jo Jaehun showed goblin and kobold noses in the blood pouch.
"132 total. Six members, but 132 Merit Points split evenly five ways: 22 each."
With Merit Points distributed, Seojun went to the nearby merchant.
"Spoils. Appraise them."
The merchant checked: mostly copper helmets, crude swords and shields. Quick weight calc.
"12 silver."
Deal done, 12 silver received. Seojun split 2 silver each.
Then to Yuki.
"How was our party?"
She answered awkwardly.
"G.. Good. I want to join."
Perfect combat display—she naturally wanted in.
"Got it. We'll have a final meeting and contact you."
Yuki packed and left first.
The Namgung Seojun Party showered and headed to the cafeteria for late lunch.
"O! Menu looks good today!"
Lee Guho approved; they ate heartily.
Over the meal, Seojun shared thoughts.
"Yuki from the practice... think she's okay? Fit for our party?"
Gisohee shook her head first, rejecting.
"Buffs aside, combat attitude's awful. My least favorite type."
Seojun defended mildly.
"Her main role's buffer. Consider I suddenly made her sub-shield."
Gisohee still shook her head. She disliked passive fighters.
One rejection noted. Seojun eyed Lee Guho—he cheered approval.
"Great for the party. Intel buff suits me, cooks well, and she's pretty! Very good."
Frivolous but valid—buff key. Valid vote.
Jo Jaehun approved too.
"For a shield newbie, solid. Good strength, held well. With training, she'll guard fine. Buffer too—qualified new member."
As shieldbearer, he noted her strength. Mid-tier stamina gave her potential; buffer value added.
Two approvals, one rejection, Seojun's decision pending.
"But if leader Seojun rejects, I'll withdraw mine."
Jo Jaehun paved the way. Grateful, Seojun pondered Yuki again.
'Buffs solid.'
Lee Guho's intellect rose, spell power up slightly—grows vital with levels.
'Combat... poor.'
First-time shield okay with stamina, but mindset and actions worst.
'Behavior average.'
Cooking and watch duty fine.
Ambiguous. Worse than hoped, but value clear.
'Super Sense... ambiguous too.'
His trait's read: not great, not bad.
'Issue: even this level's unavailable at training camp.'
Buffs fulfilled minimum. Decision made.
"Then, we'll invite Yuki to the party."
Thus, Yuki Noa's entry into Namgung Seojun Party was decided.