Interior (3)
The next day.
I opened the quest window, feeling refreshed as I greeted the morning.
[Gather 6 group members within the first semester. Current completion rate: 3 people
Reward: Rare Item Box x2, 3 Points. Failure: World Destruction.]
The number was now clearly 3, an increase of 2.
Since Arsvald and Yeon-hwa had signed the establishment application form, it must have been reflected in the quest window.
As for Pamela, I had already secured her agreement to join the group from the beginning, so she must have been counted as 1 from the start.
'So there are 3 left....'
I had already decided who to bring in for the remaining spots.
One of them would come to us on their own if we just created the group and built up our fame.
For the other one, we would have to contact them and talk to them nicely.
The last one would be difficult to bring in, at least in the current situation.
Because that character was involved in the main story.
Considering their personality and backstory, I would have to clear at least the first chapter of the main story.
The main quest of Laden, the country where Valendia was located, which was based on a slightly more advanced medieval European style, in order to make a proper connection.
'But right now, creating the group is more important than bringing in more members.'
After getting ready, I left my room, had breakfast with Pamela, and headed to the academy.
When we arrived at the main gate of the academy, Arsvald was waiting.
Arsvald had been standing there with his arms crossed, but when he saw us approaching, his mouth fell open for a moment, and then he put on a stern expression.
"Hmph! You're the one who called me, and you're the one who's late! You'll never get stronger than me at this rate!"
"It's not that late."
"You're late because you came after me!"
Arsvald uncrossed his arms and immediately turned towards the academy.
"Let's just go! I'll create the group quickly and then I'll be on my way!"
"No, there's one more person who's supposed to come."
"What? There's one more?"
"Th-there's one more?"
At my words, not only Arsvald but also Pamela tilted their heads.
Come to think of it, after returning from Yeon-hwa's villa yesterday, I had immediately made Pamela do her stamina training, so I had forgotten to tell her.
"Yes. So just wait a little longer."
"Really. If we're going to meet, it's common sense to come early..."
"Oh ho ho ho ho! It seems I'm the last one!"
Just as Arsvald was about to complain, Yeon-hwa arrived.
"You're here."
"Huh!? Y-you're...!"
"Oh, th-the person from our class."
Arsvald seemed to recognize her because she was a noble, but Pamela didn't seem to know much about Yeon-hwa.
"It's a pleasure to meet you! I'm Shu Yeon-hwa of the Shu family! Mr. Arsvald Zenedict! Ms. Pamela! We've taken classes with Professor Roderick and Professor Delt together, haven't we? From now on, we're members of the same group that Ishihan is creating! It's a pleasure to work with you!"
"Wh-why is the only daughter of the Shu family...."
"I-Ishihan? T-to call Mr. Shih-han by his first name. Wh-what is your relationship?"
"Oh ho ho ho ho! Three days ago! Thanks to Ishihan annihilating the Belken Gang, our Shu family also benefited greatly! While I was expressing my gratitude, Ishihan scouted me! I accepted his offer to join the same group!"
Yeon-hwa didn't mention that I had broken her protective talisman.
Well, she couldn't just proudly announce that a skill her family was proud of had been broken.
"S-scouted... Mr. Shih-han scouted her himself...."
"Wh-what do you think is so great about this guy that you accepted? If you're from Ruong, you should be joining the Flame Dragon Society."
"Oh ho ho ho ho! You're well-informed, Mr. Zenedict! Yes! That's right! I would have, normally. But after seeing your duel yesterday, I changed my mind!"
"You changed your mind after seeing the duel between me and this guy?"
"Yes! You're both very skilled, aren't you? I thought it would be better to be in the same group as the two of you!"
Yeon-hwa made up a suitable story and gave her reasons.
And.
"Right... so that's what it is? After seeing the fierce battle between me and that guy... ahem! Hmph! You have good eyes! As expected of the famous Shu family from Ruong!"
Arsvald, after hearing Yeon-hwa's words, was raising the corners of his lips, as if he had switched his thoughts to "The duel I had with him looked impressive to Yeon-hwa -> I looked cool."
"Oh ho ho ho ho! I'm confident in my ability to judge people! More importantly, now! Let's go! Let's submit the application quickly and get our club room!"
"Yeah! Let's go get the club room that will be our... hideout for getting stronger!"
Yeon-hwa and Arsvald led the way and passed through the main gate of the academy.
"Pamela, let's go too."
"Y-yes! Mr. Shih-han! Ah, um...."
"What is it? Is there something you want to say?"
"Th-that is... we're friends, right?"
"Of course."
It seemed that Pamela, who had low self-esteem, had become anxious after seeing me become friends with Yeon-hwa without her knowing.
I gave her a thumbs-up and said something to reassure her.
"And my first friend, at that."
"F-first friend... he, hehe...."
As expected, even with a little bit of attention, Pamela gave a very nice, gloomy smile.
"Let's go too, Pamela."
"Y-yes!"
With the three of them, we headed to the student counseling office.
A place also known as the "Running Counseling Office."
I went to the same counselor I had seen when I had first visited and took out the establishment application form.
"We have the required number of people. Can we establish the group with this?"
"Yes, please wait a moment."
The counselor took the establishment application form and read it.
"The president is student Ishihan, the members are student Pamela, student Arsvald Zenedict... student Shu Yeon-hwa?"
As soon as he read Yeon-hwa's name, the counselor blinked and looked at me.
To be precise, he looked at Yeon-hwa, who was behind me.
"Yes! I'm Shu Yeon-hwa!"
"Is there a problem?"
"N-no. There isn't."
The counselor must have been surprised that Yeon-hwa, who was from Ruong, was joining my group instead of the Flame Dragon Society.
Since he was an academy counselor, he would know how the powers in the academy were divided.
But he was only surprised for a moment and didn't say anything else, and continued to read the establishment application form.
"The purpose of establishment is... to seek strength, and the main activity will be monster subjugation in various countries outside."
"Because that's a sure way to improve our skills in a real battle."
"Understood. I will accept the establishment application."
The counselor took out a map of the academy and spread it out so we could see it.
"Currently, the places that can be used as a club room are four in the combat school area, five in the theology school area, and four in the development school area."
"Are there none in the magic school?"
"No. The magic school is already occupied by groups for magic research."
I turned around and decided to ask the other members for their opinions first.
"Which place do you think is good?"
"I-I'm fine with any place."
"My strength will not decline no matter where I am! But if I had to pick, a place with good ventilation would be nice."
"If we're going to be sparring often, wouldn't a school close to the public gym be better?"
"I see."
After gathering everyone's opinions, I chose one of the four places in the combat school.
It was a club room on the 4th floor of the combat school.
The floor was high, but there was a facility similar to an elevator in the academy anyway.
And the ventilation would be good on the 4th floor.
"We'll take this one."
"Understood. Room 402 in Building C of the combat school will now be the club room of... the 'Study Group.'"
"Wait a minute!"
Just as the establishment was about to be completed, Arsvald held out his hand and stopped him.
"What is it?"
"Don't tell me... the group's name is just 'Study Group'?"
"That's right."
"I refuse! Such... such a simple name! It's not suitable for a group that I'm joining!"
For Arsvald, who lived and died for self-display and coolness, this was something he couldn't just let go.
"It's true that even if we're learning and growing in strength, the name 'Study Group' sounds too peaceful."
"I-I think it's fine...."
"No! It's not!"
"Eek! I-I'm sorry!"
"Arsvald, then I'll take your recommendation. What name do you think would be good?"
If it was Arsvald, who had a strong chuunibyou streak, wouldn't he come up with a plausible name, even if it was a bit childish?
"Hmph, of course."
Arsvald spread his hand and slightly covered his face.
Seeing this pose, I felt like I was seeing an illusion of bandages wrapped around Arsvald's bare arm.
"What this group wants is power! In other words, strength! Then the name that suits this group is... Fortis!"
"Not bad."
"I-I think so too."
"It's much better than the name 'Study Group.'"
"Then please change the group name from 'Study Group' to 'Fortis.'"
"Understood."
After changing the group name, we headed to the club room that would become the club room of Group Fortis.
We took the floating platform that served as an elevator in this world up to the 4th floor and arrived at room 402.
"Ah, there's nothing here."
It seemed that no group had been assigned to this club room until now, as it was completely empty.
The space, which was about the size of a school classroom, felt surprisingly large since it was empty.
"Since this will be the group's base of operations from now on, we can bring in furniture and decorations and decorate it."
"Oh ho ho ho ho! It will be rewarding to decorate!"
"A hideout for seeking strength... hmph, not bad."
"I wonder what kind of things we can bring in...."
Not only Yeon-hwa and Arsvald, but also Pamela showed enthusiasm for decorating the club room.
"Then the first activity of Group Fortis will be to decorate the club room. First, let's each think about how we want to decorate the club room for 10 minutes and then share our ideas.”