The Unforgiving Reality
The training ground fell into complete silence.
Everyone had expected this outcome.
No one believed Aiden Starfive would lose.
It wasn't a logical conclusion based on his strength or recent feats.
They simply couldn't imagine him losing.
With that terrifying aura wrapped around him, defeat seemed impossible to those watching.
That was why they were shocked when Ayla Seed managed to push him back, even briefly.
Aiden Starfive wasn't someone who should be driven into a corner.
They were shocked again when his strike sent Ayla Seed flying through the air and slamming into the ground.
The attack carried no mercy whatsoever, only raw power.
Aiden Starfive looked down at Ayla Seed.
“…”
After a short silence, he spoke.
“I have no intention of teaming up with weaklings.”
With those words, he turned and walked away.
People scrambled to clear a path wherever his feet landed, the crowd parting like waves.
Leaving Ayla Seed sprawled on the ground, Aiden Starfive disappeared into the classroom.
“…Haa.”
Ayla Seed pushed herself up, clutching her side, and stared after him.
“…Ugh…”
She winced, fingers pressing against her ribs.
That one had landed clean. It would hurt for days.
She staggered to her feet.
No one came forward to help her.
She didn't find that particularly sad or upsetting.
It had always been this way.
“…”
One eye narrowed against the pain, Ayla Seed watched the man's retreating back.
The man walking ahead felt the same.
No one congratulated him on his victory.
Winner or loser, both were simply loners with no one to share in their moment.
“Argh…”
Still holding her side, Ayla Seed limped away.
Not toward the classroom the victor had entered, but toward the infirmary where the defeated belonged.
No intention of teaming with weaklings?
Then she would prove him wrong.
She would show him she was different.
With that thought, the corner of her mouth curled upward.
She never saw what happened behind her.
The brown-haired saint candidate who had hesitated before following the man.
The blonde princess who had watched the scene with a blank expression before walking her own path.
*
“…A-are you all right?”
At the voice from behind, Aiden Starfive turned.
Lydia Straw stood there, trembling yet looking straight at him.
“…”
“Ah, I-I'm sorry.”
The moment their eyes met, she dropped her head again.
He spoke while staring at the top of her head.
“I'm fine.”
“Th-that's a relief…”
She muttered in a shaky voice.
“I was really surprised when you got hit.”
“…”
Does this girl not find me scary?
He listened to her words with that thought in mind.
“I'm glad… I was worried you might lose.”
He had planned to lose.
If that warning hadn't appeared, he would have.
“…”
More importantly.
He recalled the status window that had flashed earlier.
It had said a negative trait would activate if he lost.
Did that mean he had to win every single fight?
That couldn't be right.
Even now his ankle made a creaking sound with every step.
It wasn't just his ankle.
From his wrists to his arms, his entire body ached.
This probably had less to do with Cursed Swordsmanship and more to do with his body being unused to exercise.
He really needed to build up his basic stamina.
Anyway.
The negative trait that would trigger on defeat.
“…”
He didn't know if his mental strength stat could resist it, but the warning message had left an ominous impression.
As long as he remained inside Dark Fantasy Saga, fighting was unavoidable.
Leaving the academy for deployments or joining the continental reclamation effort was also inevitable.
Did that mean he had to win every single time?
“…”
He tried to work out the conditions.
Defeat had been the premise earlier, but retreat might still be acceptable…
While sorting through his thoughts, someone entered the classroom.
Was class not over yet?
“Everyone, pay attention. I have an announcement.”
It was Professor Albert.
When their eyes met, the professor flinched, then cleared his throat.
“As you know, the first practical assessment will take place in ten days… I mean, it will.”
Right. There was a practical assessment.
The event where the protagonist formed a party and earned rewards along with favorability points.
Of course, it was also famous for party members turning on each other and giving players headaches, but it was still an event.
In Dark Fantasy Saga, the protagonist submitted a party they had assembled.
“Please gather your party members within the next ten days.”
Professor Albert continued while looking around the room.
“Party members do not have to be from this class, and the total number is four.”
The students began murmuring and glancing at one another.
“If you fail to form a party, random members will be assigned and your score will be penalized.”
The professor's gaze briefly landed on Aiden and Lydia before quickly shifting away when their eyes met.
Before Aiden could open his mouth to declare he would go alone,
“That is all.”
Professor Albert spoke first.
“…”
The professor hurried out of the classroom before Aiden could say anything.
“…”
Thanks to that, Aiden was left standing with his mouth open and nothing to say.
How was he that fast?
The moment the professor left, students began gathering in small groups.
“You and me, and the one over there…”
“Hey, I just had a good idea…”
Everyone was working hard.
“…”
While watching the students enjoy their youth with satisfied expressions, a sudden thought struck him.
This wasn't the time for that.
Just as Professor Albert had said, failing to form a team would result in random assignment.
What happened with random teams?
You ended up with nightmare combinations like four damage dealers, four tanks, or four healers.
Then you would miss the rewards, ruin your mood, and have to retry…
Anyway.
He needed to find people willing to form a party with him.
First, the people he knew.
Benjamin. Dead.
Lydia. No. If she went crazy, he would die.
Laura. No. If she went crazy, he would die too.
Ayla. He had just broken her ribs, and if she went crazy, he would die as well.
“…”
This was a problem.
He closed his eyes and sank into thought.
There was no one he could bring along.
How convenient it would be if he could take Gerd.
No. There was still a chance.
He just had to form a team.
Like a hawk, he scanned the room for a suitable party.
First, the trio chatting happily over there.
Maybe he could go over and ask to join.
Honestly, someone like him should be welcome.
He stood up and approached them.
The moment he drew near, their conversation stopped.
“…Uh, were we being too loud?”
“Sorry… We'll go…”
Before he could say a word, all three stood and left the classroom.
He had only wanted to suggest forming a team together.
He tried other groups as well.
“Sorry, we're going!”
“Let's go, quickly…”
They fled the same way.
Before long, only Aiden Starfive and Lydia Straw remained in the classroom.
“…”
He had known this would happen, but it still felt miserable.
This was hopeless.
He turned his gaze toward Lydia.
“Umm…”
Lydia started to speak, then lowered her eyes to the floor.
Should he take her after all?
Lydia couldn't heal, but she wasn't a bad character.
If she were truly bad, she wouldn't have been called a madwoman when her negative trait activated.
She simply possessed performance strong enough to earn that title.
Still…
“…”
Lydia Straw is already exhausted.
Her wish remained unfulfilled until the very end, and she was devoured along with it.
Boss, Lydia Straw has appeared.
Better not take her.
He stepped out of the classroom, lost in thought.
In that case, he would have no choice but to accept random teammates.
It couldn't be helped.
Honestly, unless the members were completely incompetent, he could probably carry the team alone.
Fine. He would go with that.
If thinking about it wouldn't produce a better result, he just had to close his eyes and accept whatever came.
That was how life worked.
As long as he avoided the bombs, it would be fine, right?
With that thought, he walked away from the classroom.
Yeah. Tomorrow's problems could be handled by tomorrow's him.
*
Ten days later.
Unfortunately, not a single person had approached him during those ten days asking to form a team.
Even after displaying that level of skill, no one had spoken to him.
Everyone really had no eye for people.
“…”
“…”
“…”
“…”
He looked at the three people standing before him.
“Uh, somehow… it just turned out this way…”
Lydia Straw kept running her fingers through her hair.
“…”
Laura Crown stood with her arms crossed, lips pressed tight, staring in another direction.
“It's been a while? Ah, my side is all healed now!”
And Ayla Seed, waving her hand energetically while looking at him.
“…”
Yes.
He was doomed.