Chapter 4: The First Step

Chapter 4: The First Step

“... Who are you?” Cal tilted his head curiously.

The man’s bravado faltered momentarily before coming back with full force. “You don’t deserve to know my name anymore, servant.”

... Was this how I acted? I refuse to believe it. This isn’t a man. He’s a man-child at best.

“If you say so,” Cal shrugged, his nonchalance infuriating the man-child even more. “I wish you luck in the guild... whoever you are.”

He’s looking for a fight. I might no longer have the [Mage] class, but the simple fact I have better control over my mana means I can easily overpower him. By the time he can even think about retaliating, I should be far out of the guild’s reach, let alone this guy... I almost hope that he tries something. I could use some release after the way I died.

The man glowered before forcing a chuckle as he reluctantly backed down. “You won’t get me to stoop to your level. Even now, you try to embarrass me before the Overseer.”

That implies I did this before.

“... Seriously, who are you?” Cal asked again with a frown.

I freely admit to being arrogant, but I rarely go out of my way to purposely put someone down. It wasn’t that I was too good for that, but more that I didn’t see it worth my time.

The man-child grew red in the face and was obviously about to lose his temper. Tavia chose that moment to break her silence.

“Tarn, what’s the point of all this?” She asked in an unamused tone.

... Nope. I still can’t recall anyone named Tarn.

“There’s no reason to tolerate him anymore, Tavia. All his boasting amounted to nothing. We can just ignore him like we all wished to.”

“Don’t lump me in with everyone else. I had no interest in your games the entire time I was here. Just because I was in the proximity while you trash-talked half the Trainees, it doesn’t mean I was a part of it.” Tavia’s words were sharp, leaving no room for any misunderstanding.

“I see,” Tarn’s expression twisted into something ugly. “The moment Cal becomes useless, you show interest. Looks like you only like trash around you, just like all your other friends—”

“The Overseer is watching,” Tavia interrupted his vitriol, “and so is everyone else. Don’t embarrass yourself any further.”

She wasn’t lying—which Tarn discovered when he looked around—but Cal didn’t care much about the attention. He was thinking over Tarn’s words.

Even if Tarn was throwing a tantrum, he does bring up a good point. Tavia’s behavior is too strange to keep brushing off.

Cal waited until the focus was off them, and Tarn had moved away in mortification.

Too self-conscious, that one.

The last Trainee stepped up to the activation pillar. Cal leaned closer to Tavia. “He might be an ass, but he’s not wrong. What’s the real reason you decided to talk to me?”

“I’m not sure,” Tavia shrugged. She folded quickly at the pointed look she received. “Fine, I didn’t want to see you give up because of your class assignment... and I really did think something went wrong with your Selection. You might have been arrogant, but I felt you were justified in being so.”

Cal stared at her blankly, vaguely aware of the Overseer announcing the last Trainee had failed.

“So... you were overwhelmed with pity and wanted to reassure me?” Cal couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought. “Sure, I’ll accept that, though we both know it’s a lie.”

“What reason do I have to lie?” Tavia asked with indignation.

“That’s what I want to know, but I’m sure you won’t tell me,” Cal studied her curiously.

I can’t think of a good reason for her to be so friendly... unless I finally drew Tavia’s attention by not bothering her the moment I saw her? It can’t be that easy, can it?

Tavia glared, a much more familiar—and expected—sight to Cal. However, she didn’t get the chance to defend herself.

“We have lost quite a few Trainees today. However, all of you have been warned that this will be the result. I congratulate all of you on being assigned a class!” The Overseer waited for the new Initiates to finish cheering. “To the Casters, Alchemists, and our one Mage,” he looked directly at Tavia, “you will be accepted into the core guild immediately. As for the rest, you will have to go through another step. However, rest assured, you are all Initiates!”

“Right now?” Cal asked with surprise. “You told everyone that would take place tomorrow.”

“Did you want to be assigned to a plot of land? Or would you rather prefer to focus on preparing for your retry next month?”

Again, the questions were rhetorical, but Cal intended to reply.

“... As counterproductive as it seems, I do want to be assigned to a plot of land.”

The Overseer froze, staring at him dumbfounded. “I must have misheard. Did you say you want to farm?”

“I do,” Cal said, not looking away from the Overseer’s stare. "I’ve noticed that I’m too distracted by the constant training and preparation. Instead of doubling down, it would be better if I took my mind off the whole thing.”

“So farming is your solution.” The overseer still looked like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“I’m confident that it is,” Cal nodded without hesitation.

“No, let me rephrase that,” the Overseer’s expression slowly shifted to anger. “You want me to let you waste time doing nothing for a whole month, and then I should expect it will help you?”

“... When you say it like that, it sounds bad.”

“No, Initiate Cal. It isthe worst idea I have had the pleasure of hearing,” the Overseer looked to have exhausted his patience.

I need to offer something in return. A way to convince him I don’t need specialized teaching. That will make entering the core guild inevitable.

“A week,” Cal blurted out, remembering the message on his interface. “Give me a week before you write off my idea as useless.”

The Overseer studied him carefully, likely weighing the pros and cons of letting him try. “A week,” he nodded reluctantly. “I’ll personally check to see if you’ve made progress. If I feel that it hasn’t been productive for any reason, you will abandon your idea.”

“Agreed,” Cal replied instantly.

The Overseer is strict, but he has always been willing to let the Trainees do what they felt was best. It wasn’t purely for altruistic reasons, but I learned that much later. Still, it doesn’t matter.

The Overseer pulled out a folded map from his inner coat pocket and opened it. He scanned it briefly before nodding. “I can send you southwest. You’ll have plenty of experienced farmers to help you if necessary—”

“Er, I actually had an area in mind,” Cal interrupted, taking the glare that followed as a consequence. “Is there any undeveloped land in the north?”

“The north,” the Overseer repeated. “Where all you have is a pile of rubble and land that can barely grow weed. That north?”

So that’s why the invading guild didn’t bother with that place. There was nothing there.

“Yes,” Cal nodded to the Overseer’s continued surprise.

“... Very well,” the Overseer sighed as he marked the area on the map before handing it to Cal. “The Selection has changed you, Initiate Cal. We will see if this is for the better or worse.”

He accepted the map as he nodded slightly. “The assignment opened my eyes. I have to work harder.”

“Hm, like I said, we’ll find out soon enough. Skip the celebrations with your fellow Initiates and immediately make your way to your new station. There is an unused outpost you can use as your residence while you are there. I don’t see anything productive occurring from your attendance to the Initiates’ celebration.”

Cal’s first instinct was to insist on attending, but that quickly changed after some thought.

The Overseer is right. He was only speaking of the celebration, but I would only return to speak to Oleg. My knowledge of the future has already changed enough.

By all rights, Oleg was rumored to be content with his life after failing the Selection. If I offered him help or any words of encouragement, it might change how his life progressed. It’s best if I avoid him altogether and ask for forgiveness later. As for Tavia, I have nothing else to say to her at the moment.

Cal pressed his lips into a thin line before giving the Overseer a firm nod. “Understood.”