Chapter 263 - Selection

"Well, if you think they can do it, I don't know why they shouldn't join," Zaos said. "In two weeks, we will have a selection for the squad, and then we will decide if they can join."

Zaos didn't know if it was a good idea to let kids who looked up to him to join his unit. After all, he wasn't a hero, and they weren't going to a place easily. They were going to fight mercenary families who had thousands of years of history of fighting against each other and invading other lands.

The selection will be on the seventh day, so those who want to join won't have a single excuse not to participate. After teaching Nyana his magic archery tricks for the rest of the day, he looked for a place large enough to keep hundreds of people inside during the selection. Unfortunately, there wasn't a place where he could see the skills of mercenaries of those who might want to join his unit… not large enough anyway.

"I guess I will have to ask Edea to use the arena," Zaos scratched the back of his head.

Since it was on a day the magic school didn't work, Edea said that he could use it after paying just a couple of gold coins… and that would be enough, as long as the place isn't damaged. Besides, who would be crazy enough to damage a place that belonged to the royal family?

"So, you are finally recruiting for your unit, huh," Edea said. "I heard some of the students who were going to graduate this year will try to join. You should show them some of your skills to make them eager to join and then learn your skills."

"While I am aware that I will be responsible for them, I will only make them train the basics," Zaos said. "They have the responsibility to improve themselves. Besides, my skills aren't something that can be copied that easily."

"Well, I wish you good luck with that," Edea said. "Try not to ask them to do too much. Not all young men like you can become heroes."

"I am not a hero. If I were one, I would have saved mom," Zaos said. "Still, I can understand what you are talking about. That is why I am going to take the train the basics hard… in order to make them survive the harshest battles."

Zaos found the place for the selection, but he didn't find the officials that he needed. That was probably the price for having ignored the chances of socializing in all those parties that he was invited to. Regardless, it was a bit too late to regret it.

The next day, Cohnal couldn't help but feel impressed that Zaos managed to rent the arena for the whole day. After all, the place was basically a relic only the magic school could use it. Zaos didn't think that was something impressive, but it was only because of his upbringing.

"We are spreading the word as promised," Cohnal said. "Some of the mercenaries are hesitating since they know that long contracts are a bit troublesome, and they always lose something when proper soldiers also are invited to join those new units. However, I assured them that they wouldn't receive worse treatment compared with the regular soldiers. They won't, right?"

"Of course, I am building a unit, not a club for friends to hang out with," Zaos said. "People in my unity will be treated according to their achievements. If no one achieves anything, they will be treated equally."

"I suppose that is good," Cohnal frowned. "What about the other officials?" 

"I decided that I will promote some later, and I will lead them directly at first," Zaos said. "I have some friends, but they are working in other parts of the kingdom. I can't ask them to abandon what they are doing."

"I guess that might work as well, leave some spots open, and your soldiers will try hard to obtain some achievements," Cohnal said. "Regardless, how you are planning to select the members?"

"I will test their abilities in different groups," Zaos replied. "Those who think are good with magic will have to show that. The same will apply to long-ranged fighters and those who will compose the very frontlines. I don't think many people will come to join my unit since I don't work all that much to improve my name, so I won't be that harsh, but I will train them harder later."

Although only he showed, Cohnal and Melisse were impressed. Zaos apparently knew what he was going. He wasn't just a kind from a great house that was born with some martial talent. They also had heard of his magic achievements, but they always thought that his family did something to help him and that he didn't discover those new spells by himself. Even when he used the electric blade in the tournament, they assumed that it was just a magic weapon. However, Cohnal changed his mind when he fought Zaos. He was defeated fair and square. 

Regardless, those two weeks passed in the blink of an eye, and Zaos couldn't help but frown. Although his unit only had room for five hundred members, three thousand people decided to participate in the selection.

Health: 960/960

Mana: 2500/2500

Stamina: 2560/2560

Strength: 480

Magic: 1250

Endurance: 1280

Resistance: 1250

Focus: 08 + 01 

Sorcery Lv 70 (+ 02 UP), Meditation Lv 40 (+ 02 UP), Magic Perception Lv 20 (+ 02 UP), Magic Swordsmanship Lv 43 (+ 02 UP), Magic Spearmanship Lv 15 (+ 01 UP), Magic Archery Lv 20 (+ 02 UP), Magic Martial Arts Lv 13 (+ 02 UP), Alchemy Lv 09, Magic Resistance Lv 16, Swordsmanship Lv 59 (+ 01 UP), Axemanship Lv 17 (+ 01 UP), Spearmanship Lv 20 (+ 02 UP), Archery Lv 36 (+ 02 UP), Martial Arts Lv 15 (+ 01 UP), Assassination Technique Lv 07, Throwing Technique Lv 08 (+ 02 UP), Shield Mastery Lv 22, Pain Resistance Lv 42 (+ 03 UP), Poison Resistance Lv 09, Blacksmithing Lv 15