How To Survive A Calamity

I decided to use Meta's words. Thinking about what the criteria of the exercise may be was most likely a waste of time.

'But there's also the chance I'm overlooking a clue, but i don't think this is the right time.'

"In the end, the criteria will be ultimately revealed before the start of the trip, why hang ourselves over something we might guess wrongly. In such a case like this, lose all expectations, and accept it all."

My words were simple.

Just grind.

Grind, grind and grind until you can't grind no more.

In fact, as honest the intentions behind this particular meeting was, it was ultimately a part of a big whole waste of time.

Quite frankly, though, i was itching to get into that Dungeon immediately to be honest.

"So what you're saying is, we do nothing..."

"...Not if you put it that way."

Chelsea said and i responded as such.

"Haa... As expected. What were we to expect from the words of the lowest ranked cadet in the academy. 'Do nothing ' sounds like the recipe of the failure that brought you this far."

"Keep talking, and trust i won't fail in doing something about it." I retorted at Trise while glancing at him from the side.

Trise's face turned heated with rage and embarrassment, but all of that quickly melted away. All of a sudden, instead, Trise Asher smirked arrogantly with her legs crossed.

"What's that? Are you picking a fight — a duel perha—"

"I refuse. Idiot."

Before Trise could continue, i interrupted and proceeded to ignore the idiot.

Like i would actually fall for such a petty taunt.

For a moment, the short haired idiot seemed baffled by my sudden and precise refusal. I looked away from her, leaned against the table and met Deandra's gaze.

Silently, i shuddered from a vague sense of oppression and meekly looked away.

Right...

"...No infighting."

Deandra glared daggers at me for a while longer and sighed tiredly. Her beautiful red hair fell over her shoulders, drawing waves, as she leaned backwards.

"Understood, i have heard you all. Then let's call an end to this discussion, we'll return to the topic at some other time. The next time we meet as a group like this would be for training. If we're going to be on the same group during the exercise, we will have to get accustomed to working together." Deandra said and Don scoffed from his seat.

"For this one, i could compromise, but it's more than obvious 1499 will only weigh us down. Heh, if he apologizes for running his mouths all this time, maybe we might consider bringing you along to dust our shoes."

Following that, Trise nodded vehemently.

She struck the table and said fiercely.

"Yes, i agree. Isn't this make up unfair? Why do we have to end up with the lowest of dead weights. What exactly does he even bring to the table?!"

I sat up and slowly rose to my feet.

"Unfortunately, not enough brains for you two."

I adjusted my loose tie.

Sigh. And i really was trying to avoid unnecessary conflicts with my teammates, but these brats are really beginning to sound annoying.

It's a whole other different thing if they pick a fight with me first.

"Uh, Ms. Group leader, I'll politely take my leave now since we're done here. I'm sure you'll be able to reach out to me again next time for our nect meeting. I'll be available by then." Saying so, i turned around and walked away.

There were more important things i had to do than listen to brainless brats ramble.

My eyes narrowed in thought.

'i have to get it.'

...the recipe of that smoothie.

"Wh-what? 1499, hold on...!"

Suddenly i heard the high voice of Trise call out to me from behind, hut i ignored it as easy as it took me to breathe

"Bye, guys~"

***

I stepped out of the cafe, which was a totally jew experience for ke, and decided to immediately set off for the training room. But as soon as i took my first steps, a voice suddenly called out to me from behind.

"Hey, wait up!"

It was a familiar pitch, a feminine voice, one that made me raise a brow.

'Why is she... Should I just ignore her?'

"Come on, i said hold on!"

Hearing the voice one more time, i came to a stop and slowly turned around to meet the voice.

"...what?" I turned and blankly said.

Immediately, the bright sight of Chelsea's bright aurburn orange hair fluttering in the sun came into my vision.

Chelsea quickly arrived before and heaves a deep tired sigh.

"Jeez, you heard me the first time didn't you? I told you to hold on." Chelsea bent over her knee and said in a whining tone.

"..." I gazed over her lowered hairwd silently, pondering her reason for being here.

I was just about feeling relieved i could finally get away from the annoying brats, but then this happens.

While in thought, Chelsea rose up straight and smiled carefreely. I met her gaze with indifference.

"What's up?" I said.

"Victor, right?" Chelsea took a step forward, her a beautiful smile blooming on her lips.

I casually shrugged and backed off slightly.

"Who's asking?"

"Funny." Chelsea giggled mildly. I couldn't tell if she was being sarcastic, or what was funny about anything.

In any case, i didn't have time for this.

Compared to Don and Trise, Chelsea was a bit... different. She seemed like someone who would be difficult to deal with in a different sense. I guess in the sense that cheery people like that could be overwhelming and overenthusiastic about most things that ard unnecessary.

But aside from that, her easy going personality made Chelsea much more easier to like than the arrogant, brain dead nobles.

"What do you want?"

Chelsea shook her head in response at my question and hummed. Eventually she said.

"I just thought i should tell you, i think you're cool."

"What?"

Explore hidden tales at empire

"Huhu... I mean the way you didn't fuck with those guys back there. Wasn't that kind of crazy?"

I looked at Chelsea oddly and scratched the back of my head.

"Uh, i guess...?" I said, paused, then added, "Is that what you came to say?"

Chelsea responded in her usual manner. She took a step forward, her arms folded behind her and the bright rays of the sun danced across her bright hair.

There was a mischievous tilt to the edge of her of her smile, one that i found myself deeply amused by.

As Chelsea walked past me, she turned around, now standing before me at the opposite direction from earlier, and said.

"I think it was cool — no, you're cool. To not be fazed or intimidated by people clearly stronger and higer ranked than you are. And even now, you're standing here meeting me on equal level. Huhu...of only some of us could be like you, and not give a fuck about whoever..." She said.

Chelsea paused before adding in a contemplative state.

"Hold on, maybe it's because you're so low ranked you have almost nothing else to lose?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

At that moment, i couldn't help but say.

"Are you picking a fight?"

"Pfftt. No, not actually. I'm sorry." Chelsea laughed in amusement and shook her head sideways.

Meanwhile, i still had a light frown on my face. I let my guard down, and got burned.

'This girl...'

While i was brooding over the burn, Chelsea let something else slip.

"I wish he could be like you — fearless and bold."

I wanted to leave.

Let's pretend i didn't hear that

"Did you say something?" I lied.

"Eh? Ah, no. No? Did you?" Chelsea shook her head dismissively.

'Liar. What's with her?'

Well...

"I see. I'm not sure whether to say thank you or not, Ms. Chelsea. But i hope we can at least work well together as a teammates." I gave Chelsea one last fleeting look before walking past her and taking my leave.

Behind me, i could hear,

"I hope so too, Number— no, Victor."

That was my first encounter with Chelsea Harper—and the start of a long bitter field relationship.

[A/N Small 5 chapters mass release; Check. It's meant to be 10, but there was an accident....]