Field training has always divided student opinions, with some relishing it and others dreading it. Those who enjoy venturing outside and dislike the rigid classroom environment tend to see field training as a refreshing change. The Academy’s courses aren’t exactly easy, especially for those without a strong educational foundation. 

Most noble children strive to maintain above-average grades to uphold their family honor, so for those feeling stifled by the competition, field training offers a welcome break from the Imperial capital. Especially for commoners, who rarely travel beyond their hometowns, the opportunity to explore new places can be a luxury. 

On the other hand, students who are more introverted, reluctant to approach strangers, or simply prefer staying indoors may find field training stressful and uncomfortable. If they’re fortunate enough to have friends to tag along with, it’s manageable, but those without close ties may find even earning a passing score challenging. 

Personally, I fall into the latter category. 

Spending countless hours replaying long RPGs, poring over spin-off novels, comics, and game lore is my idea of a good time. Even when I traveled, I would book a cozy place and limit my time outdoors. My rule was simple: if there’s no clear plan, I don’t go out. 

“Silvia!” 

“Wha—?” 

“Silvia! Big sister?” 

A shout broke through the silence as my door swung open at four in the morning. My adopted sister, whom I hadn’t seen for nearly ten years, and I were evidently cut from very different cloth. 

Let’s try that again. 

***

Why did I choose the "cool and composed" image for myself?

Looking back, I could’ve gone for a more relaxed, easygoing personality—the kind that drifts through life with a calm smile, tackling tough problems with ease. But when I initially adopted the "cool beauty" facade, it was for simplicity: fewer expressions to control, easier to keep my thoughts hidden.

In hindsight, I could’ve created a more "layered" character like Lucas or Jake. But because I’d committed to the cool persona, I was already awake, pretending to clean my gun as Claire barged into my room at dawn. 

“Silvia! Ah, I knew you’d already be up.”

I could’ve done without the “I knew it” comment. Claire looked genuinely surprised when I jumped, startled by her entrance.

“Hah, well, you were up before us last time,” she added.

…Last time?

Oh, she must mean when I finished that first quest before anyone else. Back then, Leo and Claire were already out hunting the Elemental Wolf at dawn, only to find out I’d beaten them to it. 

Since then, I hadn’t exactly made a habit of beating those two to the punch. Most days, I woke up on Alice’s schedule, studying alongside her in the mornings. Sometimes, I had things to do and would slip out to handle them separately. But I’d learned the hard way that aiming to complete quests before anyone else meant running on virtually no sleep.

“Leo and I were about to head out early. Want to come with us?” Claire asked.

I thought it over. What quests could I pursue at this hour?

Unless a mission came in urgently, Jennifer would already have gathered the quests beforehand. Unlike the introductory tutorial phase, this first field training session marked the beginning of the main storyline.

In the game, not everything revolved around the protagonist. While hunts and timed battles could be cleared anytime, quests involving other people had to be completed at specific times to stay true to the story.

My goal was simple: to experience the story firsthand and secure a happy ending for characters destined for tragic fates.

With that in mind, I asked, “Is the princess joining?”

“Princess? Oh, you mean Alice.” Claire’s expression dimmed slightly. She didn’t harbor any resentment toward Alice; rather, it seemed Claire simply missed the time when she had been the only one close to me.

If it weren’t for Lucas, I could have ended up in House Grace with Leo and Claire. We might’ve even become a makeshift family trio, and I might’ve never chosen this “cool beauty” persona.

“Oh, Alice seemed pretty out of it,” Claire replied. “I stopped by her room before coming here, but she was mumbling in her sleep, so I didn’t get much of a response.”

Hmm. 

Despite her sleepy state, I was pretty sure Alice would join us. After all, in the game, I could add her to the party from the beginning of the quest. If Alice had been “asleep,” she wouldn’t have been available.

“All right,” I replied. “I’ll be down in a bit.”

“Great!” Claire’s face lit up. 

Given her background, Claire probably never experienced having anyone close to her, so my presence alone might mean a lot to her. And I couldn’t help but wonder about the orphanage kids who’d been part of her backstory. Were they still under House Grace’s care? Maybe working as retainers or servants?

In any case, I’d have a chance to find out if I ever visited House Grace later in the story.

“Well, I’ll head down and get breakfast started!” Claire called as she turned to leave, shutting the door quietly behind her.

The sound of her hurried footsteps fading down the hall brought a slight smile to my face. With both Leo and me around, along with friends, she must’ve felt this trip was like an extended retreat.

I resumed reassembling my rifle piece by piece, absentmindedly wondering how this version of myself could possibly look forward to the day. Even I was eager—Claire, with her sunny disposition, must’ve been thrilled.

“…Yawn…”

Still, the early hour was unforgiving.

***

Though the early morning gun maintenance was just a cover to keep up appearances, it wasn’t entirely pointless. It gave me a chance to double-check everything, ensuring my equipment was in top shape.

After putting the gun away, I headed out of my room to find Alice waiting, her voice hoarse from sleep as she tried to greet me.

“Si—Sylvia…”

“Princess.”

“…I’m still an Academy student. Just… call me Alice…”

She barely managed the words, sounding like a sleep-deprived zombie.

“Are you all right?” I asked.

“Do I *look* all right?” she replied, not so much looking at me as aiming her face in my direction, her eyes still shut.

Her hair was disheveled, but her face remained as pristine as ever, a testament to her usual self-discipline. 

Still, Alice didn’t exactly thrive on four a.m. starts.

“You have some stray hairs,” I pointed out.

“…Leave it,” she mumbled. “I know, but I don’t have the energy to fix it right now…”

Even as we walked, Alice seemed to wake up slowly, her voice gradually returning to normal. Descending the stairs, I carefully watched her steps to ensure she didn’t stumble. Thankfully, she managed to keep her balance and dignity intact.

In the dining hall, we found tables similar to the ones we’d seen near the station. Only, this place was leagues above in quality.

Leo waved to us from his seat. “Morning.”

“…”

Next to him sat a row of classmates who looked even worse off than Alice. Mia Crowfield, in particular, looked more like a corpse than a student, her head resting on the table, unmoving. Jake rubbed his eyes continuously, and Charlotte barely maintained a semblance of royal composure, barely managing to sit upright.

…Relief washed over me.

So, it wasn’t just me. 

After all, the original protagonist had been Leo, and everyone in his orbit had been dragged along by his relentless energy.

Well, relentless as it was, the only real problem was that his mornings started far too early.