- Ever since I was young, whenever my head felt complicated, I used to go out into an empty field and swing a weapon. Sword was fine and even a sturdy stick was okay. Focusing on swinging something helped me throw away useless thoughts.
- And this was the time to throw away useless thoughts. Mock siege warfare was about to start next week and I was planning not to participate in that siege warfare.
- Raven: (General will certainly be hugely disappointed. But I don't want to team up with those kinds of people.)
- It would be a lie if I said I had no regrets. I didn't have much interest in spreading the family name. But I had a very strong desire to show my skills to the general.
- Holding the blade that was lying in the corner of my room, I headed to the training field like it was a habit. The campus was quiet because there were no classes due to the preparation for the mock siege warfare. Those that already formed teams were busy practicing outside the campus. You could sometimes hear sounds of large and small explosions coming from far away.
- I forcefully tried to ignore these but couldn't help my gaze from turning. Even though I had determined to let go of my regrets, thoughts of forming a team even now ceaselessly rose up in the corner of my mind.
- Raven: (Let's throw it away.)
- I determined again while putting strength in my hands holding the blade. They were all useless thoughts. I had to shake them off by swinging the blade.
- Owen: ... I'm not saying that members aren't important. Mock siege warfare has a very simple rule where the side that captures the other team's base first wins. But you won't be able to win by just trying to break through up front.
- Owen: We should first divide up our roles...
- Zohan: So it means we'll win if we just break through quickly right? Everyone moving together is better then. Why don't you go build up some stamina if you have the time to come up with those kinds of stupid plans?
- Training field was unusually noisy today. I could see three guys facing each other in the corner. Two of them were giggling as they started mocking the one other guy.
- Fred: You, you must still think you are someone special... Someone from a Felford family that had sunken low to the bottom is actually daring to order us around? How come? Did you want to become a leader at least in this place?
- Zohan: Don't get us wrong, we didn't team up with you because we wanted to. It's just that only ones remaining were so lame that we let you, who at least still had a family name intact to join us. We can't have a girl or a commoner joining us after all.
- Raven: (... Here they go again.)
- I didn't want to get involved. It was blatantly obvious that my future days will become agonizing soon as I got involved with those guys. I turned around and was about to go back to the campus when a guy from the Felford family who was getting mocked opened his mouth. It shouldn't have been strange for him to be furious after all of this but he looked surprisingly rational and calm.
- Owen: This is a training exercise that occurs inside a wide and complicated castle. That's why we for sure need someone that analyzes the situation and gives correct orders. You guys won't be able to handle such a task with your brains so I'll...
- Fred: You.... are you messing with us?
- Even before the guy from the Felford family finished his words, another guy with a heavy build standing in front of him instantly grabbed him by the collar then held him up.
- Fred: Know your place. I can end someone like you any time by putting in some words to my father. All you need to do is to just quietly and obediently follow what we say.
- Zohan: Don't step up when you don't need to. Got it?
- Raven: You guys must have so much leisure time to be playing around in this place. Stop being noisy and get lost. Before I call someone to kick you out.
I absolutely didn't step up because I was burning with a sense of justice or felt pity for the guy from the Felford family. No, I initially tried not to step up. But ignoring this situation would make me no different from the other nobles. I just didn't want to become like that.
- Zohan: What? Who is this...? Raven?
- Fred: Hmph, you must be feeling confident with your family name on your back. But you're not even a noble in the first place...
- Raven: How lame. Everyone here is equally a student long as they are here. Yet you are coming up with ranks based on family names...? Fine, since you like ranks so much, let's take a look.
- Raven: Does any one of your families rank higher than the Cronwell's?
- Long silence continued. Faces of the guy with a heavy build and the guy beside him twisted and reddened. Then the two guys quickly left the scene.
- Zohan: Tch, you're a mere commoner...
- Raven: ...
- Peace returned again to the training field. Guy from the Felford family carefully approached me then hesitated to speak for a long while. He then finally opened his mouth with much difficulty.
- Owen: Thanks for the help, Raven Cronwell.
- Raven: ... It was nothing. I just didn't like those two.
- I remembered my determination to not get involved with any nobles so I answered bluntly then took position on the other side as I raised my blade. Guy from the Felford family didn't mind my attitude and opened his mouth again.
- Owen: My name is Owen Felford. I heard that you still don't have a team yet… Are you not planning to participate in the training exercise?
- Raven: ... I won't enter the siege warfare.
- I had sought the training field to throw away thoughts about the siege warfare but ended up hearing a bunch about it instead. Owen didn't even seem to get tired as he explained his strategies to me during the entire time when I was swinging my blade. His strategies were so meticulous and well formulated that they made me nod unconsciously.
- Owen: I had my eyes on you ever since the last training. There are many parts of your movements that are certainly different from the others. A killing purpose strategy that aims for enemy's weak points while making minimum movements as possible... you can't learn that kind of strategy from a sword instructor.
- Owen: To be honest, I don't have much talent with the sword. So I prefer to use my brain instead. If you and I join our strengths it won't be too difficult for us to lead the siege warfare into a victory.
- Raven: ... What are you planning to do about the final team member?
- It was a heartbeat of excitement that I haven't felt in a while. Determination to not participate in the siege warfare had already broken down long before as I listened to Owen's strategies. According to his plans, we certainly had a chance. But the problem was, we needed one more teammate.
- Owen: There should be couple of people that still haven't formed a team yet. So we should try to find...
- Seris: Umm, I was just passing by and heard you guys talking by a coincidence~ really, by a coincidence…. So you guys are looking for a teammate right?
- Owen and I turned our heads together from a bright voice that came from the entrance. We saw a girl with a gold blonde hair with a wooden sword leaning on top of her shoulder walking towards us while smiling brightly.
- Seris: I also still don't have a team yet. I did ask around various places but every one of them said they were already full! Can you believe that?
- Girl had already approached in front of us and was waiting for an answer while looking back and forth between Owen and my face. Owen finally answered while sighing.
- Owen: I'm sorry, Seris. But I have no plans to have a girl in our team. According to my plan, we at least need two swift...
- Seris: I may not look it, but I'm a crazy fast runner.
- Owen: Who has the skills to break through enemy line in an instant...
- Seris: I was around average in the test we had before. Compared to that, Owen, you were almost last right?
- Owen: ... Anyways, my answer is no.
- Seris: What's up with that? Are you looking down on me because I'm a girl?
- Owen: ...It's not because that... ehm, ehm... Anyways, no is a no-...
- Raven: Fine, we'll let her join.
- Seris: My goodness... Seriously? Really?
- Owen's gaze was bothersome but this was because I thought that since the siege warfare was fast approaching it would be better use of time to practice our cooperation rather than to waste time trying to find a team member... This was the excuse I gave myself as I nodded.
- Seris: Thank you so much! I won't let you guys down! I'll do my best! I'll give it my very best!
- Seris looked joyful as she grabbed Owen and my hand and smiled beamingly. She didn't mind Owen complaining and chattered on for a long time while not letting go of our hands.
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A Piece of Memory 1
