After a brief rest.
“We'll head out for lunch once everyone gathers in the hall, so you should wash up before then.”
Alia addressed the trainees sprawled out and drenched in sweat. Having recovered somewhat from their fatigue, they headed to the dormitory first to wash.
Ivan was also about to go wash the sweat from his body, but Alia stopped him.
“Trainee Ivan, before you go in, take every trainee's pack and sandbag to the storehouse.”
“...Yes, understood.”
Ivan obediently nodded in reply.
He had complaints, but he knew very well that talking back would gain him nothing.
Alia gave him a sidelong, half-lidded look before entering the dormitory first.
One by one, the other trainees soon left as well, and Ivan carried the equipment to the storehouse at the rear.
“Phew.”
After quickly moving everything, Ivan dusted off his hands. He was just about to enter the dormitory.
“E-Excuse me.......”
Someone behind him called out in a tiny voice and stopped him.
“Hm?”
Ivan turned at the call. A violet-haired girl was gazing at him with tears in her eyes.
She had been sitting there restlessly ever since Ivan began moving the equipment.
“It's almost 12:30. Aren't you going inside?”
“W-Well.......”
At Ivan's question, the girl stammered with such a pitiful expression that she looked ready to burst into tears.
What on earth was wrong with her? Growing frustrated, Ivan spoke.
“If you don't need anything, I'm going in?”
“W-Wait......!”
Only then did the girl raise her voice and urgently stop him.
“H-Help me... please.”
As she said it, the girl clenched both hands as though she had summoned tremendous courage.
Did asking for help really need to take that long?
What a peculiar girl, Ivan thought as he turned toward her.
“What's wrong?”
When Ivan approached, the girl's face brightened like a castaway spotting a ship from a deserted island.
“Well... my legs are asleep, so I can't stand up.”
“You can't move at all?”
“...Yes.”
“Then haven't your legs cramped up? Why didn't you ask for help sooner instead of sitting here all this time?”
When Ivan asked in disbelief, the girl shrank into herself and lowered her head.
“S-Sorry.......”
“I'm not scolding you. I was only asking.”
“Oh, I see. You were working so hard carrying everything, and I didn't want to be a burden.......”
“That's nothing. From now on, say something whenever you need help. Life gets hard if you worry about what everyone thinks over every little thing.”
She seemed painfully timid, so he offered a word of advice as her senior in life.
“What's your name?”
“Me......?”
“Who else is here besides you?”
“Oh... r-right. Sor.......”
“Stop apologizing and tell me your name.”
The girl flinched once again, then nodded.
“I'm Meirin.”
“All right, Meirin. Are both feet numb?”
“Yes.”
“Give me your leg. I'll stretch it out.”
“O-Okay.”
Enduring the prickling pain, Meirin straightened her leg, and Ivan lifted her left foot.
“Ugh!”
He pushed the ball of her foot forward to stretch her calf, and Meirin's expression eased as she swallowed a groan.
“How's that? Feeling better?”
“Yes. That's amazing.......”
“Give me your right foot too.”
Once he loosened up the other foot in the same way, Meirin could soon move both legs comfortably.
“Thank you. Your name was.......”
“Ivan.”
“Oh, right. Thank you so much, Ivan.”
With the numbness safely gone, Meirin smiled brightly and thanked him.
It was a remarkably innocent smile.
Could someone with her personality survive here? The thought worried him, but he had no obligation to look after her that far.
“All right. You should hurry inside and wash too. There's only ten minutes left.”
Ivan rose first and headed for the dormitory entrance.
But then.
“I-Ivan.......”
Meirin's damp, tremulous call suddenly stopped him again.
What was it this time? Ivan halted and looked back at her.
“What now?”
“Well... my legs hurt, so I can't stand up.......”
“...Why?”
“I... haven't exercised in a long time, so I think the muscle pain hit me really hard.”
“......”
How on earth had this girl managed to get in here? Wondering that, Ivan went back to Meirin.
“I'll support you, so get up.”
“Thank you......!”
When Ivan took her arm, Meirin's eyes shone as though she had been profoundly moved.
***
Supporting Meirin, Ivan escorted her all the way to the women's bath.
Ivan obviously could not wash her himself, so Meirin had to enter the bath alone with her legs trembling.
Ivan likewise headed to the men's bath, washed quickly, and came back out. Then he entered the hall at the center of the first floor.
Several trainees were already introducing themselves and becoming friendly.
Not long after Ivan entered, Meirin appeared in the hall with a limping gait.
“......”
Because she was the last to arrive, everyone's gaze settled on her. Fidgeting in embarrassment, she spotted Ivan.
Meirin hurried over to him as though she had found a lifeline.
“Th-Thank you for earlier. I wasn't late because of you.”
“Are your legs feeling better?”
“Yes. They're still trembling, but I think I can walk on my own.”
“That's good.”
“Yes.”
“......”
“......”
The conversation abruptly ended there.
Awkward. It was the first time Ivan had felt this awkward since spending an entire day alone in a carriage with Ruben.
Unlike Ivan, who had already grown accustomed to awkward silence thanks to Ruben, Meirin could not bear it. She worked her lips, apparently trying to squeeze out any possible topic.
“Wh-What do you think the afternoon training will......”
“Attention, everyone!”
After hesitating for ages, Meirin finally found the courage to speak first, only for Alia to enter the hall at just the wrong moment and draw every trainee's attention.
Having mustered so much courage for nothing, Meirin lowered her head deeply as embarrassment welled up inside her.
“We will now head to the communal dining hall for lunch. Form a line and follow this instructor in order.”
“Yes!”
The trainees filed out of the hall behind Alia.
Along the way, Alia briefly explained the communal dining hall. As its name suggested, it was a dining hall shared by many trainees.
She said trainees of the same rank could also share various facilities, including the fitness room and sparring hall.
“This is the Red class's communal dining hall. This is the last time this instructor will guide you here, so from now on, trainees will come here to eat and return on their own.”
After bringing the trainees to the dining hall, Alia turned away.
“Everyone will finish eating and return to the dormitory by 1:00.”
“Yes, understood!”
The trainees answered, and Alia immediately left the dining hall and disappeared from view.
Standing at the rear of the line, Ivan glanced around the dining hall.
Inside, he saw trainees from several groups besides his own Red class.
***
Ivan received his meal and sat in an empty seat. Without an instructor present, the trainees began forming groups more freely.
“I'm Zed Allid of House Allid.”
“Oh, I've heard of it. I'm Owen Lotrang, the third son of House Lotrang.”
“You there. Which house are you from?”
“I'm from House Ludrick.”
“Ludrick? I'm sure I've heard that name before.”
“My family runs the Ludrick Trading Company in the capital. You've probably heard of it at least once.”
“Oh, that place?”
“I heard it's an incredibly successful company in the capital these days. Let's get along from now on.”
The nobles in particular quickly formed a community by introducing their respective houses.
Ivan found it nothing short of fascinating.
The fame of one's family could so easily change the attention and treatment one received.
The instructor had said that everyone in Pandora was an equal trainee, but people were still people.
In a world where differences in status were so stark, those of high birth and those without it naturally divided into separate groups throughout the dining hall.
‘Let's just eat.’
Ivan soon lost interest in his surroundings and picked up his spoon. Lunch was bread, chicken breast, salad, and mushroom soup.
The nobles complained that the food was far too meager, but Ivan could only be grateful for it.
‘When I was a slave, the most I ever got was slop with all sorts of strange things thrown into it.’
He was savoring the food in his mouth while recalling his unfortunate past.
Ivan spotted someone holding a tray and turning their head this way and that. Their hapless feet wandered aimlessly, as though they had no idea where to sit.
‘They've got it bad.’
At this point, he was beginning to pity them.
Thinking rationally, he had no reason to care, yet for some reason he could not leave them like that, like a mother bird tending its chick.
With no other choice, Ivan waved Meirin over.
“......!”
Meirin spotted his gesture and rushed over in delight.
“Why are you standing there like a puppy desperate to take a dump? Just sit anywhere.”
“Oh... sorry.”
“I'm not scolding you, so stop apologizing. You're making me look heartless.”
“Sor......”
Meirin reflexively started to say sorry, then gasped and covered her mouth.
“Um... may I sit here......?”
Still hesitating on her feet, Meirin cautiously asked Ivan.
“I called you over to sit here because you couldn't find a seat.”
“Oh... th-thank you!”
“It's nothing. Just sit down and eat. The food is good.”
“Okay.”
When Ivan told her to sit as if it were the obvious thing to do, Meirin's face instantly brightened, and she sat beside him.
“I-It's delicious.......”
Meirin did not seem to be of particularly noble birth either, judging by the timid admiration she voiced at the taste of the food.
Ivan watched her take a bite and was about to resume eating.
“If you don't mind, may I join you?”
Someone approached Ivan and asked.
“Hm?”
Ivan looked up while chewing his food. A boy who looked like a young nobleman smiled brightly at him.
It was a face he had seen before.
He remembered the boy running slightly ahead of him and showing considerable ability during the strength training as well.
“I'm not charging rent for the seats, so do whatever you want.”
There was no particular reason to refuse.
“Thank you.”
Once Ivan gave his permission, the boy sat across from him with a gentle smile still on his face.
“You're Ivan, right? I'm Julian.”
Julian offered a hand to Ivan, who continued shoveling food into his mouth.
“I'd like to be friends with you. Is that possible?”
“With me? Well, I don't see why not. But there are plenty of other people here, so why me?”
“A reason... If I had to give one, maybe because you're my type?”
Julian answered with a playful expression.
Meirin, who had been eavesdropping, choked and coughed. Anyone who was not a complete fool could understand what he meant.
Ivan alone replied with perfect composure.
Question omitted under the minor-safety rule?
“Huh?”
Warning omitted under the minor-safety rule.
Ivan delivered the warning with complete sincerity.
For the first time, bewilderment spread across Julian's face, wiping away his easygoing smile.
“No, I was joking. I didn't expect to hear something that heavy.......”
“What? That was a joke?”
Context omitted under the minor-safety rule.
Meirin, who had been picking at her food beside them, froze in place.
Ivan's past had emerged so abruptly that she could only open and close her mouth, unable to think of what to say.
With the mood suddenly awkward, Julian gave an uncomfortable smile and spoke again.
“I was half serious. I get the feeling I'd never be bored around you.”
“What? So you are that way.”
“No, no. That part was only a joke. Don't misunderstand me. I like women.”
And then.
Julian brought the smile back to his lips and added.
“I'd rather make a friend who'll last.”
“What's that supposed to mean?”
“I think at least half the trainees here will fail. But.”
Julian spoke with conviction.
“I'm certain you'll survive.”