Real Preperations

Jason got out of his headspace and looked at the people at the table. He was a bit worried that they might be concerned about him since he suddenly got silent and depressed. Thankfully nobody noticed, because of the chaos Lyle was making messing with his food and Charlie's futile attempts to stop him.

Jason started to cut open the sizzling hot potato, that he had neglected when Ethan and Mark started to talk with him.

Ethan laughed gently and placed his elbow on the table to prop up his chin. He looked at Ethan dead in the eye and asked in a mischievous grin.

"so Arch, how is your training?"

Jason thought for a bit on what he meant and asked back

"you mean the training I'm getting from Lyle?"

Mark joined in and affirming Jason's question

"yeah, that"

Jason answered bluntly

"nonexistent, I barely remember what he taught me"

Both Mark and Ethan widened their eyes they both said simultaneously

"really? did he even teach you the swordsmanship?"

Jason a bit taken back by their synchronization answered

"umm if you count getting beat up by it as being taught it then I guess he taught me a bit"

They looked at each other and started to whisper to each other, even though Boops and the system caught what they were saying easily

"Mark, the final trials coming up, we need him to at least know the rose knight swordsmanship"

"Yeah, lady Megra personally told us to help the rest of the barracks to get in shape for it"

Jason and Boops both got suspicious at the mention of the person who had recruited them, and let them bypass every check to become a rose knight. It seems she was much more involved with the knights then Jason had thought.

Jason's thoughts started to wander off to think about when he was recruited by Lady Megra, the sharp glint she had in her eyes when she recruited him. And that weird flash in her eyes, and most importantly that hideous red mansion. Oh god, Jason started to shiver just thinking about it again.

Mark started to talk again, which made Jason snap out of his thoughts that were spiraling down to a weird path.

"Arch, me and Ethan will teach you the entire rose knight swordsmanship in a span of a week."

To Jason, this was a nice surprise, he thought that he needed to fulfill the 3/10 enlightenment thing the system gave him, but it seems that the twins were going to give him a free ride to learning the skill. Heck yeah.

Ethan finished Marks's statement,

"Most people learn the skill after a few months, even years sometimes. So if we are going to teach you it in a week, it's going to virtually be a week filled with pain."

Jason was happy until Ethan mentioned the week filled with pain. Jason started to imagine what the week would look like a shivered. Boops was already adjusting plans in Jason's head in preparation for the hell week, and the system sent Jason a mission

[new mission]

[the twins of the rose knights trainees Ethan and Mark are going to train you for a week]

[reward: rose knight swordsmanship skill, EXP, stat points]

[system notes: good luck, try not to die...]

Jason raised his head, this time he was pissed rather than scared, sadly Boops and the system were intangible unless Jason went back into his headspace, which wouldn't have been the best of ideas. He looked back at the twins who were already talking about the training and sighed. It seems like he wasn't going to be able to get out of it anyways.

Mark said to Jason after he finished talking with his twin.

"Alright, meet us after dinner, the training begins today"

Jason's head started to run, he started to furiously think about excuses, suddenly one hit him, it was the perfect excuse too.

"ahh sorry, but a green barrack member is training me after dinner"

Mark smiled and answered,

"you mean Ardem right? he can help us with your training, the more the better"

Jason realized his excuse backfired and only had two words in his head

"awwwww @#$%"

Jason noticed Charlie trying to get the team's attention, so he and the twins faced him along with Lyle, who had a bit of potato remains smeared on his face and Colby who just silently turned to Charlie like a giant robot.

Charlie let out a small cough and started to address the entire Blue 2 team

"Alright, as most of you guys know, the big trial is just around the corner. Now lady Megra hasn't let us know the full details yet, but it seems that we will be deployed on an actual battlefield, perhaps in the aid of one of the territories that are currently being plagued by bandits and monsters. "

Charlie faced Colby

"Colby, good job in helping the red barrack members, their combat power had improved a bit after you taught them that shield method."

Colby just nodded and Charlie turned to the twins

"you two did a good job showing green Barack members, strategic skills used in the forest, thank you for bringing out your expertise as adventures out for them"

Mark just laughed and smilled while Ethan replied

"we'll get paid right?"

Charlie just ignored their antics and faced Lyle

"As much as I hate to admit it, thanks for showing the blue members that brute force can sometimes destroy carefully crafted plans, it's a valuable lesson for them"

Lyle snorted and answered

"heh it was fun showing those nerds how it's done, I can't believe I'm in the same barrack as them."

Charlie then turned to Jason, who was really confused at the sudden change all of the members made. It was really cool and stuff but it was like all of the team members, flipped a switch or something, because instead of the lazy, rash, fun-seeking team members he knew instead there was the responsible, bold and intelligent people that Jason didn't see often.

Charlie looked at Jason and smiled

"thank you, Arch, for bringing the wolves, the green barrack members absolutely love them, and are even asking for more of them, you gave us a valuable resource and the entire barrack are very thankful for them."

Ethan spoke again

"yup it's like you just gave us 30-40 guards that are super friendly, powerful and take meat as their payment, it's fricking great"

Charlie laughed a bit at Ethan's statement and nodded in agreement

Jason honestly was a bit embarrassed, it was a weird feeling being praised by people that were so much stronger than him. Sure they were NPCs but Jason had spent enough time with them that they felt like friends. Jason started to happily think about what he was praised for, when Charlie gave a single word that made Jason scared beyond words, dripping cold sweat like a faucet.

"but..."

Jason with wide eyes looked at Charlie, Charlie looked back at Jason and grinned

"you're still weak, which is why I think all of us can pitch in and train you during your week of training"

Charlie smiled again at Jason, it was the same warm smile he gave to Jason when he praised him, but to Jason, it seemed like the smile a devil would give if you just sold your soul to him.

While Jason was on the verge of a breakdown Charlie finished up the meeting

"Alright guys, good job, keep on doing what you've been doing. Remember that the final trial should be kept a secret for now. And keep the rest of the barrack members strong and diligent"

The rest of the team members all reacted with an affirming motion. Colby just nodded, Lyle slammed his fork into the last piece of potato like it was an archenemy. Mark laughed and grinned a mischievous smile like he was planning something evil and Ethan didn't even try to hide it and let out a burst of evil villain laughter.

Jason watched them finish up their food, a sudden thought came to Jason

"huh, they are pretty amazing aren't they?"

Meanwhile, Boops was thinking diligently,

'huh, it seems the Blue 2 team itself is pretty, special'

Ethan called out to Jason as he was leaving the table

"hehe Arch you better finish up your food quickly, we will wait for you in the field outside, near the mansion"

Jason watched Ethan walk out with trembling eyes, he looked down at his almost untouched meal. He suddenly realized, in this meal, he had a crisis, became closer to Boops, and maybe the system. Learned new stuff about the Blue 2 team members, and then got subjected to a week of hell training, with all of the team members participating.

He looked at the lone potato on his tray and muttered with a tinge of anger in his voice

"I'm never eating a potato again"