During the three days before the start of school, Mile and the others spent their time talking in their room and strolling around the capital together. Since they didn't have much money, they mostly did things that didn't cost anything.
Even when they went shopping, they couldn't buy much due to the lack of money and the fact that their room was small. At most, they could only buy clothes for changing and some consumables.
Since they could eat their fill at the cafeteria, they didn't spend money on snacks or any such luxuries.
The four of them, despite having quite different personalities, somehow got along well and seemed to be good roommates.
For some reason, Mile was particularly favored by Reina. Whenever Mile noticed, Reina was often standing next to her.
When Mile asked about this, Mavis speculated on the reason.
"It's probably because of Mile's height and chest... No, never mind, forget it."
"Forget it?!"
Mile raised her voice after hearing Mavis's accurate analysis.
Mile had also started to talk more freely with her three roommates, without holding back.
Indeed, when she was with Mile, Reina looked relatively tall.
Reina, who was fifteen, was taller and had a larger chest than Mile, who was twelve.
This was certainly a happy thing for Reina, who seemed to have a complex about her physique and was often mistaken for being around twelve. It made sense that she wanted to be near Mile.
For Mile, being slightly smaller than the fifteen-year-old Reina at twelve wasn't that bad.
Mavis, who was seventeen, was not a point of comparison.
...The problem here was Pauline.
At fourteen, she was slightly below average in height, but still taller than Reina.
And her chest was clearly above average, even surpassing Mavis's.
"Grumble, grumble..."
As Mile glared at Pauline's chest and Pauline fidgeted uncomfortably, Reina returned from the restroom.
"Come on, it's time to go!"
Indeed, today was the day of the Hunter Training School's opening ceremony.
The opening ceremony was rather lackluster.
Most of the new students were poor, and their families didn't come.
Of course, there were no uniforms. Everyone wore their own clothes.
However, since they were dressed in hunter gear rather than casual clothes, they looked like new hunters.
There were forty students this term, as usual.
With forty students, there was only one class.
The school was small, more like a branch school on a remote island or a small private school.
"Welcome! I'm Elbert, the head of this place."
A man in his fifties, who looked more like a retired hunter than a school principal, greeted them from the podium.
"I've been a hunter since I was six and retired six years ago to take charge of this place!"
...That was the situation.
With only forty students in total, there was no need for a principal.
It might as well be called a "Hunter Training Facility" or a "Hunter Intensive Training Camp."
That's what Mile thought...
"Here, we'll cram into six months what you would normally take years to learn through experience and failure! And we'll give you a D or C class hunter license by graduation! Do you understand what that means?"
Elbert looked around at the students' faces as he said this.
"That's right! It's tough here! Those who can't keep up will be expelled immediately!
We won't graduate you out of pity, only to hear a few days later that you died, and worse, took your party members with you! I won't let that happen! If you think you can't keep up, drop out on your own!"
Of course, everyone had competed fiercely to get here and was carrying the hopes of their families. They wouldn't give up so easily. No one would drop out unless they were expelled.
After Elbert's speech, the instructors were introduced, and the students were dismissed.
Since there was only one class, the details could be explained later in the classroom.
While waiting for the instructor in the classroom, the students chatted with their roommates.
"Well, that was to be expected."
The three others nodded at Reina's words.
The principal's words earlier. Everyone here already knew that much. It wasn't news.
After a while, the door at the front of the classroom opened, and the instructor came in. It was Elbert, the principal.
"I'm your head instructor. Due to budget constraints, I'm also the principal and the instructor for sword and spear techniques. The other three instructors were introduced earlier. There's also a cook who prepares your meals and a maintenance staff member.
Classes will focus on practical skills, but there will be theoretical lessons too. You need to know how to identify herbs and the characteristics of monsters, or you'll die quickly. You also need to know how to handle the nobles you protect, or you'll get into trouble and end up as a wanted criminal. Study hard."
It was a straightforward and blunt explanation, but it was the truth.
While talking, Elbert wrote on the board.
Number of students: 40
Males: 27
Females: 13
Swordsmen: Males 13, Females 3
Spearmen: Males 4
Archers, etc.: Males 4, Females 2
Mages: Males 6, Females 8
Female Group A: 5 (2 Mages, 1 Swordsman, 2 Archers)
Female Group B: 4 (3 Mages, 1 Swordsman)
Female Group C: 4 (3 Mages, 1 Swordsman)
Male Group 1: 5 (1 Mage, 3 Swordsmen, 1 Archer)
Male Group 2: 5 (1 Mage, 2 Swordsmen, 1 Archer, 1 Spearman)
Male Group 3: 5 (1 Mage, 2 Swordsmen, 1 Archer, 1 Spearman)
Male Group 4: 4 (1 Mage, 2 Swordsmen, 1 Spearman)
Male Group 5: 4 (1 Mage, 2 Swordsmen, 1 Spearman)
Male Group 6: 4 (1 Mage, 2 Swordsmen, 1 Archer)
"This is the class composition by gender and class, and the party groups you'll form. Groups A to C are female, and Groups 1 to 6 are male.
You might have noticed, but this follows the room assignments. You'll stay in these groups until graduation.
Even if you don't get along with someone, you'll have to endure it. It's part of the training. After graduation, you won't always work with your close friends.
Usually, all-female parties are rare, but here, we don't have time for gender conflicts, and we don't want any pregnancies. Also, it's easier to teach separately by gender, so the groups are divided this way.
You're free to form mixed-gender parties after graduation, and most do."
It was brutally honest.
Elbert continued his explanation.
The seats in the classroom were arranged by class to make it easier for the instructors to understand the students' levels. They would also train with weapons outside their specialization, as they might need to use their fallen comrades' or enemies' weapons in the field. This would help with teamwork in the future and understanding the enemy, so there would be joint practical training with other classes.
Then came the usual self-introduction time.
"You won't remember everyone at once. For now, just get a sense of who's in the class.
We'll start from the front right. At the very least, include your name, age, class, special skills, and rank.
But don't just stop there. Introduce yourself properly to your teammates."
Following Elbert's words, the self-introductions began.
Despite his instructions, most students gave minimal introductions.
Few wanted to share personal information, special skills, or weaknesses with strangers. Mavis, Reina, and Pauline also didn't give the kind of detailed introductions they had given in their dorm room.
Then it was Mile's turn.
"I'm Mile. I'm twelve years old and a mage. I don't have any particular weaknesses in magic. I can use storage magic and have some sword skills. My rank is F."
The classroom suddenly buzzed with excitement.
Most students weren't surprised that Mile, unlike Reina, could use storage magic and was here. Even with storage magic, it made sense that someone thought it was too dangerous to send a twelve-year-old inexperienced person into the field and decided to train her here. Keeping her at F rank was understandable.
The buzz was about something else.
Recruitment.
If they could secure her for their party by graduation.
She was cute, honest, had storage magic, could use various other magics, and even had some sword skills.