After finishing their late-night snack, Claire Sinclair, worried that people would say she was getting special treatnt, insisted that Adrian Quincy leave first.
After shooing him away, Claire Sinclair strolled casually along the path, heading back to her dorm to rest.
As she neared the dormitory building, a few girls walked toward her.
Upon seeing her, they began to mock her openly:
"I heard from the senior trainees that so big shot was supposed to be joining us. Well, I’m just blown away. Such a perfect, delicate flower!"
"Hahaha... Her fainting act is top-notch. I have to admit, that’s so impressive acting."
"Don’t say that. What if soone from Quincy Manor hears you? Her connections are rock-solid!"
"Let’s go, let’s go. We can’t let her get a good look at us, or we’ll be in big trouble."
With that, the group hurried away.
Claire Sinclair frowned. If she had wanted to rember their faces, one glance would have been enough, but she had no such inclination.
When you’re looked down upon, you have to let your abilities do the talking. Otherwise, anything you say will be dismissed as whining and playing the victim.
’Just you wait,’ she thought. ’I’ll make them see in a completely new light!’
...
For the next two days, Claire Sinclair struggled through a series of physical training tasks she couldn’t seem to complete. Every day, she was so exhausted that she would fall asleep the mont she hit the mattress.
She wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination, but she had the constant feeling that the instructors for many of the exercises were singling her out.
For instance, while standing at attention, if sweat dripped into her eyes and she wiped it away, she would be forced to run a penalty lap.
In another instance, during marching drills, she wiped sweat from her eyes and was pulled to the front of the formation by the instructor, forced to do ten push-ups before she could resu training.
In short, she was punished for the slightest mistake.
Although it was frustrating, she treated it all as part of her training. Her physique was weaker than average, so she knew she had to work harder than anyone else to beco stronger.
So, she couldn’t care less what they thought.
The third day arrived in a flash. A physical fitness test was scheduled, and anyone who passed would be free to leave the training camp.
Unfortunately, out of all the female trainees, everyone passed except for Claire Sinclair. All the male trainees passed as well.
So many people had started the training, and now, suddenly, only Claire Sinclair remained. She didn’t know how to feel.
She stood alone on the vast training ground under the scorching sun, holding a standard military posture, as motionless as a wooden post. She didn’t even dare to wipe the sweat that trickled down her neck.
Since she was all alone, her mind began to wander...
’A certain soone had promised he would co to see in two days, but three days have passed and I haven’t seen a trace of him. I wonder what he’s so busy with.’
Just as she was lost in thought, a squad of n suddenly jogged past her.
The squad leader at the front suddenly yelled, "Eyes right!"
The next second, they all shouted in unison, "GREETINGS, SISTER-IN-LAW—"
The thunderous shout made Claire Sinclair jump.
’Sister-in-law...?’
Claire Sinclair glanced around. She was definitely the only woman on the training field.
’They couldn’t possibly be yelling at , could they???’
After shouting, the group jogged off as if nothing had happened.
Before long, another squad ca jogging by.
"Eyes right!"
The next second...
"GREETINGS, SISTER-IN-LAW!"
Then they, too, jogged away.
Claire Sinclair was completely baffled.
’Is it my imagination? It feels like there are a lot more squads on the field today. I don’t rember seeing this many people running drills for the past two days.’
And...
After being greeted with "GREETINGS, SISTER-IN-LAW!" by five or six squads in a row, Claire Sinclair finally reached her limit. As the next squad approached, she made a preemptive move. "All of you, wait!"
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