alwaysunqualified

  Chapter 34 - Testing my tolerance.

  We were lined up at attention in the drill yard. Centered within my 60-man squad, who had reached adulthood alongside me, I stood with the four men of my unit. Five hours earlier, we were roused and summoned here, briefed that we'd be undertaking a mission under noble command.

  She hailed from House Ironfist, the stewards of the military. According to the briefing, she was here to learn command, and we were the squad selected for her training. It wasn’t unusual for a noble's daughter to lead a mission with a squad of Sane men, but typically those squads were nearing the end of their mandatory service, not us.

  Our sergeant mentioned that this was her first command. Normally, fresh commanders were paired with experienced squads, but it was hinted that an exception was made because of my presence.

  The squad was divided on whether this was favorable. On one hand, it promised an opportunity to forge connections with the nobility; on the other, it subjected us to intense scrutiny, and her initial impression was less than stelr, having kept us waiting for hours.

  My stance should be clear. I’d hoped to complete my service without fuss, and I was beginning to really enjoy it here. The base had many regutions, and our free time was mostly spent in the dorms, but with my shop, it felt like a return to college days with friends. We spent our time outside of drills messing around.

  At least I had my shop and maps to distract me. I couldn’t fathom how the others coped. Our equipment check was brief, a mere fifteen minutes, and since then, we had been standing at attention, waiting.

  “Date starto!”

  [A Date in the Middle of a Military Squad]

  [Target: Ava Ironfist]

  With the date started, Ava now appears on my mini map, which indicates she is en route.

  She only used a single date point, meaning she's likely tier 1. After years of experience and interacting with the system, I think I've pieced together how it works. Each point used seems to grant an independent roll, with the probability of drawing someone of higher tier potentially influenced by a formu that factors in luck.

  The area influences the odds, simir to how being at home increases the chance of getting a family member. This led me to consider focusing on 'Observe' as my main stat, as it could potentially allow me to view the dating pool directly, increasing my choices. If my theory is correct, there might even be a way to specifically target individuals, though success would still depend on the roll.

  Annually, if any date points are avaible, the system will execute a random roll, which appears to be goal-oriented. Additionally, the system itself can initiate rolls, and certain triggers, like encountering a succubus, may prompt a roll.

  Given the military context and her role as a low tier commander, the probability of Ava's card being selected on the first attempt seemed nearly guaranteed. However, without the ability to conduct controlled experiments, this remains specutive.

  My train of thought was interrupted when I saw the girl emerge through the gate. She arrived in a hovering chair surrounded by flying disks. Her bright blonde hair was styled into spiraled twin tails, and she wore a vibrant rainbow dress shirt paired with a short skirt.

  [Name: Ava IronfistLevel: 44Affection: -77House: Ironfist [23rd Daughter (2nd Youngest)]Ava is often overshadowed by her sisters, particurly Elsa, her younger sister who garners most of the family's attention. She admires her mother, who oversees high-level military operations.Harbors complex and conflicting feelings about her family. A good spanking will get her going. ]

  I allowed my eyes to wander down her thighs, which were crossed gracefully, in an attempt to steal a glimpse under her skirt. My efforts were abruptly halted, however, as I felt a smack to the side of my head, forcing me to stand upright. The murmurs of discomfort around me indicated that I was not the only one caught trying.

  I diverted my gaze away from her before it wandered again. She was followed by a procession of attendants and a rge floating carriage, its size making it impossible to ignore. I swallowed hard, noticing the scant attire of her entourage, and a sharp sp snapped me back to reality. A chorus of groans erupted from my squadmates, and in my attempt to just focus on the sky, I earned another smack.

  Struggling to focus, I finally saw her clearly as she positioned herself in front of us. Her face bore a smug expression, seemingly oblivious to the thoughts circuting about her.

  “I am Ava Ironfist of House Ironfist, your new commanding officer. I expect full compliance with my orders, or the consequences will be swift,” she decred, her voice steady, arms crossed over her small chest.

  As she tilted her head back, her skirt rose slightly, instantly drawing my eyes, resulting in yet another reprimand for me. Resigned, I pced my store screen in front of my eyes.

  “From now on, your squad name will be Chivalry. Chivalry, move out,” she commanded. Her chair swiveled, turning her away, which elicited a mix of sighs and relieved breaths from the surrounding men.

  ‘Well, I have to deal with this now,’ I thought. I believed I was finished with noble dealings after my arrangement with Seraphina. Although it didn't take effect until my return, I had held onto hope.

  Hearing the groans from my unit, men who were usually calm and collected, I couldn't help but wonder how long this would st. The sergeant seemed unfazed, possibly due to his higher tier or perhaps something else entirely. Maybe marital status, though stories suggested that even married men above tier forty were still thinking with their dicks.

  I thought I was improving, but just gncing at a girl nearly reset all my progress. Worse yet, I only realized when she turned around, but my muscles had already been reacting involuntarily. Without the constraints of the contract, my body might have bolted toward her without my conscious control.

  “What the fuck are you waiting for? You heard the dy, move out!” our sergeant barked, snapping us to action when we hesitated after the command. We started marching, following the noble girl and her scantily cd attendants who had moved ahead.

  She hadn't informed us of our destination or mission, so we marched on, our footsteps punctuated by sporadic groans. Those at the front suffered the most, but the rest weren’t spared from the distraction. I received several more reprimands when I unconsciously lowered my screen to watch the attendants wiggle their ass as they strode forward, their exposed backs offering unobstructed views.

  Our march stretched on for miles, our only breaks coming when we engaged monsters that ambushed us. Combat seemed to refocus the others, but unfortunately, it did nothing for me; I was relegated to merely observing from the middle of our formation. Eventually, we veered off the cleared path and entered a dense forest, ending at a cave-like structure.

  Already at the site was a group of men who had secured the area. Their leader reported to our noble commander before rejoining his squad at the perimeter, preparing to enter the cave.

  We were ordered to take their pce, spreading out across the perimeter and deeper into the forest. Our task was to eliminate any monsters attempting to manifest and disrupt the mana in the area, hopefully preventing any high-tier monsters from spawning.

  The rest of my team engaged in the task, channeling mana into their uniforms and moving as instructed by our lieutenant. All I could do was follow and provide cover, unable to operate the magic-imbued gear with love points.

  Just under an hour ter, we received an "all clear" signal—a subtle push sensation from our uniforms, accompanied by a call from our lieutenant. We held our positions, but I noticed her team maneuvering rge, spire-like objects around the area. They were too far to discern clearly, but the objects themselves were unmistakable.

  These objects were as rge as trees, with deep blue veins coursing through their silver bodies.

  [???]

  The four girls handling it moved the object to the edge of the cave, thrusting it into the ground not far from us, and I watched as the blue veins darkened in hue.

  Once the instaltion was complete, the noble ordered us to regroup and prepare to head back. Curiosity overtook me during our return march, and I cast 'Show Hidden Secrets' on the object.

  [Puller of Manadrain. Created by the dwarf craftsman Grenna. These pilrs drain mana from the surrounding area, reducing monster spawn rates for an extended period. The Ironfist noble family possesses three sets of these pilrs and employs them to manage monster poputions outside the city walls.

  However, their activation often provokes monsters, triggered by the sensation of their mana being drained. While the mana collected within can be utilized, 99% is wasted if not harnessed by a monster.]

  As I processed this information, time stood still, just as my unit repositioned itself within the formation.

  Save Ava from the surprise attackStay in formation"Attack?" I murmured to myself after reviewing the options.

  I allowed my perception to leave my physical body, scanning the surroundings for any threats. However, as I did so, my attention inevitably drifted towards the girl confidently perched in her floating chair.

  "Just a quick gnce," I told myself. "So I can stop wondering." I allowed my gaze to wander until I had a clear view under her short skirt, revealing her bare, smooth pussy. Perhaps the lieutenant stays so unfppable because she frequently fshes him. 'Lucky bastard,' I thought enviously.

  3. Bend her over her chair and teach her a lesson

  The sudden appearance of the third option snapped me out of my distraction.

  "What the fuck am I doing?" I scolded myself, mentally shaking my head. I hastily selected the first option before I could do anything else stupid.

  [You are about to make a bad choice, proceed anyway?]

  "I am?" I paused, considering the warning. 'Wait, she's a noble. There’s no way she’s out here without adequate protection.'

  Choosing to break ranks would only earn me punishment—ten shes and additional unit drills. Given that I wasn't in dire need of leveling up, and considering the potential for hitting a wall soon, it seemed smarter to be selective about which cards I attempt to get.

  I opted for the second choice but deployed Miki’s card as a precaution. It turned out to be unnecessary; her guard didn't even need to intervene. One of her floating disks intercepted the monster and dispatched it with a ser.

  “I never called halt, keep marching,” she commanded, her voice echoing across our group, which had automatically shifted into battle formation.

  One of the assistants collected the monster's core as we resumed our march. Upon returning to base, the twin tailed noble departed immediately.

  As we dispersed into our units to check our gear, the collective groans made it clear that most now viewed this as more trouble than it was worth.

  [Date end]

  Once we returned to the dorm, there was no conversation; we all simply colpsed onto our beds.

  'I need to get a handle on these thoughts. If this keeps up, I might not be able to go back,' I mused while lying there. Staying in the military was an option, but I doubted it would prevent my family from finding me. Really it was already suprising they hadn't intervened yet, so gaining better control over myself seemed like the only viable path.

  The sergeant was living proof that such control was possible. We had learned meditation techniques in css, primarily designed to guard against mental attacks, but they should be applicable here as well. I had also purchased some mental fortitude potions from the shop, but at a million points a bottle and an effectiveness sting only an hour, they were not a sustainable solution.

  I considered upgrading my shop to see if any new, more helpful items would become avaible. However, I suspected that other system features would require Affection points, which unlike love points, I had in limited supply.

  ‘For now, I'm going to sleep. Hopefully that noble is busy with whatever they do, so I won't have to deal with her,’ I thought as I drifted off to sleep.

  …

  ..

  .

  "Pathetic, I can't believe someone like you pced so high in the tournament. My little sister could run faster than you on her first day walking," the blond noble scoffed, her expression clearly conveying her disappointment. Contrary to my hopes of avoiding her, we were roused early and headed to the training area where the noble dy was already perched in her floating chair, leisurely sipping what I assumed was milk—a popur choice here.

  It seemed she would be supervising our training indefinitely. As the physically weakest member, I had always gged behind the others. Our Sergeant, though stern, had been lenient as long as you exerted full effort, so my pace had never been an issue—until now.

  Now, this girl focused on me, mocking me while her discs shot sers that stung like a bitch upon contact.

  I had harbored some hope yesterday, especially since she didn’t acknowledge me during the operation, but it was now clear she had taken a particur interest in me. She was also excelling at earning a spot on the exclusive list of girls I want to punch in the face. If I have to endure this for three more years, she might just make it.

  “Date starto!”

  "Is this really the time for that?" I compined, accurately guessing that the system was responsible this time.

  "Sorry, Father, a reset just happened and I got an itchy finger. Plus, Mother says going too long without rolling the gacha can give you PTSD," she replied, her tone far from apologetic.

  Choosing to ignore her casual misuse of a serious medical term, I asked, “You’re not going to eborate on any of that, are you?”

  "Mother said it's more fulfilling when you figure things out for yourself. She said she wants you to feel a sense of pride and accomplishment, then giggled at herself," she replied. The stupid goddess was certainly vying to maintain her exclusive position.

  Rolling my eyes at her antics, I noticed the noble and her attendant off to the side. The attendant, cd in little more than a naked apron, offered an unobstructed view as she bent over to refill the noble's cup.

  I quickly reset time as soon as I caught myself staring. My consciousness snapped back, and a sharp pain nced through my side as a ser hit me, sending me tumbling to the ground. I was forced to roll away, then push myself back into an awkward run before the third shot could strike.

  [-7 Ava Affection points.]

  “Is our fate-defying hero hurt?” she snorted at me mockingly. “That can’t be; I must need to turn the power up.”

  She wasn’t joking. The next hit only grazed me, but it felt like it shattered bones. I had no time to be distracted; I needed to focus entirely on dodging the sers and catching up to the rest of the group, who had likely already finished. Despite the challenge, I managed to complete the morning run without getting hit again, although it took twice as long as usual and left me five times as exhausted.

  After our warm-up, which was a fifty-something-mile run, it was time for team drills. Understandably, I could barely move. Normally, I was given some time to recover before joining the rest, but this time we started immediately, and I was paired with Ulluam, a man who wasn’t particurly fond of me.

  “Begin,” the noble girl called out as soon as we were all in position. I assumed a faltering fighting stance, but the man opposite me hesitated.

  “I said begin,” she repeated, this time directing her gaze at Ulluam, the only one who hadn’t engaged his sparring partner. He reluctantly started to move, aware that any dey would lead to punishment. However, ultimately, he dropped his stance.

  “Annlina, take his pce,” the blond girl ordered, dismissing Ulluam, which surprised both him and me.

  “Yes, young miss,” her attendant replied as she took position opposite me. Unlike earlier, my eyes stayed focused; I was too exhausted and frustrated to be distracted as I stared past the girl directly at the noble lounging arrogantly in her chair, her gaze fixed on me. As our eyes locked, time stood still, bringing up my choice menu before my eyes.

  Use cards to fightFight without them[Name: Annlina Level: 155 Affection: 300 House Affiliation: Ironfist AttendantPrimary Blessing: Water ManiputionHas served House Ironfist for 203 years. She is quite impressed with you but has kept it discreet since her young miss seems to harbor a dislike for you. Previously, she was tasked with serving drinks while the family attempted to produce heirs.]

  She was strong, but I had a number of cards that could outmatch her. I could even strike the smug smile off the noble bitch overseeing us behind her.

  Before I made my choice, Sakura's smile fshed through my mind. 'No, it's not worth it. The only time I ever see Miki tense is when we're outside the walls. If this noble is leading us out, I need to conserve my cards.'

  Opting for option two, time resumed and I dismissed her with my eyes, hobbling into a defensive stance to muster whatever resistance I could.

  [-55 Ava Affection points.]

  A smirk crossed my face as I acknowledged our mutual disdain, but it vanished when a knee collided with my face, sending me to the ground.

  The ensuing fight was a blur, but my consciousness held until the date ended and everything faded to bck. When I regained consciousness, I was still lying in the dirt.

  "Finally up? You got your ass kicked, man. Sure you don't wish you had my Blessing?" Elric taunted, looking down at me.

  "He let himself lose, you idiot," Robert interjected, smacking him on the back.

  "I know that, but if he keeps going around getting beat up, he'll be stuck with just his sisters for life. Just look at that noble; she looked disgusted by his performance," Elric retorted, shrugging off Robert's hand.

  "Like you would have done any better," Mark chimed in, supporting Robert.

  "Give me five hundred years, and she'll be throwing herself at me," Elric responded confidently to the double challenge.

  “You can have her,” I said, my voice sounding strange as my teeth grew back in. I retrieved a potion from my inventory to aid in my healing.

  “I agree with Liev, nobles are not worth the trouble,” Andy finally chimed in.

  “Yeah, I’m more into beast girls,” Mark added, dismissively referring to the noble.

  “You’re just a mama’s boy,” Elric shot back at Mark, giving him a look that dismissed his opinion.

  I couldn't help but ugh. “Thanks, guys.”

  "No problem. I wanted to carry you back even if she ordered you to y here, but Andy didn't want to add to your troubles, with you already being a target," Elric said, brushing off the praise.

  "We all agreed you could use some company, and the Sergeant didn’t stop us," Robert added. "Now, how about you break out some snacks? We don’t have long till morning, and sleeping doesn’t really do anything for you anyway, so let's enjoy our little bit of freedom."

  I did just that, reveling in the peaceful night. We spent the rest of the evening joking around in the field, enjoying our temporary escape.

  [Achievement Unlocked: Hated - Sometimes it's better to be hated than loved. - Take a girl to -300 on a date. - Hostility unlocked.]

  [Hostility: Just another way someone can show how much they care.]

  [Achievement Unlocked: Too Many Cards! - Reject a card to keep your deck optimized. - Unlocked Binder.]

  [Binder: All rejected cards will be stored in your binder. Retrieve a card to pce into your deck at any time, provided a spot is avaible.]

  [Achievement Unlocked: No Discrimination - Go on a date with someone who dislikes you. - Hate points will be converted to love points at half their value. ]