The rumor about Knightley, the senior class president and daughter of Duke Toulouse, being utterly defeated by the Head Professor of Combat spread like wildfire. Everyone was talking about the unbelievable 50-point bonus and the professor's insane swordsmanship.

With just two swings of his wooden sword, Knightley had been flipped upside down onto the floor with a pained groan. None of the many students present could clearly see exactly how the Head Professor had neutralized her.

"How could anyone treat a high noble's daughter like that? What kind of madman is he? Does he have two lives to spare?"

When the Combat Department professors heard the news, they were all shocked and dismayed.

"Just when things were finally running smoothly, he causes such a huge incident!"

The dwarf Kazador slammed the desk in anger while Morton from Comprehensive Combat quietly reprimanded Geneve, who had been present at the scene.

"What were you doing that you couldn't stop him?"

"How could a mere subject professor stop the Head Professor's actions?"

At Geneve's response, Anna from Combat Horsemanship wrung her hands and whimpered.

"Our Combat Department is finished now... If Duke Toulouse finds out his daughter was beaten and storms into the Academy..."

"Haha. Surely it won't come to that? This is a school where students learn. Injuries can happen during practice."

Waver, the eternal optimist, smiled brightly, but most of the professors' faces were filled with worry.

"You can mess with anyone else, but you should never touch the real nobility..."

"I don't know. Better prepare resignation letters just in case."

While the Combat Department professors—who had hoped for practical training but never expected such an aggressive approach—were feeling gloomy, the Theory Department, which stood in opposition to the Combat Department, was also actively discussing the matter.

"Head Professor, what do you think? Will the Toulouse family take action?"

"If it's that troublesome Toulouse we're talking about, they'll likely turn the Academy upside down."

In the Theory Department faculty office, Ismera, the Head Professor of Theory sitting at the head seat, quietly listened to the professors' conversation.

"Surely the Combat Department's blunder won't affect us too, right? The Principal Kirrin is already in a precarious position."

"What on earth is that new Head Professor of Combat thinking?"

The Combat Head Professor Dian had suddenly "appeared" at the Academy one day.

A Head Professor of Combat should certainly be an experienced veteran warrior, but this Dian character was just a pale young man. Judging by appearance alone, he would be better suited as a Theory Department professor or an Academy librarian.

The Theory professors had thoroughly investigated his background but found nothing specific. That was strange in itself.

Whether impressive or humble, something should have come up, but for some reason, there was no way to find out what Dian had done in the past.

Because of this, the Theory professors speculated that Dian might be a former imperial special agent. That type of person typically had such a mysterious background.

However, Ismera had used her connections to learn a bit about Dian. He had belonged to one of several special task forces created during the Four-Year War and had accomplished remarkable achievements there.

She didn't know his exact specialty, but it was enough that he could beat the daughter of Duke Toulouse with a wooden sword in front of everyone and still remain composed. Or perhaps he simply didn't know exactly what kind of family the Toulouse was.

"What's certain," Ismera spoke, and all the professors fell silent, focusing their attention on her.

"Is that we should be watching the Imperial Castle now, not the Toulouse family."

The professors nodded with quiet admiration at her words.

"Indeed. It's common knowledge that the Imperial Castle wants to remove Principal Kirrin. The Combat Head Professor's reckless behavior was all approved by Principal Kirrin, so the Imperial Castle might use this as an opportunity."

"Given the current atmosphere, even if the Toulouse family doesn't make an issue of it, the Imperial Castle might deliberately escalate the matter to remove the Principal. Then naturally, the next Principal would be..."

The professors looked at Ismera with expectant expressions, but she only responded with an inscrutable smile.

With her wheat-field-like platinum blonde hair, emerald-reminiscent green eyes, and long ears, her appearance was dazzling.

Ismera was an elf. She had an unusual background—after her forest was burned down by the Demon King's army, she migrated to the human world with her surviving clan members and became an Academy professor.

Like most elves, she was intelligent and became a Senior Master in just ten years, then was appointed as Head Professor of the newly established Special Mission Academy. She was different from Kirrin, the dark elf who was the Emperor's parachute appointment.

Perhaps because of this, Kirrin found both the Second Princess and Ismera extremely burdensome.

With the previous Combat Head Professor having fled, leaving the position vacant, the Principal's deputy was the Theory Head Professor. And as it happened, Ismera was a pure-blooded elf with an impressive career, in stark contrast to Kirrin.

Kirrin wasn't stupid and was making every effort not to be dismissed, but she couldn't avoid being compared to Ismera one way or another.

So the Theory Department professors were running hopeful scenarios: if the Imperial Castle removed Kirrin, wouldn't Ismera take that vacant position? And if Ismera's position became vacant, could one of them possibly rise to it?

"Let's not act rashly. This matter is entirely for the Principal and the Combat Head Professor to handle. It's not something for our Theory Department to debate about."

With an attitude that revealed nothing of her thoughts, Ismera dismissed the professors' excited discussion.

"This concludes our morning meeting. Now everyone..."

"Head Professor! Head Professor!"

Just as Ismera was rising from her seat, a Theory Department assistant came running in, breathless.

"There's chaos! Duke Toulouse is coming to the Academy!"

# # # # #

While the Combat and Theory Department professors were showing opposite reactions.

"I'm dead now..."

In the Principal's office, Kirrin, her already dark skin growing even darker, was crouched down and muttering to herself.

Her signature was on the final approval line of the Combat Department's education training improvement plan, and if the Toulouse family pursued this matter, she would have to bear all responsibility.

The Toulouse family was a great house wielding enormous influence in the Imperial Noble Council. If such a family raised a fuss, the Imperial Castle, which had been waiting for an opportunity, would pretend they had no choice but to dismiss Kirrin, and she would have to return to her clan's forest to face her father.

Her clan had betrayed the Demon King's army and sided with humans, betting their fate, and miraculously, when the previous life ended with humanity's victory, the clan suddenly became the Emperor's life saviors.

Because of this, her father had sent Kirrin to study at a public academy to fully integrate the clan into the Empire, and then placed her as the Principal of this Special Mission Academy.

Rather than nullifying her father's efforts and returning to the forest, it would be better to commit suicide here...

"P-Principal...!"

As she was in extreme conflict, looking at the dagger she had pulled from her sleeve, the administrative director rushed in with a pale face.

"Eek!? What are you doing? This is no time to be polishing your dagger!"

The administrative director flailed his arms, scolding Kirrin who was holding the dagger.

"Duke Toulouse is coming to the Academy! Ah, Principal!"

The administrative director screamed as he saw Kirrin falling backward with foam at her mouth.

# # # # #

Receiving a sudden summons, I went to the Academy's main gate where professors were already gathered.

At the very front were Principal Kirrin and Theory Head Professor Ismera.

"This way, Combat Head Professor."

Ismera, who had just spotted me, pointed to her side with an elf's characteristically benevolent and beautiful smile.

"Hello, Theory Head Professor. But... are you alright, Principal?"

"I-I-I think I'll be f-fine...?"

Unlike the calm Ismera, Principal Kirrin was trembling as if she might faint at any moment.

Actually, thinking about it, it's not strange that the two have different reactions.

Kirrin fears the Second Princess, but Professor Ismera has no particular connection. And in Duke Toulouse's case, he's probably coming because of the incident where I knocked down Knightley in armed combat class.

That also has nothing to do with Professor Ismera, so she's watching like it's someone else's problem. But it's different for Kirrin. She has to deal with both the Second Princess and Toulouse directly.

And unfortunately, not just one but both are coming at the same time, so it wouldn't be surprising if she fainted right here.

"A carriage is approaching!"

With the guard's shout, we could see a carriage in the distance, raising dust as it rushed toward us.

"It's Duke Toulouse!" "Sob...!"

Kirrin covered her mouth as if about to burst into tears, and Professor Ismera patted her back, telling her not to worry too much.

That's when I caught a smile spreading across Ismera's lips. It was completely different from the benevolent smile she had shown me earlier. It was almost like... like... a sneer.

But everyone was watching the approaching duke's carriage, so I was the only one who saw that momentary smile. I should remember that.

The carriage, having just passed through the main gate, came to an abrupt stop in front of the faculty. The door opened, and a middle-aged man stepped down briskly. It was Duke Toulouse.

"Principal Kirrin!"

As Duke Toulouse shouted in anger, poor Principal Kirrin staggered and leaned against Ismera's shoulder.

"When you said you'd teach our child well, where was that promise? What the hell is going on here! Which madman beat up a young girl like that!"

"W-well..."

Seeing Kirrin trembling pitifully, I stepped forward to block the duke and shouted.

"Commander! It's been a long time!"

At those words, Duke Toulouse's eyes nearly popped out as he turned his gaze to me.

"What?! You! Lieutenant Dian?!"

"That's right!"

"This is insane! Why are you here?!"

"I know! I never thought I'd meet you here again, Commander."

"You bastard! You suddenly disappeared, and I thought you were dead!"

The duke broke into a broad smile and embraced me tightly.

# # # # #

What is happening?

Seeing the duke and the Combat Head Professor suddenly embracing each other, Ismera felt extreme bewilderment.

Surely, surely she had expected the Principal and Combat Head Professor to be thoroughly crushed...