"I'm going crazy, absolutely crazy..."
Inside the carriage, Kirrin trembled as she nervously chewed on her fingernails.
Even though she had previously met with the 2nd Princess in private and received praise, she couldn't help feeling anxious.
The 2nd Princess naturally exuded an overwhelming charisma.
And that single remaining eye of hers seemed to pierce right through one's heart, which was truly frightening.
Although she had never raised her voice at Kirrin or directly shown any discomfort, Kirrin could tell enough just from her subtle smile.
But I can't run away anymore.
I am the Principal of the Academy and must fulfill my responsibilities.
I need to build favor with the 2nd Princess now so that even if I step down as Principal later, I can remain at the Academy as a subject professor.
And above all, I can't disappoint Dian.
While Dian works hard for the Academy, I can't do nothing just because I'm afraid of the 2nd Princess.
If I did, Dian would be disappointed in me and eventually come to dislike me.
And then he might turn to Professor Lina...
Kirrin squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head vigorously. That can't happen.
Get yourself together, Kirrin.
Gain recognition from the 2nd Princess and Dian, smoothly hand over the Principal position, and remain at the Academy as a subject professor.
Additionally, as a safety measure, maintain and develop a "good relationship" with Dian.
I need to focus everything on this plan.
While Kirrin was lost in these thoughts, the carriage entered a narrow mountain path.
A single narrow road winding between the uneven ridges on the outskirts of the capital. Kirrin had no idea where it led.
She was riding in a carriage without windows, after all.
When Kirrin had gone to the Imperial Castle, a security office official told her the 2nd Princess was out.
They said they would guide her there, and she had switched to this new carriage.
I wonder where we're going.
After continuing along the winding road, a building soon appeared ahead.
It was a low two-story structure stretching out to the left and right, looking very much like military barracks.
There was an open space in front, and the surroundings were enclosed by high brick walls, really making it seem like a garrison.
"Please get out."
The carriage stopped, and the security office official opened the door.
Kirrin stepped out at the main gate.
She could see two men in civilian clothes standing guard like sentries in front of a thick iron gate.
Though the men with long swords at their waists looked like ordinary citizens at first glance, Kirrin immediately recognized their true nature through her racial ability.
Those men have hidden weapons all over their clothes.
Not just daggers, but their belts have metal plates on the inside that can be unfastened and wielded like whips if needed.
They're neither ordinary citizens nor legion soldiers. So what are they?
Probably members of one of the many organizations under the security office.
If such people are guarding this place in the mountains, then...
"Please come in."
Following the official who had driven the carriage, Kirrin entered and saw people gathered in front of a platform.
And sitting on a chair on that platform was a tall woman with silver hair. The Empire's Security Office Director, the 2nd Princess.
"I-I hope you've been well..."
"Welcome."
As Kirrin bowed her head trembling, the 2nd Princess greeted her with a gentle smile.
"You must have had a difficult journey. You said you had something to propose to me?"
"Yes..."
"Is it urgent? If not, we can discuss it later."
"N-no, it's not urgent...!"
"Good. Sit here."
The 2nd Princess pointed to an empty chair beside her.
As Kirrin sat down, honored by the gesture, she suddenly realized that everyone below the platform was staring at her.
They were all men and women dressed in black with masks covering their faces, their exposed eyes looking extremely fierce.
Kirrin knew those outfits all too well. They were the same ones Professor Lina from the infiltration course sometimes wore during practical training.
"This is the Principal of the Imperial Special Mission Academy."
At the 2nd Princess's words, the people shifted their gaze away from Kirrin.
Only then did Kirrin feel a belated chill run down her spine.
Those people weren't looking at her out of mere curiosity. It was because she was a Dark Elf.
Dark Elves were traitors who had fought on the Demon King's side during the war.
Although Kirrin's Nemara Clan had betrayed the Demon King and saved the Emperor from assassination, that was an extremely rare case.
Other clans did not convert after the war and scattered to distant places.
So the world's view of Dark Elves remained unfavorable, and despite their debt to the Emperor for saving his life, the Nemara Clan still couldn't leave the forest.
Although Kirrin's skin was much lighter than pure-blooded Dark Elves and her physique was different, a Dark Elf was still a Dark Elf.
To those who didn't know the circumstances, they all looked the same.
"Begin."
At the 2nd Princess's command, the people in black formed a formation.
They created a fairly large square space in the middle and surrounded its perimeter.
"These are agents under the Security Office. Today happens to be the day they demonstrate practical combat, and you've arrived just in time."
"Agents... are they from the Task Force?"
"Their training purpose differs from the Task Force."
"Then what kind of..."
But the 2nd Princess didn't answer and turned her attention to the agents.
Two agents walked into the square space in the middle and stood facing each other.
They held knives about two hand spans in length, which didn't look like wooden training weapons but real ones.
Are they really going to spar with those? It seems extremely dangerous.
They must have rehearsed this beforehand for the visit of an important person.
But that wasn't the case.
As soon as the match began, the two charged at each other with battle cries, fighting as if their lives depended on it.
Kirrin's eyes nearly popped out when she saw them getting scratched, cut, and bleeding all over.
Kirrin had learned assassination and stealth in her clan's forest.
These were basic skills that Dark Elves learned from the time they could walk.
However, Kirrin was a child born for a separate purpose by the Nemara.
Even when other Dark Elves were deployed in actual combat, Kirrin had remained in the forest, so she was seeing such a sight for the first time.
"Gasp...!"
Kirrin drew in a sharp breath as one agent stabbed the other in the side at the end of the fierce fight.
"Are you alright?"
"Y-yes, I'm fine..."
As Kirrin answered the 2nd Princess's question, she staggered with dizziness at the sight of the knife repeatedly plunging into the agent's side.
"Enough."
The match ended at the 2nd Princess's command.
The victorious agent stepped back, while the defeated one collapsed with the knife still embedded in his side.
Several medical agents rushed forward to begin treating the fallen agent. The golden light flickering suggested there was also a priest among them.
"What are your thoughts, Principal Kirrin?"
The 2nd Princess turned to Kirrin and asked.
"I-I've never seen anything like this before..."
Kirrin, her face completely pale, answered with difficulty.
"Some of the students who graduate from the Academy will perform such missions. If they are taught carelessly, they will die miserable deaths in the field."
"That's true..."
"There's a saying that the best welfare a commander can give to soldiers is rigorous training. Guide the children with all your heart and soul."
"I understand, Your Highness..."
"I hope the graduates produced next year will meet the standards required by our Security Office and other agencies."
"I will do my best..."
Graduating from the Academy doesn't mean immediate deployment to practical duties.
Each agency and organization has different requirements for talent, so they have their own training programs that must be passed before practical work can begin.
Nevertheless, they must possess minimum abilities such as physical fitness and basic administrative skills, which are entirely the Academy's responsibility.
It's Kirrin's job.
"Now, Principal Kirrin. You said you had something to propose."
Kirrin, glancing at the agent being carried away on a stretcher while dripping blood, stammered:
"Y-Your Highness... I was wondering if our Academy could... could... participate in a competition..."
Unable to continue while directly meeting the 2nd Princess's single gaze, Kirrin swallowed.
"You want to enter a competition?"
"Yes..."
"Deciding whether to participate in competitions is entirely within the Principal's authority. Surely you didn't come all this way because you didn't know that."
"Well, actually..."
Kirrin lowered her ears submissively and explained as respectfully as possible, careful not to offend the 2nd Princess.
She wanted to participate in competitions to improve the graduates' standards and help them gain experience.
However, the current competitions held within the Empire don't quite align with a "Special Mission" Academy.
She requested that the Security Office host a competition related to their field.
"You want the Security Office to hold a competition?"
"Yes... For example, if you could perhaps open up some evaluations currently conducted for active agents to the Academy..."
"Who suggested such an idea?"
"Pardon...?"
Seeing Kirrin's eyes about to pop out, the 2nd Princess smiled.
"No, never mind. I understand your intention. I'll contact you soon after internal discussions."
"Th-thank you...!"
Kirrin bowed so deeply her forehead nearly touched the ground.
"By the way, how is the specially selected student doing?"
"If you mean Sophie, she's adapting well."
Kirrin answered with a somewhat brighter expression, relieved from the extreme pressure.
"She will greatly contribute to the Empire's security after graduation. I personally guarantee she will graduate with excellent results...!"
"Excellent, Kirrin."
"Eek!? Thank you!"
Kirrin made a strange sound and bowed her head again, receiving a rare compliment from the 2nd Princess.
"The special student selection is an excellent system for discovering the Empire's hidden gems. Use it actively."
"I will...!"
"Good. You may return now."
After the dazed and smiling Kirrin had left, the 2nd Princess smiled and beckoned with her finger.
Her personal aide approached from behind and leaned forward.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Convert part of this year's Unit 5439 evaluation into a competition. I will discuss the details with the unit commander."
"Understood. I will communicate this immediately and make preparations."
As the aide departed, the 2nd Princess brushed back her silver hair with considerable satisfaction.
Open up the evaluation of active Security Office agents as a competition?
This must certainly be Dian's idea.
What a remarkable individual indeed.
His past record aside, he has transformed the Academy since becoming a professor, and now he's thought of using the Security Office's internal evaluations as an Academy competition.
As expected of Lord Linus's friend and a member of the Demon King Assassination Task Force.
He is certainly qualified to become my dagger in the future.
He must already be looking this far ahead and deliberating in his own way.
# # # # #
Meanwhile, at Dian's house in the Special Mission Academy's faculty district.
"Master Dian! Please stop turning your socks inside out when you take them off!"
Olicia was scolding him while holding up a bunched-up sock.
"Huh? What's the problem?"
"I can't wash them properly, and I have to turn them right side out again later!"
"No problem. Just wear them inside out. Then turn them right side out when you take them off next time."
"Oh my goodness! Really!!!"
Contrary to the 2nd Princess's expectations, Dian was just chuckling while teasing his young maid.