After the academy leadership meeting, I called a separate assembly of the Combat Department.
This was to spread the word about the competition early and make our own preparations.
"The Security Office is hosting a competition? And it's based on active agent evaluations?"
Naturally, the professors were shocked by this news.
The Security Office had never disclosed anything like this to outsiders before.
Of course, the difficulty would be adjusted for academy students, but the foundation was still the classified active agent evaluation system.
From the professors' perspective, it was astonishing news. Moreover, the fact that Principal Kirrin herself had secured this through a private audience with the Second Princess.
"The Principal is really something else."
"I know. How did she manage to face the Second Princess without cowering?"
"She's completely transformed."
"It's all thanks to our Head Professor coming here..."
At Lina's closing remark, all the professors turned to look at her.
Their gazes seemed to ask what nonsense she was suddenly spouting. But Lina paid no attention, her eyes shining as she looked at me.
"It's true, isn't it? Before you arrived, Head Professor, the Principal didn't want to do anything. Practical training, field trips to historical battle sites—all these external activities only started after you came."
"Hmm, that's true."
Since it wasn't wrong, the professors nodded in agreement.
"Alright, let's get started. The competition is expected to be in about three months. We have at most two months, at minimum one to one and a half months."
My competition preparation plan is as follows:
First, Stage 1 involves evaluating all graduating students without exception, meticulously scoring them by category and ranking them.
The categories are broadly divided into three: infiltration, assassination, and espionage.
Typically, special task forces are equipped with these three functions, though the specifics vary depending on the number of personnel.
Anyway, after this evaluation, Stage 2 involves forming teams of students who scored well in each category and training them.
This way, we can be ready to compete whether the competition involves multiple academies or just our own.
Additionally, by thoroughly evaluating all students, we can identify weaknesses in the graduating class and focus on reinforcing those areas in the second semester.
It's an excellent opportunity to kill multiple birds with one stone—preparing for the competition, assessing the graduating class's level, and revising the curriculum.
"But don't we need to wait for the Security Office to provide the evaluation form before we can prepare anything?"
"If we wait for that, it'll be too tight. Let's create our own evaluation form for now and prepare the students. When the official form comes down, we can add to it."
The Security Office won't apply unreasonable standards to academy students. They'll surely create conditions based on typical special task force mission parameters.
If that's the case, our Combat Department professors can predict it well enough.
"Head Professor, you're absolutely right. But I don't know the first thing about special task forces, so I'm at a loss."
"No need to worry too much. Lina and I will create the draft evaluation form. The rest of you can prepare the practice grounds according to the draft and secure the necessary teaching materials in advance."
Since Lina is a former special task force member with field experience, the two of us should be able to easily create a draft evaluation form.
Kirrin doubles as the assassination and abduction professor, so she should be involved, but the problem is that Kirrin has zero practical experience, so she won't be much help.
"That sounds wonderful!"
At my words, Lina jumped up and down, ecstatic.
By the way, there's one issue. Regarding the espionage function.
We'll need to request cooperation from Professor Ismera.
The Department of Arcane Theory has courses on code-breaking, signal detection, and other intelligence gathering subjects.
I wonder if that elf will start foaming at the mouth and yapping like a Chihuahua again.
# # # # #
"You're here to see our Head Professor?"
When I went to the Department of Arcane Theory, an administrative assistant gave me a somewhat troubled expression.
"Is there a problem?"
"No, it's not that..."
The hesitant assistant asked me to wait a moment and rushed inside.
"She says you may enter."
After a while, having received permission, the assistant showed me in.
"Professor Ismera."
When I knocked on the professor's office door, a voice from inside told me to enter.
Opening the door and stepping in, I paused in slight surprise.
Professor Ismera was sitting at her desk.
But her eyes were bloodshot as if inflamed, and her face was so haggard that she looked terribly unwell.
"Are you alright? Are you sick?"
"What do you want?"
Ismera asked curtly in a voice that couldn't have been colder.
"It's about preparing for the competition. We need to coordinate with the Department of Arcane Theory."
Since she didn't invite me to sit, I explained the situation while standing. Professor Ismera offered no particular opinion and turned her gaze toward the window.
"We'll support you after internal discussions."
"I'll wait then. But please give me an answer by the day after tomorrow at the latest. If support is difficult, I need to quickly develop alternatives."
That was it. Ismera seemed to have no desire to continue our conversation.
"I'll be going then. Take care of your health."
With no response forthcoming, I gave a slight bow and left the office.
# # # # #
"Hyaang, I'm so excited!"
Lina looked around the Head Professor's office with an expression of ecstasy.
"Working late with just the Head Professor and me—just thinking about it makes my heart flutter."
Lina was currently carrying a backpack almost as large as herself.
"Are you moving in?"
"Pretty much! If I'm going to eat and sleep here, I need to be thoroughly prepared."
"What are you talking about? Eat and sleep? This is just one night's work."
"Will it end that quickly? But it's such an important task."
"The importance of a task isn't proportional to the time and effort put into it."
"Oh, is that so..."
Lina, visibly disappointed, suddenly brightened up.
"But if we get tired, we can still take a quick nap!"
"Sure, sure. Unpack your things over there and let's get started."
"Ah, Head Professor. I'm really so nervous and excited I could go crazy..."
I pushed my finger against Lina's forehead as she looked up at me like a puppy wagging its tail.
"Come on, let's work."
"Yes, Head Professor!"
Just then, the door opened and a professor from the Department of Arcane Theory entered.
"Good day, Head Professor of Combat."
"Welcome."
I thought they weren't coming, but it seems Professor Ismera sent someone after all.
She may have a nasty temperament, but she's a reasonable woman.
"Eh? What's going on?"
I explained the situation to Lina, who was blinking in confusion.
I told her that we'd arranged for the Department of Arcane Theory to support us with the espionage function.
"So... the three of us will be working together?"
"Yes, that's right."
A shadow fell across Lina's face at remarkable speed.
# # # # #
When Professor Dian first selected her, Lina was overjoyed.
She had already completely fallen for Professor Dian after the series of incidents, and now they would be working late together, just the two of them, in the Head Professor's office?!
An unimaginable opportunity had come so quickly and unexpectedly.
Lina had rushed to the dormitory and hurriedly packed her things.
First, snacks for when they got hungry, reference books, teaching materials, and of course a sleeping bag since they'd surely be pulling an all-nighter.
And in the midst of it all, just in case, just maybe something might happen, she needed to pay attention to her underwear.
What would be good? Yes, this is it! The embarrassingly scandalous underwear she'd been saving for the day of reckoning!
And since she didn't know Professor Dian's stamina and endurance, she packed extra underwear.
Since they were preparing for a competition sponsored by the Security Office, they would surely need to work together for several days.
She had been so excited, but Professor Dian said they could finish in just one day. This wasn't right...
But it was okay. They wouldn't just work all day, would they?
They might take a quick nap in between, or wash up to stay awake—there were many possibilities.
Just in case, just in case, just in case!
But it had all been a delusion.
"Good day, Head Professor of Combat."
"Ah, welcome."
As the excited Lina was humming and unpacking her things, a professor from the Department of Arcane Theory entered.
As it turned out, they had come to support the espionage function.
"So... the three of us will be working together?"
"Yes, that's right."
This couldn't be happening... This was absurd... My plans, my underwear...
To make matters worse, Professor Dian's work pace was incredibly fast.
Spreading out a few blank sheets of paper, Professor Dian picked up a pen and began scribbling evaluation elements without hesitation.
He distributed these to Lina and the espionage professor, instructing them to review and edit.
Lina and the espionage professor checked the infiltration and espionage functions respectively, then Dian reviewed them again.
After repeating this process several times, they passed the papers back and forth for further review.
Honestly, almost everything was already included in what Professor Dian had initially scribbled, so there wasn't much to add or remove.
"Lina. Go get the administrative director."
When the administrative director was summoned to the Head Professor's office, Dian asked if all the evaluation elements written here could be assessed with the academy's current resources.
The director looked it over and replied that most were possible, and any deficiencies could be addressed by coordinating with other academies or nearby military units.
"Great! We've completed the preliminary draft!"
With that exclamation, Professor Dian immediately assembled the Combat Department professors and instructed them to review it by passing it around.
"Not bad at all."
"This is excellent! Nothing's missing!"
"I approve. Honestly, we should send this to the Security Office as a reference."
"Then the draft is complete!"
When all the professors responded positively, Professor Dian took the draft evaluation form and headed straight to the principal's office.
"Hey, assistant! Tell Professor Ismera to come to the principal's office! It's regarding the draft self-evaluation form for the competition!"
"Yes, Head Professor!"
Looking out the window, the sun was just setting, around the usual quitting time.
What is this... I was so excited, but it was just a normal workday...?
Hiing, my underwear!
Still... Professor Dian is really amazing...
How can he handle work so cleanly before the workday even ends...?
I really like him so much...
"Snap out of it, Lina. You're drooling."
When Pelemia shook her shoulder, Lina hurriedly wiped her mouth with her sleeve.
In her daze, Lina had indeed been drooling.
"What were you thinking about that made you look so stupid?"
"I was thinking how disappointing it is that I couldn't show it to Professor Dian."
"Show what? What is it?"
"It's something..."