After the momentous event of the Secretary General's visit, the Academy returned to its daily routine.
Though "routine" might be an understatement, as these days were far busier than usual.
The end-of-term evaluations and summer vacation were just around the corner.
While end-of-term evaluations happened twice a year on a regular schedule, this year was different.
The difference was the normalization of the Combat Department.
Previously, all evaluations had been written tests, but starting from this semester's finals, practical assessments would be added.
Without any previous test materials to reference, they had to build everything from scratch, forcing the Combat Department into unexpected overtime work.
"Overtime? We're not the Theory Department!"
Professor Kazadar, the dwarf, slammed his fist on the desk in anger, sending stationery clattering to the floor.
"Don't complain. This is how things should have been all along," said Felimina as she picked up the fallen pencils.
"It's unthinkable for students to graduate without a single practical assessment. So stop grumbling and get to work."
"This is unbearable! Hey, Brogue! Let's go!"
Kazadar made a gesture as if smoking, and the orc professor Brogue happily stood up and stomped out with thundering footsteps.
"What a scene," Professor Waver laughed, reaching out to steady items on his desk as it shook from Brogue and Kazadar's hasty exit.
"Still, it's nice to have everyone working together again after so long."
"Indeed. And enjoying these delicious snacks too," Orendi replied while eating a dessert.
"Has anyone seen the Head Professor?"
Just then, the door opened and Professor Lina entered.
"I went to have my evaluation questions reviewed, but he wasn't there."
"Hmm? I'm not sure. I think I heard him mention stepping out briefly earlier."
"I see..." Lina looked dejected.
Today, Lina had deliberately worn those undergarments from before.
With the upcoming evaluations keeping everyone busy and vacation soon after, she wouldn't see Head Professor Dian for a while.
She had intended to make her move now.
From what she could tell, Professor Dian didn't seem to have any particular relationships with women, so the first to act would be the winner.
During her active duty days, Lina had specialized in infiltration, persistently exploiting any opening until completing her mission. She believed now was precisely such an opportunity.
But he was out? Where could he have gone and for what purpose...
"By the way, when is the new Head Professor of Theory supposed to arrive?"
"Who knows? The position has been vacant for quite some time, but still no news."
"I heard something about needing to wrap up affairs at the Illusion Magic Tower."
"The magician Kaiden... I still can't believe it."
Magician Kaiden was renowned throughout the Empire as a genius magician and member of the Demon King Assassination Task Force.
But even before the war, Kaiden had gained a certain notoriety among magicians.
He was known as a madman who secluded himself in hiding, interested in nothing but creating attack magic of the purest destructive power.
No one knew why he behaved this way.
Typically, magicians debut after graduating from a magic academy or studying under a renowned master.
However, Kaiden wasn't a graduate of any imperial magic academy, nor was there anyone who claimed to have taught him.
Those curious enough to visit his hideout were vaporized by attack spells, so no one knew what he looked like or how old he was.
Even the name "Kaiden" only became known after the Demon King Assassination Task Force; before that, he didn't even have a name.
In short, he was a magician shrouded in mystery from head to toe.
Even now, apart from knowing his name was Kaiden and that he looked remarkably feminine, everything else about him remained questionable.
It was no wonder that the professors, both current and former, were excited about the prospect of meeting such a person up close.
"Should we ask the Principal if she knows anything?"
"Good idea. Who wants to go?"
"I'll go. I was planning to bring her this anyway," Orendi said, gathering a few pieces of cream cake.
Everyone knew that Kirrin was obsessed with the strawberry cream cake from the dessert café in the shopping district.
She might feel hurt if she found out the professors were enjoying treats without sharing with her, especially since she oversaw some Combat Department courses.
Walking down the corridor, Orendi thought to herself.
If Magician Kaiden arrived, there would be two former members of the Demon King Assassination Task Force at the Academy.
This was quite remarkable and, from Orendi's perspective, extremely exciting.
When she had visited the Illusion Magic Tower, Orendi had been deeply shocked by Kaiden's illusion magic.
The shock was so great that learning Professor Dian was friends with Magician Kaiden seemed almost mundane in comparison.
The illusion magic Orendi knew was nothing like that.
It was such crude magic that even a child could easily identify it as fake, making it too low-grade to be useful anywhere.
This was due to the nature of illusion magic—it needed to distort the perception of its target rather than the magic itself.
No matter how elaborate an illusion might be, it would inevitably show signs of being false. Making it appear real went beyond the realm of magic.
Unless one was a god or demon, how could one twist the five senses of a person with intelligence?
That's why the School of Illusion had barely maintained its existence for a thousand years since its founding, with no notable achievements.
When Kaiden went to the Illusion Magic Tower instead of the Imperial Magic Department after the war, the magical community was thrown into an uproar for this very reason.
Orendi eagerly awaited Kaiden's arrival at the Academy.
Though she had received an explanation before, she honestly couldn't understand a single sentence properly. This time, she was determined to learn thoroughly.
Orendi's magical ability was below average.
That's why she couldn't secure a position where magic was mainstream and instead came to the Special Mission Academy, where magic was treated as secondary.
And even there, she wasn't teaching magic but rather methods to counter it, as a professor of Magic Countermeasures.
If she could learn from Kaiden, Orendi was certain she could make dramatic progress.
"Oh? Principal?"
Lost in thought as she walked, Orendi spotted Kirrin ahead.
She was pacing back and forth in front of the Head Combat Professor's office.
"Oh? Oh? Eek!"
Startled upon seeing Orendi, Kirrin quickly hid something behind her back.
"There you are. I was just heading to your office."
"What? You have business with me?"
"First, this. It's a late-night snack from the Combat Department. I wanted to share it with you."
Orendi held up the packaged cream strawberry cake, but Kirrin shook her head with an awkward smile.
"No, no, I'm not in a position to accept that right now..."
"Should I leave it in your office then?"
"Um, y-yes, could you do that...?"
"Of course. And also..."
Kirrin, who had been sidling away, stopped.
"What else is there...?"
"I was wondering if you knew when the new Head Professor of Theory would be arriving? All the professors are waiting."
"The new Head of Theory...? You mean Magician Kaiden?"
"Yes. I thought you might have heard something."
"Well... He said he'd arrive before the end of the semester... But honestly, I don't know exactly when... It's a bit awkward to ask too..."
"That's certainly true. He is a former member of the Demon King Assassination Task Force, after all."
"Well then, you should be on your way now..."
Kirrin, with her back pressed against Dian's door, gestured with her chin for Orendi to leave.
"I'll be going then."
Orendi bowed to Kirrin and walked toward the Principal's office.
Glancing back briefly, she saw Kirrin crouching down, gripping the doorknob and doing something.
What is she doing...?
# # # # #
"Oh my, oh my..."
Hindrasta groaned as they left the bank.
"Oh my, my money... My precious money..."
"You're the one who asked me to deposit it."
"I know, I know... Oh my..."
At Hindrasta's request, they had gone to the bank together after finishing their daily tasks.
It was to deposit the money received from the Reblanc Mercenary Corps previously.
Being a dragon, Hindrasta couldn't open an account due to her unclear identity.
That's why she had kept her money with the mercenary corps until now, and more recently, hidden it in her dormitory closet.
And Hindrasta had become miserable because of it.
Unlike a dragon's lair, a dormitory closet was a place anyone could easily raid if they wanted to.
Constantly worrying about it, she eventually became so preoccupied that she could barely focus on her studies.
Finally, in a completely desperate state, she came to me asking to deposit the money in my account.
When I asked why she came to me instead of Knightley, she said that even if the bank went bankrupt, she believed I would somehow be able to recover the money.
Yet at the counter earlier, her hands trembled so violently as she handed over the gold coins that I had to practically pry the pouch from her grip.
It can't be helped since she's a dragon. They're naturally fond of holding onto shiny physical treasures.
But she knows it's impractical here, which is why she asked for my help.
"I'm feeling down... Let's get something delicious to eat before heading back..."
Completely deflated, Hindrasta tugged at my wrist.
"What do you want to eat? Meat, I suppose?"
"You know it..."
I remembered a place I'd been to with the Combat Department professors recently. We should go there.
They serve whole racks of ribs grilled over direct heat—Hindrasta would love it.
"Professor Dian?"
Just as I was about to walk away with Hindrasta, someone called my name from behind.
I turned to see a man in robes looking at me.
Who was he again? He seemed familiar...
Ah, I remember now. The Chief Magician from the Imperial Magic Department.
When I went to the Imperial Castle to get permission to use illusion magic for the competition, he had made a fuss trying to recruit Kaiden.
But why was he here?
"Do you have a moment? It's about Kaiden."