You Said I Was an Agent! (1)

Early morning. Not long after sunrise, I stood in the middle of the training grounds. Around me, my fellow trainees—trapped in the same predicament—stood in neat rows.

"Some of you still can't even keep your eyes fully open."

The woman with tanned skin prowling in front of us was Instructor Blackrose. The same one who'd taken custody of me from Team Leader Edwin Urbanite just yesterday.

"The day you become full-fledged agents, you'll be ready for missions at any hour, day or night."

Instructor Blackrose shot pointed glares at a few of us. I was probably one of them. My eyes were still half-closed.

"The Empire's enemies won't delay their plans just because you're sleeping! Humanity's enemies won't go easy on you because you're tired!"

The Empire's enemies were probably foreign powers that could turn hostile at any moment. Or maybe just straightforward hostile factions. But humanity's enemies were clear-cut. In this era, that meant the demons. Broaden it a bit, and you'd include the demon-possessed who'd fallen to them.

"Always keep your body and mind prepared."

"Yes!"

Everyone shouted back energetically. I joined in, but my voice was drowned out completely by the roar of the others.

"And in the midst of all this... you've got a new comrade."

Thud. Instructor Blackrose planted herself right in front of me.

"You. State your name."

"Y-Yufir Seijina!"

Whoosh—Blackrose thrust her face right up to mine, glaring.

"Ppikak, I can't make out your chirping."

"Yufir Se-Seijina!"

"Don't stutter. It makes you look weak."

"Y-Yes!"

But when I'm scared, I stutter without thinking. It's physiological... Yeah, not something I can fix easily.

"Ppikak, why are you here?"

"Yes...?"

She'd asked my name, but called me Ppikak anyway. Then why ask? I wanted to snap back, but of course, I lacked the guts. I swallowed it down.

"To become a Central Intelligence Agency agent!"

"I see. Same goal as your comrades."

Blackrose clasped her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hands behind her back and paced in front of us, continuing.

"So you must've passed the Agency exam too, right?"

"Yes...?"

Suddenly, all eyes turned to me.

"Not that? Hmm, fair enough. Talent includes catching someone's eye. But most here have been prepping solely to become agents since childhood. You must have something special that outshines them?"

Murmurs rippled through the trainees at Instructor Blackrose's words.

"Isn't she a late admission?"

"A kid that tiny passing the exam? Most barely scrape by."

"So, parachute then?"

"Instructor said she caught someone's eye."

"Rich family?"

"Connections."

"Damn, that's bullshit. I've slaved for years."

"Whatever. She'll drop out soon. Anyone can be an agent, right?"

As if she'd anticipated it, Blackrose ignored the whispers and stared me down.

"Ppikak."

"Yes...."

She leaned in and whispered in my ear.

"This is the scrutiny you're under now. Can you handle it?"

That told me this was her test. Leave now if you're going to. Like it was my one shot. Maybe even her way of being considerate.

But I wasn't just some coward—I wasn't that stupid.

"N-No problem at all. Totally fine!"

I hadn't come here without resolve, ready to bail at the first glare.

"Hoo?"

The instructor eyed me like this was unexpected, then nodded.

"Then we'll start today with a brisk run. Stamina is the foundation of everything. No matter your skills or overflowing mana, without the body to back it up, it's meaningless."

I was struck anew by how pathetically low my stamina was.

While everyone else was just starting to sweat, I'd already burned through everything and was gasping. My comrades were all in top shape. Their baggy training clothes hid it, but their builds—male or female—screamed long-honed physiques.

Me, on the other hand...

Skinny. Wrists, ankles, arms, legs—all of me was wafer-thin. Short and muscle-less, my whole body was scrawny.

Only after collapsing at my limit did I get a break.

"Ppikak."

"...Yes."

Instructor Blackrose looked down at me sprawled on the ground with pitiful eyes.

"Didn't expect this level of unpreparedness. I had no idea."

"I c-can... do it."

"No, you can't. Mark my words—you'll kill yourself trying to keep up. This isn't school. It's where we forge warriors to defend the Empire. No point dragging along someone who's not cut out for it."

It sounded like my fate was sealed.

"Look at your comrades. They finished their shares ages ago, but had to do extra because of you. Elites like them don't tire this early."

The trainees glared at me daggers while chugging water and wiping sweat. I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was the anchor dragging them down.

"If you have any conscience, decide fast. I couldn't stand here feeling guilty like that."

With that, Instructor Blackrose walked away.

I knew her intent. Guilt-tripping the innocent-looking kid into quitting.

Sure, I felt bad for the others, but here, I'd be a little selfish.

"Urgh...!"

I tried to get up for water, but my body wouldn't obey. Totally spent.

Gonna die of dehydration at this rate.

My throat parched, I stared longingly—when thunk.

"Ah, cold!"

Someone pressed an icy ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠water bottle to my cheek.

"Here, wanna drink?"

The girl who'd run right ahead of me during the laps—an emerald bob-cut beauty—smiled and handed it over.

Gulp. Gulp.

"Ahh!"

I chugged half in one go, letting out an old-man groan of relief.

"Pfft, you look half-dead."

"Yeah... stamina's my issue."

"C'mon, I'll help you back to the barracks."

She extended a saving hand. Angels exist here too. I was touched.

"I'm Bina. Bina Seleze."

"Bina, thaaanks...!"

"No biggie. We're barracks buddies—gotta help each other."

"Huff! I'm seriously moved!"

Pretty girls are always this nice.

Back in the barracks, I crashed immediately. Bina sat on her bunk opposite, giggling at me.

"Let's grind hard for the next year."

"A year..."

It loomed huge. This tiny body enduring that training for a year?

Resentment toward Team Leader Edwin bubbled up. He'd made it sound like instant hire, then dumped me in this hellhole...

Next time I see him, I'll punch him silly!

(Though my hand would hurt more.)

"Hey, you."

A chilly voice from behind. I turned—the redhead who'd led the pack all training. Her wine-red hair was so luxurious, it stole my gaze.

"You... just maybe..."

"Pretty."

"W-What?"

My honest thought slipped out.

"Your hair color's gorgeous."

"W-Why... say that out of nowhere?"

She flushed, twirling her locks.

"Ahem. Anyway, Yufir... right?"

"Yeah, Yufir Seijina."

"Airi Enposhium. That's me."

Enposhium... rang a bell. I tilted my head. Deja vu?

Nothing surfaced, so I let it go. Airi cleared her throat and fixed me with a cold stare.

"Yufir, I don't care if you're a parachute or whatever... just don't hold us back."

"H-Hold back...?"

"Today alone, you cost us personal time. Rest is part of training too. Lots of us use it for self-improvement."

Her voice carried beyond our barracks to the other trainees outside.

"Keep stealing our time and disrupting? I seriously recommend quitting. I hate anyone blocking my path."

The barracks atmosphere chilled. But her words didn't feel bad. Sharp tone, no malice.

"Y-Yeah. I'll do my best."

"'Best'... hope it's not just talk."

Airi turned to Bina.

"And Bina, worry about yourself before coddling others. This isn't a social club—you know that."

Flak meant for me splashed onto Bina.

"I-It wasn't like..."

"Friendships are pointless anyway. On eval day, we'll all be rivals."

Bina fell silent. Airi sighed heavily and left. Other trainees buzzed excitedly in her wake—tomorrow's rumors would be fun.

Her words resonated, though; the place ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠grew rowdy fast.

"She's right, kinda rude but true. Was freaking exhausting."

"Parachute proving it herself."

"Ugh, barracks with her."

"Bet she lasts less than a month."

"Two weeks, tops."

I tuned out the gossip. It was fair. Until I kept up, I was dead weight.

"..."

One year. Growth to match the training in that time would decide if I became an agent.

"Yufir."

Bina took my hand.

"I'll help. Let's grind together."

"Yeah!"

Wasn't about can or can't. I had to.

Code name: Blackrose. Real name: Barbian Haines.

She sat in her office, rereading a file.

"Why toss a greenhorn like that into training?"

She wanted reasons. Why had that trouble-magnet scouted Yufir for the Agency? What potential did he see in that tiny thing?

Then she spotted the report that came with Edwin's contact.

Figured there was a reason... skimmed it before.

Wordy guy, but no one questioned his skills. Sharp eye too. So Barbian had let Yufir in.

Tap. Tap.

Drumming her fingers on the desk, she scanned the report slowly—then frowned.

"What?"

It didn't match what she'd seen.

"Ppikak, huh... you do have something."

Blackrose's lips twitched into a smirk.