First Evaluation - Horned Rabbit Hunt
Could I really become an agent? Being a Central Intelligence Agency agent wasn't just about throwing your body into the fray. After morning training wrapped up, we'd have theoretical classes sprinkled throughout the afternoon. Bina and I were lucky enough to attend thanks to Blackrose instructor's mercy.
"You're not knights. Even if you train until your bones ache, you won't be fighting head-on as often as you think. Why is that?"
Trainees raised their hands at Blackrose instructor's question. She pointed to one of them.
"Airi."
"Because the primary goal of Central Intelligence Agency agents is infiltration and intelligence gathering."
"Right. Our agents' top priority is always one thing: securing victory without fighting."
Standing at the front of the room with her hands behind her back, Blackrose scanned the trainees.
"Once a target is set, you investigate, conceal your identity, and infiltrate. You might have to impersonate someone, or slip in completely undetected."
Flip, flip. The sound of pages turning accompanied her words. This wasn't school—no one dozed off or zoned out during class.
"We do this because our enemies don't play fair and square. Sometimes you have to take the sneaky route, even if it earns you a reputation for being underhanded."
That blond thug called us sneaky too. Guess the Central Intelligence Agency had that shady image stuck to it in the public eye.
"But remember this: The empire became the continent's dominant power because your predecessors risked their lives in the shadows to quietly seize the advantage."
Records of them were scarce, and for good reason. Leaving traces wasn't smart, and it didn't benefit anyone. They even kept secrets from their own families—to protect them.
"Even when you're out on missions as agents, you won't become public heroes or see your names splashed across headlines. That's not our goal."
Honor means more to people than you'd think. Some live and die by it. Central Intelligence Agency agents were the type who sacrificed even that for the empire and their families.
"With all that in mind, do you still want to be agents?"
No one hesitated at the question.
"Yes!"
Everyone who made it this far had their own resolve and reasons. Their serious eyes said it all.
"Good. Now, onto the announcement for next month's first evaluation."
A hush fell over the room at Blackrose instructor's words.
"Here it comes—the big one."
"Ha, what could it be? I'm nervous."
Groans and anxious whispers rippled through the trainees. I stared at the instructor in stunned silence.
"Bina... I didn't mishear that, right?"
"Nah, you heard it correctly."
"But I just got here not even a week ago—ack!"
I dragged my hands down my face in despair. Fair enough—they'd all been here for about two months already. An evaluation now wasn't unreasonable. But for me, in my first week? This was an emergency.
"The evaluation is monster capture."
"So, explain why you two were late."
As the other trainees headed back to the barracks, Bina and I stood awkwardly before Blackrose instructor.
"I-it's my fault! I asked her to teach me grappling during personal time, but..."
"But?"
Should I tell the truth? Owning up to just being late might end in demerits, but mentioning a scuffle with trainees from another barracks could blow it up.
"Trainees from another barracks picked a fight."
Bina spoke up instead.
"Trainee knights?"
"Yes. There were three of them, and it seemed like they had the training grounds booked for the next class. We tried to avoid them since it felt off, but they made the first move, and things escalated."
The instructor glanced between us.
"Did you win? You both look fine."
Caught off guard, Bina and I exchanged looks. She plopped a hand on my head and nodded.
"I was in trouble, but Yufir landed one solid hit and we bolted."
"Wha—huh?! Is it okay to say thaaat?!"
I'd worried she'd chew us out for fighting.
"Hmph! Good thing you did. If you'd lost, I'd be pissed."
Blackrose snorted and casually turned to grab her materials.
"We may not chase glory, but we're not spineless."
Smack. As she started to leave, she fixed me with a piercing stare.
"I-is there something you want to ask...?"
"Never mind. I'm just curious how long you'll keep wearing that chick mask."
"Pardon?"
With those cryptic words, the instructor left. No punishment, thankfully. If anything, it felt like praise since she'd said she'd be mad if we'd lost. Mixed feelings.
Team assignments were posted sooner than expected. Trainees clustered around the bulletin board, buzzing excitedly as they checked their groups.
"Yo, we're teamed up!"
"Nice one. Carry us, bus."
"What? You do it. I'll just chill."
"Oh no."
"Why?"
"I'm with total strangers. Bottom-rankers too."
"Good luck..."
"Hey, isn't that smug jerk on your team?"
"Uh, yeah... Should I be happy?"
"Duh, idiot. He's battling for top two in training scores right now."
"But hanging with him gets you targeted."
"Better than tanking the eval. If you hate it, switch."
"Nah."
"Asshole."
I stretched on tiptoes amid the wall of trainees.
"Nngh... nope!"
Still couldn't see.
"So depressing."
Where do you vent the woes of being 145cm? Everyone was so tall—jumping didn't help. And Bina, who'd usually spot for me, was away visiting family.
"Guess I'll come back when it's quieter..."
I turned—and there was the red-haired girl, Airi, right in my face. Our eyes met. She quickly looked away, twirling her hair.
'?'
She looked troubled but was playing it cool—her face screamed it.
'Come to think of it.'
I eyed her up and down.
"What're you staring at?"
The human wall in front of me was extra thick with the tall trainees. Airi was just the right height.
'Probably over 150cm, but not quite 160.'
Definitely couldn't see. No doubt.
"Airi."
"Yeah?"
"Lift me up."
"Huh...?"
I stretched my arms toward her.
"You can't see either."
"Wh-what? I can!"
Bingo.
"I'll check your team too."
I wiggled my hands insistently. Airi hesitated, then sighed.
"Fine, whatever."
Her face flushed as she slipped her hands under my armpits.
"Eek?!"
It tickled—I yelped involuntarily.
"Don't make weird noises!"
"But it tickles!"
"Ugh... okay."
She lowered her grip to my waist and hoisted me up effortlessly. My view shot up, and I felt a strange satisfaction.
Ahh, the rare upper air.
Airi looked up at me.
"See?"
"Yeah, hold on."
Spotting the roster, I waved my arms in excitement.
"Nice!"
"Wh-what...?"
"Me and Bina are teamed up!"
"...Congrats."
Whoever made the teams nailed it. Relieved, I patted my chest. Then I read off Airi's group.
"Got it?"
"Yeah."
They were from another barracks, people I didn't know except Airi.
She set me down.
"Good job."
I patted her butt.
"Don't touch me like that..."
"Why announce teams so early, anyway? Next month, right? People might forget by then."
"Obvious."
Airi answered like it was common sense.
"The eval starts now."
"For real...?"
"We're agents. They won't just test if we can catch a monster. This gives us time to investigate with our team and plan the capture."
"That thorough?"
"Means it's a tough monster. That one's been notorious for a while—"
She cut herself off.
"Anyway, I'm out."
I almost got a hint, but whatever. Bina and I could figure it out. Cheating for points wasn't my style anyway—not good for me long-term.
Gotta fight on...!
Suffer now, regret later.
Airi slipped out of the barracks during evening personal time. She ran laps on the empty parade ground. Using every spare moment for training was her routine.
—A true knight hones the body at all times.
She'd dreamed of knighthood as a kid but set it aside. Plenty of talent, but knighthood couldn't achieve her new goal. So she chose Central Intelligence Agency agent instead—the deepest way to serve the empire.
—Airi, you'll make a fine knight someday.
Still, she trained her body as rigorously as in her knightly dreams. Proof: topping nearly every drill. Her figure was sleek and graceful, but the power packed inside rivaled any man or trainee knight.
"Hoo..."
Wiping sweat with a towel, she gazed at the rising moon. Personal time was ending—time to head back.
"What about that pink hair?"
"Just rough her up once?"
Passing the smoking room, Airi froze. Something she couldn't ignore.
"Dude, cause another scene and you'll draw too much heat."
"Who cares? Fuck it!"
"Wh-why curse like that?!"
Pink hair—only one person Airi knew fit that. At least among those she recognized.
"She's a parachute, right? Got backing?"
"Hell, with that kinda pull, might as well be the emperor."
"...Probably not."
Plus "parachute." Leaning against the wall, Airi felt sure.
'What're you up to...?'
Why target her with these lowlifes? She didn't know, but they were bad news. Airi knew him from her family's noble ties.
"Kavin Gilliad..."
The guy was a councilor's son.