The New Special Cadet (3)

"The I-I-Imperial Palace — why do I have to go...? And to see the Second Princess, of all people...?"

Kirlin asked, trembling so hard her voice shook.

"To propose that the National Security Office host a proper competition. One that actually suits our academy."

I went on to share a story I'd picked up from another special ops unit back in the day. The gist was that some organization under the National Security Office ran evaluations of one kind or another, and we should ask them to open those up at a level appropriate for the academy.

"Do we really need to go that far...? Couldn't we just pick a few students from here and send them...?"

Watching Kirlin hesitate, Ismera suddenly spoke up.

"I fully support that proposal."

What's this? She's actually taking my side?

"Our Special Operations Academy is under the direct authority of the Imperial Palace's National Security Office. It is only proper, then, that we request the Palace host a competition befitting the academy's founding purpose."

"I-is that so..."

With both Chief Professors taking the same stance, sweat began to bead on Kirlin's forehead.

At this rate, she was going to have to go to the Imperial Palace — and the problem was that Kirlin was terrified of the Second Princess. But she had to. She was the Principal. Wear the title, and you take on both the authority and the responsibility that come with it.

That's why the high seats are hard. To people who've never sat in one, it looks comfortable — like you're just playing around. The reality is anything but. Sometimes an ambiguous middle post like mine is actually the better deal. Especially in a situation like mine, it's the absolute best. Which is exactly why I swore I'd never become Principal, not even if it killed me.

"If the Principal finds the prospect truly uncomfortable," Ismera said as Kirlin hemmed and hawed, "I shall go in my capacity as Acting Vice Principal."

That's when I figured out why Ismera had backed my idea. She wanted to get in the Second Princess's good graces, didn't she? Ismera wanted to become Principal, so a private audience with the Second Princess would feel like a golden opportunity. Fine. Just send Ismera, then. Whether Kirlin went or Ismera went, all that mattered was getting the competition approved.

"That's not a bad idea. Then Professor Ismera can—"

"No. I'll go..."

To my surprise, Kirlin forced the words out as if squeezing them from her throat.

"I'm the Principal... so I have to take responsibility..."

"There's no need to push yourself. The Head of the National Security Office won't make an issue of it."

Ismera tried to stop her, but Kirlin forced strength into her eyes and spoke with unexpected clarity.

"I'll go. Don't worry, either of you. I'll secure that competition, no matter what."

"No, I really could go instead..."

With the Principal having made up her mind like that, Ismera was left opening and closing her mouth, unable to do a thing.

And so it was decided that Kirlin would go to the Imperial Palace.

"Combat Chief Professor."

The moment we stepped out of the Principal's office, Ismera called to me, her voice ice-cold.

"What is it?"

"A word, if you would."

She didn't wait for my answer. She spun on her heel and walked off in the other direction.

I thought she might be heading to her own office, but no — just a secluded spot behind the main building. It was far enough from the main hall, with no windows or offices nearby, that Brog and Kazadar often came here to smoke.

"Did you have something to say?"

Ismera crossed her arms and stared at me, her eyes full of suspicion and distrust.

"Combat Chief Professor. You mentioned the National Security Office earlier, did you not?"

"I did."

"And where, exactly, did you hear such a thing?"

"A special ops member I met during the war told me. You know I served, right?"

"So a special ops member divulged internal organizational matters to an outsider — is that what you're telling me?"

"I wouldn't call it divulging. He just mentioned in passing that something like that existed. What's your point, anyway?"

I spread my arms with a smile.

"Are you curious who that special ops member was, or are you curious whether the story is true?"

"During the field trip to Ivronik Castle last time," Ismera said, switching topics, "what was your relationship with the veterans working there?"

"People I met during the recapture years ago. I took part in it myself."

"Is that so? In what rank, and in what capacity?"

"I think I was a Second Lieutenant at the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠time. Or was it First Lieutenant? Either way, not a particularly high rank. I didn't have a specific post — I operated on my own. I was a special ops member too."

"Special ops?"

Ismera's eyes narrowed.

"Precisely what mission did you carry out in that operation?"

"Look, Professor Ismera. I'm sorry, but do I actually have to tell you that?"

"Excuse me?"

"Do you not understand what it means to interrogate a former special ops member about what they did in the past?"

Ismera's face went rigid in an instant.

"Are you referring to the National Security Act?"

"Well, I'm not accusing a pureblood elf with a High Master's Degree and an academy professorship of being a foreign spy."

"Of course not. If I were, I wouldn't have been so foolish as to ask so openly."

"Oh? So you're admitting you just did something foolish?"

Color rose in Ismera's face.

Truth be told, I couldn't have cared less about the National Security Act or any of that. I was just teasing her because watching that lofty elf get flustered was entertaining. Even her anger and embarrassment were pretty, as you'd expect from a pureblood elf.

"Fine. I'll tell you. I was a member of the Demon King Assassination Special Task Force."

"I beg your pardon...?"

"Surprised? But it's true. At Ivronik Castle, I climbed the cliff face with Sir Linus and recaptured the fortress."

Ismera stared at me blankly for a moment, then snorted.

"So this is how you intend to mock me."

"I'm not mocking you. It's the truth..."

"Enough. This is unpleasant."

Ismera cut me off cold.

"I was wrong to ask. That will be all."

As she brushed past me, I caught the fresh forest scent unique to elves. I figured she wouldn't believe me. Tsk tsk. I wouldn't believe it either, if I were her. If somebody walked up to me out of nowhere and claimed they were actually an Allied secret agent in World War II who snuck into the Führerbunker and shot Hitler with a pistol — well, they'd be the crazy one, not me for not believing them.

Anyway. Time to get to work. But first, a stop at the infirmary. I needed to check that patient log.

That insane man. What kind of nonsense was he spouting?

Ismera ground her teeth as she passed Dian and headed into the main building. A special ops member? The National Security Act? Sir Linus? He was obviously some legion infantryman or junior officer, spinning absurd stories just to mock her. If he were really that impressive, why would he be teaching at an academy? That slovenly, unemployed-looking layabout of a man...

And what was Kirlin's problem, suddenly insisting she'd go to the Imperial Palace herself? She used to tremble at the mere mention of the word "Palace." What a wasted opportunity. Ismera was terrified Kirlin would go there, fumble her words like a fool, and drag the academy's reputation through the mud.

Neither Dian nor Kirlin sat well with her.

"Eek?!"

Hindrastar, who had been skipping class on her way to the dessert café, spotted Dian appearing from the other direction and hurled herself into a flowerbed.

"What's that bastard doing over there?"

Hidden in the flowerbed, Hindrastar muttered to herself as she watched Dian enter the infirmary. Why would a perfectly healthy person go to the infirmary at this hour? Ah, wait — was he skipping work to lie down on a sickbed and take a nap? Given Dian's usual slacker behavior, that wasn't entirely out of the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠question.

That guy. He'd been like that in the past, too. A complete piece of trash.

When I arrived at the infirmary, Priestess Maya silently dipped her head in greeting. That kid — no, no, that priestess — really was far too taciturn.

"Hello, Priestess. Sorry to bother you, but I'd like to take a look at the patient log."

"For what reason?"

"It's related to student Sophie from last time. She's an honors student I manage separately, and I need to enter her health information and such into the records. I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wanted to use it as a reference."

"I see."

Priestess Maya rummaged around and handed over the patient log. She gave it up surprisingly easily.

I opened it with a slight sense of tension.

"Huh...?"

What was this? Nothing was written in it? No — it wasn't blank, exactly. There was writing. The dates Hindrastar had visited the infirmary, her symptoms, the treatment procedures, and so on. But nowhere in any of it was there a single item that could give rise to even the slightest misunderstanding. All of it was in the same clipped, itemized format.

I flipped through and checked Knightly's records as well, but there was nothing wrong there either. What was this. Had Celine been barking up the wrong tree? Was it all just unfounded suspicion?

I pretended to skim through it casually, then handed the log back.

"Thank you, Priestess."

"Goodbye."

Even as I said goodbye to Priestess Maya and walked out, I was tilting my head in bewilderment.

"Did she erase it all?"

No way. I'd shown up out of the blue — she wouldn't have had time. It really had been a false alarm, then.

After Dian left, Priestess Maya reached under the desk and pulled out a different patient log. She spread it open on the desk, hesitated for a moment, then picked up her pen.

Priestess Maya wrote it all down with diligent care, her face betraying no particular emotion at all.