The Retired Supporting Character Wants to Live Quietly

Chapter 29 – External Special Student Selection Exam (2)

While I was in the middle of picking one of the desserts that Professor Lina brought, I noticed Kirrin mumbling to herself with a resolute expression.

She looked unsettlingly determined, like a shy kid at the back of the classroom suddenly raising their hand with a serious look.

“Headmaster, come join us for some dessert… Where are you going?”

Kirrin didn’t seem to hear me as she turned and hurried towards the main building. Was she really planning to do something?

No way. She’s the type to cancel practical lessons out of fear of being dismissed.

I shrugged off my interest in Kirrin and quickly grabbed a dessert before the other professors could finish them.

“Hey, Orendi, give that back. I called dibs on that one.”

“But… it’s the tastiest one…”

Enjoying the slice of cream cake I had confiscated from Orendi, I glanced towards the stable.

Inside, the beautiful white leader horse was staring at me with its large, expressive eyes.

Ten years can change a lot. Back then, it was just a foal, but now it has grown to lead its herd.

That horse and I have a history dating back to when Linus and I were conducting operations with our special unit on the Brun Plateau.

It might seem odd to say I have a history with a horse, but it’s true.

Back then, our special unit received intelligence that the Demon King’s Amy was moving to capture the wild horses of the Brun Plateau. We mobilized immediately.

However, the Demon King’s Amy got there first, and by the time we arrived, the wild horses were already being led away in chains.

We launched a surprise attack, wiped out the demons, and freed the horses, although inevitably a few were killed in the battle.

That horse was one of the foals that lost its mother.

We didn’t leave the plateau immediately; we waited for the Demon King’s Amy’s reinforcements and took care of the injured wild horses and foals during those days.

Thanks to Celine, a skilled hunter with knowledge about animals, even that foal, which was on the brink of death, recovered and started running again.

After we wiped out the Demon King’s Amy’s reinforcements, we left the plateau, and now, ten years later, I visited again for this mission.

Originally, I planned to use a smaller wild horse for Knightley’s training, but seeing this one as the leader made me change my plans.

Had I simply put Knightley on the horse, she wouldn’t have lasted long. However, I took a calculated risk.

Horses are much smarter than people think, especially the wild horses of the Brun Plateau. I expected it to recognize me and stop bucking soon after.

If it didn’t and kept acting up? Then I’d step in and subdue it myself. Orendi could teleport Knightley to safety if she fell.

With all the worst-case scenarios accounted for, I put Knightley on the horse, and the outcome was as expected.

A typical wild horse would have kept going wild, but I kept running alongside it and talking to it until it recognized me and calmed down in less than ten minutes.

Thus, I brought the entire herd of wild horses to the academy for practical training.

The wild horses of the Brun Plateau are highly intelligent, especially with a cooperative leader, making them perfect for various training scenarios.

For example, once tamed, the horse could “act” as if it’s being ridden for the first time for new students.

With a combat riding genius like Professor Anna around (though it’s not obvious at first glance), there should be no issues.

“Do you think, hmmm, we’ll skip it this year too?”

Orendi, who had snatched another piece of bread after losing the cake, brought up a new topic.

“What are we skipping?”

“The special talent student selection. The regulations state it should be held at the beginning of the year.”

“What’s this special talent selection?”

As I asked questions in succession, Orendi gave me a suspicious look.

“Head Professor, have you by any chance not read the regulations?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“What? Reading them would make your job easier. If you start something without knowing the rules, you could get in trouble halfway through.”

“That’s why you guys, who know the rules inside out, are here to point things out along the way. Anyway, what’s this special talent selection?”

Orendi looked at me with disbelief, then chuckled and explained.

“Normally, our academy admits students through an entrance exam, starting from the first year. But special talent students don’t take the exam and start directly in the final year, which means the graduating class for this year.”

“Really? So these special talent students are exceptionally skilled individuals who don’t need to go through the regular curriculum?”

“Exactly. It’s a system some other academies have already implemented. Producing excellent graduates is our top priority, even if they didn’t start from the bottom here, as long as they’re from our academy.”

“I see. So our academy has never done this?”

“No.”

That must be because Kirrin, afraid of being dismissed due to any mishaps, avoided it.

“So how many special talent students do we select?”

“Up to five, depending on the quality of the applicants. If they don’t meet the academy’s standards, they can all be rejected.”

This doesn’t sound like a bad system.

“When is it held?”

“We need to announce the selection around this time. The final selection should be completed by the end of the month so that they can join the graduating class’s formal curriculum.”

Orendi glanced towards the main building where Kirrin had disappeared.

“But seeing that there’s no news, it seems they’re planning to skip it again this year.”

“I see. Is that so?”

We really should proceed with it. Not just because of the regulations, but because it’s an opportunity to attract valuable talent.

As Orendi said, anyone who graduates from our academy, even if they started later, boosts our prestige.

If we can produce excellent graduates and enhance the academy’s reputation, the Second Princess will be pleased. She might think, ‘The academy runs well without having to appoint Dian as headmaster.’

Let’s finish up here and wrap up the day’s tasks. Tomorrow, I’ll formally propose this to Kirrin.

### # # # #

The next morning.

“Professor!”

I was just leaving the staff area, heading to the main building, when a sharp voice called out to me.

Turning around, I saw Knightley glaring at me with a very dissatisfied expression.

“What are you doing here at this hour? Don’t you have class?”

“It’s still before first period.”

“Oh, right. Then hurry and get ready for class. I’m busy, so I have to go.”

“Wait a moment!”

I was about to walk away when Knightley yelled and tried to run towards me.

Instead, she spread her legs shoulder-width apart and waddled towards me, trembling.

I almost laughed at the sight but bit my lip, waiting for her to catch up.

However, she was moving so slowly that I had to excuse myself.

“Sorry, but I need to meet the headmaster. If it’s not urgent, can we talk later?”

I felt bad, but I had a lot to do today, and I needed to discuss the special student selection with Kirrin before class started.

“Professor! Argh! Really!”

Ignoring Knightley’s frustrated shout, I hurried to the main building. There, the administrative director gave me unexpected news.

“What? She went to the Palace?”

“Yes, Head Professor. She went to report on current affairs.”

“Hmm, I see…”

What’s going on with this Dark Elf? She usually trembles at the mere mention of the Second Princess.

I remembered Kirrin’s resolute expression yesterday at the stable. She had been mumbling to herself with a determined look.

When a timid person makes a big decision, it often leads to a sudden and drastic action.

I hope she doesn’t end up making a fool of herself and getting reprimanded, or worse, getting dismissed.

# # # # # #

“Haa… This is crazy…”

Seeing the walls of the Imperial Palace through the carriage window, Kirrin let out a dry sigh.

On her lap was a gilded clipboard, neatly holding the current affairs report for the Second Princess.

Kirrin’s sudden decision to go to the Palace was sparked by a resolution she made after seeing Dian yesterday.

To smoothly hand over the headmaster position to Dian and step down to a subject professor, she needed to start building her achievements from now on.

So, Kirrin had prepared the report and sent a message about her visit to the Palace, which thankfully, the Second Princess had accepted.

“So… the special student selection… and… the graduation competition schedule… What else was there…? Oh, the preliminary interviews with potential employers…”

As she recited the points she would report to the Princess, the carriage arrived in front of the castle.

“Welcome, Headmaster Kirrin.”

A servant came out to greet her and led her inside.

Walking through the corridors, Kirrin took deep breaths and adjusted her shirt collar, but it was no use.

The anxiety squeezing her chest wouldn’t go away with just a few deep breaths.

If I had known it would be like this, I should have asked Dian to come with me.

It might have been a bit better with him around.

But Dian is busy leading the Combat Department. Bringing him here would just be a burden on him.

Besides, I am the headmaster. I need to act according to my position.

If I appear to be hiding behind Dian, the Second Princess will find another reason to criticize me.

Taking another deep breath, Kirrin walked down the corridor, which felt like a walk to the gallows, and stood in front of the Princess’s office.

“Please hand over all items you are carrying.”

“Yes…”

Kirrin reluctantly handed over an assortment of hidden daggers, poison darts, and garrotes from various parts of her body. Then, hesitantly, she knocked on the door.

“Ki-ki-ki-Kirrin Nemara here… M-m-m-m-may I ask if I am allowed to enter…?”

“Come in.”

The voice of the Second Princess from inside made Kirrin feel like her blood was freezing as she opened the door.