The heart and symbol of the Academy. The Academy's main building, said to have been constructed by the Apels Empire in ages past by mobilizing all their architectural techniques and the most renowned artists of the era. Even now, hundreds of years after the Academy's founding, this main building still ranks among the five most beautiful structures on the continent.
A bard once gazed upon the main building and composed a song on the spot; a painter created a masterpiece right there. Such anecdotes about this main building are far from rare. It seems to have a proper name, but I don't need to know it. Everyone just calls it the main building anyway.
I looked up at that main building with a distant longing.
'I should have come here four years ago.'
A culmination of architectural skill and artistry? One of the continent's most distinguished buildings and the muse of countless artists? So what? Even if the main building had been a shack or a ger, I would have gladly entered it. What matters is the interior, not the exterior. Thinking that all those who've passed through this main building until now were captivated by its facade rather than focusing on its substance fills me with uncontrollable fury.
Four years ago, I should have enrolled in the Academy without looking back, no matter what the Family Head said. If I had at least completed a full three years and graduated, even if I'd ended up as a civil servant afterward, I wouldn't be living like this. I can guarantee it. If I had attended the Imperial Academy, my life would have been different...
"I'm not usually one to cry, but I'm about to tear up here."
Not really, of course.
Carrying in my heart half the strange excitement of arriving at a place I'd yearned for, and half the fury that it came in the form of a work assignment, I stepped down from the carriage and stumbled the moment my feet touched the ground. Whoa, shit!
I regained my balance immediately and glanced back at the coachman, who fortunately was busy grooming the horse's mane and hadn't seen. Thank goodness. The news that the Director in his early twenties could barely control his own body nearly struck the Ministry of Finance like a thunderbolt.
"This bastard, now that I look at you, why are you so scrawny? You've been holed up in your office so long all your muscle's wasted away."
'Was he actually right?'
Recalling the Minister's words, I fumbled at my legs. Strange—they don't really seem that way. Is it because I've been cooped up in my office? Is my body failing to adjust because it's been so long since I rode in a carriage? Whatever the reason, it's not good news.
'Ugh, fuck.'
I'd been fine in the carriage, but now motion sickness hit me belatedly. Is this that land sickness thing? As I began battling this spectacularly delayed onset of nausea, the coachman approached and bowed at the waist.
"I'll be heading back now."
"Ah, good work. Drive safely."
"Yes. I hope you stay healthy as well, Director."
The coachman bowed once more, climbed onto the driver's seat, and departed swiftly. His role was strictly transportation, so once his business was done, it was best to leave as quickly as possible. The Three Kingdoms probably wouldn't throw a fit over a single coachman, but if he lingered longer than necessary, they'd cast suspicious glances. When someone who shouldn't be somewhere stays where they shouldn't, it grates on people. I know from experience.
I watched the carriage depart into the distance, then turned my gaze to the main building. Now I was truly alone. It was time to begin the saga of a twenty-one-year-old civil servant's tenure as Academy Inspector. Wow, something I never wanted even in my dreams...
I trudged toward the main building with weary steps, intending to find the principal's office, when someone came rushing out in a hurry. Oh, a welcoming party?
The man who came running, his blue cape—symbol of the Academy faculty—fluttering behind him, paused to catch his breath before breaking into a smile.
"I'm Raymond, the Academy's Vice Principal. Would you happen to be the Inspector we were expecting?"
"That's correct."
"Oh dear, I meant to greet you on time but ended up running late. My apologies. The morning meeting ran longer than expected and only just finished."
The Vice Principal extended his hand with a smile, and I accepted the handshake.
"Meetings rarely end on schedule anyway."
"Thank you for understanding. I felt terrible about keeping such an important guest waiting."
"I only just arrived myself."
I really had just arrived. Since I'd come straight after saying goodbye to the coachman, even if he'd arrived earlier, I would have reached the main building at the same time anyway. If anything, I wish he'd been a bit later to give me time to settle my stomach. I feel like I'm going to throw up right now...
***
Seeing that Karl genuinely didn't seem bothered, the Vice Principal relaxed, and his somewhat awkward smile became more natural. Even Inspectors who came periodically for routine work and then disappeared could turn the Academy upside down if they set their minds to it when offended.
Moreover, this Inspector had been sent directly by the Minister of Finance himself as an Emergency Inspector to prepare for this year's spectacular freshman lineup. Unlike regular Inspectors who stayed a week at most before leaving, this was someone who would be staying for at least several months. To be late for the very first meeting with such a person—his heart had nearly stopped.
Having relaxed somewhat, the Vice Principal posed a question to Karl.
"I heard you were sent directly by the Minister of Finance himself. If it's not too forward, may I ask your name?"
"Was my name not communicated?"
"Isn't it customary for Inspectors not to reveal their identity until they arrive at the Academy? Something about preventing prior contact and collusion if people know who's coming."
"I see. This is my first time doing inspection work."
The Vice Principal looked at him with surprise. The young appearance had already caught his attention, but now he was saying he wasn't familiar with inspection work either. Since he'd been personally designated by the Minister of Finance, he couldn't be completely unreliable, but it was impossible not to have questions.
"I'm Karl Krasius, Director of the Inspection Department."
"Oh, it's an honor to meet the renowned Director in person. The Minister must have taken special care with this matter. I'm truly grateful."
The Vice Principal tried to move past it naturally, but the tremor at the corners of his eyes betrayed his agitation. That crazy old man had unleashed a monster on the Academy. As the thought flashed through his mind, the Vice Principal fell abruptly silent and subtly quickened his pace.
Karl Krasius, Director of the Inspection Department. Even he, who had devoted his entire life to the path of education and risen to the position of Vice Principal, spending all his time at the Academy, had heard that name countless times. But it was never someone he wanted to meet in person. For someone drawing a salary from the Empire, unexpectedly encountering the Inspection Department Director meant, with high probability, that one of life's most memorable disasters was about to occur.
Even knowing Karl wasn't here to destroy him, the Vice Principal broke into a cold sweat as they walked. Upon reaching the Principal's Office, he knocked on the door with the reverence of a fervent believer discovering the gates of heaven.
"Principal. I've brought the Inspector."
"Come in."
At those words, the Vice Principal promptly opened the door.
"Please go in. It was an honor to escort you, Inspector."
"The honor was mine, meeting one of the Academy's leading intellectuals."
The Vice Principal smiled awkwardly and, after confirming Karl had entered, quickly retreated to his own office. Though they would be meeting frequently from now on, today's unexpected encounter without any mental preparation had been quite a shock.
***
An old man with long, flowing white hair and beard. An old man who looked as if he'd stepped straight out of a fairy tale sage's portrait—the Academy's Principal gazed steadily at the young man entering his office.
'The Inspection Department Director has arrived.'
A young man with black hair and black eyes. Dressed in the black uniform that symbolized the Inspection Department, he was entirely a figure of darkness.
"It's been a while, Director. Two years, perhaps?"
At the Principal's greeting, offered with a gentle smile, the Inspection Department Director nodded slightly and spoke.
"We met at the Minister's inauguration ceremony, so about that long. Have you been well, Principal?"
"The young folks work so hard that this old man has nothing to do. So I've been keeping healthy."
"I'm glad to hear it."
The Inspection Department Director naturally took his seat and silently observed the Principal. As those pitch-black eyes fixed upon him, the Principal found himself swallowing involuntarily. The Inspection Department Director before him had been sent directly by the Minister of Finance regarding the freshman disaster that had befallen the Academy, but even setting aside that position, he was someone who outranked the Principal.
Like the Inspection Department Director, who held the rank of Director under the Ministry of Finance, the Academy Principal also received treatment equivalent to a Director under the Ministry of Education. However, in terms of protocol ranking, the Inspection Department Director stood above the Principal.
Just then, the Principal's secretary set down tea before the Principal and the Inspection Department Director before withdrawing. Her movements were so quiet that one hardly noticed her presence. Even the usually outspoken secretary was instinctively cowed, holding her breath.
'And to think he's the same age as last year's graduates.'
It was almost laughable. Even though they had graduated just last year, he could still picture those students scampering around the Academy, laughing and chattering. Yet this man was supposedly their age. The cognitive dissonance was staggering.
"This is tea imported from the Yuben United Kingdom. It's famous for its distinctive aroma. I hope it suits the Inspection Department Director's taste."
In any case, now that the secretary had served tea, it was the perfect opportunity to lighten the atmosphere. At the Principal's suggestion, the Inspection Department Director glanced down at the tea and took exactly one sip before setting it back down. Then he fixed his gaze on the Principal once more and spoke.
"I've been briefed on the difficulties the Academy is facing."
"Those who wish to learn are crossing even national borders to gather at the Academy—it's something to be welcomed. It's not difficult, but... I do worry whether we might disappoint those enthusiastic students."
"Is that so?"
The Inspection Department Director nodded slightly and fell silent. His demeanor suggested he had nothing more to say, leaving it to the other party to continue the conversation. In that case, there was no choice but to oblige. After all, it was the Academy that needed something, not him.
"You can't imagine how reassuring it is to have the Inspection Department Director here at the Academy. Compared to the precious students who have gathered, our security personnel have actually decreased from before, which has been quite worrying. But now I can rest easy."
"You're too kind."
"Too kind? Everyone knows the Inspection Department Director's reputation, don't they? I still vividly remember how you brought four Count Houses to justice half a year ago, and the Marquis Esilon's House a year before that."
Even faced with such excessive flattery that one might think the subject himself would feel embarrassed, the Inspection Department Director showed no interest, keeping his gaze lowered toward the teacup. Still, the Principal didn't stop. He planned to enumerate the Inspection Department Director's achievements and then segue into 'which is why I would be grateful if you would use those abilities to maintain order at the Academy.'
"Especially two years ago in the Northern Region..."
At those words, the Inspection Department Director's gaze, which had been fixed on the teacup, shifted toward the Principal.
'Oh no.'
What a blunder. In his eagerness to heap praise by recounting everything he could remember, he had mentioned something that should have been avoided.
The Inspection Department Director observed the Principal, who had closed his mouth in apparent dismay, then quietly lifted the corners of his lips. Since his eyes weren't smiling, anyone could tell it was a forced expression.
"I misspoke, Inspection Department Director. I suppose old age makes me slip up like this from time to time."
"Anyone can make a mistake. Please don't worry about it."
He didn't deny that it had been a slip of the tongue. At that, the Principal smiled bitterly, and the Inspection Department Director rose from his seat.
"I will not neglect my duties for the Empire. So there is no need for you to worry, Principal."
"I appreciate those words."
"Then I'll take my leave."
"Yes, understood. I'll have someone inform you of your accommodations separately."
The Inspection Department Director nodded silently, then turned and walked out of the Principal's office. Watching him go, the Principal only released a sigh and leaned back in his chair after confirming the Inspection Department Director's departure.
"I really am getting old. To make such a mistake."
As the Principal grumbled while wiping the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief, the Secretary asked cautiously.
"By mistake... do you mean mentioning the Northern Region?"
The Secretary also had eyes and ears, so he could tell which words the Inspection Department Director had reacted to. But he didn't know why. Why had someone who showed no interest in talk of Count Houses or Marquis Houses reacted to the Northern Region?
At the question evident in the Secretary's eyes, the Principal shook his head.
"Forget about that matter. You could find out if you looked into it, but I recommend you don't."
"Ah, yes..."
"Right. That's how it should be. It's not proper to dig into something when the person himself is reluctant to reveal it."
The Principal's words seemed like advice directed at the Secretary, but also like a reminder to himself.
The Northern Region. The land where a massive uprising of Nomads four years ago had led to two years of the Great Subjugation War. And the Inspection Department Director had been one of the figures at the center of it all.
***
'Oh god, I really think I'm going to die.'
I had hurried out of the Principal's office and was now searching for a restroom. My body, which had been showing ominous signs since getting off the carriage, had reached crisis level while talking with the Vice Principal, and by the time I entered the Principal's office, it was approaching its peak. One wrong move and I felt like I'd reach the finale right then and there, so I'd concentrated all my attention on calming my insides.
So I barely even remember what the Principal said. I only snapped to attention and focused on him for a moment when I instinctively reacted to the word "Northern Region."
'Damned old man and his unnecessary words.'
Even now, two years later, it's a topic I'd rather avoid mentioning, but it's not something I can hide forever. Nor was it something that needed hiding. So I used it as legitimate grounds to excuse myself. I feel bad for the Principal, who must have been flustered, but I was flustered too, so let's just call it a draw.
Now where the hell is the restroom? Why is this place so huge?