The Retired Supporting Character Wants to Live Quietly-Chapter 79 - New Special Student (9)

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]

Chapter 79 - New Special Student (9)

A few days ago, Kirrin visited Tatanok for a special student interview.

At that time, she found herself in a somewhat awkward situation.

It was caused by the people blocking the entrance.

As she got off the carriage and was about to enter the city after surveying the surroundings, she was suddenly stopped.

"Dark Elves aren't allowed in."

"What...? I can't enter?"

"No, you cannot."

For a moment, Kirrin wondered if she had mistakenly arrived at a frontier town.

Frontier towns are cities established by humans in harsh environments, such as deep jungles or the cold north.

Typically, these towns are built to exploit natural resources in regions inhabited by indigenous peoples or monsters, leading to inevitable conflicts between the resource-seeking humans and the original inhabitants.

As a result, in these frontier towns, the residents consider all non-humans entering from outside as enemies.

But this place was an ordinary city, not far from the capital.

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If it were truly a frontier town, Kirrin would have been turned into a pincushion by crossbows and arrows the moment she stepped out of the carriage.

It must be because she's a Dark Elf.

"This place was once burned to the ground by the Demon King's army before it was rebuilt."

Sure enough, an elderly man stepped forward and explained.

"Everyone here harbors deep resentment against the Demon King's forces. Weren't Dark Elves also allied with the demons during the war? So, please leave peacefully."

That’s the reason. If that’s the case, Kirrin could understand why they were rejecting her.

But she couldn't just leave.

"I am Kirrin Nemara, the headmaster of the Imperial Special Mission Academy. I'm here on official business."

"The Special Mission Academy?"

The moment Kirrin mentioned the academy, the people who had been hostile just moments before began murmuring among themselves.

"Isn't that the academy?"

"Isn't that where Sir Dian is?"

"Someone, go fetch the deputy administrator!"

A short while later, the crowd parted to reveal a young woman with neatly groomed long brown hair.

"Hello, I'm Merilda, the acting administrator here. You said you're from the Special Mission Academy?"

"Yes, that's right. I’m Headmaster Kirrin Nemara."

"Isn't that the place where Sir Dian serves as the Head Combat Professor?"

"Uh, yes... How did you know that...?"

"Everyone! This person is not an enemy! She's the headmaster of the academy where Sir Dian works!"

Upon hearing Merilda's words, the townspeople's faces brightened in an instant.

"She's Sir Dian's boss?!"

"We apologize for our rudeness! Please forgive us!"

"Quick, escort her to the town hall!"

Even as she was being ushered into the city by the suddenly welcoming crowd, Kirrin was bewildered.

What is going on here...?

# # # # #

Even after sitting on a sofa inside the town hall, Kirrin was still looking around, trying to grasp the situation.

"You must have been quite surprised."

Merilda, who had just served tea, sat down across from her and started to speak.

"This village, Tatanok, has a painful past of being reduced to ashes by the Demon King's army during the war. That's why the people reacted that way."

"Yes, I understand. I’m sorry for arriving unannounced."

"It’s alright. We should be the ones apologizing. Tatanok is now officially a city, and we should be more flexible."

It turns out that Tatanok had recently met all the criteria to be upgraded to a city.

Soon, a full-time administrator would be dispatched from the central government, and Merilda would step down from her acting position.

"In villages without an administrator, someone with a degree or certification in administrative studies can take on the role temporarily under contract."

"I see. Actually, that’s partly why I’m here. I have official business with you, Miss Merilda."

As Merilda gave her a questioning look, Kirrin began to explain.

The Special Mission Academy is currently recruiting additional special students.

After considering various factors, they determined that someone from a public academy would be ideal, and the current headmaster recommended Merilda.

With Tatanok being upgraded to a city, Merilda’s acting administrator contract would soon end. Furthermore, she was the right age for the position.

"I see. This is quite an unexpected offer."

Merilda smiled faintly and took a sip of tea.

"You’re asking me to transfer to the Special Mission Academy where Sir Dian works?"

"Since it’s been brought up, how do you know Professor Dian? From what I saw earlier, it seems the whole town knows about him."

"That’s because Sir Dian is the savior of our Tatanok village."

"Savior? What do you mean? I apologize, but didn't you say this village was destroyed during the war?"

"Yes, the village was destroyed, but the people survived. If it weren't for Sir Dian, we all would have died back then."

Merilda then recounted the story of how, ten years ago, Dian and Linus appeared like a divine revelation when the village was under attack by the Demon King's army.

The two of them defeated the entire Demon King's army and led the surviving villagers on a long journey to a safe area.

After the war, they continuously supported the village’s reconstruction, which eventually allowed Tatanok to be elevated to city status.

"I lost my entire family during that time, but thanks to Sir Dian, I was able to rebuild my life. Sir Dian is the one who saved my entire life."

"Ah, so Dian did something like that..."

As Kirrin listened, her eyes sparkled with admiration, but then she realized something strange.

Dian saved the village with Sir Linus? Could it be that the Sir Linus they’re referring to is the hero of the continent who defeated the Demon King?

"Yes, they both visited together not long ago for the village's reconstruction day event."

What is this?

I knew Dian was a war veteran, but I never heard anything about him being with Sir Linus.

"I had no idea there was such a connection. Professor Dian never talks about his past."

"He’s a humble man. Anyway... about the special student program."

Ah, right. We were talking about the special student program, not Dian.

"You would start from the final year and could graduate and move on to related fields next year. Your diploma wouldn’t mention anything about being a special student or a transfer."

"That sounds like a wonderful program."

"It’s perfect for someone like you, Miss Merilda. What do you think?"

"If the academy will have me, I’d love to join."

Merilda answered readily.

"In a few days, I’ll be stepping down from my acting administrator position. After that, I’ll need to find new work, but there aren’t many opportunities for public academy graduates."

Merilda nodded at her own words and sipped her tea.

"And if it’s at the academy where Sir Dian is, I’d be happy to go a hundred times over."

I feel the same way, Merilda.

If it weren’t for Dian, I might have run away before the year ended.

"But I’m curious. If I transfer to the academy, will I be able to learn directly from Sir Dian?"

"Not exactly. Professor Dian is the Head Combat Professor, so he doesn’t teach students directly."

"That’s fine. As long as I can be near Sir Dian, that’s all that matters to me."

At that moment, Kirrin had a strange feeling.

It seemed like Merilda's feelings towards Dian were a bit excessive.

She wasn’t asking about life at the Special Mission Academy or her future career path, only about Dian.

Well... I guess it's natural, considering he saved her life...

In any case, it was beneficial for Kirrin to bring Merilda in as a special student.

As a top graduate of a public academy, Merilda would significantly contribute to the quality of the academy’s final year students.

And so, Merilda of Tatanok became the second special student at the Imperial Special Mission Academy.

"I’ll come after everything here is settled. It shouldn’t take more than a few days."

"Alright, Miss Merilda. See you at the academy."

Having achieved what she came for, Kirrin boarded the carriage with a light heart.

Let’s keep this a secret from Dian for now. It’ll be a nice surprise later. Hehe.

As for what I heard about Sir Linus, I’ll look into that later.

# # # # #

After hearing the full story from Kirrin in the headmaster's office, I let out a wry laugh.

"Fate is strange indeed, but I never imagined it would turn out like this."

"Right? I was surprised too when I heard about what happened between Miss Merilda and Dian."

Kirrin then looked at me like a puppy, ears drooping, as if asking for her head to be patted.

"You did well, headmaster."

"Hehe."

Watching all this with a smile, Merilda sipped her tea.

"So, Merilda. You do know what this place is, right?"

"Yes, Sir Dian. After graduation, I’ll become a Special Agent in the imperial capital."

"Even though you graduated at the top of a public academy, adjusting won’t be easy."

"I’m prepared for that. As long as you’re here, Sir Dian, I can endure and overcome any hardship."

Oh boy...

"Alright then. How about we do a skill assessment? It just so happens that we’re preparing for a competition, so the timing is perfect."

With that, I led Merilda to the evaluation hall after our chat.

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]