Spy Classroom (スパイ教室), also known as Spy Room, is a Japanese light novel series written by Takemachi and illustrated by Tomari. Fujimi Shobo published the first volume under their Fujimi Fantasia Bunko imprint in January 2020. As of November 2025, fourteen main series volumes and six short story volumes in February 2024 have been released.
A manga adaptation with illustrations by Kaname Seu was serialized in Media Factory's Monthly Comic Alive magazine between May 2020 and April 2022. As of July 2022, its chapters have been collected into three tankōbon volumes. A second part of the manga by Benishake and a third part by Seu both began serializiation in the same magazine in June 2022.
An anime television series adaptation produced by Feel aired from January to March 2023. A second season aired from July to September 2023.
Plot
After a devastating war, there has been a realization that weapons are now too powerful and destructive. Thus ends the era of war fought in the "light" and begins the era of war fought within "darkness", a war fought with information and trickery, a war of spies. After the destruction of the spy team Inferno, their only surviving member, Klaus, sets off to create a team who specializes in "Impossible Missions". Impossible missions are missions that a spy team has already failed thus leading to higher security resulting in a chance of failure to be 90 percent.
The problem? The seven girls that Klaus has recruited are all washouts and bottom of the barrel for the spy schools they hailed from. Klaus only has a month to teach them everything he knows and in turn the girls will have to employ every possible trick to have a chance of surviving.
Characters
Lamplight
- Klaus (クラウス)
- The boss of Lamplight and former member of Inferno, 20 years old, code name Bonfire (燎火), who re-established Lamplight after Inferno was wiped out. Self proclaimed "the Greatest Spy in the World".[1][2] Despite being "the Greatest Spy in the World" he is terrible at teaching as he does things intuitively.
- His catchphrase is "It’s the best" (極上だ)
- Lily (リリィ)
- She has silver hair, 17 years old, code name Flower Garden (花園).[3] The team leader of Lamplight. Her specialty is using poison to disable her enemies while she has a special immunity to poison herself. She wants to become a spy due to her life being saved by one after she survived a poison gas attack during the Great War. Due to her concern for the Lamplight team and her own skills, she is designated by Klaus to be the team leader for Lamplight.
Media
Light novels
The light novel is written by Takemachi and illustrated by Tomari; Fujimi Shobo published the first volume under its Fujimi Fantasia Bunko imprint on January 18, 2020. As of November 2025, fourteen volumes of the main series have been released. Six short story volumes have also been released. Asaura is listed as "assistance with firearm research" of the series.
Before the first volume was published, a promotional video was released, where Yūichirō Umehara, Sora Amamiya, Miku Itō, Nao Tōyama, Aoi Yūki, Sumire Uesaka, Ayane Sakura and Tomori Kusunoki played the roles of the members in Lamplight. It was the first time for a promotional video of a light novel series to feature as many as eight voice actors.[12]
A spin-off writen by Takemachi and illustrated by Gabiran, titled スパイ教室 side『鳳』 (Supai Kyōshitsu side "Ōtori"), was published by Fujimi Fantasia Bunko on November 20, 2025. It follows a newly-formed team Avian.
Reception
Rebecca Silverman from Anime News Network praised the story as fun and interesting, while criticizing what she felt were authorial stumbles trying to pull everything together.[89] Demelza from Anime UK News praised the first volume as well, as she felt it was unique compared to most other light novels available in English.[90] Satoshi Maejima from The Asahi Shimbun also praised the story, while criticizing the main female protagonist as underdeveloped.[91]
In the Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! guidebook, the series ranked second in the bunkobon category in 2021.[92] As of February 23, 2023, the series has sold 1,100,000 units between the digital and print versions.[93]
See also
- My Friend's Little Sister Has It In for Me!, another light novel series illustrated by the same illustrator
External links
References
- Takemachi. Spy Classroom Lily of the Garden, Vol 1 Yen Press, 2021, retrieved July 31, 2022^
- . Takemachi. Spy Classroom Lily of the Garden, Vol 1 Yen Press, 2021, retrieved July 31, 2022^
- リリィ TVアニメ「スパイ教室」公式サイト, retrieved July 31, 2022