Necromancer Academy and the Genius Summoner

Chapter 466: Episode 466

"Have you been well, Arthur?"

Seeing Simon’s face, Arthur’s eyes welled up with deep emotion.

"Simon!"

He rushed forward and threw his arms around Simon in a crushing hug. For a moment, Simon felt his breath catch in his throat.

"I missed you! I can’t believe we’re meeting again so soon! I was so bummed we didn’t get to say a proper goodbye on the Parona Peninsula!"

"Whoa, hold on!" Simon let out a dry laugh. "Caldom down, Arthur."

Only then did Arthur release him and take a step back. He didn’t have a particularly large build, but his strength and stamina were like a gorilla’s.

"Let’s deal with this first, then we can talk," Simon said, glancing around.

Gang members were scattered everywhere, while others whimpered, pinned to the wall by his Bone Armor. Two of them were still fast asleep from his spell.

Simon’s voice dropped.

"I’m going to ask you all a few questions."

He opened his subspace as he walked toward the pinned men.

"You’ve heard the rumors about necromancers, haven’t you? If I don’t get satisfactory answers, I’ll put you in a state where you can’t even die. Forever."

Zombies poured out, groaning and drooling viscous fluid from their mouths. The gang members’ faces turned deathly pale.

"Y-You bastard!" one of them shrieked. "Go on, try it! Do you have any idea what punishment a necromancer gets for laying a hand on a civilian?!"

With a blank expression, Simon shrugged off his outer robe to reveal his black Kizen uniform. At the sight of the school crest on his chest, their faces hardened even more.

A necromancer from Kizen.

Even first-year students possessed investigative authority within the Dark Alliance.

"First question, then." Simon readjusted his robe. "State your affiliation."

They desperately avoided his gaze, their mouths clamped shut. Simon sighed heavily.

"I was hoping to avoid bloodshed with the very first question."

As soon as the words left his mouth, the zombies’ jaws fell open, and they began to shamble forward.

"N-No! Simon!" Arthur grabbed Simon, his face a mask of horror. "Even if you’re from Kizen, you can’t kill people!"

’You’ve got to be kidding me,’ Simon thought, shooting Arthur a glare. ’It’s an act. How can you fall for it before the enemy does?’

But something unexpected happened. Arthur’s desperate attempt to stop him only stoked the gang members’ terror. Believing Simon truly intended to kill them, they began to tremble, their limbs twitching convulsively.

’They’re terrified.’

"Let go of me, Arthur." Simon decided to use Arthur’s reaction to his advantage. "I’ll just tear a few of them apart to make an example."

As Arthur frantically tried to hold him back and the zombies drooled inches from the gang members’ faces, someone finally broke.

"What the hell is he doing?!" one of them screamed.

’He?’ Simon’s eyes glinted sharply.

"Hurry up!"

"We’re really going to die at this rate!"

’Is there an accomplice nearby?’ Simon scanned the area, but there was no sign of anyone else. ’Hm?’

Just then, Simon spotted something black and shiny under the shirt of one of the unconscious gang members. He quickly strode over and lifted the man’s shirt, revealing a vivid magic circle drawn on his skin.

And then, the man’s body disintegrated into dust and vanished.

’What?’

The same thing was happening to the others. All their bodies were crumbling away like sand.

’Damn it!’

Simon pulled a black feather from his pocket and quickly tucked it inside the clothes of the sleeping gang member who was disappearing the slowest. A moment later, that man also vanished along with the feather, leaving the alley empty of assailants.

"W-What just happened?" Arthur asked, looking around in confusion.

Simon dusted off his hands.

"Looks like they had a necromancer on their side."

The symbol carved on their abdomens was a Perpetual Magic Circle.

’To embed a magic circle that channels jet-black into ordinary people without cores... using it even once would probably cut their lifespan in half.’

’What was their goal?’ They weren’t simple muggers. They were a suicide squad of dozens, and the price for half their lifespan was merely a technique to vanish without a trace.

"Arthur, do you have any idea why those people were targeting you?"

Arthur, who had been staring blankly, snapped back to reality.

"Uh, no. They said they were guides hired by my comrades, so I just followed them."

"You’re really something else," Simon said with a faint smile.

"By the way, Simon! Were you really going to turn those people into undead?"

"Of course it was an act."

"An act? Wow! So you were just trying to scare them into giving you information! You completely fooled me!"

Simon scratched the back of his neck.

’If you’re really coming to Kizen, you’re in for a rough time.’

---

The two walked together, catching up. Arthur explained that he had arrived in Langestin the day before and had spent the entire day lost. Fortunately, he had a note with his destination’s address.

"It’s close. I’ll take you," Simon offered.

Arthur beamed.

"Ah, you’re a lifesaver! The streets in Langestin are so complicated; I’m completely turned around!"

"I had a hard time my first year, too."

They chatted as they walked side-by-side.

"What brings you to Langestin, Simon?"

"Just some school business."

"Oh, right!" Arthur bowed his head sharply. "My apologies! I’ll correct my form of address. Senior Simon!"

"Huh?"

"I’m actually enrolling in Kizen tomorrow, too! Hahaha!"

So Arthur was a Kizen freshman. It figured. Any teenager wandering around lost in Langestin at this time was probably a new Kizen student. Still...

"What’s wrong?" Arthur asked.

"Ah." Simon, who had been feeling a warm nostalgia, cleared his throat in embarrassment. Truth be told, he’d gotten a little thrill from hearing someone call him ’Senior’ for the first time. "I was just surprised."

"Hahaha! I bet you were! And on top of that, I’m getting in as a special admission student!"

’Of course he is. He’s an active mercenary king.’ From what Simon had seen on Parona, he had plenty of combat experience and talent to spare. He was a shoo-in for Special Admission No. 1.

"Actually, I was a special admission student, too," Simon admitted. "I entered as Special Admission No. 1."

"Whoa! What a coincidence!"

A Kizen freshman who knew nothing about the world. Simon saw a reflection of his younger self in Arthur, which made him feel even more affectionate. The more they talked, the deeper he sank into old memories.

"Have you bought your textbooks yet?"

"Nope! I was planning on going to the bookstore today."

Simon cleared his throat again.

"I’m heading to the bookstore today, too. If you’d like, I could... show you the way?"

"Ah, I’m sorry, Senior!" Arthur smiled brightly. "I’m supposed to go with my mercenary comrades!"

Simon felt a bead of sweat form on his brow.

"R-Right. Well, can’t be helped then."

"Oh, over there!"

Just then, Arthur’s comrades came into view. They were clearly dressed as mercenaries.

"Arthur!" they called out, running over in a group.

They immediately started scolding him for being late and making them worry.

Simon watched from a short distance, seeing how much they cared for him.

"Thanks for bringing Arthur to us," one of the female mercenaries said as she approached.

"Not at all. It was nothing," Simon replied.

He raised a hand toward Arthur.

"Well then, see you on the boat to Kizen tomorrow, Arthur."

"Yep! See you, Senior Simon!"

After returning Arthur to his friends, Simon, clad in his robe, strolled leisurely through the streets of Langestin. He had the day off to do as he pleased. Being a Kizen student himself, he easily spotted other freshmen all over the city. He overheard them wondering what they would major in or if they would meet the professors they admired. Sometimes they repeated garbled rumors, and his mouth itched to correct them, but he held back, not wanting to be seen as a weirdo.

He arrived at the designated bookstore. Only a select few carried Kizen’s official textbooks, and this place was, without a doubt, teeming with new students.

’This brings back memories,’ Simon thought, watching the boys and girls from all over the continent. They were all clutching the textbook lists that had come with their Kizen admission letters.

"Venomology? That sounds interesting!"

"Ugh, look at this illustration. The skeleton is so creepy."

"I don’t think I could touch one of those..."

Simon walked around with a fond, persistent smile.

’They’re so cute.’ Thinking of them as his juniors made them seem incredibly endearing. They were like chirping little chicks, knowing nothing about the subjects or the professors. They would grab an armful of books and scurry to the counter. He saw many who had already made friends right there in the store, striking up conversations with a simple, "You’re a freshman too, right?"

’Ahem, enough watching. I should get my own things done.’

The section with the second-year textbooks was deeper inside the store. Simon made his way there and picked out the books he needed.

’Intermediate Major Summoning. I’ve checked the author’s name, too.’

He decided to buy all three of his major textbooks here. He’d have to wait to buy his general education books in Rochester, since he didn’t know his schedule yet.

Simon tucked the books under his arm and headed for the counter, but paused when he saw a girl on her tiptoes, straining to pull a book from the top shelf.

"Ugh! Ugh!"

He immediately recognized her as a freshman and approached.

"Need some help?"

The girl glanced at him before turning back to her task.

"I’m fine."

Despite her words, the beads of sweat on her forehead and her struggling posture told a different story. More importantly, the bookshelf was wobbling, and it looked like the books on top might fall and hurt her.

Simon slowly walked over, pulled out the book she wanted, and gently placed it on her stack. Then, pretending he hadn’t seen a thing, he started toward the counter.

"Thanks," she mumbled.

He turned to see her pouting, clearly embarrassed. Simon turned all the way around and smiled.

"You’re welcome."

"Hmph." She strode right up to him. "Hey, you’re a freshman too, right?"

"I’m a second-year."

"Hahahaha! Don’t lie!" she laughed, cheerfully slapping his arm. "I can tell you’re our age just by looking at you!"

’Well, she’s not wrong. There’s only a one-year difference between us.’

"Ah, I’m so excited for the entrance ceremony. Aren’t you?" she continued, having already decided he was a freshman. "Aren’t you excited?"

"Of course I am," Simon replied. ’Because my friends and I planned it.’

"I can’t believe I’m actually at Kizen! It still doesn’t feel real!" She rattled on, not giving him a chance to speak. "I came from far away—the Aaron estate in the Kingdom of Kallos! Where are you from?"

"Reshill, in the Kingdom of Baldwin."

"Reshill? Never heard of it. Anyway, nice to meet you! My name is Heidi Perris."

She held out her hand. After a moment’s hesitation, Simon took it.

"Simon Polentia."

"Huh? That name sounds really familiar." She shook his hand vigorously, then looked him over with a grin. "Heh, first time holding a girl’s hand?"

"Ah, no. That’s not it..."

"Riiight, I’m sure," she teased.

Heidi was clearly playful. As they walked and chatted, she noticed a shiny red insignia inside his robe.

"That’s pretty. What is it?"

Simon answered plainly.

"The symbol of a Kizen second-year."

"Oh, come on! I told you not to lie!"

"But it’s true."

She burst out laughing.

"A dazed-looking kid like you is a second-year? You just want me to call you ’Senior,’ don’t you? You think I’m going to fall for that?"

"No, that’s not it..."

"Besides, the second-years are already on, uh, what was it? Luke Island! Did you think I wouldn’t know?"

"It’s Roc Island," Simon corrected. "And I’m here to escort the freshmen..."

’Hahahahahaha!’ Now she was clutching her stomach, howling with laughter.

"Seriously, what’s your deal? You’re hilarious! Don’t you think that’s a ridiculous excuse?"

He could see why she might not believe him. Escorting students was a professor’s job, not a second-year’s. It was too much trouble to argue, so Simon let it go.

’She’ll believe me when we meet on the boat tomorrow.’

He finished paying for his textbooks. He had wanted to show Heidi he was buying second-year books, but the lines were so long that a clerk directed her to a different counter.

"Anyway, it was fun meeting you," Heidi said once they were outside. "Say hi if you see me at school."

"Got it."

"Well, my mom’s waiting for me at the inn, so I’ve gotta run!" Heidi waved and darted down an alley.

Simon waved back.

"See you tomorrow, Heidi."

"Yup!"

---

Heidi walked with a confident stride through the narrow, shabby alleys unique to Langestin, a textbook clutched to her chest.

’That Simon kid is hilarious,’ she thought, still savoring the memory of her first new friend in the city. ’On the other hand, I’m a little worried. How is a clumsy, dazed-looking kid like that going to survive at Kizen? Maybe I should help him out a bit.’

She heard something fall nearby. She glanced toward the sound, then continued on her way.

’Must be a lot of rats. Ugh, I hate big cities.’

She started walking again.

’Click.’

’Thwack.’

’Thud.’

Strange sounds echoed around her, a little too loud to be rats.

’Maybe it’s not rats?’

A sliver of fear crept in, and her pace quickened.

’Tap.’

’Tat-tat-tat-tat!’

Soon, she was sprinting down the alley at full speed. She navigated the maze-like passages until she could see the wide-open main road where carriages passed.

’I made it! Almost there...!’

Her vision went black. A rough cloth was clamped over her mouth and nose.

"Mmph! Mmph!"

She struggled violently, but her consciousness quickly faded, and she passed out.

She was surrounded by robed figures.

A moment later, their bodies disintegrated into powder and vanished.