Necromancer Academy’s Genius Summoner - Chapter 166
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Necromancer School’s Summoning Genius Chapter 166
The next morning.
Gasp—gasp!
Simon climbed the sloped mountain range with Curse Bracelets fastened around both arms and legs.
Without pushing his Obsidian Magic Operation to the absolute limit, even a single step would have been impossible, yet Simon pressed on with stubborn determination.
‘No time to rest until I reach the Sacred Federation!’
While sprinting with Internal Dark Element Manipulation, he practiced Sacred Flame on and off with one hand while reading a book about Sacred Federation culture from Anna’s room with the other.
A spectacle that seemed almost miraculous. Even with his vision obscured by the book, he dodged the dense trees effortlessly and cleared the mountain range unscathed.
“Though.”
Simon turned his head.
“Why are you following me?”
Beside Simon ran Lete, her legs wreathed in Sacred Flame as she kept pace. Her expression was petulant.
“I was bored, so I came along for a walk. Do you mind?”
“I don’t mind. It’s just work, so it won’t be fun.”
“That’s fine. Don’t mind me—just do what you were doing.”
Simon nodded and turned his attention back to the book as he ran. Lete watched his training method with an expression of complete bewilderment.
‘First, Btant Village.’
Nestled halfway up the mountain range, Btant Village was positioned in highland terrain where people farmed vast slash-and-burn fields. With houses strung across the elevated land, the sight was precarious yet beautiful.
“Young Master!”
“Simon’s here!”
At the arrival of the lord’s heir, whom they hadn’t seen in some time, the villagers rushed forth like a gathering cloud.
“Cough, cough! Oh my, young master.”
An elderly man approached and gripped Simon’s hand tightly in both of his weathered palms.
“This old Nelton has watched you since you were just a speck of a boy. To hear that you’ve already become a Kizen student—it’s truly moving.”
“Thank you, Nelton.”
“Just as expected of their son! Young master, you’re the pride of Leshil!”
“You’re too kind. I’ll do my best to live up to your expectations.”
“So Simon, is it nice going to school alone? Huh? And are there lots of pretty girls at Kizen?”
“Well, um. Seems like it. But more importantly, Tom—”
Simon gestured behind him.
“Catherine’s coming back there.”
“Oh, dammit!”
Guffaw, guffaw, guffaw!
Small mountain village though it was, the atmosphere was warm. Simon greeted each villager by name and connected with them personally.
“Master Peter, is there anything troubling you lately?”
“It must be mating season, but there seem to be far too many goblins in the mountains. They keep destroying the fields.”
“I’ll reduce their numbers on my way back.”
Listening to the villagers’ concerns was part of Simon’s duty. He would report matters to his father Richard, and whatever he could handle himself, he would solve directly.
‘Hmm.’
From a distance, watching quietly, Lete found something unexpected crossing her mind.
This terrifying Necromancer had appeared, yet the villagers treated Simon with genuine warmth.
Weren’t they afraid of becoming Skeletons? Didn’t they say this sort of person smiles to their face but secretly kidnaps innocent people and turns them into Undead?
‘I’ll understand more if I keep watching.’
Whether she was being deceived or not, at least these villagers genuinely believed in Simon and followed him.
“Haha, Simon!”
Just then, Tom hurried over after fleeing from Catherine and slung an arm around Simon’s neck. Though four years older, Tom had grown up like a sworn brother to Simon.
“…My neck hurts, Tom.”
“Stop being such a baby! But more than that—”
Still holding Simon’s neck, Tom lowered himself and curved his lips into a grin, asking in a hushed voice.
“Who is that woman?”
A beautiful girl with hair like winter snow, pure white, strode through the village. Her skin was pale as jade, her large eyes a soft golden hue, and she walked with long strides in a brown robe flowing behind her.
“Did you already bring your girlfriend from Kizen to meet your parents? You’ve got some nerve, seriously.”
“…It’s not like that.”
“Then who is she?”
Simon paused briefly to think, then answered simply.
“My mother’s friend’s daughter.”
“Ah, I see. But let me ask you straight up, man.”
Tom poked Simon in the chest repeatedly, his lips curling upward.
“Is she your girl or not? Even if I’m reckless, I can’t make a move on my sworn brother’s woman.”
“I told you, it’s not like that.”
“Okay, okay.”
Only then did Tom release his arm from around Simon’s neck and clear his throat with a soft cough. He turned and began walking slowly toward Lete.
“Good afternoon, miss.”
“……?”
Lete tilted her head, her white hair swaying with the motion. At the sight of her, the country boy’s face flushed crimson.
‘God, she’s beautiful. I’ve never seen anyone this lovely in my whole life except Simon’s mother!’
Tom felt his heart pounding wildly as he opened his mouth.
“Do you believe in God?”
“……!!”
Lete’s expression drained of color.
‘Wait—is this what I think it is? Is this man suspecting me?’
She turned her head and shot Simon a look so fierce it could kill. Simon merely shook his head with a helpless expression, as if he had no idea what was happening.
Tom strode forward. Lete, startled, instinctively retreated—but within moments her back met the stone wall behind her.
“I believe in God.”
Tom lowered himself with a solemn expression. Lete summoned Sacred power as a precaution, just in case.
But in Tom’s fingers was a wildflower he’d just plucked.
“And that god is you.”
“…….”
A cool breeze swept between them with a whistle.
‘Oh, I’m going to die.’
Simon felt embarrassed on Tom’s behalf and turned away, his face burning red. Lete, equally flustered, looked back and forth between the wildflower and Tom’s face.
“……Were you just trying to pick me up?”
“Ha ha ha! Not exactly, but if that’s how you feel, I suppose I can’t help it. Ha ha!”
Lete relaxed inwardly, then extended two slender fingers.
‘?’
What kind of answer was that? As Tom puzzled over it, Lete wiggled her fingers and asked a question.
“Can you see clearly? How many is this?”
“Two, two fingers.”
“And this?”
“Three.”
“And this?”
“None—your hand’s closed.”
“Hmm, your vision seems fine. That’s strange.”
Lete approached with the graceful gait of a well-bred lady. As the distance closed, a subtle fragrance wafted toward him and Tom’s expression grew dizzy.
With a serious face, Lete reached out and pried open Tom’s right eyelid.
“Your eye doesn’t seem damaged.”
“……W-what?”
She withdrew her hand and smiled, arms folded behind her back.
“A man as charming and impressive as you doesn’t suit someone like me.”
“B-but……!”
“Why don’t you focus on that Catherine instead? She was far more beautiful~ Well then, goodbye!”
Lete smoothly rejected Tom and walked over to Simon’s side. When Simon stared at her, her expression hardened instantly.
“What are you looking at? Knock it off. Get back to work.”
The playful, flirtatious tone vanished in an instant, replaced by her usual cold voice. Simon chuckled and spoke.
“Your personality really is something else.”
“Says you. Hurry up with the work. I don’t know my way around here, so I have to follow you.”
“Got it.”
Simon made a final visit to the village headman’s house. After listening to petitions, reviewing the ledgers, and collecting taxes, he bowed respectfully and stepped outside.
“We’ve got more running to do. You alright?”
“Don’t worry about me—just keep running.”
Simon moved on to the next village.
Then the next, and the next after that.
He never rested once. Despite wearing four Curse Bracelets on his wrists and ankles, he showed no sign of fatigue, greeting people with a constant smile.
In this way, Simon and Lete completed their circuit of all seven villages Richard had mentioned and returned to the annex where Richard was waiting.
“Welcome back, Simon.”
Richard spoke. Lete walked in first with her hand propped against the back of her head.
“You’ve worked hard too, Lete.”
“……I didn’t really do much of anything.”
With that reply, Lete, as always, headed into the inner chamber where Anna lay. Simon came before Richard, breathing heavily.
“I’ve visited all the villages you mentioned.”
Simon reported to Richard everything he had heard directly from the residents—their requests and grievances alike. Richard nodded in acknowledgment.
“I’ve already pinpointed the goblin encampment. I’ll subjugate them before the day’s end, so don’t worry.”
Richard conjured a Dark Element magic circle in the air. Though Simon didn’t notice, a massive Skeleton battalion was already rising from the yard outside the house and marching up into the mountain range.
“Father, then…?”
“Yes, a promise is a promise.”
Richard grinned, baring his teeth.
“Starting tomorrow, I’ll teach you Corpse Explosion for two hours each day.”
“Oh! Thank you so much!”
Simon bowed deeply. Just then, Lete’s head popped out from the inner room.
“That’s settled, but remember you have Holy Studies in a couple of hours? If you whine about being tired during my class because of some mission or other, I’ll step on your head.”
“That won’t happen. I’ll make sure your lesson goes without a hitch.”
Simon gathered his Holy Studies books with a beaming smile and headed off to shower. Richard watched him go with a look of quiet pride.
‘Could there be another child who finds such joy in learning something new?’
It might be too early to think it, but he couldn’t help imagining what Simon would become when he came of age.
Could Simon not be the very key to resolving the long-standing, deeply rooted problems that had plagued this rigid and sluggish continent?
* * *
“Get it straight!”
As always, Simon and Lete resumed their lesson on the Hill. Today’s subject was Guardian Studies.
The discipline of using Sacred Power to erect defensive barriers and wards. Even at Efnel, they had specialized defensive courses like this one.
Notably, the protective ward Francesca had cast during the Kizen Terror Incident was so formidable that even Nephthys had to pay a price to pass through it.
‘Kizen’s seven courses are all focused on offense, which is precisely what troubles me about it.’
Simon extended his arms with that thought in mind. Sacred Power radiated outward from his palms, unfurling into a thin barrier, and Lete drew out a Holy Arrow infused with physical force, launching it at him.
Crash! Boom!
‘Ugh!’
As the attacks intensified, his concentration wavered. Part of the barrier crumbled, and scratch wounds appeared across his body from the arrows, but he quickly drew up more Sacred Power to repair the breached section.
“That’s starting to look passable. Let’s move on to the next exercise.”
Whenever he sustained wounds, they followed with Healing Studies right away. Simon pressed his hand to a bleeding wound on his skin.
‘Heal.’
A white light bloomed in his palm and the wound began to seal.
Simon ran his fingers over the healed area with wonder, marveling at how the wound had disappeared completely.
“Today’s lesson ends here.”
The beginning and end of each lesson always followed the same ritual. They faced each other on their knees, chanted a prayer, and offered thanks to the Goddess for another day of learning. Then, placing their hands above their navels, they bowed respectfully toward one another.
As Simon lifted his head, a wry smile crossed his face.
“Do we really have to keep doing this every time? I don’t even believe in the Goddess.”
She erupted instantly, flames of anger blazing across her features.
“It’s basic courtesy! Listen here! If you’re going to refuse even this, then quit taking lessons from me!”
“All right, all right.”
He’d only made things worse by speaking up.
Simon gathered his things and scanned the notes he’d compiled on Holy Studies.
Blessing Studies: A category of Holy Magic that strengthens oneself or others through buffs.
Holy Force Studies: The most offensive of the seven courses. It includes many attack spells using Holy Magic to exert or detonate physical force.
Healing Studies: The discipline of recovery—mending wounds, curing poison, treating illness, and dispelling curses.
Holy Spirit Studies: Efnel’s equivalent of Necromancy. Rather than Sacred Power, it consumes “Radiance” to manipulate beings called Holy Spirits. Only Priests with a connection to Holy Spirits can use it.
Guardian Studies: A discipline specialized in defense, erecting protective barriers and wards.
Holy Beast Studies: The discipline of handling and utilizing special creatures called Holy Beasts.
Holy Combat Studies: Combat techniques learned by warriors called Monks—fighting Priests.
“Can I ask you something personal, not just about the lessons?”
“…What is it?”
Blessing, Healing, Holy Combat, Holy Beast, Holy Spirit, Guardian, Holy Force. Of Efnel’s seven courses, which four are your chosen specializations? You have to declare your majors eventually at Efnel, right?”
“Ah, yes, that’s true.”
She settled back comfortably, placing both hands on the grass and leaning against them.
“It’s actually been decided since I entered. I’m thinking of specializing in Holy Beast Studies.”
“Holy Beast Studies? Come to think of it, we haven’t covered that at all.”
“That’s because you can’t learn it yet.”
She wagged her index finger smugly.
“First, you need a Holy Beast.”
“A Holy Beast?”
Holy Beasts are sacred creatures capable of generating Sacred Power within their bodies. While Undead are widely distributed across the continent and their numbers have swelled dramatically, the population of Holy Beasts is extremely limited.
They were said to be rare species, born one or two at a time in pristine, unpolluted natural environments.
“Just hearing about it sounds incredibly expensive. Holy Beast Studies isn’t that popular in Efnel either, is it?”
“No, it isn’t.”
She waved her hand dismissively.
“It’s difficult to acquire a Holy Beast in the first place, and then there’s the feed costs, maintenance fees—there’s so much to worry about. Worst of all, if the beast dies in combat or simply reaches the end of its lifespan, the practitioner has nothing left to work with.”
“Ah, that’s… I see.”
It was much like Summoning Magic.
For a brief moment, Simon felt a kinship with her.
“Wait—so you’re saying you actually have a Holy Beast?”
“I do.”
Curiosity flooded through Simon, and he tilted his head forward.
“Can you show it to me right now?”
Lete was none other than the top student of Efnel’s first-year class.
What kind of Holy Beast could she possibly possess that had led the top student to choose Holy Beast Studies as her major from the moment of enrollment?
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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