Necromancer Academy’s Genius Summoner - Chapter 173

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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 173
Simon dusted off his new robe and glanced back over his shoulder.
From the garbage heap came a muffled “Poof!” as Metin lifted his head.

Holy power rippled from his hands covering his face, and the nosebleed stopped while his crushed nasal bones rapidly knit back together.
“What did you do?”
Metin pushed himself up against the wall.
“You definitely reek of Dark Element, but how did you withstand Exorcism?”
“I’m a Priest too, Father.”
Simon shrugged to show off the blessings wrapped around his body, then clasped his hands together politely before speaking.
“As I’ve mentioned repeatedly, there’s been a misunderstanding. My name is——”
“I don’t want to hear it!”
Metin summoned his Holy power.
A pocket dimension unfurled around him once more, and all manner of torture instruments began attaching to his body.
“I trust my nose more than any villain’s tongue! You’re definitely——!”
Crash!
A colossal hammer forged from Holy power suddenly fell onto Metin’s head from above.
And far off, holding the hammer’s handle with an indifferent expression, was Rette.
“This is what we get on the first day in the Sacred Federation.”
“Rette!”
As she released the hammer from her hand, the Holy power that composed it scattered into the air and dissipated.
Metin, now unconscious, sank into the garbage heap and became one with the surrounding landscape.
“I trusted you and sent you out, and you cause trouble immediately. How exactly did you get on the radar of these leeches?”
“I really didn’t do anything.”
Simon scratched the side of his head as if protesting his innocence.
“I was just buying something at the market when he suddenly came at me out of nowhere, going on about smell or whatever.”
“Is that so? Keen nose, then.”
Rette turned toward Metin and furrowed her brow.
Beating him senseless was one thing, but she couldn’t kill a Heretic Inquisitor. It would leave traces, and everything would spiral out of control dozens of times worse than it already was.
Letting this pass quietly was the only option.
“Let’s go.”
“Yeah.”
The two of them hurried away from the scene.
When a couple came around the corner arm in arm from the opposite direction, they both pulled their hoods lower.
Soon after, the couple’s screams echoed, and the two of them blended into the Night Market crowd as though nothing had happened.
“By the way, what’s with that outfit?”
“Bought it here. It’s a disguise.”
She scanned Simon’s robe from top to bottom with a sidelong glance and spoke.
“Your robe’s quite nice, actually. The robe, I mean.”
“You don’t need to emphasize twice. Want me to buy you one so we can match?”
Her face showed a moment of surprise before she forced on a cold expression.
“I’d sooner hang myself than coordinate couple looks with you.”
Simon laughed loudly at that.

* * *
The next morning.
Despite the commotion from the previous night, Simon and Rette had rested well at the inn and safely arrived at the station.
‘Finally!’
While waiting for the Holy Train, Simon swelled with anticipation. This would be his first experience riding a train in his life.
Trains weren’t a widespread mode of transport in the Dark Alliance. Simon had always assumed he’d never have the chance to ride one in his lifetime.
‘And here I am experiencing it for the first time in this foreign land.’
In contrast, trains were a critical transport system in the Sacred Federation. While the fares were steep for ordinary people, the ridership rates were so high that empty cabins were virtually unheard of.
‘I wonder if it’ll be all right.’
Meanwhile, Rette kept glancing sideways at Simon. She had originally planned to use a different form of transport to reach their destination, the Tree of Life.
But Simon had kept up with the lessons better than expected, and whether through Anna’s influence or his own aptitude, his understanding of culture was remarkably solid. He was more than capable of playing the role of Novice Priest, so she’d decided on taking the Holy Train instead.
This way, they could skip all the hardships and ordeals that adventures usually entailed—camping, navigation, monster combat—and reach their destination in just five days without any detours.
It was an excellent means of transport, but the Heretic Inquisitors swarming the train still weighed on her mind.
‘At least that one with the keen nose isn’t assigned to the train crew.’
She’d used a communication device to call in a favor from an acquaintance and thoroughly checked the roster of Heretic Inquisitors on today’s train. That fellow Metin, the one with such a sharp sense of smell, wasn’t on the list.
‘It should be fine.’
“Ah, here it comes!”
Simon said.
A metallic clattering echoed from the distance as the train pulled into the station. A powerful whistle, reminiscent of a ship’s horn, pierced the air, and the locomotive’s chimney billowed forth clouds of white steam laced with holy power.
Simon dashed forward with a childlike grin spreading across his face.
“No matter how many times I see it, it’s incredible!”
His eyes gleamed as he turned around.
“But isn’t it going too fast? It’s definitely stopping in front of us, right?”
“…I’m embarrassed enough as it is—please lower your voice. And it’s dangerous standing there. Come back here.”
Rette grabbed at Simon’s sleeve and pulled him back. Even as he retreated, his gaze remained fixed on the train.
How could such a massive hunk of metal move so quickly? How many wheels did it have? How many people could fit inside? What did the interior look like?
Soon, as Rette had warned, the train began to decelerate, and came to a complete halt. Doors opened, and passengers spilled out.
The stop was a generous thirty minutes. Behind those loading and unloading cargo, other passengers emerged to stretch or purchase food and supplies.
Once all passengers had disembarked, the car attendants came out to wait for the next group of boarding passengers.
“Come on, let’s go inside.”
Simon and Rette approached the attendants with their prepared tickets.

* * *
“…What exactly are you scheming?”
Bakara, the senior Heretic Inquisitor assigned to the Holy Train 1631, stood with a stern expression outside the station. Before him stood Metin at attention.
“You’re asking to work under my jurisdiction just like that?”
“Exactly as I said. I don’t care about the salary—I’m asking you to let me work officially. Please.”
Metin bowed his head. Bakara frowned and scratched his head vigorously.
“What’s wrong with you young people these days? What about your own jurisdiction?”
“I’ve taken leave.”
“…You’re completely insane. You took leave just to work again? What’s the reason?”
“There’s someone I’m determined to catch.”
His eyes flashed with intensity.
“That person is on this train. In the name of the great goddess, I must bring them to justice.”
“You really are a piece of work.”
Bakara heaved a deep sigh.
Though the boy was uncouth, his father was a high-ranking official who’d risen through the Heretic Inquisitor ranks. He couldn’t simply ignore him.
In the end, Bakara added Metin’s name to the inquisitor roster.
“You’d better keep your word. If you later whine about it being too hard and ask to leave the train, I won’t go easy on you.”
Metin bowed respectfully.
“That will absolutely not happen.”

* * *
‘So this is what the inside of a train looks like.’
Simon gazed around excitedly as he stepped inside after surrendering his ticket.
Upon entering, he saw the general seating area with chairs crammed tightly together. Rette had explained that this section was reserved for those using the train for only a single day.
The two of them had reserved not these ordinary seats, but a proper cabin complete with beds. They carefully moved into the next car.
‘…Whoa.’
The moment Simon opened the cabin door, he was taken aback.
A narrow corridor, barely wide enough for one person to squeeze through, stretched before him. Flanking both sides were beds built into the floor and walls, creating a seven-bunk cabin capable of sleeping up to seven people.
There were beds on the first and second tiers, and then a third tier so cramped that sleeping there would mean your face touched the ceiling. Simon wondered if anyone could actually fit up there.
Since all the beds were open-faced, Simon encountered countless stares every time he passed through the narrow corridor.
From various directions came the sounds of snoring, teeth grinding, loud chatter, and people chewing. The stench of sweat and other foul odors assaulted his nose.
“This is the 3rd Class section,” she said.
Rette explained, but when she witnessed a man lying in a bed slip his hand into his pants and scratch at his crotch, she grimaced and turned away.
“It’s a bit narrow, but it looks cozier than I expected.”
Simon turned back to Rette with gleaming eyes.
“Are we supposed to sleep here?”
“…Are you insane? How could we sleep in a place reeking like this?”
Following Rette, they passed through 3rd Class and entered 2nd Class.
Here, the atmosphere felt more open. The corridor was spacious, and each section held four bunks. With that suffocating third tier gone, the space felt livelier.
Soft lighting was installed in the ceiling, and proper pillows and blankets were visible. From this section onward, even the passengers’ clothing was noticeably different.
“2nd Class is reserved for clerics, devout believers, and their families,” she said.
“What? So it’s divided by social status?”
“What did you think it was?”
“I assumed it was based on how much you pay. That 2nd Class would be more expensive than 3rd Class, and so on…”
“That’s a very rational mindset. I’ll admit, it makes sense to me too.”
The two of them passed through 2nd Class as well.
Finally, 1st Class.
“Wow……!”
From here on, it wasn’t merely luxurious—it was downright extravagant.
It felt less like stepping into a train car and more like entering a grand hall. Soft lighting bathed the space, and a red carpet lined the floor.
There were no bunk beds here. Each compartment was a two-person suite with two plush, spacious beds, and wine-colored curtains hung by the window.
The table held complimentary refreshments, fruits, and wine; the walls featured a mirror, a clock, storage space, and a few books.
This 1st Class cabin was where the two of them would spend the next five days.
“A2. This is us.”
The two entered the cabin.
Simon sat on the plush bed, marveling at the amenities, while Rette stood by the door with a frown, clearly displeased.
“What’s wrong?”
“1st Class normally has doors for privacy, but they’ve removed them entirely. Probably because of the heretic inspections.”
Simon crossed his arms.
“Are the heretic inspections usually this intense around here? What happened at the Night Market yesterday was quite a shock.”
“Not this severe, normally.”
She let out a sigh.
“Like I mentioned before, heretics—the Blood Heaven Cult or whatever they call themselves—have been killing and kidnapping residents, so security is at an extreme level right now. They usually disguise themselves as ordinary people.”
“I see.”
The two sat down, and a moment later, the train whistle sounded. Through the window, they could see people who’d been stretching outside the station hurrying back aboard.
Passengers who’d been outside 1st Class also bustled back in noisily. Some glanced curiously at their compartment as they passed through the corridor.
Clang!
The car shuddered. Feeling the vibration through his feet, Simon’s eyes lit up.
“Rette! We’re departing now!”
“Keep your voice down, you hick! You’re embarrassing me.”
Despite Rette’s rebuke, Simon paid it no mind, pressing his face against the window to take in the view outside.
Some people sitting at the station waved at Simon with smiling faces. Simon, thrilled, waved back enthusiastically.
The Holy Train gradually picked up speed. The car jolted, and the resonant hum of wheels against track filled the air. The landscape outside rushed past rapidly.
Then came an announcement.
—Passengers will shortly transition to the aerial track. Please fasten your safety belts.
“It lifts off?”
“We’re entering the aerial track. Put your belt on.”
The two fastened the safety belts connected to the foot of their beds. Moments later, with a clunking sound, the car tilted upward.
“……!”
Simon gazed out the window, feeling a peculiar sensation travel through his legs. The rails were literally floating in the air.
The train climbed onto them, and a path through the sky materialized. In an instant, the world fell away below, and buildings shrank to toy size.
The train surged forward, even clearing a high mountain.
“Waaaah!”
Watching Simon’s continuous exclamations, Rette felt her own shoulders lift slightly. Her mood lifting, she wiggled her fingers as she explained.
“Sacred Power has a property called ‘buoyancy.’ Maximizing it allows us to suspend railways and fortresses in the air.”
“Is that why Ephenor’s famous floating island exists because of Sacred Power?”
“Probably so.”
Simon gently bit his thumb.
“I’d like to visit it someday.”
“……That’s insane. You’d die if you went there.”
Even as she said this, she smiled slightly and added.
“Unless war breaks out—who knows. I don’t know if you’ll ever set foot on that floating island, but maybe one day I’ll plant the Goddess’s flag in Rocksum.”
She’d needled him subtly, but Simon was too absorbed in the window to notice. Watching the hick gush with wonder, Rette leaned back against her seat and chuckled quietly.
Moments later, the Holy Train cleared the mountain and settled back onto the ground rails. Passengers in other seats unfastened their belts and murmured amongst themselves. Simon unfastened his as well and asked.
“Just checking on the off chance—there’s a restroom on the train too, right……?”
“There is. Go out to the corridor and straight ahead, you’ll find it.”
Simon exclaimed with delight and headed for the restroom. Rette was chuckling and about to open the wine on the table when—
From the corridor came the sound of girls laughing boisterously and cheerfully.
“Big sister, big sister! There are new people in our cabin!”
“You didn’t even come say hello to us first—how rude!”
They were having quite a time.
Rette crossed her legs and poured wine into a glass.
Moments later, a girl in a white school uniform was practically shoved into Rette’s cabin.
Around her, other girls with their heads barely peeking in giggled with an expression that said, ‘You’re done for now.’
“Ahem, hello there! Do you have a moment to spare?”
So that’s the person she kept going on about.
Rette’s eyes lifted, sweeping quickly from the top of the newcomer’s head to her feet.
‘An Ephenor School Uniform? But…’
Rette’s mouth curved upward slightly.
‘Counterfeit written all over it. And she expects people to fall for that?’
The schoolgirl in the Ephenor uniform that had entered the cabin swept her hair back with elegant grace.
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Ellen Zail, a second-year at Sacred Federation University Ephenor.”

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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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