Necromancer Academy’s Genius Summoner - Chapter 20

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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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The Necromancer Academy’s Summoning Prodigy — Chapter 20
Time slipped away. Gradually, consciousness returned to Simon.
[Ah, you’ve come to!]
The moment his eyes opened, the first thing he saw was a tall skeleton with burning eyes. Simon lurched upright.
“…Pier! What—what happened?”
[The contract has concluded successfully. Feel the changes in your body!]
Simon blinked and placed a hand over his chest.
‘The Core…!’
His Core had grown larger. And that was not all—the Dark Power that had once strained his body even in small quantities now flowed through him like a warm, gentle current.
Something fundamental had shifted within him.
[Congratulations, boy, on becoming one of only seven Legion Commanders in existence!]
Pier grinned wickedly. As Simon tried to rise, dizziness swept over him and he pressed his palm to his forehead.
[Do not overexert yourself! Your body has undergone an enormous transformation.]
“Yes, understood.”
During that contract, Simon had nearly lost consciousness multiple times.
His entire being had been consumed by an alien, grotesque sensation. He’d thought countless times that it would be easier to bite his own tongue and die than endure that exquisite torment.
‘I won’t be moving for a while. I’m stuck here for the rest of the night.’
Simon exhaled softly and looked at Pier.
“I have a question for you, Pier.”
[Speak, boy!]
Pier folded his arms and spoke with solemn weight.
“What exactly is a Legion?”
[…….]
A heavy silence fell over the Ruin.
[What! You contracted with me without even knowing that!]
“Yes.”
Nephthys, a comrade of his father, had shown him the way in. He’d found Pier, his father’s undead, and taken him under his care. That was the whole story.
Pier laughed in utter disbelief.
[It may take me quite some time to fully understand a creature like you! Very well. I shall explain!]
Pier’s expression grew serious.
[But first—how much do you know of the Undead?]
“Um… about as much as a first-year student at Kizen.”
[Ha! A freshman with no fear whatsoever, venturing here alone! Truly, Richard’s son!]
Pier began his explanation.
According to him, the Undead in this world fall into three categories.
The first are Summoned-type Undead.
All Undead commanded by Necromancers are of this kind. They are artificially created from corpses through Dark Magic and obey the Necromancer’s orders. They vanish when the Dark Magic’s effect wanes or sufficient time passes.
The second are Natural-type Undead.
These arise without the involvement of Necromancers or Dark Magic. They are what the general populace knows as the Undead, and they are objects of fear across the continent due to their mindless hatred of the living and extreme aggression. They fall into the “monster” category designated by mankind.
And the third is…
[The Legion!]
Pier’s voice rose sharply.
[The Legion occupies precisely the middle ground between Summoned-type and Natural-type Undead! They are Natural-type Undead capable of self-sufficiency through their own Cores, yet they also obey the commands of Necromancers and higher-ranking entities like Summoned-type Undead!]
“Legion-type Undead…”
Simon murmured the words and nodded slowly.
[There exist only seven Legions in this world. In other words, there are only seven Necromancers capable of controlling a Legion. You are one of them, boy!]
Pier’s account was a cascade of revelations.
Ordinary Summoning-type Necromancers typically command Undead in platoon strength, he explained.
Some Necromancers can field company-sized units, and high-ranking Necromancers of Kizen caliber can even manage battalion-scale forces, though inefficiently.
This numerical limitation exists because all Undead commanded by Necromancers are Summoned-type.
Both summoning and controlling them consumes Dark Power and mental strength.
But the Legion, moving of its own magical power, stood entirely free from such constraints.
[The Legion knows no limits! You can command ten thousand, a hundred thousand—infinite numbers! If you’ve heard tales of a Necromancer leading vast undead armies, it was surely the tale of a Legion Commander!]
“Ah…”
Simon felt both elated and utterly bewildered.
I’ve become one of only seven Necromancers in the world, with no limit to my forces? It hardly seemed believable, even having heard it.
[Has your curiosity been satisfied?]
“Yes.”
[Good! The contract is complete, and for better or worse, we are now bound to the same ship. Shall we discuss our plans moving forward?]
“I’d like that, Pier.”
Pier, who had been sitting at an awkward angle, straightened his posture. Seeing this, Simon also sat up properly.
[You and I are both in rather exceptional circumstances. Wouldn’t you say?]
“Yes, sir. I’m enrolled at Kizen.”
[Any thoughts of leaving Kizen?]
“Not at present. Doing so would go against my father’s wishes, and besides—there’s still much to learn at Kizen.”
[Good, good! I agree that Kizen has its uses for us!]
Pier tapped his forehead with one skeletal finger as he spoke.
[Now then, let’s address the Legion’s particular situation.]
“You mean the Legion was dissolved once?”
[That’s only natural. If the Legion hadn’t been dissolved, there’d have been no reason to make a contract with you in the first place.]
The blue flames dancing in Pier’s eye sockets burned noticeably brighter.
[At present, we are public enemies of the Necromancers. You could say we’re under a death warrant.]
“But why?”
[Because of a crime committed by the previous Legion Commander—your father, Richard.]
Simon’s body trembled faintly at those words.
A crime committed by his father?
[Richard committed an unforgivable sin in the Dark Magic community. And the Legion, as his accomplices, helped him carry it out.]
“What exactly is this unforgivable sin……?”
Pier closed his eyes.
[Betrayal. Richard loved a Priest.]
“Ah…….”
Simon felt as though he’d been struck in the head by a hammer.
To learn of this now, here?
[At that time, the 100-Year War between Necromancers and Priests was ongoing. It was an extraordinarily sensitive period! And yet Richard, to protect the Priest he loved, issued orders to the Legion. He commanded them to attack fellow Necromancers who came to kill her.]
Simon swallowed hard, his throat dry.
[Many lives were lost. An Eradication Order was issued against Richard and the Legion—and it remains valid even now, long after Richard disbanded the Legion. This is why the Legion cannot reveal itself publicly.]
“I understand what you’re saying.”
After hearing Pier’s account, Simon felt a far stronger sense of responsibility toward the Legion.
Accepting Pier and the Legion, bearing the risks they carried—it seemed a natural destiny for a son born between Richard and Anna Polentia.
[There’s no need for you to carry guilt, boy!]
Pier grinned widely, his jaws splitting open.
[A Legion moves entirely by its Commander’s will! Richard’s Legion and yours are different entities. I’m certain the Necromancers recognize that distinction.]
“Then……!”
[But you are not a complete outsider—you are Richard’s son. The elders will have their suspicions. And moreover…….]
Pier poked Simon’s forehead with a bony finger.
[What do you think will happen when other Necromancers hear that a mere first-year student at Kizen possesses a ‘Legion’?]
Simon’s eyes hardened with determination.
His father’s power must never fall into anyone else’s hands.
“I need to become stronger.”
[Indeed.]
Pier clenched his fists tightly.
[For now, quietly gather knowledge at Kizen and grow in strength! The Legion will gradually recover its former glory. And when the time comes…….]
“Yes.”
There was nothing more to say.
Simon and Pier nodded in unison.
[Now, back to the main matter. We find ourselves in a unique position. As its administrator, I propose a new operational framework for the Legion!]
“What kind of framework?”
Pier raised his arm and gestured.
The skeleton Simon had summoned earlier—the one he’d made carry the Lantern—shambled forward.
“Wait—can you control my skeleton too, Pier?”
[Of course! We now share a single Dark Power, and all Undead summoned with your Dark Power belong to the Legion. You, as Legion Commander, hold primary command authority; I hold secondary command authority. However…….]
Pier stroked his jawbone thoughtfully.
[This Undead has not yet undergone the process of Legionization.]
“Legionization?”
The skeleton stepped toward Pier. Pier raised his arm and placed his bony hand on the skeleton’s skull.
Whoooosh!
Simon’s distinctive teal-blue Dark Power surged like flames, lifting the skeleton into the air.
The Dark Power that had been dancing chaotically through the empty space was suddenly drawn inward, condensing within the skull into a sphere that resembled a brain.
Moments later, the skeleton crashed to the ground with a thud.
[This is a Legionized Undead!]
The skeleton slowly began to rise to its feet. Its form looked much the same, but in the hollow sockets of its eyes, a teal flame identical to Pier’s flickered and danced.
To put it simply, what Pier called Legionization was the process of Summoned-type Undead becoming Natural-type Undead.
Because these undead moved with their own Cores, they no longer had summoning time limits and could exist forever without Simon’s attention.
“But it’s pretty obvious at a glance, isn’t it?”
[Indeed.]
Simon’s expression grew troubled. If he brought these creatures to Kizen, they’d be discovered immediately.
[So there’s no need to Legionize all your undead! Unless they’re undead like me who have existed for a very long time, it’s common sense that Summoned-type undead are superior in combat efficiency. Boy! You should keep using Summoned-type Undead as you normally do. Then, when a skeleton’s duration expires or it becomes damaged beyond use, bring it to me. I’ll Legionize it and station it here.]
“Ah, if that’s how we’ll manage it, that’s perfect!”
Ordinary undead like skeletons and zombies were little more than disposable, but Simon could now preserve undead permanently, like items in a warehouse.
Moreover, unless damage was severe, Legionization allowed for self-regeneration.
[So grow stronger, boy! The better undead you can summon, the greater the Legion’s power becomes!]
“Yes, of course.”
Simon took the opportunity to assign the two skeletons he’d damaged fighting the werewolf earlier to Pier as well.
The skeletons that had thus become Natural-type Undead showed altered behavioral patterns.
Before, without Simon’s commands they would stand vacant like puppets with cut strings, but now they scratched their heads and occasionally bounded about the surroundings in an almost animal-like manner. Yet when Simon called, they scurried to him swiftly.
It was proof that command authority was functioning properly.
Even after their serious discussion about the Legion’s operational plan ended, the night stretched long.
Simon and Pier, sitting across from each other, began to chat and prattle away.
[Boy. How long has it been since you arrived in Kizen?]
“Four days now.”
[I see. Hang on a little longer! In a bit more time, first-years will be able to accept missions that come down from Kizen. Not just Rocksum, but you’ll be able to travel across the entire continent using the teleportation magic circles!]
Pier’s lips curved upward as he continued.
[Then I’ll go with you too! You’ll be able to use the Legion freely without anyone watching. And under the guise of those missions, we’ll gather the Legion’s former forces scattered across the continent! All of Richard’s children would gladly place themselves under your command!]
Simon’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Pier, you know a lot about Kizen.”
[Hehehehe, of course! I’ve been watching your father’s days at Kizen all along! That man was a notorious troublemaker there.]
This overlapped with something Nephthys had said. And across Pier’s face, as he spoke of Richard, there flickered a wistful emotion.
[Those were good times.]
This sentiment too matched what Nephthys had conveyed. Simon asked carefully.
“…Do you resent my father?”
[Resent? Resent? Hahahaha! Such a feeble emotion as resentment does not exist in the Legion! The Legion moves only by the Legion Commander’s directive. Even if your father chose the Priesthood and abandoned us, we would gladly accept that command! That is the Legion!]
Pier, who had been speaking thus, hesitated and rubbed his chin.
[Though if that son of his were to repeat such nonsense, well… I might get a bit irritated. Wouldn’t you?]
“…Ahaha.”
Simon talked with Pier deep into the early morning. There were many topics, but the stories about his father left the strongest impression.
Far more candid than what he’d heard from Nephthys.
[Why hide anything? Your father was a first-rate scoundrel!]
Pier laughed roughly.
[Right in front of a female student who’d been following him around, he’d take the undergarments of some new girlfriend he’d just picked up yesterday and play with them, showing them off!]
“….”
Simon’s eyes narrowed.
“Are you exaggerating because it’s the first time you’re hearing about something from me?”
[…Exaggerating? Crahahaha! I’m being considerate of Richard’s face right now—I’m only telling episodes of moderate severity! Do you know how many women that man reduced to tears in his carriage?]
That couldn’t be true. Simon shook his head in denial.
[Yes. Such a first-rate scoundrel as he was….]
A strange undertone colored Pier’s voice.
[That trash that even Kizen’s faculty would shake their heads at… everything changed after he met one woman. He became a completely different person. Not something you could describe with talk of love’s power or any such nonsense. It was as if….]
Just then, Pier’s voice stopped abruptly. Then he turned his head and stared intently at Simon.
[Wait, wait, wait! No, how did I not think of that?]
“Think of what?”
[You definitely said you’re Richard’s son, didn’t you? Then surely…!]
Simon smiled broadly.
“Yes, my mother is Anna Polentia.”

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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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