Necromancer Academy’s Genius Summoner - Chapter 25

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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 Academy Prodigy Chapter 25
In the end, they settled on Team Seven as their group name and submitted the paperwork.
While the students who had formed their groups chatted in a relaxed atmosphere, Simon observed the other students in Class A.
Simon’s group was the seventh. That meant twenty-eight students had formed groups so far. The competition among the remaining students was fierce—brutal, even.
Now there were almost no students operating individually; instead, groups of two or three were trying to recruit the rest to complete their rosters.
“Why don’t you just join us? There’s two of us, two of you…”
“You only have two Poison Magic majors. Why would we want a worthless group?”
“Wow, they’re really going at it. What’s with this Black Magic, Black Magic, Black Magic combination?”
When students formed groups based on personal connections or friendships, this was the problem that emerged.
They’d grown close quickly because they shared interests and aspirations in the same field, but having future specialists of the same discipline cluster together in team-based classes backfired.
The Beginning Black Magic course evaluated a full eight subjects.
Even if all four group members had different specializations, it would still be tight. If there was overlap, they’d lose points accordingly. Most of those still struggling to complete their groups had run into exactly this problem.
“I’ll let exactly one person from your group join us.”
A blonde female student stepped forward, her expression arrogant, snapping her fingers. She’d already assembled three group members.
“Get lost!”
“If you hadn’t taken Lucy, we’d already be four!”
As the other group members growled in displeasure, a girl suddenly walked forward.
“Group leader?”
“I’m sorry, everyone.”
She didn’t even look back as she spoke.
“I’m a Blood Magic major. There’s no overlap, right?”
“Come on in! See, you really are quick on your feet? Teaching assistant, we’re ready to register!”
The group leader who had personally formed the group defected, and another group completed their roster of four.
The remaining students trembled with anger and betrayal.
‘…It’s cruel.’
This was what happened during the Student Protection Period.
Simon was beginning to dimly understand why only three hundred out of a thousand had survived.
“Don’t waste time worrying about others, Simon.”
Dick spoke up.
“If we can’t push forward ruthlessly, we’ll be eliminated too. And being eliminated from Kizen means goodbye.”
“I don’t think I feel sorry for them.”
Merlin ran her fingertips together and blew a soft breath.
“Lack of effort, lack of preparation, lack of ability. It’s been four days since they entered Kizen—what have they been doing? If their grades were insufficient, there were plenty of other ways to find a group.”
Dick and Merlin seemed accustomed to this atmosphere.
The thirty minutes Jane had allotted finally ran out.
Eight students remained. They split into groups of two, three, and three, bickered among themselves, and ultimately no one completed their group.
“Students who haven’t formed a group, please come forward.”
Jane arbitrarily created two groups from the remaining students.
Group 15: Black Magic, Black Magic, Poison Magic, Martial Magic.
Group 16: Black Magic, Black Magic, Black Magic, Martial Magic.
The reason so many Black Magic Studies majors remained was that it was a required course, so other students also had relatively high Black Magic grades.
As a result, the market demand for Black Magic majors had plummeted, and they’d been left until the very end.
The students called to the platform bowed their heads deeply with grim faces, and a few of those who had formed groups smirked quietly.
“Wow, is Group 16 really three Black Magic majors?”
“Heh heh. They’re probably gone by next week.”
“If even one curse problem shows up, they’re wiped out.”
As the other students tittered, Groups 15 and 16 grew even more despondent, hunching their shoulders.
Jane, who had arbitrarily assigned them as group leaders, looked at them and spoke quietly.
“Are you frustrated?”
The students nodded slightly. A few even showed tears.
“A rough start doesn’t mean you’ll stumble all the way to the finish. Remember this frustration you feel now, and work even more fiercely. Even if you’re Black Magic majors, divide the study of other subjects among yourselves and bring your average up to par or better. Then you’ll see the light.”
The students nodded with grim determination.
Groups 15 and 16 returned to their seats, and Jane stepped forward again.
“Now, I’ll make an important announcement first. During the first Beginning Black Magic class after the Student Protection Period ends next week, we’ll be conducting a Team Practical Assessment.”
Hushed gasps rippled through the room.
A practical assessment meant the results would be directly reflected in their grades. This was where things truly began.
“I’ll explain the content of the assessment now.”
She signaled, and the teaching assistant activated the Mana Projector. A photograph of some massive monster appeared on the screen, projected in light before the students.
“That’s…!”
Simon recognized this monster.
Cyclopes.
A mid-sized monster with formidable strength and a single eye—the creatures that inhabited the Western Continent Mountain Range and reigned as the kings of the mountains.
“Now then, your next opponent will be the Cyclopes.”
The students’ jaws fell open.
Weren’t they skipping ahead too fast?
“Let me explain the rules. You will enter the underground dungeon within Kizen alongside your teammates and must work together to defeat the Cyclopes.”
Even so, sighs of relief rippled through the classroom at the prospect of entering together with their teammates.
“However, only one student will face the Cyclopes directly. The other three will take Set Positions to support their teammate or weaken the monster. Direct attacks using black magic are forbidden.”
Murmurs rippled through the room.
The three in Set Positions couldn’t use offensive black magic. So it wouldn’t be a straightforward four-versus-one engagement.
Jane continued her explanation.
“Hindering techniques like Exhaust, Binding, and Blind are naturally permitted, and we’ll allow attacks that cause wounds to the monster’s body as a result. Hemorrhage from Blood Magic Studies and poisoning from Poison Magic Studies are also allowed. Of course, summoned creatures may attack as well.”
“However, you cannot use ‘direct casting’ attack magic—such as Smite from Martial Magic Studies or Blood Arrow from Blood Magic Studies. The precise criteria will be clarified when you receive the handout distributed by the teaching assistants after class ends.”
The students nodded with serious expressions.
“The participating teammate will enter wearing powerful defensive black magic, under the supervision of a Kizen safety officer. Grading will be based on whether you achieve a successful hunt, hunting speed, stability, your team’s coordination and creativity, and the mastery of the black magic employed.”
She paused, sweeping her gaze across the now-silent classroom.
“To face the Cyclopes, you’ll need to push yourselves to your absolute limits over the next week. Don’t rush through any single lesson—make each one truly your own and apply it during the assessment. That’s all. Any questions?”
Countless hands shot up throughout the room. Jane pointed to a student in the front.
“Jamie Victoria. We’re, we’re not actually fighting a real Cyclopes, right? I heard Kizen has a virtual combat simulation system—couldn’t we use that instead……?”
“It’s a living, breathing Cyclopes captured fresh from the Western Continent.”
Jane’s response was cold and final.
“You’ll need to sign a Waiver of Life before the assessment.”
Jamie’s face darkened visibly at those words.
“Though it will be weaker than a Cyclopes you’d encounter in the wild, thanks to binding curses and chemical treatment. Next question.”
“Scott Snyder here! You said whether you successfully hunt the Cyclopes counts toward the grade—what happens if we fail?”
“A failed hunt is the lowest possible score, independent of other criteria. If multiple teams fail, they’ll be ranked against each other based on those other factors.”
A heavy silence fell over the lecture hall.
“A hunt failure is determined by three conditions. First, if the participating teammate becomes unable to fight. Second, if the instructor or safety officer judges further combat impossible. Third, if any one of you raises your hand and declares you’re surrendering the test. Next question.”
Students raised their hands in succession, firing off questions, and Jane answered each without hesitation.
Since the students’ concerns were largely similar, by the time Jane had fielded five more questions, all the raised hands had come down.
“Class A has two more Beginning Black Magic sessions this week, as I understand it. The first will be devoted to presentations by each team of your Cyclopes hunting strategy. The second will be a virtual combat session against the Cyclopes to hone your practical instincts—just as Jamie mentioned. Then the third session, next week, will be the real thing.”
The word “real” sent a palpable tension rippling through the classroom. Jane glanced at her wristwatch.
“For the remaining time, you’ll discuss your Cyclopes hunting strategy with your teammates. First, decide who will be your primary fighter, then focus your efforts on extracting 100% of the support from your other three members. I’ll be here if you have any questions.”
Having finished, Jane slumped back into her chair. The teaching assistants stepped forward and clapped.
“Alright, everyone! Begin!”
As if they’d been waiting for the signal, voices erupted from every corner. Dick and Merlin’s eyes gleamed as they leaned toward their table.
“……Just like Professor Jane. The moment the protection period ends, straight into combat with actual monsters? That’s brutal.”
Dick remarked. Merlin’s eyes sparkled.
“I think it’s amazing! My heart’s pounding! Now I finally feel like I’m actually here at Kizen.”
Simon, glancing around the room, spoke up.
“Let’s get planning fast. Anyone want to be the primary fighter?”
Merlin’s hand shot up so quickly that Dick, sitting beside her, got struck and yelped, but she was too caught up in her excitement to notice.
“Me! I want to do it!”
“You sure?”
“I’m the strongest here. Obviously I should be the one.”
Dick rubbed his cheek and gave Merlin a wary look.
“Hold on, hold on. You can’t decide something like that so simply. We need to think strategically! If you ask me, this assessment practically favors teams with Martial Magic Studies aspirants—they’ve got the edge.”
“I agree with that.”
Kamibalez quietly nodded in accord with Dick’s reasoning.
“The Cyclopes’ attacks are heavy—difficult to block with defensive black magic and they consume a lot of mana. Evasion is your best option.”
Simon casually turned his head to observe the other teams’ strategy.
Other teams seemed to share the same thinking; the Martial Magic Studies aspirants, who had struggled finding a team, now spoke their ideas with confidence. Most teams with a Martial Magic Studies member would probably field them as the primary fighter.
“Actually, I disagree.”
Merlin’s expression settled into focus, and she crossed her arms.
“Forgot? Only the primary fighter can directly attack the Cyclopes. What offensive tools do the Martial Magic Studies aspirants have right now? Pummeling it with fists reinforced by mana? How are they supposed to pierce thick hide like that?”
“Ah……!”
“That is a valid problem.”
With Kamibalez and Simon’s agreement, Merlin smirked and leaned back in her chair.
“So you do have an attack method for taking down the Cyclopes?”
“Of course I do, Kamibalez.”
She smiled confidently and opened her palm.
A magical circle glowed on her hand, and black flames flickered and rose above it. Kamibalez let out an exclamation.
“Dark Flare from Black Magic Studies. This should do, right?”
“That’s impressive! You’ve already mastered this spell……!”
Dick found Merlin’s constant boasting irritating, but he had to admit Dark Flare was remarkable.
“Then let me explain my plan.”
Merlin snuffed out the black flames and leaned forward as she spoke.
“I’ll face the Cyclops and incinerate it with Dark Flare. All three of you go straight for curses! If you keep stacking Exhaustion Curse on it and slow the Cyclops down, I can reduce it to ash cleanly.”
Dick crossed his arms and clicked his tongue.
“If we follow that plan, you’d be the star, but we’d be completely sidelined? You’re the curse specialist, yet you’re going in first, and we’re supposed to mechanically cast curses from behind you?”
“Then what’s a better method than this? Let’s hear it.”
Dick’s words died in his throat because nothing came to mind, but he shifted tactics and attacked from a different angle.
“Besides, that plan assumes you can dodge the Cyclops’s attacks while casting Dark Flare. Can you really do that?”
“What’s there that I can’t dodge?”
“Well, your stamina is pretty terrible. During Martial Magic Studies, you’re always wheezing at the back of the pack during runs, and you couldn’t even clear the ravine jump properly—Professor Hong Peng had to help you.”
This time, Merlin’s face flushed hot.
“That’s… well, that’s true, but……! No, wait! Isn’t it your job as the curse specialists to make sure I don’t get attacked in the first place? If I do get hit, that means your curses are pathetic!”
“We already told you, curses aren’t our specialty!”
As Merlin and Dick snarled at each other, Kamibalez, caught between them, shifted his head back and forth in confusion.
Bang!
Both of them flinched and turned their heads.
Simon, who had slammed his palm on the desk, wore a serious expression.
“Let’s do this instead.”

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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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