Necromancer Academy’s Genius Summoner - Chapter 277

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

The Summoning Genius of the Necromancer School — Chapter 277
After the grueling 3rd BMAT, Kizen settled into a period of recovery.
The students had accumulated considerable fatigue from running nonstop, so the faculty conducted lessons focused mainly on textbook material rather than physical training or practical assessments.
Though Kizen cultivated this restful atmosphere, it was also an excellent opportunity for students to strengthen their individual abilities.
Simon received private tutoring in White Magic from Parahan once or twice a week.
After class, he would go to the Library to study the Four Great Curses that Bahil had created.
He also improved the efficiency of the Hematology Dark Magic techniques that led into Cloud and Blood Golem, and trained Combat Magic with an emphasis on physical conditioning.
He also reinforced the fundamentals of Summoning Magic. Now the maximum number of Undead that Simon could control simultaneously had increased to eight. This figure was nearly the highest count for a 1st Year student.
Simon built his abilities steadily, day by day. Beyond the simple goal of surviving at Kizen, he also had a final confrontation with Legion Commander Magnus. His motivation was clearer than anyone’s.
‘Another day gotten through, somehow.’
Simon, who had entered Room 409 and seated himself at his desk, stretched leisurely.
With the burden of exams gone and free time increased, he felt oddly busier than usual.
Simon gazed at the window shrouded in darkness, then turned his head to look at his calendar.
‘Time’s already passed like this.’
More than half of the Integrated Second Semester had slipped away. Simon looked at the calendar and picked up his Quill Pen to make a mark.
His mother Anna’s birthday was coming soon. Since he couldn’t leave Rocksum, he planned to send a letter and a gift.
“I’m back!”
The door clicked open and Dic entered with a cheerful, laughing expression.
“Welcome back, Dic.”
“What’re you doing?”
“About to study Curse Magic. I need to use the bathroom for a moment.”
Simon vacated his seat, and Dic shook his head.
“Is he starting to resemble Merin? How can anyone possibly study in the Dormitory?”
As he reached to hang up his outer coat,
“Hmm?”
Dic’s gaze fixed on Simon’s calendar.

* * *
There was a running joke among students that Kizen and peace were mutually incompatible.
In fact, the peace did not last long this time either.
“Now then, everyone. A Dispatch Evaluation is scheduled for next week.”
Jane announced this new development during Introductory Dark Magic class.
‘Dispatch Evaluation?’
This was another new system. Simon and Kamibarez tilted their heads in confusion while Dic, seated behind them, let out a meaningful chuckle.
“Mmhmm, it’s finally here!”
“Do you know what it is, Dic?”
“I heard about it from some seniors. She’s about to explain.”
At that moment, Jane, who had been organizing the lectern with an indifferent expression, opened her mouth.
“So that’s the Dic Hayward who heard about it?”
He’d been caught red-handed! Dic jolted upright with a startled expression, straightening his back.
“Tell me the difference between a Mission Evaluation and a Dispatch Evaluation.”
Merin giggled with delight, and Simon and Kamibarez could barely suppress their laughter.
“Ah, yes. The difference between a Mission Evaluation and a Dispatch Evaluation, yes! Um……!”
Dic broke out in a cold sweat, thinking hard before he spoke.
“A Mission Evaluation is going alone, and a Dispatch Evaluation is going out in the field in ‘groups of four,’ right? Something like that?”
Jane made a cool gesture for him to sit. Only then did Dic sink back into his seat with a hollow expression, wiping his chest.
“That’s not all. You will travel outside Rocksum to find active professional Necromancers, take them as mentors, and conduct real combat missions together.”
At the mention of real combat missions with professionals, the students began to murmur among themselves.
“We at Kizen are well aware of how your Mission Evaluations have been conducted.”
She began reading through additional documents she’d set down on the lectern.
“Internal missions in Rocksum — you get cooperation from residents and just scrape by with things like cleaning garbage, catching mice, planting trees.”
Several students wore expressions of discomfort.
“Or you brazenly don the Kizen School Uniform and take on merchant guild escort missions.”
Merin’s shoulders flinched.
“Or you mobilize Kizen’s authority to process requests, or sometimes intimidate the requestor to get their seal and stamp. There have been cases.”
Dic turned his head slightly and laughed with a nervous “ha ha.”
“For students with reputation, nobles sometimes summon them to their Mansions with special requests, treat them lavishly, and simply hand over the request confirmation and payment.”
Seeing the students with their heads bowed in reflection, Jane continued.
“I understand.”
Dark Alliance members tremble at the mere mention of Kizen’s name. Even if it’s a 1st Year student who is as insignificant as a fly, Kizen is still Kizen.
In other words, there was a significant possibility that the Mission Evaluation would fail to establish an equal relationship between the client and the student.
Of course, more students performed their missions conscientiously, but the very existence of a way to clear the Mission Evaluation easily by trading on Kizen’s name was the problem.
“Normally, several students should have received warnings… but the reason we allowed the Mission Evaluation to deteriorate this way was deliberate. The Integrated Second Semester curriculum as a whole is quite demanding, so we let it function as a kind of vacation period.”
Jane rolled up the documents and tapped her palm sharply with them.
“But! This Dispatch Evaluation will be different.”
Jane explained the Dispatch Evaluation in detail.
As Dick had mentioned earlier, students would freely form groups of four and seek out professional Necromancers, who would become their mentors.
The mentors would gain the right to evaluate the students directly as they carried out actual missions together.
Simon nodded as he listened to the explanation.
‘So it’s a Mission Evaluation style where you add an escort to the four group members.’
While Simon was thinking this, someone in the lecture hall raised their hand sharply.
Jane pointed at the raised hand with a familiar expression.
“Yes? Class representative.”
Even Jane had begun calling Jamie by her title now.
“Yes, this is Jamie Victoria! I’m curious about what specific missions we’ll be performing with the professionals!”
“Think of it as taking on the regular work schedule that professional Necromancers perform.”
“S-sorry, but could you give us an example?”
“For example.”
Jane’s cold voice echoed through the room.
“Assassination of dignitaries.”
Jamie’s pupils dilated.
“Battles against high priests, intelligence operations for the Sacred Federation, transport of dangerous criminals, gang annihilation operations.”
With each of her words, the students’ faces paled.
“Let me be clear: over 90 percent of this Dispatch Evaluation will take place in the Neutral Territory. And those simple monster-hunting missions you’re familiar with…”
She swept her gaze across the students, whose faces had grown tense.
“…don’t exist.”
A murmur rippled through the hall.
“You may be required to kill someone on this mission. Of course, I trust that the professionals will handle such situations in most cases, but if circumstances become urgent and the professional gives an order, you must obey unconditionally.”
Jane surveyed the students with a serious gaze.
“If you disobey the mentor’s orders or perform poorly such that the professional assigns you a zero, or if you fail to complete the mission, you will enter probationary expulsion proceedings. If you fail to properly defend yourself before the Disciplinary Committee regarding the mission’s fairness, you will be expelled outright. Any further questions?”
Several students’ hands shot up immediately.
“This is Scott Snyder! It seems like who becomes your mentor will be the most important factor in this evaluation. How are the mentors chosen?”
“Randomly. Of course, we select Necromancers with no prior connection to the students as much as possible, considering their family backgrounds and origins. Next.”
“This is Sindy Vivache. What if a mentor gives a zero score maliciously? Is expulsion inevitable?”
“First, your own conduct is most important to prevent such situations, and second, you should prove your innocence before the Disciplinary Committee. Next.”
Given the gravity of the matter, several more questions were posed, and Jane answered each one smoothly as always.
After fielding a few more questions, the bell signaling the end of class rang.
“Tomorrow is the School Foundation Anniversary. I hope you use the holiday wisely, and I’ll see you the day after tomorrow.”
“Thank you for your attention!”
Jane and her teaching assistants then left the lecture hall.
Immediately, the students’ voices erupted like a explosion.
“They’re assigning professional-level missions to students?”
“We finish one brutal evaluation and another brutal one shows up.”
The remaining students were discussing with grim faces when one of the teaching assistants—who was thought to have followed Jane out—poked her head back in and surveyed the room.
Then she hurried up onto the podium.
“Now, now. Students. There’s no need to worry too much.”
She smiled warmly, drawing everyone’s attention.
Jane’s head teaching assistant, she was particularly popular among the other assistants for her gentle disposition and her approachable manner toward students.
“Teaching assistant!”
“Are we really going to fight priests and kill people and stuff?”
The students, who had been subdued by Jane’s presence, poured out their questions and anxieties. The assistant smiled gently.
“Professor Jane was speaking strictly to make sure you stay alert. As long as you listen well to what your mentors say and do exactly as they tell you, there shouldn’t be any problems. Remember to greet them properly when you arrive, answer loudly and well, show respect to your seniors, and treat them kindly, right?”
“Yes!”
“It’s no big deal. Just think of it as a four-person mission evaluation with one guardian added, and come back comfortably.”
The balance between the cold Jane and the warm head assistant was quite good.
Meanwhile, the members of Team 7 also huddled together and talked.
“I’m curious what kind of Necromancer will become our mentor!”
At Kamibarez’s words, Dick rested his chin in his hand.
“Hmm, I can’t quite get a sense of what a Neutral Territory Necromancer is like. Simon, is there anyone you want?”
“Me?”
Simon paused, turning the question over in his mind, then spoke.
“Do you think the Vanilla faction won’t let me use it? I’d like to learn more about Summoning Magic Circles.”
“It won’t happen.”
Merin stated it flatly.
“Professor Jane said 90% of the Neutral Territory is off-limits. You can’t count on finding a mentor there.”
“……Ha, I’m a little nervous about going to the Neutral Territory. Have any of you three been there before?”
Merin and Dick shook their heads, while Simon nodded absently.
Suddenly all three of them fixed their eyes on him.
“What? You’ve been there?”
“Wow! When? When did you go?”
“Is it really true that priests just walk around the city streets like that?”
Simon’s face fell with belated realization.
He had passed through briefly when crossing the border into Sacred Federation territory, but he couldn’t tell them the truth.
“I just went there when I was really young…… with my parents. I don’t remember much now.”
“Ah, come on.”
Merin laughed, deflating the moment.
“So this is basically your first time in the Neutral Territory?”
“I’m nervous, but I’m also looking forward to it! I heard it’s a vast desert and wasteland. They say there are tons of cacti!”
“Ah, but it’s lawless territory. Don’t you all know? One glance and people just start throwing Dark Magic…….”
Watching the conversation shift once more, Simon smiled and joined in.

* * *
The Cathedral.
Mass time.
“Now, your Heart Dispatch assignments have been decided.”
Among many Efnel students seated in the pews, Rahel, a professor of Sacred Discipline standing at the lectern, began to speak.
“Rette, pay attention.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Rette, seated in the front row, uncrossed her legs and responded. Rahel tucked her unruly hair behind her ear and looked toward the other students.
“The vital location for this dispatch is the Neutral Territory. And your primary mission is singular.”
She opened her mouth.
“The securing of Saint Candidates.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————