Necromancer Academy’s Genius Summoner - Chapter 35

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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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Summoner of the Necromancer School, Episode 35
On the way back to Kizen riding the bone horse again, Lorain spoke.
“Thanks for cooperating with Kizen. For now, your safety is the concern—that priest could come for your life anytime, anywhere. So for the time being, perhaps you should skip classes…”
“No.”
Simon shook his head.
“I’ll live as normally as usual.”
“…Isn’t that too dangerous?”
“It’s fine. That person might not have seen my face, and even if they’re after me, there will be clues left behind no matter what.”
A flicker of something crossed Lorain’s crimson eyes.
“Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t need clues paid for with your life.”
“Listen to me, Lorain. If I skip classes or act differently than usual, the priest will be even more certain of my identity. What will they think if they see Kizen security circling around me? They’ll realize I’ve told the higher-ups everything, and they’ll know they’re cornered.”
“But that’s beside the point!”
“Can you predict what kind of desperate move a fanatic will make when cornered?”
Lorain bit her lip hard.
The enemy was willing to carve such a terrible sin—a core of wickedness—into their very body to carry out their mission, such was their loyalty. And the actions of fanatics could never be understood within the bounds of normal reasoning.
Mass hostage situations and suicide attacks were already commonplace incidents perpetrated by fanatics.
If the same thing happened at Kizen, not only would the organization’s external image suffer serious damage, but it would provide justification for those questioning Kizen’s governance to band together.
“…All right.”
After a moment of deliberation, Lorain sighed and spoke.
“But if there’s even the slightest sign of trouble, I’ll restrain your freedom to protect you if I have to. Remember this: you don’t need to sacrifice yourself for everyone’s sake.”
“I’ll remember.”
Of course, Simon didn’t think of it as a sacrifice at all.
‘I can’t stop my school life over something like that.’
If he skipped classes, the gap between him and other students would only widen.
And if a time came when he had to leave Kizen due to poor grades or insufficient skill?
Kizen was by no means an organization flexible enough to accommodate individual circumstances, and if you let things slide, only you suffered for it.
Either way, he would bear the risk—so Simon’s judgment was that it was better to boldly continue his schooling. There was still so much to learn at this academy.
And so the two of them parted ways after arriving at Kizen, and Simon returned to the dormitory as though nothing had happened.

* * *
The next morning.
Class A students waited at the entrance with eager faces.
“It’s finally here!”
“I can’t wait.”
Today was Jane’s Beginner Black Magic class.
More specifically, it was the day everyone had been counting down to—the Cyclops Simulation. All the students wore specialized training uniforms instead of their school blazers.
“Of course, it’s Jane’s class.”
Dick brushed his nose and spoke.
“Normally you don’t get a taste of simulations until second semester. And here we are doing this before the Protection Period even ends.”
“Ugh, I barely slept at all yesterday.”
Kamibarez murmured. Maylin laughed softly.
“If you’re like this already, that’s a problem. It’s just a virtual battle.”
“All right, Class A, please form groups now!”
Jane’s assistants directed the students. They lined up and filed into the building.
The hallway was clean—it looked like a new building. While everyone exchanged excited talk about the simulation, Simon felt his hair stand on end with each step, sensing something he couldn’t quite name.
“Groups 1 through 8, this way.”
“Groups 9 through 16, this way, please.”
Then, as they boarded the Magic Circle Elevator and descended, a wide-open space spread before them.
“Wow…!”
Kizen’s virtual battle simulation system: Avalon.
A system possessed only by Kizen on the entire continent, it could recreate any monster as a Mana Lifeform and conduct virtual battles.
It was the result of taking the ancient ruin “Halukina”—a stronghold of illusion and phantasm—transferring it to Kizen, and subjecting it to countless modifications.
“Welcome, Class A.”
And from the opposite Magic Circle Elevator, Jane and her assistants descended. The students immediately bowed in unison.
“We’re short on time, so I’ll move straight to the explanation.”
It was characteristically efficient.
Jane pressed a button on the control device in her hand, the Mana Projector on the ceiling activated, and a screen appeared.
“Groups 1 through 4 will conduct your simulation on the left, groups 5 through 8 on the right. All rules are identical to the Performance Evaluation. One Frontline Combatant, three Support Members. Support Members cannot move from their Set Position, and only the Frontline Combatant is permitted to use direct attack means. The Cyclops will only recognize and attack the Frontline Combatant.”
Jane extended her arm and tapped the Barrier Vest held by her assistant.
“That said, there’s no need to worry too much. The virtual Cyclops’s attacks are entirely absorbed by this vest’s barrier magic. Each time damage is absorbed, the Barrier Gauge shown on the screen above will decrease. When the gauge reaches zero, training ends. Return to the waiting area.”
The students nodded, their faces taut with tension.
“You’ll each experience up to three sets of simulated combat. I hope this becomes a time for you to self-assess how well the strategies you developed last session actually work, and to sharpen your real-world combat instincts as much as possible.”
Jane finished her explanation, and the simulation began immediately. Groups 1 and 5 entered the training hall, while the remaining members were shown to the waiting room.
The waiting room was a spacious rest area with couches positioned throughout and refreshments laid out. Mana Projectors were installed in the ceiling, allowing them to watch the other groups’ progress on the screens.
Simon’s group decided to observe the other groups’ trials first before reviewing their own strategy.
‘Ah, so Cindy Vivache is up.’
Group 5 was Cindy Vivache’s team—the pickpocket they’d met in Langoustine, who specialized in Necromancy.
She was the Frontline Combatant. The rest of the group consisted of students studying Curse, Dark Reverse Study, and Toxic Magic.
Simon thought the balance wasn’t bad.
-We will now begin the simulated combat.
Jane’s voice came through the loudspeaker.
Whooooooosh!
The area seemed to fill with mana, and suddenly the training hall transformed into a forest.
As if they’d been dropped straight into the heart of the woods, trees covered everything around them, birdsong echoed, and a breeze began to blow. The watching students let out gasps of wonder.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Then, from deep within the forest, came footsteps that shook the earth. The birds scattered in flight.
The footsteps grew closer, and soon a massive creature over two meters tall, its body a teal-blue, burst through the undergrowth.
Its entire frame was rippling muscle, one eye crushed and twisted grotesquely, while the pupil of the other darted up and down as if possessed.
-SKWAAAAAAAGH!
As the creature wrenched its jaws wide and roared, every face in the training hall went rigid.
“Alright!”
Cindy stretched her arms back. A sleek Black Scythe materialized and fell into her grip.
“Let’s give it a try!”
With a thunderous crash, the battle began.
And.
[Simulation Failed]
Time Elapsed: 1 minute 16 seconds
Damage Dealt: 22%
Barrier Gauge: 0%
Overall Rating: F
The data measured from the simulation was projected onto the Mana Projector screen.
Everyone’s mouth fell open at the one-sided result. Simon was equally shocked.
‘This is no joke.’
Her teammates rushed over to Cindy, who lay sprawled on the floor. She pushed herself up and gave an embarrassed laugh, scratching her head.
“Sorry, the timing on my Spirit Materialization was a bit late. I’ll definitely dodge next time!”
Group 1 finished even faster than Group 5.
The reason was the same: the Frontline Combatant couldn’t properly respond to the Cyclops’s relentless assault and was eliminated. A single hit dropped their Barrier Gauge below half.
Moreover, both groups had brought Curse as their means of neutralizing the Cyclops, but their Frontline Combatants fell before they could even deploy it, leaving them helpless.
“The kids who went out front were all frozen,” Dick remarked.
Simon nodded in agreement.
“There’s probably a psychological factor too.”
No matter that three teammates stood behind them, the terror and tension of facing a Cyclops alone wasn’t something easily overcome.
Simon turned his head.
“Maylin. Are you really okay?”
“Huh? Oh?”
Her face, pale as a blank page, quickly nodded.
“O-of course I’m fine!”
Her voice trembled with tension—anything but fine.
Eventually she excused herself to use the bathroom. Many other students were doing the same, heading straight for the restrooms.
Groups 2 and 6 battled next. Simon watched intently, hoping to catch some hint, but again the Cyclops’s swing struck the Frontline Combatant head-on, and they fell.
-Groups 3 and 7, please enter the training hall.
Group 7’s turn came much sooner than expected. Simon was rising from his seat when a cluster of students headed toward the opposite training hall.
‘Ah, so Group 3 is Hector’s team.’
Led by squad leader Hector, they had Pierre Buckler, Class A’s summoning ace, and two others who were both masters of Dark Reverse Study and Necromancy with scores exceeding 90. They were practically the most highly regarded group in Class A.
At that moment, their eyes met across the empty space. Hector’s mouth curved upward.
“You’re going out for Group 7, obviously?”
Simon shook his head.
“It’s Maylin, not me.”
“That naive girl is your Frontline Combatant? Is this charity?”
“The one who’s best suited went out.”
“Don’t play coy with me, Simon.”
Hector’s eyes flashed.
“Come at me with everything you have. This time I’ll break you properly.”
—Teams 3 and 7! Get into the training room now.
At the instructor’s urging voice, the two of them turned and headed to their respective training rooms.
Simon entered the training room where Dick and Kamibarez were already stretching. An instructor holding a clipboard glanced around and spoke.
“Where’s the fourth member?”
“I’m sorry I’m late!”
Maylin rushed in breathlessly at the last moment. As the instructor pressed a device in her hand, countless mana signal indicators on the walls lit up and the door closed.
“Frontline Combatant, come forward.”
“Yes.”
Maylin stepped forward with a rigid expression.
“I’ll mark the Support Members’ positions.”
The ceiling indicator blinked, and a circle made of mana drew itself on the floor. The three walked to their respective positions. Kamibarez on the left, Simon in the center, Dick on the right—all in Set Position. And Maylin stood before them.
“The Cyclops won’t be able to see the Support Members, so don’t worry. Of course, if you step even one foot outside this circle, you’re disqualified.”
“Yes!”
“Frontline Combatant. Are you ready?”
“Ah… yes!”
Maylin answered, her mind momentarily elsewhere.
“Maylin, snap out of it. You’re really okay, right?”
Dick asked.
“…Yeah, I’m fine!”
“Don’t be so nervous, Maylin! It’s just a simulated battle anyway! You can do this!”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
Everyone took their positions. The instructor stepped back and spoke.
“Then, Team 7’s first Cyclops Simulation battle. Beginning now.”
The instructor’s body dissolved into empty air as a fierce wind swept through. Simon’s eyes sharpened with focus.
‘Wind inside a room. This is no simple illusion.’
The floor flushed green as the surroundings transformed into a forest, marshland spreading before them.
Leaves caught in the wind struck Simon’s forearm. When he brushed them with his hand, he felt the texture of the leaf exactly as if it were real.
Observing from outside was entirely different from experiencing it directly. Faced with an overwhelming wave of tangible reality, Simon could think of nothing else.
And then.
Boom-boom! Boom-boom!
Tremors shook the ground. Dick shouted.
“Everyone ready! It’s coming!”
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
With a deafening rhythm of footfalls, a massive Cyclops burst through the dense foliage.
—Raaaaaaagh!
Every hair on Simon’s body stood on end, his heart pounding like it would burst. It felt as though he truly stood face-to-face with a monster in the wilderness.
Even from the Set Position, the pressure was this intense—Maylin, who had to face it directly…
“Haah.”
That’s when he saw her take a deep breath. Maylin’s expression hardened with resolve.
“Alright. Just do what we practiced.”
Her trembling subsided.
Simon smiled. Against his concerns, she was adapting to the situation quickly.
‘Right, what was I worried about? No one here needs worry.’
Simon grasped an invisible lever.
‘Focus 200% on my role alone.’

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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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