Necromancer Academy’s Genius Summoner - Chapter 38

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

The Summoning Prodigy of the Necromancer Academy Episode 38
The following day, a weekend.
Simon had come down to Rochester for the first time.
“Wow.”
Rochester was a remarkably young and vibrant city.
Impromptu concerts and events were held throughout, and students from Kizen in casual clothes danced and played instruments, enjoying themselves.
Of course, compared to the sprawling metropolis of Langerstine, it was modest in scale, but still—Rochester somehow struck Simon as more charming.
First, Simon unfolded a map and stopped by a Necromancer shop. It was a place Dick had personally recommended as the cheapest around.
A young employee greeted him warmly as he entered.
“Welcome to… huh?”
The employee broke into a bright smile.
“Simon! It’s Simon, right?”
…Who was this again?
Simon was frantically racking his brain over the sudden familiarity when, fortunately, the employee introduced himself first.
“It’s me! Rowen—we met on the first day of the entrance ceremony!”
“Ah…!”
That chatty fellow they’d traveled with on the Underworld Whale. Truth be told, he was Simon’s first real friend since entering Kizen.
“Hey there. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Good to see you! You’re in Class A, right? I’m in Class D! Class D is brutal too—I never imagined that giant hybrid Shatel Maer would end up in our class! But Class A has Special Admission Number One, and… oh wait, you’re Special Admission Number One! Right, right, I remember now! I got chills all over the moment they revealed who you were at the entrance ceremony!”
Here we go again.
Before things got more complicated, Simon quickly changed the subject.
“So what are you doing here?”
“Working, as you can see.”
Rowen shrugged.
“Gotta earn some spending money. The part-time gigs in Rochester pay pretty well.”
‘Part-time work, huh. Not a bad idea.’
Simon had been growing concerned about finances himself. The monthly stipend from school barely covered his class materials.
“Could I find part-time work too?”
“Hmm, honestly, you’re probably a week too late. All the openings filled up last week, I’d bet. Too many people want the jobs.”
“Shame.”
Money was certainly important, but that wasn’t why he’d come here today.
When Simon mentioned he’d come to buy a Skeleton Set, Rowen helpfully pointed him to the right section.
‘Twenty sets of Island Ratman Skeletons.’
His wallet took a hit right from the start, but it couldn’t be helped. The Cyclops Practical Evaluation next week would require many Skeletons.
Of course, even if the Skeletons’ lifespan ran out, he could still incorporate them into his Legion Formation as reinforcements, so there was no real loss.
After purchasing a few other Undead materials he wanted to practice with, Simon left the Necromancer shop.
‘Next on the list.’
Simon rustled out the note where he’d written his supplies list.
‘Weapons for the Skeletons.’
His destination this time was the weapon shop.
While the Necromancer shop did sell weapons, Dick had given him the tip that buying there was expensive.
“Welcome!”
A middle-aged man running the weapon shop greeted him with a bright smile. His gaze swept over Simon’s school uniform, and his smile deepened noticeably.
“What brings you in today? We just got the new Black Obsidian Sword model in—it’s flying off the shelves!”
The shopkeeper immediately thrust a sword from the wall into Simon’s hands and told him to draw the sheath.
As Simon applied gentle pressure, the sheath clicked open with a soft sound, revealing a pitch-black, gleaming blade.
“It’s a fine blade. But I don’t actually need anything like that…”
“How about these, then! Martial Magic Combat Gloves! The latest model, with impressive firepower…!”
“I’m here to buy weapons for Skeletons!”
Simon spoke up quickly.
The shopkeeper’s expression cooled visibly, and he slumped into his chair with an indifferent look, pointing toward the corner of the shop.
A shelf was crammed with cheap swords.
“Thank you!”
Without waiting for a response, Simon happily trotted over to the shelf. Most were failures or secondhand stock, but they were perfect for Undead.
Simon carefully examined each sword—opening the sheaths, running his fingers along the edges, tapping them with his fingertips—checking their quality.
He ended up buying five swords and five spears, plus two shields.
“Ring all of this up for me!”
Simon dumped the weapons onto the counter with a clatter. The shopkeeper, who’d been resting his chin on his palm, startled in surprise.
“You’re… you’re buying all of this?”
“Yes.”
The shopkeeper’s face grew noticeably more relaxed as he tallied up the prices of the weapons. Still, a flicker of concern crossed his features, and he ventured carefully:
“What do you plan to use all of this for? You’re a first-year, aren’t you? Even with Skeletons, you’d be pushing it to control two or three at once.”
“I want to stock up in advance. Weapons wear out so quickly, after all.”
A smile played at the corner of the shopkeeper’s mouth as he surveyed the weapons Simon had chosen.
“You picked every single piece in perfect condition. Did you stop by for some blade practice before coming to Kizen?”
“Not exactly. My father taught me how to choose good weapons.”
“Ah, what a fine father you have!”
The shopkeeper broke into a hearty laugh.
“Nowadays everyone talks about the age of Necromancers and Priests, but there’s something to be said for fundamentals—fundamentals! A man ought to carry a proper blade at his hip and know how to defend himself with it, that’s what I say!”
“Absolutely.”
It was clear this fellow took considerable pride in his profession.
When Simon offered the appropriate response, the shopkeeper’s mood brightened further, and he laughed again.
“Skeleton-exclusive weapon set—five swords for 250 Silver, five spears for 200 Silver, two Wooden Shields for 100 Silver. That comes to 550 Silver total, but I’ll let you have it for 500 Silver.”
“Thank you so much!”
“I should be the one thanking you. A young noble taking the time to humor a humble merchant’s shop. Ah! Wait just a moment, please.”
The equipment merchant disappeared briefly and returned with a bow and arrows.
“Made from ebony wood with excellent durability—a fine bow and quiver. Normally that’s worth a full Gold, but I’ll let you have this one free of charge.”
Simon’s eyes widened sharply.
“Free? I can’t possibly accept something so expensive!”
“Ha! I’ve done business in Rochester for a year or two. Even a humble merchant like me can read people. I can tell at a glance who’ll head straight home after graduation and who’ll make it all the way to third year. These things are plain to see.”
The shopkeeper placed the bow atop Simon’s bundle of weapons.
“If you’re going to come back to buy weapons for three years, you might as well become a regular customer at our shop. That’s what this is—a gesture of goodwill. And if you introduce your friends, even better.”
“Still, a Gold’s worth is—”
“Bows don’t sell well in Kizen anyway. Don’t feel burdened—just take it. You know how to use one, don’t you?”
“Yes, though—”
When someone has said that much, refusing would be rude. Simon lowered his head in gratitude.
“Come back and visit us again!”
Having completed his efficient shopping, Simon set off toward his next destination in high spirits.
He purchased several course materials needed for Toxicology and his other classes, storing them in his Subspace.
‘Pier, I’m ready to go now.’
[Understood!]
Now he headed toward the Ruins to train with Pier.
Entering the Forbidden Forest again made him a little nervous, but Pier kindly met him at the edge of the forest. Once Simon climbed onto Pier’s back, he reached the Ruins in just minutes.
Tap-tap!
Click!
“Did you all behave yourselves?”
As Simon entered, the Legion-formed Skeletons rushed toward him like puppies greeting their master. He smiled and patted their bony heads affectionately.
“Pier, here are the Skeletons for Legion Formation.”
Simon pulled the damaged Skeletons from his Subspace.
Pier clicked his tongue disapprovingly.
[Quite a few wounded, I see.]
“They got pretty damaged during the last simulation battle.”
When Pier placed his hand on the skull of one of the broken Skeletons, a deep blue flame kindled in their eye sockets and burned like torches. Now the Legion’s Skeleton count had grown to eight.
[Much livelier now!]
“It’s good.”
Once the damaged Skeletons had been fully incorporated into the Legion, the two sat facing each other.
[Like I said before, this training is going to be brutal! Are you prepared?]
“Yes, absolutely!”
Not much time remained before the Cyclops Practical Evaluation. He intended to push his Skeleton control abilities to their absolute limit over this weekend.
First, Simon assembled the Skeletons he had purchased from the Necromancer shop.
Soon, six armed Skeletons stood before him, and facing them stood six more Legion-formed Skeletons.
Simon’s summoned type and Pier’s natural type each formed a team. The Skeletons seemed aware of this distinction and clattered against each other, building tension between the opposing groups.
[You said you can currently control two Skeletons simultaneously, correct?]
“Yes.”
Whenever he tried to control three or more at once, his thoughts tangled, and his command system descended into chaos.
More than anything, his mental reserves plummeted rapidly, and a maddening headache would overcome him—unbearable.
[Hehehehe, no need to rush! What matters isn’t how many you can control at once, but how well you can command even one or two!]
“I understand.”
[I’ll limit myself to two as well! Come at me, boy!]
“Right!”
Simon extended his right arm with a sharp gesture.
‘Charge!’
Two Skeletons gripping swords kicked off the ground and rushed forward. Pier sent two of his own sword-wielding Skeletons charging as well.
Clang!
Crash!
The collisions came in succession, blades meeting with a rough, ringing cry of steel.
While Simon was still deciding his next move, two of Pier’s spear-wielding Skeletons suddenly came thrusting at him from behind.
‘…Ugh, fall back!’
Simon’s Skeletons retreated by a hair’s breadth. In that instant, Pier’s leading sword-wielders pressed forward, trampling those of Simon’s creatures whose balance had crumbled in retreat.
Clang! Crash!
Simon’s Skeletons received the blows in precarious, spine-bent stances.
Then, as if waiting for their moment, Pier’s spear-wielders wheeled around and swept their shafts at the legs, sending Simon’s Skeletons sprawling to the ground in defeat.
‘…Lost.’
Swallowing his disappointment, Simon lowered his arm and turned his head.
“That’s dirty, Pier! You said only two units at a time!”
Four against two—there was no way to win. As Simon protested, Pier burst into laughter.
[What are you talking about? I only controlled two units, just like you!]
“What? That doesn’t make… Oh!”
That was it.
Pier moved the sword-wielding Skeleton first, then switched to the spear-wielding one.
Then back to the sword-wielder, then to the spear-wielder again, cycling through them in rapid succession.
[It’s nothing special, really. We call it Cross Operation. You shift control between the Skeletons rapidly, expanding the limited scope of what you can manage at once.]
“…I see.”
[If you can’t access multiple Skeletons simultaneously, the key is operating two at a time while still making all your Skeletons move. Understand?]
Thud-thud.
Before Pier had finished speaking, two spear-wielding Skeletons from Simon’s group stepped forward.
‘Focus.’
He made the sword-wielders open their palms. Then he switched to the spear-wielders and had them give a high-five to those open hands.
“Like this, right?”
[….]
Pier’s mouth, which had been still for a moment, curved upward.
[Hehehehe! Teaching you actually has its rewards!]
“Huh?”
[Never mind. Now that you’ve got the feel for it, let’s move to real combat!]
“Ah, yes! Let’s go!”

* * *
On the first day of the weekend, Simon drilled Undead control and Cross Operation with Pier. His skill had improved enough that he could now manage up to three units simultaneously.
The next afternoon, he came to Kizen. With Meyrin, Kamibarez, and Dick, he worked on practice exercises to coordinate their rhythm for actual combat.
Simon kept the Undead engaged to buy time, then fed four Exhausts and one Dark Flare to the Cyclops all at once before the battle began.
Then, gradually weakening the Cyclops, he would deliver two more Dark Flares, and the battle would end in victory.
To reduce errors, they repeated only the same pattern.
It wasn’t an Avalon simulation—just hypothetical combat in empty air with nothing around them—yet even that drained them completely. Everyone collapsed on the ground, gulping down bottled water.
“Simon! That tutoring you got in Rochester that weekend—who was it from?”
At Kamibarez’s question, Simon stiffened and answered.
“Oh, just someone my father introduced me to. Why?”
“Your Undead control seems so much better!”
“She’s right. It’s definitely improved.”
Dick, sprawled on his back in the open field, propped himself up on his elbows.
“You’re controlling three Skeletons now at once. Is it even possible to improve that fast in such a short time?”
Meyrin, growing curious as well, leaned in closer.
“What kind of person? A professional Necromancer? Someone from Kizen?”
All three pairs of eyes suddenly fixed on him at once. Simon’s face twisted into an awkward smile.
‘…How do I explain this?’

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