Necromancer Academy’s Genius Summoner - Chapter 402

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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 Summoning Genius of the Necromancer School — Episode 402
Two days had passed, and the Kizen students who’d completed the make-up Promotion Exam returned to Rocksum.
‘Looks like I won’t be getting discharged after all.’
Simon was smacking his lips and gazing out the window when the door swung open with a soft creak.
“Oh!”
A girl with periwinkle hair stood in the doorway, tears clinging to her eyes. Simon grinned and waved.
“Long time no see, Kamibarez.”
She looked as though even the slightest touch would shatter her into sobs, yet fat tears tumbled down her cheeks—and then she broke into the brightest smile. Her patient gown grew damp where the tears fell.
“Simoooon!”
She rushed to him and buried her face against his chest as he sat on the bed. A soft lavender scent rose between them.
Simon reached up and patted her shoulder gently.
“Hey! Simon!!”
“You’re really okay?”
Merin and Dick burst into the Medical Ward moments later, their faces flushed and breathing hard.
It was clear they’d teleported via the Teleport Magic Circle and then sprinted down the slope at full speed.
Simon kept his expression easy, not wanting to worry them further.
“I’m fine. Really.”
Only then did relief visibly wash over both Merin and Dick’s faces.
From Simon’s chest came hiccupping, murmuring sounds—as if Kamibarez were saying, ‘Thank goodness.’
“Don’t scare us like that. I couldn’t focus during the exam because of you!”
Merin folded her arms with exaggerated indignation.
“Man, Simon, do you have any idea how crazy things got with the others?”
Dick thrashed his arms, practically vibrating with excitement.
“Come on, spill the story about fighting the Blood Heavenly Cult!”
“Settle down.”
Simon explained what had happened within the limits of what could be made public.
In particular, all three of them hung on every word about the Blood Heavenly Cult led by Silaji.
“I-I’d heard the story, but hearing it from you, Simon, hits different.”
Kamibarez dropped her gaze.
The revelation that Silaji and Walter were the same person, and that he was even the shadow mastermind and High Archbishop of the Blood Heavenly Cult, was nothing short of a nightmare twist.
Dick leaned his back against the window.
“So right now Neftis is smashing all the Blood Heavenly Cult members and hunting down the ‘Grand Inquisitor Rette,’ the one pulling strings behind the scenes. She looks ready to kill her, but because of the war atmosphere here at Rocksum, everything feels tense.”
“There shouldn’t be war with the Sacred Federation, though. The Grand Inquisitor wasn’t the real mastermind.”
Merin blinked.
“Why do you sound so certain about that?”
“I talked it through with Neftis.”
The four of them continued chatting about the recent crisis.
Then Simon suddenly realized something and looked at the three of them.
“Wait—what about your Promotion Exams? How’d you all do?”
At that question, all three simultaneously lowered their heads and fell silent. A heavy atmosphere settled over the ward.
“You’re not saying…”
Simon hesitated, studying their faces, when he caught Dick’s eyebrows twitching and saw Merin covering her mouth with her hand. Kamibarez was so bad at hiding things—her acting was transparent.
Simon couldn’t hold back his smile.
“Congratulations to all of you on passing!”
Whoooaa!
The three of them finally burst into broad smiles and cheered at the top of their voices.
“Second year! We’re finally Kizen second-years, Simon!”
Kamibarez bounced with joy and threw her arms around Merin.
“Yeah! Yeah! Now we have the same credentials as professional Necromancers!”
“Hehehehe, brace yourselves, you freshmen next year! This senior’s gonna take good care of you!”
Dick wore a sinister smirk, rubbing his palms together. Merin shot him down immediately.
“Whoa! Don’t get cocky yet. You passed the Promotion Exam, but your overall grades are on thin ice—it’s not official!”
“Ah, things’ll work out one way or another.”
“The only ones guaranteed advancement are Simon and Merin. I’m still worried about my final exam and Practical Assessment scores.”
Simon smiled warmly.
“It’ll all be fine, Kamibarez.”
At those words, Kamibarez’s eyes crinkled with a puppy-like warmth.
“Yes, Simon!”
Bang!
In the midst of this warm moment, the ward door suddenly swung open hard and an uninvited guest walked in.
“What? How did you even find this place?”
Dick muttered in bewilderment.
The boy who’d surpassed Shatel to claim first place in the Promotion Exam.
It was Hector.
He paid no mind to the other three, his gaze fixed on Simon lying in bed.
“How’s your body holding up?”
The three exchanged shocked looks. Hector was asking after Simon’s health?
Simon answered with a light nod.
“Recover quickly and keep your word. You have four days.”
With that, Hector turned to leave.
“Seriously, it’s always ‘see you later, see you later’! Are you really going to do this in front of a patient?”
Click.
Hector’s footsteps halted as he reached for the door. Merin’s voice cut through, sharp and bristling.
“Simon is injured! And he got like this saving us! He doesn’t have to answer your selfish duel challenge!”
“The choice,”
Hector turned back to face Simon,
“belongs to the person involved.”
“You—!”
“I gave you four days because the 2nd Year Promotion Ceremony is in four days.”
Hector’s fists tightened.
“Don’t mistake me for someone patient enough to wait until the end of the holiday.”
“Fine. A promise is a promise, after all.”
Simon smiled brightly.
“After the ceremony, then.”
Hector’s lips curled into a grin.
“I knew you’d say something like that.”
Whoosh.
Hector swept out of the Medical Ward, his School Uniform billowing behind him. A cold silence settled over the room.
“You idiot! What do you mean ‘after the ceremony’? You should be going home!”
Merin shrieked.
“R-right! Another fight right after discharge……”
Kamibarez nodded along, wringing her hands.
“Hmm. I respect it, though.”
Dick lowered his voice, speaking with unusual gravity.
“Some fights are unavoidable for a man, after all……”
When Merin and Kamibarez shot him a sharp look, Dick quickly backpedaled.
“-or might be! But this one doesn’t seem to fall into that category! Ha ha! Recovery comes first anyway. Yeah.”
Simon smoothed over the tension.
“Thanks for worrying about me. Really, I’m fine. My body’s healing steadily, and I’ve got something I want to test against Hector.”
“Something you want to test?”
Simon grinned and opened both palms.
“Yeah. I developed a new technique while I was in here. Want to see?”
“……While you were in here?”
The three stared at Simon as though he’d lost his mind.

* * *
Simon was discharged the day before the 2nd Year Promotion Ceremony.
His 1st Year composite grade had come back in the meantime.
It was the total score combining the first semester and integrated second semester.
It included the Midterm Examination, Final Examination, and all manner of Practical Assessments, Duel Evaluations, Mission Evaluations, Dispatch Evaluations, BMAT, and the Promotion Exam.
“I did it!!”
Simon spun in circles on his Dormitory chair, holding his Grade Report high above his head.
[Ranking: 1st Place, Simon Polentia]
The golden gleam of the first-place marker. And beside it, the designation “Valedictorian”!
He checked and double-checked, unable to believe it.
Tears pricked his eyes from sheer joy.
He’d come all this way having entered with only his Core opened, no prior studies.
For this one day, surely he was allowed to be moved by his own achievement.
‘Though it was honestly touch and go.’
His Midterm score had nearly dragged him down. Fortunately, Kizen’s practical-focused system and the reduced weight of the first semester due to the integrated second semester had allowed him to secure the overall top ranking.
Had it been an ordinary first or second semester, Simon might have been pushed out of the top ten. In fact, the margin between second and third place was almost negligible.
‘I can’t afford to let my guard down next year, not for a moment.’
Still, valedictorian was valedictorian. The satisfaction was real. Simon grinned to himself and checked the rankings below his own.
[Ranking 2nd: Shatel Maer]
Without question, second place belonged to Shatel, the half-giant.
He’d lost to Simon in the Duel Evaluation and to Hector in the Promotion Exam, but he’d maintained a solid overall balance in practical and written work, securing his second-place finish.
[Ranking 3rd: Hector Moor]
A triumph of human determination.
Hector, a non-legacy admittee, had clawed his way to third place through sheer effort. His scores differed little from Simon’s or Shatel’s.
In reality, first, second, and third place—these three boys occupied such similar score ranges that ranking them felt almost arbitrary.
[Ranking 4th: Merida Hu Ikel]
Merida Hu Ikel, special admission number four, had held her position with impressive consistency, securing fourth place overall.
She was the younger sister of Phantasus Hu Ikel, that legendary student council president in Kizen’s storied history.
‘She’s terrifying.’
Looking at the detailed scores made her all the more formidable.
Despite bombing both the midterm and final written exams as badly as Simon had, her practical and field assessments were uniformly elite. She’d consistently placed in the top ten on BMAT as well.
Had her written scores merely reached the middle ranks, she could have surpassed him entirely.
‘……I won’t be able to study comfortably next year either.’
A wry smile tugged at his lips as the weight of it settled in. Simon moved on to check the next ranking.
[Ranking 5th: Aseraz Mikel]
[Ranking 6th: Merdiana Ann Suddendes]
He’d never seen their faces, never even heard their names before.
This was what made Kizen terrifying.
Non-legacy admittees, armed with overwhelming momentum, had effortlessly swept aside the legacy students and broken into the absolute top ranks.
With the Dark Alliance’s finest talent concentrated here, there was no predicting what monsters might emerge next and claw their way to the summit.
At Kizen, there were no eternal champions and no eternal underdogs.
[Ranking 7th: Elisa Selin]
Yet Elisa from the Phantom Ship, the pride of the legacy admittees at special admission number seven, had secured seventh place overall.
[Ranking 8th: Merin Billenne]
‘Merin! Congratulations!’
Merin, a non-legacy admittee, had confidently broken into the top ten.
At Kizen, it was unfortunate that she showed weakness in practical work and actual combat, with poor crisis management instincts, but her written exams revealed absolute strength—she’d placed second overall on both the midterm and final.
In an ordinary second semester, she could have aimed for top three.
By the way, the top score in both the midterm and final exams belonged to Aseraz Mikel, who ranked fifth overall.
[Ranking 9th: Elicia Rosenfeld]
[Ranking 10th: Jules Vinceré]
The girl named Elicia placed ninth overall—not a legacy admittee, yet famous enough that even Simon had heard her name.
And Jules, special admission number five and wielder of the Magic Sword, had claimed tenth place.
Jules’s situation was unavoidable.
In pure combat prowess, she was a match for Simon, Shatel, and Hector, but her choice to specialize in the Magic Sword had dragged down her other subjects. Her tenth-place ranking was essentially a victory of combat strength alone.
As for the rest—Raheim Nordfeld, Lord of Snowfield Castle at special admission number eight, and Malcolm Randolph, gang-affiliated at special admission number ten—both had fallen out of the top ten.
‘And, and……’
Simon’s eyes grew anxious as he scanned further down the list.
“Ah!”
[Ranking 95th: Kamibarez Ursula]
“Thank goodness, Kamibarez!”
Kamibarez, overflowing with talent yet possessing an un-necromancer-like timidity and kindness, had earned respectable marks and would advance to second year.
She’d poured everything into Blood Magic and her other subjects were ordinary, but starting in second year with its major-track specialization, she could aim for a much higher ranking.
‘It’s Dick I’m most worried about.’
Simon’s eyes continued down the grade report, descending further and further.
‘Around here maybe……’
He’d scanned through the two-hundredth rank list completely, and Dick’s name wasn’t there.
Unease began to churn in his stomach, and cold sweat prickled his skin.
‘No way, Dick! You didn’t……!’
The thought of school without cheerful Dick was unbearable. Anxiously, Simon’s gaze dropped to the three-hundredth rank range.
“Please……!”
And against the odds.
[Ranking 400th: Dick Hayward]
Pffft!
Simon burst out laughing, loud and clear.
Out of four hundred second-year advancement students, he ranked four hundredth. My friend, but the guy was infuriating.
Simon relaxed at last, slumping back in his chair.
‘……The Blood Heavenly Cult saved Dick.’
Because of the Blood Heavenly Cult incident, Kizen’s main headquarters had offered the students one particular benefit: an increase in the second-year intake capacity.
The second year normally admitted three hundred fifty students, but this time it expanded to four hundred.
An ironic turn of events. It struck him that the future truly cannot be predicted even one step ahead.
“Let me check the others.”
Simon traced through the list from the bottom, verifying the rankings of his other friends.
Toto placed three hundred eighty-second. And Lorain, Serne, and Kassan—those powerhouses who paid no attention to grades whatsoever—had all passed through the middle ranks.
In the upper tier appeared Jamie, Sindy, and Claudia, elite aces from Class A with whom he was close. Fitzgerald, from the same Mutation Club, had placed an impressive twentieth.
“Sigh.”
Then he checked once more, just to be sure.
The very top.
First out of one thousand incoming students.
[Ranking 1st: Simon Polentia]
No matter how many times he looked, it filled him with joy.
Simon’s gaze drifted toward the window.
Thinking of boasting to his father, who would be back in Resshil, he felt as though his spirits might take flight any moment.
‘Father! You’ll praise me this time, won’t you?’

* * *
The next day.
At dawn on the day of the 2nd Year Promotion Ceremony, whale-ships and various vessels were frenziedly ferrying people to Rocksum.
In advance of the coming festivities, the students’ parents and relatives were arriving.
All of them beamed with joy upon hearing their children had passed for advancement to second year. Their arms were laden with bouquets and gifts.
Clop, clop.
Amid all this, there was one point toward which the women’s gazes converged.
“Who is that?”
“……My goodness.”
The crowd murmured and parted left and right. A gentleman in spectacles and a crisp suit was making his way from the dock.
“Oh!”
In that moment, a young lady who had been distracted watching the man lost her footing, and her heel slipped on the dock floor.
Her body teetered, and she was about to tumble into the sea.
“Are you alright, my lady?”
That very gentleman rushed over like lightning and caught her in his arms. As their faces drew near, her cheeks flushed scarlet.
“Th-th-thank you!”
The gentleman gave a light, playful wink.
“Think nothing of it.”
Delighted laughter erupted from middle-aged matrons scattered throughout the crowd.
The gentleman lightly brushed off his clothes and gazed toward the Dormitory.
‘This school hasn’t changed one bit.’
He adjusted the false mustache beneath his spectacles, his eyes misty with sentiment as he surveyed his surroundings, then fixed his gaze on the Dormitory.
‘Soon now. I’ll see you, Simon.’

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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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