Necromancer Academy’s Genius Summoner - Chapter 452
—————
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 452
The appointment of a department head for Curse Studies was as good as settled.
One of Kizen’s most celebrated star professors. A young man with the overwhelmingly rare talent of an active Raven in his prime.
Professional lectures and teaching methods that drew high student engagement, gentlemanly manner and approachable attitude toward his students. And he ranked first among the professors students at Kizen most wanted to emulate.
Bahil Amagar.
But then.
“The Curse Studies Department has one announcement to make.”
Byeol-Ya’s words carried an unusual weight, and the hall stirred.
“……Hmm, how do I even explain this.”
As Byeol-Ya scratched her head, not even a broadcast assistant but a staff member from Kizen headquarters himself rushed up to the stage and whispered something in her ear.
She nodded and spoke.
“Right, yes. As you might expect, the Curse Studies Department will be headed by Professor Bahil. However, he did not attend this opening ceremony.”
The students murmured among themselves, and someone narrowed their eyes.
“They won’t say why. Did he just miss the event?”
Merin looked at him with disdain.
“What, did Professor Bahil leave Kizen or something?”
“It seems there’s something personal going on.”
“Is that so? Simon, do you have any idea what it might be?”
“…….”
Simon forced a smile and shook his head.
“I have no idea.”
“Really?”
As the three of them moved on to other topics, Simon quietly pressed his palm to his forehead.
‘……Could it be.’
On the last day of his first year, Simon had visited each department’s professors to pay his respects and offer brief greetings.
But he had failed to meet with Bahil from Curse Studies. Only the head teaching assistant Chehekl had been in his office.
Simon recalled the conversation he’d had with her then.
—Ever since Professor Bahil came to visit Simon in the hospital, he’s seemed strange. Then he cut off all contact and vanished.
—Vanished?
—Do you happen to know what you discussed with the professor in your hospital room?
At the time, Simon had hesitated.
Should he tell Chehekl everything? The secret of Compelonia, even Bahil’s ambition to curse the entire world? But Simon still didn’t know what kind of person Chehekl really was.
—I can guess what he said.
Before Simon could say anything, Chehekl had beaten him to it.
—He offered to take you on as a direct disciple and asked you to join the Curse Studies Department, right?
Since that was indeed the truth, Simon had nodded. Chehekl let out a long sigh.
—Don’t worry about it. He’ll come back once the new semester starts anyway.
Simon had believed her words and returned to Resshil.
But now.
‘He still hasn’t returned to Kizen?’
While the professors of each department sat behind the platform, it was Chehekl who occupied the Curse Studies professor’s seat. Seeing her troubled expression, Simon couldn’t help but feel worry wash over him.
He decided that if he had a moment to spare tomorrow, or even today, he would go find Chehekl.
“And finally, the most popular department — Dark Reversal Magic. You’ve been looking forward to this, haven’t you?”
Yes, yes, yes!
Countless students raised their voices. Merin trembled slightly as she whispered softly.
“Professor Eric Aura, please……!”
“I hear the back section’s Professor Tyler is formidable too. Very popular.”
A clash between Eric the theorist and Tyler the practitioner.
The loser would face a massive handicap in their professorial career.
Just who would helm the Dark Reversal Magic Department for the second year?
“Hmm!”
Then Byeol-Ya checked the name on the documents and let out a meaningful laugh.
“All right, here’s the announcement! The Dark Reversal Magic professor for the second year is Professor Eric Aura―”
Waaaaaaaah!
Merin and the other front-section students screamed with joy.
“―or so it would have been!”
As Byeol-Ya continued, silence fell once again.
“Four days before the opening, Professor Eric Aura suddenly announced his retirement.”
Murmur, murmur, murmur!
The entire hall descended into chaos in an instant. Many of the third-year students in the back rows had also taken classes from Eric, so their confusion was no less than anyone else’s.
“It wasn’t an incident or anything unusual—he simply stated that he wanted to focus more on scholarship and theory than on grooming successors. He said he’s going into Pentamonium now as a full-time scholar rather than as a professor.”
It was surprising news, but Simon thought it made sense enough.
Eric was a typical scholar type who valued theory above all else.
Still, during his tenure as a professor at Kizen, he seemed to strain a bit—teaching the students practical skills over theory, Black Magic they could apply immediately.
‘I’ll cheer you on. Professor Eric.’
He thought that a scholar’s coat would suit Eric far better than that of a professor.
“Now then! I bet you’re all dying to know who’ll be teaching Dark Reversal Magic to the second-year students?”
A student from the back rows shouted loudly.
“Professor Tyler!”
“Just so you know, Professor Tyler has decided to teach Dark Reversal Magic to this year’s freshmen, so he’s preparing his first-year curriculum. He didn’t want to advance purely by luck, and besides, you can’t suddenly change something that’s already been settled.”
The students fell into even deeper confusion.
Then who on earth was going to teach Dark Reversal Magic to the second-year students?
“I’ve been long-winded enough. Let me introduce her!”
Click. Click.
With the sound of polished heels rising across the hall, a woman parted the curtain and walked toward the podium.
She wore a crisp black suit with a restrained bob cut. Her cold features radiated charisma through sharp, penetrating eyes.
“You’re all lucky! Vice President Jane Olivia will personally take charge of Dark Reversal Magic for the second-year students!”
A thunderous roar erupted from the Underground Grand Hall, nearly shaking the ceiling. All the second-year students lost their composure.
“Professor Jane!! Jane is teaching Dark Reversal Magic!”
Merin was so delighted she bounced up and down, then threw her arms around Kamibarez, who was jumping beside her.
“Oh my goodness, I love this! If this is a dream, I never want to wake up!”
“Congratulations, Merin!”
“……Wow, this is…”
Dick let out a dazed laugh.
“Dark Reversal Magic is a total sleeper hit. Registration for this course is going to be absolutely insane.”
Jane’s reputation was well-known, but Class A students knew it better than anyone.
In fact, Jane had the distinction of producing both the highest grades and the most dropouts among all fourteen classes.
“Simon! You’re taking Professor Jane’s class, right?”
Kamibarez asked with wide, eager eyes.
“Of course I am.”
Simon’s enthusiasm was burning bright.
Starting in second year, the department required courses, but students could also enroll in general electives alongside their majors.
Major courses were fixed at three or four. The real battle occurred during general course registration, where all professors teaching major courses were expected to open at least one general elective to teach their students as well.
If Simon failed to register for Jane’s Dark Reversal Magic in the elective selection, he thought he’d go mad.
“I’m torn about my department choice.”
“What should I do?”
Moreover, Dark Reversal Magic was already popular for its broad applicability, and the mere fact that Jane was taking it over made some students seriously weigh their originally chosen departments against it.
“Now then, let the professor say a few words!”
Jane took the Amplification Crystal from an attendant and looked out at the students.
A slightly husky yet delicate voice echoed through the hall.
“That’s how it is.”
Those were Jane’s first words.
“I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors, but I will drop any student I don’t think has what it takes—even third-years. I’d prefer if no one made a halfhearted attempt only to regret it later.”
She was about to lower the Amplification Crystal, her expression unmoved, when she smiled faintly and brought it back to her lips.
“And Class A will attend my lectures in their entirety. That’s all.”
Waaaah!
The students gasped and looked around. The previous year’s Class A freshmen were chanting her name like mad.
“We love you, Professor Jaaaaaane!”
Merin was crying tears of joy as she called out. Simon and Kamibarez faced each other with grins and clapped their hands, while Dick whistled.
“That’s favoritism toward Class A!”
“We’re all second-years.”
A few students complained playfully, but those from Class A were already deaf to such remarks.
The most moved of all was Class A’s representative, Jamie.
“Sob, marry me! Professor Jane!”
“Huh? Representative! What about Hector and—”
Jamie, her face flushed crimson, cast a Silence Curse on Dick.
Soon after, Jane took her seat on the professor’s platform, and all the department heads settled into their places.
“Ah, Professor Jane is leaving us for the second-year students.”
“I was really hoping to take her Advanced Black Magic class.”
“Doesn’t Kizen just favor the second-years too much?”
The third-year students let out a palpable sigh of disappointment.
Even last year, Jane had only taught 1st Year Class A and conducted several third-year classes.
But this year, with Jane completely reassigned to the second-year cohort, the third-years had no way to see her unless they committed the embarrassing act of auditing their juniors’ lectures.
“Are the professors insane? Jane, Bahil, Hong Peng—they’re all assigned to second year.”
“……If only Aizel had been here, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”
It was merely a convergence of unfortunate coincidences, but the grievances and frustrations mounting among Leonard and several other third-year students only grew deeper by the moment.
* * *
The heart of today’s ceremony—its grand finale—now commenced: the Department Selection Ceremony.
Each department had a maximum capacity of sixty students. Students ranked 1st through 400th would choose their departments in order.
So the first student to ascend the platform was, naturally enough,
“2nd Year Ranking 1st, Simon Polentia, step forward.”
Simon.
His appearance sent a subtle ripple of tension through the Kizen faculty. Jane closed her eyes; Hong Peng leaned his jaw on his clasped hands, fidgeting visibly. Aaron, uncharacteristically tense, swept back his shaggy hair with an anxious hand.
“So that’s him.”
Even the Necromancy and Blood Magic professors from the back rows lit up at the arrival of the top-ranked student.
“Well, well—our student council president.”
Byeol-Ya flashed a rowdy grin, her teeth shark-like, and gave Simon’s shoulder a playful pat.
“We’ve got just the talent to carry the Poison Studies Department! Especially your Resistance Studies scores—top of the entire year, aren’t they?”
“……Ah, ha ha.”
Simon offered an awkward smile.
Jane’s expression darkened at that remark, and she crossed her arms; Hong Peng, in particular, stiffened visibly and said something to the broadcast assistant waiting nearby. When the assistant hurried over to whisper in Byeol-Ya’s ear, she grumbled, “Yeah, yeah. I was just joking.”
“Still, the choice of the 1st Year’s highest-ranked student matters! I’m curious too—which department will you choose? A few words?”
Simon wore a faint smile.
“From the moment I enrolled at Kizen until now, there has been one course of study that has continuously ignited my passion. Of course, Kizen has many wonderful classes and excellent professors, but looking back, I believe my heart was set from the beginning.”
Simon walked forward with measured strides.
Before the platform stood seven altars.
The Curse Studies Department, symbolized by a voodoo doll mark.
The Dark Reversal Magic Department, symbolized by a witch’s hat mark.
The Summoning Department, symbolized by a zombie mark.
The Necromancy Department, symbolized by a ghost mark.
The Blood Magic Department, symbolized by a droplet of blood mark.
The Poison Studies Department, symbolized by a shattered potion bottle and skull mark.
The Combat Magic Department, symbolized by a fist wearing a ring mark.
After a light breath, Simon approached one of these altars and plunged his hand into the flickering flames.
‘It doesn’t burn.’
Within the fire, his fingers found a single card.
He drew it out and held it up for all to see.
On the back of the card was printed a zombie mark.
“Ranking 1st, Simon Polentia’s choice is the Summoning Department!”
Cheers erupted as Simon examined the front of the card. The surface blazed with dancing flames as his name began to inscribe itself.
<Kizen Summoning Department 2nd Year Simon Polentia>
A new second-year exclusive student ID bearing Exhibition Command Authority.
‘So this is that thing I’ve only heard about!’
Simon carefully placed the student ID in his pocket and followed the assistant’s directions.
The destination was toward the faculty seating area, where Aaron had already risen from his chair.
Though Jane and Hong Peng showed clear disappointment, it had been more a matter of hope than expectation; among the faculty, Simon’s choice of the Summoning Department had been all but certain.
“Welcome.”
Aaron extended his hand with his usual composed expression, though the corners of his mouth twitched slightly with pleasure. Simon grasped it and broke into a bright smile.
“Thank you for your guidance in the second year, Professor Aaron.”
Professor Aaron, his assigned instructor.
Simultaneously, he would now be Simon’s direct mentor. There could be nothing more reassuring going forward in departmental life.
“The other specialized professors in the Summoning Department wanted to see you as well. I expect great things.”
“Yes, sir! I’ll do my very best not to disappoint.”
After shaking hands with Aaron, Simon descended the platform following the assistant’s lead.
“Student, a moment.”
As Simon moved toward where his friends were seated, the assistant gestured toward the rear.
“Once your department selection is complete, you should join the senior members of the Summoning Department.”
He was pointing to the table where the third-year students sat in the back.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————