Necromancer Academy’s Genius Summoner - Chapter 50
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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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Necromancer Academy’s Summoning Prodigy: Chapter 50
In the end, Lord Raymond knelt before Simon, his soldiers scattered.
To be forced to grovel like this before a boy young enough to be his son burned in his chest, but there was nothing to be done against a Legion of Undead.
“……Even for Keizen, such a display of force is problematic.”
Still, he hadn’t entirely surrendered. Steel glinted in the lord’s eyes.
“The Dark Alliance recognizes the autonomy of member states and territories. This is a sphere beyond Keizen’s reach! What will you do if this escalates into a diplomatic incident?”
Simon, now seated in the lord’s chair, let a thin smile play across his lips.
“Let me get to the point.”
He drew pieces of Evidence from his robes and dropped them to the floor.
A Contract from the broker, the advance payment he’d given to Ellen, and the shredded remains of Efnel’s School Uniform.
“You were in league with Efnel’s Priest.”
Raymond felt the blood drain from his face.
“Moreover, while a Request was pending with Keizen. Treason, naturally—and you deliberately engineered a collision between Necromancer and Priest. Wouldn’t you say that’s a fair interpretation?”
“……No, that’s not——”
Simon’s gaze turned glacial.
“And you said my actions could escalate into a diplomatic incident. By that logic, your actions constitute grounds for continental war. Don’t they?”
Cold sweat dripped from Raymond’s brow.
The reason he’d tried so desperately to keep Simon trapped in the Lord’s Castle was to prevent a collision between Keizen and Efnel born of the dual requests. But Keizen had already caught wind of it.
He thought frantically. If this went on, he would die. Not just him—the entire territory would be annihilated.
‘I have to do something. It’s kill or be killed now……!’
Raymond lurched to his feet.
“How dare you!”
His voice exploded.
“A mere Keizen operative with no authority whatsoever! Do you truly dare speak of Treason with such shoddy Evidence?”
Simon let out a soft laugh. Now the man was throwing everything at him, desperate.
Yet it didn’t displease him.
With all his cards in hand, watching the other squirm like this had a certain entertainment to it.
[Kehehehe! Is the boy finally showing his true colors!]
‘Please be quiet, Pier. You’re giving me a headache.’
Simon turned to Pier and nodded slightly. Pier then opened the Robe that had been wrapped around him.
“Wh—what……?”
Raymond’s pupils dilated violently.
Something was terribly wrong.
Terribly, catastrophically wrong.
What emerged from Pier’s Robe was Ellen—head tilted, eyes unfocused and glassy, drool trailing from her lips.
A Magic Circle had been drawn across her forehead.
“I captured Efnel’s Priest during the operation.”
Simon spoke like passing a death sentence.
“A Curse has left her temporarily catatonic. Once we send her to Keizen for interrogation, I’m sure all manner of interesting details will come to light. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Thump.
Raymond crumpled to the floor.
* * *
The matter had been settled.
Raymond had confessed everything and begged forgiveness for the territory, offering his own neck in exchange.
And there was something unexpected about it—Raymond was a figure of considerable standing among the territory’s people.
He had staked his entire political life on the territory’s development, personally running about to secure merchant investments. He’d even managed the difficult task of arranging the Crown Prince’s visit for this year.
But the disappearances had become a liability. If this became public, all his plans—including the Crown Prince’s visit—risked falling to ruin.
So Raymond had partnered with Erzsebet, who operated the Information Guild, to seal all leaks to the outside world. (Apparently he’d had no idea she was the mastermind behind the incidents.) In secret, he had made requests to various mercenary bands, renowned knights, and ultimately to Keizen.
But Keizen gave no response for three months, and the anxious Raymond eventually resorted to contacting a Priest through a broker.
Then Keizen, about to discard the Request, had Simon pick it up instead, and the situation spiraled into what it had become.
“I deserve to die.”
Raymond lay prostrate on the floor, tears streaming down his face.
“Truthfully, I never trusted the brokers from the start. They claimed to have access to a Priest of Efnel, but I thought someone of that caliber would have no reason to go through brokers. I was desperate enough to grasp at straws, to accept the proposal. I never expected an actual Priest of Efnel to appear……. My judgment was reckless beyond measure.”
Simon, sitting with feigned composure, felt a twinge of guilt. And Ellen, sprawled on the sofa feigning unconsciousness, felt it too.
The Magic Circle drawn on her forehead was fake.
“This was entirely my doing, my folly alone! You may take my life as you see fit! But please, I beg you, spare this territory……!”
Simon, beginning to feel the weight of his own conscience, gave a soft cough and spoke.
“Very well. I understand the circumstances.”
“…….”
Raymond lay motionless, his forehead pressed against the floor. Every line of his body spoke of acceptance—that he would bear any punishment without complaint.
“Lord Raymond. Let’s make a deal.”
“…Yes?”
“I haven’t been here long, but I’ve come to like this territory well enough. It’s a strategic chokepoint close to the Holy Federation—and if open war breaks out, it’ll need to supply countless soldiers. I’d rather not see such a vital position reduced to rubble.”
Raymond lifted his head, his expression bewildered.
“Of course, if this proceeds through official channels, Keizen will erase everything connected to this domain.”
“Ah…”
“But I don’t believe you acted with malice. I’ll handle this myself—quietly enough that the territory takes no damage.”
“You’d really do that for me?”
“I’ll try. On one condition, though.”
Simon lowered his voice.
“It might cost you something.”
Raymond’s forehead was back on the floor in an instant. “I’ll empty every coin I have!”
And so Simon walked away with five hundred gold—ten times the original fifty-gold request fee. He tucked the heavy purse into his Subspace and left the reception room with Raymond’s effusive farewells echoing behind him.
[What’s this, boy? You drive a harder bargain than I’d have guessed, for all that menace.]
“It’s fine. I’m satisfied with peeling back this much for the trouble.”
Simon shrugged as he spoke.
“Besides, it’s all blood-sweat taxes from the people anyway. We’re not robbing an innocent man.”
Pier’s mouth quirked upward.
As the son of former Legion Commander Richard, this boy shared certain traits with him—yet something fundamental set them apart.
“Ellen, well done too.”
Ellen poked her head out from inside Pier’s Robe.
“Hehe! How was my acting? Good, right?”
“Maybe wipe your mouth before you talk?”
“Oh! Oh no!”
Embarrassed, she tucked herself back inside, and Simon laughed quietly.
They’d solved one problem, and with that satisfaction settling over them, they were leaving the Lord’s Castle in ease—when the courtyard suddenly erupted into noise.
“Move! Quickly!”
“Hurry!”
Fully armored soldiers rushed past in formation toward some distant point.
“What’s happening?”
[Looks like someone’s attacking.]
“Let’s go see.”
Simon ran after them.
“…!”
From the second floor, looking down, he saw the castle gates surrounded by a writhing mass of Corpse Spiders. And standing before them—a familiar figure.
Simon spun on his heel and bolted down the stairs.
[Boy! Slow down!]
“Ow ow ow! It hurts!”
Simon reached the gates ahead of the other two. The heavily armored guards were already readying for combat.
“What’s the situation?”
The captain of the guard, helmet raised, spotted Simon and quickly saluted.
“Undead, sir! They mean to assault the castle, it seems. It’s dangerous—please, get inside at once!”
“Open the gate just a crack. I’ll go have a word with them.”
“Y-yes? But that’s far too dangerous!”
Simon smiled faintly, placing a hand over his chest.
“I’m still learning, but I am a Necromancer. Handling Undead is my work—trust me on this.”
“Hmm…”
The captain relented and cracked the gate open. Simon slipped through, and Pier and Ellen followed close behind.
Simon nodded back at the opening, and the captain solemnly returned the gesture before closing the gates behind them.
‘I didn’t think I’d actually do something this reckless.’
Simon walked forward slowly.
Beyond the swarm of spiders encircling the castle stood a woman in a wine-dark dress.
The Madam of the Thief Guild.
And at the same time: former Commander of the Legion, Erzsebet.
“What brings you here, Erzsebet?”
[Former Legion Commander Richard Polentian’s son, Simon Polentian.]
She sank gracefully onto one knee, every movement precise.
[I, Erzsebet, wish to serve you as my master. I ask for the chance to join your Legion and prove myself worthy.]
Pier chuckled and crossed his arms.
Simon composed his expression and cleared his throat.
“Leave your men with me. Let’s talk somewhere quiet.”
* * *
Simon decided to part ways with Ellen before heading back to his lodgings. He untied the rope he had bound around her wrists himself.
“What happened today shouldn’t reach anyone’s ears. Keep it between us from now on.”
……
She stared intently at Simon’s face.
“What? What’s wrong?”
“Ah, well… the rumors I’ve heard about Necromancers are a bit different from what I see in you.”
Pier grinned and hefted his Great Sword.
[If secrecy requires turning someone into a skeleton, I could arrange that right now!]
“Eek!”
She yelped in surprise and hid behind Simon. Pier burst into laughter, while Erzsebet, standing a little distance away, watched with a terrifying glare, biting her lip.
“And this.”
Simon drew out a pouch from his Subspace.
“It’s your share of the Request Fee I took from you earlier.”
“Ah…!”
“Take good care of your siblings.”
As she clutched the pouch to her chest, tears of gratitude began to well in her eyes.
“I… I really, truly thank you, Simon! I’ll never forget this kindness!”
“Where did you say you were going?”
“To a domain called Roharon in the Holy Federation.”
“Right. I hope you return to the Holy Federation safely.”
“Yes! Thank you! I won’t forget this, ever!”
As Simon turned to leave, Ellen called out loudly.
“Will we meet again someday?”
Simon shrugged his shoulders.
“Who knows. Next time we meet, it might be on a battlefield.”
Haha…
Ellen thought this man truly knew how to draw a clean line.
“If I ever have reason to visit the Holy Federation, I’ll ask for your guidance then.”
“Of course! Absolutely!”
She waved enthusiastically until Simon and his group disappeared from sight, her gratitude seeming genuine.
[Not only did he spare the Priest, but he’s sending her off with Gold as well.]
“Yes.”
[What’s his reason?]
Simon smiled faintly and crossed his arms.
“I thought it wise to cultivate connections on the Priest side for when I eventually need to fulfill a Black Request. And by giving her Gold, I complete our bond as true accomplices—she’ll trust me sincerely.”
[Krhehe! Watching your actions, one can’t tell if you’re righteous or wicked!]
“Perhaps not.”
Simon slipped his hand into the pocket of his hood and tilted his head back.
“Do we really need to divide everything into such rigid categories?”
……
“Half my blood is Priest. I have no reason to hate everyone on the other side, and no need to either. Letting Ellen go, taking a bit of the domain’s Gold—it all comes from the same place. There’s no need to go to extremes, is there? I simply take my share and move on.”
Pier’s lips curved upward deeply.
[It seems I’ll need time to understand you completely.]
Simon smiled faintly and turned his head.
“Erzsebet.”
[Yes.]
“You won’t send out your Spider Legion to ambush Ellen now that I’ve let her go, will you?”
She flinched inwardly but soon bowed her head.
[…O, of course not, my lord.]
“Good to know.”
Simon began exchanging various jokes with Pier as they walked. Erzsebet, following behind them both, was seized by a peculiar emotion.
The image of Simon’s back—the back that had taken the Holy Spear in her stead—still flickered before her eyes.
After being rejected by Simon that one time, Erzsebet had steeled her heart countless times.
Joining the Legion would bring her no benefit, and she’d only be bound by a troublesome contract for nothing.
But.
‘…In the end, I’m walking back into hell of my own accord.’
She had never once in her life overcome her own feelings.
“Erzsebet?”
[Yes. I will go.]
And yet.
Even if she came to regret it, even if she could see the future, even if that ending were utterly desolate.
She would make the same choice again, countless times over.
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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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