Necromancer Academy’s Genius Summoner - Chapter 532

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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 532
Next came the Funeral Magic class with Professors Lir and Lin.
The students lined up in neat rows at the Outdoor Training Ground, with the teaching assistants and the twin professors standing before them.
“Today we’re going to learn the Funeral Magic of Ghouls!”
“We covered this in the theory lecture before, but some of you weren’t listening—”
“So I’ll explain it once more. Be grateful to Lin!”
“No way! Thank Lir instead!”
The twins bickered for a moment before clasping hands and conjuring Dark Magic. A Summoning Magic Circle unfurled in the air.
“This is the Ghoul Magic Circle you’ve all learned.”
“Pretty amazing, right?”
Like a hologram, its size could be manipulated freely, so every student could see it clearly.
As Lin gestured, explanations of the main Rune Language and formulas appeared throughout the circle. Simon was concentrating intently on the lesson when—
Whoa!
Someone in the back was making unusually loud exclamations.
“Wait, there’s actually an Ancient Undead teaching the class! I thought it was just a prank to mess with the transfer student!”
Benz suddenly popped out from Simon’s right shoulder.
“Wow! The magic circle is getting bigger! How are they doing that?”
This time he shifted to the left side.
“Does Kizen always assign this many teaching assistants? At my school we only had two or three…”
“Student.”
Unable to bear it any longer, one of the teaching assistants hardened his expression and pressed his index finger to his lips.
Benz immediately sealed his mouth and fell silent, allowing Simon to focus once more on the twins’ explanation.
“As you all know, Funeral Magic is Dark Magic that temporarily strengthens Undead.”
“And there’s only one type of Funeral Magic that works on Ghouls.”
Lir, the twin professor on the right, spread her fingers and traced a diagonal line from top to bottom.
Slash—
A long line of pure shadow cut across the magic circle.
“What on earth—?”
The students’ eyes widened. The twins had drawn a line straight through the Summoning Magic Circle they’d so carefully constructed, splitting it apart.
“Ghouls are a bit unusual—they’re Undead, but their strength comes from biological ability rather than magic!”
“This is the only type of Funeral Magic that can be cast on a Ghoul Magic Circle!”
“The technique was first developed by a Necromancer named Rino, so we call it ‘Rino’s Golden Line.'”
The students looked bewildered.
Funeral Magic that destroys the circle by drawing a line through it?
Then Lin and Lir walked forward with graceful steps and stood on either side of the magic circle.
“If you look carefully, you’ll see this line isn’t drawn in a straight path.”
“It starts at ‘Om’, grazes the edges of the main Rune Language, and exits at ‘Lex.'”
“You could say it’s a gently curved S-shape rather than a straight line.”
Just then, a student who couldn’t contain her curiosity raised her hand.
“This is Coiter Pizon! If you do that, won’t the magic circle break and render the Ghoul unusable?”
“Right. It breaks.”
The students fell into deeper confusion.
“Listen to the explanation all the way through, you little ones!”
Lir on the right laughed and snapped her fingers once more, and the magic circle returned to its original state.
“Let me show you something fascinating. When you draw a line of shadow starting from ‘Om’—”
Lin on the left traced her finger through the air. With each movement of her hand, the magic circle on the display moved in sync.
“Ah!”
“The shadow!”
All the shadow throughout the magic circle, which had been maintaining perfect balance and sustaining the ecosystem, gathered into the line of shadow she was drawing and began to flow.
She hadn’t merely drawn a line—she’d created a circuit.
“Om, Lir, Bold, Lex. Just as rivers flowing from each source eventually converge into the sea, all the shadow will flow through this line.”
The twins extended the line further.
The moment their line passed through the final point called ‘Lex’ and broke through the edge of the magic circle—
Whoosh!
A torrent of shadow gushed outward and was transmitted to the Ghoul’s entire body.
“This is Forced Rampage of the Ghoul using ‘Rino’s Golden Line.'”
“A Ghoul affected by this Funeral Magic will exert three to four times, or even greater, its normal power.”
They had prepared a Ghoul beforehand to demonstrate.
The Ghoul that had been hopping about cheerfully all this time.
The moment they sent the shadow and drew the line on the magic circle inscribed upon the Ghoul’s skull, it shrieked and tore across the open field at such tremendous speed that afterimages trailed behind it.
Oh-!
The Ghoul swung its arm, and a tree shattered with a sharp crack. The rampage had laid waste to the surrounding area, and the Teaching Assistants showed the practiced ease of propping up timber or protecting equipment.
The students’ voices grew loud with excitement.
“Is that really how a Ghoul moves?”
“That’s insane.”
The twin professors opened their palms and shouted, “Stop!” and the Ghoul finally came to a halt. Yet unable to contain the force coursing through it, its body convulsed in jerking motions even as it stood motionless.
Aseraz Mikel raised his hand.
Even the fifth-ranked Aseraz seemed startled as he lifted his hand with a question.
“But if it pours out that much Dark Element to strengthen its entire body like that, wouldn’t the Ghoul…….”
“Exactly.”
The students’ gaze belatedly turned toward the Magic Circle sprawled across the empty air.
After the Dark Element that should have circulated drained away in one direction, the Magic Circle lost its vitality like a wilted flower and withered. Following the auxiliary runes, even the main Rune Language desiccated and died, scattering the entire Magic Circle into nothing.
The Ghoul the twin professors had just been controlling also stiffened where it stood, then ceased all movement.
It was completely destroyed, even as an Undead.
“As you all can see!”
“Rino’s Golden Line is a Forced Rampage technique that sacrifices the Ghoul.”
Simon folded his arms with a grave expression.
‘It’s like a Corpse Explosion for Ghouls.’
A Ghoul is the Undead tier just above Zombies. It was fair to say they were essentially the same class of Undead.
While a Zombie’s Corpse Explosion caused the Summoning Magic Circle to overload and detonate like a bomb, a Ghoul’s Funeral Magic dried out the Summoning Magic Circle instead, but temporarily granted massive strength enhancement.
“Since Ghouls aren’t as common as Zombies, it’s true that among Necromancers there’s divided opinion on whether Rino’s Golden Line is worthwhile,” Lir said.
Lir spoke.
“But when facing enemies stronger than a Ghoul, or when dealing with large numbers, it’s more logical to strengthen the Ghoul and reduce that threat than to lose it pointlessly to an enemy blade.”
Lir continued.
At such a pragmatic way of thinking, befitting true Necromancers, the students nodded in understanding.
“Then, right away!”
“Shall we move to the practical exercise!”
At the twin professors’ sudden “practical exercise announcement,” cries of dismay erupted from various corners.
“Wait, just a moment! Don’t we get practice?”
“At least let us draw on paper or something!”
“There’s no such thing as practice at Kizen!”
The twin professors laughed mischievously, tittering like children.
“We’re going straight into real combat-”
“Right now!”
Before her words even finished, seven Teaching Assistants stepped forward before the students with stern faces. The students flinched and took steps backward.
“Explain! Valedictorian!”
“Yes, Professors.”
The Senior Teaching Assistant bowed respectfully to the twins, then fixed the students with a solemn gaze.
“I will now explain the rules of this practical exercise.”
The seven Teaching Assistants opened Subspaces and each withdrew a Skeleton.
They were unlike ordinary Skeletons. Their bones had a faint purple tint, they wore armor, and each held an axe in one hand.
“You must face Kizen’s Modified Skeletons using only the ‘Ghouls’ you secured in the previous lesson.”
A duel between Ghoul and Skeleton, then.
The students’ focus sharpened. Some bent their knees; others rose onto their toes.
“The practical exercise permits only one-to-one combat between your Ghoul and the Modified Skeleton. If your Ghoul destroys the Modified Skeleton, the exercise ends. If your Ghoul is destroyed first, you retrieve a new Ghoul and engage again. This process repeats until the Modified Skeleton is destroyed.”
The students began murmuring anxiously.
‘We have to keep going until we destroy it?’
Just then, the twin professors clasped hands and burst forward.
“Pass or Fail! The passing condition for this class is one thing: destroying the Modified Skeleton with your Ghoul!”
Lir declared.
“Pass or Fail! The failing condition for this class is also one thing: when you have no more Ghouls left to withdraw from the Subspace!”
Lir added.
Now understanding all the rules at last, Simon’s lips curved upward.
‘……Ah, so all the previous lessons tie together like this.’
Those who secured more Ghouls during Materials study would have more ammunition for this class, giving them an advantage in passing.
Of course, the Ghouls available for use in this class were only those secured in the previous lesson. That’s why they’d marked each Ghoul’s body with a Mana Seal for such distinction.
But Kizen took it one step further.
“And after you pass this class, with the Ghouls remaining, you will take the Final Practical Assessment—the real combat evaluation.”
“Ah……!”
In short, the strategy was to secure many Ghouls in Materials study and minimize losses in Funeral Magic study, all to gain advantage in the final exam.
“One last tip, if I may—”
The Senior Teaching Assistant’s lips curled into a smile.
“This Modified Skeleton cannot be defeated by ordinary ghouls. That’s all.”
Sweat beaded on Simon’s forehead.
Which meant.
‘I have to win using Funeral Magic?’
And he’d have to master it on the spot, without any practice beforehand.
Benz, a transfer student who’d been listening to the explanation, trembled as he muttered.
“I-is Kizen’s curriculum always this intense?”

* * *
“Everyone stay in your seats!”
“From now on, no Dark Magic or Shadow Aura casting!”
At the twin professors’ command, the students had no choice but to sit. With Dark Magic forbidden, they began desperately tracing diagonals in the air, attempting image training with all their might.
Dozens of students stood with arms outstretched, blind and grasping at empty space—a surreal sight.
It was born of desperation, an urge to do something, anything. But realistically, this gesture would teach them nothing.
“Now, we’ll call students forward in order.”
The Senior Teaching Assistant held the attendance sheet and began calling names one by one.
“Not first. Please not first. Not first.”
Toto trembled as he muttered. Simon and Lorain were exchanging thoughts about this practical exam.
“Simon Polentia.”
Just then, the assistant called the name.
Simon was one of the seven in the first group. He stood up without hesitation, as if it didn’t matter.
“Argh! Simon!”
Toto shook with fear.
“Keep your head. You’ll do fine.”
Lorain smiled warmly.
Simon thanked them both and stepped outside.
While all the others’ faces grew tight with tension and pressure, Serne yawned with drowsy eyes and waved to Simon as he left. True to form, entirely unbothered.
“Hector Moor.”
The last name called was Hector’s. A towering figure rose from among the crouched students, standing out like a lone mountain.
Soon seven students lined up before the assistants. Being the first group, all eyes in the classroom converged upon them.
‘Mm.’
Tension flickered across Simon’s gaze.
Of all the assistants, it had to be the intimidating Senior Teaching Assistant who’d be his opponent.
And standing before the Senior Teaching Assistant was the Modified Skeleton.
It had a distinctly unusual form.
Spikes protruded from all over the skeleton’s body, and Simon couldn’t even guess what kind of undead it had been crafted from. The armor it wore looked sturdy, and the axe in its grip was menacing.
‘They said it couldn’t be beaten by ordinary ghouls, right?’
As Simon was thinking this, Hector, standing beside him, raised his hand.
Lin, the Rune Professor, noticed and spoke.
“Yes, you there.”
“A question?”
Hector lowered his arm.
“I’m Hector Moor. I’m curious whether we must necessarily use Funeral Magic to win.”
The students at the start line exchanged puzzled looks.
Was he seriously asking whether it was acceptable to win against an undead that could only be beaten with Funeral Magic—without using Funeral Magic?
“Hmm—”
Yet the question was unexpectedly intriguing. Lin and Rune exchanged meaningful smiles.
“The passing condition is to destroy the Modified Skeleton with your ghoul.”
“If you can destroy it, you pass. Using Funeral Magic isn’t necessary—it would simply mean your undead control is exceptional enough.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Hector had posed it lightly, but bedlam erupted among the seated students behind him.
“Did you hear that? We don’t have to use Funeral Magic?”
“Now there’s some hope.”
“Maybe I’ll try sending one or two out.”
As the other students swelled with hope, Simon let out a bitter laugh.
‘A trap.’
The students’ minds had shifted from the certainty that Funeral Magic was the only path to victory, to the possibility that perhaps it wasn’t necessary. A seed of doubt had been planted.
Clearly, mastering Rino’s Golden Line and executing it properly in this exam seemed formidable. It was an uncertain ordeal they’d rather avoid.
Simon was certain of it. Hector would set luck aside and go straight for Funeral Magic on the first attempt, without exception.
‘Tsk.’
And at that very moment, seeing Simon remain utterly unshaken, Hector clicked his tongue. Only the other students around them rolled their eyes.
“All students, summon your Ghouls.”
The Senior Teaching Assistant spoke then.
The students moved their arms in unison, opening their Subspaces. Simon too opened his Subspace and withdrew a Ghoul.
‘You’re up first. Show me what you’ve got.’
Snap—
Simon’s first Ghoul prowled forward, snarling toward the skeleton.
The Senior Teaching Assistant moved his fingers.
A rectangular line was drawn on the ground around the Ghoul and Modified Skeleton, forming a small makeshift arena.
“Within these arena boundaries, you may do anything with your Ghoul. However, the moment it steps outside the line, I will bind it with Curse and execute it.”
Cross the line and you’re out.
Simon nodded and lowered his stance.
“Then, first team!”
“Ready?”
Lin and Rune clasped their interlocked hands and thrust them downward, shouting.
“Practice!”
“Begin!”
The students at the start line roared in unison. Seven Ghouls charged fiercely toward the instructors’ Modified Skeletons.

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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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