Necromancer Academy’s Genius Summoner - Chapter 556

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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 School’s Summoning Genius 556
A night lit by starlight.
Merida sat on a bench beneath a lamp, nodding off in and out of sleep. Simon approached her.
“Merida, wake up.”
She didn’t stir.
“Merida, it’s time for the dispatch mission.”
He tried shaking her awake, but she remained motionless. Simon exhaled a long sigh and settled onto the bench beside her.
They still had time before the event began. He’d give her another twenty minutes—cutting it dangerously close—and if she still wouldn’t wake, he’d haul her along like luggage.
Simon was reaching for his textbook to study for midterms when—
Plop.
He felt something settle against his shoulder.
Whisper-soft.
Merida had rested her head against his shoulder. Between her pale pink lips came shallow, even breathing.
“…….”
Simon rubbed his forehead with a weary expression.
He wasn’t falling for it this time. He’d learned his lesson before when she’d spread a blanket and sprawled across a bed, and he’d nearly talked his ears off trying to stop her.
“Just twenty minutes.”
Having declared his terms, Simon waited in silence.
He’d intended to ignore her and pay no attention, but the street was teeming with people. He could hear them giggling, murmuring about how cute they looked together, suggesting they were a couple.
‘……Ugh.’
He found himself suddenly self-conscious of their stares.
More troubling still was her face. The makeup she’d prepared so carefully for tonight’s banquet was smudging, and his new tuxedo bore the stain of her drool—it was beyond salvaging.
‘If she’s going to sleep, might as well do it properly.’
Sitting upright, Simon carefully grasped both her shoulders.
Her dress revealed her delicate, rounded shoulders in full.
Touching her bare skin inadvertently sent an unexpected flush across his face.
Trying not to show his embarrassment, he slowly repositioned her. Her head slipped down from his arm, and as he shifted his hips backward to lay her properly on the bench—
Snap.
“?”
Her head clung to his knee as if magnetized.
Simon felt his entire body freeze solid.
“M-Merida?”
In the moments he stood stunned, she was already asleep, her head pillowed on his lap.
This time she made no snoring sounds at all—just mouth hanging open, completely passed out.
Utterly oblivious to his predicament, she slept the sleep of the dead.
“Hey, wait—!”
When Simon tried to scramble away, Merida clamped both hands around his pant leg, refusing to relinquish her comfortable bed, and hung there swinging slightly.
Mmmm—
A small, protesting sleep-murmur escaped her lips. Simon let out a quiet sigh and sat back down.
At this rate, he’d be completely drained before they even reached the festival. Staring at Merida, lost in peaceful slumber without a care in the world, Simon quietly removed his tuxedo jacket.
As his weight shifted, her skirt slipped from its place, and her thighs were now entirely exposed.
‘……How can anyone be this defenseless?’
Even as he grumbled to himself, Simon draped his tuxedo jacket over her.
Taking it for a blanket, Merida smiled contentedly, clutching the jacket close as she sank deeper into blissful sleep.
“…….”
“…….”
And so their promised twenty minutes had fully elapsed.
“Merida, wake up.”
Now he couldn’t give any more leeway.
Simon tried to shake her awake forcefully, but she only murmured and showed no sign of waking.
“…….”
Simon rested his chin on his hand, thinking for a moment, until a bright idea suddenly occurred to him.
“Phantasus! What brings you here?”
“?!!”
At those words, Merida shot up like a fish leaping from water. Her hair stood on end, her eyes were still half-closed with sleep, and drool glistened at the corner of her mouth.
Whoosh—whoosh—
She looked about frantically before her gaze locked onto Simon.
“…….”
Catching the upward curve of his lips, she narrowed her eyes and pouted.
“Liar.”
Simon didn’t back down either, firing back a retort.
“Not the kind of thing I want to hear from someone who sleeps like the dead.”
The two of them traded childish jabs before turning away from each other. Simon rose from the bench feeling pleased, thinking he’d finally gotten the last word in.
“Now that you’re up, that’s all that matters. Come on, let’s head into the Tower of Time—ugh!”
Drowsiness crashed over him all at once, and he staggered. Simon turned around sharply, realizing he’d been hit with Sleep.
“Merida!”
“You tricked me.”
She spoke with a sullen expression.
“What else was I supposed to do? You wouldn’t wake up!”
“I don’t like that kind of lie.”
Her brows drew together.
“Don’t do it again.”
……
He had plenty to say, but they’d be working together as partners for the entire dispatch mission. Starting trouble over something this trivial wasn’t a smart move.
“Fine. I promise.”
Only then did Merida snap her fingers with a sharp click, and the drowsiness vanished in an instant.
She rose from the bench and brushed down her dress, smoothing her appearance.
“Let’s go.”
“Right.”
The two of them walked carefully to the main entrance of the Tower of Time. The butler who’d been ushering guests inside saw them and spoke.
“Ha! Welcome, welcome. I saw you two sitting so pleasantly on the bench together—I was wondering when you’d come in.”
So the butler had witnessed that embarrassing scene after all.
Simon turned his head away in mortification, while Merida stood motionless, a question mark floating above her head.
First, Simon submitted the documents they’d received from headquarters.
“Simon Polentia, Student Council President of Kizen, visiting for a dispatch mission, and Merida Hu Ikel, student. Confirmed. Please, come in.”
The butler bowed politely as he spoke. Simon nodded and began walking forward, but Merida didn’t follow.
“?”
Merida stood motionless, holding out her hand with her palm facing upward.
“What’s wrong?”
“You’re a man. I’m a woman.”
She pointed to her chest, tilting her head to one side.
“Aren’t you going to escort me?”
……Right.
Even though they were here on a dispatch mission, this was still a grand festival hosted by the Ivory Tower, and she was his partner.
The moment they crossed this threshold, the nobles’ etiquette war would begin.
Simon straightened his posture like a gentleman and took her hand, linking it with his arm.
Sway.
Drowsiness crashed down again, and Sleep seized him. Simon barely managed to stop himself from falling, and Merida burst out giggling.
“Got you again. Idiot.”
“You really are—”
Before Simon could finish, Merida stepped closer and linked her arm through his.
“Okay, I’m done now. All forgiven.”
……
“Let’s go.”
Merida snapped her fingers and released him from the Sleep.
Was she still bitter about being woken up in Phantasus’s name earlier?
He wasn’t sure if it was lingering resentment or if she genuinely took offense at being pranked like that, but he decided to be more careful from now on.
Simon escorted her into the banquet hall.
‘Oh.’
An exclamation escaped him unbidden.
Noble banquets varied in character depending on the host’s tastes, but the halls of high-ranking nobles always had one thing in common.
They were extravagantly, brilliantly opulent.
“Ah.”
Merida’s eyes sparkled. Following her gaze, Simon saw a beautifully cooked steak on a plate.
Simon felt his mouth water as well.
“You haven’t had dinner yet, right? Shall we grab some food first—”
“It looks so soft!”
Hmm?
She pointed ahead with the arm that wasn’t linked with his.
She wasn’t pointing at the food. She was pointing at the sofa beside it.
Merida yanked Simon along and rushed forward, then plopped down on the sofa and began pressing it with both palms.
“Density eight, softness five, comfort seven.”
“…What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
This time she moved to the opposite sofa, sat down, and launched into her own peculiar assessment.
“The finish is linen, but it’s a bit disappointing. The lumbar support is good, so the back feels comfortable, though the breathability leaves something to be desired.”
“Merida. When should we—”
“That chair looks soft too!”
Merida dragged Simon along as she searched every nook of the ballroom for her preferred spots—sofas, chairs, anywhere inviting. She tested each one in person, pressing her face against them.
“Here too!”
Anywhere warm was fair game—staircases, tabletops, nothing escaped her attention.
Like a picky bear hunting for the perfect winter den, she ranged from corner to corner of the grand hall.
“Here!”
Without warning, she squeezed in at a table occupied by a group of people. The seemingly composed girl suddenly wedged herself between them and pressed her cheek against the sofa, startling everyone present.
“I’m terribly sorry!”
Damage control fell to Simon, her partner.
Eventually.
“Mm-mmm.”
Before she could cause further chaos, he settled her onto a suitable sofa. She wanted to explore more and tried to get up, but the moment her face touched the cushion, she surrendered. She was asleep within moments.
“Phew.”
Simon finally allowed himself a proper breath and adjusted his necktie. Now he had a chance to survey his surroundings.
‘Almost everyone here is a Necromancer.’
He could sense the Dark Element emanating from people throughout the hall. Most were unfamiliar faces, but one caught his eye—someone he recognized.
And that person was approaching him now.
“Well, who do we have here? It’s been ages!”
A middle-aged nobleman with an impeccable suit, short sky-blue hair, and intelligent glasses that commanded attention.
Simon jumped to his feet.
Daniella Billenne, patriarch of the Ivory Tower Moderate Faction.
Merin’s father.
“Oh, it’s been such a long time! Lord Billenne!”
Simon greeted him with a nervous bow, sweat trickling down his brow.
He’d come expecting a relaxed evening, certainly not anticipating an encounter with Merin’s father at the Tower of Time, of all places.
“Hah, please, put yourself at ease. Student Council President.”
He smiled warmly as he spoke.
“You’re my daughter’s closest friend, so calling me Lord Billenne feels a bit stiff. How about Uncle Daniella instead?”
“I—I couldn’t possibly—!”
“Hahahaha!”
He laughed heartily and settled into the seat across from Simon. Simon immediately tried to shake Merida awake.
“Merida, wake up!”
“Let her sleep.”
Daniella Billenne opened his palm.
“The lady seems quite exhausted.”
“Yes, of course.”
Simon sat with his fists resting politely on his knees, eyes darting uncertainly.
He was unsure what to discuss with Merin’s father, but fortunately the man broke the ice first.
“How is your uncle doing these days?”
“He’s in good health!”
They had met once at the promotion ceremony marking the end of Simon’s first year, when Richard had introduced himself as Simon’s uncle while keeping his true identity concealed.
After exchanging brief pleasantries, the two clinked their wine glasses together.
“My daughter speaks of you quite often, Student Council President.”
“Does she?”
Daniella smiled warmly.
“More than half the time, in fact. Every time she opens her mouth—Simon this, Simon that.”
“…Haha.”
“As for the remainder, half of it is Kamibarez, and the other half is someone named Pion.”
So Simon’s share came to roughly seventy-five percent. He laughed awkwardly before speaking.
“What about Richard?”
“My daughter does mention him occasionally—when she’s cursing, come to think of it. ‘That Dick,’ ‘worse than Dick,’ that sort of thing.”
“…Ha, haha.”
He decided this conversation should stay between the two of them.
“But more importantly, I’ve been hoping to thank you in person, Student Council President.”
“Me?”
“Yes, because you made our daughter the Vice President.”
Daniella continued with a slight smile.
“For a while, the letters just kept coming. Dad! I’m the Vice President! Dad! Can you believe I’m the Vice President? It was quite the commotion. To be honest, these days I walk around the Ivory Tower with my head held high, knowing I’m the father of Kizen’s Vice President. Ha ha ha!”
Daniella rattled on with a story that would have made Merin cough up blood if she’d heard it. Simon lowered his head.
“You’re too kind. If anything, I receive considerable help from Merin.”
“……Ah.”
Daniella rested his chin thoughtfully.
“If only our Merin had this kind of maturity about her. She’s just reckless and getting into trouble.”
“……N-no, that’s not true! Merin has so much to learn from—I mean, so much to offer! She works hard, has real talent, and she’s honest.”
“Honest? That just means her face shows everything. She gets all flustered and stammers out things she doesn’t even mean, her face turns red and gives her away every time. Still, she has a good heart underneath, so please take good care of her as Student Council President.”
Talking with Daniella was a pleasure.
Here was a man who had wealth, status, everything—yet he adjusted his tone to match Simon’s level, creating an atmosphere of ease and comfort.
There was no need to force the conversation along. The more they talked, the calmer Simon’s mind became; he found himself thinking that Daniella was truly a good person.
“Ah, yes.”
And Simon sensed at last that Daniella was about to move to the main topic.
“I’d like to discuss the Tower of Time.”
Even as tension began to rise, Simon felt himself acutely aware once more of why he was here.
Simon had infiltrated the Ivory Tower as a spy.

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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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