Necromancer Academy’s Genius Summoner - Chapter 588

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Summoning Genius of the Necromancer School — Episode 588
Five war carriages carrying students from Kizen cut through the monsters and rolled steadily toward the Gahal Fortress.
And at a distance removed from that scene.
“……So they broke through after all.”
Two men stood watching them.
“Your lot’s work was sloppy.”
The Butcher, perched on a boulder, clicked his twin cleavers together absently. He still wore his blood-stained apron and boots.
“Didn’t you say you’d take that blue-haired one out?”
“The boy handled himself well.”
The One-Eyed Gentleman lowered his telescope as he spoke, his single eye catching the light.
“We’ll have no choice but to take them at the fortress, as originally planned.”
“Makes no difference to me.”
The Butcher twirled a cleaver and slid it into the sheath at his waist. Before him lay a Mimic, butchered with clinical precision.
“No meat on this thing, I suppose. Tastes foul.”
“A pity, whatever it may be.”
The Butcher turned slowly, gazing toward the distant flicker of firelight.
“The Gahal’s last fortress.”
He folded his arms, grinning wickedly.
“Students dragged into a place like that? Kizen’s methods are incomprehensible, then and now.”
“Nothing unusual by those standards. They’ve been known to drop sleeping children into the thick of war itself.”
“But here’s the thing.”
The Butcher’s gaze shifted to the countless monster hordes surrounding the fortress.
“At this scale, couldn’t we just leave them be? They’d finish on their own. Seems like there’s no room for us to act.”
“Ordinarily, the Gahal would have fallen here.”
The One-Eyed Gentleman’s eye gleamed.
“But circumstances have changed. Fifty-two second-year students from Kizen, two Kizen professors, and the instructors they’ve brought with them. That fortress is safer than some earls’ strongholds now.”
The Butcher let out a harsh laugh.
“You’re giving too much credit to children playing at war games.”
“Accurate assessment of one’s enemy is essential.”
The One-Eyed Gentleman turned his head.
“But our preparations are equally thorough.”
Screee—
Hisssss—
The Mimics around them gulped down Potions filled with crimson liquid. Other Mimics followed suit, and the behavior spread through their ranks.
Red vapor leaked from the monsters’ jaws, their eyes blazing scarlet.
The monsters were being enhanced.
“Good, good.”
The Butcher dragged his blood-stained fingertip across his tongue.
“Let’s make this a proper celebration.”

* * *
The distance between the carriages and the fortress narrowed. Grerion, riding in the lead carriage, poked his head out the window.
“Instructors! Raise the banners!”
“Yes, sir!”
The instructors unfurled both the Kizen standard and a blue banner, crossing them from the carriage.
The students stared anxiously at the tightly sealed city gates.
“……What happens if they don’t open the gates?”
“What do you think? We all die.”
Eshu let out a giggle at that.
“If you die, I’ll resurrect you. Zombie? Skeleton? Take your pick.”
“Those choices are terrible. At least turn me into a Lich.”
“Be grateful I’m not using Chimera rear end as my template.”
Ahahaha!
After a grueling battle, the mood had grown heavy. In times like these, Eshu’s vibrant nature proved invaluable.
Though he let her endless chatter wash over him without really listening, he found himself grinning despite the tension draining away.
Her words kept the mundane moment alive, no matter where they were. The other students began to ease as well, joining in with remarks of their own.
“Whoa, look at all those archers on the wall! Thick as bristles!”
“……U-uh, they won’t shoot at us, will they?”
Of course, there was Toto, needlessly amplifying the danger. Simon gave his thigh a light tap to ease his nerves.
Thump-thump-thump!
Fortunately, those in the fortress seemed to have spotted the flag, and the gates of Gahal Fortress began to open.
“They’re opening it!”
“Let’s go!”
The students finally relaxed, their spirits lifting.
Crossing the narrow moat and bridge, the five combat carriages entered the fortress safely. As the carriages halted, the students climbed out one by one.
A group of Gahal warriors approached from the other side, accompanied by a middle-aged man whose ornate armor gleamed distinctly.
From the Ivory Tower’s side, Grerion, the Summoning Material Studies professor, stepped forward as their representative.
“Ha ha ha! It’s been a long time!”
The two embraced warmly and exchanged words.
Simon couldn’t understand what was being said, but remarkably, Grerion seemed to know the Gahal language and conversation flowed between them.
Grerion turned to the confused students and kindly provided translation.
“He’s thanking us for coming all this way to help.”
“!”
The students responded with whatever foreign languages they knew, greeting the Gahal warriors indiscriminately. At the end, Eshu said something like “Whee-ba, whee-ba,” though it was meaningless.
Still, the universal language of handshakes worked. The friendly students clasped hands with the soldiers or bumped fists.
“Professor Aaron.”
“Yes.”
The professors held a serious conference for about ten minutes. Grerion’s stance was somewhat hardline, while Aaron seemed to be tempering his colleague’s intensity.
After a brief moment, a conclusion appeared to have been reached, and Aaron stepped forward.
“All students, listen up.”
The students immediately fell silent and turned their attention to Aaron.
“According to the Gahal, the monsters will attack at dawn. Students will take turns on three shifts guarding the city wall, while the rest will rest inside. Light sleep is fine, but try not to get too sprawled out.”
“Understood!”
“Now, regarding the command structure.”
Aaron’s Senior Instructor came over and opened a box. Inside lay Communication Crystals.
“Basically, we’re operating under a Free Combat Directive, but we still need minimal communication and a command structure. We will select a student commander.”
Aaron picked up a Red Communication Crystal from among the Communication Crystals.
“There are many talented individuals among you……”
Aaron’s gaze swept the crowd before coming to rest on one person.
“But our department has a Student Council President.”
Every eye in the room turned toward Simon.
Hector, whose expression betrayed obvious anticipation, clicked his tongue in frustration.
“May I say something?”
Simon raised his hand.
“Go ahead.”
“Normally, I’d take command without hesitation, but this is a department-wide field training exercise.”
Simon gestured to the side.
“So I think it’s only right that the Department Representative commands.”
“……!”
Hector’s eyes widened as he glared at Simon.
It was a look that asked: what scheme was this?
“A fitting opinion.”
Aaron nodded in approval and tossed the red Communication Crystal.
“Today’s student commander is Hector Moor.”
Hector’s pupils trembled slightly as he caught the Red Communication Crystal.
“When combat breaks out, move according to the student commander’s orders. Of course, the Guardian—material for a Dullahan—will be tempting, but don’t overextend yourselves. Especially don’t leave the city wall to pursue the Guardian; that’s suicide. Keep that in mind.”
“Yes, sir!”
Aaron folded his arms.
“The faculty will communicate if issues arise. When the faculty issues orders, stop what you’re doing and prioritize those instructions immediately. That concludes the briefing.”

The process moved quickly.
The instructors drew up a duty roster, and the first shift team headed up to the city wall. The remaining students were all guided into the Gahal barracks building.
“Hello~”
Eshu waved. Small children with only their lower halves covered in cloth shyly waved back before growing embarrassed and playing among themselves.
The barracks contained many women and children. Simon wondered why they hadn’t fled the fortress before war arrived, but they all seemed possessed of an unyielding determination not to abandon their home.
Since all the warriors had gone outside, there were plenty of empty rooms. The students could rest in any space they chose.
In the center, a warm brazier burned steadily, smoke drifting up through the hole in the ceiling that served as a chimney.
Simon and the four members of his tenth squad claimed a room for themselves.

“You idiot! Do you have any sense at all, or is your head empty?”
Eshu was wrapping bandages around Toto’s arm.
“What were you thinking, charging out to rescue the president like that? Huh? What on earth were you thinking to pull such a stunt?”
“Sorry, Eshu. My, my arm hurts!”
Toto’s face crumpled with pain.
Meanwhile, a short distance away, Simon and Lorain sat side by side.
“Speaking of which, you also rushed out recklessly to rescue Toto, didn’t you, Eshu?”
Lorain spoke with a lazy smile. Eshu’s expression faltered, and she stammered out an excuse.
“W-well, I had no choice! Toto was in danger… No, I mean, if someone deserts, my field exam score will be ruined!”
Simon added his voice.
“Remember how furious you were when we went to rescue Toto? You said he might still be alive. That you’d go alone if you had to…”
“Aaaaahhh! I can’t hear you! I’m not listening! Be quiet!”
Simon and Lorain burst into laughter facing each other. Eshu turned her head away with an indignant sound, while Toto’s face was flushed so red that blood seemed to drip from it.
“I… I really…”
Toto raised his head, squeezing out every ounce of courage he possessed, and spoke in a voice so small it barely crawled.
“You… you were trying to save me?”
“N-no, you idiot! You just rushed in so stupidly!”
Watching the two of them converse, Lorain spoke quietly.
“It seems those two have grown closer.”
Simon nodded with a smile.
“Get some sleep, Lorain. I’ll wake you if we have time.”
“It’s fine. I’m not sleepy anyway.”
The two leaned against the wall and spoke in hushed tones.
About the battle they’d just waged.
About school life.
About the creation of Dullahans.
Just then.
“Hello~ Simon. You two look quite close.”
Serne entered, her ivory-blonde hair streaming behind her.
Simon greeted her with a smile, but Lorain immediately narrowed her eyes in caution.
“I told you not to wear that feather.”
Toto and Eshu had already slipped into the next room. Serne shrugged.
“Do you have proof that I was wearing it? Looks like they went off to have some fun of their own.”
“Why are you here? Weren’t you on first shift?”
Serne adjusted her school uniform skirt and sat down demurely across from Simon, gazing at him with a smile.
“I simply didn’t feel like it. I asked someone to switch with me.”
At Serne’s brazen admission of ditching her duties, Lorain’s mouth fell open.
“You really… I thought you’d changed at least a little after the Ivory Tower incident!”
“Change? Why would I change? Right, Simon?”
“Yeah. You’re still the same.”
Watching the two of them chuckle quietly, Lorain’s lips pressed into a thin line.
“Simon, our Ivory Tower is ready.”
Serne spoke in a muted voice.
“Now there’s no one at headquarters who knows you’re a Legion Commander, and no one forcing anything. You can come as freely as you like. With me and Merin leading a fresh, new Ivory Tower—”
“That’s nonsense.”
Lorain cut in.
“Simon is the Student Council President of Kizen. The headquarters evaluates him favorably…”
“What does some evaluation from headquarters matter~ What matters is your own choice. It was the same with recruiting Senior Phantasus last year, wasn’t it? We dangled the Raven seat as bait but missed the opportunity.”
As if struck in a tender spot, Lorain bit her lip lightly.
“Actually, we’re currently trying to recruit Senior Phantasus to our Ivory Tower as well. If both Simon and Phantasus come to the Ivory Tower, wouldn’t that be the true golden age of the Ivory Tower?”
“I don’t know. Will it really be that simple? For an Ivory Tower that once tried to avoid conflict by retreating to neutral ground.”
A small crack appeared in Serne’s smiling expression.
“Hmm, that foolish plan was made before I was even born. What can I do about it? What matters is now.”
Having said that, Serne gazed at Simon, then raised her hand and placed it on his philtrum.
“Hmm-hmm-”
A faint blush rose across Serne’s cheeks as she wet her lips.
“For the next ten years, just ten more years~ If I had my way, I’d kidnap you outright. Lock you in the tower, feed you only water, and keep you there.”
Simon’s shoulders trembled.
He was genuinely frightened that Serne might actually do it.
“Oh, by the way~ You’ve never seen it in person, have you?”
Serne turned and offered a meaningful smile.
“A glimpse of Simon’s future self.”
Lorain’s expression shifted, a flicker of recognition crossing her face. She too had been briefed on the Frozen Clock.
“I caught a brief glimpse of a fully grown Simon in the Tower of Time, you see.”
Lorain swallowed hard, unable to mask the tension creeping into her features.
“……W-what was he like?”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————