Necromancer Academy’s Genius Summoner - Chapter 651

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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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Summoning Genius of the Necromancer School – Episode 651
<Perfect Analysis! The Returning Legion Commander of Betrayal – Who Could It Be?>
“This is… quite entertaining stuff.”
Simon forced a smile as he gestured at the newspaper.
“Would you mind if I read it too?”
“Of course.”
Fitzgerald folded the newspaper readily and handed it to Simon, then opened his book and resumed reading steadily.
Simon settled onto a nearby sofa and read through the newspaper carefully.
<The 7th Legion, believed to have been completely annihilated, has risen again. It is known that the legion’s core members—the Administrators—possess firm criteria when selecting the next Legion Commander. Therefore, regardless of who becomes commander, the legion tends to maintain a pronounced characteristic orientation for extended periods, and this 7th Legion also carries what is colloquially known as Betrayal DNA……>
‘This is just fake news!’
The journalist clearly opposed the 7th Legion.
As he read, his head grew hot. It was nonsensical speculation, presented as fact with all the confidence of investigative reporting. He wanted to immediately do interviews or anything else to flatly refute the lies.
[Kekekeke!]
Pier’s Fragment, which hung from Simon’s school uniform like a badge, rolled its eyes while reading the newspaper. Pier’s sharp laughter echoed in Simon’s mind.
‘You’re not even angry, Pier?’
Simon muttered his question.
[Humans are always the same—there’s no reason to be angry! They believe only what they wish to believe, so the very effort to convince them is meaningless. Think of each human as Ever Kire, who has never committed murder!]
‘……That’s quite the leap.’
Simon continued reading through the other contents.
Everywhere he looked was talk of the 7th Legion.
<7th Legion Commander Candidates>
– Ballak Whittley.
– Gordon Zetajoans.
– Chayley Beckers.
These journalists had no idea what they were talking about.
They were all formidable Necromancers, certainly, but every single one was wrong. They’d merely forced the conditions together to make it seem plausible.
Of the candidates listed, he recognized one person.
– Aezel Bringer.
The rumor about Aezel, ranked first across all third-year students, which had spread through the entire school.
He’d thought it was just gossip circulating among students, but the journalist was treating it with considerable seriousness.
<While the possibility that the 7th Legion Commander belongs to Kizen has been raised frequently, there also exists the view that it could be an as-yet-incomplete student, rather than a Raven agent or faculty member. This theory is particularly supported by the Death Witch’s endorsement of the 7th Legion—she has a tendency to cherish her students dearly.>
At such a sharp deduction, Simon’s heart began to race.
<Aezel Bringer, currently the 3rd-year Valedictorian, has withdrawn from school under the pretext of a long-term assignment. The public has speculated that as Legion Commander, he may have been investigating Ever Kire, and now that Ever Kire has been defeated, there is widespread belief that he will return to school soon.>
Because it was about himself, Simon read the newspaper without noticing the passage of time.
It was all about the Legion Commander.
There was a fierce standoff between those arguing the 7th Legion Commander should be identified and recruited as an ally, and those saying he should be eliminated without question. Much of the content recklessly speculated about the Legion Commander’s identity.
‘This is suffocating.’
Simon loosened his necktie frantically and unbuttoned his shirt. It felt as though the entire continent was searching for him, and he couldn’t breathe.
Among them were certainly Necromancers like Magnus, who wanted to hunt him down and steal the position of Legion Commander.
‘At least I’m safe here in Kizen.’
In other Dark Alliance territories, people would be desperate to find the 7th Legion Commander, but Rocksum, separated from the continent, was safe.
The Dark Festival was over, and there would be no outside visitors for some time. Simon steadied his nerves and continued reading the newspaper.
Among the columns indiscriminately speculating about the Legion Commander.
<Second Legion Commander Candidate: Simon Polentia.>
His own name appeared.
Simon felt all the blood drain from his body as he focused on the content.
<Current Kizen Student Council President Simon Polentia was enrolled last year as Special Case #1.>
<The fact that the Student Council President was Special Case #1 may seem natural. However, at the time he entered Kizen without preparatory study, and it is known that he had only recently awakened his Core.>
<The key question here is: why was a novice who had just awakened his Core selected as Special Case #1? No one could explain why he was chosen as #1 over Special Case #2, Serne Aindark, and #3, Shatel Maer.>
<But if Simon Polentia were actually the Legion Commander, and the Death Witch recognized this and selected him as Special Case #1, everything makes sense. His abnormally exceptional growth that reached the pinnacle of his year in just one year—his genius-level talent in Summoning Magic—all of it becomes explicable.>
Simon’s hands trembled as he held the newspaper.
Of course, becoming Legion Commander had happened shortly after he entered Kizen, but this was the closest speculation he’d seen yet.
‘Who wrote this?’
He checked the byline of the columnist.
<Reporter Wedian Benchinio.>
<We welcome any tips.>
Below that was an address for correspondence, and it seemed she worked from Langoustin.
Creak—
Simon’s concentration shattered when the club room door opened at that moment.
“Molly!”
“You’re here?”
The one who’d just entered was Princess Molly.
She, too, had been away for several days after the Dark Festival, like Sasha. After exchanging greetings with her classmates, she bowed to Simon and Fitzgerald, both second-year students.
“I had some business at the palace, so I went to attend to it.”
“What kind of business?”
At Simon’s question, she closed her eyes wearily.
“It’s because of the 7th Legion Commander.”
Simon flinched inwardly.
“Since Dresden suffered direct damage, they can’t tolerate the existence of the 7th Legion itself. The palace lodged a protest against Neftis’s statement, raised the bounty level, and proposed meetings with other kingdoms as well. It looks like they’ll be having in-depth discussions about the 7th Legion soon.”
The very Legion Commander in question was Simon himself, yet he was someone who couldn’t open his mouth even once.
He thought it had been wise not to reveal his identity back then.

* * *
Simon stepped out of the Club Room.
No matter how many people were searching for the Legion Commander, Rocksum was safe.
Or so he’d thought.
“Excuse me, student! Could I trouble you for an interview?”
“Please spare us a moment!”
Reporters were milling about the school.
Notebook in one hand and Mana Camera hung around their necks, they were pestering students, desperate to glean any information about the 7th Legion Commander.
‘What is this? How did reporters get in here?’
Simon quickly hid behind a pillar, only then noticing a banner hanging in the Plaza.

Now that he thought about it, there was an external event coming up. It was Pentamonium’s regular event, and this year he’d heard it was being held within Rocksum to encourage participation from Kizen students.
The reporters were probably here to cover the event, but no matter how he looked at it, they seemed more interested in asking questions about the Legion Commander—the hot topic these days—than in the competition itself.
‘I should just get out of here.’
Simon turned his back and was quietly slipping away toward the opposite building when—
“Pardon me.”
A woman was striding toward him from behind.
Sharp-featured, she wore small, round Glasses.
She was dressed in a neat suit, and she held a notepad and Mana Camera in her hands. The outfit of a reporter, unmistakably.
“And you are?”
She adjusted her Glasses and smiled thinly.
“You’re Simon Poléntia, aren’t you? Or rather, should I be calling you something else?”
Her gaze sharpened.
“The Legion Commander of Betrayal.”
……
His heart hammered wildly in his chest.
The reporter’s eyes were wide open, as though she wouldn’t miss even the smallest reaction from Simon. Normally he might have flinched, but thankfully he’d read those newspapers in the Club Room beforehand, so he managed to maintain his composure.
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about, meeting me for the first time like this.”
“Ah, allow me to introduce myself.”
She handed him a Business Card.
Wedian Benchinio, Reporter.
I accept tips of any kind.
Simon’s heart raced faster.
‘This person!’
She was the very reporter who’d written the column in that newspaper he’d seen earlier, the one speculating that he was the Legion Commander.
Wedian gazed at Simon intently, then spoke.
“Did you happen to see my column?”
Simon conjured up a model-student smile.
“I’ve been too busy with studies.”
“I see. Then, to get to the point—”
She snapped open the Briefcase in her hand. Various photographs and interview transcripts were scrapbooked across its exterior.
“I believe you are the Legion Commander of Betrayal. Or rather, I’m certain of it.”
……
“I was originally considering candidate number two, but the more I’ve been here in Rocksum, the more that certainty has solidified. I’m planning to write a new column soon.”
She closed the Briefcase and smiled meaningfully.
“You could confess now, and—what?”
Simon was already walking away rapidly. She looked startled, reaching out after him.
“Wait, student! We’re in the middle of a conversation—!”
“I’m not about to waste my time.”
Simon smiled coolly.
“I don’t have the leisure to listen to someone spouting nonsense.”
At Simon’s icy gaze, Wedian flinched without thinking.
“And as Student Council President, I must ask—if you’ve come to cover the competition for the students, then I trust you’ll conduct a proper interview.”
“…Ahem.”
Wedian let out a hollow cough.
It was a fair point; she had no answer for that.
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
Simon walked on, and she had no excuse to stop him.
But.
“Just you wait!”
She called out after his retreating figure.
“I’ll expose you on this island—prove that you’re the Legion Commander of Betrayal!”
Simon ignored her lightly and entered the Student Building. Direct subordinates guarded it, and she could not pass inside.
Click.
Wedian drew out the Pocket Necklace hanging from her neck and opened it.
Inside lay a photograph of a middle-aged man and a small girl.
“Please keep watch over me, Father.”
She clutched the necklace and murmured.

* * *
That night.
Simon lay in his dormitory bed, blanket pulled up over his head.
Sleep wouldn’t come.
—Just you wait! I’ll expose you on this island—prove that you’re the Legion Commander of Betrayal!
Simon squeezed his eyes shut and rolled onto his side.
‘I need to be careful during the competition.’
Since this strange person had arrived on Rocksum, he’d have to avoid Pier’s Ruins as much as possible for a while.
Simon buried his face in the pillow, trying desperately to find sleep, when—
Whoosh.
Suddenly the blanket surged upward. Simon blinked in confusion, wondering if he was seeing things, then jolted upright in alarm.
“What—what is it?”
Pop!
A small silver-haired girl burst out of the blanket.
She raised her hand and grinned widely.
“Hi!”
“Y-yes, Neftis?”
Watching Simon’s eyes widen in shock, she pointed out the window.
“Want to talk for a bit?”

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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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