Necromancer Academy’s Genius Summoner - Chapter 76

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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 Prodigy of the Necromancer Academy — Episode 76
Erzsebet followed her original purpose, leading the Corpse Spiders to recover the Nerslak corpses, while Simon stepped onto the Teleportation Magic Circle and crossed to a different location.
The place he arrived at was near Hong Peng’s Cabin.
“Simon!”
Kamibarez greeted him with a beaming smile. She had been the one glancing anxiously toward the Magic Circle all along, worried that Simon was taking so long.
“Sorry. I’m late, aren’t I?”
She rushed toward him in a single stride, raking her eyes over him with concern.
“Did something happen with the instructor?”
Simon’s mind spun quickly.
He could have brushed it off as nothing in particular, but if Dick and Merin asked him the same thing later and pressed for details, it would become troublesome.
It seemed better to attach a reasonably plausible explanation here.
“Actually, on my way back, I got to thinking about those Nerslak corpses. I wanted to study Undead, so I grabbed a few bodies.”
“Ah, I see! That’s what I’d expect from a Summoning student!”
Kamibarez accepted his story without suspicion. Just then, Merin’s voice cut across the distance, sharp with exasperation.
“What are you two doing? Stop goofing around and help us out!”
“Coming!”
“Got it.”
Everyone was busy preparing to light a fire.
Dick was laying straw on the ground and stacking firewood. Merin was struggling to carry more wood she’d retrieved from behind the cabin.
“Dick! Where should I put this—whoa!”
She stumbled as she walked forward, losing her footing for a moment.
“You okay?”
Simon moved like lightning to steady her and catch the firewood.
“I’ll carry this.”
He lifted the wood she’d been struggling with and hoisted it onto his shoulder.
“You help with something else.”
“Um…? Oh. Thanks.”
Merin, looking embarrassed, twisted her hair and then quickly turned away.
Simon set the firewood down near Dick. Realizing they’d need more than he’d thought, he went back behind the cabin.
‘Damn.’
They’d run out of chopped wood. But beside the pile lay an axe and a wooden log base.
Simon brought over a thick piece of wood, set it on the base, and raised the axe high.
Crack!
The wood split cleanly in two with ease.
‘Good, good. The old touch is still there.’
As Simon felt a fresh sense of satisfaction chopping away, he noticed Kamibarez standing beside him, staring intently.
She quickly grabbed a fresh piece of wood and rushed over to place it on the log base.
“Let me help!”
“…Thanks. But step back—it’s dangerous.”
Kamibarez withdrew, and Simon raised the axe again. This time too, with a sharp crack, the wood split in half.
She clapped her hands together in applause.
“You’re really skilled! Do you do this often?”
“Yeah. Before I came to Kizen, this was one of my main duties.”
Simon wiped sweat from his brow as he spoke.
While Kamibarez fetched the next piece, Simon examined the cut surface of the wood.
‘Not as clean as it should be.’
Having someone watching must have made him put more force into it than necessary.
Simon gave a wry smile as Kamibarez placed a new log and retreated hastily, her eyes shining with anticipation.
“It’s just splitting wood. Why are you having so much fun?”
“Because I am!”
With Kamibarez’s help, they split enough firewood to fill his arms, and he carried it toward the bonfire.
“That’s quite a stack you made.”
Simon gazed up at the tall pile of wood in wonder. Dick chuckled and pointed at the Nerslak corpse.
“You know how huge the Nerslak we caught is? This is what we need.”
“Fair point.”
Simon now helped light the fire.
They laid straw, dry leaves, and small twigs on the ground, then stacked the larger logs in a pyramid above. Once they lit the tinder below and fanned it, the flames gradually crept upward into the larger pieces of wood.
“That’s interesting.”
Merin crouched nearby, resting her face on her hands.
“Do you always have to stack the wood like this?”
“That’s not necessarily how it has to be done, but this is the most common way.”
Simon tended the flames while explaining the principles of a campfire slowly. Dick, fanning it from beside him, chuckled.
“You control fire and don’t know how to build a campfire?”
“Oh, shut it. Is the fire I use the same as this?”
“Your temper’s fiery enough.”
“And your mouth’s like kindling. I’d split it in half and toss it on the fire—it’d burn right up.”
“Ooh, savage.”
While waiting to Dick and Merin bickering as always, the fire soon caught steadily.
Simon brought appropriately sized stones alongside the Skeleton and arranged them in a circle around the campfire.
It looked passable now.
“Is everyone here?”
At the voice from behind, everyone jumped to their feet.
“Professor Hong Peng!”
“Hello!”
She had various tools strapped to her back, was barefoot, and carried a bucket in her hand with several fish inside.
“Great! You’ve got the fire going nicely. Shall we get started right away?”
“Yes!”
The Survival Class began at once.
She placed the corpse of the Nuslak they’d brought onto a wooden cutting board.
“Monsters come in all varieties, but the butchering process is nearly identical across them, so pay attention.”
Her hands moved without hesitation. She stripped away the fur with swift strokes of her blade, split open the belly to remove the organs, and drained the blood.
Kamibarez covered her eyes at the sight of the organs, unable to watch.
“You know how monster meat usually has that gamey smell? It comes from putrefaction of the meat and blood—to eliminate it, it’s best to complete the butchering as quickly as possible. Now, tear off the front legs and remove the tendons like so. Watch!”
Once the butchering lesson was done, now there were chunks of meat ready to grill.
Hong Peng smiled brightly and spoke.
“That’s all there is to it. Easy, right?”
……
……
Merin and Kamibarez nodded with forced smiles.
“Next, then!”
This time she demonstrated how to butcher fish. The work was considerably simpler.
“Wherever you go, there are rivers and fish, aren’t there? Fishing is an excellent way to find food.”
Hong Peng lopped off the fish head, scraped away the scales, removed the organs, and rinsed it in water.
Under her touch, the fish too was ready for roasting in moments.
“Now we grill it.”
“Bringing the grill!”
Dick fetched the Fire Grill and fixed it over the campfire, and Hong Peng laid the Nuslak meat on it. The meat began to sizzle as it cooked, juices dripping steadily.
“Strange. With this preparation, it really just looks like pork.”
“It looks delicious!”
As the meat grilled, Hong Peng brought over several containers of Spices and sprinkled them on top.
“This level of seasoning should be permissible to bring.”
She scattered what seemed to be a blend of pepper and seeds over the meat, and a fragrant aroma spread in all directions.
“And monster meat inevitably may harbor parasites or bacteria. It’s crucial to grill it hard over high heat.”
“Understood!”
After a while, once the meat was cooked through, they transferred it to dishes.
Dick rolled over an Oak Barrel filled with wine, and Kamibarez brought out the tableware—everything was ready.
“A toast!”
Ultimately, it was a Survival Class masquerading as an outdoor barbecue. Everyone ate and drank in cheerful spirits, thoroughly enjoying themselves.
“This is really delicious!”
Kamibarez cradled her cheeks with a blissful expression. Dick nodded in agreement.
“Wow, it’s incredible. I can’t believe it. How does something this nasty produce such flavor?”
“Hey! Don’t make me think about that while I’m eating!”
Merin shot him a reproachful look.
“Ah, Simon!”
Hong Peng turned to Simon.
“Where did instructor Bread go? I told him to come taste the meat since he helped with the Teleportation Magic Circle.”
“Well……”
Simon felt a twinge but answered with a forced smile.
“I invited him too, but he said he wasn’t feeling well today and headed back early.”
“Mm, well, that can’t be helped then.”
Night had fallen, and the gathering grew increasingly merry. The bonfire burned so large it felt like a proper campfire.
Besides, with the same group from last time, they’d warmed up quickly. Today even Kamibarez, who’d been wary of drinking, sipped away quite happily.
“Ah, this is wonderful~”
Dick swayed his head, reeking of wine.
Dick enjoyed drinking, but he didn’t have much of a tolerance for it.
“Dick. You alright?”
“Huh? Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine. Just need to take a piss real quick.”
Dick lurched to his feet and wandered off unsteadily, his gait wobbly as the drink took hold.
He stopped near some tall grass nearby and began fumbling with his fly. Seeing this, Merin shrieked in horror.
“Oh my gods! No! You absolute maniac! Go somewhere farther away!”
A moment later came the unmistakable sound. Merin clapped her hands over her ears in disgust and turned away.
“Ugh! I swear, commoners really have no sense of… of decency!”
Her outburst made Simon and Hong Peng laugh.
Just then, someone’s head suddenly dropped against Simon’s forearm.
“…Kamibarez?”
Kamibarez, her cheeks flushed from drink, had nestled against Simon’s arm and fallen sound asleep.
“Mmmm… Siiii-mon…”
“Professor. I’ll take her to the cabin and get her settled.”
“Good idea.”
Hong Peng lifted his cup high.
“Well then, how about Merin and I have another toast!”
“P-Professor. I think you might be a bit too cheerful today…”
“I want to toast too!”
Dick came rushing back. Merin yelped and dodged aside.
“No! You lunatic! Button up your pants! Your pants!”
Simon smiled and rose to leave, but suddenly Kamibarez grabbed his shirt.
“Kamibarez?”
“…Don’t… don’t leave me…”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
Simon spoke gently and lifted her into his arms.
She settled against his chest, her face brushing softly into him.
“Hey. Hey, Simon.”
Merin’s eyes opened to slits.
“If you do anything weird to our Kamibarez, you’re dead. Seriously dead.”
“…What?”
“Get her to bed and come right back!”
Simon carried Kamibarez into Hong Peng’s cabin.
She slept peacefully, oblivious to everything. As he laid her slowly on the bed, she curled contentedly into a comfortable position.
“Sleep well, Kamibarez.”
Simon stroked her hair and drew the blanket over her. Then he turned to leave, heading for the door.
Grab!
Suddenly his shirt collar was seized—pulled with such terrifying force that Simon tumbled backward onto the bed, and Kamibarez’s mouth gaped open.
“…!”
In that moment, she seemed like a completely different person. The oppressive aura radiating from her drained the color from Simon’s face. Every cell in his body screamed danger.
Sharp fangs moved toward his throat.
Snap!
She quickly covered her mouth with both hands and pressed her forehead hard against Simon’s shoulder.
“Can’t… Simon is… I can’t… I mustn’t…”
Then she fell asleep again, breathing softly.
Simon was shaking, sweat dripping down his face.
Her expression was so peaceful that he couldn’t tell whether what had just happened was a drunken hallucination or something real.
‘Kamibarez. Were you… holding back because of me?’
“Mm…”
Simon straightened her on the bed and tucked the blanket around her again. He still wasn’t sure what had happened, but he felt grateful for some reason.
Simon exhaled a breath of relief and smiled softly.
“Sleep well, Kamibarez.”

* * *
After the midterms ended, a new week began.
“Today I have an important announcement for you all.”
Jane, the instructor for Class A, surveyed the students and spoke.
By now it was a familiar pattern, so the students steeled themselves and waited for her next words. Jane accepted a formal notice from her teaching assistant and read it aloud.
“Yes, in two days’ time, you will all participate in the Island Survival Evaluation.”
At last, Kizen had made the official announcement.
An island survival—or Island Survival Evaluation, as it was called—a large-scale program in which all first-year students participated.
The students erupted in excited murmurs as if a bomb had gone off, but Simon’s Team 7 exchanged glances with knowing smiles on their faces.
‘How am I supposed to wait two more days?’
Simon’s lips curved upward in a smile so wide they nearly touched the heavens as he folded his arms across his chest.
“Please, one guidebook per person!”
The teaching assistants moved quickly through the room, distributing the Survival Evaluation Guidebooks to each student.
“I’ll explain the basics.”
Jane opened her own guidebook as she spoke, and the students followed suit.
“From Class A through Class N—all 961 first-year students currently surviving will be dropped onto the island via Teleportation Magic Circle.”
Jane picked up a piece of chalk and drew a rough circle on the blackboard to represent the island. At the island’s center, she marked a triangle, then dotted the outermost perimeter with rapid taps of chalk.
“You will begin at random locations around the island’s outer region. The core rule that cuts through this entire project is simple: survive for four days.”
The students nodded, their faces tense.
“However, mere survival alone would not allow us to properly evaluate your abilities. This evaluation uses a Points system. After all tests are concluded, your grades and rankings will be determined by the Points you’ve accumulated.”
She drew small X marks across various spots on the island.
“You can earn Points by hunting the monsters that spawn throughout the island. Monsters range from the weakest Grade 4 to Grade 1. Depending on the type of monster, you can obtain anywhere from 1 Point to 20 Points or more.”
Jamie Victoria suddenly raised her hand.
“A question about how Points are tallied, I see. Jamie Victoria.”
Jamie’s face flushed and she quickly lowered her arm. Scattered laughter echoed around the room.
“You will wear this equipment.”
Jane held up a bracelet. It had a round, wide, monster-mouth-like body with a cord attached.
“It’s called a Tongue Pad—a bio-artifact. When you apply this artifact to a monster that has stopped breathing,”
Schlunk!
A long tongue shot out from the mouth-shaped bracelet, and gasps of surprise burst from the students. The long tongue licked at the practice material the teaching assistant had prepared, then retracted smoothly back into the bracelet.
“The artifact will automatically absorb and process the corpse’s magical power. Within ten seconds, the numerical value will display on the Pad in mana language.”
Jane showed the rising numbers visible on the Tongue Pad as she spoke.
“Which means hunting monsters is not optional—it’s essential. Even just for food.”
At those words, several students’ faces noticeably paled.
Jane then explained the Tongue Pad’s usage in detail. Beyond simply absorbing hunted monsters’ magical power to convert it into Points, it was also possible to transfer accumulated Points to another student’s Tongue Pad.
“Returning to the rules: combat between Kizen students is naturally permitted. If you reduce another student’s Barrier Gauge to zero, that student is judged to have reached ‘death.’ The evaluation ends for them, and they will be transported to the safe zone by teleporters. At that moment, the Tongue Pad of the student heading to the safe zone will expel all the magical power it held in the form of a mass.”
……!
In other words, capturing another student meant you could seize all their Points and dramatically increase your own.
Jane didn’t need to elaborate further—everyone understood this was the crux of it all.
“And one more crucial tip I should mention,”
She pointed to the center of the island with her chalk.
“At the island’s exact center stands a mansion built by Kizen. It is an Indestructible Mansion that cannot be destroyed by any attack. The interior of the mansion is the only combat-free zone on the entire island, and should you set foot inside even once,”
She looked around at the students.
“After the exam concludes, you will be awarded 200 Points automatically.”
The students’ murmurs suddenly swelled to a deafening roar.
“You will begin at the island’s perimeter, but you must make your way toward the center. The difference between entering the mansion even once and not entering it is truly immense.”
Even Simon, listening to the explanation, nodded. With a guaranteed 200 Points, he could secure a middle-tier ranking.
“I’ve covered all the major framework.”
She set down the chalk and turned to face the students as she spoke.
“This Survival Evaluation will comprehensively assess your survival ability, combat prowess, crisis management, and adaptability when dropped into an unfamiliar place. The broad rules are clear and not difficult, but there are many tricky details. How you exploit those details will demonstrate your skill. I expect you to thoroughly master the contents of the guidebook over the next two days.”
“Yes!”
“Then for the remaining time,”
Jane glanced at her wristwatch.
The students’ eyes lit up. Could it be free time?
“we will conduct a lesson from an external instructor.”

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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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