Necromancer Academy’s Genius Summoner - Chapter 98

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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 98
After the banquet concluded without incident, an official Undead Exhibition finally opened the following day.
Shun and members of his House, along with those who had aided in organizing the exhibition, gathered for the opening ceremony. Simon, participating as a guard, stood watch at a slight distance from Shun rather than taking part in the ceremony itself.
‘Phew, this is harder than I thought.’
He had been practicing Bone Armor until the afternoon opening ceremony began.
Simon was recalling a conversation he’d had with Pier during yesterday’s training.
—So Pier, can your Legionized Skeletons use Bone Armor too?
—There’s nothing that can’t be done. But for now, don’t even dream of it.
—What? Why not?
Pier’s avatar had been smiling then.
—You’ll develop bad habits.
Pier was Simon’s mentor, after all.
Since he’d never regretted following Pier’s advice until now, Simon had focused solely on mastering Bone Armor with his summoned Skeletons.
Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap!
The resounding applause jolted Simon from his reverie. The opening ceremony had finally concluded.
The people on stage dispersed while chatting, and Simon moved to Shun’s side to resume his protective duty.
“Simon! Is something bothering you?”
“Huh? No, nothing at all.”
At that moment, the Emcee who had been running the ceremony turned his gaze toward Simon. When Simon smiled as if to ask what was going on, the Emcee spoke in a loud voice.
“Come to think of it, we have a Kizen student here at our exhibition! Did any of you know?”
A murmur rippled through the crowd.
“Of course, we can’t miss hearing from the greatest authority in this field! Come now, let’s invite our Kizen student forward!”
Waaaaaah—
A thunderous cheer erupted.
Simon looked at Shun with an expression of dismay. The Emcee’s gaze had also turned to Shun.
“That’s all right with you, isn’t it, Count?”
Simon’s face clearly pleaded for mercy. But Shun broke into a teasing grin, showing his teeth, and gave Simon a push from behind.
“Of course it is!”
“Well then, this is an impromptu interview! Please come this way, Kizen student!”
And so it had come to this.
Simon shuffled forward with a wry expression.
‘Wow.’
There were a tremendous number of people. It seemed the exhibition had become quite the topic of discussion within Blue Harbor.
“Please introduce yourself briefly!”
The Emcee held out a Mana Amplification Crystal to Simon. The Emcee himself spoke without using the crystal, his natural voice carrying far enough for everyone around to hear.
“I’m Simon Polentia, a first-year student at Kizen, specializing in Summoning Arts.”
“Oh, but the most important part is missing, isn’t it?”
The Emcee winked playfully and wagged his index finger. Simon let out a small laugh and continued.
“I had the honor of entering Kizen as the number one special admission student.”
Murmur, murmur, murmur!
With just those words, Simon felt the way people looked at him shift dramatically.
“You must have stepped inside at least once while guarding the Count? This exhibition—what did you think of it?”
Simon had already gauged the atmosphere.
Though it was called an opening ceremony, it overflowed with vitality and energy like an entertainment event, not the stiff aristocratic culture of formal proceedings. The unique, leisurely atmosphere of a resort island was clearly reflected in everything.
So I should match the mood accordingly.
“I can confidently say this is the finest Undead Exhibition I’ve ever attended.”
Of course, this was actually the first one he’d ever seen.
“Blue Harbor is one of the few places with an independently evolved ecosystem. The fact that this ecosystem is being preserved and not destroyed, under the Old One’s name, feels to me like heaven itself has assisted a Necromancer. The undead created from this island’s creatures seemed to me like technology arriving from the future, twenty years hence.”
Sharpen the diction a bit more. Make the language more provocative.
“I especially recommend that everyone visit the Overlord on the final floor.”
“Oh! It seems the Overlord has caught your eye!”
Simon immediately volleyed back at the Emcee’s joke.
“In fact, while guarding, I got so eager that I even asked the staff about the price.”
“How bold of you! Well, how much was it……?”
“It started at ten thousand Gold, so I gave up.”
Hahaha!
The atmosphere of the opening ceremony brightened considerably. The Emcee and Simon exchanged remarks at a brisk pace, lifting the mood ever higher.
Tap! Tap!
From behind, the Butler made a gesture of tapping his wristwatch. The Emcee, who had been tormenting Simon with a mischievous question about whether he had a girlfriend back at Kizen, suddenly came to his senses and wrapped up the interview.
“Oh my, has the time gone by so quickly! We ask for your continued interest and support in the new Undead Exhibition opening in thirty minutes. And once again, a round of applause for Simon, who so graciously made time for this interview!”
A wave of thunderous applause erupted from all corners of the hall.
“The honor has been mine. Thank you.”
Simon bowed to the audience and returned to Shun’s side. The boy laughed and gave Simon’s leg a playful nudge.
“Simon! You’re better at speeches than you look, aren’t you?”
“…Better than I look? That’s a compliment, right?”
“Ha ha ha!”
Shortly after, the Exhibition Hall opened, and crowds of people filed in to view the displays.
Simon and Shun made their way through the hall, greeting guests they’d missed during the banquet on the second day and serving as their guides.

* * *
The morning of the fourth day.
Today’s schedule promised to be much like the third day—most of the time would be spent in the Exhibition Hall. Simon and Shun were already riding in a carriage toward the venue early that morning.
Simon gazed out the window, his arms crossed.
“The weather’s turned gloomy today.”
“It has. Maybe that’ll keep crowds away from the exhibition?”
A thick fog blanketed the entire beach. Sure enough, the tourists who’d come to swim were growing uneasy at the unexpected conditions.
“Where did this fog come from all of a sudden…?”
“There’s not even any rain.”
“Are we stuck indoors all day?”
Officials from Blue Harbor were already making their rounds.
The sea fog had grown thick enough to blanket the sand—swimming was being restricted. Tourists grumbled and began drifting away from the beach.
“Yes, let’s go.”
Those resting under parasols rose to their feet and headed toward the city.
“Hey, hey, but don’t you see something strange over there?”
“Yeah. I see it. The fog.”
“No, beyond the fog… What is that?”
“Stop talking nonsense and let’s go. I’m hungry.”
Yet the murmur rising from the beach grew louder. Screams and urgent cries to run filled the air.
Whoooosh!
It all happened in an instant. Tearing through the dense fog, an enormous merchant vessel emerged—so massive that it made onlookers’ jaws drop.
Fluttering from the top of the ship’s mast was a flag: a grinning skull with two crossed cutlasses beneath it.
The meaning of this flag was unmistakable.
“P-pirates!”
“Piiiirates!”
The peaceful shoreline descended into chaos in seconds. Panicked crowds screamed and fled in all directions.
Boom!
Cannon fire shook the heavens. A shell from the warship struck a tall stone column in the city. The masonry building crumbled, and flames erupted from the rubble.
Boom! Boom!
Another shell struck the beach. A massive plume of sand fountained upward, sweeping people off their feet.
“Take cover! Take cover!”
Countless projectiles screamed through the fog and wind. The beach and town were reduced to ruins in moments, flames spreading everywhere. Then the colossal vessel came ashore.
Crash!
As the pirate ship descended onto the sand, sending up sprays of earth, pirates began descending on ropes.
“Kehehehe!”
On the deck, a man with a long, gaunt beard sat in a chair, cackling. He raised a Communication Crystal to his mouth.
“Fleets Two and Three, flank the island from both sides and land! Don’t let a single soul escape!”
-Aye!
In the fog, identical massive vessels spread left and right.
The man rose to his feet. The pirates immediately stepped back and bowed their heads in deference.
“Blue Harbor. A fine island.”
Shiiing!
He drew the sword at his belt and roared.
“What are you waiting for? Disembark, all of you! Sweep this place clean—leave nothing standing!”
“Waaaaahhh!”

* * *
Simon and Shun, who’d been in the Exhibition Hall, rushed outside at the sound of cannon fire shaking the sky. Someone nearby muttered in shock.
“Good heavens…”
A colossal pirate vessel had arrived shrouded in sea fog, raining shells on the entire city. Blue Harbor was becoming an inferno.
“These are no ordinary pirates.”
The Butler spoke, wiping cold sweat from his brow.
“By the ship’s size and colors—those are pirates from the Shinjo Sea. They shouldn’t be anywhere near these peaceful waters, so how….”
Shun grabbed Simon’s sleeve, fear etched across his face. Simon covered the boy’s palm and patted his back reassuringly.
“The Commander has arrived!”
A uniformed man festooned with badges emerged from the Exhibition Hall.
“…This makes no sense.”
He muttered the words under his breath, his expression hollow.
“How could a pirate vessel penetrate the coastline? What are the maritime outposts doing?!”
The Commander hastily drew a Communication Crystal from his pocket.
“Outpost! Respond! Outpost!”
But the line remained silent. He swiftly changed the channel and tried another location.
“This is the Commander! Respond at once!”
Yet all three naval contingents positioned to blockade the waters gave no answer.
“C-could the communications suddenly be dead? The fog?”
“They’re simply unable to receive the call,” Simon said flatly.
The Commander turned, wondering who had spoken, and his eyes widened when he saw Simon’s school uniform.
“K-Kizen…!”
“Unable to receive the call? What do you mean by that, brother?” Shun asked.
Simon exhaled softly before answering.
“They’ve already been hit.”

* * *
Blue Harbor Naval Headquarters.
“Cough!”
“Hack, hack!”
Armed soldiers spat bile from their mouths and collapsed one after another. The entire building was shrouded in a thick haze of green smoke.
Blue Harbor Naval Barracks No. 2.
“What in the hells did they put in the food…!”
“Gah!”
Here, soldiers lay on the ground dribbling black liquid from their mouths. Those who managed to hold on a little longer were approached by writhing synthetic slimes that engulfed their bodies whole.
And finally, Blue Harbor Naval Barracks No. 3.
Blood was everywhere. Soldiers lay scattered, their bodies bent at unnatural angles, and the walls bore the marks of fierce combat.
And there.
Among the corpses of over a hundred soldiers, a man sat leisurely smoking a cigar.
“Really, it would’ve been so much easier if you’d all just accepted the poison gracefully.”
Though the formal coat he wore was soaked in blood, the man didn’t so much as blink. He lifted a Communication Crystal.
“The ships?”
-All burned.
“Not a single one gets off this island. Especially.”
Blue Harbor’s mightiest Necromancer smiled with chilling certainty.
“Make sure you capture Count Shun and the Old One House family, no matter what.”

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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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