The Third Weakness, Summoning Magic is Weak Against Priests
This time, Simon couldn't help but widen his eyes.
The conflict with the priests had become the most sensitive issue among students recently, and every professor had emphasized the advantages of their respective fields regarding this matter.
However, Aaron was the complete opposite.
"Though I've titled this lecture as such, to be more precise, summoning magic is not suitable for modern warfare itself."
"......."
"The time when summoning magic can shine the most is during a 'full-scale war.' In large-scale battles where tens of thousands clash, summoners finally receive an endless supply of materials to summon the undead. However, the current battles, which are under a ceasefire agreement, resemble local skirmishes with the priests on duty. It's an inevitable trend of the times that curse casters and necromancers, who can strike quickly and cleanly without leaving traces, are in vogue."
In other words, he was saying that his major was outdated, yet there was no change in Aaron's expression, devoid of any emotional highs or lows.
"And it is also true that summoning magic is weak against priests. Imagine the undead army you painstakingly created with a lot of money and effort being shattered by a single divine spell recited by a priest. It's simply unfavorable in terms of matchups."
Aaron set down the chalk and looked around at the students.
"There are countless other weaknesses I haven't mentioned, but the judgment is yours."
At that moment, someone raised their hand high.
It was the same student who had made a presentation during the curse magic class.
"I'm Jamie Victoria! I'm also curious about the advantages of summoning magic!"
"......."
While other professors might have found it admirable that a student was eager to ask such questions, Aaron did not feel the same.
"I don't recall granting permission for questions yet."
Jamie felt a chill run down her spine.
The other students, who had been relaxed, quickly straightened up.
Though his attire was shabby, Aaron was still a top-tier necromancer working as a professor at Kizen.
"S-sorry!"
Jamie bowed her head.
However, as a professor, Aaron had the duty to answer his student's question.
He clicked his tongue and opened his mouth.
"The strength of summoning magic lies in its numbers. Rather than fighting alone, you can receive help from summoned creatures, allowing a necromancer to develop diverse tactics on their own. Does that answer your question?"
"Yes!"
Aaron crossed his arms.
"Whether you choose to take summoning magic in the second semester or major in it is your choice. However, remember this one thing."
Aaron's voice became serious.
He seemed like a completely different person from the one who had been casually conducting the class before.
"Don't step into this field without resolve."
Aaron was truly different from the other professors.
"Don't come to me whining, complaining, or feeling self-pity, and then asking for a change of major after your second year because of money issues or whatever. Don't even think about majoring in this field with such a soft mindset."
There seemed to be a hint of something in Aaron's voice.
The teaching assistants standing behind him also sighed quietly.
"Especially if I see someone trying to choose summoning magic just because the competition is low for survival, I will personally expel them. That's all."
He even declared war on the students.
"...... Now, let's begin the class."
As Aaron returned to his languid voice and gestured, the teaching assistants quickly moved to place skeleton sets on the students' desks.
Simon let out a sigh of relief and looked at the skeleton set on his desk.
Inside the box were bone pieces arranged in order.
Upon closer inspection, numbers were written on the bones.
"What you received are the bones of the 'Island Ratman.' They have a skeletal structure similar to that of a human but are simpler and cheaper. Most beginners in summoning magic start with this one."
The teaching assistant attached a paper detailing the structure and numbers of the Island Ratman's bones to the blackboard.
"Let's begin. Take out the number one skull."
Simon and the other students, with tense expressions, lifted the skull and placed it on the table.
Some of the female students grimaced slightly, finding it disgusting, but that was about it.
As expected of the girls who entered Kizen, there was no hesitation in their movements.
"The skull has been pre-assembled. There is a part at the bottom where you can insert your hand, and inside the skull, there is a magic circle calibration frame. Everyone, put your hands in and construct the corresponding magic circle."
It was true.
The structure of the magic circle calibration frame was similar to that of the first curse magic class, but this one was directly engraved on the skull.
Simon squeezed out his black essence to flow into the magic circle calibration frame.
'Good.'
He had become quite accustomed to using the calibration frame.
"And once the magic circle is complete......."
"Ahhh!"
"Ugh, ahhh!"
Screams erupted from all around the students.
The moment the magic circle was completed, the skull suddenly came to life, clacking its jaw and palate together.
Students either threw the skull in surprise or fell off their chairs in shock.
Even Dick, sitting next to Simon, was gasping for breath with his hand on his chest.
"I was going to say not to be surprised when the undead activates once the magic circle is complete, but I was a bit late."
Aaron said with a grin.
Some students looked at him with resentment, but none dared to protest.
In the meantime, Simon had also completed the magic circle in the skull.
The skull's head began to rattle as if it were alive, rolling around on the desk.
"Stay still."
Simon grabbed the head that was about to fall off the desk and placed it back down.
It seemed to understand, as the undead quieted down.
"...... Simon. Have you handled something like this before?"
Dick, sitting next to him, looked horrified at the thought of touching the undead.
Simon shrugged his shoulders.
Since his father was a necromancer, it was common for skeletons to be around the house.
"Get used to it. You are necromancers."
Aaron continued with his hands in his pockets.
"And with the magic circle you just activated, the undead is practically complete. Of course, it can't move since it doesn't have a body. Now it's your turn to create a body for the skeleton."
Aaron tapped the picture of the Island Ratman's bone structure on the blackboard.
"As a necromancer, you must be perfectly familiar with the bone structure of the life forms you will summon. Generally, a human has 206 bones, but the Island Ratman has 53, so it's much easier. First, find the number two vertebra."
The students rummaged through their skeleton sets.
Simon quickly found the bone marked '2.'
"Now connect the number two bone to the skull."
Simon tilted his head.
There were no tools to attach it, so how was he supposed to connect them? Hesitantly, Simon brought the number two bone under the skull.
Then, as if a magnetic force was acting on it, the bone in his hand began to tremble and tried to attach itself.
When Simon relaxed his grip slightly, the bone clicked into place.
'Oh, that's interesting.'
Simon blinked.
"Again, by activating the magic circle earlier, the entire magic that moves the skeleton has been completed. And the skeleton has a tendency to return to the shape of its previous body."
Aaron turned his head back to the bone picture.
"Next is the number three bone."
He placed the skull on the desk and began to find and connect the bones according to their numbers.
"Continue in the same manner up to number eleven."
"I did it!"
"Good!"
Before long, joyful exclamations filled the room.
The bones automatically stuck together as they were brought close.
Simon's skeleton, with its neck completed, moved its head up and down as if celebrating.
Simon burst into laughter.
'This is fun!'
Perhaps because it wasn't human bones, any discomfort or awkwardness had vanished.
It felt like assembling a bone structure that moved according to a blueprint, allowing Simon to fully immerse himself in the class.
"Be careful not to confuse the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. The Island Ratman is a bipedal creature, and completing the spine that supports the back of its body is crucial."
"If the order of the bone assembly is wrong, it won't move smoothly. It will creak and have movement issues, and it will often break down at critical moments."
"Now proceed all the way to number sixteen at once."
Many students were worried due to Aaron's serious demeanor at the beginning of the class, but in reality, the summoning magic class was enjoyable enough for everyone to feel good about it.
They all chatted excitedly, showing off their completed products or asking questions.
Aaron did not hinder the free atmosphere of the class.
"We're almost there. Proceed up to number fifty-three. If anyone is stuck, raise your hand."
"Professor! I'm having trouble assembling the legs!"
"Ahh, Professor! My skeleton keeps running away!"
Simon successfully created his skeleton in one go without any trial and error.
A skeleton slightly shorter than a person stood there, making clattering sounds.
'......
This is my skeleton made from black essence.'
As he watched it with a somewhat moved heart, the skeleton tilted its head.
Simon couldn't help but smile at the sight.
"Hey! Aren't you supposed to manage your summoned creatures? It's hitting me!"
"I told it to hit you, didn't I?"
"Ahh, look at this! I can even make it dance!"
"...... Why is this so cute?"
Laughter filled the room as students who had successfully completed their skeletons were busy playing with their summoned creatures.
Meanwhile,
"Simon! Please take a look at my skeleton!"
Some students were struggling.
Dick, sitting next to Simon, was pulling his hair out in frustration.
"Why does this guy keep attaching his legs to his arms!"
Dick's skeleton had attached its right leg to its shoulder instead of its right arm and was waddling around with that.
Seeing this, other students burst into laughter.
"Hmm."
Simon examined the bipedal skeleton with serious eyes.
"It seems like you confused the limbs. That's why the skeleton thinks its legs are its arms."
"R-really?"
"Look. Bone number twenty-one is a leg bone, not an arm bone."
"Oh, I see! Why do they all look so similar?"
Time flew by faster than ever during the summoning magic class.
"That's enough. Today's skeleton assembly ends here."
Disappointed voices echoed from all around.
Returning to the podium, Aaron picked up the attendance sheet.
"Finally, I will conduct the participation class. Students whose names I call, please come forward."
The moment that couldn't be avoided had finally come.
Simon swallowed hard.
Surely, he could get through this at least once.......
"Simon Polentia. Come forward."
However, there was no escaping for the first special case.
With a resigned expression, Simon stood up from his seat.
"Do well, Simon."
Dick patted him on the back in encouragement.
From a distance, Hector and his group were snickering and laughing.
"And next...."
While everyone avoided Aaron's gaze, only Meilin, sitting in the front row, stretched her neck out.
In fact, aside from the pressure, this was a golden opportunity to appeal to Professor Kizen.
However,
"Hector Moore. Step forward."