The Summoning Genius of the Necromancer School
Simon took out two lanterns from his subspace.
He held one himself and handed the other to the skeleton.
"Let's go."
The skeleton led the way, and Simon followed behind.
Inside the ruins, it was nothing but darkness.
The coldness of the stone floor seemed to seep through his feet and up his legs.
There were no railings, so he walked cautiously, thinking a fall would be fatal.
'This is...'
As he descended the stairs, he noticed indecipherable characters engraved on the walls.
Somehow, the characters seemed familiar.
Had he seen them recently? Simon pondered deeply.
'Ah, ancient runes!'
They were similar to the ancient runes Eric had explained during the Dark Studies class.
So, was this an ancient ruin? Why was it near Kizen? With countless unsolved questions, Simon continued to descend.
Finally, he reached the bottom of the stairs.
It was so deep that even when he shone the lantern upwards, he couldn't see the ceiling.
He needed to expand his search area.
Simon summoned a second skeleton, handed it a lantern, and ordered it to explore.
Simon also walked around, shining his lantern.
The walls and floor were densely engraved with ancient runes.
'With runes of this scale...'
The ruins themselves were no different from a massive magical device.
At that moment, the skeleton signaled that it had found something.
Simon quickly ran over.
'What is this?'
In the middle of the rune-covered ruins was an altar, and on top of it lay a skull.
Simon placed the lantern on the altar and carefully brushed the skull.
A strange, inexplicable thrill climbed up his arm.
Although Simon didn't know much about undead, he instinctively understood this.
It was an ancient, terrifyingly dangerous undead relic.
Simon carefully lifted the skull.
As he did, bones poured down from the ceiling.
Simon quickly stepped back to avoid them.
"Whoa, that scared me."
The skeletons approached and shone their lanterns on the floor.
Simon, staring blankly at the bones, picked one up.
"... Number 2?"
Muttering to himself, Simon inserted it under the skull.
Like a puzzle piece fitting perfectly, it clicked into place.
A peculiar excitement began to rise from deep within his chest.
He wanted to assemble this undead.
He didn't know what would happen if it awakened, or what harm it might cause him.
Nevertheless, if there was ever a time in life to take a bold gamble, he felt that time was now.
Having made up his mind, Simon placed the skull back on the altar and put his hand on the palm mark below it.
Then, just like before, he summoned the darkness.
Even with a slight summoning, he felt the darkness within him being sucked into the altar.
The altar emitted a deep blue light, and a faint blue flame flickered in the eye sockets of the skull.
'Hmm.
It's not complete yet, is it?'
Simon brought the number 2 bone to the skull.
With a snap, it attached like a magnet.
The unique 'attraction' of skeleton-type undead was at work.
'Good.'
Simon set the skull down and began the real work.
As if possessed, he started assembling the bones, feeling more satisfaction than ever.
He connected the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal vertebrae in order to form the spine, then attached the scapula and clavicle to the front, adding ribs to assemble the upper body.
Below, he picked up the hip bones and added them under the sacrum to form the pelvis.
The femur, tibia, and patella connected, gradually shaping the legs.
'It was worth studying summoning from the morning!'
Though not 100% certain, this skeleton had the skeletal structure of a 'human.' Simon's intuition, combined with his knowledge of summoning, allowed him to assemble the bones without hesitation.
However, this skeleton was too tall.
Kneeling to assemble, Simon soon had to squat, then stand on tiptoe, and eventually climb onto the altar to continue assembling.
He wished the skeleton would bend down, but it didn't listen to his commands.
As soon as the legs were completed, it stood up on its own.
'I should have assembled the arms first!'
Simon struggled to complete the remaining arms.
Then, stepping back a little, he looked at the skeleton with a full heart.
"Wow..."
A massive skeleton over two meters tall stood right in front of him.
It was a breathtaking sight, but it still didn't move.
"What should I do now?"
As Simon crossed his arms and pondered, suddenly, a brilliant moonlight poured down from the ceiling like a curtain of light.
The moment the moonlight shone on the skull of the skeleton, the flame in its eye sockets blazed like a torch.
[Ha.
Haha! Hahahahahahahahaha!]
With a booming laughter, the floor and walls of the ruins trembled.
The runes on the walls peeled off, forming a flow, and covered the skeleton's body like a silk garment.
The runes were being absorbed into the skeleton's joints.
[Finally! Finally, I have returned!]
With a thunderous shout, Simon covered his ears.
The darkness emanating from the skeleton's body was reminiscent of a violent wave.
[Who awakened me!]
The skeleton's head creaked as it moved.
Then it looked at Simon, who was leaning against the wall.
Step.
Step.
The giant being approached Simon.
Then it stretched its head forward, observing him closely.
Simon had to try hard not to scream.
[State your name, human.]
"S-Simon Polentia."
The skeleton's skull tilted to the side.
[You say you're Polentia...?]
Hahahahahaha! The thunderous laughter echoed throughout the ruins.
Simon broke into a cold sweat.
[So that's it! Are you perhaps a descendant of Richard!]
"No."
Simon calmed his pounding heart and spoke.
"I'm his son."
[Hahahahaha! I see! I see! I thought the darkness felt familiar! Only Richard could awaken me!]
The skeleton turned its back.
Something like a shadowy cloak fluttered around it.
"... Who are you?"
This time, Simon asked.
The skeleton stopped and turned around with a grin.
It was strange for a skeleton to have expressions, but it certainly did.
Its mouth opened, its nose flared, and its blazing eyes held a strong curiosity.
It was almost like a living human.
[I am Pior.
The administrator of the legion.]
Pior spoke.
[Once, I roamed the continent with your father Richard!]
Simon's eyes widened in surprise.
That was his father's undead!
Pior, who had been laughing heartily, stretched his head forward and continued.
[But first, let me ask.
Who led you here?]
The voice was somehow sharp.
Feeling as if he were being tested, Simon swallowed and answered.
"Nephtis Arkbold."
[Ah.]
Pior's mouth curled up.
[Hehe, so that's how it is! If it's that woman, it's possible! Good!]
A fierce wind blew inside, like a storm.
Light filled the entire ruins, and the atmosphere screamed.
[Make a contract with me, Simon Polentia! And lead the 'legion'!]
The undead of his father spread its arms and shouted.
[The legion will become your will and trample everything that stands in your way! All things in the world will kneel and bow before you!]
The voice, filled with excitement, resonated through the ruins.
[However, you will inevitably walk a bloody path! That is also your destiny! Son of Richard, are you ready to lead the legion!]
Simon bit his lip with a troubled expression.
Pior walked around Simon, grinning.
[Are you afraid? Terrified? What are you contemplating in your mind before this power, boy!]
Though it was once his father's power, it was an unknown ability.
Simon didn't know what the legion was, what the bloody path meant, the conditions of the contract, or any handicaps it might have.
However.
"I have something to ask."
Instead of an answer, a question came back.
Pior's face crumpled as if displeased.
[Speak.]
"I don't know what use you are. Is this legion strong?"
Pior's steps halted.
[Ha.
Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahahahahahaha!]
The atmosphere shook, and dirt fell from the ceiling.
Use, use, he says! This boy wasn't wandering with doubt and fear.
He dared to 'evaluate' the legion!
[What a splendid question, human! Is it strong? Should I try to bring down Kizen if you wish?]
From all around, eerie cries of the dead echoed.
It was a terrifying sight, but Simon's expression remained unchanged.
[Good! I shall answer your question!]
Pior withdrew his power and spoke.
[Your father already disbanded the legion once! And I was sealed here! And by awakening me, the administrator, you have initiated the 'first moment' of the legion.]
"First moment."
[Indeed! But if you gather the scattered forces of the legion and restore its previous power.]
Pior's lips curled up.
[No one on this continent will be able to stop you.]
"Alright."
Simon nodded.
"I will make the contract."
[Hahaha!]
Pior wrapped his arms around Simon's waist and leaped onto the altar.
[Place your hand on my 'core'!]
Pior's ribcage opened, revealing a pulsating mass of dark energy, like a heartbeat.
Simon obediently placed his palm on it.
[Once this contract is complete, your life will change entirely! Aren't you afraid!]
"I'm not afraid."
Simon spoke calmly.
"If you truly are my father's army, it's only right that I take you."
[Hahahahaha! Good! That's the spirit!]
Outwardly, he seemed like a calm, humble, ordinary boy, but the qualities of a ruler occasionally showed through.
'You raised a good son, Richard! This one is different from you!'
Though his proficiency in dark magic seemed low for now, he had immense potential.
And unlike Richard, he was a complete being in terms of mental aspects, with a properly established self and emotions.
Pior was quite satisfied with this boy.
[Now, I will proceed with the contract! Don't die, Simon Polentia!]