The summoning genius of the necromancer school, Chapter 25
In the end, the team name was decided as Team Seven, and the paperwork was submitted.
As the students who formed their teams exchanged stories in a relaxed atmosphere, Simon was observing the other students in Class A.
Simon's team was Team Seven, meaning that a total of 28 students had formed their teams so far.
The competition among the remaining students was fierce, almost deadly.
There were hardly any students left to act individually; instead, they were forming groups of two or three and trying to gather the rest.
"Isn't it better to just join us? Two of you, two of us..."
"But you only have two in Poison Studies. Why should we join your pathetic team?"
"Wow, those guys are really something. What’s with the combination of pitch black, pitch black, pitch black?"
When friends or acquaintances formed teams, such issues arose.
They quickly became close due to shared interests or intended majors, but clustering together in group classes with the same aspiring students had adverse effects.
The <Basic Dark Magic> class evaluated a total of eight subjects.
It would be a disadvantage if all four team members had different intended majors, and having overlapping majors meant even more loss.
Those who still hadn’t completed their teams were generally facing such problems.
"I'll save just one person from your team."
A blonde girl stepped forward with an arrogant expression and nodded her finger.
She had completed her three team members.
"Get lost!"
"If you hadn't taken Lucy, we would already be a team of four!"
As the other team members growled with displeasure, a girl stepped forward.
"Team, team leader?"
"Sorry, guys."
She said without looking back.
"I'm majoring in Hematology. It doesn't overlap, so it's fine, right?"
"Come on in! You really are sharp, aren’t you? Teacher, we’ll register!"
With the team leader leaving to form her own team, another group of four was completed.
The remaining students trembled with anger and betrayal. '...
How cruel.' This was what happened during the student protection period.
Simon vaguely understood why only three hundred out of a thousand survived.
"We don't have time to worry about others, Simon," Dick said.
"If we don't push forward tenaciously, we’ll be eliminated too. And being eliminated in Kizen means saying goodbye."
"I don't feel sorry for them at all," Meilin said, tracing her fingertips and blowing out a sigh.
"Lack of effort, lack of preparation, lack of skill. It’s been four days since we entered Kizen, and what have they done? If their grades were lacking, they could have formed teams in other ways."
Dick and Meilin seemed accustomed to this atmosphere.
Eventually, the thirty minutes Jane mentioned had passed.
Eight students remained.
They quarreled in pairs of two, three, and three, but in the end, no one completed their team.
"Students who haven't formed a team, please come forward."
Jane arbitrarily created two teams.
Team 15: Pitch Black, Pitch Black, Poison, Matu.
Team 16: Pitch Black, Pitch Black, Pitch Black, Matu.
The reason why there were relatively many students majoring in Pitch Black was that it was a required subject, so other aspiring students also had relatively high grades in Pitch Black.
Because of this, the demand for students majoring in Pitch Black in the market plummeted, leaving them until the end.
The students called to the podium lowered their heads with stiff faces, while some students who had formed teams snickered.
"Wow, is Team 16 really three Pitch Blacks?"
"Pfft. They probably won’t be seen again as soon as next week."
"If even one curse issue comes up, they’ll be wiped out."
As the other students giggled, Teams 15 and 16 shrank their shoulders even more.
Jane, who had arbitrarily assigned the teams, looked at them and spoke in a soft voice.
"Are you feeling resentful?"
The students nodded slightly.
Some even showed small tears.
"Just because the start was a bit off doesn’t mean it has to be off until the end. Remember this feeling of resentment and work even harder. Even if you’re majoring in Pitch Black, study other subjects and raise your average above the standard. Then you will see the light."
The students nodded with determined expressions.
Teams 15 and 16 returned to their seats, and Jane stepped forward.
"Then I will first announce the major announcement. In the first Basic Dark Magic class after the student protection period ends next week, we will conduct a 'team performance evaluation.'"
A hushed gasp was heard from all around.
A performance evaluation directly reflected on their grades.
This was where the real beginning started.
"Now, I will explain the details of the performance evaluation."
As she signaled, the teaching assistant activated the mana projector.
A large monster's image was projected in light before the students.
"This is...!"
Simon recognized the monster.
A Cyclops.
A medium-sized monster with immense strength.
It primarily inhabited the western mountain range of the continent and ruled as the king of the mountains.
"Yes, your opponent will be the Cyclops."
The students' mouths dropped open.
Wasn’t this too much of a leap?
"I will explain the rules. You must enter the underground dungeon within Kizen with your team members and work together to defeat the Cyclops."
Still, the fact that they would enter together with their team members brought sighs of relief from various corners.
"However, only one student will face the Cyclops directly. The other three will stand in set positions to support their team members or weaken the monster. Directly attacking with dark magic is not allowed."
Murmurs filled the room.
The three in set positions could not use attacking dark magic.
Therefore, it could not be said to be a straightforward 4:1 situation.
Jane continued her explanation.
"Disruption techniques such as exhaustion, binding, and blinding are, of course, allowed, and I will permit attacks that cause the monster to sustain injuries to some extent. Hematology's bleeding and Poison Studies' poisoning are also allowed. Naturally, attacks from summoned creatures are permitted."
"However, direct casting attack spells by necromancers, such as Matu's Smite or Hematology's Blood Arrow, cannot be used. You will receive a clear understanding of the exact criteria after today’s class when the teaching assistants distribute the handouts."
The students nodded seriously.
"The participating team member will enter under the supervision of Kizen's safety personnel, cloaked in powerful defensive dark magic. The grading criteria will be based on the success of hunting the Cyclops, the speed of the hunt, stability, teamwork and creativity among team members, and the completeness of the dark magic used."
She glanced around at the now quiet students and continued.
"To face the Cyclops, you will need to push your abilities to the limit during this week. Don’t let any class slip by; make sure to master everything and apply it in the performance evaluation. That’s all. Any questions?"
Countless hands shot up all around.
Jane pointed to a student in front.
"I'm Jamie Victoria! I, is it true that we will actually face a Cyclops? I heard that Kizen also has a virtual combat simulation system, so can’t we use that...?"
"This is a living, breathing Cyclops that was just caught in the western continent," Jane cut in coldly.
"You will need to sign a waiver of life before the performance evaluation."
At those words, Jamie's face darkened rapidly.
"Still, due to the curses and drug treatments for binding, it should be weaker than the Cyclops you would meet in the wild. Next question."
"Scott Snyder here! You mentioned that the success of hunting the Cyclops would be part of the grading criteria, but what happens if we fail to catch it?"
"Hunting failure is the lowest score, separate from other evaluation criteria. If there are other teams that also fail, your ranking will be determined by competing against them based on the other grading elements."
A deep silence fell over the classroom.
"There are three cases in which a hunting failure is declared. First, if the participating team member becomes incapacitated. Second, if the professor or safety personnel determines that further combat is impossible. Third, if any one of you raises your hand and declares a withdrawal from the exam. Next question."
The students raised their hands one after another, pouring out questions, and Jane answered each one without hesitation.
In fact, the students' concerns were similar, and by the time five more questions were asked, all the hands that had been raised fell.
"I understand that Class A has two more Basic Dark Magic classes left this week. In the first class, we will have a time to present hunting strategies for the Cyclops as teams. In the second class, as Jamie mentioned earlier, we will have a time to adjust our practical senses through virtual combat with the Cyclops. And the third session next week will be the real thing."
The word "real thing" brought a tense atmosphere to the classroom.
Jane looked at her wristwatch.
"During the remaining time, you will discuss hunting strategies for the Cyclops among your team members. First, decide on the participating team members, and prepare to bring out the full strength of the other three support members. I will be here, so if you have any questions, come forward."
Having finished all her words, Jane plopped down into her chair.
The teaching assistants stepped forward and clapped their hands.
"Alright, students! Start!"
As if they had been waiting for this moment, sounds of chatter erupted from all around.
Dick and Meilin leaned forward, their eyes shining.
"Wow, Professor Jane really is something. As soon as the protection period ends, we’re facing monsters in the real deal? That’s intense," Dick said.
Meilin's eyes sparkled as well.
"I think it’s great! My heart is racing! Now it finally feels like I’m in Kizen."
Simon looked around once and said, "Let’s quickly come up with a plan. Is there anyone who wants to participate directly?"
Meilin raised her hand high.
This caused Dick, who was sitting next to her, to yelp in surprise, but she seemed oblivious, her eyes shining.
"I want to! I want to do it!"
"Are you confident?"
"I'm the strongest here, of course it should be me."
Dick rubbed his cheek and glared at Meilin.
"Hey, hey! It’s not something you can decide so simply. We need to approach this strategically! From what I see, this performance evaluation seems to favor teams with Matu majors so much that it’s almost a push for them."
"I think so too," Kamibarez quietly agreed with Dick.
"The Cyclops's attacks are heavy, so blocking them with defensive dark magic is tough and consumes a lot of Pitch Black. Dodging is the best option."
Simon subtly turned his head to observe the movements of other teams.
It seemed that other teams thought the same way, as the Matu majors who had struggled to form teams were confidently voicing their opinions.
Most teams with Matu majors would likely send them as participating members.
"No, I actually disagree," Meilin returned to a calm expression and crossed her arms.
"Did you forget? Only the participating member can directly attack the Cyclops. What attacking means do the Matu majors have right now? Just swinging their fists reinforced with Pitch Black? How do you expect to catch a Cyclops with thick skin like that?"
"Ah...!"
"That is indeed a problem," Kamibarez and Simon agreed, and Meilin smiled and leaned back in her chair.
"Then do you have any attacking means to catch the Cyclops?"
"Of course, Kam."
She smiled confidently and spread her palm.
A magic circle was drawn on her palm, and black flames flickered up from it.
Kamibarez gasped in awe.
"Dark Flare of Pitch Black Elemental Magic. Is this enough?"
"That’s amazing! You’ve already mastered this magic...!" Dick was displeased with Meilin's constant boasting, but he had to admit that Dark Flare was impressive.
"Then let me explain my plan."
Meilin extinguished the black flames and leaned forward.
"I will face the Cyclops and burn it with Dark Flare. You three will go for curses! Keep stacking the Ignest curses to slow down the Cyclops, and I can cleanly turn it to ashes!"
Dick crossed his arms and clicked his tongue.
"If you follow that plan, you’ll shine, but we’ll be completely out of it, right? The one responsible for curses is participating directly, and we’re just supposed to use curses like machines behind you?"
"Then what better method do you have? Tell me."
Dick seemed momentarily at a loss for words, but he twisted the direction of the attack.
"From the start, that method assumes you can dodge the Cyclops's attacks while casting Dark Flare, right? Can you really dodge?"
"Why wouldn’t I be able to dodge?"
"Because your stamina is terrible. During Matu class, you were panting at the back, and you couldn’t even jump over the valley properly, so Professor Hongpeng had to help you."
This time, Meilin's face flushed red.
"Th-that’s true, but...! No, wait! Shouldn’t you, the ones responsible for curses, make sure I don’t get attacked in the first place? If I get hit, your curses are worthless!"
"We’re not specialized in curses in the first place!"
As Meilin and Dick growled at each other, Kamibarez, caught in the middle, shook his head in confusion.
Bang!
The two flinched and turned their heads.
Simon, with a serious expression, had slammed his palm on the desk.
"Then let’s do it this way."