The Summoning Genius of the Necromancer School
"Are you saying it will be consumed?"
"What kind of potion is it?"
Dick and Kamibarez approached with interest.
The page Simon had opened described a potion that temporarily paralyzes tendon functions and contracts muscles.
"It seems to be called Nervie."
Meilin circled the potion's name with her finger.
"From the symptoms, it’s a neurotoxin that weakens strength. It says it works on small and medium monsters of level three or higher. While it might not have a dramatic effect, it should slow down a Cyclops."
"What’s the method of application?"
"Make them drink it or apply it to the wound. If you throw a glass bottle containing the potion after inflicting a wound, it should work somehow."
Everyone nodded seriously.
If it could help in capturing a Cyclops, it was best to prepare anything possible.
"You can reserve a cauldron in the practice room. The problem is the materials..."
Meilin bit her thumb lightly while looking over the materials list in the textbook.
"The basic materials can be easily found in Kizen. The tricky ones are Lehak mushrooms, Blood Slime, and Silk Vines."
"Let me see."
Dick scanned the materials with his eyes.
"If we go down to Roachest and put in some effort, we should be able to find them."
"Really?"
Everyone's eyes widened.
Dick nodded confidently.
"Let’s just do it. After class ends, I’ll go down to Roachest."
While looking over the materials list, Simon pointed to one item with his finger.
"I’ve seen this Lehak mushroom in Kizen."
"Huh? Where?"
"In the Forbidden Forest."
He had seen this mushroom when he entered the forest to look for Pier.
It had grown abundantly under a large oak tree at the entrance of the Forbidden Forest.
Meilin and Kamibarez's expressions stiffened slightly.
"How do you know that... No, that’s not the issue! Are you planning to go to the Forbidden Forest?"
"It won’t take long. Dick is prepared for punishment by going down to Roachest, so I should do this much. I’ll quickly gather it before it gets dark."
"Umm."
Meilin's brows furrowed.
"Aren’t there monsters there? Roachest might be fine, but the Forbidden Forest is too dangerous."
"Then I’ll go with you!"
Kamibarez raised her hand eagerly.
Simon looked back at her with a surprised expression.
"It’s too dangerous. It’s against school rules."
"That’s why you shouldn’t go alone! I can’t let Simon go into the forest by himself!"
Kamibarez was quite insistent.
Simon swallowed hard, pondering, but he couldn’t think of a proper excuse in front of her determination to join.
"... If it seems dangerous, let’s get out right away."
"Yes!"
"Okay, then we just need to find Blood Slime and Silk Vines in Roachest, right? The Lehak mushroom is the most troublesome, so I’ll buy some time."
"I’ll gather the basic materials and wait in the practice room."
Just then, the bell signaling the end of class rang.
The assistant for the Poison Studies class, Francesca, declared,
"Alright, that’s all for today’s class."
"Thank you for your hard work!"
The students rushed out of the classroom.
Group 7 also moved busily.
Dick headed for Roachest, Meilin went to the practice room, and Simon and Kamibarez made their way to the Forbidden Forest.
As everyone was leaving the classroom, a student who had been quietly lying on the desk, trying to remain unnoticed, slowly got up.
Then, he walked towards someone.
"Hello, Hector."
Hector, who was quietly packing his things, looked up.
"I have some good information. Want to hear it?"
"It’s dangerous to go out the main gate. Follow me."
Dick led Simon and Kamibarez to the stables located on the outskirts of Kizen.
"Kevin! Are you here?"
Dick knocked on the stable door.
After a moment, the door opened, and a middle-aged man with a sunburned face peeked out.
"Oh, Dick! Are you going out again today?"
"Yes, that’s the plan. These friends are coming with me today."
Dick flicked a coin with his finger.
Kevin smiled widely and caught the coin with a familiar motion.
"Follow me, customers!"
It was surprising to see a stable in Kizen, but they were raising not only horses but also large skeletal horses.
As a skeletal horse snorted and stared at them, Kamibarez jumped back in surprise and hid behind Simon.
"This way. Have a good time!"
Kevin led them to a corner of the stable.
It was just a normal space covered with straw, but there were no horses in this spot.
"I’ll go first!"
Dick walked toward the wall.
Suddenly, the straw-covered floor sank, and Dick disappeared from view.
"Uh, what? Dick?"
A voice came from below, saying, "I’m here!"
Simon and Kamibarez exchanged glances and walked to the spot where Dick had gone.
Soon, the floor gave way, and the two fell into a tunnel below.
Dick spread his arms and laughed.
"Welcome to the secret route out of the school!"
Simon looked around.
"I didn’t know there was a place like this."
"Hehe, it’s a route known only to a few."
They could see Kevin covering the hole in the ceiling with straw again.
"Now, let’s hurry before it gets too late."
"Yes!"
"Okay."
Dick, Kamibarez, and Simon walked through the tunnel in that order.
Leading the way, Dick took out a lantern from his spatial pocket and illuminated the darkness, guiding them as if he was familiar with the path.
"Watch your head!"
At first, they could walk with just a slight bend, but as they went further, the passage became narrower.
Eventually, they reached a section where they had to crawl on their knees.
"... Kamibarez."
"Yes!"
"Do you want to switch places?"
"Why?"
She turned around with wide eyes, surprised.
When their eyes met, Simon quickly turned his head and replied in a whisper,
"It’s nothing."
"??"
Seeing the somewhat embarrassing situation ahead, Simon kept his head down and walked silently.
Dick, who had caught on to the situation, chuckled, but Kamibarez remained oblivious and tilted her head in confusion.
Before long, they arrived at their destination.
As Dick stood up and tapped the ceiling, the ground shook and opened like a lid.
He skillfully climbed out and pulled Kamibarez and Simon up with him.
"Wow, we really made it outside."
In the distance, the walls of Kizen could be seen.
Dick covered the hole again and concealed it with nearby dirt to avoid detection.
"Let’s part ways here. I’ll head to Roachest now."
"Got it."
"Be careful, Dick!"
Dick headed towards Roachest, while Simon and Kamibarez walked towards the Forbidden Forest.
Night quickly fell in the forest.
On a night with a full moon, darkness settled between the leaves, and the sounds of insects and owls could be heard.
It was quite an eerie atmosphere, and Simon worried that Kamibarez might get scared, but
'...
Why does she seem to enjoy it?'
She was sparkling with excitement, freely looking around.
She crouched down to shake the flowers blooming in the field or sniff the earthy scent.
She seemed brighter and more lively than when they were in Kizen.
"Night walks are really enjoyable!"
Simon belatedly realized that she was a vampire.
"You must like the night?"
"Yes!"
She turned around with her hands behind her back and smiled brightly.
"The night is cozy."
'...
Is that so?'
He didn’t particularly relate to it, but decided to respect it as it might be a trait of her kind.
Feeling good, Kamibarez started chatting.
"Sorry for the late introduction, but thank you for helping me during the last Matou Studies class."
"Oh, when we were climbing onto the hippo?"
"Yes! I couldn’t possibly get up alone. I was in a bind and looked around, but... everyone just pretended not to see and turned away. It’s a competitive class, so I understand, but Simon was the only one who willingly offered his hand."
"I just did what anyone would do."
She looked at Simon with intensity in her eyes.
"Doing what’s obvious is what makes it remarkable!"
"... Is that so?"
As they talked, they soon approached their destination.
For Simon, who had run through the treacherous mountains of Reshill multiple times a day, this forest path was familiar.
Once he had traveled a path, he could remember it for a long time.
"That’s it."
Simon reached out.
He saw mushrooms growing abundantly under the oak tree.
"Oh, it really is Lehak mushrooms! There are so many!"
"Since we don’t know how many we need, let’s pick them all."
"Yes!"
Simon took out an empty box, and the two began to gather mushrooms, stacking them neatly in the box.
Within just a few minutes, the box was full.
Simon closed the lid and safely stored it in his spatial pocket.
"That was quicker than I expected."
"Indeed."
There was too much time left to wait for Dick.
The two decided to return to Kizen first and join Meilin.
"Ah! By the way, Simon, what brought you to Kizen?"
"Um."
Simon thought for a moment before replying.
"Initially, it was because my parents sent me here."
"Ah, that’s usually the case."
"As I attended school, I gradually developed my own personal beliefs and goals."
He had encountered summoning studies at school and first thought about wanting to become a necromancer.
He also learned about his father's secrets and made a contract with his father's undead army.
He had also made close friends.
"So, Kamibarez, what about you..."
At that moment, Simon’s words halted.
He reached out, causing Kamibarez, who was walking alongside him, to stop as well.
"What's wrong?"
"Hide!"
Simon grabbed her wrist and pulled her behind a tree.
In the distance, the light of lanterns illuminated the darkness of the forest.
At the same time, the sounds of hurried footsteps could be heard.
"Ah...!"
Kamibarez's complexion turned pale.
"It's the guards from Kizen...!"
"Guards?"
"Yes, they are the ones responsible for the security around Kizen! They manage the forest and hunt monsters to reduce their numbers. If we get caught by them..."
She swallowed hard.
"Even if it’s the student protection period... we won’t get through safely."
Bark! Bark!
Even hunting dogs were present, sniffing the ground.
As the light drew closer, figures of people with bows appeared behind them.
Simon’s brows furrowed.
'This is strange.'
The timing was too perfect.
It hadn’t been long since they entered the Forbidden Forest, and now a large-scale search by the guards was beginning.
Moreover, Dick had said he knew the guards' schedule and only used the times when they were free.
In other words, this was not a regular search but an unexpected movement.
'Well, I’ll think about that later.'
For now, he needed to focus on getting out of here.
When Simon turned his head, he saw Kamibarez, her face pale and trembling, muttering "What should we do?" repeatedly in a quick tone.
"Kamibarez. Look at me."
Simon firmly grabbed her shoulders and turned her body.
He could see her terrified eyes.
"We can get out of here. Just trust me and follow me. Keep your eyes on my back and run. Can you do that?"
She bit her lip and nodded slightly.
Simon released her and tapped the skull-shaped badge hanging from his school uniform.
'Pier.
Respond.'
After a moment, a blue light flickered in the skull's eye sockets.
[Hmm? Did you call me, boy!]
"The situation has gotten a bit complicated."
As Simon stared at the approaching lights of the lanterns with a determined expression, he spoke to Pier.
"It seems the army will need to take action."