The Summoning Genius of the Necromancer School
Summoning the spirit from the spatial bracelet, Simon opened his own space this time.
"Now, come in my direction when no one is around, Pier."
Pier clicked his tongue in annoyance. [How frustrating! Do I have to go back in right after coming out?] "There's no choice. Hurry before someone sees."
There was a reason for this cumbersome method of moving the legion.
Before teleporting to the island, Kijen had announced a spatial inspection for all first-year students.
However, from Simon's perspective, he had to bring Pier with him to persuade the new commander, 'Big Kroom,' no matter what, so he used a little trick.
"Commander!" A sudden deep voice startled Simon, and he turned around.
Instructor Brad was running towards him.
The sight of the muscular, bald man running with his arms flailing was oddly suffocating.
"I missed you!" Brad clung to Simon's arm, speaking in a playful tone.
Simon frowned at the discomfort.
"Why are you here? Erze. The instructor was right next to you."
"I just told her I had some business to take care of."
"Ugh... hurry back before you get caught."
Here's how it went.
Last weekend, Simon had won a bet duel proposed by Brad, which meant he could make him do anything.
So, Simon went to the lodging where Brad was staying.
At that time, Brad was packing his things as if he had given up on everything. - Why are you being so pathetic? I have no intention of asking the instructor to retire.
Brad looked up at Simon. - Instead, from now on, you will be my chess piece.
Simon had a firm grasp on Brad's weakness.
Brad immediately protested. - Do you think a mere freshman can command me like a servant? - If you don’t want to, there’s nothing I can do.
I’ll go tell Professor Hongpeng everything.
At that, Brad's face immediately hardened. - As an educator, you beat a Kijen student under the pretext of a duel.
And the most ridiculous part is the condition when you won...
Simon smirked. - It was for me to become Professor Hongpeng's direct disciple, right? - ... - Let me be clear.
That is not for the professor's sake, but an act of insulting the professor's decision.
Hongpeng had already accepted Simon's refusal to be his direct disciple.
But then Brad suddenly intervened, saying that if he won, Simon should become Hongpeng's direct disciple and then beat him up.
This was a blatant disregard for Hongpeng's wishes. - The professor thinks of what happened between us as just a simple fight.
But how disappointed he would be if he knew the truth...
Simon smiled. - I believe he would know. - Ugh...! In fact, forcing such a bet on Simon had put Brad in a situation he couldn't escape from.
Thus, Simon had acquired a fine chess piece in Brad.
Coincidentally, Brad was selected as a member of the instructors entering the island together.
After borrowing his spatial space, Simon ordered him to stay hidden without being noticed during the island survival period. - ...
You plan to impersonate me. - How did you know? - The tricks of Kijen students are beyond imagination.
In this deadly environment, impersonators are common.
Brad scratched his head. - Do as you wish.
But if you get caught, it’s not my fault. - Of course.
So Brad went into hiding, and Erze transformed into Brad to come to the island.
Pier had safely crossed over from Brad's bracelet space.
The instructors' spaces were not subject to inspection.
"Everyone was perfectly fooled by the girl's act!" Erze said in Brad's deep voice.
"I feel like throwing up, so please stop."
"Anyway! Now we’re going to meet Big Kroom, right? I want to go too."
"Absolutely not."
Simon flatly refused.
"If Brad suddenly disappears from his position, the school will become suspicious. This matter is enough with just me and Pier."
[Hehe! The boy is right! Hurry up and get lost!] "Even you, Pier! Everyone is being too harsh."
Erze sulked, lowering her head.
"I... want to go back." "......."
Seeing her so dejected, Simon felt a twinge of guilt.
This operation, from recruiting Brad to impersonation, was practically all Erze's doing.
But he felt he had been a bit cold towards her.
[What are you doing, boy?] At that moment, Pier spoke into Simon's mind. [If you’re so worried, give her a reward.
Praising a subordinate's efforts is also the role of a commander!] 'Huh? Wh-what reward?' [You should know what she likes without me saying.] Of course, he knew.
Simon sighed softly and looked up.
He saw the burly man with a gloomy expression looking down.
"Erze. Want to return to your original form for a moment?" "What?" She looked puzzled, but she returned to her original form as commanded.
Simon approached her with stiff steps.
[Commander?] Then he stretched out his arms stiffly and hugged her shoulders tightly. [......!!!] Erze froze in shock as if time had stopped.
Simon whispered in a voice barely audible to her, "Y-you did well, Erze."
Erze's pupils widened.
Her heart felt like it was melting away like ice cream.
"Ahem."
Simon's face turned red as he hurriedly stepped back.
"Now turn back into Brad and return to your position. There's no benefit in raising suspicion."
Simon, sweating profusely, fled.
Pier's clone laughed loudly, finding it amusing. [.......]
After staring blankly at Simon's retreating figure for a moment, Erze brushed her shoulders.
Then, with her cheeks flushed, she covered her face. [......
What a lovely person.] It seemed that no matter how many times she swore her loyalty, it would never be enough.
Night was approaching.
The Kijen students were gradually adapting to the unfamiliar environment and monsters, and they were now heading toward the center.
However, as night began to fall, they faced a new crisis.
As is common in tropical regions, the temperature difference in Kera Island was quite large.
The hot weather suddenly turned chilly enough to feel cold.
Moreover, it was common knowledge that monster activity increased at night.
"We'll have to build a shelter to spend the night."
"First, let’s start a fire!" In a situation where they needed to build a fire for warmth and sleep, the students struggled to find a place to build their shelter.
In the middle of the jungle, they were afraid of monster attacks, and places with rivers or open plains posed a risk of ambush from other students.
Some students tried to build a house in the trees, but the problem was their lack of skills.
"Ugh, my back. I’m really dying here."
"We’re only staying for one night, right? Isn’t it better to just skip this hassle and save our energy?" Some students, who were dragging trees, seemed to feel a deep sense of doubt and declared a camp.
However, as the night deepened, the temperature dropped sharply, and it seemed wise to at least block the wind.
While the students were going through various trial and error, Simon's house was rapidly nearing completion.
He laid down evenly sized logs and bound them tightly with sturdy vines multiple times.
After raising the pillars and placing the roof on the pre-dug grooves, he covered it with large leaves taken from his spatial space.
"You tie the fence over there. Leave the wood you brought on the right."
With a few taps, a house was completed with the combined efforts of one human and four undead.
It was small enough for Simon to fit in alone, but it was satisfactory enough for a place to stay for a day.
Simon built his house near the beach, which was opposite to the direction the Kijen students were heading.
Being close to the beach also meant it was slightly out of the main activity range of carnivorous monsters.
In many ways, it was perfect.
"It's nice not to have to worry about others watching."
He lit a campfire without concern and ground herbs to ward off bugs and snakes, mixing them lightly with water and spreading them evenly around the house.
After finishing all the work, Simon slipped into the completed wooden house.
Although he had made it himself, it felt surprisingly cozy.
"Now then."
Simon lay down straight and covered himself with a leaf blanket.
"Time to sleep."
[What? Are you sleeping already?] Pier exclaimed in surprise. [Isn’t it still early evening!] "I plan to sleep early and start activities from dawn tomorrow. Oh, right!" Simon got up from his spot and took Pier's clone that was hanging on his school uniform and hung it outside the house as a decoration. [What is this! What are you doing, boy!] "Please keep watch for me, Pier. Undead don’t sleep, right?" [No way! I am the commander of the legion! How dare you use me like this!] "Please~ And I’ll leave this here, so wake me up at 4 AM."
Simon placed the watch on his wrist where Pier's clone could see it and then slipped back inside the house. [Using me as an alarm!!]
Simon completely cut off the thoughts of the undead and prepared to sleep under the leaf blanket.
After tossing and turning for a moment, he quickly fell into a deep sleep, breathing softly.
[Wake up, boy! It’s the time you mentioned!] Pier's clone shouted, causing Simon to bolt upright.
He shivered from the cold, rubbing his shoulders and sniffing.
"Ugh. Nights are cold. Thank you, Pier." [I will remember this humiliation!] "Once the money comes in, I’ll replenish the legion’s forces right away." [Now you finally know how to give rewards.]
Simon yawned as he stepped outside.
The beautiful turquoise dawn sky greeted him.
He could hear the refreshing sound of waves crashing from the sea visible across the way.
It was quite a picturesque scene.
"Shall we set off?" Simon opened his spatial space and took out four skeletons.
"Alright, on the count of three, lift it. One, two, three!" Simon had the skeletons lift the entire house.
Since it was made for one person from the start, it was not difficult to lift.
[What do you plan to do now?] "I told you, right?" Simon smiled.
"I’m going to head down to the center in one go."