The following classes were also a series of hardships.
The second period was Divine Defense Studies, and the third was Hematology.
In both classes, the professors called Simon, the top special admission student, to the podium to test him.
It was an annual event.
In fact, at Kizen, not only was there fierce competition among students, but also among professors.
Professors with poor performance could be dismissed even during the semester, their salaries varied based on their achievements, and their influence within Kizen changed as well.
Therefore, professors tried to secure as many major students as possible, especially trying to bring outstanding students under their direct tutelage.
As part of this, they tested the skills of the most outstanding students in the first class, and it was only natural for Simon, the top special admission student, to come up to the podium.
Simon had to face a female student named "Meilin Villeneuve" in both classes.
She was ranked first in Class A and held the top entrance score across the entire first year.
In terms of written evaluations, she was practically the top student in the school.
There was no way Simon, who had just started learning black magic, could win against her.
In the fight with Hector, he managed to return a blow, but with Meilin, it was not even a contest.
The professors tilted their heads in surprise at this unexpected situation, and the students in Class A began to realize that Simon was a beginner.
"Huuu..."
Thus, he rushed through to the third class without a break.
Fortunately, the next class ended a little early, giving him some time.
Simon was resting alone, lying down on an empty cafeteria table.
"The classes are fun, but they're really tough."
He didn't expect school classes to be this hard.
Especially after using all his strength in the match with Hector.
Simon groaned and leaned his head on his arm.
"Hello."
As he was catching his breath, someone spoke to him.
He looked up to see a male student with short blond hair and sunglasses pushed up on his forehead, smiling brightly.
"I'm in the same Class A as you. My name is Dick Hayward."
"... Simon Polentia."
The two shook hands lightly.
"You're already famous. Your name is being mentioned even in other classes."
Simon shrugged his shoulders.
"They're probably saying the bubble of the top special admission is bursting."
"Hahaha!"
Dick laughed out loud and plopped down in the seat across from him.
"Actually, you're perfectly normal. It's just the first day of school, so I don't know why everyone's making such a fuss."
"Thanks for saying that."
Dick interlocked his fingers with a slightly serious face.
"Did you know? Hector is already forming his own faction."
"... Faction?"
"He made such an impressive appearance in the first class. It's only natural for kids to flock to him. He's also the eldest son of a prominent family, so he's quite popular among the noble kids."
Simon rested his chin on his hand with a disinterested expression.
"I'm not really interested."
"Hey, hey, listen. 'Politics' is important at Kizen too! What do you think will happen if Class A completely falls under Hector's influence? Anyone who gets on Hector's bad side is done for. It'll be hard to even find teammates for group projects."
That changed things.
Simon straightened his posture.
"You seem quick to grasp the situation. Why aren't you with Hector then?"
Whether Simon hit the nail on the head, Dick made a slightly embarrassed face.
'He's sharp, despite looking innocent.'
Dick scratched his sideburns awkwardly with a laugh.
"Actually, I'm a commoner. From a merchant family."
Then he stood up and bowed his head politely.
"I apologize if a mere commoner was rude, my lord."
"... Don't do that. I heard we're all the same first-year students at Kizen."
Dick smiled satisfactorily and sat down.
"That's true, but there are kids who like to flaunt their nobility."
"At least I'm not one of them."
"That's a relief. Actually, I have a proposal for you."
Dick extended his hand.
"Join my faction, Simon."
"...?"
"Whether your skills are lacking or you're called a bubble, the fact remains that you're the top special admission. The advanced learning progress may seem big now, but eventually, it'll all level out. Nephthys must have had a reason for bringing you in as a special admission. You have value."
Simon smiled gently.
"Instead of talking about factions or whatever."
"...?"
Simon extended his hand in front of Dick's outstretched hand.
"How about just being equal friends?"
Dick let out a dry laugh.
"... Wow, that's incredibly awkward."
To think there would still be someone in Kizen who would propose just being friends instead of forming alliances or factions.
Honestly, it's old-fashioned.
It's cringeworthy.
Yet, amidst the crowd of calculating people, Simon's approach felt special.
Dick reached out and firmly grasped Simon's hand.
"Sometimes, this kind of sentiment isn't so bad."
"... Haha."
From Simon's perspective, becoming friends with a student who knew Kizen well and had political sense wasn't a bad thing.
The two who shook hands lightly slowly stood up.
It was time to move to the lecture hall for the next class.
"What was the next class again?"
"Hold on."
Dick took out a notebook from his pocket and opened it.
"Oh, it's Summoning Studies."
Hearing those words, Simon's eyes sparkled with interest.
Simon and Dick entered the lecture hall without being late.
Unlike the awkwardness of the first class, the atmosphere had relaxed considerably, with everyone chatting with their now familiar friends.
And as Dick mentioned, around Hector, four male students were laughing and talking loudly.
When Simon passed by, they let out quiet sneers.
"Oh, look, the top special admission is passing by."
"The biggest bubble in Kizen's history."
"Does it make sense that someone like him surpassed Serne, Chatel, and Lorraine?"
Though they were sneering, Hector, who was at the center of the group, remained silent.
He merely glanced at Simon briefly before turning his head.
"Don't mind them, Simon," Dick said.
"There's no need to listen to those windbags."
Simon sat down with a blank expression and took out his Summoning Studies book from his bag.
"I'm looking forward to it."
"... Huh?"
"The Summoning Studies class."
Simon's eyes were shining brightly.
He seemed completely unfazed, not needing any caution.
Dick chuckled.
'He really is different.'
Soon, the bell signaling the start of class rang.
The students hurried back to their seats.
Screech.
Screech.
The sound of dragging feet came from outside the lecture hall.
All the professors they had seen so far, including Bahil Amagar of Curse Studies, were incredibly impressive.
The students waited eagerly to see who would enter.
Click.
Finally, the lecture hall door opened, and a man in his early thirties walked in.
With disheveled hair as if he had just woken up, a stubbly beard that looked like it hadn't been shaved in a long time, a loose shirt and shorts, and worn-out slippers.
Simon wondered if a neighborhood uncle had mistakenly entered the lecture hall.
The other students felt the same.
Having seen the neat and smart attire of the previous professors, this was a bit of a shock.
The professor dragged his slippers to the podium at the front.
"I'll be teaching Summoning Studies this semester. My name is Aaron Deia."
A languid voice echoed through the lecture hall.
Aaron walked to the blackboard and slowly wrote the words "Summoning Studies."
With one hand in his pocket and the other writing, his back seemed to exude a sense of world-weariness, but perhaps that was a cool point, as some female students whispered with flushed faces.
"Summoning Studies is the root of necromancy and can be said to be history itself. Scholars may not want to admit it, but it's hard to deny that our origins come from gravekeepers, tomb robbers, and necrophiles."
Aaron let out a sinister smile and put down the chalk.
"Anyway, if you have ears, you've probably heard various stories about Summoning Studies. That it's outdated, not well-regarded, difficult to study, and has too many handicaps."
Some students nodded in agreement.
"Those countless prejudices you've heard..."
Simon felt his heart start to race a little.
Other students swallowed their saliva, waiting for Aaron's next words.
"Most of them are true."
"...?!"
Simon doubted his ears.
What did this Summoning Studies professor just say? Aaron continued his explanation in a languid voice.
"In the classes you've taken so far, I imagine there was talk about how great our major is and why you must take it. Personally, I disagree. I think students should be clearly informed of both the pros and cons so they can make informed choices."
Aaron approached the blackboard again and picked up the chalk.
The students grabbed their quills, ready to take notes.
"The first disadvantage of Summoning Studies."
Simon let out a wry smile.
Starting with the disadvantages, huh?
"Summoning Studies is expensive."
After writing the words on the board, Aaron looked around at the students.
"I'm not just saying that. No matter how much you imagine, Summoning Studies costs more in materials than you think."
Suddenly, a silence fell over the lecture hall.
"The material costs for Summoning Studies alone can exceed the combined costs of all other subjects. Of course, when creating skeletons or zombies, are you going to kill the person next to you, raid villages, or hunt down animals one by one? No. Modern necromancers use skeleton sets or specially treated corpses that can be turned directly into zombies. Moreover, most of the undead created this way are disposable."
Some students' expressions darkened, especially the commoner students, whose faces noticeably worsened.
"There are often cases where the material costs consumed in battle exceed the rewards of the mission. If you're going to major in Summoning Studies, give up the idea of making money. And the second."
Aaron wrote the next words on the board.
"Summoning creatures have high dependency. Well, this is also an obvious story. Summoning Studies is a discipline that fights with summoned creatures."
Aaron raised the arm holding the chalk and circled the word 'dependency' several times.
"If a summoned creature is destroyed, the summoner's combat power decreases by more than 80%."
"......."
"Especially these days, instead of disposable undead, many use their own semi-permanent undead that have been modified repeatedly. But what happens if this undead is destroyed in battle?"
Aaron raised the corners of his mouth.
"Imagine yourself sitting idly by, having lost your summoned creature, while your peers are busy unfolding maps and discussing strategies."
Simon was increasingly dumbfounded.
To say it like this? Is this person really a Summoning Studies professor?
"And this dependency is closely related to the first disadvantage."
Aaron drew a line from the circled word 'dependency' to connect it to 'expensive.'
"If you lose your main summoned creature, the summoner suffers a critical blow both in terms of combat power and finances. You'll have to spend a long time gathering money to restore your combat power."
A heavy silence settled over the lecture hall.
"And finally, the third."
Aaron, who had been writing on the board, smiled, showing his teeth.
"This is the most important."