Chapter 94

The Summoning Genius of the Necromancer School Chapter 94

All first-year students returned to Kijen.

Everyone thought the aftereffects would linger for a long time, but once classes began, the intense days spent on Kera Island felt like a dream, and they quickly returned to their daily routines.

From the Cyclops practical assessments to duel evaluations and survival tests on the island, Kijen's curriculum had a common trait: it stimulated the students' desire for growth and ignited their motivation.

As the students faced trials, they experienced a range of emotions—admiration and jealousy towards those who excelled beyond them, and the tension brought on by the rapid growth of students they had previously considered inferior.

The atmosphere in class after the practical assessments was always pleasant.

Of course, Simon was also inspired.

"Get ready."

As the sun began to set in the evening, Professor Aaron of the Summoning Studies was reviewing Simon's restoration techniques.

Whenever a class on 'Restoration' was held in Summoning Studies, it always went this way.

Simon had already mastered the restoration techniques from the existing curriculum, and there was nothing more to learn in the regular classes.

Each time, Aaron would take the time to provide Simon with special tutoring suited to his level.

"I'm ready, Professor!"

"Begin."

As Aaron's signal was given, Simon's eyes sharpened.

The body of the skeleton standing next to him began to disassemble and flew towards Simon's arm.

Swoosh!

Simon’s right arm became enveloped in bones.

The long humerus and femur stood like pillars, with small bones nestled snugly in between.

Then, a pitch-black substance flowed out from between the bones, connecting them to form joints.

This was the 'Bone Armor' that focused solely on covering the arm! The 'Bone Armor' was a defensive restoration technique that created armor from the skeleton's bones to protect the body.

Simon simply named this form that covered only the arm as 'Gauntlet Mode.' He had succeeded three times in a row.

Now, he had achieved a fair amount of speed and stability.

Excited, Simon clenched and relaxed his fist, swinging his arm up and down as if lifting weights.

It felt denser than bare hands, but he could definitely feel the strength.

"A genius is indeed a genius."

Aaron, watching with his arms crossed, maintained a stoic expression, but his back was drenched in sweat.

Restoration techniques were officially learned in the second year.

Yet, Simon had already created his own technique called 'Bone Nail' based on the Bone Sphere and had honed it to the point of practical use.

Now, he had even completed the application technique of 'Bone Armor,' which was particularly difficult among restoration techniques.

The speed at which he acquired these skills was nothing short of remarkable.

"Professor!" Simon called out to Aaron.

"Can I test the impact as well?"

"...... Of course."

With a pounding heart, Simon stood in front of a nearby tree.

He spread his legs shoulder-width apart, pulled back the arm clad in Bone Gauntlet, and struck the tree with a powerful shout.

Thud!

With a solid impact sound, leaves fell in a shower.

"Wow! Is this the power of bare hands without the pitch-black covering?"

As Simon gazed at his right arm in admiration, Aaron began to explain.

"As you just felt, Bone Armor holds significance beyond mere defense. It can convert the inherent strength of the skeleton and the pitch-black substance into 'physical power.' Think of it as a kind of enhanced exoskeleton suit."

Simon’s eyes sparkled as he nodded in understanding.

"The effects of Bone Armor vary greatly depending on how it is assembled and the skeleton used. The necromancers of Kijen each have their own unique styles of using Bone Armor. Of course, such individuality cannot be taught. You must research and develop a Bone Armor that suits you."

"Yes! I understand what you mean!"

Aaron crossed his arms.

"Then, let’s prepare for the full-body Bone Armor."

"Yes!"

Of course, Aaron knew that having a first-year practice this was a bit crazy.

Nevertheless, Simon attempted it.

Full-body Bone Armor required at least two skeletons.

The two skeletons disassembled into bones and fell to the ground, then flew up and adhered to Simon's body.

Bones filled his chest and arms, and then his legs.

However.

Crash!

For just a moment, while he was focused on his arms, the armor on his chest collapsed all at once.

The balance between the parts broke in an instant.

As the joints crumbled, there was no way to recover.

Simon let out a disappointed sigh.

"Well done."

Though the result was a failure, Aaron rarely offered praise.

"Covering only one arm with Bone Armor and wearing it all over the body is a completely different level of difficulty. There’s no need to feel anxious."

"Thank you, Professor!"

Thus, today’s private lesson came to an end.

"Ah, that was great."

Simon was thoroughly satisfied.

He wished there were more days when Restoration was taught in Summoning Studies as he collected the skeletons.

Aaron sat on a nearby bench and put a cigar in his mouth.

"Huff."

He exhaled smoke and spoke.

"Next week, a new mission period begins."

"Yes, it does."

Simon was eagerly awaiting this 'mission.' The main reason was financial.

He had been stretched thin buying golems, and borrowing money from Dick was reaching its limit.

A mission that could officially earn him tuition was like a refreshing rain in a drought for Simon.

Above all, it was a stage where he could freely use his legion without worrying about Kijen, and if luck was on his side, he might even acquire a new ancient undead.

"Do you have any missions in mind?"

"No. I plan to wait and see when the list comes out."

Aaron took a long drag from his cigar.

"Let me give you a tip. If there are no missions on the list that you like, waiting quietly can also be a strategy."

"...... What?"

"Literally. You still don’t fully understand the influence that being the first special admission student holds."

Aaron continued, placing the cigar between his fingers.

"Use your position a little more."

It was a somewhat cryptic tip that felt like a riddle.

Simon wanted to ask for more details, but Aaron flicked the cigar into the trash can and stood up.

"Let’s go back."

"Oh, yes!"

The next day, after class, as Aaron had said, a request board was set up in the dormitory.

Students were buzzing as they examined the request forms.

Four boards of different colors were visible.

White - Missions within Rock Island.

No chance of priest conflict.

Blue - Missions within the Dark Alliance.

Extremely low chance of priest conflict.

Red - Missions within neutral zones.

High chance of priest conflict.

Black - Missions within the Holy Federation.

Conflicts with priests.

"Last time we had it easy on Rock Island, so we should go out this time, right?"

"Is anyone going to join me for a search mission in the neutral zone?"

While Simon and Pierre carefully examined the four boards, they heard the chatter of other students.

[Nothing!] Pierre said.

[No matter how I look at it, it doesn’t seem like the big shots were involved.

Tsk! It’s a problem that the continent is too peaceful!]

"Hmm."

Simon nodded calmly.

The last mission had just been too lucky.

It was rare for a mission to align perfectly with traces of ancient undead.

[At least one seems to have potential.] Pierre's gaze turned to the black request form.

[Countless bite marks and a corpse that was eaten alive.

It could be the work of the prince leading the zombies, but... it’s not certain.

However, going to investigate directly carries too much risk.]

"Yes, I heard that getting permission for the black request form from the professor is nearly impossible."

This time, Simon focused on high-paying requests.

Having recently bought a golem, he realized how crucial capital was for a necromancer.

"Ugh."

But there was nothing that caught his eye among the high-paying requests.

Perhaps it was because he had earned over 500 gold last time, but everything felt lacking.

"I should try what Professor Aaron suggested."

Given Simon's situation, he had no choice but to be cautious.

He needed a mission that could earn him money steadily, not knowing when the next mission would come.

"Simon! Have you decided?"

Once again, Dick was holding a white request form.

"Not yet. But are you going for white again? If you keep taking easy missions, won’t it be tough later?"

"Tomorrow's sun will rise for tomorrow!"

Dick bit the request form and shrugged off his school jacket, draping it over his shoulder.

"Kijen is a place where you can get expelled at any moment if you make a mistake, right? You have to use each day wisely!"

"Using each day wisely means taking missions within Rock Island...?"

"Hehe, I have my reasons. More importantly, let’s hurry and get some late-night snacks! Late-night snacks!"

The next day, Simon decided to wait without registering for a mission.

Kamibarez chose to take on a blue mission this time, while Meirin, still fatigued from Kera Island, decided to quickly finish a white mission and rest in the dormitory.

"Cough! Cough! Cough!"

And the first class of the day was Toxicology.

"Ker-lok! Ker-lok! I’m sorry. I’m counting on you again today!"

"Yes, Professor. Please go in and rest well."

Professor Lang Strauss of Toxicology had been getting worse and worse.

He would cough up blood during class, and the head teaching assistant, Francesca, often had to take over the lessons.

Recently, the frequency of his coughing up blood had increased, and Francesca even conducted the theoretical classes.

There were even times when Lang didn’t show up for class at all.

The students genuinely worried about Lang’s health, but secretly, they were waiting for Francesca to take the podium.

Lang’s classes were a battle against drowsiness, but Francesca’s classes had a level of professionalism and dynamism that rivaled any regular professor.

Many students were now saying that it was time for Lang to retire and for Francesca to take over.

"It’s a bit awkward to say this, but I think Professor Lang lacks competitiveness in Kijen, which is a strict meritocracy."

Meirin was among the majority of students who supported Francesca.

"Is it fair that only students are forced into such fierce competition while professors can rest on their past glory?"

"That’s not as simple as it sounds."

Dick was a realist.

"If a professor’s position changes, all the professors and their assistants must leave the school. The position would then be filled by other professors and assistants. It’s like a complete change of regime."

Simon nodded, as if he understood.

Dick continued.

"Who doesn’t know that Francesca is capable? I want to keep attending her classes too. But if Professor Lang steps down, the assistant teacher would have to leave as well."

"Ugh, it’s complicated."

Meirin muttered, resting her chin on her hand.

This time, Kamibarez asked a question.

"Isn’t it possible for Assistant Teacher Francesca to become a Kijen professor?"

"It’s practically impossible to become a professor right away."

Dick shook his finger.

"Assistants hold a somewhat special status between educators and subordinates. Strictly speaking, they are closer to teaching aides than educators."

Meirin frowned.

"Teaching aide? Choose your words carefully."

"That’s how it is perceived. Of course, it’s possible to rise to a higher position with a professor’s recommendation and recognized assistant experience, but for an assistant to become a professor... it would require something on the level of Nephthys’ intervention."

Thud.

As footsteps were heard right in front of them, Dick and the members of Group 7 all shut their mouths with serious faces.

Before they knew it, the 15-minute break had passed, and Francesca entered the classroom.

......

And she was staring directly at Simon and his group.