Necromancer Academy Genius Summoner

**Necromancer Academy’s Genius Summoner - Chapter 4**
Simon and Lorain returned to Cammelrod.
As it turned out, Cammelrod was a street dedicated to goods for necromancers. The deeper they ventured, the more macabre the items became—skeletons, monster corpses, and even wriggling organs preserved in liquid-filled jars.

Simon felt as if he’d stepped into an alien world, far removed from the one he knew.
“Across your entire school life, want to know when you’ll feel the most excited?” Lorain asked as they walked side by side.
“Uh, I’m not sure… maybe?” Simon replied.

“It’s right before you start at Kizen, when you’re buzzing with excitement, shopping for your uniform, textbooks, and supplies! This moment, right now, is the most fun you’ll have, so enjoy it, Simon.”
She gave a sly smile.
“Once you’re at Kizen, things will get *really* hectic.”

“…Haha.”
Their first stop was a bookstore.
While Kizen’s tuition and admission fees were free, textbooks, naturally, had to be purchased out of pocket.

“There’s quite a few books to buy. Got your admission letter handy?” Lorain asked.
“Yes, right here!” 
Tucked inside the letter was a list of required supplies. Lorain glanced at the book section and handed it back.

“Got it memorized. This way.”
As Simon followed, something heavy suddenly thudded into his arms. He caught it reflexively—a monstrously thick book titled *Introduction to Summoning - by Elricmoor Trinble*.
*Summoning?*

Before he could process it, another book landed on top—*Necromancy Studies*. 
*This one’s heavy too!*
Lorain kept pulling books from the shelves. *Curse Studies*, *Hemomancy*, *Divine Defense Studies*, and *Combat Magic* piled up. Simon’s arms trembled under the weight.
“Lorain, you’re not saying we have to master all this in our first year, are you?”

“Of course not,” she said, turning with a bright smile. “We’re Kizen students. Mastering this much in the first semester is the baseline.”
“…”
“Here, take *Toxicology* too!”

…Simon was already missing Leshill.
While Lorain dashed off to find a book on *Jet-Black Mechanics*, Simon, left alone, glanced around.
*Come to think of it…*

Most of the people in the bookstore were around his age, holding books like *Introduction to Summoning* or *Necromancy Studies*. They had to be Kizen’s incoming students.
Simon had never seen so many peers in one place. Back in Leshill, the only kids his age were Kallon, a year older, and Sophia, two years younger.
The idea of a new life surrounded by students his age started to spark excitement in him.

“Hey! I’m coming!” 
“?”
While Simon was distracted, a girl rushed past. He narrowed his eyes, tracking her movement.

In a split second, her trajectory shifted toward him.
*What’s this?*
There was no reason to collide, so Simon sidestepped smoothly.

“…Ah!”
She crashed into a bookshelf, and the stacked books wobbled precariously.
This was bad.

Simon dove forward, shielding her as the books came crashing down.
*Thud! Thud!*
The books slammed into his back.

It hurt—like rocks pummeling his spine.
The girl, wide-eyed beneath him, stammered, “I’m so sorry! So sorry! This is my fault…!”
“No, it’s °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° fine. I was the one standing in the way,” Simon said, forcing a smile. “Let’s put these back before we get in trouble.”

“Y-Yes!”
They scrambled to pick up the scattered books. She handed them to Simon, who stretched to place them back on the shelves.
A clerk, alerted by the commotion, checked on them but left without comment upon seeing them tidying up.

*Last one.*
As Simon placed the final book, the girl organized his stack of textbooks.
“You’re a Kizen freshman too, right?” she asked, eyeing his books.

Simon nodded, and her face lit up.
“I’m a freshman too! I’m Cindy Vivace, from Shahed in the north. Nice to meet you!”
“Simon Polentia.”

“Cool, nice to meet you! Honestly, I was nervous since I don’t know anyone here.”
Simon smiled. “Same here.”
“Um, if it’s okay with you…” 

Cindy’s cheeks flushed as she fidgeted, tapping her index fingers together. In a voice barely above a whisper, she asked, “Could we… maybe say hi at school?”
As if it were some grand request.
Simon chuckled softly. “Sure. I’ll ask you first.”

“Thanks!” 
She sprang up. “I gotta go—my dad’s waiting outside.”
“Alright.”

“See you at Kizen!”
She waved and walked off.
“Wait, Cindy.”

“Yeah?”
Simon dangled something in his hand. “Want to give me my wallet back?”
In his hand was *her* wallet.

Her innocent expression sharpened, her pupils narrowing into slits like a cat’s.
*No way.*
Cindy patted her pocket—empty.

“…Ha.”
She’d been completely outplayed.
Grinning, she faced Simon. “I used necromancy to lift it, dead certain I wouldn’t get caught. How’d you know?”

“Just saw my wallet floating around, is all.”
Cindy strode over, locking eyes with him. “You noticed that just like that? Don’t lie—you’re aiming for necromancy too, aren’t you?”
“I haven’t decided—”

“I knew it!” 
Her eyes sparkled. “Kizen’s on another level! Oh man, it’s gonna be packed with people like you! I’m so pumped for school!”
*…Isn’t she a bit *too* bold for a pickpocket?*

Cindy laughed, tossing Simon’s wallet back to him. “If we’re both in necromancy, we might see each other for three years. Let’s have a bloody good rivalry, Simon!”
She wasn’t one to listen.
Sighing, Simon went to return her wallet, but she waved it off.

“Nah, keep it. I lost this round, so consider it your victory prize.”
Cool in the strangest way.
Simon was starting to think the rumor about necromancers having no normal people might hold some truth.

“Looking forward to it. Say hi at school!”
Waving, Cindy walked *through* the bookstore wall and vanished.
*…*

It felt like a storm had blown through.
Simon opened her wallet. A few measly coins.
*Talk about grandstanding.*

He smirked.
“Simon!” 
Lorain returned, her black hair flowing. 

“They’re out of *Jet-Black Mechanics*, but they’ll get stock in two hours and deliver it to the lodging with the rest.”
“Great!”
Lorain playfully poked his arm. “So, who was that girl? Already making friends?”

Simon broke into a cold sweat, looking away. “…Something like that.”
“Heh, why’re you stammering? Don’t tell me you’re already swapping hearts?”
More like *wallets*.

“Anyway, the books are set for delivery, so let’s go. We’ve got more stops.”
“Where next?”
“The bag shop.”

A new bag? Simon glanced at his backpack. “This one’s not bad, you know.”
“Huh?” 
Lorain blinked, then burst out laughing. “Oh, you’re *such* a country bumpkin!”

Simon flushed with embarrassment.
“When necromancers say ‘bag,’ they mean a *Magical Inventory*. Or, simpler, a subspace.”
Simon’s eyes widened. “We’re… buying a subspace?”

---
A few blocks from the bookstore stood a large building. Simon and Lorain were led to its basement, passing through layers of dark magic security before entering a softly lit underground showroom.
“…Wow.”

The space was filled with backpacks, pouches, briefcases—even long coats, pocket watches, a carriage cart, and a wriggling lizard. Unfathomable items hung on walls or floated via magical effects.
“Welcome, Miss Lorain!” 
An elderly woman in a lavish mink coat appeared, adorned with gaudy gold accessories. 

Lorain waved cheerfully. “Hey, Stephanie! Doing well?”
Stephanie rubbed her hands, smiling. “What brings our VVIP here unannounced? You bought a bag last month…”
Lorain placed a hand on Simon’s shoulder. “I’m here for *his* bag today.”

“Oh!” 
Stephanie swooped in, her hooked nose startlingly close. Simon leaned back slightly.
“A Kizen freshman! Welcome! Necromancers are our best customers.”

“N-Nice to meet you.”
“What kind of product would you like to see?”
Lorain answered for him. “The best. The most expensive.”

“Unbelievable!” Stephanie squealed. “This way, VVIPs!”
She led them to another room, where items were encased in glass displays. Tapping one, the glass vanished like evaporating mist.
“Try this, sir.”

She handed Simon a navy glove with intricate patterns. Slipping it on, he felt an almost luxurious cushioning sensation.
“A masterpiece by the legendary subspace artisan Ellen Vayter. Touch any wall and trace a rectangle.”
Simon nodded and drew a rectangle on the wall.

*Shing!*
A hole opened. Peering inside, Simon saw a vast space—large enough to fit an entire house.
*This is a subspace!*

As Simon marveled, Stephanie continued. “As expected of Ellen Vayter, it boasts 8,000 UB of storage! Plus, the convenience of accessing it anytime with the glove. A true revolution in inventories!”
“…Hmm.” 
Lorain seemed unimpressed. “It’s convenient, but needing a wall to open it is a limitation. In real combat, you might fight on open plains. And Simon’s a beginner—he doesn’t need that much capacity.”

“Fair point.”
“Got anything simpler, with less capacity?”
Stephanie grinned and moved to the far end, unveiling another display. “Not yet on the market. The latest work by rising master Gellen Eclipse!”

She held up a ring, silver but shimmering purple or green depending on the light.
“Try it on, sir.”
“Y-Yes!” 

Simon slipped it on, its prismatic sheen captivating.
“Simple to use! Channel Jet-Black into it.”
Simon did so. The ring absorbed the Jet-Black like a sponge, turning dark azure.

“How "How does it feel?"
“…I can sense a handle-like shape beneath the ring.”
“That’s correct! Imagine pulling that lever.”

Simon grasped the imaginary handle and pulled.
*Clunk!*
With a sound like grinding stone, a vertical rift opened in the floor, white vapor seeping from the gap.

“…Wow!”
Simon’s heart raced. Even Lorain looked slightly impressed.
“Storage is 4,000 UB—half the previous model—but it’s far more practical! It opens from the floor, unaffected by slopes or rough surfaces. It’s equipped with seven spells, including Tier-1 preservation and temperature control.”

“Ejection function?” Lorain asked.
“Of course! Let’s demonstrate.”
Spotting a tattered rabbit doll in the corner, Stephanie frowned. “Why’s this here?”

“My tomboy granddaughter keeps leaving things around.”
She tossed the doll into the subspace.
“As a freshman, you’ll need practice for combat use. Feel the mana in the subspace and wrap it around the object…”

Simon followed, enveloping the doll with mana. It was effortless—the ring’s connection to his body made the subspace mana feel like an extension of himself.
“Once the mana wraps the object, it triggers the ejection spell. Release it like a snap!”
*Thwump!*

The doll shot out, tracing a gentle arc before landing upright.
Stephanie and Lorain gasped.
“Magnificent, sir!”

“Not bad! First try, really?”
Simon’s pounding heart drowned out their voices. He understood why subspaces were essential for necromancers.
He pictured himself opening it in battle, summoning undead.

“Simon, you like it?” Lorain asked, smiling.
Snapping out of his reverie, Simon nodded vigorously. 
It was the first time he’d wanted something so badly.

But then his gaze shifted to Stephanie.
“…How much is this subspace?”