Necromancer Academy Genius Summoner

Necromacer Academy Genius Summoner - Chapter 6
(6/1512)
"D-Don't be ridiculous! Contact Nephtis right now! How dare you treat me like this...!"
Pop.

Lucius's body vanished from the world.
A few drops of what appeared to be blood fell to the ground with a splash.
That was all.

Everyone stood with their mouths agape, blinking in shock.
"We don't have time. All incoming students, board the ship."
Silage turned around with his hands behind his back.

"You too."
"......"
Simon quietly nodded and moved toward the ship.

The atmosphere among the incoming students had frozen due to the recent incident. However, a few students couldn't hide their excitement and whispered among themselves.
"So that's blood-type dark magic!"
"I'm majoring in Curses, but I almost wavered for a moment."

"First-years can take that professor's classes too, right?"
As Simon walked toward the ship, he glanced at Silage. Silage was looking at him too.
When their eyes met, he smiled.

"Don't worry. I didn't kill him."
"...Ah, yes."
After Simon boarded the ship, Silage spoke.
"Everyone, fasten your seatbelts."

Silage waved his hand in the air. A reddish bubble-like barrier expanded and covered the entire ship. Simon watched the situation with curiosity.
'How are we getting to Kizen on this ship?'
The bow was facing the ground, not the sea. He wondered if they were going to reverse, but a subordinate who had been communicating reported to Silage.

"Professor, we'll arrive in 5 minutes."
"Guide it as planned."
The students' murmuring grew louder. From the distant horizon, a massive water spout was approaching.

WHOOOOSH!
The water spout grew larger as it approached, and moments later, an indescribably enormous whale burst out.
"Waaahhh!"
The whale opened its mouth and swallowed the entire ship before diving back into the sea.

_______________________________________________________________________________________
The Styx Whale - an underwater undead that obeys Kizen's commands.
A monster that travels the world's oceans, devouring the ports of cities designated by Kizen.

However, once a year, it also serves to transport Kizen's new students who haven't received teleportation permits to the school. Simply put, it's Kizen's high-speed 'transportation.'
Though they were inside a whale's belly, the interior was quite warm and comfortable. Kizen's subordinates residing in the whale came aboard to attend to the new students and provided food.
The atmosphere soon relaxed, and everyone chatted excitedly about their future life.

"You were amazing earlier."
Simon was also talking with the student next to him.
The boy with green hair that revealed his forehead introduced himself as 'Lowen Oscar.' He was so sociable that he had already befriended several people ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) before coming to Simon.

"I mean, it was a difficult atmosphere to step forward in, but you rushed over and grabbed his wrist!"
"It wasn't a big deal."
Simon answered casually while cutting his fish steak. The meat sliced smoothly, and he sprinkled lemon juice on top.

While Lowen mainly talked and Simon nodded along listening, Lowen clapped his hands and asked.
"By the way, what was your entrance exam?"
"Entrance exam?"

Simon tilted his head at this unfamiliar topic.
"Was there such a thing?"
"Of course! Everyone has to take it to enter Kizen! In my case, I did shape transformation with darkness..."

While Lowen naturally transitioned to talking about himself, Simon was lost in thought.
An exam? He had no memory of taking any such thing.
'If I carelessly talk about this, won't it cause fairness issues?'

He had also received an item worth 5,000 gold, so he couldn't cause more trouble for Nephtis.
After finishing his greatly exaggerated heroic tale, Lowen asked with sparkling eyes.
"What about you?"

"Oh, um... Mine was similar to yours. Darkness shape transformation."
"Oh, what a coincidence!"
"Everyone take your seats. We'll arrive soon."

Silage's voice was heard. The students who had been gathering and chatting quickly returned to their seats.
It seemed like not much time had passed since departure, yet they were arriving. Tension rushed in. Simon fastened his seatbelt and adjusted his clothes.
Silage, who had come up on deck, spread a reddish barrier to cover the ship like before, and then water began filling the whale's belly.

"Hold on tight if you don't want to fall."
Since Silage was wearing an eerie smile as he said this, Simon gripped the handle of the seat in front with all his might.
WHOOOOOOSH!

Like a dam bursting, the water that had filled to the top shot out with tremendous force. Students' screams echoed chaotically at the dizzying speed that made their legs float.
At the end of the tunnel where there had been only darkness, bright light appeared, and the ship quickly escaped through it.
Whiiiiish!

They were outside.
Thousands of meters in the air where the ground looked like toys. The ship was riding on the water stream spouted by the Styx Whale.
Soon the water stream's power weakened and the bow pointed downward. Students screamed in terror.

Now, they would fall.
"Ugh!"
Simon simply hugged the seat in front of him.

Soon their surroundings passed by like rays of light as they descended endlessly. Their clothes flapped wildly in the headwind.
Slit.
Then Silage made a cut on his index finger with his nail. When a drop of blood was absorbed by the barrier surrounding the ship, the falling speed gradually decreased.

When Simon carefully opened his eyes moments later, the ship was descending slowly like a hot air balloon.
"Waaahhh...!"
The students exclaimed in wonder.

The sun painting the world orange beyond the blue horizon presented a truly fantastic sunrise, and below the ship, the landscape of 'Roke Island' where Kizen was located could be seen at a glance.
Lush jungles, smoothly polished wilderness, waterfalls with falling leaves, and snow-covered mountains. All four seasons could be viewed at once on this island.
"Lowen! Get up and look!"

"......"
Of course, most including Lowen were still burying their heads in their seats or retching.
The ship, which had been gradually slowing down as if deploying a parachute, finally landed safely on the ground.

Sighs of relief burst out everywhere. Some students immediately covered their mouths and ran to the trees to vomit.
"Come out and form four lines."
After a simple headcount, Silage moved the students.

Kizen was a castle so large its scale was difficult to gauge. A giant gatekeeper opened the castle gates, and they entered after passing through multiple layers of security dark magic.
Besides Simon's group who came on the Styx Whale, incoming students who arrived via other routes were also visible. They all looked exhausted, suggesting their journeys had been equally dynamic.
"We'll hurry a bit. Please come this way!"

Upon entering the castle, waiting subordinates quickly guided them. Students immediately entered a nearby building, received their uniforms, and moved to changing rooms separated by gender.
"Please finish changing within 5 minutes and gather outside."
Everything here was swift. Simon was swept up in the atmosphere and quickly changed into his uniform.

'Kizen's uniforms are stylish too.'
The sophisticated black pants that fit perfectly like tailored clothes were closer to a suit than a school uniform. They fit snugly but didn't restrict movement at all.
Over that, he wore a white shirt and red-toned tie, then put on a stylish jacket with Kizen's mark.

He approached the mirror.
'Wow.'
Was this what they called a suit fit? His appearance in the sharp outfit was impressively cool.

The design was somewhere between a uniform and a suit, sophisticated enough to wear to a banquet as is.
Feeling elated, Simon turned back and forth, admiring his new look.
"Look at this! The outer garment has magic on it!"

"They say the uniform doubles as combat gear. It's tougher than most armor."
Hearing voices from outside the changing room, Simon gently touched his uniform jacket. Indeed, subtle magical energy flowed from the clothes, confirming magic was cast on them.
How expensive could this be? It was practically like wearing gold.

"Two minutes until assembly!"
At the subordinate's urging, Simon hurriedly put on his shoes and went outside.
Students who had changed into Kizen's suit-style uniforms were looking at themselves in mirrors, all with corners of their mouths raised to the heavens.

"Please come out now! We're moving!"
Simon and the male students came out of the changing room, and female students emerged from the opposite changing room.
Both groups stopped almost simultaneously as if coordinated. Simon did too.

'...The girls' uniforms are prettier?'
A sophisticated black-toned jacket with Kizen's logo, a white blouse and thin tie visible underneath, and a skirt that came above the knees.
The women's clothing was also designed somewhere between uniform and suit, with everyone's fit cleanly tailored to their body types. They looked a bit more mature than their age.

"Male and female students, form two lines each and move to the auditorium."
Perhaps because they saw each other's stylish appearances, a strange atmosphere flowed between the two groups moving to the auditorium.
Everyone kept stealing glances at each other's outfits while walking, quickly turning their heads when eyes met. Already murmurs about who was handsome or pretty reached his ears. Simon thought this was what school life felt like.

After descending the stairs, they finally entered the auditorium where the entrance ceremony would begin. Many incoming students had already taken their seats, and Simon's group was nearly last.
"Simon! Is this real? We're at Kizen! Damn, it doesn't feel real!"
Lowen, who had somehow found him again after they separated at the changing rooms, began chattering. Simon looked around once and asked.

"Are all these people incoming students?"
"Of course! There are 1,000 incoming first-years alone!"
Simon's mouth fell open. It was much more than he'd thought.

"And there are about 300 second-years, and less than half that for third-years, I heard."
"...What?"
"You get what that means, right?"

Lowen let out an ominous laugh.
"Out of these 1,000, only the top 30% can advance to second year. That's how fierce the survival competition is."
Survival competition at school.

It didn't make sense to Simon's common sense. Just how harsh must it be for 700 students to leave the school?
While pondering this, all students took their seats under the subordinates' guidance.
Lowen quickly scanned the surroundings and began explaining various notable figures.

"Serene Aindark! She enrolled this year as expected. The official successor of the Ivory Tower."
In the direction Lowen pointed, a cold-looking female student with platinum blonde hair could be seen.
"All the world's famous prospects are here! Darwin Caradin! Jay Sanders... Whoa! What's that?"

"Where?"
"Look behind."
When Simon turned around, there was one particularly impressive person.

A male student over 3 meters tall. The unfortunate students sitting behind him were craning their necks with tearful expressions.
"Chatel Maer. Giant hybrid."
"...He's big."

"He'll probably major in Martial Arts. Who could handle that physique?"
Lowen shook his head.
"And... hehe."

The corners of Lowen's mouth rose as he looked to the left. Not just Lowen, but many people's gazes were directed at one person.
A black-haired, red-eyed girl sitting calmly.
"No matter what anyone says, this year's top is her. Lorraine Archbold."

Simon flinched but nodded without showing it.
"As Lady Nephtis's only daughter, I thought she'd naturally be a 'special case,' but she just took the entrance exam with decent scores and got in."
"Really?"

"Not top or second place, but everyone knows, right? She's the best incoming student this year."
Simon agreed. Having seen her skills firsthand, he knew better than anyone.
Then a man's voice came from the podium.

"We will now begin the entrance ceremony! All students, please rise from your seats."
A man who appeared to be the host conducted the event.
True to Kizen's style, it was clean and swift without unnecessary elements. The vice-principal's speech and the administrator's explanation of precautions were just as much as needed. It was truly comfortable for the listeners.

The biggest cheers erupted when the teaching staff appeared.
Top-tier necromancers still active like Silage. They were so famous that even Simon, who was ignorant of continental affairs, had heard their names.
When idols they'd only heard about appeared, the students' reactions were almost fanatical.

While Lowen next to him was foaming at the mouth and shouting, Simon was carefully observing the faculty.
"Lady Nephtis didn't appear."
Lowen, hearing Simon's mutter, chuckled.

"Would that great necromancer come to something like a first-year entrance ceremony? You'd be lucky to see her face once you reach third year."
"...Is that so?"
The fact that such a person had ice cream on her lips and got lost in Langerstine seemed like something they wouldn't believe even if told.

"Next, we'll have the student representative oath. All students, please rise from your seats."
Finally, the last event of this entrance ceremony. Simon also stood up.
According to what Lowen had told him, the student representatives were supposed to be one top male and one top female first-year student.

"Students whose names are called, please come to the podium."
The host unfolded documents and spoke.
"Special Case #2. Serene Aindark."

Huge cheers erupted. The platinum-blonde female student rose from her seat and walked forward.
Murmurs of 'Ivory Tower successor' could be heard everywhere.
"And Special Case #1."

When the host opened his mouth again, the murmuring stopped all at once.
"Simon Polentia."