Necromancer Academy’s Genius Summoner

"Dear students of Kizen!"

Endolas, finally given a clear opportunity to speak freely, began his speech.

"It is unfortunate that my game has been cut short. But after a tough day of rigorous lectures, I am sure that the world which I have crafted will allow you to forget your exhaustion if only for a moment! I cannot stress enough that I truly care for the value one can find in the games I make! Which is why I took such harsh conditions as after-school BDMAT!"

The large hat on his head wobbled from side to side every time Endolas spoke.

"I have already coordinated with the faculty, as well! We have added a few class-related games! I hope you will enjoy the new adventure. Now, you may open the rule book on your laps!"

As if a weight had been lifted, the students placed their copies of the [Endolas' Game Rulebook] on the tables they sat at and opened them back up.

"It is important to pick what games to play, but a test is a test! So, allow me to begin with the most important factor, the rules!"

The details about the rules also appeared on the screen in the center.

Four tests total. 1-2 per week.

A maximum of two cards can be obtained per day.

Students will start the test wearing a protective vest provided by Kizen.

Fighting between students is allowed.

If the barrier gauge of a student reaches zero during the game, either due to monster attacks or attacks from other students, that student's test will be completely over for the day.

Simon's eyes glistened as he absorbed all the information.

'I see. The number of cards you can obtain is limited to two cards per day.'

Since there will be four tests in total, a maximum of 8 cards could be obtained. And any students who collected fewer than 5 will be expelled.

"Even one day off would be dangerous."

Muttered Camibarez, nervously.

"Alright, students of Kizen! Then…"

Endolas looked at his wristwatch.

"In exactly one hour, we shall begin the first game!"

"Whaaaaat?!"

In an hour?!!

The students were in an uproar.

"We're screwed!"

"You said you'd give us plenty of time to strategize!"

As one of the students seated in front made a complaint, Aaron replied nonchalantly,

"An hour is plenty of time."

'You scammer!'

Feeling a sense of urgency, the students in the hall quickly began discussing strategy.

"What are you guys going to do?"

Everyone was thinking differently.

Rick decided to go for the siege missions, while Camibarez decided to collect seven blue cards because they were more likely to be games related to hemomancy and getting seven of one color would net her an extra +3 points. Meilyn decided to be flexible and change her strategy depending on the cards she collected.

Of course, Simon was thinking about collecting 7 different cards.

"Apparently, there's a limit to the number of people for games, too."

Said Meilyn.

"So for this round, let's play solo. We'll split up, grab whatever cards we want, gather as much information as possible, and then share what we've learned."

"Got it!"

Everyone nodded. Meilyn pointed at the guidebook.

"Now, familiarize yourselves with the rules. I'm pretty sure some people will end up completely lost because they don't read the rules."

While the students were busy strategizing or familiarizing themselves with the rules, the servants bustled about, providing students with protective vests. Everyone wore them over their uniforms.

"I wish you all the luck then, students!"

Endolas spread his arms out wide. Then, the deck of cards in his hands scattered into the air, cards flying into the hands of each of the students.

"Ah."

One of the cards arrived on Simon, too.

It had his name, Simon Polentia, and his major, Summoning, written on it.

'So this is why they wanted us to fill out the document.'

"This is an official rule. Please paste the card on the right chest part of your protective vest."

Simon placed the card on his chest. It stuck on quite firmly

It was like a nametag. You could figure out other students' majors with this.

"And I have some news that you will love!"

Said Endolas.

"We have got some great prizes in the game, including things to help you with your test, as well as expensive artifacts, special weapons, and much more! I hope you will do your best!"

The students' eyes lit up even more at the mention of prizes.

"Alright, you have 10 minutes left! You may now go wherever you please. Good luck!"

Waaaaaaaaaaaah!

As soon as the words left his mouth, the students surged out of the great hall, jet-black gathering in their legs. It was too crowded to get out the front door, so some students were breaking windows to run out.

'That's some explosive heat.'

Simon grinned and ran up the wall, passing through another student's broken window.

He planned to go outside first. The test covered the whole of Roke Island. He wanted to go farther out than the school campus, where he knew there would be a lot of students.

Whirrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Just then, a blue veil like a curtain unfolded in the center of the Kizen campus, enveloping the building. A barrier created with dark magic had been installed to prevent the students from damaging buildings or the decorations.

At the same time, a voice was heard from the card on Simon's chest.

[Let the test… begin!]

* * *

* * *

[Battles between the students are now allowed. You may now also challenge the games and collect cards!]

Boooooooom!

Poow!

As soon as the test started, shockwaves of jet-black colliding with jet-black rippled through the air.

'They really wanted to fight that bad, huh?'

Even if you could fight other students, the only thing you'd gain from it would be stopping your competitor from taking the test. As Simon continued to run, a mana screen popped out of the card in his chest.

[If you win a battle with the following student, you shall be awarded with an additional point.]

[Djinn Haydn]

'Oh.'

This was a new rule.

1 point isn't so bad. Even if it wasn't one of the five cards needed to pass, it was still worth as much as a card in terms of rankings.

But this was an optional mission, and obtaining two cards was the number 1 priority.

'I should collect cards first!'

Simon ran out of the Kizen campus and dashed across a typically empty field.

There were many students around him. They glared warily at each other, but thankfully, none made a preemptive strike.

'Ah!'

Then, luckily, he spotted a card stuck in a tree.

Simon approached it with a big grin on his face.

'It's a dark blue card!'

But the card had letters on it.

[Difficulty: Low]

[Number of players: 1]

[Conditions of entry: Major of Poisonous Alchemy]

'Oh no, I can't go into this room.'

Simon moved on and immediately turned around.

Behind him was another student, who suddenly stopped in her tracks as Simon faced her.

Simon smiled and said,

"I'm not interested, so go ahead and check it out."

"…Huh? Oh. Thanks."

Simon left immediately.

She hesitantly walked over to check the card and touched the card. She must have been a Poisonous Alchemy major, because she was sucked right into the card.

'I wanna find one, too.'

"Hey! Hey you! Wait a minute!"

Two boys were waving their hands. They stood in front of a card, seemingly guarding it.

"Are you perhaps majoring in Necromancy?"

"We can start the game right away if you are!"

Simon stopped and looked at the card on the rock.

[Difficulty: Medium]

[Number of players: 3]

[Conditions of entry: Major of jet-black mechanics, curses, necromancy]

'Interesting. So there are games that are joint missions.'

Simon waved his hand.

"Sorry, I'm a Summoning major."

At that moment, one of the students staring at Simon stiffened.

'I-It's Simon Polentia!'

He didn't realize it at first because they were too far away, but that voice and major was definitely the famous S.A.1

They'd be in trouble if they got into a fight, but fortunately, Simon didn't seem to care and moved on. Everyone seemed to be focused on finding cards.

As Simon continued to run and search, he slowly grew nervous.

'So finding a card isn't really the end of it. These conditions keep getting in the way.'

Simon got out of the field and entered a nearby valley. There were fewer people here.

'Ah!'

There was an unusual stream of water in the valley, and a card was floating in the middle of the swirling stream.

Simon got down a bit and looked at the card. It was a dark blue card.

[Difficulty: Medium]

[Number of players: 1]

[Conditions of entry: None]

"This is it!"

Simon immediately leaped up toward the valley with the help of jet-black. He then brought his legs together in midair and aimed them toward the card.

As soon as his feet touched the card, he was sucked in.

[Entering a new game.]

* * *

Splash! Splash!

Swaaaaaaaah!

Simon opened his eyes to the feeling of water splashing across his face.

The sound of the splashing filled his ears. His stomach felt sick, and his vision was shaking.

"…Th-This place is?"

The first thing he saw when he opened his eyes was the grain of something made of wood. Simon's eyes widened as he looked up, sniffing the strong odor of tree sap.

'A raft?'

Swaaaaaaaaah!

Simon quickly checked his surroundings.

He was sure he was just in a trickling valley stream near the walls of Kizen, and suddenly, he was on a raft about to be swept away by a raging torrent.

Moreover, around him was a dense jungle, far from the vegetation of Roke Island. Simon was in the middle of a valley flowing through the jungle.

'What is this??'

He looked around in bewilderment before hearing a pained groan coming from beside him.

Immediately looking over, he saw a girl in a Kizen school uniform lying prone.

She was someone Simon knew very well.

"Class president!"

It was Jamie Victoria, the honorary class president of Class A.

"Wake up! President!"

Simon quickly shook her awake. After a moment of stillness, she finally rubbed her eyes and sat up.

"Who are y— Ah!"

She suddenly reeled back in surprise.

"S-Simon? Why are you here?"

"I don't know either."

Simon shrugged, and Jamie glanced around with a somewhat dumbfounded face.

"I'm sure I got into the card by myself."

"Same here."

Apparently, there were cards like this randomly connecting students.

Just then, a mana screen popped up in front of them.

[Goal: Survive until the destination.]

"It's like we got a survival mission."

Jamie stood up. Perhaps she recovered her senses.

Then, she flashed a straightforward smile, holding out her hand.

"This is the first time I've ever collaborated with you, Simon. I'm counting on you!"

Simon had thought this before, but Jamie was really sociable. In fact, she was close with everyone in Class A.

"Yeah, let's do our best."

The two of them shook hands before quickly moving.

Beneath them was a single precarious raft plummeting down a torrent of water. To their sides was a dense jungle.

Simon pondered with a serious face.

'Survive until the destination… It feels like we need to stay on this raft if we want to reach our destination quickly.'

"Look, Simon."

Jamie held out a pair of oars.

"Maybe we're supposed to steer with these?"

"I guess so."

Giving her a nod, Simon looked around carefully. Clearly, the goal was to survive, so there's no way they'll just let them go on smoothly.

'!'

Sure enough, as soon as he had that thought, he saw the glimmer of a wild beast's eyes peering out of the jungle.

"Watch out, Jamie! Here they come!"

——