Necromancer Academy’s Genius Summoner

After collecting his two cards, Simon had about 20 minutes left.

He looked around, hoping to spot his target student, but it was likely impossible for him to find exactly who he was looking for on the vast Roke Island.

And so, the 4 hour exam ended just like that. He walked back to the Kizen campus, meeting Rick along the way, too.

"That was really, really fun!"

Rick was giddy with excitement. His fists were clenched as adrenaline pumped through his system, and his breaths were quick and shallow, blowing around his fringe.

"Is this really a BDMAT? Can tests be this fun? Woah…!"

Simon replied with a smile.

"Calm down and tell me what happened."

Rick said that he managed to find a card with a siege theme.

It was located on the walls of Kizen, with a member capacity of 30. 15 students each on cards inside and outside the walls. The students on the cards inside the walls were the defending team, and those on the outside were the attacking team.

And Rick said that he won as the defending team this time.

"I enchanted the cannons, and even the regular soldier's arrows! I was on a roll!"

"…Hm, that sure sounds like fun."

It was like a recreation of a full-scale real war, so Simon was intrigued. The siege theme was just the thing to ignite any man's sense of adventure.

"How long does the game last?"

"Time passes slowly in a siege game. It felt like we'd been fighting for like almost half a day, but when we left the game, it was only about three hours."

If it took three hours, finding the next one in an hour would be a bit tough.

"But in return, the top contributors on the defending and attacking team get an extra 1 point each, regardless of who won the card!"

"That's a bit tempting."

As they walked back to their dorm, every student they passed was talking about the BDMAT.

'So we're doing these one or two times a week, huh?'

It certainly made the test less stressful and more organized.

Of course, he wasn't sure how the students' strategies would develop next time, but he figured that planning for this was manageable to do on top of his existing classes.

"Anyways, Simon! You should come with me and do a siege together for your next test!"

"I'll think about it. It sounds fun!"

* * *

The next morning.

"Simon! Over here!"

"You're 2 minutes late, sleepyheads!"

Simon and Rick got ready for the day about 30 minutes earlier than usual, leaving the dorm to meet Meilyn and Camibarez.

The purpose of the early meeting was to share some information about the BDMAT. The four sat down at an outdoor table in front of a cafe, ordered sandwiches and drinks, and chatted.

All four of them successfully got two cards on the first day.

Meilyn played two solo games. She also mentioned that there were games that required deep thinking, combining puzzle-solving and magic-circle-making.

Camibarez tried cards with the Hemomancy theme, and she found herself required to use the basic spell Blood Bullet. The cards themselves were about quickly shooting bad guys with Blood Bullets and rescuing hostages. She said the barrier gauge would be shredded through if you accidentally hit a hostage.

"To conclude…"

Stated Meilyn.

"The card colors and subjects didn't really have much correlation as we initially thought. For example, if you enter a red card for curses, you're likely to still end up playing a game with nothing to do with curses. It feels like 50/50ish?"

Simon nodded.

"Mine were all unrelated to the subject, too."

"I was a little bummed, too, because I was hoping for a whole bunch of Hemomancy challenges!"

"That's because…"

Rick butted in with his unrefined opinion, picking up one of the potato chips they ordered to share and popping it into his mouth as he leaned back with undue confidence.

"Because the creator of this game isn't a god, but a man named Endolas Vaudeville."

Simon tilted his head.

"What does that have to do with this?"

"The connection between colors and subjects is most likely a recently added rule."

Said Rick, dipping another chip perfectly between the ketchup and mustard dips to get an even spread.

"You know, the game themes are mostly focussed on being entertaining, right? So, I'm assuming that the professors got all nitpicky, asking Vaudeville to add some informative or academic themes, so—"

"So you're saying that Endolas is making new cards in a hurry!"

"That's right, Cami! Maybe the next go will have more subject-related themes."

Concluded Rick, moving his hand to grab yet another potato chip. But as he felt around, he found nothing.

"Wow! You finished them already?!"

Rick's head naturally looked in Meilyn's direction.

Meilyn, who had been only munching on the potato chips, blushed like a thief caught red-handed.

"Hold on a minute, you!! Why are you looking at me?!"

"You really are a glutton."

Eventually, Meilyn ordered another bag of potato chips out of her own pocket.

"…You don't have to be so petty about food."

She pouted her lips.

"I bet the new one will be gone in 3 minutes, too."

"Hey!!"

Simon and Camibarez laughed as they watched on from the side.

"Ahem. So, anyway."

Meilyn quickly changed the topic away from food.

"I'm sure there'll be a lot of people aiming for all color combinations, just like you, Simon."

"I suppose so."

Still, there was a bit of time until the next test.

At the moment, preparing for their next classes with performance assessments coming up was more important than the BDMAT.

"What's our first class?"

"Summoning! But it's not in our usual lecture room!"

"That's a liiiiiiittle concerning. Professor Aaron warned that things would get tougher."

And so, the four chatted all the way to the lecture room. Just like Camibarez said, they weren't in anything like their usual lecture hall.

"Woah!"

Everyone's eyes widened as they entered the new lecture room.

"What's today's class?"

A skeleton skull and pair of arms were placed at each of the students' seats, and in front each of them was a magic circle. The arm held a staff.

"Maybe we're finally making 'it' !"

Said Meilyn, excitedly.

"It?"

"Skeleton mages!"

Simon's eyes widened. His heart began to pound, and he half-put-down, half-dropped everything he was holding as he rushed to look closer at the magic circle.

It was a summoning magic circle, but it had an unusual structure. It was streamlined, lacking the essential elements of a normal summoning magic circle.

"Professor's coming!"

* * *

* * *

The students scrambled to their seats. Soon, Professor Aaron and his assistant teachers entered the room.

Aaron had his usual disheveled hair, a scruffy beard that looked like it hadn't shaved in days, and slippers. He also wore a comfortable short-sleeved shirt and shorts.

Exhaustion ever-present in his voice, Aaron began,

"As I emphasized yesterday, starting today, all of Kizen will be entering the performance assessment period."

The students' faces stiffened at the mention of performance assessments.

Performance assessments were directly reflected in one's grades. If the midterm and final exams were written tests, the performance assessment was a practical test.

"Now then, let me briefly explain the performance assessment for Summoning one more time."

Aaron walked over to the board, picked up a piece of chalk, and drew a long line.

"Within the remaining time of the second semester, you will all have to take the performance assessments that have been delayed. We, in Summoning, have only done one performance assessment."

Aaron circled 20% of the total performance assessment and wrote 'Death Land' underneath it.

"Do you remember? This performance assessment was to create your own zombie in deathland during the first semester."

The students nodded as they recalled the moderately traumatic memories.

Simon vividly remembered Death Land, too. It was in that very place that he had met Prince.

"And then we have about 80% left."

Aaron drew a line down the middle of the remaining chunk.

"I'm going to reveal the most important assignment now, the one that's worth 40% of your overall performance assessment."

The students all simultaneously gulped as Aaron began scribbling down words.

With every stroke drawn, the students' eyes further and further widened.

Creation of a magic-class undead

Immediately, the classroom exploded with confused and concerned voices.

"On top of this."

Aaron added one more bit to the end.

Creation of a magic-class undead and a thesis

"Whew."

Rick let out a feigned laugh.

"A thesis? The thing you present at places like conferences?"

Even Meilyn, the scholar among scholars, shuddered.

"…We just turned 17. How could a 17-year-old write a thesis?"

"That's so tough."

"It does really make the BDMAT disappear from my head."

While the students panicked, only Simon was letting his imagination run wild.

'My own magical undead, huh?'

As the lecture room grew further and further into disarray, Aaron called out,

"Attention."

The students' snapped back toward the front and looked at Aaron.

"There is no need to work yourselves up about it now. This 'magic-class undead creation' will be assessed at the very end of this semester. So think of it as the final objective of your first-year Summoning class."

Aaron crossed his arms.

"And no professor gives impossible assignments. I have designed the curriculum so that, if you follow along, you will have done the research needed to achieve this goal naturally. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Then, we'll begin the class."

Easily quelling the students' complaints, Aaron turned back to the board as he moved on the lecture itself.

The students were quite responsive, too, raising their hands to ask good questions. Clearly, their focus had improved after hearing about the performance assessment.

"When it comes to creating magic-class undead, everyone here is starting at the same level. Whether it's undead control or restoration technique, these techniques have little to do with magic-class undead creation. Those of you who are already behind, make sure to listen properly."

"Yes, sir!"

"Well then, look at what is in front of you."

Everyone lowered their heads to look at the objects.

A skull, two arms—one of which was holding a staff—and the summoning magic circle.

"These three elements are all connected, forming the basis of one skeleton mage."

Aaron talked slowly to give the students enough time to understand and digest the information.

"As for the summoning circle you see in front of you, imagine that you moved it out from the skeleton's skull and onto your desk to make it easier to manipulate. We'll start by powering it up. Let the jet-black flow through the circle's 'ownership modifier'."

Simon did as he was told. He placed his hand on the summoning circle and sent jet-black into it. The entire circle was instantly colored in his dark-blue light.

Rattle! Rattle!

The skeleton mage's skull finally began to move. At the same time, the arm holding the staff started moving around.

Simon then successfully finished accessing the skeleton mage's thoughts.

"Are there any students who're stuck?"

Some students glanced around quickly to make sure everyone was on track, then shouted out,

"None, sir!"

"Then, it's time for the real deal. I want you to use this magic circle's formula and have the skeleton mage cast an offensive spell. Your target is over here."

The assistant teachers moved quickly, preparing a large board to the students' left.

When they manipulated something with the board, a single layer of a jet-black barrier instantly formed.

"The spell set on the circle is the same for everyone, 'Wind Cutter'. Move the skeleton mage's thoughts to cast that spell at the barrier. Please make sure not to shoot it at the person in front of you."

"Yes, sir!"

Simon exhaled lightly, then opened his eyes wide.

'Start it slowly, like warming it up.'

Simon's jet-black moved, activating the runes inside the magic circle.

'Set the staff as the injection point, letting the jet-black move out through it.'

'Aim the injection point toward the barrier.'

The staff pointed toward the barrier.

'Fire!'

Then, a magic circle appeared in front of the staff, activating as it shot out a blade of wind.

Tooooosh!

The Wind Cutter slammed into the barrier before scattering into nothing. Simon let out a shout of joy as he clenched his fist in celebration.

Tooooosh!

Tooooosh!

The sound of wind hitting the barrier could be heard throughout the classroom. It looked like others had succeeded, too.

"Woooaaah!"

"This is basic!"

"Assistant teacher! I can't do it!"

The students were divided between cheering with success and crying for help. The assistant teachers moved busily.

"The undead really do use magic, huh?"

Meilyn, who had successfully performed it, was dumbfounded. Of course, a pleasant smile had also formed on her lips.

Camibarez, on the other hand, seemingly failed. She was glancing around for help but too nervous to raise her hand. Also, all the assistant teachers were working on other students.

That's when Simon approached.

"If you don't mind, I'll help you."

"Th-Thank you, Simon!"

Her eyes lit up, and Simon moved closer to her side.

"First, the way you're moving your jet-black in the magic circle is unstable. Try to think of jet-black as blood and the runes as the brain. The blood needs to flow well to nourish the brain. You should try to make this flow more natural."

Said Simon, placing his hand over hers to help direct her. Camibarez' eyes began to move rapidly side to side.

"Hm? Cami, are you feeling anxious?"

"A-Ah! It's fine!"

Exclaimed Cami with a blush.

"I'll support you. Just think of this magic circle as a puppet's strings, and act just the same as if your body was that skeleton. It's like you're moving its hands to cast the spell. Naturally, you do this by connecting to its thoughts."

Camiubarez nodded slightly, her face fully red at this point. At least she managed to get the staff moving.

"Controlling an undead is all about willpower. It's not just the idea of using magic. You have to have a target, and you have to send through your will to break it. Then, this process will work naturally."

"G-Got it!"

She took a deep breath before staring very intently at the barrier.

Then, before she realized it, the spell activated in front of her staff, and a blade of wind slammed into the barrier.

"I-It worked, Simon!"

"Well done."

Simon smiled. Camibarez smiled back with a blush.

"Now, attention."

Just then, Aaron began talking again. Simon quickly returned to his seat.

"It'll be an issue if you can't even cast Wind Cutter. This is the basics. Now, I'm going to announce the performance assessment task that you will be doing starting now until the end of this class."

Creeeaaak.

Creeaak.

More assistant teachers appeared, pushing in a cart. It had hundreds of rune shards and staffs.

"Starting now, you'll be using these various materials to customize the Wind Cutter spell used by the skeleton mage."

"!"

To think there was a class like this! The eyes of the students widened.

"And until the bell rings…"

Aaron pointed at the barrier.

"All students who break that barrier will pass."

——