Necromancer Academy and the Genius Summoner
Chapter 651: Episode 651
’Complete Analysis! The Returned Commander of Betrayal: Who Is He?’
"I-Interesting article," Simon managed, forcing a smile as he pointed at the newspaper. "May I read it?"
"Of course."
Fitzgerald readily folded the newspaper and handed it over before returning to the book he’d been reading. Simon sat on a nearby sofa and began to read.
’The 7th Legion, long believed to be annihilated, has been revived. The ’Managers,’ the legion’s core, are known to possess unwavering criteria when selecting a successor. Consequently, a certain tendency—a so-called ’betrayal DNA’—has been strongly maintained through the ages, and this new 7th Legion...’
’This is just fake news!’
It was clearly an outlet with an anti-7th Legion agenda. His head throbbed as he read. It was nothing but baseless speculation, conjecture presented as fact. He had the sudden urge to demand an interview and vehemently refute every word.
[Kuhuhuhu!]
Pier’s clone, pinned to Simon’s uniform like a badge, was also reading the paper, its skeletal eyes rolling. Pier’s sharp laughter echoed in his mind.
’Aren’t you angry, Pier?’ Simon grumbled internally.
[Humans are always the same, so there’s no reason to be angry!] Pier retorted. [They believe only what they wish to believe, making any attempt at persuasion utterly meaningless. Just think of every human as a non-murderous Ever Kire!]
’...That’s a bit of a stretch.’
Simon continued reading. The entire paper was dedicated to the 7th Legion.
’Candidates for the 7th Legion Commander’
-Balak Whitley. -Gordon Zetajones. -Chaley Beckers.
The writers at this paper didn’t have a clue. These were all incredible necromancers, but every single one was wrong. They were just twisting facts to fit a narrative. Still, there was one name on the list he recognized.
-Aizel Bringer.
The rumor about Aizel, the top-ranked third-year, being the Legion Commander had swept the school. Simon had assumed it was just student gossip, but this reporter was taking it quite seriously.
’The possibility of the 7th Legion Commander being a Kizen affiliate has been raised countless times, but there is also the view that it could be a student who is not yet proven, rather than a Crow agent or a faculty member. The Witch of Death’s defense of the 7th Legion serves as the basis for this, as she is known to dote on her students.’
The speculation was sharp enough to make Simon’s heart pound.
’Aizel Bringer, the current top third-year, has disappeared from school under the pretext of a long-term mission. It is suggested that he may have been investigating Ever Kire as the Legion Commander. Now that Ever Kire has been defeated, it is highly likely he will return to school.’
Because it was about him, Simon lost all track of time as he read. Every article was about the Legion Commander. Public opinion was sharply divided between those who believed the commander should be found and recruited, and those who believed he should be eliminated on sight. Reckless speculation about his identity was rampant.
’I can’t breathe.’
Simon hurriedly loosened his tie and unbuttoned his shirt. It felt as though the entire continent was hunting for him. Among them, there were undoubtedly necromancers like Magnus, eager to hunt him down and seize his title.
’It’s a good thing I’m at Kizen.’
In the other territories of the Dark Alliance, the search would be frantic, but Roc Island, isolated from the continent, was safe. The Dark Festival was over, so no outsiders would be visiting for a while. Simon steeled himself and continued reading. Among the columns wildly speculating about the commander...
’Second Legion Commander Candidate: Simon Polentia.’
His own name. Simon felt the blood drain from his face as he focused on the text.
’The current Kizen Student Council President, Simon Polentia, enrolled last year as ’Special Admission No. 1’.’
’While it may seem natural for the Student Council President to be Special Admission No. 1, he enrolled at Kizen without any prior training, and it is known that he had only recently opened his core.’
’The crucial question is why a novice who had just opened his core was chosen as Special Admission No. 1, surpassing Special Admission No. 2, Serne Aindark, and No. 3, Chatel Maer. No one has been able to explain it.’
’However, if Simon Polentia was, in fact, the Legion Commander, and the Witch of Death chose him as Special Admission No. 1 for that reason, it all makes sense. His abnormally rapid growth, reaching the top of his year in just twelve months, and his genius-level talent for Summoning Studies would also be explained.’
Simon’s hand trembled as he gripped the page. He had become the Legion Commander right after enrolling, but of all the articles he had seen, this one came dangerously close to the truth.
’Who wrote this?’
He checked the reporter’s byline.
’Reporter Wedian Benchino.’
’All tips are welcome.’
An address in Langerstine was listed below.
The clubroom door creaked open, shattering his concentration.
"Molly!"
"You’re back?"
Princess Molly had entered. Like Sasha, she had been away for several days after the Dark Festival. After greeting her classmates, she bowed to the second-years, Simon and Fitzgerald.
"I have just returned. There was some business at the royal palace."
"Did something happen?" Simon asked.
She closed her eyes, a weary expression on her face. "It’s because of the Seventh Legion Commander."
Simon winced inwardly.
"Since Dresden suffered direct damage, our official position is that we cannot tolerate the Seventh Legion’s existence. The royal palace has protested Lady Nephthys’s statement, increased the severity of the wanted order, and proposed a meeting with the other kingdoms. It seems we’ll be having an in-depth discussion about the Seventh Legion soon."
He himself was that very commander, but Simon couldn’t say a word. It was a good thing he hadn’t revealed his identity back then.
---
Simon left the clubroom. No matter how many people were searching for the Legion Commander, Roc Island was safe. Or so he thought.
"Excuse me, student! Could I ask for an interview?"
"Please, just a moment of your time!"
Reporters were swarming the school grounds. With notebooks in one hand and magic cameras slung around their necks, they were accosting students, desperate for any information about the Seventh Legion Commander.
’What? How did reporters get in?’
Simon ducked behind a pillar and spotted a banner hanging in the plaza.
’World’s Deadliest Poison Contest – Hosted by Pentamonium’
Of course, there was an external event. It was a regular competition hosted by Pentamonium, and this year it was being held on Roc Island to encourage Kizen students to participate. The reporters were likely here to cover it, but they seemed far more interested in the Legion Commander.
’I should get out of here.’
Just as Simon turned to slip away to the opposite building...
"Excuse me."
A woman was striding up from behind him. She had sharp features and wore small, round glasses. Dressed in a neat suit, she held a notebook and a magic camera. She was unmistakably a reporter.
"Who are you?"
She adjusted her glasses and smiled. "You’re Simon Polentia, aren’t you? No, perhaps I should call you this." Her eyes sharpened. "The Commander of Betrayal."
His heart hammered against his ribs. The reporter’s eyes were wide, determined not to miss his slightest reaction. Normally, he would have flinched, but the shock of the newspaper article had prepared him. He managed to keep his composure, his face a mask of polite confusion.
"I have no idea what you’re talking about. It’s quite rude to accost a stranger like this."
"Ah, allow me to introduce myself." She held out a business card.
「Reporter Wedian Benchino.」
「All tips are welcome.」
Simon’s heart beat even faster.
’This person!’
It was the very reporter who had written the column speculating that he was the Legion Commander. Wedian stared intently into his eyes.
"Have you, by any chance, read my column?"
Simon put on his best model-student smile. "I’ve been too busy with my studies."
"I see. Well, to get straight to the point..." She snapped open the briefcase in her hand, revealing a collage of photos and interview excerpts. "I believe you are the Commander of Betrayal. No, I’m certain of it."
"Huh..."
"You were originally my second candidate, but coming here to Roc Island has only solidified my conviction. I plan to write a new column soon." She closed the briefcase, a meaningful smirk playing on her lips. "If you’d just obediently... Huh?"
Simon was already walking away. She reached out, surprised. "Wait, student! I’m talking to you—!"
"I..." Simon said, turning back with a gentle smile, "am not idle enough to waste my time on someone who spouts such baseless nonsense."
At his cold gaze, Wedian flinched.
"And as the Student Council President, let me give you a warning. If you came to interview students for the contest, I suggest you stick to that topic."
"...Ahem." Wedian cleared her throat. It was a valid point, and she had no rebuttal.
"Now, if you’ll excuse me."
Simon started walking again, and she had no pretext to stop him. However...
"Just you wait!" she shouted at his retreating back. "I will uncover the truth! I will prove you are the Commander of Betrayal on this island!"
Simon casually ignored her and entered the student hall, a building guarded by his direct subordinates and inaccessible to outsiders like her.
With a soft click, Wedian opened the locket hanging from her neck. Inside was a photo of a middle-aged man and a small girl.
"Please watch over me, Father," she murmured, clutching the locket.
---
That night, Simon lay in his dorm bed, the blanket pulled up over his head. Sleep wouldn’t come.
-Just you wait! I will prove you are the Commander of Betrayal on this island!
He squeezed his eyes shut and turned onto his side.
’I’ll have to be extremely careful during the contest.’
A strange person had infiltrated Roc Island. He would have to cut back on his visits to Pier’s ruins for the time being. As Simon buried his face in his pillow, desperately trying to sleep...
The blanket suddenly billowed upwards.
Simon blinked, wondering if he was seeing things, then sat bolt upright.
"W-what?"
’Pop!’
A small, silver-haired girl emerged from under the covers. She raised a hand high and beamed.
"Hiii!"
"L-Lady Nephthys?"
Seeing Simon’s wide eyes, she pointed out the window.
"Shall we talk for a bit?"