Necromancer Academy and the Genius Summoner
Chapter 652: Episode 652
"Hmm, hmm. Hmm-hmm hmm."
On a moonlit night, Nephthys seemed to be in high spirits, darting energetically along the forest path with light, quick steps.
"Lady Nephthys," Simon said, scratching his head as he followed. "Isn’t this the Forbidden Forest?"
"It is!"
"Is it really okay for the Chancellor to bring a student here?"
"Why the sudden formality? You come here all the time, don’t you, Simon?"
Simon just laughed it off. She turned forward again and trotted on.
"How’s school life these days?"
"Every day is enjoyable and happy."
She snorted. "Wow, what a lie! Are you just saying that because I’m the Chancellor?"
"I’m serious," he insisted.
It was a heartfelt sentiment, but Nephthys raised her eyebrows, clearly unconvinced.
"Looks like you’re still doing just fine! I should tell Jane to give you more assignments!"
"L-Lady Nephthys!"
As Simon grew flustered, Nephthys let out a peal of childlike laughter and spun in a circle. He worried she might fall, and sure enough, she bumped her forehead on a nearby tree with a dull thud and bounced off.
She shot back up to her feet and grinned foolishly. "Are you getting along with my Lorraine?"
"Yes, of course! We’re in the same team, so she’s been a great help."
"Does she resent me for sealing her Innate Ability?" Nephthys’s bangs fluttered in the breeze.
Simon smiled gently. "Lorraine is very mature. She understands your intentions better than anyone."
She nodded and started trotting again. Simon took the rare opportunity to catch her up on everything: the incident with Ever Kire, meeting his future self in the Ivory Tower, and how the artifact she had given him had helped. He also told her how he had finally earned Professor Aaron’s acknowledgment and begun studying the Bone Dragon in earnest.
"I won’t disappoint you," Simon declared, clenching his fist. "The Chaos Dullahan is just the beginning! I will complete a Bone Dragon before my second year is over!"
"Hehe, I’m looking forward to that!"
After some more small talk, Nephthys finally brought up the main topic. "Things have gotten pretty noisy because of this Legion Commander incident, haven’t they?"
The Legion Commander incident. It was the biggest problem currently facing him.
"It can’t be helped. It’s a burden I have to bear on my own."
Nephthys stopped walking, and Simon stopped behind her. Before them, Pier’s ruins came into view—the sanctuary where his Ancient Undead resided.
"Why are we here...?"
"Because I want to have an open discussion with the parties involved about the Seventh Legion’s future." Nephthys gestured to the ruins. "Shall we go in?"
---
Simon deactivated the barrier, and they descended the stone steps together. The darkness made it difficult to see, but Simon knew the way by heart.
"Be careful, Lady Nephthys."
"Okay..." She chimed.
Following behind, Nephthys suddenly stopped and traced a finger through the air. A thin line appeared on her fingertip, and a bead of blood welled up.
"Oops," she said with a smile. "It seems your subordinates aren’t granting me permission to approach."
A dark blue light flickered in the empty air, revealing a network of shimmering spiderwebs that had been stealthily hidden, now forming a cage around Nephthys.
’Erzebet’s webs?’
[Unpermitted intruder. Withdraw.]
The sound of beating wings echoed from the darkness, and a black shape shot out.
The cry of a monstrous bird filled the cavern. It was Akemus, captain of the Skullwing unit.
"Wait, Akemus!"
[Oho—]
Suddenly, the ceiling lit up with a brilliant golden light. A woman made entirely of sand sat perched on a staff, smiling with interest.
[So that little one is the infamous Witch of Death?]
It was Herseva, captain of the Mummy unit.
One of the webs trembled, and a woman with crimson eyes appeared, walking gracefully upon it.
[This one simply cannot fathom what audacity you possess to crawl all the way here after exposing the legion’s existence to the entire world,] she said, her voice dripping with venom.
Erzebet, captain of the Spider unit.
"Everyone, calm down!" Simon stepped forward. "Lady Nephthys is here to talk with us!"
[The legion’s affairs are decided by the legion!]
Finally, with a rush of air, a tall skeleton in a flowing cloak landed with a heavy thud, emerging from the darkness. It was Pier, manager of the 7th Legion.
[We cannot allow an outsider into the heart of the ruins. If you have something to say, say it here! Woman.]
"Well then, I have no choice," Nephthys said with a shrug. "I understand that the Seventh Legion sees me in a poor light, but right now, we need to join forces for a single purpose."
[Khuhu! I believe I said the legion’s affairs are decided by the legion. We decline to involve ourselves in the affairs of your Dark Alliance!]
"That’s not it." Nephthys sat on the stone steps, twirling a finger. "This is for Simon’s growth, and for his safety."
Before Simon and his Ancient Undead, Nephthys laid out her plan. The undead listened in silence, their eyes gleaming in the darkness.
"I apologize for revealing your existence without permission, but it has shifted public opinion. It’s now fifty-fifty." She curled her small hands into fists and tapped them together. "We’ve moved from the prejudice that the Seventh Legion is a wicked evil that deserves annihilation to a fifty-fifty split in opinion, with half believing you should be forgiven and treated as a military asset. However..." She looked at Simon. "You are not yet ready to reveal your identity as the Legion Commander. More importantly, you lack the power to protect yourself."
"Lady Nephthys! I...!"
Simon thought he had become strong enough, but Nephthys just smiled sweetly.
"A Legion Commander, who can command an infinite army once the ’numerical’ limit is gone, is both an idol and a target for necromancers. Every necromancer dreams of becoming one. If necessary..." She tapped her fists together again. "They will take the title by force."
"Hm..."
"You see, a Legion Commander is only truly a commander when they can stand openly, reigning as a being that no other necromancer would dare challenge."
Currently, all six thrones were occupied by overwhelmingly powerful individuals, bringing stability. But just a few decades ago, bloody conflicts over the title were common. At one point, a commander changed as often as once a month. There was even a secret method for obtaining the title without being chosen by a manager.
"That’s why the Seventh Legion is such a hot topic. If the new commander’s identity is revealed and he seems beatable, they’ll be after your life endlessly. Simon, you still don’t understand how far necromancers will go for power, or how persistent they can be."
Simon finally nodded in understanding. "What should I do?"
"You’ve grown as a necromancer here at school. Now it’s time you made progress as a Legion Commander." She smiled brightly. "And wouldn’t it be best to learn a Legion Commander’s abilities from another Legion Commander?"
"Huh...!"
Pier shook his head. [That is too dangerous. Legion Commanders are natural enemies. When they meet, it only results in a bloodbath!]
Legion Commanders rarely got along, as they coveted each other’s Ancient Undead. Infighting was a major reason their numbers had dwindled from dozens to just seven.
[I agree,] Akemus added, his concern for Simon’s safety paramount. [We have the example of Magnus, who targeted the Young Master.]
Nephthys just gave a meaningful smile. "What about the Grand Duke?"
At her words, the expressions of the two undead subtly changed. Lying on her web, Erzebet spoke.
[Can you secure that one’s cooperation?]
"That depends on Simon. The Grand Duke’s northern territory is isolated from the continent. It’s the perfect place for him to train and operate his legion freely, away from all this noise. Don’t you agree?"
Simon had no idea what they were talking about. "Wait a minute! Who exactly is this Grand Duke?"
---
On this continent, the title ’Grand Duke of the North’ referred to only one person: Jin Arscalt.
She was the hero who guarded the northernmost tip of the Kalos Kingdom, holding the border against the Frost Field, a land where ancient beings roamed, inaccessible to humans. The Grand Duke was a hero not only to Kalos but to all of humanity. As one of the seven Legion Commanders, she held back the endless winter with her massive undead army. The southern regions of Kalos owed their fertile lands and temperate climate to her unwavering defense.
And he was going there?
’...I’m going there?’
Simon sat in the student council room, flipping through a book titled 「A Comprehensive Guide to the Continent’s Geography and History」. He had borrowed it from the library to research his destination.
’The Frost Field, and Kalos North.’
It was a region practically isolated from the rest of the continent. Information was slow to arrive, and the cultural gap with the south was said to be over a century. The extreme cold rendered communication crystals nearly useless, and the culture was described as rough, harsh, and barbaric.
’No matter how many monsters there are or how isolated it is, people still live there, right? Using the legion seems like it would carry the risk of being discovered.’
Why was Nephthys so confident?
While Simon was engrossed in his book, the student council room door burst open, and Meirin ran in.
"Everyone! There’s a new official notice!"
Simon quickly closed his book. Kamibarez and Dick looked up from their work, and Malcolm, who had come for his daily tea, also stood up.
"A new notice? What is it?"
"The students for the special class have been selected!"
This was directly related to his trip to the North for Legion Commander training. Being on the student council had its perks, like getting information faster than regular students.
"Wow, what’s this? A special class so soon," Dick muttered, reading the notice.
The special class was a long-standing system at Kizen, designed to provide intensive, on-site training for students’ specialized skills, moving beyond the standard curriculum. The program lasted two weeks. It was typically for third-years, or for second-years in their second semester, a time usually dedicated to absorbing new knowledge. In effect, Nephthys had forced this issue to create a pretense for Simon’s training.
"There are ten students in total, and the destination is undisclosed. Malcolm, your name is on here, too."
"I see."
Malcolm was a prime example of a special class candidate. His combat style was completely centered around his doppelgängers, but Kizen didn’t offer specific training in doppelgänger magic. The special class, however, would allow him to hone his unique skills through personalized instruction.
"Kami! You’re on the list, too!"
"Ah."
While Kamibarez could certainly grow stronger through the school’s Hematology classes, it seemed she would be using this opportunity to learn better control over her Ursula blood. Other Top 10 students, like ’Queen Bee’ Merida and the magic sword user Jule, were also on the list—all students with unique abilities.
"Simon’s name is here, too," Dick exclaimed.
Meirin, who was reading over his shoulder, looked at Simon. "You’re a surprise, though. Aren’t you the prime example of someone who got strong through standard Summoning classes? Why a special class?"
As all eyes turned to him, Simon quickly replied, "I think I’m going to learn how to operate special summons."
The Overlord, the Royal Guard, the Chaos Reaper, and now the Chaos Dullahan—the main undead he used were, in fact, somewhat outside the standard curriculum. The members nodded, seemingly convinced.
’...I got through that safely.’
The special class would begin within a week. He would have to prepare thoroughly while keeping a low profile to avoid the reporters.
’A Legion Commander and the master of Kalos North.’
Simon gazed out the window.
’I wonder what kind of person she is.’
---
That evening, in the Forbidden Forest.
[So, you called me out here alone,] Pier said, his dark blue cloak fluttering as he stood with his arms crossed. Before him, Nephthys’s silver hair whipped in the wind. [Is there anything more to say beyond what we discussed yesterday?]
"Yeah. You know there is," she replied with a sly grin. "You remember going to the North with Richard back in the day, right?"
[...I do.]
They stood in silence for a moment as the wind howled around them.
[It’s too soon,] Pier said, breaking the quiet. [The timing of revealing the Seventh Legion’s existence, and now insisting on training the boy as a Legion Commander when he should be focusing on his necromancy studies.]
[What is your reason?]
She tilted her head. "Because there isn’t much time left."
[Woman.] Pier’s eyes flashed. [I knew you were away during the Ever Kire incident. Something happened then, didn’t it?]
Nephthys just giggled. "Who knows?"