Necromancer Academy and the Genius Summoner-Chapter 143: Episode

Lang Strauss. Professor of Venomology. Dead at the age of eighty-seven from a chronic illness.

The shocking news sent all of Kizen into an uproar. It was a well-known fact that his health was progressively worsening. He would cough up blood in the middle of class, leading his head TA, Francesca, to often take over. Recently, his condition had deteriorated to the point where he couldn’t come to class at all.

"Lang, isn’t this enough? Give up fieldwork now."

"You’re qualified enough to join the council of elders, so why are you pushing yourself so hard!"

Not only Kizen professors but also his closest friends had urged Lang to retire. However, he insisted he could not abandon his mission and stood at the podium each day with great difficulty. The overwork only worsened his illness. In the end, this outcome may have been inevitable.

It seemed Lang himself was aware of his final days. A will, written in his own hand, was discovered.

’It is not proper for one dead old man to inconvenience students with bright futures. When I die and the ‘Night of Erebus’ begins, I hope that classes will continue for their sake.’

’I wish for my head TA, Francesca, to be my successor. I know this is unconventional, but she is a talent who will become a far greater necromancer than this old man. It would be a waste of her talent and passion.’

’Even if the funeral is held at the mausoleum, keep it modest. I would like to skip the cumbersome customs.’

’To my great comrade, my teacher, and my dearest friend, Nephthys. Please forgive me for leaving you behind once again. The curse of time is regrettable, but do not grieve too much.’

After Lang’s death, the ‘Night of Erebus’ began at Kizen. It was an ancient tradition to mourn a renowned necromancer who had passed away. Necromancers, who always pursued change, progress, and practicality, made their only exceptions for traditions concerning death.

During this period, professors and TAs wore black. Students wore their usual uniforms but had to button them completely and wear black neckties. Male students wore black socks, and female students wore black stockings.

For the three days of the ‘Night of Erebus’, no lights or fires of any kind could be lit—a wish for the deceased to close their eyes peacefully in the comforting darkness.

Still, in accordance with Lang’s will, regular classes were held on the first and second days. Instead of using mana projectors, professors drew on the blackboard or used photographic materials and refrained from using black magic involving fire or bright lights.

After classes, students returning to their dorms had to go straight to bed once night fell. The power generators were shut down, plunging the entirety of Kizen into darkness. Lighting a candle was forbidden unless absolutely necessary. During this period, light was an insult to the deceased.

And so, the days passed, and the morning of the third day of Erebus dawned. On this final day, the funeral was scheduled. Renowned necromancers of Kizen were taken to a sacred place called the mausoleum after death. Here, various rituals would be performed to send Lang off, finally ending the Night of Erebus.

All of Kizen’s professors attended Lang’s funeral. Among the students, a few who had a connection with Lang were selected to go as well. From Simon’s circle, Nephthys’s daughter, Lorraine, and Claudia Mendes, a Venomology aspirant from Class A, went to the mausoleum.

The third-year students, in particular, were in an uproar. Lang’s reputation was so great that the majority of Venomology majors suspended their missions and returned to Roc Island. However, Lang’s will to continue classes could not be ignored, so on the third day, classes were held in the form of self-study, supervised by TAs.

"Of all things, Venomology is first period," Dick muttered, wearing a black necktie as he sat down and unpacked his things. "Ugh, sleeping too much actually makes me more tired. I must have slept from eight o’clock straight through."

"Be optimistic. It’s a good chance to catch up on sleep," Simon said, pulling out a chair next to him with a gentle smile.

The Venomology class was held in an ordinary lecture hall with desks and chairs, not the usual practical lab with cauldrons. During the Night of Erebus, the fire needed to boil the cauldrons was also forbidden.

"Hello, everyone..."

"What’s with you slowpokes? You’re early."

Kamibarez and Meirin arrived, both also wearing black neckties. Kamibarez, who usually went bare-legged, wore black stockings, and Meirin had tied her long hair back neatly with a black hairpin.

"Hey, you guys know what?" Dick began, as usual. "This Venomology class isn’t self-study. It’s going to be a regular class."

"What are you talking about? How can it be a regular class without the professors?" Meirin challenged.

Dick replied in a secretive voice, "Well, TA Francesca, who just got promoted to professor, apparently didn’t go to the mausoleum."

The eyes of the other three widened simultaneously.

"Really? Why?" Simon asked.

Francesca Belmont, the head TA who had followed in Lang’s steps the most. A new Chapter of her story, it seemed, had begun.

According to protocol, Lang’s team of TAs should have been disbanded, and a new Venomology professor and TA team brought in from outside. However, Nephthys could not refuse the final request of her old comrade. Though it was an unprecedented event, Francesca was promoted directly from TA to Kizen professor.

In truth, the procedure was the only issue; no one questioned her abilities. Everyone in the field was satisfied with her skills.

"And," Dick lowered his voice, "Nephthys wanted to entrust the final funeral rites to Professor Francesca, the deceased’s most cherished disciple."

"’Professor’ Francesca," Meirin corrected him firmly.

"Ah, right. Anyway, Professor Francesca declined Nephthys’s offer."

The three of them exchanged surprised glances.

"Why did she decline?" Simon asked.

"Th-That’s right. I don’t understand! I heard that scattering the deceased’s ashes at the end is an honorable ritual," Kamibarez added.

"From what I heard, it was because of the class..."

The four of them fell silent at once. Speak of the devil, Francesca, now a professor, was entering the lecture hall, her red hair fluttering. The faces of the Class A students hardened.

’S-She really didn’t go to the funeral?’

Perhaps it was the new aura of being a Kizen professor, but she looked completely different from when she was assisting Lang.

She was dressed in all black from head to toe—a black suit, black shoes, and a black scarf wrapped around her neck. With every step, her red hair and scarf billowed behind her.

For the first time, she stood before Class A as a professor. Her signature routine remained: she gathered her long, shimmering hair, tying it back with a decisive motion as if steeling herself for battle.

"Clazz prezident," was her first word.

While everyone was still dazed, Jamie Victoria shot to her feet. She was quick on the uptake.

"Attention! Bow to the professor!"

"Good morning!" all the students chorused, bowing their heads in unison.

She replied with a gentle smile. "Welcome, everyone."

Jamie and the other students felt a lump in their throats. Lang, though somewhat old-fashioned, was the only Kizen professor who made his students bow. Now, his young disciple was carrying on that very routine.

She took a deep breath.

"Profezzor Lang... valued daily life above all elze."

She was the one to bring up Lang, a topic no one had dared to mention. It felt all the more heartbreaking, as if she were deliberately picking at her own wound.

"The reazon he dragged hiz ailing body to ztand at thiz podium waz for that very reazon. Profezzor Lang uzed to zay it like a mantra: Do not look back at the pazt, do not live for the future, but be faithful only to the moment."

Her voice spread softly through the room.

"He zaid the pazt bindz the prezent, and the future exhauztz the prezent. He zaid that when faithful momentz accumulate, they become a rich pazt and a shining future. The profezzor waz faithful to the prezent until the very moment he pazzed away."

Her voice was more compelling than in any class she had taught before.

"The profezzor haz pazzed, but I will live in the prezent. I promize to pour all my ztrength and pazzion into each and every day I teach you. I believe that then, Profezzor Lang will be watching me and zmiling."

It was a short speech, but Francesca had deeply moved the students. Meirin, who had always respected her, had tears welling in her eyes, and Kamibarez was covering her mouth. The sound of sniffling could be heard throughout the lecture hall.

"Now, let’z begin the clazz."

Francesca’s classes had always been dynamic, but today felt like a significant upgrade. She strode around the lecture hall, beads of sweat dripping from her brow, and drew detailed diagrams with chalk to help them understand the components of toxic substances.

Not a single student or TA looked down on her for having been a TA. Perhaps because her speech was so moving, everyone sincerely accepted her as a Kizen professor.

Three hours flew by in a flash.

"Attention. Bow to the professor!"

"Thank you for your hard work!"

"Good job today. I’ll zee you again next week."

As if the emotional impact lingered, the students slowly filed out of the lecture hall. A few Venomology aspirants who were particularly close to Francesca approached her directly to offer a word of comfort. Francesca smiled kindly and accepted their words.

Just then, Simon quietly took out Kajan’s glasses from his pocket. Ever since receiving them, he had been checking if professors or TAs were using bio-masks or had scars on their cheeks.

He put on the glasses and looked at Francesca.

Simon saw nothing out of the ordinary.

This time, too, there was no difference. No scar on her cheek.

Just as Simon was about to take off the glasses, grabbing the frame...

"...Kami?"

Kamibarez, who had been staring at Simon with a mesmerized expression, jumped in surprise and blushed. She then waved her arms frantically.

"Oh! It’s nothing!"

"Huh?"

Meirin, who had packed her bag into her Subspace, approached them. "Hey, what’s with those ancient-looking glasses? You look like an old-school nerd."

"They’re out of style, but they’ve got a certain vibe," Dick chimed in, smoothly approaching from the side. He deftly took the glasses off Simon’s face and put them on himself, then struck a pose. "How do I look?"

"Makes me wanna puke," Meirin said, pretending to gag, while Kamibarez clapped her hands with a deadpan expression.

Dick froze with a start. He began to scan Meirin’s body up and down. Meirin, who had been standing still, suddenly flushed bright red.

"Hey! What’s with that look?"

"Hm? What look?"

"Give me those glasses!" Meirin advanced on him.

Dick quickly dodged by spinning to the side, placed the glasses back in Simon’s hand, and patted his shoulder. "Heh, so you’re a man after all, Simon!"

Simon looked at him, confused.

"Hey, what are those glasses?!" Meirin demanded.

Simon put the glasses on again. Since they were meant to see beyond a bio-mask, they had a slight X-ray effect. Of course, it wasn’t as dramatic as Dick might have thought; it was just enough to see a whitish blur through their uniforms.

"Hey!!" Meirin lunged at him and snatched the glasses. She put them on, ready to tear him apart if she found anything, but... they were less impressive than she thought. She clicked her tongue in disappointment and returned the glasses to Simon.

"By the way, where’d you get these?" Dick asked.

Simon shrugged. "Kajan gave them to me."

"Whoa! Not fair! Are you two the only ones who get to be close? I feel like I’m being ostracized in the dorm these days. Help me get close to him, too!"

Simon smiled warmly. "First, he said you should try to be quiet when you sleep."

"Ugh."

"Hmph, I don’t know who he is, but it’s definitely Dick’s fault," Meirin declared.

"Ch-Cheer up, Dick! I’m sure you’ll become friends soon!" Kamibarez offered.

The four of them chatted amicably as they left the lecture hall. Class A had about a two-hour break until their next Hemomancy class.

Dick went to the dormitory warehouse. It seemed a large shipment related to his business had arrived, and they were short-handed. Meirin said she was going to stop by the Magic Engineering Hall with her club friends, which was right next to the Venomology Hall.

And so, it was just the two of them.

"It’s been a while since it was just the two of us..." Kamibarez said with a bright smile, her cheeks flushed.

Simon smiled back and nodded. "Let’s go get something to eat, Kami."

"Okay!"