Necromancer Academy and the Genius Summoner-Chapter 162: Episode

"Huh...?"

Simon was taken aback by the sudden proposal. Lethe set down another plate and flashed a sinister smile.

"What? You scared?"

"No, it’s not that, but..." A duel with the person who had just saved his mother’s life. If they were caught, he’d be in for more than just a scolding. And yet, he felt a spark of pure temptation. Kizen’s biggest vacation assignment was to develop his ‘competitive edge against a Priest.’ What better way to find some hints than by fighting the top first-year from Efnel?

"Where?" he asked, deciding to at least entertain the idea.

"Ms. Anna will worry, so somewhere a bit far from here should be fine," Lethe replied in her characteristically cynical tone as she wiped a plate.

"Are you sure you’ll be okay?" Simon countered. "I have a rather unique constitution."

"Oh, cut the crap," she growled, her eyes narrowing. "Are you acting all high and mighty because you took one divine attack and walked away? You’re so dead."

Her taunts ignited Simon’s own competitive spirit. "Maybe if I break that fighting spirit of yours, you’ll be a little more obedient."

"Whaaat? O-obe—obedient? You get outside right now—!"

A sudden touch on both their shoulders made them jump. Like malfunctioning dolls, they creaked around to look behind them.

"You two," Anna said, her face a mask of serene disappointment. "Could I perhaps hear what you were just discussing?"

In the end, they were both summoned to the master bedroom and thoroughly lectured. A new rule was established in the Polentia household: the very word ‘duel’ was now forbidden.

---

After a filling dinner and a sound scolding, the house settled down. Simon sat on the sofa before the crackling fireplace, his Jet-Black Dynamics homework spread out before him. He tapped the paper with his quill, struggling to focus. He was full and sleepy, and the complex equations swam before his eyes.

’I’d better tackle this again tomorrow.’

Just as Simon closed his textbook and yawned, Lethe emerged into the living room, now dressed in pajamas.

"Oh? Those clothes..."

"Yes. As you can see, Ms. Anna lent them to me," she said, spinning in a small circle. "Do they suit me?"

Thinking she had a more girlish side to her than he’d expected, Simon started to answer. "Yeah. They sui—"

"Shut up," she snapped. "I don’t want to hear that from the likes of you."

’What does she want from me?’ he wondered.

"And one more thing," Lethe added, her tone sharp. "Ms. Anna is thirsty. Go fetch two glasses of water."

With that, she vanished into the master bedroom. Simon resisted the urge to smack her; if she weren’t the one who had saved his parents, he would have. He pushed himself to his feet.

"Uhh." He had barely taken a few steps when Lethe’s head popped back out of the bedroom.

"And just so we’re clear," she said, her eyes narrowed, "when I ask for water, I don’t mean ’just’ water. I trust even a trashy necromancer has the sense to bring some fruit on a tray."

"You little—"

As if refusing to hear his rebuttal, Lethe ducked back inside. From beyond the wall, he could hear her fawning over Anna like a spoiled child.

Lethe was a guest, after all. Simon sighed and turned to get the fruit when—

"Hey."

She was back again, leaning out of the doorway.

"Spit in the water and you’re dead."

She made a gesture, pointing to her own eyes with her index and middle fingers before aiming them at Simon. ’I’m watching you.’ Then she disappeared once more.

’The faculty of Efnel is in desperate need of a character education program,’ Simon thought wryly.

He did as he was told, pouring two glasses of water and carefully peeling some fruit before carrying the tray to the master bedroom. Inside, Anna was lying in bed with a gentle smile on her face. Lethe, dressed in pajamas, was sprawled on her stomach, kicking her legs as she chattered away. When Anna stroked her hair, Lethe’s expression softened into a blissful, puppy-like grin.

’Why do I feel like she’s stolen my mother?’

As Simon set the tray down with a sour look, Lethe’s head whipped around.

"Do you just barge into a lady’s room without knocking? Where are your manners? It seems Kizen needs lessons in etiquette more than it does dark magic."

"What? The door was wide open."

"Don’t be so hard on him, Lethe," Anna chided gently.

"Of course, Miss."

Lethe’s attitude shifted in a heartbeat as she buried her face in Anna’s chest. Resigned, Simon turned to leave.

"Sleep well, my son," Anna said, her smile warm.

Finally, a faint smile touched Simon’s own lips.

"Good night, Mom."

---

Simon was walking through the Kizen campus. The sights were familiar, the alleys were familiar, the people in their dark uniforms were familiar. He was wandering aimlessly when someone called his name. Looking up, he saw Meirin waving from a second-floor window, her club friends beside her. Just as Simon raised his arm to wave back...

’BOOM!’

The building exploded. The blast tore through the structure, and Meirin... vanished without a trace.

This time, a roar of laughter echoed from behind him. Simon spun around to see Dick holding court with a group of Class A students, all of them howling with amusement. Simon sprinted toward them, screaming for them to run.

The building above them gave way, and Dick and the other students were swallowed by a cascade of rubble, disappearing from sight. Simon could only stare, paralyzed. He hadn’t been able to do a thing.

Now, Kamibarez was staggering toward him out of the darkness, her body battered and broken.

’No. Kami!’

He had to save her this time. Gritting his teeth, Simon lunged forward and pulled her into an embrace.

Just then, she sank her teeth deep into his arm. In an instant, her skin turned a pale, ashen gray. She had become a zombie. A tremor of horror shot through him.

’SHLURCH!’

And then, the final blow. A black cross pierced through both their bodies. Simon coughed up a spray of blood and forced himself to look back.

’Click, clack.’

The sound of heels on stone. A red-haired woman in a severe black suit was looking down at them. A cold, familiar voice echoed in his mind.

[Curiosity killed the cat.]

A white flame erupted around her, swelling into a great tsunami. The White Flame surged forward, swallowing everything in Kizen.

[You should have left Kizen back then.]

The world was engulfed in fire, and one by one, the people he held dear were annihilated. Simon screamed.

"...Haaargh!"

He bolted upright in bed, gasping for air. He was in his room. His entire body was drenched in sweat, his back soaked through.

’It was a dream. It’s all in the past, so why am I having such a nightmare...’

A sudden, intense thirst seized him. Simon climbed out of bed and headed for the living room. His room was on the second floor, and as he descended the creaking stairs, a wave of heat washed over his face.

’Why is it so hot?’

He reached the bottom of the stairs and stepped into the living room.

The entire space was being consumed by pure white flames. It was so surreal that he thought it was a continuation of his dream. The ceiling was collapsing, the walls were burning to cinders, and through the gaping holes, he could see the night sky.

"...Ahh."

There was no doubt. This was Flema’s White Flame.

On the floor, Lethe sat in a heap, a dazed expression on her face. Simon rushed to her side and shook her shoulders.

"What’s wrong? Lethe! What happened?" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Her finger trembled as she pointed toward the master bedroom.

"Ms. Anna is..."

"HUH!"

Anna was burning. She was screaming, her body thrashing in agony. With every movement, the White Flame followed, spreading the inferno to every corner of the house.

"MOM!"

Shock slammed into him, but his mind began to race. ’Did Flema survive? Is this her revenge? No, Nephthys wouldn’t make such a mistake. And this doesn’t look like an attack. It looks like Mom is generating the White Flame herself. Then is Lethe the mastermind? That doesn’t seem right, either. Her collapse on the floor, her cries for her teacher—it was all too genuine to be an act.’

"Both of you, stand back."

A Jet-Black magic circle unfurled, blanketing the entire house.

’Mausoleum of Sealing’.

A large coffin materialized above the circle, trails of pure Jet-Black cloth fluttering from it.

"Hmph!"

Richard swung his arms, and the black cloths streamed from the coffin toward Anna.

"Wait! Are you insane?" Lethe shrieked, lunging forward to grab Richard by the collar. "Ms. Anna is a Priest! What do you think you’re doing with Jet-Black?"

"The White Flame is the power of a Saintess," Richard said calmly, "a power that incinerates Jet-Black. In a situation like this, however, the only option is to inject its counter-attribute to dampen the flame’s momentum."

"Huh..."

Lethe had already tried every divine art, blessing, and healing spell she knew. Nothing had worked. Finally, she released Richard’s collar and stepped back.

At Richard’s command, the black cloths enveloped Anna’s body. The White Flame instantly flared, burning them away, but an endless stream of new cloths flowed from the coffin, wrapping around her again and again. The cycle of fire consuming cloth and cloth smothering fire repeated countless times.

Ultimately, Richard won the battle. The flames gradually subsided until Anna’s body was encased like a mummy in bandages, only her face exposed. Her expression was one of utter exhaustion. Simon bit his lip, and Lethe turned her head away, unable to watch.

"I’m sorry, Anna. I will now seal you."

Countless sealing formulas inscribed themselves onto the cloths, and the force of the White Flame finally weakened. Richard let out a ragged breath and moved closer, carefully laying Anna on the floor.

"Ms. Anna!" Lethe cried, running to her side with tears streaming down her face.

Though her body was bound, Anna managed a weary smile.

"I’m alright, Lethe."

"W-Was it because of me...? Was there something wrong with the medicine I brought?"

"No, it’s not your fault." She shook her head, her gaze shifting to the space behind Lethe. "My son."

Simon’s legs gave out, and he staggered to one knee.

"...Mom."

"You came home after so long, and all I’ve shown you is my weakness. I’m sorry."

Simon forced a smile, trying his best to reassure her.

"I’m okay. Just get some rest, Mom."

Anna’s eyes slowly drifted shut. Richard, visibly drained, surveyed the ruins of their home.

"Let’s go somewhere else to talk."

---

Leaving the smoldering remains of the house behind, Richard led them to Charles’s home. It was nearby, and next to it stood an empty annex. They would stay there for the time being.

"I know this was a sudden request, but thank you for your help, Charles."

"Don’t mention it, my lord! Please, stay as long as you wish. It should be quite clean; I gave it a thorough cleaning just last week!"

After speaking with Charles, Richard entered the building. Anna, wrapped head to toe in black bandages, was asleep on the bed. Simon and Lethe sat before her, their faces etched with worry.

"Tell me, Father," Simon said, his expression hardening. "What happened to Mom?"

"...Alright." Richard closed his eyes and let out a long, heavy sigh. When he opened them, his face was grave. "Anna has become the Saintess of Purification."