Necromancer Academy and the Genius Summoner-Chapter 168: Episode

’We’re crossing the border today.’ 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

The thought had kept Simon tossing and turning all night. He rose early, packing his belongings with a heart torn between apprehension and anticipation. This could be a long journey, so he meticulously stored daily necessities, extra clothes, and provisions in his Subspace, leaving nothing to chance.

An hour before their departure, Richard came to Simon’s room to offer some final, invaluable advice. He covered everything: how to handle Heretic Inquisitors if captured, which priests were sympathetic to the Dark Alliance and which were not, actions to avoid at all costs, and even how to cross the border alone should something go wrong. The counsel was so detailed, so steeped in hard-won experience and knowledge, that Simon couldn’t help but wonder how his father knew it all.

"One last thing."

Richard’s expression grew solemn.

"This is about what to do if Lethe betrays you and tries to hand you over to Efnel."

Simon held up a hand without hesitation.

"I don’t think I need to hear that, Father."

"I, too, trust Lethe for risking her life to come here for Anna," Richard conceded.

"But in this world, you can never be certain how things will unfold."

Simon lowered his hand, a faint smile on his lips.

"I’ve decided to trust her completely. If I listen to you now, doubt might unconsciously seep into my actions or my words. I believe the best thing I can do for my own safety is to remain consistent in how I treat her."

Simon was startled by his father’s reaction—a sight so rare it was almost shocking. A wide, proud grin stretched across Richard’s face.

"You are my masterpiece, Simon," he declared, pulling his son into a tight hug.

The embrace felt a little awkward after so long, but it wasn’t unpleasant.

"Please, come back safely."

"I will."

Simon descended the stairs and entered the living room, where Lethe was leaning against the front door, tapping her foot impatiently.

"What took you so long?" she snapped.

"We have to hurry if we’re going to make the carriage."

"My apologies. Shall we leave now?"

"You were the one dawdling, so now I’ll take a moment," she retorted, slipping into the master bedroom where Anna lay sleeping.

She had spent the entire morning by Anna’s side, yet she still wanted one last look. As she gazed down at her teacher, her face was a mask of reverence and grim determination.

"No matter what, I will save you."

After placing a light kiss on Anna’s forehead and searing the image into her memory, Lethe turned and walked away.

"I’ll say my goodbyes, too," Simon said.

"Huh," Lethe sighed.

While Simon went to Anna’s bedside, Lethe stepped outside. Richard was already in the yard, having come down at some point.

"I am truly in your debt, Lethe," he said.

"I share no debts with a necromancer," she replied coldly, walking past him.

In the pre-dawn gloom, she tapped the tips of her shoes on the ground before taking a sharp breath.

"Mark my words, necromancer. If anything happens to Anna, you will have me to answer to."

Though her words were sharp as thorns, Richard only smiled gently.

"I am truly grateful, Lethe."

Lethe spun on her heel, her white hair whipping through the air as she strode away. Simon, having just emerged from the house, bowed to his father and hurried after her.

"Let’s go," she urged.

"We’re thirty minutes late. We need to pick up the pace."

"Right."

Summoning their respective powers, Jet-Black and Divinity swirling around them, they ascended the mountain range at a blinding speed. The dawning indigo sky was breathtaking, the morning breeze crisp and refreshing.

’Here I go. Finally. To the Holy Federation.’

He had a feeling this would be a vacation unlike any Kizen student had ever experienced.

---

After crossing the treacherous mountains of Leshill, Simon and Lethe boarded a carriage Richard had arranged, heading for the neighboring territory of Hov. They sat facing each other inside. Lethe immediately cast a soundproofing spell to keep their voices from carrying, then began to quiz Simon at a rapid-fire pace.

"The greeting for believers?"

Simon clasped his hands and bowed his head slightly.

"Laus. May the Goddess’s blessing be with you."

"The greeting for a high-ranking priest, bishop-level or above."

"Gratula mi cibiles. Glory to the great Goddess."

"The tenth of the nineteen Penances."

"The Penance of Abstinence: no eating, no drinking, and no sleeping."

Lethe’s eyes widened at his flawless, unhesitating answers.

"Were you always interested in the culture of the Holy Federation?"

"My interest began about two weeks ago," Simon admitted.

For someone who had memorized the distinct etiquette of four different kingdoms, this was simple. The Holy Federation was a single nation ruled by a pope, its customs largely unified, which made studying them much easier. Plus, having grown up watching Anna, some of it was already familiar.

Several hours passed. Just as Simon’s backside was beginning to go numb, the carriage transitioned from a bumpy forest path to a smoothly paved road. A moment later, the driver’s voice rang out.

"Welcome to the territory of Hov!"

They had finally arrived. Unlike Leshill, Hov was a sizable city. Simon paid the driver and stepped out. With his feet on solid ground, his motion sickness finally subsided.

"No time to rest. Let’s go," Lethe said, walking with a confidence born from having used this same route to enter Leshill.

They pulled their hoods low over their faces and strode through the dark alleys on the city’s outskirts. A brief scuffle with some back-alley thugs ended when Lethe sent one flying five meters with a single kick, embedding him headfirst into a nearby roof. It was nothing to dwell on.

"Here we are."

They arrived at a dilapidated tavern at the very end of the alley, a place whose very existence seemed questionable. Once inside, Lethe led Simon to an empty table. They had only been catching their breath for a few minutes when a robed man entered and joined them.

"The wolf’s confession," the man said quietly.

"Is for the foolish sheep," Lethe replied.

The man nodded.

"I’ve been waiting. This way, please."

This was the broker who had brought Lethe across the border. He led them through a back door into a dense, unkempt garden that looked as if it hadn’t been tended to in years, its walls and pillars choked with a tangled mess of vines.

"Before we depart, let’s settle the remaining payment," the broker said, his back to them.

Lethe began to fumble through her clothes, but Simon was faster. He produced a single coin and flipped it through the air.

"This should cover the fee."

As the broker caught it, Lethe asked indifferently, "What are you doing? Why are you paying?"

"My father gave it to me. He insisted we handle the travel expenses."

The broker, acting as if this were routine, took out a magnifying glass to examine the coin. His face was hidden by his hood, but they could see his hand trembling. "How could you... with something so precious...!"

"If you’re a fool who can’t recognize its value," Simon continued with a grin, "my father said to just pay in cash. What’s it going to be?"

"It’s authentic. I’ll accept this as payment."

The broker quickly pocketed the coin, as if afraid Simon might change his mind.

"What’s the big deal about that old coin?" Lethe asked.

"It’s currency from the old empire," Simon explained.

"No practical value, but it’s a luxury item nobles go crazy for."

"Ahh."

The broker rubbed his hands together, his posture now noticeably more deferential.

"I’ll just confirm again, who will be using the false identity?"

"This one," Lethe said, gesturing to Simon.

The broker retrieved a forged identification card from his robes and handed it over.

<’Acolyte. Ska Seraphino’>

’So, my name is Ska Seraphino now.’

As Simon committed the name to memory, the broker elaborated, "An individual who died suddenly a month ago from a monster attack while hiking. The body was never found, so you should be able to use this ID without issue for about six months."

"Understood."

They entered a dilapidated, abandoned building where a teleportation circle was drawn on the floor.

"I’ll see you after the transfer," the broker said, stepping into the circle first.

Simon and Lethe followed him onto the platform.

’Vwooom!’

It was nothing like the smooth teleportation at Kizen. This ride, clearly the work of a hired freelancer, was atrocious. His body spun violently, his stomach churning over and over. He staggered as his eyes opened in a new location.

’This place is...!’

A scorching sun beat down upon a vast, sprawling desert. In the sky above, two vultures circled, their harsh cries echoing across the emptiness.

"Ugh." Lethe appeared a moment later, stumbling with a hand pressed to her forehead.

"Welcome to the neutral zone, the Halley Desert," the broker announced.

Simon straightened his disheveled hair and took another look around.

’So this is the neutral zone, a place only accessible with a red commission.’

The area, centered around the Halley Desert in the heart of the continent, was a hotbed of conflicting interests. It was also a place of endless disputes, as both priests and necromancers could enter its borders.

"The direct route from the Dark Alliance to the Holy Federation is completely sealed," the broker explained.

"However, the route from the neutral zone is still open for the transport of essential goods. We’ll blend in with a merchant caravan heading that way. Any questions?"

They both shook their heads.

"Alright, then please get in."

The broker opened the lid of a wooden crate on a nearby wagon. A magic circle was drawn on the bottom of the cramped space. Their expressions hardened.

"We have to get in there to cross the border?" Simon asked.

"Yes. The journey will take about four hours."

Simon finally grasped the reality of the situation.

’So this is what smuggling is like.’

Teleportation was blocked, and people couldn’t enter a Subspace. This crude, traditional method was their only option.

"What the hell?" Lethe grumbled.

"When I crossed into the Dark Alliance, they just disguised me as a merchant."

"The situation has changed drastically," the broker said grimly.

"Security has been tripled, and inspections of merchants are far more rigorous. They’ve even dispatched auditors from on high, so bribing the inspectors is no longer an option."

"Haaah."

Tapping her forehead with a finger, Lethe looked up at Simon.

"You get in first. I’ll find another crate..."

"I’m sorry, madam."

The broker rubbed his hands together.

"Both of you must get into one crate."

"Whaaaaaat?!" Lethe shrieked in horror.

She strode over and grabbed the broker by the collar.

"You piece of shit! What the hell do you think you’re doing?"

As she lifted her arm, the broker’s feet dangled in the air.

"Gah! P-Please, don’t!"

"Are you messing with me? You want me to get into this tiny space with a bastard like him?"

"I-It can’t be helped! It took a great deal of effort just to secure this one empty crate on the cargo list! If you want a more comfortable route, you’ll have to wait about three months."

"Ugh!"

Even with Richard there, a three-month delay would put Anna’s life at risk. Lethe bit her lip, then shoved the broker to the ground.

"Stop it, Lethe," Simon said, having already accepted the situation.

He even climbed into the crate to test it out.

"We just have to endure it for four hours. Oh, it’s actually cozier than it looks in here," he added positively, tapping the wooden walls.

Lethe covered her face with her hands and let out a sigh that seemed to carry the weight of the world.

’Oh, my Goddess. Why do you give me such trials?’