Necromancer Academy and the Genius Summoner-Chapter 254: Episode

"I’m sorry, Claudia."

The poison-drinking class was undeniably difficult and painful. But Simon had witnessed Professor Byulya’s skill firsthand in Langerstine, and he understood the value in what she was trying to teach. He didn’t think it was necessary to boycott the class simply because it was agonizing.

"I want to keep trusting Professor Byulya."

A deep shadow of disappointment fell over Claudia’s face. "Why? What is it about that professor that you find so trustworthy?"

"It’s just—"

Before Simon could answer, she unleashed a torrent of resentment. "I thought you were a thoughtful person! Are you just going to turn a blind eye to our rights as students? If the professors told you to die, would you just die? The system at Kizen is seriously flawed! If we fail, their demands will only get worse...!"

"That’s a huge leap, Claudia," Simon cut her off. "I respect what you’re trying to do. But..." He stood and pushed in his chair. "What you’re saying right now isn’t a well-reasoned argument. It’s just an emotional appeal."

With that, Simon turned and walked away. Dick tossed the unsigned petition back toward her and followed him.

"I’m sorry! I’m sorry!" the soft-hearted Kamibarez whispered, bowing her head repeatedly before scurrying after them.

"Hey! Wait for me!" Meirin, who had been gathering her things, was about to follow when Claudia grabbed her arm.

"Meirin! You’re not like them, are you? You’ll sign, right?"

"Are you insane?! Let go!" Meirin snapped, yanking her arm free. As Claudia flinched back, her expression wounded, Meirin let out an exasperated sigh. "Why are you taking it this far?"

Claudia’s expression remained wounded.

"A class walkout is unprecedented in Kizen’s history. I think you’re overreacting. Go cool your head."

Claudia’s lips twisted into a sneer. "And what’s going to change if I do?"

In truth, she had no other choice. The wheels were already in motion. Even if she stopped now, she wouldn’t escape the reputation of having defied a Kizen professor. She had staked her entire school life on this, ready to make an enemy of her major’s professor. Failure would inevitably send her academic career into a tailspin.

"Sorry, but I’m not signing," Meirin said, turning to leave.

"Meirin," Claudia called out to her back. "Are your grades really that important?"

Meirin froze.

"I get it. You have to look good for the professors, right? Kiss up to them, act all cute, that’s how you get good conduct scores and high grades. The secret to being number two in the school..."

"Hey." Meirin spun around. The moment their eyes met, Claudia felt the entire classroom turn bone-white, as if frost were creeping across the ceiling. She was frozen solid. "Don’t cross the line."

Momentarily overwhelmed, Claudia felt goosebumps prickle the back of her neck. Wounded pride hardened her expression. "Did I say something wrong—!"

"You want to know why you venom geeks are really opposing this class?" Meirin spat, sweeping a stray lock of hair from her face. "Should I tell you?"

Claudia was speechless.

"If the other students build up a resistance to poison because of Professor Byulya’s class, it’ll make things harder for you in the performance evaluations and the BMAT, won’t it? Isn’t that right?"

A fiery rage surged through Claudia’s chest. "Meirin—!"

Jet-black energy erupted from her body. Her braid came undone, her hair whipping around her as if it were alive, before the strands coalesced into a writhing mass of venomous snakes. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"C-Calm down, Claudia!"

"Fighting with black magic in a classroom will get you severe disciplinary action!"

Her friends rushed over, grabbing her arms and trying to hold her back.

"Tch. Let her try," Meirin sneered, a cold energy beginning to gather around her. Suddenly, a hand clamped over her mouth from behind.

"Ahaha! Sorry, sorry!" It was Jamie Victoria, the temporary president of Class A. Meirin struggled against her grip.

"Mmph! Mmph mmph! Mmmph!"

"Looks like Meirin got a little heated! You know she’s soft on the inside, right? Well, we’ll be leaving first! Bye!"

After Jamie dragged Meirin out of the classroom, a deep silence fell. Everyone was cautiously watching Claudia.

As if she had finally calmed down, the snakes in Claudia’s hair reverted to normal strands. She covered her face with her hands as her friends patted her back, comforting her.

"You’re crazy, you’re absolutely crazy!"

Meanwhile, Jamie, having forcibly dragged Meirin out of the classroom, was smacking her on the butt.

"Hey! Why are you hitting me?!" Meirin yelped, her face flushing as she pushed Jamie away.

Jamie pressed her fingertips to her temples and sighed. "Clara’s already on edge with the boycott coming up, and you both went too far. We all agreed to work together in Class A during the BMAT. Are you really never going to speak to her again?"

"I won’t!" Meirin shrieked. "And that wench Claudia provoked me first! Saying I got my grades by sucking up to the professors...!"

"Alright, alright. You’re too pretty to be angry, Meirin." Jamie pulled her into a tight hug, and Meirin squirmed in disgust.

"Don’t cling to me! It’s hot!"

"You’re going to make up with Clara later, right?"

"No!!"

---

Claudia’s declaration of a boycott sent shockwaves through Kizen. In the cafeteria, it was all anyone was talking about.

"Forcing them to drink poison was a bit much."

"Still, students boycotting a class? Does that even make sense? It’s a direct challenge to the faculty’s authority."

"I don’t like it. It feels like they’re picking on a new professor. They wouldn’t dare say a word to Professor Jane or Professor Bahil."

"I’m supporting the boycott. I’m so sick of throwing up."

Simon barely tasted the bread he was eating. Talk of Byulya and the walkout was coming from all sides. ’Are they really going to do it?’

Lost in thought, his lunch break flew by. After leaving the cafeteria, the four of them headed to the Venomology building for class.

"Guys! Look over there!" Dick pointed toward the entrance. "Wow! They said they’d do it, and they really are! The atmosphere is intense!"

Just as he’d said, a group of students was protesting in front of the Venomology building, holding signs.

"Stop this bizarre practice of forcing poison on students!"

"We want to live!"

The students who had declared the boycott were denouncing Byulya’s poison-drinking class. Their signs read, ’Students are people too!’ and ’We don’t want to be poisoned!’

’Ugh, this is incredibly awkward.’

Every time students tried to enter the building, the protesters would glare as if shooting lasers from their eyes and shout even louder.

"Professor Byulya’s class is an act of tyranny!"

"Do not abuse the authority of a Kizen professor!"

When Team 7 arrived, the students at the entrance raised their voices as if on cue. Dick kept his expression blank, while a frightened Kamibarez discreetly clutched Simon’s sleeve. Simon moved to stand beside her, shielding her from their view.

"Students are people! We are not lab rats!"

Claudia was among them, waving her sign more fervently than anyone. Spotting her, Meirin snorted and strode past them into the building. Claudia’s burning gaze bored into Meirin’s back.

As soon as they were inside, Kamibarez and Dick let out simultaneous sighs of relief.

"Th-that was scary," Kamibarez stammered, hunching her shoulders like a frightened rabbit.

"Did you see them glaring?" Dick added. "It was like they were about to break our ankles with their eyes to stop us from going in."

’Hmm.’

Simon had a feeling this protest wouldn’t die down easily.

"Meirin, are you okay?" Kamibarez asked quietly, approaching her.

"About what?"

"You fought with Claudia in the classroom."

"I’ve decided not to think about her anymore. Let’s just go up."

The four entered the third-floor classroom. It was five minutes before class, but there were noticeably empty seats. The students present were all heatedly discussing the boycott.

"I’ve been at Kizen for a while, but this is a first. Wow," Dick remarked, looking around.

"Hahaha! You sound like a third-year!"

Dick and Kamibarez tried to lighten the mood, glancing nervously at Meirin, but she was in a foul mood, silently taking out her textbook and opening her notebook. A moment later, one minute before class started, Byulya’s teaching assistants filed in and stood at the back of the lecture hall. Their haggard faces told the story of their suffering. Simon even felt a pang of pity for them.

’The people in the middle always have it the hardest, no matter where you go.’

Byulya wasn’t the type to care what others thought; she had her own unshakeable educational philosophy. The students, afraid of getting on a professor’s bad side, wouldn’t dare say a word to her face, so they took out their frustrations on the more approachable TAs. It was easy to imagine how much they had endured.

They didn’t have to wait long. Byulya herself entered, hands shoved in the pockets of her jacket, letting out a long, languid yawn. She seemed completely unconcerned about the protest happening right below.

—"Do not abuse the authority of a Kizen professor!"

The faint shouts of the protesters drifted up from outside.

’Slam!’

Byulya shut the classroom door with a bang and, as usual, flopped into the professor’s chair and gestured with a finger. The Head TA stepped forward and began the roll call.

’Oh my. The Head TA looks completely exhausted.’

She had likely suffered the most in this situation. She had repeatedly pleaded with Byulya to lower the poison’s concentration or reduce the number of doses, but was rejected every time. Now, things had come to this, and she clearly felt responsible.

"Colburn Isle."

"Here!"

"Dick Hayward."

"Yep!"

Suddenly, the TA calling roll flinched. After a moment of hesitation, she finally spoke.

"Claudia Mendes."

A thick silence filled the room. Naturally, no answer came. Perhaps feeling sorry for the TA, who was waiting awkwardly, the class president, Jamie, raised his hand.

"Claudia is not here, TA!"

"Yes, then next."

The pattern continued: the TA would call a name, and Jamie would shout, "Not here!" The atmosphere in the classroom grew increasingly heavy. After hearing "Not here" for the very last name, the Head TA squeezed her eyes shut and closed the attendance book.

"Pr-Professor. I’ve finished the roll call."

"Uh, yeah."

Byulya, who had been picking her ear with a blank expression, flicked her finger. An unidentifiable substance exploded in the air like a firecracker.

"Absent? A class walkout? What a load of crap. They’re all raising a fuss." She rose gracefully and walked to the lecture stand. The Head TA stepped back to stand with the other assistants, who gave her looks of encouragement.

"When class is over today," Byulya began, opening her mouth to reveal her sharp, shark-like teeth, "tell those friends outside that no matter what kind of ruckus they raise, I have no intention of changing my ways."