Necromancer Academy and the Genius Summoner-Chapter 277: Episode

After the intense third BMAT, Kizen entered a period of respite. The students had accumulated fatigue from the relentless pace, so the faculty focused on textbook-based lessons rather than physically demanding training or performance evaluations.

Although Kizen was fostering a restful atmosphere, times like these were also a prime opportunity to build individual skills.

Simon received private white magic tutoring from Parahan once or twice a week. After class, he would go to the library to study the Four Great Curses created by Bahil. He also improved the efficiency of his Hemomancy black magic, which led to his ’Cloud’ and Blood Golem techniques, and focused his combat arts training on stamina. He solidified his summoning fundamentals as well. The number of undead Simon could control simultaneously had now increased to a maximum of eight, a number close to the highest for a first-year. Simon diligently built up his skills day by day.

Beyond simply surviving at Kizen, he also had the goal of a decisive battle with Legion Commander Magnus. His motivation was clearer than anyone’s.

’Somehow, I got through today’s schedule too.’ Entering Room 409 and sitting at his desk, Simon stretched. The pressure of exams was gone, and he had more free time, yet he somehow felt busier than usual. He looked out the dark window, then turned his head to the calendar. ’It’s already that time.’

More than half of the integrated second semester had passed. Looking at the calendar, Simon picked up his quill and made a mark. It would soon be his mother Anna’s birthday. Since he couldn’t leave Roc Island, he planned to send a letter and a gift.

"I’m back!" The door clicked open, and Dick came in with a cheerful smile.

"Welcome back, Dick."

"What’re you up to?"

"About to study Cursology. I’m just going to the bathroom for a sec."

Simon left his seat, and Dick shook his head. "Is he starting to take after Meirin? How can he study even in the dorm?"

He took off his outer coat and was about to head for the hanger. "Hm?"

Dick’s gaze fell on Simon’s calendar.

---

The saying among students that Kizen and peacefulness were mutually exclusive was something of a joke. In truth, this time too, the peace didn’t last long.

"Alright, everyone. A Dispatch Evaluation is scheduled for next week," Jane announced during the Basic Black Magic class.

’Dispatch Evaluation?’ This was another new system. While Simon and Kamibarez tilted their heads in confusion, Dick, sitting in the back, let out a meaningful laugh.

"Heheheh, it’s finally here!"

"Do you know what it is, Dick?"

"I heard a little about it from the upperclassmen. She’ll explain it soon."

Just then, Jane, who had been organizing the lectern with an indifferent face, spoke. "Dick Hayward, the one who heard the explanation?"

’Did she hear that too?!’ Dick shot up from his seat, his back ramrod straight, a terrified look on his face.

"Tell me the difference between a Mission Evaluation and a Dispatch Evaluation."

Meirin giggled as if to say, ’serves you right,’ and even Simon and Kamibarez couldn’t hold back their laughter.

"Ah, y-yes. The difference between a Mission Evaluation and a Dispatch Evaluation, you say! Um...!" Dick broke out in a cold sweat as he thought, then spoke. "A Mission Evaluation is done alone, and a Dispatch Evaluation is where you go to the field in a ’team of four’... isn’t that the difference?"

Jane gestured coolly for him to sit. Only then did Dick sit down, his face drained of all life, clutching his chest.

"That’s not all. You will go to an active, professional necromancer outside of Roc Island, take them as your mentor, and carry out a real-world mission with them."

At the mention of a real-world mission with a pro, the students began to murmur.

"Kizen is well aware of how your Mission Evaluations have been going so far." She began to read from another document she had placed on the lectern. "For missions within Roc Island, you get the residents to cooperate and get by with tasks like cleaning up trash, catching mice, and planting trees."

A few students wore guilty expressions.

"Or you perform bodyguard missions for merchant guilds while flaunting your Kizen uniform."

Meirin’s shoulders twitched.

"There have also been cases of using Kizen’s name to wield power to resolve a request, or even intimidating the client to get their signature."

Dick had his head turned slightly to the side, laughing nervously.

"In the case of well-known students, nobles sometimes bring them to their mansions on a designated request, treat them lavishly, and just give them the request confirmation and fee."

As the students bowed their heads in what felt like a time for reflection, Jane continued. "I understand."

The people of the Dark Alliance trembled at the mere mention of the name Kizen. Even if it was a first-year student whose life was as fragile as a fly’s, Kizen was still Kizen. In other words, there was a high probability that a level playing field between the client and the student would not be established in the Mission Evaluation. Of course, more students carried out their missions conscientiously, but the very existence of a way to easily clear the Mission Evaluation by selling Kizen’s name was a problem.

"There is a reason why we have let these Mission Evaluations go to hell... We let you use it as a sort of vacation period, since the overall curriculum for the integrated second semester is quite demanding." Jane rolled up the document and tapped her palm with it. "However! This Dispatch Evaluation will be different."

Jane explained the Dispatch Evaluation in detail. As Dick had said before, students would freely form ’teams of four’ and seek out a professional necromancer, and the pros would become their mentors. The mentors would have the right to directly evaluate the students in the process of carrying out real missions with them.

Listening to the explanation, Simon nodded. ’So it’s a mission-style task with four team members and an instructor.’

As Simon was thinking this, someone’s hand shot up in the lecture hall. Jane pointed to the hand with a familiar expression. "Do you have something to say, Class President?"

By now, even Jane was calling Jamie ’Class President’.

"Yes! I’m curious about what specific missions we will be carrying out with the pros!"

"Consider it as taking on the same schedule that professional necromancers usually perform."

"I-I’m sorry, but could you give an example?"

"For example," Jane’s cold voice echoed, "assassination of a key figure."

Jamie’s pupils trembled.

"Anti-priest combat, espionage in the Holy Federation, transport of heinous criminals, gang annihilation operations."

With every word she uttered, the students’ faces grew dizzier.

"I’ll say this in advance: over ninety percent of this Dispatch Evaluation will take place in the Neutral Zone. And the kind of missions you’re used to, simply hunting monsters..." She looked around at the tense faces of the students and added, "...do not exist."

"You may have to kill someone during this mission. Of course, I believe a pro will handle such things in most cases, but if the situation is urgent and an order is given by the pro, I expect you to obey it unconditionally." Jane looked around at the students with serious eyes. "If you disobey the pros’ instructions or make a bad impression and the pro gives you a score of zero, or if you fail to complete the mission, you will undergo a quasi-expulsion procedure. If you cannot properly defend yourself against the unreasonableness of the mission before the disciplinary committee, you will be expelled. Any more questions?"

Immediately, the hands of several students went up.

"I’m Scott Snyder! It seems like who becomes our mentor will be the most important factor in this evaluation. How are the mentors decided?"

"It’s random. Of course, we will consider the students’ origins and family backgrounds to select a necromancer with as little connection to them as possible. Next."

"I’m Cindy Vivace. What if a mentor maliciously gives us a zero? Are we just expelled?"

"First, the student’s own conduct is the most important thing to prevent that from happening, and second, you should prove your innocence before the disciplinary committee. Next."

As it was a very important matter, several questions were exchanged, and Jane answered them all without hesitation, as always. Just as she was about to take a few more questions, the bell signaling the end of class rang.

"Tomorrow is the school’s anniversary. I hope you use the holiday wisely, and I’ll see you the day after tomorrow."

"Thank you for your hard work!"

Soon, Jane and the TAs left the lecture hall. As soon as they did, the students’ voices exploded like a bomb.

"They’re making students take on pro-level missions?"

"As soon as one tough thing ends, another one starts."

While the remaining students in the lecture hall were talking with grim faces, the TA, who was thought to have followed Jane out, poked her head back in and looked at the students. Then, she walked up to the podium with small steps.

"Now, now, students. You don’t need to worry too much." She smiled sweetly, drawing everyone’s attention. As Jane’s Head TA, she was particularly popular among the TAs for her gentle personality and friendly attitude towards students.

"TA!"

"Are we really going to fight priests and kill people?"

The students, who had been suppressed by Jane’s aura, poured out their questions and anxieties. The TA smiled brightly. "I think Professor Jane was trying to make you a little nervous by speaking so scarily. As long as you listen to your mentors and do as you’re told, there won’t be any problems. You all know to greet them properly, answer loudly and clearly, show respect to your seniors, and be pleasant, right?"

"Yes!"

"It’s nothing much. Just think of it as a Mission Evaluation with four people and one guardian, and go have a comfortable time."

The cold Jane and the warm Head TA. The balance between the two was quite good.

Meanwhile, the members of Team 7 were also putting their heads together and talking.

"I wonder which necromancer will be our mentor!" At Kamibarez’s words, Dick stroked his chin.

"Hmm, I can’t get a feel for it since they’re necromancers from the Neutral Zone. Simon, is there anyone you’re hoping for?"

"Me?" Simon thought for a moment, then said, "I wonder if people from Vanilla would take us. I want to learn more about summoning magic circles."

"I doubt it," Meirin said bluntly. "Professor Jane said ninety percent of it is in the Neutral Zone. It’ll be hard to expect a crafting mentor."

"...Haha, I’m a little scared to go to the Neutral Zone. Have any of you three been there before?"

Meirin and Dick shook their heads, and Simon nodded without thinking. Suddenly, the gazes of all three were fixed on him.

"Huh, what? You’ve been there?"

"Wow! When? When did you go?"

"Is it true that priests just walk around on the city streets there?"

Simon belatedly realized his mistake. He had stopped by briefly when crossing the border into the Holy Federation, but he couldn’t tell them the truth. "Just when I was really young... I went with my parents. I don’t really remember it now."

"Aww, what a letdown," Meirin laughed as if the wind had been taken out of her sails. "Then this will be your first time in the Neutral Zone, really?"

"I’m scared, but I’m also a little excited! I heard it’s a great desert and wasteland. I heard there are lots and lots of cacti!"

"Ah, but it’s a lawless zone there. Don’t you all know? If you even make eye contact, they start with black magic..."

Watching the topic of conversation shift again, Simon joined in with a smile.

---

At the Cathedral, during Mass time:

"Alright, everyone. Your Visitation dispatch locations have been decided." With many Efnel students seated, the professor of Divinity Dynamics, Rahl, who stood at the podium, opened her mouth. "Lethe, pay attention."

"Yes," Lethe replied, uncrossing her legs from her seat in the very front row.

Rahl clutched her throbbing head and looked at the other students. "The core location of your Visitation is the Neutral Zone. And, your main mission is one." Her lips parted. "To secure the Saintess Candidates."