Necromancer Academy and the Genius Summoner-Chapter 353: Episode

Pentamonium. Fortieth floor.

In a pristine reception room, two men sat facing each other, drinking tea.

[This is unexpected.] The one who spoke first was a man dressed in a butler’s uniform. [I didn’t think you could remain undetected, holding out against the Crows in such a chaotic situation.]

The man speaking was, in fact, not human. He was Magnus’s Ancient Undead, commonly known as the ’Zombie Butler’.

"This is unexpected," the man across from him replied, a feathered cloak—the symbol of the ’Crows’—draped over his shoulders. "I didn’t realize the Magnus Legion was interested in a tedious academic conference."

The man’s name was Evangelos Alphonia, a necromancer with the moniker ’The Needle’.

[Our legion is only interested in Simon Polentia,] the Zombie Butler stated. [More importantly, how are the preparations?]

"Perfect," Evangelos said, leaning back against the sofa. "I’ve tampered with the device. Now, even I can’t stop it. Soon, the Pentamonium academic conference will turn into a living hell."

[I look forward to it.]

"Indeed. By the way, about Lord Magnus." Evangelos sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Isn’t he going too far? Especially attacking a student on Roc Island. There’s a limit to how much I can clean up after him."

[That is why we decided to use a method that avoids revealing the legion as much as possible this time,] the Zombie Butler chimed in. [Deploying natural-type undead. This was the result of barely persuading the Lord Commander.]

"I can imagine."

[Please continue with the briefing. Who are the powerful individuals who might interfere with the plan?]

"This is Pentamonium. There are plenty of strong people. Of course, the biggest obstacles to retrieving Simon Polentia are—" He produced a portrait from his coat. "Kajan Edvalt and Serne Aindark. Those two will likely stick close to Simon Polentia."

[I will be careful.]

"It would be good for your mental health to avoid getting involved with that human named Serne. And there’s one more." Evangelos stroked his chin. "There’s a real monster here—"

---

"This way."

Kajan led Serne and me down a long corridor.

"Where are we going now?" Serne asked, a hint of a whine in her voice.

Serne, clinging to Simon’s side, glared at Kajan’s back with a soured expression.

"We need to get on with our date!"

"Serne," Simon muttered, trying to signal for her to give him some space, but she simply wiggled her eyebrows like a sly fox.

"Appearing as a couple at public events is our routine! Have you forgotten already?"

"...What routine?"

"Oh, come on," she insisted. "Many of the Ivory Tower’s elders are here at Pentamonium! We need to keep sending signals that we’re on good terms so my voice carries more weight within the Tower as your supporter!"

’So that’s her excuse for clinging to me again,’ Simon thought, though he pointed out a simple flaw. "But there’s no one here."

She gave him a sweet, crinkly-eyed smile and rubbed her cheek against his arm. "Letting your guard down is a bad habit, you know."

"That’s enough of the public displays of affection," Kajan cut in. "We’re here."

The three of them had arrived at a large door.

"Is someone in there?" Simon asked.

Kajan glanced back at them and answered in a low voice, "The Student Council President of Kizen wishes to meet with you."

Instantly, their expressions turned serious.

"Ah, well if that’s the case..." A smile touched Serne’s lips.

Kajan stared directly at her. "He may be the president, but he’s also a third-year senior, so show some respect. And Serne, if you use your feathers just because you find this troublesome, something irreversible might happen."

"I know, I know. I’m flexible enough for that," Serne replied, flicking her tongue. "Besides, I was curious what kind of person the man of the rumors would be. This is perfect."

Her eyes were like a hawk’s zeroing in on its prey. Since the third-years were about to graduate, this was a prime opportunity to scout them for the Ivory Tower.

"And I’m warning you," Kajan said, his voice growing heavy as he approached the door. "No matter what happens in there—do not scream."

They both nodded. Kajan opened the door.

"It’s Kajan, Mr. President."

The room was filled with water—a black, inky liquid that seemed to swallow all light, like a bottomless abyss. Even with the door open, it didn’t spill out, remaining perfectly contained within the room. Kajan took a deep breath and stepped inside.

’That can’t be real water, can it?’ Simon wondered, but he followed Kajan’s lead, taking a deep breath of his own before stepping through the threshold.

The moment he entered, he knew. It was real. Buoyancy tugged at his body, trying to lift him from his feet. He focused jet-black into the soles of his shoes to stabilize himself and took in the scene.

An unbelievable sight unfolded before him. Furniture—a sofa, a table, and more—floated aimlessly. Weaving between them were schools of fish with teeth sharper than anything he had ever seen, tearing into one another in a feeding frenzy.

’Gurgle!’

A massive, monstrous shark swam past him. As it bared its teeth, Simon had to clamp a hand over his mouth to stifle a scream.

And there, in the center of it all, in what seemed to be the darkest, deepest part of the room, sat an enormous figure. It was leaning back against a sofa with its chin propped on its hand. A bluish light flickered from its eyes, exuding an almost unbearable pressure.

It was larger than Hector, though not quite as big as the half-giant, Chatel. It was, Simon thought, probably the largest a human male could possibly be.

’This person is...’

Simon swallowed hard.

’The strongest necromancer in the entire school.’

Kajan, seemingly accustomed to this, swam over to a wall, found the light switch, and flicked it on.

’Click!’

As light flooded the room, the water vanished without a trace. Caught off guard by the sudden return of gravity, Simon fell flat on his rear.

’Thud! Thump! Thump!’

The furniture crashed back into its original positions.

"Hah... haa..." Simon finally let out the breath he had been holding. His hair and uniform were soaked, but within five seconds, the water evaporated, leaving them completely dry.

’What about him?’

The Student Council President remained in the same sprawled, chin-in-hand posture.

’Grrrrr—’

A strange sound rumbled from his nose.

"Mr. President," Kajan said, approaching him.

The ’grrrrr—’ sound came again.

"Your juniors are here. It’s time for your appointment."

A small bubble burst from his nose. He blinked his eyes open with a "Hmm?" and glanced around.

"Ah, right. I dozed off."

Kajan’s face scrunched into a deep frown. "Are you out of your mind, dreaming in a place with so many people?"

His voice was sharper than usual, a stark departure from his normal tone.

"Hmph! As if I can control whether I dream or not!"

"You need to realize that your dreams are a more terrible weapon than anything else in this world," Kajan retorted. "If you’re tired, go sleep in some remote desert."

"Hahahaha! Same old Kajan!" The president laughed heartily and lifted his head. "So, these are the ones! Hmm!"

He rose to his feet, seeming to loom even larger now that he was standing. Each step boomed through the room as he approached Simon.

"Phantastus Hugh Ikel! That is my name!"

"I’m Simon Polentia."

The moment Simon took his hand, his own was completely engulfed. As Phantastus shook it vigorously, Simon’s entire body was jolted up and down.

After the handshake, Phantastus turned his head. Serne, a sweet smile on her face, extended her hand, palm down.

"My name is Serne Aindark, Mr. President."

At her bold gesture, Phantastus let out another delighted laugh and bowed. He took her hand and placed a light kiss on its back, much to Serne’s apparent satisfaction.

"Hmm! Sit!" Phantastus commanded, turning his back.

The three of them sat side-by-side on one sofa, while Phantastus claimed an entire couch for himself. Even so, his immense frame made it look comically small.

"Special Admission No. 1 and No. 2! I’ve heard you’re the top male and female students of the first year!"

"We’re also the best couple," Serne added, leaning slightly toward Simon.

"Yes! Yes! The best couple, too! Hahahaha! I appreciate people with a clear identity like you, junior!"

"Oh my," Serne cooed, covering her cheeks as if shy.

Surprisingly, the two of them hit it off immediately. ’Perhaps a monster recognizes its own kind,’ Simon mused.

"The president will be graduating from Kizen soon," Kajan stated. "Afterward, he was scheduled to join the Crows, tying Professor Bahil for the youngest member. He wanted to meet with you before..."

"Kajan! Sorry to interrupt, but I’ve rejected the Crows’ offer!"

Kajan’s eyes narrowed. "Why? Wasn’t your dream to be the strongest man alive?"

"Hmm! That’s true, but I felt I needed more time to travel and find my true self!"

Listening to them, Simon felt his mind go blank. The saying that there were no normal necromancers seemed to be true. And the strongest necromancer in the school was certainly no exception.

"Enough about me! More importantly, what brings you juniors to the Pentamonium Academic Conference?" Phantastus boomed.

Simon started to answer. "To present a thesis..."

"Hmm! A thesis?" Phantastus cut him off, shaking his head as if he couldn’t believe his ears. He leaned forward, his eyes wide. "Did the professors make you come here?!"

’Did he just get bigger?’ Simon thought Phantastus’s massive frame had doubled in size. Was it an ability? Black magic? Or just an illusion? His face filled Simon’s entire field of vision.

"It’s not really like that, haha," Simon stammered. For some reason, he felt it would be better to just be honest. "I came to make money."

’Clap!’ Phantastus clapped his hands. ’Clap! Clap! Clap!’ Each clap sent out a wave of force, rattling the objects in the room.

"Hmm! Excellent!" he roared. "Securing capital for your dream is a vital task! Your priorities are straight, junior!"

"I-Is that so?"

"Then what about you?" Phantassass turned to Serne. "Did the professors also make you come here to present some thesis?!"

She replied with a foxy smile. "I came to pick up a man."

"PERFECT!!!"

’Thump! Thump!’

Phantastus shot to his feet and gave a standing ovation. "Absolutely brilliant! That’s it! Hmm! I can see why you two are the best of the first-years!"

He then glared at Kajan. "Learn from your juniors, Kajan! Stop just doing the missions you’re ordered to do all the time!"

Kajan didn’t reply, only scratching the scar above his eye.

"Hmm! Remember this, my juniors!" Phantastus pounded his chest. "The world exists because I exist! You aren’t merely the master of a single life; the world itself is yours!"

"If you listen to your surroundings, your past, the opinions of others, you will achieve nothing!" He pointed a massive finger at Simon’s face. "You! What do you plan to do with that money?!"

"I... want to create a lich."

"Hmm! A lich? Why? That’s a bit much for a first-year!"

Simon looked embarrassed, wondering if he really had to share this with a complete stranger. "Because it’s a goal I must achieve."

’Thud.’

Phantastus froze, his large eyes beginning to tremble. "So very...!"

He shot up and strode toward Simon, who stood, thinking they were about to shake hands again.

’Grab!’

"Excellent!!" This time, it was a hug. Simon felt the air squeezed from his lungs. "That’s it! Hmm! A first-year should be making a lich! The size of the world you can challenge grows with the size of your dreams!"

He released Simon and snorted. "It’s because you set such a goal that you get to come to places like this while others are playing around, isn’t it?!"

"Th-That’s certainly true."

"Of course! Continue to run toward your own dreams! No matter the obstacle, if you run while looking at the sky, you’ll find you’ve already overcome it!" He spread his giant arms wide. "Don’t let anything control you! To smash the world for the sake of your dream and drag it along behind you! That is!"

’Thuuump!’

He beat his chest and grinned. "The path to becoming the strongest!"

The moment he heard those words, Simon felt a fire ignite in his chest. ’This man is incredible.’

Seeing Simon’s eyes sparkle, Serne and Kajan shared a private, knowing smile. He was still a boy, after all.

"My proud junior! In that spirit, I have one question for you!" Phantastus held out his palm. "Have you thought about becoming the next Student Council President?"

"...Excuse me?"

For a moment, Simon’s mind went completely blank.