Necromancer Academy and the Genius Summoner-Chapter 82: Episode

Simon’s timing in reaching the central island was exquisite. As day broke and the students began their activities in earnest, the four bridges became brutal warzones. Those with their own means of crossing the water could avoid the conflict, but everyone else had no choice but to fight their way across.

"I’ll get you across for just 50 points!"

On the western island, a faction led by Special Admission No. 7, Elisa, and her Class E classmates had seized control of the bridge. Using the point transfer function on their Tonguepads, they collected a toll for passage, effectively trapping the students who had started there. Eventually, a massive alliance formed to overthrow Elisa’s group, and she, sensing the shift, shrewdly retreated.

While battles raged furiously across the archipelago, Simon, having arrived early, was leisurely focused on his search for Vickrum. In a way, finding and contracting with the ancient undead was far more important than securing a high rank in the Island Survival.

"Phew, still no trace of him, Pier," Simon said, pushing through the undergrowth.

[It can’t be helped. That one was never the type to leave a trail,] replied Pier’s clone, which was attached to his uniform. [Still, once the Kizen students start fighting on the central island, the chances of a provoked Vickrum showing up will naturally increase!]

"I’ll have to count on that."

According to Pier, Vickrum was normally so small it resembled a wild mushroom. However, when threatened or angered, it grew exponentially, capable of exceeding sixty-five feet in length. At that size, it would be impossible to miss. Rather than blindly searching, Simon figured it was better to wait near a conflict zone for it to appear.

As he walked deeper into the island’s core, a steep, distant canyon came into view. From above, Kera Island rose like a towering mountain, the slope gradually increasing until it shot up dramatically from this point.

’It’s certainly high.’

To reach the final destination, the Mansion of Immortality, he had to cross this canyon. Climbing it directly would be difficult without a specific ability, not to mention it would leave him completely exposed to long-range attacks.

Of course, there was a more conventional route. Following the canyon’s edge, Simon came upon a series of terraced hills that formed a natural staircase up the incline. The area, reminiscent of highland rice paddies, was cluttered with crude tents and huts, from which small, dwarf-like creatures were swarming.

’...There are so many.’

The Grade 2 monster, the Kera tribe. They were the reason the island bore their name. They resembled the goblins found across the continent but were smaller and scrawnier. Even as adults, they were only the size of a human child.

Despite their frail appearance, their reproductive rate was astounding. Combined with their ability to wield weapons and their excellent coordination, they were the island’s dominant species. And their largest settlement was spread across the most accessible path up the canyon.

’I came late on purpose, hoping someone else might have cleared it out...’

He could see signs of burnt and destroyed huts, but it was a mere drop in the bucket compared to the sheer scale of the encampment. He would have to break through on his own.

’Rustle.’

While his attention was on the settlement, a sound came from the bushes behind him. Simon spun around, his Jet-Black flaring to life. His skeletons clattered, instantly on guard.

"Wait! I’m not here to attack," a male student in a Kizen uniform said, emerging from the bushes with his hands raised.

He had gray hair brushed back from a clear forehead.

"...Who are you?"

"I’m Vincent Wehrly from Class C."

Vincent offered a gentle smile. "You’re planning to cross that Kera encampment too, right?"

"...Yeah. I am."

"Then let’s team up! Honestly, a settlement that size is impossible to break through alone."

"We?"

Vincent smirked and gestured behind him. "I didn’t bring them with me, figured you’d be wary, but there are eight more of us back there."

Eight people. Impressive. Still, Simon replied, "I’m going alone."

"...Are you serious?"

Vincent’s smile faltered. "This course is obviously designed to test teamwork! Going alone is insane."

He wasn’t wrong. The offer to join forces was reasonable. But...

"I have another way. Sorry."

He couldn’t trust Vincent. He had a plan to get through by himself and wasn’t desperate enough for a team to take such a risk.

With that, Simon turned his back and melted back into the forest.

Vincent trudged back to his comrades, who were laughing and chatting amongst themselves.

"What did he say?" one of them asked.

Vincent shrugged. "Said he’s going up alone."

"Pfft!"

"Look at him bluffing. He clearly hasn’t been knocked down a peg yet."

Vincent’s team was in high spirits. Having reached the central island on only the second day, it was clear each of them was skilled.

"Should we go drag him back?" another teammate suggested.

Vincent shook his head. "Forget it. Waste of time. Let’s just focus on what we need to do."

"If he comes begging for help later, we’ll just beat him up and take his points."

"Hahaha!"

The team moved out cheerfully, quickly reaching the edge of the Kera encampment. On the terraced hill above, they could see the small creatures loitering.

"Alright, this is a race against time," Vincent announced, grabbing his team’s attention. "Climbing is more important than killing. We won’t lose to the Kera, but if we get tired and slow down, we could end up fighting the entire encampment."

Everyone nodded, their expressions serious.

"Let’s get into formation and move out."

"Okay!"

"Right."

They quickly formed a breakthrough wedge. Two Combat Magic aspirants took the lead, followed by students specializing in Jet-Black Dynamics, Cursology, and Hemomancy. Vincent, as the leader, positioned himself in the center.

"Let’s go!"

The team of eight charged up the hill.

The nearby Kera spotted them and swarmed forward. The main alarm hadn’t sounded yet, so they were only just beginning to pour from their huts.

"The Kera are nothing," one of the aspirants at the front declared.

He swung a fist wreathed in Jet-Black.

A single punch sent a Kera flying dozens of feet, its head snapped back. With supporting fire from the students behind them, they carved a clean path.

"This way! It’s the fastest route up!"

Vincent directed, and the team surged forward with terrifying momentum.

But now the monsters were pouring out in earnest, and the group struggled to make their way to the midway point.

"We’re halfway there! Just a little more to go!" Vincent clapped, encouraging them.

But the students, drenched in sweat, were beginning to realize something was wrong.

’W-We’re only halfway there?’

Fighting while climbing was exhausting. Hunting agile monsters that barely reached their knees was a frustrating challenge in itself. But with a relentless tide of Kera swarming from behind, they had no choice but to push on. Everyone gritted their teeth and ran.

"Aaaaaargh!"

Suddenly, one of the students cried out. He’d sprained his ankle while running and was now rolling on the ground, clutching his leg. Everyone stopped in surprise.

"What’s wrong?"

"Ugh! M-My ankle!"

Vincent was the first to his side, helping him up. "We can’t leave you behind! Hang in there!"

"...Th-Thanks."

With an injured member, their already slow pace was cut nearly in half. The Combat Magic student at the front felt a pang of guilt, even as he fought off monsters. ’Am I a piece of trash? If we insist on carrying him, one person could get the rest of us wiped out.’

It wasn’t like they would actually die. Once their barrier gauge hit zero, an emergency shield would activate, and they’d be teleported to safety. As it was, they weren’t sure they could break through even at full strength. There was no logical reason to drag an injured person along.

The other students felt the same, but the team’s fragile camaraderie kept them from voicing their concerns.

"Ten more ahead!"

"They keep coming!"

The slower they moved, the more monsters they had to face. Their stamina and Jet-Black were reaching their limits. Just as they were about to give up...

A ground-shaking rhythm echoed through the hills. Everyone’s head snapped in its direction.

A monstrous figure was wading through the dense swarm of Kera as if they were nothing but tall grass.

"A-A golem! That’s a golem, right?"

"Someone’s riding on top!"

Perched atop a mud golem, Simon smiled into the cool headwind. Below him, Pier’s clone let out a booming laugh.

[Bwahahahahaha! Go! Keep going!]

To the diminutive Kera, the golem was a titan. It needed no other weapon; its sheer momentum was enough. Countless Kera were trampled underfoot, crushed without a second thought. It was a brutally simple way to break through a monster encampment, but it was devastatingly effective.

The once-aggressive Kera were now scattering in terror. The golem was a wolf among sheep.

"That’s the guy who said he was going alone, right?"

"That’s insane. Wow, he’s really going to solo this all the way to the top."

Vincent’s teammates stared, their expressions a mixture of admiration and envy. It was hypocritical, given they’d just been mocking him, but some now hoped he might save them.

But Simon and his golem either didn’t see them or didn’t care, passing by without a glance.

Just then...

-Kereuk! (What is happening?)

Drawn by the commotion, a Kera adorned with flashy decorations emerged from a hut.

-Kereuk! Kereureureuk! (Humans have invaded!)

-Kereureuk! (Leave it to me!)

It was the chieftain. His appearance alone sent a surge of morale through his tribe. The surrounding Kera raised their arms and cheered.

The chieftain raised his staff, and flames began to coalesce around it. He was the only Kera capable of magic. He aimed his staff, ready to unleash a spell...

’Splat!’

He was instantly crushed under the golem’s foot.

Simon, looking elsewhere, didn’t even notice. ’Huh? What was that? Did I hit something?’ That was the extent of his reaction.

But the consequences of his accidental regicide were enormous. The Kera, having lost their leader in an instant, fell into chaos.

"What’s going on? Why aren’t they attacking?"

Vincent’s team noticed the change, too. Vincent alone stood with a hardened expression, biting his lip as he stepped forward. "The situation has changed! Everyone, catch your breath—!"

-Kereuk! Kereureuk!

Suddenly, a few of the surrounding Kera dropped to one knee before Vincent. He stumbled back, bewildered, as a sword was suddenly pressed to his throat.

"W-What are you doing?!" He gasped.

"I knew something was strange," the student holding the sword said, his voice cold as ice. "You’re the only one here with a barrier gauge at 100%. Why are you the only one the monsters aren’t attacking?"

"100%? For real?"

The other students began to murmur, finally realizing something was wrong. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"You deliberately led us on a detour to drain our stamina," the student continued, his voice dripping with contempt. "You made a big show of helping the injured guy to slow us down. It all makes sense now. Don’t tell me you..."

He ripped the necklace from Vincent’s neck. Vincent lunged for it, but the student pressed the blade closer, stopping him cold. He examined the artifact.

"This looks just like the ones the Kera are wearing. It’s from a supply drop, isn’t it?"

The supply drops contained not only food but also various artifacts helpful for the survival trial. This one likely made the Kera see the wearer as an ally, or perhaps even a figure of authority. He tossed the necklace to a female student beside him. She put it on and cautiously approached the Kera.

They flinched back at first, but then knelt before her. The female student’s face was a mask of disbelief.

"You played us for fools, didn’t you, Vincent?"

"N-No! Everyone, calm down! Just listen to me!"

The atmosphere turned glacial.

"So this was your plan? Let us get wiped out so you can take our points."

"No wonder he said he had so many points."

"Are there other victims besides us?"

Once sown, the seeds of suspicion grew into a forest of accusation. The female student wearing the necklace gave a slight, chilling gesture.

"There’s nothing more to say. Farewell."

The sword at Vincent’s throat sliced across.