Necromancer Academy and the Genius Summoner-Chapter 95: Episode

’D-Did she hear us?’ Dick thought, panicked.

’Seriously! You idiot, Dick! This is your fault again...!’ Meirin fumed silently.

As they sat frozen with tension, Francesca walked past their table and made her way to the lectern.

’Did she not hear?’ Simon wondered, relieved.

From the front of the room, she seemed to glance their way once more but began the lesson without a word. "We will now proceed to the next page."

The sight of her rolling up her sleeves and tying back her long hair was filled with such fierce determination that she resembled a gladiator preparing for battle.

"There is a famous saying about poison," she began, taking a deep breath. "’Alle Ding’ sind Gift, und nichts ohn’ Gift; allein die Dosis macht, daß ein Ding kein Gift ist.’ All things are poison, and nothing is without poison; the dosage alone makes it so a thing is not a poison."

The classroom was silent.

"What is poison?" she continued, her voice ringing with authority. "A simple drug with toxic properties? No. Any substance harmful to humans can be considered a poison. Now, here is a question for you all. If you were to ingest the same amount of a common spice and a poisonous herb, why might the spice prove more harmful to your health?"

The class president, Jamie, shot his hand into the air.

"Because the amount of the poison did not reach its lethal dose!"

"Correct, Jamie. Five learning points are awarded to you." Jamie beamed, his face flushing with pride. "For any poison to take effect, a lethal dose is required. Below that threshold, many poisons are even used as medicine. Conversely, why are non-poisonous substances not considered poison? Jamie."

Caught off guard, Jamie’s expression tightened as he scrambled for an answer.

"B-Because they aren’t harmful to the body?"

"It’s simple," Francesca said, a faint smile on her lips. "Because their lethal dose is an amount so large it would cause your stomach to burst. That is what would kill you."

A few chuckles rippled through the room.

"Therefore, the foundation of handling poisons is the precise identification of the lethal dose and a thorough analysis of the intended target. A new lethal dose must be calculated to use poison on a monster, for instance. Now, let us examine the three laws required for this dosage calculation."

Francesca explained the complex theories with flawless clarity. Meirin rested her cheeks on her clasped hands, her expression one of pure adoration.

"Ah, I just love this," she whispered. "How can every single word she says be so easy to comprehend?"

Simon listened intently, taking notes without a word. Dick nudged his arm.

"You’re always so quiet during Venomology," he observed. "Is something wrong?"

"Huh? Not really."

Time flew, and soon the class was over. Students packed their bags and began to file out. As Simon was about to leave, he spotted a familiar face.

’Huh?’

It was Jane’s teaching assistant. He recalled the sparring session she had guided him through while he prepared for the duel evaluations. For some reason, she had seemed to be avoiding him ever since.

"Ah!" she exclaimed, spotting him as she scanned the room. She hurried over. "Simon!"

"Hello. What brings you here...?"

She cut to the chase. "Have you decided on a mission for this weekend?"

"No, I’m still considering my options."

"That’s perfect!" she said with a grin. "Professor Jane has summoned you."

---

Simon followed the TA to the front of Jane’s research lab. She lowered her voice to a whisper.

"The professor has been on edge lately due to several recent incidents, so please be mindful of that."

"I will. Thank you for the warning."

"Alright, here we go." The TA took a deep breath and knocked twice, politely. "Professor Jane. I’ve brought Simon."

A voice from within beckoned them to enter. The TA opened the door, giving Simon a slight bow as he passed. He returned the gesture and stepped inside.

As always, Jane was buried under a mountain of documents. Her main office was supposedly in the Kizen headquarters; if her lab was this chaotic, he couldn’t begin to imagine the state of her official workspace.

"Sit," Jane said, her quill never ceasing its scratching. She didn’t even glance up.

"Thank you." Simon sat, placing his clasped hands on his knees and straightening his back. Just like last time, being in her presence was intensely nerve-wracking.

"A designated mission has been issued for you, Simon."

A designated mission. Unlike the general missions posted for any student to claim, this was a direct request from an external client for a specific student. Naturally, only the wealthy or powerful—those with enough influence to sway Kizen—could make such a request.

"Review the details."

Jane pushed a request form toward him. It wasn’t white or blue, but a brilliant, shimmering gold. Simon’s eyes lit up as he read the contents.

’Request:’ VIP Protection

’Grade:’ D

’Reward:’ 1,000 Gold

’Location:’ Blue Harbor Territory

’Details:’ Provide close protection for the client during the Undead Exhibition.

’Special Note:’ Participation in the Blue Harbor Undead Exhibition required.

Simon’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. ’A D-grade request with a reward of 1,000 Gold?!’

It was double the 500 Gold he’d managed to scrape together during his last mission. A designated mission was clearly a class apart. More than that, he was intrigued by the prospect of an "Undead Exhibition."

"Of course, its designation does not make it mandatory," Jane stated flatly. "Will you accept?"

"Yes! Absolutely!" he blurted out.

A mission that satisfied both his interests and his financial needs was a rare find. The difficulty would depend on the client, but it was a five-day assignment at most. It seemed more than manageable.

"Then I will mark it as accepted." Jane quickly signed the form and stamped it with a decisive thud. "I was already planning to send subordinates to that exhibition. This saves me the trouble."

"Pardon?"

"For a modern necromancer, exploring and analyzing new trends is a vital task." She slid a few documents across the desk to him. "While you’re there, I expect you to be a diligent observer. I want you to complete this paperwork upon your return."

"This is..."

It was a professional-grade report requiring projections of investment value, core competencies, and future profitability. Simon stared at it, dumbfounded.

"Is it really okay for me to write such an important report? I’m still just..."

"A Kizen student is no amateur," she cut in, setting down her quill and lacing her fingers together. "Kizen may be structured as a school, but it is also a formal, salaried organization. You will be the sole representative from Kizen at this exhibition. You are to participate with that in mind. Do not, under any circumstances, engage in any act that would disgrace this institution."

"Yes, I’ll keep that in mind!"

Somehow, this mission had become much bigger than he’d anticipated. A 1,000 Gold mission where he was representing all of Kizen. With his heart pounding, Simon rose from his seat.

---

That night, in Pier’s ruins, Erzebet was ecstatic.

[Yayyy! Blue Harbor!] she shrieked, pressing her hands to her cheeks. [It’s a beach resort that’s famous across the world!]

[We are not going there to play, Erzebet,] Pier’s voice rumbled as he methodically polished his greatsword with a dry cloth. [I have heard that the island’s long isolation from the mainland has resulted in a unique ecosystem. We must find new undead to bolster the Legion’s strength...]

[Master! How do you like this outfit?] Erzebet chirped. With a touch, her dress morphed into a swimsuit. Caught off guard, Simon’s face flushed crimson.

"...Erze!"

[Or what about this one?] Another touch, and an even more revealing swimsuit appeared. Simon quickly averted his gaze.

"Are you planning to swim? Isn’t seawater bad for the undead?"

[It does sting a bit,] she admitted. [But a wide beach, a resort atmosphere... how can one resist? I am so excited I doubt I will be able to sleep tonight!]

"...You don’t sleep anyway," Simon muttered.

Pier slammed his fist on the stone altar. [Pathetic, Erzebet! With such a decadent mindset, how can you call yourself a commander of the Legion!]

[Better than being a Legion-obsessed, crusty boomer,] she retorted.

[...What did you just say?]

[I am learning the local slang in case I need to disguise myself as a Kizen student.]

[I do not understand your words, but I find them deeply unpleasant!]

"Alright, alright. That’s enough, you two." Simon stood and opened his Subspace, pulling out an empty suit of armor. "This is for you, Pier. I ordered it in a larger size."

[Oh! Yes, this is more fitting!]

"And Erze," Simon said, turning to her. "I need to focus on the mission, so there probably won’t be any time for fun."

Erzebet, who had been cycling through various outfits, pouted.

"Just enjoy yourself on the beach like you’re on vacation," he relented. "I’ll stop by for a little while when the mission is over."

[Really?!] she exclaimed, clapping her hands in delight.

Simon turned back to Pier. "What about you?"

[I will scout the island for anything of use!] Pier declared. [Contact me immediately if anything happens!]

"Sounds good." Simon stretched his arms overhead. "I can’t wait for tomorrow."

--- 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

The next morning, Simon was the first Kizen student to use the teleportation circle. This time, he traveled alone.

He relaxed into the now-familiar loopy sensation. When he opened his eyes a moment later, he gasped.

’Oh.’

A completely different world unfolded before him. A vast, liberatingly blue sky stretched over a beach of pristine white sand. Beyond it, an emerald sea lapped gently at the shore. This was Blue Harbor, the island paradise.

A young couple kissing nearby jumped in surprise as Simon materialized out of thin air, and they clutched each other. He offered an embarrassed smile and a slight bow. "Have a nice day."

Moving to a more secluded spot, he summoned Erzebet and Pier from his Subspace. "Both of you, please try not to draw too much attention to yourselves."

He then glanced from Erzebet, clad in a tiny bikini, to Pier, standing in full plate armor under the blazing sun, and pressed a hand to his forehead.

"...On second thought, not standing out might be impossible. Just please try not to cause any trouble."

[Bwahahaha! Do not worry, boy!]

[Freedom and happiness await me!]

After parting ways with his two undead, Simon followed the map on his request form. The island wasn’t massive, but every street he walked down revealed another facet of its beauty. The buildings were sleek and modern, the streets immaculate. As if to emphasize the island’s name, every roof was a matching shade of blue.

’Oh, this must be it.’

He had arrived at his destination: a mansion that was particularly large and opulent, even among the city’s modern architecture. It was clearly the home of someone wealthy enough to pay 1,000 Gold for five days of security.

’Okay, I’m a little nervous.’

Simon straightened his tie, smoothed down his bangs, and walked toward the entrance, where two burly guards stood watch.

"Uh, hello. I’m..."

The guards immediately stepped aside, bowing a full ninety degrees. "Welcome! The Count has been expecting you."

They had recognized his Kizen uniform on sight; he didn’t even need to show them the request form. Simon passed through the gates with ease.

"Ahahahaha!"

The sound of a child’s laughter echoed from the garden. A young boy was running about, a small trowel in one hand and a basket in the other. His face and clothes were smeared with dirt, and two middle-aged butlers were trailing frantically behind him, trying to calm him down.

"Oh!" the boy shouted, spotting Simon and pointing. "Kizen! You’re here!" He dropped his trowel and scampered over. "Your clothes are so cool!"

He began patting Simon’s uniform all over with his muddy hands. Simon wept internally. He had just washed it.

"Hello," Simon said, forcing a smile. "What are you doing?"

"Playing! I’m Shun!"

"I’m Simon. I’m here to see the Count. Do you know where I should go?"

The boy grinned from ear to ear. "I’m the Count!"

"Uhh?"

The butlers hurried over, clearing their throats. "Please show the proper respect. This is Count Shun Oldone."

Simon’s eyes widened. This little kid was the client who was paying him 1,000 Gold?