Necromancer Academy and the Genius Summoner-Chapter 96: Episode

Simon left the mansion in a carriage with Shun.

"I sincerely apologize for being impolite earlier, my lord," Simon said, sweating as he sat across from the boy.

Shun just laughed and waved a dismissive hand. "It’s fine, it’s fine! And when we’re in private, just talk to me normally like you did before!"

"Pardon? I couldn’t possibly..."

"I’m telling you to because it’s more comfortable for me that way! Got it?"

"Ah, I understand."

Shun was an energetic boy, quick to laugh. Though a count, he seemed more mischievous and down-to-earth than the noble children Simon had imagined. He didn’t ask how someone so young had come to possess such a title and fortune; the reason was likely a sad and obvious one.

’His parents must have passed away early.’

A boy-count, ruling over all of Blue Harbor. Simon found his curiosity growing.

"That’s Sara Beach, where most of the tourists go! And that alley over there leads to a huge shopping district...!" Shun pointed out the landmarks with his small hand, his excited voice filled with a deep love for his home. Simon played along, making conversation as they rode.

"Your Excellency, we have arrived at the exhibition hall," the driver announced.

Lost in Shun’s enthusiastic tour, Simon hadn’t realized they’d reached their destination. The moment he opened the carriage door, Shun shot out like a cannonball.

"Wait, Shun! You’re going to fall!" Simon cried, scrambling out after him.

As Shun bounded up the steps, he lost his footing and stumbled backward. Simon lunged forward, easily catching him under the arms and lifting him safely onto the top step.

"Oh!" Shun’s face broke into a wide grin. "You’re good at this, Simon! Yep! Just keep that up!"

Simon let out a quiet sigh of relief and forced a smile. He had a feeling this was going to be a very long five days.

"Count Shun. Welcome." The guards at the entrance stepped aside.

Shun spun around, puffing out his chest proudly. "The exhibition doesn’t officially open until the day after tomorrow, but just this once, I’m giving my bodyguard a special early tour!"

"Right. Thanks for that."

The massive doors swung open, revealing the exhibition hall within. Simon’s eyes widened.

’This is...!’

It was the Next-Generation Undead Exhibition of Blue Harbor. The island’s long isolation had fostered a unique ecosystem, making it home to many species found nowhere else in the world. This exhibition showcased undead created from Blue Harbor’s native monsters, alongside other newly researched creations.

Simon felt his professional curiosity ignite. ’I don’t even know where to start!’

A colossal, dinosaur-like skeleton dominated the center of the first floor, its presence absolutely overwhelming. He imagined that facing such a creature in battle would crush one’s will to fight before the first blow was even struck. However...

’It looks like they haven’t solved the balance issue in the lower body. It can’t support its own weight.’

He noticed a network of fine Jet-Black threads crisscrossing the hall, all tethered to the skeleton to keep it from collapsing. Developing such a massive undead was impressive, but without resolving its structural flaws, it would be useless in a real fight.

While Simon was momentarily lost in thought, composing the report he’d have to submit to Kizen, he realized Shun was no longer beside him.

"Shun!" he called out, his head whipping around in a panic.

"Heehee! Hahaha!"

Somehow, Shun had climbed atop an animal-like skeleton on display. "Giddy-up! Let’s go! Forward!" he yelled, slapping the skeleton’s bony back. The creature’s long neck swiveled, its empty eye sockets fixing on the boy.

’It’s active!’ Simon realized with a jolt of fear. It wasn’t just a static display; it was imbued with summoning magic. He felt the blood drain from his face as he broke into a sprint. He vaulted the safety fence in a single motion, focusing Jet-Black into his legs.

’Jet-Black Step!’

As Simon launched himself through the air, the skeleton’s jaw gaped open, lunging for Shun.

’I have to be faster...!’

’Woosh!’

His arms, reaching out to grab the boy, closed on empty air. A tendril of green liquid had already wrapped around Shun’s waist, pulling him to safety. Simon, his momentum unchecked, crashed face-first into the skeleton.

’Ouch!’ He crumpled to the floor, clutching his face.

"A so-called bodyguard shouldn’t be letting his guard down like that, should he?" a smooth voice drawled.

A man emerged from the dim lighting. He had long, narrow eyes, prominent eyelashes, and a wide mouth. One hand was casually tucked into his pocket; the other arm had transformed into the liquid appendage that now held Shun. The man set the boy down gently.

"Uncle Finch!" Shun cried, beaming.

The man, Finch, returned his arm to normal and ruffled Shun’s hair. "You have to be more careful. Some of these undead can move, you know."

"I told you, I’m fine! Oh, let me introduce you!" Shun pointed at Simon. "This is the strongest bodyguard from Kizen! Special Admission No. 1, Simon Polentia!"

"Hmm." Finch stroked his chin, his eyes raking over Simon from head to toe. He then broke into a smile and extended his right hand. "Finch Nikiman. I’m a necromancer myself."

"Simon Polentia."

The moment Simon took his hand, it dissolved into a gooey, green liquid. He was startled but forced himself to remain perfectly still.

"Hahaha! Just a little joke!" Finch laughed, his hand reforming. He gave Simon’s hand a light shake before tucking his own back into his pocket. "A first-year, here to earn some pocket money? I don’t know what soft-hearted ideals brought you to this resort island, but you should at least do your job properly. Wouldn’t you agree?"

It was a clear reprimand. In response, Simon placed a clenched fist over his heart and bowed deeply—not to Finch, but to Shun.

"Please forgive my negligence, my lord."

Finch’s eyebrow twitched.

"Ah, Simon! What are you doing!" Shun cried, grabbing his pant leg. "And Uncle, stop scolding my bodyguard! That was my fault!"

"Haha, scolding? I was merely offering some advice to a junior," Finch said, trying to save face as he shot a subtle glare at Simon.

’Well, look at this one...’ he thought. He had assumed Simon was just a sheltered, pretty-faced noble, but the boy clearly had a spine.

As Simon straightened up, Finch cleared his throat. "So, you’re Kizen’s Special Admission No. 1?"

"Yes."

"The expectations must be high. As a senior, allow me to offer some advice: don’t assume everything you learn at Kizen is the absolute truth. Frankly, the school has gone off the rails. It was once the stuff of legends, but its teaching methods have become old and rigid..."

"Excuse me, Mr. Finch," Simon interjected politely. "Are you a Kizen graduate?"

The smile on Finch’s face tightened. "Ahem. No, I began my studies at Aland, the public necromancer academy."

"Ah, I see."

"You’ll meet them soon enough," Finch pressed on, "but the top students from Aland, Sierra, and Moiran sometimes transfer to Kizen. They’re more competent than the existing Kizen students in every way!"

Simon smiled sweetly. "Wow, that’s amazing! To think they’re more competent than Kizen’s students. If that’s the case, why would they even need to transfer to Kizen?"

’...This little bastard!’ Finch fumed internally.

The boy was getting under his skin with that polite, innocent act. But he couldn’t openly slander Kizen, so he had no choice but to swallow his anger.

"Ahem. Well, every institution has its pros and cons, wouldn’t you say?"

"Yes, that’s right."

"Uncle Finch! Hurry up!" Shun whined. "You said you were going to show the undead to me and Simon!"

"Ah, of course." Finch quickly composed himself. "Let’s put aside such student-level talk. A necromancer’s true career begins after graduation, does it not? Allow me to show you the world of the professionals."

"I look forward to it," Simon replied, placing a light hand on Shun’s shoulder. The boy looked up, and Simon simply smiled, saying nothing. But his eyes delivered a clear message.

’If you run off again, you’ll be sorry.’

Shun felt a sudden chill and shivered.

"Now then, my two esteemed guests," Finch announced, gesturing grandly. "Let me begin by explaining this piece over here."

As a necromancer affiliated with Blue Harbor, Finch was a pioneer in next-generation undead research. Of the one hundred creations in the exhibition hall, twenty were his. As he began his explanation, Simon had to admit that he was genuinely impressed.

Whatever his character flaws, Finch’s skills were flawless. He had crafted high-quality undead with innovative abilities using Blue Harbor’s native monsters. ’But perhaps because this is an exhibition for entirely new undead, they’re a bit lacking in practicality,’ Simon mused. Some of the creations were so outlandish he could scarcely imagine a use for them. Drawing on what little knowledge he had, he decided to point out a few of the shortcomings.

"For this Rocker Worm Skeleton’s tail," Simon began, "wouldn’t it be better to cover it with protein or chitin rather than forcibly connecting it with bone? As it is now, it looks like the joints will overload and become useless after just a few swings."

At Simon’s critique, Finch’s face flushed, and he bristled defensively.

"Hmph, what does a first-year know! There’s a reason for every part of the process. Spouting half-baked ideas doesn’t solve the practical challenges!"

"Ah, of course. My apologies for overstepping."

Finch then pulled a small notepad from his pocket.

"So, where did you say would be best to cover with chitin?"

Simon blinked.

They continued their discussion as they toured the exhibition hall, but Shun was already losing focus, letting out a wide yawn. Seeing this, Simon discreetly poked Pier’s clone on his uniform.

’Pier. Are you there? I need your help for a moment.’

[With what?]

While Finch was engrossed in his explanation and Shun was yawning repeatedly, Simon detached Pier’s clone from his uniform and held it out to the boy.

"Shun, look at this."

"What is it?"

"It moves if you poke it."

Shun prodded Pier’s clone with his fingertip.

[What is the meaning of this!] Pier’s voice echoed in Simon’s mind, horrified. [I am not a toy!]

"Wow!" Shun gasped, his eyes wide. "When I tickle it, the skull’s mouth opens and closes!"

"Cool, right?" Simon grinned.

[Boy! Get him away from me at once!]

"What happens if I pinch it like this?"

With Pier reluctantly playing along, Shun’s enthusiasm quickly returned. Soon, they made their way up to the fifth floor of the exhibition hall.

"And now," Finch announced, "I shall unveil the highlight of this exhibition."

He pulled away a white cloth, revealing what looked like a large fish tank.

Inside was a skeleton of a shape Simon had never seen before. Its body was like an alien creature—a cross between a jellyfish and an octopus—but it was made of bone, its form held together by a surrounding gelatinous liquid. Most striking of all, the long limbs of this jellyfish-like monster were made of pure bone. They resembled mechanical appendages with perfectly interlocking joints, but they were unmistakably organic.

"The Invertebrate Undead Overlord." Finch’s playful demeanor vanished, his voice turning grave. "The material is a deep-sea monster, the Kraken. It resembles a deep-sea mollusk, but uniquely, its core structure is composed of bone, meeting the criteria for a skeleton. And this specimen isn’t even fully grown. No one has ever captured an adult Kraken."

Finch placed his palm on a magic circle. With a low hum, the Overlord began to move.

’Incredible...!’ Simon’s jaw went slack, his eyes wide with disbelief. The six long, bony limbs moved as freely as the flexible tentacles of a mollusk. He’d never known bone could be so fluid.

"It possesses not only speed but also formidable cutting power."

Finch retrieved a steel plate from his Subspace and held it above his head. The Overlord’s limb shot out in response.

The long appendage extended from the tank, drew a clean line through the air, and the steel plate was neatly split in half. A second limb followed, piercing the center of the falling metal.

’Unbelievable.’

For a student of summoning, this was torture. To have such a magnificent undead right before his eyes and be unable to use it was agonizing. At Finch’s signal, the waiting staff covered the tank once more.

"Mr. Finch," Simon called out.

"Yes? Do you have a question?"

"If someone wanted to buy this undead, what would the price be?"

Finch smirked, placing a hand on his hip.

"Is that an official inquiry from Kizen? Or..."

"No, no. Just a personal question."

"Well, this is a research specimen of astronomical value. It’s not for sale, nor is it mine to sell. But if I had to put a price on it..." Finch paused, considering. "I’d have to ask for at least 10,000 Gold."