Necromancer Academy’s Genius Summoner

Chapter 213

"P-Professor Bahil…!"

Rekon knelt before Bahil. He then pointed to his chest with a trembling hand.

"Y-You remember me, right?"

"Of course, Rekon."

A soft smile formed on Bahil's mouth.

"I heard your voice in the distance and immediately recognized it was you, Rekon."

Rekon's face lit up.

"I-I beg you! There must be some mistake, throwing me away like this! If you can tell them—"

"Ah, actually, the reason I came here…"

Bahil's smile faded.

"…is to say goodbye."

"What?"

Bahil put his fedora onto his head, covering his eyes in shadow.

"You're a reasonably competent student, and if it had been a normal curriculum instead of this integrated second semester, you might have survived quite a while, perhaps even made it to second year."

"Th-That's right! I can still—"

"But most importantly…"

All the cheeriness was gone from Bahil's voice.

"A necromancer who can't fight priests isn't needed in Kizen."

Rekon stiffened at those words.

"It's good that we filtered you out here. No matter how good you are, a soldier whose general pisses his pants at the sight of divinity is bound to fall prey to the priests in a war. Ahh, honestly…"

Bahil grin was that of a devil.

"By filtering you out, we were able to save so many lives."

Thud.

As if hit by a curse instead of words, Rekon felt his heart ache and collapsed in despair.

Bahil gestured to the servants, watching Rekon as the servants grabbed him by the arms and dragged him away.

"…"

Silence filled the courtyard.

"It is the right of the winner to mock the loser."

Bahil pressed down his fedora and looked around at the jeering students.

"But there's nothing worse than laughing at someone out of envy when you don't even deserve to feel above them."

The silence grew heavier, and a few students gulped. As Bahil turned away, the assistant teacher who had caught Rekon hesitantly ran up to him.

"Professor Bah—"

"You'll be punished, Assistant Teacher Arita."

She paused.

"To think that you couldn't even handle a simple problem like this because of your personal feelings. Was this really an issue that I had to interfere in?"

It was highly unusual for a professor to reprimand an assistant teacher in front of the students.

She audibly gulped and bowed her head in resignation.

"I'm sorry. I'll take any punishme—"

"I'll send a letter of recommendation to Moiran, the public school for necromancers."

She looked up, startled.

"Rekon is a pretty decent guy. I'm sure they'll gladly take him if it's Moiran. Then it's up to him to get his act together and become a top student there so he can come back to Kizen as a transfer student. Either that or he can just fall apart."

The assistant teacher's eyes began to water, filling with tears.

She bowed sincerely.

"Thank you! Thank you so much, Professor!"

Bahil gave her a quick wave before walking away.

As the students on their way to the Great Hall moved out of his way, Bahil stopped beside where Simon and Rick were standing and softly said,

"I'll see you in class."

Simon looked up, startled. Bahil was already gone, quickly walking into the Great Hall. As soon as he was out of sight, the students erupted into fervent whispers. The main topic was, of course, Bahil.

"Starting now…"

Rick clapped in determination.

"…my major will be Curs— Ouch!"

"Grow up, you dumbass!"

The two turned around to see Meilyn and Camibarez, already changed into their new uniforms.

"When did you guys get here?"

"Only now. We heard the commotion and came over."

Replied Camibarez.

Rick eagerly nudged Simon a few times.

"Hey! Hey! Did you see that? You guys heard it, too, right? Professor Bahil told me he'll see me in class! Do you think I'll be asked to be his direct disciple?"

Simon turned his head silently, and Meilyn sighed. However, Camibarez repeated, "Really? Really?" and seemingly believed Rick.

"Now, students! Please hurry to the Great Hall!"

Servants came out and shouted,

"The opening ceremony is about to begin!"

Simon entered the grand building, excitement filling his veins.

'Being here reminds me of the entrance ceremony.'

It still made him giddy remembering when he sat there, not knowing what to expect, and then was called up as the S.A.1 to give the lead as a student representative.

"Now! Please take your seats!"

"The ceremony will begin shortly!"

The servants went around and settled the chattering students into their seats.

A moment later, the curtains of the Great Hall's stage were drawn back, and a man slowly stepped out.

"Silence."

The students craned their necks to see who it was, and those who recognized him let out exclamations of surprise.

Hollow eyes with dark bags beneath them, an unmotivated expression, and the trademark shaggy, disheveled hair.

A deep smile formed on Simon's lips.

'It's been a while, Professor Aaron!'

It was an official event, so he wore a formal suit, unlike his usual casual attire. The girls in front of him squealed with delight at the rare sight of him looking so put together.

"Do you not understand the meaning of silence?"

His words immediately brought a hush to the Great Hall.

As the students stiffly placed their hands in their laps and looked askance, Aaron strode forward to the edge of the stage. A servant placed a stand-up loudspeaker crystal ball in front of him before running back off the stage.

"Ah. Mic test."

Aaron fiddled with the volume on the crystal before opening,

"First of all, congratulations everyone on passing the opening test. I'm excited to start the new semester with you all."

A small few students clapped slightly. Seeing that, Aaron went from expressionless to widely smirking.

"I take it that you're not that happy, huh?"

"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!"

A deafening cheer erupted from the crowd.

Simon and Meilyn covered their ears. Students were waving their ties, Camibarez clapped her hands enthusiastically, and Rick was up on his chair whistling.

"Alright. I won't start the integrated second semester with such a stiff atmosphere. You guys are winners. Although brief, I will let you bask in your winner's high for a bit."

Simon let out a small laugh after hearing that. The word 'brief' seemed meaningful to him.

"Now, let me explain the test you took. I'm sure some of you are still confused."

* * *

* * *

With a wave of his hand, a large mana screen appeared from nowhere.josei

"This is the core program for the entire second semester. It is formally known as the 'Broad Dark Magic Aptitude Test'. In short, BDMAT."

After taking a moment to clear his throat, Aaron continued,

"This is the most important test, replacing the traditional first-semester finals and second-semester midterms. The grades of already completed written assessments will be evaluated as a whole at the end of the second semester. Duel Evaluations will also be less frequent than they were in the first semester."

The students looked at each other in excitement. Meilyn sighed with a grim expression.

"As I expected… So they're really throwing away the written exams, huh?"

Meilyn's biggest strength was the written exams. It was a shame because she had been ranked second across the whole of the first-year cohort in her midterm exams alone.

Camibarez reassured,

"You were in the top ten in the opening test, so I'm sure you'll be able to do well in the practical exams!"

"Yeah. Thanks, Cami."

Meanwhile, Aaron continued,

"The BDMAT is divided into five tests."

A new screen came up, showing images of a desert, snowy mountains, grasslands, and more. Students scrambled to their feet, realizing what was coming next.

"This video is just a sample, so there's no need to pay that much attention. To cut to the chase, you'll be thrown into five different types of battlefields and tested on your ability to utilize a variety of dark spells as a necromancer agent."

Within the video, students were depicted being thrown up into clouds, groaning out all manners of dark spells in the vain hope of survival, and then crashing down painfully into the ground. Simon was relieved that the course being displayed was a sample.

"Each test has a theme, and what is being evaluated in each item will be different. You're ranked from first to last, all the way down to 898. The bottom 50 students will be expelled on the spot. They'll go home."

The students gulped.

Aaron mentioned that there were five tests in all, so the program alone would guarantee the elimination of 250 people. Adding in the eliminations from the 'lowest squad' in the Duel Evaluation, the final exam, and failing grades…

Simon wondered if even half the grade would survive.

"The opening test you just took was one of these five. Obviously, the themes of this test were fighting divinity, self-regulation, and overcoming trauma."

Simon nodded. If this counted as one of the five, that meant there were four exams left in the second semester.

"I'm warning you in advance. These tests will be difficult."

Said Aaron in a heavy voice.

"Although there is a minimum of 50 people going home after every test, there is no maximum. Everyone who fails to meet the standard will go. I've seen 120 people leave from a single test. It is important to go for first, but you must prioritize your survival."

"Yes, Professor!"

Nervously replied the students.

"Also, the themes of the tests can be a bit extreme. Some students may come in first on one test but be last on the next. My advice is to avoid over-specializing and to improve your general skills so you can increase your overall level as an elite necromancer. But if you still insist on following one path, make it versatile enough to handle any situation alone."

Then, a student from the front row raised her hand.

Aaron continued his explanation, acting like he didn't see her hand, but after speaking for a bit he looked at her with a frown. Perhaps her hand waving side to side was annoying him.

"What is it, Jamie Victoria?"

At this point, there wasn't a professor teaching Class A who didn't know the name of Jamie, the master questioner.

She jumped to her feet and asked the question loud enough for every other student in the massive hall to hear.

"My name is Jamie Victoria from Class A! I was wondering when the themes for each test will be announced!"

"They won't be."

Jamie froze, her arm still raised. The other students whispered to each other in bewilderment as well.

"You'll have to figure out the test themes on your own. The content of the lessons, the topics in the performance assessments, the flow of supplies, rumors, legends, and folklore. We will provide hints in various ways. There may even be clues in the professors' jokes, so pay close attention."

As the students gasped in disbelief, Rick looked like he was about to squeal in delight.

"That's wild! Wow! So, it's a war of information? Doesn't this guarantee that the semester will be fun? Ehehehehe! Y'all are dead, for real!"

Simon silently massaged Rick's shoulders. He had to survive in Kizen.

"Of course,"

Aaron continued,

"I'm sure there will be false rumors and gossip to eliminate competitors. I'd say that keeping rumors to yourselves and focusing on improving would be for the best."

Somehow, Simon felt like Aaron was looking at Rick and talking to him directly. Rick, feeling the same, was smiling through his sweat.

"Well, that took us a while, seeing as we had to explain everything in depth."

A servant standing at the back was flicking his hand to the side, gesturing for him to cut it short.

"That's it for the briefing on the new test. We shall now begin the actual ceremony."

With the test explained, Aaron stepped to the side and became the master of ceremonies.

Simon expected the introverted professor to be like a fish out of water taking that role, but he was surprised at how well Aaron handled it.

The four kingdoms' national anthems and the school songs were played quickly or omitted.

There were speeches by representatives from each kingdom, an announcement from the facility manager, the Commander of Keepers gave some notes, and then the time for the oath had arrived.

"Now for the taking of the oath, led by the student representatives. The top male and female student, when called upon, shall come forward."

Aaron held up a slip of paper in his hand.

"Normally, the grades from the first semester's final exam would determine the top, but due to special circumstances we will do it the same as the entrance ceremony. Special Admission No.1 Simon Polentia and Special Admission No.2 Serene Aindark, please come forward."

"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

Simon stood from his seat, anticipation in his eyes. Rick was more excited than Simon, slapping him on the arm, while Camibarez clenched her fists and cheered him on.

"…"

Meilyn, on the other hand, looked very displeased. She gave the two of them a dirty look, and Rick and Camibarez returned to their seats.

Clearly, she wasn't happy that her arch-nemesis, Serene, had been chosen to represent the girls.

As Simon walked up to the front of the stage and waited, Serene walked past the students with a queenly gait.

She walked partway up the stairs, stopped, held her right hand out to Simon, and smiled.

She was asking for an escort.

"…Hey, please don't do this."

Simon panicked and tried to decline, but Serene acted as though she hadn't heard him and beckoned with the hand, waiting.

Every second that Simon hesitated delayed the ceremony, and the broadcasting servant cleared his throat.

Out of options, Simon took Serene's hand and escorted her to the stage like a gentleman.

Meilyn's eyes burned with rage as she watched.

"%!@#!&%!@^!!! She's doing that on purpose to taunt me!"

Camibarez desperately grabbed Meilyn's arm, holding her back.

An equally enraged man kicked the seat in front of him, knocking it over with a person still on it.

"Dammit! I should've been up there if things went normally, not him!"

"Hold it, Hector!"

Hector's faction grabbed him and held him back.

Meilyn and Hector went on a rampage, but Aaron had the ceremony proceed regardless.

"All rise. Repeat after the student representatives and take the oath."

The sound of nearly 900 students rising to their feet filled the room.

Simon and Serene exchanged a glance and nodded.

A piece of paper with the words of the oath floated in front of them, likely conjured there by a servant.

The two straightened their backs, raised their right hands into the sky, and began.

"I swear."

"I swear!"

Behind them, 896 students were repeating every word they said.

Simon took a deep breath and continued.

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