Chapter 9
***
The following classes were also a series of trials.
The second period was Divine Defense, and the third was Hemomancy.
In each class, the professors called Simon, the Special Admission Number 1, to the podium for a test.
It was an annual event.
Competition was fierce at Kizen, not only among students but also among professors.
Professors with poor performance were dismissed even mid-semester.
Their salaries fluctuated based on their results, as did their influence within Kizen.
Therefore, professors tried to secure as many major students as possible, especially the outstanding ones, whom they tried to recruit as direct disciples.
As part of this effort, they tested the abilities of the top students in the first class, and it was natural for Simon, as Special Admission Number 1, to be called to the podium.
In both classes, Simon had to face a female student named "Meilyn Villenne."
She was the top student in Class A, and one of the highest-ranking students among all first-years.
In terms of written exams, she was practically the top student in the entire school.
There was no way Simon, who had just begun learning dark magic, could win against her.
While he managed to land a hit against Hector, he couldn't even put up a fight against Meilyn.
The professors tilted their heads at this unexpected situation, and the students in Class A finally realized Simon was a beginner.
'Ugh...'
He had endured three classes without a break.
Fortunately, the next class ended a little early, giving him some time to rest.
Simon slumped face down on an empty table in the cafeteria.
'The classes are interesting, but they're incredibly tough.'
He hadn't realized school could be this exhausting.
The fight with Hector had taken a lot out of him.
Simon groaned and rested his head on his arm.
"Hello."
As he was catching his breath, someone spoke to him.
He looked up and saw a short-haired blonde male student with sunglasses perched on his forehead, grinning.
"I'm in Class A with you. I'm Rick Hayward."
"...Simon Polentia."
They shook hands briefly.
"You're already famous. I hear your name being mentioned in other classes."
Simon shrugged.
"Probably because the Special Admission Number 1 bubble is about to burst."
"Hahaha!"
Rick laughed heartily and plopped down in the seat across from Simon.
"Actually, you're the normal one. It's only the first day of school, and everyone's making such a fuss."
"Thanks for saying that."
Rick clasped his hands together, his expression turning slightly serious.
"You know, Hector is already forming his own faction."
"...Faction?"
"He made quite an impression in the first class. It's natural for people to flock to him. He's also the eldest son of an influential family, so he's popular among the noble students."
Simon rested his chin on his hand, looking sullen.
"I'm not interested."
"Hey, hey, listen. 'Politics' are important at Kizen! What do you think will happen if Class A falls completely under Hector's control? If Hector targets someone, that's the end for them. You'll have trouble even finding group members for projects."
That changed things. Simon sat up straight.
"You seem to have a good grasp of the situation. Why aren't you with Hector, then?"
Simon's pointed question seemed to hit a nerve, as Rick's expression faltered.
'He's sharper than he looks.'
Rick chuckled awkwardly and scratched his head.
"Actually, I'm a commoner. From a merchant family."
He stood up and bowed deeply in a formal manner.
"I apologize if a commoner like myself has been disrespectful, My Lord."
"...Don't do that. I heard everyone's equal as first-years at Kizen."
Rick smiled in satisfaction and sat back down.
"That's true, but there are some who insist on flaunting their noble status."
"At least I don't."
"Good to know. Actually, I have a proposition for you."
Rick extended his hand.
"Join my faction, Simon."
"...?"
"Whether your skills are lacking or you're called a bubble, the fact remains that you're Special Admission Number 1. Things like prior learning progress might seem significant now, but they'll eventually even out. Lady Nephtys must have brought you in as a special admission for a reason. You have value."
Simon smiled.
"Forget about factions and all that."
"...?"
Simon extended his hand towards Rick's outstretched hand.
"How about just being friends, as equals?"
Rick chuckled.
"...Wow, that sounds incredibly cheesy."
He never thought there would still be someone at Kizen who wanted to be friends, not "allies" or part of a "faction."
Honestly, it was corny.
Cringeworthy, even.
Nevertheless, amidst the calculating individuals, Simon's approach felt refreshingly different.
Rick reached out and grasped Simon's hand firmly.
"I suppose a bit of sentimentality isn't bad once in a while."
"...Haha."
For Simon, befriending a student who was knowledgeable about Kizen and had political savvy wasn't a bad idea either.
After their brief handshake, they stood up. It was time to head to the next class.
"What's the next class again?"
"Hold on."
Rick took out a notebook from his pocket and opened it.
"Ah, Summoning."
A spark ignited in Simon's eyes.
***
Simon and Rick arrived at the classroom on time.
Unlike the awkward atmosphere of the first class, the students were now chatting with their new friends, and the mood was much more relaxed.
As Rick had said, four male students were gathered around Hector, laughing and talking boisterously.
When Simon passed by, they snickered.
"Oh, look, it's Mr. Special Admission Number 1."
"The biggest bubble in Kizen's history."
"Does it make sense that this guy beat Serene, Chatel, and Lorain?"
They were mocking him, but Hector, at the center of the group, remained silent.
He simply glanced at Simon before turning away.
"Don't mind them, Simon,"
Rick said.
"There's no need to listen to those windbags."
Simon sat down impassively and took out his Summoning textbook from his bag.
"I'm looking forward to this."
"...Huh?"
"The Summoning class."
Simon's eyes were shining. He didn't seem bothered by their taunts at all.
Rick chuckled.
'He really is different.'
A moment later, the bell rang, signaling the start of class.
The students hurried back to their seats.
Shuffle. Shuffle.
The sound of shuffling feet came from outside the classroom.
All the professors they had seen so far, including Bahil Amagar from Curseology, were incredibly impressive.
The students waited with anticipation, wondering who would enter.
Click.
The classroom door finally opened, and a man in his early thirties entered.
He had messy hair, as if he had just woken up, a scruffy beard, a loose shirt and shorts, and worn-out slippers.
Simon wondered if a random neighborhood uncle had wandered into the wrong classroom.
The other students felt the same way.
After seeing the neat and smart attire of the previous professors, this was a bit of a shock.
The professor shuffled to the lectern in his slippers.
"I'm Aaron Deia, and I'll be teaching Summoning this semester."
His languid voice echoed through the classroom.
Aaron walked to the blackboard and slowly wrote the word "Summoning."
He had one hand in his pocket and was writing with the other.
His back exuded an air of utter indifference, but some female students whispered excitedly, as if finding it cool.
"Summoning is the root of necromancy, its very history. Scholars may try to deny it, but it's hard to dispute that our origins lie with gravediggers, tomb robbers, and necrophiles."
Aaron chuckled darkly and put down the chalk.
"Anyway, if you have ears, you've probably heard various things about Summoning. That it's outdated, that it's undervalued, that it's difficult to learn and has too many handicaps."
Some students nodded in agreement.
"All those prejudices you've heard..."
Simon felt his heart begin to race. The other students gulped, waiting for Aaron's next words.
"...are mostly true."
"...?!"
Simon couldn't believe his ears.
What did this Summoning professor just say?
Aaron continued his explanation in his languid voice.
"In the classes you've attended so far, I imagine you've heard about how great our majors are, why you should take them. I personally disagree. We should clearly explain both the advantages and disadvantages so that students can make informed choices."
Aaron walked back to the blackboard and picked up a piece of chalk. The students picked up their quills, ready to take notes.
"The first disadvantage of Summoning."
Simon smiled wryly.
He was starting with the disadvantages?
"Summoning is expensive."
Aaron wrote the words on the board and turned to face the students.
"I'm not kidding. However much you imagine, Summoning requires even more materials."
A sudden silence fell over the classroom.
"The material costs for Summoning alone can exceed the combined costs of all other subjects. Of course. Are you going to kill your classmates, raid villages, and hunt down animals every time you need to create a skeleton or a zombie? No. These days, necromancers use skeleton sets or specially treated corpses that can be directly turned into zombies. Moreover, most of these undead are disposable."
The expressions of some students darkened, especially the commoners.
"There are many cases where the cost of materials consumed in battle exceeds the reward for the mission. If you're planning to major in Summoning, give up on making money. And second..."
Aaron wrote the next words.
"Heavy reliance on summons. Well, this is also obvious. Summoning is about fighting with summons."
Aaron raised his chalk-holding arm and circled the word "reliance" several times.
"If the summons are destroyed, the summoner's combat power decreases by more than 80%."
"...."
"Especially these days, many summoners use customized, semi-permanent undead rather than disposable ones. But what happens if these undead are destroyed in battle?"
Aaron smirked.
"Imagine yourself twiddling your thumbs after losing your summons, while your classmates are spreading out maps and diligently discussing tactics in a real battle."
Simon was increasingly dumbfounded.
He was going this far? Was this guy really a Summoning professor?
"And this reliance is directly related to the first disadvantage."
Aaron drew a line connecting the circled "reliance" to "expensive."
"Losing their main summons deals a critical blow to a summoner, both in terms of combat power and finances. They'll have to spend a long time saving money to restore their strength."
A heavy silence settled over the classroom.
"And finally, the third."
Aaron wrote the words on the board and grinned.
"This is the most important."
***
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