Chapter 55
No matter how scary Simon was, work still had to be done. The assistant instructor spread her fingers.
“There’s a reason I insisted on doing a mock duel. For students like you, who are lost and don’t know where your strengths lie, pushing you to the limit usually reveals the answer. In the most dangerous and crucial moments, you find out what you truly rely on.”
“Ah……”
“In your case, you chose to start with summoning magic on your own, right? But once you were pushed into a corner, you instinctively switched to magical combat without a second thought. You seem to have talent in that area too. Is there really anything left to consider?”
“……”
She felt a twinge of guilt.
Saying “I only used magical combat because the enemy got too close” didn’t cut it. Simon had already sent out three skeletons, finished enhancing his body with Darkness, and was ready for close combat. It was a near-instinctive move.
“I’m not telling you to decide right now. Just take your time and think it over~”
“Thank you, assistant instructor.”
Once Simon left, the instructor let out a sigh of relief inwardly.
Just then, in the distance, she saw her senior instructor guiding another student.
The senior wore a protective vest, and the student—also in a vest—lay sprawled on the floor, dazed. Looked like they had already gone a few rounds.
The student thanked her and walked off. Now was the chance.
“Waaaah! Unnieee!”
The assistant instructor ran and dove into the senior’s arms.
“That was so scary!”
She whined with a babyish lisp, but the senior frowned and pushed her away.
“Because you were the first one to start guiding duels, now all the students are begging for fights! So annoying.”
“......Heeeng.”
“Anyway, what were you scared of?”
Like tattling to her mom, the assistant instructor pointed toward Simon. He was alone in a corner, lost in thought.
“Ah, Simon, Special Admission No. 1.”
“I thought he was all cutesy, but he’s terrifying. That was the first time my heart dropped during a duel with students.”
Her senior, annoyed by the childish whining, crossed her arms.
“So, what did you tell him?”
“I said, ‘You're insanely good at magical combat, so why cling to summoning magic?’ but in a roundabout way.”
“Hmph.”
It was true that with just a few summoning spells learned in the early semester, one would naturally fall behind in duels.
The subjects that had the advantage in early duel evaluations were obvious, chiefly Katarology and Magical Combat. Summoning and Spiritology were disciplines that needed more time.
‘So he’s struggling because he wants to pursue summoning? Well, I guess that kind of privileged problem is only something he can worry about now.’
No point trying to talk sense into him now. Once he dropped to a lower squad and desperation kicked in, his perspective would change—so she thought.
‘And if not, then maybe… being a genius…’
For a moment, an image flashed in her mind, Simon squaring off against the Cyclops.
‘…he might come up with something new.’
* * *
After the mock duel with the assistant instructor, Simon felt his mind even more tangled. Two conflicting thoughts were clashing in his head.
But at least one thing had become clear.
‘For the upcoming duel evaluation, skeletons alone won’t cut it.’
He slowly replayed the mock duel in his mind.
To be honest, the skeletons had been completely useless. Worse, they had been exploited by the opponent as tools to land a curse on him.
He had to adapt. To survive here, constant change and growth were necessary.
A new challenge had arrived for Simon.
“Simon!”
Deep in thought, Simon looked up.
Waving with a bright smile was Kamibarez. Behind her, Dick and Maelyn were walking side by side, bickering as usual.
“Hmph, hmph, how could you not land a single hit?”
Maelyn stuck out her tongue teasingly. Dick clenched his jaw in frustration.
“Ah! I was just going easy on you because you're a girl!”
“Mm~ next time, still can’t hit me~”
Before Dick could even retort, Maelyn giggled and darted behind Simon to hide.
“By the way, Simon, weren’t you supposed to be off thinking alone? Next thing I know, you’re sparring with the assistant instructor?”
“Yeah. Kinda just happened that way.”
“Did you win?”
Simon scratched his head with an awkward smile.
“How could I possibly beat the instructor?”
As he said that, Simon glanced over at the assistant instructor.
She happened to be looking his way, too—but as soon as their eyes met, she quickly turned and ran off.
‘What was that about?’
Simon tilted his head in confusion.
“Ah—by the way, isn’t this duel evaluation way too stressful?”
Dick grumbled, scratching his head.
“Not all necromancers go around fighting. There’s the academic faction, the research faction, too. No matter how old the tradition is, this is just brutish.”
Kamibarez nodded timidly in agreement. Meanwhile, Maelyn smirked with half-lidded eyes.
“You’re only stressed because you’re weak.”
“I told you, I was going easy on you!”
She snorted as if it wasn’t even worth dignifying.
“Here’s my opinion. No matter how ‘academic faction’ you claim to be, if your combat ability is in the bottom 10%, you’re just untalented. Disqualified as a Keyzen necromancer.”
At those words, Kamibarez drooped her head. The wings fluttering on her back fell limp.
“Ah!”
Realizing belatedly what she’d done, Maelyn started sweating and rushed over.
“No, no! I didn’t mean you! You’re a vampire, from the great Ursula family!”
“But I… I’m not very confident in fighting.”
“Don’t worry! I’ll personally train you!”
As the two girls chattered on, Dick heaved a deep sigh and stepped next to Simon.
“You’re lucky though. You don’t have to stress about the duel evaluation.”
“No, I’m worried too.”
“Heh, really? From what I’ve overheard, it sounds like everyone wants to avoid being matched with you…”
At that moment, Simon’s eyes gleamed.
His right hand shot up beside his head—Paht!—just as something came flying in.
Thuuud!
“Wagh!”
Dick gasped in shock. A cloud of dust scattered from the impact.
Simon moved his eyes to look. It was a protective vest.
Step. Step.
“Simon Follentia.”
Hector approached. Behind him trailed members of his faction, snickering like bodyguards.
“Put it on. Let’s fight.”
“……”
Simon sighed softly and picked up the vest.
Then—
Fwaaahhh!
He hurled it with incredible speed. The vest slammed into Hector’s hand.
He barely managed to catch it, but sweat was trickling down his forehead.
“Get lost. I’m not in the mood to deal with you right now.”
“……You bastard!”
Hector’s face turned red, then blue. Veins bulged from his neck as his fist turned black with Darkness.
Enraged, he stomped forward, and Simon didn’t back down, lifting his chin.
“Don’t do it, Hector.”
At that moment, Maelyn rushed in and stood between Simon and Hector.
“...Don’t butt in, Ivory Tower.”
Hector spoke coldly.
“You’re not a kid, so why are you acting like one? If you keep pulling this thug crap, I’m calling the professor.”
Hector’s lips trembled with rage at being interrupted, then he spat out,
“Serne’s little lackey.”
Instantly, the atmosphere turned frigid.
Dick’s eyes widened, Kamibarez’s face went pale, and even Hector’s faction flinched and turned toward him.
But most of all, Maelyn snapped. A Dark Flare magic circle unfolded in her palm.
‘This is bad!’
Hector wasn’t wearing protective gear, and the student protection period was over. On top of that, using an attack spell on an unguarded student during class wouldn’t end with just a simple disciplinary action.
Simon dashed toward her. Hector stood still, the corner of his lips twitching smugly as if daring them to go ahead.
“Enough.”
Simon, Maelyn, and Hector all froze at the same time.
The assistant instructor had somehow slipped between them with a smile.
“Is something going on?”
She had approached so fast they didn’t even notice. Even in that tense moment, Simon quickly covered Maelyn’s palm, and Hector politely bowed at the waist.
“There was no issue, Assistant Instructor. I apologize for causing a disturbance.”
Among the students, Hector had the reputation of a tyrant, but to the professors and instructors, he had a strong image of being polite and well-mannered.
Turning his back, Hector muttered, “Let’s go”. His faction, glancing between the assistant instructor and Hector, quickly followed after him.
“......Hmph.”
The assistant instructor turned toward Maelyn. She hesitated, then quickly lowered her head.
“Hector, Maelyn. Consider this a warning, both of you. You were about to do something Professor Jane would hate the most.”
Thankfully, the assistant instructor didn’t press the issue and left. The suffocating tension in the air lifted, and Dick let out a deep sigh.
“Ah~ I’m dying to smash Hector’s skull, f***. Just one clean punch, that crazy bastard.”
“Maelyn! Are you okay?”
“Ah, yeah. I’m fine, Kami.”
She took a deep breath.
“Just… lost my cool a bit.”
‘More than a bit.’
Simon thought, but before he could say anything, Maelyn lifted her head and spoke.
“And you.”
“Yeah?”
“This is embarrassing, but could you let go now?”
Simon was still holding her hand. He nodded and casually let go.
“Haah, seriously.”
She walked over, suddenly grabbed Simon’s hand with both of hers, and turned it palm-up.
His palm was beet red from a burn.
“You’re seriously nuts, aren’t you? That was a Dark Flare magic circle, and you just grabbed it with your bare hand?”
Simon only gave an awkward smile. Maelyn scowled and pulled him by the wrist.
“I’m taking this kid to the infirmary real quick.”
“Ah, okay! Go ahead!”
* * *
They went to the infirmary and received treatment. Fortunately, it was only a mild burn.
After applying ointment and wrapping it with a bandage, the two headed back down to the training hall.
“...Simon.”
“Yeah?”
“Why did you cover my palm like that?”
Simon shrugged.
“Why ask something obvious? If the assistant instructor had seen you trying to cast a spell, it would’ve been a huge problem.”
She let out a little cough.
“Earlier—”
“Thanks, Maelyn.”
They both spoke at the same time. She quickly turned her head away.
“For stopping me and Hector from fighting earlier.”
“......”
“And then you almost ended up fighting him instead, but this time I stopped you. Guess that makes us even.”
Simon chuckled, but Maelyn had a deeply conflicted look on her face.
“You know, Simon. That’s your problem.”
“......?”
“You’re too ridiculously kind. You know that? So thoughtful it’s annoying. But.”
She stepped forward and grabbed Simon by the shoulders.
“This time, it won’t work.”
“......?”
Then, after taking a deep breath, she squeezed her eyes shut like she was making a big decision.
“Thank. You!”
Shouting those words, she bolted off toward the training hall as if running away.
“......”
Simon, stunned, stood blankly for a moment, then let out a soft laugh.
[Like father, like son.]
Feer’s doppelgänger clicked his tongue.
Simon poked it firmly with his finger, signaling it to shut up.
Superb.