Chapter 350
Mutant Club Room.
“My friends, how about this? My recommendation.”
Benya Vanilla, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time, looked to be in a good mood. She was energetically chattering in front of Simon, holding a “Lich Material List” she had personally and carefully selected.
“Hmm, the skeleton isn’t urgent, so I’d like to look at the heart first.”
“Really?”
Simon’s preparations for crafting a lich were proceeding smoothly.
For the lich’s skeleton, he planned to use the “Crystal Skeleton” obtained at the last after-school BMAT, and for the lich’s staff, he intended to somehow manage with the autonomous staff “Areldellu”.
The problem was the “heart”. Simon looked at one of the items Benya recommended on the list.
「Heart of Adeka」
– Registration Number: LSY-BA-55-70
– Direct conversion method.
– Darkness-flame specialization.
– Weight: 450g
– Maximum Darkness conversion capacity: 5,000PD
– Maximum output: 500Rcm.
– Durability: Medium.
– Freshness: High.
.......
There was plenty to check, from weight, to output, to conversion capacity. But what mattered most to Simon was at the very bottom.
– Price: 8,000 gold.
“Eight thousand gold…?”
Simon’s entire fortune right now, including the money from selling the organs of the Abyssal Horror, was about 3,000 gold.
That alone was already a significant sum, but still nowhere near enough to buy a lich’s heart. There was a reason why summonology was called a money-eating beast.
“What’s wrong?”
At Benya’s question, Simon shrank back and replied,
“...It’s just, a bit more expensive than I thought.”
“Really? That’s about the usual market price.”
The granddaughter of a rich household spoke as if it were nothing.
The reason why the heart to make a Life Vessel was so expensive—naturally, you couldn’t make a Life Vessel with just any heart.
Being equivalent to the necromancer’s “Core”, the heart needed to have magical properties. In fact, hearts capable of becoming Life Vessels were treated as “luxury artifacts”.
“I’ll check the others too.”
Simon turned to the next page of Benya’s list.
He didn’t know the finer details, so for now, he only checked two things: the name and the price.
「Heart of Hove」
– Price: 12,000 gold.
「Heart of Verit」
– Price: 14,000 gold.
“The price just keeps going up?”
The first heart he saw for 8,000 gold was practically the cheapest, while the usual price range was in the low tens of thousands.
And the most expensive item on the list was—
「Heart of Herseba」
– Registration Number: LVT-CP-10-91
– Reverse conversion method.
– Special ability specialization.
– Weight: 900g
– Maximum Darkness conversion capacity: 10,000PD
– Maximum output: 2,000Rcm.
– Durability: Best.
– Freshness: Best.
“I want it.”
Just from the sample picture in the list, his mouth watered.
Of course, as a necromancer.
From the picture, the heart sat atop an exquisitely luxurious case, holding a vivid blue glow, looking like it could create the strongest lich even if you just shoved it in without care.
But without money, it was just a pie in the sky. Still unwilling to let go, Simon asked,
“Senior, is there any way to make money in a short time?”
Benya immediately raised an index finger and answered,
“Mission evaluations!”
...No matter how he thought about it, the request fee for a mission evaluation would be nowhere near enough.
Even for the cheapest heart, he’d still need 5,000 gold, who would ever pay a student that much for a commission?
Even when Princess Molly summoned him to the Langerstine royal court, the amount he received was 2,000 gold.
‘Should I consult Dick? Or maybe a loan?’
While Simon was deep in thought, Benya slapped her knee and exclaimed,
“I have a good idea!”
Simon quickly looked up.
“What is it?”
“It’s the Pentamonium Academic Conference period right now!”
The Pentamonium Academic Conference was a massive annual event.
Simply put, it was a gathering where the most renowned necromancers of the continent met to present their research results and papers, and exchange various information. Professor Walter, whom Simon had been keeping an eye on, had also left Roke Island temporarily to attend this conference.
“If you have a unique idea as a necromancer, you can write a paper, have it evaluated, and register it at Pentamonium. Then you can sell it or collect royalties from other necromancers! And soon, Keyzen will be sending students too!”
“You mean selling my idea at the conference?”
“Exactly! If it’s a great idea, nobody cares if you’re a student or even just some kid from the streets.”
Simon felt tempted.
Recently, while researching liches, he had come up with several original techniques. He wasn’t sure if professional necromancers would buy them, but still.
“Are you going too, Senior?”
“Of course! I go every year.”
She continued,
“Last year as a first-year, I went as Keyzen’s first-year summonology representative, and with a simplified formula for Skeleton Knights, I earned about 4,000 gold on the spot.”
“Wow!”
At the mention of 4,000 gold, Simon’s jaw dropped.
“I still get a steady trickle of income from it too. Adding it all up, I’ve probably made around 6,000 gold. So, what do you think?”
Simon looked at her with a serious expression.
His biggest goal right now was to create a lich, and he was prepared to do anything for that.
“How can I participate in the conference?”
* * *
The next morning.
Class A students gathered in the “Elementary Black Magic” classroom with excited expressions.
“It’s been a while since we’ve seen Professor Jane!”
“Yeah, really.”
Recently, Jane had been called away on various outside assignments, and Class A hadn’t seen their supervising professor for over a month.
“The professor’s coming!”
The Class A students quickly took their seats.
A moment later, the sound of heels echoed crisply down the hallway, and a short-haired woman entered the classroom.
‘It’s been a while, Professor Jane!’
Simon’s eyes sparkled. She wore her usual indifferent expression.
“Professor! We’re glad you’re safe!”
“Thank you on behalf of the kingdom!”
A group of students who had been waiting at the front of the classroom rushed forward and handed her a bouquet of flowers.
They were all students from the Kingdom of Carlos, and this was their way of thanking her for resolving the recent incident in the “Forest of Giants”, where 7th-class colossal monsters had invaded.
Jane accepted the bouquet from the students, then returned to the podium and stood before the class.
“Class A.”
Every student in the room brightened their faces and answered, “Yes!!”
“I can’t avoid giving you a scolding.”
At some point, Jane was already scanning the documents in her hand.
“In the time I’ve been away, there are still ten students who haven’t secured five BMAT cards. This result is disappointing.”
There was no “glad to see you again” after so long.
“Why is the performance evaluation for Toxicology such a mess? You all should feel ashamed to be falling behind Class B.”
As expected, Jane’s storm of nagging continued. Watching her unleash all the scolding she hadn’t been able to give lately, the students quietly chuckled to themselves.
Only after she had thoroughly shaken their mental state did Jane announce a new piece of news.
“I’m sure you’re aware of the recent topic—the Pentamonium Academic Conference.”
Of course, she began.
“This year again, Keyzen will be sending students to the paper presentation session. The topic is free, and for first-years, two students will be sent per subject. Are there any volunteers?”
At those words, the classroom fell silent.
Representing Keyzen at Pentamonium was an honor akin to family prestige, but having to present one’s own paper before an audience and authorities, then be judged, was an immense burden.
Not to mention, everyone was busy preparing for various performance evaluations.
While everyone hesitated,
Snap!
As if waiting for the moment, one hand shot up high. Everyone’s eyes turned toward it.
“Simon Follentia. You plan to participate in the conference?”
“Yes!”
It had gone exactly as Benya said, so Simon answered without hesitation.
“If your preparation for performance evaluations, finals, or graduation exams is lacking, the school will not force you to participate. Surviving the school schedule is more important than outside events.”
“Of course, I’ll be fully prepared for the school schedule too!”
Jane nodded in satisfaction.
“Shall I put you down for a summonology-related paper presentation?”
“Yes! Please do.”
Jane checked it off with her quill and handed the document to the assistant.
“Wow! You’re really going?”
Dick, from the back row, suddenly poked his head out to ask. Maelyn and Kamibarez also turned to look at Simon.
“Amazing, Simon! A first-year presenting at the conference already!”
“Are you sure you can handle it with the school schedule so busy?”
“It’s fine.”
Simon answered with a relaxed smile.
“I actually already have an idea in mind, so I just need to write it down.”
He simply had to present the paper and collect the money. With it being a two-night, three-day schedule including the weekend, it wasn’t burdensome.
He felt it was a schedule where there was far more to gain than to lose.
‘If I can get the heart through this, it’s over! I’ll make that lich before second year no matter what!’
The feeling of charging straight toward his goal was always satisfying.
* * *
Time passed quickly.
Simon didn’t spend much time preparing the paper for the conference presentation. It was a technique he had already used once, and its completion level was high.
All he had to do was put everything into writing.
Now, the final obstacle awaited. Papers had to be proofread by the subject’s professor.
If the professor judged it subpar here, attending the conference would become impossible.
After finishing his morning classes, Simon was walking toward Aron’s laboratory.
‘Right, there should be one more person today.’
There had to be at least two first-year summonology paper presenters. Most likely, they’d be together for the entire two-night, three-day conference.
‘Toto and Fitzgerald said they weren’t going.’
Who could it be? That person would also be coming for proofreading, so they would meet soon.
A short while later, Simon arrived in front of Aron’s now-familiar laboratory. He knocked lightly with the back of his hand.
“Professor Aron, it’s Simon Follentia.”
Permission to enter came from beyond the door. Simon opened it and stepped inside.
‘...Huh?’
Someone was already there.
He could only see the back, but with long hair and a skirt, it was clearly a female student.
“Right on time. Come in.”
Aron’s voice barely registered in Simon’s ears.
‘No way.’
A tall, slender girl, hands clasped behind her back, her beautiful ivory hair fluttering.
She turned around, eyes widening as she smiled.
“Oh my, fancy meeting you here~ Simon!”
It was none other than Serne Eindark.
Surprise and confusion mingled on Simon’s face.
“W-Why are you here?”
“Why else would I be here? Of course—”
She said “ta-da!” herself as she held up the paper in her hand.
“As a summonology aspirant, I’m going to present my paper at the conference.”
She gave a playful wink with one eye as she said it.
“What a coincidence?”
No, no matter how he thought about it, this wasn’t a coincidence.
Forcing a stiff smile, Simon gave a small wave.
“You know each other? Good.”
Aron said this while glancing at his wristwatch.
“Wait a bit longer. One more person is coming.”
“Huh? Three of us are going together?”
“Yes, it turned out that way.”
Aron answered with a somehow displeased expression.
At that moment, there was a knock—Knock knock.
“Perfect timing. Come in.”
Click.
The door opened, and the third participant appeared.
Superb.
When are we getting more free chapters?
Thanks for the new chapters