Chapter 463
“Can I sit here?”
At Simon’s question, Loraine gave a small nod.
“Mm.”
Scrape.
Simon pulled out a chair, set his bag down, and sat.
After running all the way on the Golem Board, he felt a little warm. He took off his school uniform jacket, draped it over the chair back, and loosened the tie around his neck.
Through the small beads of sweat, his sharp neckline was revealed. Loraine, who had been glancing with only her eyes, quickly returned her gaze forward and spoke.
“What’s in your bag?”
“Oh, this?”
Simon lifted the bag he had set on the floor.
“I brought it out of habit, but honestly, it’s just quills and ink.”
“There wasn’t any announcement about which textbooks to buy.”
“Yeah, the professor will probably tell us today.”
This time, Simon looked at Loraine.
He could see her long eyelashes and ruby-like pupils as she spoke while facing forward. Even during break time, her appearance was flawless, never once out of place.
Although she herself didn’t like hearing such things, she did look like she was two or three years older.
Far more mature than Benya, the senior in 3rd year. Rather than a lively school uniform, a calm, jet-black suit suited her far better.
Simon’s gaze, which had been on her face, shifted to the necklace around her neck.
At the end of the choker necklace dangled a small silver lock like an ornament. But for an accessory, the design was peculiar.
Of all the pretty charms out there, why a lock? There must be a reason.
Simon recalled the necklace Lete wore in the Holy Federation, a choker that sealed away the power of a Saint. That one hadn’t had a lock, though.
‘Did something happen between Loraine and Neftis during the vacation?’
“Simon.”
Startled, Simon snapped his head back.
“Ah, y-yeah!”
“Congratulations on becoming Student Council President.”
Simon smiled awkwardly as he replied, “Thanks.”
“You were the one who should’ve gotten it originally.”
“No way. It suits you much better than me.”
It didn’t sound like she was just being polite. Her calm, straightforward tone carried sincerity.
“Where’s your student council armband?”
“In my bag.”
Simon pulled it out from the front pocket of his bag.
“Professor Jane told me not to flaunt being in the council during class. She said we should attend lessons with the mindset of just another student.”
Loraine nodded.
“Mm. Professor Jane really is wise.”
“Yeah.”
“......”
Maybe because it was the first day of class, but things still felt a bit awkward between them. Even just talking with Loraine in the same classroom felt surreal.
This time, Simon brought up a topic first.
“Loraine, I’m curious about something.”
“?”
“Why did you choose the Department of Summonology?”
Among the many necromancer types, she was the classic “all-in on special ability” type.
In combat or otherwise, she leaned more toward relying on her unique ability than pure black magic. That’s why Simon had thought she would join Darkness Dynamics.
“My ability is summoning-based to begin with.”
“...R-really?”
“Mm. I can empower summoned creatures with my ability, or summon beings constructed entirely from it.”
‘Now that she mentions it…’
Simon recalled her empowering her skeletal horse with her ability, transforming it into a giant red bone steed.
And her main technique — the crimson beam fired through a portal — wasn’t something she shot herself. It was launched by some mysterious lifeform inside that portal.
“To broaden the spectrum of my ability, I thought Summonology was the right choice.”
“That makes sense.”
“Then aren’t you curious about this too?”
A sly voice chimed in from behind. Turning around, Simon saw a ivory-haired girl with a bewitching smile, Serne Eindark.
“Why I chose Summonology.”
Loraine’s gentle face instantly hardened into one of vigilance. Simon gave a wry smile as he answered.
“You already told me yesterday.”
“Oh my, did I?”
Her tone turned teasing.
“What was it again, hm?”
Serne pressed him, as if waiting for those words.
Simon remembered the reason but mumbled shyly.
“Uh, something about… a standard of judgment, or…”
She stepped closer and placed her hand on the back of his chair.
“Let me tell you clearly.”
Then she leaned forward slowly. A subtle rose fragrance drifted in as her face drew near.
“My standard of judgment is—”
In a soft, whispery voice that brushed against his ear:
“Whether it’s something I want… or not. That’s all.”
Simon’s face turned bright red. Serne straightened up, satisfied by his frozen expression.
“Got it?”
With a fox-like smile, she dropped into the empty chair on Simon’s left.
She immediately crossed her legs arrogantly, placed her arms on the chair’s rests, and lifted her chin high. The complete opposite of Loraine’s composed posture, she radiated an unapologetic “my way”.
‘Here we go again.’
Simon closed his eyes.
Loraine glared at Serne, while Serne sat unmoving, as if to provoke her further. Students around them looked back and forth between the two.
No matter where they went, these two always drew every gaze.
Thud-thud-thud!
Just then, Toto rushed into the classroom, having finished urgent business. He quickly scanned for Simon.
“Simon, there you are!”
Seeing him, Simon waved kindly.
“Over here, Toto!”
“Oh, Simon! You’re sit—”
But Toto froze like a statue. On either side of Simon sat Loraine and Serne, both now turning their eyes on him.
Gasp!
Loraine had only looked because Simon had waved, but to Toto — terrified of girls — it felt like she was glaring coldly.
And Serne’s gaze was even more blatant.
“.....”
The eyes of someone staring at an insect.
‘So s-scary!’
Ever since his encounters with Maelyn, Toto’s phobia of girls had only worsened. He trembled violently. Simon, oblivious, kept urging him over.
‘Hrk… Amazing. How can he talk so casually with such scary girls?’
Toto crept forward and sat behind Simon, feeling like he’d settled on a bed of thorns.
From there he could see the two girls — one with black hair, one with ivory-white — right in front of him.
“H-hello.”
Then the black-haired one, Loraine, turned and greeted him.
Crash!
So startled, Toto toppled right out of his chair. Loraine jumped to her feet, flustered, but Toto sprang up even faster, almost at light speed.
“G-good day, ma’am!”
‘The daughter of Neftis is speaking to me?!’
Bowing deeply, Toto stammered a greeting. Loraine waved her hands awkwardly.
“Don’t do that. We’re both second years.”
“Y-yes! I mean, right!”
“Ugh, noisy.”
Serne looked back, still with those insect-like eyes.
“Want me to turn you into a monkey?”
Toto suddenly felt glad he’d already been to the bathroom. If not, that glare alone might have soaked his pants.
“Enough, Serne.”
Simon intervened. At once, Serne flashed a lovely smile and spoke in a singsong tone.
“Simon, Simon, should we go hang out in Rochest this weekend? Or Langerstine works too.”
Toto wondered how a human voice could change so drastically.
Meanwhile, Loraine reacted sharply as though she’d heard something forbidden.
“Langerstine? Are you planning to sneak off outside the island again without permission?”
“What, are you my teacher now? Why do you interfere in everything between me and Simon?”
The two squared off again, but just then, a student came rushing down the hall.
“Professor’s coming!”
Students scrambled back to their seats. Moments later, the distinct dragging sound of slippers could be heard.
Creak!
The door opened, and Aron entered — as disheveled as ever, his messy hair falling over his face, slippers scraping the floor.
Behind him, the assistants followed briskly, standing stiff at attention.
“Good to see you.”
With a languid voice, Aron spoke.
“Some of you know me, some of you don’t. I’m Aron Deia, and I’ll be teaching Summonology this year.”
Applause burst out across the room.
Aron walked to the blackboard and lazily scrawled the words “2nd Year Summonology”. One hand stuffed in his pocket, the other dragging chalk across the board, his expression radiated endless indifference.
“Relax.”
He said, dropping the chalk hand limp at his side.
“Today’s just orientation. That’s it.”
Simon felt as if cannons had gone off in every direction. Shouts of joy erupted across the classroom.
Aron added another word beneath 2nd Year Summonology: “Orientation”.
“Normally, Keyzen tradition demands we start hard from the first class, but there are… school circumstances.”
He tapped the board with the chalk.
“Tomorrow’s the Inauguration, a big event. So class will resume the day after tomorrow. Still, don’t slack too much.”
“Yes, sir!”
Aron spun the chalk between his fingers and wrote again.
“The three official courses of the Summonology Department this semester are—”
Intermediate Summonology Major
Summon Funerology
Summon Materials Science
He stopped and looked out at the students.
“All are required core courses for second-year students. The other professors are veterans, with far greater achievements than mine. They’re masters who command absolute influence in their fields. Learn all you can from them.”
Essentially, Aron’s Intermediate Summonology Major would set the foundation, textbook-driven, while the other two courses provided specialization and deeper study.
On top of that, pro necromancers in the field and outside scholars would frequently come in for special lectures.
“To give you a taste,”
Aron continued,
“Our first summon this semester will be the Skeleton Knight.”
Skeleton Knight!
Simon’s eyes lit up at the new undead. But Toto and some classmates groaned, faces twisted at the thought of difficulty.
“You’re professionals now. Skeleton Knights should be simple. Check the handouts for details.”
Assistants hurried in, placing printed packets on desks.
Simon skimmed through and froze.
‘So many materials required…’
The list stretched long: textbooks, components for Skeleton Knights, mana oil, bone adhesives, slime byproducts, and more.
The initial cost is huge.
Some things could last a long time, but consumables would always need replacing. Faces around the room darkened.
“Remember,”
Aron drawled,
“Securing materials is part of being a necromancer.”
His voice, though lazy, cut through clearly.
“Set up steady income streams. Find cheap supply routes. Build infrastructure instead of wasting time playing around. Your status as 2nd Year Keyzen students carries far more weight than you think.”
A hand rose.
“What do you mean by steady income streams?”
Aron pointed.
“Take Simon Follentia, for example. At the end of Year 1, he submitted a paper to Pentamonium and now receives ongoing royalties.”
All eyes turned to Simon, who glanced away in embarrassment.
“You could also gain noble patronage as Keyzen students, sell at exhibitions, or deal directly with Rochest merchants. Just establish yourself quickly. Don’t take loans just to keep up, or you’ll end up broke. And don’t bleed your parents dry either.”
A heavy silence fell. Aron’s eyes sharpened.
“To your parents, having a child at Keyzen is their greatest hope. They won’t admit it if funds are tight, but I’ve seen many cases: graduates return home, only to find their families drowning in debt, estates sold off.”
Students gulped.
“I’ll repeat: your status and credit as Keyzen 2nd Year students are strong. If you can’t secure income, come to me. That’s all.”
Simon sighed in relief, at least he still had the 10,000 gold from Israfil’s mission.
“I’ll need a part-time job soon.”
Loraine sighed beside him. Even her allowance wasn’t enough.
“Pocket change.”
Serne remarked breezily with a smile.
Meanwhile, Toto’s pupils quaked like an earthquake. Simon turned back.
“If you’re short, I can lend you some.”
“N-no! Absolutely not!”
Toto waved his arms wildly.
“I can’t trouble you like that! I’ll manage somehow!!”
“Mm, if you say so.”
And so, orientation ended.
Though weighed down by financial pressure, the students still couldn’t hide their joy, with tomorrow free thanks to the Inauguration, happiness was inevitable.
As Simon walked out of the classroom chatting with Loraine and Serne—
“Hey!!”
A sudden hand shot out from the crowd, seizing his wrist. Loraine and Serne stopped in their tracks.
“Maelyn!”
Wearing the student council armband on her right arm, Maelyn Villene tugged at his wrist. She turned to Loraine apologetically.
“Hi, Loraine! Sorry! Need to borrow Simon real quick!”
“Ah, o-okay.”
Loraine waved awkwardly. Serne, however, puffed up indignantly.
“Oh my, Maelyn! You didn’t even see Serne?”
“Serne my ass! Get lost!!”
Dragging Simon by the wrist, Maelyn bolted. Simon stumbled along.
“Maelyn! What’s going on?!”
She grinned as she shouted back.
“What do you think? Student council meeting! Put your armband on already!”
* * *
Student Council Room
“Welcome, Simon!”
As Simon entered, Kamibarez Ursula, stacking and sorting papers, smiled brightly.
“Hey, you’re here.”
Dick Hayword, lounging on a sofa while skimming the exhibition list, raised his head. Both wore their armbands.
Behind Simon, Maelyn clapped her hands.
“Alright! Time to work. We’ve got to finish all preparations for the Inauguration today.”
“Yes!”
“Okay.”
They all gathered supplies when knock knock came at the door.
“Excuse me, student council members!”
Poking his head in was Jane Olivia’s head assistant.
“Professor Jane’s assistant!”
“Originally, Professor Jane was to come herself, but she’s in an emergency meeting. Please follow me for a bit.”
The four left the room, following the head assistant.
“Uh, Assistant—no, Assistant teacher! Where are we going? We’re swamped with work today.”
Maelyn asked, frowning. The assistant gave a warm smile.
“Wouldn’t preparing all this be too much for just four? You’re about to meet the student council’s direct subordinates.”
Everyone’s eyes widened at the word direct.
“Whoa! We get to command subordinates too?!”
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