Chapter 489
Hongpeng’s physical training before the weekend was pure hell.
It started with torturous calisthenics that felt like they had been designed with the sole purpose of tormenting human beings.
Running to the mountain peak, leaping across rugged obstacles, sprinting on all fours under an Exhaust curse, carrying a partner on the shoulders while running…
“J-Just kill me already….”
At that moment, Maelyn—who was carrying her partner Simon—let out a mournful wail.
Her legs trembled as if she might collapse at any second, a pitiful sight. Simon, using Cloud, floated himself slightly in the air to ease her burden.
Just then, the assistant’s voice rang out.
“Even the ones being carried must not rest! Think of ways to lessen your partner’s burden by yourselves!”
In that sense, Simon was a good partner. Thanks to him, Maelyn, though lacking stamina, managed to stagger all the way to the finish line.
“Those who’ve arrived, switch! Switch and run back to the starting point immediately!”
Simon’s eyes gleamed. In a flash, like lightning, he swung Maelyn over his shoulder, slamming her into place.
“Kyaaaaaaa!”
With a sudden whump! her view flipped upside down. Shocked, she let out a shrill scream.
“Y-You bastard! What are you doing?!”
But Simon didn’t hesitate. He sprinted. Hector was already running far ahead, and he had to catch up.
“Slow down!! You maniac, slow down!!”
Maelyn’s neck flushed scarlet as she kicked and flailed on his shoulder. Just then, Dick, who was entering the starting point, suddenly asked:
“Oh? Slow down on what?”
“I’M GONNA DIE!!”
By the end of class, all the students were sprawled out, utterly drained. Some were even carried off on stretchers into teleportation circles.
“We won.”
Simon panted heavily, glaring at Hector. Hector also ground his teeth in frustration.
“You idiot!”
Maelyn smacked Simon on the back and turned her head away with a pout.
‘…Boys really are hopeless.’
Even as second-years, they hadn’t matured in the slightest. She wondered when he’d ever grow up.
At that moment, Kamibarez staggered into view, piggybacking Dick.
“Hang in there, Kami!”
It looked exactly like an ant dragging prey several times its own size.
Of course, Dick had once again used his scheming brain, strapping on an invention that made his body float like a balloon.
“Good work! Dick, Kamibarez!”
The assistant checked their names off the list.
And so, one by one, the students returned to the starting point. Hongpeng clapped her hands together with a bright smile.
“Good work, everyone! Tomorrow’s the weekend, right? Make sure you stretch so your bodies don’t break down, and rest well!”
* * *
Thus ended the hellish training, and the weekend finally arrived. Even Simon was sore with muscle pain.
Though exhaustion made him want to sleep the entire day, a Keyzen student couldn’t afford to slack off.
Once the weekend ended, it would be back-to-back major courses. Summon Materials Science in particular was infamous for its insane assignments and it even had a performance evaluation scheduled.
Simon spent the morning working on assignments and studying the Rotating Skeleton Knight, then in the afternoon visited Professor Farahan of Defense Against Holiness to see Whitey and Blackey. By evening, he stopped by Feer’s Ruins to train with the Ancient Undeads and attend legion commander lessons.
Kyaaaaaang—!
The sharp clang of metal rang through Feer’s Ruins. Simon and Feer were clashing greatswords.
Simon gripped the Greatsword of Destruction, his right hand reinforced with Feer’s bones. Feer wielded an ordinary greatsword with only his left hand.
“How’s ‘Kal’ doing now? Any progress?”
Simon asked as Feer suddenly kicked off the ground and charged.
[Nothing I’d call progress—but I found the cause!]
Chaeng! Chaaang!
Sparks flew as the two swords clashed.
[Kal’s body is only half intact! The other half is still in the hands of them!]
“By ‘them’, you mean—”
[That insane group who captured Kal and experimented on him.]
Ka-gagang!
Feer pressed harder, forcing Simon’s feet to drag across the ground.
[We must track down those lunatics and reclaim the missing half of Kal’s body!]
“And if we do… we can save him?”
[Of course, boy!]
Feer grinned as he knocked aside Simon’s greatsword.
[Then the sixth General-level Ancient Undead will be secured! With Kal filling his role, our Legion’s strength will rise tremendously! His disease-based powers are indispensable to us!]
The sixth Ancient Undead!
Simon felt his heart leap. For the inevitable battle with Magnus and the Fifth Legion, he absolutely had to recruit Kal.
Chaeng! Chaeng!
The two ran side by side through the ruins, trading blows.
“I’ve already asked Erze to sneak into the Dresden Royal Library to dig up information!”
Simon ducked under an attack, stamping his left foot deep into the ground and lunging with his greatsword.
“Hopefully she finds something!”
Shhhk!
It was a sharp thrust, but Feer angled his blade and easily deflected it.
[Good! For now, focus on your life in Keyzen! The next mission evaluation—the chance to go outside Roke Island—that’s what matters most!]
“I’ll ask Dick about it when I visit the student council office. Timing-wise, it should be soon.”
Zzeo-oong!
The swords clashed head-on, sending dust flying.
Simon’s lips curved upward.
“I will bring Kal back with my own hands!”
* * *
The sweet weekend passed like light, and a new week began.
Fortunately, Simon had a free period in the morning, so he enjoyed a rare late sleep. But the afternoon held a class he’d been eagerly awaiting.
The last of the three major courses: Summon Funerology.
“Toto! Hurry up!”
Simon grinned playfully, urging Toto on.
“Yeah, yeah! I’m coming!”
They ate lunch in the dormitory dining hall, then took a golem board to the second-year campus.
At last, they reached the Summoning Department building.
Simon was satisfied with the ride, but Toto clutched his stomach, groaning that he had to run to the bathroom again.
Click.
Simon entered the classroom.
He’d arrived early, so only a few students were there.
‘Oh, the window seat’s free.’
It was a prime spot where the fresh spring breeze flowed in. Simon quickly claimed it and pulled out his textbook.
“Hi there?”
A voice as pleasant as a spring breeze drifted over.
It was Loraine. Her eyes shone with warm kindness.
“Ah, hey! Loraine.”
“Good morning, Simon.”
By now, they didn’t even need to ask, “Can I sit here?” Loraine simply sat beside him, and Simon felt secretly pleased that they’d grown closer.
“But isn’t it odd to say good morning? It’s the afternoon class.”
He joked.
“True. Then… good afternoon.”
Thankfully, she played along, even giving him a soft smile.
“I just woke up, so I lost track of time.”
For a split second, Simon imagined the future head of Keyzen Academy, in a princess-themed bedroom with pink wallpaper, yawning in character pajamas after oversleeping. He quickly shook the thought away.
While they exchanged a few words, the classroom gradually filled with students. Chatter and noise filled the air. Toto finally returned from the bathroom and plopped down in front of Simon.
“The first Summon Funerology class. I’m excited.”
Simon muttered while writing his name on the crisp, unused textbook.
“Did you see the syllabus?”
Toto, also scribbling his name, asked.
“The professor is ‘Lin, Rune.’ Never heard of them!”
“Lin, Rune? Is that the first name and surname?”
“No, the class is taught by two professors.”
Loraine added. Both Simon and Toto turned their heads toward her.
Loraine pressed her finger to her lips thoughtfully.
“Think of them as… twins, maybe?”
Simon’s eyes widened.
“You know them?”
“Of course.”
Loraine closed her eyes.
“I’ve known them since I was very young. When I was a baby, they even changed my diapers.”
‘Acquaintances of Lady Neftis?’
Simon grew increasingly curious about who Professors Lin and Rune were. If they had known Loraine since infancy, he guessed they must be in their mid-forties or fifties by now.
Rustle, murmur!
Just then, voices swelled near the entrance.
It wasn’t time for class to begin yet. Which meant—
“They’re here.”
Loraine whispered quietly, slipping into a guarded posture.
A girl with radiant ivory-blond hair flowing behind her, walking as if bathed in a vast halo of light.
Heir of the Ivory Tower, Serne Eindark.
She strolled in, basking in the greetings of her followers, and naturally made her way toward Simon.
“Hm—”
But nearly every seat around Simon was already filled. He sat by the window; Loraine was beside him; Toto was in front; and a nameless boy was behind. The only open seat was diagonal.
Still, Serne’s heels clicked smartly as she approached—not the empty diagonal seat, but the boy sitting behind Simon. He, oblivious, was daydreaming at the window.
“……”
Loraine fixed Serne with a sharp glare.
She was determined to witness the feather being used, no matter what. Forcibly seizing the seat would not be tolerated.
“Excuse me.”
Serne spoke. The boy finally turned, only to freeze in horror when he realized the infamous Serne stood before him.
“Uh, y-yeah? W-What is it?”
His voice trembled.
Simon half expected Serne to stomp his face in and sneer, ‘Don’t you know your place? Get lost.’
But instead—
“Sorry to trouble you, buuut~”
Her cheeks flushed pink, her moist eyes blinked shyly.
“I really want to sit there. Would you please give up your seat for me~?”
She clasped her hands together, bashfully tucking her hair behind her ear. The boy’s face turned bright red.
“O-Of course! Y-Yeah, sure! I-I don’t mind! I can sit somewhere else!”
“Oh my~ How kind of you.”
Her eyes curved slightly upward.
“Thank you, hm?”
That was the finishing blow. The boy stumbled away, dazed, while Serne sat herself behind Simon as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“This will do, right?”
Crossing her legs gracefully, she shot Loraine a sidelong glance. Loraine’s eyes burned in frustration.
“Lowly monkeys don’t even require feathers. My inherent authority and charm are more than enough.”
‘…After all that begging, now she calls him a lowly monkey?’
Simon let out a dry laugh. Whatever else she lacked, her mental toughness was unmatched.
“The professors are arriving!”
At last, the main event of the day.
Students scrambled back to their seats as teaching assistants entered.
‘Something’s unusual.’
The assistants for Summon Funerology were middle-aged, in their forties or fifties—quite a contrast to other classes, where assistants were usually young twenty-somethings.
“Quiet, everyone!”
The head assistant shouted in a tough, commanding tone, silencing the class.
“Professor Lin and Professor Rune are entering!”
Step. Step. Step.
Murmurs spread as students craned their necks.
Two girls walked in, each carrying a textbook in one hand, wearing identical suspenders and hats. Their appearances were completely identical.
“…They’re young?”
From the perspective of second-years, who were eighteen at most, the pair looked two or three years younger.
Sharp eyes, firm gazes, proud noses, shoulders brimming with confidence.
They stopped in front, surveying the students.
Toto glanced quickly at Loraine, as if to ask, Are these really the ones you meant? But Loraine smiled calmly.
As the rest of the students gawked at their youthful appearances, Simon was shocked by something else.
“Th-Those two…”
His voice shook.
“They’re not human.”
“What?”
Toto turned to him.
“Keyzen, you’ve outdone yourself.”
Serne propped her chin on her hand, apparently noticing as well.
“You’ve got Undeads teaching humans?”
The classroom buzzed noisily. But Simon couldn’t stop trembling.
‘Not just ordinary Undead.’
As a legion commander, his instincts screamed the truth.
Those two professors…were Ancient Undead.
Superb.
When are we getting more free chapters?
Thanks for the new chapters