Chapter 512
Baldwin Kingdom, Poeta Forest.
A cool breeze blew, and the rustling of leaves broke like waves. This was the vast forest nicknamed the lungs of the continent.
And here stood Aland, one of the three great necromancer schools.
Simon and Jane, heading toward Aland, walked side by side along the forest path.
‘I-I’m nervous.’
Simon stole a glance at Jane.
It was his first time walking alone with her. With her cold, sharp face staring only straight ahead, he couldn’t guess what she was thinking, or what mood she was in.
All the second-year students, Simon included, both respected Jane and felt a vague fear toward her.
It wasn’t just because of her position as vice-chancellor, nor her overwhelming reputation and accomplishments, but also because she rarely revealed her true thoughts to the students. Nor did she treat anyone with particular friendliness.
She was strict, severe, and terrifying enough to make you lose your mind when angered.
‘Don’t make any mistakes in front of Professor Jane.’
Even his breathing and footsteps felt self-conscious.
“Student Council President.”
Her voice suddenly broke the silence. Simon stiffened and answered quickly.
“Yes, Professor!”
“Attention.”
Not knowing why, Simon instantly snapped into a rigid stance.
Jane stepped toward him, placing her white palm lightly against his torso.
“Tuck your chin. Keep your abdomen firm.”
Simon’s face flushed red.
“Straighten your shoulders, eyes forward. Hands lightly clenched into fists.”
She smoothed his coat, straightened out the wrinkles, adjusted the collar of his shirt, and tightened his tie neatly.
“We’re representing Keyzen as we head into Aland. As representatives, we must never disgrace the school’s honor.”
“I’ll keep that in mind!”
“Sometimes professors from other schools might test you in various ways. You’ve learned enough etiquette in Monarch Studies, haven’t you? Just remain composed and act as taught.”
Etiquette may seem tedious, but for nobles it was called the sword of knights.
To slip up in etiquette earned you the label of “ill-mannered” or “lowly”, and such reputations were fatal among nobles.
“Stand tall. You are the Student Council President of Keyzen.”
She gave his shoulder a light pat, showing a faint smile before returning to his side.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
His heart pounded furiously. It felt even more nerve-wracking than a real battle.
Soon, they reached a part of the forest where the thicket was unnaturally dense. Trees and brambles were so entwined that not even a single person could pass through.
‘So this is Aland’s barrier.’
Outsiders couldn’t simply teleport into the school grounds. Some procedures had to be followed.
Jane walked up as though familiar with it. Then, in a calm voice, she spoke into the air.
“This is Jane Olivia from Keyzen. I’ve come regarding the escort of transfer students.”
Shaaaa—!
As her words rang out, the forest itself responded. Trees shifted aside, forming a clean, open path.
Expressionless, Jane gestured ahead.
“Let’s go.”
“Ah, yes!”
Simon followed, quietly marveling.
Jane spoke again.
“Student Council President. Do you know about the transfer traditions of the three great necromancer schools?”
“N-no, Professor.”
At the top of the Dark Alliance’s hierarchy stood Keyzen—utterly unrivaled, the pinnacle of all education in the field. Beneath it were the three public institutions known as the three great necromancer schools:
Aland, Sierra, and Moyran.
Once a year, these schools each selected the three most outstanding students promoted to second year, and sent them to transfer into Keyzen.
In truth, transferring into Keyzen was both the ultimate future and the supreme goal of students from the three great schools.
Some students even deliberately started at the three great schools, aiming to graduate top of their class so they could transfer into Keyzen’s second year.
The upper echelons of each school considered how well their transferred students performed at Keyzen, and how high they ranked there, to be their greatest pride, honor, and most powerful promotional tool.
‘Transfer students, huh… they can’t be underestimated.’
The students they were about to meet were nurtured with the full focus of both the kingdom and the school itself, elite among elites.
And in fact, many of them maintained mid-to-high rankings even in Keyzen, with some even breaking into the Top 10.
“B-but Professor… what exactly is this transfer tradition?”
“It’s nothing much.”
Jane lowered her long lashes and continued.
“Once we arrive, there will be an event match against the transfer students. We call it the transfer evaluation match.”
“Wh-what?!”
She furrowed her brow, placing a finger against her lips.
“Composure.”
“S-sorry!”
“Why so surprised? As Keyzen’s Student Council President, you simply need to go and teach them a lesson. The three great necromancer schools want to see how their students measure up against Keyzen’s president, while Keyzen uses it as the first step in evaluating the transfer students’ abilities.”
Her lips curled ever so slightly.
“Of course, they’ll use home advantage and every little trick they can muster. Just cut straight through and show them the difference in level.”
Sweat poured down Simon’s temples.
Could she really say that so lightly? Weren’t these students nurtured with the resources of kingdoms and schools combined?!
“I-I… if I lose, what happens?”
Jane only smiled in response.
“......!!”
A chill raced down Simon’s spine, goosebumps bursting out across his back.
“I-I’ll win. No matter what.”
“Of course.”
As they walked, Jane crossed her arms.
“Still, steel yourself. This year’s second-year council presidents will feel they’re capable of challenging you, and they’ll come at you hard.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
One of the president’s duties was to uphold the school’s authority and honor in the outside world.
If Simon lost in the transfer evaluation match, his presidency would surely be at risk. Victory was absolute.
They finally emerged from the forest’s shifting path, and Aland’s campus came into view.
“Wow…”
Aland’s campus was deeply intertwined with nature.
The terrain was left as it was, full of steep and uneven slopes, while trees crowded every corner of the grounds.
Walls were overrun with ivy, and each floor had gardens built into it. Monkeys and lizards darted about, while deer freely bounded across the fields.
What he thought was a hill revealed itself to be a tower or building, completely hidden beneath greenery and forest.
“Ah, welcome, welcome! You’ve come such a long way!”
A bald-headed old man leaning on a staff came out to greet them warmly. Behind him stood Aland’s professors.
“Thank you for the warm welcome. It’s been a long time, chancellor Agrigor.”
‘He was the chancellor?!’
Simon was shocked. The highest-ranking person in the entire school had personally come to greet them at the entrance.
The chancellor of Aland bowed politely, even to the young female professor Jane.
In contrast, Jane kept her back straight and her posture dignified.
Without a smile, maintaining a perfect poker face, she exchanged greetings with the chancellor as equals.
It was a moment that revealed the weight of Keyzen’s power and authority.
“This is a face I haven’t seen before.”
The chancellor of Aland approached with a kindly smile. Simon answered calmly.
“I am Simon Follentia, Student Council President of Keyzen!”
“Ah—Keyzen’s president. I’ve already heard much of your feats. They say this year the council president comes from Summonology? That raises great expectations. We, too, have devoted ourselves to revitalizing Summonology at Aland.”
He smiled wider, then added,
“I shall look forward to the match to come.”
Simon went down the line, greeting Aland’s professors just as Jane had.
As Jane had warned, some professors deliberately tested his manners, extending their left hand first, or placing a hand on their chest while offering a handshake.
But Simon held his ground—waiting silently until the right hand was offered, or mirroring their chest gesture as required. Each time, those attempting to trip him up had to look away, embarrassed.
“Then let’s go.”
The chancellor said, extending his arm.
“Our students are waiting.”
“Yes.”
Simon followed the chancellor’s steps.
Their destination was a massive wooden arena within the campus.
And the moment Simon stepped inside—
Waaaaaahhhhhhh!!
A deafening roar burst from the stands, a sea of students screaming in unison. The sheer volume and number startled Simon.
‘What, did the entire student body come?’
Every seat rippled with the green uniforms of Aland students. As if to crush him with sheer force, they all bared their teeth and shouted until their veins bulged.
Every eye in the arena was on Simon.
“Well, well, Keyzen’s fancy city boy has arrived!”
“Hey bookworm, you even know how to throw a punch?”
“Waaaaaaaah!!”
Childish.
Simon gave a small smirk, brushing the hem of his council coat, and strode into the arena with confident steps.
On the opposite side stood two boys and one girl. These three had to be Aland’s transfer candidates for Keyzen.
Their green jackets and checkered pants or skirts stood out. Rival schools like Sierra mocked the design as “grasshopper uniforms”.
“Hey, Simon! Long time no see!”
One of the boys waved cheerfully. His brows wiggled mischievously, his curly brown hair cropped short at the sides and back.
“Welcome to our alma mater, Aland!”
Simon blinked.
“…And you are?”
The boy nearly collapsed on the spot.
“What?! You forgot already? It’s me! Benz! We met at the Pentamonium Symposium!”
Benz.
Simon racked his brain, but nothing surfaced.
Now that he thought about it, he had briefly spoken to a few students from the three great schools during the Pentamonium Symposium in first year… Perhaps this boy had been one of them.
“You really don’t remember? At Pentamonium! I tried to shake your hand and use force and you completely crushed me!”
“Don’t spout nonsense before the fight, Benz.”
The girl beside him quickly covered his mouth.
“A-anyway!”
Benz clenched his fist tightly.
“I don’t care if you’re council president now! I’m not holding back, Simon!”
Though Simon still couldn’t remember him, he smiled politely and nodded.
“You’re my opponent then?”
“That’s right.”
Benz’s gaze sharpened.
“I’ve honed myself to the bone for this moment. Here and now, I’ll unleash everything! I’ll show you the might of Aland’s Summonology!”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
The referee stepped forward.
“Both contestants, prepare.”
Aland’s Summonology professor ran up beside Benz like a coach, strapping a protective vest onto him and rattling off reminders and explanations about Simon’s fighting style.
Jane also approached Simon with a protective suit in hand.
“The duel evaluation rules are the same. First time fighting in someone else’s house, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“I trust home advantage won’t be a problem.”
She crossed her arms.
“Fight as befits Keyzen.”
“Yes, Professor!”
Simon nodded with a grin. The referee raised his arm.
“Contestants, shake hands!”
Simon and Benz clasped hands.
“Let’s have a good fight!”
“Likewise.”
After releasing, they stepped apart.
From the stands, thousands of Aland students erupted into chants for Benz. Some held banners, others waved flags bearing Aland’s crest.
It was clear that this transfer evaluation match was a major event for them.
“Now then! We begin the transfer evaluation match between Aland’s representative, Student Benz, and Keyzen’s representative, Student Simon!”
The thunderous roar made Simon’s ears ring. Both contestants lowered their stances, the referee raised his arm high.
“Begin!”
Superb.
When are we getting more free chapters?
Thanks for the new chapters