Chapter 553
The dispatch evaluation.
At Keyzen, students formed into teams and carried out real missions on-site together with professional necromancers as part of an external curriculum.
Before the midterms, Aron said that there would be one full-class dispatch for the 2nd years.
“The time limit is five days. Think of it as something similar to the 3rd years’ dispatch evaluation.”
Aron, his eyes sunken, spread open the documents.
“This dispatch has been thoroughly prepared by Keyzen Headquarters. They analyzed the 2nd-year students’ grades in detail and planned tailored dispatches to maximize each student’s ability. Of course, there are no choices this time. Both the teams and destinations were assigned by headquarters.”
Sitting and listening, Simon nodded.
His 1st-year dispatch evaluation had been with Team 7 in the Neutral Zone. It was quite a dynamic experience, he had met Sasha there, and also Seiyur.
“The 1st-year dispatch evaluation kindly provided mentors, but this time the 2nd years will have to rely solely on their own judgment on-site. And the missions are meant to be fully completed. In other words—”
Aron lowered the papers and swept his calm eyes across the students.
“You cannot return to Keyzen until the mission is accomplished.”
“......!”
The room erupted with noise. One male student shot his hand up.
“Coiter Fizen! Uh—Professor, didn’t you say the time limit was five days?”
“That’s simply the period you’ll be absent from school. Classes will resume normally afterward. I sincerely hope—”
Aron twisted the corner of his lips.
“—that you return before midterms.”
“Aaaargh—!”
All over, students clutched their heads, bit down on their uniform collars, and fell into chaos.
“This is too much! You’re not even giving us time to study for exams?”
“If you’ve got ability, finish the dispatch quickly and make your own study period.”
“Keyzen’s ruthless. Really ruthless.”
As the room grew noisy, Aron spoke again.
“For us in Summonology, punctual return is even more important.”
He unfolded a new timetable.
“As announced, our 2nd-year Summonology faculty plan to open a special lecture on the ‘Dullahan’ before midterms.”
The fact that the Dullahan lecture was now being held hostage sent the room into an uproar.
“The lecture will be an intense schedule, aiming to complete a Dullahan in a single week. Miss even one session, and you can think of your chance to create the headless knight forever gone.”
Panic spread—Toto included—across the room.
“......If I miss that special lecture, I’d rather just drop out.”
“Please, professor. Why are you doing this to us.”
Even the ever-positive Eshu was saying such things. Loraine bit her lip, and Toto trembled under the pressure.
But Aron remained cold.
“This is no time to whine. Now’s the time to keep your heads straight and act. Headquarters will notify you of your dispatch site in writing, so check the dorm mail. That is all.”
* * *
The sudden full-class dispatch announcement was enough to turn the entire 2nd year upside down.
Even if they completed the dispatch in five days and returned on time, there’d be just over a week left before midterms.
In the Student Council room, the members weren’t doing work but talking about the dispatch.
“Does this make any sense? What kind of school schedules a dispatch over exam prep?”
Maelyn, who was more sensitive to exam periods than anyone, vented her anger.
She was ranked 2nd overall in written grades. This time, she had planned to surpass Aseraz Mikel and seize the 1st rank. Now the schedule was ruined from the start.
“That’s not all. What’s scary is not being able to return to Roke Island until the mission’s completed.”
Kamibarez spoke, her tiny bat wings drooping under the pressure.
“Professors make the exam questions during this time. Missing these classes is a huge loss.”
Dick leaned on his chair’s armrest with a heavy look.
He too was sensitive—his style was to guess the test scope with his information network and study only that. Missing the exam period was a major blow.
“If things go wrong, you might not even be back by midterms. Keyzen’s never flexible with these things.”
“And I’ve got the Dullahan lecture hanging over me. It starts immediately after we get back.”
Simon spoke. The two girls’ faces stiffened with sympathy, but Dick’s eyes lit up.
“Dullahan? They’re really making you do that this semester? Damn, Summonology’s insane. When you complete one, let me touch it!”
“Stop it.”
Maelyn rolled her eyes, and Dick’s mouth clamped shut.
She glanced at the others.
“So—have your dispatch sites been decided?”
“Yes, mine’s already confirmed!”
Kamibarez raised her hand.
“I’m supposed to meet an undercover agent in the city of perfumes, ‘Enes’!”
“Ah, that place. I know it. The origin of perfume, the world’s biggest exporter. Smell differentiation, huh? Makes sense they sent you.”
Maelyn brushed back her side hair.
“Mine’s Snowfield Castle.”
“Oh, that’s where Special Admission No.8 Raheim Northfold’s hometown is!”
Dick supplied the explanation again, and Simon chuckled.
“Special Admission 8 Raheim—that’s the guy who kept following you around, right, Maelyn?”
“Ugh! Don’t even bring him up! I hate him!”
She shuddered, face twisted in disgust. Simon laughed and looked at Dick.
“What about you, Dick?”
“I don’t get why they’re sending me here. I thought it’d be some bustling city or marketplace where trade wars happen.”
He pulled a letter from his pocket.
“Yahara Desert. Nothing but sand.”
“Figures.”
Maelyn smirked.
“You’re a commoner, always sneaking around rules and picking the sneakiest way out. They’re throwing you into hell so you can tumble around and toughen up.”
“......R-Really? That’s the reason?”
Kamibarez’s eyes widened.
“Dick! Who else is going with you?”
“Uh, um... Raheim Northfold, Fitzgerald, and Elisa Celine.”
“Ahahaha! That’s a 100% setup! Totally!”
The Student Council erupted in laughter. Then all eyes turned.
“Simon! What about you?”
“I haven’t gotten mine yet.”
Maelyn teased him with a grin.
“What, the Student Council President gets special treatment again?”
“They say Top 10 students or well-known ones often get special invitations for dispatches. Must be that.”
“Then we can expect good news, Simon!”
Simon scratched his head.
“Well... maybe.”
There were only two days left until the dispatch evaluation. Yet Simon still hadn’t received any notice from the school.
He buried his unease in studying harder for the midterms with Toto.
Knock, knock.
A knock came at their dorm room door. Simon rose and opened it.
‘Whoa.’
It was the dormitory supervisor—hawk-nosed, wide-eyed—the very embodiment of fear for the students.
“Supervisor.”
“Y-Yes.”
‘I didn’t do anything wrong, right?’
Simon’s eyes darted nervously. The woman spoke.
“Student Council President, a representative from Keyzen Headquarters is here. You’re to go to the main building immediately.”
“From headquarters? Understood.”
Finally, the dispatch matter was coming up.
But unease stirred. Why had a headquarters staff member come here in person? Why send the supervisor to fetch him, instead of a simple announcement?
Questions swirled, but now was the time to move.
Simon quickly changed into his uniform and headed out across campus.
When he reached the main building, underlings were waiting.
‘They were underlings of Headquarters.’
Even the cut of their suits was different. They were on another level compared to the underlings who worked inside the school.
Following their guidance, Simon moved toward the reception room.
Knock, knock.
An underling knocked on his behalf.
“Student Council President Simon Follentia has arrived.”
“Yes, let him in.”
Click.
The door to the small reception room opened, and a man in glasses, striped suit, and black tie lifted his head.
“Welcome, Student Council President.”
Though dressed like an ordinary salaryman, his square face bore a long, slashed scar across his forehead. His wristwatch was cracked, and his eyes were as sharp and fierce as a raptor’s.
Since he was from Keyzen Headquarters, he certainly wasn’t just a desk worker. He exuded that unmistakable aura.
“Please, have a seat.”
“Ah, yes.”
Simon sat down, and the underlings served tea. The headquarters man flipped through a file of documents, his fingertips covered in calluses.
“Are you enjoying school life?”
An out-of-the-blue greeting?
Without losing composure, Simon smiled.
“Yes, I’m having fun.”
“That’s good to hear. On days when I’m exhausted from endless work, I close my eyes and recall my school days on campus. Those sweet days when we’d peel candies for each other during study hours in the library. Feeding each other candies like that, before I knew it, she and I were already…”
What the hell is this guy talking about?
Seeing Simon’s blank face, the staffer quickly wrapped it up.
“Anyway, memories of those joyful days are what sustain me through this wearisome life.”
“Ah, so you’re an alumnus.”
“Indeed. The vast majority of headquarters staff are Keyzen graduates.”
He set the file down.
“You must have been wondering why your dispatch site was delayed.”
Finally, the main topic.
Simon straightened his gaze.
“Where am I going?”
“I’ll tell you once one more person arrives.”
So he had a partner for the dispatch.
Soon after, there was another knock, followed by an underling’s voice from beyond the door.
“Student Merida Hugh Ikel has arrived.”
“Yes, let her in.”
Click.
The door opened, and a sleepy-eyed girl entered, a thin blanket draped over her shoulders like a robe.
She was 4th overall in the school and the department representative of Katarology.
And the only younger sister of Phantasus Hugh Ikel.
‘Merida’s my partner this time!’
She was a girl with striking peppermint-colored hair. With a blank expression, she walked over and sat primly next to Simon, not sparing him so much as a glance.
Instead, she quietly fixed the staffer with a reproachful look, as though saying she had no desire to speak.
“Yes, you two will be partners for five days.”
The headquarters staffer smiled.
“Why don’t you exchange a few friendly greetings?”
Perhaps because he was a Keyzen alumnus, he was oddly smooth at such things.
Truthfully, Simon had always wanted to talk properly with Phantasus’ younger sister at least once.
He quickly turned a friendly smile toward Merida, but she only rolled her eyes at him briefly before facing forward again.
Apparently, she had no desire to converse.
“Very well. Let me explain the dispatch.”
He lifted a leather briefcase from the floor. After sequentially unlocking layered security magic circles, he opened it wide, revealing a crimson envelope embossed with the Keyzen crest.
From it, he pulled out a stiff sheaf of papers.
“Simon, Merida. Your dispatch site is the Ivory Tower.”
Simon’s jaw fell open at the completely unexpected words.
‘The Ivory Tower?’
He hadn’t imagined for a second that Keyzen would send him there.
“The Ivory Tower made an earnest request for you two to be dispatched.”
Which meant they had poured in an enormous amount of money to make it happen.
“The Ivory Tower is an important ally to Keyzen. The higher council reviewed the request thoroughly and concluded that sending you would be the best way to maximize your talents. They accepted.”
So much money had changed hands that even the senior elders couldn’t turn a blind eye.
‘Something’s off.’
Simon folded his arms.
Though the Ivory Tower was indeed part of the Dark Alliance, it was still a rival to Keyzen when it came to recruiting talent. Even within the school, you could see Loraine and Serne Eindark locked in constant skirmishes.
And yet, instead of sending professional necromancers under the Crows or headquarters’ banner, they were sending the Student Council President and a Top 4 student there.
There must be some hidden motive.
Simon worked his mind, trying to discern the intentions buried beneath headquarters’ decision.
Meanwhile, Merida simply yawned, blinking her eyes as though fighting off sleep. It was her own way of showing effort.
“Ah, of course you won’t be going to the Ivory Tower’s headquarters building.”
The staffer pulled out another paper and handed it over.
“What’s this?”
Simon’s eyes widened at the pamphlet with a clock printed on it.
“‘We invite you to the Festival of Time’?”
From the very start, this dispatch reeked of something suspicious.
Superb.
When are we getting more free chapters?
Thanks for the new chapters