Chapter 586
“We are not here to play around.”
Pak!
Aron casually lifted his hand and blocked the snowball. As he clenched his fist, the snowball was crushed to powder, and the watching assistants let out a sigh of relief.
“Prepare breakfast and lessons. And you—Simon Follentia.”
Simon, who had secretly just met with Erzebet, flinched in shock at the sudden call and answered hurriedly.
“Y-Yes, professor!”
“Come see me for a moment.”
Leaving only those words, Aron turned and walked away.
Loraine, Toto, and Eshu approached as if to ask what was going on, but Simon only shrugged and then followed Aron.
The two of them arrived at a somewhat remote spot of the base camp.
There stood a small storage shed that seemed barely enough for a single person to enter, with stacks of firewood piled behind it.
Aron and Simon sat down, using tree stumps as makeshift chairs. The head assistant came over and handed each of them a steaming cup of hot cocoa.
‘W-Why did he call me here?’
Simon was sweating nervously.
Could it be that Aron sensed Erzebet? She was a specialist in barriers, able to come and go even through the Keyzen campus, but if the opponent was Aron—who knew?
Once the head assistant left, Aron began to speak.
“Starting today, I plan to hold counseling and classes for my direct disciples.”
“……Ah!”
Simon exhaled in relief and his eyes lit up.
Aron had promised to take him in as a direct disciple starting from second year, but until now had given neither special lessons nor counseling.
Overcome with joy, Simon answered energetically.
“I’ll work hard, professor!”
“Good.”
Aron leaned his back slightly.
“Do you have any questions or concerns? Or, if there’s something specific you want to learn during the direct disciple lessons, I can tailor the classes that way.”
“I do!”
Simon replied instantly.
“I—I want to create a Bone Dragon!”
Pffft!
Aron spat out his cocoa. Choking as if it went down the wrong pipe, he rolled his eyes toward Simon.
“What kind of insane nonsense is that?”
Simon quietly pulled out a pearl-like orb from his pocket.
“I received this from Lady Neftis. Inside it is a dragon’s corpse.”
Simon explained the circumstances of receiving the Bone Dragon from Neftis. And then—
“I swore before Lady Neftis. That before the end of my second year, I will complete the Bone Dragon!”
Aron’s lips twitched as he listened.
‘……What kind of ridiculous wind are you blowing into this kid again?’
It was good to care for and motivate the student he had selected as her Special Admission Number One.
But couldn’t it have been something more realistic?
She could throw out such words carelessly, but the one who would have to deal with this genius’ fervor and concretely realize that goal was none other than Aron himself.
‘That woman, really…’
Grinding his teeth inwardly, Aron sipped his cocoa.
“There’s one thing I need to make absolutely clear.”
“Yes, sir.”
“It is realistically impossible.”
Aron set down his cup as he continued.
“I acknowledge your talent and the achievement of creating a Lich at the end of first year. But a Bone Dragon is on a completely different level. Turning a legendary creature into an undead servant is every summoner’s dream, but dreams are beautiful only while they remain dreams. Even high-ranking necromancers hardly dare attempt it.”
“Is it really that difficult?”
“It’s beyond difficult.”
Aron’s gaze sharpened.
“Because of the rarity of the material, there are few studies or specimens, and no proper creation method has been established. Those necromancers who possess one are extremely rare.”
Simon tilted his head.
“Even you couldn’t make one, professor?”
‘……This brat.’
Aron’s smiling face trembled slightly. Necromancers were, after all, very honest creatures.
“Of course, I have made one—and used it in real combat.”
“Then you can teach me, right?”
Simon’s eyes sparkled like stars.
‘Damn it.’
Whenever Aron saw those shining eyes, he was tormented by memories of his own youth.
Avoiding his disciple’s gaze, he muttered in a low voice.
“It’s not something to talk about so lightly. Beyond your major studies, you’d have to devote yourself to disciplines solely for the sake of the Bone Dragon. And even if you manage to complete it, there’s the risk you won’t be able to control it.”
Simon declared with confidence.
“Still—I definitely want to take on the challenge!”
‘……I knew you’d say that.’
No hesitation. No wavering. No second-guessing.
That fiery passion, that explosive youth.
He wasn’t the type to measure feasibility, scarcity of examples, or any such limitations. If he wanted to do it, he would—and he would succeed, no matter what.
Aron knew he could not dissuade Simon. Just as, if he himself returned to his childhood and met his younger self, he doubted he could persuade himself otherwise.
“From now on, your workload will be triple that of your peers.”
Simon nodded firmly.
“I’m prepared for that, sir.”
“……I understand your resolve.”
Aron shut his eyes tightly and lowered his arms.
“But there is one condition.”
“I’ll do anything!”
“If you claim you’ll make a Bone Dragon, yet you falter at something like a Dullahan, that would be ridiculous. At the very least, by midterms, you must present me with an ‘extraordinary Dullahan’ that will astonish me. If you can, then after midterms, I’ll prepare Bone Dragon lessons for you.”
“Yes, sir!”
Before Aron could change his mind, Simon quickly nodded. What Aron was saying was essentially: For now, focus entirely on Dullahan until midterms.
“I’ll create the best Dullahan among all my peers!”
“I’ll be expecting it.”
As the two continued to talk, heavy footsteps sounded behind them.
Simon turned around.
‘The second direct disciple?’
Sure enough, the one who appeared was none other than Hector.
Simon chuckled quietly as if he had expected it. Hector, seeing Simon’s back, scowled as though he had also predicted this outcome.
“Sit down.”
“Yes.”
Hector sat, and as Simon’s consultation ended, he stepped back. Aron spoke.
“Simon Follentia. Go back and bring the next student.”
By rule, there were three direct disciples.
If Simon and Hector were two, then the third was most likely going to be Aseraz. Serne wasn’t the type to want such a thing, and Loraine was already known to be directly taught by Neftis.
“Should I bring Aseraz?”
“Unfortunately, Aseraz already became another professor’s direct disciple back in first year.”
“Ah. Then who…”
With a calm expression, Aron spoke.
“Bring White.”
“?!”
* * *
Aron’s decision to make White his direct disciple was completely unexpected for Simon.
Why White, of all people?
He recalled how Aron’s expression always stiffened whenever White was around.
‘Hmm…’
But he couldn’t question Professor Keyzen’s decision.
So Simon went back to find White.
“……”
It wasn’t difficult.
While other students were bustling about preparing breakfast or playing in the snow, White was—as always—sitting absentmindedly, gazing up at the sky.
“White.”
Simon called to him, but White didn’t turn his head. His pale, bleached hair fluttered in the wind.
“Professor Aron is calling you.”
At least he seemed to understand words.
White slowly stood up.
Crunch, crunch—
The sound of snow being stepped on followed.
Simon confirmed White was walking and was about to turn his head when—
‘!’
Suddenly, White was standing behind his back. Shocked, Simon nearly reacted and subdued him on reflex.
“You.”
White’s lips parted.
“There are two of you?”
“……W-what?”
What was that supposed to mean?
As Simon stared blankly, White tilted his head.
“No, I was mistaken.”
And then he resumed walking steadily forward.
“???”
Simon thought once again that he was still an incomprehensible fellow.
* * *
As expected of a training camp, the schedule was extremely intense.
“The rune text must activate completely. Only those who succeed will move on to the next stage. Failures will continue until they succeed.”
“From your biological organs, Darkness must pour forth like a faucet. If the amount isn’t sufficient, your mana conversion rate will also drop.”
“If the circle doesn’t form properly, your Dullahan will malfunction when using aura. Repeat until it does.”
The students panted, scrambling to keep up with the lessons. The goal was to complete not only the creation of Dullahan but also control training within one week, so it was harsher than any classes so far.
By lunchtime, everyone collapsed into their seats with hollow eyes.
“Ughhh, I have to cook but I have no strength left…”
Eshu groaned as if dying. But there was no rest. Before the students could completely flop over, the assistants urged them on, shouting about the time, and the students dragged themselves up to work.
“But why is it always Professor Aron giving all the lessons?”
As Simon grilled reindeer meat he had bought, Loraine came up and asked.
“Are the other professors not coming to this camp?”
“I think it’s because theory is the priority.”
Summon Materials Science dealt with undead components and chimera-making, but it was still too early for Dullahan practical construction.
Summon Funerology was about handling already-completed undead more effectively.
Toto, who was washing vegetables nearby, raised his head.
“I overheard the assistants talking! Apparently, another professor will join soon?”
“Really?”
Just as Toto said.
After lunch, when students lined up waiting, a familiar face appeared.
“Attention—!”
A burly, muscular man wearing sunglasses, Professor Grerion of Summon Materials Science, walked forward.
“Our Summonology Department’s fifty-two students will tonight—move to the battlefield!”
The sudden mention of a “battlefield” sent murmurs through the crowd. Fitzgerald pushed up his glasses.
“I knew it. Something like this had to happen.”
“They’d never let us off easy. It’s definitely a large-scale performance evaluation.”
Among the students, the belief had already spread that a major exam centered on Dullahan creation would be held.
As they murmured, Grerion continued.
“I hear you’ve all been honing your Dullahan crafting skills. But if you’re going to make a Dullahan, shouldn’t it be with the best material? Am I right?”
“Yes, sir!”
“We’re moving to the ruins of the Gahal Tribe!”
Grerion explained that the “Gahal Tribe” settlement in the Frigod region was under attack by monsters, and they were heading to aid them.
Just like how they had gone to hunt troublesome Ratchets in the desert to obtain ghoul materials, Grerion always emphasized necromancers’ positive contributions and social duty.
“We will support the Gahal Tribe’s ruins and fight alongside them. But of course, that’s not the only reason we’re going.”
His lips curled upward.
“With the knights extinct, the best Dullahan material currently available to necromancers—the Guardian—appears on that battlefield.”
“!!”
The students’ wavering eyes lit up at once.
Among the three supreme Dullahan materials—Ogre Lord, Abaddon, and Guardian—Grerion was saying they could obtain the very best: Guardian.
It was a monster material one couldn’t acquire even with money.
“Whether even one of you fifty-two manages to seize a Guardian remains to be seen. But don’t miss this chance to obtain a Guardian Dullahan. We depart late tonight—so prepare thoroughly!”
“Yes, sir!”
The carrot dangled before them was extravagant.
The students immediately snapped to attention and bustled into motion.
Superb.
When are we getting more free chapters?
Thanks for the new chapters