Chapter 634
Without any intention of hiding it, Lete’s lips parted.
“Professor at Efnelle. Gafen Andoria.”
Lete explained that Gafen was a professor teaching Holiness Dynamics at Efnelle. He was known to have a decent reputation, though Lete herself had never taken his classes, so she didn’t know the details.
Hearing this, Serne nodded calmly.
“Thanks for the info.”
“Not that a necromancer like you will ever have a chance to meet him in your lifetime, though.”
Lete crossed her arms and spoke indifferently.
“He’s too old to even step onto a battlefield.”
Having retired long ago, and never particularly active in combat, he was a priest largely unknown among necromancers.
“Hehe, so you were being considerate? Thank you.”
“You could’ve just asked in the first place. I really don’t get necromancers who immediately try mental domination without a word.”
Though the tension had eased somewhat, the sharpness between the two girls remained.
“Well then, since fate has brought us together like this—”
Watching from the side, Simon flinched. Before he realized it, Serne had sidled up and clung tightly to his arm.
“Why don’t we have lunch together, Simon?”
A fragrant perfume mixed with her natural scent wafted over, and Simon’s face flushed bright red in an instant. Serne, smiling sweetly, turned to glance at Lete.
“……”
Lete’s characteristic blank face simply stared at the two of them. The corners of Serne’s lips curled upward.
“What? Something wrong?”
“Not really.”
“Like you said, there’s no chance I’ll ever meet this Gafen person.”
Serne’s eyes curved slyly like a fox.
“But wouldn’t you be in a similar situation?”
“……”
The faint crease on Lete’s otherwise blank expression deepened.
After a short silence, Lete sighed as if she found it all pitiful.
“If you’re not going to help, then step aside. I’ve got work to do.”
“Yes, yes.”
Serne slipped away from Simon’s arm with a playful eye-smile.
“Then enjoy yourself with the Dark Alliance. See you later in the match, Simon.”
“Yeah, later.”
With her ivory-colored hair fluttering, Serne walked away at an unhurried pace. Instantly the barrier dissolved, the surrounding chatter swelled back up, and a cool breeze swept by.
Simon exhaled in relief and glanced at Lete.
“Shall we go?”
Lete merely gave a quiet nod and began walking ahead.
* * *
Together on patrol, the two made their way to the Woodville Arena, since it was nearly time for Simon’s match.
Among the fifteen arenas of the Dark Emperor, Woodville was the largest, capable of hosting up to 20 students per department.
The competition promised to be fierce. The Summonology Department had deployed its strongest line-up: led by Student Council President Simon, with Loraine, Eshu, Toto, Serne, and Fitzgerald.
Along with them were other squad leaders and elites: Guinevere, Chendra, and the recently befriended 4th squad leader Vicente.
In truth, aside from the likes of Hector, Aseraz, and White, who needed to lead other divisions to victory, nearly every available top-tier talent had been mobilized.
—Today’s match is urban warfare!
The set was spectacular. Makeshift buildings had been erected, making it feel as though one had stepped into the heart of a real city. The announcer explained that the design was modeled after Langerstine.
—The rules are simple! Hidden treasures are scattered across the city. Retrieve them and carry them back to your base to score points! And if you defeat an opposing student—five points! Students who rack up many kills can even pass through the enemy base themselves to add their accumulated points! But beware—if you’re taken down before that, all your points will be stolen by the one who defeats you! And right now, the referee has declared the match begun!
As the signal rang, 140 students from seven departments burst forth, unleashing dazzling black magic.
Smoke rose, flames erupted, and the mock city quickly descended into chaos.
“Woooooo!!”
The crowd’s cheers roared like thunder. Arms waved in the air, voices strained with excitement.
“Let’s go, Summonology!”
“President Simon!!”
Even the juniors and upperclassmen were united in their passionate cheers. The atmosphere was electric.
And among them—one outsider.
‘…Having fun, aren’t they.’
Lete wandered idly through the stands, checking if there were any holiness users hidden among the crowd.
‘Hm.’
She turned her gaze back toward the arena.
With 140 students colliding, it was hard to follow any individual. Yet one figure shone brighter than the rest.
—Student Council President Simon Follentia has already taken down six opponents! Incredible!
BOOM!
From the haze of explosions emerged Simon, clad in a specialized Bone Armor—the Heavy Armor type, optimized for defense.
Like a living fortress, he absorbed black magic head-on, trampling summoned beasts and bulldozing through the enemy lines.
“President’s racking up points!”
“He’s carrying tons of treasure too! Stop him!”
The Summonology students piled treasure onto Simon, who carried both loot and points toward their base.
On the mana-screen scoreboard, the totals flickered.
[1st place: Simon Follentia – 40 Points]
He had become the prime target, yet his teammates seemed unconcerned, trusting that Simon wouldn’t fall.
If he reached base with that score, Summonology’s lead would be nearly insurmountable. More and more opponents converged on him.
But then—
BOOOOM!
Instead of evading, Simon swelled his armored frame even further.
Broken pieces were patched with other bones; bricks and planks from the cityscape were seized by skeletons and grafted onto him.
“…What the hell is that?”
“He’s getting bigger!”
Simon was transforming into a giant.
The undead bones no longer formed his body directly, but served as connectors binding rubble and debris together. His form warped into something monstrous, a grotesque artificial golem.
A form far beyond Heavy Armor.
<Bone Armor – Giant Armor Type>
FWOOOOSH!
A colossal arm made of building materials swung down, sending two students flying. Their barrier gauges shattered instantly, adding more points to Simon’s tally.
“Protect Simon!”
Summonology students leapt onto the giant he had built, deflecting curses and blocking black magic for him.
But the opposition wasn’t about to let things go smoothly.
“Not so fast.”
From the Martial Combat Department’s side, a boy dashed in, wielding a longsword as tall as himself, a blindfold covering his eyes.
He was their representative and ranked 10th overall—the sword wielder, Jule Vincere.
The Summonology students panicked.
“J-Jule?!”
“Stop him, no matter what!”
Some rushed to intercept, but Jule effortlessly slashed them aside, springing onto rooftops and soaring into the air.
<Jule’s Original – One Sun>
SWWWWWISH!
His sword traced an ink-black arc through the air, cleaving apart the giant’s arm and shoulder in one stroke.
Jule clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction.
‘Missed.’
He hadn’t been aiming for the arm, his true target was Simon himself, buried deep in the giant’s chest.
He was about to swing his sword again, but the students firing curses at Jule from behind to steal his points forced him to retreat.
“Kh! This isn’t the time for us to be fighting among ourselves!”
“Shut it! Hand over the points!”
Since relations between the six other departments weren’t exactly friendly, battlefronts had erupted everywhere around Simon.
And then—another giant appeared in front of him.
The Summonology students’ faces turned pale.
“We’re screwed…”
It was none other than the representative of Darkness Dynamics, ranked second overall— the giant half-blood, Shatel Maer.
He clapped his hands together and unleashed his black magic.
<Shatel’s Original – Domain Domination>
Suddenly the entire city tilted in a U-shape, the ground beneath Simon’s giant sinking into a depression. Then—
CRAAAAAASH!
From both sides, mountainous walls erupted, splitting the giant armor’s torso and lower body apart. The entire crowd gasped.
“Shatel took down Simon!”
But then—
Simon’s points on the scoreboard remained unchanged.
THUMP!
From within the collapsing wreckage, Simon burst free. At the same time, he firmly pressed a turquoise crown onto his head.
<Simon’s Original – Royal Guard>
A flash of teal light blazed in every direction.
Cloaks fluttering, the Royal Guard leapt across walls and rubble, treasures glinting in their hands.
“Woooooaaaah!”
The cheers of the crowd hit their peak. Ahead lay the circular barrier, like a massive mirror at the city’s edge. One by one, the Royal Guard hurled their treasures through it.
FWISSH!
FWISSH!
Each time, Summonology’s score skyrocketed.
But—
Shatel had failed to stop Simon in time.
“…Move.”
“Sorry, but that’s not happening, big guy~.”
Standing firmly in his path was Serne.
Meanwhile, Jule was also blocked—by yet another unexpected figure.
“As expected of your reputation.”
Jule muttered, tightening his grip on his sword. The city lay cracked open around them, but there she stood, unfazed.
“Sorry, but I can’t let you pass.”
It was Loraine, dagger in hand.
With the representatives restrained, Simon dashed forward unhindered.
Curses and black magic flew relentlessly his way, but the Royal Guard flickered like lightning, cutting down every attack.
Finally, with their protection, Simon himself charged straight into the barrier.
“Wooooooaaaah!!”
His accumulated kills instantly converted into points.
The Summonology students threw their fists into the air, roaring in triumph. It was a decisive blow.
* * *
The match ended.
Though Katarology and Darkness Dynamics made a fierce chase until the very end, Summonology secured first place on the foundation of Simon’s overwhelming score.
“Simon! Simon! Simon!”
The arena thundered with chants of his name. Even Lete wiped her palm against her robe absentmindedly.
‘It… it was fun, I’ll admit.’
She felt a little embarrassed for enjoying a necromancers’ competition, but there was no denying the spectacle.
Keyzen was this strong? She realized they couldn’t be underestimated. Boasting about the advantage of holiness would no longer be enough.
If priests didn’t continue evolving, necromancers would soon surpass them.
‘And…’
Her gaze turned. Simon was walking closer, greeting the crowd. He was right near where she sat.
‘Hmm.’
Awkwardly, Lete looked around to make sure no one was watching. Then she timidly raised her hand.
“Simon! Over here…!”
But—
WAAAAHHHHH!
Her voice was drowned in the deafening cheers. A mob of first-years rushed to the front rows, screaming themselves hoarse.
“President! Over here!”
Lete blinked blankly at the sight.
So… he was popular with his juniors.
At that moment, Simon drew even closer. Just as she was about to try again—
“President!!”
“You were amazing!”
The Summonology students swarmed him. Even third-years came down from the stands, linking arms and slapping palms with him.
“Another brilliant win!”
“A victory of strategy!”
Simon disappeared into the sea of students, laughing and smiling, trading hugs and high-fives.
The watching girls’ faces were flushed with excitement. Serne clung to his arm again. Loraine offered him a towel.
“……”
-Simon! Simon! Simon!
His name echoed like a chant.
Suddenly, it all felt foreign to Lete.
The people. The culture. The language. Even Simon himself, being tossed into the air by his peers.
Everyone else laughed and cried, rejoicing together, while she alone felt like an outsider dropped into this world.
“……”
Lete slowly rose from her seat and slipped out of the arena.
Superb.
When are we getting more free chapters?
Thanks for the new chapters