Necromancer Academy’s Genius Summoner – 380



Chapter 380

It was time for the final performance assessment in Hemomancy ‘Demonstration of dark magic related to the heart.’

Simon was confident about this assessment as well. What could be more impressive heart-related magic than a lich’s Life Vessel?

Although it was in the field of summoning the Life Vessel magic circle included many hemomancy formulas so it was worthy of evaluation.

Of course this was based on the assumption that Professor Walter would give Simon a fair grading but…

“Cough cough! A first-year student already using Life Vessel. Impressive. You deserve an A+.”

Having returned to campus after a short medical leave Walter easily gave Simon an A+.

“Thank you.”

Simon bowed his head in thanks and looked at Walter. He looked more haggard than before.

‘Just like Professor Silage… Hemomancy professors seem to have poor health.’

He figured it was due to the high risks involved in directly using one’s blood and life force in their studies.

Simon returned to his seat and the next student took his turn turn.

“Scott Synder sir! I’ve prepared my own original heartbeat skill!”

“I’m looking forward to it. Please go ahead.”

Most of the first-year students took the hematopoietic injections.

While the purpose was mainly to enhance blood magic the real reason they couldn’t avoid the injection was due to this heart-related performance assessment. Both Walter and the other Hemomancy professors chose this assessment knowing that.

Simon’s lich creation was an exceptional case. Among the heart-related dark magic that involved less risk costs and preparation time the easiest for students was demonstrating their heartbeat skills after receiving the hematopoietic injection.

Thus heartbeat skills emerged as a new trend.

Back when he first provided the injections Walter explained

“In order to move the blood slime’s hematopoietic cells you will need to tune your heartbeat to a special frequency. You can replicate the same conditions as the slime’s body by beating at the same frequency as it.”

Skills related to this were ‘heartbeat skills’. Only those who had received the hematopoietic injection could use them.

With a controlled heartbeat one could greatly increase the amount of blood they produced change the nature of their blood or give different properties to their Blood Bullets.

Initially students hesitated to take the injection but once they felt they were falling behind those who had they rushed to get them.

Of course Simon had submitted his research on the hematopoietic injection to the school newspaper informing the students of possible adverse effects but students only took it as a mere rumor.

Even the prestigious Pentamonium officially announced that the injection was harmless to the body so not taking it was practically just a disadvantage.

On top of that even second and third-year students started approaching Walter for injections.

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‘Hmph.’

Watching the students enhance their blood magic with the heartbeat skill only Simon’s worries deepened.

‘Was Professor Walter innocent all this time? Is this all just my paranoia?’

When a handwriting analysis proved that ‘Professor Walter of Kizen’ and ‘Judas of the Heavenly Blood’ had to be different people Simon’s assumptions and hypotheses were all but shattered.

It wasn’t strange that Walter’s acquaintances called him ‘Judas’. The name Judas was common and it could be a nickname or an old name.

The fact that the pen he always carried had the name Judas inscribed on it also seemed insignificant after he had a chance to cool down and think about it.

“Simon.”

An assistant teacher of Hemomancy quietly approached Simon.

“Professor Walter asked you to let him know if you ever consider taking the hematopoietic injection.”

“…”

Walter was quite attentive of Simon.

He had even offered to take Simon as a direct disciple and above all he was very interested in Simon’s SM-1 which was the key to ‘Cloud’. He wanted to continue the research of his mentor Silage too.

But…

“I’m really sorry.”

Simon bowed his head politely.

“I’m not considering it at this stage.”

The assistant teacher’s face stiffened slightly then they turned and left.

* * *

After the performance assessment period ended the final exam was finally drawing close.

Since it was the only written exam for the entire ‘integrated second semester’ the students studied with a desperation they had never seen before.

Kizen even changed the school rules to allow activities on campus 24 hours a day. In particular the library which was made to be open 24/7 had many students staying there overnight.

“Ughhhhhhhhhh…”

In the mornings students shambled to the lecture rooms like zombies groaning in lifeless agony.

“Kizen is definitely a zombie factory.”

Said Rick staggering.

But they had to attend classes. The first class in the morning was Eric Aura’s Jet-Black Mechanics.

Since professors were busy creating exam questions it was likely that questions would be drawn from what they were currently learning. Students listened to the lecture with their bloodshot eyes forced wide open.

Meilyn pinched her thighs and even attached a clothespeg to her arms to stay awake. For Camibarez although she was normally reluctant about sucking on packed blood—she was painfully aware of the stares she got—she was downing blood the whole lecture.

Fwsh! Fwsh!

Students frequently suffered nosebleeds during the class from stress. However they seemed used to it quickly stopping the bleeding with tissues and never resting their hands clutching their quills.

Everyone was desperate.

No they were frantic.

The fact of the matter was only about half of them could move on to the second year in Kizen and the rest had to return home. Having come this far no one wanted to give up.

“Alright that’s it for today’s class.”

Said Eric lowering his chalk.

“Good work every—”

As Eric turned to face the students his eyes widened.

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Every day for the last year these students would rush out for lunch. But today they were still sitting down with hollow eyes staring intently at him.

Eric let out a small “Ah!” and then gave a faint smile.

“Alright. Would you like me to cover some of the topics on the exam?”

“Thank you sir!!!”

Everyone had gone crazy about studying.

The students who had meticulously written down even Eric’s jokes finally left the lecture room satisfied.

“Huzzah! What should we eat for lunch today?”

Said Rick stretching his aching fingers.

“I’ll pass. I need to go to the library.”

Meilyn with dark circles under her eyes hastily peeled a banana and downed it whole.

She was in her perfect ‘study mode’ wearing large horn-rimmed glasses and her bangs pinned back expertly with a headband so not a single strand would go loose. She had tied the rest of her hair back with a ribbon.

“Even time spent eating lunch feels like a waste.”

“…Wow! Meilyn turning down food? Is the world ending tomorrow?”

Rick teased as usual but Meilyn didn’t respond. Feeling his pride hurt Rick pressed

“Oh look at the grease in your hair. It’s so shiny~ You should really wash it for real.”

“Even washing my hair is a waste of time.”

Spat Meilyn and she walked ahead. As she walked further away they noticed she was wearing pajama pants under her school skirt.

Rick shook his head.

“…How stubborn. Is she possessed by a ghost that died from a lack of study or something?”

Camibarez skipping beside Simon made an awkward smile.

“She was the second in the entire school during the midterms. She said she’ll definitely be first this time.”

“Yes but that is a bit too much.”

As if the time heading to the library was also a waste Meilyn opened the notebook that contained her wrong answers and walked past her group members. She stumbled as she walked seemingly feeling faint.

It was really worrying to watch from their point of view.

“Meilyn.”

Unable to bear it Simon quickly caught up to her. She responded without taking her eyes off her notebook

“What’s up? The three of you can go to the cafeteria.”

Simon placed his hand on her shoulder.

“Do you remember the first group assessment in the first semester the ‘cyclops assessment’?”

“…”

“Back then you were the main star for the fight. Yet you overexerted yourself trying to cover your weak points and injured your leg causing quite a mess.”

She quickly turned her head away with a bright red face.

“Wh-Why bring that up now of all times? It’s a dark past!”

“Because I’m seeing that dark past coming back to the present.”

Continued Simon in a calm advisory tone.

“If you rush too much you’ll end up breaking down. You need to manage your condition; eat to regain energy and supply nutrients to your brain. Don’t you agree?”

After saying that Simon crossed his arms pretending to think.

“Oh! And I heard today’s lunch is chicken steak. I’m certain of it.”

Drool.

Unable to resist Meilyn who had been surviving on fruits salivated so much that spit ran down her jaw. She quickly wiped her mouth with her sleeve and abashedly decided

“I-If you insist that much I guess I have no choice.”

“Hey wait a minute ma’am!”

Rick who had been walking with Camibarez shouted to Meilyn in frustration

“Why do you ignore me but get convinced by Simon? Is my mouth a snout to you or something? Huh?? Listen—”

“Shut up.”

Meilyn cut him off sharply glaring at Rick.

“The world ending and what? …Greasy hair? You were just teasing me.”

“Enough enough.”

Simon pushed the two of them forward as they started to argue again leading them to the cafeteria.

Camibarez also followed them smiling brightly.

* * *

And so a week later.

“We’re freeeeeeeeeee!”

The final exams were over.

As Jane declared the end of the exam and collected the answer sheets Rick climbed onto a desk waving the exam papers like they were his country’s flag before tossing them into the air.

Other students also shouted with joy. Regardless of their grades they finally regained their smiles and laughter.

“Rick Hayward.”

Rick tearing up his question booklet with a technique rivaling Thesis Ripper Vintra turned to see Jane wagging her finger. Murder was in her eyes.

“Follow me to my lab.”

“Oh Professor please forgive me!”

“Hahahahahaha!”

Amidst the raucous laughter Meilyn removed her glasses and headband and set them down on the table as if lifting a seal. She shook her head and her light blue hair shimmered with such wonder only seen in photoshoots.

“Hmph! Now I finally feel alive!”

She stretched her arms up to the sky with a relieved smile. Two male students approaching to compare their exam papers blushed slightly.

“Hm?”

While stretching she noticed the two and narrowed her eyes.

“Ah what is it? Why are you looking at me like that? Do you want to die?’

“N-Nothing!”

The two disappeared in a hurry. She snorted and packed her stuff.

“Good job everyone!”

“You did well too Cami.”

Simon and Camibarez also exchanged congratulations and stood up.

“You guys already know it right? The finals are over but there’s no time to rest.”

Said Meilyn coldly putting her exam papers in her bag.

“Because the biggest challenge is still waiting for us.”

“That’s true.”

“Yes!”

Indeed only one final challenge remained for the first-year students of Kizen.

Simon’s brow furrowed with curiosity and focus.

“I wonder what the second-year advancement exam will be like?”

* * *

Bzzt.

Bzzzzt.

Bzzzzzt…

“Are the preparations complete?”

“Yes.”

A quiet conversation was taking place in the shadows.

“Good work. Then I’ll see you on the main stage.”

Click.

The communication was cut off and a deep breath was taken.

“Everyone prepare yourselves. The promised time has come.”

With that one statement…

A thousand robed individuals simultaneously rose from their seats.

“The birth of the apostle is imminent.”

——