Necromancer Academy and the Genius Summoner-Chapter 304: Episode

"My dear students of Kizen!" Endolas began his lengthy address, finally having been given the stage. "It is a pity that my game has been scaled down. However, if you can forget your fatigue, even for a moment, in the world I have created after a grueling day of classes, then I consider it a fulfillment of the very principle I hold dear in creating these games! That is why I accepted the after-school BMAT!"

Each time he spoke, the large hat on his head swayed from side to side.

"Our collaboration with the faculty is complete! I’ve even added a few games related to your classes! I hope you all enjoy this new adventure. Now, open the rulebooks on your laps!"

As if on cue, students across the hall picked up their copies of ’Endolas’s Game Rulebook’ and spread them open on the tables.

"The game you choose is important," Endolas continued, "but a test is still a test! Please turn your attention to the most crucial rules first!"

The rules appeared on the central screen.

- A total of four tests, scheduled one to two times per week.

- Test duration is four hours. Ongoing games will continue after the time limit.

- A maximum of two cards can be acquired per day.

- The test begins after donning the protective vest provided by Kizen.

- Combat between students is permitted.

- If a barrier gauge is depleted by a monster attack or an attack from another student, that student’s test for the day is immediately over.

A sharp focus entered Simon’s eyes. ’So we’re limited to two cards a day.’ With four tests in total, a student could obtain a maximum of eight cards. Anyone who collected five or fewer would be expelled.

"It’ll be risky to even take one day off," Kamibarez muttered, her voice tense.

"Excellent, students of Kizen! Now then—" Endolas glanced at his wristwatch. "The first game will begin in exactly one hour!"

"What?!" the students cried out in unison.

An hour! The hall erupted into a commotion.

"We’re doomed!"

"You said you’d give us plenty of time to strategize!"

In response to a protest from a student in the front, Aaron replied with a deadpan expression, "Is an hour not enough?"

’What a fraud!’ the student thought, fuming.

With a fire lit under them, the students quickly began discussing their strategies.

"What are you guys going to do?" Meirin asked the group.

Everyone had a different plan. Dick was going for the siege warfare game, while Kamibarez decided to aim for the three-point bonus by collecting seven blue cards, which were likely to be Hemomancy-related. Meirin opted to adapt her strategy based on the cards she found.

Simon, of course, was planning to collect seven different cards.

"They say the games have a player limit," Meirin added. "So let’s make this an individual effort for now. We’ll split up, get the cards we want, and share whatever information we can gather."

"Okay!" everyone agreed.

Meirin pointed a sharp finger at the guidebook. "From now on, we memorize the detailed rules. I guarantee someone’s going to get tripped up on the first day because they didn’t read them carefully."

While the students frantically planned or studied, minions bustled about, handing out protective vests. Everyone slipped one on over their uniform.

"Then I wish you all the best of luck!" Endolas declared, spreading his arms. The decks of cards in his hands scattered into the air, flying toward the students.

"Ah." A card floated down to Simon. His name, Simon Polentia, was written on it, and below that, his major: Summoning.

’So this is why they had us fill out that form.’

"This is an official rule," Endolas announced. "Please attach the card to the right side of your chest on the protective vest."

When Simon placed the card on his chest, it adhered to the fabric like a sticker. It served as a name tag, allowing him to see the majors of other students at a glance.

"And I have some news that you’ll all love!" Endolas boomed. "The games are filled with a wealth of prizes, including items to help you in the test, expensive artifacts, and special weapons! Please do your best!"

At the mention of prizes, the students’ eyes sparkled.

"Now, there are ten minutes left! You are dismissed. Good luck!"

The moment he finished speaking, the students in the grand auditorium shot into the air on platforms of Jet-Black. The main entrance would be a bottleneck, so some created their own exits by shattering windows, plunging the hall into chaos.

’What explosive enthusiasm,’ Simon thought with a smirk. He kicked off a wall, leaped up, and slipped through a window that others had already broken. The test area covered the entirety of Roc Island, so he planned to head outside, venturing further out rather than remaining on the crowded school grounds.

’Whoooom!’

Just then, a blue, curtain-like barrier spread out from the center of the Kizen campus, enveloping the buildings—a protective spell to prevent damage from student battles. At the same time, a voice emanated from the card on Simon’s chest.

-The test will now begin!

-Combat between students is now permitted.

-You may now challenge games to collect cards.

’BOOOOM!’

’CRAAASH!’

As soon as the announcement ended, a series of explosions rocked the school grounds.

’They’re already itching for a fight.’ Even if combat was allowed, the only real advantage was knocking a competitor out for the day.

As Simon continued to run, a mana screen unfolded from the card on his chest.

[You will be awarded 1 additional point for winning a battle against the following student.]

[Jin Haiden]

’Oh.’ That was a new rule. One point wasn’t bad; each card was worth a point, after all. But it was a mission to attempt only after he had secured his two cards for the day. ’First, I need to collect cards.’

Simon left the Kizen campus and ran across an empty field, where many other students were already scattered. They eyed each other warily, but thankfully, no one launched a preemptive attack.

’Ah!’

He spotted a card stuck to a tree. Grinning, he approached it. ’A navy blue card!’ But there was text written on it.

[Difficulty: Low]

[Entry Capacity: 1 person]

[Entry Condition: Venomology Major]

’Damn, I can’t enter this one.’ Simon immediately turned away. A female student watching from a distance flinched, dropping into a defensive stance.

Simon offered a small smile. "I’m not interested, so go ahead."

"...Huh? Oh. Thank you."

He left immediately, glancing back to see her cautiously approach the card. She must have been a Venomology major, as she touched the card and was instantly drawn inside.

’I need to find one quickly, too.’

"Hey! Over here! Wait up!" Two male students stood guard over a card on a large rock, waving their hands to get his attention.

"Are you a Necrology major?" one of them called out. "As soon as a Necrology major gets here, we can start!"

Simon stopped and looked at the card.

[Difficulty: Medium]

[Entry Capacity: 3 people]

[Entry Condition: Jet-Black Dynamics Major, Cursology Major, Necrology Major]

’Interesting. So there are joint missions, too.’ Simon waved a hand in dismissal. "Sorry, I’m a Summoning major."

Just then, the expression of the student who had been staring at him hardened as he recognized him. ’I-It’s Simon Polentia!’ He had been unsure from a distance, but it was definitely the famous Special Admission No. 1. A fight would have been disastrous for them, but thankfully, Simon seemed uninterested and walked away. Everyone was focused on finding cards.

As he continued his search, Simon grew a little anxious. ’So finding a card isn’t enough. The conditions keep getting in the way.’

He left the field and entered a nearby, gently flowing stream where there were fewer people.

’Ah!’

He noticed an unnatural swirl in the water. In the middle of the vortex, a single card was floating. Simon moved closer to examine it. It was a navy blue card.

[Difficulty: Medium]

[Entry Capacity: 1 person]

[Condition: None]

"This is it!" Simon immediately stepped onto a platform of Jet-Black and leaped toward the stream. In mid-air, he brought his legs together and aimed for the card. The moment his feet touched it, his body was drawn into it.

[Entering a new game.]

---

’Splash, splash!’

’Whoooooosh!’

Simon opened his eyes to a spray of water hitting his face. The roar of a powerful current filled his ears, his stomach churning as his vision wavered.

"...Wh-Where am I?"

The first thing he saw was the grain of wood. The sharp scent of sap filled his nostrils as he lifted his head, and his eyes widened. ’A raft?’

’Whoooooosh!’

He quickly scanned his surroundings. One moment he was in a gentle stream near Kizen’s walls; the next, he was on a flimsy raft, swept away by a torrential current. The dense jungle pressing in on all sides looked nothing like the vegetation of Roc Island. He was on a river carving its way through the heart of a jungle.

’What is all this?’

As Simon looked around in bewilderment, he heard a groan from beside him. He turned to see a female student in a Kizen uniform lying collapsed beside him—a very familiar face.

"Class President!" It was Jamie Victoria, the honorary class president of Class A. "Wake up!" he urged, shaking her gently.

Lying face down and still, she finally stirred, rubbing her eyes as she sat up. "Who... Ah!" She let out a short scream, pointing at Simon. "S-Simon? What are you doing here?"

"I don’t know either," Simon admitted with a shrug.

Jamie looked around, still dazed. "I’m sure I entered the card by myself." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"I came alone, too." It seemed some cards randomly paired students together.

Just then, a mana screen materialized before them.

[Objective: Survive until you reach the destination.]

"Looks like we hit the jackpot with a survival mission," Jamie remarked, now fully awake as she stood up. She flashed a bright smile and held out her hand. "This is the first time we’re teaming up, isn’t it? I’m looking forward to working with you!"

It was a reminder of just how sociable she was, on good terms with nearly everyone in their class.

"Yeah, let’s do our best." The two shook hands and quickly got to work. They were on a single, precarious raft in a raging current, flanked by dense jungle. Simon’s expression turned serious as he sank into thought. ’Survive until the destination. To get there quickly, we should probably stay on this raft.’

"Look at this, Simon." Jamie held up a pair of oars. "Maybe we’re supposed to steer with these?"

"You’re right." Simon nodded, carefully surveying their surroundings. The objective was survival, which meant they wouldn’t just be allowed to cruise along.

Sure enough, just as the thought crossed his mind, the eyes of beasts began to gleam from within the jungle.

"Watch out, Jamie! They’re coming!"