Necromancer School's Summoning Genius Chapter 122Aaron then continued to explain the detailed rules for the performance evaluation.It was just past noon, 12 PM, and the evaluation could be conducted until exactly midnight. When the time limit expired, Kizen would collectively activate teleportation, regardless of where students were in Deathland.Aaron and the teaching assistants would set up a camp at this arrival point and wait. If a zombie was brought to the camp in a magical inventory, Aaron would evaluate it, and that group could return to Kizen. Each group could only be evaluated once.If a problem occurred during the search, group leaders could send a distress signal using the Tongpad provided to them. Aaron or the teaching assistants would immediately rush to their aid, but it would be considered a forfeiture of the rest of the exam."Deathland is teeming with all sorts of undead, especially natural zombies," Aaron began."Zombies are basically Class 2 monsters, and there are even strong individuals exceeding Class 4. As you've learned from studying zombies, combat is not recommended."Simon nodded as he listened to the explanation.Zombies react sensitively to sound, and fighting them would only attract more zombies who heard the commotion. It was best to avoid them as much as possible if they didn't want to be surrounded by a zombie horde."As this is a dangerous place, combat between Kizen students is strictly forbidden. Also, besides you, there might be corpse-collectors or other Necromancers in Deathland who are here to obtain materials. Try to avoid getting involved with them if possible. They are, in the true sense, crazier than zombies.""Yes!""Then scatter."Aaron looked at his wristwatch and said, "From now on, Class A's Summoning Studies performance evaluation will begin."***Deathland was less a forest and more a colossal city.As their eyes adjusted to the darkness, the outlines of buildings finally emerged. It was a city as large as the metropolis of Langerstein.However, it was dark, gloomy, and devoid of any human presence. It was nothing short of a deserted ghost town."......Phew. The atmosphere is insane, seriously."Dick said, looking around with a tense expression.Kamibarez clung tightly to Simon's clothes, then scurried along with short steps whenever Simon walked. She seemed scared, but when their eyes met, she gave a cheerful smile."Are you okay, Kami?""Yes!"She answered bravely."We've come to a scary place, but all four of us are together, right? That alone makes me feel safe!""Yeah, let's work hard together."Meanwhile, Mei-rin was more enthusiastic than anyone about searching the city. She strode into an alley and ran her palm over a wooden building."It's amazing how the buildings are still intact. Aside from being dark and having zombies, it just looks like a normal city.""Whoa, don't just go off by yourself!"Dick exclaimed in horror."Doesn't she have any fear? Zombies are lurking everywhere!"Mei-rin turned to Dick and grinned."Scaredy-cat.""......!"At that one word, Dick's movements stiffened."Hey, hey! Scaredy-cat, what are you talking about! I'm a Kizen Necromancer! My job is to handle zombies, so there's no way I'd be afraid of...."Roll.Mei-rin lightly kicked a rolling stone nearby. Dick and Kamibarez, who were already on edge, shrieked in fright and hid behind Simon."If it's really too much, you can stay at the camp."Simon said with a wry smile."Mei-rin and I will somehow find a good zombie and come back."Indeed, there were some students who were so terrified that they swore they couldn't enter Deathland. They were currently under Aaron's protection at the camp."Th-that's not allowed!"Kamibarez squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her forehead against Simon's back."Please don't abandon me! I'll work hard!""Huh? Oh, no! I didn't mean abandon....""We have to see it through."Dick forced a smile, though his lips trembled."If I bail now, Mei-rin will nag me about teamwork for the entire first semester, that's for sure.""You know me well~"Mei-rin replied, then stood on her tiptoes and peered through a window."No one inside.""Oh, of course there's no one! There are no people here. Only undead!""But Dick," Simon said, sweeping his eyes over the gloomy, dark city before turning to Dick, "Did people used to live here?""......Huh? Oh. Of course."Dick nodded, lowering his voice."Professor Aaron uses this place for performance evaluations every year, but apparently, there's quite a bit of opposition within Kizen itself.""Because it's dangerous?""That's part of it, but this place is like a stain on Kizen's past."Dick continued with a grim face."Actually, this was once a city of the old Talhern Empire."Simon knew Talhern well.The empire that rebelled against Kizen, suffered the 'Rose Retreat' at the hands of 10 Necromancers, and was ultimately destroyed.And Deathland, during the Talhern era, was the empire's second most prosperous city after the capital."In history books, it says that after the 'Rose Retreat,' when the 50,000-strong army sent to attack Kizen turned into undead and returned to the capital, the Emperor was captured in the capital, right? But that's not true."Mei-rin and Kamibarez were now also listening intently to Dick's story."The Emperor safely escaped the capital amidst the chaos and tried to find a new base to resist Kizen. This Deathland was chosen as that base. At the time, Deathland was governed by a powerful Swordmaster of the Empire, and it had a large standing army. The Emperor planned to use this place as a base to launch a massive counterattack."Deathland was an impregnable city, based on its towering fortress and large population.Moreover, the presence of a Swordmaster capable of fighting high-ranking Necromancers made it an optimal location for preparing for a long war."Kizen worried about the Empire regrouping to oppose them and decided that overwhelming fear was necessary. So, they dropped a terrifying strategic weapon-grade dark magic on this territory."Dick shrugged and spread his arms."And it became what it is now.""......!"Kamibarez covered her mouth with a stiff expression."When the Empire's second city was wiped out by a single dark magic spell, the Emperor completely lost his will to fight and surrendered to Kizen. That's pretty much how it happened."Suddenly, the surroundings fell silent. Mei-rin put her hands on her hips and said,"But what else could they do? If the Emperor had safely entered this city, he would have pushed all the imperial citizens into the flames of war because of his pride! A full-scale war between Kizen and the Empire. That would have been a tragedy, with millions and millions dying! It was the headquarters' judgment to stop it before the situation got out of hand, so I can understand it.""But...."Kamibarez said quietly."......I feel sorry for the people of this city.""W-well, that's true."Mei-rin sighed, admitting it. She had only said it was a strategically understandable decision, not that the method was right."Alright! Enough with the history lesson. Let's get back to the main point."Dick clapped his hands."To use zombie summoning magic, the first thing is to find a corpse. Not all living creatures in Deathland turned into zombies. There are still uncorrupted corpses that haven't decayed, and finding those is the top priority!"Mei-rin extended her hand."Then let's start by searching the houses in this vicinity. Something might turn up."Everyone nodded in agreement."How about this?"Simon suggested splitting into Mei-rin's team and Simon's team for faster work.However."Hey! You want to send me off with that clumsy one? She's no help!""How about we all go together since we still have plenty of time? It's a very dangerous place, after all...."Indeed, as Kamibarez said, there was no need to rush for now. Safety was also the top priority over grades.Group 7 decided to search the houses as a complete foursome.Knock, knock.Dick knocked on the door with an extremely serious expression."No one's home, right? Coming in. Sorry.""Stop acting silly and hurry up, you idiot!"Mei-rin pushed Dick aside and confidently walked inside. Simon followed, glancing around the house.It was just the scene of an ordinary home. This place truly maintained its appearance from before the curse fell."Nothing on the second floor either!"Mei-rin, who had gone upstairs at some point, clattered down the stairs and said, "Let's go to the next house!""Okay."The four diligently searched house after house."Nothing here either!""Next!"They searched houses thoroughly for almost two hours, but ultimately found nothing."Wow, this is tougher than I thought.""Let's rest here for a bit."They were starting to get tired, so they decided to take a break.The four entered a house and locked the door. They sat down in comfortable positions and took out water bottles from their magical inventories to quench their thirst.Then, a strange growl came from outside.-Ughhhhhhh."Oh, damn! You scared me."Dick rolled on the floor."Be quiet, you fool!"Mei-rin warned, putting a finger to her lips.As the four fell silent and exchanged glances, a shuffling sound came from outside the house.Screech- Screech-It was very close. The footsteps were right next to the window.'Oh no.'Simon glanced at the window and gestured. The four immediately flattened themselves on the floor.As Simon raised his eyes, he saw a silhouette beyond the window.A corpse with a horribly disfigured face was moving. "......!"Kamibarez covered her mouth. Dick fixed his gaze on the floor, and Mei-rin prepared to unleash dark magic in case of an emergency.Thump- thump-Their hearts pounded rapidly. The zombie turned its limp head to look through the window. Its neck was torn, revealing bone.".......""......."A silence so heavy it was hard to breathe hung in the air for a moment.Screech- Screech-Soon, with its characteristic shuffling sound, the zombie moved away from the window."Haaaaaaah."Sighs of relief escaped from various places. Dick patted his shoulder and said,"Ah, I'm alive. Seriously, I think my lifespan just shortened!"Mei-rin stood up."Let's change locations soon. Zombies are starting to roam around here now, and it seems pointless to search this vicinity further. I think...."Simon, who had been listening quietly, widened his eyes.Behind Mei-rin, something suddenly shot out from the window frame of the storage room door, where there had clearly been nothing before."Look out!"A pale gray, corpse-like hand covered Mei-rin's mouth and dragged her straight towards the storage room door.Thud!"Mmph! Mmph!"She struggled desperately. The zombie's other arm could be seen protruding through the bars of the window.Crunch!Simon was the first to react.He rushed forward like lightning and slammed his elbow down on the arm that was holding Mei-rin.Bang!As Mei-rin broke free from the zombie's grasp, Dick pushed the door with his whole body to block it. -Kyaaaaaaak!Beyond the storage room bars, the zombie was flailing its two arms. The door was locked from the inside, but one of its feet was sticking out from under the door.The door rattled, looking like it would burst open at any moment."I'll do it!"<Blood Silk>Kamibarez calmly completed her dark magic and sent a carpet woven from blood through the bars.Cleverly, she wrapped the carpet around the zombie's neck and pulled, while Dick completely closed the door and placed his palm on the doorknob.'Enchant!'Dick reinforced the old, worn-out hinges with Jet Black."It's done, Kami!"At Dick's shout, Kamibarez nodded and released the Blood Silk. The zombie let out a 'Kyaaak!' sound and lunged at the door again.Thump! Thump! Thump!But the door didn't open because the hinges were reinforced with Enchant.The four simultaneously let out a sigh of relief.Simon looked at Mei-rin and asked, "Are you okay, Mei-rin?""Ah, yeah. Thanks."She took Simon's hand and stood up. Dick scratched his head."Whoa, I thought my heart was going to drop.""I'm sorry! I should have been more thorough.""No, no."Even though they were all scared, they reacted quickly when an emergency struck, which made Simon realize they were indeed Kizen students.Simon looked at his companions with a proud expression, then turned his head to gaze out the window. More and more growls were echoing from the darkness."I think the zombies heard the noise. Let's get out of here immediately."The combat power of individual zombies wasn't terrifying, but the fact that other zombies would gather upon hearing commotion was threatening. Everyone nodded and prepared to escape.Simon took a deep breath and grabbed the doorknob of the house."Alright, we're going out."Everyone's gaze was focused on the door. The moment Simon opened the door and stepped outside.'......Ah!'He made direct eye contact with the zombies lurking outside.At that moment, Dick threw the table he was holding at the zombies and shouted,"Run!"
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