Simon blinked. "The most important function?" "Yes. Focus on the ring on your finger and firmly press your left foot on the ground." Following Gallen's words, he gently stepped on the dirt ground with his left foot. It felt as if he had pressed a button with his foot, and a transparent magic circle formed around his left foot. "Now, a virtual magic circle should be visible to the caster. Flow Jet Black into it to activate the magic circle." Activate? What does that mean? Simon was puzzled, but he decided to flow a small amount of Jet Black into the magic circle. Whoosh! A corner of the magic circle lit up with black fire, coming to life. 'So this is how it works.' There was no complicated process. Just by flowing Jet Black, the virtual magic circle formed on its own. "This state is called 'Set Mode'. If your left foot leaves the ground, Set Mode will be released." Simon lifted his left foot, and indeed, the magic circle vanished as if dissolving into thin air. He stepped back down and activated Jet Black, and the magic circle formed again, returning to 'Set Mode'. 'Amazing!' A childlike smile spread across Simon's lips. "Now, what you can do in Set Mode is simple. The caster can open up to six subspaces simultaneously." Simon's expression was startled. "Six at once?" "Yes, look around you." Six transparent magic circles were now floating in the air. "Unless otherwise set, the subspace will open at the location of these virtual magic circles, visible only to the caster. Execution is simple. Just say the activation word 'Open' in your mind. You can also say it aloud." Simon nodded and focused. This time, he would create virtual targets in the air and have the Overlord concentrate its attacks there. "Open!" Swish! Swish-swish-swish-swish! Swish! The six magic circles opened, and from within, six tentacles poured out as if they had been waiting, piercing through the air. Simon unconsciously gasped. "Wow!" Benya, standing beside him, also widened her eyes and clapped her hands. Simon turned sharply to Gallen and exclaimed, "Gallen! You're a genius! How could you create such a subspace...!" "Hahaha! Originally, this was a 'pending project' designed to open multiple subspaces. It was fate that it was modified into a dedicated magic circle for the Overlord like this. It was a rewarding task for me too." Gallen held up his index finger. "But I told you, didn't I? This subspace needs to produce a different output than its normal use, so..." "You said there might be a risk." "Haha! Yes, that's right. Do you feel it?" Simon looked at the ring on his left hand. "The ring got hot." "Yes, that's right. If you open many subspaces at once, and frequently, the subspace will gradually overload." Simon looked puzzled. It's a subspace that can open six doors simultaneously, isn't the ring just getting a little hot not even a risk? "In a real battle, there will be times when you have to keep the subspace open. If the ring gets hot enough to cause burns and you continue to overuse the subspace, eventually..." Pop- Gallen made a sound effect with his mouth. "In the worst case, it explodes. Your finger might just fly off." "...Ah." Just thinking about it made his finger ache. "Of course, as long as you don't overuse it, there's no problem at all. The caster only needs simple common sense and self-control. Stop operating when the ring gets hotter than its limit. And wait patiently until the ring cools down. I guarantee that if you follow just these two things, there will be no problems with its use." So, no overuse. Simon nodded. "And to prevent frequent overloading of the subspace, I recommend using an average of four rather than the maximum of six. Six should be reserved for truly urgent situations, as a trump card." Having finished his explanation, Gallen bowed his head. "That's all. Do you have any questions?" "So many! First..." Simon, as if he had been waiting, poured out a barrage of questions. At the same time, he was thinking of the most efficient way to operate the Overlord. 'With this.' Simon felt a surge of confidence. 'With this, I can win with my own strength.' *** That night, in the first-year male dormitory. "Finally, it's the weekend tomorrow!" Dick shouted, flopping onto his bed. "Simon! Want to go out with Mei-rin and the others this weekend?" "Sorry. I've already scheduled special training." The duel evaluation with Malcolm is right after the weekend. He had to get the new Overlord control using the subspace on track by then. "It can't be helped, it's for the Malcolm fight." Dick rested his chin on his pillow with a regretful expression, but he seemed to understand. And the next day, the weekend, the hellish training truly began. "Didn't I tell you? You can start as you please, but I decide when it ends." Aaron even came to Kizen on the weekend to oversee Simon's Overlord training. This time, it was training to put the Overlord into subspace and block the bones Aaron threw. If anyone else had seen it, they would have said he was tormenting a child; the intensity of the weekend training was that high. Simon moved until he was exhausted, willingly completing the training. Through this training, he got a rough sense of how much he could use it before the ring got hot. [Hmph! That Kizen professor thinks too much from a Necromancer's perspective! Training without a complete understanding of the undead is meaningless!] Pier burned with a strange rivalry towards Aaron and called Simon to the ruins. Although he was already exhausted from Aaron's training, Simon wouldn't refuse an offer to practice. [Even if it attacks through subspace, its essence doesn't change! Read the Overlord's thoughts and deliver the most effective attack!] "Yes!" After training with Pier, he returned to Kizen and stopped by the 'Mutant' clubroom. Just as Simon had run himself ragged, the Overlord had also been overworked from training. "Simon!" "You're here." "Oh, you guys." Even though it was the weekend, Toto and Fitzgerald were assembling skeletons together in the clubroom. Simon grinned. "You guys secretly got close." Toto scratched his head. "Huh? Really? Haha." "Quiet, just help me assemble this." "Alright. When you're done, help me with my work too." After assembling the skeletons, Simon took the Overlord out of subspace, and the two of them helped him spread chemicals on the dry parts of its body. "Wait a minute." Fitzgerald stood up and stroked one of the Overlord's legs. Simon exclaimed in alarm, "Be careful! It's dangerous to touch it carelessly...!" "Only this leg seems a bit strange." Fitzgerald was staring intently at the Overlord's leg. Simon shrugged. "Is that so? They all look similar to me." "This undead, you said its creator died, right?" "Yes." "Hmm." Fitzgerald pondered for a moment, then looked at Simon. "I think the creator put more effort into this leg. Connect to the Overlord's thoughts and try to extend this leg further." "Further?" "Yeah. Like unfolding it." Fitzgerald was eccentric, but Simon thought he must have a reason for saying this. Simon closed his eyes and extended the leg to its maximum length. In this state. 'Unfold!' He commanded with his thoughts. Then the Overlord showed a peculiar reaction. Its leg trembled, then went limp. Considering the Overlord's nature to simply ignore impossible commands, this was a bit strange. Because it seemed like it had 'failed' rather than 'couldn't do it'. 'One more time...!' Simon commanded again. The Overlord's leg trembled, then made a creaking sound. 'Keep going! Don't give up!' As he continued to command, the bones, which he thought were tightly packed, stretched out like a coiled spring unraveling. The fully extended Overlord leg was 1.5 times longer than the other normal legs. "Wasn't I right?" Fitzgerald wore a triumphant smile. "Perhaps the creator tried to add this function to the other legs but failed, so they just attached them all together. It seems only this leg can be extended." Simon jumped up and grabbed his hand. "Thank you! Fitz!" "Huh? Oh, uh." "I got a really important hint!" Simon's eyes sparkled. This ability to introduce a variable was huge. He felt like he might be able to create a powerful winning formula. *** The weekend ended, and the morning of the Duel Evaluation dawned. Kizen had significantly increased the scale of external observers for this Duel Evaluation. Officials from kingdoms and various organizations, as well as scouts. Countless people visited Locke Island to observe this public Duel Evaluation. "The arena is this way!" "Please follow the controls!" And the ones suffering were the agents sent to control the nobles. Lena, a veteran dorm manager of four years, also participated in controlling this event, and it was hell. "Hey! Do you know who this person is?!" "Can't I just talk to the students for a moment?" "No! Absolutely not!" Lena desperately forced a smile, but inside, she was screaming in agony. 'Ah! These old geezers just won't listen. Seriously!' The nobles were arrogant and resented following the agents' instructions. They constantly flaunted their status and wealth, and if they felt they weren't being treated properly, they would shriek until your ears bled. She felt it would be better to manage the immature students. 'Ah.' Just then, a middle-aged man stroking his mustache seemed to be trying to slip out of line. Lena spread her arms to block him. "You cannot enter! It is strictly forbidden for commoners to visit areas outside the arena!" "Oh, young lady, don't you know me? I am Count Sorio. I just want to see my son's face..." "Count, absolutely not! Please follow the official procedures for visitation!" "Oh, come on, why are you being so rigid?" Count Sorio subtly pulled out a pouch of gold coins from his pocket and pushed it into her hand. "I cannot accept this! Ah! P-Please don't do this, Count!" "Oh, come on. Just take it." As the two were bickering, Count Sorio subtly signaled with his eyes. Flash! Two men accompanying him suddenly started running towards the first-year campus. "Two are going!" "Stop them!" The agents and teaching assistants gasped and chased after them. However, the men were no ordinary individuals; they instantly activated their cores and transformed into Spirit Form. The arms of the teaching assistants trying to grab them only cut through empty air. 'They were Necromancers!' If they broke through, hell would break loose. The teaching assistants shouted and followed, but the two men in Spirit Form did not slow down. Just as they reached the entrance of the first-year campus. Clang! Clang! Chains suddenly flew from the air and bound the two men. 'H-How, when they're in Spirit Form?' There was no time to question. The two men, caught by the chains, flew in a large arc in the air and then fell to the ground directly behind Count Sorio. Boom! A thick cloud of dust rose. A moment later, the two men, whose heads were buried in the ground, trembled their legs, then went limp. Murmur, murmur, murmur. Other nobles watched, some scoffing, others covering their mouths with fans. Count Sorio's face flushed with embarrassment. "How dare you do this to my retainers! W-Who are you!" "It's me." Step. Step. All the teaching assistants and agents present tensed up, stood rigidly, and stepped back. Through the agents parting like the Red Sea, a woman walked forward. Her extremely restrained bob cut and cold, purple eyes exuded a solemn aura. 'K-Kizen's Vice Dean, Jane Olivia...!' She strode forward and stood before Sorio. "You don't need to worry, we are taking good care of your son. This kind of contact is difficult." It was the first time he had seen such a great Necromancer up close. Sorio, trembling with fear, still spoke. "I-Is it so wrong for me to see my son?!" "Once admitted, he is a Necromancer belonging to Kizen before he is your son, Count. And..." She opened her palm, and two potions that had been in the escorts' pockets floated up. Count Sorio's face turned pale. "Even if you were to give these to your son now, it wouldn't change the outcome of the match." "...!" "Since you've visited our academy, I hope you have a good time." She walked away, and Count Sorio, with a resigned expression, bowed his head deeply. Just then, a young woman in a dress among the nobles waved her hand. "Jane! Jane!" "Ah, Princess." Jane smiled faintly and approached her. "You've come." "Yes! Watching Kizen events is the joy of my life! Oh." She lowered her voice considerably and whispered to Jane. "They say Special Admission Student No. 1 is unprecedented, how is he?" Jane gave a wry smile. "Shouldn't you at least ask about your brother's well-being first, out of courtesy?" "I don't care about him! A prince creating strange factions like Noble or whatever! Haaah, he hasn't changed a bit since he was in the palace, has he?" Grumbling, she looked at Jane again. "So, do you think Special Admission Student No. 1 will do well? There's a duel evaluation between the only special admission students today! I'm really looking forward to it." "Yes, you can look forward to it." Jane gave a subtle smile. "Because he is a student under my care." "Oh?" "Then I'll excuse myself for work." Jane bowed her head and walked away. The princess covered her mouth and chuckled. "Jane said something like that? That's unusual." What kind of power would that student use? With a pounding heart, she headed to the arena.
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