Necromancer Academy's Summoning Genius - Chapter 80 Simon, who had summoned Pier from the subspace bracelet, now opened his own subspace. “Alright, now’s the time. Please enter my side before anyone sees you, Pier.” Pier clicked his tongue in annoyance. [How stifling! Do I have to go back in right after coming out?] “There’s no choice. Hurry before someone sees.” There was a reason for moving the Legion in such a cumbersome way. Before teleporting to the island, Kizen had announced a subspace inspection for all first-year students. However, from Simon’s perspective, he absolutely had to bring Pier to persuade the new commander, ‘Bikrum’, so he used a little trick. “Commander-niiim~” Simon was startled by the sudden deep voice and turned around. Teaching Assistant Bread was running towards him. The sight of the muscular, burly, bald man, swinging his arms daintily as he ran, created an overwhelmingly jarring sensation. “I missed you!” Bread clung to Simon’s arm, speaking in an overly affectionate voice. Simon frowned at the jarring sensation that made him feel like he was losing his mind and said, “Why are you here? Erze. The TA was right next to you.” “I just told that woman I was going to take care of some business.” “Ugh… go back quickly before you’re caught.” The course of events was as follows. Last weekend, Simon won a challenge duel that Bread had proposed, gaining the right to order him to do anything. So Simon went to the dormitory where Bread was staying. At the time, Bread was packing his bags, looking like someone who had given up on everything. —Why are you being so pathetic? I have no intention of asking the TA to retire. Bread looked up at Simon. —Instead, from now on, you will be my chess piece. Simon had a firm hold on Bread’s weakness. Bread immediately protested. —How dare a mere freshman try to treat me like a servant! —If you don’t like it, there’s nothing I can do. I’ll go tell Professor Hongpeng everything. At those words, Bread’s face immediately stiffened. —As an educator, you assaulted a Kizen student under the pretext of a challenge duel. And the most absurd part was the condition if you won… Simon’s lips curled into a smile. —It was for me to become Professor Hongpeng’s direct disciple, wasn’t it? —…… —Let me be clear. That wasn’t for the professor’s benefit; it was an insult to her decision. Hongpeng had already accepted Simon’s refusal to be her direct disciple. But Bread had suddenly interfered, beating Simon up and demanding he become Hongpeng’s direct disciple if Bread won. This was a direct disregard for Hongpeng’s wishes. —The professor thinks what happened between us was just a simple dispute. But if she knew the truth, how disappointed she would be in you… Simon’s lips curled into a smile. —I trust you understand. —Kuk…! In fact, by forcing such a wager on Simon, Bread had essentially driven himself into a situation from which he couldn’t escape. And so. Simon acquired a splendid chess piece in Bread. Coincidentally, Bread had been selected as one of the TAs accompanying the students to the island. Simon borrowed his subspace, then ordered him to remain hidden and out of sight for the entire duration of the Island Survival. —…You intend to impersonate me. —How did you know? —Kizen students’ schemes are beyond imagination. Impersonation is common in this cutthroat place. Bread scratched his head. —Do as you please. But if you get caught, it’s not my fault. —Of course. And so, Bread went into hiding, and Erzebet transformed into Bread and came to this island instead. Pier, having been in Bread’s bracelet subspace, was able to safely cross over to the island. The TAs’ subspaces weren’t subject to inspection, after all. “Everyone was perfectly fooled by this maiden’s acting!” Erzebet said in Bread’s gruff voice. “…Please stop. It’s making me sick.” “Anyway! Are we going to meet Bikrum now? I want to come too.” “Absolutely not.” Simon flatly refused. “If Bread suddenly disappears from his position, the school will get suspicious. This task is enough with just me and Pier.” [Kuhuhu! The boy is right! Begone!] “Even Pier! You’re all too much.” Erzebet drooped her head, looking dejected. “…I shall return.” “……” Seeing her dejected appearance, Simon felt a slight pang of conscience. From recruiting Bread to the impersonation, Erzebet had practically done everything for this operation. He felt he had been a bit too cold to her. [What are you doing, boy?] Just then, Pier spoke into Simon’s mind. [If you’re so concerned, bestow a reward. It is also the Legion Commander’s role to commend a subordinate’s achievements!] ‘Huh? Wh-what kind of reward?’ [You know what she likes without me having to tell you.] He knew, of course. Simon sighed softly and looked up. He saw the burly man with a terribly sulky expression, his head bowed. “…Erze. Can you return to your original form for a moment?” “Yes?” She looked puzzled but obeyed the command and returned to her original form. Simon approached her with stiff steps. [Commander-nim?] Then, he stiffly extended both arms and tightly hugged her shoulders. […!!!] Erzebet, utterly surprised, froze as if time had stopped. Simon whispered in a voice barely audible to her. “Th-thank you for your hard work, Erze.” Erzebet’s pupils widened. Her heart. Her heart melted and flowed like ice cream. “Ahem.” Simon, his face beet red, hastily backed away. “Now, transform back into Bread and return to your position. There’s no good in being suspected for no reason.” Simon, sweating profusely, disappeared as if fleeing. Pier’s sub-body chuckled loudly, finding it immensely amusing. […] Erzebet, who had been staring blankly at Simon’s retreating back for a moment, slowly rubbed her shoulder. Then, with both cheeks flushed, she covered her face. […Truly a lovable person.] It seemed a hundred, no, a thousand oaths of loyalty wouldn’t be enough. * * * Night was approaching. Kizen students were gradually adapting to the unfamiliar environment and monsters, and were now moving towards the center. However, as darkness began to fall, they encountered a new crisis. As is typical of tropical regions, Kera Island experienced a very large diurnal temperature range. The humid weather suddenly turned cold enough to feel chilly. Moreover, it was common knowledge that monster activity became more vigorous at night. “To spend the night, we’ll have to build a shelter after all.” “First, let’s make a fire!” It was a situation where they needed to build a bonfire and a shelter to maintain body temperature and get proper sleep. But the students struggled just to find a suitable spot for a shelter. Sleeping in the middle of the jungle was terrifying due to monster attacks, and areas near rivers or wide-open plains risked surprise attacks from other students. Some students tried to build shelters in trees, using their wits, but the problem was their lack of skill. “Ugh, my back. I’m really going to die.” “We’re only staying for one night anyway, right? Isn’t not doing this crap a way to save energy?” Some of the students who had been cutting and dragging trees declared they would just camp, feeling deep skepticism. However, as the night deepened, the temperature plummeted, and it seemed wise to at least block the wind. While the students were going through various trials and errors. Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Rustle. Rustle. Simon’s shelter was rapidly nearing completion. He laid down evenly sized logs and tightly wrapped them multiple times with sturdy vines, securing them firmly. He erected pillars and placed a roof on the pre-dug grooves to construct the framework, then covered it with large leaves taken from his subspace, like a roof. “You tie that fence over there. Put the wood you brought on the right.” Click. Clack. With one human and four undead working together, a single shelter was quickly completed. Its size was small, just enough for Simon alone, but for a one-night stay, the quality was quite satisfactory. Simon built his shelter near the beach, opposite to the direction most Kizen students were heading. The location near the beach was slightly outside the main activity range of carnivorous monsters. It was perfect in many ways. “It’s good not having to worry about other people.” He lit a bonfire without concern and thoroughly crushed medicinal herbs that repel insects and snakes, mixing them slightly with water, then evenly applied the mixture around the shelter. After all the work was done, Simon immediately slipped into the completed wooden hut. He had built it himself, but he found it incredibly cozy. “Alright, then.” Simon lay down neatly and pulled the leaf blanket over himself. “Time to sleep.” [What? You’re sleeping already?] Pier exclaimed in surprise. [It’s not even that late in the evening!] “I’m going to sleep early and start moving at dawn tomorrow. Oh, right!” Simon sat up, took Pier’s sub-body that was attached to his uniform, and hung it outside the hut like a decoration. [What is this! What are you doing, boy!] “Please stand guard, Pier. Undead don’t need sleep, do they?” [Kuk! Unacceptable! I am the Legion’s Administrator! How dare you use me in such a way!] “Please~ And I’ll leave this here, so wake me up at 4 AM.” Simon placed the watch on his wrist where Pier’s sub-body could see it, then slipped back into the hut. [Using me as an alarm clock!!] Simon completely cut off communication with the undead, pulled the leaf blanket over himself, and prepared to sleep. After tossing and turning for a moment, he quickly fell into a deep sleep, breathing softly.
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