Summoning Genius of Kizen - Chapter 20 How much time had passed? Simon's consciousness slowly began to return. “Oh, you've come to!” The first thing he saw upon opening his eyes was a tall skeleton with burning eyes. Simon shot upright. “……Pier! W-what happened?” “The contract was successfully completed. Feel the changes in your body!” Simon blinked and placed a hand on his chest. ‘My Core…!’ The size of his Core had grown. Not only that, but the Jet Black, which used to burden his body even in small amounts, now felt as comfortable as warm water. It felt as if something fundamental had changed within him. “Congratulations on becoming one of the world's only seven ‘Legion Commanders’, boy!” Pier grinned. Simon, who was about to stand up, covered his forehead with his palm as dizziness washed over him. “Don't overexert yourself! Your body has undergone a massive transformation.” “Ah, yes.” During the contract process, Simon had almost fainted several times. The terrible sensation of his entire body being permeated by an unknown, alien feeling was so painful that he had considered biting his tongue and dying multiple times. ‘I won't be able to move for a while. I'll have to stay here all night.’ Simon sighed softly and looked at Pier. “I have a question, Pier.” “Speak, boy!” Pier said solemnly, crossing his arms. “What exactly is the Legion?” […….] A deep silence descended upon the ruins for a moment. “What?! You contracted with me without even knowing that?!” “Yes.” He had entered because Neptis, his father's comrade, had told him about the place, and he had met and taken in Pier, his father's undead. That was the extent of it. Pier laughed in disbelief. “It might take quite some time to fully understand a human like you! Very well. I shall explain!” Pier's eyes grew serious. “Before that, how much do you know about undead?” “Hmm…… as much as a Kizen first-year freshman.” “Ha! A mere freshman, yet you came all the way here alone without fear! Truly Richard's son!” Pier began his explanation. According to him, undead in this world are classified into three categories. The first are Summoned Undead. All undead controlled by Necromancers fall into this category. They are artificially created from corpses through dark magic and move according to the Necromancer's commands. They disappear when the dark magic's effect wears off or after a certain period. And the second are Natural Undead. These are undead that are naturally generated, unrelated to Necromancers or dark magic. They are the ones generally known to people and are objects of fear across the continent due to their blind hatred for the living and extreme aggression. They fall into the 'monster' category designated by humans. And the third are… “Precisely, the Legion!” Pier raised his voice. “The Legion exists precisely in the middle of ‘Summoned Undead’ and ‘Natural Undead’! They are Natural Undead capable of self-sustenance with their own Cores, yet they are also Summoned Undead who obey the commands of a Necromancer and higher entities!” “Legion-type Undead……” Simon muttered, as if repeating the words, and slowly nodded. “Only seven Legions exist in this world. In other words, there are only seven Necromancers in the world who can control a Legion. Boy, including you!” Pier's story was a continuous series of surprises. Ordinary summoning Necromancers are said to lead undead in squad units. There are also Necromancers who can move undead forces in company units, and high-ranking Necromancers of Kizen's caliber can even operate in battalion units, though it's somewhat inefficient. The reason for these numerical restrictions is that all undead led by Necromancers are 'Summoned Undead'. Summoning and controlling them both consume Jet Black and mental power. However, the Legion, which moves with its own magical power, was completely free from such restrictions. “The Legion has no limits! Whether it's an army of ten thousand or a million, it can be operated infinitely! If you've heard stories of a Necromancer leading a massive undead army, it must have been a Legion Commander!” “Ah……” Simon was both delighted and a little dumbfounded. ‘I've become one of only seven Necromancers in the world with no limit on troops?’ It was a story too hard to believe even after hearing it. “Are all your questions answered now?” “Yes.” “Good! The contract has been successfully completed, and whether we like it or not, we are in this together. Now, shall we discuss our future plans?” “Alright, Pier.” Pier, who had been sitting crookedly, adjusted his posture. Seeing this, Simon also sat up straight. “You and I are both in special situations. Is that right?” “Yes, I am enrolled in Kizen.” “Any thoughts of leaving Kizen?” “Not for now. It would go against my father's wishes, and most importantly, there's still much to learn at Kizen.” “Hmm, good! I agree that Kizen has value!” Pier tapped his forehead with a finger. “Then, this time, let's address the special situation the Legion is in.” “That the Legion was once disbanded?” “That's a given. If the Legion hadn't been disbanded, there would have been no need for me to contract with you in the first place.” The dark blue flames rising from Pier's eye sockets grew stronger. “Currently, we are public enemies of Necromancers. You could even say we are wanted.” “Why is that?” “Because of the sin committed by the former Legion Commander, your father, Richard.” Simon's body trembled slightly at those words. ‘My father's sin?’ “Richard committed an unforgivable sin in the dark magic world. The Legion also assisted in committing that sin as an accomplice.” “What exactly was that unforgivable sin……?” Pier closed his eyes. “An act of betrayal. Richard loved a Priest.” “Ah……” Simon felt as if he had been struck hard on the head with a hammer. ‘I'm hearing this here?’ “At that time, the 100-year war between Necromancers and Priests was ongoing. It was a very sensitive period! Nevertheless, Richard commanded the Legion to protect the Priest he loved. He made them attack fellow Necromancers who came to kill her.” Simon swallowed hard. “Many casualties resulted. A decree of annihilation was issued against Richard and the Legion, and it is still valid even now, after Richard disbanded the Legion. This is why the Legion cannot openly show itself.” “I understand what you mean.” After hearing Pier's story, Simon felt an even stronger sense of responsibility towards the Legion. He felt that accepting Pier and the Legion, and bearing their risks together, was a natural destiny as the son born between Richard and Anna. “Boy, you don't need to feel guilty!” Pier's mouth stretched into a grin. “The Legion moves strictly according to the Legion Commander's will! Richard's Legion and Simon's Legion are different. Necromancers probably realize that point too.” “In that case……!” “But you are Richard's son, not a complete third party. The elders can't help but be suspicious. And above all……” Pier poked Simon's forehead with a bony finger. “If word gets out that a mere Kizen first-year student possesses a ‘Legion’, how do you think other Necromancers will react?” Simon's eyes sharpened. ‘My father's power cannot be taken by anyone.’ “I'll have to get stronger.” “That's right.” Pier clenched his fist. “For now, quietly absorb Kizen's knowledge and grow stronger! The Legion will also slowly regain its former prestige. And when the time comes…” “Yes.” There was no need to say more. Simon and Pier nodded simultaneously. “Returning to the main topic, we are in a special situation. Therefore, as the administrator, I propose a new method of operating the Legion!” “What kind……?” Pier raised his arm and gestured. The skeleton Simon had summoned earlier to hold the lantern ambled closer. “Uh, can Pier control my skeletons too?” “Of course! We now share a single Jet Black, and all undead summoned by your Jet Black belong to the Legion. You, as the Legion Commander, are the first in command, and I am the second. However……” Pier stroked his chin. “This undead has not yet undergone the process of ‘Legionization’.” “Legionization?” The skeleton approached Pier. Pier raised his arm and placed it on the skeleton's skull. Whoosh! Simon's characteristic dark blue Jet Black surged like flames, and the skeleton's body floated into the air. The Jet Black, which had been swirling chaotically in the air, was suddenly sucked into the skull, forming a sphere, like a 'brain'. A moment later, the skeleton dropped to the floor with a thud. “This is a Legionized undead!” The skeleton slowly began to rise. Its appearance was not much different, but dark blue flames, just like Pier's, flickered in its eye sockets. Simply put, what Pier called Legionization was the process of a 'Summoned Undead' becoming a 'Natural Undead'. Because these undead moved with their own Cores, the summoning time limit disappeared, and they could exist forever without Simon needing to pay attention to them. “But it's very noticeable.” “Indeed.” Simon wore a troubled expression. If he took these to Kizen, he would be immediately found out. “Therefore, there's no need to ‘Legionize’ all undead! Unless it's an undead that has existed for a long time like me, it's common knowledge that Summoned types have superior combat efficiency. Boy! You should continue to use Summoned Undead as usual. Then, when a skeleton's duration ends or it becomes too damaged to use, bring it to me. I will Legionize it and station it here.” “Ah, that kind of operation method sounds good!” Ordinary undead like skeletons or zombies are disposable, but Simon could now permanently preserve undead like a warehouse. Moreover, if they weren't severely damaged, they could self-regenerate through Legionization. “So get stronger, boy! If you can summon more excellent undead, the Legion's power will also increase!” “Yes, of course.” Simon took the opportunity to incorporate the two skeletons damaged in the fight against the Werewolf into Pier's side as well. Once they became Natural Undead, the skeletons' behavior patterns also changed. Originally, they would stand blankly like puppets with cut strings if Simon didn't command them, but now they scratched their heads or suddenly ran around, showing slightly animal-like behaviors. Then, if Simon called them, they would quickly run over. It was proof that the command authority was properly applied. Even after the serious discussion about the Legion's operational plan ended, the night was long. Simon and Pier sat facing each other and began to chat. “Boy. How long have you been in Kizen?” “It's been three days now.” “I see. Just bear with it a little longer! After a bit more time, first-years will also be able to receive 'missions' from Kizen. You'll be able to travel Locke Island, and even across the continent via teleportation magic circles!” Pier curled his lips and continued. “At that time, I will go with you! You'll be able to operate the Legion to your heart's content without worrying about others! And under the pretext of missions, we'll gather the Legion's old forces scattered across the continent! If you're Richard's son, they'll all gladly come under your command!” Simon's eyes widened in surprise. “Pier knows a lot about Kizen.” “Hehehe, of course! I watched your father's Kizen life all along! That guy was a notorious troublemaker at Kizen.” This overlapped with Neptis's statement. And a faint emotion flowed across Pier's face as he spoke of Richard. “Yes, those were good times.” This sentiment also overlapped with Neptis. Simon carefully asked. “……Pier, don't you resent my father?” “Resent? Resentment? Hahahaha! Weak emotions like resentment don't exist in the Legion! The Legion only moves according to the Legion Commander's orders. Even if your father chose a Priest and used us as a sacrificial pawn, we would gladly accept that command! That is the Legion!” Pier, who had been speaking, paused and stroked his chin. “But if that son repeats such nonsense again, I might get angry. Don't you think?” “……Ahaha.” Simon talked with Pier until late into the night. There were many topics, but the stories about his father were the most impressive. They were much more explicit than what he had heard from Neptis. “Why hide it? Your father was a scoundrel of the century!” Pier chuckled. “In front of a female student who liked him, he would ostentatiously throw the underwear of a new girlfriend he'd just met yesterday and play with it!” “……” Simon's eyes narrowed. “Aren't you exaggerating too much since this is the first time I'm hearing it?” “……Exaggerating? Khahahahaha! I'm currently only telling you episodes of an appropriate level, considering Richard's reputation! Do you know how many carriages full of women that man made cry?” ‘That can't be.’ Simon shook his head, denying it. “Yes. That scoundrel of the century……” Pier's voice carried a strange lingering quality. “That trash, whom even Kizen's faculty shook their heads at…… everything changed after he met one woman. He became like a completely different person. It wasn't a change that could be expressed with common phrases like 'the power of love' or whatever. It was as if……” At that moment, Pier's voice abruptly stopped. Then he turned his head and stared intently at Simon. “Wait, wait, wait! No, why didn't I think of that?” “What is it?” “You, you clearly said you were Richard's son, right? Then, surely……!” Simon smiled faintly. “Yes, my mother is Anna Pollentia.”
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