Summoning Genius of Kizen - Chapter 12 On the first day for Kizen freshmen, all classes concluded. Before heading home, the first-year professors gathered in the lounge, sipping tea and discussing the new students. "Mei-rin Billenne exceeded expectations. She concocted Shanif Poison on the very first day!" "Their bloodline is truly remarkable, isn't it? All seven of their children are outstanding!" "How about the official successor of the Ivory Tower?" "Ah, Serene? No need to even ask. There was a reason she was so confident at the Ivory Tower." "And Shatel Maer. There's a prejudice that giant hybrids lack in magic compared to their physique, but this one is excellent all-around." "Professor, you wouldn't try to steal our Shatel, would you?" "Haha, look at you. Already acting like he's your student?" "You know pre-contact during the student protection period is against the rules, right?" The professors exchanged jokes and engaged in subtle psychological warfare as they discussed the new students. "Hey, Professor Bahil." Professor Bahil of Curse Studies, who had been savoring his tea with his eyes closed, nodded as if listening. "You had Class A today too, didn't you? How was it?" "What are you referring to?" "Oh, come on, don't play coy. Special Case #1, the one Lady Neptis personally selected." Bahil placed his teacup on the table and smiled faintly. "In my class, he lost 10:1 to another student. I'm not sure if he has great talent yet." "......Hmm, that's unexpected. Still, for Special Case #1, wasn't there anything special?" It was a persistent question, but Bahil maintained his gentle smile. "His stamina was good. He endured Exhaust nine times in the first class." "Oh, nine times?" "Stamina is an important quality, but for Special Case #1, it's a bit ambiguous." Click. Just then, the door to the professors' lounge opened. Professor Aaron of Summoning Studies walked in, still with messy hair and dragging his slippers. He gave a brief nod to the other professors, then went to retrieve his outer garment from the coat rack, seemingly uninterested in their conversation. "Speaking of which." Bahil began. "Senior Aaron also had Class A today, didn't you?" Everyone's gaze turned to Aaron. Aaron retrieved his outer garment with an expressionless face. "So what?" "Special Case #1. What did you think of him, Senior?" By now, all the professors in the lounge were looking at Aaron with shining eyes. An unspoken pressure to spill the beans immediately. Aaron quietly sighed, then replied in his characteristic languid voice. "A dull mediocrity. He had the creativity to make defective products." "......." As the professors murmured and exchanged words, only Bahil's lips curled into a terrifying smile. 'Is Senior trying to throw a smokescreen right now?' Bahil, who had often worked with Aaron in the field, knew his tendencies better than anyone. If he truly disliked a student, he wouldn't beat around the bush like that. A dull mediocrity. Creativity to make defective products. In a way, it was the highest praise Aaron could give. '......This is getting more and more intriguing.' A boy chosen by Neptis, and marked by the fastidious Aaron. Bahil felt his thoughts about Simon solidify into a stronger conviction. "Oh, Senior." If so, the war had already begun. "The statement you made last year, about no longer intending to take direct disciples. Can we assume it's still valid?" "......." Aaron, who had been about to leave, stopped dead in his tracks. Other professors also stopped their conversations and looked at Aaron. Suddenly, a tense atmosphere filled the lounge. "......P-Professor Bahil." The female professor next to him whispered to stop him, but Bahil, with a faint smile, waited for an answer. Just as Aaron was about to open his mouth. Click! "Hello, everyone!" Suddenly, a silver-haired girl scurried in. "Lady Neptis!" At her appearance, the Kizen faculty, said to hold sway over the continent, collectively bowed, showing their respect. "You've arrived." Bahil, who had greeted her like a gentleman, was the first to approach her. He then pulled something from his pocket and offered it. It was chocolate ice cream. Bahil was the only one in Kizen who always carried ice cream in a magically frozen subspace, just in case he met Neptis. "Oh, really! I told you to stop treating me like a child!" She said that, yet she snatched the ice cream from Bahil's hand. "Preparing a lady's snack is also a gentleman's virtue." "Hmph, you talk a good game." Neptis took a bite of the ice cream. Soon, her cheeks flushed, and she made a soft, girlish expression. And seeing that, some professors bit their lips. They couldn't harbor such impious thoughts as finding the great Witch of Death cute. "Please, have a seat, Lady Neptis." A professor quickly made a seat. Neptis grabbed the armrest of the slightly large chair and struggled to climb onto it. "Whoa! How were the freshmen on their first day?" She asked while eating ice cream, and the professors eagerly reported what they had observed. Rather than the verified special admission students like Serene or Shatel, the focus was on high-achieving students like Mei-rin and Hector from Class A, and Kaez from Class B. Neptis nodded, listening intently to their stories. "Good, good! Report any problems, and since it's the first day, go home early and rest." "Yes!" "Lady Neptis." It was then. Aaron, who had been quiet all along, spoke. "I'd like to speak with you alone for a moment." Other professors' eyes widened. Of course, a Kizen professor's position allowed for an audience with Neptis, but it was rare for someone to so boldly request a private meeting. "Yes, alright." Neptis smiled faintly and got down from her seat. Aaron bowed once, then followed her out. 'Still so direct, aren't you?' After Neptis left, Bahil, who had sat back down and crossed his legs, wore a smile. 'But Lady Neptis won't tell you easily, Senior.' * * * On the first day of admission, all classes at Kizen concluded. Simon, Dick, and the entire Class A moved to the dormitory under the guidance of a subordinate. However, a small problem arose. Because Class A had stayed until the very end of the three-hour Summoning Studies class, they arrived late at the dormitory, and most of the rooms were already full. The dormitory rooms were designed for three people per room. Simon and Dick had decided to share a room, but the students who had arrived earlier had already taken up two or more spots. "I-I'm sorry. There are no rooms with two empty spots on the second floor either." The dorm manager kept bowing her head. Simon waved his hand, feeling a bit awkward that someone older was apologizing profusely, even though it wasn't her fault. "You don't have to apologize, manager." Simon felt a little burdened by the respectful treatment from an older person. Of course, within Kizen, students held a higher rank than subordinates. Moreover, most students were from prominent noble families, so it was natural for subordinates to adopt a humble posture. Dick, accustomed to such situations, crossed his arms. "There aren't any rooms with two spots left on the third or fourth floors either, are there?" "......No, it's probably similar on the other floors." The manager showed them the list for the second floor. Occasionally, there was a single empty spot scattered in a room, but they were too far apart. Simon and Dick exchanged glances. "What do you want to do, Simon?" "Let's check the other floors just in case, then decide." As the two were discussing. "Get out of the way!" With a thud, the manager was hit by a luggage cart and fell. The brown-haired student pushing the cart frowned. "What are you doing? I told you to move!" "I-I'm sorry!" The fallen manager quickly bowed her head, and her friend next to her chuckled. The brown-haired student touched his luggage and grimaced. "Ugh, seriously. It's dented because of you. What are you going to do about this?" "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" "Sorry my ass. Come with me right now." As she, like a criminal, bowed her head deeply and began to get up. "Excuse me." Simon stepped forward. "I'm talking to her right now." "......What?" The manager's pupils widened. The brown-haired student let out a scoff. "And it was obvious you bumped into her on purpose." Dick chuckled and stood beside Simon. "......Are these bastards crazy? What the f*** are you doing?" "Hey, hey, wait a minute!" His friend urgently grabbed his shoulder. Then he whispered in his ear. "That's him! Special Case #1, who took the student oath in the auditorium!" "......Huh?" The student's expression, as he scrutinized Simon's face, soon turned ashen. His pupils, shaking as if an earthquake had struck them in his panic, looked at the innocent manager and said. "C-Cough! Be careful next time! Let's go!" Watching them flee, Dick burst into laughter, holding his stomach. Simon also chuckled and extended a hand to the fallen manager. "Are you okay?" Her face flushed as she took Simon's hand and stood up. "......Th-Thank you for helping me." "It's nothing, don't worry about it." "My name is Lena! If you're going to check the upper floors, I can guide you. I might be able to help." "Oh, would you do that?" Thus, the three of them went upstairs together. She moved quickly, getting information from other managers, and immediately headed to the fourth floor. "There's only one room left with two empty spots on the fourth floor!" Lena said as she ran. Simon and Dick followed closely behind her. "There's an empty room?" "Yes, how lucky! Room 409 was originally used as a four-person room, so it's big, has a great view, and is a prime spot close to the central staircase! I never imagined there would be exactly two empty spots there." Soon, the three arrived at the door of room 409. Lena checked the names posted on the door. "Ah......." A shadow quickly fell over her face. "What's wrong?" She turned to face the two of them, then said with an embarrassed smile. "L-Let's just go somewhere else. Rooms 412 and 413 only have one spot each, but they're next to each other, so......." "Is there a problem with this room?" At Simon's question, she nodded slightly with a stiff expression. Then she pointed to the nameplate on the door. "......Kazhan Edvalt. He was a student here last year too." At that, Dick's eyes widened. "That can't be, this is the first-year dormitory, isn't it? Second-year students won't move in until next month." "Student Kazhan is a repeat student. I understand he was held back because he caused a big problem, and he's starting from the first year again this time." "Hmm." Dick found that strange too. Kizen was a place that didn't hesitate to expel students. Usually, if someone caused trouble or failed academically, they would be decisively expelled, but to be held back? It was an unusual case. Simon asked again. "What was the reason for him being held back?" "I'm just a dorm staff member, so I don't know the detailed reason. But he's notorious among the managers for causing various troubles....... There were many instances where his roommates had bruises on their faces or pleaded to change rooms." There was a reason why this room alone had two empty spots. Dick, slightly intimidated, glanced at Simon. "Simon. Should we just go to another room......." "I'll just go say hello. That should be fine, right?" Simon said that, then knocked on the door and entered. Dick, horrified, followed him inside. As it was originally a four-person room, it was quite spacious. There was a double bed and two single beds, as well as individual desks and wardrobes. From the window, Kizen's buildings, mountains, and valleys could be seen. Lena was right to call it a prime spot. And on one side of the wall, someone had already unpacked all their belongings and was lying on the top bunk of a bunk bed. They had pulled a white blanket over their head. "Wait, Simon!" Dick said in a low voice. "You heard what Lena said! He's definitely someone with a temper!" Simon inhaled sharply, then opened his mouth.
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