Necromancer Academy's Summoning Genius Chapter 4 Simon and Lorraine returned to Campbell Road. It turned out Campbell Road was a street that dealt in items for Necromancers. As they went deeper, the types of items on display became increasingly explicit, with things like skulls, monster corpses, and even parts of organs that moved as if alive, sold in liquid-filled bottles. Simon felt as if he had entered a different world, completely detached from the one he used to live in. “Do you know what the most exciting time throughout your entire school life is?” Lorraine, walking beside him, asked. “Uh, well… I’m not sure?” “It’s when you’re excitedly buying your uniform, textbooks, and supplies before entering school! This is the most enjoyable time, so enjoy it, Simon.” She curved her lips slightly upward. “Once you enter Kizen, it’ll be truly chaotic.” “……Haha.” Their first destination was a bookstore. Kizen’s admission fees and tuition were all free, but textbooks, of course, had to be purchased out of pocket. “There are quite a few books you need to buy. Do you still have your admission letter?” “Yes! Here it is.” Inside the letter, besides the admission notice, was a list of necessary supplies. Lorraine lightly scanned only the book list, then returned the letter, saying, “I’ve memorized it all. This way.” As Simon followed her, something heavy suddenly dropped down. Simon quickly stretched out both arms to catch it, finding it to be a terribly thick book. The cover read <Summoning Studies: An Introduction – By Elricmoor Trimble>. ‘Summoning Studies?’ Before Simon could think anything, another new book was placed on top. This time, it was <Necromancy>. ‘Th-this is heavy too!’ Lorraine continued to pull books from the shelves. On top of them piled <Curse Studies>, <Hemomancy>, <Divine Defense>, <Martial Arts>, and more. Simon’s arms trembled. “Lorraine, you’re not saying we learn all of this in the first year, are you?” “Of course not.” She turned around and smiled brightly. “This is Kizen, after all! Mastering this much in the first semester of the first year is basic.” “……” “Here, take <Toxicology> too!” ……He was already missing Reshill. She busily picked out books, then ran off, saying she would find the Jet Black Mechanics book. Simon, left alone for a moment, looked around. ‘Now that I think about it.’ Most of the people in this bookstore were Simon’s age. Seeing them holding <Summoning Studies> and <Necromancy> introduction books, they were undoubtedly Kizen freshmen. It was the first time he had seen so many peers in one place. In Reshill, the only peers he knew were Kalon, who was a year older, and Sophia, who was two years younger. A new life with students of similar age. Simon slowly began to look forward to school life. “Yes! I’m coming!” “?” While he was momentarily distracted, an unfamiliar female student ran past him. Simon narrowed his eyes and observed her movements. In a fleeting moment, her body turned towards Simon. ‘What is it?’ There was no reason to collide, so Simon subtly shifted his body to avoid her. “……Ah!” She crashed directly into a bookshelf, and the books stacked on top wobbled precariously. This was dangerous. Simon instinctively leaped forward and shielded her. Crash! Books rained down on Simon’s back as he lay prone. It hurt. It felt like rocks were pressing into his back. She looked up at Simon with a startled expression, then quickly bowed her head. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry! Because of me……!” “No, I’m sorry for standing in the way absentmindedly.” Simon forced a smile and said, “More importantly, let’s put these back. We might get scolded.” “Ah, yes!” The two quickly picked up the fallen books. She handed books from the floor, and Simon stood on tiptoes to place them back on the shelf. A clerk, hearing the commotion, came to see what was happening but, seeing the two putting the books back, fortunately left without a word. ‘This is the last one.’ While Simon put the last book back in its place, the female student was tidying up Simon’s scattered books. “A-are you also a Kizen freshman?” She seemed to have seen his textbooks. When Simon nodded, her face brightened. “I-I’m also a freshman! My name is Cindy Vivace! What’s yours?” “Simon Pollentia.” “I see, nice to meet you! Actually, I’m from Shahed in the North, so I was a bit scared because I don’t have any friends here.” Simon nodded. “We’re in similar situations, then.” “H-how about, if Simon is okay with it……” Cindy, her face flushed, tapped her two index fingertips together. Then, in a voice like an ant crawling, she said, “Later…… at school…… can I say hello?” What a grand request. Simon let out a small laugh. “Of course. I’ll ask you first.” “Thank you!” She jumped up. “Then I’ll get going now! My dad is waiting outside.” “Alright.” “See you at Kizen later!” She waved her hand and walked away. “Wait, Cindy.” “Huh?” She turned around. Simon was holding something up. “My wallet. Won’t you give it back now?” What Simon held in his hand was Cindy’s wallet. Instantly, her eyes, which had seemed so innocent, sharpened. Her pupils split vertically like a cat’s. ‘No way.’ Cindy quickly rummaged through her pocket. Her pocket was empty. “……Ha.” She had been perfectly caught. She curved her lips and turned to Simon. “I was so confident I wouldn’t get caught because I swiped it with necromancy, how did you know?” “Oh, well, my wallet just suddenly started floating.” Cindy strode forward and met Simon’s gaze directly. “You just noticed that? Don’t lie. You’re aiming for a Necromancy major too, aren’t you?” “I don’t know that yet……” “I knew it!” Cindy’s eyes sparkled. “As expected, Kizen is on a different level! Oh, what do I do? There must be tons of kids like you, right? Ah, I’m really looking forward to school life!” ‘……Isn’t this pickpocket too brazen?’ She chuckled, then pulled Simon’s wallet from her clothes and tossed it to him. “If we’re both Necromancy majors, we might see each other for all three years. Right? Let’s compete fiercely, Simon!” She was the type who rarely listened to what people said. Simon sighed softly and tried to return her wallet, but this time Cindy waved her hand. “It’s fine. I lost this round, so consider it a victory bonus and take it.” She was cool in strange ways. Simon thought the rumor that there were no normal people among Necromancers was slowly proving true. “I’ll look forward to it! Say hello when you see me at school!” Cindy, waving her hand, walked away and then passed directly through the bookstore wall, disappearing. ‘……’ It felt like a storm had just passed. Simon, staring blankly at the wall where Cindy had disappeared, opened her wallet. Only a few coins were inside. ‘Making a show of it.’ Simon chuckled. “Simon!” Just then, Lorraine returned, her black hair fluttering. “Jet Black Mechanics: An Introduction seems to be sold out right now! They said new stock will arrive in two hours, and they’ll deliver it to our lodging along with the other books then.” “Ah, that’s good!” Lorraine playfully poked Simon’s arm. “But who was that girl earlier? Did you already become friends?” Simon broke out in a sweat and averted his gaze. “……S-something like that.” “Hehe, why are you stammering? Could it be you’ve already exchanged hearts?” They had almost exchanged wallets, though. “Anyway, since the books are being delivered, let’s go. There are many other places to visit besides here.” “Where are we going next?” “A bag store.” Does he need to buy a new bag too? Simon looked at the backpack he was wearing. “What I’m using now isn’t bad, though.” “Huh?” She blinked, not understanding what he meant, then burst into loud laughter, “Ahahaha!” “Ah—you’re so cute. You really are a country bumpkin.” “Ahem.” Simon’s face flushed with embarrassment. “When Necromancers talk about bags, they usually mean ‘Magical Inventories.’ More simply, a subspace?” Simon’s eyes widened dramatically. “So, we’re going to buy a subspace…… now?” * * * A large building located a few blocks from the bookstore. Simon and Lorraine were guided to the basement floor. After passing through several layers of dark magic security, the two entered a dimly lit underground display area. “……Wow.” The entire space was filled with items like backpacks, pouches, briefcases, long coats, pocket watches, and even carriage carts and living lizards. Objects of unknown purpose hung on the walls or floated in the air due to magical effects. “Welcome, Lady Lorraine!” An old woman in a luxurious mink coat appeared from the stairs. She was thin and had a fastidious impression, adorned with expensive gold craftsmanship all over her body. Lorraine waved her hand cheerfully. “How have you been, Stephanie?” Stephanie rubbed her hands and smiled. “To what do we owe the unexpected visit from our VVIPs? You bought a bag last month……” Lorraine lightly placed a hand on Simon’s shoulder. “Today, we came to look for a bag for this friend.” “Ah!” Stephanie suddenly appeared in front of Simon. Simon had to slightly pull his head back from the old woman’s sudden, hooked nose. “You’re a Kizen freshman! Welcome! Necromancers are always our best customers.” “N-nice to meet you.” “Then, what product would you like to see?” Lorraine answered for him. “The best and most expensive one.” “Unbelievable!” Stephanie shrieked. “Both VVIPs, please follow me this way!” Stephanie led the two to another room. The products here were not hung on walls but kept inside display cases encased in glass. Stephanie tapped one of the display cases with her finger, and the glass disappeared as if it had evaporated. “Please try this on, customer.” What she handed over was a navy-blue glove with an elegant pattern design. Simon carefully put it on his right hand, and instantly, he felt a sensation of high-quality cushioning so luxurious it made his mind feel hazy. “This product was made by Ellen Bator, the subspace artisan of the century. Would you please place your finger on any wall and draw a rectangle?” Simon nodded and drew a rectangle on the wall as instructed. Shhhling! A hole opened in the wall. Simon looked inside in surprise, and indeed, a massive space unfolded before him. It was large enough to fit an entire house. ‘This is a subspace!’ While Simon marveled inwardly, Stephanie’s explanation continued. “As expected of Ellen Bator’s masterpiece, the storage capacity is a whopping 8,000 UB! Furthermore, it offers the convenience of being able to summon the subspace anytime, as long as you’re wearing the glove! It truly is an innovation in inventory!” “……Hmm.” Lorraine, on the other hand, had an unenthusiastic reaction. “It looks convenient, but the need for a wall to open the subspace is a clear limitation. In real combat, you often fight in open plains with nothing around. And Simon is just a beginner Necromancer, so he doesn’t need such a large capacity yet.” “That might be true.” “Isn’t there something simpler to use, even if the capacity is smaller?” Stephanie replied with a knowing smile and walked away. Then she removed the glass from the display case at the very end. “This product hasn’t even been released to the market yet. It’s the latest work by Gallen Eclipse, considered a rising young master artisan!” What she carefully lifted was a ring. It was basically silver, but it changed to purple or green depending on the direction of the light. “Please try it on, customer.” “Ah, yes!” Simon carefully put on the ring. Its subtle prism colors were beautiful. “The usage is simple! Just flow Jet Black into the ring.” Simon operated his Jet Black as instructed. The ring absorbed the Jet Black like a sponge, changing from silver to a dark blue-black color. “How is it?” “……I feel like I’m grasping a handle beneath the ring.” “It’s working correctly! Imagine it’s a lever and pull it.” Simon grasped the imaginary handle and slowly pulled it back. Then. Grrrind! With a sound like grinding stones, a vertical space opened on the floor. White steam-like vapor flowed from the gap in the space. “……Wow!” Simon’s heart began to pound rapidly. This time, even Lorraine showed a slightly impressed expression. “The storage capacity is 4,000 UB, half of the previous product, but it’s far superior in practicality! The subspace opens from the floor and doesn’t care about slopes or uneven surfaces. Inside the space, there are seven spells, including first-class preservation magic and temperature control magic.” “What about the ejection function?” Lorraine asked. “Of course, it has that! Please demonstrate it.” Stephanie looked around for a suitable item and found a stuffed rabbit doll with its stuffing coming out, lying in a corner. “Huh? Why is a doll here?” “My mischievous granddaughter often comes to play at the store.” Stephanie gave a wry smile and threw the doll into the subspace. “You said you’re a freshman, customer, right? You’ll need a lot of practice to use the ejection function in real combat. Now, operate the subspace’s mana as if you’re enveloping the object……” Simon moved his mana as he had heard, enveloping the rabbit doll. It wasn’t difficult. Perhaps because the ring was in contact with his body, the subspace’s mana moved as freely as his own mana. “……Just by enveloping the object, the mana automatically activates the internal ejection spell. Now, if you release the mana enveloping the object as if flicking it!” Thwip! The rabbit doll shot out from the subspace. It rose in a gentle arc and landed precisely upright on the floor. Stephanie and Lorraine gasped in admiration. “Excellent, customer!” “You’re good! Is this really your first time?” His heart was pounding so much that he could barely hear their voices. He understood why a subspace was an essential item for Necromancers. Simon imagined himself opening a subspace and pulling out undead in the near future. “Simon, do you like it?” Lorraine approached and smiled. Simon snapped back to reality and nodded repeatedly. Of course, he liked it. It was the first time he had ever wanted something so much. But. Simon’s gaze subtly shifted towards Stephanie. “……This subspace. How much is it?”
Please login to track progress