REAPER SCANS
Necromancer Academy's Genius Summoner
[Translator - Ramen]
[Proofreader - Artethrax]
Chapter 291
After leaving the forest, Simon and his group members stopped by a nearby mountain village.
It was a small logging community that survived on its exports to a nearby city.
The thick smell of wood sap was inescapable, and trees could constantly be heard falling.
Fortunately, the villagers welcomed Simon and his group mates with open arms. The group could stay comfortably, the village chief providing them with an empty house after hearing about their situation.
"Wahahaha! This is a jackpot! A jackpot!"
Rick had returned from chatting up the villagers, claiming he was just gathering information despite coming back with a bag full of money.
Meilyn, sitting on the couch munching on snacks, glared at him.
"Hey! You caused trouble again, didn't you?!"
Simon joined as well.
"You didn't steal that money, did you?"
"…What have I done to deserve this?"
Playfully humming a tune, Rick chuckled and explained,
"So you see, this is a logging community, y'know? I saw all of them chopping down trees with blunt or dull axes, so I showed them different high-tech tools! A few people tried them out, and then they all sold out like hotcakes. It's not a scam, but a deal!"
Meilyn's eyebrow twitched.
"They're kind people who allowed us to use an empty house. I hope you didn't overcharge them or anything?"
"Mmm. That's why I plan to pay a lot for the rent when we leave."
"You scammer!"
Simon turned away as the two started fighting for the umptieth time.
Seiwirr was still in bed, convulsing every so often, and Camibarez was sitting alone on the sofa with her knees together.
Slowly rocking back and forth, Cami's eyes watered at the thought of what had happened to Sasha. If only she was stronger…
Meilyn and Rick tried their best to bring things back to a peaceful atmosphere, but the truth was that the entire Group 7 felt the weight of defeat.
"Don't worry too much, Cami."
Said Simon, giving his best smile.
"I'll definitely save Sasha."
"You will?"
Butted in Rick, and Simon quickly corrected,
"She will probably be saved soon now that Vengeance is on the scene."
"Haha! Why are you saying it as if you're the one saving her?"
Just then, the communication crystal ball on the table began to buzz.
The four of them immediately reacted and gathered around it.
"Yes, this is Simon."
Simon picked up the crystal. A male voice, now quite familiar, came out from it.
[Ah! Simon! This is Agent Blake. We're sending staff and a carriage your way. They should be there by tomorrow!]
"Thank you. Other than that, did you find out anything about this 'godfather' person who kidnapped Sasha?"
[Yes. As a matter of fact, we have the entire combat unit of Vengeance working on his capture right now.]
Simon jumped to his feet.
"The entire combat unit? How come?"
[Th-This is a highly classified matter, and I'm afraid I can't disclose it to an outsider—]
"What the?! What is he talking about?!! Pass me the crystal ball!"
Meilyn flared with rage and snatched the crystal ball from Simon's hand.
"Mr. Agent, why are you drawing the line here? We're students dispatched under Vengeance, and this was our job to begin with! I believe we have a right to know this much!"
[Mm… Ah, th-that is true. I apologize if it offended you! I was being careless.]
A moment later, a very small voice could be heard saying, [Kids these days really are so scary…]
Not acknowledging what he had just said, Agent Blake continued,
[The man who claims to be Sasha's godfather is called 'Figaro'. He is a priest working in the neutral area for the Holy Federation. Figaro and Sasha are currently in a place called Khelso village.]
"Khelso village?!!"
Blurted out Camibarez.
"That's Sasha's hometown, the second place we visited!]
Meilyn nodded, then pressed,
"Why did Figaro take Sasha to Khelso?
[We don't know the specifics, either. But a powerful divine barrier is covering the entire village of Khelso right now, making it inaccessible. It seems that Figaro is scheming something using Sasha within it.]
Hearing that, Simon jumped to his feet and went outside.
"Hey, Simon! Where are you going?"
[And I want everyone on standby until the carriage arrives. You four will be able to head straight back to Vengeance HQ.]
Meilyn looked confused.
"Why? Aren't we going to fight, too?"
[Vengeance won't allow you to participate in the battle. This was never your mission to begin with, and things have become too dangerous. We have promised Kizen your safety, so please wait until the situation has calmed down.
With that, the communication was cut off.
Camibarez covered her face with her hands as she grew even more worried, and Meilyn also let out a long sigh.
"What should we do? It's not like we can walk all the way to Khelso."
Rick rested his chin on his hands and let out a troubled groan.
"We could try to sweet-talk the person driving carriage they sent? But whatever happens, we can't just sit here while Sasha's being held inside a barrier."
Camibarez looked up at the ceiling with hopeful eyes.
"Please be safe, Sasha."
Click.
The moment Cami finished praying, Simon re-entered the room.
"Hey! Where did you suddenly head off to?"
"None of your business."
Replying bluntly, Simon flopped down on the sofa and crossed his legs.
Rick looked at Simon.
"Agent Blake said to wait here and then head back to HQ."
"I know."
Simon waved his hand dismissively before turning over so he was face-down on the couch. Rick and Meilyn exchanged a glance.
'This kind of mood isn't like him.'
'Is it because he's angry?'
* * *
Reaper Scans
Translator - Ramen
Proofreader - Artethrax
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* * *
Stomp! Stomp! Stomp!
Simon was riding on the back of Akalion, his newly acquired divine beast.
His legs gripped tight on his bear-steed so as not to fall, and his hands held a map.
"Khelso… The fastest way to Khelso village is…"
As Simon concentrated on the map, he heard Pier's laughter in his head.
[Kuhehe! I didn't expect you to leave Elizabeth there! She'll be pissed for days again.]
"…I do feel bad for Eliza, but I had no other options."
He had no excuse to separate himself from the group, and above all, he had to use his power as a Commander to deal with the adult priest, who had easily subdued Camibarez and Rick.
Of course, he couldn't let the three know he was a Commander. He asked Elizabeth to transform into him and stay with his group mates to protect them.
In the meantime, Simon planned to sneak over to Khelso and quietly rescue Sasha.
[By the way, Boy!!]
Pier spoke again.
[That girl, Sasha, it's not like you've known her for long. Why do you care so much?]
"…"
Simon lightly bit his lip.
"To tell you the truth, I don't know. Maybe I feel a little bit responsible?"
He defeated the Saintess of Purification in Kizen, but it made Anna suffer, and now Sasha was suffering because she got caught up in the aftermath. He didn't mean for any of this, but these were all links in a massive butterfly effect that Simon had set-off.
[Or is it because of Camibarez girl? That you cannot let her and the rest of the group feel defeated like this?]
"Yes, that's also an important reason… And to add on to that."
Simon's eyes became serious.
"That person who claims to be Sasha's godfather, Figaro… He bothers me so much."
[Kuhehehe!]
Pier laughed in amusement.
[If there's a whopping three reasons for a fool like you to make a move, that should be enough!]
"Well, now you know."
Simon stroked Akalion on the head as it ran.
"Run faster, Akalion!"
[Woof!]
He had no intention of finishing a mission with a bad taste in his mouth.
[By the way, Boy?]
"Yes?"
[Look ahead.]
Simon's eyes quickly widened. He saw a girl blocking the path.
"Stop, Akalion."
Akalion stopped walking. Simon looked at the girl in his way and said,
"You don't look like you're in great shape. Do you intend to fight till the end?"
The girl standing in front of him, her white Efnel uniform tattered and torn, was none other than Lilinette. She was the girl who had fought Simon at the beginning.
She raised her hands in the air to indicate her surrender and chimed,
"I don't intend to fight you anymore. I'm here to tell you something."
Simon tilted his head.
"Tell me what?"
"It's a message from Sister Rete."
Simon's eyes widened.
'I didn't expect to hear that name here!'
"The situation has become much bigger than you think. The Paladins of the Holy Federation are on the move. If you're planning to head to Khelso, give up and return. That's what she says."
"…"
From the displeased look on Lilinette's face, even if she was the one who said it, it didn't seem like a lie.
"That's all I have to say to you. Are we good?"
"Then, can you also deliver what I'll be saying to Rete?"
Simon smiled and declared,
"You already know you can't stop me."
With those words, Simon got Akalion moving.
Suddenly becoming a mailman, Lilinette pouted her lips.
"Ah."
Simon looked back and waved.
"Please tell your comrade I'm sorry for taking her divine beast!"
"What?"
Her eyes widened as she belatedly realized what Simon was riding.
'…Who in the world is he?'
* * *
With that, Simon traveled several hours and arrived in Khelso, Sasha's hometown.
Simon's jaw dropped.
He could see a semicircular divine barrier covering the town with vine monsters growing endlessly around it.
'What in the world is going on here?'
He knew he had to get inside as quickly as possible. Returning Akalion, who had worked hard to get him here, to its badge subspace, Simon pulled out Pier this time.
[Kuhaha! I'm finally outside!]
The tall skeleton with a cape started to stretch his muscle-less joints.
Simon reached forward.
"Bone Armor, please."
[Alright!]
Pier grabbed Simon's hand, and as if Pier's body was being passed to him, it disassembled into hundreds of pieces and attached itself perfectly around Simon's body.
Pier's cape fluttered behind his back, and the Greatsword of Destruction went in his right hand.
Soon, Pier's helm settled on top of his head.
'Okay.'
Simon pressed Pier's helm down to cover his face like a mask, then pulled out the white robe he'd bought from the Holy Federation, draped it over his body, and flicked the hood up. He then shouldered the greatsword and walked toward the circle.
As he was walking…
Claaaaaaaaaash!
"Ugh, dammit! Just what is this barrier made of?!"
"I told you, it's no use."
Moving to where the voices were coming from, Simon found a group of people were trying to break the barrier down.
Simon recognized them at a glance.
The same green patterned tie and ash-colored uniforms as Seiwirr.
They were necromancers from Vengeance.
"My son! My son is in there!"
"Mama!"
Around them, people were screaming and howling. All of them seemed to be villagers who were either out of town or living on the outskirts of the village.
They were worried about the people trapped inside now that the center of town had suddenly been cut off by the barrier.
"Please, do something!"
"It's not something that can be solved by rushing us, ma'am."
Amidst the wails, Simon strode leisurely forward, carrying his greatsword. The members of the Vengeance were busy talking to each other.
"Where are the other teams?"
"They said it'll take two days!"
"This is crazy. Try contacting the Alliance and the Kallos Kingdom."
"Yes, sir!"
Full of nonchalance, Simon touched the barrier covered in living vines.
"Hey, there! What are you doing?! It's dangerous to touch it!"
A necromancer in a Vengeance uniform interrupted him.
Simon looked back at him and said,
[Who's in charge.]
The necromancer flinched as a modified, eerie voice came out of Pier's mouth.
"That'd be me."
A bear-like man with broad shoulders walked over.
"I'm Blake, Rank 3 necromancer approved by the union officials. How about you?"
Simon's eyes shone, although Pier's skull helm covered his face.
'So this was the man supposed to be our mentor.'
However, Simon simply answered the question.
[Wanderer.]
"A wanderer, huh…"
Blake didn't seem to believe him in the slightest.
Of course, there were countless wandering necromancers in this world, but could a monster with this much jet-black and bloodthirst really be just a wanderer?
He was too powerful to be some no-name.
"Oh please, sir!"
Just then, a wrinkled old woman grabbed Simon's leg.
"My grandson is in there! That poor little thing! Please save my grandson!"
"My wife is—!"
"I want to see my daddy!"
The begging only grew louder as someone powerful-looking appeared.
Simon lightly nodded and stepped toward the barrier.
"It's better if you don't waste your energy there."
Advised Blake.
"We tried everything we could, but it wouldn't budge. This is a barrier made by a priest who's at least a level of an archbishop or even one of the Saintesses."
Without saying a word, Simon raised the Greatsword of Destruction above his head, taking a deep breath.
Everyone stopped talking and stared at Simon in that reverent stance.
'Slash through…'
Simon's greatsword fell, leaving a trail of white behind it.
'…space itself.'
Slaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaash!
The barrier was cut straight through along with the vines, forming an opening.
"Woooooooaaaaaaah!"
"H-How did you…?!"
Simon immediately strode forward and walked inside the barrier.
Blake and the other necromancers ran right after him, but the opening only lasted a split second before vines rushed in to fill the gap and the divinity reformed.
"Kugh!"
Blake wiped the sweat from his forehead as he bounced off the barrier.
"Who in the world is that man?"
* * *
A horrifying sight laid before Simon when he entered the barrier.
The entire village was in absolute ruin.
Collapsed buildings, blood staining the ground red, and dead bodies everywhere. Something resembling ash was falling from the sky.
There was not a single sign of life.
Without anyone knowing, the whole village had become a macabre graveyard.
[Boy.]
Pier's voice rang through Simon's shell-shocked mind.
[I don't feel a single soul left in this town. Everyone is dead.]
"…"
Simon remained in deep thought, then started walking.
Moving through the streets of the eerily quiet village, the only noise Simon could hear was his echoing footsteps. But, as he cautiously walked further with his greatsword raised, another sound suddenly came from behind him.
"!"
When he whipped around, he saw a moving flower gnawing on a human corpse.
That wasn't the end of it. Tree branches were wrapping around the bodies of the dead, sucking out every drop of moisture left inside of them.
'What is this…?'
Stepping forward, he swung his greatsword, slicing through the moving flowers and tree branches.
Wiping the beading sweat off of his forehead, Simon looked up.
"…!"
An incredibly huge tree had sprouted from the center of the village..
——
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