REAPER SCANS
Necromancer Academy's Genius Summoner
[Translator - Ramen]
[Proofreader - Artethrax]
Chapter 370
A Duel Evaluation where you could choose your opponent.
For Hector, this wasn't something he could simply overlook.
"W-Woah! When did you get here?"
Startled, Rick quickly backed away.
Hector was glaring down at him, eyes bloodshot.
"Speak, trash! Is that information reliable?"
"So what if it is reliable?"
Meilyn stepped forward, determined.
"If it's a selection system, it can't be helped if you try to pick Simon, but Simon is free to choose whoever he wants."
"S-She's right!"
Camibarez also mustered up her courage and nodded.
"Hector! You were here?"
"What are you talking about?"
Clamor!
Members of Hector's faction, scattered around before this, quickly gathered behind him.
Just as they were about to back him up…
"Stop, this is a personal matter."
He raised an arm, his fist closed to command them to stillness.
"It's fine."
Then, Simon also stepped forward, also making his group mates step back.
The two soon stood facing each other.
"…"
The surrounding students gulped. The room always filled with a palpable tension whenever these two met.
Just as Hector opened his mouth—
"Alright, I get it."
The room went silent as Simon began his response.
"If the Duel Evaluation is by selection, as Rick said, you're planning to choose me, right?"
Hector snided,
"Of course."
"Alright. I'll choose you too when it's my turn."
Hector's eyes widened. All of Group 7 also looked at Simon in surprise at the unexpected turn of events.
'Yeah, fighting Hector here this once wouldn't be that bad.'
Simon knew that Hector had been thirsting for a battle with him.
However, until now, Simon had avoided Hector because he was burdensome. Hector was relentless enough to pick fights in the middle of Langerstine, and his provocations often dragged in his group members. It made Simon steer clear of him.
But this time,
'I need to test Herseva.'
Before the advancement exam, Simon needed to gauge if he could use his newfound abilities from Herseva in real battle.
A weak opponent wouldn't do it. And Hector was strong, surpassing the level of most S.A. students. Simon figured Hector would be a good match to bring out his lich's full power.
Hector also looked somewhat surprised as he stared at Simon. Then, Simon smiled and reached his hand out.
"I hope this will be a good duel that benefits us both. I look forward to it, Hector."
"…"
Hector didn't take his hand.
He silently stared into Simon's eyes as if trying to figure out his intentions.
Finally…
"…Arrogant bastard."
As if revealing his true nature, Hector bared his teeth.
"So you see me as a test subject, huh??"
"!"
Simon flinched, his true intentions exposed.
But Rick, standing beside Simon, confidently interjected,
"Sure, sure. You talk shit if he accepts it, and you talk shit if he doesn't~"
"Of course I'll accept the duel. But it seems that you're taking this battle far too lightly."
Hector's eyes glinted, sending a chill down many of the spectators' spines.
"I'll make sure this will be a tough and painful battle for you. The only thing I'll let you learn is powerlessness and defeat."
Swoosh!
With those words, Hector turned and walked away, his uniform flapping behind him. His faction quickly followed suit.
As the tension eased, Simon sighed.
"What's with him?"
Meilyn looked dumbfounded.
"The point of a Duel Evaluation is to test your new abilities against your peers, right? What does he think the Evaluation is for?"
Just then, Simon scratched the side of his head and winced.
"…I feel like Hector got the better of me, just this once."
"What?"
"Looks like I really need to prepare hard for this Duel. I'll be heading off."
Simon grabbed his bag and left. The three looked at each other, somewhat bewildered.
"Are all boys like that?"
Muttered Meilyn.
"Not all of them."
Rick shrugged.
"But, Rick! If it really is a selection system, how do you select your opponent and get selected?"
Asked Camibarez, but Rick shook his head.
"I don't know either."
"What?!"
Shouted Meilyn.
"You just said it was a selection system!"
"I just heard it might be a selection system."
"Hey, you idiot! Aren't you in more trouble than Simon right now? How are you going to deal with Hector after getting his hopes up?"
Rick put his hands in his pockets and said,
"Man~ Since when did I care about that kind of stuff? But anyway, what really matters is how the process works. I wonder how this is going to turn out?"
That curiosity didn't last long.
* * *
Reaper Scans
Translator - Ramen
Proofreader - Artethrax
Join our discord for updates on releases!
* * *
The very next day, at the Shamaim festival event.
The largest group of students, the first-years, filled the great hall.
While the students enjoyed a banquet in their fancy tuxedos and dresses, the host gave a shocking announcement.
"Tomorrow's Duel Evaluation will start with a selection event! The order people select their opponents will be based on their rankings in the recent after-school BDMAT!"
Students without prior information started whispering to each other in bewilderment.
"What?"
"A Duel Evaluation? Now??"
Amidst the confusion, Rick, who knew about the Evaluation a week ago, chuckled quietly. Beside him, Meilyn's head hung low, realizing she had dressed up for nothing.
"Bwahahaha! Oh, ah! Sorry for laughing! I completely understand how you feel! Because that's what I've been through for three years, too!"
Today's host was a third-year student named Darell. He held the loudspeaker crystal ball even closer to his mouth and pressed the attack.
"Kizen is one helluva bastard. Throwing a Duel Evaluation into the Shamaim festival is like child's play! That feeling of coming to pick a dance partner but instead picking an opponent?! It's only gonna get worse if you reach second year!"
The whispers only grew louder.
"Oh, are you asking if I'm allowed to say this? Well, I'm gonna be graduating soon. What do I have to fear? Hah!"
"Darrel."
The host, Darrel, flinched and turned around.
Behind him sat Jane, not a hint of amusement visible on her face.
"That's a warning."
Her cold tone made Darrel quickly turn back to the front.
"Ha! Haha! But there's no doubt that Kizen is a great school and produces excellent necromancers every year! Of course!"
Sweating profusely, Darell picked back up his palm cards.
"If they tell me to jump, I gotta jump… So, let's start with the selection system for the Duel Evaluation! Where were the scores from the last test again… Let's see."
Darell grinned as he looked at his juniors.
"The 1st placers, Simon Polentia and Chatelle Maerre! Please, step forward."
Amidst the clamoring students, the two boys who scored the highest in their after-school BDMATs stood up and headed to the stage.
"Hmm."
Hector, watching this, crossed his arms with satisfaction.
Both Simon and he had promised to select each other.
Nothing could go astray if they picked based on rankings from the last test.
"You were really crazy yesterday~"
A girl from Hector's faction chuckled as she thought about yesterday's event.
"Elissa Seline! Give up on dueling with Simon Polentia!"
"Kyaaah! My gosh!"
"To think a guy would even think about barging into the girls' dorm."
"Shut up."
"Right, right."
Although she stopped talking, the teasing smile never left her face.
When the other faction members started giggling, too, Hector sighed with exasperation before explaining,
"Elissa Seline had a grudge against Simon Polentia."
In other words, he meant that she might select Simon first.
"Wow, so you went around hassling everyone who might select Simon Polentia?"
"Hector has his cute sides too, y'know."
"Shut up."
The faction members burst out laughing. Hector, however, watched Simon on the stage with grave seriousness.
"This is really interesting, perhaps because there's nothing at stake for me! Also, one good thing about a selection-based Duel Evaluation is that it gives insight into people's relationships."
Darell grinned and looked at the first-year students.
"For this Duel, you must pick someone from the same 'squad'. You can see who selects whom, cares about whom, and holds grudges. So fun, isn't it, juniors?"
As the third-year student, who was like a god for first-years, beckoned, the crowd all straightened up and shouted,
"Yes, Senior!"
Darrel, already outgoing, was eating up the attention as he cupped his hand to his ear and shouted,
"Oh, I can't hear you!"
"Yes, Senior!!!"
"Man, are there any female students in Kizen! Just the girls this time!!"
"Yes~~~!"
"Good, good!"
"Darrel."
Darrel shivered as if an electric current ripped through his body and slowly turned around.
Jane was beckoning with her finger.
"P-Professor Jane! I'll be completely serious now!"
"Come here."
Darrel inched toward Jane with the solemnity of a prisoner on death row, then stood at attention in front of her.
"Do you want to not graduate?"
"N-No ma'am!"
"Do you think you won't see my face anymore if you become a professional necromancer?"
"No ma'am!"
"I will personally be reviewing the graduation thesis you submitted from start to finish."
"Oh, please, Professor! Spare me!"
Even though the third-years were said to be skilled enough to surpass many active necromancers, Vice-President Jane was an untouchable presence even among them.
Finally, like a clown who had just announced their retirement, Darell returned to the stage.
"S-Sorry about that. Let's start again."
He briefly explained the rules.
Based on their ranks from the recent after-school BDMAT, they'd select one student of a similar level to them to duel.
In the case of tied scores and rankings, servants tirelessly reviewed recorded footage and gave merits based on specific criterias.
"I see that Simon and Chatelle are tied for first place."
Darrel unfolded the documents he had received from the assistant teacher.
"Therefore, we'll determine the order based on the sum of their merits!"
Simon excelled in themes like Siege and Summon Defense, carrying the whole team, but he received significant help from Meilyn in the 'Curse Written Exam' and Cindy Vivace for his Necromancy card.
On the other hand, Chatelle completed all the tests on his own from start to finish. Although not reflected in their actual grades, Chatelle scored higher in the more detailed evaluations.
"Yes, there you have it! With that out of the way, let's begin with Chatelle Maerre, our mixed-blood giant! Now, now! I wonder who he'll select!"
The assistant teacher offered Chatelle a list of names of the upper squad students, but he raised a hand to decline it.
"Then, Chatelle! Who will you sel—!"
Fwoosh.
Darrel immediately went silent.
Even the whispering in the audience soon died down.
"…!"
Simon, too, was speechless.
A truly unexpected situation.
Chatelle's large, thick finger was pointing directly at Simon.
——
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