REAPER SCANS
Necromancer Academy's Genius Summoner
[Translator - Ramen]
[Proofreader - Artethrax]
Chapter 379
In line with the nature of a thesis presentation, Simon explained Herseva in academic terms.
The properties of the lich's core materials, the special properties of the heart, the formulas and runes in the summoning magic circle, and the structure and characteristics of its Life Vessel.
The audience was particularly interested in the fusion of the autonomous staff 'Areldellu' and 'Herseva'.
Aaron was also surprised by the story of the lich's mind transferring to an artifact.
"That's surely an uncommon occurrence."
"Lich creation is highly volatile, after all."
"The combination of an autonomous staff and a lich is worth proper research. It could significantly reduce the risks associated with liches."
The researchers were busy writing down Simon's every word. Simon, who was normally always the one taking the notes, found this experience startlingly new.
Also, since it was a Summoning class, Simon leveraged his experience from the Pentamonium Conference to draw out the academic aspects in his explanation. There wasn't enough time to cover the three powers Herseva used or the detailed specs of the mummies, and he understood that they weren't what the researchers were interested in.
And so, upon finishing the presentation…
Clap clap clap clap clap!!
Enthusiastic applause erupted. Simon bowed politely to the audience and then bowed to Aaron.
While everyone was cheering…
"Geniuses are even good at presenting, huh?"
"Yeah, geniuses must have it different. They're just born above the rest of us."
"I wish I was born a genius too~"
Some unpleasant comments came from a corner of the lecture room.
Some of the Summoning aspirants from Class A had been displeased with Simon ever since the skeleton mage class.
A professor's 'interest' was like currency to students. Rumor had it that Simon pressured Aaron during class with his skeleton mage and even managed to secure extra tutoring for the Life Vessel.
"I'm so jealous~"
"Let's be honest. Who wouldn't do well with one-on-one tutoring from a professor in Kizen?"
"The S.A.1 is picked by Nefthis. I'm sure Professor Aaron takes care of him to keep her happy."
Just as the comments bordered on mockery…
"I-It's not like that!"
There was a voice that suddenly interrupted the conversation.
"Don't talk about Simon that way when you barely know him!"
Though muffled by the surrounding cheers and whispered discussions, Toto's voice was quite loud. The Summoning aspirants' faces turned cold.
"Are you talking to us right now?"
When one of the students glared at him, Toto's face quickly went pale.
"What makes you think a loser like you can butt in?"
"Isn't he in the same club as Simon?"
"Wow, so you're already trying to get chummy with Mr. Bigshot? Do you think being close to him will keep you safe?"
Toto waved his hands frantically to dismiss that idea before trying to clarify,
"N-No, what I'm saying is that regardless of that, Simon is—!"
Clap!
Just then, Aaron clapped so loudly that even the cheers were silenced.
"Well done."
Aaron was beginning his review.
"Lich summoning is full of variables. Even changing out one of the three materials used can drastically alter the final product. I don't think I can tell you what to do about it. There were no issues with the formulas or runes. But what I want to ask is…"
Aaron's gaze shifted from Simon to the spectating students.
"Setting aside the content of the thesis, how was Simon's presentation?"
A hand shot up as if waiting for this moment. It was Jamie, the class president.
"He was incredibly proficient!"
"Right."
Aaron nodded.
"I'm not concerned about the thesis itself. It is clearly more than adequate. The difference is that Simon attended the Pentamonium Conference last month. He wrote a thesis of similar quality before any of you and presented it in front of many influential people. That bit of valuable experience made the difference."
Aaron looked around.
"Among you, has anyone even raised their hand to challenge Pentamonium?"
"…"
The lecture room fell silent. Some lowered their heads in shame.
"Simon's presentation was proficient, not because he was a genius, but because he gave himself opportunities to grow. Just like anything in the world, there is a reason and a cause."
The students looked at Aaron, confused. What was he suddenly trying to say?
"When others rested, he made mages. When others made mages, he prepared a lich. Ignoring his efforts to get ahead and dismissing everything as a matter of innate talent is the most pathetic thing I could imagine."
Aaron was staring directly at three students. The Summoning aspirants who had belittled Simon earlier. Their faces turned bright red.
The gazes of the other audience members followed Aaron's to the three students who had been whispering in the corner.
"Hey! You guys were talking behind Simon's back again, weren't you?!"
Claudia Menzies was the first one to stand up.
"Really, you lot…"
Jamie looked at them in disgust.
"If you're so jealous of Professor Aaron's tutoring, you should make further progress in class and ask for it, too. You don't want to put in the effort, yet you still want the rewards. All you do is complain and talk shit~"
Stabbed Cindy Vivace.
Then…
Flinch!
The three felt a piercing hostility coming from behind them at that moment, and they slowly turned around.
Hector was lurking in the dark shadows of the lecture room, his eyes gleaming menacingly.
"…Garbage bastards."
From Hector's perspective, who was working harder than anyone to catch up to Simon, these whiney lumps of trash were the type of people he despised the most.
"You three, see me later."
Meilyn smiled while beckoning with her finger. Though her mouth was smiling, her brow was shadowed with malice.
"Silence!"
At Aaron's shout, everyone's attention returned to the stage.
"Final exams, performance assessment, BDMAT, advancement exams. Of course, I know you're busy with your academic schedules. But doing only what others do won't make you different from them. Understand that."
"Yes, sir!!"
"Simon Polentia."
Aaron finally turned back to look at Simon.
"A+."
"Ah… Thank you!"
Another booming round of applause erupted. The eyes of the other students, looking at Simon, who had received the highest grade in the class, were now shining brightly.
"…"
In another corner of the audience…
Chehekle, the chief assistant teacher of Curses—she had sneaked in under Bahil's orders—was also clapping while surprised.
'To think that Professor Aaron would actually say such words.'
Chehekle had been an assistant teacher for a long time and had worked near Aaron for a long time as well.
Talking about challenges and effort… These weren't words the exhausted Aaron would've said at the beginning of the first semester.
'Simon's positive influence changed Professor Aaron's negative disposition.'
* * *
Reaper Scans
Translator - Ramen
Proofreader - Artethrax
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* * *
"Amazing! Amazing! Absolutely splendid, Simon!"
It was time for Curses.
The final performance assessment presentation about 'synergy curses using three or more curses'.
Excited, Bahil was explaining how perfect and beautiful Simon's theory was.
And Simon, feeling somewhat awkward being showered with praise, scratched the side of his head.
'Somehow, I managed to master the four major curses.'
The curse of painlessness - Indolence.
The curse of hostility - Hostile.
The curse of mindlessness - Delusion.
The curse of awakening - Waker.
The day after Simon finally mastered the four curses was the presentation day.
Having no choice but to postpone learning Compellonia, Simon extracted the formulas from the four curses he could manage and created a single curse.
Since they were all mental curses, all four formulas had some similarities.
The key was that they all involved an awakening formula that acted on the central nervous system. So, Simon presented a formula that maximized the awakening effect by appropriately combining these four formulas, and Bahil seemed extremely satisfied, showering him with praise.
"That was excellent! Although the grading criterion is 'synergy of the curses', your creative arrangement of the four curse formulas alone is more than enough to be worthy of an A+."
"Thank you!"
Simon bowed his head.
And from behind the stage, Chehekle, who had noted Simon's A+ grade on the list, looked up at Bahil.
'He seems ecstatic.'
Bahil seemed extremely pleased that Simon had created an original curse magic circle.
Of course, Chehekle also found the synergy composition fresh. Simon was fundamentally a creative student in his approach to dark magic.
Fwip fwip.
At that moment, Bahil signaled Chehekle with a hand gesture. Chehekle sighed deeply, stood up from her seat, and quietly approached Simon.
"Simon."
"Oh, yes, assistant teacher?"
Simon straightened up respectfully.
"Professor Bahil would like to see you in the lab after class."
"Understood. I'll head up right away."
After Chehekle stepped away, Rick, Meily, and Camibarez stared at Simon.
"Hmm, it's an offer to become a direct disciple."
Concluded Meilyn.
"B-But… Simon is considering becoming Professor Aaron's direct disciple!"
Said Camibarez in bewilderment.
"If you're refusing it, recommend me, please."
Rick shamelessly pointed to himself.
"I'm sure this isn't about the direct disciple thing."
Simon figured Bahil might now teach him the mysterious skill 'Compellonia' now that he had learned all four of his curses.
* * *
Simon's prediction was spot on.
Summoned to Bahil's lab, Simon was finally taught Compellonia.
Having already naturally learned the core formulas while studying the other four curses, it wasn't too difficult.
Then, after teaching the curse, Bahil asked,
"Simon, I explained what compello is before, right?"
Bahil was still smiling, perhaps due to lingering thoughts of the earlier presentation.
"Yes, professor! You said it was the realm of absolute truth that great necromancers occasionally experience."
"I see you remembered it perfectly. Correct. Have you used it recently?"
Bahil seemed subtly expectant as he asked.
Simon thought for a moment, then hit his knee and exclaimed,
"Ah! I think I partially entered it when creating the lich!"
Crack.
A forehead muscle twitched in Bahil's otherwise smiling face.
Chehekle, bringing coffee, struggled to hold back her laughter.
Pfft!
"Ahem! Professor, Simon, have some coffee."
"Thank you."
Simon bowed and took a light sip.
As usual, the coffee in this lab was sweet.
"You will have an experience incomparable to opening compello by yourself."
Bahil returned to the main topic.
"However, there's one condition for using Compellonia."
"A condition?"
Bahil nodded.
"The 'first use' is crucial in Compellonia. What you feel and realize when you first cross the 'door' is the key. Those who use it improperly the first time can be… rejected."
Simon gulped.
"Then when should I use it?"
"During a crisis."
Answered Bahil immediately.
"In the most desperate moment of your life, when your life is in danger and all other means are blocked, leaving you with no choice but to pray to the heavens. In such a trying time, trust me and use Compellonia."
The corners of his mouth lifted.
"Then, this curse will provide you with the answer, Simon."
"U-Understood."
"Remember, save it until the very end, and only use it as a last, last resort."
"I will."
With that, Simon bowed his head and left the lab.
Bahil quietly picked up the pipe from the table and put it in his mouth.
Phewww.
Thick smoke filled the room.
"Chehekle."
"Yes, Professor!"
Chehekle stood in front of him, standing perfectly at attention.
Bahil gazed out the window momentarily, then peacefully mused,
"What kind of life-threatening crisis would be good for Simon?"
——
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