Necromancer Academy and the Genius Summoner

Chapter 19

　　Simon pulled two lanterns from his Subspace, keeping one for himself and handing the other to a skeleton.

　　"Let’s go."

　　The skeleton led the way, with Simon close behind. The moment they entered the ruin, they were plunged into absolute darkness. The chill of the stone floor seemed to seep through the soles of his boots and up his legs. There were no railings, and he moved with extreme caution, acutely aware that one misstep could mean a fatal fall.

　　This is…

　　As he descended, he noticed strange characters carved into the walls. They were unreadable, yet they felt strangely familiar. Had he seen them recently? He wracked his brain.

　　Right, Ancient Runes!

　　They were just like the runes Professor Eric had shown them in Jet-Black Dynamics. So this is an ancient ruin? Why is it so close to Kizen? His mind swirled with unanswered questions as he continued down.

　　He finally reached the bottom. He had descended so far that when he shone his lantern upward, the ceiling was lost in the oppressive darkness. He needed to widen his search. Simon summoned a second skeleton, gave it a lantern, and ordered it to scout the area. He began his own search, his lantern beam cutting through the gloom. The walls and floor were covered in a dense tapestry of runes.

　　With this many runes… This entire ruin was essentially a giant magical device.

　　Clack! Clack!

　　One of the skeletons signaled it had found something. Simon hurried over.

　　"What is this?"

　　In the center of the rune-covered chamber stood an altar, and upon it rested a single, ancient skull. Simon set his lantern down and gently brushed his fingers across the bone.

　　A strange, electric thrill shot up his arm. Though his knowledge of the undead was limited, he knew instinctively that this was no ordinary relic. It was the remains of a creature so ancient its age was immeasurable, and so powerful it felt terrifyingly dangerous.

　　He carefully lifted the skull.

　　Rattle-rattle-rattle!

　　"Whoa!"

　　A cascade of bones poured from the ceiling. Simon leaped back, startled. "You scared me."

　　The skeletons approached, their lanterns illuminating the pile on the floor. Simon stared down for a moment before picking up a single vertebra.

　　"…Number two?" he muttered, fitting it to the base of the skull. It clicked into place perfectly, like a puzzle piece.

　　A strange excitement began to well up from deep within him. He felt a powerful compulsion to assemble this undead. He had no idea how it would react upon waking, or what harm it might do to him. Nevertheless, he felt that if there was ever a time to take a bold gamble, it was now.

　　His mind made up, Simon placed the skull back on the altar and pressed his hand to the palm-shaped indentation below it. Just as before, he summoned his Jet-Black.

　　"Aah!"

　　He had only released a trickle of power, but it felt as though all the Jet-Black in his body was being violently sucked into the altar. The stone hummed, emitting a dark blue light as a faint, ethereal flame flickered to life in the skull’s empty eye sockets.

　　Hmm. Is this not enough? He brought the number two vertebra to the skull. It snapped into place with a sharp click! as if drawn by a magnet. The unique attraction of a skeleton-type undead was at work.

　　Good.

　　Simon set the skull down and began his work in earnest. As if possessed, he started fitting the bones together, the process feeling more natural and satisfying than anything he had ever done. He connected the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal vertebrae to form the spine. He attached the scapula, clavicle, and humerus, adding the ribs to complete the upper body. Below, he joined the hip bones to the coccyx to form the pelvis. The femur, tibia, and patella came next, the legs gradually taking shape.

　　It was worth digging into Summoning all morning!

　　He wasn’t certain, but the framework appeared to be human. His academic knowledge, combined with a powerful intuition, allowed him to assemble the bones without hesitation. The only problem was the skeleton’s immense height. Simon, who had been kneeling, soon had to squat, then stand, then get on his tiptoes. Finally, he had to climb onto the altar itself, grunting with effort. It would have been helpful if the skeleton could have bent over, but it ignored his silent pleas. The moment its legs were complete, it stood up on its own.

　　I should have just started with the arms!

　　Straining, Simon finished the remaining limbs. He then stepped back, his heart pounding with a sense of overwhelming accomplishment as he gazed upon his creation.

　　"Woooow…"

　　A colossal skeleton, over two meters tall, stood imposing and silent before him. It was an awe-inspiring sight, but it remained motionless.

　　"What now?" he wondered, crossing his arms.

　　Whoooooosh!

　　Suddenly, a dazzling curtain of moonlight poured down from the ceiling. The moment the light touched the skeleton’s skull, the flames in its eye sockets erupted, blazing like torches.

　　[Heh. Haha! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!]

　　A great, booming laugh shook the very foundations of the ruin. The runes on the walls and floor seemed to ripple, peeling away from the stone to form a flowing stream of light that wrapped around the skeleton like a silken robe, sinking into its bones and being absorbed.

　　[Finally! Finally, I have returned!]

　　The shout was so deafening Simon had to cover his ears. The Jet-Black pouring from the skeleton’s body felt like a violent, crashing wave.

　　[Who has awakened me!]

　　The skeleton’s head creaked as it turned, its burning gaze falling upon Simon, who was leaning against the wall for support.

　　Thump. Thump.

　　The massive being strode toward him. It craned its long neck, observing him from inches away. It took all of Simon’s willpower not to scream.

　　[State your name, human.]

　　"S-Simon Polentia."

　　The skeleton’s skull tilted. [You are a Polentia…?]

　　GAHAHAHAHAHA! The thunderous laughter echoed through the chamber once more, and Simon broke out in a cold sweat.

　　[I see! Could you be a descendant of Richard!]

　　"No," Simon said, forcing his pounding heart to calm. "I am his son."

　　[Hahahahaha! Yes! Yes! So that’s it! I thought the Jet-Black felt familiar! Only Richard could awaken me!]

　　The skeleton turned its back, and a cloak of pure shadow seemed to flutter around it.

　　"…Who are you?" Simon asked, finding his voice.

　　The skeleton stopped and turned back, a grin spreading across its face. The very idea of a skeleton having an expression was bizarre, but there it was. Its jaw parted, its nasal cavity flared, and its blazing eyes held a fierce curiosity. It seemed almost… alive.

　　[I am Pier, the administrator of the Legion,] he declared. [Once, I turned this continent upside down alongside your father, Richard!]

　　A strange light entered Simon’s eyes. This was his father’s undead.

　　Pier, who had been laughing heartily, leaned in close again. [BUT FIRST, I ASK YOU. WHO GUIDED YOU TO THIS PLACE?] His voice was suddenly sharp, and Simon felt as though he were being tested. He swallowed hard before answering.

　　"Nephthys Archbold."

　　[Ahh.]

　　The corners of Pier’s mouth lifted higher. [Eheheh, so that’s how it is! If it’s that woman, I suppose it’s possible! Excellent!]

　　WHOOOOOOOOSH!

　　A fierce, storm-like wind ripped through the chamber. The entire ruin lit up, and the very air seemed to scream.

　　[Make a contract with me, Simon Polentia! And lead ‘THE LEGION’!] his father’s undead roared, spreading its arms wide. [The Legion will become your will and trample all that stands in your way! All creation will kneel at your feet and bow their heads!] Its excited voice vibrated through the stone. [However, you will inevitably walk a blood-soaked path! That, too, is destiny! Son of Richard, are you prepared to lead the Legion?!]

　　Simon bit his lip, his expression troubled. Pier began to circle him, a wide grin on his face.

　　[Are you afraid? Terrified? What do you weigh in your mind, faced with such power, boy!]

　　This was his father’s power, but it was completely unknown to him. He didn’t know what the Legion was, what a "blood-soaked path" entailed, or what the terms of the contract were. He knew nothing.

　　However.

　　"I have a question," Simon said, his voice steady.

　　Answering with a question of his own. Pier’s face contorted with displeasure. [SPEAK.]

　　"I don’t know how useful you are. Is this ‘Legion’ of yours strong?"

　　Pier stopped dead in his tracks.

　　[Heh. Heheheheh! Pfft! Heheheh! GAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!]

　　The air trembled, and dust rained from the ceiling. Useful? He asks if we are useful! This boy wasn’t lost in fear or doubt. He was evaluating the Legion.

　　[A fine question, human!] Pier boomed. [You ask if we are strong? If you wish, shall I bring down Kizen itself as proof?]

　　The eerie wails of the dead echoed from all around them. It was a horrifying display, but Simon’s expression remained unchanged.

　　[Fine! I shall answer!] Pier reined in his power. [Your father disbanded the Legion once, and I was sealed here. By awakening me, the administrator, you have brought the Legion to its ‘first moment.’]

　　"First moment."

　　[That’s right! But if you gather the Legion’s scattered forces and restore our former might…] The corners of Pier’s mouth curled into a fearsome grin. [No one on this continent will be able to stop you.]

　　"Alright." Simon nodded. "I’ll make the contract."

　　[HEHEHEHEHEH!]

　　Pier wrapped an arm around Simon’s waist and leaped onto the altar.

　　[Place your hand on my ‘core’!]

　　Pier’s rib cage split open, revealing a mass of Jet-Black mana pulsing like a living heart. Simon obediently placed his palm against it.

　　[Once this contract is complete, your life will be forever changed! Are you not afraid!]

　　"There’s nothing to be afraid of," Simon said calmly. "If you are truly my father’s army, then it’s only natural that I take you in."

　　[Gahahahaha! Excellent! Now that’s what I’m talking about!]

　　On the outside, he’s a calm, humble boy, but he possesses the qualities of a conqueror, Pier thought, immensely pleased. You raised your son well, Richard! This one is different from you! His current mastery of black magic was low, but his potential was boundless. And unlike Richard, his mind and spirit were already whole.