Chapter 4

　　Simon and Lorraine returned to Campbell Road. As it turned out, the street was a district dedicated to necromancer supplies. The deeper they went, the more macabre the merchandise became. They sold skulls, monster carcasses, and even disembodied organs that twitched as if alive, preserved in jars of liquid. Simon felt as though he had stepped into another world, one completely detached from the life he had known.

　　"Do you know what the most exciting part of the entire school experience is?" Lorraine asked as they walked together.

　　"Uh, um… not really?"

　　"It’s the time right before you enroll, when you’re excitedly buying your uniform, textbooks, and supplies! This right here is the best part, so enjoy it, Simon." The corners of her lips lifted in a faint smirk. "Once you’re in Kizen, things will get really hectic."

　　"…Haha."

　　Their first stop was a bookstore. While Kizen’s admission and tuition were free, textbooks had to be purchased with one’s own money.

　　"There are quite a few books to buy," Lorraine said. "Do you still have your admission letter?"

　　"Yes, right here," Simon replied, holding out the letter.

　　Inside, along with the admission letter, was a list of required supplies. Lorraine’s eyes scanned the book section before she handed the letter back.

　　"I’ve got it. This way."

　　As Simon followed, something heavy was abruptly shoved into his arms. He scrambled to catch it, finding himself holding a tome of terrifying thickness. The cover read, Introduction to Summoning by Elikmoor Trinble.

　　Summoning? he wondered.

　　Before he could process it, another book landed atop the first. This one was Necrology.

　　Th-This one’s heavy, too!

　　Lorraine continued to pull books from the shelves, piling them high in his arms. Cursology, Hemomancy, Defense Against Divinity, and Combat Magic were added to the precarious stack. Simon’s arms began to tremble.

　　"Lorraine!" he protested. "Don’t tell me we have to learn all of this in our first year."

　　"Of course not," she said, turning back with a dazzling smile. "We’re Kizen students. Mastering this much in our first semester is just the standard."

　　Simon was rendered speechless.

　　"Here, take Venomology, too!"

　　He already missed Leshill. After her whirlwind of book-gathering, she announced she was off to find the Jet-Black Dynamics textbook and dashed away. Left alone for a moment, Simon glanced around the store.

　　Come to think of it, he mused, most of the people in here are my age.

　　He saw others holding copies of Introduction to Summoning and Necrology. They were undoubtedly new Kizen students. He’d never been surrounded by so many of his peers before. Back in Leshill, the only people his age he knew were Kalon, who was a year older, and Sophia, two years younger. The prospect of a new life among students his age began to spark a genuine excitement within him.

　　"Yes! I’m coming!" a girl’s voice called out.

　　He turned his head just as a girl he didn’t recognize came running past. Simon narrowed his eyes, tracking her movement. For a split second, her trajectory had inexplicably veered right toward him.

　　What was that?

　　Seeing no reason to collide, Simon deftly twisted his body out of her path.

　　"…Aah!"

　　She slammed directly into a bookshelf. The volumes stacked on top teetered dangerously. Reacting on pure instinct, Simon lunged forward, shielding her with his body.

　　A cascade of books tumbled down, striking Simon’s back with the force of falling rocks. He grunted in pain. The girl, who had been staring up at him in surprise, quickly bowed her head.

　　"I’m so, so, sooo sorry! This is all my fault…!"

　　"It’s fine," Simon managed, forcing a smile. "I’m the one who should be sorry for spacing out and blocking the path. More importantly, we should put these back before we get in trouble."

　　"Oh, right!"

　　They scrambled to pick up the fallen books. She handed them up to Simon, who stood on his tiptoes to replace them on the high shelf. A clerk, drawn by the noise, came over to investigate but left them to it after seeing them tidying up.

　　Phew, the last one.

　　As Simon shelved the final book, the girl gathered his scattered textbooks.

　　"Y-You’re a new Kizen student, too, right?" she asked, having clearly seen the titles. When Simon nodded, her face lit up. "M-Me too! My name is Cindy Vivace! What’s yours?"

　　"Simon Polentia."

　　"I see. It’s nice to meet you!" she chirped. "To be honest, I’m from Shahed in the north, so I was a little scared since I don’t have any friends here."

　　Simon nodded. "We’re in the same boat, then."

　　"I-If it’s okay with you, Simon…" Cindy blushed, tapping her index fingers together. Her voice dropped to a near-whisper. "Later… at school… would it be okay if I said hi?"

　　It was hardly a monumental request. Simon chuckled softly. "Of course. I was about to ask you the same thing."

　　"Thank you!" she exclaimed, jumping to her feet. "Well, I should get going! My dad’s waiting for me outside."

　　"Alright."

　　"See you at Kizen!" She waved and started to walk away.

　　"Wait a minute, Cindy," Simon called out.

　　"Hmm?"

　　She turned back. Simon was holding something up, dangling it from his fingers.

　　"My wallet," he said calmly. "Mind giving it back now?"

　　In Simon’s hand was Cindy’s wallet. In an instant, innocence drained from her gaze, her pupils slicing into narrow, catlike slits.

　　No way.

　　Cindy’s hands flew to her pockets. They were empty.

　　"…Hah." A short, sharp laugh escaped her lips. She’d been completely outplayed. The corners of her mouth curled into a smirk as she faced him again. "I was so sure you wouldn’t notice since I used Necrology to swipe it. How did you know?"

　　"Oh, you know," Simon replied with a shrug. "My wallet just suddenly started floating."

　　Cindy strode forward until they were face-to-face. "You just noticed? Don’t bullshit me. You’re planning to major in Necrology, too, aren’t you?"

　　"I haven’t decided yet…"

　　"I knew it!" Her eyes sparkled with manic glee. "Kizen is something else! Wow, this is amazing! It’s probably crawling with kids like you, right? Oh, I’m so excited for school!"

　　Isn’t she a little too proud for a pickpocket? Simon thought.

　　She let out another laugh, then pulled Simon’s wallet from within her uniform and tossed it to him. "If we’re both in Necrology, we might see each other for all three years. Let’s have a bloody competition, Simon!"

　　She was clearly the type who didn’t listen to a word anyone said. Simon sighed and held out her wallet, but she just waved her hand dismissively.

　　"Keep it. I lost this round, so consider it your prize money."

　　She was cool in the strangest ways. The old saying about necromancers all being a little unhinged was starting to feel disturbingly accurate.

　　"I’ll be looking forward to it! Say hi if you see me at school!" Waving again, Cindy walked toward the bookstore wall and, without breaking stride, passed straight through it.

　　Simon was stunned into silence.

　　It felt as though a hurricane had just swept through. Simon stared blankly at the solid wall where she had vanished, then opened the wallet she’d left him. Inside were only a few copper coins.

　　So much for her grand gesture.

　　A small smile touched his lips.

　　"Simon!"

　　Just then, Lorraine returned, her black hair flying behind her. "Looks like the Introduction to Jet-Black Dynamics is all sold out! They’re getting more in two hours, so I arranged for it to be delivered to our lodging with the other books."

　　"Oh, that’s great!"

　　Lorraine playfully poked his arm. "By the way, who was that girl? Did you make a friend already?"

　　A bead of sweat trickled down Simon’s temple as he averted his gaze. "…I-I guess."

　　"Hehe, why the stutter? Don’t tell me you already gave your heart away?"

　　I almost gave my wallet away, he thought.

　　"Anyway, since the books are sorted, let’s go," Lorraine announced. "There are plenty of other places to visit."

　　"Where to next?"

　　"The bag shop."

　　Did he really need a new bag? Simon glanced at the worn backpack slung over his shoulder. "The one I have now is just fine."

　　"Hmm?" She blinked, not understanding, then burst into loud, unrestrained laughter. "Hahaha, that’s adorable! You really are a country bumpkin."

　　"Ahem." A flush of embarrassment crept up Simon’s neck.

　　"When necromancers talk about bags, they usually mean a ‘Magical Inventory,’" she explained. "Or, to put it simply, a Subspace."

　　Simon’s eyes widened. "You mean… we’re going to buy a Subspace right now?"

* * *

　　They arrived at a grand building a few blocks from the bookstore and were escorted down to the basement. After passing through several layers of arcane security wards, they entered a softly lit showroom.

　　"…Wow."

　　The entire space was a gallery of potential inventories: backpacks, pouches, and briefcases were displayed alongside long coats, pocket watches, and even horse-drawn carts and live, skittering lizards. Strange objects of unknown purpose hung on the walls or floated in mid-air, shimmering with containment fields.

　　"Welcome, Young Lady Lorraine!" An older woman in a luxurious mink coat appeared at the top of the stairs. She was rail-thin with a sharp, fussy expression, her frame draped in a fortune of glittering gold ornaments.

　　Lorraine waved cheerfully. "How have you been, Stephanie?"

　　Stephanie rubbed her hands together, her smile professionally warm. "To what do I owe the pleasure of a VVIP’s unannounced visit? You just purchased a new bag last month…"

　　Lorraine placed a light hand on Simon’s shoulder. "I’m here for my friend today."

　　"Ohh!" Stephanie materialized in front of Simon in a blink. Her hooked nose was so close he had to lean back. "A new student at Kizen, I see! A pleasure to meet you! Necromancers are always our most valued clientele."

　　"P-pleasure to meet you too," Simon stammered.

　　"Then what kind of product can I show you?"

　　Lorraine answered for him. "The best and most expensive one."

　　"Unbelievable!" Stephanie shrieked with delight. "Our two VVIPs, right this way!"

　　She led them to an even more exclusive room where the items were housed not on walls, but within individual, glass-fronted displays. Stephanie tapped one of the cases, and the glass pane dissolved into mist.

　　"Please try this, sir," she said, presenting a pair of navy blue gloves embroidered with a luxurious pattern. As Simon carefully slipped one on, his hand was enveloped in a sensation so sublime it nearly made his mind go blank.

　　"A creation of the master Subspace craftsman of the century, ‘Ellen Vator’," Stephanie announced proudly. "Would you please touch any wall and trace a square?"

　　Simon nodded and did as instructed.

　　A shimmering rectangle of nothingness opened in the wall. He peered inside, astonished to see a space so vast it could easily contain an entire house.

　　So this is a Subspace!

　　As Simon marveled, Stephanie continued her sales pitch. "As expected of Vator’s masterpiece, the storage capacity is a staggering 8,000 UB! And it boasts the convenience of summoning the Subspace anytime, so long as you wear the glove! It is truly an innovation in inventory technology!"

　　"…Hmm." Lorraine’s reaction was lukewarm. "It’s convenient, I suppose, but needing a wall is a serious limitation. In a real fight, you could be in an open field. Besides, Simon is just a novice. He doesn’t need that much capacity yet."

　　"A fair point," Stephanie conceded.

　　"Do you have anything smaller, but simpler to use?"

　　Stephanie’s only answer was a knowing grin as she glided to a display at the far end of the room and dematerialized the glass. "This piece has not yet been released to the public. It is the latest work from Gellen Eclipse, hailed as the young master of the next generation!"

　　She carefully lifted out a ring. It was crafted from a silver-like metal that shifted to hues of purple and green in the light.

　　"Please, try it on."

　　"Ah, okay!"

　　Simon slid the ring onto his finger. Its gentle, prismatic sheen was beautiful.

　　"The operation is simple! Just channel your Jet-Black into the ring."

　　Simon did as he was told. The ring drank in his Jet-Black like a sponge, its silver surface darkening to a deep, bluish-black.

　　"How does it feel?" Stephanie asked.

　　"…It feels like there’s a handle I can grab just beneath the ring."

　　"Excellent, it’s working! Now, think of that as a lever and pull it back."

　　Simon gripped the phantom handle and pulled.

　　With a sound like grinding stone, a vertical rift split the air at his feet. A mist of white vapor coiled out from the opening.

　　"…Whoa!" Simon’s heart hammered against his ribs. Even Lorraine looked impressed.

　　"The storage capacity is 4,000 UB, half of the previous model, but it is far superior in practicality!" Stephanie declared. "The Subspace opens from the ground, regardless of slopes or uneven surfaces. It is enchanted with seven spells, including Class 1 preservation and temperature control."

　　"Does it have an ejection function?" Lorraine inquired.

　　"But of course! Please, demonstrate."

　　Searching for a test object, Stephanie spotted a worn-out stuffed rabbit lying in a corner. "Hm? What’s this doll doing here?" she muttered, then added with a wry smile, "My mischievous granddaughter often comes to play." She tossed the rabbit into the Subspace. "You said you were a new student? You’ll need a lot of practice to use this function in a real battle. Now, focus the Subspace’s magic, feel it enveloping the object…"

　　Simon followed her instructions, wrapping his will around the rabbit. It was surprisingly easy. With the ring on his finger, the Subspace’s mana responded as if it were his own.

　　"…Simply enveloping the object will automatically prime the ejection spell. Now, release the mana as if you’re flicking it away!"

　　The stuffed rabbit shot out of the rift, soaring in a gentle arc before landing perfectly on its feet. Both Stephanie and Lorraine gasped.

　　"That’s excellent, sir!"

　　"You’re a natural! Is this really your first time?"

　　His heart was pounding too hard to fully register their praise. He finally understood why a Subspace was an essential tool for a necromancer. He could already picture himself in the near future, tearing open this rift to unleash his undead.

　　"Simon, do you like it?" Lorraine asked, stepping closer with a smile.

　　He snapped back to reality and nodded vigorously. Of course he liked it. He had never wanted anything so badly in his life. But…

　　His gaze shifted nervously to Stephanie. "…This Subspace. How much is it?"