Necromancer Academy’s Genius Summoner

Chapter 27

Itll work?

What kind of potion is it?

Rick and Camibarez also approached with interest. On the page Simon opened up, there was a description of the potion. It temporarily paralyzed the functions of the tendons and contracted the muscles.

Its named Nervie, apparently.

Meilyn roughly circled the name of the potion.

Looking at the symptoms, its a neuroparalytic poison that weakens muscle strength, and its written that it works equally well on small and medium-sized monsters of class 3 or higher. It wont show a dramatic effect, but its going to slow down the Cyclops movement for sure.

How do you apply it?

Either let them drink or use it on the wounded area. I think its going to work somehow if we throw the glass that contains the potion after making a wound.

Everyone nodded with serious faces. It was good to have something ready to help them hunt the Cyclops.

For the magic pot, we just need to reserve a lab. The problem here is the materials

Meilyn slightly bit her thumb as she looked through the list of ingredients written in the textbook.

We can obtain the basic ingredients easily at Kizen. The tricky ones are Lehark Mushrooms, Blood Slimes, and Silk Vines.

Lets see.

Rick glanced through the ingredients.

If I go down to Rochester and do some legwork, I might be able to obtain it somehow.

Oh, really?

Everyones eyes widened. Rick nodded his head confidently.

Lets just finish it while were at it. Ill go down to Rochester later, after class.

Simon, looking through the list of ingredients, pointed to an item with his finger.

This, Ive seen Lehark Mushrooms in Kizen.

Hm? Where?

In the Forbidden Forest.

He saw this mushroom when he went into the forest to find Pier. Many of them were growing under a large oak tree on the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest.

Meilyn and Camibarez expressions slightly hardened up.

How do you know that? No, thats not the problem here! Are you planning to go to the Forbidden Forest?

It wont take that long. Ricks also going to Rochester with the risk of getting himself into disciplinary action. I also have to do this much. Ill collect it before it gets dark.

Mmmm.

Meilyn furrowed her brow.

Arent there monsters too? Rochester might be fine, but the Forbidden Forest is too dangerous.

Then Ill follow him too!

Camibarez raised her hand. Simon looked back at her with a bewildered face.

Its too dangerous, and youll be breaking the school rules.

All the more reason why you shouldnt go alone! I cant just let you go to the Forest by yourself, Simon!

Simon pondered deeply, but he couldnt come up with any excuses against a groupmate who wanted to tag along in the group activity.

Lets get out right away if it seems dangerous.

Yes!

Okay, so I only need to get Blood Slimes and Silk Vines in Rochester, right? Lehark Mushrooms were the most difficult ones to obtain, so thatll save me some time.

Ill bring basic ingredients and wait in the lab.

At that moment, the bell rang, announcing the end of class. Francesca, the Poisonous Alchemy assistant teacher, announced,

Okay, todays class is up to here.

Thank you!

The students rushed out of the lecture room.

Team 7 moved in a rush. They had a job to do. Rick to Rochester, Meilyn to the lab, Simon and Camibarez to the Forbidden Forest.

While everyone was leaving the lecture room, a student who had been lying down in silence quietly got up from his seat.

Then, he walked towards someone.

Hey, Hector.

Hector, who was quietly packing his things, looked up.

I got some good information in. Would you like to hear it?

* * *

Its dangerous if we go out from the front door. Follow me.

Rick took Simon and Camibarez to a stable on the outskirts of Kizen. 

Kevin! You here?

Rick knocked on the door of the stable. The door opened after a while, and a middle-aged man with a tanned face stuck his head out. 

Oh, Rick! Youre going out today too?

Yeah, turns out to be like that. With these friends too, for today.

Rick flicked his fingers to toss a coin. Kevin smiled broadly and caught the coin in a skilled movement.

Please follow me, dear customers!

Simon wondered why there was a stable in Kizen, but they were raising not only normal horses, but large skeleton horses too.

As the skeleton horse roamed around while snorting and stared at them, Camibarez hid behind Simon in startlement.

Its right over here. Have a great time!

Where Kevin guided them to was the corner of the stable. It was just an ordinary space covered with straw, but there were no horses in this place.

Ill be going ahead!

Rick walked towards the wall. Suddenly, the straw-covered floor sank down and Rick disappeared.

Huh? What? Rick!

* * *

* * *

A voice saying, Over here! was heard from under the floor.

Simon and Camibarez eyes met, and they walked to the spot where Rick walked up to.

Soon, the bottom of the floor sank, and the two fell into the tunnel.

Rick smiled with his arms wide open.

Welcome to the secret route out of school!

Simon looked around.

A place like this existed, huh?

Hehe. Only a few people know this route.

Come on. Lets hurry before it gets late.

Yeah!

Mhm.

Rick, Camibarez, and Simon walked down the tunnel in that order. Rick, the leader, took out a lantern from his subspace and lit up the darkness, then guided them as if used to it.

Watch your head!

At first, they could walk by bending their backs a little, but the passage became narrower as they proceeded. Soon, they came to a section where they had to lie on the floor and crawl on their knees.

Cami.

Yes!

W-Wanna swap positions?

Why?

She looked back at him with wide eyes as she was going ahead.

As she was ahead, she looked back at Simon with wide eyes.

After meeting eyes with her, Simon quickly turned his head and replied in a faint voice,

Its nothing.

??

A rather embarrassing situation would occur if he looked ahead, so Simon quietly ducked his head and kept moving.

Rick giggled as he noticed what was going on, but Camibarez didnt notice at all and tilted her head.

It didnt take long before they reached their destination.

Rick stood straight and tapped the ceiling. The ground opened after shaking like a lid.

He climbed out skillfully and grabbed the hands of Camibarez and Simon, who were following him, and pulled them out.

Woah, were really outside.

In the distance, he could see the walls of Kizen. Rick put the lid back on and covered it with nearby soil so it wouldnt be obvious.

Well then, lets separate from here. Ill go to Rochester now.

Got it.

Take care!

Rick headed for Rochester, and Simon and Camibarez walked towards the Forbidden Forest.

Night in the forest came quickly. With a large full moon, darkness subsided through the leaves and the sounds of grass bugs and owls were heard. It was quite a spooky atmosphere, so Simon was worried that Camibarez would be frightened. However

Why does it look like she likes it?

She was looking around freely with a twinkle in her eyes.

She squatted, shaking the bloomed flowers in the field or sniffing the soil. She had a brighter and livelier atmosphere than when she was at Kizen.

Walking at night is so much fun!

Simon soon remembered that she was a vampire.

So, you like the night?

Yeah!

She looked back and smiled with her hands clasped behind her back.

Nights are cozy.

Are they?

He couldnt really relate, but he decided to respect it as it could be a tendency of her race.

Camibarez spoke to Simon like she had started feeling better.

Its a little bit late for this, but thank you for helping me in the last Combat Magic class.

Ah, when you were trying to get on the back of a hippo?

Yes! I couldnt possibly go up on my own. I looked around because I was at a loss, but everyone turned their heads and pretended not to see me. It cant be helped since its a competitive class, but only Simon willingly reached out at that time.

I was just doing the right thing.

She put tension on her eyes and looked at Simon.

The fact that you can do the right thing is what makes it amazing!

I-Is that so?

As they were talking, they were already getting closer to the destination.

A forest path like this was familiar for Simon, who ran through the rough mountains of Les Hill several times a day. Once he went there, he could remember it for a long time.

Thats it.

Simon stretched out his hand. You could see mushrooms growing in abundance under the oak tree.

Ah, its actually Lehark Mushrooms! Theres so many!

We dont know how much well need, so lets just get everything.

Sure!

Simon took out an empty box and the two of them picked mushrooms and stacked them in the box.

Within minutes of starting work, the box was full. Simon closed the lid and safely put the box back in the subspace.

It ended sooner than I thought.

I know, right?

There was too much time left to wait for Rick. The two started moving after deciding to return to Kizen first and meet with Meilyn. 

Ah! Come to think of it, why did you come to Kizen?

Mm.

Simon thought for a moment and said,

Well, at first, I came here because of my parents.

Ah. Well, usually its like that.

And while going to school like that, little by little, I developed my personal consciousness and goals.

He was introduced to Summoning at school, and for the first time, he had the idea of wanting to become a Necromancer.

On that, he found out about his fathers secret and signed a contract with his fathers undead Legion. He also made close friends.

Then Cami, how about y

At that moment, Simon stopped talking. He also stopped Camibarez beside him with his arms.

Whats wrong?

Hide!

Simon grabbed her wrist and led her behind the tree.

In the distance, the light of a lantern was lighting up the forest's darkness. At the same time, the sound of rushing footsteps could be heard.

Ah!

Camibarezs face turned pale.

Its the Keepers of Kizen!

Keepers?

Yes, they are the ones in ch-charge of guarding the surroundings of Kizen! They also manage the forest and reduce the number of monsters by hunting them. If we get caught by those people!

She gulped down her saliva.

Even if were in student protection period we wont just get away without any consequences.

Woof! Woof!

You could even see hunting dogs. They were sniffing with their nose on the floor. As the light got closer and closer, you could also see people with bows on their backs.

Simons brow furrowed.

Thats strange.

The timing was too good to think that a large-scale search by the Keepers started shortly after they entered the Forbidden Forest.

Plus, Rick knew all the guards' schedules and he said that he only uses the times when their schedule is empty.

In other words, this wasnt a regular search but a sudden one.

Well, Ill think about it later.

First, they had to focus on getting out of here.

As Simon turned his head, he saw Camibarez trembling with a white face. She was muttering, What should we do, what should we do, what should we do, over and over again.

Cami. Look at me.

Simon grabbed her shoulders tightly and made her turn towards him. He could see her terrified eyes.

We can get out of here. Just trust me and follow me. Keep running while looking at my back. You can do it, right?

She bit her lip and slightly nodded her head. Simon let her go and patted the skull-shaped badge hanging on his school uniform.

Pier. Answer me.

After a while, a blue flame rose up on the skulls eye sockets.

[Hm? Did you call me, Boy!]

Things got a little bit complicated.

Simon, who was staring at the countless lights of the lanterns approaching, said to Pier with a determined face,

It looks like the Legion will have to step in.