Necromancer Academy’s Genius Summoner

Chapter 40

Finally, the morning of the performance assessment day came. Class A students were moving to the underground dungeon in carriages.

Isnt it fascinating?

Said Camibarez while looking out the window inside the carriage.

To think that this many dungeons and ruins are gathered on the small Roke Island

Rick shrugged his shoulders.

From what I heard, Nefthis is a manic collector. If she finds these kinds of ancient ruins, she apparently transfers the whole thing to Roke Island.

Woah! The whole ruins?

Rick and Camibarez chatted and tried to loosen the uncomfortable atmosphere, but Simon and Meilyn didnt speak a word until they reached the dungeon. 

Come on, were here! Everyone, get off!

Finally, the carriages stopped, and the students came down. 

The eyes of the students who were making a lot of noise before the actual battle turned to Meilyn, who got off the carriage with crutches.

Theyre doomed.

I heard that shes the participating member and injured herself.

The students whispered.

If the participating member is in that state, they cant do anything about it. Its all screwed up from the start till the end.

Well, it helps us.

Shh! Shh! Hey, your voice is too loud!

Meilyn firmly moved forward while trying her best to ignore the whispers.

The members of Group 7 followed right behind her.

Kizens underground dungeon was some sort of supersized prison that kept the monsters from the continent captured. Not only monsters, but all kinds of terrible criminals in the continent were also said to be imprisoned at the bottom of the dungeon.

Following the assistant teacher, the students moved their eyes with fear. Terrible screams and monster roars were heard from everywhere.

Its an unconfirmed rumor, but they say that an angel is chained and sealed on the bottom floor of this dungeon.

With Ricks words, Camibarez flinched, and her shoulders shuddered.

P-Please dont scare me! Theres no way an angel exists!

Hehehe. You think there are no angels when there are devils too?

Fortunately, they didnt go deep into the dungeon.

The destination was a place tightly surrounded by bricks carved out of rocks. Like in the training room, a mana projector was hanging on the ceiling.

This way.

When they entered, they saw Jane and her assistants, who arrived first and were waiting inside. It was Janes first class after the student protection period had ended, so everyone stood up with nervous faces.

She opened her mouth.

Now, attention.

Attention!

In the morning, well conduct a performance assessment from groups 1 to 8. When you enter the dungeon, youll face a living Cyclops.

The assistant teachers went around and handed out paperboards and pens to the students.

The life waiver that Jane mentioned in the first class, that no matter what happened in the dungeon, Kizen wouldnt be held responsible.

Of course, you can put down the life waiver and leave if your life is more important than anything else.

It was something that everyone was prepared for from the moment they entered Kizen. All the students signed the life waiver, and the assistant teachers distributed training uniforms.

Again, there are three instances in which the performance assessment will be stopped. When the participating member is incapable of combat, when any team member raises their hand and declares abandonment of the test, and when a professor or safety guard determines that further battle is impossible. And Andrew, a personnel dispatched from Kizen headquarters, will be in charge of the safety guard.

Standing next to Jane, a man heavily armed with different kinds of equipment bowed his head. He looked taciturn.

Well then. Well start the performance assessment with Group 1.

* * *

Group 1 remained, and the other members were guided to the room upstairs. It was a place to take a rest like the waiting room, but one wall was transparent like glass, so you could directly watch the other groups fighting.

I-Its a real Cyclops!

The scale Its no joke.

I didnt believe that it was a real battle until the very end.

What do we do? For real

The waiting room was noisy with students watching the Cyclops, but Simon and his group didnt have time to leisurely watch the other groups fight.

The four of them sat in a quiet corner on the opposite side and discussed plans.

Now now. Lets loosen up the mood a bit! We still have a winning shot!

Rick clapped and proceeded with the meeting.

Everyone exchanged opinions in a serious atmosphere. Cheering and screaming was occasionally heard from the students.

You could also know which teams won and which teams failed. Of course, Hector and Group 3 succeeded in hunting.

Time passed faster than light, and finally

Group 7, to the front.

Not knowing how an hour or two had passed, it was already Group 7s turn.

All of the members of Group 7 went down with the guidance of the assistant teacher. The students, who had been quiet until Meilyn went down, rushed to the transparent wall.

Meilyn injured her leg, but it looks like theyre gonna continue.

Is that allowed? Im sure the doctor put a restriction on her.

Uh Wait a second!

Someone pointed at one side of the wall. Simon was wearing the protective vest that was worn by the participating member.

Its Simon! They changed the participating member to Simon Polentia!

Would that be okay?

Of course not! Theyve been relying on Meilyns Dark Flare all this time. All their plans are screwed up at this point.

But how will a Summoning aspirant hunt down a Cyclops?

I guess theyre just trying to show that they tried their best till the end.

Hector, who was sitting on the two seats, had a sharp shine go across his eyes.

Simon Polentia is the participating member?

A-Apparently, yeah?

Said a male student from Hectors faction while forcing himself to smile.

Isnt he someone that got on your nerves? Is it alright for you not to watch them?

Hector closed his eyes without answering.

* * *

* * *

Phewwww.

Simon took a deep breath, calming his trembling heart. As he put on the vest, a barrier gauge appeared from the mana projector on the ceiling.

When this gauge reached 0%, the participating member was automatically judged as incapable of combat, and the test would immediately be stopped. Behind Simon was Rick, Meilyn, and Camibarez standing in their set positions. Fortunately, Meilyn persuaded the doctor, allowing her to play a support role that didnt move from its position.

Nothing big has changed.

Said Simon while turning back to the members.

Even if the situation has changed a little, its not like our efforts disappeared. Lets do our best until the end.

The three nodded.

Meilyn, who had been dazed for a while, had a terribly serious expression on her face, as though she came to her senses when the performance assessment started.

Safety Guard Andrew looked at his watch and said,

Please send in the next Cyclops.

Rattle!

The iron bars of the dungeon went up. The real Cyclops in chains showed itself from the pitch-black darkness. Four Keepers were whining and pulling the chains, leading the Cyclops.

Gulp.

As he faced the monster, Simons throat went dry.

Its appearance was the same as he had seen in the simulation, but the real thing was definitely something different. Its stench stung his nose, and the unpleasant breathing was heard irregularly.

His heart was beating like crazy with the tension. It was terrifying to think of meeting that kind of monster in the mountains.

And above the Cyclops head, a jet-black magic circle was seen floating around.

He has lost his focus because of the curse in that magic circle, but as soon as the curse was lifted, hed regain consciousness and begin to attack the opponent in front of him.

Click! Clack!

The keepers removed the chains and fled from the dungeon in a hurry.

[Then, well start the performance assessment of Group 7.]

Janes voice could be heard from the ceiling.

[Theres no need to overdo it. If you think you cant do it, anyone can raise their hand and ask to stop the assessment]

Yes, Professor!

Andrew, the safety guard, went invisible and disappeared at some point too.

Now, only the four people of Group 7 and the Cyclops were left in this place.

[Removing the curse. Well commence with the assessment.]

The magic circle floating above the Cyclops' head shattered with a clank. At the same time, the monsters eyes, which had lost all focus, flashed and returned.

[Gwooooooooooooooooooaaagh!]

It let out a huge roar. Simon felt like his body would blow away from just the blast of the wind.

Simon! Hang in there!

The battle started immediately. Simon pulled the imaginary lever and took out the skeletons.

Three armed skeletons ran in from different directions.

Just do as practiced, just do as practiced! 

Although the participating member changed, the framework of the strategy hadnt changed significantly.

While Simon buys time with the skeletons, Rick, Camibarez, and Meilyn go cursing. It was a strategy to neutralize the Cyclops by stacking up Exhausts to the limit and Simon stabbing the vitals of the Cyclops to knock it down.

However

Bang!

The Cyclops didnt deal with the skeletons. It charged like a chariot and smashed the skeletons with his body and rushed toward Simon right away.

Huh?

Wh-Whats going on?

With bloodshot eyes, the Cyclops swung its club wildly.

Thump!

Simon hurriedly threw his body to the side. The club fell where he was, and the dungeon shook violently.

Rick! Why is this happening?

Asked Camibarez in bewilderment as she prepared the curse.

Its different from the simulation!

Are they trying to show that simulations and reality are different? No, but this is

Rick slightly bit his lips.

Its as if its coming after Simon from the beginning!

Bam! Bam! Bam!

The Cyclops swung its club frantically while drooling from its mouth.

Simon had to avoid it by rolling on the ground like a ball against the brutal offense.

Ugh!

His back hurt because of the bumpy stone ground. After dodging all the attacks, Simon jumped up and stretched out his right arm.

Rattle!

The skeleton who grabbed the Cyclops back slashed it with a sword.

Kugh! Its a lot harder than the simulation!

There wasnt even a scratch on its skin. Perhaps because it didnt do much damage, the Cyclops still ignored the skeleton and only attacked Simon.

Calm down.

Simons eyes lit up.

Smashing down diagonally.

Simon bent his legs and momentarily leaned to the side. The club just crossed above the direction where he leaned.

Side swing with a wide breadth!

The Cyclops' attack missed again as Simon took a short step and slipped back. The students watching from upstairs exclaimed at Simons splendid movements.

Of course, Simon, who was doing it, felt like dying.

To think that I ended up using the analysis I did to help Meilyn!

[Gwooooooooooah!]

At that time, when the enraged Cyclops was about to turn around and rush in

Exhaust!

The three people standing in the set position finally activated the Exhausts. The movement of the Cyclops briefly slowed down, and Simon dug into that moment.

Simon, who jumped on the jet-black, stretched his arm out behind him. The spear thrown by the skeleton went into Simons hand.

A chance!

Whish!

Simons spear flashed like lightning towards the Cyclops eye.

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