Chapter 10
"The third drawback, summonology is weak against priests."
This time, even Simon couldn't help but widen his eyes.
Conflicts with the priest faction were the most sensitive issue among students these days, and up until now, every professor had emphasized the advantages of summoning in that context.
But Aron was the complete opposite.
"I did title it like this, but to be more precise, Summonology aren't suitable for modern warfare in general."
"..."
"The time when summoning magic can shine the most is during a full-scale war. In large-scale battles where tens of thousands clash, summoners finally gain access to an infinite supply of materials to summon the undead. But today's battles, where a ceasefire agreement is in place, mostly take the form of local skirmishes against priests on missions. It's only natural that curse users and necromancers—who can strike cleanly and quickly without leaving traces—have become the trend in such an age."
In other words, he was admitting that his own field of study was outdated, and yet there was no rise or fall in Aron's tone.
"And it's also true that summoning magic is weak against priests. Imagine your carefully constructed undead army, built with great cost and effort, getting shattered in an instant by a single holy spell from a priest. It's simply a matter of poor compatibility."
Aron set down his chalk and looked around at the students.
"There are countless other weaknesses I haven't even mentioned, but the decision is yours."
Just then, someone raised their hand high.
It was the same student who had spoken up during the first curse class.
"Jaime Victoria! I'd like to know the strengths of summonology as well!"
"..."
Other professors might've felt grateful for a student like that helping set up a nice appeal for the subject, but not Aron.
"I don't recall giving permission for questions."
Jaime felt chills crawl across her entire body. The other students, who had been lounging around, belatedly snapped to attention and straightened up.
His appearance might've been a mess, but Aron was still a top-class necromancer and a professor at Keyzen.
"I, I'm sorry!"
Jaime quickly bowed her head.
But Aron was still a professor, and as such, had an obligation to answer student questions.
He clicked his tongue and finally opened his mouth.
"The strength of Summonology is quantity. Instead of fighting alone, you can receive help from summoned creatures, which allows a necromancer to deploy a variety of tactics alone. That answers your question?"
"Yes!"
Aron crossed his arms.
"Whether you'll continue Summonology in the second semester, or even choose it as your major, is up to you. But there's one thing you'd better keep in mind."
Aron's voice turned serious. He was no longer the lax man who had casually gone through the lesson until now.
"If you're not prepared, don't even step foot into this field."
Aron truly was different from the other professors.
"If you plan to cry, complain, fall into self-doubt, and eventually come to me in your second year asking for a transfer just because of money or whatever, don't even think about majoring in this field with such a spineless mindset."
There was a hint of bitterness laced in Aron's tone.
The assistants standing behind him let out quiet sighs.
"Especially if you're thinking of majoring in summoning just because of the low competition rate and for the sake of survival, I'll personally expel you. That's all."
He even ended with what could only be called a declaration of war toward the students.
"...Now then, let's begin the lesson."
Returning to his lazy tone, Aron gestured with his hand, and the assistants swiftly moved to place skeleton sets on the students' desks.
Simon finally relaxed and looked at the skeleton set on his desk.
Bone fragments neatly arranged inside the box. Upon closer inspection, numbers were written on the bones.
"What you've been given are the bones of the 'Island Ratman'. Its skeletal structure is similar to a human's but simpler and cheaper. Most summoning beginners start with this guy."
A summoning assistant posted a sheet on the blackboard with the detailed structure and numbering of the Island Ratman's bones.
"Let's begin. Take out bone number 1, the skull."
Simon and the students, tense, picked up the skull and placed it on their tables.
Some of the girls winced slightly in disgust, but that was all. As expected of girls admitted to Keyzen, their hands didn't hesitate.
"The skull has been pre-assembled. There's an opening on the bottom where you can insert your hand, and inside the skull is the spell circle frame. Everyone, put your hand inside and construct the spell circle."
It was true. The structure was similar to the correction plates from the first curse class, except this time it was carved directly into the skull.
Simon squeezed out his darkness and flowed it into the correction frame.
'Good.'
He was becoming pretty used to using correction tools now.
"And once you complete the spell circ—"
"Kyaaaaaaah!"
"Ugh, aaaargh!"
Screams erupted from all directions.
The moment the spell circle was completed, the skull suddenly came to life, its jaw clacking loudly as it snapped open and shut.
Students who had been holding the skulls in their hands threw them in shock, and many fell out of their chairs in surprise. Even Dick, sitting next to Simon, was clutching his chest and panting.
"The undead activates once the spell circle is complete, so don't be surprised. …Was what I was going to say, but I guess I was a bit late."
Aron chuckled softly.
Some students shot resentful looks at him, but none dared to complain.
Meanwhile, Simon had completed the skull's spell circle as well. The skeletal head clacked as if alive and rolled around on the table.
"Stay still."
Simon caught the head just before it fell off the table and set it back down. The undead then really did seem to calm down, as if it understood him.
"…Simon. Have you handled these things a lot before?"
Dick, who sat next to him, looked horrified, clearly unwilling to touch the undead.
Simon shrugged. With a necromancer for a father, it wasn't uncommon for skeletons to be walking around the house.
"Get used to it. You're a necromancer now."
Aron shoved his hands into his pockets and continued speaking.
"And with the spell circle you just activated, the undead is more or less complete. Of course, it can't move without a body. Now, it's your turn to build the skeleton's body."
Aron tapped the diagram of the Island Ratman's bone structure on the blackboard.
"If you're going to be a necromancer, you need to be fully familiar with the skeletal structure of your summoned creatures. A human body typically has 206 bones, but the Island Ratman has only 53. So it's a lot easier. First, find bone number 2, the neck bone."
The students dug through their skeleton kits. Simon also quickly found the bone labeled '2'.
"Now, connect it to the skull."
Simon tilted his head.
There were no tools for attaching it, how were they supposed to connect it?
Feeling unsure, Simon brought the bone close to the bottom of the skull.
Then, as if drawn by magnetic force, the bone in his hand quivered and tried to attach itself. When Simon loosened his grip slightly, it snapped into place with a click!
'Whoa, that's amazing.'
Simon blinked.
"Let me say it again, the moment you activated that magic circle earlier, the entire spell to animate the skeleton was completed. And skeletons naturally have a tendency to return to the form of their previous body."
Aron turned back to the bone diagram.
"Next is bone number 3."
Simon placed the skull on the desk and began connecting each bone in order, finding the correct ones by their numbers.
"Continue the same way up to number 11."
"I, I did it!"
"Nice!"
Before anyone realized, joyful exclamations could be heard from all over.
Just by finding and placing the correct bones, they naturally clicked together on their own. Simon's skeleton, which was now assembled up to the neck, bobbed its head up and down as if congratulating itself.
Simon burst into laughter.
'This is fun!'
Maybe because they weren't human bones, the discomfort or awkwardness he'd felt earlier had vanished.
It felt like assembling a bone sculpture that moved exactly according to the blueprint, and Simon was completely immersed in the lesson.
"Make sure not to confuse the thoracic vertebrae with the lumbar vertebrae. Island Ratmen are bipedal creatures, and the completion of the spine, which supports the back, is most important.
If you assemble the bones in the wrong order, smooth movement won't be possible. It'll creak, its motion will be compromised, and it'll break down at critical moments.
Now continue all the way to number 16."
Despite the tense atmosphere Aron had set at the beginning, the summoning class turned out to be fun enough for everyone to enjoy.
The classroom buzzed with excitement as students showed off their completed skeletons and asked each other questions. Aron didn't make any effort to stop the free-spirited mood.
"We're almost there. Continue up to number 53. If you're stuck, raise your hand."
"Professor! The leg assembly isn't working right over here!"
"Waaah, Professor! My skeleton keeps running away!"
Simon succeeded in assembling his skeleton perfectly on the first try, without a single mistake. A skeleton, just slightly shorter than a person, stood by his desk, clacking its bones.
'…This is the skeleton I made with my darkness.'
Feeling a bit emotional, Simon stared at it. The skeleton tilted its head curiously.
Seeing that made Simon smile involuntarily.
"Hey! Aren't you going to control your summon? It just hit me!"
"I told it to hit you."
"Eek, look at this! You can even make it dance!"
"…Why is this so cute?"
Cheerful laughter echoed from all corners. The students who had finished their skeletons were busy playing with their summons.
And meanwhile—
"Simon! Please take a look at my skeleton!"
There were also students who were still stuck. Dick, sitting next to Simon, was tugging at his hair.
"Why does this thing keep attaching a leg to where the arm should go?!"
Dick's skeleton had attached a right leg to its shoulder instead of an arm and was hobbling along awkwardly with it. Other students burst out laughing at the sight.
"Hm."
Simon looked seriously at the one-legged-walking skeleton.
"Looks like you confused the arm and leg attachments. That's why the skeleton thinks its leg is its arm."
"R-Really?"
"Look here. Bone number 21 isn't an arm bone, it's a leg bone."
"Oh, you're right! Why do they all look so similar?!"
Time flew faster than ever in the summoning class.
"That's enough. Today's skeleton assembly ends here."
Disappointed voices could be heard all around. Aron returned to the lectern and picked up the attendance sheet.
"For the final part, we'll hold a participation session. When I call your name, come to the front."
The moment no one could escape from—finally, it was time.
Simon swallowed nervously.
Maybe, just maybe, he could get away with it this time…
"Simon Follentia. To the front."
But there was no avoiding it for Special Admit Number 1. Simon stood up with a resigned expression.
"Do well, Simon."
Dick gave him a strong slap on the back in encouragement. A little ways off, Hector and his gang were giggling.
"And next…"
While everyone else avoided Aron's gaze, Maelyn, sitting in the front row, stretched her neck as far forward as she could.
Honestly, aside from the pressure, it was a golden opportunity to appeal to a Keyzen professor.
However—
"Hector Moore. Come forward."