Necromancer Academy’s Genius Summoner

Chapter 243

"Simon."

On their way to the ballroom, Lorain approached and whispered to him,

"Do you know about the traditions of the ball?"

"…?"

Simon looked clueless. Princess Mollie intervened, clapping her hands together.

"If you don't mind, let me explain it to you!"

The tradition originated when the old 'Talheren Empire' conquered Dresden and held balls in their palace. The balls were said to be horribly indecent, as they were meant to comfort the soldiers who had suffered in the war. In particular, a large guillotine was set up in the center of the ballroom.

The King of Dresden, dressed in rags, was dragged there during the ball.

It was the highlight of the event.

"Make your last wish."

Of course, the emperor had no intention of granting the wish. This was just a form of entertainment.

Several royal prisoners had already met their end here, and the sight of all that noble blood shitting themselves and begging to be spared was a real hout.

The emperor bellowed with laughter each time and carried out the execution, which was a good show to the guests.

It was also the emperor's way of teaching the people of Dresden that the people they admired and respected were pathetic cowards who were destined to be conquered.

But the King of Dresden was different.

He walked up to the guillotine himself, placed his head in, and said,

"Please make sure my people do not starve."

Then, he activated the guillotine himself.

The emperor was truly impressed by his behavior and prohibited the thoughtless plundering and crime his soldiers would commit in the capital city Langerstine. He also stopped the conquered countries' exploitation, instituted a relief policy, and granted partial autonomy to the kingdom.

Also, the rest of the royal family—who were all fated to be decapitated that day—survived the ball, and their bloodline had still continued to this day.

To honor the king for sacrificing himself for his people, the royal family held the ball every year on the day of Langerstine's fall.

At this time, the direct blood of the king could make one 'wish' for the guests at the ball.

Of course, no wishes were excessive, such as related to money and property, nor were they impolite.

"Sir Ronan, I am concerned about your health, so please give up smoking as of this hour."

It was at that level.

The unspoken rule was that wishes should be fun for the one who makes the wish and the one who grants it.

'So there was such a tradition, huh?'

Now that he knew the story, Simon saw the ball in a new light.

At first, he thought it was an extravagant social event for the royal family to show off their connections and wealth, but it was actually a monumental event filled with history.

Above all, he thought it was great that they enjoyed this tradition, especially since their country had fallen to the Empire and their king had died.

'I wonder what the princess will wish for, then? I'm getting curious.'

Soon, the three of them were at the ballroom door.

Princess Mollie said,

"I will go in last. You three go in before me."

"Yes, Princess."

"…"

As Simon stared nervously at the door, Serene sneakily stood beside him.

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Then she extended her slender hand toward him.

'…Why is she asking me to hold her hand again?'

As Simon stood frozen, Serene smiled and gave him a gentle wave.

"My arm hurts, Simon~"

Serene had come to this troublesome ball in person because she wanted Simon and the Ivory Tower's names to be said together by so many people, and she had been aiming for an entrance with Simon from the beginning.

Of course, Lorain wouldn't let that happen.

Stepping between them, she grabbed Serene and said,

"You enter first, Simon."

Simon nodded gratefully, then quickly moved toward the door.

Serene tried to go after him but was stopped by Lorain's thorough defense.

"What are you doing?! Get off me!!"

"Entering in pairs is only for married couples, so don't make a scene. Students are supposed to go in one by one."

"Like I care!"

At first, all Lorain wanted was to stop Serene's schemes.

But as she watched that wicked Serene struggling to scout Simon for the Ivory Tower, she had since changed her mind.

'I want Simon to help me and work at Kizen after he graduates.'

* * *

* * *

In the end, she would have to respect whatever decision Simon makes two years from now, but she realized that she didn't have to stand idle just because Kizen was the best of the best.

'Scout Simon to the Ivory Tower.'

'Scout Simon to Kizen.'

As the two girls envisioned their different futures, Simon stepped ahead on his own and pushed open the ballroom doors.

'Wooaah…!'

The entire place shone and sparkled. He had never seen a ballroom so big and impressive.

The ballroom had three floors and was open in the center so you could look down from the top. Each floor had different themed food and a large area for dancing.

That was when a butler holding a loudspeaker ball announced,

"Kizen's current Special Admission No.1 from the Baldwin Kingdom, Sir Simon, is entering!"

Clap clap clap clap clap.

The sound of nobles applauding could be heard from all around. Hushed whispers undercoated the clapping, and the word 'Kizen' came up a lot.

The next moment, the doors swung open again.

"The official successor to the Ivory Tower and Kizen's Special Admission No.2, Miss Serene Aindark, is entering!"

Serene walked in after Simon, her brilliant ivory hair fluttering behind her and melding into her dress.

Though she was annoyed that she couldn't be called along with Simon, she did not let that reach her smile, and she linked arms with Simon as she waved.

"Daughter to Witch of Death Nefthis. Miss Lorain, is entering."

This time, there was a gasp of surprise, even among the high nobles. Lorain, rarely seen in public, had appeared in a black dress.

"Even the daughter of Nefthis has come!"

"They stepped up their game. The royal family has really gone big this year."

The appearance of the three Kizen students was shocking. The nobles on the third floor began to come all the way down to greet them.

Several people around them spoke to them or asked them for a dance, but the three only smiled and didn't actively respond.

They were on a mission, and this was their assigned area.

"Princess Mollie is entering!"

Finally, the royalty of this ball had arrived.

All the nobles rose to their feet and applauded. Mollie, dressed in a white dress, greeted them gracefully.

"Thank you to all of our esteemed guests for joining us."

She bowed to the nobles, then walked slowly to the center of the room.

Simon realized what was in the center of the ballroom.

'So that's the guillotine from history!'

At first, he didn't even realize it was a guillotine.

It was missing its blade, and it was lavishly decorated with vines, ribbons, and lights.

Mollie, as the princess, stepped up to it and rang a large bell attached to the side. Its chime could be heard clearly from even the furthest point of the third floor.

"My sincere thanks and best wishes to our three newest guests who have spent their precious time to visit me at my insistence."

She cheerfully continued,

"The three of you are bound to the duty of being my bodyguards, but for tonight, as guests of the ball, I would like you to be free to roam about, enjoy this time, and rest. My guests, could you please permit it?"

The nobles smiled pleasantly and raised their glasses.

Princess Mollie raised her glass, as did Simon, Serene, and Lorain, playing along with others.

"For the prosperity of the kingdom!"

"For the kingdom!"

Everyone emptied their glasses, and Princess Mollie rang the bell once more. Applause erupted from all around.

'So she used the wish for us.'

With a wish like this, there was no reason not to take it. There was no reason that the bodyguards would be criticized for coming to the ball to loaf around, and Kizen wouldn't mind it as it was the client's order.

While Simon was thinking such things, Mollie looked over to Simon.

'Actually, I wanted to make a different wish.'

She wanted to ask Simon to come to the Dresden kingdom after he graduated, and if that didn't work, she wanted to open her core and become a necromancer.

But these were only her personal wishes, and it wasn't suitable for the tradition of the ball.

As the declaration was finished, the nobles went back to chatting amongst each other, and merriment filled the ballroom.

Thanks to Mollie's wish, the three were now free to roam around with the guests, taste the food, and enjoy the conversation.

"My name is Simon Polentia."

"I have seen your achievements. My son is a first-year student, as well, so I was at Roke Island."

Being invited to a royal ball, it couldn't hurt to make a good impression, as every single person here seemed to have great influence.

Simon chatted with several people, expanding his knowledge.

Lorain sneaked out, saying she really wasn't fit for this kind of party, and Serene only talked to a few people around her.

They were shutting down other people trying to talk to them, and to his surprise, they only repeated the same few comments.

Just when the mood of the party was nearing its peak…

Rrrrrrrrumble!

With a ring of deep thunder, the ballroom's lights went out.

Startled yelps and whispers came from the crowd. The cheerful mood of the event quickly subsided, the sound of rain could be heard from outside.

'Rain?'

Simon looked out the window and saw thick, heavy drops of rain falling.

"The butlers have gone to check on the mana generator and the magic circle. Please be patient!"

The old castle had lost its light, and a somber mood settled over the palace. The guests stopped dancing and sat quietly nearby, talking.

Simon sat down on a chair, his legs starting to hurt. and as if on cue, Serene grabbed his arm and clung to him.

"I'm scared~"

Feeling goosebumps forming on his arms, Simon calmly replied,

"I'm more scared of you."

"How mean!"

Lorain, who had been out on the terrace, joined Simon at his side.

She was looking around with her ruby eyes. In the darkness, her eyes glowed even redder.

"Is something the matter, Simon?"

"Looks like it's just a little problem with the lighting."

Lorain nodded nonchalantly, then sat back down and sipped her wine.

Plod! Plod!

Just then, the sound of waterlogged military boots came from the entrance. The sound was unusually loud coming from the hallway with how quiet the ballroom had become.

Rrrrrrumble!

Lightning struck again, making the guests flinch.

Before they knew it, all the guests on the first-floor looked toward the entrance where the sound of wet military boots was coming from.

Slam!

The door burst open.

Drip. Drip.

A man appeared, soaked to the skin.

He was dressed in rags, his cheeks were wasted away, his eyes were hollow, and his shoulders were hunched as he laughed like he was having a seizure. His breath reeked of alcohol, and the focus in one of his eyes was lost.

"Y'all look damn happy. Mmmmppfufufuhehehe!!"

Clap clap clap.

The drenched man clapped in fake cheer, then gave a cold glance to his surroundings.

"I'm not, though."

Crash!

A bolt of lightning struck, briefly illuminating the ballroom before returning it to pitch black.

Those who saw the man's face gaped in horror.

He was none other than the third prince who had been exiled from Kizen as a second year and the president of Noble.

It was Prince Andre.

"But look who's here, someone I never expected."

He turned toward Simon and smirked.

"Simon Polentia."

——