After finishing the siege battle, they erged to find that exactly three hours had passed, though it felt like they had been fighting all day. Only one hour remained until the end of the BMAT. Simon’s group hurriedly searched for the next card. Fortunately, Simon had his specialized glasses, and the three of them easily located a red card and entered.
Their final ga was the ’Cursology Written Test The’. Inside a room where the walls slowly closed in and the ceiling descended, they had to solve problems involving curse formulas to escape to the next room. Of course, irin was the star here. The prowess of the school’s second-ranked student in written exams was on full display as she solved problems one after another, often grasping the solution before she had even finished reading the question.
[Observing the following symptoms, identify the five curses used on this patient.]
"It says his leg is numb," Simon offered. "So maybe it’s a paralysis curse?"
"Nah, the problem wouldn’t be that simple," Dick retorted. "There’s definitely a trick here. The answer is a fear-type curse! He thinks his leg is numb because it’s trembling from fear! I’m right, aren’t I, irin?"
"Both of you, shut up," irin snapped, not looking up from the problem at the door.
She needed to concentrate, but two clueless boys were constantly offering their useless advice from behind her. Finally, unable to stand it anymore, she let out a frustrated scream.
"Go away! You’re just getting in the way!"
In the end, Simon and Dick were demoted from problem-solving and took on the role of physically holding back the closing walls and ceiling to buy ti. All in all, it was decent teamwork. Freed from the pressure, irin was able to focus. Simon even offered so useful advice on curses related to Summoning. And so...
[You have solved all the problems!]
[You have won the ga!]
The three of them obtained the red card and safely stepped outside.
"It’s oooover!" Dick yelled.
The BMAT had officially ended. Students were chattering and laughing as they headed back to the dorms. He stretched his arms wide.
"Ugh! We really climbed a huge mountain. The sense of accomplishnt is insane!"
"Yeah. You worked hard," Simon said with a bright smile, then turned to irin. "You too, irin. You were amazing."
"Hmph." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear with a prim expression. "You all owe one. Hurry up and buy a delicious dinner."
Dick imdiately jumped in.
"Hey now! If we’re going to get technical, you need to settle up for the intel you benefited from during the siege! You were getting your ass handed to you by the Hartz family."
"Hey! When did I ever—!"
While the two bickered, Simon checked the cards he had obtained: red, orange, yellow, blue, indigo, violet. And the golden one. He just needed one more card from the final after-school BMAT to complete the number one combination.
’The fact that the remaining card is green is a bit concerning, though.’ A green card most likely ant a Necrology the. It was his weakest subject, so he needed to prepare.
"What are you doing, Simon? Hurry up!" Dick called.
"Yeah, I’m coming!" Simon quickly followed after them.
For today, at least, he planned to fully enjoy their victory.
---
In front of Bahil’s lab, Chehekle, the head teaching assistant for Cursology, adjusted her clothes and knocked.
"Professor Bahil, it’s Chehekle."
There was no reply, but she opened the door as if she were used to it.
The rhythmic tap of chalk against a board echoed in the unlit room. It was the sa sight as always. Bahil sat before the chalkboard, writing formulas with only his arm, not even looking at the board. It was as if he were chanically copying knowledge directly from his mind. His other hand propped up his chin, and he stared into space with a dazed expression. The strange thing was, though the chalk was moving, nothing was appearing on the board.
Dismissing it as his usual eccentricity, Chehekle gave her report.
"Professor, the first-years’ after-school BMAT has just ended."
Bahil gave a slight nod.
"It seems so, judging by the noise outside."
"You must be busy as well, preparing your paper for the academic conference."
"This is nothing." After writing the final formula, Bahil finally stood and straightened his collar. "It’s a simple matter. The necromancers at the conference are all fools. They cheer just by having common sense presented to them in an unfamiliar way."
"...It may be common sense to you, Professor, but not to ordinary people."
"It doesn’t matter. Would you like a cup of coffee?" Bahil asked, walking over to a small station. "You always make it, Chehekle. Today, at least, I’d like to make it for you."
"I’m honored." Chehekle sighed lightly, studying him. "You’re not reacting much, considering."
"To what?" Bahil asked, clattering with the coffee pot.
"About Simon."
"Yes."
"A rumor has spread like wildfire among the TAs," she continued. "That Professor Aaron offered Simon a direct discipleship."
"I see."
"Does it really not bother you at all?"
Bahil filled the pot with water, his face a perfect mask.
"Senior Aaron has every right to offer Simon a discipleship, Chehekle."
Chehekle flinched. ’He’s acting strange today.’ He was definitely not the type to let this go so coolly. He was the type to throw things, break windows, and fire curses in every direction. She decided to probe further.
"You haven’t been approaching him much lately, either."
"Mm."
"A-Aren’t you feeling a sense of crisis?"
"Mm."
It was like Bahil had short-circuited. Was he in shock? Had he lost his mind? Seeing a man who seed like he wouldn’t bleed if pricked with a needle acting so defeated, Chehekle felt a flicker of pity for him for the first ti.
"...This isn’t like you, Professor," she said, her eyes hardening slightly.
"What isn’t?" he replied, his voice still listless.
"Being so dispirited! So down! Pretending like it’s nothing!"
But no matter what she said, Bahil didn’t react. Growing annoyed, she took a deep breath and spoke sharply.
"You’re giving up so easily, which is so unlike you, Professor Bahil! Were your feelings for Simon not genuine?"
At that mont—
Lightning flashed. The world turned blindingly white. The lab, her vision—everything was white. In that stark mont of only black and white, Chehekle could see it clearly.
The letters. Scrawled over every surface of the lab.
SIMONPOLENTIASIMONPOLENTIASIMONPOLENTIASIMONPOLENTIASIMONPOLENTIASIMONPOLENTIASIMONPOLENTIASIMONPOLENTIASIMONPOLENTIASIMONPOLENTIASIMONPOLENTIASIMONPOLENTIASIMONPOLENTIASIMONPOLENTIASIMONPOLENTIA
Her face turned as white as a sheet. The entire lab—no matter where she looked—was plastered with Simon’s na, the solutions Simon wrote, the problems Simon solved, the food Simon ate, the skills Simon learned, the future Simon should pursue. Everything was about Simon.
"You think my feelings for Simon weren’t genuine?" In the monochro world, a madman with his hair hanging loose emitted a chilling blue light from his eyes. "Impossible."
Lightning flashed again, and the world returned to normal. The imnse shock caused Chehekle’s legs to give out, and she collapsed to the floor.
"Ah, my," Bahil said with a sheepish smile. "I got excited without realizing it. I’m sorry for startling you—"
"You goddamn psycho!" she shrieked. Her heart was still pounding erratically, and tears welled in her eyes. "I’m disgusted with myself for montarily worrying about a psychopath like you!"
"Haha." Bahil smiled gently and approached her. "There’s no need to worry about Simon. It’s not as if Senior Aaron has made him his direct disciple right away. That is that senior’s limit, and—"
His voice sank, turning cold as ice.
"—the ’pain’ that senior carries."
Bahil held out a hand, but she slapped it away and scrambled to her feet.
"So what, are you just taking it easy now?"
"Of course, when I first heard the news, I felt my blood boil," he admitted. "I calmly observed my brain furiously spinning, spitting out thousands of ways to kill Senior Aaron."
’How pathetic,’ Chehekle grumbled silently.
"But it’s fine! Sothing like that is nothing! In the end, my Simon will co into my hands! Now, have so coffee."
"Professor Bahil." Still fuming, Chehekle took the cup he offered and poured it straight down the sink. "Let’s just look at the objective situation, shall we?"
She set the empty cup down with a tap.
"Simon has learned ’Bone Armor’ and ’Blood Golem’ from Professor Aaron, and now he’s learning how to create a lich. On the other hand, all you’ve done is teach him the Four Great Curses. Do you really think you can compete?"
"Teaching him the Four Great Curses is not the end," Bahil sneered. "We still have ’Compellonia’, which can only be learned after mastering all four, don’t we? Simon is a diligent student. Even though he’s focusing on lich creation and Summoning, he will at least keep his promise to . He’ll complete all four curses before the first year is over."
"...What on earth is this ’Compellonia’, anyway?"
"Just wait and see. Simon will be a different person after he uses ’Compellonia’. Everything will change." Bahil spread his arms wide. "He is, no matter what anyone says, of the sa kind as . Because he has the talent, and he has the madness—"
The corners of Bahil’s mouth curled into a chilling smile.
"—he will have no choice but to make the sa choice as ."
---
The next day, Simon was in Aaron’s lab, learning about the ’Life Vessel’.
"I did it, Professor!" Simon exclaid, pulling his hands away.
In the air before him, two intersecting bands of pure jet-black hovered.
"Good." Aaron only gave a slight nod, his face expressionless.
But inside, he was reeling. ’What kind of monster am I teaching?’
In just one week, Simon had mastered the basics of the ’Life Vessel’ and successfully created the ’bands’. Forcing himself to hide his shock, Aaron spoke calmly.
"Don’t get cocky. The ’bands’ are the most basic stage of the ’Life Vessel’. You’ve just taken the first step."
"Yes, Professor! Please teach the next step!"
Aaron shook his head and stood up.
"Take a short break. Rest is also important."
"What? I’m fine—"
Aaron lightly touched Simon’s forehead, and his body slumped onto the sofa.
"There’s no way you’re fine after creating the bands three tis. Rest for a bit."
As if under a curse, Simon couldn’t move a muscle. The mont he gave up resisting and sank into the comfort of the sofa, his eyes closed, and within five seconds, he was snoring softly.
"...Pushing yourself too hard," Aaron murmured.
While Simon slept, Aaron summarized the materials for his next lesson. Two hours later, Simon finally opened his eyes.
"Ah!" He stretched his arms wide. "My body feels so light! I feel like I can do anything!"
"Calm down." As Simon got up, Aaron handed him a freshly brewed cup of tea. "It’s a tea that revitalizes the body."
"Thank you for the—’Ugh’!" After one sip, Simon’s face contorted, and he stuck out his tongue.
It was more bitter than anything he could have imagined. A rare, small smile touched Aaron’s lips.
"Bitter dicine is good for the body. Drink it all."
"...Th-This?" Simon looked up with a rebellious gaze.
Aaron replied in a flat voice, "If you can’t drink it, today’s tutoring ends here."
At those words, Simon imdiately chugged the tea, his face scrunching up as he stuck out his numb tongue. Aaron handed him a glass of cold water.
’Still,’ Simon thought, smiling as he took the water. ’It’s nice getting closer to the Professor. This finally feels like a proper master and disciple.’ Since their last Summoning class, the distance between them seed to have shrunk considerably, and Simon was happy.
Aaron plopped down in the seat opposite him.
"Then, before we move on, one question."
"Yes!"
"Have you obtained a heart to beco the lich’s ’Life Vessel’?"
Simon scratched the side of his head.
"...Ah. About... about that."
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