dhibooks Chapter 634: Episode 634
Chapter 634: Episode 634
As if there was nothing to hide, Lethe answered plainly.
"He’s a professor at Efnel. Gahyeon Andoria."
She explained that Gahyeon taught Divine Mechanics. She knew he had a decent reputation, but since she’d never taken his class, she didn’t know much more.
Hearing this, Serne gave a simple nod.
"Thank you for the information."
"Not that a necromancer like you will ever have the chance to meet him," Lethe said sullenly, crossing her arms. "He’s too old to go to the battlefield, anyway."
He had been retired for a long time and had never been a prominent figure on the front lines, so he was relatively unknown among necromancers.
"Hehe, were you concerned for me? How sweet."
"You could have just asked from the beginning. I’ll never understand the thought process of necromancers who resort to mind control right off the bat."
The tension had eased, but a sharp edge remained between the two girls.
"Well then, since fate has brought us together," Serne began, making Simon flinch. She had sidled up to him and was now clinging tightly to his arm. "shall we have lunch together, Simon?"
The sweet scent of her perfume washed over him, and his face immediately flushed red. Serne smiled brightly, then glanced at Lethe.
Lethe was watching them with her usual expressionless face. A smirk played on Serne’s lips.
"What is it?"
"What do you mean?"
"As you said, it’s unlikely I’ll ever meet this Gahyeon person."
Serne’s eyes curved like a fox’s.
"But I was just thinking that you’re in a rather similar situation."
A slight frown creased Lethe’s brow. After a beat of silence, she sighed in exasperation.
"If you’re not going to help, then get off him. We have work to do."
"Yes, yes."
Serne released Simon’s arm, a smile in her eyes.
"Well, enjoy your time in the Dark Alliance. Simon, I’ll see you at the match later."
"See you later."
With a flick of her ivory hair, Serne slowly walked away. The barrier around them dissipated, and the sounds of the crowd and a cool breeze rushed back in. Simon sighed in relief, then turned to Lethe.
"Shall we go?"
Lethe just nodded silently and started walking.
---
After finishing their patrol, they headed to the Woodville Arena for Simon’s match. As the largest of the Dark Festival’s fifteen arenas, the Woodville event allowed each department to field up to twenty students. Expecting fierce competition, the Summoning Department had deployed its heavy hitters. Led by Student Council President Simon, the lineup included his teammates Lorraine, Eshe, and Toto, as well as Serne and Fitzgerald. They were joined by Guinevere and Chendra, both considered team leader-level talents, and Vicente, the leader of Team 4, who had recently befriended Simon. In fact, aside from the Top-10 ranked Hector and Aseraz, who were needed to win other events, and White, they had mobilized every skilled student available.
"This match is urban warfare!"
The set was spectacular, with temporary buildings erected everywhere, creating the convincing illusion of a city center. The announcer mentioned it was modeled after the city of Langersteen.
"The rules are simple! Gain points by capturing treasures hidden throughout the city and bringing them back to your base! Not only that, but defeating a student from an opposing department earns a whopping five points! Students with a high kill count can also earn points by passing through their own base! But if you’re taken out by an opponent before then, they’ll claim all the points you were holding! Ah, and just like that, the referee has declared the start of the match!"
The moment the match began, 140 students from seven departments leaped into action, unleashing a dazzling array of black magic. Smoke and flames erupted across the city from the very start.
"WHOAAA!"
The crowd was electric, raising their arms and screaming at the top of their lungs.
"Go, Summoning Department!"
"Go, Mr. President!"
The cheers from the first and third-years were just as passionate. Everyone was united, completely immersed in the spectacle. And then there was one outsider.
’They’re certainly having fun.’
Lethe wandered leisurely through the stands, scanning for any Divinity users.
’Hmm.’
She turned her head to watch the match. With 140 students clashing in a massive city set, it was hard to track any single individual. But even in the chaos, one person shone brighter than the rest.
"Student Council President Simon Polentia! He’s already taken down six opponents! Incredible!"
’Thwack!’
Simon burst through a cloud of thick smoke, clad in Heavy Armor, a variant of Bone Armor specialized for defense. Looking like a walking fortress, he simply absorbed most black magic attacks, trampling his opponents’ summons as he charged forward.
"The President is a point-hoarder!"
"He’s carrying a ton of treasure, too! Get him!"
The Summoning Department students were funneling all their captured treasures to Simon, who was now making his way back to their base with the loot and his own accumulated points. The scoreboard’s mana screen displayed the current standings.
[1st, Simon Polentia: 40 Points]
Simon had become the primary target, but his department seemed confident he couldn’t be defeated, as they continued to send treasures his way. If he made it back to their base with that many points, it would be nearly impossible to stop the Summoning Department from taking first place. More and more students started chasing him. However...
’Thud!’
’Thump!’
Clad in his Heavy Armor, Simon wasn’t trying to evade them. Instead, he was growing larger. He repaired any damaged sections by grafting on more bones, even having his skeletons grab bricks and wooden planks from the set and haphazardly attach them to his body.
"...What in the world is that?"
"It’s getting bigger!"
Simon was becoming a giant. The undead bones no longer formed his main structure but merely acted as mortar, binding the building debris together. His body was transforming into a bizarre, artificial golem, far surpassing the original Heavy Armor.
’Bone Armor—Giant Armor Type’
’Whoooosh!’
The giant’s arm, made of rubble and wood, swung out, sending two students flying. Their barrier gauges dropped to zero in a single blow, and Simon’s point total climbed.
"Protect Simon!"
Other Summoning students climbed onto the giant Simon had created, deflecting curses and blocking black magic. But their path wasn’t clear.
"You won’t pass so easily."
A figure leaped from the Magic Combat Department’s ranks. It was a boy with a blindfold over his eyes, carrying a longsword as tall as himself: Jule Vincere, the Magic Combat representative and 10th-ranked student overall. His appearance sent the Summoning Department into a panic.
"I-It’s Jule!"
"Stop him, no matter what!"
Several students charged him, but Jule cut them down with ease, using the rooftops to launch himself into the air.
’Jule Original—Sun Wheel’
With a deafening crack, the magic sword carved an ink-black arc through the air, shearing off the arm and part of the shoulder of Simon’s giant in a single strike.
Jule clicked his tongue in frustration.
’I missed.’
He hadn’t been aiming for the arm, but for Simon, who was nestled deep inside the giant’s chest. He prepared to swing again but was forced to retreat as other students, hungry for his points, began firing curses at him from behind.
"Tsk! This is no time to be fighting amongst ourselves!"
"Shut up and give me your points!"
The rivalries between the other departments were just as fierce, and new battlefronts were constantly erupting around Simon. Just then, another giant appeared, blocking Simon’s path. The faces of the Summoning students went pale.
"We’re screwed."
It was Chatel Maer, the Jet-Black Mechanics representative, second-ranked overall, and a half-blood giant. He clapped his massive palms together, activating his black magic.
’Chatel Original—Domain Control’
The entire city suddenly tilted into a U-shape, with the ground beneath Simon’s giant sinking into a deep pit. Then...
Two massive walls of earth shot up from either side with a sickening crunch, crushing Simon’s Bone Armor and splitting it in two. The crowd gasped.
"Chatel got him!"
However...
Simon’s point total on the scoreboard remained unchanged.
’Thump!’
He had already escaped the collapsing debris. As he emerged, he pressed a turquoise crown firmly onto his head.
’Simon Original—Royal Guard’
Turquoise light flashed from all directions. A squad of elite skeletons appeared, their capes fluttering as they darted across the rubble and walls, each one carrying a piece of treasure.
"WOOOOOWWW!!!!"
The crowd’s cheers reached a fever pitch. At the far end of the city, a large, circular membrane shimmered like a mirror. The Royal Guard hurled their treasures into it.
’Swoosh! Swoosh!’
With each treasure that passed through, the Summoning Department’s score shot up.
Chatel had failed to stop Simon in time.
"...Move."
"I don’t think so, giant."
Serne was blocking his path. Jule, the magic sword user, was also being held back by a sudden arrival.
"You live up to your reputation," he said, gripping his magic sword. The city was a ruin around them, but one person stood there, completely unfazed.
"Sorry, but I can’t let you pass."
It was Lorraine, a dagger in her hand.
With the other department representatives occupied, Simon had a clear path. A few persistent curses and spells flew his way, but his Royal Guard moved like flashes of light, deflecting and cutting down every incoming attack. Finally, with his guard as an escort, Simon himself stepped through the goal.
"WOO-HOO!!!"
His kill count was converted into points. The Summoning Department students clenched their fists and roared in triumph. It was the decisive blow.
---
The match was over. The Curses and Jet-Black Mechanics Departments had pursued them relentlessly, but in the end, the Summoning Department secured first place, thanks to the massive lead Simon had earned them.
"SIMON! SIMON! SIMON!"
The arena echoed with the name of the match’s star player. Lethe wiped her sweaty palms on her robe.
’It... it is kind of fun.’
She was embarrassed to find herself enjoying a necromancers’ competition, but it was certainly a spectacle. Kizen was stronger than she’d imagined. Their power was not to be underestimated. This was no time to be arrogant just because she wielded Divinity. If the Priests didn’t continue to evolve, they would soon be surpassed by the necromancers.
’And...’
Her head turned. Simon was walking past, waving to the crowd, not far from where she sat.
’Hmm.’
Feeling a pang of awkwardness, she glanced around. Seeing that no one was looking, she hesitantly raised her hand.
"Simon! Over—!"
"WHOOOOA"
Her voice was swallowed by a massive cheer as the first-year students rushed to the edge of the stands, roaring with excitement.
"Mr. President! Over here!"
Lethe watched them, a little dazed.
’So he’s the Student Council President. He’s popular with his juniors.’
Just then, Simon drew closer. She opened her mouth to call out again, but—
"Presideeeeent!"
"You were amazing!"
The Summoning Department students swarmed him. Even the third-years came down from the stands, throwing their arms around his shoulders and slapping him on the back.
"You pulled it off again!"
"A victory of pure strategy!"
Simon was completely engulfed by his jubilant classmates. He was beaming, hugging his friends and exchanging high-fives. The faces of the female students watching were all flushed, and Serne had once again attached herself to Simon’s arm. Lorraine was handing him a towel.
His name echoed all around her. Suddenly, everything felt alien. The people, the culture, the language—even Simon himself, being tossed into the air by his cheering friends. While everyone else was crying and laughing and celebrating, she felt utterly alone, as if she had been dropped into a world where she didn’t belong.
Slowly, Lethe rose from her seat and slipped out of the arena.