A boy slouched in his chair, legs stretched out before him, groaning in misery.
Scowling, he rolled his head back and forth, then obnoxiously rustled a bag of snacks on his desk and tossed a handful into his mouth.
A fellow third-year student, who had been quietly watching him, finally spoke up.
"You look like things aren’t going your way, Sota."
This was Sota Pshyke, the Necromancy major representative and the sixth-ranked student overall.
"You could say that."
"What are you so dissatisfied with? You got the major representative position you always wanted, and soon you’ll even take over as Kizen’s Vice President."
Sota let out a long, heavy breath.
"Aizel hasn’t been listening to me lately."
"Hmm?"
"Up until our second year, he would’ve died before ignoring me! I’m the one who raised that bastard to the absolute peak of Kizen. I made him Student Council President."
"You speak as if the presidency has already changed hands."
"Of course it has. There’s no way Aizel would lose to a second-year."
Sota tilted his chair back as far as it would go and sprawled out. A moment later, a translucent, soul-like projection floated up from his physical body, drifting freely into the air.
[But more than that, Aizel has been acting strange ever since he returned from his long-term mission. He’s trying to escape my control.]
His classmate snatched Sota’s bag of snacks and chuckled.
"Well, maybe he had a change of heart during the mission?"
[Maybe. Or maybe he secretly resents me for pushing him into taking that long-term mission. Or he found out I was the one who spread the rumor that he died. Ugh, there’s more than just one or two things bothering me.]
"Sota, don’t phase through the ceiling."
Sota, whose spirit form was about to drift through the ceiling, floated back down and re-entered his body.
"And that Summoning major representative, Leonard, that bastard."
Sota growled as he settled back into his flesh.
"He’s been acting way too cocky lately. He sticks right next to Aizel and acts like he’s his personal strategist. It’s so obvious he’s gunning for the Vice President seat, and it pisses me off so much I feel like I’m going crazy!"
Sota irritably ruffled his bangs.
"If Aizel passes me over and puts Leonard in the Vice President seat, I might actually lose my mind! What about all the time I’ve dedicated to Aizel over the years? All the effort I put in to cover for that loser? Fuck! Fuck! It can’t end like this!"
His classmate shrugged.
"I think you’re just on edge because it’s exam season. There’s no way Aizel would abandon his best friend. Go to your room and get some rest."
"I wish it was just me being sensitive."
Sota’s smile vanished, his expression hardening.
"But it’s not. Some interesting information reached my ears recently. Aizel and Simon Polentia made contact."
"Huh? Why those two?"
"I don’t know. When I went to check it out myself, I saw them floating in the sky. Then they parted the sea and went inside."
Since Aizel was extremely sensitive to being watched, he always kept surveillance barriers active around himself, meaning even Sota couldn’t get any closer. He had no idea what happened inside. But one thing was certain.
"For Aizel to use such massive magic, it means they must have had an important conversation."
"Hmm."
"And they looked like they were on good terms when they came out of the sea. Does that make any sense? How could those two be on good terms? They’re competing for the presidency! Even from Simon Polentia’s perspective, Aizel is the one trying to steal his seat."
He tapped his forehead.
"If by any chance..."
Sota’s expression turned ice-cold.
"If it’s the situation I’m thinking of..."
Just then, his classmate strode over and shoved Sota’s chest with his right hand, which bore a glowing magic circle.
Sota’s physical body remained in the chair, but his spirit was forcefully shoved out of it. Floating in his spectral form, Sota glared at his friend.
[What the hell was that for?]
"You need some sleep."
Saying so, his classmate hoisted Sota’s physical body over his shoulder.
"Your body is going straight to your bed, so you better follow."
[Hey, wait!]
Sota’s body was carried out of the room just like that.
His body was unceremoniously dumped onto his mattress. Re-entering his physical form, Sota let out a heavy sigh. His classmate simply waved, flicked off the light, and left the room.
Left alone in the dark, Sota lay in silence for a long time, lost in thought.
"...Aizel, you have to become the Student Council President."
Staring blankly at the ceiling, Sota’s expression twisted into a bizarre, obsessive sneer.
"Even if you don’t want to."
---
The grueling final exam season had finally arrived.
It was the last hurdle of the first semester, and once finals were over, vacation awaited. Every student on campus was putting in their final sprint.
The library was packed to the brim, and the campus cafes and empty classrooms were no exception.
The boundary between school uniforms and pajamas blurred. Students with greasy hair and heavy dark circles under their eyes shuffled around campus like zombies.
These final exams were more important than anything else—especially for the second-years, including Simon.
If the theme of the first-year curriculum was survival, and the third-year curriculum was actual combat, the second-year curriculum was acquisition. Since this was the year they absorbed the most raw knowledge at Kizen, the written exams held far more weight than in any other grade.
"Alright, moving on to the next question!"
Simon’s Group 10 had rented an empty classroom to study for their finals and prepare for their group performance evaluation. An energetic Eshe stood at the blackboard, while Simon, Lorraine, and Toto sat at their desks, working together to solve the practice problems.
"Question 20! It’s worth three points! Look at the following diagram and find the correct answer."
The test paper displayed a magic circle, but specific runic words and formulas had been blacked out. The three of them leaned forward in their seats, staring intently at the diagram.
"Look here! If that’s the Rune of Suppression, wouldn’t it be a Skeleton Knight?" Toto suggested.
"But the composition isn’t the main runic word," Lorraine countered.
"You’re right. The Rune of Suppression is a trap. If there’s an alteration formula, it has to be a Ghoul."
Simon caught onto Lorraine’s train of thought and continued.
"Because the alteration formula is the core of the Ghoul corruption mutation. If this is a Ghoul, then it’s Rino’s Golden Line problem."
Scanning the multiple-choice options, he traced a phantom line in the air with his fingertip.
"The Golden Line has to split diagonally to the right. The answer is number three."
"Spot on! As expected of Simon. No objections, right?"
Lorraine and Toto smiled and nodded in agreement.
"We’re on a tight schedule, guys. Moving straight to the next one!"
Checking the timer, Eshe hastily flipped to the next question.
"Question 21! Choose all the undead from the following list that can be combined using ’White Void Crafting’!"
"What was White Void Crafting again?" Lorraine muttered, her face scrunching up in confusion. She was a Necromancer with immensely powerful unique abilities, but she had a glaring weakness when it came to theory.
Eshe quickly chimed in.
"Don’t you remember, Lorraine? ’White Void Processing’! It’s the special crafting method that lets you fuse the bones of two different types of undead!"
Simon also spoke up.
"We even did a group project on it together. We got an A+ for fusing a Scorpion and a Bleto. Sure, we had to pivot to creating an ambush-type undead because it dropped and broke halfway through, but the result was even better."
"Oh, right. I remember now." Lorraine nodded in realization. "I know White Void Processing, but White Void Crafting was an unfamiliar term, so it threw me off."
"So, what’s the answer?"
The group members groaned and fell deep into thought. Eshe, who had the highest written exam scores among them, quickly offered a hint.
"Try eliminating the options one by one."
Simon scanned the list.
"Then the Rain Drake is excluded first. The Rain Drake possesses the Kurokuz’s Factor, so it can’t be combined using the White Void Crafting solution."
"Impressive, President!" Eshe cheered.
But as he spoke, Simon cupped his chin, his expression turning serious.
"Wait, a Rain Drake would be fine too. Should I have bought an Ancient-species Rain Drake? The Rain Drake’s Lightning Breath is strong enough to pierce through atmospheric defensive magic..."
"Presideeeent! What universe are you flying off to? Snap out of it!"
Group 10’s focus was a total mess. Eshe sighed heavily.
"Especially you, President! You need to focus! Isn’t maintaining your position as the top second-year student more important right now than your duel with Aizel?"
"R-Right."
Simon knew better than anyone that he had to focus on finals. But he couldn’t stop his mind from drifting toward the upcoming battle that made his heart pound with excitement.
’I wish it was time for my supplementary lesson already.’
---
Regular classes finally ended, and the long-awaited time for his supplementary lesson arrived.
Simon was practicing controlling the Kurokuz’s Factor.
"Simon was practicing controlling the Kurokuz’s Factor, letting out a strained ’Hngh!’."
He was currently engaged in a training exercise that required him to unfold a magic circle using the Kurokuz’s runic word as the core component, then lift and suspend a large artifact orb off the ground.
Sweat was already trickling down his face. Aaron, sitting calmly on a nearby rock with a pipe clamped between his teeth, spoke up.
"The orb is dropping, Simon. Raise it to chest level."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
Simon gritted his teeth and poured more power into the magic circle.
It felt strange. It was a completely different sensation from controlling a standard magic circle. It felt like he was channeling magic of an entirely different specification—something that shouldn’t even exist in this world. But he had to master it.
Watching him, Aaron puffed on his pipe and closed his eyes.
’This kid has strangely intense focus.’
Having observed and analyzed his student for the past year and a half, Aaron knew Simon well.
There was a stark difference in Simon’s concentration and capabilities depending on whether he was genuinely motivated by the subject matter.
Right now, Simon was undoubtedly obsessed with his upcoming duel against Aizel, not his final exams. If that were the case, it would make sense for his focus to shift toward Curses, Dark Mechanics, and Combat Magic—subjects that would directly aid him in battle—rather than his long-term Bone Dragon project.
That was exactly why Aaron had initially suggested putting the Bone Dragon lessons on hold, offering to teach him Summoning techniques tailored for his fight against Aizel instead.
And yet...
’Why is he working so hard on this?’
At this point, Aaron was starting to feel a sense of foreboding. Simon was entirely unpredictable—a bouncing ball that could ricochet in any direction. Aaron couldn’t afford to let his guard down.
’What are you scheming this time, Simon Polentia?’
"Ugh!"
Simon’s concentration finally broke, and the heavy orb plummeted to the ground. Panting heavily, he grabbed his canteen and greedily gulped down the water.
Aaron tapped out his pipe and stood up.
"Your proficiency in controlling the Kurokuz’s Factor is still lacking."
"I’ll try harder!"
"That is why I brought in an expert on the Kurokuz’s Factor for today’s lesson."
"Excuse me?"
Simon’s eyes sparkled with awe. To think Aaron would go so far as to bring in a guest expert just for his supplementary lesson!
"Come out."
Heavy footsteps approached. When the man emerged from the shadows, an awkward smile formed on Simon’s lips.
’THUD. THUD.’
The person stepping onto the training ground was someone Simon knew all too well.
A massive, mountain-like build, a ferocious scowl, and eyes that blazed with ghostly intensity.
"The man clicking his tongue in annoyance, a sharp ’Tsk’, was none other than Hector Moore."
The man clicking his tongue in annoyance was none other than Hector Moore.
Simon shot a quick glance at Aaron, who simply shrugged.
’W-Well, I guess he isn’t wrong about him being an expert, but...’
The Moore family was famous for their ability to transform into the undead ’Corpse Dragon’. They were the only humans on the continent with the Kurokuz’s Factor implanted in their bodies.
Hector glared down at him.
"Simon Polentia. Why are you trying to study the Kurokuz’s Factor?"
"Ah, well..."
"It’s obvious."
Hector smiled darkly.
"You’re trying to learn Dragon Magic for our decisive battle, aren’t you? You’re quite the schemer. Did you catch wind that I’ve been focusing on learning the Dragon language recently?"
Simon offered a bitter smile.
’I-I mean, I am preparing for a decisive battle, but my opponent isn’t you.’
"Professor Aaron."
Hector shifted his gaze to Aaron.
"Do I really have to hand over my family’s know-how to a competitor trying to defeat me?"
Aaron exhaled a plume of smoke and pulled the pipe from his lips.
"You don’t necessarily have to."
"Then..."
Aaron opened his subspace. Massive bones radiating the Kurokuz’s Factor dropped onto the ground with heavy thuds.
"It’s joint training. Get ready."
---
Simon kept an eye on Hector’s progress while pushing through his own rigorous training.
As expected of the Moore family, the sheer volume of the Kurokuz’s Factor Hector could manipulate was on a completely different level. He effortlessly lifted bones and orbs that were far heavier than the ones Simon struggled with.
The practical combat training that followed was even more astounding. Aaron summoned large skeletons from his subspace, pitting Hector against them.
With a flick of Hector’s wrist, his dragon scales moved seamlessly, making a ’CLACK! CLACK!’ sound.
With a flick of Hector’s wrist, his dragon scales moved seamlessly, then instantly scattered into a barrage of flying projectiles with a ’RATTLE!’.
With a flick of Hector’s wrist, his dragon scales moved seamlessly. They clustered tightly in the air to form a dense shield that blocked an incoming axe, then instantly scattered into a barrage of flying projectiles. They even latched onto the skeletons’ bodies, acting as heavy restraints to seal their movements.
’I see... every single scale contains the Kurokuz’s Factor.’
It really was true that you only saw as much as you understood.
Hector’s techniques, which Simon had previously glossed over without much thought, now appeared in a completely new light.
The scales shifted rapidly.
The true highlight came when the dragon scales seamlessly encased Hector’s right arm, leaving no gaps. Letting out a fierce roar, Hector swung his arm. The limb seemed to elongate and expand, mimicking the massive appendage of a true dragon as it swept the entire area clear in a single, devastating stroke.
"That is also a technique utilizing the Kurokuz’s Factor," Aaron explained to Simon, his hands still expertly controlling the skeletons. "The Moore family possesses the Kurokuz’s Factor within their very flesh. He is executing that technique by simultaneously activating the Kurokuz’s Factor inside his body and within the external scales."
"I see."
The moment the tattered, hole-ridden wings of the Corpse Dragon attached to Hector’s back, his sheer power output completely shifted. A single flap could whip up a violent gale or allow him to effortlessly hover in the air.
A single flap could whip up a violent gale or allow him to effortlessly hover in the air, followed by a ’SMASH!’.
Aaron’s assigned goal for Hector had been to defeat twenty summons using only his scales and wings.
However, Hector didn’t stop there—he utterly decimated all forty summons Aaron had prepared in reserve.
"Training over. Excellent work."
The scales retracted.
Hector’s scales and wings peeled back like a mechanical suit. Dripping with sweat, he stepped out from the draconic armor and wiped his brow with the back of his hand.
He turned his head.
His slit, reptilian pupils locked onto Simon.
"Why are you staring at me like I’m some animal in a zoo?"
A low growl rumbled in his throat, and visible heat radiated from his jaws.
Simon replied calmly, "I’m not. I just thought your technique was amazing."
Hector’s skills had clearly evolved to an entirely different dimension compared to when they had fought at the end of their first year.
"You bastard. It seems you’re even eyeing Dragon Magic now."
Hector’s eyes narrowed to dangerous slits.
"You’re probably thinking of digging into my bag of tricks with that cunning, arrogant talent of yours, but it’s useless. This is a realm completely separate from mere talent."
’I already told you, this has nothing to do with you.’
Simon offered a helpless smile, but Hector, who was unusually talkative today, pressed on.
"A monkey with a talent for swimming is still just a monkey, no matter how well it swims. It will never beat a fish. This is a realm of species and specialization, not talent, Simon Polentia."
"That’s enough chitchat."
Aaron approached, checking his pocket watch.
"We have about thirty minutes left. Prepare for the final training exercise."
Snorting, Hector turned and walked away with a triumphant smirk.
Simon smiled wryly and scratched the side of his head.
’I-I think he’s operating under a very weird misunderstanding.’
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