Chapter 11


    The one assigned this time was Hector. Meilyn slouched, pouting her lips in disappointment, and Hector slowly stood from his seat.


    Just like in the first ss, Simon and Hector stood up, facing each other. The assistant ced the skeleton sets in front of them.


    We have about 10 minutes left until the bell rings.


    Said Aaron while looking at his watch. He then searched his pockets, pulled out a cheap-looking ne, and hung it around the neck of the skeleton model standing in front of the lecture table.


    Use the skeleton to get this ne. Whoever has the ne at the end of ss wins. I forbid you to move on your own or use other dark magic, but everything else is permitted. Then, get ready.


    Aaron stretched out his arm. The two lowered their posture.


    Begin.


    Simon and Hector knelt in front of the skeleton set simultaneously.


    I can do it!


    Simons eyes lit up and he pulled out the skull.


    I can win in this ss!


    Simon awakened the undead by flowing the jet ck into the magic circle inside the skull.


    The skulls eye socket shimmered in ck light, making a popping sound as if it was alive.


    Ill assemble the spine at once. From No.2 to No.7


    Simon raised his head and looked at the ckboard. However,


    The assistant was tearing off the picture of the bone structure that had been pasted on the ckboard with an apologetic face.


    Aaron said,


    Cheating isnt allowed in this match.


    Simon bit his lips. Hectors eyes shook a little like he was flustered, but he quickly turned his head to the skeleton set.


    Simon also started selecting bones, pulling himself together.


    Still, bones have numbers on it. I just have to assemble it step by step in order, starting from No.1!


    However,


    No matter how much he looked at the bones, no numbers were written on its surface.


    The ones you used earlier are sets used for ss. The assistants took the trouble to write the numbers one by one. No bone numbers are kindly written on a set of skeletons on the market.


    Aarons calm voice echoed.


    Im sure I said it. If youre a Necromancer, you should know everything.


    It was like a sky was falling on Simon.


    Simon nced at Hectors side.


    Hector, who had alreadypleted studying in advance for all subjects, was smoothly assembling the Ind Rat Man like he had memorized the order and structure of the bones of it.


    Dont give up. Ive alsopleted it once, so the important bone sequences would be in my head.


    Simon also found the No.2 neck bone and began to assemble it little by little. Aaron crossed his arms and observed him.


    Its the first time No.1 Special Admission touched a skeleton, huh?


    He turned his head and looked at Hector.


    On the other hand, that big guy memorized the order and structure. Hes relying on knowledge and memory to assemble it.


    Aaron had his own reasons for not showing the bone structure and numbers that were the first ss.


    Of course, in this case, the one who studied in advance would have an overwhelming advantage. But Aaron''s concern wasnt about whod win the match.


    His goal was to find a student who has a ir for Summoning.


    Is he Hector? He has some talent.


    Although knowledge from studying in advance became the basis, it was his intuition to avoid making mistakes at crucial moments. When two options were conflicting, he was able to choose the correct option with very high probability.


    On the other hand, the No.1 special admission


    He was at a loss from the get-go. The order of important bones was wrong, and the overall assembly bnce was shaking.


    Seeing him swapping the bones randomly It seemed that he was having a meltdown.


    He wasnt really in favor of studying in advance, but you had to prepare well if your skills were poor.


    I guess the only student thats worth scooping in this ss is Hector.


    Click. Click.


    Hectors skeleton stood up, straight, since both its legs were alreadypleted.


    There was apuse everywhere. In particr, the four people who offered to join the faction stood up and chanted Hectors name.


    Ill win.


    Hector began assembling the arms and nced at Simon.


    Simon was stuck since the assembling of the torso. He looked like he waspletely panicking.


    And now that Im winning, Ill trample you so thoroughly that you wont get up again.


    Hector finished assembling the right arm. He could go and grab the ne, but while he was at it, he even started assembling the left arm in order to keep face.


    I need to turn him into a joke in this ss. I need to break the confidence of being a special admission and drop it to the bottom.


    In the blink of an eye, he finished the left arm too.


    Hectorpleted a skeleton without even looking at the diagram.


    Hectors skeleton began to move. It was a little unstable, but it was definitely taking steps forward.


    The skeleton that had been circling around Simon, as if provoking him, had picked up the ne hanging from the model and hung it around its neck.


    Hector raised his muscr right arm. At the same time, he showed a performance where his skeleton also raised his right arm up too. Students sitting in their seats burst intoughter.


    Five minutes left.


    Aarons cold voice was heard.


    Simon was still at a loss assembling the body.


    Whether it was because he was nervous or conscious of his opponent, the sequence of bones that he seemed to remember had disappeared from his mind.


    Calm down.


    Simon put down the bones he was holding in his hands.


    Simon used his instinct or intuition to guess when he couldnt recall the sequence or numbers of bones he had learned in ss.


    As a result, knowledge and intuition collided and tangled in his head.


    So Simon decided to give up.


    Unless my memory is at the level of a genius, its impossible to memorize all the detailed sequences of bones in one lesson.


    Therefore, Ill give up the knowledge I learned in ss.


    This time, Ill just assemble with my intuition. Make it just the way I want it.


    * * *


    * * *


    Simon hit the skeleton that was being assembled with his arm and broke it. Surprised voices could be heard from the room.


    Did he give up?


    No skills, no guts


    How is he No.1 special admission?


    Simon didnt pay attention to those sounds. He didnt want to leave a single trace of regret until the very end within the given time.


    He lifted the No.1 skull. The sense and habit formed in that short time was unwittingly shouting to grab the No.2 Neckbone.


    Make it just the way I want it!


    Simon ignored this and connected the No.5, 7, and 10 to the skull one after another.


    Uh, isnt that wrong from the start?


    Its over.


    Simon clenched his teeth.


    There was no reason to necessarilye up with a correct answer. Professor Aarons instruction was that you just had to raise the skeleton and get the ne, whatever the method was.


    Theres not enough time. Ill discard difficult structures and simplify them.


    Make the forelegs, centering on No.20


    I cant remove No.27 since its the key point. Instead, Ill take No.29.


    Aaron, who was silently watching Simons work, widened his eyes.


    This is!


    What Simon was making wasnt an upright Ind Rat Man.


    But a form of a four-legged beast with both legs and arms on the floor.


    Nonsense. Its absurd, but!


    There was no doubt. It has a simr bone structure to therge rat monster Gray Rat that was said to be found inrge cities in the western part of the continent.


    In fact, it fell within the same biological category and was known as the predecessor of the Ind Rat Men.


    Hes recreating the rat mans appearance before evolution by assembling the bones differently?


    Of course, the anatomical features, ecology, and internal organs werepletely different, so it was impossible to create the same Gray Rat.


    However, what he was making now was an undead, something which worked without needing to follow the rules of living things. It was possible to make bones move with dark magic, whether they fit well or not.


    He attached the No.49 tailbone to the chest. That makes sense.


    How does he know that No.11 and No.16 arepatible?


    Hes not acquainted with concepts and knowledge, but with natural insight?


    What was being made in front of him right now was a defective product thats infinitely far from the correct answer that Aaron wanted.


    Yet,


    Aaron was feeling a shudder as vast as a sea.


    Somethings strange.


    On the other hand, Hector also felt that something strange was going on with Simon.


    With its arms and legs on the floor and its upper body lowered, Simon''s work was a bizarre skeleton that couldnt be called an Ind rat man.


    But he was certain that something was being built.


    Way to go Simon!


    Cindy Vivace suddenly stood up in the silent ssroom and raised her arm.


    The shape isplete! I dont know what that is, but justplete it!


    Rick also got up from his seat and shouted without even realising it.


    The other students looked at Simon''s work with tense expressions. Even Meilyn, the top of ss A, was almost standing.


    Hector bit his lip.


    Im the one who finished the product. I even did it in the shortest time without looking at the diagram.


    Im the main character here.


    But why isnt everyone looking at me?


    Hector became nervous.


    Just like in the first ss.


    You think Ill just sit by and let this happen?!


    Hector ordered the skeleton. Aaron said that it was forbidden to move directly or use other dark magic, but other actions were allowed.


    Hectors skeleton started dashing towards Simon, who was concentrating on assembling and didnt notice it. A loud shout like, Dodge! broke loose.


    m!


    Finally.


    Hectors skeleton kicked and smashed Simons skeleton.


    It crumbled down, starting from the torso, and bones scattered in the sky. The students covered their mouths and jumped up from their seats.


    I won, Simon Polentia!


    Hector smiled triumphantly while sweating profusely.


    However,


    Why?


    Simon was stretching his right arm with a smile on his face, as if he knew Hector would do that.


    Something was wrong.


    Time seemed to slow down endlessly and Hectors eyes moved in the direction Simons right arm was pointing.


    Among the bones that flew from the kick just now, you could see an arm bone flying in an arc.


    It flew next to Hectors skeleton and performed a single simple, yet very precise movement.


    Rustle.


    The arm grabbed the ne the skeleton was wearing and took it off. Then, it fell to the floor like it had lost its strength.


    Everyones jaws dropped.


    And at the same time


    Ring!


    A clear bell rang to signal the end of ss.


    There was a deep silence in the ssroom. No one could open their mouths.


    Even Aaron nkly stared at the arm of the skeleton grabbing the ne that had fallen to the floor.


    T-This is a mistake!


    Desperately shouted Hector.


    Professor Aaron! You said to get the ne with a skeleton! Thats not a skeleton or anything. Its just a meaningless piece of bone!


    Pft.


    Smallughter could be heard.


    Everyones eyes turned to where theughter was heard.


    Simon, sitting on the floor sweating buckets, raised his head and looked straight at Hector.


    I think youre wrong.


    Whish!


    The arm bone holding the ne flew away as if pulled by a ma and collided with the copsed body.


    Click!


    ck!


    Click!


    Bone fragments lying on the floor began to stick to the body of the skeleton that had been lying down. The skeleton staggered and stood up, perfectly reconstructing the appearance before it was smashed.


    Hectors eyes trembled in disbelief.


    The skeleton grabbed the ne and approached Simon. Then, he stood up on his two legs and hung the ne around Simons neck.


    Staring at Hectors sour face, Simon smiled.


    Are you satisfied now?


    It didnt matter who started it.


    A fierce cheer broke loose in the lecture room.