Necromancer Academy and the Genius Summoner

Chapter 670: Episode 670

"A hidden secret?" Simon tilted his head.

Count Boldmont’s eyes gleamed as he leaned toward Simon. "That’s right. So why don’t you join me?"

It was a sudden offer of an alliance.

"I’ve been receiving reports on your every move," the Count continued. "Not only your impressive feats at Kizen, but you also became the disciple of Grand Duke Jin, who never forms personal relationships. You even blocked an arrow she fired! The same kind of arrow that took down the ’First’ of the Three Brothers in a single blow!"

The Count held out his palm. "Your strength would be a great help. Work with me!"

He was only praising Simon, but he had not revealed his own hand yet. Seeing Simon’s rather lukewarm reaction, the Count chuckled.

"Alright, fine. This is truly top-secret information." His expression turned serious as he clasped his hands. "Resources! There are enormous underground resources buried in the North, specifically near the Frost Field! Just from what I’ve identified so far, there are eleven manastone mines and two sapphire mines!"

He spread his arms wide. "Can you imagine? You and me. Our entire families could live in abundance for generations without earning another coin! The barbaric Northerners don’t know their value! Even when I explain it, they’re indifferent! They ask how it would help them in their life of struggle. Fools who only know how to fight! If they just picked up some of the gems lying around here and sold them, they could build a magnificent mansion in the warm, peaceful south where they’d never have to see a monster again!"

He clapped his hands together with a sharp smack.

"Let’s do it! Ten percent!" he declared, pointing at Simon’s chest. "I’ll give you ten percent of all profits! Let’s turn the world upside down together! Let’s kick the asses of those high-and-mighty nobles who laugh at us and...!"

"Wait a minute," Simon said, holding up a hand. The excited Count stopped talking and blinked.

"You don’t like the terms? Then fifteen percent?"

"No, no. Your entire premise is flawed," Simon said with an internal sigh. "The North is the Grand Duke’s land. How do you plan on taking the mines?"

"To be precise, only the North ’excluding’ the Frost Field is the Grand Duke’s land. And you don’t need to worry about that part at all. I have a flawless plan! The Northerners don’t know the value of underground resources, so it’ll be a piece of cake to take ownership of the mines by tweaking the contracts a little."

’He’s already thinking about contracts,’ Simon thought, smiling bitterly. "We’ve only just gotten rid of the Three Brothers. Isn’t this a bit premature?"

"Is it, really?" Count Boldmont countered with a meaningful expression. "Without the Three Brothers, the Northern God is nothing. It’s only fearsome because it controls a vast number of undead; its main body has no combat ability! It can never stop the Grand Duke. This fight is as good as over."

He pointed at Simon again with his fingertip. "The important thing is that while everyone else is focused on eliminating the Northern God, we broaden our perspective and think about what comes after!"

Simon closed his eyes. The Count was still hiding his most important cards, just beating around the bush. He was young, but he was no fool. With an opponent like this...

"Are you asking me to betray the Grand Duke once the war is over?" Simon asked, deciding it was better to drop the pretense and get to the heart of the matter.

For a fleeting moment, Simon saw the tip of the Count’s finger tremble slightly, but his smile remained fixed.

"It’s not betrayal," he said smoothly. "It’s about handling things effectively for everyone’s sake. It’s all for the good of the North." He replied confidently, pointing to his own chest. "I never said I’d hog all the resource profits for myself. Once the war with the Northern God is over, the North will have to face change whether it likes it or not. They won’t need the pride of a protector, or courage, or fighting skills anymore. I will lift the Northerners beyond mere subsistence and let them live as proper people, enjoying what they deserve."

He tapped his chin. "Of course, it’s true that the new North won’t need an absurd, out-of-spec monster like Grand Duke Jin. Hmm, it would be nice if she volunteered to go to the Holy Federation front or somewhere."

Simon sensed many things from their conversation: a love-hate relationship with the North, where he had lived for over a decade; an inferiority complex toward the Grand Duke, with her absolute strength and charisma; and above all...

"You," Simon said, staring steadily at the Count. "You reject the culture of the North."

The duality of feeling both love and hate for the North, yet rejecting its culture entirely.

"That’s right," Count Boldmont admitted freely, raising his hands.

"Have you ever tried to earn the respect of the Northerners?"

"I see no need to receive the respect of barbarians," the Count’s voice sharpened, his relaxed demeanor vanishing. "I’ve been building a railroad connecting the North and the South! I’ve been trading with merchant guilds to provide a steady supply of food! I’ve supplied necessary goods without shortage and tried to introduce various cultures. I’m doing my part for the North, too! But the residents just insult and mock me as a snob who only cares about money and crunching numbers!"

The Count’s face flushed red. "Ten years! I came to the North when I was nine and have lived here for a whole decade, but those people still call me an ’outsider’ or a ’southerner’! I’ve lived in the North longer than I ever lived in the South! These are people who would have all starved to death in the winter if it weren’t for me!"

He slammed his hand on the armrest with a bang.

"Why! Why are people who don’t fight treated like trash here? Everyone is just good at different things! I...!"

He bit his lip hard, a strong will not to say what came next evident in his eyes. Soon, as if his emotions had calmed, he let out a breath.

"Sorry, friend. I showed you an unsightly side of me."

"It’s alright." As a fellow outsider, Simon understood his feelings. He, too, had been picked on by warriors from his first day in the North and had faced retaliation on the second. Of course, Simon had the power to deal with it, but what about ordinary people?

’And...’ Simon recalled the servants he had seen in the mansion. One could think they were simply hired for the Count’s convenience, but he had noticed chain marks on their wrists and necks. They were likely criminals who had fled to the North, people who could not adapt because they were not strong.

Count Boldmont was taking in the outsiders who could not become Northerners.

The Grand Duke had her justice. The Count had his. Which one to choose?

"Simon," Count Boldmont said, pointing at him with his index and middle fingers. "Twenty percent of all mine profits. Honestly, my finances will be tight even with the reconstruction of the North, but this is the most I can offer as a sign of my sincerity."

"Uh..."

"I don’t know how long you’ll be staying here before returning to Kizen, but being a necromancer costs a lot of money, doesn’t it?" The corners of his mouth lifted. "By the time you return, you’ll be the richest person at Kizen! Ah, of course, I’m not asking for an answer right away. Take your time to think about it..."

"No, I’ll tell you right now," Simon said, standing up and grabbing his coat.

---

Simon left. Count Boldmont stood with his hands behind his back, quietly looking out the window.

’—I’m sorry, but I’ll have to pretend I never heard that offer.’

That was Simon’s answer. The Count smiled bitterly as he watched Simon return to the Grand Duke’s castle alone.

’Knock, knock, knock.’

"My Lord."

"Come in."

The elderly head butler entered. "Student Council President Simon..."

"Unfortunately, it seems we won’t be able to bring him to our side," Count Boldmont said, turning around. "We have no choice now. Continue with the plan as is."

The head butler bowed deeply. "Yes, my lord. I will follow your orders."

---

The next morning, Simon reported to the Grand Duke’s castle again. The warriors on the streets and around the castle were working just fine, despite having drunk so much the day before. The traces of the duels had been neatly cleaned up, and the injured were up and about with a few bandages, nonchalantly preparing for the next battle.

’The final battle with the Northern God is just around the corner.’

As a Legion Commander, Simon also needed to grow even stronger. Renewing his resolve, he knocked on the office door.

’Knock, knock, knock.’

"Grand Duke, it’s Simon."

’Thump!’

’Clatter, clatter, clatter!’

A loud noise came from inside the office, followed by the sound of someone scurrying around. A little surprised, Simon knocked again.

"Is something wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong! Do not enter yet!"

A moment later, Simon entered. The room was neatly organized. A woman with black hair sat in a chair, her back to him.

"You’re in your uniform today, not your training clothes?" Simon asked, sitting on the guest sofa.

"One cannot train all the time," she said, still facing away. Simon saw the top of her training uniform peeking out of a drawer.

"Did you sleep well last night?"

Simon made small talk as usual, but for some reason, the Grand Duke’s responses were not the same. She gave one-word answers or replied after a slight delay. Most of all, since he had entered, she had not once turned to look at him.

A bead of sweat trickled down Simon’s face. ’D-Did I do something wrong?’

Perhaps something had happened last night when he took her to her bedroom. He might have said or done something she found unpleasant. But if it was not that...

"Um," Simon began, looking directly at her back. "I met with Count Boldmont yesterday."

Many warriors had seen him talking to the Count’s servant, and he had disappeared from the banquet hall right after. They would have surely guessed he went to meet the Count. The relationship between the Grand Duke and Count Boldmont could not be good, so rumors were inevitable. It might be better to just reveal the truth.

"I see," she said, still not turning around.

"He knew my name and status, so I wanted to confirm it."

"Right." The Grand Duke shrugged. "It’s obvious. He must have offered you some kind of deal." Her tone suggested she had a good idea of what happened. Simon nodded.

"Whatever was discussed in there, whether you accepted the deal or not, it matters not to me," the Grand Duke said, standing from her seat. "Are we not also in a transactional relationship, using each other? I teach you, and you cooperate with me. That is all. It is no problem if you make another deal with someone else."

Simon smiled faintly. She turned and walked toward the door.

"Come. The day of the final battle is upon us. Today, we will focus on practical training."

"Yes!"

But as he followed her out, the Grand Duke never once looked back at him. Simon scratched the side of his head.

Meanwhile...

’This is difficult,’ the Grand Duke thought, wiping a hand over her forehead. ’I just need to ask. Why am I dragging this out so much? It’s not like me.’

She glanced toward Simon. When their eyes were about to meet, she quickly turned away and stared straight ahead. Since that day, she had not been able to look him in the eye. That other face kept superimposing itself on his.

’The resemblance is truly uncanny.’