Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: 5. Welcome to the Summoner's Academy. (1)
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# 36
If you ask anyone about the strongest power on the current continent, everyone will give the same answer: the Karan Empire.
After the Great War, all empires, kingdoms, and alliances that could rival the Karan Empire vanished. With two duchies possessing the military might of an entire kingdom, the Karan Empire stands as the unchallenged hegemon of the continent, undeniable by anyone.
Near the imperial capital of this mighty empire lie four academies steeped in tradition and history, tasked with shaping the empire's future.
Arsia Academy, hailed as the top academy today, specializes in swordsmanship.
Over half—no, nearly all—of the empire's knight order graduates from Arsia. It's where the talents of countless prestigious martial families gather. The saying goes that anyone dreaming of becoming the continent's greatest swordsman must choose between Arsia and the Keshar family. With both of the empire's grand dukes being Arsia alumni, its prestige shines even brighter.
Trailing close behind, vying for Arsia's top spot, is Marsis Magic Academy.
What sets it apart from the others is that more instructors come from the Magic Tower than from formal hires.
Many share master-disciple bonds or senior-junior relationships forged long ago in the Magic Tower. Even after graduation, the empire and the Magic Tower compete fiercely to secure top talents. It's a place that produces exceptional sorcerers, wizards, and magic engineers year after year.
Third is Mercaria Academy, practically the gateway for commoners.
It trains imperial bureaucrats, with tuition far cheaper than the others. Graduates are guaranteed jobs, so countless commoners strive to enter. The downside? It finishes dead last in athletics festivals and cultural events.
But as influential figures from Mercaria rise to key positions in the empire, its status has climbed significantly.
And finally, Yuglasia Academy.
Once it competed with Arsia and Marsis for the top spot among the Empire's Four Great Prestigious Academies as the summoners' school. Now, it's fallen to the bottom, even behind Mercaria. It shares similarities with both Arsia and Marsis depending on the summoned being, making it an ambiguous place.
The reason is simple.
The sheer diversity of summoned beings.
The realm of summons is vast: from spirits and familiars to weapons and armor, angels and demons, and ultimately even gods from other worlds!
But summons are contracts with other-dimensional beings, often limited in power, so they're mostly used as support.
Weapon and armor types—commonly called armament summons—are prime examples. They provide fitting gear for any situation, favored by soldiers. But beyond that, they offer nothing else.
In other words, they're only useful if the user's physical abilities are top-notch!
Those who contract them might as well join Arsia to hone knightly skills and wield weapons properly—there's no gain in learning at Yuglasia. So most armament summoners head to Arsia.
The same goes for combat-capable summons.
If the summon is powerful, it's better to go to Marsis and learn supportive magic.
Thus, the most influential summoners today are either powerful knights with summons or powerful wizards with them!
True pure summoners do exist, but only freaks who can dominate battlefields by commanding divine or mythic demons—and contracting those is a miracle.
As a result, versatile talents flock elsewhere, leaving Yuglasia with the jacks-of-all-trades, masters of none. So what happens?
"We haven't heard it's at risk of closure."
"My apologies."
-Owner, owner! What'd you ride in on? Closure right after arriving? Like starting a job and the company shuts down immediately!
-Shut it.
The old man who looks twenty years my senior bows apologetically, and I feel a twinge of guilt.
Mentally, I'm far older, but in a fantasy world, looks are everything.
If you look old, you're old!
"For you to drag your frail body here to our academy, only for me to greet you with this news—I'm truly sorry."
-... Owner hurts?
-It's the concept.
-Whoa, a concept? Owner's going frail scholar? That's for delicate beauties! A middle-aged guy like you pulling frail... kinda fresh?
Niservin Ain.
A legendary figure acknowledged by the Continental Summoners' Association for his papers and honorary research fellow status, living in seclusion in the elven forest due to his congenital frailty.
-That's the owner?
-Yep!
No need to hide it—that's my other identity!
Honestly, if I'd stuck to this instead of the Evil Organization gig, I'd be living comfortably now. But the info I knew as a kid was limited.
Simple myths from a quick wiki search back home were top-tier secrets here!
In summoning, knowing your summon is crucial.
Would Poseidon show up if you lit a fire for the contract? Or the God of Light in a pitch-black room?
But I know what most summons like and hate!
Weirdly, this world's summons are mostly monsters, heroes, gods, and demons from old myths and legends!
So I jotted down common knowledge and novel trivia, and boom—legendary summon researcher!
Getting that honorary professor appointment? Utter despair!
Born into wealth with this knowledge, I'd be lounging at the Summoners' Association now!
-Organization's gone bust anyway. Why not live it up?
-Someone of that stature would get summoned to the palace eventually.
-Same as now?
-During term, professors stay at the academy no matter what, barring emergencies.
That's why I went with the "dark under the lamp" strategy.
The imperial princess is the palace's top priority.
She only left the capital once, during the Great War—first and last.
That lazy princess rarely steps outside the palace anyway.
The palace is huge.
-Summer break, they'll call then?
-I'll say I'm ill and head to the elven forest for a bit.
-Actually going to the elven forest? I wanna see elves! Heard there're tons of cuties!
-Lots of crazies too!
-Heh heh, owner's crazy elves are mostly cuties! Makes me wanna go more!
Seriously. The elves I know? One like the ero-elf from hentai who'd pity orcs, and the high elf who—despite being a plant dweller—chopped off world tree branches for express delivery when I asked if any were left in storage.
"The academy's current state is as follows."
"I see."
The dean, looking like a deflated Gomez Addams, wipes his teary eyes at the end and gazes at me with hope.
"That's why we've decided to accept Professor Niservin's conditions to change the academy, whatever it takes."
"A tough call."
I didn't catch every detail, but the gist is simple.
Summoning thrives on empathy with the summon to draw out its power.
But if you're strong, everything's fine!
Like me, who devoted life to swordsmanship yet struggles against a scrub using sword aura—pure summoners who study endlessly can still lose if outclassed personally. If they beat the enemy summoner and summon outright, pure summoning's pointless.
It means treating yourself as the main force, summons as support.
And self-training beats pure summoning for quick gains, so spineless modern kids prioritize personal growth.
The results show at the Imperial Tournament.
"Armament summoners lost purely in close combat to Arsia. Spirit and familiar summoners' magic fell to Marsis students. Plus, many high nobles among them had summons..."
The dean trails off, mumbling.
Yeah, I get it. Yuglasia teaches about summons, their use, and bonding.
But without geniuses like the princess or my disciples, it takes ages to see results.
Ancient summons—centuries or millennia old—don't bond easily with kids half their "age."
In practical combat like the Imperial Tournament, summon-only students can't beat sword or magic trainees.
If opponents use summons too? Even without summoning ties, calling one and smashing with sword wins—and looks stronger.
Parents watching send kids elsewhere, talent or not.
I'd do the same. No way I'd send mine here, the shameless lot.
"Can't you stop that?"
"No choice. High nobles treat child contracts—even low-grade—as tradition. And we do teach swordsmanship and magic."
Summons stick with their contractor till death.
Hence, many contract low spirits young for protection.
We prioritize summoning but can't win without sword or magic.
-So what now? Freedom then bust? Pass!
Me scrambling post-arrival? Pass!
"No aid from the Summoners' Association?"
"It's tight with the Magic Tower—closer to Marsis than us."
"No answers, then."
"My apologies."
-Owner, he's an elder! Stop making him bow! If they learn my owner's such a bad guy... Huh? Bad guy? Kinda hot.
-Can you shut up for one minute? You talk nonstop. Doesn't that mouth tire?
Reciting familiar lyrics, I summed up the situation.
Fail at next Imperial Tournament, and it's closure or merger.
Last ten years: dead last in tournaments, fourth in culture fests.
Student council, led by current president, has stars but no successors.
No change, no incoming talent. Must fix to survive.
-Got a way?
-Yeah.
-What? How to revive this fly-infested dump?
-Bring hell.
-Hell? Summon demons again?
Demons? Sure, strong. But Yuglasia needs summoners.
Specifically, student desperation. And one hell breeds that.
-I'll bring entrance exam hell here.
This world's kids—students—study less, play more.
Sure, strict home tutoring young.
But still!
Academy life is too cushy!
Time to show these sheltered pups the might of Hell Korea.