"And next…"
As most students deliberately avoided Aaron's gaze, one person leaned forward instead.
Meilyn, seated in the front row, stretched her neck as if trying to will herself into his line of sight. She knew she couldn't beat Knox—that much was obvious. But that didn't mean she couldn't defeat the other special entry number one!
More importantly, this was a golden chance to leave an impression on a Kizen professor.
However—
"Hector Moore. Come forward."
Meilyn's lips puffed out in disappointment as she leaned back into her seat.
Hector, on the other hand, slowly rose from his chair.
Moments later, Simon and Hector stood facing each other at the front of the classroom. An assistant placed a skeleton set between them.
"There's a little over ten minutes left before the bell," Aaron said, glancing at his wristwatch.
He then rummaged through his pocket, pulled out a cheap-looking necklace, and hung it around the neck of the skull positioned near the podium.
"Use your skeleton to retrieve this necklace," he continued lazily. "Whoever has it when class ends wins."
"You're not allowed to move from your spot or use any other form of dark magic. Other than that—anything goes."
He raised one finger. "I'll give you one minute. Prepare yourselves."
The classroom erupted into murmurs.
Speculation flew freely—about strategies, outcomes, and who had the upper hand. Knox, Rick, Jamie, Claudia, Cindy, and even Merida—who looked half-asleep as usual—were no exception.
Rick leaned toward Knox. "So," he said quietly, "what do you think? With your experience, you've probably already figured it out, right?"
Four pairs of ears (the four girl's) instantly perked up.
Knox crossed his arms, his expression turning slightly thoughtful—though the familiar smile never left his face.
"Hm. I mean, experience helps," he said lightly. "But it doesn't let you see the future, you know."
Still, he continued. "In terms of experience alone, Hector definitely has the advantage."
Several students nearby nodded instinctively.
Not just them—even students pretending not to care found themselves listening closely. Simon and Hector heard it. Aaron noticed too. Even the assistants subtly tuned in, their eyes forward while their ears betrayed them.
Knox went on. "But experience alone doesn't decide a battle."
His grin widened, a spark of mischief in his eyes.
"In terms of potential," he added, "Simon has the edge."
For a split second, the room froze.
Then—
"Huh?!"
Meilyn's voice slipped out before she could stop herself. Others weren't much better—eyes widening, mouths falling open. It was the kind of reaction you'd expect if someone casually claimed the impossible.
Knox chuckled at the response.
"So yeah," he said cheerfully, "I think Simon's going to win~"
The disbelief lingered.
Knox tilted his head, clearly enjoying it.
"How about a bet?"
Even Aaron blinked.
"A bet?" Rick echoed, voicing what everyone else was thinking.
Knox nodded. "Yup."
He tapped his chin, pretending to think seriously.
"If I lose…"
"…hmm…"
That simple gesture—head tilted, brows knit—was enough to make more than a few girls internally scream cute!
Then Knox snapped his fingers.
"Ah, got it."
"If I lose," he said casually, "I'll release my new novel. The one that's already finished but hasn't been published yet."
"…Only for this class~"
Silence.
Then—
The classroom exploded. Even a few assistants stiffened.
This wasn't coming from some average writer.
If those words had come from an ordinary student—perhaps even an above-average writer—the reaction would have been nothing more than eye rolls and quiet scoffs.
But the one who said it was Knox Aznable. The atmosphere in the classroom instantly changed.
Knox was not merely known as a talented student. He was a genius writer whose works had already left deep impressions far beyond the academy. One of his novels had even been mentioned by Professor Bahil during Katarology class—the infamous Death Note.
A story centered around a cursed notebook capable of killing anyone whose name was written within it.
At first glance, the concept sounded absurd. Childish, even.
Yet curse specialists who studied the novel had nearly torn their hair out in frustration—not because it was flawed, but because it was too brilliant. The idea of a medium that linked a name, intent, and curse into a single, unavoidable execution was groundbreaking. It challenged established curse theories and opened countless new interpretations.
For many, Death Note wasn't just fiction—it was inspiration.
Because of that, the mere revelation that Knox had already completed a new novel was enough to be considered priceless information. If such news spread, people seeking ideas, insights, or leverage would line up long enough to circle Kizen Academy itself. Of course, to some, it was still just another overhyped novel.
And if Knox were to lose the bet?
The students of this summoning class would receive that novel immediately.
Exclusively.
Anyone who obtained it would protect it like treasure. Sharing it would be unthinkable. Before anything else, they would read it, analyze it, and extract whatever insight they could. Even if it didn't directly strengthen them, possessing an unreleased work by Knox Aznable alone was already a tremendous advantage.
That was why—
The classroom had fallen into chaos. Even Aaron's eyes widened.
What Knox had just proposed was more than enough to make everyone in the room impatient for the outcome of the participation session. And because of that outrageous bet, the cheers in the classroom quickly tilted toward Hector.
"Go, Hector!"
"Don't lose!"
Simon broke into a cold sweat.
'Knox… what have you done?!'
He shot a glare at the culprit. But when Simon met Knox's gaze, his frustration melted into confusion. Knox looked utterly relaxed—confident, even amused.
'Why are you so sure about me?'
The thought lingered in Simon's mind. Yet, strangely enough, once he took a deep breath, his heart settled. Instead of pressure, a quiet determination welled up inside him.
If it came down to it, he wanted to give everything he had.
After all—
Simon genuinely loved summoning.
As if responding to the charged atmosphere, Aaron spoke. "Now, get ready."
He extended his arm. Both students lowered their stances.
"Begin."
Simon and Hector knelt before their skeleton sets at the same time.
I can do this!
Simon's eyes gleamed as he picked up the skull.
I can win this class!
Darkness flowed into the magic circle engraved within it. The skull awakened, black light flickering in its eye sockets as it began to clatter softly.
Let's assemble the spine in one go. From number two to seven…
Simon instinctively looked toward the blackboard—
"...!"
The assistant, wearing an apologetic smile, was already taking down the bone structure diagram.
Aaron's voice followed calmly.
"Cheating is not allowed in this challenge."
Simon bit his lip. Hector paused for just a moment as well, surprise flickering across his face, before returning his focus to the skeleton.
Simon steadied himself and picked up a bone. It's fine. The bones should still be numbered. If I start from number one…
But no matter how carefully he examined them, there were no markings.
"What you used earlier were class materials," Aaron said. "The assistants labeled them by hand. Commercial skeleton sets don't come with such conveniences."
His tone remained indifferent. "I told you, didn't I? A necromancer should know this by heart."
It felt as though the sky had collapsed.
Simon glanced sideways.
Hector was already assembling smoothly. Having completed extensive preliminary studies across multiple subjects, he clearly had the Island Ratman's bone structure memorized. His hands never hesitated.
…Don't give up. I've built one before. I should remember the important parts.
Simon located what he believed to be the second cervical vertebra and began assembling carefully, one step at a time.
Aaron crossed his arms, observing.
Special Entry No. 1… handling a skeleton properly for the first time.
He shifted his gaze to Hector.
That one, on the other hand, relies on knowledge and preparation.
There was a reason Aaron had removed the chart and withheld numbered bones. While it naturally favored those who had studied in advance, he wasn't concerned with who won.
What he sought was instinct. Hector… yes. He has talent.
Though his foundation was built on memorization, his ability to avoid fatal mistakes came from something deeper. When faced with ambiguous choices, his hands moved with uncanny certainty.
Meanwhile, Special Entry No. 1…
Simon was already stumbling. With core bones placed in the wrong order, the entire structure lost its balance. He swapped pieces in and out, panic creeping into his movements.
Aaron wasn't fond of excessive pre-studying—but without talent, preparation was the bare minimum.
Aside from Knox… the only one worth keeping might be Hector.
Still—
His gaze flicked briefly toward Knox.
That confidence of his… saying Simon would win.
Aaron couldn't see it. Simon looked like a complete amateur.
Yet, the title Special Entry No. 1 weighed heavily in his mind. That position wasn't granted lightly—it required Nefthis Archbold's personal approval.
Click. Clack.
Before anyone noticed, Hector's skeleton completed both legs and rose to a standing position.
Applause erupted from parts of the classroom. Four students leapt to their feet, chanting Hector's name enthusiastically. Yet their cheers felt oddly out of place.
Unlike them, most of the others weren't cheering for Hector himself—
They were cheering for Knox's unreleased novel.
I'm going to win.
Hector began assembling the arms, casting a sideways glance at Simon.
The guy was still stuck at the torso. Completely frozen. Panic was written all over his face.
Good. Hector's lips curled slightly.
Since I'm going to win anyway, I might as well crush him so thoroughly that he never dares to stand up again.
He finished assembling the right arm. He could have sent the skeleton straight for the necklace—but instead, he deliberately slowed down and completed the left arm as well.
I'll turn him into the class clown. I'll shatter that so-called Special Entry No. 1 pride… and while I'm at it, prove something to the other one too.
In moments, the skeleton was complete. Hector had assembled the entire structure without once glancing at a diagram.
His skeleton began to move. Slightly wobbly at first—but stable. Controlled.
It circled Simon mockingly, then reached up and lifted the necklace from the model, hanging it around its own neck.
Hector raised his muscular right arm high. His skeleton mirrored the gesture.
Laughter burst out from the seats.
"Five minutes remaining."
Aaron's cold voice cut through the noise.
...
Simon was still stuck at the torso.
Was it nerves? Pressure?
The bone order that had been hovering at the edge of his mind vanished completely.
Stay calm. Simon set the bones down.
Whenever he couldn't recall exact sequences or textbook answers, Simon had always relied on something else—his instincts.
But now, knowledge and instinct were colliding inside his head, tangling into a storm that froze his hands.
So he made a decision.
No ordinary person could perfectly memorize the intricate structure of a skeleton from a single class.
Therefore—
He let go of what he had learned.
This time… I'll trust my gut.
Simon swept his arm forward.
Then, he smashed apart the partially assembled skeleton.
Gasps rippled through the classroom.
"Did he give up?"
"No talent and no guts."
"How did someone like him even get Special Entry No. 1?"
Simon ignored it all. He didn't want to leave even a shred of regret behind.
He picked up the skull. Every habit screamed at him to grab the second cervical vertebra next.
"What?"
"He messed up from the start."
"It's over."
Simon clenched his teeth.
Professor Aaron never said the skeleton had to be correct. It only had to move—and retrieve the necklace.
Then I'll simplify it.
Bone twenty as the base. Bone twenty-seven is ideal… but I'll substitute with twenty-nine.
Aaron's eyes widened.
This is—
Simon wasn't building a bipedal Island Ratman.
It was something else entirely. Four limbs on the ground. Torso lowered.
A quadrupedal structure.
Absurd… and yet...
Meanwhile—
"Heh."
A quiet laugh escaped Knox. Claudia turned toward him, tilting her head.
"Knox? Why are you laughing? Simon just destroyed his own skeleton and turned it into… that."
Knox smiled. "Because what he's making closely resembles a Gray Rat."
She blinked. "The giant rat monster from the western continent?"
"Yep," Knox nodded. "Same biological category. The Gray Rat is believed to be an earlier evolutionary form of the Island Ratman."
Aaron's gaze sharpened. He's reconstructing a pre-evolutionary state…?
Of course, biologically speaking, it wasn't accurate. Internals, traits—everything differed.
But this wasn't biology. It was undead summoning.
Tailbone forty-nine connected to the thorax… plausible. Bone eleven and sixteen… compatible?
Aaron felt a chill run down his spine.
Simon wasn't applying knowledge. He was feeling it.
By Aaron's standards, it was a wrong answer. A failure.
And yet—
He felt as though he were standing before a vast, unfamiliar ocean.
So this is what Knox meant…
Meanwhile, Hector sensed it too.
Something was wrong.
Simon's creation was grotesque—something that could never be called an Island Ratman.
But it was undeniably becoming something.
"Well done, Simon!" Cindy suddenly stood up.
"I don't know what it is, but just finish it!" Rick was on his feet too, shouting encouragement.
Even Meilyn had half-risen from her seat.
Hector bit down hard.
I'm the one who completed a skeleton.
I did it faster.
I'm the protagonist.
So why—
Why was no one looking at him?
Just like the first class.
Am I going to lose again?
His gaze hardened.
I won't let that happen!
Hector issued a command. His skeleton charged forward.
Simon didn't notice.
"Watch out!"
"Simon!"
Wham!
The kick landed.
Simon's skeleton shattered from the torso down, bones scattering through the air.
Students screamed.
I win. Simon Polentia. Hector smiled.
But—
…Why?
Simon was smiling. Calmly.
He stretched out his right arm. Time slowed.
Among the flying bones, a single arm spun through the air—
It seized the necklace from Hector's skeleton mid-motion, then dropped lifelessly to the floor.
Silence.
Ding—!
The bell rang.
...
No one spoke.
Even Aaron stared blankly at the fallen arm.
"That's not fair!" Hector shouted. "It's not even a skeleton—just a bone fragment!"
"Pfft."
A soft laugh.
Knox.
Then another.
"Heh"
Simon.
"It looks like a skeleton to me." Said Simon.
Whirr!
The arm flew back, slamming into the torso.
Clack. Snap. Click.
Bones reassembled themselves one by one. The skeleton rose. Holding the necklace.
It walked to Simon—and gently placed it around his neck.
Simon grinned.
"That settles it, right?"
The classroom exploded in cheers.
And this time—
They weren't cheering for Knox's novel.