SMMA 79

Chapter 79

But for a trap, the bony hand’s posture was excessively polite.

As Ihan stepped closer, the bony hand trembled intensely and rolled backward onto the ground, as if trying to prove it harbored no hostility.

“…?”

Just as Ihan began to feel confused, Professor Mortum spoke.

“Ahem. While the undead summon’s grand and magnificent appearance might deceive you, the truth is that undead summoning is never an easy task.”

Magicians who designed summoning spells for inanimate objects often struggled with similar doubts.

Must we summon only inanimate objects? Can’t we just summon beings with their own consciousness?

Even conjuring a magic sword required thorough planning: its attributes, how it acts autonomously—all had to be prearranged.

At higher levels, it demanded something akin to artificial intelligence autonomy, so one could imagine how painful it was for summoning scholars.

Why must we design everything from scratch?

Why not summon a conscious being from the start?

Of course, the downside of summoning conscious beings was clear—possibility of disobedience.

Undead monsters generally disobeyed more than others.

Their nature was the polar opposite from summoners—most summoners were living, undead were all dead.

It was natural that companionship was difficult.

Black mages employed various methods to bond with undead—living among tombs, smearing decayed substances on themselves, hanging necklaces of bones and flesh.

These actions weren’t perversions of black mages but pitiable efforts shielding life’s vitality to approach the undead.

“……”

“……”

The students listening blanched to an undead’s pallor, but Mortum noticed nothing.

“Ahem. So first, befriend the bony hand by any means.”

“If you bond with a bony hand, you might eventually befriend more powerful undead monsters.”

Spending time close to undead infused their spiritual energy.

So associating with the lowest-tier undead like bony hands could eventually allow handling stronger undead.

“Professor.”

“?”

Ihan, who had waited silently, finally raised his hand to speak.

“Are there any timid undead?”

“??”

Most undead monsters lacked fear, naturally being lifeless.

Mortum, hearing this, chuckled dismissively—

But then froze, surprised by the trembling bony hand before Ihan.

“?!”

He looked at the bony hand he summoned with a bewildered gaze.

What was it doing, trembling before a student instead of obeying?

The bony hand lowered its head apologetically before Mortum.

Can’t it approach faster?

Despite Mortum’s commands, the bony hand faltered, trembling and reluctant to approach Ihan.

Mortum wondered if there might be something wrong with his potion.

Slap! Slap!

Another bony hand gleefully smacked the approaching Gainanado’s cheek. The others were perfectly fine.

Does the skeletal summon’s presence make bony hands feel familiar? No… then why the fear?

Only one conclusion remained.

Mortum inwardly reeled.

Could it be…?

“Ahem. Try summoning it yourself.”

“Is that okay?”

“Yes. Black magic, unlike summoning magic, offers practical experience. Summoning magic would keep you studying theoretically for a year.”

“……”

Mortum threw a bone shard onto the ground and traced a magic circle.

Ihan gripped his staff and concentrated. He could hardly feel worry, given Mortum’s confidence.

Seems like he’s pulling the curriculum ahead to show black magic’s superiority…

Luckily, even if a bony hand lunged, Ihan could suppress it.

He chanted:

“Appear, bony hand!”

Throwing the bone shard and sweeping his staff, the mana-infused piece slowly transformed into a bony hand.

This was not one of the tightly controlled skeletal summons Mortum had previously summoned.

Ihan’s summon was new.

Though summoning spells acted like chains controlling the undead’s will, novices lacked the skill to manage these bonds well.

Mortum watched the bony hand closely.

If it broke free and attacked Ihan, he planned to recall it immediately.

Roll, roll, roll—

Ihan’s newly summoned bony hand showed fiercer obedience than the skeletal summons Mortum controlled.

The skeletal summon hanging from his belt shuddered, envious.

“Your mana is too great.”

The true Mortum explained calmly.

In hindsight, signs had appeared since the class on curses.

He had not expected undead monsters to be so scared and obedient.

Ihan asked seriously as if diagnosed with an incurable disease:

“I see. Professor, is there a way to fix this?”

“Ahem. Why fix it? It’s a blessed talent.”

“??”

Ihan was shocked.

Well…

Magic was difficult and spirits fled because of it, wasn’t it?

“Ahem. With such talent, no need to befriend undead. Overwhelm them with power. What a gift.”

Black mages didn’t roll in graves because they enjoyed it—

They needed to get close to undead somehow.

But if not necessary?

According to Mortum, making undead submit was superior control to befriending them, albeit more difficult.

“But Professor, while undead can be summoned and subdued, spirits don’t work that way.”

“They won’t respond to summons without being befriended first. Scaring them is useless.”

Mortum kindly answered:

“Ahem. There is a good method.”

“What is it?”

“Give up on summoning spirits.”

“……”

Ihan chuckled under the table. He clenched his fist discreetly.

Mortum was earnest.

“Ahem. Why chew grass with such sharp teeth and claws? You are best suited for black magic. I don’t often say this, but… you have a genius talent for black magic.”

“Ah, I see.”

“?!”

Ihan’s calm reply startled Mortum.

It was a truly rare compliment, yet the student showed no excitement.

Maybe it was the Wadanaz bloodline.

I’m too old for professors’ praise now.

Professors praised when necessary—especially unpopular fields—to protect themselves.

Falling for praise could ruin their lives.

Ihan changed the topic.

“But Professor, the mana overload makes casting difficult.”

“That will improve with practice. Ahem. I’ll help you.”

Damn, professors are no help.

They only look after their own desires.

Professors were always like that.

“Thank you so much.”

Ihan finished his expression management with a nod.

Though he hadn’t firmly decided to specialize in black magic, he knew he had to prepare just in case.

If he failed in all other magics, black magic might be his last option.

He didn’t want Mortum displeased.

In separate thoughts, professor and student exchanged satisfied smiles.

“You bastard—I’ll break you!”

Gainanado, cheek puffed, swung his staff hard at the bony hand.

Rapadel also fought, brandishing a wooden sword.

The only sane one was Imilgre.

He held the bony hand down with sheer strength, uncertain how to proceed.

Ihan felt baffled at the sight.

Mortum opened his mouth.

“Ahem. Even with talent, fast bonding with undead isn’t guaranteed. It’s a common mistake young black mages make.”

“But if you fight so much, wouldn’t undead respect the summoner more?”

Mortum eyed Ihan as if he were insane.

Ihan felt wronged.

Wasn’t submission the best method?

After class, Gainanado grumbled, applying ointment to his cheek.

“Undead monsters have no respect for nobility… Ihan.”

“?”

“Let’s hurry to summoning class. It will be better than undead summoning.”

“……”

Will it really be?

Aside from spirits, demons are fiercer than undead, and monsters are naturally wild, Ihan thought.

While he pondered, Rapadel shouted with a swollen face,

“You evil black mage brat. I’m watching you.”

“Gral! There’s a misunderstanding between us. As friends studying black magic, must we fight?”

“You jerk! You hit my cheek just now!”

“That was an accident.”

While others tried to bond with undead, Ihan followed Mortum’s instructions to test commanding undead monsters.

He even succeeded at difficult commands like ordering them to self-destruct; Mortum applauded enthusiastically.

But there was a mistake.

By an error in command, one bony hand summoned by Ihan struck Rapadel’s cheek.

A regrettable error.

“Gral, why won’t you trust me…”

“Ihan, he’s already gone.”

“How unfortunate.”

Gainanado looked at Ihan with wary eyes.

This explains why undead obey so easily!

“Imilgre, see you next class.”

“Y-yeah. Ihan, just not outside…”

Ihan was slightly hurt but showed no sign of it.

The Spirit Worship Hall.

The workshop and tower used by Professor Milley, the Spirit Worship Hall, felt completely different from the Black Magic Tower.

It’s like a library.

Whereas the school’s library resembled a disorderly abandoned warehouse, the Spirit Worship Hall was more library-like.

The path to the tower was well paved with bricks, and nearby there was a pond and paths for walking.

The Black Magic Tower also has a pond, though.

But it was a bubbling purple pond spewing poisonous bubbles…

Gainanado respectfully knocked on the Spirit Worship Hall’s door and then asked Ihan,

“Wait, what should I say?”

“Say what’s true.”

“Tell them we were late ‘cause undead slapped me?”

“…Just let me handle it. Professor Milley, sorry for arriving late. Another professor had a prior engagement…”

“If you had a prior engagement, that can’t be helped. No need to apologize.”

Milley replied, opening the tower door.

As she walked down to greet the late freshmen on the first floor, she raised an eyebrow upon seeing Ihan.

It looked as if she were startled he had come.

…What’s going on?

Ihan suddenly felt a bad premonition.

Could it be that Mortum had told the other professors, This boy will be my disciple; stay away or something like that?