Simon and Lorraine were back in Campbell Road.
As it turned out, Campbell Road specialized in products for necromancers.
The deeper they went, the more bizarre and graphic the items became—skeletons, monster carcasses, and even organs that twitched as if still alive, all sealed inside glass jars and up for sale.
To Simon, it felt like he had stepped into an entirely different world, one far removed from the life he once knew.
"You know what the most exciting moment of school life is?" Lorraine asked as they walked side by side.
"Uh… I don't know?" he replied hesitantly.
"It's right now—before school starts, when you're out buying uniforms, books, and supplies with butterflies in your stomach. This is the most fun it gets, so enjoy it, Simon."
She smiled gently, her lips curling up at the corners.
"Once you're inside Kizen, it'll be pure chaos."
"...Haha."
Their first stop was a bookstore.
While tuition and entrance to Kizen were free, the textbooks weren't.
"There's quite a few books to get. Do you still have your admission letter?"
"Yes! Right here."
Inside the letter was not only the acceptance notice but also a checklist of required materials. Lorraine skimmed through the list, focusing on the textbook section, then handed it back.
"Got it memorized. This way."
Simon followed her, when suddenly—thump!—something heavy landed on him.
He instinctively reached out and caught it. It was an absurdly thick book titled Introduction to Summoning by Elricmore Trimble.
"Summoning?"
Before he could process the thought, another heavy tome landed on top of it—Necromancy 101.
"This one's heavy too!"
Lorraine continued pulling books off the shelves at a rapid pace.
Soon, a growing pile stacked atop his arms: Curses, Hemodynamics, Holy Defense, Thanatomancy…
Simon's arms were shaking under the weight.
"Lorraine! Don't tell me we're learning all this in first year?"
"Of course not," she said, turning back with a bright smile.
"At Kizen, this is all first semester material."
"..."
"Here—don't forget Toxicology!"
…Simon was already starting to miss the quiet town of Reshill.
Lorraine darted off to find a book on Shadow Mechanics. Left alone, Simon glanced around.
Now that he thought about it, nearly everyone in the store seemed to be around his age.
Many were holding books like Summoning or Necromancy 101. No doubt—they were all Kizen freshmen.
It was the first time Simon had seen so many people his age in one place. Back in Reshill, he'd only ever interacted with Kalon, who was a year older, and Sophia, who was two years younger.
Being surrounded by people his age… for the first time, he felt a tinge of excitement about school life.
"Yes! I'm coming!" someone shouted nearby.
Simon turned his head just in time to see a girl darting past him. Her movements were quick, but for a split second, she veered straight toward him.
'Weird.'
There was no reason for her to bump into him, so Simon subtly shifted aside.
Thud!
She crashed into the bookshelf instead, sending the stack of books wobbling dangerously.
That was bad.
Without thinking, Simon threw himself toward her and shielded her with his body.
Thudthudthud!
Books rained down, slamming against his back like bricks.
The girl, eyes wide with surprise, looked up at him. Then she quickly bowed her head.
"I-I'm so sorry! That was my fault!"
"No, it's alright. I shouldn't have been standing in the way."
Simon forced a smile.
"Let's put these back before someone yells at us."
"Y-Yeah!"
They hurriedly picked up the fallen books. She handed them to Simon, who stood on his toes to return them to the top shelves.
A store clerk approached, clearly having heard the commotion. But seeing them cleaning up, the clerk simply nodded and walked away.
'One more.'
As Simon replaced the final book, the girl gathered the ones Simon had dropped.
"Um, you're enrolling at Kizen too, right?" she asked, eyeing the textbooks.
Simon nodded.
"I am! My name's Cindy Vivace! What's yours?"
"Simon Polentia."
"Oh! Nice to meet you! I'm from Shahid in the north, so I don't really know anyone here. I was kinda nervous."
Simon gave a small nod.
"I'm in the same boat."
"If—if it's okay with you…" Cindy pressed her index fingers together shyly, her voice shrinking to a whisper. "Would it be alright if I… said hi to you at school later?"
What an innocent request.
Simon chuckled softly.
"Of course. I should be the one asking."
"Thanks!"
She sprang to her feet.
"Anyway, I have to go! My dad's waiting outside!"
"Okay."
"See you at Kizen!"
She waved as she ran off.
"Wait, Cindy."
"Yeah?"
She turned around. Simon was holding something up.
"My wallet. Mind giving it back?"
In his hand was her wallet.
Her eyes—up until now bright and innocent—suddenly turned sharp. Her pupils narrowed into vertical slits like a cat's.
'Oh no.'
She frantically checked her pocket. Empty.
"...Ha."
Busted.
Smirking, Cindy turned back to him.
"Used necromancy to swipe it. Thought there's no way anyone would notice. How'd you catch it?"
"It was just… floating right in front of me."
She stomped over and locked eyes with him.
"You noticed that with just your eyes? Don't lie. You're a necromancy major, aren't you?"
"Actually, I haven't really—"
"Knew it!"
Her eyes lit up.
"Kizen's on a whole different level! Man, I can't wait! There's going to be a ton of monsters like you, right?"
'This girl's way too proud of being a pickpocket.'
She tossed him the wallet.
"If we're both necro majors, we'll be seeing a lot of each other for the next three years. Let's compete properly, Simon!"
Yeah, she definitely wasn't the type to listen to people.
Simon sighed and offered her wallet back. But she waved it off.
"Keep it. Consider it a reward for catching me."
Cool in weird places.
Simon was starting to believe the rumor: "No necromancer is normal."
"Looking forward to school! Don't pretend you don't know me!"
She waved one last time—and walked straight through the bookstore wall.
"..."
Simon stared at the spot where she vanished.
Feeling oddly like he'd just survived a storm, he opened her wallet.
Just a few coins inside.
'Showoff.'
Simon smiled wryly.
"Simon!"
Lorraine returned, her black hair swaying.
"They're out of Shadow Mechanics! Stock's coming in two hours—they'll deliver all the books to our dorm later."
"Oh, that's great!"
She poked him playfully in the arm.
"Who was that girl just now? Already making friends?"
Simon looked away, a bead of sweat trailing down his face.
"Uh… something like that."
"Oooh, you're stammering~ Don't tell me you two already exchanged hearts?"
Well… wallets, at least.
"Anyway, since we're getting the books delivered, let's head out. Still a bunch of stops left."
"Where to next?"
"Bag shop."
Did he need a new bag?
Simon glanced at his current backpack.
"I mean, this one's pretty decent."
"Huh?"
Lorraine blinked, then burst into laughter.
"Oh, you're adorable. Such a country boy."
"Ahem."
Simon's face reddened.
"To a necromancer, a 'bag' usually means a magical inventory. Basically, pocket dimensions."
Simon's eyes widened.
"Wait… you mean we're buying a space pocket?!"