Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 158 - 151: The New Arnold

"The Necromancer Figure Club?"

Mr. Variable’s head tilted at a small angle, seemingly contemplating the possible implications embedded in the name.

In the end, he chose to let it go.

"No objections, you’re the club president, so it’s fine for you to choose the name."

"??? How did I become the president?" Lyle felt absurd, like spreading what seemed to be strawberry jam on toast in the morning, only to bite into the taste of toothpaste.

Unexpectedly, the reply came from Mr. Shiny, who was still tightly gripping his magic wand.

"Because you’re the first place, your reputation and strength can support this position, and attract many others who are interested in our future. Your spirited speech at the graduation ceremony inspired many hesitating freshmen, like the dawn after darkness. We need your spirit and vision just as desperately as we need your innovative ideas." 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"Become the president of the Necromancer Figure Club, Plague Doctor."

Some things can only be truly felt when one is actually in the situation, just like now, Lyle could feel the encouragement and expectation emanating from them. This sensation that could easily affect the adrenal secretion in one’s body, turned Lyle’s brain into a singular reflex arc structure. (There is only one choice.)

"I will do my utmost to enhance our club’s standing."

"We have faith in you, our respected president."

......

Lyle inscribed the name Death Figure Club on a sheet of parchment. He looked around at the three people surrounding him.

"Is that all right?"

Mr. Shiny tapped on the scales of his mask, "Now, we just need to confront another club and disband them, then take over their spot, right?"

"We need a club opposition battle?" Lyle remembered what the dean had said during the freshman speech, that Andrey no longer had any space for new clubs. It seemed a club opposition battle was inevitable.

Was there a way to avoid the fight?

"Otherwise, let’s wait for Mr. Arnold to blow up the Destiny Preacher before we take over that spot."

Mr. Shiny was the first to disagree.

"Things obtained through opportunism are lost just as quickly. Even if we take over, without establishing our reputation, there will be an endless series of challenges waiting for us. Better to choose an opponent of similar level to test ourselves and see if our philosophy truly has a right to exist."

"Are you giving up on yourself?" Mr. Shiny teased Mr. Shiny’s somber face.

"It’s confidence, you idiot. Since the Plague Doctor could defeat me, as a member of his club, I must also be invincible at my level."

Lyle expressed his concerns, "Have you all considered the issue of backup? Those existing clubs might have higher-level seniors. Even if we beat opponents of the same level, what about those at higher levels?"

Mr. Variable laughed.

"Your concern is unnecessary, Plague Doctor. Although the Death Figure Club is a new club, the power behind us is not at all young."

"You mean..."

"The entire faculty and staff of the Andrey Institute for Spirit Summoning Studies are our support. They may not be interested in organizing and managing a Spirit Summoning Studies club themselves, but they are certainly very willing to assist us. Those seniors who think of crushing us with brute force, hehe, if they wish to fight outnumbered, they will likely take action against us."

"I see, then the matter of establishing the club is settled. Next is about the future division of labor. If we truly want to create such a large-scale necromantic construct, our knowledge in Spirit Summoning Studies must cover all areas. Necromancy is divided into three factions; are you all studying all of them?"

Mr. Shiny nodded, "Although I’m studying all of them, for conflicting parts of the curriculum, I’ll focus on the White Bone Series. I would like to be responsible for the exoskeleton, and may specialize in this area in the future."

Mr. Shiny also made his choice, "All of it, but I’ll be focusing mainly on the Flesh Series under Mr. Crimson. I’m investigating how muscle tissue controls the body of the creation; I don’t want the lord of death we create to be just a dumb brute."

"By the way, Plague Doctor, I want to be the first controller of the lord of death. I have a talent for it and can do it best."

"Sure, that’s possible." First Unit Pilot, Mr. Shiny, is now online.

"However, that being said, where is this creation’s cockpit?"

Who knew that Lyle’s simple question would evoke astonishment from Mr. Shiny.

"Why haven’t we thought of this, we no longer need to worry about precision issues in the transmission of magic. If we create a cockpit inside the construct to allow direct connection of consciousness, this would definitely be the best way to link! Plague Doctor, you really are far-sighted."

Lyle awkwardly accepted Mr. Shiny’s praise, muttering to himself, what else can I do. The first thing I think of when seeing a Gundam is to find the cockpit, to think about how to get in; this is a man’s romance.

"Most methods of controlling necromancy involve remote manipulation through magic; we fell into the traditional thinking trap. Your spinal wheel has already shown us, incorporating the Spirit Summoner into the construct might be a new direction for development."

"But in doing so, we need to consider the location of the cockpit, as well as the safety of the operator in the event the construct collapses, along with how to initiate the Corpse Explosion Spell, which is also troublesome."

"Was it supposed to explode in the initial design?"

"Basically, all artificial constructs are fitted with a self-destruct mechanism: one is to inflict damage on the enemy, and the other is to prevent our technology from being exploited a second time. But don’t worry, Plague Doctor, my research is in the transformation abilities of constructs, I’m sure I will find a solution to these issues in the future..."

"I’m really looking forward to Mr. Arnold’s Flesh Course, the pure changes and fusion of flesh."

Hearing a familiar name, Lyle thought of that indelible shadow in his mind, that sardonic grin that often haunted his recent dreams.

"Arnold became a full professor? Wasn’t he just an assistant before?"

"That incident, eh? Mr. Arnold seems to have experienced something recently. He has regained control of the Taboo Transformation ability, and with his creation approved by the professor of the Flesh Series, he’s now qualified to teach publicly. His current content is the exact opposite of Mr. Crimson’s, focusing on the unique transformation abilities of invertebrate flesh."

"Don’t be surprised, Plague Doctor, Mr. Arnold’s reputation seems to have improved quite a bit. Many teachers and students who have come into contact with the new Mr. Arnold have high praise for him, and he will be one of our instructors too."

"His teaching quality is quite good."

"It’s as if... he’s become a different person altogether."