Chapter 10 of the Weapon Replicator at the Academy

Chapter 3: Manipulating Fate (1)

"Today's lesson is about 'Aura.'"

It was a basic combat techniques lecture.

Teacher Alles looked around at everyone and said.

The students were lined up in the outdoor training ground, listening to Alles' explanation.

Combat-related classes are usually held here, or sometimes in the auditorium or on the field.

"Human muscles have their limits. It's natural that they need to grow sufficiently, but excessive muscle can hinder movement, and as you know, muscles are inherently heavy. Ultimately, a fighter needs a body that balances flexibility, strength, and agility. In other words, it's not a good idea to just build muscle for the sake of strength."

After saying this, Alles looked around. His gaze fell on Aster.

"Hmm, Aster. Come forward."

"Yes."

Aster stood next to Alles.

Alles placed his hands on Aster's shoulders.

"This body represents a good balance. Adequate muscle enhances agility, while insufficient or excessive muscle reduces it on both sides. Aster has a well-balanced physique. I hope everyone considers this as a model for muscle training."

Aster looked a bit embarrassed.

I also agree with Alles about Aster's body balance.

Alles, who has always been on the side of the commoners, is especially sweet when dealing with Aster, their representative.

"So, building strength isn't just about building muscle. You need to use other powers that humans possess. You need to increase your attack power effectively while maintaining your body's balance. That 'power' is Aura."

Alles stood in front of a large rock that had been placed in front of the students.

He then drew his sword.

"Using only muscle, it's impossible to cut such a rock with a sword. It's not just a matter of strength; the sword would break first. However, an attack from a prepared stance through repeated training can channel Aura."

Alles took his stance.

He held the sword with both hands, vertically in front of him, his gaze straight ahead, the tip of the sword aligned with his eyes. It was a picture-perfect stance.

Alles raised the sword and swung it down at the rock. A blue light flickered at the tip of the blade.

With a slicing sound, the blade cleanly cut through the rock.

Oh, the students were amazed.

Alles, however, showed no particular excitement.

He must have demonstrated this many times during lectures.

"Warriors can channel Aura into their swords through thousands of training sessions. At first, it's only possible for a split second, in a single movement, but later, they can use Aura in various movements."

"Teacher."

Someone raised their hand.

I couldn't tell who it was from the back.

Maybe an extra?

"Then, can we always channel Aura into our weapons with continuous training?"

Hmm.

The question suggests it's probably an extra.

Alles nodded and smiled, as if it were a very good question.

"Of course. And there's even more to it."

"More?"

"When you reach the peak of Aura, you can weaponize Aura even without a weapon."

Oh, the students' eyes sparkled.

"Of course, I can't do it yet."

Alles' joke elicited a light laugh.

"Today's lesson involves attacking this rock with your own weapon."

Alles pointed to the remaining half of the rock he had cut.

"Among you, some may have already practiced and mastered channeling Aura into their weapons before entering Constell. However, cutting this rock won't be easy. This is not an ordinary rock; it was specially made by the professors' magic."

Even if you can channel Aura, the difference in Aura can vary greatly.

You might be able to scratch the rock, but cutting it is extremely difficult. And this is a specially made rock.

The students' eyes showed disappointment.

Alles, who seemed to have known this from the start, raised his voice.

"If you can cut or destroy this rock using your weapon without using divine power, you will be granted entry to a lower-level dungeon with a party of five. However, the party must include at least one third-year student and one teacher."

The students' eyes lit up.

Dungeons are precious places where you can obtain various materials and resources from monsters. While the principle of their creation is not yet clearly understood, they are known to form in places where mana accumulates.

Dungeon exploration is not just about finding the exit.

It can also involve defeating the dungeon boss, solving puzzles, or activating hidden mechanisms.

Thus, as dungeons become more difficult, not only do the monsters become stronger, but the traps and mechanisms also become more vicious.

Still, dungeons are places where you can earn money, gain experience, and collect items.

You might even find unexpected treasures. Like the 'Mithril' that was in the news recently.

Of course, it turned out to be fake, but before I proved it, no one believed it was 100% fake because there was a possibility it could be real.

In any dungeon, you never know what items might appear.

"Shall we begin?"

At Alles' words, the students in the front stepped forward one by one, all eager for the chance to enter the dungeon.

But to be honest, I wasn't interested in cutting the rock.

'Can I cut it with a woven thread?'

But the dungeon entry ticket isn't important enough for me to show my woven thread.

Weaving is my only weapon.

I'm not in a position to reveal all my cards and fight.

Actually, what I'm interested in isn't whether I can cut the rock or not.

It's finding the student who can cut the rock.

As far as I know, there's only one here.

"Ah!"

It was Aster's turn.

His sword left a significant scratch on the rock, but it didn't cut through.

"Ugh."

Aster's clothes billowed as if catching the wind. His eyes then glowed white, and the white light spread to his hair.

Ah, that's it.

"Stop. Aster. Divine power is forbidden."

"Oh, right. Sorry."

Aster bowed and returned to his place.

Well, with Baldr's power, he could cut that rock.

But the students' enthusiasm was somewhat dampened.

A rock that even Aster couldn't cut was quite a shock to the students.

And after a few more turns.

Slicing sound.

"Oh?"

The rock was cut.

The woman standing with a sword thinner than her arm looked surprised.

She stood there, unable to move, looking at the cleanly split rock.

It was natural that everyone, including Alles, had wide eyes.

──I found her.

Pink hair, green eyes.

"Ah! Teacher! Look! I did it!"

Her hair danced, and her shoulders moved gracefully.

Every movement was lively and seductive, and her expression was deceptively innocent.

Her appearance was perfectly crafted, as if created by a god.

"……Sibel, you pass."

Alles said with a grim expression.

Sibel Forte.

A woman loved by fate,

One of the 'main villains' in Etius.

'Sibel Forte……'

If this world is not the result of the world's movements but rather the existence of 'luck' in individuals,

Sibel Forte is a being born with that luck.

Sibel is not a villain because she is inherently evil. She is basically optimistic and a convenience seeker. She does what she wants and doesn't do what she doesn't want. If she gets bored, she stops.

However, her fate always aligns with her will.

"Sibel, could you use Aura before this?"

"No! This is my first time!"

Sibel, speaking cheerfully. Her words are not a lie.

Others might see it as pretense, but Sibel had never mastered Aura until just now.

The reason she could cut the rock is simple.

She wanted to.

She wanted the 'dungeon entry ticket' that Alles mentioned.

Not everything she desires will come true.

But if it's possible for her, she will make it happen. If what she wants is realistically possible, it will happen.

While others accumulate knowledge and skills through repeated training, Sibel skips the entire process.

……That's why she is a villain.

When an enemy she cannot match with her own strength or luck appears, she collapses immediately.

She has no experience of rising from such challenges.

A character destined for 'fall' or 'exit'.

That's why players, trusting in Sibel's good stats and convenience in their first playthrough, get a harsh wake-up call at the end.

If you blindly support Sibel, she will rise to a very high position with her boundless talent and luck.

From that position, she will ruin the soldiers, regions, and even the nation she controls.

Then she will calmly survive and disappear.

If you try to give her obstacles from the beginning to foster her mental growth, her fate will not allow it.

No character can overcome Sibel's 'luck'.

Not even Aster can match her.

So, in the end, players must focus on their own growth and surpass Sibel with their own power, neither helping nor hindering her.

There are few villains as troublesome as her.

"Teacher, about the dungeon entry ticket. Do I need a companion?"

"Hmm. You need five people. Among them, one third-year student and one teacher must be included. If you want a classmate, you can add two more besides you."

A dungeon exploration with upperclassmen and a teacher is quite safe.

Moreover, most people here have never experienced a dungeon. An experienced person is essential for a proper experience.

I know from the beginning who Sibel wants to go with.

Sibel, opening her mouth slowly as I expected,

"Aster."

Called Aster's name.

I nodded in satisfaction and quietly.

Actually, I have nothing to gain from the dungeon.

On the contrary, what Aster Evans gains from this dungeon is important. Aster is as crucial as my growth in breaking this game.

'It's not a difficult dungeon, and with Aster and Sibel, it should be easy to clear. The teacher will go too.'

It's a worry-free party.

During this time, I will focus on my training.

"Will you go with me, okay?"

Sibel's tone is almost seductive.

Her fresh smile and slightly tilted posture.

Her pink hair swayed.

"Sure, I will."

Aster answered readily.

Sibel clapped her hands in joy, making it clear.

Wow, I can see the male students' eyes cooling down.

It's amazing to feel Sibel's popularity so easily.

"But there's one spot left for a classmate. Can I choose that one person?"

But Aster said something strange.

As far as I know, Aster wouldn't say such a thing.

Later, the official heroine, 'Lunia Fricelle,' might join out of jealousy towards Sibel.

But Aster wouldn't be the one to suggest it first.

"Sure."

With Sibel's answer, the attention turned to Aster.

Everyone was curious about who Aster would choose.

"Frontier."

He called me.

"……Huh?"

I looked up, surprised.

What's the sudden reason for calling me here?

Wasn't he looking for someone to go to the dungeon with?

"Do you want to go to the dungeon?"

It was me.

I maintained my composure despite Aster's sudden call.

As a proud Korean gamer and a veteran of this game, I can maintain my composure in any situation.

With such a detached mindset, I understood the meaning behind Aster's words and replied.

"……Huh?"