Chapter 100 of the Academy's Weapon Replicator

Chapter 29, Second Semester

When I arrived at the Loahe mansion, it was already midnight.

Naturally, no one was there to greet me. It was actually a relief.

Now, I have to overcome another wall.

"So, are you really going to do it?"

I asked Selena, who was standing beside me.

"Of course. As a bodyguard, it's more convenient to be officially recognized."

"I think it would be better to hide in my room and run to Manjok if someone comes."

"I don't want to. I'm not doing anything dangerous."

Strange. I think just being in Manjok is incredibly dangerous.

"Are you sure you won't regret this? This means getting recognized by Father. Do you know who the head of the Loahe family is?"

"Of course. No matter who it is, I have nothing to be ashamed of."

It shouldn't be like that.

Sigh, I exhaled.

Right. Selena has never actually met Ampere. She will meet him someday.

"Alright, I definitely warned you."

I led Selena into the mansion.

I knocked lightly on Ampere's door.

"Father, it's Frontier. I just arrived."

When I spoke, the sound inside the room paused for a moment. Then, a heavy voice, always weighty, came out.

"Alright. Rest."

He only said to rest, but it was a way of telling me to leave.

Even though it had been over a month since I last saw my son, he didn't seem to want to see me.

"…Father, I've hired a bodyguard."

"Bodyguard?"

"Yes. Her name is Selena. She saved my life several times in Teaven. I would appreciate it if you could let her use a room in the mansion. I will cover all the expenses…"

I was tense with every word, but Selena behind me seemed very confident.

Hmph, Ampere took a light step. Instantly, his aura fiercely pierced toward Selena.

Thud! Whoosh—

Selena reflexively jumped back to create distance. She slipped backward and put her hand into her pocket.

By the time her slip stopped, she was already in a combat stance.

She held needles between all her fingers, and her face was drenched in cold sweat.

"…Hmm, it's fine. You can handle your bodyguard yourself."

Ampere soon seemed to lose interest, turned his body, and went back into the room.

In the end, it turned out as I expected, 'Handle it yourself,' but it was fortunate that he saw Selena and gave his approval.

Thud.

At that moment, Selena collapsed on the floor. She didn't faint; she just seemed to have lost her strength.

I approached Selena and crouched down.

"I warned you."

"I, I didn't expect it to be this intense… The moment I saw him, it felt like a mountain was pressing down on me."

Good description.

"Frontier. I have something to tell you."

At that moment, a voice came from inside Ampere's room. Selena reflexively gasped and drew a breath.

"Yes, what is it?"

"Azje is out. The temporary teaching position at Constel has been postponed, so you won't see him for a while."

"…What happened to my brother?"

Azje being out. That means I won't be able to receive personal training for a while. I need to test the dual sword technique with Nil Jacques' short swords, but it will have to wait.

Ampere said,

"Azje is currently on a professional mission. It's an assignment from the palace."

* * *

The next morning.

Finally, the second semester at Constel began.

The students spent their vacation in various ways.

Some took leisure and rest, but most focused on personal training to enhance their strength.

Those who improved their skills now had more confident expressions and eyes.

-Have you heard?

On the first day back, the students listened to rumors that had been circulating during the vacation.

-Aster Evans is said to have learned from the top-ranked professional, Ed Hamelot.

-What? I thought Senior Elin was his intern.

-Both, apparently. Aster asked them. And by the way,

-What?

-He mastered Aura. Moreover, he can use it at any time.

Rumors always center around famous people.

The most frequent subject of rumors was Aster Evans, but there were a few others with significant stories.

-Inies succeeded in combining the three elements.

-What? Elodie? I heard she was struggling with output control.

-She decided to increase her destructive power instead. I heard there's someone she can't fall behind.

-Who? Is there anyone better than Elodie?

Rumors inflate the air. The air that passes from mouth to mouth becomes heavy and swirls around those at the center of the rumors.

"It's been a while."

Aster Evans also tasted this air on his way to school.

His hair had grown a bit, and he now had a more relaxed expression. He had gained strength during the vacation, which bolstered his confidence.

Aster looked around. The scene of students in school uniforms walking together was something he had missed.

He also felt the gazes of passing students. Although he had gotten used to them before the vacation, today's gazes felt different, with a new intensity.

'It's because of the rumors.'

Aster, of course, knew the rumors about himself. And they were true.

Aster can now use Aura freely, thanks to the thorough training from Ed Hamelot and his sister Elin. No, it wasn't just thanks to them; it was because of them.

And the rumors circulating this time are likely to be mostly true.

The subjects of the rumors during the vacation are mostly people Aster knows, and from his perspective, they don't seem absurd.

…However.

-Have you heard?

Rumors are always exaggerated and inflated.

-The barrier of Teaven has been rebuilt.

-It's said to have returned to its original form.

The barrier of Teaven was indeed rebuilt. It was a clear truth. Aster even checked the news on Wizard View.

The sight of the barrier being brilliantly restored had something that could stir people even beyond the Wizard View.

-But the one who rebuilt it…

-Oh, come on. I heard it too, but it's ridiculous.

-Why would he go to Teaven during the summer vacation?

However, rumors are always mixed with exaggeration and fantasy.

Aster thought as he climbed the long hill leading to Constel's main building.

The massive truth of the barrier being rebuilt. And the numerous rumors that inflated around it.

Among them, the most exaggerated and famous one seems to be the current hot topic at Constel.

-Did you hear?

And Aster saw.

"…Oh."

Next to Aster, or perhaps because of the exaggerated story, a man who was getting more and more attention.

-That guy.

"Hey, Aster. Hi."

The subject of the rumors raised his hand to greet Aster as usual. Aster also raised his hand.

"You're alive. Frontier."

"Did you really think I was dead?"

He made a light joke, but his gaze naturally turned to a certain direction.

-He's seen with a girl.

Aster saw. And this was the moment to verify the truth of the most plausible rumor surrounding him.

"Um, who's the lady next to you?"

Aster asked. To Frontier. Looking at the girl in a school uniform next to him.

"Oh, yeah. She's my bodyguard. She's starting at Constel today."

The girl bowed her head and spoke in a somewhat sweet voice.

"Hello. My name is Selena. Please take care of me."

Her somewhat seductive gestures, smile, and the figure that was noticeable even through her school uniform, or rather, the figure that seemed to be accentuated by her clothing.

"…Um, I see. A bodyguard."

Wearing such stylish clothes and being a bodyguard.

'Frontier de Loahe is seen with a girl.'

At least one minor rumor seems to be confirmed as true.

…Although it already seems to be a mess, I need to do some patching up.

"…A bodyguard, huh."

In the faculty office, Jane looked at Frontier and Selena with a cold eye.

I heard about a student who brought a storm of rumors on the first day of the second semester.

But I didn't expect that storm to hit me.

"Yes, if possible, I'd like her to be in the same class."

"Even if you say that, I can't just decide it."

Classes are generally assigned to those with the fewest students first. If I gave in to students' preferences, it would never end.

Frontier seemed to think for a moment and then said,

"…Athen, wasn't she assigned to a class at her own discretion?"

"Hey, you, don't make dangerous statements?"

Jane said, surprised. Athen had indeed come to Class 5 because she wanted to be with Frontier, and she ended up in Class 5.

But Athen is royalty. School rules are trivial in front of her.

"Then, where will Selena be assigned?"

"Well, Class 2 is currently the one with the fewest students."

Class 2. The class where Aster, Elodie, and other key named characters are gathered.

Frontier's mind quickly turned. Thinking about it, being a bodyguard doesn't have much meaning inside Constel. Perhaps it would be better to send her to Class 2 to gather information.

Besides, if she's in the same class, Athen is already there, and having someone as eye-catching as Selena by my side will only worsen my already bad reputation.

…It's already a mess, but I need to do some patching up.

"Class 2 is fine."

"…Alright. For now, Frontier, go back to your class, and Miss Selena, come with me. I need to hand you over to the Class 2 teacher."

"Yes, thank you."

I said this. I stood up and waved to Selena, meaning 'do well.' But Selena quickly looked back and forth between me and Jane.

"…Really, I have to go to a different class? Me?"

"Yes."

"…"

I don't know why she's asking again, but since she didn't say anything more, I shrugged.

While I was leaving the faculty office, Selena looked at me with an extremely anxious gaze.