Chapter 11 of the Academy's Weapon Replicator

Section 3: Fate Manipulation (2)

After class.

In the school cafe, Frontier, Cybel, and Aster were sitting together.

Cybel was sitting at a round table, glancing alternately at the two people in front of her.

In front of her were the most well-regarded and the most notorious first-year boys.

Aster Evans, who is highly respected by both teachers and students, possesses strong divine power and talent.

Frontier de Loach, who sleeps through class and is lazy, has neither divine power nor talent.

Just their presence together drew the attention of everyone in the cafe, making Cybel feel self-conscious.

The attention was partly due to Cybel being there, but she couldn't investigate that far.

“Aster, why did you single me out?”

Frontier's lazy lips opened.

Cybel was also curious about this, so her gaze naturally shifted to Aster.

However, Aster looked surprised and widened her eyes.

“Why? You helped me.”

“Me?”

“Mistletoe. You alleviated my worries.”

“...But it was something that would eventually disappear anyway.”

Frontier sighed.

“Oh, I heard about that too.”

Cybel said, her eyes sparkling.

Frontier's actions at the noble council meeting were quite famous.

The so-called, outrageous remarks of the human sloth, Frontier.

His absurd behavior at a gathering of prestigious families in the empire.

From his boastful words that he feared no divine punishment to his reckless actions of destroying trade goods.

While his actions ultimately benefited his family, they were seen as reckless.

“Frontier, are you really not afraid of divine punishment?”

Cybel asked.

It was out of pure curiosity, not mockery or disdain.

Frontier looked at Cybel and replied.

“Yeah.”

“...That's it?”

“Yeah?”

Cybel grimaced at the brief answer.

“Seems pretty dangerous for someone who just wants to put on a show.”

“What kind of show can you put on in a place like that?”

She knows.

It seems he wasn't really trying to put on a show.

“Alright, let's move on from that. We have something else to discuss today.”

Aster said, as if to change the atmosphere.

Cybel said,

“The third-year and teacher who will accompany us. We need to decide who they will be, right?”

That's right. The three of them had gathered for a reason.

The dungeon exploration team consists of five people, and at least two of them must be a third-year and a teacher.

“Who should it be? Most teachers are willing to cooperate, but many third-years refuse. They're busy or find it troublesome. Should we prepare a list of candidates in case they reject?”

Then Cybel and Aster mentioned a few third-year seniors.

Cybel was diligently writing down the names of the mentioned people.

Meanwhile, Frontier remained silent.

The reason they didn't ask Frontier anything was partly because they knew he was lazy, but also because he had a surprisingly thoughtful look on his face.

“...I have someone in mind.”

And after much deliberation, Frontier spoke.

“Quinie de Viate.”

“...What?”

Aster repeated.

“Quinie de Viate, you mean?”

“Yeah.”

Frontier nodded, and Aster and Cybel exchanged glances.

Quinie de Viate.

A genius who revived her family on the brink of ruin at the young age of under 20.

With her cold and ruthless decision-making and exceptional business acumen, people call her the 'Little Demon' Quinie.

Frontier said,

“What do you think? Building a connection with Quinie now will be very beneficial in the future.”

“That's true...”

They agreed but still looked dubious.

Cybel spoke frankly.

“...I don't think she'll help.”

That's right. None of them had any close relationship with Quinie.

Moreover, Quinie is very thorough in her cost-benefit calculations. She wouldn't just join a dungeon party for no reason.

There has to be something in it for her.

“From what I know, Quinie doesn't like 'debts' or 'favors.' A promise to repay her later won't work.”

Cybel said, and Aster nodded in agreement.

At that moment, Frontier's lazy eyes narrowed slightly.

“If I bring Quinie here, will you both be satisfied?”

“...Frontier, are you planning to do something reckless again?”

Aster's expression hardened.

Frontier smiled at her worried face.

‘Oh.’

Cybel was a bit surprised by that smile.

Frontier's appearance is a model of high-class nobility, and when his lazy face breaks into a smile, it's quite a sight.

“Don't worry. I'll make a proper deal.”

* * *

After parting ways with Aster and Cybel, I headed to the school.

Seeing them exchange phone numbers, I remembered I don't have a phone.

In Etius, there's a device called a 'Sagephone,' which is like a smartphone.

Everyone just calls it a 'phone.' With a phone, you can make calls, send texts, and use messengers freely.

However, Frontier doesn't have a Sagephone. Neither does his brother, Azzi, or his father, Ampere.

Ampere is an old-fashioned person, and his way of thinking is even more outdated, so he has no interest in such things. Azzi, on the other hand, doesn't use one because his father doesn't.

But from my perspective, helping Aster, I desperately need a Sagephone.

It allows for emergency calls and easy location tracking.

“Hmm.”

I stopped in front of a classroom. The attention and noise around me seemed to double.

Ignore it.

The door creaked open, and a few students inside turned to look at me.

At first, it was just a few, but they startled their friends, pointed at me, and loudly whispered, “Look at that,” drawing more attention.

Eventually, everyone was staring.

...Let's get this over with.

I approached a girl. She was, of course, looking at me, with a very puzzled expression.

“I found you, Senior Quinie.”

“...Are you out of your mind?”

‘Little Demon’ Quinie.

The usually composed and smiling Quinie looked flustered, which was quite amusing.

“Didn't I see you at the Miller family's mansion last time? I didn't get to greet you properly then.”

“That's not necessary. If you want to establish a connection with me, send the appropriate amount of money to our family's account. Don't draw attention to me.”

Quinie fanned herself with a fan, making a whooshing sound.

I leaned in close to her. From around us, I heard gasps, exclamations, and sharp intakes of breath.

Quinie also stiffened.

I whispered in her ear,

“I want to sell information to Quinie de Viate.”

At this, Quinie's fanning hand stopped, and she looked at me with a serious expression.

She was no longer a student but the head of the Viate family.

“I don't like nonsense.”

“Neither do I.”

“...This isn't a conversation to have here, is it?”

I nodded once and turned to walk away. I didn't need to turn back to confirm; I could hear Quinie's footsteps following me.

The whispers around us grew louder.

* * *

“So, what is it?”

We moved to an empty classroom.

Quinie cast the spell 'Whisper of the Wind' meticulously to ensure our voices wouldn't leak out. I was glad for this.

I closed my eyes for a moment.

It's best to get along with Quinie as quickly as possible. It's good for me and for Aster.

While it would also benefit the Viate family, the more important reason is that she is someone 'reliable.'

In Etius, having someone you can trust is more important than anything.

But I don't have much to offer her right now.

However, I have one piece of information that Quinie would definitely be interested in.

After thinking for a moment about how to present it most effectively, I opened my mouth.

“The monsters from 'Outside' are coming.”

“...!”

Quinie's expression hardened.

Monsters from Outside.

As I mentioned before, in the world of Etius, the human domain is insignificant. The current human race is struggling just to eliminate the monsters within their territory.

'Outside' literally means beyond the human domain. The monsters lurking there are different from those inside.

She looked at me with a suspicious gaze.

“Making such claims lightly won't end well, will it?”

“But if we do nothing, it won't end well.”

Quinie glared at me, as if trying to read my true intentions.

I met her gaze head-on.

“The third-years will soon have a dispatch mission, right? For a pro temporary experience.”

“...How do you know that?”

“You'll encounter monsters from 'Outside' there.”

“...How many?”

Before verifying the truth, Quinie asked for more details.

That's right.

I extended my index finger.

“One.”

“...One? Just one?”

“Yes. A particularly weak individual from the Outside world. It couldn't keep up with the group and fell behind. You'll face this one.”

Quinie blinked at my words, unsure how to react.

I smiled calmly.

“It doesn't seem that dangerous, does it?”

“...To be honest, no. I've never encountered a monster from Outside, but just one, a straggler... Shouldn't we be more afraid of the pros?”

“That's not wrong. A single, inferior individual can be handled by a single pro.”

“Then why-”

“Because the dispatch mission you're going on wasn't designed to face such a creature.”

Quinie's eyes widened at my words. Indeed, Quinie, her investigation is quick.

Even so, I continued speaking to maintain the effect.

“Many people will die. Monsters from 'Outside' are much stronger and, above all, more cunning. They will hide and attack people from a distance, out of the pros' sight, until they are discovered.”

“...Oh.”

Quinie, who had been listening quietly, raised one corner of her mouth.

“There are many third-years, and there will be civilians at the experience site. What are the chances I'll be the one to face it? The pros will find it before then. I just need to avoid it while others are attacked. Besides, since you've already revealed the information, why should I give you anything?”

She doesn't care about others' deaths, only her own safety.

A cold and calculating person who thinks only of money and power to revive her family.

‘Little Demon’ Quinie.

...Because she's such a good actress,

she is the head of the Viate family.

“I know its weakness. That's the information I want to sell.”

“...!”

Quinie's eyes wavered.

If she really intended to hide and run away, this information would be meaningless.

What good is knowing a weakness if you just keep running?

But Quinie wavered.

Her talk of sacrificing others was just a lie.

I lowered my eyes. It's painful to see Quinie's pretense any longer.

“You don't like it when people die, do you?”

“...! W, what do you mean...!”

“I have my own means of obtaining information. I learned this information through that method.”

The memories of the Etius game I've played countless times in the real world. There's no better source of information for me.

Quinie bit her lower lip at my words. I could almost hear her brain working.

Quinie looked at me directly and said,

“So? What do you want? Money?”

Cool and quick.

She must have concluded that forming a business relationship with me is more beneficial than the likelihood of me lying.

“No. We've obtained the opportunity to enter a lower dungeon this time. Will you accompany us?”

“...Is that enough?”

Quinie asked, still skeptical.

I smiled.

Quinie dislikes deals that are too beneficial to her, suspecting hidden flaws.

“And I need a few items.”

So I said, to ensure a fair deal.

Actually, this is the main point from my perspective.

Since I partially succeeded in weaving Gram, I need many items.

“Items?”

“Yes. First, I need something that can increase my total mana. It could be a potion or an artifact, anything.”

“...That's a big ask. Anything else?”

“Another is a piece of jewelry that can hold water. It should be wearable on the body, and it should be easy to take water out and put it in. The inside should not be visible.”

“That's a strange request. You could just carry a water bottle.”

“I want it to be extremely easy to take water out and put it in.”

Quinie tilted her head even more, looking at me as if I were strange. But I had nothing more to say.

The jewelry to hold water is actually to hold 'Black Heaven.' I just said 'water' to avoid revealing too much.

“Alright. Those two items will do. I promise to provide them in the name of the Viate family.”

“Thank you.”

“So? What's the weakness?”

“The weakness is, ah.”

I paused, as if something came to mind.

Quinie's brows furrowed.

“What? You're not going to back out now, are you?”

“No. I just realized I need one more thing.”

“What is it?”

“I'd also like a Sagephone if possible.”

Quinie's mouth opened in disbelief.

“You don't have a phone?”