Chapter 3 of the Weapon Replicator at the Academy

Chapter 1: Sloth Human Frondier (2)

I've gotten used to the classes.

This doesn't mean I've started to understand the content. I still don't get a thing.

I just store all the images from the blackboard or textbooks in the workshop as I learn them.

What I've gotten used to is the atmosphere during class. It would be more accurate to say that everyone, including me, has gotten used to it.

Everyone has gotten used to me, who sits with my eyes open, looking at the blackboard during class.

The fact that I don't take any notes seems to have convinced the students a bit.

"Then, let's have a question."

The teacher lowered the Wizview that was displaying the screen.

The answer to the question is probably on that screen.

"Mr. Frondier."

The teacher's eyes, which pointed at me, looked very displeased.

The fact that I'm awake and listening to the class.

This could be a pleasing thing for some teachers, but it could also be the opposite.

Actually, the reason Frondier could sleep through the entire class is that he is a 'child of the Loah family.'

The educational institution I attend, 'Constel,' has no distinction between nobles and commoners. The only distinction is by ability.

However, not everyone inside is like that.

While Constel's system is merit-based, the people inside have their own thoughts.

Some fawn over nobles and ignore commoners,

while others openly take the side of commoners and despise nobles.

Frondier's position was quite interesting in this regard.

Teachers who fawn over nobles don't touch me when I sleep,

and teachers who openly dislike nobles ignore me whether I sleep or not.

In either case, they don't interfere with Frondier's laziness.

'Thinking about it, the teacher who woke me up at first was a unique person.'

He just woke me up because I was a student and it was during class.

A very teacher-like reaction.

The more such people there are, the more it is a proper educational institution.

But the teacher in front of me now doesn't give that impression.

The disgust in their eyes proves it.

"What happened in the 144th year of the Tersst Empire?"

...?

The answer to this question is in the content just displayed on the Wizview.

But it hasn't been a few minutes since I saw it.

Others probably took notes diligently.

"You can look at your notes and answer."

Heh. This lady.

Was it so annoying that I didn't take notes and just sat there?

I took out the image stored in the 'workshop.' This is my 'note.'

While I was checking the content of the image I took out, the teacher sighed ostentatiously.

"Can't you answer? If not, from now on, take proper notes,"

"Emperor Edjeon Tersst passed away."

Edjeon.

Simply put, he is the current Emperor Tersst's grandfather.

Honestly, he is not a proud emperor to the citizens of the Empire. At that time, the human territory was continuously shrinking due to monsters.

A powerless emperor who left only a record of defeat.

But no matter who it was, if they had become the emperor at that time, they would have died with the same humiliation.

It was such a difficult and desperate time. It was just bad luck.

The teacher's eyes looking at me became more hostile.

Why are you looking at me like that?

The student gave the correct answer.

"......There must be more than that."

"The Empire moved its capital to Sylaster immediately after the Emperor's death. This is the third and last capital move of the Tersst Empire to date."

I just read from the image I took out.

It might seem petty, but what can I do if that's what they want.

"......And then?"

The teacher seemed to be testing how far I would go.

But I just found it ridiculous.

"......Next is 145."

I've finished reading.

"......"

"......"

A brief eye battle.

Honestly, I don't know why we're having an eye battle.

The lady, the teacher, had a vein popping on her forehead as she glared at me.

After a moment, she adjusted her glasses with a seemingly calm expression.

"Alright. Then, let's move to the next page-"

The Wizview opened again as if nothing had happened, and the class continued.

While the students stifled their laughter, the teacher's fingers occasionally trembled.

* * *

The Divine Power Measurement Room.

This facility boasts the largest space within Constel.

Students with divine power are few, but their divine powers vary greatly, as do their strength and scale.

To measure more accurately, each student with divine power has a record sheet, and teachers review and evaluate these records comprehensively.

"......Amazing."

And a girl stands here.

The astonishing scene around her.

Split rocks, burnt soot, frozen ground, clearly etched lightning patterns, etc.

A sight that seems impossible to have been created by one person.

The teacher, Ales, who watched her measurement, swallowed hard.

'Is this child the 'Inies'?

Inies is not her exact name. She received the middle name 'Inies' because she was loved by the five gods.

Elodie de Inies Risha.

Eldest daughter of the Risha family, Elodie.

A girl who possesses not one, but five divine powers, which are hard for a single person to have.

At the young age of seventeen, her future is almost set. A future of admiration and respect, envy and jealousy from everyone.

"How about it? The record."

"Hmm, it's almost the same as before. You don't have to worry about your record dropping."

Ales answered with a seemingly calm expression.

"Aw. I was hoping it would go up."

Elodie said with a playful smile.

Ales also smiled back but broke out in a cold sweat.

What are you trying to say, that it should go up more?

But there was a shadow in Elodie's face, who had made the joke.

She still had the memory of encountering Frondier in the hallway.

-......What kind of feelings did I have for you,

I waited.

The words were left unfinished. They were interrupted by a baseball that suddenly flew in.

But now, she considers it fortunate.

Frondier and Elodie have known each other since they were young.

No one in Constel knows this.

The Loah family, to which Frondier belongs, and the Risha family, to which Elodie belongs, have been rival families for a very long time.

The 'Iron Wall Achievement' of Angpher, the head of the Loah family, is famous, but the Risha family also contributed significantly to that achievement.

It was inevitable that the son and daughter of each head, who were the same age, would know each other.

...Elodie didn't have any particular expectations for Frondier.

The son of Angpher, the younger brother of Azie.

Everyone expected Frondier to have the same level of talent.

But Elodie didn't care about that.

She just hoped that Frondier would do his fair share as an old friend.

But Frondier was different.

He had no divine power or talent, and his character was also lacking.

He made no effort to improve his insufficient skills, had no sense of responsibility to do his job, and couldn't even manage his daily life.

The old affection she had seen since childhood faded over time.

Frondier ultimately broke the last promise he made with Elodie.

- Frondier, meet me at the Constel gate after school. I have something important to give you.

It was certainly not a difficult promise.

You were the one who said you understood.

...But Frondier never showed up and passed by Elodie in the hallway as if he didn't know her.

'...The hallway.'

Elodie opened her sleepy eyes and asked Ales.

"Teacher, if you were in my position, how would you block the arrows flying at you?"

She recalled the small commotion in the hallway with Frondier.

A baseball flew and broke the window, and she instantly burned everything.

But during the fall, they bounced off in mid-air.

It was definitely something Frondier did, but she couldn't guess the method.

Since it's hard to explain everything in detail, she changed the example from glass shards to arrows.

"Magically, there are countless ways. You can burn them, freeze them, or blow them away with wind. As long as you make them lose their power. Unless they are 'Anti-Magic' arrows."

"......What if someone blocks the arrows with an invisible wall? What do you think?"

"Are you saying they pushed them away with wind?"

"No, literally with an invisible wall, they bounced off."

"Have you seen someone do that?"

"No, no! It's just a hypothetical question. What if someone did that?"

Elodie's question might sound childish and silly to other students.

But Ales thought seriously. Because the student asking was Elodie.

Elodie must have thought about it first. The fact that she asked means there is a significant concern behind this question.

...But, even after thinking again, Ales's conclusion was the same.

"It's a strange thing to do."

"......Right?"

"The most likely possibility is a transparent magic. Whether it's a wall or a shield, anything that can be held by a person can be made transparent to block the arrows. Then, to others, it would appear as an 'invisible wall.' Literally. But transparent magic is quite tricky. It's not about making it truly transparent but using the reflection of light. A slight miscalculation can fail the transparency. Even if you succeed, there are still questions."

"......Why would someone do that?"

"Right. To block them, there's no need for transparency, and a simple shield would suffice. No magic is even necessary. If you want to use magic, there are easier ways, and there's no need to make a shield transparent. It doesn't make sense."

Elodie nodded, thinking the same.

...Moreover, Ales omitted the details.

Actually, the arrows were in a combat situation, and in Elodie's case, it was glass shards, a daily accident.

Who would carry an invisible shield in a hallway they usually walk through, just in case an attack might or might not come?

Ales thought for a moment and then spoke softly.

"There is one more possibility, but it's very unlikely."

"What is it?"

"Hmm, it's a far-fetched story."

"Still, I'd like to hear it."

Ales smiled wryly. His expression alone indicated that what he was about to say was absurd.

"Using aura."

"......Aura? The aura that warriors imbue in their weapons?"

"Right. Mana and aura are originally the same substance called 'Qi.' While mages use formulas to manipulate mana into magic, warriors train and temper themselves to imbue aura directly."

"But how is that related to an invisible wall?"

"While it's unfamiliar to mages, warriors who have reached a certain level can create aura without weapons."

Elodie's mouth opened. She finally understood what Ales was getting at.

I see why he called it a far-fetched story.

"So... are you saying a warrior who has reached that level created a shield-sized aura with their bare hands?"

"It's a hypothetical question, remember?"

"Ah, right! As a hypothetical question! I was just asking if it's possible."

Elodie answered while thinking.

The possibility that Frondier created aura is, of course, non-existent.

Creating aura with bare hands without a weapon is something only a few can do.

And creating aura large enough to bounce off countless glass shards?

'...It's impossible.'

So, did Frondier really do the silly thing of putting a transparency spell on a shield, or...

...Or, what?

Ales smiled at Elodie's puzzled expression.

Elodie must have seen something.

But Ales was sure. She must have seen it wrong.

"But it's just a theory. No one can do such a thing."

"......Right, as expected."

"If there was even one person who could do it, the human territory would be much larger now."

"Is it that serious?"

"If someone could create a shield-sized aura with bare hands, their body itself would be on par with a legendary weapon. A legendary weapon that fires randomly. Imagine dozens of invisible weapons flying, and if you get hit, a hole of the same size would be left."

Elodie's face turned pale at Ales's words.

"That's definitely... scary."