Chapter 41 of the Academy's Weapon Replicator

Chapter 11: Dragon Heart (1)

The Imperial Palace.

The heart of the Terst Empire, the capital Sylvest.

If you head further north after entering, a massive outer wall appears, visible even from a distance.

That is the outer wall of the Imperial Palace.

Each side of the wall is a staggering 20 km long.

Once inside this enormous square outer wall, the inner fortresses reveal their grandeur.

To reach the innermost fortress where the emperor resides, one must pass through all these fortresses.

Life within the outer walls is designed to be entirely self-sufficient.

There are supermarkets, restaurants, beauty salons, laundries, hospitals, and even entertainment facilities like bars and karaoke rooms.

It's like a castle version of a mixed-use residential and commercial building.

Soon, I faced the magnificent inner fortress.

Its noble presence stood there, grand and imposing, as if designed by a designer without any consideration for scale.

The car stopped, and Philia and I got out.

"From here, we need to blindfold you. Please understand."

I nodded, and the driver came over to blindfold my eyes.

Just a piece of cloth wrapped around my head, but I couldn't see anything.

Despite being just a driver, the sense of authority he exuded was considerable.

Does he also act as a bodyguard in emergencies?

I turned in place at Philia's instruction and then walked toward somewhere.

Every time we reached a fork, I had to turn in place and then continue walking.

By then, not only had I lost track of the path, but my sense of direction was completely gone.

...Of course, I know the entire structure of the Imperial Palace.

Philia's efforts to keep the interior hidden from me are admirable but meaningless.

I didn't say anything because there was no point.

"Alright, you can take it off now."

I untied the blindfold at Philia's words and looked around. The place was filled with various weapons and shields.

It was the royal armory.

"First, I'll meet your conditions. I'll take the information afterward. That's the proper order."

I nodded and looked around.

Pretending to look for a suitable weapon, I put everything inside the workshop.

Of course, with my skills, I can't properly use many of the weapons here, but having more weapons in the workshop can't hurt.

Then I stopped at one place.

Philia spoke, noticing where I was looking.

"Oh, I should tell you, that weapon is not allowed."

"I know."

A hammer with a short handle.

A square piece of steel, identical on both sides of the handle.

The strongest weapon in the Terst Empire.

Thor's divine weapon, Mjolnir.

'This brings back memories.'

A common topic in communities related to Etius in the previous world.

'Which is stronger, Thor's Mjolnir or Zeus's lightning?'

It was a childish debate, like arguing over which would win in a fight between a lion and a tiger.

The reason this debate never ends is that the protagonist, Aster, can't use either.

Mjolnir is kept deep within the empire and used by the emperor in emergencies.

Zeus's lightning, 'Astrapê,' has never been seen by anyone.

It's just speculation that, since Etius is a game where gods exist, Zeus's lightning must be there.

'But I can use it.'

I had already put it in the workshop.

But I can't use it right away.

Even the legendary weapon 'Gram' can only maintain its weaving for 5 seconds.

Using Mjolnir would probably be impossible.

'...Someday.'

For now, I'll just keep it in the workshop.

There will be a time when I can use it.

I picked up a suitable sword nearby.

I had already checked the contents while putting them in the workshop, so this was one of the best here.

"...You have a good eye."

"Thank you."

"Let's move on then."

I was blindfolded again, turned in place, and moved.

After a while, following Philia's instructions to remove the blindfold, I saw a long staircase.

"Be careful from here. We'll be going down the stairs. This place was hastily built later, so the facilities are incomplete."

I followed Philia down the dark staircase.

How far did we go down?

As Philia said, this place was clearly unfinished.

The walls were just dug out of the ground, with no proper construction.

Just stone walls.

I thought we had gone down about ten floors.

We reached a flat area.

"I'll open the door, so please wait."

Philia walked toward the door and then suddenly stopped.

Thud!

A fairly large rock fell in front of her.

"Ah, ah!"

Philia was startled and took a step back.

It seemed to be a falling rock due to poor maintenance.

If she had been hit, she might have been injured, though not killed.

– But that scene.

It looked incredibly strange, and it couldn't just be my imagination.

'What just happened?'

Philia stopped before the rock fell.

As if she knew it was coming.

But after the rock fell, she was visibly startled and trembled.

'Is this a performance for me? Why?'

If it was a performance, I would have to assume that all of Philia's expressions were also performances.

Even if it was a performance, there's no reason for her to put on such a show for me.

How did Philia know the rock was going to fall?

If she knew, why was she so startled?

"Um, ahem. Now then. Shall I open it?"

Philia cleared her throat awkwardly and grabbed the doorknob.

It seemed a magic spell was activated, as the sound of a lock unlocking was heard.

It's a fingerprint spell.

There was one in the Roah annex, the cottage, but this one is probably much more advanced.

I put aside the strange feeling and entered with Philia.

In the center, a greenish object was placed.

Its shape reminded me of a triangle.

A very thin and small triangle.

It looked like thick cylindrical rods connected in a triangular shape.

The Dragon Heart was right in front of me.

'...Hold on.'

Now that I think about it, I might as well try this too.

It's not a weapon, so I doubt I'll need it, but...

'What would happen if I weave this and consume it?'

...It feels dangerous.

"Alright, you've seen it. Now it's your turn, Mr. Frondier."

"The information about the Dragon Heart."

"Yes."

Philia waved her hand and cast a spell.

It's 'Whisper of the Wind.'

I used this spell before with Quini to prevent our conversation from being overheard.

It seems odd that someone would listen here, but she's thorough.

"Do you really have information about the Dragon Heart that's worth this much?"

This question is very uncharacteristic of Philia.

She has no trust in me, yet she's asking about the value of the information.

It must mean she's desperate.

"I can only say that I do."

"...I see."

Philia's red eyes scrutinized me.

As if trying to see through me, to detect any pretense.

But what would change even if she did?

'Philia Terst, I wish you could be an ally if possible.'

Philia is a character in the game Etius who is almost always portrayed as gray.

Depending on how the game is played, Philia can be either an enemy or an ally of the protagonist.

I want Philia to be an ally.

But blind goodwill would only breed suspicion.

And as long as I don't know what Philia is thinking, blind goodwill could even strangle me.

"...Ms. Philia."

I called her.

Not as the empress, and without any honorifics.

Philia's eyes narrowed.

"Hmm? What is it all of a sudden?"

"Why do you need the Dragon Heart?"

"That's none of your business. It's not part of the deal, is it?"

That's true.

She had no intention of telling me from the start.

It's a secret even within the royal family, so she wouldn't tell me.

"Ms. Philia."

"If I let you off once, no, even once is too lenient, but if it happens a second time—"

"What did you do to Aten?"

Philia's eyes widened at my words.

In the game, Philia is intelligent, capable, and adept at politics and strategy.

But ultimately, her top priority is her daughters.

Elysia, Sale, and Aten.

Among them, Aten is her number one.

Philia's reason for exerting influence in politics and saving the Terst Empire from crises is all for Aten.

To make Philia an ally, I need to gain Aten's trust first.

But for some reason, when Aster and Aten first met, Aten treated Aster very coldly.

Until now, I thought it was just Aten's 'personality,' but as Frondier, I see a different side.

Aten dislikes Aster.

She dislikes someone she has never met.

Despite Aster having no issues with his reputation, behavior, or appearance.

In fact, she dislikes him without any reason, given that he is at the top of his class.

'...Magic.'

That's the only explanation.

Aten is under some kind of spell.

Probably a spell that makes her feel hatred toward a designated target.

But spells that affect a person's mind don't activate easily.

They require prolonged and continuous exposure to have any effect.

It's similar to brainwashing.

Moreover, to keep the process hidden, it must be even more complex and meticulous.

...The only person who could do this to Aten is Philia.

"What are you talking about?"

Philia tried to deny it.

It doesn't matter.

Aten is a huge weakness for Philia.

"I know you love Aten. I know you live for her, willing to give everything you have."

"..."

Philia didn't respond.

"It's hard to guess why you would cast a spell to make Aten hate Aster."

"You know that much, do you?"

Philia no longer denied it.

Denying it would be pointless, as I could just go to Aten and tell her everything.

By bringing me here, Philia doesn't have many options left.

Kill me to keep me quiet?

I may not be much, but I'm the son of the Roah family.

It's not a problem that can be swept under the rug.

If that happens, the secret about the Dragon Heart, which has been kept hidden, would be exposed.

The spell that makes Aten hate Aster.

In other words, Philia doesn't want Aten and Aster to get close.

But Philia's love for Aten is absolute.

So, the spell must also be for Aten's sake.

However, in almost all scenarios of the game, Aten becomes Aster's companion.

Philia's spell eventually wears off.

And when that happens, Aten fights alongside Aster and ultimately—

'Now I understand.'

Avoiding the rock that fell in front of her,

Philia's strange reaction after avoiding it,

And the cruel ending of this game that only I know.

I said,

"Ms. Philia, can you see the 'future'?"

Philia's face lost all expression at my words.

But soon, she regained her gentle demeanor and,

with the most natural and most Philia-like awkward smile, replied,

"...A little."