Chapter 48 of the Academy's Weapon Replicator

Chapter 12: The Traitor (2)

Malia surmised that Frontier had a gut feeling that there was a traitor among the teachers. If he were to inform any of them, the culprit might find out. That would put them in an even more dangerous situation. That's why he didn't tell the teachers.

'Was Frontier this wise?'

If he was, then she could rest easy. Her son.

Knock, knock.

At that moment, a knock came at the meeting room door. All the teachers looked at the door.

Who else could be here now?

"Excuse me~ Can I come in for a moment~?"

A gentle, but deflating voice.

Aless felt annoyed.

"Who are you to come in?"

"Oh, I'm Phil Terstra~"

Phil, who is he?

All the professors were momentarily stunned.

Malia was the first to realize.

"Open the door! Hurry!"

The other teachers finally realized as well. The teacher closest to the door quickly walked over and opened it.

"Wow~ I'm so sorry for the inconvenience~"

Phil, who entered, bowed his head.

His fair skin, lively eyes, and warm demeanor filled the meeting room.

"Mr. Phil. How could you come here alone...!"

"It's just that I was so bored. I sneaked out."

Sneaked out?

The faces of those around him darkened.

"Don't worry too much. I can protect myself."

That statement wasn't just bravado.

Phil was confident in her own abilities, and the knights who always protected her were with her.

But simply, there are norms.

"Mr. Phil, it's troublesome. The principal isn't here, and if you're discovered like this..."

"It's fine, it's fine~ I came here for a proper reason."

That's not the issue.

While the teachers were wiping their cold sweat, Phil looked around the room.

Then she smiled brightly when she saw Malia.

"Wow, Malia! I knew you'd be here."

"Mr. Phil, have you been well?"

"What's with that tone?"

Phil laughed, "Ahahaha."

Malia was smiling, but it was awkward.

"I understand, you can't speak freely here. Let's talk later."

Then Phil cleared her throat.

Looking around, she said, "Everyone knows that my daughter was almost in danger, right?"

The same warm demeanor and voice as before.

But the content was far from ordinary, and the meeting room was instantly filled with tension.

"Of course. We are gathered here because of that..."

"Hmm, I know. The teachers at Constel are excellent. I trust you."

Phil, who was defending the teachers.

For some reason, the teachers began to feel even more uneasy.

"So, what I'm saying is, wouldn't it be best for me to talk about it?"

Phil clasped her hands.

With an exceptionally clear expression.

"I'm really curious about the motive behind the attempt to kidnap my daughter."

* * *

I momentarily forgot about it because of Renzo.

But I was originally in the middle of a practical exam.

After regaining my senses, I was worried about the results of the practical exam.

Surely it wouldn't be invalidated just because Renzo barged in.

There was no actual loss of life.

Most students probably didn't even know about the intrusion.

If they had been catching monsters diligently and then found out it was invalidated, it would be the most absurd situation.

But now, the problem is me.

I couldn't catch any monsters after Renzo showed up.

So I asked Atene.

"Mr. Frontier and I are both 16th place."

"16th place?"

A strange ranking.

Not incredibly high, but not low considering we couldn't gather materials halfway through.

"Here."

"Ah, thanks."

Atene peeled an apple for me.

...It's delicious.

"Ah, so, how did we end up 16th? Did we get a bonus for stopping Renzo?"

"No, even if we had received such a score, it wouldn't have made much difference in the ranking."

"Huh?"

Atene tilted her head slightly.

Her white eyes blinked as if recalling something.

"Mr. Aster Evans."

"Huh?"

"He apparently eliminated the boss monster and all the nearby monsters."

"..."

"So, at that point, the top ranks were determined, and we were the highest among the rest. In fact, from 15th place onwards, there was a significant gap."

"..."

I see.

I always play as Aster in the game, so I don't know how the real Aster would act in a practical exam.

Usually, players stop catching monsters once they secure first place.

If they overdo it, it might affect their relationships with others.

But the real Aster doesn't seem to care about that.

This time, I survived thanks to him.

"So, about that."

"Yes."

"When am I getting discharged?"

Atene and I are in the hospital room together.

I'm starting to get used to this hospital.

"Mr. Frontier, you were almost dead. It's natural that you're hospitalized."

"But you saved me."

"Still."

Atene's restoration.

I didn't expect it to be possible so soon.

She apparently saw her future.

Ultimately, Phil's worries became reality.

But that reality saved me.

"Are you okay physically?"

"Yes. I really thought I was going to die."

It's not an exaggeration.

I was prepared to die.

I underestimated the danger of the Dragon Heart I created.

...Even if I knew the danger, I'm not sure I would have made a different choice.

"Never do that again."

"Huh?"

"How scared I was. I was afraid of losing you-"

Creak.

At that moment, the hospital room door opened.

I thought it might be a doctor, but a stranger came in.

The man in a suit bowed politely to me.

"Excuse me. Are you Mr. Frontier?"

"Yes, that's me."

"I'm Robert, the detective assigned to investigate this incident."

"Incident?"

"The attempted kidnapping of Princess Atene, and the details of the suspicion."

I see, an interview.

I nodded, and Robert brought a chair over and sat next to me.

He took out a notebook.

"I heard that you discovered Renzo first. Where was he located?"

Atene tensed at Robert's words.

The story that I discovered Renzo early and successfully handled the initial response was a prearranged lie.

If the investigation continues, it might be exposed.

However,

"Mr. Frontier? Where was he located?"

Seeing Robert's rather convincing acting, I smiled.

"Mr. Robert, right?"

"Yes."

"You're not a detective."

Unfortunately, I know who Robert is.

The suit doesn't suit him at all.

"..."

"If not a detective, why would I be here?"

"By Mr. Phil's order, I suppose."

Robert's eyes widened at my words.

I pretended to look him over and said,

"I can see it here. The calluses on your hands, the well-trained muscles that are hard to hide even in a suit. You tried hard to make your steps seem natural when you came in, but your habit showed when you bowed to me."

"..."

"You're a royal knight under Mr. Phil, right?"

I was just making things up.

I don't know about calluses or muscles.

I already knew Robert was one of Phil's knights.

I just said something plausible to explain how I knew.

I can't say, "I saw it in the game."

"..."

"Amazing."

Robert nodded with a genuinely admiring voice.

When you know the answer, any explanation sounds plausible.

Robert pretended to stiffen his expression.

"However, you're addressing the queen too casually. Please be more careful in the future."

"My apologies."

Oops. Did I inadvertently start calling her Mr. Phil?

I need to be more careful in the future.

"But it wasn't by the queen's order. I came here on my own will. That's why I wanted to hide my identity. I apologize."

Robert bowed again.

He's really polite.

"It's fine."

"Since there's no need to hide, it will be easier to talk. I have something I want to ask Mr. Frontier, who fought Renzo directly."

"What is it? I can't answer much, but I'll try."

How he cut Renzo's arm, for example.

I can't answer that even if asked.

That's probably what he's most curious about.

"Renzo approached you and Atene without anyone noticing. Do you think he could have done that alone?"

I thought for a moment.

Renzo's stealth skills were excellent.

He managed to get so close without us noticing.

But he still triggered the Menosorpo.

Since Menosorpo isn't a security magic circle, it's hard to believe he bypassed other security measures alone.

"Probably not."

Renzo's stealth skills were outstanding.

He got so close without us noticing.

But he still triggered the Menosorpo.

Since Menosorpo isn't a security magic circle, it's hard to believe he bypassed other security measures alone.

"So, you also think there's an accomplice?"

"Yes, within Constel."

"..."

"I see."

It's a bit awkward to say, but...

I know the accomplice, the traitor within Constel.

But that's not the important part.

If we focus too much on finding the traitor, the investigation might go off track.

"Mr. Robert, you're a knight under Mr. Phil, right?"

"Yes."

"I have something to tell you."

"What is it?"

"There's one more person."

At my words, Robert blinked.

Then his face turned serious.

"Another accomplice?"

"Renzo said he was paid a decent amount for this job."

Renzo had an employer.

The traitor within Constel was also likely coerced or bribed by someone.

Or they might have infiltrated a spy from the beginning.

In other words, there's a third person who hired Renzo and also created a traitor within Constel.

"Mr. Frontier, I don't want to ask, but I have to."

"What is it?"

"By telling me and Mr. Phil, you mean..."

"Yes."

I nodded calmly.

"I believe that person is one of the royal family."