Chapter 49 of the Academy's Weapon Replicator

Chapter 12: The Traitor (3)

Deep in the underground of Obsidian.

In a room lit by a faint torch.

Philip Terst appeared with two knights.

"It's dangerous to stay here for too long."

"I know that."

Philip replied with a smile to the man standing in front of the door.

Philip opened the door and stepped inside with the knights.

"Hello."

Philip greeted the man in front of her as usual.

"......Who are you?"

The man who replied was Renjo.

"Does the food suit your taste? Is there anything uncomfortable?"

"......Who are you?"

Renjo looked at Philip with an unpleasant expression.

Philip glanced briefly at Renjo's right side.

His missing right arm.

Instantly.

"......Do you want to fight?"

Renjo's killing intent sharply pierced Philip.

He saw the brief movement of her eyes.

However, Philip still smiled warmly.

"No, no. I wouldn't dare."

"You crazy woman......"

Renjo stood up.

He was not restrained in any way.

The two knights blocked his slow steps.

But.

"Move. Both of you."

"Pi, Philip-sama!"

The two knights were taken aback by Philip's words.

Philip, without changing her expression, said,

"No, just the two of you please leave. I want to have a sincere conversation with this person."

"Hu, however."

"Don't add anything else."

Philip smiled deeply at the knights.

"I'm giving an order. Don't you understand?"

"......!"

Only then did the two knights step back from Philip, slowly walk to the door, and open it.

After worriedly watching Philip's back, they left the room.

"You really lost your fear, didn't you?"

"Hmm, Renjo-san."

"What?"

"Stop barking."

At that moment, Renjo's patience seemed to snap.

With a roar, he grabbed Philip's neck with his hand.

"You crazy woman, how dare you......!"

His eyes were bloodshot with anger, and veins bulged on his forehead.

However, he never broke Philip's neck.

When Renjo released his hand, Philip straightened her disheveled clothes.

"Sure enough, you're not stupid."

At Philip's words, Renjo ground his teeth but did nothing.

"So, now that you seem to understand the situation, let's have a proper conversation. Sit down."

At Philip's words, Renjo's killing intent did not subside, but he walked over and sat back in his original spot.

Philip sat opposite him.

"So, what does the Empress want?"

"First, I have a question."

Philip looked at Renjo's empty right side and asked.

"How did that arm fly off?"

"Really annoying. You know, right? A student did this."

"I'm not asking that, but how exactly did that student manage to sever your right arm?"

Philip knew about Renjo's strength.

He was compared to 'Eden Hamelot' among professionals, and if he weren't a criminal, he could easily have a seat among the 'Zodiacs.'

The 'Zodiacs' refer to the 12 human weapons designated by the state.

The principal of Consell, 'Osprey,' is also a member of the Zodiacs.

As is 'Zodiac Heldre,' who attended the noble council during the Mistletoe incident.

Of course, the empire has other strong individuals besides the Zodiacs.

Notably, the Iron Wall of the North, 'Amper de Roach.'

Amper is not a Zodiac because the Zodiacs must always follow direct orders from the empire.

Amper simply disliked that.

Anyway, Renjo's body easily surpassed the realm of ordinary humans.

Even without using aura, a clumsy sword would not leave a scratch on his muscles.

But Frondier managed to do it.

Renjo, resting his chin, seemed to recall something unpleasant and muttered softly.

"I don't know."

"......You don't know?"

"Exactly that."

Renjo said nothing more.

Philip laughed.

"Hmm? You can ask the witness and find out everything, right?"

"......I don't know."

Renjo clicked his tongue and repeated the same words.

Philip had seen Renjo's true expression a moment ago.

She read genuine anger, confusion, and resignation.

Based on that, she concluded,

'......It doesn't seem like he's lying.'

He really doesn't know.

What kind of attack he faced.

'What happened in that fight?'

Philip had told Renjo that he could ask the witness, but in fact, she had already asked the witness.

The only witness was his daughter, Atene.

But Atene's answer was similar.

-Not sure. Frondier must have done something, but Renjo's right arm suddenly flew off. At least, that's how it looked to me.

At the time, she thought Atene was too far away to see clearly.

But if even the person involved doesn't know.

'Well, I'll think about it later.'

Philip brought up the main topic.

"So, why did you kidnap our daughter?"

"......"

"I'm the mother of the girl who tried to kidnap you. I decide whether your head stays on or not."

At that smile, Renjo clicked his tongue and said,

"It's obvious. Because it would be fun."

"Kidnapping a princess?"

"Exactly. Think about it. The empire would be turned upside down. Everyone would be out to get me, and just thinking about it gives me chills."

Philip looked at Renjo's face again.

'Lying.'

There's no need to think.

The current Renjo is here because he ultimately failed the kidnapping, but he was supposed to succeed.

Succeeding was the norm.

He entered the field unnoticed and reached a place where only Atene and one student were.

There was no way he could fail.

But even if he succeeded, what would he gain?

What benefit would there be in becoming an enemy of the empire?

Atene Terst is the Third Princess.

Her symbolic name has value, but from the empire's perspective, she's not worth that much.

Renjo would gain nothing by kidnapping Atene.

The empire wouldn't trade for one princess.

They would only desperately hunt him down to kill him.

That's what a princess's life is worth.

They would draw their swords to save her but wouldn't extend a hand.

Even if it meant the princess's death.

'So, the purpose wasn't to trade after kidnapping. The purpose was in the kidnapping itself.'

──Be careful of the palace.

Frondier's advice keeps echoing in her mind.

"Fine. I'll come back later. If your bed or food is uncomfortable, let me know."

Philip stood up without hesitation.

There was no information she could confirm now.

To the back of Philip, who turned around, Renjo said,

"Do you think you're smart?"

It sounded like a loser's taunt,

like a line used when fleeing,

or a curse from a coward.

However, it left a deep, unpleasant echo in Philip's ears.

"Think about it with that smart head of yours."

"......What do you mean?"

"I'm just the beginning."

At that moment, Renjo was smiling.

A provoking, arrogant smile.

"The empire will be turned upside down."

A taunt.

"The palace will burn, people will scream, and a massive earthquake will split the empire in two."

A farewell line.

"I want to see how that arrogant face of yours will change. How it will crumble in your own foolishness."

──A curse.

"......Sigh."

Philip sighed.

"If you want to see that so badly, you can see it later. Even a severed head has eyes."

With those words,

Philip left the room.

* * *

Leaving the hospital was quick.

Since Atene had fully healed me.

I returned to Consell soon after.

Aster, Cybel, and Elodie were worried about my absence for a few days, but I brushed them off.

Cybel and Elodie's sad expressions were very concerning.

And then.

"......What?"

Atene asked blankly.

I said,

"So, you don't need to follow me anymore."

"What do you mean......"

Atene, who seemed confused.

I scratched my head.

Well, it was my fault for not mentioning this earlier.

She must have gotten used to following me.

"I followed you because of the 'Dragon Heart,' right?"

"......!"

"Since I've told the Empress everything about the Dragon Heart, there's no need for you to do that anymore."

Atene was definitely a spy sent by Philip to extract information from me.

......No, calling her a spy might be too sinister.

Since she was going to be sent to Consell anyway, it would be better if she was in my class and could gather information about the Dragon Heart.

That's the kind of feeling.

But I told Philip everything about the Dragon Heart last time.

There's no need for Atene to follow me around anymore.

The gazes and whispers of others must have been quite stressful for her.

That's what freedom is.

"Do you understand now? From now on, you can live your life here as you please. Make friends."

"......I see. You knew everything."

"Well, it was too strange."

The empire's princess following a male student she just met.

It's strange no matter how you look at it.

"Alright, I need to go eat."

Atene, though she seems cold, reveals her grace and humility after a few words.

She'll make friends quickly.

My presence would only be a hindrance.

'And I don't have to worry about her, so it's convenient.'

There's a chance to mend things with Aster.

Philip said the magic she cast isn't very strong.

This is a win-win situation.

With a light heart, I walked towards the dining hall.

......But.

"......Hey, listen."

"Yes."

The inevitable answer came from behind.

Atene was still following me.

Still chasing after me.

"Look, you don't need to follow me anymore. Live your school life as you like."

"I am."

Atene said with her usual expressionless face.

"I'm doing what I want, as you said."

What does that mean?

When did following me become what Atene wanted to do?

I tilted my head, thought hard, and finally asked,

"......Why?"

At my question, Atene blinked, looked down, to the side, and at the ceiling.

......It seems she needs a lot of thought.

Her answer was,

"......I don't know."

"......"

What is this?

Is she tormenting me?

Was my previous thought correct?

But Atene, after deep contemplation, looked at me seriously.

"Frondier-san."

"Yes?"

"I'm not strange."

"Huh?"

"You said I was too strange, but I'm not strange."

Ah, is she talking about what I said earlier?

"Ah, that doesn't mean you're strange."

"Yes, I know."

"Ah, you do?"

Then why?

Atene, struggling to explain, finally said,

"I'm not strange."

"Okay, so-"

"No."

Atene interrupted me.

It was the first time.

Atene's words began.

"I follow Frondier-san."

Like a dam breaking.

"Because I want to do it myself,"

As if she couldn't control it.

"I don't know the reason yet, at all."

As if she was pouring out her true feelings.

"I'm not strange at all."

It all poured out towards me.

"......"

I was momentarily speechless.

Atene, after saying that, pressed her lips together.

She seemed worried if her words were properly conveyed.

"......Alright. Do as you please."

I replied.

Ultimately, I don't understand why she follows me.

Even she doesn't know the reason.

By allowing her to follow me, I ended up not knowing the reason either.

"Yes."

In that short answer, a small smile bloomed.