Chapter 50 of the Weapon Replicator of the Academy

Section 13: Invitation

"Wow..."

"Another one after Aten-sama?"

"Oh, come on. She must have come to see Aten-sama."

A commotion broke out in Constel. The students passing by were whispering, looking at something.

There, a woman was walking down the corridor with confidence.

Silver hair, blue eyes. Her appearance was similar to Aten's, but colder and more alluring. The gentle smile on her lips only added to the enchanting atmosphere.

Elysia Terst.

The First Princess, Filia's daughter, and Aten's older sister, had come to Constel.

"Hey, student."

Elysia called out to a female student who was glancing at her.

"Ah, yes, yes!"

"Do you know a student named Frontier de Loach?"

Elysia spoke to her in a very natural way, as if it would be strange if she didn't.

"Frontier...?"

The female student was inadvertently flustered.

She thought Elysia was looking for her younger brother Aten, but was she not?

Elysia narrowed her eyes.

"Don't ask questions, just answer."

"Ah, yes! Frontier de Loach is in Class 5! On the first floor of the main building!"

"Thank you."

Elysia replied and walked away. The female student who answered her sighed in relief as if the ground had opened up beneath her.

It was a regal presence, different from Aten's, yet fitting all the same.

When Elysia arrived at the classroom and opened the door, Frontier and Aten were inside.

Frontier, who had already heard the rumors of Elysia's arrival, looked at her with an expression of disbelief.

Elysia smiled at Frontier's cold gaze.

It's been a while since someone didn't cower before the name of a princess.

"Big sister."

Aten spoke first.

Elysia replied with a casual "Hello," and then asked Frontier.

"Frontier de Loach, is that you?"

"...Yes, Your Highness."

Unlike Aten, Elysia had not come as a student. Therefore, Frontier used the most respectful form of address.

The form of address used for someone who would inherit the throne, 'Your Highness.' This pleased Elysia.

"I heard you saved my brother."

"I didn't save him. It was thanks to the Pros and the teachers."

Frontier had only contacted the Pros after discovering Rensho. This was the lie Frontier had fabricated.

"It's the same thing."

Elysia said, and then,

She lightly held the ends of her dress and bowed.

The moment Elysia touched her dress, Frontier stood up and knelt on one knee.

"Thank you. As Aten's older sister, and as the First Princess of the Empire."

"...I don't know what to do with myself."

For the First Princess to show gratitude to a mere student was not a common occurrence.

Even if Frontier was from a noble family, this was especially true in Constel.

Elysia lightly clasped her hands.

"Then, I want to repay you."

"It's an honor, but there's no need to do so."

"I really want to repay you."

Elysia maintained her smile, making it clear that she would not accept any further refusal.

Her gaze could not see Frontier's expression as he knelt with his head bowed. But no matter what his face looked like, he could not refuse.

After a moment, Frontier bowed his head a little more and replied.

"...I am overwhelmed by your kindness."

Indeed.

He should be overwhelmed.

* * *

The place Elysia took Frontier to was none other than the Terst Department Store.

Entering the luxury section, Elysia said,

"Buy whatever you like. I'll pay for it."

"...This is the Terst Department Store, isn't it?"

"Yes, so what?"

"No, nothing."

If Elysia really became the Empress, the money she spent would ultimately return to her.

Frontier couldn't tell if this could be called a purchase.

"Can I really buy anything?"

"Yes. Just one item per store, though."

Otherwise, it would be difficult to buy everything in a store, for both Elysia and Frontier.

Frontier nodded. That was his intention from the start.

Frontier entered the nearest store. Elysia watched him, her eyes filled with interest.

This entire floor was the luxury section, and no prices were marked on any of the items.

It wasn't easy to find the best item in a store just by being told to buy anything.

It wasn't just about the price. Prices fluctuate. The question was how well the purchased item would maintain or increase in value.

In other words, the ability to discern the quality of an item. Elysia wanted to see if Frontier had this eye.

A noble should act and present themselves in a manner befitting their status.

Having such an eye was one of the basic qualities Elysia expected.

And,

Frontier, after entering the store for less than a minute, picked up an item.

There was no careful examination, no meticulous attention to detail.

The interest in Elysia's eyes faded. So, he was just an ordinary person after all. She had hoped for a bit more from the famous Loach family.

"Have you already chosen?"

"Yes. A watch."

Indeed, the item Frontier handed over was a watch.

'Hmm.'

Elysia's eyes widened. This watch was undoubtedly a signature item of 'Shol,' the most expensive and highest quality item here.

'Is this a coincidence?'

At the next store,

The time Frontier took to choose an item was almost the same as before.

This time, a bag. Again, the highest quality product.

The same went for the next and the next store.

Frontier seemed to choose items casually, but he invariably picked the best ones.

There were more expensive items, but considering the market and demand, the ones Frontier chose were undoubtedly the best.

'Unbelievable...'

Frontier didn't even consider whether the items suited him.

He picked up items that didn't suit him at all, including women's products, without hesitation.

It was clear. Frontier knew what Elysia was looking for and exceeded her expectations.

To have the discernment to choose the best items in every category, regardless of personal taste?

And to do so with just a casual glance?

Elysia's eyes, which had seemed sleepy a moment ago, now looked sharp and discerning.

After Frontier toured the stores, Elysia had the items he chose sent to the Loach residence by a staff member.

Then, the two entered a café called 'Melting Garden' and had drinks.

"I'm impressed, Frontier. I didn't expect you to have such discernment."

Elysia was genuinely amazed.

Frontier took a sip of coffee and smiled subtly.

"To a student at Constel, it's not that important a skill."

Constel was, after all, an institution for training combatants.

Warriors who aimed to exterminate monsters and expand the boundaries of humanity.

As Frontier said, the ability to discern items was not a necessary skill for students at Constel.

Elysia narrowed her eyes and smiled.

"That's true. It's a skill for nobles."

"...I don't understand the meaning of your words."

Elysia leaned in, smiling as if sharing a secret.

But the words that came out of her smiling mouth were not a secret.

They were a much more serious and weighty question.

"Frontier, would you like to come to the palace?"

At this, Frontier looked at Elysia. He just looked. His silent gaze was indifferent.

Elysia smiled more deeply.

"The prestigious Loach family of the North, the one who saved Aten, and now this discernment. If I recommend you, you can secure a good position in the palace."

"...I am sufficient at Constel."

"That's not true. I heard about your nickname, 'Human Sloth Frontier.'"

At this, Frontier smiled slightly.

Elysia continued.

"Constel isn't a good fit for you, is it? Come to the palace. If you want to be lazy, you can be. There are enough benefits promised."

"Why are you recommending me?"

"Because I will become the 'Empress.' If I've said this much, you should know. You're not that stupid, right?"

Indeed, Frontier knew.

Elysia's target was not Frontier himself but the Loach family. More specifically, she wanted Ampere, the one with the title 'Iron Wall.'

By bringing Frontier into the palace, she could pull the Loach family closer to the center.

Other families were in an uproar trying to advance to the center, but Ampere, even when the Empire begged him, had no intention of coming.

Frontier was the stepping stone. From this stepping stone, she could bring the entire Loach family into her fold.

Elysia was so confident because this proposal would not harm Frontier.

Whether he was a stepping stone or a bonus, the fact that Frontier would enter the palace and be promised a good position was true.

It was a win-win strategy. So, being straightforward was more trustworthy.

Elysia subtly probed Frontier.

"Or do you want Aten? He didn't seem to mind you much."

At this, Frontier's expression changed slightly.

It was a very small change, imperceptible on the surface.

But Elysia felt it in the atmosphere and temperature.

"Elysia-san."

"...Oh?"

Elysia laughed. It was the deepest laugh of the day. It was not bright, just deep.

As expected, Frontier was fearless. He called her 'Your Highness' only because they were in Constel. Frontier had always been this way.

Elysia somehow understood. This man, while polite, was only moderately so, and not the type to adjust his manners based on power and authority.

"I would have saved Aten no matter who I was. And even if it wasn't me, any student at Constel would have saved Aten. Informing the nearby Pros of the situation doesn't require anything special."

"Such a model student answer. It's hard to believe you have such a nickname."

"This isn't because I'm a student at Constel. It's something anyone would do as a human."

Frontier took the last sip of his coffee and put down the cup. It was already empty.

"So, neither I nor Aten, nor anything else, is special."

"Wouldn't Aten be disappointed to hear that?"

"He wouldn't."

Frontier stood up.

"Thank you for the invitation, but I decline. If there's nothing else, I'll be going."

Frontier walked away without waiting for a response.

It was an extremely formal and, considering their positions, very impolite behavior.

"Hmm."

Elysia, whether because of the rudeness, the speed at which he left, or the fact that his actions were quite convincing, did not feel angry. She just watched his back.

A little tea was left. Elysia picked up the teacup and gently swirled its contents. Then she drank it in one gulp.

She then stood up and walked to a corner of the café.

"So, are you disappointed?"

There, Aten, whose face was hidden by a hood, was waiting.

Aten felt a bit embarrassed at how easily his sister had seen through him, but he still answered honestly.

"No, not at all."

"You said you didn't save him because of you, and that any student at Constel would have done the same?"

Aten closed his eyes briefly and then opened them.

It was an action to confirm his own feelings. Whether he was secretly disappointed or not.

What it meant that Frontier didn't treat him specially.

"Really, I'm not disappointed at all."

It was a sincere answer from his heart, and therefore, Aten's eyes were very clear.