Chapter 51 of the Weapon Replicator at the Academy

Section 14: Multiple Choice

Aten following me has become a daily routine.

There were still people who were surprised or whispered when they saw us, but it seemed that most had gotten used to it.

After school, as I headed towards the school gate of Constel, I saw a familiar vehicle.

As I approached, the rear window of the car rolled down.

"......We meet often, Mr. Frondear."

"Hello."

Frondear waved at me. Aten, who was behind me, also waved at Frondear.

Now that I look, their hand movements are quite similar.

They must be mother and daughter after all.

"Mr. Frondear, please get in."

"I thought you were done with me."

"You're right. But I have a favor to ask this time."

Hmm.

I didn't expect Frondear to show up like this, but I have a rough idea of what the favor might be.

However, Frondear's speed of action is much faster than I anticipated. Does this mean she senses the importance of this matter? Or does she have a high opinion of me?

"Understood."

"Aten, you too. Get in the front seat."

"......Okay."

The two of us got into the car.

The car moved smoothly, and Aten, looking a bit awkward, was watching Frondear and me through the rearview mirror from the front seat.

"Where are we going?"

"To the Tershte Department Store. It's the only place where we can have a peaceful conversation."

Indeed.

The reason Frondear sought me out seems to align with my expectations.

* * *

After arriving at the department store, Aten and I followed Frondear to a hideout in the basement.

Opening the steel door, we entered a room that resembled a palace in design.

Frondear sat in a chair in front of the central table and offered me the chair opposite.

As Aten and I sat down and Frondear waved her hand, all the men guarding us left.

Only the three of us remained in the room.

Frondear took a sip of the tea that was prepared in advance.

"......I need to be certain."

"......"

I didn't force a response.

Frondear continued.

"I've thought long and hard about the advice you gave me. Since you risked your life to protect Aten, I know it's true. I've pondered and pondered this advice, engraving it in my heart, before taking action."

Frondear seemed similar to her usual self, but there was an unmistakable sense of complexity in her expression.

Indeed, Frondear has reached the right conclusion.

"......But I still need to be certain."

"Alright."

I nodded.

"Let's hear what you have to say, Ms. Frondear."

"I met Renzo."

Aten seemed a bit surprised by Frondear's words.

Frondear's tone was casual, as if it was nothing.

"Renzo isn't a stupid man. He knows how to distinguish right from wrong. He wouldn't want to become an enemy of the empire. If he did, the 'fun' he so desires would come to an end."

That's a sound judgment. I nodded.

Frondear said she needed to be certain. By agreeing with her, she can advance her own logic.

"If the imperial princess were kidnapped, no matter the reason, death would be unavoidable. That means becoming an enemy of the empire."

"That's correct."

"But there is one way."

Frondear took another sip of tea, as if to build suspense,

and whispered so quietly that the water in her teacup trembled.

"Not getting caught in the first place."

"......!"

Aten seemed to realize this at that moment.

The biggest irregularity in this kidnapping attempt is none other than me.

The fact that I stopped Renzo.

The reason we know the culprit is Renzo is because we stopped the kidnapping.

However, if someone other than me had been with Aten, Aten would have been kidnapped with 100% certainty. And if that happened, it would be impossible to immediately identify the culprit.

"All the drones near Mr. Frondear were replaced with fakes. The drones along the escape route were likely destroyed or replaced as well."

But even if such work was done, it would eventually be discovered.

Even if there was a traitor inside Constel, Constel isn't that naive a place.

It's impossible to completely hide the culprit. Eventually, Renzo's crime would be revealed.

However, if the kidnapping had succeeded, there would be a 'gap' before Renzo is identified as the culprit, unlike now.

The culprit wanted that 'gap.'

"To understand the full extent of the crime, you must always answer three questions."

Frondear raised her index finger.

"Why this person?"

Aten answered.

"......That is, why did they target me? The answer is simple. Because I am a princess."

There are countless reasons to target Aten, the third princess. There's no doubt about this.

Frondear raised her middle finger.

"Why this place?"

Aten answered again.

"Constel. This is easy to understand. Renzo has accomplices inside Constel, and I am a student here. This isn't strange."

There was no doubt about this, and Frondear raised her ring finger.

"Why this time?"

Aten thought for a moment before answering.

"......During the practical exam. This is odd."

Indeed, this isn't a good time for a crime.

The practical exam area, always monitored by drones, and a time limit for sneaking in and out. Ultimately, Renzo couldn't resolve these three conditions, which led to his exposure.

"Still, the culprits judged this to be the most 'optimal' time."

"That's correct."

I nodded again.

At that moment, Frondear glanced at Aten. It was an unconscious movement.

Aten tilted her head, and Frondear smiled bitterly.

"......The culprit used Mr. Frondear."

"That's correct."

I gave the same answer without hesitation.

Why this time?

The answer is simpler than you might think.

[During the practical exam, only Frondear is with Aten.]

Frondear's worst reputation.

'Human sloth Frondear.'

This image is enough to confuse people about who the kidnapper might be.

When we confronted each other, Renzo said,

-Oh, I don't care about you. The princess is my target.

Renzo never intended to attack me. If he did, it would have been just for fun.

In fact, he struck my 'side' with the first blow.

Whether he held back or not, he had plenty of opportunities to attack vital points.

In other words, he didn't intend to kill me.

"If the kidnapping had succeeded, the only witness would be Mr. Frondear, you. With your low reputation, it would be hard to trust your word, and you might even be suspected as the culprit."

The injury to my side could be staged, and the kidnapping could be blamed on an accomplice I conspired with.

It's natural for witnesses to be suspected when a crime occurs.

But since it's me, the suspicion would be even greater.

"Of course, this is also a problem that will eventually be resolved. Once it's known that you're not the culprit, Constel will finally realize that Renzo is the culprit."

The culprit didn't want Renzo to be completely exposed. They wanted to delay the exposure as much as possible.

In the process, they tried to use me, but failed.

"......What do you mean by that?"

At that moment, Aten's voice was heard.

Her breath formed frost on the air.

"What do you mean, Mom?"

Aten also understood what Frondear was trying to say.

Frondear continued slowly.

"......During the practical exam, you and Frondear have a high probability of being paired together. So, the culprit targeted the practical exam. But how did they know? How did they know you and Frondear would be paired during the practical exam?"

In other words,

The culprit knew that Aten was sent to me to get close.

But the number of people who knew this is extremely small.

"......So, what does that mean?"

"Aten."

Frondear looked at Aten.

That smile was undoubtedly a mother's smile.

"One of your two older sisters is Renzo's accomplice."

Those words.

The words Aten had been dreading, Frondear finally spoke.

Frondear sent Aten to me to obtain the Dragon Heart information. She didn't reveal this information to anyone in the palace, not even to her daughters, Sale and Elysia.

However, the only two people who could potentially uncover Frondear's information were Sale and Elysia.

There are many methods. For example, 'bugging.'

-How are you getting along with your classmates?

-Uh, not really.

-Oh! I told you to get along with your classmates. At your age, studies are important, but friends are the most important.

-Just a little with Frondear.

Even a simple conversation between Frondear and Aten could be bugged by Elysia or Sale.

"......Lies."

Aten spat out the word.

She looked at me, as if expecting me to deny it.

But I couldn't deny it. I already knew who the culprit was, even before Frondear's logical deduction.

I said,

"......If the culprit is one of the queen's daughters, it makes sense why they wanted the 'gap' before Renzo is identified as the culprit. Ms. Frondear has many enemies. If rumors spread that I was colluding with you, and the palace is turned upside down, the real power in the empire could change in an instant."

Then Renzo wouldn't be an enemy of the empire but would be protected by it.

Since a princess is the accomplice, this bold crime is possible.

Aten bit her lip at my words.

Frondear slowly spoke.

"......Mr. Frondear. Do you know which of the two is the culprit?"

"......If I say I do, will you believe me?"

"Of course."

Frondear's words seemed sincere.

Frondear's acting skills are so excellent that I can't see through them.

But given her character, if she didn't believe me, she wouldn't have asked.

However, I said,

"Even if I know, I won't tell you who the culprit is."

"Why not?"

"If I tell you, you'll doubt it until the very end, Ms. Frondear."

Frondear, who doubts everything. Her nature has helped her survive the political battles in the palace.

But in an extreme situation where she has to exclude her daughter, she will surely doubt.

She would be shaken by her daughter's tears and heartfelt pleas, even if she claims she's innocent.

"I'm amazed that you, a man with no guarantees, believe me, Ms. Frondear."

Indeed, Frondear is impressive even at this level.

She believed in me, not my reputation. This is astonishing to me.

So much so that it makes me see Frondear in a new light.

However, because of this, even more so.

"Please realize the answer yourself."

It's not my place to reveal the answer.

"Ms. Frondear, you will figure it out."

* * *

"About Aten?"

"She seems to be in shock."

To change the mood, Frondear and I went up to the rooftop.

Frondear was still alone, without any guards.

"......Ms. Frondear, I also have a question."

"Feel free. You've been a great help today."

A great help? It seemed she already knew the answer.

"You said you can see the future."

"Sometimes. Often, it's just a feeling."

"About the future where Aten and Aster are together."

"......"

I couldn't let go of this lingering doubt.

Aster and Aten are undoubtedly the best team. Add Lunia, who is close to being a main heroine.

The party members may vary slightly depending on the player's preferences, but these three are almost always fixed.

"Even now, do you still have a bad feeling about their future together?"

Frondear nodded at my question.

"Yes. Nothing has changed."

"......"

Nothing has changed. This makes me feel uneasy.

I believe that by treating me, Aten's awakening would have been accelerated.

Yet, nothing has changed.

When I couldn't shake off my complex feelings,

"......Frondear."

Suddenly, such a voice was heard.

I thought it was Aten at first, but it wasn't.

It was just Frondear calling me.

The one word, without any formalities, was the warmest I had ever heard from her.

"There are no ominous premonitions about Aten's future with you."

"......"

"Would you be willing to stay by Aten's side?"

Frondear's white hair, red eyes, and harmless rabbit-like face.

It seemed to be filled with a mother's benevolence.

"......It's not me, but Aten who follows me."

"Chuckle, then it's settled."

Frondear's smile seemed to show deep relief.