Chapter 52 of the Academy's Weapon Replicator

Chapter 15: Fishing (1)

The next day.

After school, I headed to the training room.

“Huh? Frondier.”

“Aster.”

In front of the training room, I met Aster again.

Elin was also there.

Elin silently waved her hand as a greeting.

Come to think of it, they were siblings.

When placed side by side, they definitely looked alike.

“Training right after the practical exam? You're diligent, Frondier.”

“You're the same, aren't you?”

Aster smiled awkwardly.

“...Just, your reputation for being lazy now sounds ridiculous.”

Hmm.

You're probably not as slow as a sloth.

“But why are there so many people in the training room today?”

I looked around.

There were definitely a lot of people.

Since the midterm exams just ended, they could have taken a break.

It seems the students of Constel are diligent at all times.

“...Frondier, you don't know?”

Elin said something incomprehensible.

“Huh?”

“I thought you would know, being Frondier.”

I tilted my head, still not understanding, and Aster looked in a certain direction.

“Look over there.”

Following her gaze, I saw the public training room.

Unlike the private training room I usually use, the public training room can be used by multiple people, and the walls are made of reinforced glass, allowing outsiders to see inside.

It can also serve to appeal to those watching and sometimes to get feedback.

And inside, I saw Aten Terst.

Moreover, Lunia Fricelle was there too.

“Aten...?”

“You were always with Aten, so I thought you knew.”

Elin said.

It wasn't that we were together; Aten was the one who followed me around.

I couldn't bring myself to say that and asked Aster another question.

“Are they having a match?”

“No, people just assume they are. They probably have no thoughts about it.”

...Is that so?

Aster is naturally kind and optimistic, so she says it calmly, but Lunia isn't that optimistic.

Even from here, I can see Lunia glancing at Aten.

Aster, can't you see that?

“Seeing the two of them train will be a stimulus for others and a catalyst for mutual improvement, and, well, it's a good thing.”

Aster nodded as she said this.

Aster, that's too kind of you.

And too optimistic...!

In the public training room, there were many other people besides the two.

Almost all of them were trying to appeal to Aten.

They should be familiar faces since I come to the training room every day, but I don't recognize any of them.

“...Hmm, I need to go train.”

“Not going to watch?”

“I'm struggling enough with my own training.”

And more importantly, I'm afraid of getting caught in the crossfire.

* * *

“Feels like it's been a while since I was here.”

I entered the private training room.

I used to come here every day to improve my throwing skills, but I couldn't because of the midterms.

However, I didn't come here today for my throwing skills.

I lifted my smartwatch.

I checked the notification on the screen again.

['Weaving' skill has successfully reached the 'Divine Rank'.]

[Unique skill 'Weaving' has leveled up.]

['Modification' is now possible.]

[Current available modification option: 'Nullification']

[Nullification: Removes one option from an item.]

Finally, the long-awaited 'Modification' is possible.

The first ability of Modification is 'Nullification'.

It removes one option.

As expected, it's quite useless for a skill you get at first.

But for me, this time, it's the most needed skill.

Weaving

Rank - Divine

Chrysalactos

I wove Chrysalactos and checked its contents.

[Chrysalactos]

• Rank: Divine

• Description: The bow given to Artemis by the god of blacksmiths, Hephaestus

Ability Details >

- Female Only: Due to Artemis's request, only women can draw the bowstring.

- Sure Hit: The user will always hit the target they aim at.

Here, I will nullify the 'Female Only' option of Chrysalactos.

Weaving

Weapon Modification - Nullification

Target: Chrysalactos

[Option 'Female Only' has been removed.]

I confirmed the content and drew the bowstring of Chrysalactos.

“It's done.”

The bowstring, which wouldn't budge before, finally drew.

It's hard to believe how stiff it was like a steel bar.

“Good, let's test it.”

While I was at it, I wove Ioceira and attached it to the bow.

My total mana has increased significantly recently.

While mana depletion is still an issue, it might be because I expanded it once with a dragon heart.

Of course, it's far from when I ate the dragon heart, but it should be around the average for Constel.

This is a gift Aten gave me along with my life.

I set the target practice to the highest difficulty as usual.

The holographic targets increased to dozens.

They moved at a speed that the eye could barely follow.

Moreover, they reacted to projectiles and dodged.

‘Still, as a divine weapon, I should be able to hit a few...!’

With that thought, I released the bowstring.

At that moment, I didn't know.

The bow Chrysalactos and the arrow Ioceira.

Together, they form a set and complete at the 'Divine' rank,

And the level of that combination.

Chrysalactos

Sure Hit

Ioceira

Rain of Arrows

The flying arrows split into countless 'Rain of Arrows,'

And every arrow had the 'Sure Hit' effect.

Result,

BOOM!

A sound like rain piercing through a window echoed.

“...Huh?”

All the targets were shattered.

[Target Practice: Highest Difficulty Cleared.]

[Frondier de Loach, record updated.]

[Previous best record: 31.5 seconds. Current record replaces the best record.]

[Updated record: 3.14 seconds.]

“...”

3.14 seconds?

Is that pi?

But this isn't the time for such idle thoughts.

The training room records are shared by everyone.

In other words, 31.5 seconds was the fastest record in the history of all Constel students before I did it.

I just broke it.

With 3.14 seconds.

And this broadcast isn't just for me.

“...”

Without realizing it, I glanced outside the training room.

I came here to avoid trouble.

But I have a feeling a huge fireball is about to hit.

* * *

To be honest, Lunia couldn't focus on her training at all.

The reason was, of course, Aten beside her.

‘Should I have greeted him?’

She had glanced at Aten dozens of times already.

The last time they met, it was by chance and there was no time to talk, but now, he looked mysterious.

How can someone be so pale?

His expression was too blank, giving off a cold impression.

He was like a snow maiden.

‘Is he angry? What if he's angry? Am I being inconsiderate by practicing next to him?’

Lunia's worries soared uncontrollably.

But Aten, as usual, had no particular thoughts about Lunia.

He was, in fact, deep in other thoughts.

‘I'm still weak.’

Meeting Renzo made him acutely aware of his powerlessness.

Being young could be an excuse, but that excuse was shattered by the existence of Frondier.

...I remember everything about how Frondier risked his life to save me.

It might not be because of me.

Frondier might have saved anyone in that situation.

But regardless, Frondier is a savior of life.

‘Restoration’ is still not freely usable.

I don't know when it will be possible.

So for now, I need to focus on improving my specialty, ice magic.

Ice Magic 2nd Form

Rapid Fire

Frost Arrow

As Aten extended his hand forward, several ice shards floated around him.

Aten's training was 'High-Speed Reaction' training.

The target appears and disappears after a certain time.

The higher the difficulty, the shorter the time it appears.

The goal is to hit the target before it disappears to improve reaction speed.

CRACK!

Aten's speed was incredible.

The target shattered as soon as it appeared.

The difficulty could be increased much further.

‘...Amazing.’

Seeing this, Lunia changed her mind.

She put aside her unnecessary thoughts and began to focus on her training.

Her training was 'Long-Range Indirect Fire' training.

Lunia, who excelled in mana manipulation, was hitting distant targets while avoiding various obstacles.

The focused training of the two was also a sight to see for those around them.

“Amazing, as expected of the princess. Look at that speed. She reacts so quickly without making any mistakes. Her mind is completely calm.”

“I find Lunia impressive. From that position, the target between the obstacles would look like a fingernail, but she hits it through the gaps.”

The onlookers added their comments.

And those training nearby tried harder to catch the princess's attention.

As this was happening,

Suddenly, they heard an announcement.

[Target Practice: Highest Difficulty Cleared.]

[Frondier de Loach, record updated.]

[Previous best record: 31.5 seconds. Current