Chapter 69 of the Academy's Weapon Replicator

Chapter 21: Auction (1)

Elodie had already grasped this barrier a step ahead of Quinie.

Elodie was half-convinced that the person who eliminated the monsters with 'fireworks' when they fled was Frontier. That's why she came to hear the detailed story of the ambush.

“…….”

After confirming Quinie's presence, Elodie opened the door. She couldn't afford to waste any more time.

The door burst open, and inside the room, only Frontier was sitting.

“Oh, Elodie.”

Frontier's voice was the same as usual. His lazy face was no different.

Elodie smiled.

“What, where's Teacher Maria?”

“She stepped out for a moment.”

“Did you talk about something? They were looking for you on the broadcast.”

Frontier seemed as usual, and so did Elodie.

Quinie followed in.

“Oh, Senior Quinie. I was just about to come find you.”

“……Is it just you?”

Quinie entered and looked around.

The infirmary was as clean as ever, showing no signs that anyone had come in or left.

Of course, Quinie, who followed, didn't know if anyone was inside or not.

She only had the intuition that Frontier was in a dangerous situation because of the barrier.

But seeing Frontier, he seemed fine.

Just from Elodie's expression when she arrived, though.

Clearly, something had happened.

“Senior. We need an upperclassman for this semester's final exam. If Senior Quinie could help us...”

“Ah, sure. Sure.”

Whether Frontier knew Quinie's thoughts or not, he led the conversation in a routine manner.

Quinie's original purpose was also that, so she accepted it for now.

Elodie listened silently to their conversation.

* * *

The Rishaé Mansion.

As the mansion door opened and Elodie entered, a maid hurried over.

“E, Elodie-sama. You're early. We received a message that you would be late.”

“My schedule changed.”

“I apologize. I'll prepare your meal right away...”

“No, it's fine.”

Elodie's expressionless face. The maid, feeling unnecessarily scared, followed her closely.

“Just wait a moment—”

“Fine...!”

Elodie's voice rose. But soon she closed her eyes and shook her head.

Taking out her frustration on the wrong person. She knew it. That's why Elodie smiled again.

“No. I just don't have an appetite. Really.”

“Well, then I'll take my leave.”

“Yeah.”

The maid retreated with her shoulders hunched.

“...Hey?”

Elodie spoke to her bent back.

“Really, it's fine. I'm sorry for getting angry.”

“That's... not at all the case.”

Seeing the maid shake her head, Elodie entered her room.

“Sigh...”

Elodie sat in the chair at her desk.

She wanted to sit on the bed, but if she did, she'd end up lying down. She couldn't do that without changing her clothes. It's ridiculous how such trivial things matter even now.

“...What is Manjwe...”

A mutter like a sigh. The tremor in her voice was unsettling.

Elodie had heard their conversation. Hagle had mentioned Manjwe. There was no soundproofing in the infirmary, and even if there was, Elodie could have penetrated it.

“...What did you touch, Frontier?”

The conversation seemed to put Frontier in a high position.

But the content was troubling.

-Shouldn't we bring down the daughter of the Rishaé family?

-Didn't you hate that woman?

-With all her talents, didn't you find her giggling in front of you disgusting?

-Didn't you find it unbearable to see her act superior in front of you?

“...Frontier...”

Elodie clutched her head. Her neatly styled hair became disheveled.

She had never thought about it. When they were young, she and Frontier often played together.

She always laughed at Frontier. They talked about what they did today, what they wanted to do, and she boasted about her abilities.

Each time, Frontier seemed annoyed, but still, still.

...Frontier, who had no divine power. She boasted about her abilities in front of him and sometimes complained and grumbled.

Those countless repetitions came to mind.

Elodie never had high expectations for Frontier. She just hoped he could do his part.

But it was she who continually gave him an inferiority complex, preventing him from even doing that.

“...It was me.”

That's how Frontier must have seen it.

Unaware, foolishly.

But if that's the case.

Why did Frontier.

-Exclude Elodie's enemies as if they were his own potential enemies.

Say such things...

Creak.

At that moment, the door opened.

“Elodie, are you okay? I heard you don't feel well,”

Whack—

A pillow hit the face of the man who entered.

“Knock and come in again!”

How many times has she said this?

Already feeling restless, her irritation doubled.

“Y, yeah. Sorry.”

The man obediently left the room and closed the door.

Then, he knocked softly, as if to make sure it was heard, and said,

“Elodie, it's your brother. Can I come in?”

“No. Don't come in.”

“E, Elodie! Isn't this against our agreement!”

“I never made such an agreement!”

Elodie's brother, Levert de Rishaé.

Elodie and Levert usually got along well. In fact, Levert often gave in to Elodie.

But right now, Elodie really didn't want to see anyone.

“Well, then I'll say it from outside. Is that okay?”

“...Sure.”

Her brother, who never tires.

“Ahem, I heard the final exams are coming up soon.”

“Yeah.”

“You need to be well-prepared for important exams.”

“So?”

“Why don't you come with me to the auction? Some good items will be available this time.”

Auction?

That piqued Elodie's interest.

It's true that the final exams are approaching. She felt a frustration she hadn't experienced during the midterms.

Elodie can't control her magic power. She thought it wasn't that important, but performing tasks in the field, where students are everywhere, turned out to be more difficult than expected.

If there was an artifact to help control her magic power, she could perform better in the finals.

“What's coming up?”

“Hmm, don't be surprised. The legendary metal 'Bipang' is coming in!”

“...”

“It's a problem if you're not surprised.”

“Yeah. I see. Bipang.”

Indeed. That's impressive. Where did he get it from?

The fact itself was surprising, but Elodie felt no particular excitement. After all, as a mage, it had no use for her.

“Elodie, Bipang can withstand your magic output.”

“So what? I need to reduce my output.”

“Being able to withstand it means it can also store mana. It can help you control your output while storing mana.”

Hmm.

That's interesting.

“What do you think? Will you come? Since it's for you, I'll have the best magic item company make it. If necessary, I'll order it from 'Hitchcock'."

“Hmm...”

Elodie thought for a moment.

Despite everything, talking with Levert had somewhat lifted her mood.

It would have been nice if it ended there, but Levert, though considerate, lacked perception.

“By the way, I heard you've been talking a lot with the second son of the Loah family at Constel. Even at the last social event. Of course, I didn't see it myself, but—”

Elodie naturally sighed. She wondered why her brother didn't mention Frontier.

“Don't you do that, brother. I'm already in a bad mood.”

“What? It's because of that Frontier, isn't it? I'll catch that guy and—”

“Then you'll have to face six of them?”

“...Six? Frontier has some allies? But a mere Constel student can't be my enemy—”

“Hmm. Me, Agni, Rudra, Indra...”

“Elodie...!”

Levert let out a desperate, pained voice.

Of course, from outside the room.

* * *

In the southern part of the continent, there is a region untouched by the empire.

Though it is part of the empire's territory, it is so barren that no living thing can survive there.

The southernmost end, where neither humans, animals, nor monsters live.

Here, there is a cliff face that seems to have been forcibly split from the land and sea, and a massive river flowing down from above forms a waterfall.

Somewhere inside this enormous waterfall, which is over 3 km in diameter, there is a cave that spans the entire cliff.

Manjwe. Those called 'the closest to the boundary' are, ironically, quite safe because no monsters come here.

[Has something changed?]

In the cave, deep in the darkness, a meeting is taking place.

Hagle said,

“The arrogance is the same as before, but he didn't fall for the illusion spell.”

[Did he realize you used magic?]

“It doesn't seem so.”

[Hmm. Even the incompetent can grow over time. Moreover, people tend to develop immunity to illusions.]

Hagle merely bowed his head deeply at this.

He never believed magic would work forever. Frontier had been too easy to manipulate until now.

However, the current issue was different, and the reason for the meeting was also different.

“However, things have become complicated.”

[What do you mean?]

“Frontier seems to have given up on deciphering the ancient language. He also doesn't seem to want to use the spell on the daughter of the Rishaé family.”

The voices that had been listening fell silent for a moment.

[He's not going to remove Ines' divine power?]

“Yes. Not only that, he told me to protect her. I don't know what caused this change of heart.”

Another voice spoke up this time.

[That's a problem, Hagle. Ines is the biggest obstacle we need to remove to take over the center. Thinking of those cripples who giggled and expelled me...]

Hagle sighed quietly, unknown to anyone.

The owner of that voice seemed to be filled with anger at every moment.

[Then we need to find a new tool. Frontier will self-destruct if left alone.]

“Only Frontier can decipher the ancient language. I don't know if anyone else can, but it will take as much time to find someone as it did to find Frontier.”

Deciphering the ancient language requires not just skill but talent. The talent divides the possible from the impossible, making it a very powerful one.

Frontier, called incompetent, had that talent. If they had known this earlier, the Loah family wouldn't have ignored him so much.

But Frontier himself seems unaware of the value of the ancient language, and the Loah family seems the same.

──Incompetence is ultimately incompetence.

[For now, keep watching him. If you continue to act as an ally, his mind might change again.]

“I'm not sure. Frontier ordered me to protect Ines. I don't think his mind will change easily...”

[Inferiority is what it is, Hagle. The one who fuels Frontier's inferiority the most is not his family or Constel, but Ines. Frontier's environment is unbearable for anyone. He will soon collapse back into darkness.]

Hagle only bowed his head deeply at the confident voice.