Chapter 71 of the Academy's Weapon Replicator

Auction (3)

'Hmm, as expected, there is a set threshold.'

Levet thought.

Prondier also had plenty of room to spare. He wouldn't raise his paddle unless the price exceeded the amount he had set for himself, or the amount designated by his family.

The price had surpassed ten million quir. It had already doubled. At this point, the number of bidders began to dwindle.

The only ones left raising their paddles were Elodie and a middle-aged nobleman who had come from a ship. He was glaring at Elodie with a hiss.

Elodie glanced at his angry gaze for a moment.

Swish, her hand went up again.

She had no particular thoughts in mind.

Creak, the middle-aged man was trembling, holding his paddle.

During this time, Elodie looked at Prondier.

He would likely be her next opponent.

But he showed no signs of moving.

In the meantime, the middle-aged man's paddle went up once more.

As if to crush this small rebellion, Elodie raised her hand before the auctioneer could even finish speaking.

As Levet had said, the auction was naturally dominated by those with the most money.

Unlike the man whose budget was already tight, Elodie had plenty of room to spare.

"127, 10.5 million quir! 10.5 million quir! Any higher bids?"

In the end, the middle-aged man lowered his head. In response, Elodie and Levet looked at Prondier.

Prondier's expression was calm and composed.

Now it was a showdown between Prondier and Elodie. Elodie quietly observed Prondier.

However,

"No higher bids! If there are no more bids, I will call the price for the third time and close the auction."

Prondier remained still.

"10.5 million quir!"

The first call rang out, and Elodie briefly tensed. She thought this might be the moment.

"10.5 million quir!"

On the second call, Levet's brows furrowed. What kind of trick was he trying to pull? Prondier's calm demeanor was irritating.

And then,

"10.5 million quir!"

The third call.

"......?"

"?"

Elodie and Levet blinked in unison.

"Congratulations! 127! You have won the bid for the Bipajang at 10.5 million quir."

Oh, the surrounding nobles erupted in cheers and applause.

Levet reflexively raised his hand in acknowledgment, but his face was still full of questions.

Elodie showed no reaction at all. She simply asked,

"......Did you change your mind halfway through?"

"......"

Levet remained silent, looking at Prondier as if he were a strange creature. Indeed, from Levet's perspective, Prondier was strange.

Elodie, understanding the meaning behind Levet's expression, said,

"......It seems not. Then, that means."

Elodie looked at Prondier again.

From the moment the Bipajang appeared until the bid was decided, his expression never changed, and his hand never moved.

The answer was simple.

Prondier had no intention of acquiring the Bipajang from the beginning.

The only reason he was here was for the 'Cursed Cloth.'

"That, what, what is he, what is he doing?"

Levet's words were cut off, a mix of bewilderment and disbelief.

* * *

A few days ago, in the Constel campus cafe, 'Toldwarp.'

Having recruited Quinie, I proceeded with the meeting with her and Atene.

"I'm more of a ranged attacker, but I can do close combat too."

While dividing the positions, Quinie said. The hidden blades in her fan are her main weapons. Since she can throw them, it's natural to call her a ranged attacker.

"Whether it's close or ranged, you're good at both."

"......Ahem, well, that's true."

Quinie covered her mouth with her fan in response to my words.

Of course, I was intentionally praising Quinie, but since it was true, I felt no guilt.

"First, I'll take the front, Quinie will be in the middle, and Atene will guard the rear."

"Take the front? I thought you were more of a rear position?"

"If there were someone like Aster or Elin who could take the front completely, I would have done that."

Quinie is a versatile type. She can perform admirably in any position.

Therefore, placing her in the middle allows for flexible responses depending on the situation.

"Hmm. It's dangerous, though."

"We have to try our best."

I find it sad that I'm getting used to danger.

But something about my answer seemed off, and Quinie scanned the surroundings before leaning in close to me.

"......So, you know."

"Yes."

"Was it really you who did the fireworks?"

"What fireworks?"

"The fireworks."

Atene also leaned in, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and interest.

These two are the ones who knew I had warned about the monster attack. It's natural for them to suspect my involvement in the 'fireworks' that eliminated the fleeing monsters.

Quinie said,

"Even if I don't ask how you knew about the monster attack, I still want to know about the 'fireworks.' I'd like some compensation for helping you."

"......Protecting Constel benefits everyone."

"Exactly, 'some' compensation."

What is this.

But without the help of Quinie and others, I wouldn't have been able to handle the attack properly. I wouldn't have gained the 'Analysis' skill either.

......So, compensation.

"I'll give you a clear answer."

"Okay."

"I did it."

I stated firmly.

The playful look on Quinie's face vanished. Her expression hardened, and her eyes, which shone with a transparent light, stared straight at me. I could almost hear the gears in her mind turning.

I added,

"But I can't do it anymore. The method is a secret."

Without Maria's help, I wouldn't have been able to think of such an impossible long-range targeting.

Even if I could recreate the scene people call 'fireworks,' the distance would be limited to my line of sight.

......And I hoped they would think I was just boasting.

"......Oh, I see."

Quinie seemed to have finished her calculations, showing no hint of the thoughts I had suspected.

It felt strange, as if my value was being recalculated in real-time.

Quinie then looked at Atene.

Atene, unlike Quinie, didn't seem particularly surprised. She probably thought it was something I would do.

"Indeed, Your Highness. You have a keen eye."

"That title isn't appropriate here, but I agree with the content-"

"Alright! Let's start the meeting!"

I cut them off, fearing the conversation would take an odd turn.

Quinie shrugged, and Atene remained calm as if nothing had happened.

I asked Quinie,

"So, what's the format for the final exam?"

"The first-year final exam involves a simple mission. You'll experience a virtual task similar to a pro's mission."

Atene then asked,

"How do you know this in advance?"

"Because it happens every year."

Hmm. In fact, I already knew this, but I was doing it to help Atene understand.

Quinie continued,

"Constel students are trained to deal with 'monsters beyond the boundary.' But in reality, it's not that simple."

"What's the reality like?"

"Dealing with the conflict between humans and monsters within the boundary is already overwhelming."

This continent is, after all, a place where people live.

No matter how much the monsters beyond the boundary threaten and narrow the human boundary,

the people inside don't always unite and move toward a single goal.

Especially now that the boundary has become relatively stable, and it's rare to see monsters in the central areas, the division among humans is significant.

Most of the battles I've fought so far have been against humans or incidents they triggered, which is a testament to this.

"So, the mission usually involves both 'extermination' and 'protection.' Just like pros who go to the scene of an incident and handle both monster extermination and human protection simultaneously."

"......You're not really going to have real monsters attack people, right?"

Atene's question made Quinie laugh out loud.

"Ahaha, no. That would be inefficient."

I see. It's inefficient, so they don't do it.

I thought there was another reason.

"But still, if you really did the fireworks, I don't need to do anything."

"I can't do it anymore."

As I answered Quinie, I pondered.

When I played as Aster, the final exam was tough, but the results were good. Aster's power before and after using divine power was like night and day.

Aster is a super cheat character, surpassing even someone like Atzje.

However, as Prondier, I would have to go all out to complete the mission.

......All out.

"Mjolnir......"

Atene looked at me as I muttered.

Her gaze was a terrifying warning.

"Mr. Prondier. As I said last time, I don't have the confidence to succeed-"

"I know. I won't do that."

Eating the woven dragon heart would be like throwing away my life.

Even attempting it the first time was reckless, and doing it again would be beyond reckless, it would be foolish.

......So, if possible, I want to find a way to make it safer.

* * *

That's how it went.

I placed the fabric known as the 'Cursed Cloth' on the table.

"......To get this."

And at a bargain price. It was so cheap that I felt embarrassed to call it a bargain.

Prondier had no interest in the Bipajang from the start. He already had a small sword from Nil Jacques.

It would be nice to have, but I'm currently trying to use the Black Heaven in weaving to complement the small sword and practice dual sword techniques.

In fact, the Bipajang should have gone to Elodie. That's how it was in the game.

I brought all my wealth, unsure how much it would sell for at the auction.

I had the money I won from the bet with Quinie. I was worried if I could afford it with the money I had, but fortunately, no one was interested in this item.

Of course. For an ordinary person, it would be useless.

Unless they knew its true value.

[Penelope's Cloth]

•Grade: Unique

•Description: Part of the garment woven by Penelope. She reportedly spent three years repeatedly making and unraveling the cloth during the day and night. It is imbued with her unwavering love and longing for Odysseus, whom she waited for 20 years.

Ability Details >

- Shape Regression: Due to the repeated creation and dismantling by Penelope over three years, this cloth will always return to its original form, no matter what happens.

- Pure Mana: Every knot in the woven cloth is a collection of pure mana. This greatly increases durability, and the wearer gains the effects of warmth and water resistance.

This is the very cloth from 'Penelope's Weaving.'

It has a fatal flaw in that it cannot be cut, but the 'Pure Mana' characteristic is not something to be taken lightly.

Even if I can't alter the cloth as I please, just wrapping it around my arm or neck would provide its effects.

However, my usage will be a bit different.

The dragon heart I wove has the effect of enhancing the user's mana, similar to the original.

But since it's a fake, the equivalent amount of mana was replaced by something else in my body.

So, what if I had a substitute for the mana to be replaced? In other words, a 'dummy' that could convert into mana in place of me.

This 'dummy' will be Penelope's Cloth.

"Now then, how should I carry it?"

I stared at the cloth, pondering, and then folded it, wrapping it around the collar of my shirt to make a tie.

Looking in the mirror, it wasn't bad.

The Constel uniform originally has a designated tie, so this will do as a replacement.