Chapter 74 of the Academy's Weapon Replicator

Final Exam (3)

Binkis noticed something was off only after Frontier had toppled three more golems.

‘...It’s certain.’

Frontier’s recent attack confirmed it.

Frontier knows where the golem’s core is located.

Binkis had designed each golem with a different core position.

Mostly in the head or the heart, but the core itself is small compared to the golem. Even if the core is in the head and the enemy aims there, the chances of missing are high due to its small size.

However, Frontier mostly took out the golems with a single strike. Even when it took a few more attacks, they were clearly aimed at the ‘core.’

It’s astonishing that Frontier can pierce the golem’s solid metal in one go, but knowing the exact location of the core is almost eerie. As if he can see through the golem’s interior.

[Frontier! You know where the core is, right?]

Binkis spoke up, intending to buy time while reorganizing the golems. Frontier, too, would have a chance to rest, so the situation was the same for both.

“I know more than just the core’s location.”

But Frontier said something strange.

It was also a bit scary to hear.

[Then what else do you know?]

In response, Frontier looked at the golem. Binkis, who was seeing through the golem’s eyes, felt as if the gaze was directed at him.

“I also know where you are.”

...?!

Binkis shuddered.

Of course, Binkis was within the field. To control multiple golems remotely, he had to be within a certain distance.

But it was absurd to think that Frontier could know his location just by looking at the golems. Even the teachers at Constell would find it impossible.

If it were Frontier, could it be possible...?

“I’m just joking. How would I know that?”

[You, you, are you threatening me? You’re a student, and I’m a teacher!]

“What are you talking about? I’m here to save the victims from the monsters, and you’re playing the role of the monster.”

During the final exam, teachers always emphasized to students that they shouldn’t expect any leniency. They should discard any侥幸心理 and take it seriously. Frontier was now giving those exact words back to him.

Of course, it was natural to think that a student couldn’t defeat a teacher. The match-ups were set to be the worst possible to prevent that from happening.

Except for Frontier.

There was no data on him, and everyone had underestimated him.

[You, you! If you really do something like that, it won’t end well! Remember the midterm exam? The drones are recording you in real-time! If you really cause casualties,]

“About that, why don’t you take a look at this?”

[...Huh?]

Binkis looked at the screen showing Frontier. Frontier pointed to something.

There, a drone was still flying, recording Frontier.

So what?

“It looks the same, doesn’t it? I swapped it out with a fake.”

[...?!]

“I heard about how a man named Renjo infiltrated during the midterm exam. I thought it was a great idea.”

[?? ...?!]

Binkis turned pale, unable to speak, his breath and gulps being transmitted through the microphone inside the golem.

Binkis looked at Frontier again.

In the screen, Frontier was just smiling.

From the eerie smile that resembled a crescent moon, the same voice flowed out.

“So, where are you? Teacher?”

* * *

...What.

Of course, most of it was a lie.

Firstly, the ‘fireworks’ don’t function with just the arrows.

They are completed by the combination of the bow ‘Chrysalis Catos’ and the arrow ‘Iokeira,’ but just now, I only shot the arrows.

In other words, I can mimic the appearance of them splitting and raining down, but the arrows don’t have the tracking function to hit all the vital points.

As for why I didn’t use the bow, it’s because it wouldn’t track anyway.

The bow’s mysterious tracking function requires me to see the target directly with my own eyes. It’s impossible to hit an enemy whose location I don’t know, like Binkis now.

But only I know this fact.

The bluff will work just fine.

And the part about swapping the drones is also a lie.

Of course, I thought it was a great idea. It’s a perfect match for my skill ‘Weaving.’

But for this final exam, I need to prove my worth to Ampere.

I won’t hide like I did before.

[You, hey, you, are you really going to shoot?]

Hmm.

The bluff seems to have worked perfectly.

“Do you need some time to prepare? Then I’ll count to three,”

[Hey! Hey!! Heyy!!]

It was almost a scream.

He really seems to be afraid of me. It’s a strange feeling, even though I’m not really going to hit him.

It’s fortunate that Binkis doesn’t know much about me. If the opponent were Jane, the bluff might not have worked.

But since it’s come to this, let’s push it a bit further.

I need a proper reason to target her, not just because I’m crazy.

“I actually know something.”

[What, what?]

“This exam is deceiving the students.”

[...!]

Binkis stopped talking.

If it were the usual her, she would have immediately put on a bold front, but perhaps her mental state was shaken.

[What, what are you talking about?]

Still, she’s putting on a front, huh.

“Wasn’t it designed to make the students fail from the beginning? The part about the student who resolves the most incidents ranking first is a lie.”

[No, that’s not true? If you actually resolve the alarms sequentially,]

Crack! Thud!

I plunged my spear into the golem repeatedly.

Until this exam, I had practiced weaving, increasing my simultaneous weaving to four. With the experience of defeating the Chimera, it was easy to improve.

Of course, Binkis’ golems are tough, but the ‘Royal Armory’ surpasses that level. Money talks, after all.

I walked past the fallen golem towards another nearby.

[Hey! Do you know how much this costs! And the cores are all broken, so I can’t even repair them!]

“If you find it too costly, let’s have a more sincere conversation.”

This practical exam is designed for the first-year students to fail.

That’s one of the things I knew beforehand.

And actually, I don’t have much complaint about this method as an individual.

Dealing with ‘monsters from the outside’ is a much greater despair. Experiencing a light failure beforehand reduces confusion and improves response when the real situation arises. Of course, it also allows for a comeback from there.

But that’s a different story.

It’s a fact that it feels dirty knowing this beforehand.

And there’s nothing better to give my actions the appropriate persuasive power to Binkis.

“You might not understand, but I’m quite angry.”

Of course, this is a lie.

[Angry, angry?]

“Not just me, but the students are giving their all to an exam they’re destined to fail. It feels dirty from the perspective of someone who already knows.”

This was partly true.

Why would upperclassmen be recruited and vow revenge? It’s because they’ve already experienced despair and are trying to rise from it.

However, there’s no record of anyone winning this ‘predestined to fail’ exam. For the upperclassmen who have already experienced despair, this system is not fair.

It’s predestined to fail. It feels like the premise of the game ‘Ethius’ to me.

“This practical exam is a miniature version of the Pro Exam.”

And to me, this practical exam is also a miniature version of ‘Ethius.’

Failure is tedious, and I’m sick of losing.

“I have to win this practical exam, even if it means forcing it.”

I lifted the arrow again, ready to shoot the glowing arrow at any moment.

“It’s fine if you don’t want to tell me your location. The result will be the same anyway.”

[Ah, I get it. I lost. I’ll tell you. Where am I?]

“It’s too late.”

[Wait! Wait a moment! I’ll tell you, okay? Do you really have to kill someone? I understand you’re angry about the exam, but did I create it? Hey!]

That’s a fair point. Binkis had nothing to do with this system. If we must assign blame, it would be for maintaining the secret.

I maintained a stern expression and said,

“You’re right. Actually, your location isn’t important. I’m not really going to kill you. Tell me about someone else.”

[Someone, someone else?]

“Yes. Other teachers. All their locations.”

[...I don’t know?]

“I’ll count to three.”

[Hey! I really don’t know! This time, I really don’t!]

“Don’t lie. The alarms went off simultaneously. You must have known the students’ team formations and placed the teachers accordingly. How could you do that without knowing each other’s locations?”

[Ugh.]

“Three, two, one─”

[Ah, I get it, I get it! You’re in a hurry as a student.]

“Rescuing someone in danger requires quick action.”

[You really don’t know when to stop, do you!]

This way.

I successfully handled the first alarm. I also obtained valuable information.

I might seem like a bad guy, but I did what I had to do.