Chapter 77 of the Weapon Replicator of the Academy

Chapter 22: Final Exam (6)

The practical exam of the final exam has ended.

In other words, all the exams that determine the rankings for the first semester of the first year have been completed.

I predict that the results of the practical exam must have given the teachers quite a shock.

The original mission was to teach the first-year students about 'defeat.' However, the students succeeded, and in the process, my role as a 'human sloth' was not insignificant.

Therefore, the evaluation took longer than originally planned. The original evaluation was supposed to score the students based on how they dealt with the prospect of defeat.

But the students won. Therefore, it was necessary to reset the criteria for the evaluation.

As a result, there were some minor complaints, but the expected outcome was certain.

"......Alright."

The bulletin board where the final exam results were posted.

At the very top of the list, my name was written.

For the individual evaluation in the practical exam, I scored the highest, and for the written exam, I scored a perfect score.

"Thank goodness."

I muttered to myself. This way, I managed to clear the conditions Ampere mentioned.

However, the nearby students flinched and left when they heard my small voice.

What's this? How did they react like that to what I said?

"Congratulations."

As the students moved away from me, a voice approached.

It was Elodie. She held out a can of drink to me.

"Do you like it? Hot chocolate."

"......Ah, that's right."

"What? You just remembered?"

Elodie smiled, thinking I was joking.

So, Frontier likes hot chocolate. I should remember that. It seems to suit a sloth.

"You kept your promise. You won't be disowned."

"Right."

"Still, I mean, would you really disown your son? You just gave him a tough lesson to work hard. Thanks to that, you even came in first."

"......Right."

I dryly replied, having nothing to say to Elodie's words.

While opening the can, I thought about what would happen next.

As Elodie said, I won't be disowned. For now.

According to Malia, Ampere seems to want to disown me.

But Ampere is not a man who goes back on his word. He is even less a man who breaks a promise. Since I made it into the top ten, I won't be disowned.

However, it also means that Ampere really did want to disown me. For the original Frontier, ranking in the top ten of the year would have been almost impossible.

"So, what are you going to do now? Summer vacation is coming up."

Elodie said.

With the end of the first semester final exam, summer vacation is approaching. The vacation lasts for a month, similar to the world I came from.

During this period, Constel is busier than a regular school. The amount of preparation and facilities needed for the next class and training is different, and most importantly, the field settings need to be prepared.

...And the biggest difference from the original world.

Constel students hate vacations.

"I don't know. What about you, Elodie?"

When I asked, Elodie sighed.

"Well, I have to go to the magic tower again. Running around as a low-level mage, the vacation will be over before I know it."

Elodie looked exhausted as she spoke.

Like Elodie, most Constel students don't rest during the vacation.

They use the time to improve their weaknesses they felt during the semester, strengthen their style, or roll under someone of a higher level like Elodie.

The intensity of Constel's training is not easy, but it is still a group effort. In contrast, the vacation is all high-intensity individual training. It's no wonder students dread the vacation.

Elodie looked at me and opened one eye.

"I thought the old you would just play and eat during the vacation. This time, it's different, right? Since Constel is open during the vacation, you plan to train in the training room like before?"

I smiled at Elodie's words. It's good that her evaluation of me has improved.

However, her prediction was wrong. I opened my mouth to correct her.

"No, I──"

I answered, and Elodie showed the most surprised expression I've ever seen on her face.

No, it wasn't just surprise,

It was almost anger.

* * *

In the territory of the Loa family, 'Yeranhes,' at the famous restaurant 'Wild Amuse.'

Ampere, Malia, I, and Aji ate there to celebrate my first place in the final exam.

"Really, our son coming in first, I'm so happy. Isn't that right, dear?"

"Hmm."

Malia, unusually using the term 'dear,' was making a fuss, while Ampere was even more taciturn than usual.

Aji was just eating slowly beside me.

Is this really a celebration for me? The atmosphere is incredibly heavy.

When Ampere showed no reaction, Malia's eyes sharpened.

"Dear, you're not going to say something about disowning him again, are you?"

"No."

Ampere said that and looked at me.

His gaze was almost direct. For some reason, it felt like Ampere was seeing me for the first time.

"Frontier, well done."

"......Thank you."

Ampere, who was like a moving suit of armor, praised me.

Even though he's not my real father, those words were deeply moving.

"You really worked hard with your weak body."

However.

Ampere's perception of me hasn't changed.

"......Dear."

Malia, suspicious of Ampere's words, interjected.

But Ampere was sincere.

"I won't make unreasonable demands anymore. If you want, we can consider transferring schools. You hated Constel so much."

He genuinely cared for me,

"There are promising schools in the capital that focus on nurturing scholars and researchers, unlike Constel. How about transferring there? With your perfect score in the written exam, you can excel there without getting hurt."

He genuinely didn't see me as a warrior.

"......Are you serious?"

Malia's term for Ampere changed from 'dear' to 'you.'

"What's not serious? Frontier hated Constel. You know that well."

Malia opened her mouth to say something to Ampere but closed it. Instead, she looked at me.

Frontier hated Constel. This is a fact even I can't deny. Otherwise, how could I have slept every day, skipped practical exams, and earned the nickname 'human sloth'?

Whether as a warrior or a mage, Frontier had no talent. He thought Constel was not a place for him.

Knowing this, Malia didn't argue further and looked at me.

Is it still like that?

Is the reason you worked hard at Constel just to return to being a 'human sloth'?

...Now I understand a little why Ampere wanted to disown me.

'This is a kind of overprotection.'

Ampere, the Iron Wall of the North.

If I continued to be his son, like Aji, Frontier would inevitably stand on the battlefield.

And in Ampere's eyes, Frontier surviving that battlefield was impossible.

Even if it meant abandoning the prestigious name of Loa, it was better to survive.

That must have been Ampere's feeling when he looked at me.

"......I."

Therefore, what I'm about to say is.

No different from being unfilial to Ampere.

"I've made plans for the vacation."

"......?"

"Vacation plans?"

Ampere's eyes twitched, and Malia asked in confusion.

It might sound abrupt, but neither Ampere nor Malia would think so.

With these words, I will answer all of Ampere's proposals.

It's also a good opportunity to show what I'm prepared for.

"I'm going to Teyven."

The moment I said that,

If I had to describe it, it was like a 'snap' sound.

A sound that cut through all the noise and chatter.

The restaurant became eerily quiet. Everyone enjoying their conversation was startled by the sudden silence.

Ampere.

Just by letting out a bit of his presence, everyone in the room was silenced.

"......Frontier."

"Yes."

"I warned you at the last meeting. Don't speak carelessly. You don't understand the weight of your words yet."

Ampere's voice was not just boiling but burning.

I closed my eyes for a moment.

Teyven.

The northeastern frontier, under the jurisdiction of Leidwi von Urpa.

Ampere, who oversees the northwestern region 'Yeranhes,' has never allowed any monster invasion, living up to his nickname 'Iron Wall.'

Thanks to this, Yeranhes, despite its high potential risk, has never suffered actual damage.

This has led to good morale among the villagers, a functioning market, and decent morale among the soldiers.

What about the northeast?

Ampere, who only allowed the nickname 'Iron Wall' because he never allowed invasions.

The monsters outside are so powerful that just blocking them is enough to earn the nickname.

Teyven is different from Yeranhes.

The monsters outside have ravaged and trampled human settlements countless times, and countless people have died trying to solve these problems.

People were sacrificed to block the monsters, and more people were sacrificed to deal with the invading monsters, and even more people were sacrificed to drive them back.

The number of people Leidwi von Urpa has sacrificed to block the monsters is immeasurable.

But no one blames Leidwi.

Because it's only natural.

It's abnormal for Ampere to have blocked everything. In any frontier