Chapter 78 of the Weapon Replicator of the Academy

Chapter 23: Coincidence

On the night Frondier made his bombshell announcement.

Ampere called Azel to his room.

In the silent room with only a small light on, Ampere asked Azel,

“Azel, what do you think?”

“My father’s will is my will.”

Ampere smiled at Azel’s answer but shook his head.

“I thought you would say that. You have always been obedient and loyal to me since you were a child.”

Azel’s past actions were more than what could be described simply as a model student or top student.

He had overcome the expectations of the family, including Ampere, and the attention and pressure from Constel.

Certainly, the standards the world expected of him were far beyond what an ordinary person could reach.

Yet, Azel had climbed to that height without any difficulty, as if it was his due.

He had never shown any signs of struggle in getting here, and to Ampere, Azel was both a proud son and a source of worry. Too strong steel can break easily.

“But Azel, since you have seen Frondier up close, you must have some thoughts. That’s why you remained silent in the dining room.”

When Frondier announced he would go to Teyven.

That statement was even more dangerous than when Frondier suddenly brought it up during the meeting.

However, while Azel had tried to stop Frondier during the meeting, he remained silent when Frondier said he would go to Teyven.

“Azel, I still find Frondier’s change unfamiliar. It means I have been lacking as a father.”

Surprisingly, Ampere admitted his shortcomings. It was the lowest stance he could take with his son.

“I need wisdom now. What do you think? Do you believe Frondier will be fine going to Teyven?”

Azel closed his eyes for a moment. With his father speaking so earnestly, he couldn’t hold back.

Moreover, Azel felt he needed to convey a few things about Frondier to Ampere.

“At least,”

Azel seemed to be choosing his words carefully,

“He won’t die.”

In the end, he muttered a statement that was true to his character.

“Do you really think so?”

Ampere asked skeptically. Teyven was so dangerous that it was a place where one had to think about whether they would live or die.

“The Frondier of today is different from the one from last year.”

Azel had seen Frondier’s growth up close.

Of course, even he didn’t know all of Frondier’s abilities, but he had personally taught him close combat.

Initially, it seemed Frondier would give up after a few days, but he stubbornly followed Azel’s teachings.

From what Azel had observed, Frondier was the type who moved while thinking. He set traps in advance and engaged in psychological warfare to reduce the gap with his opponents.

This was clearly a different approach from Azel, who dealt with all situations through solid fundamentals.

So, even though it seemed like Frondier was using tricks, they were undeniably effective. During the recent final exams, he used hidden moves and superior information to turn the tide in his favor and didn’t miss any opportunities.

Perhaps because of his habit of setting multiple traps, Frondier did things he believed were possible.

He seemed to have collected tools for psychological warfare, and his request for Azel to demonstrate the 'Naked Palm' technique was likely for that reason.

Azel found this part convincing.

Frondier’s apparent laziness and inaction until now were because he considered most things 'impossible.'

However, something changed, and he began to think they were 'possible.' The result is the Frondier we see today.

“Frondier is not acting recklessly.”

“Does he believe there’s something to gain there? Does Frondier believe that?”

“If it were just belief, Frondier wouldn’t have tried. He knows he will gain something there.”

From Azel’s perspective, Frondier had been living stubbornly since a certain day, as if he had become a different person.

His announcement about going to Teyven was surprising to Azel, but he didn’t think Frondier, who had been living so stubbornly, would suddenly make a foolish decision.

“Unless he is excommunicated, Frondier will carry the name of the Loa family.”

If the original plan was to excommunicate Frondier to send him to a safer place, then unless he is excommunicated, Frondier will ultimately follow the same path as Ampere and Azel.

“Seeing hell sooner rather than later might not be a bad thing.”

* * *

I was in a dilemma.

Who should I tell that I’m going to Teyven?

I should tell Atene, who has helped me a lot, but what if she follows me to Teyven? No, would she really chase me to Teyven? Maybe I should tell Aster or Cybel first? But do I really need to tell anyone? I’m not going there to die or anything...

I was pondering these things, but it turned out to be pointless.

“Going to Teyven, huh?”

As soon as I entered the classroom, Atene said this.

It wasn’t just Atene. As soon as I entered, the students started whispering about me. I could hear the word 'Teyven' clearly.

How did all the students know about this? Then I thought of Elodie.

That guy must have spread the news to the whole school!

“Yeah, I was going to tell you, but the rumor got there first.”

Even if I didn’t know what Elodie was thinking, it was pointless to deny it now that it had spread so widely.

Atene looked at me as if I were about to die.

“Why are you so easily giving up your life?”

She really looked at me as if I were about to die.

“Who’s going to die? I’ll come back fine.”

“Then why Teyven...?”

That’s a good question.

Teyven is a high-risk, high-reward place for me, but to others, it’s just a high-risk place with no returns. An extremely high risk, in fact. Some even call it 'Die-risk.'

“I have something to bring back.”

After some thought, I answered. I didn’t want to lie to Atene, but explaining everything wouldn’t help her understand.

Half the truth, I guess. Atene blinked at my words and seemed to be thinking about something.

“I see. Something to bring back...”

It sounded like I was talking about something extraordinary.

“Atene, just in case, are you going to follow me?”

“No way. I know my limits.”

...Yeah, right.

I nodded, thinking that asking more might lead to a bad outcome.

* * *

“...Going to Teyven? Frondier?”

After hearing Atene, Sale repeated the question over the phone.

As far as Atene remembered, it was rare for Sale to be so surprised and ask for clarification.

“Yeah, he said he has something to bring back.”

“Something to bring back...”

Sale repeated the words similarly.

“So, he left something in Teyven?”

“I think so.”

“Then Frondier has been to Teyven before?”

“Based on what he said, it seems so.”

Sale and Atene had the same thought.

Teyven is hell for those who have been there and a land of fear and the unknown for those who haven’t.

A place filled with convicts, criminals, and soldiers used as meat shields, and monsters constantly attacking.

To have something to bring back from such an unknown and dangerous place...

It can only mean Frondier has been to Teyven before.

So, Frondier left something in Teyven and is going back to retrieve it during the break.

“Teyven is a place where saying it’s dangerous is an understatement. To go back there...”

Whatever it is, it must be something incredible.

Athen, who is already strong enough to be overqualified as a student, must have something important to retrieve.

“By the way, Atene.”

“Yeah.”

“Why are you telling me this? You don’t think I’ll help Frondier, do you?”

Sale only knew that Frondier was sent by their mother, Philia, to gather information on the Dragon Heart.

They were practically strangers.

Sale didn’t know that Frondier had stopped Elysia. If she did, her opinion of Frondier would plummet.

“What are you talking about, sis? It’s just part of our chat.”

“...You know, you’re starting to resemble Mom.”

“That’s a different story.”

Elysia ignored the comment and continued.

“I have a place I want to visit during the break.”

“...Hey, you. Stop for a moment.”

“The purpose of Constel’s break is to improve students’ individual skills. I want to travel to improve my skills. It’s not strange, right?”

“Hey! Are you crazy? Do you know where you’re going? Do you think I’ll allow it?”

“What are you talking about? I haven’t even decided where to go yet. Of course, I’ll handle myself well, but you never know what might happen. It might be a much more difficult journey than I expect. But don’t worry. Nothing will happen. It’s just a one-month trip.”

Atene’s audacity was at its peak.

A deep sigh came from the other end of the phone.

“I see, that’s why you’re telling me this instead of Mom.”

“What are you talking about, sis