Chapter 81 of the Weapon Replicator of the Academy

Chapter 24: Taebeon (3)

"…What are you doing?"

I finally asked about the behavior unfolding in the room.

Selena looked at me and countered as if questioning why I was asking.

"I'm changing clothes."

Selena was already almost in her underwear. Her voluptuous figure was 'appropriately' exposed to my view. Of course, it was intentional on Selena's part.

"There's no other place to change, right?"

"Y-Yes, that's right, that's right."

Selena nodded with a smile, her lips seeming to tempt as well.

Crack—

I shattered the necklace, Heukryeon. It was a bit noisy for such a situation, but it was a good opportunity to establish my relationship with Selena.

Weaver, Heukcheon

Rank - Divine Position

Eiokeira

I created an arrow of Artemis and held it in my hand.

"Since you're a member of Manjok, you must have heard about what I did at Constel, right?"

"Y-Yes?"

"Then you know about the 'fireworks,' right?"

"…."

Selena swallowed hard. It was a sign of affirmation.

"This arrow never misses."

I took a step closer to Selena. She took a step back, looking flustered.

"Who said you could take a step back? You said you would assist me."

"S-Sorry."

I approached Selena until I was right in front of her, pushing the tip of the arrow towards her.

"You have to report every move I make to Manjok. There must be a hotline connecting here and Manjok, even if I don't know when or how often."

Just like Haglly, who appeared unexpectedly in the infirmary at Constel, the people from Manjok show up without warning.

It's probably a kind of 'teleportation' that Haglly set up when he first met Prondier.

"Even that ridiculous outfit you're wearing, you must have put it on there, and you say there's no place to change?"

"A-Ahaha. I won't be going to Manjok for a long time, Young Master. I really came here to assist Lord Prondier…"

"A long time, when exactly?"

"W-Well, in two weeks."

My expression turned cold. I had intended to act this way, but I was genuinely annoyed.

"I told you. This arrow never misses."

"…Y-Yes?"

"Since you said two weeks, let's test it. If you leave my side for even a moment from now until 15 days have passed, this arrow will pierce your throat on its own. Do you agree?"

Selena's eyes blinked a few times, and her face turned pale. She immediately knelt down and bowed her head to the ground.

"S-Sorry! I have committed a grave sin."

"If you have committed a grave sin, then you should die, right?"

At my words, Selena just trembled all over.

"Disappear and don't show your face."

"…Y-Yes."

Selena, who answered, disappeared with her head still bowed. Her disappearance was similar to Haglly's, a mysterious transfer.

"Phew, now I can finally have some peace of mind."

Finally, I had some alone time. This should have been normal, but Selena's unexpected appearance had disrupted this time.

Just as I was about to settle my mind,

"I-I've changed."

It was disrupted again.

"…."

Selena was in her pajamas. Of course, like her maid outfit, they were designed to emphasize her figure unnecessarily. The waistline was indented in a way that only appeared in manga.

Seeing Selena in pajamas that didn't serve their function, I became even colder.

"Why did you come back?"

"Y-Yes, y-yes?"

"Are you planning to sleep now, in those pajamas?"

"W-Well, it's late…"

"I told you to handle anything unrelated to assisting me at Manjok."

Selena opened her mouth.

"S-So, even sleeping… at Manjok…?"

"Then how is your sleep related to protecting me?"

"…It's not."

"Get out."

Selena's mouth moved, and she pulled her lips thin, then bowed her head.

Her last face before disappearing looked somewhat resentful.

* * *

Manjok is a cave inside a cliff, but its interior forms a city.

There are clear divisions between commercial areas and residential areas, and most facilities used by humans are fully equipped.

Selena stood in front of her house, dazed for a moment.

"Why did you come back, Jay?"

Haglly spoke from behind her.

Haglly, who asked a similar question to Prondier, made Selena a bit irritated.

"…I was kicked out."

"Kicked out? By Prondier?"

"Yes. He said to handle everything unrelated to his protection here."

"Really, even sleeping?"

Indeed. Selena muttered in a voice as if she had swallowed a sigh. Her trembling was half a sob.

"I've never been ignored like this in my life."

"Isn't it your first time trying to seduce a man?"

"Still! I had confidence! You said I could do it, Master Haglly!"

"…Hmm."

Haglly stroked his chin.

In fact, this situation was something even Haglly hadn't anticipated.

Prondier originally had an immense inferiority complex. He would smile whenever Haglly called him 'Young Master.'

If someone as beautiful as Selena were to seduce him, he would have fallen for her immediately, thinking she was irresistible.

"I said I could seduce him… I thought I could, so I have no excuse… But he was really scary…"

It was unclear whether Selena was talking to herself or trying to be heard. She made a strange sound, as if she was really crying.

"He just needs time. Prondier will eventually be swayed by you. He's just putting on a front right now."

"Putting on a front… You mean it's just a front…"

Selena still seemed to hear Prondier's cold voice. She really thought she was going to die. And it had only been a day since her mission started.

"Focus on protecting Prondier. Just be careful with your gestures and expressions. He can't say anything about that."

"…Yes."

In fact, Prondier hadn't really pointed out her seductive words and actions. Selena nodded, understanding this.

…But if he didn't point it out, maybe it wasn't very effective.

"He will eventually fall for you."

Haglly said with confidence.

"There's no woman who loves Prondier."

* * *

The next day, I headed to the barracks as ordered by Leadway, with Selena.

The barracks seemed to be divided by floors for knights and soldiers. The soldiers were on the first floor, and the knights on the second.

I looked around for a moment and then climbed the stairs.

"Hey, you don't belong here."

At the top of the stairs, someone looked down at me with a sly smile.

…Who is this? I don't recognize him from Prondier's memories or the game's knowledge.

Moreover, his arrogant posture didn't fit a knight, and his low rank didn't give off any aura.

In other words, he's a nobody. I ignored him and walked past.

"Didn't you hear me? You belong on the first floor."

He tried to grab my arm as I passed, but I easily brushed him off.

But the feeling of brushing him off was quite unsatisfying. Who is this guy, not a knight?

"Bringing a woman here, you really think you're something."

Feeling embarrassed that I brushed him off, he reached out to Selena.

Oh, dear.

Selena extended her fingertips to him. The man froze in fear. Selena's extended fingertips, her index and middle fingers, held a needle. It was enough to intimidate him, though I don't know where she got it from.

"I'm in a very bad mood right now, so don't touch me."

Selena's voice, filled with killing intent, growled. The man flinched and stepped back.

She really seemed to be in a bad mood.

The reason for Selena's bad mood….

Well, I'm not sure.

Creak—

I entered the room marked 'Waiting Room.'

It was a spacious but extremely simple space, with only a few long chairs.

There were about a dozen people inside.

As I entered, the gazes directed at me gradually increased.

One of them looked at me and said with a stupid expression,

"…You really brought a woman. You really are crazy."

I looked around.

I thought everyone would be strangers, but that wasn't the case.

Robert was in the far corner. He put a finger to his lips when he saw me.

He was telling me not to acknowledge him.

"Didn't you see Maureen come to greet you?"

"There was someone trying to pick a fight."

So that was him. I understood from the knight's response.

The knights' armors varied in style and design, and the emblems engraved on their armor were all different.

Knights from almost every region of the empire are brought to Taebeon, but their numbers are not large. Knights are important forces wherever they are.

"Hey, how many days do you think you'll last?"

One of them asked me point-blank.

"How many days?"

"Yep. We're betting on it."

The one who answered smiled.

"On the day you die."

At this, the waiting room erupted in laughter. They seemed genuinely amused, as if they had heard a funny joke.

Only a few people, including the earlier Robert, didn't laugh.

"I'll bet…"

I slowly opened my mouth.

"For a month, no one here will die."

The laughter stopped. Their gazes were filled with disbelief.

"Are you really crazy? Do you know where you are? This is Taebeon. No one will die here for a month? Where did you get such a crazy idea?"

"Is that so? Then let me ask. Who among you, excluding me, do you think will die? Is there anyone who's eager to die?"

The knights' expressions hardened.

The reason they engage in such vulgar bets is because this is Taebeon.

In a place where death is certain, people can only go a bit crazy. Those who don't usually die first.

I can roughly understand the psychology of those who call me crazy.

However, I have no intention of fighting them.

On the contrary, I need them.

"Let me say it again."

And,

"While I'm in Taebeon, no one here will die."

They will come to realize how much they need me, to the bone.