Academy’s Weapon Replicator

Unemployed Life (5)

After some time.

It was lunchtime, and I moved to the cafeteria with Esther.

But the cafeteria was…

“…You really have guts.”

It was the prisoners’ cafeteria.

In other words, we were eating the meals distributed to the prisoners, right in the middle of the tables filled with prisoners.

“It’s something I always do.”

Esther said it was something she always did, but as a new face here, I had to endure the murderous gazes of the prisoners wandering around.

“As long as I’m here, no big problems arise.”

“…I guess that’s true.”

Esther, the warden of Obsidian.

Her fear was already well-known throughout the empire.

No other adjectives were needed. Just one was enough.

‘The woman Renzo finds most troublesome.’

This one fact alone gives a simple idea of who Esther is.

“What, are you scared of the prisoners of Obsidian now?”

Esther said casually while eating her meal.

Next to her was Cora. Cora had already started eating as if she was used to it.

I was barely touching my food.

“Of course, I’m scared.”

“Oh?”

“This place is full of anger and murderous intent. Just sitting here makes me feel the killing intent. In a place like this, no matter how much I try to avoid it, accidents are bound to happen. If that happens.”

“If that happens?”

“…I have no choice but to defend myself. I can’t predict what will happen in the process.”

Slurp.

After speaking, I took a spoonful of soup and drank it.

Hmm, it doesn’t taste good.

“…”

Esther blinked at me for a moment after I spoke.

She asked.

“You don’t seem to like being strong.”

“I like it. If I’m strong, I don’t get hurt, and I can protect someone.”

“That’s not liking it. You just feel the need to be strong.”

“…Is that different?”

“It is. In other words, if you were in a situation where you wouldn’t get hurt and didn’t need to protect anyone, you wouldn’t particularly want to be strong.”

“Of course. What’s the point of being strong in such a situation? It’s a peaceful world.”

Of course, peace can be broken at any time.

If it were a truly peaceful world where there was no need to worry about the future, although it’s a far-fetched idea, if such a world really existed, I wouldn’t need to be particularly strong. Isn’t that obvious?

“Huh, really.”

But Esther laughed as if she found it absurd.

“A hero who saved the world is such a person. It’s really ironic.”

“Why would I need to be stronger than necessary? That would just increase the possibility of overkill.”

“Why don’t you try being a prison guard? I think it would suit you.”

Esther said something incomprehensible. It was hard to tell if she was being sarcastic or genuinely suggesting it.

When I made a puzzled face at her words, Esther asked again.

“Then, do you not understand people who pursue strength? There are many people in the world who strive endlessly to become stronger. Some even enjoy the battle itself. Like Renzo.”

“…Ah, I’ve seen many.”

What came to my mind at Esther’s words was Fenrir, who was bound at the time.

Fenrir, who tried to test my strength and didn’t even want to talk to anyone who wasn’t strong.

In fact, it wasn’t just him. I’ve seen many like him. Renzo is an easy example, and in fact, Aster, although different in direction, has a stronger desire for strength than anyone else.

“Of course, I understand. It’s a dangerous era. It’s hard to survive if you’re not strong. You need strength to protect your loved ones. There are all sorts of threats lurking, not just monsters.”

Not only did I understand, but I also relied on Aster’s disposition.

I believed in Aster’s growth, who saw me as a rival.

It wasn’t just Aster.

I expected and waited for the growth of many people around me. They rewarded me, and thanks to them, we were able to win the war.

…However.

“But you’re right.”

“Huh?”

“I understand them, but I’m not that kind of person.”

I felt a bit more organized in my thoughts as I answered Esther’s question.

If this world wasn’t so dangerous.

Simply put, if it wasn’t a world where ‘game over’ was certain.

“I didn’t become strong because I wanted to.”

I was desperate to survive.

At first, I only tried to protect myself.

But the number of people I wanted to protect increased, and to protect them all, I had to become that much stronger.

I became strong out of necessity.

“You’re right.”

I said with a playful smile.

“If it were a time of peace, I would be much weaker than I am now.”

Esther stared at me blankly for a moment at my words. I don’t know what emotion was in those eyes, but they looked a bit surprised and stared at me without blinking.

I suddenly thought and looked at Cora, who was silently eating beside me.

“But did this guy, by any chance, kill someone?”

Esther shook her head at my words.

“He was violent, but he never directly attacked anyone. The injured were able to leave the hospital soon enough. More importantly, there were the Zodiacs at the time. The situation was quickly brought under control.”

“If that’s the case, there’s no reason for him to be in Obsidian.”

“That’s right. If the incident had ended there.”

Ah.

I guessed what Esther was about to say.

Esther shook her head and spoke.

“This guy caused a commotion at the police station and even during the trial. Of course, despite the chaos, no one was seriously hurt. It seemed like he had been thoroughly trained in that aspect. But the problem isn’t how many people got hurt.”

“……The problem is that he’s uncontrollable.”

“Yes. There were Zodiacs in the square. But not elsewhere. He swings his fists too easily and is too strong. It was really difficult to calm him down when he caused a commotion.”

Cora probably didn’t intend to hurt anyone.

Even during the interrogation, and after the verdict was announced, he must have felt the same. There must have been a reason for his outburst. Maybe someone insulted Quinie.

Cora just couldn’t contain his anger and caused a commotion.

He didn’t attack anyone, nor did he intend to break anything.

It was probably similar to a child throwing a tantrum. To put it more precisely, it could be seen as a ‘strong protest.’

But it’s not easy to calm that down.

He was just angry without any intention to attack, but no one could stop him.

If such a child decided to harm someone…

“This guy is here because of that danger. An excessively strong weapon should only be in the hands of someone who can control it. Don’t you think so?”

“……Esther, the thing I find hardest to deal with is a sound argument.”

“That’s unfortunate. I only speak in sound arguments.”

I know that well. That’s why I can’t speak carelessly to Esther.

I held my head.

“How long will this guy be locked up?”

“Not for much longer. Actually, he should have been released by now.”

“Should have been?”

“This guy causes a commotion even inside Obsidian.”

At those words, I looked at Cora in disbelief.

Cora avoided my gaze.

“……They keep insulting Quinie.”

Cora glanced at the other prisoners around her.

“Fight every time? It will only delay our return to Quinier.”

“But just let them be? Pretend not to hear them insulting Quinier?”

Cora looked at me as if she was wronged.

I took a deep breath and said.

“Esther.”

“Yes?”

“Would you let me take care of this one?”

Esther’s eyes widened slightly at my words. But soon they returned to normal.

“What are you talking about? Are you planning to take him out?”

“Yes. I’ll take responsibility for him. If we leave him like this, he’ll get caught again for similar problems even if he gets released alone.”

“That’s nonsense. Do you think you can take out and put in Obsidian’s prisoners as you please?”

Esther said with a stern look.

I asked.

“Then how can I take him out?”

“No way. If a prisoner leaves without a good reason, the other prisoners will explode with complaints. Do you want to see a riot here?”

“Hmm, complaints.”

Click.

I put down my spoon. I was lost in thought for a moment.

I originally came to meet Hagley, but Cora’s situation is more troublesome than I thought.

The problem is not now, but the future.

If we leave him like this, the accidents will keep repeating.

So far, it’s been fortunate that no one was seriously hurt, but that was just luck. Even if Cora didn’t intend to hurt anyone, it’s the same.

Cora has that much strength.

But he is not ready to handle that power.

“……So, a reason is needed.”

* * *

After that, I requested to bring Hagley to the visiting room.

Hagley was the quietest person in this Obsidian. At least that’s what Esther said.

“……You are…….”

Whether it was true or not, Hagley showed no reaction even after discovering me across the partition in the visiting room.

He seemed surprised, but that was all. There was no anger or resentment in his eyes.

“Hello, Hagley. It’s been a while.”

“What brings you to me now? Your business should be over, shouldn’t it?”

Hagley asked as he sat down in the chair.

“I have one simple question and one proposal.”

“…?”

Hagley tilted his head in confusion.

I leaned in a little closer and asked.

“Tell me about the Vanier family.”

“…”

“You were the one who brought Selena, right? I want to know what happened to the Vanier family and what happened to Selena’s parents.”

“Is that Selena’s request?”

“No, it’s my promise.”

At my words, Hagley looked at me for a moment, then closed his eyes.

And then silence.

“…Do you want something?”

It seemed it wouldn’t be easy, so I asked.

The last time I met Hagley, it wasn’t a good farewell.

Even if I demanded information now, he wouldn’t easily divulge it. In times like this, a deal was necessary.

“I don’t want anything. But I have nothing to tell you either.”

“…I can grant most requests now. You know that, right? If I push a little, I can meet some demands.”

“No, Frondier.”

At that, Hagley raised his hand as if to stop me.

“I’m not trying to test you right now. I was just being sincere. I don’t want anything, and I have nothing to tell you. That’s all.”

“…What do you mean you have nothing to tell? You must have seen Selena’s parents. You could at least tell me where that was, right?”

“I didn’t meet them.”

“What?”

“Didn’t Selena tell you? She was a child cast out from the family. The ones I met were not Selena’s parents. They were employees sent from there. The meeting place had nothing to do with the Vanier family. I don’t know where that family is located either.”

His words made me ponder deeply.

If Hagley’s words were true, the Banie family was quite reluctant to reveal themselves.

Is it because, as I heard from Constell, the Banie family also fled from the war? But according to my ‘analysis’, at least the name Banie is not a lie.

If they revealed their true name to Hagley, it is likely that they did not feel ashamed of their actions.

“But I will tell you this, Prondier.”

Hagley said at that moment.

“The Banie family sent an employee to meet me at a very peculiar location.”

“A peculiar location?”

“At the midpoint between Mangot and the Empire.”

“……Midpoint, then.”

“Yes. Outside the barrier.”

I opened my eyes wide.

Outside the barrier. In other words, an extremely dangerous area where monsters roam.

“They brought a baby there. To hand over to me. At first, I thought they were very brave to come all the way from the Empire. But now that I think about it, another possibility comes to mind.”

“……The Banie family, could it be.”

Hagley nodded at my guess.

“There was a monster war in the past, and as a result, the Empire’s territory shrank. If they were a family that lived in a place that was part of the Empire before it shrank, but is now monster territory.”

“Even now, they might be surviving outside the barrier……?”