Academy’s Weapon Replicator

Odyssey (6)

Shortly after binding the White Tiger with Gleipnir.

“…Crunch crunch.”

Cora ate the meal I gave her in silence.

After trying to escape from Gleipnir and exhausting herself, the form of the White Tiger dissipated.

“How are you feeling?”

I asked.

“…What?”

Cora asked back while chewing on the bread.

“Do you think you can control the power of the White Tiger?”

“…”

At those words, Cora chewed the bread in her mouth for a moment, then put it down and looked at me.

“This method is still too much.”

“…Really?”

“I have no memory of the time when I transform into the White Tiger. There’s no way I can control it without any memory. Transforming is still dangerous. I need to learn how to control it in my human form…”

I thought while listening to Cora’s explanation.

In fact, in the current situation, Cora’s words are correct. She’s actually more logical than I am.

The power of the White Tiger is dangerous and uncontrollable. Cora, who has no memory of that time, cannot gain experience in controlling the White Tiger.

Cora is choosing the best possible method for herself. Not becoming the White Tiger. If I were in Cora’s situation, I would definitely do the same.

‘…But I can’t just watch that happen.’

Perhaps Cora feels that having half of herself as the White Tiger is more of a curse.

From the moment I first met Cora, she already wanted to become a magician.

Despite inheriting the blood of the White Tiger and having perfect qualities as a warrior, she chose the path of a magician, which doesn’t suit her at all.

Perhaps the fact that it doesn’t suit her is the biggest reason she chose to become a magician.

That’s how much Cora distances herself from the power of the White Tiger. Even though it’s her own power.

‘If I were Cora, I would make the same choice. Because that’s the best within the knowledge Cora has.’

But I have more knowledge than Cora.

When it comes to this kind of thing, I probably have the most knowledge in the world.

‘…The White Tiger isn’t originally in that state.’

The White Tiger. A mythical creature.

In this world, the White Tiger doesn’t just mean a ‘white tiger.’ That’s just one of the many stories symbolizing the White Tiger.

Just as gods receive powerful strength through faith, weapons gain power through prestige, and monsters inflate their power through records of fear.

The White Tiger is the same.

The true nature of the “White Tiger” is the combination of all the disasters and blessings it brings.

In this world, there are no concepts of “divine beasts” like the Vermilion Bird, Azure Dragon, or Black Tortoise, yet the White Tiger exists, making its influence felt.

“But the White Tiger is not fundamentally a monster that harms people.”

Just as Cora is called a “beastman” rather than a hybrid with a monster, and the White Tiger is referred to as a spiritual creature rather than a monster.

The White Tiger’s original image is different from what Cora currently holds.

From my understanding of this world through the game and integrating opinions from other players, the White Tiger is extremely difficult to witness and terrifying when angered, but it never attacks people first.

In other words, the violent wildness that emerges when Cora becomes the White Tiger is not due to the White Tiger itself.

…No, it’s strange that Cora has no memory of being the White Tiger in the first place.

“Cora attacked Quinie’s mansion long ago.”

Even though Amper stopped it, Amper only saved Quinie. Everyone else in the mansion died.

That was an enormous trauma for Quinie.

For Cora, it must have been a guilt that made her want to vomit.

“The first incident resulted in the loss of Cora’s immature reason. At that time, Cora was more like a tiger rampaging out of control than a White Tiger. It was something Armel, who was mad in Indus, caused.”

But for Cora, the circumstances don’t matter.

No matter what, she did it with her own hands.

Since then, Cora’s image of the White Tiger probably hasn’t changed at all.

“The White Tiger harms people.”

“Driven by instinct, it kills all those dear to it.”

So Cora distances herself from the White Tiger, and the more she distances herself, the more she fears the image of the White Tiger. Eventually, when she becomes the White Tiger, she is consumed, leaving only the “tiger” behind.

Losing memory is not due to the White Tiger’s influence. It’s Cora’s own will.

Like a dream.

If she thinks of it as a dream, she can forget it when she wakes up.

“Alright.”

I nodded.

“Shall we continue?”

“…What?”

Cora stared at me blankly, holding the empty dishes. I dusted off my hands and stood up.

“Do you want to rest a bit more? I can’t feel the burden of becoming the White Tiger, so let me know about your condition frequently.”

“No, no, no. Did you hear what I said? This can’t be done. We have to go in a direction where you don’t become the White Tiger.”

“Sorry, but I can’t agree to that.”

“Why, why?”

“Because it’s not the best outcome.”

At my words, Cora’s face turned bewildered.

“No, what kind of childish talk is that? Hey, I’ve heard such things sometimes, but I’ve never seen anyone as stubborn as you. A so-called hero of humanity, huh.”

“So what if I’m being stubborn.”

I put one hand on my waist.

Quinier is worried about Cora not becoming a white tiger.

Cora tries not to become a white tiger, but perhaps because of that, she can’t control her strength and emotions. The incident in the square, during the trial, is proof of that.

Quinier is a smart woman. She would come up with a solution for most things quickly.

But this time, it won’t be easy.

Cora chose not to become a white tiger, but Quinier, while hoping otherwise, has no solution.

Cora grits her teeth, trying not to become a white tiger. Quinier can only watch over such a Cora.

I don’t want to see Quinier suffering in such a situation.

Quinier must always be a competent and determined little devil.

“As you said, I am the hero of humanity. I defeated the gods and won the war.”

“…No, how can you say such things without shame.”

“Exactly.”

I took a light breath.

Just that made my head feel a little clearer.

“I have to be stubborn.”

* * *

In the cabin, Moretti was talking enthusiastically.

“──So! As we were walking through the forest, the sky gradually became cloudy, and then black rain started to fall!”

Moretti was not only talking passionately but also stood up, gesturing with his hands and feet to describe the situation at that time.

“At first, I thought it was rain! I heard the sound of it from afar! But when I looked closely, what was it! It was rain that was destroying the trees and the ground! A terrifying downpour!”

“…So it was rain.”

“No, no! Right! It was rain, but! No, it wasn’t rain! Don’t you get it? It was rain that killed everything, people and all!”

“…So anyway, it was rain,”

“No, I’m telling you it wasn’t!”

Kraken, who had been listening, tried to argue, but Moretti immediately refuted.

However, in the process of rebuttal, they eventually returned to Kraken’s orthodoxy, and their bickering continued unnecessarily long.

It wasn’t just Kraken who was listening to Moretti’s passionate speech. Selena and Hagley were also listening.

But the faces of the three listening to Moretti’s words were peaceful.

Moretti’s serious message didn’t seem to reach their ears at all.

“Ah, ah! You guys! You guys don’t believe me!”

“…We believe you.”

Selena answered, but Moretti shook his head vigorously.

“No, no! That’s not the face of someone who believes. Damn it! You guys should have seen that scene! It was a disaster! There must be a record in ancient literature predicting this destruction! Black rain pouring from the sky, destroying forests, mountains, and seas… Huh! I think I’ve seen it before!”

Moretti, clutching his head in agony alone.

The thoughts of the three watching him were almost the same.

‘No, we really do believe you.’

Of course, they didn’t believe that a disaster had struck the world, but they naturally guessed the identity of the black rain.

Only Frondier could do such a thing. And he could certainly pull it off.

Moretti thought their lukewarm reaction was because they didn’t believe him, but in fact, it was because they believed him very firmly.

“But Mr. Moretti?”

“When I saw it, it was the great sea monster from ancient records…! Huh? Why?”

When Kraken called, Moretti stopped his passionate speech and looked at him.

“You said you met Frondier when you escaped?”

“Yes, I did.”

Kraken decided to just call Frondier by his name to Moretti.

As Hagley predicted, Moretti showed no particular reaction to hearing Frondier’s name.

Surely, he had no idea of Frondier’s status in this empire.

“Then that black rain must have been done by Frondier.”

“…No! That’s not human technology! If that was possible with artificial power, he would be a god or a devil! Black rain that destroys forests! I’ve never heard of such magic or technology! If this isn’t a disaster, then surely a demon with power far surpassing humans played a trick!”

Moretti shook his head firmly.

The other three smiled wryly.

Surprisingly, everything was correct except for the conclusion.

Creak.

“Ahhh!”

The cabin door opened, and Moretti was startled.

It was, of course, Frondier who came in.

“What’s with that reaction? Were you telling ghost stories or something?”

Frondier looked at Moretti with a puzzled expression.

This side also made a rough guess.

“Oh, no, just… What? I was just surprised because it was so sudden? Hahaha.”

Moretti laughed with a stiff face.

Selena’s eyes narrowed as she watched.

‘The outer muscles of his mouth are excessively stiff, and his forearm to his shoulder is tense. He’s trying to hide his trembling. He’s scared.’

But didn’t the black rain clearly state that it wasn’t Frondier’s doing?

Even if he thinks so with his head, his instincts seem to feel Frondier’s power.

“…But, Mr. Frondier.”

Selena examined Frondier’s appearance and furrowed her brows.

“You’re hurt.”

“…You noticed after all.”

Frondier turned his face slightly to show his neck.

There was a light scratch there.

“I thought I dodged them all, but the aura touched me. I’m covered in wounds all over my body, not just here.”

“…As expected, it’s the White Tiger.”

Selena nodded seriously with a grave face.

Kraken and Hagley’s faces also hardened.

Only Moretti, who was watching, rolled his eyes in confusion.

‘…What kind of conversation is this?’

The wound Frondier showed was just a scratch, nothing more. Judging by what Frondier said, the wounds all over his body must be of a similar level.

But is it really something to be so serious about just because of such minor wounds? What’s so great about it?

“Can we really control the power of the White Tiger in Odyssey?”

“Well, we have to try as much as we can.”

At Frondier’s words, Kraken opened his mouth.

“By the way, Mr. Frondier?”

“Yeah?”

“How long do we have to stay in this cabin? No matter how much you trust that we won’t run away, if you leave us like this, even I would get angry, you know?”

Kraken spoke with a smile, but his words were chilling.

However, Frondier seemed not to hear the content and smiled back.

“Don’t worry. It’s not like we’re keeping you here on purpose. The Empire needs to be ready.”

“The Empire?”

Hagley asked again, and Frondier nodded.

“It looks like the Odyssey members on that side are about to be completed.”