Academy’s Weapon Replicator

Odyssey (7)

The most important aspect of Odyssey’s territorial expansion is the road connecting the Empire to Mangot.

After the war with Mangot, the Empire absorbed Mangot’s research data and carried out a kind of road maintenance, but that road is not accessible to the general public.

There are no barriers on the road to Mangot.

Even now, to study Mangot from the Empire, not only related scholars but also the Imperial Knights move together. Even so, if they feel even a little bit of danger, they retreat without hesitation.

Recently, with Gregory entering the palace, the efficiency of checking the surrounding monsters has increased dramatically, but the traffic is still not free.

Therefore, Odyssey’s first plan is to expand the territory of this road. At least, it must be safe enough for the general public to come and go.

Then, the amount of supplies transported to Mangot will increase, merchants will move, and villages may develop at intermediate points.

For these reasons, Odyssey’s starting point was none other than Yerranhes.

Yerranhes is the territory of Amper, located in the northwest. There, including Amper, who bears the name of the Iron Wall, is the Empire’s best knight order.

Of course, neither Amper nor the Roach Knights participate in Odyssey. They have a duty to protect their territory.

However, if they start from Yerranhes, even if Odyssey’s journey fails, the damage to the Empire can be minimized. They will return to the strongest barrier.

Today, Yerranhes was snowing more than usual. As if trying to cover the world in white.

“…This is the plan, what do you think?”

“Hmm.”

Amper was crossing his arms, facing Aten in the reception room of the Yerranhes mansion.

The guest was Princess Aten, but somehow it felt like Amper was the guest.

“How far do you plan to proceed with the first exploration?”

“We are thinking of 10 km. But if we judge it to be difficult, we will stop immediately and return. The crows will fly, so please have enough personnel on standby at the barrier.”

“Is the composition of Odyssey sufficient?”

“I think we have the minimum defense.”

Aten answered calmly. Amper, who had his eyes on her for a moment, looked at Silvain next to him.

“Silvain, how is the situation at the barrier recently?”

“The monsters are quiet. They always tend to hide like dead mice after a war. However, if humans cross the barrier, we don’t know how they will react. There has been no precedent for that.”

Silvain answered sincerely. Anfer closed his eyes for a moment.

“Princess Aten. It would be best for the Odyssey personnel to stay here for a while.”

“Pardon?”

“I need to check the personnel myself.”

Not only Aten but also Silvain was surprised by those words.

Looking at Silvain, whose eyes were wide open, Anfer spoke.

“Select a few members from the Roach Knights. If possible, we should also join the Odyssey.”

“…M-Master. That is,”

“If the Odyssey departs from Yerenhes, it is the quickest way to make this territory safer. There is no reason not to help.”

“…Understood.”

Silvain bowed his head without further questioning.

He turned to select personnel from the knights as per Anfer’s instructions.

As he walked, his mind became complicated.

‘The Odyssey is an incomplete operation. Both Terst and Palma acknowledge that.’

The Odyssey is not an operation that is expected to succeed immediately.

It has been many years since the human territory shrank, and no one in the empire knows what the world beyond the barrier is like now.

In that sense, no matter how much preparation is made, there are too many uncertainties in the Odyssey.

Therefore, while maximizing defense, the priority is to gather information with safety as the utmost priority.

The goal is not success. The goal is to return without significant damage.

‘Even if the knights are deployed, it is not too late to do so when it becomes more certain.’

Anfer must be aware of that.

Moreover, this Odyssey plan is not something Anfer would like.

Starting from Yerenhes can be seen as trusting the barrier of this territory, but conversely, it can also be seen as using them as errand boys to catch the monsters in case of failure.

Moreover, isn’t it an order from the empire, which he despises so much?

Until this morning, Anfer’s face seemed like he could kill someone with just his gaze.

‘But when Princess Aten arrived, he suddenly calmed down. Aten Terst… There shouldn’t be any special relationship with the master. If there is a relationship, rather…’

Suddenly.

Silvain stopped walking.

A strange thought crossed his mind.

‘……No way, Master. That child to the Frontier of…….’

* * *

Thanks to Angfer’s consideration, the members of Odyssey stayed at a lodging near the mansion.

Close to the barrier and well-equipped, this place was sufficient to accommodate all the members of Odyssey.

This was proof that the lodging was by no means a narrow place.

“……Is this all?”

It also meant that there were not many members of Odyssey to begin with.

Ludovic de Fabre, the leader of this Odyssey and a Zodiac, confirmed the members.

“What do you mean, is this all? Ludovic, you shouldn’t say that. Where did the other Zodiacs go?”

It was Dier who retorted with a sullen face.

At those words, Ludovic averted his gaze as if troubled.

“Well, um……. The Zodiacs have been in poor condition recently. It’s right after the war. They were all injured and need to rest…….”

“I participated in the war too. I mean, are there only one or two Zodiacs? How can all 12 of them be in poor condition at the same time?”

Dier attacked mercilessly. At that sight, someone placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Don’t be too harsh, Dier. The Zodiacs are desperate right now.”

“Reedwy, sir.”

It was Reedwy von Urfa.

The Zodiacs participating in the Odyssey were Ludovic and Reedwy. Only these two.

“Desperate, you say?”

“They lost their divine power. You know that, right?”

“……Even so, with their strength.”

“Yes. They would be of great help to the Odyssey. But this plan is not something that will proceed so urgently.”

Reedwy spoke in a calm tone.

“All the Zodiacs abandoned their gods themselves. That’s why they could fight against the gods in the last war. But that doesn’t change the fact that their divine power has disappeared. They are now each preparing. Preparing to gain greater power. When the Odyssey truly begins in earnest, we don’t know what kind of monsters will appear and where.”

“……By that logic, shouldn’t you two also not be here?”

“Ludovic and I, well.”

This time, Reedwy scratched his cheek awkwardly.

“……?”

Dier looked at Ludovic as if waiting for an answer.

Ludovic was also rolling his eyes diligently, but eventually sighed and told him.

“……I came to learn. I feel like Ridwi and I have grasped a bit of it.”

“Learn? What? From whom?”

Creak.

At that moment, with perfect timing.

The door of the lodging opened, and a man entered, carrying a pile of snow on his hood.

“Oh, this is the place. Thank goodness.”

When he took off his hood, a handsome face that made everyone open their eyes again was revealed.

“I’m Aster Evans. Nice to meet you all.”

“Senior!”

Dier approached him with joy.

“I heard you were busy, but you came!”

“Yes, I was busy. I thought I had sent a refusal to Teacher Jane, but somehow it turned into an acceptance.”

Aster is currently a teacher at Atlas.

Surprisingly, it suited him, and he continued to work. Maybe it’s because the siblings have similar tendencies. Elin is also working as a teacher.

So he clearly conveyed to Jane that it would be difficult to participate in Odyssey.

But,

─If you participate in Odyssey, I can be at ease.

─Yes. I’ll check as soon as I have some time.

Is that usually taken as a willingness to participate?

It was a roundabout way of saying he couldn’t.

“Oh, you came.”

Ridwi spoke up. Aster greeted politely.

“Mr. Ridwi. And Mr. Ludovic.”

As Aster greeted them one by one, the two exchanged glances.

As if to say, “Who’s going to do it?”

In the end, it was Ludovic who stepped forward this time as well.

“Aster, um… Can I ask you something?”

“Yes. What is it?”

“Well, um, ahem. You defeated the Minotaur before, right?”

“Oh, during the Mangot War. Yes, that’s correct.”

“Well, that’s right. I have something to ask about that.”

“I see.”

Aster nodded calmly.

Ludovic, with a slightly reddened face, asked.

“How did you do that?”

“…Pardon?”

“You said you had abandoned your divine power at that time. So how did you defeat the Minotaur?”

Aster opened his mouth blankly. Rather than being surprised, he was a bit dazed.

Instead, Dier was that much surprised.

‘Could it be that he came to learn…’

Did he come to learn from Aster?

The two Zodiacs side by side!

“Do you two want to use the One Slash?”

“No, no, no, it’s not that we want to learn that. I don’t think we could even if we tried.”

Well, that would be the case.

Ludovic aside, Reedwy doesn’t even use a sword in the first place.

This time, it was Reedwy who asked.

“That Eclectus thing. I want to learn how to use it. They say divine power is similar to it, right? The power of the soul that humans can use without borrowing from the gods. If we know that, the Zodiacs can regain their strength.”

“Ah…”

Aster finally understood.

But Aster could only give a vague smile.

His face resembled Ludovic’s from a moment ago.

“I’m sorry to say this.”

“What is it, that unsettling start.”

The unease was an accurate premonition.

“I don’t have Eclectus. Haha.”

Aster laughed awkwardly.

Reedwy and Ludovic’s eyes widened.

“…What, what do you mean you haven’t mastered Eclectus?”

“No, it’s not that. Should I say I’ve mastered the fact that I don’t have Eclectus?”

Aster’s explanation is only half correct.

It’s not that Aster doesn’t have an Eclexis. That would be the same as saying he has no soul.

However, the Eclexis that Aster possesses is not a power he can use autonomously like others.

Aster’s power fundamentally nullifies the opponent’s Eclexis.

An Eclexis that flows through the opponent’s soul output without any prejudice or preconception, possible because Aster holds no bias towards any faith or ideology.

However, affirming all souls means, conversely, that he has no conflicting subjectivity.

Aster’s Eclexis is excessively transparent, and because it is transparent, it nullifies the opponent’s Eclexis.

“This can’t be…”

Reedwi was shocked. Ludovic was the same.

They were convinced that Aster’s power was indeed Eclexis, but the answer they received was completely unexpected.

Seeing the two disheartened, Aster pursed his lips.

He actually knew what to say.

But the reason he hesitated.

Because these two must already know.

“…If you want to master Eclexis, there are far more suitable candidates than me,”

“Don’t say it.”

Reedwi answered, covering his eyes.

“Because I know. I know very well.”