Academy’s Weapon Replicator

Odyssey (18)

Again, the soldier did not answer.

But his sword did.

Swish!

“!”

Frondier leaned back to avoid the thrust aimed at his face.

‘That attack just now, it would have been dangerous if I were my old self.’

He hadn’t sensed any sign before the attack began.

Of course, it was partly because Frondier had not yet reached such a high level as a pure warrior, but his intuition also did not function properly.

‘I see. Because the killing intent is constantly being emitted, I can’t tell when the attack will start.’

If the opponent were human, there would be a gap even if they emitted killing intent, but this monster was different.

It was constantly emitting intense killing intent.

Swish! Ssst!

The soldier’s blade repeatedly cut through the air. Prondier quickly stepped back.

Cold sweat ran down Prondier’s back, but his lips were smiling.

“If you were human, I would want to ask for your teachings.”

But by then, it was too late.

Weaving (織造), Black River (黑川)

Grade – Divine Rank (神位)

Gleipnir

Sarrk

Prondier unfolded Gleipnir and bound the soldier.

It was a thread that even Fenrir couldn’t break. Naturally, the soldier couldn’t move an inch. However, the soldier remained silent even while being bound. He continued to try to break free, but he neither screamed nor shouted. That made it even more frightening.

The reason Prondier used Gleipnir was partly out of respect for a swordsman who had reached such a level of skill,

and also to check the casting speed.

Prondier, who possessed the mana of the Nine Worlds. In fact, that Black River could already perform the role of Gleipnir. If he wove the Black River as thin as a thread, it would become Gleipnir.

However, making it that thin required considerable concentration and time. Normally, it wouldn’t matter, but in a chaotic battle situation, it would be a fatal gap. He might get used to it later, but for now, it was faster to just replicate Gleipnir itself.

The problem was that the original Gleipnir couldn’t be registered in the workshop.

Prondier’s workshop could store anything, but it couldn’t store ‘mana’. Most things that weren’t considered objects couldn’t enter the workshop.

You could store a balloon, but not the air inside it, and you could store a water bottle, but not the water.

So the result.

“Oh, it works well.”

A long cloth held in Prondier’s hand.

It was Penelope’s cloth.

Now, Prondier unraveled Penelope’s cloth and covered it with the Black River.

Due to its nature, Penelope’s cloth would always return to its original state no matter what was done to it, but in fact, until it returned to its original state, its changes were free.

Because Penelope herself repeated the process of weaving and unraveling this cloth every day. As her mana-filled hands repeatedly wove and unraveled the fabric, Penelope’s magic gradually accumulated in the thread, and the nature of the fabric itself changed to make weaving and unraveling easier.

In other words, the Gleipnir that Prondier was using now wasn’t exactly the same item, but rather, it was Penelope’s cloth unraveled and covered with Gleipnir.

“I’m glad I found another use for this cloth.”

Since Prondier was freed from mana shortage, he had hardly used this cloth. Of course, he always wore it as a tie, but that was out of habit.

“Now then.”

Prondier stretched out his hand.

“Shall we talk again?”

His ‘analysis’ was directed at the soldier.

[Lorenzo]

– He was a soldier of the Vanier family during his lifetime.

– His lord was ‘Sergio de Vanier’, the lord of the Vanier family.

– One of the soldiers who evacuated the villagers and fought against the monsters until the end.

– The reason he became a monster lies in magic. The owner of the magic is─

The analysis was cut off there.

Frondier’s eyes sank.

‘He is indeed a soldier of the Vanier family. He even told me the name of the lord.’

Although analysis is a useful skill, it doesn’t reveal all information. The more the opponent tries to hide, the more mana it consumes, and the mana consumption is enormous from the start.

However, the name of the Vanier family and the name of the lord came out immediately.

Without using a lot of mana.

‘It’s only natural.’

Frondier smiled at the soldier.

“It’s not something to hide, is it? The lord was your pride itself.”

What concerns him now is the existence of magic.

It is said that this man became a monster because of magic. The owner of the magic is hidden. It is possible to pour more mana to find out, but Frondier did not do so.

If all of Frondier’s mana is poured out and the information is not released, the result is just the exhaustion of all mana. Knowing that such a case really existed during Selena’s time, he cannot waste mana recklessly.

Especially since this is outside the barrier. It’s not something to do on a dangerous battlefield.

“Aster hasn’t been away from the barrier for that long. It will be quite a distance from here.”

The location of Frondier and Aster looks far apart even on the map. However, similar monsters were found in each location.

In other words, it will not end with just these two.

“……Perhaps the entire army has become monsters.”

If you think about that possibility, naturally.

“……Even the lord, perhaps.”

Sergio de Vanier. Even Selena’s father might have become a monster.

No matter how much Selena has no memory of her parents, he doesn’t want her to see such a sight.

“Let’s resolve this.”

As soon as possible.

As if nothing had happened.

* * *

In the empire, Frondier holds a very high position.

Of course, it is partly because of his power, but more importantly, it is because of his achievements.

To save the empire, he led operations in the Mangot War and threw himself into the most dangerous areas.

Afterwards, he accepted the stigma of being a demon who protected the empire and voluntarily left the empire.

When the empire was threatened by the gods, he crossed between the demon world and the divine world, defeating gods and demons, and upon his return, he summoned old heroes to turn the tide of the war.

Even if Frondier had no such intention, from the empire’s perspective, what Frondier showed was nothing but supreme loyalty to the empire.

To the imperial palace, Frondier is both a strong man and a definite ally of the empire.

To the imperial palace, which desperately needs a reliable ally, Frondier’s existence is something more than the nation’s strength.

Therefore, the imperial palace allows Frondier a few exceptions.

One of them is direct contact with the empress.

Of course, it does not mean that he is allowed to contact her by phone at any time.

No matter how great Frondier is, he must not surpass the emperor or the empress. Even if Frondier’s power surpasses that of the empire. If the image shown to the people becomes like that, the empire cannot be maintained. This was something Frondier was well aware of.

So, while it is possible for Frondier to contact the empress directly, there are a few conditions.

One is that it must be public, and it must be an urgent and important matter.

And another is to prove it.

“……Your Highness, Frondier has seen a crow.”

This message is always conveyed through Gregory.

“Yes. What is the message?”

“…….”

“Gregory?”

When Gregory suddenly stopped speaking, the puzzled Phillie stopped checking the documents and looked up. She had been staring at piles of papers related to the recent restoration of the country and diplomacy, as if she had become one with the chair.

“……Really?”

Gregory muttered to himself blankly.

Then, realizing it, he hurriedly bowed his head.

“I, I’m sorry! It was a slip of the tongue!”

“It’s okay. What was the message?”

“……A survivor,”

Suddenly.

“Has been found.”

* * *

Pilly stood up in the middle of Gregory’s words.

With a changed expression, Pilly said.

“Wait here. I’ll bring my husband.”

“Yes, yes?”

“Just wait here for a moment. He’ll be here soon.”

“Oh, no, that’s not what I meant.”

Pilly left without listening any further.

Gregory stood bewildered in Pilly’s office.

Standing alone in the Empress’s private space was already an immense burden.

‘…The Emperor is coming here?’

It was easy to imagine that the time ahead would be even more dreadful.

“Is that true?”

“It’s a message from Frondier.”

Pilly brought Bartello, who showed an unusually excited face.

Gregory stared blankly at him for a moment before quickly lowering his head.

“Gregory, tell me. What did Frondier say?”

Bartello asked in a somewhat undignified tone.

Of course, no one was bold enough to criticize him for it, so Gregory just nodded.

“Frondier found survivors near Mangot. After that─”

Gregory relayed exactly what Frondier had told him.

There are survivors from Lireber and other villages, and they have each survived and moved to different locations.

“…And the number is,”

When Gregory paused, Bartello’s eyes widened.

“…The number is not small, he said.”

“Huh, haha…!”

Bartello laughed. Joy and emotion alternated, disrupting his breath and laughter.

“There were survivors. I knew it. Didn’t I say so? Honey!”

“Y-yes.”

Pilly nodded, flustered.

Gregory was watching from the front, and she called him ‘honey’! Even when they were alone, she rarely called him that!

“Then we must immediately bring them here with the army and the knights!”

“That seems to be why Prondier contacted us.”

“What do you mean?”

The emperor’s question was almost a demand. Gregory quickly turned his eyes. It meant he was conversing with Prondier.

“…The situation outside the barrier is not good.”

“I already know that. But time is of the essence. It’s already too late!”

“Prondier says he will handle it alone.”

“There’s no need for that. Prondier has already done enough. Tell him he can rest.”

The emperor spoke with genuine sincerity, expressing his gratitude and respect for Prondier.

Gregory turned his eyes to the side again.

Soon, his eyes widened.

“…Do you really want me to tell him that?”

“What are you saying?”

“Ah, no, it’s just that…”

“Convey it exactly as I said.”

Bartello spoke with a serious yet warm expression.

“I know Prondier has no hostility towards me. There will be no misunderstanding.”

“…Understood.”

Gregory bit his lower lip once before speaking.

“…Prondier said, ‘The imperial knights and army are certainly strong. They can easily handle minor anomalies of the monsters.'”

The emperor and empress nodded.

He continued.

“‘However, some of them may die. That is the nature of war. No matter how weak the opponent is, you never know where or how death will come. Especially in a situation with so many variables like now.'”

Again, the emperor and empress nodded.

They never thought that no one would die. But they believed the sacrifice was worth it.

Gregory paused for a moment before speaking.

“…’However, if I step in, not a single person will die.'”

“…!”

“‘I do not doubt the proud army and knights of the imperial palace.'”

The emperor and empress looked at each other.

“‘Their deaths are too precious, so why not choose a more convenient path?’”

The Emperor and Empress had similar thoughts.

Prondier had always said that he moved to protect his loved ones, and he claimed that saving the Empire was merely a coincidence.

─I will handle everything.

If this isn’t loyalty, then what is?

─I will pave the way for Your Majesty to come here in peace.