Academy’s Weapon Replicator

Odyssey (24)

At Frondier’s question, Quinier and Osprey looked at each other.

Quinier asked.

“Spirits, you mean Cora?”

“Yes. Quinier, how do you feel about Cora?”

Quinier tilted his head at Frondier’s question. His eyes skimmed the past a little.

“As long as he doesn’t transform, he’s just an ordinary boy. Although he’s older than me.”

Frondier nodded.

This time, he looked at Osprey.

“If a monster can’t become human, can it become a spirit?”

“Hmm…….”

Osprey closed his mouth as if troubled.

Even the great wizard found it difficult to answer this time.

No, actually, the answer is simple.

‘It’s possible.’

Just as a human can become a monster, a monster becoming a spirit is not a reversal. It’s similar to how Frondier, despite being a demon, reached the position of a god.

There are plenty of examples of monsters becoming spirits. Fenrir, for instance, possesses both monster and spirit characteristics, and the same goes for Jormungandr.

But he doesn’t know the method.

Is it possible to intentionally become a spirit? Osprey didn’t know that either.

“Frondier. You said you can no longer wield Mistilteinn, right?”

“……Yes, that’s correct.”

Mistilteinn, a weapon created solely for the purpose of killing gods. Due to its nature, even holding it causes gods pain.

And it was the same for Frondier.

It proved that he had become somewhat of a god.

“Did you predict that you would become a god yourself? Or did you know it instinctively when you became one?”

“…No. I still feel like I’m human.”

Thus, even Frondier, who had become a god, did not know how to become one.

Likewise, the spirits would not know how they became spirits.

“But we found a possibility.”

Elodie said.

“It seemed like an impossible problem, but we found a way. Even if we don’t know the method yet, it’s worth trying once we do. If Sergio becomes a spirit, his hatred towards humans will disappear, and he might even be able to leave the territory.”

At those words, Frondier nodded.

Philly spoke with a slightly subdued gaze.

“Then the important thing is to find a way to become a spirit… and above all, the will of the parties involved.”

“The will of the parties involved?”

Cybel asked.

“Yes. Selena and Sergio. Whether they truly want it.”

“…Ah.”

Cybel nodded in understanding.

Philly looked at Frondier.

“We have to ask them.”

“That’s right. In the end, they are the important ones. And about the method to become a spirit…”

Frondier stopped speaking there.

A hint of hesitation crossed his eyes.

But he had already made up his mind. From the moment he asked everyone for help with this matter.

“…Quinie. I have something to tell you.”

He might hurt her again. No, he surely would.

That was the resolve Frondier had made.

* * *

Frondier moved to a different place.

As long as Selena was there, there was no worry that Sergio would change. No, if he could maintain his reason to that extent, he wouldn’t do anything dangerous even without Selena.

The place he moved to was none other than the workshop.

Prondier moved near the village of Lireber with Quinie, and there he called Cora. As soon as Cora arrived, he opened the workshop and invited them inside.

“Heh, this is the workshop…”

Quinie, stepping into this space for the first time, looked around with curious eyes. For her, a merchant, the items displayed in the workshop were enough to catch her interest.

“Oh, there are a few weapons displayed on the first floor too.”

“Yes. I can change the placement of the items. It’s a bit troublesome, though.”

“Oh, that sword, it looks familiar. It was treated expensively even in the royal family…”

Quinie murmured with sparkling eyes.

Prondier, who was watching, gave a wry smile.

“These are not for sale.”

“Ugh. I know. It’s just a professional habit.”

Quinie said, feeling a bit pricked. She felt a little embarrassed for appraising the items unconsciously. She had momentarily forgotten that they were not for sale, as Prondier had said.

“So, what’s the reason you came here? Did you want to show me the workshop?”

“Of course, that’s part of it.”

Prondier placed his hand on Cora’s head, who was standing idly by his side. Cora looked up at Prondier.

“What I’m about to say, I hoped no one else would hear except you two.”

“…It’s about Cora, isn’t it?”

“Yes. And it’s also about you, Quinie.”

Quinie looked into Prondier’s eyes.

In those eyes, there was worry and guilt.

“Alright, what is it?”

Quinie also sensed that Prondier was about to tell something serious and looked at him earnestly.

Prondier pondered for a moment on how to explain, then chose the quickest way to convey it.

“I, I went to Lethe for a moment.”

“…Huh?”

Quinie made a foolish sound.

It was one of the few reactions in her life.

“No, wait, who? Lethe?”

Lethe? Who is that?

The only Lethe I know is the god of oblivion.

“I met the god of oblivion, Lethe.”

“……Huh……”

Quinie opened her mouth in disbelief.

Frondier showed no sign of joking. There was no reason for him to make such a joke.

It seemed like a joke that he spoke so seriously.

“So, why did you go to that… god?”

Quinie felt like she was joking herself as she spoke.

Of course, Frondier nodded as if it was a natural question.

“Due to Cora’s situation…”

From there, Frondier’s explanation continued.

When Cora transforms into a white tiger, she loses her sanity, and it is not easily resolved. And it is likely due to the power of the god Lethe, and Quinie is also related to it.

Quinie’s expression gradually darkened as she listened.

But when Frondier finished his story, her expression became rather calm.

“…I see. That past…”

Quinie nodded.

She understood why Frondier had been so thorough with security.

The fear of corpses she had, and Frondier bringing up her childhood past again. He had shown the utmost consideration in his own way.

“Can’t that god, Lethe, eliminate the forgetfulness?”

“He calls himself the god of forgetfulness, so he can only cause forgetfulness. But he says that Lethe’s power is not being consumed right now. So Lethe himself is not doing anything. It’s just that Miss Quinie has come this far while forgetting the memories.”

Frondier referred to Lethe as ‘that guy’. He had a lot to say, but he held back for now.

Quinie scratched her cheek with a troubled face.

“Isn’t that a problem? If Lethe can’t restore the memories, how can I regain them?”

“Lethe only makes you forget the memories, he doesn’t erase them completely. Forgetfulness is more like ‘not seeing’ the memory. It’s still in Miss Quinie’s mind, just dormant. Miss Quinie is deliberately not looking at it from a certain angle and position.”

In other words, the reason Quinie has forgotten that past until now is largely due to her own will.

It’s natural. That past is the memory of her entire family, except for her, being killed. By Cora, no less. She wouldn’t want to remember it.

Quinie’s eyes drooped sadly. She asked,

“…Do I really have to regain those memories?”

“……”

Frondier took a light breath at those words.

Then he answered.

“No.”

“Yes?”

“The reason I’m bringing this up is purely because of my selfishness.”

Frondier lowered his head.

“If Ms. Quinie regains her memory, the power of Lethe will be lifted. Then, Cora, who is under the same influence, will not lose her memories as a white tiger. Cora will finally become a complete white tiger. In other words, a divine beast.”

To Frondier, the difference between a monster and a divine beast was a fine line.

Especially when he looked at Cora, that thought grew stronger.

A white tiger that has lost its reason is literally no different from a monster. It harms and kills people with immense power. However, a complete white tiger does not harm people. It holds no hatred towards humans.

If Cora can maintain her reason after becoming a white tiger, Cora herself will know what is different, and Frondier, who is watching, will also know what has changed. It is a step closer to turning a monster into a divine beast.

In other words, this is not for Quinie.

Nor is it for Cora.

“…I want to save Sergio. No,”

“You want to save Selena.”

“…That’s right.”

Frondier closed his eyes with a guilty heart.

He is now trying to bring out Quinie’s pain for Selena. For an uncertain attempt that may not even succeed.

“I’m sorry for dragging you into this. I know I’m doing something unforgivable to you, Ms. Quinie. If you accept, I will do anything for you,”

Squeeze.

Quinie pressed Frondier’s cheeks with both hands.

“…Oof.”

Frondier made a sound, somewhat like a fish.

“Frondier.”

“…Yes.”

“What were you about to say?”

“…”

“Were you about to say you’d do anything for me? To me, the little devil Quinie?”

Quinie smiled brightly.

A playful face, sparkling eyes.

“I’ll forgive you just this once. Because of the bond we’ve shared so far. How dare you say such a thing to a merchant. Even a god wouldn’t let it slide.”

“…I wasn’t saying it out of bravado,”

“I want your life.”

“…….”

Quinie’s hand, which had been pressing against Frondier’s cheek, moved. One hand brushed Frondier’s ear, while the other stroked his neck.

“I want your fate, your entire future path, to be ruined. I want all your interests, hopes, and dreams to be directed towards me. I want all the status and power you’ve accumulated, all your strength, to be used solely for me. I want you to always be by my side, to dedicate your loyalty, no, your devotion, to me and my family.”

Quinie’s eyes sparkled with greed.

Frondier looked into Quinie’s eyes as if being drawn in.

Eyes that, despite their playfulness, held no lies.

A heart that spoke only the truth, without a single joke.

“But you know.”

Right after, Quinie smiled.

Those eyes, which had been like a devil’s, suddenly cleared, looking at Frondier with innocence.

“You can’t do that.”

“……Quinie.”

“Because you don’t know yourself well enough. I don’t keep people who don’t know their own worth. Even now, you don’t understand the meaning of what you just said.”

Quinie brought both hands behind Frondier’s neck and clasped them together.

“I’ll do it for you, Frondier. Without any cost.”

“…….”

“Because I realized that, for you, that is the greatest cost.”