Academy’s Weapon Replicator

Odyssey (25)

Frondier, who doesn’t know his own worth, yet is devoted to his allies who will become his strength.

Quinie once thought that Frondier’s strange actions were part of a grand plan for the distant future.

Just as Quinie himself was diligent in managing connections, he thought Frondier’s series of actions were of the same kind.

As a result, Frondier gained a great ally, and thanks to that, they were able to win the war.

Therefore, it can’t be said that Quinie’s judgment was wrong.

‘But in the end, it must be Frondier’s nature.’

Quinie knows.

Most of the things Frondier did for his comrades were extremely dangerous, exhausting, and required a resolve to risk his life.

That’s why Quinie was curious about the opposite side of that scale. The value for which Frondier was willing to risk his life.

What on earth did Frondier place on the scale to balance with his own life? What benefit was Frondier aiming for?

After watching and investigating for a long time, he found out.

There was no such thing as profit.

Prondier does not expect any reward for his devotion.

Of course, if it were just that, Quinie had seen many such people. Those who do not spare their lives and do not demand compensation.

But most of them were just fools. People who didn’t know what they had put on the scale or believed that someone else would provide something for them.

But Prondier knows what he has placed on the scale.

If he didn’t know, Prondier would have died long ago. He knew he had risked his life and used every trick he could to survive.

In other words, Prondier could see his own scale.

He must have known that the balance of the scale was absurdly broken.

He moved forward while looking at it.

Looking at the creaking balance, not even knowing what to put on the other side of the scale.

Quinie believes that it is impossible for a human to live like that.

But Prondier is no longer human.

He is a demon and a god.

‘I can’t let it be like that.’

The proposal just now. Prondier saying he would do anything.

That might be true.

Prondier would try to fulfill even the absurd conditions Quinie laid out. Because he said it himself. He might dedicate his entire life to Quinie.

But probably, the real Prondier wouldn’t be there.

So Quinie made a heavier debt for Prondier.

‘If you want a reward, you will get it. But for those who do not receive compensation, you will put a debt in your heart. Whether it becomes kindness or forgiveness in the future.’

Rewards are temporary.

But if you show Prondier kindness instead of making a deal, that kindness is eternal.

Because Prondier does not expect any reward for his devotion.

The accumulated debt does not disappear, and Prondier will always be Quinie’s ally.

‘I didn’t originally intend for this.’

As soon as Quinie noticed Prondier’s nature, she knew it was something she could ‘use.’

But she left it alone.

Quinie is also on Prondier’s side. She just wants to have a win-win relationship with Prondier.

But Prondier has many good allies by his side. He has comrades who will support his heart.

Quinie had no intention of stepping into that place.

But now, after seeing Prondier, my thoughts are beginning to change.

‘Prondier is still in this state.’

To Quinier, Prondier seemed precarious. Perhaps Prondier had not yet found someone to fully open up to. Or maybe he was in the process of choosing someone.

‘Are the others all just dragging their feet?’

Quinier’s eyes sparkled. She tightened her clasped hands behind Prondier’s neck, bringing them closer together.

“I’ll help you.”

If the other kids have no intention of doing so.

If they’re still just watching and waiting.

I’ll save you, Prondier.

So you won’t have to endure it alone anymore.

‘But for now.’

Swoosh.

Quinier released her hands. She took a step back from Prondier with a bright smile.

The current Prondier didn’t avoid Quinier’s touch, but he was just troubled. He had no right to refuse at the moment.

That wasn’t fun, so she decided to step back for now.

“Alright, I understand that we need to regain the memories, but what should we do now?”

“…First.”

Regaining Quinier’s memories.

There are two conditions needed for this.

“First, one more person needs to know about this situation.”

“Who?”

“Elodie.”

Quinier smiled as if she roughly understood.

“Is it a pretty difficult magic?”

“Actually, I don’t know if it’s difficult or easy, but as far as I know, only Elodie can do it.”

Prondier planned to use ‘dreams.’

He had seen Elodie’s trauma in her dreams. He knew what past memories Elodie was trapped in and how she was suffering.

So it would be the same for Quinier.

She would see the gaps in her past memories as images and face them herself.

“And one more thing.”

Prondier said with an ambiguous smile.

“We need to stay focused.”

* * *

With Quinie’s permission, Prondier brought Elodie into the workshop.

When Prondier explained the situation to Elodie, she widened her eyes and looked at Quinie.

“…Are you going to retrieve that memory? It must be painful.”

“Yes. But since it’s a request from a cute junior, the senior should help with all sincerity.”

Quinie smiled brightly and lightly hugged Prondier’s arm. Elodie’s face froze at that.

“I see.”

“It’s also for Selena.”

Even as Quinie said that, she moved closer to Prondier. Elodie’s lips tightened.

She directed a cold gaze at Prondier.

“So, you’re going to cast ‘Eternal Slumber’ on Senior Quinie?”

“Why are you looking at me so scarily?”

“You know Eternal Slumber is dangerous, right?”

Prondier’s objection was lightly ignored.

“This time, it’s okay because you’re here, right?”

When Elodie entered Eternal Slumber, she cast the spell on herself.

In other words, there was no one who could undo the spell.

But this time, Elodie would be casting the spell on someone else. If necessary, Elodie could undo the spell.

“You said in the dream. Every spell has a way to be undone. Just like any complex knot can be untied.”

“…You remember that.”

Elodie sighed after speaking.

“That’s true, but since I’m not in the dream, I can’t know what situation Quinie is in. Even if I did, I can’t undo it immediately. I can undo it, but it takes a considerable amount of time. If Quinie is in danger in the dream, she could suffer significant mental damage.”

“That’s okay.”

Prondier nodded.

“Because I can go in too.”

“…What?”

“I’ve done it once before, so there’s no problem. I just need to protect Quinie, right?”

Prondier nodded confidently.

“No, but…”

“Yes, reliable.”

While Elodie was speaking, Quinier patted Frondier’s head. Frondier received it with almost no reaction.

Elodie’s brows furrowed.

“…You know that in dreams, your full power isn’t displayed, right? Trust with the dream’s owner is important.”

No matter how strong Frondier was in reality, in dreams, the owner of that world was different.

Just like how Frondier couldn’t use even half of his power in Elodie’s dream.

In Quinier’s dream, Frondier was only as strong as Quinier believed him to be.

“That’s nothing to worry about!”

Quinier shouted confidently.

“Frondier is stronger than anyone in this world!”

“…Thank you.”

Frondier, having nothing else to say, simply expressed his gratitude. Elodie sighed as she looked back and forth between the two.

“Wait a moment while I prepare.”

With that, Elodie walked to the center of the workshop.

Compared to others, the workshop was a familiar place for Elodie. She had been here before and had taught Frondier magic here for several days.

Buuung─

Elodie’s clothes lightly fluttered, and a blue light extended from her hand. Lines and symbols spread on the ground. It was a magic circle.

Elodie slowly drew the magic circle. When she used it on herself, time was of the essence, so she hurriedly used the magic. For stability, this method was more certain.

While Elodie was drawing the magic circle, Quinier cautiously approached.

She whispered softly.

“Elodie, Elodie. I have something to say.”

“Please tell me later, I’m concentrating right now.”

Elodie said. Drawing a magic circle required considerable concentration. It wasn’t just an excuse.

Her tone had become a bit brusque, but that was another matter.

“It’s about Frondier.”

Of course, Quinier just started talking.

“…What about Frondier?”

“Elodie, are you going to stay like this? Doing nothing?”

Pause.

Elody’s hand stopped.

It wasn’t that she had drawn the magic circle incorrectly, but it didn’t progress any further.

“……What do you mean?”

“If you stay still like that, someone else will take it away from you.”

“……For example, to Senior Quinie?”

At those words, Quinie grinned.

“Yes. To me.”

“……I…”

Elody slightly lifted her head. She paused drawing the magic circle.

“I didn’t really know what my feelings were.”

“Hmm. You weren’t ignoring them?”

It was a mischievous question. But Elody calmly shook her head.

Elody herself had such doubts.

What do I think of Frondier?

Am I deceiving my own heart?

Am I avoiding my feelings?

“……I was mean to Frondier.”

Just as Quinie had wounds she never wanted to recall.

Elody still had unhealed pains from the past.

She had plunged Frondier into inferiority and despair.

She couldn’t forgive her younger self who had laughed without knowing anything.

“I did a lot of wrong to Frondier.”

Even when Frondier forgave her, the guilt remained.

When Frondier helped her,

When he supported her,

When he saved her.

The regret and guilt always remained as a big lump in her heart.

“So I was always sorry. To Frondier.”

“……Hmm.”

Quinie’s eyes sank slightly.

What? So, in the end, the only feeling you had for Prondier was guilt?

You were helping him by his side out of guilt and to repay a debt?

What a trivial conclusion.

“……But.”

But in reality, it wasn’t like that.

Prondier did not forgive her.

The Prondier who forgave her was not the Prondier of her childhood. They were two different people.

In the end, Elodie was not forgiven by Prondier, and the Prondier who reached out to her was different from the boy of her childhood from the beginning.

The moment she realized that, it was so shocking, and even now, it is something that makes her heart tremble with fear.

Nevertheless, one thing.

Knowing that the person Elodie should feel guilty towards and the current Prondier are different people.

……Knowing that Elodie has no reason to feel guilty towards the current Prondier.

Only then could Elodie look at Prondier straight.

When she saw Prondier, who was not the object of guilt, apology, or sin.

──When she realized that there was not a single point of wavering in her heart.

“I, I don’t like Prondier.”

“Huh?”

Elodie turned her head.

She sees Prondier standing a little far away, standing far away to not disturb her.

Her lips opened slightly.

Even after all the feelings I thought were for you were washed away,

My heart is still with you.

This is that kind of feeling.