The Academy’s Weapon Replicator - Chapter 114

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

The Academy’s Weapon Duplicator Chapter 114
Episode 33: Raven
I examined the desk by Selena’s window wall. Mm, no problems at all.
“……Ancient Language?”
Selena asked from behind me.
“Yes. It’s something I should have done eventually.”
“Something you should have done?”
“You need to make a report to Mangoat.”
Selena studied me quietly, then her eyes widened.
“……Do you mean I should compose sentences and report what I’ve learned?”
“You can do that later. For now, I’ll teach you the basics and you can simply convey them to Mangoat as I explain them.”
“Ah, you’ll teach me? For me to report to Mangoat?”
“Yes. They won’t believe it unless they see the real thing.”
I actually intend to teach Selena a bit of Ancient Language to pass along to Mangoat.
That way, Mangoat will trust her, and they’ll regard my ability to interpret Ancient Language as worthwhile.
“Tell Mangoat exactly as it is—that I’ve decided to teach you.”
“W-what reason would that be?”
“Any reason works. Say I’ve come to trust your bodyguard abilities, or that I’ve fallen under your spell and can’t escape it, or whatever excuse suits you. Either way, it’s the result Mangoat wants. Pick something reasonable to tell them, and they’ll be pleased.”
“…….”
Selena’s expression turned awkward, as if she found the request difficult to answer. Well, both options were effects she was aiming for anyway, so asking her to report them as lies was rather ironic.
“……Um, Frontdier. May I ask you something?”
“What is it?”
“Don’t you find my bodyguard abilities reliable? Setting aside the seduction, of course.”
Setting aside the seduction.
It lacked courtesy, but I found the phrasing charming.
I pulled both corners of my mouth upward.
“They are reliable. Very. That’s precisely why I keep you as a bodyguard.”
“……When you smile, your eyes should laugh too. It would look more convincing.”
“I see.”
I let the smile fade.
But I hadn’t lied. I genuinely rate Selena’s combat ability highly. Since she’s been with me, I’ve been able to trust her and undertake tasks that were somewhat demanding.
“And you said to set the seduction aside, but I don’t see it that way.”
“……What?”
“But rather than some expression or body language that rings false——”
I looked at Selena.
As I spoke the next words, something unmistakable settled into my face.
“This is better.”
At my words, Selena’s expression became somewhat blank. Then the corner of her mouth lifted slightly. It had a strained quality to it.
“……You just tested what I said, didn’t you? You learn fast.”
“Enough idle talk. Let’s begin right away. Sit at the desk.”
“Starting today?”
“Of course. Enough time has passed already. If I don’t bring something substantial to Mangoat soon, you’ll start drawing suspicion.”
At my words, Selena hesitated a moment longer before walking over and sitting at the desk.
I took the blank notebook from the desk and opened it in front of her.
“I’ll write out words for you. Watch carefully.”
“Words……? Shouldn’t you teach me the letters first?”
“Impossible.”
Selena tilted her head, but for this, seeing would be faster than explaining.
I picked up a pen and let Mana flow through it. It was an application of Aura manipulation.
Because I could do this, I could finally teach Selena.
I wrote two words with identical outward appearances.
“What do these two words look like to you?”
“……They look exactly the same.”
That’s right. To the eye, both words appeared perfectly identical.
“Selena, you can use Aura, correct?”
“……Yes.”
“Gather your Aura at your fingertips and touch it to the letters.”
Following my instructions, Selena brought her finger to the left word.
In an instant, she flinched and pulled her finger back.
“……I hear a sound.”
“Then try placing your hand on the word to the right.”
Selena moved her hand to the word on the right this time.
“……I hear a sound here too.”
“How do those two sounds compare? Do they sound the same?”
Selena shook her head.
“No. They were completely different sounds.”
“Precisely. That is the nature of the Ancient Language.”
The Ancient Language is the tongue of ancient mages. True to its nature, it possesses magical properties. The pronunciation is embedded within the characters themselves. This means that even if the written letters appear identical, they can carry entirely different meanings.
“This is why the Ancient Language, though it has survived in written form, has never been interpreted until now.”
“……Because the ‘voice’ contained in the letters vanishes.”
I nodded.
Characters rendered incomplete, their sound stolen away. Of course they could never be deciphered.
Yet uniquely, only Frontdier de Roach could intuitively grasp their meaning from the script alone.
He had also discerned that the complete shift in meaning within the same character stemmed from differences in sound. After mastering this principle fully, Frontdier became capable of interpreting the Ancient Language without relying on Aura. Though he could not inscribe his own voice into new text without that power, he could at least read what already existed.
It was no small feat of talent and effort, even if the driving force—vengeance against Elody—was hardly constructive in nature.
“Therefore, learning the characters first is impossible. Rather, you must first understand the formulas that bind them together.”
“Formulas…….”
“Even when sound is embedded, not just any sound can be affixed. The Ancient Language layers ambiguous imagery directly into the word itself. The sound can only be drawn from among those images.”
So with the Ancient Language, one must first be able to separate the lines of characters that overlap in these multiple layers of imagery.
“Look at this. It appears to be separate letters, but a long straight line connects them. In this manner, an independent line signifies something overlaid above. And…….”
“Um, Frontdier.”
Selena interrupted me mid-lesson. Quite presumptuous of her.
Yet her eyes held a gravity I hadn’t expected.
“Are you truly certain about this?”
“What do you mean.”
“Are you truly certain about teaching me this?”
Selena regarded me with an expression of the utmost resolve.
Yet regardless of such a look, my answer has been fixed for a long time.
“If you truly intended to betray me, you wouldn’t ask such a question.”
Both Indus and Mangoat are vast powers arrayed against the Empire.
If Indus is the Empire’s shadow, then Mangoat is the Empire’s Karmic Retribution.
Karmic Retribution’s flames do not extinguish until the debt is paid.
And Selena will become the banner that commands Mangoat’s endless burning fire.
I will make her so.
* * *
Three days later, on my way to Constellation Academy.
I encountered a raven.
“…….”
Caw—caw—
The raven perched atop a garden wall in the residential district, indifferent to my presence, grooming its wings.
……No, surely not. Ravens are everywhere.
I continued on my way.
About five steps or so.
[I need to sharpen my eyes a bit more.]
At that thought, I stopped and turned back to look at the raven again.
The raven dropped its shameless act and fixed its gaze upon me.
“Gregory.”
[Yes, it’s me.]
“I thought you were locked away in a cell.”
[Of course I am. Filthy, safe, and filthily safe. But they can’t restrain my ability. My power isn’t magic. It’s a Blood-type Ability.]
The prisoners of Ethius wear Restraint Devices. Those who wear them cannot use magic or Aura. Yet can Blood-type Ability pierce through such bonds?
[But Blood-type Abilities typically lack lethal force. That’s why the Empire simply turns a blind eye. Or perhaps their arcane science simply hasn’t advanced that far yet.]
“So then, prisoner, what business have you with me.”
I find myself embarrassed, speaking so earnestly to a raven.
I’d prefer if you’d just state your purpose quickly.
[No need to be so wary. I’ve come to offer help.]
“Help, you say.”
[Whether you believe it or not, you are the savior of my life. The raven is the creature of Repaying Debt of Gratitude. What do you think? Can you trust me?]
The raven before me flapped its wings with a swagger, as if preening.

……What does any of it matter.
[I came to give you information. It’s important.]
“What is it.”
The Raven tilted its head left and right once. It seemed to be checking whether anyone was nearby.
It really must be something important.
[Among the rumors spreading through Constellation Academy, there’s one I didn’t start.]
“……!”
Of course.
This wasn’t something I could simply ignore.
“……You’re saying someone else seized that moment and spread a different rumor?”
[Exactly. In that chaos, there’s someone profiting from it. Or seeking revenge. Either way, a dangerous one.]
I was too frantic being chased by so many students back then to think of it.
But when this many rumors of unclear truth spread like that, there are always those who slip in new ones among them.
“But is simply spreading rumors enough to mark someone as dangerous? Most people seem to be just playing around.”
[Of course that’s the majority. But think about it. I infiltrated the Imperial Palace itself to divert Indus’s attention, manipulated the knights to turn eyes away from outside. And yet Kraken still caught me. Why do you think that was.]
“Why? Because Kraken’s sensory ability was superior, wasn’t it?”
[Indus’s tracking ability is certainly excellent, but if the sensory power was that formidable, I would have been caught long ago.]
“What are you getting at.”
As I asked, the Raven’s eyes turned toward me.
The emotionless eyes of a bird were somehow chilling.
[There’s someone among the Constellation Academy students who is from Indus. That one passed my information to Kraken.]
“……And that person is the one spreading the rumors?”
[If my theory is correct.]
My head grew heavy.
It was only three days ago that I fought Kraken. Already, it felt like I was about to be caught up in another incident—my eyes ached like those of someone who hadn’t slept in days.
“……Fine. I’ll look into it.”
[Good.]
I dragged myself forward, all strength drained from my limbs.
And the Raven hopped onto my left shoulder.
“……What are you doing.”
[Let me come along.]
“Your weight is a burden. Go handle your own investigation.”
[To get inside the academy itself, I can’t manage as just a Raven. I need to be a creature tamed by a Constellation student to conduct a more thorough search.]
“……So you’re saying I should pretend you’re a Raven I tamed?”
[The pretending isn’t my job. It’s yours. Pretend you tamed this Raven. Then neither students nor teachers will say much about it.]
I literally covered my eyes with my hand as the world darkened.
In Ethius, Ravens are symbols of ill omen just as in Korea, and furthermore symbols of witchcraft.
Here I am, earnestly trying to improve my image, but it seems all manner of unpleasant things keep sticking to Frontdier de Roach.
[Come on. I’ve never experienced school life before. My heart is racing.]
The creature squawked without restraint and then cawed away to its heart’s content.
So I have to tell the other students I tamed this thing.
My shoulder is heavy.
The left one especially.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————