The Academy’s Weapon Replicator - Chapter 12

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Academy’s Weapon Replicator — Chapter 12
Part 3: Manipulating Destiny (3)
“Hmm. It’s not working the way I thought it would.”
Sybel pressed a finger to her lips, lost in thought.
‘Aster Evans…….’
His Divine Gift was far too famous.
Ordinarily, people who receive a Divine Gift would rush to keep it hidden within their families, but when the bearer reaches the level of Baldur, such secrecy becomes unnecessary.
In fact, it’s far more advantageous to publicize it widely and gain favor with other houses and institutions. That’s why everyone knows about Aster’s Divine Gift, regardless of his own preferences.
And on top of that — his thick network of connections, his sincerity, his talent, his captivating appearance.
‘I really do want to make him mine.’
But things aren’t going as planned.
Ever since Frondier left to win over Quinie de Biet, she’d made what she thought was a diligent effort.
Only to be gently, softly refused.
‘And I’d put thought into every detail — my expression, my movements, my tone of voice.’
A rhythm entered Sybel’s stride as she walked. Soon she was moving as if performing a delicate dance.
Sybel had rarely experienced rejection in her life. The world had always arranged itself to suit her tastes.
So she could not understand the unlucky. Could not understand human struggle.
Not out of contempt — merely out of ignorance.
She believed that everyone possessed her measure of fortune, her measure of talent, and needed only to exert themselves as much as she did.
For someone like her,
‘Rejection’ was neither familiar nor welcome.
Click.
Click, click.
Ah, there it was. The sound of Destiny clicking into place. The sound of those gears shifting ever so slightly in her favor.
Of course, Sybel knew the sound was merely a phantom in her mind.
—Destiny made no sound at all.
Without fanfare or omen, Destiny had already arranged itself for her sake.

* * *
The Dungeon I’m participating in this time contains a Sanctuary.
Those with a Divine Gift are granted the chance to briefly face the god who granted it — the Divine Gift’s true master.
Simple wishes may be granted, and even a brief exchange of words can strengthen the Divine Gift.
Precisely the sort of place suited for Aster. So if the game played out as it should, Aster would reach that place and encounter Baldur.
Through that encounter, he’d be able to draw out even more of Baldur’s power.
“But there’s no reason for me to go.”
Without a Divine Gift, such a place is naturally worthless to me.
I’ll explore adequately and make sure I properly witness Aster’s Sanctuary event.
“Oh.”
I spotted Quinie de Biet waiting at the main gate of Konstel.
I felt some relief. Though I couldn’t imagine it happening with Quinie de Biet, there was certainly a possibility she might not show up after making our agreement.
“You’re early.”
Quinie de Biet waved her hand at the sight of me. Her expression was subtle.
“Frondier, why are you participating in this Dungeon conquest?”
“Ah, I had no intention of participating originally. I ended up getting designated by Aster Evans.”
“Aster Evans? Hmm…….”
Quinie de Biet looked at me with surprise in her expression — the look of someone wondering if I actually had a connection to Aster.
“Wait, huh? Oh no, am I late?!”
A cheerful voice rang out from a short distance away, and I saw Sybel hurrying toward us.
“You’re not late.”
Behind her came Aster, his voice calm and measured as he followed.
Sybel ran up to me and stood catching her breath.
“I’m… I’m not late?”
“The instructor hasn’t arrived yet.”
“Thank goodness.”
Sybel relaxed, and soon after spotted Quinie de Biet, bowing respectfully.
“Good morning. I’m Sybel Forte. Thank you for having me today.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Quinie de Biet.”
Quinie de Biet nodded warmly in return.
Though the two seemed to be meeting for the first time, conversation flowed between them smoothly.
Both possessed strong social graces and interpersonal skills from the start. And there was something slightly familiar about each of them in the other’s manner.
Well then, now comes someone who makes me rather uncomfortable.
While I went to fetch Quinie, Sybel and Aster were tasked with bringing the teacher.
“Have you all been waiting long?”
A composed, yet gentle voice reached us.
Jane, the teacher.
A female instructor I met the moment I arrived in this world.
In other words, the person I’d firmly corrected when she pointed to the branch of the Wizardview, declaring it wasn’t Mistiltein.
She likely harbors no goodwill toward me.
“I’m Jane, and I’ll be handling today’s orientation and guidance. Shall we head out?”
Jane smiled. Her face turned toward me was spotless, crystalline in its clarity.
……At least, that’s how it appeared to me.

* * *
Frondier and his group traveled by car.
The Dungeon was about an hour’s drive away. Everyone was reassured by the relatively short distance.
Konstel students entering a Dungeon receive leave according to the Dungeon’s scale and danger level.
This time, we’d been allotted four days. We had to complete the Dungeon’s conquest within that span.
“We’ve arrived.”
After stepping out of the car, Jane surveyed the area before the Dungeon.
“Hmm! How nice. Very orthodox, this Dungeon.”
The Dungeon entrance was a rectangular stone passageway. Before it lay a staircase descending downward.
The entrance’s appearance is the easiest way to recognize a Dungeon.
When terrain transforms into a Dungeon, the Dungeon alters its form, becoming remarkably conspicuous.
As though inviting people inside.
“Wow, so this is a Dungeon……”
Sybel circled the Dungeon entrance, her eyes sparkling with wonder.
This must be her first time seeing one.
Frondier’s expression was similarly unmoved, yet for different reasons.
“Now then, Aster, Frondier, and Sybel—please observe as much as you can. Quinie and I will proceed with the Dungeon conquest.”
For first-year students, a Dungeon is dangerous.
In truth, the real problem lies not with the Monsters, but with the Traps lurking within the Dungeon.
Konstel, being an institution for training combatants, adequately prepares students for Monsters, but Traps are relatively their weak point.
“I’ll take the lead, and I’ll ask Quinie to cover the rear.”
“Understood.”
From front to back: Jane, Aster, Frondier, Sybel, Quinie.
By any measure, Frondier occupied the safest position—a placement judged by reputation and ability alike.
“Let’s go.”
As we descended the stairs, a vast cavern opened before us.
It resembled a natural cave. Flowers bloomed sparsely between moss and stone. The floor was carpeted with countless rocks.
Had it not been for the entrance, it would have been hard to believe this was a Dungeon.
“Stay alert as we proceed.”
Jane lowered her voice slightly as she spoke.
Then she drew a Wand from her pocket and conjured light.
In truth, Jane wasn’t particularly tense.
With her present, there’s nothing especially dangerous about a Lower-grade Dungeon.
But if even the students let their guard down, that would be a problem, so she had to at least appear tense.
Meanwhile,
Quinie, positioned at the rear, observed the entire group.
‘……He really has no sense of tension, does he, Frondier.’
From her vantage at the back, it was clear.
Unlike Aster and Sybel, Frondier walked as though he were on a casual stroll.
Was it simply his nature?
Could someone truly be this relaxed merely by virtue of being lazy?
As Jane, leading at the front, walked on, she spotted a concealed trap plate. An old-fashioned trap, yet surprisingly difficult to notice in a place that resembled a natural cave.
Jane stopped in her tracks.
“Aster, Frondier, wait a moment—eh?”
Jane halted and looked back.
Frondier had already stopped.
Seeing that he’d grasped Aster’s arm and brought him to a standstill as well—he’d done so even before Jane’s warning.
“……Do you happen to know what’s ahead?”
“I didn’t know—I saw it.”
Frondier pointed at the floor with his finger.
A stone jutting out unnaturally. The trap plate that Jane had discovered.
“Sharp eyes you have, Frondier.”
“That’s impressive.”
“Just lucky, I suppose.”
Frondier feigned modesty at Jane and Aster’s praise.
Though it seemed more like he was simply too lazy to say much.
Quinie watched the entire exchange in silence.
Looking at the trap plate Frondier had found, it wasn’t impossible to spot if one looked carefully enough.
‘Hmm, was it really just luck?’
But then.
Quinie caught the direction of Frondier’s gaze.
‘…?’
Frondier’s eyes had swept from the trapped stone floor to the right, then fixed on the wall to his right.
A simple wall with no relation whatsoever to the passage they needed to take.
Though Frondier’s glance at that wall had lasted only an instant, there was something distinctly odd about it.
“Well then, everyone follow Frondier’s advice and avoid that stone floor.”
The four ahead of Quinie slowly skirted around it at Jane’s direction.
But Quinie stopped before the stone floor.
Even with her Trap Disarming Skill, she couldn’t determine exactly what trap would trigger or how if she stepped on this stone.
Yet that moment just now—Frondier’s gaze.
The way he’d looked at the wall to his right.
“……”
Quinie opened her Fan and pressed down firmly on the stone.
Whoosh!
An arrow shot out from between the cracks in the stones of the right wall.
Cling—Quinie deflected the arrow lightly with her Fan.
Jane cried out in surprise.
“What—what are you doing, Quinie!”
“I apologize. I thought it best to disarm it beforehand. We may need to backtrack this way.”
“……Phew. Thank goodness you weren’t hurt. Next time, let us know beforehand.”
“Yes, I’m truly sorry.”
As Quinie replied, she looked at the arrow that had fallen to the floor.
‘……It really did come from the right.’
The arrow had shot out from precisely where Frondier’s gaze had led—the wall to the right.
Did Frondier perhaps possess a superior-grade Trap Disarming Skill beyond her own? Or was he versed in such knowledge?
Quinie looked at Frondier. Frondier was also looking at her.
Only Frondier would understand her true intention. He smiled very faintly, like someone caught in a secret, then turned forward again.
Quinie brought her Fan up to her lips.
It was a habit of hers—smiling unconsciously while covering her mouth.
……
….
After that, Quinie observed Frondier’s every move with even greater care.
Yet Frondier did nothing.
A Lower-grade Dungeon with third-year students and a professor in the party. There was no danger, let alone an opportunity for Frondier to distinguish himself.
After Quinie deliberately triggered a trap, Frondier became even more reluctant to take the lead.
“Sigh.”
Sybel interlaced her hands and brought them behind her head.
Aster beside her offered a warning.
“Sybel, stay alert.”
“But this is so tedious. The professor finds all the traps right away, and the monsters that appear now and then are pitiful.”
This was Sybel’s first dungeon. She had held quite a few expectations for it.
Her sense of adventure and curiosity had been stirred, but she’d also wanted to see Aster in action. Yet he hardly did anything.
The traps were disarmed beforehand, and when monsters appeared ahead, Jane dealt with them instantly; when they came from behind, Quinie annihilated them just as quickly.
‘This isn’t what I wanted.’
Sybel looked at Aster as he led the way. He didn’t seem particularly bored. He occasionally glanced near the walls as if checking the terrain, but that was all.
—It’s dull.
Sybel’s eyes dimmed.
She had suggested this to learn more about Aster. She’d wanted to grow closer to him while exploring the dungeon together.
So if you forced me to participate, it’s only fair that you satisfy my curiosity, wouldn’t you say? There has to be something here worth finding.
Something, anything.
Tee-hee, tee-hee-hee.
Entertain me.
That was when Frondier leaned against the wall—at the precise moment when he and Sybel were standing very close together.
His hand sank into the stone.
“Huh?”
Frondier’s body tilted. The problem was, Sybel’s body tilted with it.
“Eeek, eeeek!”
The trap was simple enough.
When Frondier touched the wall, a section of stone about two meters around him toppled forward. Naturally, Sybel, standing beside him, was swept along with it.
At the same moment, the floor beneath them rose up. Wall became floor, floor became wall—as if a revolving door had been set into the ground itself.
“Ow, ow, ow…….”
Sybel cradled her head where it had struck the ground. Looking around, she saw only Frondier.
They were on the other side of the wall now. The trap had separated her and Frondier from the other three.
“What, what do we do…….”
Sybel pounded on the wall that had been the floor.
“Professor! We’re over here! Can’t you hear us?!”
Once triggered, the trap showed no inclination to move again.
Sybel was afraid. Trapped alone with Frondier in this place.
She couldn’t fathom what went on behind his eyes—he was nothing but a threat to her.
She wouldn’t lose in a direct fight, but if he caught her off guard, she’d have no chance against his raw strength.
“Sybel.”
“Huh, y-yes?”
“I can’t hear their voices from over there. We should press ahead on our own.”
“……Y-yes, okay.”
Frondier behaved normally—contrary to what she’d feared.
Watching his back as he moved ahead of her, Sybel exhaled a quiet breath of relief.
Of course,
Frondier had triggered the trap deliberately.

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