The Academy’s Weapon Replicator - Chapter 86

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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 Weapon Duplicator of the Academy — Episode 86
Chapter 25: Barrier Wall (2)
Afterward, in Aten’s guest room at the Dormitory.
Aten began explaining while writing directly on paper.
“First, Magic usually goes through four stages before it’s complete: Mana Adjustment, Chant, Formula Arrangement, and Release. The Chant can sometimes be omitted, and since Sybel only needs to add Mana to a completed spell, we’ll save the explanation of Chanting for later. What matters first is the ‘Form.’ Magic typically has a minimum configuration necessary for manifestation, and then you add Formulas to suit the situation and your preference. Each time something is added, it becomes First-Form, Second-Form, and so on—”
“Wait, hold on. Aten.”
Sybel, who had been listening quietly, raised her hand.
“I’ve never used Magic before. Can I really do this?”
Sybel was struggling to keep up with the current situation.
Aten had spoken so calmly that she’d answered vaguely in agreement, but hearing the full explanation now, everything went dark before her eyes.
“We’ll do our best.”
“It might be better to call a different Mage instead.”
“Even if we wanted to, no one would come.”
For one thing, there are no volunteering Mages. Knights can be brought in through loyalty, honor, and money if necessary, but Mages are not the sort to be swayed by such things.
Of course, if he told his sister Salle, who served in the Palace, she could send one by royal order, but by the time the report of the Barrier Wall’s situation reached the Palace, a conference was held, suitable Mages were assessed, and official papers were drawn up to dispatch a Mage here—the region called Teyburn would already be gone.
“Still, five days is too short…….”
Sybel murmured uncertainly.
“Frontdier said that you could do it. He also said you’d be better than any other Mage.”
Frontdier had indeed said exactly that. Even if there were a Mage readily available in Teyburn right now, he would choose Sybel.
Whether that judgment was based on fact, whether Frontdier was mistaken about something, or whether it was due to his personal feelings toward Sybel—he couldn’t say.
“Really, now. What does Frontdier think he knows that makes him assign me?”
Aten barely managed to suppress his instinct to agree with her.
It was clear that Sybel possessed outstanding talent. Her talent was well-known throughout Constellation Academy. It was even said that she had mastered Aura instantly.
But her talent was, after all, only as a swordmaster. Sybel had no talent whatsoever as a Mage, nor had she ever wielded Magic itself.
Yet Frontdier had boldly stated that “Sybel could do it within five days.” He’d said it right in front of Aten himself, the Knights, the Commander of the Knight Corps, and even the family head Urpa.
What on earth did Frontdier know?
“Frontdier said that calling you an ‘Unparalleled Genius’ falls short of the mark.”
Aten relayed Frontdier’s exact words.
Whatever the truth of those words, it was important to give Sybel confidence while she was anxious.
“……Hmm. Really?”
Sybel asked back, affecting nonchalance. But she could be seen tensing her lips deliberately.
“Well then, I suppose I should try and see how far I can go. I have to do it anyway.”
“Yes.”
Aten nodded.
He was amazed at how well praise worked on Sybel.
* * *
Sanders’s Office.
Sanders was at a loss over the report that had just come in.
He had ordered the Barrier Wall to be inspected after hearing Frontdier’s account, and it was exactly as Frontdier had said.
The right-side Barrier Wall was holding up in a way that was almost miraculous. Moreover, from the state of the Barrier Wall, all its center of gravity was concentrated there.
For this precarious Barrier Wall to remain standing, Monsters must be prevented from approaching it at all.
Even if Sybel were to master Mana in five days, what about those five days themselves?
Frontdier had said he would handle it alone, but it was difficult to trust such a claim easily.
“How is one student supposed to hold back the Monsters outside by himself?”
Knock, knock.
Just then, someone knocked on the Office door.
“It’s the family head Urpa. Might I come in?”
The voice belonged to Lidwey. Sanders was somewhat surprised, but he quickly rose and opened the door.
“Family Head, sir—what brings you here?”
“Ha ha, why, nothing in particular. I was bored and thought I’d drop by.”
Lidwey spoke as if he were anything but bored. When Sanders said nothing and fell silent, Lidwey grinned and raised his hand.
“I’m serious. Look at this.”
In Lidwey’s hand were a Wine Bottle and a glass. It seemed something needed to be discussed openly. Sanders lowered his head.
As Lidwey entered, Sanders pulled over a chair and offered the seat.
The two sat facing each other, and Lidwey glanced around the room briefly.
“Oh ho, the arrangement has changed since then?”
“Yes. I wanted the surrounding environment to be as similar as possible.”
Sanders had arranged the interior of his Office almost identically to how it had been during his time with the Shroud Knights.
Of course the furnishings themselves were entirely different, but by rearranging them alone, Sanders felt the familiarity of the Shroud.
Lidwey unstopped the Wine Bottle. Sanders reached out his hand to pour instead, but Lidwey waved him off.
He poured wine into his own glass and filled Sanders’s as well.
The two of them sipped their drinks slowly, exchanging idle conversation. Sanders felt a gentle warmth spreading through his body, and his mind eased somewhat.
“Ha, this place must be less comfortable than the other, what with a Knight order that prides itself on tradition and history.”
“……It is merely old and worn, nothing more.”
Sanders did not speak out of humility. The bitterness in his tone and the furrow of his brow betrayed that he meant every word.
“What are you saying? Wasn’t this the Knight order that once held the entire continent in its grasp? I know well that the Shroud Knights played no small part in dividing the realms of man and monster. Surely you’re aware of how glorious an achievement that was.”
“Of course it was then. Every member of the Shroud Knights took pride in themselves and in the order. I did as well.”
“……Then it isn’t that way now?”
At Lidwey’s question, Sanders narrowed his eyes, the effects of wine already clouding them.
“Because the previous ruler held the accomplishments of the Shroud Knights in such high regard, he summoned us to the capital and granted us benefits and security. At the time, we believed it was a reward we rightfully deserved, and we etched that very loyalty into our souls. Yet too much time has passed since then.”
The previous ruler is dead, and the current lord, Bartelo, has grown old.
And during all that time, the Shroud Knights have remained at the capital.
“Now the order concerns itself only with hiding at the center. The glory that once struck fear into monsters themselves faded long ago.”
To the citizens unaware of the inner workings, the Shroud Knights had merely ceded their top position but remained formidable nonetheless.
In Sanders’s eyes, the Shroud Knights were nothing but a beautiful shell with rot at its core.
Lidwey spoke as though to comfort him.
“When peace persists, people grow slack—not just the Shroud, but everywhere alike. Yet when the time comes, they will rise again. Even tigers need their rest.”
“Tigers……. There was a time we were called that. I miss it.”
Sanders offered a wry smile. Lidwey felt a pang of sympathy for him.
“The Shroud Knights of today are nothing but an old hound.”
“……Sanders.”
“What meaning does a tiger have when its claws and fangs are gone, when its jaws can no longer bite? So we hide away. We are old, after all. It is only natural.”
With that, Sanders took a long drink. The taste grew more bitter with each sip. He wondered if the wine had always been this way, or if something else had changed.
“……The Shroud Knights of today could not reach the heels of the Roach Knights.”
The Roach Knights.
They were the Knight order of Anpher, lord of Roach.
His prowess—never allowing a single monster incursion—was not limited to his personal strength alone.
Naturally, his order too was a crucial pillar in that achievement of an “Impenetrable Wall.”
Some had criticized the choice to name the order after their own house as lacking originality, yet none questioned their capability.
“The Roach Knights, ha.”
Lidwey chuckled.
“Then what of Frontdier?”
“……Why do you mention that boy’s name?”
“Why? Because Frontdier is Frontdier de Roach, that’s why.”
Sanders’s mouth fell open.
“Then Frontdier is…….”
“That’s right. Not a cousin, not a relative by marriage—he’s Anpher’s own son, the second son of House Roach.”
“……How surprising. I suspected as much from his name, but I never thought Anpher would send his own son to Teyburn.”
“According to Frontdier, he came of his own accord.”
“……That’s even more surprising.”
Sanders recalled Frontdier’s drowsy face.
From that expression alone, everything in the world seemed to be a bother to him.
“So what do you think? Is Frontdier worth taking into your order?”
“……His talent is remarkable. Worthy of close attention. I still don’t understand what he is, but from a Knight’s perspective, as long as he’s useful, that’s all that matters.”
Sanders spoke in praise of Frontdier, yet his expression contradicted every word.
“But there’s a ‘however’ written all over that face of yours.”
Sanders laughed at Lidwey’s observation. He was right.
Sanders nodded slowly.
“But has that boy ever fought for his life? All he does is fire off his mysterious techniques from a distance. For now, he’s little more than a sophisticated ballista or siege weapon. Certainly more effective than any siege engine, but a siege engine cannot become a Knight, can it?”
“……Hmm, I see your point.”
Lidwey nodded in agreement.
He drank his wine as if affirming that Sanders’s words held truth.
And he thought to himself.
‘……A siege weapon? Did he really feel that way?’
Sanders, drunk on wine, had overlooked an important fact.
Since arriving here, Lidwey had yet to see Frontdier actually fight.
* * *
The next day.
The bell announcing a monster incursion rang out loudly.
Everyone thought the timing was truly the worst it could be.
It was the very next day after Frontdier announced the Barrier Wall’s limit.
Frontdier had said he would hold the line alone, yet everyone deployed as they always had. It was only natural.
“You’re standing too far forward, Frontdier.”
Sanders cautioned him.
Because Frontdier had made his intentions known, they had initially meant to observe his movements, but Frontdier remained pressed directly against the Barrier Wall.
“It’s fine. I’ll protect him.”
Selena, standing beside him, spoke up.
Sanders watched Selena’s performance as well.
This escort of Frontdier’s was no mere pretense—she possessed considerable skill. Every monster that approached Frontdier and every stray attack, she struck them all down.
At first, he’d wondered what was happening when monsters near her kept collapsing, but examining the corpses more closely, he found needles embedded in them.
He’d thought, what could mere needles do?—yet the monsters continued to fall.
“Selena.”
“Yes, my… Frontdier.”
Selena had started to say something else but changed her words. Frontdier had strictly warned her against it. She was forbidden from using that title in front of others.
“Command me whenever you wish. I will protect Frontdier to the very end.”
She spoke with absolute conviction.
Of course, every syllable of what she had just said was a complete lie, but Frontdier would be pleased.
Frontdier nodded as if acknowledging her. True to form, this arrogant boy with his inferiority complex—
“You, get back.”
“Huh?”
“You’re in the way. Stay out of my sight.”
An abrupt dismissal. Selena swallowed the fury rising in her throat and stepped back. She silently cursed Frontdier with every obscenity that came to mind, directing them all at the back of his head.
“All units, prepare to fire!”
Sanders shouted. The ready archers drew their bowstrings.
While they did, Sanders observed Frontdier idly. After this command, Frontdier would always summon mysterious weapons in mid-air. No matter how many times he saw it, the sight remained remarkable.
‘Hmm?’
But today, Frontdier held a bow as well. Like the other archers, he nocked an arrow and drew the string taut.
‘Where did he get a bow like that…’
But there was no time to wonder. The monsters continued to close in with each passing moment.
By rough visual estimate, the scale was similar to before. That meant they would face another brutal engagement.
Sanders measured his timing and shouted.
“Release!”
In rhythm with his command, Frontdier released the bowstring.
The manifestation of Firecracker.

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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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