The Academy’s Weapon Replicator

“...!”

My eyes widened at his words.

Until now, training with Azier had been very simple. Endless repetition of sparring. Responding to each other's moves, a way to get used to combat itself.

Usually, Azier would always set the problem, and I would somehow deal with the answer.

That's why I've never learned any weapon techniques from Azier. Of course, Azier gave me various advice during training, so I must have roughly learned something similar without realizing it.

“So from now on, try to replicate my spear.”

“So we're using the same weapon to minimize variables caused by differences in length and weight.”

Azier nodded at my words. Then he added,

“You don't discriminate between the types of weapons you create.”

“Then the more types of weapons you can use, the more advantageous it will be. Especially if you can wield powerful weapons.”

This must be something Azier said with the grade of my weapons in mind.

Since I could wield Legendary or Divine weapons, even if I only knew the basics of various weapons, the means I could apply would increase significantly.

‘In reality, the only weapon I can properly wield is the sword.’

By continuously sparring with Azier, I have become quite familiar with swords, at least.

If I combine the ‘Prediction’ that Azier has hammered into my body with the ‘Sixth Sense’ that I possess, I can fight to some extent with swordsmanship alone.

On the other hand, other weapons, such as bows, hammers, and spears, are still at the beginner level.

Artemis's bow and arrows are weapons that I don't need to aim. As soon as I pull and release the bowstring, they fly towards the enemy and hit them. If I tried to hit something with a normal bow and arrow, I would still be clumsy.

‘Throwing’ skill would be helpful, but that's it.

And in the case of Mjölnir, I rarely use it except when using the aura technique ‘Bombing’.

I only use its powerful destructive force to force the opponent into a dilemma, but I myself cannot handle the hammer properly.

Furthermore, the fact that I don't actually wield a spear is in the same context. I only shoot with the power of Obsidian or Menosorpo, but I've never held and swung it. Because I don't have the skill to do so.

“From now on, you will learn the spear from me. As for other weapons, Zodiac Monty will teach you well. I heard he is an excellent Weapon Master.”

“...Thank you.”

I thought I came here to be scolded, but I heard good news instead.

Of course, receiving new training from Azier seems like being scolded, but compared to the sharp aura Azier showed earlier, this is very good news for me.

“But why the sudden change in training?”

“It's not sudden. As I said before, I was looking for a spear just like the one I have now. Because I wanted to train you with it.”

In other words, Azier had intended to teach me the spear from before.

“...Since when?”

“Since I thought I should teach you someday, since you succeeded in ‘Falling edge’.”

“...That was quite a while ago.”

“As I said before, Falling edge is originally a spear technique. But you use it with a sword. Using Falling edge with a sword, which doesn't have a long shaft like a spear and doesn't bend well, can easily lead to injuries. Of course, as you become more familiar with Falling edge, you can minimize injuries, but it's better to use a spear at first.”

Because that's better than getting hurt. That's what Azier said.

I felt like I was going to cry at my brother's warm concern.

“Thank you. I will do my best to learn.”

I bowed my head to Azier.

He looked at me quietly for a moment, then asked,

“What do you think?”

“About what?”

“About becoming Zodiac Monty's adoption.”

I blinked for a moment at his words. What kind of question was this?

“...I'm curious who spread such a ridiculous rumor.”

“...No.”

Azier shook his head.

“That's probably Zodiac Monty's true intention. He'll want to take you in as his adopted son.”

“...Brother?”

“At least if I were in his shoes, I would definitely use your words to my advantage. You said disciple, but he'll keep tempting you during that time.”

Azier spoke with a nonchalant expression.

I couldn't read any emotion in his expression, so I couldn't understand his intention.

Damn it, why do all the members of the Roach family have such faces?

“...As I said before, I am the son of the Roach family. Your younger brother. Don't you know that?”

“...Frondier. I'll be honest.”

Thud.

Azier put down his spear.

“You are the protagonist who led the war to victory. Others in the Empire may not know it well, but everyone who attended that meeting knows. The one spear that pierced Manggot's heart. That was you.”

“...It was possible because everyone was there.”

“You wouldn't be out of place even if you ascended to Zodiac now. If you just set your mind to it, you could do it more than enough. You'd probably be the youngest to ascend to Zodiac. No, rather, the only problem is that you're too young now.”

A rare compliment from Azier.

The compliment was so immense that I felt a chill instead.

“...Brother.”

“So.”

Azier lowered his head.

It looked as if Azier de Roach was avoiding my eyes.

“...You can now make a choice. You have earned the right to do so.”

I was momentarily stunned by his words.

Choice? Right?

He was saying it as if it were a very good condition for me, but I didn't understand what he meant and just felt uneasy.

“What choice do you mean?”

“The choice to leave Roach.”

“...!”

My face hardened at those words.

I couldn't possibly keep my usual relaxed and peaceful expression.

“Even you are making a malicious joke, brother.”

“Does it look that way?”

Azier's sharp eyes still didn't meet mine.

“Zodiac Monty is just the beginning. No, Ria Lis has already shown the foreshadowing. The Empire's famous families, Zodiac, the Imperial Palace, they will all target you from now on.”

“Who would dare do such a thing? Do they underestimate the Roach family...!”

“Frondier. That's not it.”

Azier shook his head.

“They don't need to be wary of Roach.”

“What does that...?”

“Because everyone knows what Father has done to you in the past.”

“...!”

That's when I realized.

The heavy atmosphere in the living room earlier.

Enfer's face, so dark even as he praised me.

The reason why Azier, who seemed to be controlling his anger, brought me here.

“Father wanted to expel you from the family.”

“...It was to protect me.”

“I never thought you would understand that. Father wanted you to hate him.”

“... .”

“And I'm the same.”

A deep breath mixed with Azier's voice.

“You know it too. Our family tried to send you away. We wanted you to despise the family itself. We wanted you to scoff at the duty of guarding the barrier and just go somewhere safe and live your life. That's also a righteous life.”

That was the story that would have originally unfolded if I hadn't been Frondier.

Frondier disappears from Constel without a trace and lives a life unrelated to magic or combat.

He wouldn't appear on the stage of the game, but whether it would have been an unhappy life for Frondier as an individual is something I can't know because I haven't seen it.

“Father was looking for other families or households to take you in after expelling you. The story of you leaving the family had already spread throughout Constel. That has now become a good excuse for other families to take you in.”

“... .”

“You have now become another pillar of the Empire. There are many people who want you. You must be feeling it yourself.”

“...Even so, if it's Father...”

“Frondier.”

Azier finally looked at me.

He looked at me, but the sharpness that Azier always showed was gone.

He spoke with dull eyes.

“Father won't stop it.”

“...!”

“Father regrets the past. The time when he tried to expel you from the family. That he didn't believe in your talent, didn't wait for you, and made a hasty decision.”

“That's because I...!”

“Was lazy. Because you were cursed by the Seven Sins.”

“...!”

I couldn't continue speaking.

This wasn't a matter of persuasion.

If what Azier said was true, Enfer's mind was already made up.

“As I said, you have the right to choose. It's not a bad story for you.”

“... .”

“It's like Father's atonement.”

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