The Academy’s Weapon Replicator

Returning Elysia to the Imperial Palace.

This was a decision Frondier had made in his heart a long time ago.

It was something he hadn't even mentioned to Philly, but he had been preparing himself for it.

Frondier was more wary of Philly than anyone else. It wouldn't be wrong to say he was most afraid of her.

This wasn't just because Philly had the potential to become a villain at any time.

From his experience playing the game 'Etius' more than anyone else, he knew that Philly becoming a villain meant the game was breaking down.

The wise Philly wouldn't become a villain for no reason. She would always make the best choices within her own framework, and sometimes, the result of that was becoming a villain.

‘Elysia still hasn't seen Philly properly.’

Just a while ago, when they encountered Philly at the Imperial Palace, Philly completely ignored Elysia.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

The longer Elysia continued her life as a commoner, the more Philly's heart would be scarred.

Philly disguised this as hostility towards Elysia. Treating Elysia as an enemy was the right thing to do as Empress, and it was because she wanted Elysia to change.

‘And that's the same for Philly.’

Philly also couldn't see Elysia properly. She couldn't gauge how much she had changed, or how she would change in the future.

Because she loved her daughter, and because of the suspicion that this 'love' was blinding her, she had no choice but to be even more wary of Elysia.

‘There's only one way for Philly and Elysia to face each other. They have to be close. It's obvious.’

Philly, due to her position, couldn't bring Elysia back to the Imperial Palace. Not expelling Elysia from the Empire was already a considerable concession, and if she were to bring her back to the palace, it was obvious what kind of situation she would be in.

So, Frondier would do it.

He would make Elysia do something that would force her to return to the Imperial Palace, and he would fully support her.

Frondier, the most likely candidate for the next Zodiac. The current Imperial Palace couldn't completely ignore him.

Moreover, with the credit of stopping the Devil's War, even without Frondier's existence, the possibility was sufficient.

All Frondier had to do now was to gently push Elysia's back.

"...Are you serious?"

"Why would I lie?"

"No, but, you..."

Elysia looked at Frondier with a dubious expression.

She thought he must be up to something when he said he would protect her, but in the end, it was another good thing for Elysia.

There must be something good for Frondier if she returned to the Imperial Palace. From Elysia's perspective, it was something she couldn't grasp at all.

‘Besides, from Frondier's point of view, aren't I an enemy...?’

Elysia was hesitant to say it herself, but she was one of the people who had put Frondier through hell. If you looked at it from the perspective of a single human being, she would definitely be number one.

‘...Could it be, he...?’

Elysia looked at Frondier.

Could he possibly have feelings for her?

"......."

"....No, that can't be it."

"What?"

But seeing Frondier's emotionless eyes, that feeling vanished.

Frondier said.

"Anyway, when this is over, I'll officially report it to Philly, so you'll get a call soon. Then you can return to the Imperial Palace. Don't forget to dress properly."

"...Dress properly? I'm a commoner now, what should I dress up for?"

"Don't lie."

"What's a lie? I'm,"

"You have proper clothes. There's no way you haven't dreamed of the day you return to the Imperial Palace. And the same goes for the preparation. You must be hiding the clothes you wore at the Imperial Palace somewhere, cherishing them."

"......"

Elysia shut her mouth at that. The words 'you jerk' came out involuntarily.

"But before that."

Frondier approached Baal.

Baal still showed no sign of waking up.

As if he decided it wouldn't work like this, Frondier looked down at him and spoke in a cold voice.

"I'll have to wake this guy up, even if I have to force him."

* * *

Selena returned safely and informed everyone of Lunia's location.

Aster, along with the others, headed towards the large building where Lunia was imprisoned. He stopped at a suitable distance and looked back at everyone.

It was to hold a strategy meeting.

"First, let's be clear."

Aster said.

"Both our team and Satan's devils are missing their strongest forces. They don't have Marco, and we don't have Frondier."

It was Aster, of all people, who said that. Aster, who was originally called the hope of Constel, no, the hope of the Empire.

At that, Dier, who was next to him, whispered to Elodie.

"...Is there that much of a skill gap between Senior Frondier and Senior Aster? Enough for Senior Aster to say he's below him?"

Of course, Dier and Pielott, being Frondier's disciples, knew very well that Frondier was strong.

But on the other hand, they didn't know much about Aster's strength. They had encountered Elodie in the skill test, and even if they had encountered Aster, they wouldn't have fought him with full power.

"...No."

Elodie made a difficult face at that.

"I don't know how much of a difference there actually is between the two, but you can assume that anything Aster says is not at all objective."

"...He's subjectively looking down on himself?"

Usually, being subjective meant being lenient towards oneself, and being objective meant not being lenient, right?

Aster was somehow the opposite.

"Aster doesn't know how much power Frondier has. So he doesn't know if he's weaker or stronger."

Elodie and Aster were among the few who had seen Frondier fight the most. Especially the fight with Belphegor, they had witnessed it with their own eyes.

If you compared the maximum output of their power, Frondier would probably be higher than Aster. No, no matter where you looked on the continent, there was no one who could deliver a blow stronger than Frondier.

Dragon Heart, Obsidian, Menosorpo, the combination of legendary and divine weapons, and the aura emitted from them. Even with this simple explanation, it was impossible to estimate the magnitude of that power.

Ironically, the only person who could possibly emit comparable power was Elodie herself.

'The combination of the five elements that I've only thought about theoretically and haven't tried yet. And if I ask my 'friends' for help...'

If she combined her own innate talent with the divine power of the five gods, she might be able to reach Frondier's output.

In other words, until Elodie tried it, there was no one who could surpass Frondier in maximum output.

However, just as Elodie couldn't predict her victory in a fight with Aster, it was difficult to say that Frondier would have the upper hand if Aster fought him.