The Academy’s Weapon Replicator

Chapter 441 (2) – The Academys Weapon Replicator

The Morion prison.

After Aster and Dier left, Marco spoke in disbelief.

“This is ridiculous. With such a kind face, no, he definitely had a kind heart. I clearly read it.”

Marco recalled Dier’s appearance and tilted his head, still unable to comprehend it.

It wasn’t an act of kindness, he had clearly read a genuinely good heart. It was one of the abilities devils boasted.

Yet, his expressions and words were full of cunning schemes and tricks. Did such a human even exist?

‘That Dier fellow, he might be a natural enemy to devils. I’ve never seen a human so easy for a devil to let their guard down around.’

Marco spoke to the warden, Esther, who was standing outside the cell.

“Hey, I’m not saying a word to that guy if he comes back. Just so you know.”

“You said the same thing when you first got here. It was Frondier then, and now it’s Dier?”

“Yes. That guy is cut from the same cloth as Frondier. No, in a way, he’s even more dangerous. He’s so unlucky that I’m not cooperating anymore.”

“Cooperating, my foot.”

Even in this situation, Marco was truly devilish.

He had no intention of cooperating from the very beginning, his goal was to manipulate humans to his will by subtly enticing them, yet now that he was the one being played, he was acting shamelessly.

‘Well, I was also worried that Dier might fall for Marco’s tricks.’

Fortunately, it seemed Dier had obtained enough information from the devil.

Esther looked at Marco and asked,

“You seem surprisingly calm for someone who’s claiming to have been played. Are you still hiding something?”

At Esther’s words, Marco shook his head.

“No. I’ve truly been played. Once I lost my composure, my expression and demeanor couldn’t recover. That Dier guy must have seen right through me. I lost, completely lost.”

Marco raised both hands in a gesture of surrender.

Naturally, Esther wasn’t pleased with that.

“Then what’s with that calmness? Dier will tell Frondier the information, and if Frondier figures out the whole plan, it’ll be a significant hindrance, won’t it?”

“Frondier……. Yeah. That guy is something else.”

Marco nodded.

“It was unexpected for him to head to Agoris in the first place. Well, he’s been a walking variable from the moment he appeared until the very end.”

To Marco, Frondier was a nightmare incarnate.

From their first encounter, Frondier had done outrageous things, and had completely incapacitated him, someone who should never die. At that point, Satan’s plans had been completely ruined.

Frondier was powerful. Marco knew that very well.

“But he’s just one human.”

“If you keep seeing him as just a human, you’ll be played again.”

“Hahaha. The important thing isn’t that he’s human, but that he’s just one.”

No matter how powerful, Frondier was an individual.

There were limits to what an individual could do. That was a matter unrelated to strength.

“Hey, Warden, do you believe in fate?”

At the sudden and unexpected question, Esther’s eyes narrowed.

“If I believed in such things, why would I be working in a prison? I’d just let fate take its course.”

“Khahaha. I suppose so.”

But even so, Marco’s voice turned low.

“Fate exists. It truly does.”

“Is it fate that you’re trapped here?”

“What happens to a lowly being like me is a trivial matter.”

Marco referred to himself as a lowly being.

His tone exuded confidence in the immense power of fate.

Of course, he was a devil, so it was hard to believe him, but his words were hard for Esther to ignore.

“Me rotting away in this prison, or escaping, or not getting caught in the first place, these small outcomes are nothing more than changing the shape of waves. You can build breakwaters, cover them with rocks, or on a smaller scale, even a single footstep of a person can change the shape of a wave. It’s nothing special.”

Marco’s hands gripped the bars of his cell. He brought his face closer and said,

“But can you stop the next wave?”

“…….”

“The stronger an individual becomes, the more they are influenced by fate. Frondier must have felt it early on. He was branded a devil on the continent and had to leave. What could he have done about it? He could barely put up any resistance.”

“……Frondier simply chose that path.”

“He had no choice but to choose it. Because that’s the kind of person he is!”

Marco’s voice boomed.

“Ask him yourself. If he could go back in time, would he change that choice? No! He’s the kind of guy who wouldn’t let a single drop of innocent blood be shed by his own hands! Even if you gave him a hundred chances, he would choose to leave the continent all hundred times! If that’s not fate, then what is it?”

“……So, what’s your point? It’s meaningless to harp on about the past and claim it’s all fate.”

“This time it’s the same, Warden.”

Marco smiled. A devilish smile, befitting a devil.

“War is inevitable. Just as Frondier couldn’t even protect himself. He’ll be swept away by this war, powerless to do anything about it. It doesn’t change anything that he knows a few more pieces of information now. That’s fate. Frondier himself proved it. By the undeniable proof of his absence from this continent!”

“……Sigh.”

Esther sighed as if it was all just nonsense.

Marco continued, unfazed,

“We have the God of Fate on our side. It’ll be a refreshing experience. For both continents!”

“If you’re done talking, I’ll be on my way. I thought you had something important to say, but as expected, a devil’s words hold no weight.”

“Khahaha! Trying to nourish yourself with the words of others is a bad habit of humans!”

“Go to sleep if you don’t want to get hurt.”

Esther turned and walked away.

She said that, but Marco’s words lingered in her ears.

Those who truly knew Frondier felt a sense of guilt over his exile from the continent. The degree of guilt may have varied, but it was undeniable.

That devil had tapped into that guilt and was now spouting about fate. Whether he truly believed war was inevitable or not, this fatalistic view where the outcome was predetermined was incredibly dangerous.

‘Damn it, it’s pointless even if we defeat that devil.’

Marco, the immortal devil. The restraints may have nullified his abilities, but his tolerance for pain remained unchanged. Moreover, injuring him excessively could risk loosening those restraints.

‘……But,’

As she walked, a thought suddenly struck Esther.

‘Fate…… God of Fate……?’

She stopped in her tracks, tilting her head in thought.

“Where have I heard a similar story before?”

* * *

“You’re leaving?”

A man with a rough face asked bluntly.

In his large hands, he held delicate engraving tools and a gemstone smaller than his own eyes.

From behind him, a gentle voice answered.

A slender figure, with hair like spun pink. Every movement and detail about her seemed to exude an air of captivating allure.

“Yes. My studies are complete.”

The man sighed.

“Shouldn’t you at least stay for the graduation ceremony?”

“No. It’s best not to waste time.”

Clink.

The man set down the gemstone and placed his tools on the table.

His gaze settled on the girl. His daughter.

“……Do you trust him? Truly?”

“It’s not a matter of trust.”

The girl shook her head.

“There’s no room for doubt.”

“……If I knew it would come to this, I should have chased him away the moment he set foot in our house.”

“Ahahaha.”

The girl laughed.

“You knew, Father.”

“……Hmph.”

The man closed his eyes, as if refusing to answer.

“But why today of all days? It’s not a particularly special day.”

“Because, you know.”

The girl brushed her hair back lightly.

Her pink hair flowed gracefully, asif it were destined to do so.

“It feels like today’s the day. My intuition tells me so.”

Her eyes were both innocent and knowing, her form both strong and delicate.

Parting her captivating lips, the girl spoke.

“Sybil Forte, departing.”