Chapter 444 (2) – The Academys Weapon Replicator

The Academy’s Weapon Replicator

Basileo had been observing the spectacle for quite some time.

He had a rough estimate of the destructive power that would be unleashed if all the Mana concentrated in that spell formula crystal were converted into magic.

However, the actual sight far exceeded his expectations.

‘To think such concentrated magic exists!’

Mages understood destructive magic as the flow of Mana, the combination of elements, and the power born from that fusion.

The formulas that dictated the flow determined how the resulting magic would behave, and by attaching elements, additional damage and effects could be achieved.

Spells given names like Blade, Spear, or Arrow weren’t actually blades, spears, or arrows. They merely mimicked their forms and effects through formulas.

However, there was a limit to how much destructive power could be enhanced by shaping magic with formulas. The same went for elements.

That’s why mages were so obsessed with elemental combinations. Successfully achieving a dual or triple elemental combination was enough to garner attention from the entire world.

‘But there was definitely a spear! The spear’s characteristics, its very concept, were embedded in the magic!’

Basileo had a rough understanding of the principle behind Frondier’s magic.

Frankly speaking, he understood it better than Frondier himself, the caster.

“Alright, everyone back to your seats!”

As the deafening roar subsided and silence returned to the sky, the teacher regained control of the students.

Basileo approached the teacher.

“Excuse me, teacher.”

“What is it?”

“What was Professor Frondier doing just now? Was that also part of the lesson?”

“What? Uh, well…”

The teacher scratched his head and glanced out the window, briefly locating Frondier.

“That area is usually used for Combined Use Of Magic And Combat classes during elective periods. I did hear Professor Frondier was in charge of it this time. It seems he’s experimenting with various things.”

“Combined Use Of Magic And Combat…”

Basileo was aware of the subject’s existence.

It involved the combined study of magic and combat. The stereotypical image of a magic swordsman or a battlemage. However, it was considered too impractical, so he heard very few students chose it.

“Well, this semester is almost over, so consider it preparation for the next semester.”

“……I see.”

“Alright, back to class! You know you won’t get any extra break time for the time we’ve wasted!”

As the teacher’s words were met with groans from the students, Basileo pondered.

‘…Combined Use Of Magic And Combat…’

Professor Frondier was teaching Combined Use Of Magic And Combat.

That meant the technique he had just witnessed was part of the Combined Use Of Magic And Combat curriculum.

“……Wait a minute.”

Didn’t that mean he could learn that technique too if he took that class?

‘As Professor Frondier’s star pupil, I can’t miss out on this!’

Basileo nodded quietly to himself.

* * *

The magic Frondier unleashed was incredibly powerful. And incredibly loud.

Naturally, it wasn’t just the class Basileo was in; almost every student in Atlas had witnessed the absurd lightning bolt Frondier had fired.

And among them, of course, was…

“……What was that?”

…Aias.

After withdrawing from the Machia Tournament, Aias had been deeply shaken by the fight between Pielott and Glaucus.

He felt like he had witnessed a realm he could never hope to reach.

He, the acknowledged prodigy and one of the strongest in Atlas, had been brought low overnight.

Of course, the other students didn’t see it that way. Although he had been knocked unconscious by a single blow from Pielott, he was still strong, and most assumed Pielott had resorted to a surprise attack.

However, Aias himself knew better.

He had tasted the bitter sting of an incomparable defeat.

‘One’s a transfer student, and the other is… a first year.’

It wasn’t that Aias had never lost before.

But his defeats had all been at the hands of more experienced and skilled individuals. He had lost in sparring matches against pros and knights, but within his age group, he had been undefeated.

Until Pielott appeared.

Until Glaucus appeared.

The unsettling feeling of being pushed further and further from the center stage, a stage he was meant to dominate, had been gnawing at him for the past few days. And today…

“……Damn it…”

He had witnessed Frondier’s overwhelming display of power.

As if his pride hadn’t been wounded enough by Pielott and Glaucus, Frondier had just added fuel to the fire.

“What kind of magic was that?”

Aias muttered through gritted teeth.

“That was a spear.”

Clenching his fist, Aias fought to contain his humiliation, careful not to let it show.

He didn’t know.

Unlike Basileo, who had witnessed the preparations beforehand, Aias had only caught sight of the scene right before Frondier unleashed the magic.

And the fact that he immediately recognized it as a “spear” spoke volumes about his own abilities.

“Combined Use Of Magic And Combat…”

The fusion of magic and combat.

The very concept had always irked Aias.

It felt like a refuge for those lacking true combat prowess, an excuse for the defeated.

He believed that battlemages and magic swordsmen were nothing more than that.

In that case…

‘Could I dodge that attack? Could I block it?’

The answer was obvious.

Absolutely not.

Aias had learned his lesson from his recent string of humiliations.

While many would choose to turn a blind eye to their shortcomings after a defeat, Aias couldn’t bring himself to do so.

His pride was too great, so much so that he was acutely aware of every blow to his ego.

He faced his own weaknesses head-on, refusing to look away, no matter how unbearable it was.

And that made him all the more terrifying.

“……Fine, I’ll devour it all. Magic or whatever it is.”

Aias made up his mind.

He would crawl his way back to the top, no matter the cost.

“Do you think I’ll lose…?”

Aias di Achaean.

Even in the face of crushing defeat, he declared:

“I am destined to become a hero…”

It was nothing more than a statement fueled by his own towering pride.

But if Frondier had heard it, he would have shuddered.

“That is my destiny…!”

* * *

A few days later, on the weekend.

Frondier had secured permission from the faculty office to use the Combined Use Of Magic And Combat training grounds.

Of course, he had been given a stern warning not to repeat the incident from before.

He had spent the past few days apologizing to both students and teachers for the unintentional shock he had caused during class.

Frondier had expected some backlash from the students, but for some reason, they seemed more attentive and eager to learn than ever before.

He didn’t know the reason, but it didn’t matter.

Students being enthusiastic about class was a good thing.

“……However.”

As soon as Frondier arrived at the Combined Use Of Magic And Combat training grounds, his expression hardened.

He glanced around for a moment before speaking in a frigid tone.

“What are you four doing here?”

Before Frondier had even arrived, Basileo, Aias, Pielott, and Glaucus were already present at the training grounds.

Pielott spoke up.

“We heard from the faculty office that you would be using this place over the weekend, Professor.”

“……That’s not exactly what I was asking.”

“……? You asked why we were here.”

Was that really a valid answer?

Frondier was starting to wonder if he was the strange one, as everyone else seemed to find Pielott’s response perfectly reasonable.

“Master!”

Basileo exclaimed.

“Call me Professor, please. I’m begging you.”

“You’re preparing for the Combined Use Of Magic And Combat class, right?”

“……What…?”

“The magic you demonstrated during our elective class! It was truly inspiring! I’m currently enrolled in a different elective, so I can’t participate right now, but please allow me to assist you whenever I have free time! I want to learn too!”

“……Well, that was…”

Frondier trailed off.

He couldn’t exactly say, “I borrowed the elective class time and location to work on my personal magic techniques.” That would be a blatant abuse of power.

“…Right. It was for class preparation.”

“As expected!”

Basileo pumped his fist excitedly, and the other students nodded in agreement.

“We’re all here for the Combined Use Of Magic And Combat class!”

“…But you all have your own electives.”

“Exactly! That’s why we’re here on weekends, holidays, breaks!”

Their enthusiasm was overflowing.

So much so that it was starting to drain Frondier’s own.

He lowered his head in resignation.

“…I see.”

“Yes!”

“You’re saying you want to come here on weekends, holidays, and during breaks.”

“That’s right!”

…I see.

So be it.

Frondier let out a sigh he couldn’t hold back.

“Alright, fine. But don’t blame me if you can’t handle it.”

He had a feeling this was going to be a long semester.