The Academy’s Weapon Replicator

Meetings in Manggot always take place at a round table.

Although there is no particular limit to the number of attendees, this meeting is always composed of the highest-ranking members of Manggot.

The only one who can attend the meeting without being summoned, despite not being a member of the top tier, is Hagley.

Those seated at the round table call themselves 'Shepherds of the Round Table'. Naturally, it's an imitation of the Arthurian legend 'Knights of the Round Table'.

However, they have no chivalry, and no land to protect. They simply lead the lambs, the young believers of Manggot. Hence, shepherds.

Of course, not everyone likes this title.

Notker, the man who spoke the most in the round table discussions besides Belphegor, particularly disliked it.

"What kind of shepherd throws all the sheep into a pit of fire?"

Notker was lying in wait in the forest with his subordinate troops.

His location was Tyburn. In fact, the best place to observe Tyburn from outside the barrier was the area known as the 'Sacred Forest', which was densely packed with trees, but Belphegor had strictly forbidden them from entering, so they were concealed in the forest further west.

He had no intention of opposing this operation. His loyalty to Belphegor also remained unchanged.

He just didn't want to call himself a 'shepherd'. The people of Manggot all intended to burn themselves up, using their own lives as fuel. He wasn't the one sending the sheep. He would jump in with them.

"Even if it's the same pit of fire, you must not burn up here. Be careful."

His deputy commander spoke up. Notker chuckled.

"Right. Getting swept away by the monsters would be meaningless. Our attack will take place amidst the chaos caused by the monster invasion."

Frondier had called it an 'alliance', but the monsters and Manggot weren't exactly on the same side.

Monsters don't make such distinctions anyway. Manggot was simply taking advantage of the monsters' continuous assaults on the barrier.

In other words, the alliance between Manggot and the monsters couldn't use any tactics other than a 'mass attack'. But that alone was enough.

"Right, this place was originally guarded by Ludwig Urfa."

"Now, a man named Hector is the head of the family. It's said he's filling in for Ludwig, who left to become a Zodiac. Rumor has it he's Ludwig's hidden son."

Notker, who had good eyesight, was the first to examine the top of the barrier. If the Empire bastards were really prepared, they would be sticking their heads out from the top of the barrier.

Even Ludwig, who rarely participated in barrier battles, would be different this time.

"If I could just catch a glimpse of that bastard's face here.... Huh?"

At that moment, Notker's expression changed. As his subordinate had said, Hector was on top of the barrier. He had seen his face in a photo beforehand, so there was no mistake.

But next to him, there was a man he couldn't simply ignore.

"...Hey, isn't that Aster Evans?"

"Sir?"

His subordinate, whose eyesight wasn't as good, created a magic telescope to examine the barrier.

It was a slightly troublesome spell that wasn't used often, but most of the personnel in charge of scouting knew how to use it.

"...You're right. It's Aster Evans."

Blonde hair, neat appearance. Clear blue eyes looking down at the bottom of the barrier. It was unmistakably Aster Evans.

"...Kekeke."

Notker, who had been watching silently, suddenly laughed.

"This is good. I was just bothered by the nonsense about a brat who hasn't even reached adulthood being Zodiac level."

"...Sir Notker. It's not time yet."

"I know, I know. Do you think I'm going to charge in recklessly without thinking?"

"I apologize."

"Well, but when the time comes."

A chilling murderous intent filled Notker's eyes.

"I'll take care of that guy. No, even the expression 'take care of' doesn't sit right with me. I'll bring you his head within 30 minutes."

"...Yes, by all means."

His subordinate stopped any further comments and nodded.

When Notker was like this, it was best to just leave him alone. Then, surprisingly, things would work out well.

...And meanwhile.

Hector briefly glanced at Aster, who was standing next to him on top of the barrier.

"...Hey. You're from Constel, right?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Then you must know about Frondier too?"

"You know Frondier? He's a classmate of mine."

Indeed, so it seems.

Just like Frondier, this guy also has an unusual aura around him. Hector felt it right away.

Hector had heard about the Empire's designated barrier deployment through Ludwig.

Since it was an order from the Empire, Hector would follow it without complaint, but one thing Ludwig had said when sending this man named Aster here strangely stuck in his memory.

──A hero needs a sword, you get what I'm sayin'?

‘A hero?’

Thinking about that, Hector looked at Aster again. Indeed, his appearance and atmosphere alone were worthy of being called a hero, no, rather, if you were to turn the word 'hero' into a person, wouldn't it look like this?

Then, Hector unconsciously cast his gaze towards the Sacred Forest.

‘...If he's talking about a sword?’

The legendary sword that was said to be slumbering in the Sacred Forest, the one whose existence was unknown—

Shaking his head at the thought that had crossed his mind, Hector thought.

If they really placed him here with that kind of thought, then the person who came up with this plan must be out of their mind.