Chapter 532 (1) - The Academys Weapon Replicator |
Frondier cautiously approached Azier.
‘……It’s alright.’
It’s not decided yet.
Even if everyone has reached a conclusion.
Until I confirm it myself─
Frondier reached out his hand towards Azier, but like Malia’s, his hand stopped in mid-air.
It was a strange feeling. There was no resistance at all, like being blocked by a wall.
In Frondier’s perception, his hand continued to stretch out, but in the end, it didn’t.
To put it bluntly, it felt like Azier was moving out of the way as Frondier reached out.
‘Another world……?’
Right now, Azier was visible, but somehow it didn’t feel like he was located in this world.
Frondier was in this world, and so was his hand. So even if he could see him, his outstretched hand wouldn't reach Azier on the other side.
This way, there was no way to know if he was alive or dead.
Above all,
‘……This isn’t Pandemonium.’
One of the possibilities that Azier might still be alive crumbled.
Frondier swallowed unconsciously. It was because he was nervous.
Slowly, the reality he had been avoiding crept up behind him.
The composure Frondier was maintaining now wasn't due to a strong mentality. It wasn't because he had a solution either.
He was just looking away.
He gathered all sorts of difficult possibilities and conjured up new assumptions in his head. If one assumption crumbled, he came up with another.
His thoughts moved towards less likely and unverified territories. From there, it was already the realm of delusion, trying to prove that Azier was still alive.
But here, there was only a very simple and clear conclusion.
Azier was dead.
His mind was spinning, trying to deny that one single fact.
How much time had passed?
“……Frondier.”
After the police, along with all sorts of magicians and healers, had gathered to recover Azier’s body, and eventually gave up and left when they couldn’t touch him.
Malia, who had collapsed when Frondier first encountered her, had now pulled herself together considerably.
It was only after crying for a long time that she heard the full story and instructed her family to investigate. She spoke with other magicians and teachers about the situation where they couldn’t touch Azier’s body.
What kind of magic this was, if it even was magic. How much the Imperial Palace understood about this situation.
She had calmed down enough to discuss the circumstances surrounding the spot where Azier collapsed to see what had happened.
……During that long time.
Frondier hadn’t said a single word, just stared at Azier with dry, burning eyes.
“Let’s go back, Frondier.”
Malia said.
It was Malia who had broken down when they first met, but now she was much better.
The problem wasn’t her.
“……I will, stay here.”
“Frondier……”
Malia’s voice was filled with pity.
She had cried a lot. Only after crying could she regain her senses. Accept reality and prepare to move forward, at least a little.
Not Frondier.
He hadn't cried yet.
He probably wouldn’t cry, not even until the moment he died.
During all that time, Frondier had continued to─
“It’s alright.”
Frondier said in a dry voice.
“I’ll be back soon.”
“…….”
Frondier’s current state was serious.
He had flown here at full speed, exhausting all his Mana. Even if he hadn’t completely depleted it, he was in a state of extreme mental and physical fatigue.
Unlike Malia, who had pulled herself together with the help of those around her, he hadn’t moved an inch during this entire time.
As if even a twitch of his finger would end everything, Frondier remained frozen.
Looking at him, Malia thought she had to feed him something, but then closed her mouth again.
After a few short breaths, Malia spoke.
“……I’ll be waiting at the mansion.”
“Yes.”
Malia spoke with composure, even ruthlessness, and walked away.
Frondier didn’t know how to handle grief yet. It wasn’t something Malia could teach him. How to deal with it was different for everyone.
Frondier needed time. Malia would respect it if that’s what he thought he needed.
As she took a few steps away with that feeling,
“……right.”
She heard Frondier’s voice.
Thinking he was calling out to her, Malia turned around, but Frondier was still in the same position, stiff as a statue.
Only his voice,
“It’s alright.”
It passed by Malia’s ear like the wind whispering through threads.
“He’s not hurt.”
She didn’t know what it meant.