The Academy’s Weapon Replicator

“Lord Notker!”

The Manggot’s deputy commander shouted in bewilderment.

The Manggot's attack was planned for later. The monster offensive was still ongoing, and with time, the barrier would surely crumble.

Their original strategy wasn't to directly target Aster. The plan was for Notker to target Aster amidst the chaos after the Manggot entered the battlefield.

“It’s too early! At least wait until the monsters have battered the barrier…!”

“No.”

Notker spoke without taking his eyes off Aster on the barrier.

“As long as that guy is there, this stalemate won’t break.”

“Pardon?”

Notker carefully observed Aster’s actions.

Initially, he had the same thoughts as Hector, who had been watching Aster from nearby. He fought well, but it was ordinary, and there was no sense of power that could wipe out the monsters. Above all, his fighting style was excessively neat.

Hagley had called Aster "a skilled individual comparable to the Zodiac," but Notker couldn't even feel a shred of that.

However, at some point…

“Berengar, how long has it been since the monster attack started?”

“About 30 minutes…”

“Then, normally, the corpses of monsters would have started piling up in front of the barrier by now.”

Monsters push forward with sheer numbers, piling up corpses in front of the barrier to use as stepping stones to climb over.

Lower-level monsters have lower intelligence than higher-level ones, and the outer monsters have a particularly large gap. This tactic was also seen in the past at Yeranhes.

“But the front of the barrier is still clear. Most of the monsters are dying before they even get close.”

“…Why? The barrier troops don’t seem that numerous.”

“It’s because of that Aster guy. He’s using a simple, yet absurd method.”

The monsters’ advance, the archers firing to stop them, the weapons on the barrier.

The changing flow of monsters caused by being hit, falling, and sometimes dodging.

At the point where those flows intersect.

Swish!

Aster’s sword moved slightly.

Thud! Crash! Bang!

The leading monster suddenly falls. Right at the point where the scattered monsters, avoiding arrows and stones, were regrouping.

Naturally, the monsters behind them follow suit, and a rain of arrows pours down on those who have lost their mobility.

“Did you see that?”

“…Aura?”

“Yes. A fingernail-sized sword energy cut the monster’s ankle. At a glance, it’s indistinguishable from those hit by arrows.”

War is usually not as grand or majestic as it is imagined when it actually unfolds.

Even if it's a moment of chilling murderous intent clashing from afar, up close, it’s a series of ridiculous scenes. Except for the fact that death lurks behind it.

Soldiers tripping over their own feet. Starting with their comrades next to them getting hit by weapons swung with their eyes tightly closed.

Panicking and abandoning all their comrades to flee, those comrades all die, and they survive alone, ultimately becoming the ‘right choice’.

Stories of demoralized soldiers flowing one by one into the enemy camp, eventually leaving no one in their own camp, resulting in a bloodless entry, are quite common.

Situations too ugly, trivial, and shameful to be recorded.

A black comedy that is not funny at all.

“That guy is doing that kind of thing. He’s playing with the monsters. He’s turning the image of war that people vaguely imagine into a child’s play all by himself.”

It’s not just tripping them up.

The winged monsters that humans commonly call ‘birds’ suddenly have one of their wings ripped in mid-air, falling on top of their own monsters, crushing them all and blocking the path.

The bigger ones suddenly drop the huge weapons they are holding, and the weapons fall on top of the four-legged dogs below. The big guy roars, looking for his weapon with a question mark above his head, then sees that his wrist is also missing.

The sight of the monsters raising their voices as if they are hindering each other instead of advancing for the sake of humans.

It’s truly a third-rate gag.

Humor that isn’t funny at all.

“If we leave him alone, there will be no turn for the Manggot to take action.”

The Manggot’s basic strategy is a joint attack with the monsters. If the barrier remains this organized, the Manggot will be the ones pressed for time.

“Then…?”

“You stay here.”

Notker raised his sword. It was a greatsword as big as his stature.

Aster, while dealing with the advancing monsters, was still paying attention to Notker. He still held the spear Notker had thrown in one hand. He was truly at ease.

“To ensure the operation goes smoothly, we need to stop that guy. You know the timing, right?”

“Lord Notker!”

Despite his subordinate Berengar’s words, Notker only deepened his smile.

“I’ll show you a proper war.”

Thud!

Notker emerged from the forest with his greatsword.

He fully reveals himself, drawing the attention of the humans on the barrier.

“I’ll kill you all!!”

A giant voice filled with aura.

The people on the barrier momentarily turn their gaze to the undeniably loud volume.

“Ma, Manggot!”

Hector also glared at Notker.

“Archers! Firing positions,”

“No.”

However, Aster interrupts Hector’s additional orders.

“The balance with the monsters is appropriate now. It wouldn’t be good to disrupt it carelessly.”

“But we have to stop the Manggot too! Look at that momentum. He’s definitely not ordinary.”

“That’s right.”

Aster’s eyes turn to Notker.

“I’ll go.”

“What…?”

“It seems like I’ve created enough obstacles on the battlefield. There should be a little leeway in time.”

With those words.

Aster jumped over the barrier.

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