Chapter 431 (1) – The Academys Weapon Replicator

The Academy’s Weapon Replicator

“… A game…”

Carla echoed Frondier’s words, her eyes wide.

“Gods or devils are playing games with humans, and that could lead to war…”

“Or maybe both.”

In reality, both sides were already playing their ‘games.’

To Frondier, there was no difference between the divine power bestowed by gods and the contracts made with devils.

Arald tilted his head at his words.

“Is there a possibility of war breaking out in this land? It doesn’t seem like it.”

“That’s right. Unlike the Falind Terst Empire, this country is a single nation. Even if they were to wage war, there are no other countries to fight.”

Elodie nodded in agreement.

Of course, Frondier also agreed. He had experienced many things since he came here, but the country itself seemed stable. He had never felt any unrest on the streets or in the taverns.

Frondier’s sense of unease stemmed from his knowledge.

The names from the Trojan War kept popping up, and the feeling that the devils were more involved in this country than he thought led him to a certain hypothesis.

‘If the Trojan War is truly the motif, then I have enough reason to intervene.’

The famous Greek gods participated extensively in the Trojan War. In fact, even in the myths, there was no great reason for them to participate. Well, it might have been a big deal to them, but it wasn’t to Frondier.

They had nothing to do with human wars.

They participated because they had nothing to do with it.

However, the current Agoris continent was slightly different from the situation of the Trojan War.

Unlike the myths, where gods came and went from the human world as if it were their backyard, it was not easy for gods to descend to this land.

‘Most of the gods withdrew from this land because of Ragnarok, and the gods that remain are bound by some kind of magic from someone among humans. Of course, there is the variable of divine power, but God does not give his power to just anyone.’

The reason why gods do not give their power to humans easily is simple. ‘It lowers their dignity.’

It was a metaphorical expression, and it was also true. It was a pretty serious problem for the gods.

Instead of speaking himself, Frondier looked at Carla.

“What do you think, Carla? Is there a possibility of war breaking out in this country?”

Carla bowed her head in deep thought.

She repeated what Frondier had just said. She must have her own thoughts on ‘war’.

“…I think there is a possibility of civil war.”

After a moment of contemplation, she opened her mouth.

“This country, Palma, is wary of devils and strongly relies on God.”

“People usually do, but it seems excessive here.”

Carla nodded at Frondier’s words.

“If anyone does anything even slightly suspicious, they’ll be suspected of being a devil. Never in human history have devils been this close.”

Devils, who should be in another world, or whose existence was ambiguous, had built their own country and settled down. It must have been quite a burden on humans.

“To rely strongly on God means that God’s command takes precedence over their free will. Palma is currently forming forces led by a few humans with divine power. Powerful gods like Zeus and Aphrodite gave power to humans, and believers and soldiers gathered around one person.”

In the Falind continent, humans who received divine power were envied and praised by many, but not to the extent that believers would gather.

This was because there were already those who surpassed humans who received divine power through their own power.

Excluding Frondier himself, his brother Azier also had no divine power, and neither did Headmaster Osprey. Ellen, Aster’s older sister, was unmatched in the realm of swordsmanship.

But to get there, it took more than just growth. To put it nicely, it was a desperate and desperate effort that went beyond one’s limits, and to put it plainly, it was madness.

However, there was no such madness in Palma. Instead of madness, they chose demonic weapons and God.

“The gods are in agreement now, but the moment their opinions clash, the forces of Palma will also be divided. Civil war depends solely on the choice of God.”

“Why do humans rely so much on God?”

The humans of Palma longed for God. To fight against the devils. Just as they needed divine power to fight monsters in the Falind continent.

But that dependence manifested itself in a slightly different form from the Falind continent.

Why weren’t the individuals in Palma as strong as the Terst Empire?

Why didn’t they have madness?

“That’s the difference between devils and monsters.”

Lily answered Frondier’s question instead.

“In the Falind continent, monsters are a real and ever-present threat. They’re crazy about breaking down barriers whenever they get the chance. They’re fierce, but that’s why you can clearly see the level of threat, and the Empire has grown to protect itself from monsters.”

Of course, the fear of monsters didn’t disappear just because they went through that growth.

But it was a clear fear. This was the difference between Terst and Palma.

“From an ordinary person’s point of view, at the end of the road that forks in two, there’s a ‘hungry tiger’ and ‘something black and unknown’ waiting, so it’s a matter of which one you choose. Both are scary, but the types of fear are different.”

Hearing those words, Frondier said.

“By that analogy, humans would inevitably choose ‘something black’.”

“That’s right. Because if you meet a hungry tiger, you’ll definitely die.”

But there was a chance of survival with something black and unknown. No, they believed there was such a probability.

Because they didn’t know what it was. Whether the black thing was just a simple shadow, or something more terrifying than a tiger, they wouldn’t know until they saw it.

To Palma, devils were that ‘something black and unknown’.

They were afraid, but at the same time, they were letting their guard down.

Lily said.

“The source of fear for any devil is not their strength, but their ambiguity. Not letting humans fully read them. Not letting them read what actions they’ll take or what they’re thinking. Hiding and concealing the full extent of their power. From that, fear and complacency are born in humans at the same time.”

Simply put, devils were a lump of bluffing.

The same was true of the devils who came to this land and built their country.

Perhaps the devils were intentionally leaving the human nation alone. Since they couldn’t return to the demon world, they had already revealed their true colors in this land, so they were even more obsessed with creating ambiguity.

And so far, that intention was working well in this country.

‘They just exist and don’t pose a threat, they just maintain the perception that they’re a threat. With just that, the people of this country, instead of desperately trying to grow, have come to rely on demonic weapons and God.’

In other words, the current humans’ reliance on God was going exactly as the devils had intended.

But there was one question.

Frondier tilted his head.

“What’s the benefit to the devils if humans rely on God?”

Gods and devils were opposed to each other. He learned that very well while fighting Belphegor.

Devils and gods hated each other terribly. It was only natural.

So, if humans relied on God, the more they relied on them, the easier it would be for God to set foot in the human realm, and that was not what the devils wanted.

But the current situation seemed to be exactly what the devils wanted.

Frondier asked Carla.

“Carla, have there been any disputes in this country recently? Anything, no matter how trivial.”