The Academy’s Weapon Replicator

"...It's excellent. I can't say anything else. If I had to choose between the map I made and this one, I would choose this hologram map every time."

Even though he didn't know exactly where this map was pointing, if he knew the location, Frondier could quickly create it as well.

Since Frondier would create the map by gathering the latest information, his map would be slightly more accurate in minor details.

However, for ordinary people, comfort was more important than such minor differences. In that regard, it had a clear advantage.

But.

"...However, it's not realistic."

"Is that so?"

"If Hitchcock wants to use this map in war as well, there's another problem."

"What is it?"

"War can break out anywhere, but if it's this Empire, it will usually be in the outer regions. In other words, a war with outer monsters. In that case, it will be an area that Hitchcock, focused on creating maps within the Empire, knows nothing about."

"...Yes, that's right. That's why if war breaks out, we would have to rush to map that area... Ah."

Paul, while providing his own answer, realized the problem that arose from it.

Frondier said.

"Who will create it? During the war, who among the people of Hitchcock company would go to the area where outer monsters roam and record distances or locations?"

"...I see. That was a blind spot."

Simply put, it was like putting a bell on a cat's neck. A solution with excessively high risk compared to its effectiveness couldn't be chosen.

Paul listened to Frondier's words and nodded, jotting them down in his notebook.

Seeing that, Frondier turned his attention back to the hologram device.

‘...I'm really sorry to say this, but.’

This device was actually more suitable for Frondier to use.

If he could just understand the principles of how it was implemented, he had enough information to display anything as a hologram.

He was really sorry, but he had already put the blueprint in his workshop.

"..."

Meanwhile, Paul and the other researchers fell into a long silence.

Several problems had already been discovered, and Frondier's words had brought them to a new one.

They had hoped for a solution from a new perspective, but the new perspective only revealed more problems.

‘...It can't be helped.’

Feeling a slight pang of conscience, Frondier slowly opened his mouth.

"Would you like to see my 3D map?"

"...! Really?! Please, by all means!"

Paul responded with a brightened face. Jeremy, who was watching from the side, widened his eyes in surprise.

Jeremy asked.

"Is it okay to show that so casually?"

"It's not like I'm hiding it that much in the first place."

Frondier had already revealed this 3D map twice, once at the Pro Organization Phenomenon and once in the Imperial Palace conference room.

Since the rumors had spread everywhere, there was no point in hiding it belatedly.

The 3D map was just an application of the Obsidian, and the 3D map itself wasn't that important.

Click.

Frondier manipulated the bracer. Seeing that, Paul and the other researchers' eyes sparkled with curiosity.

Perhaps they were thinking how similar it was to their own stuff.

Swoosh-

The Obsidian spread out and flew towards the space where the hologram had been. Seeing that, Paul hurriedly operated the panel to shut down the hologram.

"I don't have many maps to show you, but..."

Frondier first created a map around Constel.

He had acquired a vast amount of maps at the Phenomenon headquarters, so he could reproduce most of the surrounding area.

"It's like this."

Frondier's completed 3D map. As expected, it was much cruder than Hitchcock's hologram. After all, it was just black droplets indicating things.

Nevertheless, Paul admired the completed map and carefully looked around.

"What's the scale of this map right now?"

"...Ah, there's no particular scale, but if you want to see it closer..."

Frondier, guessing what Paul wanted, zoomed in on the map a little. As it zoomed in, more detailed details were added. Smaller trees, places with water, and so on.

Paul's eyes widened at that small movement.

"Y-You can zoom in?!"

His voice was so surprised that Frondier was also a little startled.

"Yes, yes. I used this method when explaining operations as well."

"H-How! How is that possible? To create it in 3D and then rearrange it...!"

Ah. That's where Frondier's thoughts reached.

Because he created it completely differently from their 3D map, they were surprised by his actions.

"...I combine maps to create it."

"Combine?"

"Yes. It doesn't really matter how detailed I make it, and as you can see, I can't reproduce colors. What I'm focusing on are the coordinates."

Frondier gave a brief explanation.

He had put a considerable amount of maps into his workshop, and those maps were organized according to his thoughts.

Maps with similar scales, maps indicating the same area, and most maps with elevation markings were aligned. Even if the numbers differed from reality, the more maps there were, the more accurate they became.

...Of course, he couldn't explain all of this, so he only explained the concept of combining.

"This way, there's no need to go directly and measure or record numbers. The existing maps do that for me."

Paul wrote down Frondier's words as he spoke.

However, even as he explained, Frondier had a slightly complicated expression on his face.

‘...I said it like that, but is this method even possible with holograms?’

What Frondier was doing was simply overlapping coordinates. By integrating multiple maps, even if they weren't perfectly identical, a value close to it would emerge, and the Obsidian would display that value as it was.

This was possible because the Obsidian, as a medium, moved like Frondier's own limbs.

Wouldn't it be difficult with holograms?

"Hmm, I see!"

At that moment, Paul spoke energetically as if he had organized his thoughts.

"We need to scrap this project!"

His eyes, as he spoke, sparkled with hope, but the content was brutal.

"...Yes?"

"I think everyone must have felt it. That this research couldn't progress any further. But we had come too far, so no one could give up. But now that we know a new method, we will discard this and start over."

"...Is that okay?"

"Of course. It's research that won't become a product anyway."

Saying that, Paul extended his hand to Frondier once more.

"Thanks to you, Mr. Frondier. I sincerely thank you."

"...Ah, yes."

It was the first time he had been thanked for ruining a project, so Frondier awkwardly shook his hand again.

"As a token of our gratitude, we would like to introduce you to one of our company's products that suits you, Mr. Frondier. How about it?"

"...Sounds good. Can I choose?"

"Of course. Take a look and touch the products yourself and choose."

Frondier hid a wry smile inwardly.

This was just like when he went to the Imperial Palace armory.

It didn't matter what he chose.

He just needed to 'see' it.