Chapter 114
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Even Knowing It, the Heart Remains a Mystery
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Even seeing the carabiner spit out with a ptui and rolling across the floor didn't make me angry.
Instead, I judged it coolly and felt a spark of realization.
There was something I absolutely must never forget.
Rather than assuming Gleipnir had emotions and a personality, I had to always keep in mind that they existed.
If I thought of this chain as a body, forcing an unsightly accessory like a crude carabiner—focused solely on strength—onto it might feel just like that.
It was like teaching a wild deer human etiquette; getting mad over something like this would be ridiculous. That said, it was still bewildering and awkward...
I quickly brushed off the unnecessary emotions and gently admonished it in the softest tone possible.
"...You don't want to do this?"
Clink!
On its first day of continental life—or rather, life with its human master—the newborn chain wriggled slightly to show me its intent.
Seeing the chain ripple at the end, conveying a positive will... A mere human like me couldn't help but dry-wash my face repeatedly.
I kneaded my face with one hand and let out an uncontrollable groan.
"Hmmm~ Uuuum-!"
Where did I even start with this? Should I go to an orphanage or the Church for professional counseling or advice? Or maybe a blacksmith?
'...'
After much deliberation, I stored the rolling carabiner in my inventory and pulled out a dagger with a round hole in its handle, placing it on the floor.
I stroked Gleipnir as gently as possible and spoke in a soft, coaxing voice.
Like sitting a child down and teaching them how to use an object.
"Okay—see this round hole here? That metal lump I tried attaching earlier is called a 'carabiner.' It's for connecting things together."
As I explained while looking at Gleipnir—a powerful sage-time realization hit me for the first time in my life.
'Whoa, what the hell am I doing right now...?'
Even so, I didn't stop and kept rambling on. And it was worth it, as my mind grew hazy.
Gleipnir, resting in my hand, slid down toward the floor on its own.
Shhhrrrr—
After listening to the explanation, Gleipnir slithered across the floor like a snake and stopped under the dagger's handle, wriggling there.
"Oh...?"
If I thought of this chain as a child, education would start with waiting for voluntary movements and praising them upon success.
Probably! I had no experience raising kids, so I wasn't sure!
I watched quietly without interfering. It might just be my imagination, but I could feel Gleipnir hesitating.
'If it can shake off objects on its own like before, then from the moment communication speeds up, it could intentionally detach and throw them too, right?'
Once that became possible, maybe it could even pick up distant objects.
If the day came when I could control every part of Gleipnir with my hands, I might hardly use any other weapons.
In my personal view, using a chain as a weapon was the trickiest in terms of mastery and real combat.
Especially in dense forests, narrow alleys, stairs, or corridors, it demanded higher precision and focus. Against opponents who exploited gaps quickly, the disadvantages often outweighed the advantages.
However, since I'd vaguely planned a thug-like technique that used Gleipnir to cover all that and snag only the upsides, thinking of the future made this fidgety child seem all the more admirable and cute.
'Just a little more...!'
Even swinging the chain itself with my strength could smash mid-tier experts without issue, but attaching a weapon had several reasons.
Centering the weight at the end made centrifugal force easier to harness, and channeling aura through the tip became fluid, with various other perks.
If the weapon had special effects, I could trigger them on distant foes. It packed the punch of a heavy blunt weapon while piercing gaps to draw out enemy responses or skills.
'...You got this!'
Swish—
If it could drop or spit out objects like before, then surely it could hook itself into the hole without the carabiner.
Right now, in this moment.
Saying I wasn't excited for that scene would be a blatant lie.
Gulp.
The suffocating psychological standoff dragged on for quite a while... My throat bobbed as I swallowed dryly.
Gleipnir's timid movements, as if it might or might not do it.
—A shy, modest child indeed.
As its provider had said, that vibe was spot on. I could feel Gleipnir pondering and trying its best in its own way.
As long as it wasn't just teasing its master, that was fine.
In truth, Gleipnir and I had only met for about a day—a very short time. If it had emotions, expecting it to do everything I wanted right away would be greedy.
'Waiting is the answer here... Don't rush, be patient, and patient some more!'
I hadn't watched for long, but through yesterday's experiments with Rike, I'd reached my own conclusions about Gleipnir's image deep down.
Gleipnir enjoyed strokes and praise but, like an introverted child, sometimes halted without clear intent.
Rike, who helped with the experiments, said the same. So I decided to view this chain as a weapon, a child, and a pet—all three.
'Restraining Gleipnir doesn't perfectly fit any one, but its current image squeezes into all of them somehow.'
When its unpredictable actions stalled my thoughts like now.
Adjusting my stance and views on Gleipnir to favor self-justification was good for mental health.
It was a bit odd, but thinking of it as a pet made the wait less anxious and more comfortable.
'Shape-wise, it's like a snake... but its behavior is more cat or dog...'
I liked animals more than kids anyway, so applying affection there would help in praising and doting on Gleipnir.
I didn't hate reptiles like snakes or lizards—in fact, I liked them. In my past life, on off days when I was tired of games, I'd go to the aquarium and blankly watch fish swimming in packed tanks.
Not now, but back then, I'd pampered dogs and cats too, so I'd make full use of that experience.
Even better, Gleipnir excelled at understanding language compared to normal animals.
Not just simple commands like sit, stay, or down—but complex explanations and sentences.
With such infinite potential, building intimacy mattered more than immediate utility.
Forcing it now would be like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs!
"No rush—let's try again later. No need to hurry."
For now, the repaired Chains of Imemangnyang served as a substitute.
I smiled at Gleipnir, still hesitantly tinkling.
It hadn't been long since we met, but trying to respond like this was huge progress.
It might look simple to me, but attaching a weapon could be a real ordeal for Gleipnir.
Clink—shhh—
Like flickering embers, it wavered as if asking if it was really okay, joy flooding toward me. Its movements seemed bigger and livelier than yesterday—no illusion.
"That happy about it? If you can't equip a weapon, we've got this one, so no worries about time. Take it slow."
I meant to reassure Gleipnir by showing it this child that could handle tough tasks in its stead.
Pulling the [Chains of Imemangnyang] from my inventory for a quick peek, I felt Gleipnir stiffen with what seemed like panic and tension.
"...?"
Click!
In a flash faster than I'd ever seen, Gleipnir snatched the dagger, merging with its handle.
I gaped in disbelief, clenched my jaw to stop my stupidly open mouth, and picked up the combined Gleipnir-dagger.
'...Seriously, you never cease to amaze me.'
Jealousy toward other chains? Proving superiority? Fear of failing to show value to its master?
I couldn't pinpoint it, but what I needed to do now...
Was shower intense praise on Gleipnir, wriggling smugly as I shook the dagger.
"Yes! Good job! Wow! Perfect! Absolutely perfect!"
"Huuuuh..."
Today was definitely a day without the instructor's practical class.
But since I'd seen her come to the academy even on non-class days multiple times, Chloe didn't stay put in the empty lecture hall during free periods like usual. Instead, she wandered the grounds.
Her two companions were in different departments, so unless it was lunch or practical days, finding overlapping time was tough.
—Isn't that the first-year kid? The little sister one—
—Looks similar, but the vibe's totally different—
...
...
Feeling intense stares on her as she walked alone, she clasped her hands at her lower belly, gripped tight, and breathed steadily to calm herself.
Eyes down on the floor, she walked briskly, occasionally glancing up to check for instructors nearby.
'She didn't come today...?'
Chloe wanted to quickly recite the script memorized in her head, use it up, and wipe it blank. It was just a few lines, but repeating it whenever she had time to avoid forgetting built mental fatigue.
It felt like cramming vocab for a test—desperate to hold on until exam day. She yearned to use it and loosen her mind.
She also had to convey unexpected thanks for the cake and her sister's regards... Considering their status, it was a gravely important mission.
"Ah!"
Spotting a familiar back on a bench, her mouth opened automatically, voice spilling out.
Blushing furiously, Chloe covered her mouth and hurried to the mirror at the corridor's end to check her appearance.
'At the academy, address her as Instructor! No slip-ups... The gift Instructor gave last time...'
Repeating the final script inwardly, she slowly approached the bench.
Alone right now was the perfect chance.
As her sister said, with such keen senses, wandering nearby like last time would be deliberate nuisance now.
Rustle—
Stepping on grass, drawing nearer bit by bit.
Thanks to that secret dessert cafe rendezvous, closeness didn't worry or discomfort her.
The memo left with the cake revealed a side of the instructor unknown to other cadets.
'...!'
Still quite far, but whether coincidence or those senses at play, she saw the instructor looking her way, smiling, and giving a small wave.
With that, Chloe's heart fully eased, her sluggish steps quickening to normal speed.