Chapter 219
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 219
Chapter Title: Gleipnir -2-
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"…Hiiih."
"Huh?"
The moment I laid eyes on the hesitant figure peeking out from behind the pillar of chains.
It was so far from what I'd imagined that I was utterly flustered.
Not some quadrupedal beast or some floating thing drifting in the air.
My senses clearly told me that this girl was the master of the mental image—Gleipnir. It was an undeniable fact.
It was strange.
Too immature to call mature, yet too subtly ripened to call naive.
She felt like she was in that awkward phase of rapid growth.
But time marched on without pause, promising that her growth would be breathtakingly beautiful.
'Ah!'
This wasn't the time to leisurely admire her.
As she emerged, standing there trembling without taking any stance, I snapped to my senses and lifted the corner of my mouth.
"Hello?"
"…"
She flinched at my voice, hurriedly bowing her head before looking up again.
It was awkward for her to move much while crouched down like that.
'If she stands or I approach, she'll bolt…'
I had to be careful from here on out. I felt it strongly.
That timid demeanor screamed "strong opponent—approach with extreme caution," even more than with Chloe.
"Want to sit in front of me?"
"Eek…"
She rolled her single visible red eye around, pondering and hesitating.
She clearly understood my words but wouldn't speak, sparking all sorts of theories in my head.
'Can she not talk and only make sounds? Or maybe she communicates telepathically like the Martial God…'
It could be that. Or not. What did it matter?
Nothing about her appearance was ordinary, so I couldn't jump to easy conclusions.
Not the thick chains draping over one eye, whose purpose I couldn't guess.
Not the tattoo-like patterns etched into her skin, or the modern clothes that evoked memories of my past life.
"If it's uncomfortable, should I leave the center?"
"…!"
Maybe the issue was this space, where the core pulsed so vividly.
I asked if stepping out—where I hadn't felt that prickling sensation—might ease her, but she shook her head vigorously, as if that wasn't it.
'This really won't be easy!'
But I had no intention of sighing in her face or showing frustration.
Situations like this were fun precisely because overcoming them sparked anticipation for what came next.
-Time to unleash that playboy charm of yours.
The Martial God, who left those words, probably knew what Gleipnir's mental image was like.
'He could've just told me everything upfront instead of being so stingy to the end.'
For now, I reached into my inventory and pulled out something promising.
Candy that tasted like fruit.
There was dark chocolate too, but I figured this might have higher appeal.
It was one of the things I kept stocked in my inventory for the three back at the mansion—not for myself.
"Like sweet things? Want some?"
I had no idea if Gleipnir even ate food or needed nutrients.
She kept darting her gaze between the candy on my palm and my eyes, avoiding both.
'Not this, then.'
Her disinterested reaction meant I needed to try something else.
"How about this?"
I wondered if there was anything that might catch her interest, so I pulled out and put away a ridiculous assortment of items.
Potions, weapons, spare shoes and clothes. Bug spray, you name it—everything paraded before Gleipnir in hopes of sparking her curiosity.
I didn't even know I had this in my inventory!
That's where it was all along. Memories were forcibly resurfacing.
"…!"
At some point, Gleipnir, who had been watching me pull things out, flinched with a reaction.
I had no clue why this of all things caught her eye… but a reaction was a reaction. Reasons could come later.
'This is it!'
A shabby book I'd bought in my early adventuring days.
It was packed more with crude illustrations than text, but a must-read for newbie adventurers.
With so many illiterate adventurers around, dangerous plants you shouldn't touch or eat were marked with skulls.
Edible or valuable ones got special markers.
Even forest animals and low-level monsters were drawn in cute, simplified styles highlighting their features.
The text assumed no real reading skills—just short one- or two-liners.
"Wanna look together? I'll read it to you."
"…"
There were no words or lively gestures from her.
But watching her totter forward step by agonizingly slow step was nerve-wracking yet satisfying.
The distance between us shrank even without me moving—progress indeed.
I turned the book toward her as she plopped down opposite me, hugging her knees.
"Where to start… Animals seem best."
From now on, I'd be putting on an unplanned talk show, mumbling to myself.
I had to captivate a being whose mindset might not even match a normal person's.
Cute stuff before plants.
These drawings, crudely done with what looked like colored pencils, suited my tastes better than realism anyway. Hopefully hers too.
Flip, flip—
I turned the pages and paused.
"Know what this creature is?"
Gleipnir stared intently at the picture, then glanced up at me and shook her head slightly.
"This is a flower-antlered deer. Instead of horns, flowers grow on its head, and they're used as alchemy ingredients—"
…
…
Even with a face, her reactions were so blank that it was harder to read her mood than when she was all chains.
No clue if she was amused or bored.
I kept explaining, flipping pages, even sipping water when my throat dried—until few pages remained.
The rest was the plant section.
Vital for survival quests, sure, but least exciting by far.
'This part'll bore her…'
The animals and monsters I'd banked on for interest had gotten zero response.
"Hmm… Think we'll stop here? The back's just full of weeds—no fun."
As I pondered what to try next and moved to close the book.
Gleipnir lightly pressed down on the edge.
"More… please read more…"
A dainty voice like a small forest animal you'd encounter.
A thrill shot through me at her lips parting—like they'd been glued shut until now.
And the most shocking part?
'She can talk?!'
Her responses weren't just external; they were audible enough to keep things lively.
I took a sip of water, smiled warmly, and reopened the book.
"Alright, let's go slow through the rest."
Flip—
Turning to the plants, each marked with skull or coin icons.
I kept talking, assuming reactions were there even if invisible.
Sprinkling in tales from my early adventuring days like seasoning, I rambled on for a while.
The final page turned.
"Ah…!"
Gleipnir, who had maintained a blank expression without a peep, let out a voice tinged with regret.
Then, startled—perhaps unconsciously—she buried her face between her knees.
'It worked. No idea what hooked her, but…'
Pointing out her face-hiding would be disastrous.
I smoothly stowed the book and cleared my throat.
Tone a notch higher, voice slow and relaxed.
"No more fun books with just text left… If I can come back, I'll bring a ton next time."
"…Okay."
Her voice was so soft you'd miss it without focus.
Still, compared to right when we met…
'Huge progress.'
As I pondered the next topic, my gaze drifted behind her.
To the chains lying broken on the floor at the seam.
She noticed too, lifting her head slightly to look at me.
"Sorry. I'm still clumsy with weapons… Did it hurt? Does it still?"
"It… didn't hurt that much…"
Not that much implied some pain.
Her words made me rub my dry face, steeling my resolve.
No more detours. Time to tackle the main issue head-on.
"How do we fix the wound? If there's anything I can do, will you tell me?"
Gleipnir hesitated, her eye-chain rattling as she pondered.
Then she dropped her gaze to the dark floor and spoke.
"J-just leave it… It'll heal soon…"
Relief washed over me.
Back to normal with just time—no conditions. Divine weapons were on another level.
"Phew! What a relief. How soon is 'soon'…?"
"Probably… about five years…"
"Five years…? Five years?!"
Five years after "soon"? I thought my ears had failed.
'That's not soon; that's forever.'
Her sense of time was completely off from mine. Our perceptions didn't align at all.
"I can't just wait around vaguely for that long—I'm not alone anymore… Any other way?"
Alone, I might've backed off here.
But now, too many reasons kept me from retreating easily.
"Hnn…"
Watching her roll her eye in confusion, I voiced my inner thoughts.
"As a weapon user, this is irresponsible and sorry to say, but… my skills are middling, so I can't promise no more wounds…"
I could endure pain with resolve—not dying.
Even if it cost blood, mana, or flesh, I was prepared.
Dropping the smile, I met her eyes earnestly.
Gleipnir's face hardened with resolve as she crawled toward me like a cat.
"Then… just a little… really!"