episode_0452

Some time had passed since Ethan suddenly left me tied up in the dorm.

-Clang.

“… … .”

-Clang, clang.

“… Sigh, crazy.”

As soon as I confirmed that the ‘chain of obedience’ that stretched from the table to my neck was really tightly tied, a sigh escaped my mouth.

Being bound by this artifact meant that, as Ethan had said, he would not be able to free himself until he returned.

‘I never thought that in this world I would be tied to Ethan… .’

By the way, the Chain of Obedience was an item that appeared in the original work. Even then, the person who used it was Ethan and the person who wore it was Lilith, so it feels strangely similar to the current situation.

In fact, the durability itself was no different from that of a normal chain, but the problem was the special enchantment attached to this item.

『Chains of Obedience: A special equipment that can only be worn when the user and wearer agree to it. The wearer cannot remove the equipment without the user’s permission, and cannot harm or damage the item.』

A restriction that the wearer cannot remove the equipment without the user’s permission and cannot cause harm or damage to it.

It is precisely because of this limitation that it has become impossible for me to break the chain.

This ‘Chain of Obedience’ had a special enchantment that made it impossible to use swordsmanship, magic, or any other skills or abilities on the chain.

Of course, you may wonder if it makes sense to make and sell such a fraudulent item, but the conditions for wearing it were not easy in the first place. Since it can only be worn when the user and the wearer agree, there are few people who would sincerely want to wear something like this around their neck.

Even in the original, it was an item that was so resistant to being worn obediently that it could only be worn after the cult had tortured Lilith to the point of destroying her mind.

‘Wait a minute, come to think of it, why am I so easily swayed by Ethan right now?’

… just in case, I had been secretly hoping that Ethan would be leashed like this.

‘No way, that can’t be true.’

It must have been filled because I was just mentally exhausted and let my guard down.

Otherwise, it would be a nonsensical story. Even though I am on good terms with Ethan now, I wouldn’t allow him to fill in something like this.

‘No, now is not the time to worry about that kind of thing.’

Although I was a little nervous about the item appearing after a long time, the important thing right now was to break free of the chain and get out.

There was a high possibility that the vampires involved in kidnapping Princess Mezlen were still inside the Academy, and if they were to make any real moves, it would most likely be tonight.

In the original, if you missed just one potts, you’d have to go through the annoying second round later, but if you missed the other three, you’d have no idea how to deal with them later.

-Phajijik!

“Ah, ouch… .”

The problem is that if I try to harm the chain even a little bit, it gets blocked with this electrical reaction.

As I quietly pondered how I could possibly escape this situation, another method that I could use flashed into my mind.

‘Sally, say.’

-Whoooosh!

‘Yeah, why did you call?’

-Shhh… .

‘… Ugh.’

As soon as I called, two spirits appeared in the air for the first time in a long while and revealed themselves.

Although any act that would harm the chain of obedience was forbidden, it was a different story for spirits.

Because Sally, Say, and I were only in a relationship based on a spirit contract.

The actions of the spirits were treated differently from those of the caster, so with their help, I could have easily escaped on my own.

‘You both saw what Master Ethan did to me earlier, right?’

‘Oh, yeah! It seemed like he was always being dragged around by Lilith, but he really knows how to do it when he does it.’

‘…I was worried.’

‘I’m glad you both were watching. As you can probably tell from hearing the story, right now is not the time for me to be tied up here. I need to find and punish those who kidnapped Princess Mezlen right away, and I also need to secure the fake princess on Princess Seraphine’s side.’

‘Hmm… I heard the story a little while ago, so I know what you mean, but does it have to be released?’

‘huh?’

‘It looks a bit dangerous. Like he said earlier, it seems better to be quiet today.’

…What is this reaction?

Sally, who would normally say, “Just leave it to me!” and use her fire magic whenever I asked her to do something, was just loitering around with a look of disinterest on her face.

Seido, who was floating next to me, just stared at me silently, not really liking me.

‘… No, you can’t. If it’s not me now, then no one else can respond.’

‘Well, if Lilith says so, then there’s nothing I can do~.’

‘If you understand, just melt one link of this chain with high heat… Oh, no. This time, I’ll ask Sei. Use the wind blade to gently cut just one link of the chain.’

Later, Tae can reattach the chain by melting it slightly with Sally’s high-heat magic and soldering it.

With that thought in mind, I pushed the chain around my neck towards Sei, but she quietly shook her head and refused with a short word.

‘no.’

‘……huh?’

‘Release, you always do dangerous things. I don’t want to help you. Just stay quiet.’

‘No, what is that…?’

‘Release, I don’t want to get hurt. I don’t want to be in danger. I’m safe here.’

“… … .”

For a moment, I was bewildered by Sei, who I had assumed would naturally help me.

Thinking it was just the whim of a reckless mid-level spirit, he turned his head towards Sally this time.

‘…Sally, use your heat magic to slightly melt this one chain and break it.’

‘Hmm, I think it’s better to just stay quiet like Sei said~.’

‘I told you it was something I had to do.’

‘… Okay, I understand! Please release me~. Then just wait quietly for a moment.’

… Still, it’s fortunate that Sally, unlike Sayang, listens well.

I waited with relief in my heart for her to magically break the chains of submission, but unfortunately my wish was not granted.

‘… Will you do it?’

‘……huh?’

‘Will you do that?’

‘Please release me… .’

‘If you do that, I’ll never speak to Sally again.’

‘uh…….’

… … Huh?

‘Wait a minute, Sei. Don’t interrupt. I really have to go out now…’

‘Ah, ah! My magic isn’t working very well today~! Sorry, I don’t think it’ll be easy today, Lilith!’

‘Don’t lie! You looked like you could use it just a moment ago!’

‘Ah, I don’t know! I have days when I want to use magic and days when I don’t?! I, I’m going to rest anyway, so don’t ask me again!’

‘Hey, Sally! Hey Inma!’

-Pass!

‘… … .’

‘… Sei, I’ll ask you this, so if you do it just this once… .’

-Whew… .

“Oh, shit… .”

No, what the heck? What kind of case is this?

Does it make sense for a spirit to disobey the contract holder and prioritize other spirits’ requests? Even though it’s a temporary contract and the restrictions are loose…

Even though it was a formal contract and not a temporary one, Sayi blatantly ignored my request. This has never happened before.

‘If I had known this would happen, I should have just called Sally… .’

The two spirits held hands and left amicably, so I was left alone in the dormitory again.

The only escape route, using the spirits, was somehow blocked, and if things continued like this, I might really be locked in the dormitory and tied up until the end of this incident.

‘Now, what do I do…?’

Fortunately, the festival ends today, so the kidnapping of Princess Mezlen will probably be over by tomorrow at the latest, and I will be able to attend regular classes starting next week when formal classes begin.

I couldn’t stand the feeling of unease, thinking that danger might again reach Mezlen from somewhere I couldn’t see, or that a crisis might strike another person.

‘Ethan, what kind of chains are wrapped around you like that…?’

It was clear that we were talking while facing each other at the table, but I wonder when he quickly tied the chain handle to the table.

If it had been tied to just one pillar, I could have slowly turned around and tried to untie it, but it was impossible to untie it that way because it was twisted around and made a mess of things on five legs.

‘… I tried to save skill points if possible, but I guess there’s no way around it.’

『Unlocking Technology: Precision Dagger』

Release’s dagger’s second skill, Precision Dagger. A skill that allows for precise manipulation of the dagger when collecting monster materials or dismantling traps, etc.

After unlocking a skill with the skill points I had steadily accumulated every time I leveled up, I thrust the thin blade of my silver sword into the screw embedded in the table leg.

-Kkirik, kirik.

‘Okay, if I just unravel it slowly like this…’

The legs of the dormitory table slowly come loose, with a metallic friction sound.

…if you can’t cut the chains that bind the table, you’ll just have to take the table apart.