Nastrond (5)
How had Fenrir’s thoughts changed?
Frondier couldn’t see Fenrir’s expression because he was looking back.
If Frondier could have seen Fenrir's face at that time, he would have surely guessed his change of heart.
But Fenrir was calm now. At least his face was.
Moreover, it was even more difficult to read his expression because he was a wolf, not a human.
‘But still.’
However, Frondier wasn't too concerned.
It didn't matter what Fenrir was really thinking. Frondier had decided long ago not to jump to conclusions based on someone's facial expressions.
Of course, this decision wasn't very advantageous to Fenrir. It just meant that Frondier would think whatever he wanted.
“Then the first thing I want to ask is, that thing you're tied to, is it Gleipnir?”
Frondier pointed to the black thread that was wrapped around Fenrir’s entire body.
Fenrir’s eyes widened.
[How do you know about Gleipnir?]
“I don't know the details.”
Gleipnir.
It was an object that people who studied mythology in this world would know.
Although it was less famous because it was far from a means of killing monsters, it was a clear artifact of the Divine that could never be untied once tied. At least no Constel student would be unaware of it.
However, there was generally little information about the Divine’s belongings. Naturally, it was because no one had seen them.
That was why the only Divine things people knew were weapons. Gods possessed them, how they were used was passed down, and those who received divine power witnessed it. Among them, there were objects like Mjölnir that had fallen to the human world and were enshrined in the Empire.
However, Gleipnir was not one of those. It was made solely to bind Fenrir, and it did not reappear in mythology while he was bound. Because Fenrir breaking free from Gleipnir was the beginning of Ragnarok.
‘…Right. Ragnarok.’
According to the information Frondier had so far, Ragnarok had already occurred once in the past.
That meant Fenrir would have already been released from Gleipnir at that time. If the mythology Frondier knew was correct.
Then why was he tied up again?
‘Perhaps.’
Frondier thought of something and asked Fenrir.
“By any chance, that thing you're tied to.”
The thread that Fenrir couldn’t untie. It was only Gleipnir.
If that was true.
“…Is this a replica of Gleipnir?”
[Replica?]
However, Fenrir tilted his head as if he didn’t understand.
Instead, Belphegor’s eyes widened.
“…A replica?”
“Yes. It looks similar to the Obsidian no matter how I look at it.”
“Obsidian… You mean the demonic energy of Helheim.”
Frondier nodded at Belphegor’s words. As he held out his hand, black waves flowed out from his necklace.
“Compare it yourself.”
Frondier manipulated the Obsidian to make it look like a thin thread. It definitely looked similar to the thread that was binding Fenrir.
“But even though my Obsidian is quite strong, it’s impossible to tie Fenrir with it. It would break in less than 10 seconds.”
[5 seconds is enough for that kind of thing.]
Fenrir said, growling in a low voice. Frondier smiled vaguely.
“Right, 5 seconds. Anyway, I can't tie it up with just Obsidian. I think it's a characteristic of Gleipnir.”
Frondier got a little closer to Fenrir.
In fact, at this moment, Frondier was already within Fenrir’s attack range, the position where he could be bitten and swallowed by his teeth.
The only one who realized this, except for Frondier, was Selena.
That’s right. Surprisingly, even Fenrir didn’t realize it.
‘…Dangerous, but.’
Selena was trying her best not to reveal her nervousness.
If she reacted in any way now, Fenrir might suddenly attack.
‘Frondier-nim, you approached so naturally as if you always met Fenrir.’
This was closer to being shameless than acting.
The probability of Fenrir attacking Frondier was infinitesimal. There was no basis for certainty, no matter how she thought about it.
However, as if Frondier was certain that Fenrir wouldn’t bare his teeth, he lightly took a step forward.
“Can I touch it?”
[…]
“Maybe I can untie it for you.”
Frondier said, looking at Fenrir. He approached, but didn’t reach out recklessly.
Jet-black eyes, a peaceful face.
Frondier spoke to everyone with the same face.
Without affection or disgust.
Without joy or sorrow.
With eyes that held no prejudice against the other person.
[…]
Fenrir lowered his head without a word. It looked like he was nodding, or maybe he was just lowering his head, but…
Frondier acted as he pleased.
Swoosh.
He lightly held out his hand, his fingertips touching Gleipnir.
‘…This.’
Frondier felt it the moment he touched it.
This wasn’t Obsidian. Even though it was jet-black, it was fundamentally different.
But there was something in common.
‘It’s not Obsidian, but it’s Mana.’
Just as Obsidian was Helheim’s Mana, this was also a kind of Mana.
However, it was qualitatively different from what Frondier had possessed so far.
‘…It’s incredibly dense Mana. If I put all the Helheim Mana I had in a pot and boiled it until only a handful was left, would it be like this?’
The Mana of other worlds was not something that humans could handle in the first place. Among them, Helheim was even more dangerous.
But this Mana was even more so. It was as concentrated as jam. Frondier’s thought of boiling it in a pot was a pretty apt analogy.
‘Right. Weaving wasn’t originally related to Obsidian. It’s just a coincidence that I use Obsidian as a medium for Weaving.’
Weaving was originally a skill used to store records. Unless there was Menosorpo.
It had to have Menosorpo to be used in combat. Even Joan of Arc thought so.
In other words, the combination of Obsidian and Weaving was Frondier’s original.
‘This Mana is not Obsidian, and it cannot have been made with Weaving.’
In other words, Frondier’s guess was wrong.
It wasn’t Obsidian, nor was it a replica.
Then why did it feel so similar to Obsidian?
If this black thread wasn’t Weaving but the original Gleipnir, did that mean it wasn’t broken during Ragnarok?
“…Huh?”
Then Frondier realized something and let out a sound.
“What’s wrong, Frondier-nim?”
When Selena asked, Frondier put his hand to his mouth.
“…It’s not there.”
“Yes?”
“Gleipnir isn’t registered in my Workshop.”
Frondier could register everything he saw in the Workshop. Registration itself didn’t discriminate based on rank.
He had saved and used Gram, Excalibur, Mjölnir, and so on, which he had seen once.
But this black thread in front of his eyes right now…
Gleipnir wouldn’t register.
“Then there’s a way.”
Frondier’s eyes sparkled.
He activated the ‘Analysis’ skill.
However.
“…This isn’t working either.”
Read ahead by supporting me on Ko-fi. Tiers starting at 10$ per month and you can access upto 40 advance chapters! Choose your tier by clicking the 'Support me' button! Join our discord server for latest release updates and novel discussions. Rate and review this novel on NU to help people find this novel. Bonus chapters on reaching milestones. Happy reading!