After some time had passed since Ethan had left me tied up in the dormitory, I finally took a deep breath and accepted the situation.
"..."
“...Damn it.”
As soon as I confirmed that the "Chain of Obedience" connecting the table to my neck was firmly locked, I couldn’t help but sigh.
Being bound by this artifact meant that, just as Ethan had said, I couldn’t take it off by myself before he returned.
‘I never imagined I’d end up tied up by Ethan in this world...’
For the record, the Chain of Obedience was an item that appeared in the original story as well. Ironically, it was Ethan who had used it back then too, and it had been placed on Lillith, just like now. The similarities between the two situations were uncanny.
The chain itself wasn’t particularly durable—just like any normal iron chain—but the real issue was the special enchantment placed on it.
Chain of Obedience: A special equipment that can only be worn when both the user and wearer agree. The wearer cannot remove the equipment without the user's permission and cannot cause harm or damage to it.
This restriction meant that I couldn't break the chain on my own. The enchantment prevented the use of any skills, magic, or abilities to damage the chain.
Of course, you might wonder how such a powerful item was allowed to exist. Well, the conditions for wearing it were strict. Both the user and wearer had to agree to it, and no sane person would willingly put such a thing around their neck.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freёwebnovel.com.
In the original story, Lillith had only worn the chain after relentless torture at the hands of an antagonist. It wasn’t something one would wear without serious resistance.
‘Wait, so why did I end up so easily chained by Ethan just now?’
Surely, it couldn’t be because I subconsciously wanted him to put this collar on me.
‘No way, that’s ridiculous.’
I must have been mentally off-guard and let my defenses down. There was no other explanation. Even though I had a good relationship with Ethan, I hadn’t willingly allowed this kind of thing.
‘Ugh, now’s not the time to think about this.’
Though distracted by the return of this familiar item, the priority right now was figuring out how to get out of this chain and get back outside.
There was still a strong possibility that the vampires involved in Princess Mezzlen’s kidnapping were lurking within the academy. If they were planning to make their move, it would likely happen tonight.
In the original story, even missing out on just one vampire like Portz had led to an annoying second round. If I let the remaining three slip away, I had no idea how I’d deal with them later.
"Ow!"
The problem was that every time I tried to tamper with the chain, I’d get zapped like this.
As I pondered how to escape, a thought flashed through my mind—another method I hadn’t yet considered.
‘Sally, Say!’
‘Yeah, why did you call us?’
‘...Ugh.’
As soon as I called, the two spirits I hadn’t summoned in a while appeared.
The Chain of Obedience’s enchantment prevented me from harming it, but spirits were a different matter. The bond between me, Sally, and Say was based on a contract, so their actions wouldn’t count as mine.
If they could help, I’d be able to escape on my own.
‘You both saw what Ethan did to me just now, right?’
‘Uh-huh! He usually just follows you around, but I guess he knows how to take charge when it counts.’
‘...I was worried.’
‘Good, then you understand the situation. You know I can’t stay tied up here. I need to stop the people who kidnapped Princess Mezzlen and secure the fake princess with Seraphine.’
‘Hmm, I heard what you said earlier, but... does it really have to be you?’
‘Huh?’
‘It looks pretty dangerous. Maybe it’s better to stay put like Ethan said.’
What was this reaction? Normally, Sally would enthusiastically agree and unleash fire magic whenever I asked for help. But now, she seemed reluctant, lounging around as if disinterested. Even Say, floating beside her, was just staring at me without any intention of helping.
‘No, I can’t just sit here. There’s no one else who can handle this right now.’
‘Well, if you say so...’
‘Alright, then just melt one of the links with some high heat—no, wait. Say, you do it. Use a wind blade to cut one link of the chain.’
I planned to weld the chain back together later using Sally’s heat magic, so it wouldn’t look suspicious.
However, as I handed the chain to Say, she quietly shook her head and flatly refused.
‘No.’
‘...What?’
‘Lillith, you always do dangerous things. I don’t want to help. Just stay put.’
‘What are you talking about?’
‘I don’t want you to get hurt. I don’t like it when you’re in /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ danger. You’re safe here.’
"......"
I was stunned by Say’s unexpected refusal.
Thinking it was just some childish defiance, I turned to Sally, who was still floating beside her.
‘Sally, just melt one of the links with your heat magic.’
‘Hmm, I actually think it’s better for you to stay here, too.’
‘But I told you, I have to do this.’
‘Well... okay, since it’s you, Lillith. Just wait a bit, I’ll take care of it.’
Finally, some progress. Sally was more reasonable than Say. Relieved, I waited for her to break the chain, but sadly, my hope was short-lived.
‘...Are you going to do it?’
‘...Huh?’
‘Are you going to break the chain?’
‘Since it’s your request...’
‘If you do it, I’ll never talk to you again, Sally.’
‘Uh...’
...What?
‘Wait a second, Say. Don’t interfere. I really need to—’
‘Ahh! Suddenly I don’t feel like using magic today! Sorry, Lillith, I guess it’s just not going to work!’
‘Don’t lie! You looked fine just a moment ago!’
‘Ahh, I don’t know! Sometimes I feel like using magic, sometimes I don’t! Don’t ask me again, okay?’
‘Hey, Sally! Hey!’
‘.......’
‘...Say, could you—just this once—help me...’
"Damn it..."
What on earth was going on?
Was this some kind of joke? Spirits ignoring the commands of their contracted summoner? Even if it was just a temporary contract, this was ridiculous.
And Say wasn’t even under a temporary contract. She was fully bound to me, yet she blatantly refused my request. This had never happened before.
‘I should’ve just called Sally alone...’
Now I was left alone again, as both spirits vanished after walking out on me. The only way I had planned to escape was now completely blocked, and I was really starting to worry that I might be stuck here until the entire incident was over.
‘What do I do now...?’
The festival was ending today, so at least the kidnapping incident should wrap up by tomorrow. I’d be able to attend regular classes by next week. But the thought that something could still go wrong, or that Mezzlen or someone else might be in danger while I was stuck here, gnawed at me.
‘Why did Ethan tie this chain so tightly...?’
We had been sitting across the table from each other, talking, so how had he managed to bind the chain to the table legs so thoroughly without me noticing?
If he had only wrapped it around one pillar, I could have at least tried twisting it loose. But the chain was tightly tangled around all five legs of the table, making any attempts to untangle it futile.
‘Looks like I’ll have to use my skill points after all...’
Unlock Skill: Precision Dagger
Lillith’s secondary dagger skill, Precision Dagger, allowed for precise manipulation of the blade to harvest materials from monsters or disarm traps.
After unlocking the skill with the points I had been saving, I slipped the thin blade of my silver dagger into the screws holding the table together.
‘Alright, if I can just keep loosening it like this...’
With the metallic sound of screws turning, I slowly began disassembling the legs of the dormitory table.
...If I couldn’t cut the chain, I’d just have to dismantle the table instead.