No matter how much I rack my brain, I can't figure out why my summoned weapon is chains.
Chains are tools meant for restraining and binding, right? I understand chains can be deadly when swung at someone, but would anyone use them as their primary weapon on a battlefield?
Please, give me a different weapon—with the medieval setting, I'm not expecting hot weapons like the Italian cannon. Still, a sword, bow, axe, or even a physics-based holy sword would do. I'd even accept being a Lancer with E-rank luck. (TN: Fate Series reference. Thank Daijena in the comments for the help.)
But no matter how many times I repeat the previous steps, the chains don't change. Looks like the form is fixed... Well, expecting it to change shape was just my unrealistic fantasy.
"How do you even use chains...?"
After calming down, I carefully considered that this is ultimately a virtual MMO world.
Some fantasy-style weapons are normal too—there's no such thing as a magic staff in reality, right?
I approached the deer herd using my stealth skill. Without a master, my stealth skill [Silent Steps] level has decreased—at max level, you can move without making noise even in full armor.
Should chains count as melee or ranged? I couldn't decide for a moment. Throwing chains is possible, but I'm not sure how much damage that would do.
Ranged attacks in The Eternal Pacificus aren't easy. Being a full-dive VR game means there's no crosshair, and archers often suffer in the early stages without skill assistance. There's even a possibility of getting injured by your own bowstring early on, which players complained was too realistic.
Archery... [Aim]... Magic... [Magic Enhancement]...
[Aim] is a derivative archery skill used for target locking, and is especially useful for precise strikes in crowds. As for [Magic Enhancement], it's just magic I'm adding for extra damage in case the base damage isn't enough.
I used the [Aim] skill to lock onto the largest deer. This is my first time—just not getting the chains tangled around myself would count as passing.
Thinking of this, I couldn't help but involuntarily imagine chains tightly binding a voluptuous body...
Begone, evil thoughts!
I shook my head vigorously to drive out the inappropriate thoughts that had crept into my mind.
B-but! It's just a natural association to think of restraint when it comes to chains. I absolutely don't have that kind of lewd interest.
"Hya—"
I threw the chains toward the deer. The moment they left my hand, my heart skipped a beat. This isn't throwing a discus or javelin—forget whether the damage is enough; even hitting the target is questionable.
However, how should I put this... I seem to have underestimated myself.
I did indeed throw the chains in a way that shouldn't possibly go far, but the moment they left my hand, they didn't drop as I expected. The chains flew straight like a bullet with enough force to break Newton's laws. I had been worried whether the damage would be enough for a fatal blow, but unexpectedly the chains directly pierced the deer's throat, and even pulling the deer's mighty body had no effect whatsoever—they only stopped after firmly embedding into an old locust tree trunk several meters away.
The speed was so fast that even the deer herd, with their startled-bird-like keen nerves, hadn't reacted at all. By the time they finally sensed the danger and began scattering in all directions, my chains had already pierced that deer's throat.
What do you know, my aim is pretty good...
I stared blankly at the deer's corpse hanging from the chains. Pulling back the chains, they returned to my side very obediently, as if they were a part of my body, completely under my control.
Having found some feel for it, I threw the chains again, this time aiming for the leg of the deer corpse I hadn't dragged back yet.
The chains successfully wrapped around the deer's leg, and I pulled the hunted prey to my side without using much strength.
Eh...
This is pretty useful...
No! I'm a maid of iron will—how can I abandon my principles just minutes after complaining?
...I wanted to admonish myself like this, but it really is too useful.
I had to readjust my mindset and properly examine my weapon.
Chains are usually made of iron, but the material of my summoned chains resembles obsidian. I can't even tell exactly what they're made of. The chains extend from my maid uniform's sleeves, making it look like there are many chains hidden under my uniform, but actually, it's because the chains have considerable length—I haven't reached their maximum length limit in use, which is why they appear partially hidden.
The actual combat just now proved how complex the chains are. I probably couldn't break free if I were bound by them myself.
Wait—why am I using myself as a test subject?
Retrieval is also very convenient, so now I finally don't have to worry about fumbling around in unexpected situations.
I used hunting skills to collect as much meat as possible from the deer corpse. By the way, not having to get blood on your hands and using the [Prey Dissection] skill to directly cut meat into neat pieces is totally high-tech.
The hunt is complete. I made a mark in the forest. When I return, I can hunt another deer for dinner.
After storing the venison in my storage space, I left the forest. Today's plan wasn't to come appreciate the scenery.
Thanks to Anna's Support Group's reputation, there wasn't even a single player around the camp, which meant I didn't need to use stealth skills to hide my movements.
The camp looks similar to a military camp. I arrived at the main gate where a guard player was dozing off, leaning against the doorpost. Interestingly, he happened to be the player who kept patting my head yesterday.
"Excuse me. May I..."
"Oh? Do you have a commission for us An-an-an-an-an—?!"
He rubbed his sleepy eyes awake, and upon discovering it was me, his reaction was so intense I worried he might have bitten his tongue.
"Anastasia. If you would allow me to know your name, I would be pleased."
"I'm Tokisaki Kurumi's husband..." (TN: Date A Live reference.)
Tokisaki Kurumi?
"...A woman's name?"
"N-no! Anna-chan, let me explain, it's not what you think!"