60 Home Sweet Home

"Are we there yet?"

[No.]

"Are we there yet?"

[No!]

"Are we there ye…"

[I'm gonna throw you in a lake if you keep going.]

"I'm just messing around. But seriously you really don't have any idea where your own house is?"

[It was some random plot of land I was assigned. Most of the time I have guides showing me the way.]

"Wow, I didn't realize my partner was some big shot here. You even have servants."

[I mean they call themselves my disciples.]

"Wow, what are you teaching them?"

[Well that's the weird part. Nothing really.]

"You teach them nothing and they still are your …what?!"

[If anything one I teach common sense. The other I'm not too sure. If anything he might even just be having fun.]

"Oh? So you guys are just playing around. No ceremony of apprenticeship or anything?"

[Exactly how do you even know all that?]

"You are the one that created me must I remind you!"

[Right.]

"I get the feeling I received some memories from you that were necessary to my task of forging. Still, it is all very vague."

[How is disciple apprenticeship tea ceremony related to forging?!]

"I don't know! You tell me!"

[Right.]

Let's just skip this detail.

[Should I call them over?]

"For sure."

[Alright, let's go back near Yggdrasil just in case.]

"Why?"

[Oh, he'll protect me if there is any danger.]

"That's very cool. Wait how is a tree going to help"

[Spikes! Impaling the enemy!]

"Scaaaary!"

[Indeed.]

Alright, let's do this the only way I know how.

[YOU GUYS I'M BACK! ARE YOU THERE?!]

"That's how you call them over?! Don't you have a subtler way?!"

I look at him proudly.

[Nope.]

"What sin did I commit in a previous life to …"

[I don't know but I'm sure you were a manly man or something.]

"Why?"

[Otherwise, why would you be so proud about how angular you are? You probably had bulky muscles or something.]

"I mean isn't that just because I'm a hammer?"

[I don't know is it? Don't you remember anything at all?]

"For all we know, you are insane and talking to a hammer. But no, I do not remember anything. I just poofed into existence when you needed me."

[Yep that's neat.]

"Teacher! This bear is here to welcome you back!"

I can hear ….I was going to say heavy footsteps, but no. Surprisingly, he is running without a sound. Well, that tells me what he has been up to these days, diligently training unsurprisingly.

[Hey bear, how has it been?]

"*Sobbing*Teacher! I'm so glad you are finally back! I was worried sick!"

[What happened?!]

"You were taken by the old ghost no? He can be really mean at times!"

Mean is an understatement. Physical and mental torture I would call it. Right, I still gotta find a way to screw him over for that.

[I'm fine. I'm definitely not going there anymore!]

"I agree! Plus we couldn't even visit! Even though we are your students!"

*pat pat* There, there.

"*whispering* Hey partner, why do I feel like this bear is some prehistoric ancient giant creature? Is that really a bear? Also is it safe to pet it?"

"Who's there?! Show yourself?! This bear has heard you! There is no use hiding!"

Of course, he heard that.

[Don't worry about it, just the hammer.]

"H-hammer?"

[C'mon introduce yourself.]

"*Sigh* Fine! This one is Sir Hammer the Ang….*

[Short version! Short version!]

"That…I am your teacher's partner. One day I will become the most renowned blacksmith in this world!"

Somehow, I can feel a guts pose in his energy.

"Wow! That's amazing!"

The bear strikes a pose.

"This bear is the first disciple of teacher! One day I will be so good at hiding that no one in this world will be able to find me beside teacher himself!"

"Of course!"

They seem to be sharing a moment, a fleeting instant where their hearts are filled with boundless admiration toward each other's conviction. Well, the expression. If your hammer has a heart you are either trying to tenderize some meat or in a horror movie.

[Have you been doing anything else?]

"I and the tiger have been building a base. It is awesome!"

Fucking called it.

[Right, should we head to my house first to make sure everything is in order?]

"Yes, teacher!"

I and the hammer share a look. That somehow happens even with him not having eyes. Let's not tell him that we were lost haha. It would almost be embarrassing, the part about my shortcomings, the part where the bear somehow misunderstands it all again. Soon we reach my place.

"That's your house?"

[Yep.]

"It looks pretty normal, it's not big. So much for a guy that has disciples. Wait, Are you accepting disciples because you can't afford a maid?!"

[Shut up! One day I'll have a maid too! I mean, it's unrelated!]

"*Scoff* Of course it is."

[Should I just drop you inside and be on my way? I could totally do that!]

"Actually show me the interior too."

[Curious aren't you?]

"Nope, I just want to mock you better!"

"Teacher is awesome! I wish that one day I'll…"

[Wanna come too?]

The hardest part would be for him to fit. You know in the actual entrance. Still, I have a trick up my sleeve! Nature magic activate! *Woosh* The walls themselves retract following my command.

"Wow!"

"As expected of teacher!"

Thus we enter. There is no sign of the AI. In a corner lies the Bean locket, a bit of furniture made with magic, and what remains in the middle.

"You have a throne? Why?! This is wild!"

"Wow! As expected of teacher! What do you know?! He probably used to be a king. It's a nice touch! This bear approves!"

Once again, he is way too easy to trick. More like I'm not even trying. This bear would be the dream target of a scammer for sure haha. I am happily doing playing the tour guide. Yes even if there isn't much to show actually.

That's when it happens.

*POWERFUL ROAR*

What the hell is that?!