The Legendary Programming Mage-Chapter 77: How Do You Even Name A Tech Bear? (2) [Rewritten]

Chapter 77: How Do You Even Name A Tech Bear? (2) [Rewritten]

[It feels like I already know what you will name him.]

"No, you don’t."

I cleared my throat, the sound echoing faintly in the dim chamber. The air was heavy here, thick with the scent of old stone and the metallic tang of residual mana.

First, omniscience: understand the magic you want to wield.

I wanted to name the bear, thereby forming a contract with him.

Second, omnipresence: understand and feel your surroundings.

For me, that wasn’t just the mana suspended in the air, but the underlying codes woven into each spell.

I had read every single spell for spirit arts, dissecting their codes until they were etched into my mind.

Last, omnipotence—this one was a sure thing for me.

I raised my hand. My mana unfurled like liquid light, forming runic codes that spun lazily in the air, then tightened into purposeful strands. The symbols shimmered, faintly crackling like fireflies charged with lightning.

I let it flow around the bear, the energy curling like silk ribbons as it shaped itself into a name.

The air vibrated slightly under the pressure of the forming power.

Normally, a spirit art user would have to forcibly use their mental energy to project the name onto the spirit.

However, that was exactly the problem. The mental strain and omnipotence required was staggering; most would collapse before completing it.

But I didn’t need to push. All I had to do was write it within the codes themselves.

"Your name is Allen Vanderbilt Junior, or Junior for short."

[I knew it!] Sylvia’s voice shrieked through the comms.

"What? There isn’t any name greater than mine."

She sighed dramatically while the bear blinked, the beast’s golden-brown eyes reflecting the glow of the runes like pools of molten amber.

[You are really going to give a bear your name?]

"Yes." I feigned offense. "What’s wrong with my name?"

[Nothing, just... I wasn’t expecting a stepchild so early.]

"What the hell are you saying?"

The bear, meanwhile, stared at me with wide, unblinking eyes, its massive paws curling slightly on the stone floor.

"What?"

He lingered for a moment, his expression unreadable, then spoke out with a low, bubbling growl that rose into words.

"So... I have a—name?"

The last step to form a contract? Simple: acceptance.

Spirits weren’t children to whom you gave names; they weren’t pets or toys. They decided for themselves, and they didn’t stay silent when they disagreed.

Ding!

『 Cyber Beast 101 has accepted your name 』

I grinned, my pulse quickening. "Now say your name."

It parted its trembling lips, voice rumbling like distant thunder. "Alwen Vanderbilta Perka Junior."

"Yes... wait, what?"

The bear blinked innocently. "Should I say it again?"

’Did I hear that wrong?’

However, the words I’d heard were confirmed by Sylvia’s gleeful voice.

[Pfft... Hahahaha... Alwen Vanderbilta Perka... Hahahahahaha.]

I covered my face in shame, the heat rising to my ears. "Please, one moment."

My name...

My name had been sullied!

"Uhm... Master."

I turned to the bear with burning indignation. "How dare you call my name like that?"

My name. My identity.

The coolest, coldest thing in my entire collection!

"Okay, let’s try this again, from the top."

I began breaking the name into smaller parts, slow and deliberate. "Say ’Al.’"

The bear repeated after me, a low echo of my syllable.

I continued. "Len."

This time, it copied me with a little more confidence.

I pointed to the air as if the next syllable might descend from the unseen ceiling. "Vand—"

"Vand?"

I nodded. "Now ’er.’"

It followed again, blinking as though tasting the word on its tongue.

"Now say ’bilt.’"

"Bilt."

"Finally, ’Park,’ like ’Parky Park.’"

The bear nodded as I stretched my hands open. "Easy, right?"

The beast watched me with puzzled solemnity, like a child seeing a nursery rhyme for the first time.

Finally, it opened its mouth. This time, the word came out like clumsy wooden blocks stacked by unsteady hands.

"Al—len—Vand—er—bilt—Pah—k."

The vowels were slightly off, the cadence uneven, but there it was—an attempt worthy of praise.

I couldn’t help but smile. "Nice job, kid."

Its eyes glowed faintly warmer, then dimmed to calm as it closed them. It inhaled deeply, exhaled, then tested the name again.

"Allen Vanderbilt Park Junior."

It said it.

Fully. Clearly.

A loud, satisfied laugh escaped my lips, ringing against the vault walls.

[Wow, it actually said it. I never knew you were good at taking care of children.]

Sylvia let out a dry laugh.

[Though it was your fault for giving it such a hard name to say.]

I scoffed, shaking my head. "You won’t understand, Sylvia. Perhaps if your name became as great as mine, you might."

[Like hell, those Isekai princesses have more complicated names.] 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"I wasn’t talking about—"

Boom!

The ground of the passage shuddered as the bear lowered its massive head, the chains binding it snapping and dissolving into red light like embers scattering in the wind.

It bowed—not forcefully, but with total submission.

"Now that I have a name, I won’t need to stay here any longer."

It raised its head with a warm smile, fangs glinting faintly. "I greet my new and only true master."

"Wait." I raised my hand, halting him. "Who said you are leaving here?"

Junior blinked. "As master’s servant, I should—"

I cut him off. "And how do you expect me to carry you around?"

"Uhm..."

I sighed, shoulders sinking. "See, Junior, I do want to carry you, trust me."

[You definitely don’t want to carry him.]

Shh... Sylvia.

"...But I need someone to stay here for now. Once I leave the academy or need something, I will call you."

Junior stayed silent for a moment, then nodded once.

"Okay, Master. You may steal as much as you want while I guard here."

I smiled, the warmth catching me off guard. ’Such a peaceful thing.’

I was about to pass him when I remembered.

"Oh right, big bear, what rank are you?"

Junior scratched the fur on his head with one massive claw. "I think I’m about B-rank now, but I was initially built to be an S-rank monster."

’Built, huh.’

So there was someone with the knowledge to create something capable of becoming S-rank.

I wanted to see that person so badly. A fellow tech guy.

The beast shifted onto all fours and, after a few steps, pushed its snout toward a wall.

With surprising delicacy, it pressed a hidden panel with the tip of its nose.

The inner vault shuddered, and another set of red torches flared to life, washing the chamber in an eerie crimson glow.

A large room, no, more like a hall.

The red torches illuminated its contents: shelves and stacked alcoves filled with rolled parchment, scripts, dusty artifacts, Chinese-looking items, and heavy boxes sealed with wax.

My heart practically leapt out of my chest at the sight of it all.

The best part: they were all mine.

"Sylvia, you really need to see this."

[I’m lovesick, I can’t leave my room.]

"Still, you’d know the artifacts more than me."

It was easier to memorize gears in games than random relics in novels.

I stepped forward as Junior moved aside.

For now, I’d take the knight diagram and a few artifacts. This place was at the outskirts of the academy, so I didn’t need to worry about thieves.

I stepped into the vault, and the air felt like it had been sealed for over a hundred years—dry, brittle, carrying the faint smell of dust and what I could only call magic.

Shelves filled with old books, texts, and artifacts lined the walls, stretching into shadows.

This was a sanctuary for me.

I wanted to start opening everything at once, to tear into the mystery like a starving man, but...

"Restraint," I muttered, exhaling slowly.

According to the novel, Jake Kim had only glimpsed part of this vault during a teleportation mishap and had never found a way back here.

"It was here, right?"

A small green notebook written in English, a language unknown to this world, rested at the edge of a shelf.

"Finally..."

It was time to gain regeneration.

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A/N:

Guys, hit me with those power stones and golden tickets! Let’s gooo!