The Legendary Programming Mage

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

"No, you don't."

I cleared my throat.

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

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

Second, omnipresence: understand and feel your surroundings.

For me, that wasn't just the mana in the air, but the codes present in each spell.

I had read all the spells for spirit arts, so I knew the codes around them.

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

I raised my hand as my mana formed into runic codes.

I let it flow around the bear, shaping them into a name.

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

That was exactly the problem.

The amount of mental energy and omnipotence required for that was immense.

However, all I needed was to write it within the codes.

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

[I knew it!] Sylvia screamed through the comms.

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

She sighed while the bear blinked.

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

"Yes." I pretended to be offended. "What's wrong with my name?"

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

"What the fuck are you saying?"

The bear, meanwhile, just stared at me with wide eyes.

"What?"

He lingered for a moment, then spoke out with a loud, bubbling growl.

"So… I have a—name?"

The last step to form a contract?

Well, it was simple: acceptance.

Spirits weren't kids to whom you gave names, and they didn't just remain silent.

In spirit arts, when you give a name, the spirit chooses whether to accept it or not.

Ding!

『Cyber Beast 101 has accepted your name』

I grinned. "Now say your name."

It parted its trembling lips. "Alwen Vanderbilta Perka Junior."

"Yes… wait, what?"

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

'Did I hear that wrong?'

However, the words I heard were confirmed by Sylvia's voice.

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

I covered my face in shame. "Please, one moment."

My name…

My name has been sullied!

"Uhmm… Master."

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

My name. My identity.

The coolest and coldest thing I had in my collection!

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

I began breaking the name into smaller parts. "Say 'Al'."

The bear repeated after me, and I continued to the next syllable. "Len."

This time, it copied what I said.

I pointed to the air as if the next syllable would drop from there. "Vand—"

"Vand?"

I nodded. "Now 'er'."

It followed my lead once more.

"Now say 'bilt'."

"Bilt."

"Finally, 'Park,' like 'Parky Park.'"

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

The beast watched me with the puzzled solemnity of someone who had never been taught nursery rhymes.

Finally, it opened its mouth.

This time, the word came out like clumsy wooden blocks stacked by a child.

"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 flared warmer, then suddenly calmer as it closed them.

It inhaled, exhaled, and tested the name again.

"Allen Vanderbilt Park Junior."

It said it.

Fully. Clearly.

A loud, satisfied laugh escaped my lips.

[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.]

"I wasn't talking about—"

Boom!

The ground of the passage shook as the bear bowed its head, my chains snapping and dissolving into red light.

It bowed, not forcefully, but in total submission.

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

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

"Wait." I raised my hand. "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?"

"Uhmm…"

I sighed. "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 didn't say anything for some time, then nodded once.

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

I smiled. 'Such a peaceful thing.'

I was about to pass him when I remembered.

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

Junior scratched the fur on his head. "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 stood on its four limbs and, after some distance, pushed its snout toward a wall and, with surprising delicacy, pressed a hidden panel.

The inner vault shuddered, and another set of red torches flared to life.

A large room, more like a hall.

The red torches illuminated its contents.

Shelves and stacked alcoves filled with rolled parchment, scripts, dusty artifacts, a Chinese-looking item, and boxes.

My heart literally jumped at the sight of all these things.

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 would know the artifacts more than me."

It was easier to remember gears in games than random artifacts in novels.

I took a step forward as Junior stepped aside.

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

I stepped into the vault, and the air felt like it was over a hundred years old.

Shelves filled with old books, texts, and artifacts.

This was a sanctuary for me.

I wanted to start opening everything at once, but…

"Restraint," I muttered with an exhale.

According to the novel, Jake Kim had just seen part of the vault when teleporting and couldn't get back here.

"It was here, right?"

A small green notebook written in English, a language unknown to this world.

"Finally…"

It was time to gain regeneration.