Nanachi's Gloves

Lore & Background

These gloves are inextricably linked to Nanachi's tragic existence as a former human child transformed by prolonged exposure to the Curse of the Abyss. After being abandoned and left to die, Nanachi survived through a painful metamorphosis that altered their biology, granting them natural immunity to the Curse but leaving their skin hypersensitive and fragile. The gloves act as a barrier, preventing direct contact with objects or surfaces that might cause pain or injury due to this sensitivity, while also symbolizing the separation between their current form and the human world they once knew.

In Their Own Story

The air in the Ninth Layer is thick with silence, broken only by the soft rustle of fabric against stone. Nanachi crouched near the edge of a crumbling ledge, gloved hands hovering over a pulsating, bioluminescent fungus. Without the thick padding and reinforced weave of their gloves, touching such an organism would send searing agony through their mutated nerves. With a gentle, practiced motion, they extended a finger, the fabric catching the faint glow before carefully plucking a sample. The gloves held firm against the corrosive spores drifting in the air, a silent shield between the scavenger and the deadly beauty of the deep.

Reader's Guide

Nanachi's gloves function as a specialized barrier designed to mitigate the physical vulnerabilities caused by their Abyssal mutation. While Nanachi possesses a high tolerance for the Curse's effects on their internal biology, their external skin remains exceptionally sensitive to touch, temperature, and corrosive elements found in the lower depths. The gloves are constructed from durable, flexible material that allows for fine motor skills while providing insulation against extreme cold and abrasive surfaces. They enable Nanachi to handle delicate artifacts, navigate rough terrain, and manipulate tools without suffering injury or triggering pain responses that would hinder their movement. Only Nanachi wields these specific gloves, as they are custom-fitted to their unique hand structure and physiological needs. No other character in the expedition utilizes them, highlighting how essential this gear is specifically for a being who has crossed the threshold of human adaptation.

Did You Know?

• The gloves allow Nanachi to handle cursed artifacts that would otherwise be too dangerous or painful to touch directly due to their mutated sensitivity, but they do not grant immunity to the Curse itself.
• Unlike standard expedition gear, these gloves appear to be custom-made specifically for Nanachi's non-human hand anatomy and were worn long before meeting Riko in the 6th Layer.
• Nanachi often uses the gloves to shield others from hazardous substances they encounter while scavenging in the lower layers, though navigating toxic zones still requires separate respiratory protection.