CH423

<MENTAL SYMBIOSIS LEVEL INCREASED>

And I’ll absolutely take that.

In the days since he’d first gained the skill, he hadn’t found himself with nearly as much potential to train it as he had on that first day. As easy as it was for him to go and throw his money around to practice, his time was filled with trying to help Sachel awaken her skill, working on tools for the coming tower, and completing more crystals to hold the structure of the summoning spell. That left comparatively few times to work on it.

At least not in a completely ethical way.

His solution had been to train at the clinics where Sachel was practicing her magic, subtly linking his minds with the healers and patients around, not building theirs up to the level he knew he could, but instead only adding a strand or two on, giving them a boost to their thinking power that was handy without being disorienting like it would be if he just kept piling things on. As it stood, nobody even realized he’d done it, with the few who were conscious of the change at all attributing it to a sudden bit of clarity.

But I still hate this. This is definitely not the peak way of using my time.

Sure, he was practicing both mental symbiosis and deep connection, and he was making sure to materialize grains of all sorts of materials in his pocket as well for the job experience, but he wanted to be at his forge or working on the summoning spell, not out treating himself as a battery when that was all he could do.

<Then quit here, that would at least keep me from losing both my apostle and oracle to your ridiculous idea.>

There’s no reward without risk. Besides, maybe that will be just the kick you need for talking that succubus into being your head priestess. What was her name again? Valaria?

<It is, I’m just not quite sure if it’s a good time to ask.> Myriad said evasively. <It’s a big choice is all.>

What, did she convert away from you already?

<No, she’s been very devout and an excellent believer. She even got me a proper church made in Anailia.>

Then is she not good with your other believers?

<She gets on well with all of them and many are happy to have her to turn to if need be.>

Then is she bad at connect or something?

<No, after you she has the highest level of it at four. Honestly, if you weren’t the standard she was being measured against it would be incredibly impressive considering the short time she’s had the skill. She’s worked hard.>

Then literally what is the hold-up?

<…What if she says no?>

Ben closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose as a few of the patients in the clinic looked at him.

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Okay, I’ll freaking work on this too then. I’m ninety percent sure that as long as I really can force Sachel over the edge I can swing things so that she’ll accept if you ask. Just gotta modify the plans a little.

<You’re the best.>

Anything if it means having one more person to keep me from having to be a responsible apostle.

“I did it!” Sachel yelled out, breaking through the conversation as she jumped up, radiant in her joy. “I leveled up my life magic!”