CH479 Thera’s Perspective

“I can’t believe I agreed to this,” Thera muttered as they got to the shop, having just finished eating and saying goodbye to her aunt. “Literally every time we finish one of these we say we’re never doing it again.”

“We can mean it for realsies after this one,” He said innocently while she shook her head.

“No, I’m done believing that. I’m putting money on the next wave being bad enough that we do the non-affinitied tower or something.”

“Huh, that would be the first one that I’d really get anything from, wouldn’t it?” Ben mused. “I mean, okay, obviously I’ve gotten plenty from the last two, really enjoy the feeling of my attributes growing so much thanks to the blessings, but that tower would let me level enchanting or material manipulation… No, not worth it and I don’t need it that bad. I’m a machine, if I need some new levels then I’ll just grind myself into paste later.”

“I’m sure you’ll end up doing both,” Thera sighed. “I know you love shortcuts almost as much as you love working.”

“Ha, true. But when it comes down to it I love being alive more. Of course, I can and should look into finding people who’ve taken on that tower as well. Might as well make things a little easier on me if it does come up.”

“Well, let’s see how this goes first,” She said, trying to regain the confidence he’d inspired in her only the night before as they arrived at his workplace, stepping in and through the gate to her old bedroom. “So are we meeting this mysterious benefactor at the towers?”

After she’d given her agreement and asked just who it was that was coming to help, he’d insisted on being cagey and mysterious, saying that she’d see and leaving things at that and it seemed he wasn’t done yet.

“A bit closer to home than that,” He told her with a wink. “Come on, this will be great.”

“It would be great if you just told me,” She said, shaking her head but following him out as they passed the staff along the way until they were out, seeing two familiar faces waiting by the gate as what Ben had planned snapped into place like the smug grin he was suddenly wearing.

“Is this even okay? This feels like cheating.”

“I asked both her and Myriad. The fact that no god was smart enough to make a rule against this is their problem. Besides, we’re going to be the only ones pulling off this cheat. Well, there’s a pretty similar workaround if your parents ever end up with another kid but that’s for the future. For now, why don’t we say hey to our lovely benefactor.”

The two were already walking their way to give their greetings. Karly, one of the summoned that Anailia had taken in would obviously be a handy addition to the team, what with the fact that she had an awakened dark magic and the two got along well enough that Thera didn’t foresee any problems working with her, but it was clear she was basically nothing but a tag along for who Ben had really gone to ask for, with her aunt Funa, the great dark spirit standing before her.

“Hello child,” She said, the mana that made up her face being shaped into a smile. “You’re little husband-to-be gave me quite the proposal, hope you’re feeling ready.”

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“Well, since you’re the one who’s helping us how could I not?”

Ben’s overwhelming confidence suddenly made so much more sense. Finding out the details of so many potential floors was one thing but bringing a great spirit was another entirely. As dangerous as taking on a tower was, going with her aunt made it seem like they’d be dropping a mountain on someone looking for a fistfight. Her presence couldn’t help but be reassuring and made Thera’s confidence skyrocket. There was still a risk, there always would be, but they could do it.

That same spirit was clear in the eyes of both Ben and Karly too, both feeling victory in hand and they made their way to the gate to get to the magic towers.