Chapter 3B

The two men were mesmerized by the Life Crystal’s effects within the Second Crystal Chamber.

The crystal Shion returned to the altar was emitting a warm light.

The “Magic Reserve Ivy” covering the walls bathed in the light and seemed to regain life.

“Woah…… This is amazing. What is this, CG?” asked Yuuki.

Moisture returned to the cracked surfaces and green buds sprouted.

“Fufu…… This is the power of the ‘Life Crystal.’”

As the light of the crystal faded, Shion and Yuuki gave each other a look.

Yuuki asked

“Well, how was it? Was that good enough?”

At that moment, in the midst of asking, the navigation voice rang through Yuuki’s head.

“By repeated asking, Skill ‘Asking’ has been acquired. It will be possible to ask questions with good tempo.”

“Hey, hey, that’s a simple skill……”

While thinking that, Shion responded.

“That was fine. The experiment was a great success. Your converted soul power can be fed to the Magic Reserve Ivy.”

The mage’s face seemed to reveal a sign of relief.

“I don’t really get it, but I guess it’s all good……” Yuuki thought as he got up from the chair.

He slapped Shion on the back.

“We did it, Shion!”

“Skill ‘Skinship’ has been acquired.”

Yuuki cheered as Shion groaned in pain.

“I- I see now…… So this is our win-win relationship……! I give you magic for the tower, while you give me support in picking up girls……! Isn’t that right?”

“Yeah, just hold on a sec…… Whether or not we can do this depends on you……”

“Me? What do you mean?”

Yuuki used his skill to keep up.

Shion was able to immediately answered.

“Our experiment here was just a test. We actually didn’t receive much power from you. Based on our success, I’d like for you to make a choice. To maintain this tower, you would have to commit your soul.”

“…………”

On an unrelated side note, Yuuki was currently hugging onto Shion.

It’s because Shion responded to his question in good tempo.

He asked a question and got a response.

He couldn’t believe he was able to communicate this well.

He was in good company!

Yuuki went and spoke.

“I- I’ll do it…… I can give you my magic. I won’t even be stingy. I’ll give you all of it.”

“Thanks for the offer, that won’t resolve our issue.”

“Issue……?”

“Yes. Please hear me out first, and then decide.”

“Alright then. So…… What’s this issue?”

While walking around the Second Crystal Chamber, Shion began to gesture.

“First of all, even if I did receive all your soul power, it would only delay the collapse of the tower a bit.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah. We would need more soul power to prevent the collapse. Not just once or twice, but a continuous supply to maintain the status quo. And of course, we need me to manage that.”

“I see. But how would I continue to gather that much power?”

“As I explained before, soul energy comes from fulfilling desires from the heart. That’s why……”

“To gain soul power, I just have to do what I really want, right? Like hitting on girls?”

Shion nodded.

“Yes…… As much as I hate to admit it, you hitting on girls is what will prevent the tower from collapsing. We have no choice but to replenish your soul power.”

“Hey, Shion…… Are you treating me like an idiot, even though I’m saving the world for you?”

That’s……”

Shion bit his lips.

Yuuki used Skinship and put his hand on Shion’s shoulder.

“Well, whatever. You answered my question. I appreciate our little game of conversational catch.”

“……Don’t pretend we’re friends.”

Shion pulled Yuuki’s hand off. A bit hurt, Yuuki responded

“I’m not that dumb, you know. I am a college graduate…… Even I think hitting on girls is a little dumb. But you know, I still really want to do this, from the bottom of my heart……”

Yuuki clenched his fist.

“And that’s why…… I will. I’ll fulfill my Number 1 desire! While gaining soul power and prevent the tower from collapse at the same time!”

But Shion’s reaction was cold.

“I appreciate it…… But……”

“What’s with you, man? Is there still something I’m missing? You can tell me.”

“You’ll be risking your life to hit on girls.”

“Hahaha, no way. I’ve never hit on girls before, but all I’m doing is talking to strangers. Nothing will happen to a shy guy like me.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about.”

“Then what are you talking about?”

“Every time you send Soul Energy to the Tower of Darkness, your bond with it will deepen.”

“And then?”

“The more bonded you are with it, the more benefits from the tower you receive.”

“That’s a good thing, isn’t it?”

Yes…… It is a good thing. But it’s bad too. Really bad……”

“Explain.”

“If your soul charge fails and the tower collapses……or if the Kin of Darkness is freed and destroys the building…… both you and the tower will share the same fate.”

“Fate?”

“You’ll die. If the tower is destroyed, you go down with it.”

“…………”

Even if he mentioned something like death, Yuuki still didn’t understand the reality of it.

To ensure he got everything, he decided to go over the main points with Shion.

In “Business Person: Basics of the Basics,” it was stressed verbal communication often causes misunderstandings.

To use what he learned in a business book in another world…… Life was just full of surprises.

Now then.

“First off…… If I abandon this Tower of Darkness, it will collapse in 10 days.”

Shion nodded.

“And if the Tower of Darkness collapses, the Kin of Darkness will awaken, and as a result, the world will end. Is that right?”

“Right. That’s exactly what’ll happen.”

Yuuki continued summing things up.

“To prevent the tower from collapsing, I will hit on girls and collect soul power. That’ll charge the tower, right?”

“Right. That’s how it works.”

Yuuki continued.

“And if I fail at hitting at girls and charging my soul power, the tower will collapse and I die. Right?”

“That’s right.”

And continuing.

“If another Kin of Darkness invades the tower and we fail to protect it, I die. Is that right?”

“Yes. That’s correct.”

It was then when Yuuki realized a contradiction.

“Isn’t that kind of weird though? I thought the Tower of Darkness prevented the Kin of Darkness from waking up. How would the Kin of Darkness attack with the tower still intact?”

“As long as the tower is here, that great evil will never awaken. However, it’s possible lesser daemons will from weakened seal.

“I see, an attack…… But even if that happens, you can manage that, right? You’re supposed to be the ultimate mage. Have some confidence.”

Yuuki smacked Shion in the back.

However, for some reason, his hand was trembling.

Yuuki tried stopping it with his other hand, but that hand was trembling as well.

“Listen, Yuuki…… An attack from smaller monsters is nothing, but the Kin himself has an immeasurable amount of power. On top of that, we’re consistently low on magic. We can’t launch much of a counter-attack.”

“So let me get this straight…… Um…… If I fail at hitting on girls, I die, and if the tower gets attacked by some monsters, I die.”

“That’s right.”

“That’s too many death routes, don’t you think?”

“Yes, there’s a very good chance you will die.”

“……Let me think about this for a sec.”

“It’d be best if you did so quickly. The Dimensional Gate will be closing soon.”

“…………”

Yuuki closed his eyes and thought.

Do I want to work with Shion to prevent the end of another world? Or do I want to return to my own world and work?

The former is scary and there’s a good chance I might die. The latter is scary and nothing but pain.

Whichever I go with, I’ll meet a miserable end.

In that case, let’s think about which is more fun.

Which one seems the most exciting and fun?

That much is obvious.

Yuuki opened his eyes and answered.

“Isekai nanpa. I’m going to hit on girls in another world.”

“Are you sure about that? Really sure?”

“Yeah. And I’ll share all the soul power I gain with the tower. In exchange, you can support my nanpa.”

“Thank you. With this, the world will be……”

Shion started mumbling about being saved. To Yuuki though, that was a secondary issue, and he started to rush him.

“Yeah, anyway, I want to get with it already. My isekai nanpa.”

“Geez, you really are something……”

Shion looked at Yuuki with an irked face, but proceeded to laugh.

Using the Life Crystal, Yuuki charged his remaining soul power into the tower.

The ivy on the walls were fed and revived.

Perhaps because he gave so much energy, Yuuki began to feel the power of the Tower of Darkness.

If this intimacy was “his bond with the tower,” it may very well take Yuuki's life someday.

But for now, let’s stop thinking about that.

More important than that……

“When can I leave?”

“Fufu, don’t be in such a rush. You can leave in a bit. As I explained though, you can not make it through The Lost Forest alone. You should go to the city with an artificial spirit. That is the best amount of support I can give to you. ……Come with me.”

Shion exited the Second Crystal Chamber and went down the spiral staircase. Yuuki followed.

When arriving at the first floor, at the First Crystal Chamber, they began to replace Zomgoyle’s body.