--Chapter 12--
Title>> The Tower of Approval 1
Later that day...
The Tower of Approval stretched high into the sky like a giant pillar challenging the heavens themselves.
Ancient runes crawled slowly across its stone walls, glowing with a soft blue light that pulsed beautifully, almost like the tower itself possessed a heartbeat buried somewhere deep underground.
It was massive...!
Far larger than Takeshi had imagined when Valeria first mentioned it.
Even from the palace grounds back then, all he could see was its upper half piercing through the clouds. Standing beneath it now was an entirely different experience.
It made people feel... small.
Like insignificant ants standing beneath something that had existed long before kingdoms, churches and even heroes.
"So this is where they measure a hero’s worth..." Takeshi muttered quietly.
Nyxara stood beside him with both hands resting behind her head.
"Hmph."
She barely spared the tower another glance.
"I’ve seen bigger."
Takeshi looked at her.
"...Really?"
"The Demon Realm has mountains that breathe fire." She shrugged. "One of them tried to eat me once."
"..."
"...Did it?"
"It regretted trying."
Takeshi decided not to ask any more questions.
Around the entrance, an enormous crowd had already gathered.
Nobles dressed in expensive robes stood beneath decorated canopies, protected from the morning sun by attendants carrying elaborate umbrellas.
Church mages formed orderly groups near the entrance, speaking quietly among themselves while occasionally glancing toward Takeshi and the three women dressed in maid outfits.
Merchants had even set up temporary stalls around the plaza, happily selling drinks, roasted meat and souvenirs to spectators who had travelled from nearby towns simply to witness another hero challenge the Tower.
Apparently watching strangers risk their lives counted as entertainment in this world.
’Humanity really doesn’t change no matter the world.’
Some people watched sports.
Others watched executions.
This kingdom simply found a way to combine both.
As Takeshi and the women approached, conversations slowly died down.
Eyes followed them from every direction.
Some looked at Nyxara with naked fear. Others stared at Lana for... entirely different reasons.
Even Solaria, who remained quietly behind Takeshi, attracted plenty of attention despite trying her best to hide herself.
Whispers quickly spread through the crowd.
"That’s him..."
"The failed hero..."
"No... wasn’t he re-appraised earlier?"
"I heard those women are all A-rank."
"Three A-ranks...?"
"I still don’t believe it."
"What kind of Summoner awakens like that?"
Takeshi ignored them.
Back when he just arrived, every single word would’ve gotten under his skin.
Today...? Not so much..
’Keep talking bums,’
’You’ll clap for me soon enough.’
Standing near the entrance were the people he expected.
Princess Isabella.
High Priestess Valeria.
Several noble representatives from the major houses.
And last but definitely least, Erling Vega.
The lightning mage noticed him almost immediately.
A smug smile spread across Erling’s face as their eyes met.
Takeshi returned the smile.
’Enjoying yourself, you smug prick?’
Erling looked away first.
’That’s right.’
’Don’t start something you can’t finish.’
Valeria stepped forward as the surrounding conversations gradually settled.
Her expression remained calm beneath the white veil covering the lower half of her face.
If what she witnessed earlier had shaken her...
She hid it remarkably well.
"Hero Deva Grayfort."
Her voice echoed clearly across the plaza.
"As agreed, you have been granted permission to challenge the Tower of Approval."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"You may enter with one summon."
Takeshi nodded.
"I understand."
"The Tower itself shall determine whether you are worthy of carrying the title of Hero."
’Determine my worth?’
He almost laughed.
’Right...’
’Because apparently surviving an execution disguised as a divine trial wasn’t convincing enough.’
Still...
Complaining wouldn’t accomplish anything.
The only language people like these understood was results. And Takeshi intended to give them plenty of those.
Valeria slowly raised one hand.
The massive barrier surrounding the Tower entrance shimmered gently before splitting apart, revealing a stone gateway leading into darkness.
The crowd instinctively held their breath.
Even Nyxara’s playful grin disappeared.
For the first time since meeting her... She actually looked interested in something that wasn’t his cock.
"There it is..." she murmured.
"The Tower."
Takeshi glanced toward her.
"Nervous?"
Nyxara laughed. "Nervous?"
She cracked her knuckles.
"I was getting bored waiting outside."
Takeshi couldn’t help smiling.
’Good.’
’Because we’re about to find out whether all that confidence is justified.’
Without another word...
The two of them stepped through the barrier together.
The moment they crossed it...the outside world vanished.
There was nothing out of the ordinary, No bright flash. No violent pull.
Only a low humming sound that travelled through Takeshi’s entire body before his surroundings changed completely.
The Tower had accepted their challenge.
***
[Floor One]
The soft humming inside Takeshi’s body gradually faded.
The moment it disappeared completely... The scenery around him changed.
An enormous stone arena stretched out before them.
It was perfectly circular, with ancient walls rising high into the darkness above. There wasn’t a single window, doorway or staircase in sight.
The Tower had only one rule.
Move forward. Or die trying...
The air itself smelled strange. Awful was actually a better word for it.
There was old blood. Fresh blood. And definitely burnt flesh.
It was the scent of countless battles layered on top of one another over the years.
"So this is Floor One..."
Takeshi slowly looked around.
It honestly wasn’t very impressive.
For something the kingdom treated like a sacred proving ground, he had expected floating islands or divine temples.
Instead...
It looked like an oversized arena built by people with absolutely no imagination.
"I’ve fought in prettier places," he mocked.
Nyxara folded her arms.
"I haven’t."
"You’ve never fought in an arena?"
"I usually destroyed them before the fighting started."
"..."
"...You’re joking."
The demoness looked at him blankly.
"I wish I was."
Before Takeshi could decide whether she was serious.. A strange ripple spread across the stone floor.
Blue runes lit up beneath their feet.
One...
Two...
Five...
Ten...
Magic circles began appearing throughout the arena.
"They’re coming," Nyxara said casually.
Almost immediately...
The first creature crawled out.
A goblin.
Barely four feet tall with dark green skin, long ears and rusted armor hanging loosely over its thin body.
Its yellow eyes immediately locked onto Takeshi.
Then another emerged.
And another...
Within the space of a few seconds...
More than twenty goblins had surrounded them.
Behind them... Large grey wolves slowly materialized, growling as saliva dripped from their exposed fangs.
Takeshi quietly counted... A tad nervous.
’Twenty-three goblins.’
’Six wolves.’
Not exactly impossible.
But definitely enough to kill an ordinary E-rank Hero..
--End of Chapter--
A/N: Kindly support with powerstones and please add to Library.