Becoming The Strongest Using My Would-You-Rather System!-Chapter 61 - Owen’s Affinity

As Theo and Owen left the building, Owen couldn’t help but turn to Theo.

’’Didn’t we always want to go to a good university?’’ he asked, conflicted. ’’Why are you hesitating now?’’

Theo glanced back at him, a difficult expression on his face.

’’It’s just... I don’t really trust it,’’ he said. ’’We’ve already seen what one wealthy family can do, and now we want to go to a gathering place for them?’’

Owen fell silent for a moment, nodding his head slowly.

’’Mhm,’’ he murmured. ’’But since when do we care about that?’’

A frown appeared on Theo’s face.

’’What do you mean?’’

Owen shrugged, shoving his hands into his pockets as he walked.

’’I mean... it’s not like we’ve ever had it easy,’’ he said. ’’If anything, it’s always been the opposite.’’

Theo stayed quiet, just listening.

’’Whether it was punching David, working as hunters, or even going into that dungeon. We always went with what we thought was best for us,’’ Owen continued, glancing at the floor. ’’...And now you’re worried about some rich kids of all things?’’

For a moment, both of them went silent.

Theo glanced at the busy streets around him, feeling his heart pound in his chest.

’He’s right,’ he thought. ’My reason for not going shouldn’t be safety.’

If it limited his growth, that’d be an entirely different story. But not going because something MIGHT happen?

’That’s not like me at all.’

Theo straightened himself fully and let out a deep breath.

’’You’re right,’’ he said, turning to Owen. ’’We’ll just have to see where we end up, like we always do.’’

Owen smiled, immediately firmly patting Theo on his back.

’’That’s what I wanted to hear,’’ he said, pulling out his phone.

After unlocking it, maps opened on it with a single pinpointed location on it.

’’This is where that healer lady wants us to go,’’ he said, turning his phone to Theo. ’’It looks quite fancy.’’

Theo nodded, raising an eyebrow as he looked at the map.

It seemed to be a private hospital building near the center of the city, only a few blocks away from the Hunter’s Association.

Before he could think any further about it, Owen’s voice rang out beside him again.

’’I’ll be going home straight after this testing stuff, by the way,’’ he said, happiness in his voice.

Theo glanced at him.

’’Why is that?’’

Owen’s grin widened slightly as he looked up at the sky.

’’I want to show my parents my paycheck,’’ he said. ’’But I’m setting up a camera first... there’s no way I’m not taking a video of their reaction after all.’’

Theo just looked at him, a deadpan expression written across his face.

’’Oh look,’’ Owen said, ignoring him as he pointed ahead of him. ’’There it is.’’

A tall, sleek building stood ahead of them, its glass exterior reflecting the sunlight.

Almost no one entered or left the building, except a few who were significantly better dressed than the both of them.

Owen let out a faint whistle.

’’Yeah... definitely fancy,’’ he muttered.

As they continued to the entrance, several scrutinizing gazes landed on them.

It only got worse as they stepped inside.

Several people in suits or luxurious fur sat in a large, fancy waiting area. Their eyes scanned them thoroughly, some instantly turning to disgust while others remained indifferent.

As they got to the reception, even the receptionist’s eyes narrowed as she glanced at their clothes.

’’What are you doing here?’’ she asked, barely hiding the disgust in her voice.

’’Don’t you mean, do you have an appointment?’’ Owen fired back immediately.

’’Excuse me?’’ the receptionist said, her tone sharpening as her face turned red.

’’You’re excused,’’ Owen said, grinning.

Theo couldn’t help but let out a chuckle, turning the receptionist’s face even more red.

Before she could say anything more, a familiar voice echoed through the room.

’’Theo. Owen.’’

Both of them turned slightly and looked up.

Madam Rea stood at the upper floor, calmly looking down at them.

’’Come upstairs,’’ she said, nodding her head.

The people nearby turned their heads in surprise, now clearly sizing Theo and Owen up.

’’Of course,’’ Owen said, shooting the receptionist a grin.

A few minutes later, they sat together in a quiet but large office.

Hearing that both wanted to take the test, Madam Rea didn’t waste any time.

’’We’ll start with you,’’ she said, looking at Owen. ’’Enter the measuring device, please.’’

She pointed at a metal device in the corner of the room. It almost looked like a coffin of sorts, except for the dozens of high-tech wires and screens connected to it.

Owen raised an eyebrow, tilting his head slightly.

’’That thing safe?’’

Rea didn’t even look at him, tapping away on a laptop.

Theo, on the other hand, let out a sigh.

’’Just go,’’ he said, kicking him forward.

Owen clicked his tongue but walked over anyway. The casual expression slowly vanished from his face, replaced with one of tension.

The moment he stepped inside, the lid closed around him and the entire machine lit up in a blue color.

’’It’ll only take a few seconds,’’ she muttered, taking a step back.

Though as the seconds ticked by and turned into a full minute, she couldn’t help but frown.

Just as she was about to interfere, a new data upload flashed across the screen while the machine powered off completely.

The lid slowly slid open with a quiet hiss.

Owen stepped out, blinking a few times as he stretched his shoulders.

’’That’s it?’’ he muttered.

Rea didn’t respond, her gaze locked on the screen in front of her.

Theo noticed the change immediately.

The calm and kind expression she’d held the entire time had completely disappeared.

She stepped closer to the screen, her brows furrowing as she scrolled through the data.

’’...Your affinity,’’ she said slowly. ’’It’s grown immensely... and it even has an unknown mutation.’’

Owen’s expression froze immediately.

’’Unknown?’’

’’Yes,’’ Rea answered, her voice low and hesitant. ’’And it’s grade is at least S-rank right now.’’

Owen’s eyes widened, immediately turning to Theo with excitement.

But Theo wasn’t looking at him.

’’At least?’’ he asked, staring at Rea with narrowed eyes.

Rea nodded.

’’The mana within his affinity is highly unstable,’’ she said. ’’It makes it difficult to determine its exact rank.’’

She turned the screen toward them.

A cluster of dark-brown mana flickered across the display, swirling calmly inside his core.

’’It’s like he went through a forced reawakening,’’ she continued. ’’But there are only rumors about something like that happening...’’

Theo understood immediately as he remembered the maniac’s words.

’’It must be because of that liquid from the Calamity Covenant.’’

Rea nodded once again, this time with a hint of enthusiasm.

’’That’s what I thought as well,’’ she said, tapping the screen.

A second video appeared beside the first.

This one was much darker in color, swirling much more violently as if it just couldn’t settle.

’’See the difference between the dark mana inside that liquid and his affinity?’’ Rea asked, pointing at the two videos.

Theo nodded, his eyes narrowing.

’’It’s almost like something altered it,’’ Rea said. ’’Like it made the dark mana more passive... allowing his earth affinity to absorb and merge with it.’’

Theo frowned slightly, nodding once more.

He understood what she was getting at, but had no idea either.

Owen, however, didn’t seem to care about any of that.

He looked back at Rea.

’’What about the future?’’ he asked. ’’Can it grow further, like to a higher level?’’

Rea stayed silent for a moment.

Then she gave a small nod.

’’It looks like your affinity is still processing the mana,’’ she said. ’’But I’ve never seen anything like this before. Everything from here on is just an assumption.’’

She paused briefly.

’’For all we know... it could kill you as well.’’

The room fell silent immediately.

Theo pressed his lips together, knowing full well it was possible.

Owen, on the other hand, just stared at her for a moment.

Then he shrugged.

’’Whatever,’’ he said, folding the paper and sliding it into his jacket. ’’If it happens, it happens.’’

He turned to Theo with a grin.

’’Your turn now.’’