The next day.
The first thing the Master did upon logging in was to establish facilities dedicated to magicians.
[Constructing Facility. Please touch the desired facility type.]
[You have selected the 'Magic Research Lab', an annex building for the 'Training Ground'. Do you wish to add this building?]
[Yes (Selected) / No]
A faint vibration ran through the entire Waiting Room, followed by a message. The people in the Training Ground seemed accustomed to such vibrations and continued what they were doing.
[Constructing the 'Alchemy Workshop', an annex building for the 'Training Ground'...]
[Constructing the 'Library', an annex building for the 'Training Ground'...]
[Magic Research Lab construction complete! Research unlocked.]
[Alchemy Workshop construction complete! Synthesis of various items is now possible.]
[Library construction complete! Magicians will now be able to hone their own knowledge.]
[Good!]
[The three Training Ground annex buildings—Magic Research Lab, Alchemy Workshop, and Library—have combined to form a new facility, the 'Hall of Magic'!]
"Why am I doing this..."
Mixed in with the personnel running laps on the track was a brown-haired woman: Iolka Libel Strassuhr, the star who had spectacularly incinerated twenty goblin riders yesterday.
Iolka grumbled incessantly as she ran.
"Making a high-caliber individual like myself do such mindless training!"
"You seem to be running just fine," I remarked dryly.
"I'm the brains of the operation!"
"Then just eat potatoes, if you prefer," I retorted.
"Ugh! Eeeek!" Iolka ground her teeth but kept running.
It was my order. This woman's stamina was abnormally low. No matter how much magicians prioritized intelligence, stamina was crucial on a battlefield where swords and spears flew.
She was currently running in a spare dress borrowed from Jenna; the dress Iolka originally wore was apparently a specially crafted magical item from her family—a magic item that enhanced the power of fire magic. Appraising it confirmed this wasn't a lie.
"Why me, why me..." she muttered continuously.
"Stop whining," I snapped. It wasn't like I'd given her a difficult regimen. Just three laps around the track per day. No sandbags. Slow pace. Compared to my usual routine, it was laughably easy. Since she wouldn't stop complaining, I'd instructed Chloe to only feed her potatoes for all three meals if she refused.
Running alongside Iolka, I looked up at the sky. The rainbow-colored expanse. It had been a while since the Master logged in during the morning. Amkena didn't issue any commands, seeming content just to observe the Training Ground.
'Just log off already, I'm busy.'
While she watched, I pretended to train, but there were other things that needed doing right now.
With the 10th floor approaching, luck had brought us a magician, and the Hall of Magic was now open. The warehouse held countless materials gathered over time, waiting for my attention. As of yesterday, the Isralta Mine had also opened, allowing us to collect various materials from all three types of daily dungeons. It was time to craft consumables like potions.
Normally, this was advanced content requiring apothecaries and alchemists. However, similar to equipment crafting, if I used the mini-game, I could craft items even without the required skills. Of course, I couldn't let Amkena see me doing that. If she saw a hero crafting items through a mini-game, she'd 100% report it as a bug.
After observing for a while longer, Amkena seemed satisfied and logged off.
I immediately stopped running and headed for the exit.
"Jenna, keep an eye on her so she doesn't escape."
"Aye aye! Unni, keep running! Fighting!"
"N-No way..." Iolka groaned.
Stepping out into the square, I shouted, "Isele!"
[Loki's Follower #1, Isele appears! What's up?]
"What do you think? Time to craft items."
[Oho! I'll open it right now!]
The warehouse door slowly opened. Grabbing a cart from the entrance, I loaded it with materials.
Life Grass, Mana Weed, Scrabble Fungus, Highland Water, Gold Dust Stone, Blue Magic Stone...
The variety of ores was lacking, but I could make the numbers work somehow, having focused solely on gathering instead of farming attribute stones. With the 10th floor ascent near, crafting items was more important than promoting heroes right now.
Pulling the cart, I returned to the Training Ground. Iolka, drenched in sweat, was panting but still shot me a sharp glare. Ignoring her, I entered the newly appeared door on the left side of the Training Ground.
[Hall of Magic Lv.1]
The place was dimly lit overall. On both sides, shelves filled with books exuding the scent of old paper lined the walls. I picked one out randomly. It was filled with incomprehensible formulas and diagrams, impossible to read.
I pushed the cart forward.
My objective was located in a corner of the Hall, inside a curtained-off room.
'The Alchemy Cauldron.'
I parked the cart beside the cauldron and recalled the image of an apothecary making potions. Pour Highland Water, ignite the furnace, bring it to a boil. Next, add finely ground Life Grass powder in specific ratios...
'Too much hassle.'
With a snap of my fingers, Isele displayed the item synthesis window as if waiting for the signal.
I took a glass bottle filled with water from the cart—Highland Water. I tossed it carelessly into the cauldron. Glass shattered, but it didn't matter. Then Scrabble Fungus. Gold Dust Stone. Life Grass. Ignoring ratios or order, I just threw everything in.
The potion crafting window popped up. Penalty messages streamed down, but I ignored them. The mini-game used for item crafting and enchanting was a rhythm game where you tapped keys to the music.
[★! Super Great Success! ★]
['Han (★)' crafted a 'Minor Health Potion'!]
[★! Super Great Success! ★]
['Han (★)' crafted a 'Minor Health Potion'...]
[★! Super Great Success! ★]
['Han (★)' crafted a 'Minor Mana Potion'...]
The crafted items popped out from a dispenser below the cauldron.
I converted all the materials on the cart into consumables. This too would likely arouse Amkena's suspicions, but it couldn't be helped. Better than hoarding them and dying.
The result was 6 Health Potions and 2 Mana Potions.
I returned the potions to the warehouse. They would be crucial on the 10th floor.
That night, I gathered Party 1 in the lobby.
Myself, Jenna, and Aaron assembled. Iolka was resting in her room after collapsing from dehydration during training. It didn't matter, as what I needed to discuss only applied to the three of us anyway.
I placed a prepared brazier in the center of the lobby. Flames flickered hotly inside.
"A magician has officially joined our party," I began.
"Yeah, well... that's obvious," Aaron replied.
"Then, what we need to do from now on changes too. Do you understand why I brought this brazier here?"
"Not really, Boss..."
"Watch carefully what I do."
I raised my right hand.
'This is crazy.'
'This is absolutely insane.'
I forced away the negative thoughts creeping up. It had to be done. It was necessary. After taking a brief, deep breath, I thrust my right hand into the brazier.
"O-Oppa! What are you doing?!" Jenna shrieked.
"Boss, what the..." Aaron trailed off.
"If Iolka handles flames... we need to get used to fire," I grunted through clenched teeth. My vision turned red. I grabbed my right wrist with my left hand, enduring somehow, grinding my teeth.
Counting to ten, I pulled my hand out.
My right hand was red and raw, skin blistering. Gradually, new skin formed over the peeled areas, and the wound began to heal.
"Iolka uses fire. We fight beside her. If we don't get used to fire, we'll be roasted before the enemy is."
"You're telling us to do this?" Jenna's eyes filled with terror.
Aaron closed his eyes and said, "...How long do we have to do this?"
"Keep doing it. Eventually, a point will come when you can withstand it."
Until they acquired the Fire Resistance skill.
I could craft accessories with fire resistance, but that was only possible when materials and facilities were abundant. Besides, attribute resistance was a good skill to have regardless of Iolka.
"Remember the 5th floor," I reminded them. "Remember what happened when we let our guard down."
Aaron stared grimly at the brazier, then raised his right hand. Just as he was about to put it in, I stopped him.
"Do it where I can't see. I have no hobby of watching people suffer. What I did was just an example."
"Understood."
"Master this before we enter the 10th floor. I'll be doing the same."
"I... I don't want to," Jenna whimpered.
"Then I'll help you. Hold my hand tightly, we'll put it in together, it won't be hot," I said, my voice deceptively calm.
"Th-There's no way that works!"
"Are you going to run far away every time Iolka casts a spell? She can't use defensive barriers or movement magic. If we can't protect her up close, she'll die."
"But..."
"There's no other way."
Jenna slowly lowered her gaze, then gave a barely perceptible nod.
"Next," I continued.
"There's more?" Aaron asked wearily.
"Aaron, sorry, but you have one more task."
"Yes."
I held my right hand out, palm down. Then, pulling the dagger from Jenna's belt, I plunged it into the back of my own hand.
"What are you doing now?!" Jenna cried out again.
"...Pain Tolerance," I managed to say. The back of my hand throbbed sharply, but I could still speak.
"I won't force you to do it exactly like this. Figure out your own way. The point is to make yourself able to endure pain."
Slowly, I pulled the dagger out with my left hand. The wound healed quickly. Clenching and unclenching my right fist, I looked at Aaron. Cold sweat trickled down his forehead. He must be feeling like absolute crap. I did too. Knowing it was necessary didn't make doing it any less mind-breaking. But it was necessary. Health potions healed wounds, but often inflicted intense pain. To fight through it, the Pain Tolerance skill was essential.
"Don't tell me I have to..." Jenna began fearfully.
"Not you."
"Phew."
"Though you'll have to eventually."
"Please make it later, much later!"
"Your task is switching," I told Jenna.
"Switching?"
"Your weapons are the bow and dagger. Get to the point where you can switch between the two as fast as possible. Be able to fight switching between close and long range anytime, anywhere."
"But I mainly use the bow, not the dagger."
"That changes now. It doesn't suit you, but there will be times when the two of us can't protect Iolka alone. In those moments, you'll take on an additional defensive role."
It felt like coddling a princess. But if we wanted to utilize Iolka properly, it couldn't be helped. Judging by the firepower she showed on the 8th floor, she definitely had potential uses.
"The front-mid-rear formation is hereby disbanded. We'll form a triangular formation centered around Iolka. Training starts tomorrow."
We have a massive cannon. But the cannon has no defensive mechanisms. Therefore, we must bring in external defensive forces. This way, a single tank, equipped with cannon and armor, is created.
Iolka's sustain is weak, but by reducing firepower output and using mana potions, we can cover for it somehow. Any weapon, ultimately, depends on how you use it.
'If only we had one more support-type magician.' That would complete the Double Magician system, one of the most widely recognized efficient party compositions in Pick Me Up.
"Anyway, next up is the 10th floor. If you want to live, put what I said into practice properly."
"Yes," Aaron replied.
"Okay," Jenna agreed reluctantly.
The 9th floor still remained, but it was unlikely we would go. Party 2 would likely go to the 9th floor to gain tower climbing experience. Since a linked quest has emerged, it's unlikely only one party will handle it. This is common sense, so Amkena should know it too. The 10th floor introduces missions requiring the cooperation of at least two parties.
Hints were given.
'Subjugation. Survival. Escort. Breakthrough. Assassination. Defense. Siege. Pursuit. Escape.'
I compared the information gathered so far with dozens of mission types. I had a few guesses, but couldn't be certain. The only way was to enter the actual mission and act dynamically.
The work wasn't over.
Returning to my room, I started drafting a plan.