When the transition ended, we found ourselves greeted by the same mansion entrance as Floor 16.
Behind us were stairs leading down [to the previous floor], and ahead, the path split into five forks. Velkist sneered.
"This is even worse than Floor 16."
I instructed Nerissa to rejoin the main group.
With the labyrinth's structure growing more complex, the risk of getting caught in a trap and separated from the party increased.
"Stay together. Report immediately if anything happens."
The four nodded.
Tension was visible on their faces. It seemed the fear of getting lost outweighed the fear of combat. I pinched Jenna's tense cheek.
"Don't be so nervous. It's nothing major if we stick to a few principles."
"R-really? We're not going to get trapped in here and starve, are we?"
"Such pointless worries."
Even though it's a labyrinth, it's still only Floor 17.
We packed the tools just in case, but the chance of actually needing them was minimal.
'The problem is this account's difficulty isn't normal, though.'
Still, we should manage somehow.
Instead of my sword and shield, I held paper and pen and led the way, intending to map the labyrinth. There was a chance the same pattern would repeat throughout this section [Floors 16-20]. Along the way, we encountered arrow traps and soldiers lying in wait, but ultimately cleared Floor 17 without major issues.
Clearing the subsequent labyrinth floors also went smoothly.
As we ascended, the structure grew slightly more complex, and the number of enemies and frequency of traps increased, but we faced no major crises. At most, we had to camp overnight on Floor 18. By the time we cleared it, the anxiety had vanished from the party's faces.
The day after returning from the labyrinth, Amkena granted us a day of rest, though naturally, we didn't spend it idly.
Although I didn't demand anything specific, the members of Party 1 voluntarily ramped up their training intensity. The same applied to Velkist and Nerissa, the new additions.
'Floor 20 is approaching.'
They knew full well what this signified.
Party 2 also filled its vacant spot and commenced operations.
A 2-star Hero with a hunter background, he would serve as Party 2's ranged attacker. I heard he had exclusively handled hunting duties on the 1st floor before moving up.
And when we returned to the 1st Floor Plaza after clearing Floor 19.
Amkena constructed a new facility.
[Constructing Facility. Please touch the desired facility type.]
['Repository Lv.1' selected. Build this facility?]
[Yes (Selected) / No]
Rumble rumble.
Along with the confirmation, a faint vibration shook the 1st floor.
Ignoring the vibration, we silently began tidying up, organizing the tools we had used and returning them to the warehouse. Light etched itself onto the wall of the 2nd Floor Plaza, visible above.
"That was easier than expected! Why did you scare us like that, saying we could starve to death!" Jenna said, putting down her empty backpack in the warehouse.
I reached for my own pack. Nerissa personally helped me take it off my shoulder.
"There were actually a few dangerous sections, like when the same path repeated multiple times. As for whose merit allowed us to break through easily..." Nerissa regarded me with a look mixed half with suspicion and half with admiration.
She seemed curious about my true identity.
"By the way, what facility is the Master building? It's been noisy for a while now." As the tidying up neared completion, Iolka spoke.
"A Repository. A place to store various things."
"Repository? Sounds like it overlaps with the warehouse."
"The meaning is slightly different."
I exited the warehouse.
The vibrations ceased, and soon, the construction completion message appeared.
[Repository Construction Complete! You can now reminisce about the Heroes who have departed to the Goddess's embrace.]
[Tip: In the Album of Memories, you can view illustrations and data of deceased Heroes. However, this requires the Hero's keepsake to be enshrined in the Repository.]
A marble door had materialized on the wall of the 2nd Floor Plaza.
It was the Repository's entrance. Looking back at Iolka who was following, I said,
"It's our tomb."
"Tomb?" Iolka's face visibly stiffened.
"Seems the Master is also preparing for Floor 20."
"Building a tomb counts as preparation? What is that? How creepy! And why call it a Repository?!" Iolka shuddered.
The other three, emerging slightly later, were also listening to our conversation.
"It's similar to a columbarium. Of course, we can't recover bodies. You place keepsakes they used in life inside."
"What a ridiculous facility. Are they planning to hold memorials or something? Instead of building that, it'd be better to renovate the training center," Velkist scoffed and headed up the stairs first.
The Repository.
It wasn't a facility particularly favored by other Masters.
Its construction cost Gems and materials, yet it offered almost no practical function. At best, one could review illustrations of deceased Heroes and recordings of their final moments.
However, according to my analysis, the Repository was more important than it seemed.
Amkena was merely following 'Loki's Guide'.
'Handling Heroes after death.'
Countless Heroes die during the ascent in Pick Me Up.
Death during missions was impartial, claiming Heroes raised with affection just as readily as those treated carelessly. It had been the same for me. I had lost numerous Heroes leading up to the current main party. Building and maintaining the Repository was a means to significantly reduce the stress levels of comrades after a Hero's death.
"I actually think it's kind of nice," Jenna countered. "It shows the Master cares about us, doing something like this. I just thought when you died, that was the end."
"It's ominous!" Iolka insisted. "Like someone's guaranteed to die on Floor 20!"
"Aw, but we have Oppa. It'll be fine, just like Floor 15! Right, Oppa?" Jenna looked towards me and grinned.
I shrugged.
"What do you mean 'fine' on Floor 15? We nearly all died!" Iolka retorted.
"All's well that ends well, right? It'll be the same this time. Let's not worry about it. None of us are going to end up in there, anyway." Jenna gave me a quick wink, then dragged Iolka up towards the 2nd floor.
Only Nerissa and I remained in the 1st Floor Plaza.
Nerissa approached me and spoke. "She's a strong young woman."
"She wouldn't have lasted this long without that attitude. That's why I keep her around."
"Regardless, Floor 20 is next. A difficult mission awaits, no doubt. Though I have my suspicions about what it might entail." Nerissa's complexion was tight with tension.
I gave a slight chuckle and asked, "Scared?"
"Hardly. If I were, I would have quietly settled for a support role."
"It's not too late, even now."
Nerissa shook her head firmly. She gave me a silent bow and headed up to the 2nd floor.
I remained standing idly for a while in the deserted 1st Floor Plaza.
The next morning.
The members of Party 1 gathered in the training center.
I glanced upwards.
The sky shimmered with iridescent light. Unusually, the Master had logged in this early.
For the first time, Amkena dispatched Party 2 into the dungeon—Floor 16 and above. With the main party's climb section complete, it seemed she intended to start developing the sub-party.
"You all know Floor 20 is right around the corner, yes?" I said, looking over the faces of Party 1.
The four nodded in unison.
"I won't waste words. Increase your training intensity. We've focused on formation and cooperative training recently; now, concentrate on improving individual capabilities."
My current level is 18. Two levels remain until the cap for the Floor 20 section.
However, despite gaining two levels while climbing the past four floors, I hadn't been able to level up my skills. I was too focused on integrating the new members and devising new formations.
"We still have quite a bit of time. Party 2 isn't ready yet. Neither are we, fully."
I found a decent route for grinding experience on Floor 18.
We would repeat clearing Floor 18 until the main members' levels were maxed out [for the section]. We needed to complete our preparations for Floor 20 within that timeframe.
"The estimated timeframe is about 10 days. I'll outline what each of you needs to focus on. Jenna, you first."
"Yes, Oppa."
"From now on, practice with the longbow. Commission a decent one from the crafters. Until you learn the 'Power Shot' skill [assuming '강궁' is a skill name], drop everything else and focus solely on that."
If dragons appear on Floor 20, they'll likely have tough scales.
A longbow capable of piercing them, along with a supporting skill, is essential. Jenna acknowledged.
"Iolka. Increase the power of your flame magic. Reach Tier 4 if possible."
"Tier 4? That won't be easy..."
"I'm not forcing you. Just do your best to get there."
"Understood."
On Floor 20, we'll need high-damage magic, not just spells for clearing trash mobs.
Iolka's mana reserves and spell potency had also noticeably increased since she first arrived. I remembered her muttering that she might be able to break the Tier 4 barrier soon. After seeing Iolka nod, I continued.
"Next, you two. Is there anything specific you need instruction on?"
Velkist shook his head, but added, "There are a few skills I'm curious about. I'd appreciate your guidance."
"Don't worry about that. [I'll help]."
Thanks to the research effects, Velkist could also view the skill window. Lately, he seemed focused on figuring out how to properly utilize Wildness, Insight, and his other skills. While I could dictate his development path like with Jenna and Iolka, it didn't suit Velkist's personality. I decided to trust his judgment.
"I plan to visit the Daily Dungeons," Nerissa said finally.
"Will you be okay skipping personal training?"
"I believe preparing the poison will be more beneficial than my personal training." Nerissa gave me a significant look.
I see. Nerissa had grasped the implications for Floor 20 even without me explicitly stating them. The five-floored Golden Mansion... she must have deduced long ago what awaited on the final floor.
'Poison.'
The variety of Daily Dungeons available at these lower floors wasn't vast. But it wouldn't be a wasted effort. I approved her plan as well.
"Starting today, there's no fixed schedule. You're free to manage your own time. However, don't slack off. Not if you want to live."
"If this party were that lax, I wouldn't have joined in the first place," Velkist retorted. He picked up his scabbard from beside his chair and stood.
"Let's start immediately. Fight me. With live blades."
"This early in the morning?"
"Is there really a distinction between morning and night when it comes to fighting?"
'An interesting challenge.' I grinned and gripped my own scabbard.
This guy was quite something. No matter how many times I beat him, his spirit remained unbroken. His mindset was fundamentally different from Aaron's, Dika's, or Usher's.
"So I just need to ask them to make a longbow?" Jenna confirmed.
"Yes. Order heavy arrows along with it."
If I disregarded Amkena's likely scrutiny, I could craft it myself, but the workshop's skill was surprisingly decent. Entrusting it to them once should be fine. I didn't stop Jenna.
As Velkist and I headed towards the training arena, Iolka called out.
"Let me join the sparring too!" Iolka was biting her lip determinedly.
"You call this practical training, so why am I always left out? I can fight too!"
"Didn't you say you didn't want to?"
"I've changed my mind. I refuse to end up in that creepy Repository!"
I hesitated for a moment.
Until now, Iolka hadn't participated in sparring. She had actively refused, and it was inherently dangerous. Flame magic doesn't distinguish between friend and foe. Furthermore, with her increased level and skill rank, her firepower had become excessive; a direct hit could potentially incinerate someone instantly.
"Are you sure? I won't hold back."
"Th-that's what I want." Iolka swallowed hard.
'Well, I planned to include her eventually anyway.'
And so, Iolka was included among the sparring members.
"But I wanted to fight you, Senior," Velkist complained.
I let Velkist's complaint go in one ear and out the other.