"How about you let go of this hand?" Edith challenged.
"You first," I retorted.
I tightened my grip on the slip of paper. Not about to back down, Edith gripped it back firmly. Our hands met over the middle of the lot.
At the same time, I turned my head to the woman and said,
"You!"
"Are you talking to me?" the woman replied, blinking.
"Yes, you. Are you a magician?"
"To put it simply... yes, that's right." The woman made the flame resting on her palm swell significantly.
For a moment, heat radiated throughout the square.
No need to ask further. Only a magician could do something like that. I immediately pulled up her status window.
[Iolka Libel Strassuhr (★★★) Lv.1(Exp 0/10)]
[Class: Magician]
[STR: 7/7]
[INT: 31/31]
[CON: 8/8]
[AGI: 7/7]
[Owned Skills: Intermediate Fire Magic (Lv.2)]
'Confirmed.'
Having a magician in the party widens tactical possibilities immensely—on a whole different level. Edith knew this, which was why she wasn't letting go either.
In Pick Me Up, while warrior or rogue types could be raised from 1-star and promoted, magicians were different. They were rare talents only obtainable through paid summons. Correspondingly, their summon rate was also extremely low.
"Give it up nicely," Edith argued. "If you guys take the man (Roderick), your party balance should be fine."
"Do I look like a pushover to you?" I shot back.
While we squabbled over the slip, Jenna approached Iolka, her eyes sparkling.
"A magician! It's the first time I've seen one! I'd only heard rumors that people like you existed."
"But this place..." Iolka began.
"It's called the Waiting Room. It's where people like us, who've been summoned, stay," Jenna explained.
"The Waiting Room?" Iolka furrowed her brow, touching her forehead. "Strange. I've never felt like this before."
"You can take your time thinking about it. We have plenty of time," Jenna reassured her. "What are those two doing over there?" she asked, indicating Edith and me.
"What are they doing...? Ah, speaking of which, you two peeked at the lots, didn't you! That's cheating! It's supposed to be decided by luck," Jenna scolded us.
Jenna wedged herself between us, snatched the tube, and turned her back. Then she shook it vigorously.
"I'm shuffling them again. No peeking this time."
"What are you doing?" Iolka asked Jenna.
"Simple," I answered Iolka. "We're deciding which party you'll join."
"Join which party?"
"You're slower on the uptake than the man next to you," I commented dryly.
"Grasping the situation?! I was just dragged to this bizarre place out of nowhere!" Iolka raised her voice, clearly annoyed.
Roderick, who stood with his arms crossed and eyes closed, muttered, "Try to remember carefully."
Iolka narrowed her eyes as she thought about something, then winced. "Ugh..."
"Starting to remember?" I asked.
"It's... unpleasant," Iolka replied.
"Agreed," Roderick chimed in.
Having finished shuffling, Jenna placed the tube between us again.
"No cheating this time. Fair and square," she warned.
"Alright, alright," I conceded.
"No complaints no matter who gets which," Jenna added.
"Of course," Edith and I said almost in unison.
"I'll go first," Edith declared. She took a shallow breath and drew the left slip.
Red.
I smirked. "No complaints, remember."
Edith bit her lip silently.
Roderick wasn't a bad pick, admittedly. Edith's party—made up of two swordsmen (Asher/Dika) and a dagger-wielder (Edith)—lacked a dedicated mid-range fighter. Though a magician would have been preferable, of course.
In any case, the results were in. Iolka for Party 1, Roderick for Party 2.
I recalled the sensation from requesting the duel earlier. I had already explained to Edith how to initiate this process as well.
['Han (★)' wishes for 'Iolka (★★★)' to join 'Party 1'. Accept?]
[Yes (Selected) / No]
['Iolka (★★★)' joins 'Party 1'!]
['Edith (★★★)' wishes for 'Roderick (★★★)' to join 'Party 2'...]
The party assignments were complete.
Next, Amkena tapped the Synthesis Lab menu.
'Figures.'
What happened next was predictable. Two 1-star heroes, who had been clinging to the support personnel trying to learn a trade skill, were dragged out by Isele. Among them was the young man who had tearfully asked me for advice previously.
"Mr. Han! Mr. Han! Didn't you say I could survive if I worked hard?! This is unfair! It's too unfair!" he cried out.
'He didn't manage to learn a support skill, then.'
I silently turned my head away.
Having shoved the two into the Synthesis Lab, Isele spoke.
[Iolka Strassuhr! You're a magician, right? Just who we needed, good timing! There are offerings over there, so get in the Synthesis Lab.]
"Offerings?" Iolka questioned.
"Just get inside," I said flatly. "Unless you want to be thrown down gracelessly."
At my words, Iolka entered the Synthesis Lab, looking bewildered.
A moment later.
[Synthesis Complete!]
['Yon (★)' and 'Jenin (★)' fade into light.]
['Iolka (★★★)' leveled up!]
Next, it was Roderick's turn. Sensing trouble, the remaining 1-stars locked themselves in their rooms, but Isele simply ripped off the door handles and dragged out more offerings.
In the end, all four sacrificed were aspirants for support roles. A few had managed to learn a skill just in time to avoid synthesis. Whether that was down to talent or effort, I couldn't say.
Emerging from the Synthesis Lab, Roderick muttered, his face grim, "Horrific..."
"Ahaha... It's okay. You can survive if you work hard," Jenna said with an awkward laugh.
Aaron and Dika kept their heads lowered.
Having finished the synthesis, the Master proceeded.
['Iolka (★★★)' registered to Favorites.]
['Roderick (★★★)' registered to Favorites.]
[Open, Dimensional Rift!]
Clunk.
The gate at the front of the square opened.
"This..." Edith started.
"They're testing the newcomers," I finished. "Looks like your party is up first."
[Party 2! Enter the Dimensional Rift! Go!]
As usual, Isele appeared.
Edith heaved a sigh and rose from the bench. Dika and Asher followed suit.
"Let's go."
"Yes, ma'am."
"You too, mister," Edith said to Roderick. "You're the star of this battle."
Roderick's expression hardened as he drew the long spear from his back. He followed Party 2 into the dimensional rift.
The gate closed.
I addressed Iolka, who was staring blankly at the floor.
"Hey."
"Are you speaking to me?"
"Who else would I be talking to?"
"Hey, I'm here too," Jenna chimed in.
I gave Jenna a light smack and continued.
"What spells can you use?" I asked Iolka.
"Why do you ask?" she countered.
"Why are you asking that? Don't you want to fight?"
"I..." Iolka mumbled dazedly. "I... why am I... here..."
"Weren't you brought here to fight?" I pressed.
"This is ridiculous! Having to fight for some unknown reason in a place I don't even know!" she exclaimed.
"It's either that, or end up like the ones you just absorbed," I stated bluntly.
"..." Her memories seemed scrambled, but she wasn't entirely unaware. Dejected, Iolka slumped onto the bench next to me.
"I'll ask again. What spells can you use?"
"Fire magic. I can use fire magic up to the third tier."
I already knew she used fire magic from her status window.
"I know that. Any other spells? Support magic, like teleportation?"
"That's the kind of magic only third-rate mages learn," she retorted haughtily.
"So you can't use it, then."
"Got a problem with that? If I showed you my magic, you'd be blown away," she declared.
'A bit disappointing.' Support spells are generally more versatile than purely offensive ones. I asked because there's always a chance of awakening a skill even if it's not listed, but apparently not.
Still, a mage was a mage.
"From now on, you fight with us. You understand that, right?"
"I understand," she replied sullenly. "Though I'm thoroughly displeased about it."
"Do you have experience fighting monsters?"
"Of course! My nickname was the Witch of Libel!"
So, she knew fire magic and had monster combat experience. Iolka seemed more annoyed by the situation than frightened. Good. As expected of a 3-star, she seemed usable as immediate combat strength.
There was still some time before Party 2 returned. I used the time to ask what she knew about 'Pick Me Up'. Iolka answered haltingly. The basics were the same as Edith: she understood summoning and synthesis but didn't know the detailed concepts like levels and star ratings.
"Why did you ask about the spells I can use? Do you actually know anything about magic?" Iolka asked suspiciously.
"Not really. I don't know much about it."
I don't know much about magic. That wasn't technically a lie. Absurd things like magic didn't exist on Earth. In 'Pick Me Up', physical class heroes could generally be categorized, but mages were different. Their individual abilities varied so much it was hard to pin down a type. You couldn't know how best to utilize one without seeing them in action. Handling mages was one of the biggest challenges for novice Masters. Of course, having seen and analyzed hundreds of different types of magic myself, I could usually figure them out somehow.
A short while later, Party 2 returned to the square. No casualties. Since it was just a test run, they likely just did a tour of the lower floors. Edith didn't look displeased. It seemed Roderick had performed better than expected.
Next, it was Party 1's turn.
At Isele's summons, we entered the dimensional rift.
Aaron, adjusting his grip on his spear, spoke. "This is my first time seeing a mage too. I thought they only existed in stories."
"Are mages really that rare?" I asked.
"Don't you know, Boss? I've traveled quite a bit selling wares, but I've never once seen a mage," Aaron replied.
"Me neither! First time!" Jenna added excitedly.
"That's because you were always stuck in the forest," I pointed out.
I glanced back at Iolka. She was slowly observing the dimensional rift. She didn't exactly inspire confidence visually. For starters, her attire was distracting. We'd find out the results soon enough.
I focused my gaze on the mirror to our left.
[Ascend the Tower, Save the World!]
[Main Dungeon: Current Ascent Floor - 7]
'We'll probably go to the 4th floor.' The higher floors were currently inaccessible. If the goal was to test her magic, the 4th floor, with its mix of harpies and goblins, was appropriate. The question was, what kind of mage was she? Fire magic leans heavily offensive, but even then, application varies based on the individual. Depending on her style, our party formation would need to adapt, shifting slightly from the standard front-mid-rear setup used with physical classes.
I told Aaron and Jenna, "When the fight starts, we hang back."
"Why?" Jenna asked.
"We need to see what kind of spells she uses."
"What?!" Aaron protested.
Besides, any one of us three could handle the 4th floor alone. Iolka was only Level 2, but she was still a 3-star. She should be capable of that much.
"Not confident?" I taunted Iolka. "Didn't you just say you'd blow us away if you showed us your magic?"
"But...! I'm special, you know."
"Special?"
"A-Anyway, you'll be surprised when you see!" she stammered slightly.
I laughed internally. Since arriving here, I'd witnessed dozens of absurd and unbelievable sights. I doubted a woman shooting fire from her hands would shock me at this point.
[Alright, let's go! Han, fighting!] Isele's voice echoed as her form faded. Light streamed from the mirror on the left.
[Main Dungeon, Current Challenge Floor: 8th Floor.]
[The gate will open in 10 seconds. Prepare yourselves!]
My expression twisted. "8th floor! Everyone, weapons out!"
"But you just said to hang back..." Aaron started.
"Quiet!"
'That bastard.' Guess testing her on the 4th floor was too boring for you? I hadn't expected us to be sent climbing two floors in a row.
I drew my sword. Then I secured my shield to my left arm. Light enveloped us, transporting us to an unfamiliar location.
A barren wasteland stretched out before us. Far in the distance, I could see the city walls we'd encountered on the 6th floor. Jenna tilted her head. "Huh, that looks familiar..."
Thump-thump-thump.
The sound of ground-shaking footsteps reached us.
From behind.
"Everyone, move!" I yelled.
Jenna leaped quickly to the side. Aaron followed. Iolka was just staring blankly ahead.
"Don't freeze!"
I grabbed Iolka and tackled her sideways in a roll. The fabric of her dress momentarily blocked my view. A blade swung through the obscured space. Still holding Iolka with my right arm, I parried it with my shield.
[Floor 8.]
[Mission Type - Subjugation]
[Objective - Annihilate all enemies!]
[Goblin Rider Lv.9 x 27]