I placed the warhorse statuette on top of the fountain.
I planned to take it with me when the day's schedule was done. Now that Amukena was back, things would get busy again starting today. There was a mountain of work left to do.
As I headed to the training ground where the members were gathered, Iseul tagged along.
[Loki, what if the Master hasn't changed? What will you do?]
"That won't happen."
I dismissed Iseul's concern.
I didn't know how much they would change, but the fact that they would change was certain. Just going to the official cafe for advice in the first place meant there had been a change in mindset. We would find out how much they understood the document I sent by watching what Amukena did.
"When's the next chance?"
[You mean for the internet?]
Iseul asked back.
I nodded.
[It might only take a month, or it could be over half a year. It depends on how quickly the residual interference power gathers.]
"What's this interference power?"
[It's the source that twists Moebius's causality and modifies its laws. When the Master connects and watches the Waiting Room or engages in activities, energy accumulates. The speed increases as the floor number goes up. And most importantly... Gems!]
Iseul spun around lightly and raised her right hand.
A sparkling blue gem was held in her right hand.
[This is the Gem! The crystallization of interference power, a jewel imbued with the power of creation.]
"You mean spending real money has that kind of power?"
[Of course! Strong intent resides in human money, you know. Cybermoney is fine, but cold hard cash is even better! If you bring cash to the headquarters, they give a 1% bonus on the payment. Didn't you know?]
'Petty.'
There probably wouldn't be many people going all the way to headquarters just for a mere 1%.
Anyway, I now knew that this contact with Amukena wasn't the last.
While laying the groundwork like this, if I saw them deviating, I could just correct it during the next contact.
If I got some more breathing room, I planned to investigate my fate in the real world, Moebius, and Pick Me Up itself. There was still so much I didn't know. To do that, it seemed I needed to speed things up a bit, since I had to gather that 'interference power'.
The initial contact was over. Now it was time to observe the changes.
After parting ways with Iseul, I entered the training ground. The members of Party 1 were scattered around, training. I stepped between Jaina and Aaron, who were sparring.
"Huh, Oppa?"
"Stop. I have something to say. Get Iolka over here too."
A short while later, the members of Party 1 gathered in one place.
I immediately said.
"Effective immediately, the participation ban is lifted."
The three of them stared at me with bewildered expressions.
I briefly explained that the Master was going to change.
Jaina grinned and said.
"It didn't matter to me what the Master was like, but still, this is good."
Aaron silently gripped his spear.
Iolka glanced between the other two and me, then sighed and let her shoulders slump.
All three agreed. A system message appeared along with a sound effect.
['Party 1' has become controllable.]
[Excellent, Master. The heroes have had a change of heart!]
"We've rested too much until now. Aren't you itching for some action?"
"No, I..."
I stared steadily at Iolka.
"Itching, itching! I am!"
"Good."
The three of them were in decent condition.
Due to the prolonged strike, they'd unintentionally had a long rest period.
[Han, Jaina, Aaron, Iolka!]
Iseul's voice calling for Party 1 echoed.
Immediate deployment. I went out to the plaza with the members.
Iseul was flitting busily around the plaza.
Amidst this, Aaron whispered.
"Hyungnim, even though you said the Master changed their mind, there are still only four of us. Aren't we missing one person?"
"Don't worry about that."
I chuckled.
Iseul called out again.
[Edith!]
"Edith Unni?"
Jaina tilted her head.
Edith, who came out a moment later, wore a questioning expression.
"Why me?"
[The Master requested you temporarily join Party 1. Are you in or out?]
Edith looked at me and then said.
"You lifted the participation ban?"
"As you can see."
"And the Master?"
"We'll see in time."
After considering for a moment, Edith made her decision.
"Alright. If you guys are okay with it."
['Party 2' has become controllable.]
The uncontrollable status of Party 2, including Edith, was lifted.
The leader's decision becomes the will of the entire party. This ruling wouldn't be possible unless the leader commanded high trust within the party.
[Forming party.]
[Drag and drop heroes!]
['Edith (★★★)' joins 'Party 1'!]
And Edith's affiliation was changed to Party 1.
Of course, this was a temporary measure.
'The duration is until we clear floor 15.'
Thanks to the sacrifice of Party 3, the advance team, it was concluded that floor 15 was a small-scale mission requiring only one party. If that was the case, there was no need to split the parties. If the teamwork was compatible, it was possible to mix elite members into a temporary party according to the Master's wishes. The standard procedure was to insert a new hero and raise them from level 1, but considerable time had already been lost due to the strike.
Pursuing efficiency without losing momentum.
I welcomed this approach too. Raising new members wouldn't be too late even after clearing floor 15. Besides, the leveling speed increases as the floors get higher, because new facilities and dungeons become available.
"I probably won't be staying long."
Edith scratched her cheek, looking a bit awkward.
"I don't plan on keeping you long."
"Well then, fine."
[Open, Rift of Space-Time!]
Clunk.
The large gate at the front of the plaza opened.
It was their first deployment in a while. Party 1, now joined by Edith, advanced into the circular room.
The door closed, and a notification indicating the floor number was displayed.
[Main Dungeon, current challenge floor is Floor 8.]
[Door opening in 10 seconds. Prepare yourselves!]
'Floor 8.'
I recalled my memory of it.
It was the stage where 27 Goblin Riders appeared.
The field was plains. I had a history of struggling quite a bit here, thanks to Iolka.
A dazzling light poured out from the mirror on the left side of the room.
When the light cleared, the familiar sight of the plains came into view.
Rumble rumble rumble.
The ground-shaking rumble from behind was also familiar.
I drew my sword and shield and said.
"You recognize this place, right?"
"Floor 8."
Aaron aimed his spear towards the rear.
Jaina nocked an arrow to her bowstring. Iolka calmly steadied her breath.
"Time to show the results of your training."
They hadn't just been slacking off during the strike.
While managing their condition, they had consistently repeated realistic training. Although they couldn't level up, they hadn't wasted a single day.
"I know!"
With the hem of her clothes fluttering, Iolka extended her right hand.
Towards it were the Goblin Riders charging at us.
Iolka's eyes shone blue.
[Flip!]
"Kiaaak?!"
The ground in front of the goblins flipped over and immediately surged upwards.
Scattering earth and stones swept away the goblin riders at the vanguard. Their formation instantly broke apart. It was a technique utilizing psychokinesis.
Ping! Pingpingping!
Having lowered her stance, Jaina fired arrows like rapid fire. The process of taking an arrow from her quiver, nocking it, and drawing the string flowed like water. It was the effect of Rapid Fire, an archer skill perfected through long training.
Her targets were the goblins aiming crossbows at Iolka.
The arrows unerringly pierced the goblins' vital spots. Not a single one managed to fire its bolt.
Unhindered, Iolka continued her casting.
The casting time was merely ten seconds or so.
[Ignite!]
Fwoosh!
Flames erupted from the ends of Iolka's sleeves, spreading out in a wide fan shape.
The flames struck the formation of Goblin Riders head-on.
Goblins engulfed in fire tumbled around along with their wolves.
Wolves charging from behind faltered and retreated. Having already incinerated several goblins and wolves, Iolka's flames writhed like living snakes, expanding their reach.
The straight-line formation collapsed in an instant.
The charging force, once like a sharp awl, lost its direction. Now, what remained were not Goblin Riders, but merely individual goblins and wolves milling about in confusion amidst the flames.
"Time for the clean-up."
I spun my sword once and plunged into the fray.
Flames spread beneath my feet. I paid them no mind; I hadn't learned Flame Resistance just for show. I slaughtered the goblins and wolves tumbling amidst the fire, one by one. A few resisted, but I crushed them easily. Aaron also joined the cleanup.
I plunged my sword into the back of the head of a goblin crawling away on the floor.
This was the last one.
[Stage Clear!]
['Aaron (★)', 'Iolka (★★★)' Level Up!]
[Reward – 3,000G, Wolf Pelt]
[MVP - 'Iolka (★★★)']
Combat finished.
I shook the blood off my sword and sheathed it.
"...Why was I called?"
Edith muttered in an empty voice.
I just smiled silently and exited the Rift of Space-Time.
It was definitely different from last time.
Back then, we had allowed the Goblin Riders to charge through several times.
Jaina's firing speed hadn't been fast enough to suppress the goblin crossbows, and Iolka, insisting on her one-minute-cast fire magic, had been an easy target. But now was different. Combat had become much more flexible. As a result, the 27 Goblin Riders were annihilated without completing a single charge.
'They just need to level up.'
Edith hadn't yet adapted to our party's style, but she fundamentally had excellent intuition. Therefore, as she went through more battles, she would naturally find her role.
[Roderick, Usher, Dika!]
As soon as Party 1 returned to the Waiting Room, Iseul called the members of Party 2.
With Roderick in the lead, two members came out to the plaza. It seemed the plan was to level up Party 2 as well. Edith shook her head and approached Party 2. I asked her.
"Planning to pull double duty?"
"Double duty? I didn't even do anything."
Edith smiled wryly.
And then she looked at the sky and whispered something.
['Edith (★★★)' wishes to join 'Party 2'.]
Soon, Edith's affiliation changed back to Party 2.
For the time being, she would lead a busy life going back and forth between Party 1 and Party 2.
The Rift of Space-Time closed.
"That's it for today, right? I'm totally drained from using magic."
Iolka stretched.
I looked at Jaina and Aaron and said.
"What about you two?"
"Training, of course. Floor 15 is coming up."
"You guys don't even get tired."
Iolka sighed and started walking towards the lodgings.
I grabbed Iolka's sleeve.
"What now?"
"We're not done."
"You're going to make me run, right? I told you, using magic is tiring!"
"Don't worry. It won't be physical."
"I don't believe you. You think this is the first time you've tricked me?"
I dragged the protesting Iolka back to the training ground.
There was something that should have been started from the moment a mage joined the Waiting Room. It was long overdue.
"Iseul."
[What is it?]
"We need to do some research."
[Aha!]
Nodding, Iseul disappeared.
Next, a tip popped up.
[Master, there is personnel available for research.]
[How about starting some research? The results obtained from research become the foundation for smooth Waiting Room operation!]
Amukena brought up the control window and tapped the research tab.
I took Iolka into the training ground.
The door leading to the Hall of Magic was open.