Pick Me Up! Chapter 30

#30

30. Sub Party

the next morning.

I washed my face and went out to the restaurant. Chloe, who was wearing an apron, said.

“Hello, Mr. Han.”

I nodded.

Bread was placed on the table instead of baked potatoes.

“What is this?”

“It’s bread. He said he was a baker.”

Chloe pointed at the woman who was smiling awkwardly next to her. She was one of the new arrivals yesterday. She doesn’t have wheat among the ingredients in the restaurant. It looks like it’s made from mashed potatoes.

“Wheat is in the plateau, so you can get it yourself.”

I took a bite of a piece of bread and left the inn.

Good for you. If the variety of food increases, the stress level in the waiting room can be reduced.

In the plaza, Enoch, who came out of the warehouse, was on his way to the armory. He was pulling a cart full of lumber, with two strangers beside him.

Enoch nodded at me and then walked past me.

I entered the training camp.

He joined up with Jenna, Aaron, and Dika who were waiting and started basic physical training.

As the basic training was coming to an end, a familiar figure joined the training center. A female mercenary in black leather armor. She was Edith Carlen. She bowed her head to me.

“Please take care of me.”

Without saying a word, I picked up my sword and dagger from the weapon rack. It was a practice weapon without a blade. I tossed it, and Edith took it in a daze.

“What is this?”

“If you entrust your back, you need to know your power. It’s basic.”

“That’s right.”

Edith smiled faintly and swung the dagger with one hand. Then, lowering his stance, he prepared himself for battle.

I checked Edith’s status window. Edith, who had absorbed a large amount of sacrifices yesterday, had reached level 3. Even if he was 3, his stats were superior to that of Aaron, who was level 5. The skill level was also higher.

‘But it’s still not enough.’

I straightened the wooden sword.

Edith coldly lit her eyes and ran.

The battle ended with my victory.

Lightening was not used. Because last night, I was suffering from a headache, whether it was a side effect or not. I decided to refrain from using it except in practice.

Even so, Edith was no match for me.

Edith said with a wry smile.

“You’re strong. Being a farmer was a lie.”

“You’re misunderstanding something. Xena!”

“yes?”

“You face it. With a dagger.”

“My main weapon is a bow!”

Even though she was gossiping, Jenna held up her practice dagger.

For a moment, Edith caught her breath on the floor and stood up. She then repositioned herself with a keen eye.

After the fight, Jenna wiped the sweat from her forehead.

“Whee, it was dangerous.”

The result ended in a narrow victory for Jenna. The level difference was bigger than the grade difference.

Edith muttered in a broken voice.

“To think that such a young girl is stronger than me…”

“I’m not young. I ate enough to eat.”

“Are you both mercenaries? Or are you from famous samurai families?”

“No. I’m just an ordinary hunter’s daughter. We weren’t that strong at first either. We were probably a lot weaker than my sister. But after training and fighting here, we got stronger, and now we’re like this.”

“If those guys didn’t show up and steadily developed their strength, I’d be in trouble too.”

Edith is weaker than us in her current state, but she has skills and growth that are superior to 1 star. As the level goes up, the gap will narrow.

“Deception, deception! No matter how hard I try, I can’t catch up!”

Aaron, who was running on the track, exclaimed as if he was unfair.

ignored

“Anyway, here you can be as strong as you try. Don’t neglect your training. Whoever you are.”

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

I slowly looked around the training ground.

Aaron is running with a sandbag. Dika is swinging a sword at a wooden doll on the right side of the training ground. Me, Edith, and Jenna.

And there were two or three men wielding weapons.

It was the aftermath of yesterday’s mass synthesis. Each one is training with desperate movements. I can’t help it if I don’t want to die. I have no choice but to raise my own value.

still few in number

If you were to rate the number of people gathered here, it would be less than half.

I thought of the two men attached to Enoch, who seemed bothersome.

It would be easier to fall into an auxiliary job than to fight. However, positions for assistant positions are limited. As of right now, at most two per facility. The rest is completely synthetic.

It’s not my business.

I said everything.

I stared at the young man wielding a sword in a particularly sweaty manner.

The basic posture is held. It was one of those who were almost killed by the maned wolf yesterday, and it has two stars. His name is Usher. He is the first 2-star hero since Mormont. He had a lower level swordsmanship level 1.

As I stared at him, Usher fidgeted and swung his sword awkwardly.

“you.”

“You mean that?”

Usher was startled.

Age around early 20’s. She has a dagger strapped to her waist. However, it was not a high-quality weapon like Edith’s, but a scrap item that wouldn’t be strange if it broke at any time.

“There’s someone besides you. Come closer.”

“All right.”

The man slowly approached me.

“My name is Usher Roderick.”

“know.”

You can tell that much by looking at the stat window.

“yes…….”

“Did you hear the explanation about this place yesterday?”

“I heard. There is an existence called Master, and we were summoned to fight here. I also took in what you said yesterday.”

I took out a wooden sword from the display stand. and get into position

“You know what I’m about to do?”

“I know.”

Usher raised his wooden sword with a nervous expression.

However, the gaze is directed in this direction. He didn’t look away or even step back.

‘At least the basics are in place.’

“What are you doing outside?”

“The mercenary’s porter…”

Usher muttered and looked at Edith.

Edith was practicing archery with Jenna at the shooting range.

“Carrying luggage, standing guard, making camp…”

“It seems like you know how to fight.”

“Because I wanted to become a mercenary.”

Usher gave a self-deprecating laugh.

“Goes.”

“yes.”

I jumped up and ran. The sword drew an arc. Usher let go of his sword and sat down.

Although it was one accord, even though they were trembling, they did not close their eyes all the way.

It would be the difference between 1 and 2 stars.

That evening, the weeding out of the newcomers began.

Whether it was aspiring to an assistant position or not, the Master did not distinguish. Aaron volunteered to participate, but was not accepted. two people died And two more were synthesized. The synthesis target is Usher. He became level 3.

Others entered the daily dungeon as a routine.

The mine where you can get the fire attribute stone has not been opened yet.

And again that morning.

At my call, 6 people gathered at the training ground. Me, Jenna, Aaron, d!cka, Edith, Usher. Usher and Dika’s skills are a bit lacking, but they are immediately capable of being put into a dungeon.

“Why is it early in the morning? I’m going to die of sleepiness.”

“shut up.”

He left the grumbling Jenna alone and continued.

“Does anyone know why I called you guys here?”

“…”

The group was silent.

Then, suddenly, Dika raised her hand and answered.

“Are you choosing a member?”

“Isn’t the party decided by the master?”

“I can make a suggestion.”

Perhaps Amkena will not be able to refuse.

There is a principle that many people, including myself, emphasize in the pick me up strategy. The strategy I wrote is also focused on.

d!cka bowed her head with a melancholy expression. The maximum number of people per party is five. He seemed to think he was going to be eliminated, just like in the threesome.

“Release your expression. It’s not like you’re abandoning someone.”

“then…….”

“From now on, we’ll be split into two parties. There are six of us, so we can split into three for now.”

If you can clear all floors with one party, there is no need to split the party.

But this game is not like that. As the floor goes up, the number of parties required for the mission gradually increases. Dozens to hundreds of people on special missions.

Also, it was essential to raise a sub-party in case the main party was annihilated in an unexpected accident.

“Two leaders. One is me. The other is Edith.”

“me?”

Edith blinked and pointed at herself.

“do not want to do it?”

“It’s not like that, but Jenna rather than me…”

“He can’t.”

“What about me! I can do well too.”

Illusion is free.

Edith asked.

“By the way, why should we have a party?”

It’s a bit hard to explain here. There are many ears listening.

I called Edith to the plaza and explained.

The first reason to split a party is to reduce the risk of annihilation.

If you invest everything in the main party and it goes bankrupt, you will not be able to recover it. Therefore, the master usually divides power and deploys it. It is similar to diversifying stocks.

The second is to increase training efficiency by competing with multiple parties.

The first or second principle is understandable from the point of view of a master, not a hero, but you need to know it if you are going to lead a party anyway. I explained this too.

Edith seems to have been instilled with the general concept, but there were many things that got confused in the details. While he was explaining, he took time to slowly introduce concepts such as levels and skills.

The final reason for the party is that, as I said before, five people cannot cover all floors.

“It becomes difficult when too much power is concentrated in one party.”

“That’s right?”

The 5th floor was an example.

The difference in skills between the members was severe, and the whole party was in crisis as Gide and Hanson fell behind.

This also applies to large-scale missions.

Missions can be divided between each party, and if one party does not do its job, the other party may suffer damage. I needed a proper sub party that wouldn’t hold my ankle.

“Wouldn’t there be a lack of staff?”

“The Master will fill in for himself.”

The car was chosen randomly last time, but there are principles for paid summons.

One can only hope that Amkena learns that.

After sending Edith back to the training center, I brought back the items I had prepared in my room. It was a round tube filled with long paper.

I said as I put it on the training ground.

“It’s a lot.”

“What kind of lottery is this?”

“Did I ever do anything bad to you? Follow me in silence.”

There are four swallows in the barrel. I painted the ends of the swallows with red and blue pens, respectively.

“I’m red. Edith’s blue.”

“Are you splitting the team with this?”

“Don’t be happy if you’re on my side, and don’t be disappointed if you’re on Edith’s side. It’s all the same anyway.”

When a strong sub-party is equipped, the Master will never treat that party carelessly. This is because it becomes as important as the main party.

Of course, the blown sub party is not cheap.

“Even if the guys who know how to fight like Edith are summoned, we’ll draw lots. In that case, Edith and I will draw.”

When the leaders of the main and sub parties select heroes to become members, it is called a draft in Pick Me Up terms. Originally, it was a method used only by veteran heroes worn out in the waiting room, but it is possible if I have it.

“Anyway, the team is decided by drawing lots!”

Jenna cast lots for the barrel without hesitation.

It was red.

“I was going to flip it over if it was blue, but it worked.”

“I’m next.”

Aaron drew lots with a nervous expression.

Red.

“You don’t even have to pull the rest.”

Deca and Usher are blue. The complexion of the two people darkened. Edith sighed deeply.

“You mean I’m not trustworthy.”

“That, that’s not it. Just.”

“I know. You don’t have to tell me. I haven’t been here in a while, and it’s all true.”

If you look at it objectively, the power difference is severe, but it can’t be helped.

You cannot overturn the established rules.

“Today we are disbanded here.”

The four left the training camp. Edith sits blankly on the training ground. I said.

“Edith.”

“huh?”

“If you can’t follow us, you will be abandoned.”

“That’s right. I saw it synthesized yesterday. Don’t worry. I won’t lose.”

“It’s enough to know. I won’t care, so you raise those two on your own.”

“I will.”

As I headed home, I whispered in my heart.

‘Party 1, me, Jenna, Aaron. 2nd party, Edith, Usher, d!cka.’

[Hero ‘Han(★)’ proposes a fixed party!]

[‘1 party’ configuration plan]

[‘Han(★)’, ‘Jenna(★)’, ‘Aaron(★)’]

[‘Party 2’ composition plan]

[‘Edith(★★★)’, ‘Usher(★★)’, ‘Dica(★)’]

[Tips/Sometimes the hero makes suggestions like this. Other than accepting it, it’s a master’s ability. Make a wise decision!]

I closed the door and went in. The message just now will be visible when the master connects.

As a result, the offer was accepted.

I thought maybe he would get mad at me and reject me, but it seems he wasn’t.