A few days later…
"Hyah!"
A powerful sword slash cut down two harpies in one singular motion.
The wielder was a huge bulky middle-aged man with a thick black beard.
His name was Gerson Friar, a new member of Party 1 and replacement for Trudy.
[Stage Clear!]
['Cecily (★★)', 'Gerson (★)' levelled up]
[MVP – 'Jonah (★)']
[Reward – 1000G]
This was our third time clearing the fourth floor. Second with Gerson.
It was around yesterday morning that master excluded Trudy from Party 1 and made us go retry the second to the fourth floor with our new member.
The reason for Trudy's exclusion was simple.
Trudy's swordsmanship skill was stuck at level 2.
Meanwhile for Gerson, not only did his sword and shield skills had combined into a Sword-Shield Technique, his skill level had also reached level 3.
It was just one level below Shanny's but one level above Trudy's.
Objectively speaking, Gerson triumphed Trudy in terms of skill.
And in terms of experience, Gerson had been going to the first, second, and third floor trials numerous times with the other makeshift parties[1].
Safe to say, he was the best combatant after the members of Party 1.
Though I knew how hard Trudy been trying to improve herself, I could not object to master's decision on replacing her.
Moreover, after going through a few floors with him, Gerson quickly matched well with the members of Party 1.
He understood his role as a rear guard to protect Cecily and I. He was also strong enough to support the two vanguards in the front without compromising his role in the formation.
It was a bit sad to exclude Trudy, but I still welcomed Gerson's addition to our party.
After all, we were here to survive. Not to make friends.
"You were really strong back there, uncle!"
Cecily complimented.
"Haha, I was just trying to do my best."
Gerson replied humbly.
"Did you have any combat training before coming here?"
Jonah asked.
"Not really. But the docks where I used to work at was swarming with mercenaries. I might remember hearing them saying a thing or two about how to kill a monster."
He said again.
Gerson made a mention once that he used to work as a labor man in a huge harbor, which would explain his rough and bulky physique.
"Well, I was hesitant to make my mind about you since you replaced Trudy. But I'll look forward to fighting with you again, old man."
Shanny said with a look of approval.
She and Trudy did start training together. They undeniably had a close relationship to each other compared to the rest of us.
"Thank you, everyone! I will work hard to clear the fifth floor with you youngsters!"
Gerson enthusiastically stated with a slight bow.
I stared at the shining mirror upon his statement.
[Climb the tower and save the world!]
[Main Dungeon]
[Floor conquered - 4 -]
We had been going to the fourth floor for a few times now. It was about time we go to the next floor.
Now that our party had become more well-rounded, it was ideal for us to resume our climb. Especially since the monsters in the first to the fourth floor had become barely a threat to us.
If things went as they usually would, we would climb to the fifth floor tomorrow.
But alas, things did not go the way I expected.
The next day, master did not summon us. They instead sent the other makeshift parties to retry the lower floors.
It was the same for the day after.
And the next.
It was only after a week that we were called.
But instead of going to the fifth floor, we went to the third and the fourth floor.
"Aren't we supposed to go to the fifth floor now?"
Shanny asked as we returned from clearing the fourth floor for the fourth time.
"Let's just wait. Master probably was focusing the last couple of days managing the other parties. After all, we just recently switched up the members."
I told them.
"Gerson has not been with us that long too. Master probably think we need more time to improve our teamwork."
Jonah supported me.
We all agreed on that line of thinking.
But then we spent the next week, repeating the third and the fourth floor over and over again.
"What is master thinking? Why are we not going to the fifth floor?"
Shanny spoke out loud.
Every member of the lobby, not just Party 1, were gathered in the dining hall.
From Gerrits and the craftsmen, Pauline and the kitchen staffs, as well as Trudy and the members from the makeshift parties.
Due to master's odd behavior, we could not help but be curious and decided to gather together and discuss the situation.
"This is definitely odd. Master had never delayed the climb this long."
Jonah commented.
"Even to those outside Party 1 had no problems handling the fourth floor now. Master knew that."
Trudy said.
"So why would master refuses to resume climbing?"
Cecily asked.
Indeed. At this point in time, each member of Party 1 could clear the fourth floor alone if we wanted to.
The other parties could also clear it easily as a team. Alone even if they had to, given how much they each had levelled up and improved in strength.
Master surely knew what we were capable of.
And yet they still hesitated.
Could it be…
"What do you think, Serafina?"
Jonah addressed me. He and the others could see me deep in thought.
Now that I thought about it, I perhaps had figured out the reason why master was delaying the climb.
"Serafina? Do you actually know something?"
Jonah asked again.
"What if the fifth floor isn't anything like we've faced before?"
I told them.
"What do you mean?"
"It is as you guys said: master knew what we're capable of. And yet they're still sending us to repeat the third and the fourth floor."
Jonah immediately formed a frown.
"'Master thinks we're not ready?' Is that what you're saying?"
"I believe so. Yes."
Shanny shook her head in confusion.
"Hold on! Are you suggesting the fifth floor is much more difficult than the trials we've been to so far?"
She asked.
I could not say 'yes' for I was only assuming at this point.
But I replied with something just as equal.
"Increase your training load. Make it more intense than ever. From now on, train as if you're preparing for the biggest fight of your life."
[1] A party which members were rearranged constantly. They did not have a fixed lineup like Party 1.