Pick Me Up!

[Wait, wait! Please! I worked hard on this!]

Iselle hurriedly flew towards me.

“What’s all this about?”

[It’s a celebration of Loki’s appointment!]

“Appointment?”

Iselle waved her hand in a circle, and a past system log appeared.

A hologram window decorated in white, with a blue potion bottle icon.

It was the research tab.

[Ding!]

[Research, ‘Hero Responsiveness,’ has reached Lv.10.]

Following that, a guidance message appeared.

[You can now appoint a ‘Sub Master’!]

[The Sub Master acts as the Master’s deputy, overseeing the waiting room’s operations and battles, and assisting in the Master’s tower conquest.]

[Tips/Sub Master is granted broader authority. Depending on the situation, the Sub Master can autonomously strategize for tower conquests. Experience the limits of AI that mimics human intelligence!]

I could guess the rest of the log without seeing it.

I closed the hologram window.

“So?”

[Yep, from now on, Loki is the Sub Master of Townia!]

“I don’t see why you’re making such a fuss about it.”

A lethargic Velkist yawned as he walked out.

Beside him were the figures of Jenna and Neryssa. Edis was there too.

“What are you all doing here?”

I was flabbergasted.

[Everyone’s here to celebrate… ack!]

Iselle’s cheeks were pulled mercilessly.

“Is this your doing?”

[No, no, I just… I was worried Han might leave Townia…]

“Don’t be so mean. That fairy did it thinking of you.”

Edis walked out with a smile.

“Congratulations, Han. You’ve been recognized.”

[Ahem, don’t get cocky now. Your ranks are different now, you know!]

“Should I start using honorifics? Han-nim.”

“I might die from cringing, so let’s not.”

“If you say so.”

Edith laughed and stepped back.

I looked at Iselle.

She was fidgeting with her hands clasped.

[You’re a Sub Master now… don’t go anywhere strange.]

“Was there an issue?”

[Well, I heard that a new lucky person entered Niflheimr…]

Iselle whispered so only I could hear.

I smirked. She was worrying over nothing.

‘It must have been Iselle who recommended me as the Sub Master.’

It was a completely different matter from just showing tips.

She must have put in a lot of effort.

“Isn’t it something to celebrate?”

Jenna spoke up.

“Being a Sub Master is the highest position here, right?”

[Ahem, except for the Master.]

“I knew I picked the right line.”

Jenna winked at me.

I said despairingly.

“Is this why you all gathered? To offer congratulations?”

“You’ve been looking down lately. Since that incident.”

“That incident being…”

Eloka, perhaps.

“Sis wouldn’t blame you. If I were her, I’d feel the same. You don’t have to blame yourself.”

“I never did.”

“Then that settles it.”

Jenna chuckled and backed away.

“I’m sleepy. Can I go to bed now?”

“Stay put.”

Neryssa stepped on Velkist’s foot.

“But being a Sub Master, is there anything special about it?”

“Not really. It’s not something to celebrate.”

‘It’s tiresome.’

I scratched my head.

Now that Anytng had appointed me as Sub Master, he would be sure to dump various troublesome tasks on me.

Well, it was necessary.

I looked around the room.

The assembly members were Jenna, Velkist, and Neryssa from the first party, and Edis from the second party.

Additionally, Iselle was included. They were the core members responsible for Townia.

‘It’s a pity Kishasha isn’t here.’

It seems more time is needed.

I brushed the confetti off my head and sat down on a chair.

“Sit down, everyone.”

“A party?”

“Hardly.”

I laughed.

“It’d be a hassle to gather everyone again later. I’m just telling you in advance.”

Members took their seats around the rectangular table one by one.

I spread the papers on the table, drawn with the current structure of the waiting room. Although it had become a four-story building, explaining the situation should be no problem.

“What’s this paper for?”

“It’s the structure of our current waiting room. You know, the situation has changed from before. It’s crowded with more kids.”

I pointed to the first floor of the waiting room.

“There are nearly 150 heroes staying on the first floor, right?”

[Yes! Nothing much has changed.]

“We need new combat members. We lost a bunch on the 35th floor. And this will only continue from now on.”

I pointed to the third floor.

Well, it’s practically the fourth floor now.

“We need to change the operating method to smoothly supply forces and for future mission raids.”

“Isn’t that the Master’s job?”

“Of course, that guy will handle the main tasks. But with the huge increase in personnel, it will become difficult for him to manage alone.”

Appointing me as Sub Master was also out of necessity.

When the number of people was small, it was possible to look after each one and decide on their use. But now, the situation is different.

Even when the numbers were small, Anytng wasn’t able to make efficient decisions.

After all, he wasn’t watching the heroes 24 hours a day.

‘It was necessary after all.’

It was even overdue.

I opened my mouth.

“What’s needed for one ruler to efficiently command many?”

The faces of the members hardened.

Velkist, with his arms crossed, spoke.

“Do you mean…”

“…”

“Are we acknowledging the Master as our ruler?”

There.

He didn’t hesitate to probe.

“Yes.”

I nodded.

Velkist frowned unhappily.

“I heard the Master considers us mere pawns on a chessboard. To him, we’re just toys, whether we live or die. Plus, we’re being pushed into these dog-like missions because of him, aren’t we?”

“You’re not wrong.”

“And you want us to help him? I can’t agree.”

Velkist looked up at the ceiling with a cold laugh.

The sky was in that direction.

“All this time, it was my desire for improvement that kept me alive. If there was anything else, it would be your help, senior.”

“…”

“Has that Master ever helped me? All he does is watch from above and throw us into battle. If you were the Master, I might have agreed. But not him. In my eyes, he’s incompetent. Unlike you, senior.”

Velkist sneered.

Then Edis raised her hand.

“From what I know, we were dragged here because of the Master. We were basically kidnapped.”

Kidnapped.

This was also not wrong.

“We follow because we don’t want to die, we want to live. But if we consider him our ruler, it changes the meaning. It means we’re cooperating voluntarily.”

“Let’s be clear. Forget being a Sub Master or whatever. It’s like a slave bragging about their chains.”

“I disagree.”

“What?”

Velkist’s expression soured.

The disappointment in his gaze turned towards Neryssa.

“I think we should help the Master.”

“This is disappointing. I didn’t expect this from you.”

“Don’t judge emotionally. You look like a fool.”

“Is there a guarantee of reward? Are we supposed to help that bastard who might change his mind and kill us?”

“This is the way for us to live.”

“That’s hilarious.”

An argument erupted between them.

[Ah, wait, why is this happening? We’re here to celebrate Han’s return!]

Iselle fluttered her wings in a panic.

I laughed.

Well, as expected.

I'm currently Translating the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!