I spent the entire afternoon working in the Magic Hall.
Master had issued a lot of orders which concerned all the mages and the Magic Hall workers.
So I used the time instructing everyone on how we should fulfill those tasks.
The new mages were certainly a great help to me.
Cedran and I were able to plan new potion formulas that would be helpful to the Raid Team.
Meifa, Aludra, and I discussed about creating more potent enchantment stones as well as varieties of stronger weapon enchantments.
Alongside the mechanic, the Tsahanam mage-engineer and I had also started making proper plans for the airship construction.
Their insights in the planning only made me certain we would not be seeing an airship anytime soon.
Hopefully Master would have the patience to wait that long.
Evening was already approaching when I finished all the work for the day.
It was only then that Yuxia and the others finished their training underground and resurfaced in the Magic Hall's library.
"Oh, you're awake already. Welcome back."
Yuxia said with a terribly spent expression.
Both Matrias and Vallerynne looked as exhausted as the 4-star elementalist.
The three of them must had gone through a really intense training.
"Sharine told me you all have been practicing since morning without break. Apparently you've been doing this for several days now."
They really had been pushing themselves.
I had never seen them working this hard before.
"It is harder not to train, to be honest. Considering what we've just went through in…"
Yuxia said with deep troubled eyes.
Ah, of course.
I remembered seeing that look.
Both Jonah and Shanny had them after we cleared the 5th floor of the Main Dungeon.
The fourth Quintal Trial must had exposed themselves to their own limit as a hero.
When one was forced to face their own weaknesses, their first instinct would be to deny those faults and trying desperately to replace them with strength.
I often felt that way after every Quintal Trial.
The missions simply had that power over the heroes.
It was an undeniable fact of life for the heroes of the forged land.
We must accept it and use our weaknesses as fuel to make ourselves stronger.
That way we could become the formidable heroes Dunia needed.
"The Main Forces will have a meeting later tonight. Go wash up and rest till then."
I told my pupils.
"Sure. See you later."
Yuxia said absently while leaving the Magic Hall.
Matrias and Vallerynne could only nod due to how tired they were from training.
It was the end of the day.
All training must have already concluded by now.
"Trudy, this is Serafina. Have they all gathered?"
I asked her using the communication blessing.
The Chief Instructor replied promptly.
[We've all assembled as you ordered, Serafina.]
Upon her words, I teleported myself to the first floor Training Ground.
Trudy and 22 uniformed people stood before me in proper formation.
"Are these the qualified instructors?"
I asked my former party comrade.
She nodded and gave me a full report.
"22 instructors as you and Master ordered for the first floor academy.
"We have swordsmanship instructors skilled in the imperial style, mercenary style, Tchakran style, and even the Tsahanam style. There are dedicated instructors for sword-shield technique, one-handed swordsmanship, two-handed swordsmanship, as well as dual-wielding.
"As ordered, the academy also have capable instructors to teach spearmanship and other polearm techniques. The instructors are also trained in Spear Throwing and other polearm supporting skills.
"Our archery instructors are skilled with both the short bow and the long bow. They've also developed all the archery-related skills currently known in the forged land.
"We also have more instructors for teaching dagger technique, other forms of combat technique, and survivals skills.
"Last but not least, there are dedicated instructors for tactics, formation, and the ways of the forged land. They would teach the trainees how the missions work, how to understand Master's orders in battle, and how the Raid Team operates in the Quintal Trials.
"All instructors are level 20 3-star heroes and each have been promoted into a class. Each instructor has developed their main combat skill to level 8, while the weapon instructors themselves have reached level 9.
"Everyone here have fulfilled all the requirements set for the instructor positions in the first floor Training Ground, Your Excellency!"
The Chief Instructor concluded.
Trudy was speaking the truth as I observed the instructors before me.
One of the reason Master rushed the Raid Team to clear the 21st floor was to promote these instructors to 3-star.
But Master and I had set such a high standard for the instructors that I started to regret doing it.
Considering how strong these instructors turned out to be, I had half a mind to drag them back to the Raid Team with me.
We would immediately recover our losses if these capable heroes were to join us.
But I had to be patient.
Investing these talented heroes to the instructor positions was necessary for our long term plan.
A lot more heroes would die for the climb effort.
Master would surely sacrifice many scouts in the Quintal Trials to come before deploying the Main Forces. Especially after what happened on the 20th floor.
And we would need to replace those sacrifices every time.
Not to mention, the Main Forces might need more parties to clear the future Quintal Trials.
Ten, twenty, fifty, or even a hundred parties could be required to challenge the higher floors.
The capable instructors would be able to provide us with proper replacement and the necessary manpower much faster.
I turned to the Chief Instructor that had arranged for the instructors' recruitment.
[Trudy Calle (★★★) Lv.20 (Exp 17/150)]
[Class: Warrior]
[Strength: 34/34]
[Intelligence: 10/10]
[Stamina: 32/32]
[Agility: 27/27]
[Skills: Basic Sword-Shield Technique Lv.8, Pain Resistance Lv.2, Fire Resistance Lv.1, Projectile Defense Lv.5, Composure Lv.3, Insight Lv.3, Weakness Detection Lv.3]
I told Trudy that she did not need to fulfill the requirement since she would mostly be in charge of managing the instructors instead.
But she insisted.
"You've done well. Not just with the instructors, but in improving yourself too."
"I couldn't have done it without the help of Jonah, Shanny, and the others in the Raid Team."
Trudy said humbly.
"You've certainly proven that you have the talent. Will it be possible to ask you to return to the Raid Team?"
I asked.
My former party comrade smiled.
"It was only a week ago I reached level 8 in Basic Sword-Shield Technique. Shanny had accomplished it when you cleared the 15th floor, which was two Quintal Trials ago. I simply could not match the rate you all have been progressing."
Unfortunately, Trudy was right.
The Quintal Trials were getting more dangerous the higher we climb.
Every raider needed to keep matching their strength with the ever-growing danger or they would risk being overcome.
Trudy was certainly capable of joining the Main Forces with the skills she had developed now.
But how long would she be able to keep up with the danger? The kind of danger that the Main Forces had to face and could not fail to overcome?
We both knew the answer to that.
Trudy had certainly found a perfect role to keep supporting the Raid Team.
And Trudy was not the only one to had done that.
I turned to the two Tchakran men standing behind the Chief Instructor.
"How are you finding this new position?"
I asked.
"We couldn't possibly ask for more, Your Excellency."
Fangli replied.
Haoban nodded.
"It's much better than lying useless in bed."
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[Fangli Sinchua (★★★) Lv.20 (Exp 10/200)]
[Class: Warrior]
[Strength: 26/52]
[Intelligence: 5/10]
[Stamina: 23/46]
[Agility: 20/41]
[Skills: Basic Swordsmanship Lv.8, Basic Dual-Swords Technique Lv.9, Switching Lv.3, Nimble Movement Lv.3, Composure Lv.3, Projectile Defense Lv.5, Insight Lv.3, Pain Resistance Lv.2]
['Fangli (★★★)' is inflicted with Dark Essence. All stats decreased by 50%.]
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[Haoban Qiang (★★★) Lv.20 (Exp 18/200)]
[Class: Warrior]
[Strength: 25/50]
[Intelligence: 5/10]
[Stamina: 20/41]
[Agility: 23/46]
[Skills: Basic Spearmanship Lv.9, Insight Lv.4, Nimble Movement Lv.5, Composure Lv.2, Projectile Defense Lv.3, Pain Resistance Lv.2]
['Haoban (★★★)' is inflicted with Dark Essence. All stats decreased by 50%.]
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The bonded martial artists were still infected with the Dark Essence.
But thanks to our constant treatment, they were now able to endure the effects by certain extent.
They still had trouble focusing for a long period on top of their weakened state.
Even so, the two could now perform daily activities as they usually would. Including light training.
So I suggested them to become instructors before we went to the 20th floor.
And the two had worked hard to improve their skills to be fully qualified for the position.
The effect of the Dark Essence had reduced their powers significantly, however.
Master had synthesized with them a number of 2-star heroes from the Evaluation Center so they could reach level 20. That way their stats were improved slightly.
So they should still be strong enough to instruct 1-star trainees and 2-star newcomers.
Their skills with Tchakran martial arts should also prove valuable to the faculty.
That being said…
"If you wish, I might be able to remove the Dark Essence from your body."
My words widened their eyes in surprise.
I had not explored my new capabilities yet.
But my seal allowed me to develop a healing ability on the 20th floor.
Paired with my new class, other skills, and that powerful seal, I might be able to remove the Dark Essence from the Tchakrans.
We also had Meifa whom was skilled in healing magic.
It should now be possible to cure the Tchakrans completely from the Dark Essence.
Their power would be restored and they would be able to return to the Exploration Team again. Or rejoining the Raid Team should they wish to.
"I will have to remove or forcibly destroy the essence. Either way, you won't be weakened anymore."
Fangli and Haoban then exchanged a look.
The two of them turned back to me.
"Thank you for your offer, Your Excellency. But we'd like to respectfully decline."
Fangli said clearly.
"I see. You want to keep working as an instructor?"
Being an instructor, they would no longer worry of endangering themselves in dangerous missions like the Quintal Trials.
And given their condition with the Dark Essence, we could not make them continue climbing the tower to keep levelling up, which the other instructors were obligated to do.
I could understand if they wanted to remain in the comfort of the lobby.
But Haoban immediately shook his head upon my words.
"We still wish to be part of the climbing force, Your Excellency! We actually want to rejoin the Raid Team!"
He then placed his palm on his chest, looking both solemnly and determinedly.
"It's just that we want to turn the Dark Essence into our strength instead."
I raised my eyebrows at what the Tchakran just said.
"You wish to be Shadow Rogues?"
Fangli nodded.
"It was said that the Shadow Rogues gained tremendous power by consuming Dark Essence. Brother Haoban and I thought we could do the same."
"We've been training our body and mind to assimilate with the Dark Essence, Your Excellency. It's a really slow process, but I think we can do it, eventually."
Haoban said confidently.
From what I knew about the rumors, the Shadow Rogues consumed processed Dark Essence to gain their powers.
They were not infected with the raw extract like the Tchakrans.
Moreover, the Shadow Rogues needed someone from the Circle of Kali to complete the assimilation process.
Fangli and Haoban had the worst possible odds of conquering the Dark Essence since they did not fulfill those two conditions.
And even with my seal, I was not certain I could learn Dark Arts. Not just by myself.
It was an entirely different realm of magic. Dangerous, even.
Many mages tried to pursue Dark Arts for the sake of research and ended up dead in the process. Going completely mad would be the best failure scenario.
That risk was one of the major reasons it was banned.
Even if I could somehow learn Dark Arts, I was not certain I would be able to develop enough proficiency that enabled me to process the Dark Essence inside the Tchakrans safely.
There were a lot of risks involved and the odds were not good for the two men.
But if fate would allow them to succeed somehow, they could become very strong heroes that the Raid Team could rely on.
Only time would tell if fate would be that kind.
And for the Tchakrans to have that time, I needed to have faith in them.
"Very well. For your endeavor's sake, either your bodies conquer the Dark Essence or a witch of Kali shall come to the forged land and conquer them for you."