The atmosphere inside the Checkroom had always been gloomy.
It would stay that way given this was the place where we reminisced our fallen.
The entire lobby was currently celebrating the victory on the 20th floor, our fourth Quintal Trial.
Master held large festivals in each floor of the lobby.
We had glorious banquet on the fourth floor for the Main Forces and the key supporters of the Raid Team.
The third floor was where the Reserve Forces, the instructors, and the senior supporters celebrated.
While the second floor festival was attended by the 2-star trainees and the bulk of the supporter personnel.
Even the first floor population was provided with a generous banquet spread that they would only find once they graduated to the second floor.
Everyone was rewarded given the amount of contribution they made for our victory on the 20th floor's mission.
Of course, the Evaluation Center was not involved in the celebration at all.
At the start of the celebration, I gave my encouraging speech to the entire lobby to boost morale, like I did for our 15th floor victory celebration.
I then spent most of the day thanking the people involved in our climb effort as well as motivating the newcomers to give their all for our future climb.
It was exhausting but it had to be done as I was the Vice-Master.
After finishing that duty of mine, I finally made my way to the Checkroom.
I had been so busy ever since I woke up that I had not given proper respect to our fallen comrades yet.
Jonah and the others had paid their respect right after we returned from the 20th floor. So I was alone in this trip.
Like the other facilities, Master had also improved the Checkroom.
We could accommodate more fallen heroes' belongings.
But only those that died in the Quintal Trial would have their belongings stored here, spare the scouts from the Evaluation Center.
I might have to suggest a modification to the rule.
We still had trainee heroes dying while climbing the regular floors of the Main Dungeon.
They were not part of the Raid Team yet, but it would only be proper to honor them still. At least those that had become 2-star trainees.
With the improvement, the layout of the Checkroom had been changed. All was arranged by Sigyn personally.
There was now a special section for the Main Forces. With each party having their own hall.
Over the course of four Quintal Trials, Party 1 had lost three heroes, Party 2 had lost four, eight on Party 3, and three each on Party 4, and 5.
Master currently assigned the Checkroom spaces according to this grouping.
The arrangement might change as the Main Forces grew in number and we had more casualties.
But I did not expect the change to happen anytime soon.
Eventually I arrived at the hall reserved for Party 1.
An unusual sight welcomed me.
The three young Tsamudrans were standing by a pedestal with Gerson's memorabilia on it.
A mirror was installed by the pedestal where it displayed the recordings of Gerson's battles, like seeing a Quintal Trial record with the Replay Stone.
It was a new feature of the Checkroom.
We could now watch mission recordings of the fallen heroes where they attained the MVP title.
Alam reported Master spent a lot of gems to unlock this feature of the facility.
Normally the viewing feature would not be available at the current level of the Checkroom.
But Master did it anyway.
There were penalties, however.
The viewing feature was only available for the fallen members of the Main Forces. And we had to supply a certain amount of Replay Stones to activate them for a period of time.
Master already allocated a good portion of Replay Stones for the Checkroom and we had the supply in great abundance thanks to the gatherers.
So there was no need to worry about not being able to access the viewing feature.
Alam said we would not need to exhaust Replay Stones once the Checkroom's level reached its maximum. And that the feature would be available to all fallen heroes commemorated in the facility.
All in all, we now had a better way to remember our fallen.
I just did not expect the Tsamudrans to be the ones taking advantage of that feature.
"What a nice surprise."
I said while greeting the young Tsamudrans.
They all curtseyed and bowed upon my arrival.
"Vice-Master."
"This is the last place I expect to see the three of you in."
I told them.
"When Master showed us the 5th floor's mission, we found this man to be familiar."
The youngest of the Tsamudrans, Morivia, said while nodding to one of Gerson's records in the 4th floor of the Main Dungeon.
She then turned her gaze to the bracelet of gemstones on his pedestal.
"We were right. This is the Serpent's Cycle we bestowed to the land-dweller who saved us back when we were younger."
So it really was a Tsamudran artifact.
"Gerson said it was a family heirloom passed down since his grandfather's days. Apparently his grandfather used to be a sailor for a pirate ship."
"Then there is no mistaking it. This Gerson must be the descendant of that human helper."
Morivia said.
The other Tsamudran woman, Fandina, nodded.
"It is interesting how the heroes of the forged land are connected."
Indeed.
Though Gerson was only a 1-star hero, there was a reason why he was summoned by Master.
"If only a descendant of that courageous land-dweller would receive a more heroic end."
The muscular young man, Wallack, uttered with a disappointed sigh.
I could see why he said that.
The way Gerson died on the 5th floor was not really how one would expect a hero would.
"You have to understand that we were just starting our climb at the time. Back then, we did not really know what to expect from the Quintal Trials."
I told him.
Wallack's expression turned slightly more tense.
"Forgive me, Vice-Master! I did not mean any disrespect to your fellow land-dweller!"
"No need to apologize. Given how far we've come, it's natural to put a high expectation on the raiders. Just like my high expectation for you, Tsamudrans."
The three of them immediately bowed to me.
"We will fulfill our duties, Vice-Master!"
Morivia then curtseyed.
"If you'll excuse us, Vice-Master. We must head back now."
I listened to them talking among themselves as they headed for the exit.
"Seeing that bracelet takes me back. I wonder what happened to Sarlein. We were separated when the monsters destroyed our army."
"She had the other High Blood Guards with her. They should manage to retreat safely."
"With the Great Mother's mercy, Sarlein and the others shall also be summoned to the forged land and join us."
The echoes of their words eventually vanished as they went further down the hall.
I could now finally pay my respect to Darius.
All I planned to do was watch his records and give a moment of silence, actually. Nothing too ceremonious.
The former knight was truly a reliable comrade not just to Party 1, but to the Raid Team as a whole as well.
He helped saving the other parties on the 10th floor. His contribution on the 15th floor was crucial to our victory. And he literally saved my life on the 20th floor.
Most importantly, he saved Jonah.
After seeing Zecht struggling to cope with his loss, I now doubted if I could survive losing the shepherd.
So I was truly indebted to Darius.
Too bad he was not here to collect the debt.
Hopefully I could make it up by saving our world.
As I finished watching Darius's records and paying my respect, more people came to visit the hall.
Djhotti, Halim, and Ashni had arrived while bringing bottles of expensive liquor Master provided for the Main Forces.
"The old folks of the Main Forces promised to drink together after the Quintal Trial. So we figured now is the time."
Djhotti explained.
Halim nodded.
"We just finished drinking with the folks in Party 4. Now we're going to have another one with Darius."
I believed Djhotti had done something similar before.
Like the Tsamudrans, he also found someone to be familiar after watching the Quintal Trial records and began looking inside the Checkroom.
When he discovered Ashta's ring was the one he gifted to a human hunter that once saved him long time ago, the dwarf paid his respect by drinking barley wine by her pedestal.
Another interesting connection between the heroes of the forged land.
"I'll leave you to it, then."
I said to the old raiders as I made my exit.
After I left the hall, I could still hear Ashni's voice echoing from within.
"Didn't think you'd leave this soon, pal. Too bad. Master just got us your favorite Malan wine."
Darius was only one of the heroes I had to pay my respect to.
So I went on to the hall assigned for Party 2.
Someone was already inside.
"I thought it was odd I didn't see your elemental conjurations in the festival. There's a huge crowd out there. They would love to see your performance."
I spoke to Yuxia standing solemnly by Norn's pedestal.
"Not this time. I'm not in the mood to celebrate."
The elementalist said with a sigh.
He then turned to the recording of Norn battling on the 19th floor with Yuxia and the other Party 2 members.
"She died because of me, you know."
The 4-star elementalist stated.
I did not give him a reply.
There was nothing to say.
And Yuxia just wanted someone to listen.
"This would be my pedestal if Norn had not taken that blow for me."
He revealed.
The look in his eyes turned dark. His expression was very bitter.
"If only I had casted the spell five seconds faster…"
Yuxia then chuckled.
"I thought things would've been different now that I've come here and got stronger. Turns out I still couldn't save those around me."
He sighed and put on a distant look.
"Same thing happened before I came here.
"My troupe was performing for the refugees in Lantern City. That was when the monsters suddenly showed up.
"I couldn't do anything, of course. People died left and right as I was trying to cast my spell.
"Never I felt so powerless in my life."
This would be the first time Yuxia revealed his story.
He had been keeping it to himself so far.
I supposed he was finally ready to share it with me.
"And I felt it again in the Quintal Trial. Norn and Jordane.
"It was practically my fault that they died. I could not cast my spells quick enough to prevent their deaths.
"If only I was a better mage..."
Yuxia said bitterly to himself.
I believed I kept uterring that last sentence to myself everytime we cleared a Quintal Trial.
So it was to be expected for Yuxia to feel this way.
"You're right, Serafina. No matter how great, no matter how mighty, no matter how divine a spell is, it is useless if it can't be casted on time."
Yuxia said lastly before leaving.
That line resonated well with me.
It took too long for me to awaken my seal.
Only after twelve of our comrades died that I managed to achieve it.
I did save the Main Forces before all of us were wiped out.
But I also was not quick enough to prevent the deaths.
That unfortunate fact no longer tormented me the way it used to do.
I had accepted that heroes would keep on dying in the Quintal Trials, no matter how strong I grew to be.
But I still would not accept unnecessary deaths.
Achieving the mission's goal would be our utmost priority.
Even so, I would work hard so we would no longer carry wounds we did not have to bear.