Party Overhaul: Releases, Awakenings, and New Contracts

Having decided to purchase the top-grade frigate in Harama Port City, the shipyard owner, George, immediately began repairs. There were no major issues, but Captain Kang Inho's crew inspected the vessel and planned minor adjustments to make it easier for them to handle.

While the crew made their preparations, Namgung Seojun reorganized the party to keep it under 20 members. He called the general party members to his room. Gisohee, Lee Guho, Jo Jaehun, Dmitri, Pinara, Li Zhangwei, and even Kim Hoon gathered, and he briefed them on the progress.

"I've contracted with a veteran crew led by Captain Kang Inho. And we've finalized the deal on a mid-to-small ship too."

"Great job, Seojun."

Gisohee unconditionally praised Namgung Seojun's decisions, and the other party members trusted him completely, believing he'd secured a solid crew and a good ship.

"Also, we have a new general party member. I didn't mention it beforehand because he was strongly recommended ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠by the temple of the God of Trials, so I had no choice but to accept."

"I see."

"Well, if Seojun brought him in, we can trust him."

He informed them that Pharos would be climbing up to the 40th floor with them. The group trusted him once again, and the temple's endorsement erased any lingering doubts. Up to this point, it had been a one-way information dump.

Now, he brought up party maintenance.

"I think it's time to reorganize the party."

"Party reorganization?"

Li Zhangwei asked, and Namgung Seojun explained his vision for the party. The first criterion for reorganization was minimizing numbers. Especially for the 30th-floor sea section, porters wouldn't be needed much. So, he planned to release two of the existing porters.

The second was sorting out the combat slaves. He had five combat slave units in total, but the problem was their lack of strong attackers. Isu-yeon could handle the tail role, Lee Doyun's archery was average, Iban was a shieldbearer, Halep could do ranged sling attacks but was a sturdy defensive warrior. And Yasiro had become too ambiguous, with no clear spot for him anymore.

The third was freeing Isu-yeon from slavery. As a 1st Class Slave, considering her contributions and long-term growth, releasing her from slave status and letting her gain a proper class would be best.

After laying out the party's current status and his thoughts, he ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠asked the general party members for their opinions.

"What do you think about the issues I'm pondering?"

Gisohee naturally intended to follow Namgung Seojun's lead, and the others blindly trusted his words. So, he decided to proceed with reorganizing the slaves as planned.

The next day, Namgung Seojun first summoned the porters.

"Chigusa, thank you for all your hard work so far."

Chigusa, a reliable porter as a 1st Class Slave, was decided to be sold to the temple. She seemed to have expected it and accepted her fate calmly.

"Choe Sohee, I think this is the end of the line for you too."

Choe Sohee, a former sex slave 2nd Class Slave who had awakened mid-level stamina, was also on the sales list.

"Song Kang, you'll handle odd jobs on the ship. That okay with you?"

Though a porter, Captain Kang Inho had said he needed a few hands for ship chores, as the crew alone was short on manpower. So, Song Kang stayed on as a general laborer.

"Garyunmi."

At her master's call, the last remaining porter watched anxiously for what came next. Bought on the 20th floor from a sex den, she'd struggled as a porter all the way to the 30th. From Namgung Seojun's perspective, she hadn't caused major issues, but she hadn't shown significant growth or results either, which was disappointing. She knew it too, having contributed less than the other porters on the climb, so she was uneasy.

But talent was a beast. Her latent water spirit summoner talent was exactly what he needed now.

"Garyunmi, come with me."

Garyunmi followed Namgung Seojun out of the inn. They headed to the shopping district, and she thought to herself, 'In the end, I'm being sold off too.' Entering a shop, she steeled herself.

"One low-grade spirit stone, please."

"Yes, 10 gold."

He bought a low-grade spirit stone from the owner, then led her back outside.

'Huh? Not selling me here.'

Next, they went to the temple of the God of Trials. Upon entering, Garyunmi mistakenly thought he was selling her there, and her expression brightened. For her, who was somewhat physically deficient, being sold to the temple for volunteer work beat climbing the tower with the party.

But Seojun's next words were unexpected again.

"Priest, please awaken this resident female slave's talent."

"Yes, understood. One gold."

He handed over a gold coin, and the priest awakened Garyunmi's talent.

Garyunmi stared blankly at her new talent. Spirit magic... a rare gift she'd never dreamed of.

But it wasn't over. Back at the inn, she entered Namgung Seojun's room with him.

"Take off your clothes."

"Pardon? Oh, yes."

She obediently stripped. Since joining as a porter, no one had touched her. But as a 2nd Class Slave from a sex den, she'd braced for this moment and complied immediately.

As Garyunmi reached for her underwear, Namgung Seojun stopped her.

"Hold on! You don't need to remove your underwear."

"Pardon? Oh, okay."

Thinking it was a peculiar fetish, she lay naturally on the bed.

"Why the bed? Sit on the floor here."

At his words, Garyunmi sat on the floor instead. Seojun placed the spirit stone in front of her.

"Breathe deeply and relax. When your mind is calm, focus on the spirit stone with strong will. A strong will to summon the spirit!"

Just as instructor Ameri had guided him before, he instructed her. She followed, relaxing her mind, and soon the spirit stone began to resonate.

'Whumm... whumm...'

A blue light spread from the spirit stone.

'Pop! Pop!'

Cracks formed on the stone, and moments later, a blue spirit, an Undine, was summoned.

'Plop... plop...'

The Undine approached Garyunmi and nestled into her arms.

"Oh my..."

Garyunmi hugged the cute spirit tightly.

"You're so adorable."

'Plop... plop...'

The Undine played on her body like a playground, and Garyunmi giggled, indulging its antics.

Thus, Garyunmi successfully contracted with Undine. With the porters sorted, Namgung Seojun next called Yasiro, the combat slave marked for release.

"Yasiro, you've worked hard all this time."

Yasiro let out a deep sigh. With Isu-yeon's rapid growth enabling her to fill the free-role dealer spot with daggers, his role had become redundant. He knew his position was shaky.

"So this is the end for me."

"Yes, as promised on the 29th floor, I'll sell you to the temple. I wish you a bright future."

"Thank you."

And so Yasiro left the party.

Next, sex slaves Park Eunhye and Shin Miyun met with Namgung Seojun.

"I have a proposal for you two."

He asked them to service over 30 men boarding the ship during the climb to the 40th floor—a grueling task even for 2nd Class Slaves. Constant servicing by many men over long periods often led to suicide or madness, even for tool-like 2nd Class Slaves.

But to minimize ship passengers, he didn't want to add more sex slaves. To give them hope to endure, he made this offer.

"In return, I'll give you solid compensation. We'll draw up contracts for you."

To fuel that hope, he'd prepared firm rewards: contracts promising freedom if they fulfilled their roles safely to the 40th floor.

"Hah... I'll do it!"

"Me too."

The two women committed without hesitation. They'd endure 1-2 years of hardship during transit, but freedom and normal lives awaited after. For 2nd Class Slaves, it was an unmissable chance.

With the slaves mostly sorted, the last one called was Isu-yeon.

"Isu-yeon."

"Yes, Master."

"Follow me."

Seojun took her to the temple and told the priest,

"Please release this woman from slavery."

"......Master."

Isu-yeon looked deeply moved. The priest chuckled.

"Hoho, very well. Right away."

The priest placed a hand on Isu-yeon's head and chanted.

As the chant ended, Isu-yeon's body glowed faintly.

"There, she's free from slavery now."

Isu-yeon immediately opened her status window.

"It's real... really real... I'm no longer a slave."

She wept in overwhelming emotion, and Namgung Seojun held her, soothing her. The priest watched the scene with a warm smile.