The morning of the fair was indeed a perfect day for viewing.


    The sun was shining through a sky with just the right amount of clouds.


    In the courtyard of Count Elsen''s mansion, the venue of the fair, the silver works on the tables were already shining in the sunlight.


    Count Elsen had thoughtfully chosen to hold the fair outdoors, so that even the common people could see the items on display.


    As Count Elsen had intended, the common people were thrilled by the unfamiliar spectacle.


    Count Elsen, however, was looking around the venue with a dismayed look on his face.


    (They are all major guilds, aren''t they?)


    Looking from one end to the other at the desks given to each guild, all of the alchemy guilds were ones that everyone had seen or heard of at least once.


    Furthermore, next to the guild mark that symbolizes them, they are covered with the "golden eagle" crest.


    (It''s not like this. Not like this.)


    Count Elsen, who had expected the weak guild to exhibit, nodded in disappointment.


    Lucius, on the other hand, mistakenly believed that Count Elsen''s great disappointment was due to the quality of the goods.


    In fact, the silversmiths exhibited at the fair were only B-grade pieces.


    ''Hey, couldn''t you have prepared better silverware?''


    Lucius overheard Dorwin, the "Golden Eagle" fair manager, looking annoyed.


    ''It can''t be helped,'' he said. We''ve been keeping the best refiners away from the kiln. Without silver A, there''s a limit to what I can do.


    Dorwin shrugged his shoulders.


    He was not too keen on this extra work he had jumped in to do.


    I don''t have time for this," he said. This is our chance to sell the Golden Eagle to Count Elsen. You are not the only one who is interested in getting help from the nobility, are you? Don''t you want Count Elsen''s endorsement?"


    If you say so, please supply us with silver A even more so. When in the world will martial law be lifted?


    Until we find out who is supplying "Earthcraft" to the "Keeper of the Magic Tree. As long as we keep the refiners away this month, their ''earthcraft'' should be depleted next month.


    Then we won''t be making Class A silversmithing until next month.


    "Tsk."


    Lukius sticks out his tongue and glares at Dorwin.


    Dorwin, on the other hand, is whistling like he doesn''t give a d*mn.


    Lucius became more and more annoyed.


    He had a hard time with Dorwin.


    The young Dwarf was so aloof that it was hard to tell what he was thinking.


    Lukius looked at the silversmiths in the hall with a vexed look for a while, but eventually he regained his usual composure.


    (Oh, well, that''s okay. Only our guilds are exhibiting. In the end, the best prize will have to be chosen from among us. If he has to choose us again and again, Count Elsen will eventually realize it. He will realize that he has no choice but to join forces with us.)


    Lucius chuckles.


    The exhibitors at the exhibition were all guilds under the "Golden Eagle" umbrella, which was a splendid sight.


    Both Count Elsen and Lucius believed that there were only guilds participating in the Golden Eagle, so they did not pay attention to the booth of a small guild tucked away in the corner.


    The booth was already covered with a cloth, so the silversmiths'' wares and the guild name were hidden from view.


    Roland was walking around a section of Count Elsen''s mansion with the members of the "Arsenal of the Spirits.


    Count Elsen had also made special arrangements for the exhibitors at the fair.


    The exhibitors and their guilds were allotted a carriage to take them to and from the fair, a room to rest in, and a storage space to bring in silverware, and they were allowed to walk freely in one section of the estate.


    As the group walked through the colonnaded corridors, each exhibitor had a different reaction.


    Cheal was gazing around with sparkling eyes at the huge structure he was entering for the first time, while Aryeh was anxiously looking around, wondering if she should be treated in such a manner.


    Lange walked with a calm demeanor, occasionally looking with interest at the fixtures and paintings on display.


    Mr. Roland," he said. What is that building?　What is that building?"


    Cheal asked excitedly.


    She pointed to a spire on the other side of the courtyard.


    She said, "Oh, that''s the bell tower."


    The belfry?　What''s a belfry?"


    A tower in which a bell is installed. You see the bell at the top?　If you ring the bell from a high place, it will echo throughout the city. That''s how you tell time.


    I''m not sure I want to go back to the same place. What''s that? I want to go there. Let''s climb up. Let''s go up to the tower and see the bells.


    Cheal took Roland''s arm and begged him like a child.


    She wanted to take a good look at and study anything made of metal.


    I''ll be d*mned," she said. The show is about to start.


    Mr. Roland. I''ll take care of the display booth, and you can come up here with the two of us.


    Lange said good-naturedly.


    He was a very caring person despite his quarrelsome appearance.


    Really?　I''m sorry, but I''m going to have to ask you to do it.


    Aww. I am sorry. Mr. Runge."


    Aryeh said in horror.


    No problem. One person is enough for a booth. I just need you to bring me some lunch.


    With that, Lange walked away toward the exhibition hall.


    The three of them started walking toward the bell tower.


    After walking along the corridor for a while, they heard a voice call out for Roland.


    Mr. Roland!


    Roland was startled by the voice.


    The voice sounded familiar.


    Fearfully, he turned around to see the person he had expected to see.


    It was Jill.


    Gilles. What are you doing here?


    Roland was so traumatized from his "Golden Eagle" days that he couldn''t help but get upset when he saw her.


    He was so upset when he saw her. "Thank goodness, Mr. Roland. I''ve wanted to see you for a long time.


    Jill hugged Roland.


    ''What?　Jill?　Ugh."


    Jill was not wearing heavy equipment for dungeon exploration, but rather light equipment with an emphasis on gleam for festivities, but even so, the lumpy protrusions of her armor hurt against her ribs when she hugged me.


    The force of the hug was also quite strong, so Roland felt as if he had been tackled.


    But what puzzled Loran more than that was the fact that she was showing her affection.


    He had thought she despised him.


    Jill began to refuse Loran''s instruction after she began to be in the limelight, and even cancelled her training schedule when Loran tried to arrange it.


    Finally, she passed a notice of change of instructor to Loran.


    At that time, she was clearly informed that she would be working as a close associate of Master Lucius from now on, so she asked him not to approach her any further.


    By her secretary, whom Lukius had assigned to her.


    This is why her attitude was so puzzling to Roland.


    I can''t believe I''m meeting you here. Roland-san''s stupidity. Didn''t you promise that you would thoroughly discipline me until I became an S-class adventurer? Why did you leave the guild without telling me?"


    Jill was so moved that she did not care that Roland was in pain, but embraced him in full body armor and tightened her steel cage and breastplate around him.


    He then tightens his steel cage and breastplate around Roland''s waist. Jill. It hurts. It hurts. You''re going to die. Step away from ......."


    Oh, I''m sorry. I''m sorry. I was so moved by our reunion that I just ......


    Jill comes to her senses and moves away from Roland.


    Gghh, geez. I''m not sure what to do about that, Jill. Why? I thought you were avoiding me. ......


    ?"　What are you talking about?　It''s true that I''ve been busy these days and haven''t seen you, but I''ve never avoided you. ......"


    Jill looked at Roland with a scowling face.


    Roland was surprised to see her.


    (No way. Lukius is behind this, too. ......)


    ''Yes,'' he said. That''s not what I''m talking about, Mr. Roland. Please come back to the ''Golden Eagle.''"


    What?


    Please." You are the only one who can help me reach my full potential. No, I am not. I am not the only one. There are many others who are waiting for your guidance. I will take care of the opponents in the guild. So please come back."


    Jill said as she clutched at him.


    Aryeh and Cheal paled.


    They wondered what would happen to them if Roland returned to the "Golden Eagle.


    I''m sorry," Aryeh said. I''m sorry, Jill. I can''t go back to the Golden Eagle.


    Roland was bitter, but he said it clearly.


    Oh, no. Why ......"


    As Jill was about to speak her next words, a cold, menacing voice interrupted her, echoing through the corridor.


    I would appreciate it if you wouldn''t mess with my guild, Mr. Roland."


    ...... lucius."


    When Roland looked toward the voice, he saw Lucius there.


    As usual, he has Dianna in tow.


    Roland looked at him, feeling awkward in front of Lukius.


    Jill tried to defend Roland.


    ''Guild leader. No, sir. I was the one who approached him, he was the one who ......"


    Jill," he said. I''m sorry, but would you mind backing off here?　I have something to talk to him about."


    Guild President. But ......"


    Jill was about to say it, but stopped talking.


    She was frightened by Lukius.


    The unusual expression on his face caused Jill to be silent.


    When Jill fell silent, Lucius turned to Roland again.


    I didn''t know you were still in town. After causing so much trouble for the guild. And with the alchemy guild."


    Lucius said as he packed up with Roland.


    Because of his superior height, Lucius had an intimidating presence that made his opponents shrivel up.


    Aryeh and Cheal, who are short, involuntarily hid behind Roland''s back.


    ''I don''t think so. You are not going to participate in the fair, are you?


    Oh, no way," he said. I''m going to participate in the competition and try to win. I''m here to fight you and the Golden Eagle.


    Roland didn''t look away and said back.


    ''What the hell?　Do you even know what you''re talking about?"


    I heard about it at the quest reception desk. I heard that you were working behind the scenes to keep me out of the adventurer''s business."


    "......"


    At the time, I was so fed up with everything that all I could do was run away. But now it''s different. Now I have friends to protect and a place to stay. If you try to drive me out of this town, I will fight you. I don''t care how powerful you and the Golden Eagle are. We have nothing to be ashamed of. I have no reason to be kicked out of this city!


    ...... Hmmm. What are you talking about? Did I put the word out to the quest receptionist office?　Don''t be paranoid, Mr. Roland. Why should I do such a thing to you?　Rather, you should withdraw from the fair. This is no place for people like you. I am saying this out of the kindness of my heart so that you will not be embarrassed. Will you decline?"


    I refuse. There is no reason why we should decline. From now on, I will fight you to the bitter end, no matter how pathetic I look. I will fight you until I destroy you and the Golden Eagle!


    Lucius shrugged.


    ''Hmph. I said that out of the kindness of my heart. You''ll regret it.


    Lucius turns his back on Roland and walks away.


    Roland also turns his back to Rochius and walks away.


    Roland turns his back to Rukius and walks away. Let''s go. You heard him.　He is going to destroy the Golden Eagle. In other words, he is our enemy.


    Oh, no. ......


    Jill gave Roland a pleading look, but Roland never looked back.


    From that day on, Roland and Lucius both walked in different directions, and after that, their goals never overlapped.


    There were cheers in the courtyard.


    People from all over the city, and even from outside the territory, were mingling to celebrate this momentous occasion.


    The fair was about to begin.


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