Cheal was working diligently in the "forest workshop.


    The blueprints for the "Iron Breaking Bow" were placed in front of him.


    He was looking at the blueprint of the "iron-breaking bow" in front of him. As expected of Mr. Dorwin. It''s a great design.


    She was now working on developing a weapon.


    Roland''s assignment this month was to develop a weapon that would surpass the "iron-breaking bow.


    Cheal was repeatedly drawing lines on the blueprints, crossing them out, and re-drawing them over and over again.


    But I''ll get it over the hump," he said. But it''s too hard. Ughhhh!


    Cheal held his head down with one hand while he continued to draw lines with a pencil.


    He had been suffering from a fever of wisdom for some time now.


    Nevertheless, her work was progressing slowly but steadily, little by little.


    Roland and his team had reached the fourth level after going through the shifting magic circle.


    The scenery had returned from the streets of the ruins to a forest sparsely dotted with trees.


    Roland was meeting with her to organize the troops around Shakuma.


    Roland was meeting with Shakuma to form a unit centered on Shakuma. What is the role of the support mage?


    Yes, I am. The role of the support mage is to minimize the wear and tear on the unit.


    Roland was surprised to receive an answer that was unexpectedly precise.


    It was the very essence of a support mage.


    (You''re a smarter boy than I thought. But then, if you know so much, why were you branded as a disqualified support mage?)


    He said, "All right. You pass. Then show me how to fight first. You can command your troops as you please."


    Yes, sir.


    Roland decided to observe Shakuma''s fighting style once.


    She did not see any major problems in terms of skills or status.


    If there were fatal problems in other areas, he would have to confirm them in actual combat.


    Roland and his team proceeded through the dungeon in three lines, with the archers in the front row.


    After advancing for a while, they heard an atmospheric roar coming from deep in the forest.


    It was the cry of a great ogre (orc).


    From the fourth level, there were also Orcs, many times taller and more powerful than the goblins.


    As Roland and the others waited nervously, monsters soon appeared out of nowhere and attacked Roland and the others.


    This time, there were five large ogres (orcs) and 25 armed hobgoblins.


    The ogres (orcs) had axes, and the armed hobgoblins were variously armed with bows and arrows, clubs, swords, etc. The hobgoblins were armed with a variety of weapons, including a bow and arrow, a club, and a sword.


    But for Roland, they were the perfect opponents to measure Shakuma''s strength.


    (Monsters of various armaments. It was the perfect opponent to test the judgment of a support mage. Let''s see your qualities as a support mage, Shakuma!)


    The support mage needed to have a tactical eye to properly grasp the war situation.


    Currently, there are archers at the head of the line.


    Should they continue to use archers to reduce the enemy force, deploy shield units to defend, or charge in and engage in a hand-to-hand combat?


    Shakuma quickly confirmed the composition and formation of the enemy.


    The enemy force had a large ogre (orc) in the center, with goblins on both wings, and was coming in for an assault.


    From this, Shakuma saw that the enemy was simply going to break through the center with brute force.


    He said, "Archers, please shift to the right side. Shield team, take your place. Deploy and stop the enemy orcs. I''m coming. "Defend!"


    When Shakuma chanted "Defensive Grant," those in the shield squad were enveloped in a blue light and their defenses increased.


    The giant ogre (orc), with its huge body and arm strength, rushes at the shield squad.


    The sound of huge heavy objects colliding with metal echoed through the air.


    The ogres (orcs) thought they could easily blow away humans smaller than themselves with a single blow, but the shield unit firmly received the ogre (orc)''s assault without a scratch.


    The axe that followed was also easily blocked.


    This was the effect of the "defense grant.


    Next, on both wings of the enemy, armed hobgoblins tried to attack the shield unit from both sides, but the white army responded by hitting them.


    At that time, there was an archery unit on the right flank, which was able to reduce the enemy''s strength a little.


    Thus, the battle stretched sideways around the clash between the big ogre and the shield troops, forming a battle line that filled the entire road.


    Shakuma continued to keep an eye on the battle line in the rear guard.


    He was wondering whether he should aim to break through the flanks with his "attack grant" to the white troops, or prepare to apply his "defense grant" again in case the shield troops'' "defense grant" wears off.


    In fact, the shield units were in an unpredictable state.


    The shield unit seemed to have held off the attack at one point, but after that, the orcs relentlessly repeated body blows and axe attacks.


    The blue light surrounding the shield unit was gradually fading, and if this continued, it looked as if it would soon be broken through by the orcs.


    The two wings were still evenly matched in the battle, and just because they had been given the "attack grant" did not necessarily mean that they would be able to break through immediately.


    "Attacking mages, please attack the orcs!"


    Shakuma decided to place the attacking mages behind the shield troops for now and let them attack the giant ogre (orcs) with fire magic.


    Attack mages can attack enemies over their allies.


    The attacking mages showered fire magic on the orcs.


    A magic circle develops at the feet of the orc, and fire erupts from it.


    The ogres (orcs) exposed to the flames visibly lost their momentum.


    The flames produced by the attack mages, who were only D class or so, burned through the thick skin of the orcs, and although they did not inflict mortal damage, they were enough to hinder their attacks.


    Even the most powerful orc was forced to retreat, lowering his axe once, when flames suddenly burst out from under his feet during an attack.


    Shakuma, seeing this, was convinced that the shield unit would be able to hold out, and gave the right-wing white-armor unit an "attack grant".


    The five members of the white troops who had been given the "attack grant" glowed red and blew away the enemies who had been evenly matched with a single blow, were able to cut through the armor of the enemies who could not be cut before, and kicked them aside.


    (Good sense. Reading that the breakthrough of the great ogre (orc) could be stopped by the "defense-granted" shield troops, they chose to form a battle line rather than reduce their forces or break through. The shield troops and attacking mages with "defense-enhanced" armor would stop the enemy''s strong arm strength (power), while the archers and white army troops with "attack-enhanced" armor would aim to break through the enemy''s weak arm strength by assaulting it. It is a solid battle command. (So far, he looks excellent, not just up to par as a support mage. ......)


    The right wing white army unit was destroying the enemy.


    If the white army troops could break through the armed kobold (hobgoblin) troops and get around to the flanks and rear of the big ogres (orcs), they could annihilate the enemy.


    In the center and on the left flank, the enemy is unable to attack.


    It looked as if victory would roll in Roland''s favor.


    However, ......


    Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa.


    Just when victory seemed imminent, Shakuma suddenly plunged into the front line.


    The light of reason that had been in her eyes just a moment before was completely gone, and her blazing eyes were like those of a beast.


    Shakuma joined the front line on the right flank and struck one of the goblins with her staff, and then, without regard for the battle lines, she moved forward, penetrating deep into the midst of the enemy.


    Soon she is surrounded by armed hobgoblins and knocked unconscious by a severe blow to the head.


    The panicked troops of white soldiers who were fighting nearby were the only ones who could help.


    Shakuma was going to be beaten to a pulp if nothing was done.


    They had to charge in formation, rescue Shakuma, and carry her, still unconscious, to the rear of the line.


    The battle, which seemed to end easily, dragged on unexpectedly, and although they somehow succeeded in repelling the enemy, the troops were more exhausted than they needed to be.


    (I see. This is a bit tricky.)


    Roland chuckled as he looked down at Shakuma, who was passed out and rolling his eyes.


    Are you all right?　Shakuma."


    Ugh, I''m so sorry."


    Shakuma had recovered from his coma after receiving Yuffine''s "single recovery magic," but his usual cheerful demeanor had vanished, and he was now completely depressed and nodding his head.


    I''m getting into bad habits again," he said. When I hear the sounds of battle, I can''t help but get into a good mood. ...... I know that if I don''t fix it, I will be disqualified as a support mage,.......


    What. Don''t worry about it. There are good ways to overcome it.


    Really?"


    Shakuma''s downcast face brightened and he looked at Roland.


    It seemed that he had recovered quickly.


    I''ve got some good equipment.


    Roland approached one of the attack mages (who also had the "item possession" skill) and had him take out his armor.


    ''What''s this?''


    It''s heavy knight''s armor."


    It was the same model of heavy knight''s armor that Jill was wearing.


    Next time you are in battle, equip yourself with this armor before using support magic.


    I see. If I wear this armor, I will feel safe even if I run into the enemy camp. But after the battle starts?　Do you not equip them during a normal march?"


    Yes, so always keep an item bearer close by so that when the battle starts, you can equip yourself immediately.


    ?"　Huh. I understand."


    Shakuma, with an unexplained look on his face, honestly followed Roland''s lead.


    Once again, Roland and his team returned to their search.


    They proceeded in formation, with the shield squad in the lead, ready to deploy immediately in the event of a monster attack.


    Monsters would appear again.


    It was the same configuration as before, with five large ogres (orcs) and 25 armed kobolds (hobgoblins).


    The enemy''s strategy was exactly the same, with a central breakthrough by the giant ogres (orcs) and flanking support by armed kobolds (hobgoblins) in a hand-to-hand battle.


    The large shield units immediately deployed to suppress the giant ogres (orcs).


    Other white army units also spread out to form a battle line.


    This time, the enemy on the left side was a little far away, so the archers were shifted to the left flank.


    And this time again, the archers moved back only to cut down the enemy force a little.


    Shakuma put on his heavy knight''s armor.


    He said, "Come on. I''m going this time. "Defense Granted!"


    Shakuma casts a spell, and the large shield unit is enveloped in blue light.


    (Good. Next, "Grant Attack" to the left wing. ......!)


    Ugh. What is this?"


    Shakuma noticed something was wrong and moaned.


    I can''t move.


    To be precise, her agility was severely impaired.


    The equipment of the heavily armed knight was too heavy for her arm strength (power), and she could only move as slowly as a turtle.


    She could only move as slowly as a tortoise. I can''t move.


    (Well, you don''t think this is a countermeasure?　(Certainly this won''t plunge you into the front lines ......, but this will ......)


    She looked at the distance to the left flank.


    She wanted to cast an "attack granting" spell on the white troops, but the distance was too far for them to get into magic range.


    Shakuma desperately tried to get to the left flank, but her speed was too slow.


    At last, he came into close contact with the monster and the battle began.


    The sound of swords and shields, axes and armor, baskets and clubs clashing with each other echoed through the air, and the cries of the people could be heard echoing through the air.


    Normally, Shakuma would have lost his senses at this point and charged, but now he could only move slowly.


    (Ugh. This is no way to respond flexibly to the situation, Mr. Roland.)


    Loran chuckled as he watched her move at a snail''s pace.


    (Certainly not ideal, but still better than the troops being drained senselessly. The primary mission of a support mage is to prevent the troops from being depleted.)


    She approached the desired location on tiptoe, and finally, nearly 10 minutes after the battle had begun, she reached the rear of the left flank and "gave the attack".


    When the left flank white troops were enveloped in a red glow, the battle, which had been almost evenly fought until then, quickly turned into a push and shove, kicking the enemy to the curb and flanking the central large orc unit, disrupting the enemy''s line of fire.


    When the enemy was defeated, the attacking mages and archers (archers) joined the attack, pursuing and hunting down every last one of them.


    After that, they fought in the same way, and under the support of Shakuma''s support magic, the troops reached the transition base of this level with minimal wear and tear.


    By that time, Shakuma''s "Attack Grant" and "Defense Grant" were both at B.


    Roland and his team went through the transition magic circle and reached the fifth level.


    It was not a labyrinth in the forest as before, but in a building somewhere.


    For some reason, this level was a rest point (save point), which is always found in dungeons.


    The walls were covered with hieroglyphics and murals.


    The room was a rectangular space lined with columns like a temple, and at the back of the room, there was a water basin like an altar.


    The watering hole was filled with water, and on either side of the watering hole, there was one transitional magic circle.


    One was a transition magic circle to go to the next level, and the other was a magic circle to return to the city.


    Behind the fountain, on an altar on a shelf, is a ring.


    It was an item to shortcut from the entrance to this place the next time one dived into this dungeon.


    Up to 30 people could be transferred to this place by using this item.


    Roland decided to check the wear and tear on his troops.


    The white army unit was missing equipment here and there, and there were only a few potions and other items left.


    So Roland decided to take the ring in hand and return home at once.


    He had achieved his goal of training his troops to some extent, and he had reached the save point in the dungeon, so he felt that he was done for.


    Roland put the ring in his hand, and passed through the transfer magic circle for his return.


    Back in town, he checked the time and found that 72 hours had passed since he had entered the dungeon.


    Since they were back in normal space with day and night, the group was instantly struck by intense sleepiness.


    Roland informed the members of the troop of the next scheduled date for exploring the dungeon and instructed them to repair their equipment and stock up on items before then, and then disbanded the troop.


    Roland then returned to his home and collapsed on his bed, falling into a deep sleep as if he were sinking into a bottomless swamp.


    <>