When Roland woke up, it had been exactly 24 hours since he had returned to the city.


    It was always like this when he returned from the dungeon.


    He would sleep soundly for an entire day.


    Roland got up from his bed, relaxing his body, which was stiff here and there from too much sleep.


    He had to hurry and finish his errands.


    There was no time to spare before he had to dive into the dungeon again.


    After leaving his home, Roland decided to visit the workshop first.


    He was worried about whether Ranju and the others were doing well on their own in his absence.


    When Roland showed up at the workshop, the day''s production activities had already begun.


    The workers were working hard in their assigned positions.


    It was the first time he had been in the workshop in three days, but the atmosphere was the same as before.


    Roland checked the inventory, equipment, and paperwork in the workshop, but did not find anything suspicious.


    The inventory of raw materials and products was organized in such a way that it was easy to see how much was left, and all the supplies were stored in the right places so that they could be retrieved when needed.


    All processes were well planned, from receiving to manufacturing to shipping.


    (That''s what I''d expect from Lange. (It''s very well managed.)


    Ranju arrived when Roland had finished checking everything.


    Mr. Roland. Welcome back."


    I''m home. I see things are going well at the workshop."


    The two men entered the waiting room to start a meeting without even greeting each other to reopen the meeting.


    They enter the anteroom and begin to confer.


    Yes," he said. Everything is proceeding as planned.


    How''s it going in Cheal?"


    Everything is going well. I expect to have the thing ready by tomorrow.


    I see.


    At last. The original weapon will be completed.


    Oh.


    Also, you received a letter from someone named Claria at the quest office.


    !"　You came. Let me see."


    Roland cut the seal on the mail from Claria and took out the documents inside.


    It contained information on quests for archers, support mages, and healers.


    (Good. Just as ordered. If we complete these, it will help them grow even more.)


    The next day came, the day of the second dungeon exploration.


    When Roland arrived at the entrance to the dungeon, the members of his unit had already gathered.


    Mr. Roland. All the troops are here.


    Monica, who saw Roland, reported.


    I see. Good. Okay, everyone, listen up. I''m going to explain about the dungeon search. This time, we''re going to try to conquer the quest.


    When Roland said this, Monica, Shakuma, and Yuffine all tensed up.


    Unlike the previous troop activities, each of them was tested on the individual level regarding their respective professions.


    For Monika, Shakuma, and Yuffine, we will set individual tasks and goals. First, Monika.


    Yes!


    Last time we only reduced enemy forces and intercepted anti-aircraft forces before the white battle, but this time we''re going to give them more orders."


    Order ......?"


    Whenever you encounter an enemy, you must always kill the strongest monster first. And always defeat at least 10 of them."


    Monica felt her heart being squeezed.


    （The pressure was turned up a notch.)


    The other members of the unit gulped and spat at Roland''s high demands.


    If more than ten archers were to be killed in a single encounter, and in order of strength, there would be no bowman (archer) in the city who could do the same.


    Next is Shakuma. Your goal is to use three or more support spells in one battle.


    More than three ......?"


    Of course, we must not prolong the battle or wear out our troops."


    (With more than three, the speed we have been using is far from enough. (If there are more than three, it is not fast enough.)


    Shakuma looked difficult.


    Finally, Yuffine. Your goal is to reduce to zero the number of recovery items your troops use in combat."


    ...... zero."


    Currently, Yuffine was only recovering wounded members of the team with a single recovery spell.


    Single recovery magic cannot cover all members injured in battle.


    Those who could not recover in time with Yuffine''s single recovery magic were compensating by drinking potions in between battles.


    (When it comes to covering the entire troop without using potions, ......, single recovery magic cannot make it in time. You have to use ''wide-area recovery magic. (Even though the hit rate of wide-range recovery magic is still not stable.)


    Of course, we know these are very high and demanding goals. They will not be easy to achieve. But I am confident that you will achieve them.


    Roland briefly described the goals and challenges for each of the other three members.


    Although not as strict as the three of us, we still demanded a higher level of quality than the previous one and obliged them to improve.


    As for the members of the white combat team, those with relatively high defensive capabilities were made to equip themselves with shields.


    This was because the main means of attack in this unit was shooting and support magic by archers.


    When all the members of the unit had been informed of the tasks and goals, Lange and Cheal arrived with the item holders.


    Oops. It looks like you got it. Monica, Shakuma, and Yuffine. I have a special gift for you.


    Present?"


    The item holder brought by Lange took out a silver bow, silver armor, and a silver staff from a bag.


    Monica. It''s a silver iron-breaking bow. It''s your exclusive weapon.


    My own equipment: ......"


    It was a silver bow and arrow made with silversmithing techniques.


    The design was very similar to the "iron-breaking bow," but because it was made of silver, it was made with incomparably more time and effort.


    Try it on.


    Upon receiving the "Silver Iron Breaking Bow," Monica actually set her sights on it and tried it out to see how it felt in her hands.


    (It is even heavier than the "Iron Breaking Bow. But it feels good.)


    What do you think? How does the "Silver Iron Breaking Bow" feel?"


    Yes," he said. It feels very comfortable and at home in my body."


    ''Yes, it is,'' he said. Cheal."


    Roland looked back at Cheal and said.


    Cheal beamed at the praise.


    You made this for me?"


    ''Yes, sir. I adjusted it millimeter by millimeter to fit Monica''s height and arm length.


    Thank you. I will take good care of it.


    Monica bent down to be at the same eye level as Cheal and thanked him.


    Cheal''s cheeks blushed with embarrassment.


    Monica, the "Silver Iron Breaking Bow" is much more powerful, ranged, continuous-firing, and durable than the previous "Iron Breaking Bow. It should be a reassuring ally in your quests."


    Yes, I am. Thank you."


    Shakuma was wearing silver armor.


    Oh?" he said.　This armor is much lighter than the old one.


    The spirit in the armor is now working its magic to make it heavier.


    Ugh. Is it still going to be heavy?


    Once the equipment was checked and fitted, Roland and his team dived back into the dungeon.


    Using a shortcut ring, they had the entire troop transferred to the fifth level.


    ''All right. Let''s go. We''ll start with the quest to take down the "Hagane Eagle" on the eighth level.


    From the sixth level, the monsters became incomparably tougher than before.


    Most of the ogres on the sixth level are armored ogres (armored orcs).


    Armed kobolds (hobgoblins) were in charge of bows and arrows up to the fifth level, but from this point on, the bowman is also a great ogre (orc).


    Since the power of the orcs is much higher than that of the goblins, the range of their bows and arrows is much longer.


    Only archers equipped with "silver iron-breaking bows" and "iron-breaking bows" were able to counter the range of armored orcs in Roland''s troops.


    In other words, the shooting battle rested entirely on Monica''s shoulders.


    The team advanced with Monica equipped with the "Silver Iron Breaking Bow" and the archer equipped with the "Iron Breaking Bow" in the front row.


    As Roland and his team were advancing through the forest dungeon to conquer the quest, the monster''s yells echoed through the forest.


    The screams were much louder and more ominous than before.


    This was the signal for a swarm of monsters to appear.


    The spearhead of the monsters was, of course, an armored ogre equipped with a bow and arrow.


    The five orcs tried to get within range of Roland and his troop, hoping to spray them with arrows.


    Monica, however, was quicker to fire her arrows.


    The "Silver Iron Breaking Bow" had a much longer range than the large bow the orcs were equipped with, and she was able to kill them before the orcs had even set up their bows.


    Monica''s arrow pierced through the sturdy armor of the armored orc (armored orc), and she also activated her "one-hit kill" skill, destroying five orcs in the blink of an eye.


    Next came the armored wolf.


    Unlike the previous wolves, the armored wolves are not only fast, but also have excellent offensive and defensive capabilities.


    Five armored wolves split up to the left and right and flanked the attackers, and a little later, 20 armored orcs charged with great axes and swords.


    But Roland and his men were also well prepared.


    The number of warriors equipped with shields, which had been five last time, had increased to 15, and the defensive strength of the entire force had risen dramatically.


    Among the shield squad, those with high speed deployed to the left and right, while those with much higher defensive strength stood firm in the center.


    Monica continued to fire until the enemy was just about to approach, and after taking out five more armored ogres (armored orcs), she dropped back to the rear guard.


    The white armored battle begins.


    Armor on armor, weapons on weapons clashed against each other, and a violent metallic sound rang out.


    Fierce battles began on all fronts, but those on the left wing who were not yet accustomed to handling shields struggled and gradually began to be pushed aside.


    Yuffine used her newly equipped silver staff to cast a recovery spell.


    This staff was imbued with a spirit that increased the hit rate, which greatly increased Yuffine''s hit rate.


    (I can''t heal everyone in the unit, but I can heal one wing of the unit.)


    Let''s go. "Wide-area recovery magic!"


    As Yuffine casts the spell, light emanates from the tip of her wand and a magic circle appears all around.


    Most of the magic circles floated in misplaced places, but one appeared precisely at the feet of the shield team deployed on the left flank.


    In no time at all, their fresh wounds disappear, their strength is restored, and they push the wolves back.


    (After all, it''s all they can do to cover one wing, isn''t it?)


    Roland looks at the magic circle that Yuffine removed and keeps a check on her hit rate.


    Shakma, on the other hand, bristled under the weight of her armor.


    She had already cast a "defense granting" spell on the central shield team, but there she was unable to cast an "attack granting" spell on the attacking troops because of the weight of her own armor.


    (Uggghh.... If I could cast "Grant Attack" on the right wing now, I could decide the game.)


    In fact, the wolves that had been attacking our right flank for some time now were not only struggling to attack, but were also worn out from a series of failed assaults.


    If we applied the "attack grant" to their right flank now, they could easily break through.


    "Attack force, get close to Shakuma. "Attack force, get close to Shakuma and receive the magic of ''Attack Grant''!


    As Roland gives this order, the warriors equipped with long swords in the rear guard rush to Shakuma''s side.


    （Oh, I see. If you can''t move, let them come to you.)


    Shakuma, who had assumed in his mind that support mages were supposed to move around in the rear guard, felt as if he were seeing things through his eyes when he realized this simple fact.


    Thank you, Mr. Roland. I''m going to go. Attack!


    When Shakuma casts the "Grant Attack" spell, the five members of the attack force are covered with a red glow.


    They joined the right wing and kicked away the enemy while receiving support from the shield squad.


    The enemy line collapsed, and soon the enemy turned their backs and began to run away.


    Roland and his team left the pursuit of the fleeing enemy behind and returned to exploring the dungeon.


    The main objective this time was to capture the quest rather than to improve their skills.


    Roland praised Monica and Yuffine for successfully completing the task in the earlier battle, and gave advice to Shakuma, who was unable to complete the task.


    He also had the three of them discuss and deepen their understanding of cooperation among the troops before resuming the search for the dungeon.


    Okay, we are almost to the 8th level, the nest of the "Hagane Eagle."


    The "Hagane Eagle" was a monster unlike any flying monster I had ever seen.


    Its wings shined silver and were as hard as steel.


    In addition, "Hagane Eagle" attacked by flying each of its wings.


    Until now, flying monsters have attacked adventurers from the sky only with melee attacks using their claws and beaks, but the Hagane Eagle attacks at long range from far above.


    Therefore, swords and spears could not be used to kill them, and only the power of the archer was really relied upon.


    If you killed the eagle and brought its feather to the quest office, you would be considered a C-class archer and would be introduced to A-class quests.


    (Actually, it doesn''t matter if it''s a B class quest.)


    Roland appraises Monica''s skill set.


    Bow Shooting" B → A


    One-hit kill" B to A


    Hawkeye" B to S


    Silent Run" C to A


    Technically, he was already comparable to a B-class bowman (archer).


    (But she is the type that goes with steady experience. With all these qualities, I would really like to see her work harder as an ace, but she is not the type who can carry the whole unit by herself. Don''t be in a hurry. Let''s wait and see how she develops.)


    Roland and his team advanced through the dungeon, defeating enemies while improving coordination and tactics, and quickly reached the nest of "Hagane Eagle" on the eighth level.


    However, by the time they arrived there, the nest was already empty.


    Roland and his team then headed for the nest of the red oak and the nest of the great rainbow to try to conquer another quest, but both the red oak and the great rainbow had already been hunted.


    （What is it?　Every quest I''ve targeted has been preempted by another guild?　(What the hell is this? ......)


    Mr. Roland. Isn''t this indeed strange?"


    Yuffine said with a dubious look on her face.


    ''Everywhere we go, the monsters we were after are being hunted. It''s as if they know we are after this quest and are getting ahead of us."


    Roland looked at Yuffine''s face.


    She, too, stared back at him.


    I can only assume it is the work of a very high level guild to get ahead of us like this," she said. For example, the ''Golden Eagle'' class ......


    A week earlier, the "Golden Eagle" had finished making the final decisions on the formation of each unit, and each member had been notified.


    There were smiles and disappointment on their faces.


    Some were happy to be included in the main unit, some were disappointed to be left out of the main unit, some were relieved, and some had expressions of resignation on their faces.


    The three Cooter brothers were on the disappointed side.


    They said, "Huh. We''ve been eliminated from the main force this time, too, huh?


    We''ve been like this for a year now.


    The three were a B-class archer, a support mage, and a healer, but their chances of making it into the main force were always precariously on the line.


    Their hope was to establish themselves in the main force as soon as possible.


    In "Golden Hawk," there was such a big difference in treatment depending on whether or not they could join the main force.


    It''s time to go. I have to go now."


    Ha. Another day, another salute to the main force, huh?"


    As they were twilighting, Dianna entered the waiting room.


    Oh, Ms. Dianna.


    Hi.


    They hurriedly stood up and saluted.


    It was a well-known fact that Dianna was Lukius'' mistress, and that if they displeased her, their career path within the guild would be cut off.


    Oh, I''ve been looking for you. I''ve been looking for you. Lucius wants to see you."


    What?　Us?"


    The three looked at each other.


    What in the world did Lucius want with them that he couldn''t get them into the main force?


    "Oh, you''ve come. Oh, you''re here, all three of you. Well, have a seat first.


    Lukius was very gracious to them when they came to the Commander''s office.


    The three Cooter brothers sat nervously in the soft chairs reserved for visitors.


    I invited you here for no other reason than that," said Lukius. I wanted you here on a very special mission.


    What?"


    Are you on a special mission ......?"


    Oh. Have you heard of the recent escalation of conflict between the Guardians of the Magical Tree and our guild?"


    Yeah, well, ......


    Rumor has it that ......


    It seems they intend to raise another main force against us. We will do everything in our power to thwart their attempts.


    Haa......"


    So ''Golden Eagle'' decided to form a new unit. It is a unit to obstruct the "Guardian of the Magic Tree" from training a new unit. I want you to take charge of it.


    What?　Us?


    I have heard of your many contributions to the guild. I thought it was time to give you a role of some importance.


    Yes, sir.


    I didn''t realize you thought so highly of me.


    I''m honored beyond measure.


    It''s not so hard to sabotage the troops; you just have to get ahead of the quest they''re after at level 10 or below."


    I see. That would prevent me from rising in the Adventurer ranks.


    But how do I know what quests they''re after? ......


    I already have information about the quests they are after.


    What?　How in the world did you do that? ......


    That''s the part you don''t have to think about too much.


    Uh, yes.


    Excuse me.


    I believe you guys can do it. Will you do it?"


    Yes, sir. By all means!


    I will certainly live up to your expectations.


    After leaving the guild leader''s room, the three brothers looked at each other with joy on their faces.


    We did it! We got a special mission directly from the guild leader.


    And it''s what I''ve always wanted, to lead a unit.


    If I succeed in this, I can dream of becoming a close associate of the guild leader.


    Good. Well, now that we know that, let''s get on with it.


    The three men left the place in high spirits and began preparing for their mission.


    We''re happy with that, aren''t we?　Mr. Willik?"


    Lucius called out to a corner of the room, out of sight of the three siblings, where a partition separated them from the rest of the room.


    ''Yes, Monica, Shakuma, and Yuffine are having problems as a bowman (archer), support mage, and healer, respectively. With the help of the B-class adventurers belonging to the Golden Eagle, they should be able to prevent us from conquering the quest without any difficulty.


    Willik said smugly.


    You''re sure they can''t get beyond the tenth level, aren''t you?"


    Dianna asks as she offers Willik a drink.


    It was she, of all people, who turned Willik in.


    When she heard that Roland had been appointed Special Advisor, she thought Wirik was dissatisfied and approached him to inform on the matter.


    She said, "Oh, thank you. Yes, I did. They converted him because they couldn''t even get to the 10th level in the first place. But that appraiser Roland and the others.... It''s not good for them.


    I don''t think so," he said. No, we''ve had our hands full with him."


    Lucius said in agreement.


    He has achieved a certain amount of success as a cultivator only because he has the backing of a major guild, the Golden Eagle," he said. I''m sorry, that came off as whiny.


    No, no, I understand exactly how you feel.


    I can''t just stand by and watch him do whatever he wants any longer," he said. You will continue to cooperate with us, won''t you?"


    Yes, sir. I can act as a spy for the Golden Eagle, right?"


    I don''t like to be called a spy. Could you call me an informant?　This is an activity for both guilds to continue to work well together. Please don''t misunderstand that."


    Oh, I beg your pardon. Anyway, there is no way those three can become a C-class archer, support mage, or healer, let alone a B-class archer. It is enough to crush the C class quests. All that is left is to successfully train the C-Class Warrior I am currently working on, and then Roland will be under my tutelage. After that, you are free to boil or bake him as you wish, Lukius-san.


    Willik then sipped the coffee offered to him.


    Lukius nodded in satisfaction.


    I have high hopes for you," he said. If you successfully expel Roland from the Guardians of the Magical Tree, I promise you a position as special advisor to the Golden Eagle.


    Oh. Such a ...... as I am."


    Willik was amused.


    （As long as I can join the Golden Eagle, I have no more use for the Guardians of the Magical Tree. ) "Let''s get rid of them and make history as the best connoisseur in town with the biggest guild.


    Willik already felt as if he had his future post in hand and dreamed of all the fame that would be available to him.


    Mr. Lukius. I will do my best in this job. I will make sure it succeeds.


    Willik smiled carefree and shook hands firmly with Lukius.


    Back in time to the present.


    Roland, suspicious that the targets of his quests were all being hunted before him, had returned to the city.


    He visited the quest reception office and asked to see Claria.


    When they were alone in a private room, Roland questioned Claria about the quest.


    For some reason, the quests on the list you gave me have been conquered by someone else before me.


    What is going on?


    I can only assume that the information is leaked from somewhere.


    Do you have any idea what it could be?


    If you know something, please tell us, because depending on what happens, not only you but also the authority of the quest reception office will be at stake.


    When I questioned Claria sternly in this way, she began to speak, tears streaming down her cheeks.


    As a matter of fact, after the meeting with Roland in the example, a woman named Dianna visited me and threatened me to tell her the contents of the meeting without any concealment.


    She told me that she would not take up the matter with her superiors, but rather told me that if I offended a superior like the "golden hawk," it would be your responsibility to do so.


    It was difficult to resist these pressures in my position, and I ended up giving up the information Dianna requested as she asked for it.


    After hearing the above from Claria, Roland immediately rushed to the court and filed a complaint.


    The court, taking a serious view of the situation, accepted Roland''s accusations.


    Roland had to spend two days going through these procedures.


    d*mn," he said. I don''t have time for this!"


    After changing his responsibilities at the quest reception office and ending his retrospect, Loran was introduced to the quests again, then joined his troops and returned to the dungeon.


    With a map in hand of the new quests that had been generated in the past few days, he rushed to the location of his prey.


    A few days later, the court fines Claria three months'' salary for breach of duty of secrecy and obstruction of business, and "The Golden Eagle" is fined the same amount.


    <>