The three Cooter brothers were stunned to see the Stormbird shattered into pieces.


    They could not believe what they had just witnessed.


    ''This is ridiculous, there are Class A archers out there,'' said the brothers. I didn''t hear anything about that."


    What are we going to do? What are we going to do? We can''t report this kind of thing to the head of the guild.


    What am I going to do? What do you mean, what do we do? ......


    They were simply cringing at the unforeseen circumstances that had suddenly presented themselves.


    Monica sat down on the spot when she saw that her arrow had struck down the stormbird.


    The sadness and tension she had felt earlier were gone, and she felt a rush of exhaustion.


    As she did so, she saw a shimmering object fall toward her.


    It was a bundle of stormbird feathers.


    The wind force it generated brought it down to Monica''s lap as if it were returning to its master.


    Monica wrapped the bundle of stormbird feathers in the palm of her hand and held it close to her chest.


    (Thank God. Now I won''t be out of the troop yet.)


    Roland instructed Euphine to check the damage to the unit, then rushed to Monica''s side.


    Monica, are you okay?"


    Mr. Roland. Yes, sir. I am fine."


    Monica finally looked at him, relieved that Roland''s voice to her was as gentle as before.


    ''I see. Well done anyway. Now you''re a class-A archer."


    Oh, I see. Stormbird was a class-A quest."


    I said, "Yes, you did. Did you forget?


    Yes, I did. Anyway, I wanted to stay in the unit. I wanted to stay with Mr. Roland. That was all I could do.


    You really ...... are ....... Well, whatever it is, it''s just the beginning, because it''s hard to get to Class A, but it''s also hard to keep it."


    Yes, sir.


    Are you okay?　Do you want to get some rest?"


    Roland looked at Monica, who was sitting there forever, and called out to her with concern.


    She said, "Yes, yes. I''m fine.


    Monica stood up as soon as she said that.


    (Even though Mr. Roland had evaluated her so highly. (After all, Mr. Roland had given me such a high evaluation.)


    Good. Then drink the potion. I''ll be running soon."


    Mr. Roland. I have the status of the damage to your unit at ......."


    At the right moment, Euphine rushes over to report.


    Good. All are allowed to use ''earthcraft'' and potions. Restore your equipment and strength, then run.


    Roland''s troops left the scene at full speed after recovering by repairing their equipment with "Earthcraft" and drinking potions.


    The three Coater brothers were forced to hurriedly confer about the future.


    The three Cooter brothers were forced to hurriedly discuss what to do next. What are you going to do?


    The guild leader''s order was to prevent them from moving up in class. Archer''s in class A, but there''s still time for the support mages and healers. We''ll stop them at least.


    The three brothers'' unit somehow managed to put together a force that had been battered by the stormbirds and, unable to even regain their strength, followed Roland and his men.


    While Roland and his men were defeating the stormbirds, a strategy meeting was being held again at the "Golden Hawk" by the captains of the main units who had returned from the dungeon.


    The captains of the main "Golden Hawk" team had a quota of reaching the 10th level within two weeks of the dungeon''s appearance.


    The captains successfully reached the 10th level within two weeks, but from that point on, the monsters became much more diverse and stronger than before, requiring a stronger and more appropriate formation.


    So there was a competition for budget and manpower, which is characteristic of large organizations.


    Each captain knew that even if he declared the necessary budget honestly, it would not be passed nine times out of ten, so he declared the necessary amount excessively.


    Since the guild would have exceeded its capacity if it had complied with the requests of all the troop leaders, Lukius was forced to hold a strategy meeting and convened the troop leaders and group leaders.


    Holding a dungeon strategy meeting to coordinate requests among units had become a kind of regular event in "Golden Hawk".


    It was also a regular event for the meeting to get into a dispute and get into a mess.


    At the meeting, they would discuss how the difficulties facing their unit were greater than those of other units, how their unit was making greater efforts and sacrifices than other units, and how their unit was being disadvantaged compared to other units in terms of supply and deployment. We had to exaggerate and argue with each other.


    First, Jill and Dorwin fought over placement.


    Even though these two are still B-class adventurers, they are extremely useful, and every unit wanted them.


    After that, decisions were made on the deployment of other B-class adventurers, the distribution of equipment, the distribution of items, and the distribution of budgets, one by one. The result was that the company was unable to make a decision on the next step.


    They would even drag up past cases, saying which units had been given preferential treatment in the past, or that their own units had provided them with favors in the past, and they would even push each other for loans and debts.


    The meeting was a dance, but no progress was made.


    Arik attended the meeting with a bitter look on his face.


    He was not very good at exaggerating his predicament or playing the victim, even to the point of lying.


    (Not at all. How can these people waste so much time every time? If they would cooperate with each other a little, we wouldn''t have to have these useless meetings.)


    However, even he had to be serious about the meeting, even though he knew it was a waste of money, because it would affect his budget and manpower to attack the dungeon and, by extension, his position in the guild and the assessment of his adventurer class.


    Although Arik had been given time by Jill to train C class adventurers, he had not been able to train B class adventurers.


    It was obvious that he would have a hard time if he attempted the 10th level and beyond with his team as it was and in competition with Lilianne''s team.


    (But what could we do about it? ....... Hmm?　(Wait a minute.)


    A good idea flashed through Arik''s mind.


    Yes," he said. Everyone. How about this? How about asking for the help of Roland the appraiser?


    Those attending the meeting looked puzzled at the appearance of the new proposal.


    Arik did not notice that Lukius'' eyebrows twitched in disapproval for a moment.


    ''The power of Roland the Connoisseur?　Why are you doing that again ......"


    Sebasta, the unit leader, said with a suspicious frown.


    He should be able to see the adventurers'' current skills and stats, and even their potential, and assign them to the right quests. Don''t you think that fits the purpose of this meeting?"


    Dianna sighed as she held her forehead in annoyance at Alik''s apparent good idea.


    Dianna sighed, holding her hands in annoyance. Roland the appraiser is no longer a member of the Golden Eagle.


    What?


    Arik said, shocked.


    ''Roland isn''t ...... here?　Such ....... Why on earth?"


    He''s been banished."


    Exiled!　Roland?　Oh no, why on earth would ......"


    I don''t know. Anyway, Roland''s record before his banishment was abysmal. Maybe he was deliberately dragging the Golden Eagle down for some reason.


    So ......?" Such a thing. No, what a ...... shame that is."


    Arik looked upset and stunned.


    He had a history of taking advice from Roland when he had hit a wall as a mage.


    He was proud to say that even without Roland, he would have eventually become a Class A adventurer, but even so, his career would have been much slower than it is now.


    For this reason, Arik was grateful to Roland, and he also appreciated Roland.


    What? What does it matter if one or two appraisers disappear? An adventurer who has to rely on an appraiser is a second-rate adventurer after all.


    Sebasta, the troop leader, who had been quick to see that Lucius was in a bad mood, quickly began to mount a mount against Arik as soon as he gained a point.


    In fact, he had benefited greatly from Roland''s guidance, much more so than Arik, and it was almost entirely thanks to Roland that he had been able to become a Class A adventurer, but he was completely convinced that he had reached his current position entirely due to his own abilities. He was convinced that he was a good person.


    Nevertheless, this statement satisfied Lucius.


    Mm-hmm. Sebasta is right. Arik. If you are an A-class adventurer belonging to the Golden Eagle, you must stop thinking so softly about relying on appraisers. A first-rate person should be able to figure out his or her own abilities on his or her own, without anyone telling him or her what to do. Or what is it?　Are you implying that you can''t even conquer a single dungeon without the help of a connoisseur?"


    I''ve been working on this for a while now. I''m not saying that ......, I''m just saying that we are short of B class archers, support mages, and healers, and we need to train new ones. ...... The reason we are short on manpower in the first place is because you have left B class archers and support mages out of the main force. When is this special mission that requires them to be mobilized going to end?


    I don''t need to tell you about ...... special missions, and it''s not your place to tell me. All you have to think about is conquering the dungeon.


    You said, "That''s not what I meant. ...... No, it''s nothing. You''re right. Let''s continue the meeting."


    Arik swallowed the words he was about to say, and then he put them back down in his throat.


    He realized that any more excuses would only make his position worse.


    In the end, the meeting ended in Sebasta''s favor.


    Sebasta''s requests were given preferential treatment in the allocation of units, budget, and items, and Arik''s requests were given a backseat.


    While the strategy meeting was being held at the Golden Eagle, Roland and his team had reached the 10th level.


    They activated the transfer magic circle in the sanctuary on the ninth level to open the door to the next level.


    The transfer magic circle showed a complicated pattern that was clearly different from the usual one.


    The pattern indicated that there was a save point and a guardian of the hierarchy ahead.


    (After all, the Guardian of the Hierarchy is waiting for us on the 10th level this time, too.


    It was customary in the dungeons that appeared recently for the Guardian to be waiting for adventurers at the rest stop (save point) on the tenth level of the dungeon.


    Even if you were lucky enough to reach this point without encountering any monsters, the inevitable battle with a powerful enemy awaited you on the tenth level.


    It was said that whether or not one could make it past the 10th level was the turning point in whether or not one could become a regular B class adventurer.


    It was said to be the turning point in whether or not one could become a B class student. All of you. We are now going to fight against the Guardians. Let''s go, and keep our heads up."


    When Roland said this, Monica, Shakuma, and Yuffine all looked down with a lack of confidence.


    ?　What''s wrong?"


    No," he said. We always manage to get to this point somehow. But from here on, we just can''t seem to beat the Guardian.


    Shakuma began to speak bashfully.


    The troops are worn out, and wouldn''t it be better if Shakuma and I conquered the C-class quest first?"


    Yuffine, who normally does not show her emotions, expressed her anxiety as she offered her advice.


    Roland laughed.


    A class A archer, a support mage with class B skills, and a healer were all afraid of a 10th level guardian.


    The white army is also much more powerful than when they dived into the dungeon.


    From Roland''s point of view, there was no element of defeat.


    Experience complex is a terrible thing, Roland thought again.


    I''ll be fine. Don''t worry, you guys can beat a 10th level Guardian with a little time to spare.


    The three of them were in a daze.


    The three of them were all in a daze. Let''s go.


    The men in the unit, puzzled by their commander''s confidence, were pushed along and dived into the magic circle leading to the 10th level.


    The three Cauter brothers arrived at this location belatedly and were astonished to see Roland''s troops heading for the tenth level.


    They were astonished to see Roland''s troops heading up to the 10th level. According to the report from the top, they are not supposed to go to the tenth level.


    Stupid. They have A-class archers with them now, so going to the tenth level is nothing.


    The three Cooter brothers'' unit had to watch impatiently as Roland''s unit challenged the Guardians.


    A battle elephant awaited Roland and his men in the long, wide corridor of the 10th level.


    With ivory tusks as sharp as spears, a long snout that could exert monstrous strength, and a huge body weighing many tons, the elephant was a formidable opponent for the Guardians.


    Clad in armor and armors, they attacked the troop from the back of the long corridor with ample aids.


    Behind them are armored wolves and armored orcs.


    Monica finished off the battle elephant with a single blow.


    Her arrow easily penetrates the heavy armor of the battle elephant and hits the vital spot.


    The battle elephant''s huge body and its equipment collapsed in the middle of the corridor, unable to be touched by the troops.


    After that, it was a battle of the troops.


    Under Shakuma''s support magic, the white army troops defeated the battle-hardened armored wolves and armored orcs one by one.


    Monica also rode on top of a battle elephant and sprayed arrows at the monsters from a height.


    The monsters charged with their last strength, but in the end they could not defeat Roland and his shield squad and were defeated.


    The three of them were stunned by the sheer stupidity of the battle.


    What is going on? The Guardian is not responding very well this time, is it?


    Shakuma said with an unaccountable expression.


    ''I didn''t even do anything.


    Yuffine, who had not used magic once during the battle, said boredly, "I''m sorry, but I''m not going to do it.


    That''s how strong we all are."


    Roland laughed at that.


    At the end of the corridor was a fountain, two transfer magic circles, and a shelf equipped with shortcut rings.


    The group returned to the city to replenish their supplies and prepare for the search for the next 10 levels and beyond.


    <>