The 12th level was again in the forest.


    Since it was a plain, the road was wide and flat, but both sides were forested with groves of trees.


    Forced to change the formation of his troops after Yuffine''s awakening, Roland decided to review his tactics again.


    Using the "battle line of recovery magic," he could win against most enemies, but constantly activating magic throughout the battle was also a way of fighting that consumed excessive amounts of magic power.


    No matter how much magic power Yufine has, she cannot use it every time.


    Items to recover magic power also need to be procured.


    Fortunately, Monica used "Hawkeye" to quickly find a place in this hierarchy where "magic cherries" (cherries that can recover magic power if placed in the mouth) were growing in clusters, and Roland set that place as his first target.


    The formation was set up as follows.


    Monica will continue to deal with the enemy who will surprise us with "Hawkeye".


    Yuffine will use "Battle Line of Recovery Magic" only when enemies with high attack power, such as giant ogres, appear.


    In all other situations, Shakuma will use support magic to get through the battle in the shortest possible time while minimizing the wear and tear on the troops.


    (The problem is Shakuma. To go up one more level, the way we have been doing is not good enough. If that''s the case, then ......)


    "Shakuma, will you be in charge of command from here on out?"


    I am!　Are you sure?　It''s certainly not unusual for a support mage to assume command of a unit. ......"


    He said, "Yeah, you''re the only person in this unit who can keep an eye on the whole thing. Will you do it?"


    Yes, sir. Please let me do it. I will do it.


    I knew you would say that."


    Roland saw that Shakuma was the type of person who would become more motivated and powerful the more responsibility and authority he was given.


    Once in this department, Loran checked the quest information provided by the quest reception office.


    (The unit already has enough strength to compete with the main force of the "Golden Eagle. But not yet. This unit can still grow. (We will promote Shakuma and Yufine to at least B class by the end of this month for the upcoming decisive battle against the "Golden Hawk"!)


    According to the quest information, there is a quest for support mages on the 13th level, a quest to defeat "Fox who uses summoning magic (wizard)", and on the 14th level, a quest for healers There was a B-class quest to defeat "Hippopotamus, the hippopotamus that spits blizzards.


    Both of these quests, if accomplished, would earn the B-Class certification.


    After confirming each other''s roles and discussing the promises of unit management, the three were given their new assignments and began marching at full speed toward their goal.


    !"　Enemy coming from the right!　Five lizardmen!　Cover me, please."


    Monica, who had caught the enemy in "Hawkeye," shouted sharply.


    She was quick to leave the troop and run to a possible shooting position.


    Soon Roland could see the "Lizardmen" running through the woods.


    It was running parallel to the troop''s advance.


    The Lizardmen were lightly armed monsters with shields and swords.


    With its sharp sword and thick hide, it was a nasty monster, boasting not only high attack and defense capabilities, but also high speed.


    Shakuma tried to gather his thoughts as he caught the "Lizardman" out of the corner of his eye.


    (The key is how to deploy the troops against the "Lizardman" or ...... an enemy with high agility. The support magic we use is ......)


    You''re late!"


    Roland yelled.


    Shakuma freaked out.


    ''A support mage is all about quickness of judgment. Move your troops before you think!"


    I''m sorry, yes. White troops, please attack the enemy."


    Shakuma hurriedly gave the order, but before the white army could attack, Monica, who was standing in a shooting position to hold the enemy''s head, fired an arrow.


    The arrow did not kill the "lizardmen," but pierced the round shield they were holding.


    Sensing that they were no match, the "Lizardmen" retreated before shifting to white combat.


    (Gosh, did they escape?)


    Shakuma, as I said during the battle, your judgment is slow. Even though Monica told us the type and number of enemies, it is too late to start thinking when we see enemy shadows.


    Uh, sorry."


    (The pressure from Mr. Roland is getting tougher. (Does this mean we can''t keep going like this?)


    Roland gave Shakuma a stern talking-to, while praising Monica.


    Monica. That was a good move you made earlier.


    Yes, sir." Thank you."


    (Monica is an honor student after all. Once she gets over the wall, she''s excellent.)


    You''re good in that way," he said. "You can fight that way," he said, "but you have to get to the firing point before the enemy does. I''ll be looking forward to seeing you next time.


    Yes, sir."


    Monica could not suppress the excitement in her heart at Roland''s praise.


    It even led to a kind of deep thought.


    (Roland-san, you''ve been so strict with Shakuma and everyone else, but you seem to be kind only to me?)


    Roland was merely praising Monica for meeting his order, but regardless of that, Monica''s faint hopes for the future continued to grow.


    (Roland, why are you being so nice to me?　Is there a reason?　(Hey, Mr. Loran, please look at me more.)


    Monica sneaks a glance at Roland''s profile, and then feverishly, but his dark eyes, staring beyond the dungeon, tell her nothing.


    When Roland and his friends reached a place where many "magic cherries" were growing, they just took the ones they could get and rushed to the 13th level.


    The 13th level was again a stage of ruins.


    After one level of intense pressure on Shakuma, her judgment was sharpened.


    If a monster with high agility appeared, she would deploy early and take up a pursuit position, if the wind direction was in our favor, she would use "illusion magic" to generate fog in advance, and if she wanted to create height, she would use "crust magic" to build a redoubt.


    Roland was appraising Shakuma''s skills from time to time to check the degree of his growth.


    When he decided that the time was ripe, he headed out to defeat the "Fox that uses summoning magic (wizard).


    Thanks to Monica''s "Hawkeye," which enabled her to see the entire map, Roland and his team were able to reach the bottom of the "Wizard Fox" with minimal encounters along the way.


    The "Wizard Fox" was a bipedal fox dressed as a mage and carrying a staff.


    It summoned monsters one after another with summoning magic, so it was a monster that could only be defeated by a support mage with quick decision-making abilities.


    It was a monster that could be defeated in one blow by a B-class or higher warrior because of its low physical strength and defense, but it was cunning and fast on the run, making it difficult to catch.


    The "Wizard Fox" would run around the narrow paths and crevices between buildings against Roland and his men, summoning "Red Orcs" (which could only be damaged by "Attack Support Magic") and "Blue Orcs" (which could only be damaged by "Defensive Support Magic"), while running away from the Roland and his men. (Orcs that cannot be damaged unless they are


    Roland and his team responded with a white army unit that was given Shakuma''s "Attack Granting Magic" and "Defense Granting Magic," while relying on Monica''s "Hawkeye" to track down the "Wizard Fox" and eventually cornered it in a square in the dungeon (the remains in the dungeon would eventually lead the enemy to a cul-de-sac if pursued correctly). (They are designed to be cornered).


    The place was surrounded by tall buildings on all sides, and there was no escape route other than the one that Roland and his men had taken.


    "You finally cornered them," he said.


    You''re giving me a hard time."


    Two members of the white army said, their breath hitching on their shoulders.


    Wizard Fox," who was waiting at the far end of the square, smiled wryly when he saw Roland and the others.


    He raised his staff and deployed a magic circle.


    Roland and his men had cornered Wizard Fox in a place from which there was no escape, but for Wizard Fox, this large space was a perfect place to deploy his many magic circles and slaughter the adventurers.


    Soon "Red Orc" and "Blue Orc" appeared from the magic circle deployed by "Wizard Fox.


    Monica fired an arrow at the Wizard Fox, but the Red Oak stood in her way and easily caught it.


    The red orc is immune to any attack unless it is covered by attack support magic.


    The arrow that hit the Red Oak''s arm bounced off and rolled on the ground.


    Shakuma made a quick decision.


    The enemy''s position, the terrain and wind direction, our position, and the support magic to be used.


    (The enemy is 5 "Red Orcs" and 5 "Blue Orcs". The wind direction is from right to left. Since the wind direction is even, there is no "illusion magic" for the first move. Then, should we cast "Attack Support Magic" and "Defense Support Magic" on the white army to defeat the orcs?　(Or do we use ''crust magic'' to create height?)


    Shakuma takes everything into consideration, reads two or three moves ahead, and makes a decision.


    (There is no guarantee that you will be able to defeat the orcs even if you use "attack support magic" or "defense support magic. On the contrary, they might fall behind and miss the "Wizard Fox". Then we have no choice but to create height with "Crust Magic" and finish them off with our archer skills!　The key is to buy time and not let the enemy get away!)


    Shield team, please hold off the enemy orcs. Attack mages, cover the retreat of the ''Wizard Fox''!　Archers, follow me."


    Shakuma rushed out with arrow after arrow of instructions.


    (Unlike ordinary support mages, I cannot change my position frequently. (Unlike ordinary support mages, I can''t change my position frequently, so I have no choice but to take up a position where I can cast all my support magic as quickly as possible!)


    Shakuma took up a position in the center of the square and used "crust magic" to construct a redoubt.


    Once on top of this, the archers should be able to strike any enemy anywhere in the square.


    As Shakuma began to build the redoubt, the orcs attacked Shakuma and the redoubt in an attempt to sabotage it.


    The shields rushed to hold off the orcs and protect Shakuma and the redoubt.


    The battle between the orcs and the shields began on both sides of the redoubt that was steadily being built.


    The shieldmen cannot damage the orcs, but they succeed in holding them down with their shields and stopping their movement.


    In the meantime, Shakuma was steadily building a redoubt.


    The "Wizard Fox" was in no hurry to see this, and he never lost the eerie smile that clung to his fox face.


    It was as if he was mocking the little girl''s cleverness.


    Roland and his men could not approach toward "Wizard Fox" any more carelessly for the convenience of defending Shakuma and the redoubt, and the orcs could not break through the shield squadron with only about 10 of them.


    The two sides stalemated for a time, with neither side being able to make a decisive move.


    (If they kept on dicking around, they would just get worn out.)


    One attack mage, numb, unleashed an explosive flame magic against "Wizard Fox.


    The "Wizard Fox" remained seated without moving an eyebrow even as the flame exploded in front of him.


    (d*mn it, he doesn''t even change his color even though there is an explosion of flame right in front of him. (They''ve completely seen through our range, haven''t they?)


    The attacking mage clicked his tongue.


    (Now we just have to trust that our support mage''s readings are correct.)


    While Shakuma is making a redoubt, "Wizard Fox" makes another magic circle and adds ten more orcs.


    This is how "Wizard Fox" always summoned the orcs and made the orcs pry open the escape route, and then escaped while the enemy was fighting the orcs.


    But by that time, Shakuma''s "crust magic" had also completed a redoubt one floor high.


    ''Everyone on the left flank, please retreat ten paces.


    Shakuma activated "illusion magic" at the same time he gave the instruction.


    As the shield squads on the left flank retreated, the "red orcs" advanced and chased after them.


    There, a mist blew out from the tip of Shakuma''s staff, and riding on a sideways breeze, the mist began to cover the place where the shield squad had just taken up position and where the "Red Orcs" were now.


    The fog that quickly fills the area becomes as thick and dense as a wall.


    The "Red Oak" suddenly loses sight of its enemies and, caught in a vision, begins to fight amongst itself.


    Freed from the skirmish with the orcs, the left flank''s white army bypasses the fog wall and flanks the "Wizard Fox".


    The archers climb the steps of the retaining wall and aim at "Wizard Fox" from a high vantage point.


    Here, the "Wizard Fox"''s expression begins to show signs of impatience.


    If this continues, he will be attacked from two directions.


    Wizard Fox hurriedly calls the newly summoned orc back to him.


    Monica, who had received the "attack support magic," stood on top of the redoubt and fired an arrow at "Wizard Fox.


    Wizard Fox" let "Blue Oak" catch it.


    But soon after, the blue-glowing archer, cloaked in blue light from the "Defensive Support Magic," took aim with an arrow.


    The "Wizard Fox" makes the "Red Oak" catch it.


    Now "Wizard Fox" was visibly dismayed.


    While he was debating whether to move the orcs or summon new orcs, the attacking mage, who was within range, unleashed a blazing fire magic that obliterated the Wizard Fox without a trace.


    The wizard Fox''s staff broke into pieces, and only the Orc Summoning Stone, which had been embedded in the end of the staff, rolled on the ground.


    The orcs disappeared as if in a cloud.


    Roland picks up the orc summoning stone.


    (Good. Now Shakuma is class B.)


    While Roland and his team were steadily completing their quest, the co-takers were miserable.


    Ten hours after Roland and his team, the cooters managed to reach the 13th level, where they finally encountered a huge ogre.


    They fought hard with healing magic and defensive support magic, but their fragile vanguard could not withstand the ogre''s attack, and they had to retreat without a fight.


    It was just then that Sebasta''s unit, which had been exploring this dungeon, spotted them from a distance.


    Sebasta and his group, who had reached the 15th level before anyone else, decided that there was no guild that could compete with us, and put the dungeon attack on the back burner in order to start on the quest to win a large sum of money on the 13th level. The first time I saw the "M" in the name of the "M" was in the middle of the day.


    Sebasta frowned when he saw the coaters.


    "Hey, aren''t those cooters?"


    Sebasta asked his second-in-command at his side.


    It''s true," Sebastian replied. What in the world is he doing here?


    Hey, you. Go ask them what they are doing.


    Upon Sebasta''s order, the deputy went to the coaters.


    Upon the arrival of Sebasta''s second-in-command, the coaters turned from their exhaustion to joy.


    If they could get Sebasta''s assistance, they would be able to pursue Roland.


    They were honest about their plight.


    They had come to this level for a special mission, but they were having trouble breaking through the giant ogre due to the fragility of their troops and poor supply.


    Please, Sebasta''s unit will assist us.


    When Sebasta heard this, he was furious.


    How can a force other than ours be wandering around this dungeon on a mission?　Wasn''t this dungeon under the jurisdiction of our Sebasta Corps? A special mission!　You''ve got to be kidding me!　I didn''t ask for that."


    Sebasta was a territorial man.


    It was outrageous and intolerable to him that other units than his own would be wandering around in the same dungeon for reasons that were beyond his control.


    Sebasta did not help Coter''s troops, but rather demanded that they hand over the items in their possession.


    Upon receiving this notice, the coaters were surprised and perplexed, explaining.


    We have no intention of taking credit for Sebasta''s work.


    They were sent to sabotage the "Guardian of the Magic Tree" unit.


    Sebasta did not listen to any of their excuses.


    Don''t be ridiculous," Sebasta said. If you want to sabotage the activities of the "Guardians of the Magical Tree," all you need is for us to attack the dungeon!　I have never heard of two units from the same guild working in the same dungeon without coordination. First of all, interfering with another guild''s activities is illegal and against the adventurer''s code!　Everything you say is a contradiction in terms. We can only think that you are trying to deceive us and seize the credit. If you continue to talk nonsense, we will attack you immediately!　Just because we belong to the same guild, you can expect no mercy!"


    Sebasta, who had no idea of Roland and Wirik''s struggle for leadership in the guild or the reckless behavior of Lucius, who did not understand the plight of the people in the field, had no idea of the complex conspiracy surrounding the "Guardian of the Magic Tree" and the "Golden Eagle.


    In the end, rather than being rescued, the coaters were left with only the potions they needed to return home, stripped of their clothes, and left on the spot.


    Thus, while the "Golden Eagles" were struggling amongst themselves, Roland and his team arrived at the 14th level.


    The order among the units was switched, and Roland and his team were now at the head of the dungeon attack.


    No one was aware of this.


    <>