The killing of ghouls continued. (The killing of ghouls was not registered at the quest office, but it was considered the moral responsibility of the adventurers to hunt them when they were found, as they would eventually become undead or vampires if nurtured.)


    Some of Roland''s troops trained voluntarily after they had finished defeating the ghouls.


    Rick was one of them.


    ''Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!''


    Rick shows 100 castle wall stones carried in the morning.


    He had been voluntarily training to improve his power while on a quest to defeat ghouls.


    Rick piles up a pile of stones in front of Roland.


    He is a little surprised. That''s great, Rick."


    Marina, who had been watching by Roland''s side, expressed her amazement.


    ''How''s it going?　Mr. Roland, we carried 100 wall stones in one day. That''s the same amount as Monica.


    I was so impressed with the quality of the products that I was surprised that they were so expensive. Wow, that''s great. And that''s it?


    Rick jerked at the word.


    Nah. Who says it''s over? We were just about to start piling it up.


    Rick runs off again to collect more wall stones.


    It''s almost dinner time, isn''t it?


    Roland looked at his watch and muttered.


    Marina, let everyone know it''s almost dinner time.


    Roland calls out to her, who has been standing by the entire time.


    Roland calls out to her, who has been standing by all the time. Everyone," Roland said. It''s dinner time! Stop your training and gather in the mess hall.


    Marina repeats the same words and touches everyone.


    (I see. (I see... Marina, who is very talkative, is used as a speaker to communicate with all the members of the unit.)


    Lelio was standing at the other end of the room, observing Roland''s approach.


    Since learning to conduct tactical retreats, Lelio''s enthusiasm for command had increased dramatically.


    Even now, he is tirelessly observing Roland, trying to steal as much of Roland''s skill as possible.


    Lelio," he said, "you should take a rest, too. I''ll take care of this.


    Yes."


    Loran appraised his status when he parted ways with Lelio.


    Command: 60-90


    (90, the highest value. That''s good. Now all I need to make up the margin of error is some actual battle experience.)


    Roland also did a status appraisal on Rick and Marina.


    Rick Dyer.


    Arm strength (power): 70-80


    Endurance (toughness): 70-80


    Agility: 20-30


    Physical strength (stamina): 70-80


    Magic: 70-80


    Marina Fortuna


    Blast magic: C to A


    Ore possession: B to A


    Equipment possession: B → A


    Medicine (potion) possession: B to A


    （Rick to 70-80 except for agility. Marina''s ore, equipment, and drug (potion) holdings are all B''s. She can be counted on to be a major force multiplier!)


    Roland was pleased with the newcomer''s progress.


    After receiving permission from the investors to spend the 150 million gold, Lucius returned to the "Golden Eagle.


    (Oh dear. Somehow, he managed to get the investors'' consent. With this, we will be able to pull them out of the "Guardian of the Magic Tree". (They are giving me a lot of trouble.)


    Lucius is fed up with the inconvenience of spending other people''s money.


    (But now the game is as good as decided. No matter how much resistance there may be to the transfer, 50 million gold per person is enough to make anyone shake their head. (If push comes to shove, we can spend all 150 million on one person.)


    If you can get one person to transfer, the other two will begin to regret that they really should have refused.


    Furthermore, the next time around, they will feel less guilty about the transfer.


    There will be a lot of awkwardness among the main force over the transfer, and the damage done to "The Guardian of the Magical Tree" will be immeasurable.


    (With this, the issue of the transfer has been settled. Now, it''s been a long time since I''ve been back. (I hope those who are away from home are doing well?)


    Lucius entered the guild leader''s room in a good mood for the first time in a long time, free from his recent troubles.


    However, as soon as he overheard the report from his subordinate about the events during his absence, he immediately became furious, a blue streak appearing on his forehead.


    The alchemy guild is rebelling?　The "Keeper of the Magic Tree" is starting to manage dungeons on his own?　Is Jill in league with the "Guardians of the Magic Tree"?　You idiot!　What the hell are you people doing?


    Lucius shouted at those who came to report.


    Dianna was not among those being yelled at.


    She was again standing next to Lucius with a clear face, as if she had no control over such matters.


    Dianna was skillfully manipulating information.


    First, she suppressed the report from Zens without telling anyone.


    Then, through other people, she leaked the problem to the people she had chosen as her sacrifices.


    As they scrambled to solve the problem, they somehow became the ones in charge and were put in the role of reporting to Lucius.


    The reporters who are being yelled at don''t think it is Dianna''s fault that they are being yelled at.


    After being yelled at by Lukius, they were told that they would be downgraded as guild members and ordered to leave the room.


    ''Totally. I''ve been gone for a while, and this is what I get.


    I am sorry. I had no idea this was happening underwater."


    Dianna!　You are you, too. You didn''t notice anything when the problem was getting so big.


    I had been aware of Jill''s suspicious behavior for some time. I have already taken measures based on my own investigation.


    What?　Really?　...... I see. I didn''t think so. I''m sorry I yelled at you.


    No," he said. I don''t mind.


    Dianna smiles and shows her smile.


    You''re not like the rest of them, after all.


    Thank you, sir.


    And?　What exactly are these measures?　Let''s hear it now."


    Lucius listened to her investigative report, completely regaining his good mood.


    However, when he finished listening to her report, he turned pale again and angrily said, "I''m sorry, I''m sorry, I''m sorry.


    He said, "Gilles is under the tutelage of ...... Roland?"


    It was an uncomfortable feeling, as if one''s property were being tampered with and altered by others without one''s permission.


    Get Jill up here right now!"


    Jill had returned to town from the dungeon after completing a quest to build a bridge.


    Roland had gone to the entrance of the dungeon to pick up Jill.


    When they met up, the night was already falling.


    ''Hahaha. Roland. I''m back.


    Jill was exhausted from the quicksand.


    She was exhausted. Good work."


    (Was I too hard on him, indeed?)


    Roland feels a little guilty when he sees how worn out Jill is.


    She had worked hard for nearly two weeks, drinking no potions and subsisting on river water and berries.


    Hahahaha. So, Mr. Roland. What kind of punishment will you order me to do next?


    What?　Punishment?"


    Oh, no, I made a mistake. What kind of training will you be assigning me next?"


    Oh, yeah. I guess I misspoke."


    (Well, ......, glad to see you''re doing well anyway)


    Roland was relieved for now to find that his fears were unfounded.


    Heck, so what?　What kind of rigorous training are you going to put me through next?


    I''ll be back in a minute. I''ll look at your status first."


    Roland appraised Jill''s status.


    Power: 105-110


    Toughness: 115-120


    Agility: 100-105


    Physical strength (stamina): 195-200


    Yes, what do you think, Mr. Roland?


    Jill looked at Loran with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety.


    ''No, it''s great. Jill, congratulations."


    What?"


    Roland undid the clasps on Jill''s armor and disarmed her.


    Jill was freed from the weight that restrained her and instantly felt lighter.


    She would be wearing only a simple inner garment.


    All her basic stats are above the minimum of 100 and within a margin of error of five."


    Okay then. ......


    Oh, you already have the status of an S-class adventurer," he said. There is nothing more I can teach you. You can go as deep as you want in any place called a dungeon, and you will be able to defeat any enemy.


    Mr. Roland!"


    Jill was so moved that she hugged Loran.


    Jill?"


    ''Thank you. We''ve made it this far. It is thanks to Mr. Roland''s stern rebuke, coldly pushing me away, irresponsibly leaving me alone, and verbally abusing me. Thank you so much.


    Uh-huh.


    (It''s kind of different to thank him for that content. ......)


    And anyway. Let''s rest."


    Roland draped his own jacket over her and led her to a nearby bench.


    Now I have nothing more to teach you," he said. You''ve worked hard to get this far.


    Yes, it''s just that I won''t be under Mr. Roland''s tutelage any longer. It makes me a little sad to think about that."


    "Jill ......"


    Mr. Roland!"


    Suddenly, Jill turns her serious gaze toward Loran.


    What is it?"


    I am going to fight Lucius now.


    What?　But that''s ......"


    Yes, sir. It is against the contract. You will be punished. You may not be able to stay in this city like Sebasta. But I will still fight.


    No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!　Something else you can do: ......"


    Jill shook her head.


    Jill ......"


    ''I can''t work for him any longer. Besides, I''ve been complicit with Mr. Roland to this point. I will be held accountable one way or another."


    Roland choked up.


    Even if it goes against reason and the rules, I can no longer follow the ways of Lucius, ...... and I can no longer follow Lucius, who has banished you. So I will fight."


    <>