While the members of the "Golden Hawk" were failing to adjust their status across the board due to the repeated family upheavals, such as the absence of Lucius, Sebasta''s downfall, and Jill''s rebellion, there was one unit that was maintaining its strength as before.
It was the "Golden Hawk" Main Force 1, led by the versatile mage Alik.
He forbade his subordinates from participating in these internal conflicts and had them concentrate on status adjustment.
Let''s leave the Golden Eagle. This guild is finished.
One of the deputies told Arik.
''Lucius, this guild is all about the money account. On top of that, the frequent disturbances. Look at what it has caused. It''s all messed up. We can''t even train. Let''s go to another guild and start over from scratch. We don''t even have to pay a penalty. We have done enough for this guild. But Lucius will never recognize our contribution. Never has and never will! Get out of ...... town. If you insist on doing it, we''ll follow you."
No," he said. Indeed, as long as I''m in this guild, I may never be recognized any more."
Then go to ......."
But what if I quit now? The guild will become more and more chaotic."
"......"
If that happens, those left behind will suffer more and more. I can''t do that," he said. "I can''t just throw my responsibilities away and let others take them.
Alik ......"
If you want to leave "The Golden Eagle," I won''t stop you. But I have no intention of leaving. I''m going to stay here and fight to the end."
You''re the one who said: ......
Captain. The unit is ready, sir.
Arik, who was lost in recollection, opens his eyes when his second-in-command speaks to him.
He looks up and sees his second-in-command. Thanks for your help.
Arik sits up and checks the troops in line with his own eyes.
This is in front of the "Mine Dungeon.
Alik and his team had just finished assembling to explore the newly emerged dungeon.
All the members of the squad were B-class adventurers, all equipped with B-class equipment, and had regained their true form.
As Arik looked at the assembled troops, he reflected on the bitter experience of his previous defeat at the hands of Lilianne.
(Last time, Lukius had taken away the B-class adventurers and put them in an unexpectedly inferior position, but this time, there was no need to worry about being unnecessarily sidetracked by Lukius. This way, we would not fall behind Lilianne, who was at full throttle! I''m going to pay you back for what you owed me the other day!)
All right. Then, as soon as we get permission to enter the dungeon, we''ll start with the first group. ...... Hmm? What''s that cheering?"
That''s ...... ''Guardian of the Magical Tree'' arriving, I see."
Arik''s second-in-command said.
''Isn''t the commander of the unit ...... Lilianne? That''s ......."
(Roland or ......)
When Arik recognizes Loran at the head of the troop, Loran also notices Arik''s presence.
(Alik. I knew it was you who came to the "Mine Dungeon.")
(I never thought I''d have to fight you. (Roland)
Arik recalls Roland''s time in "The Golden Eagle".
At that time, Roland was one of the humble new trainers, and no one was paying attention to him.
But Arik knew.
Who was responsible for the sudden appearance of an A-class adventurer in "Guardian of the Magic Tree"?
The two men looked at each other for a moment, then quickly turned their heads away and went back to preparing their own units.
I can''t believe they''re bumping a squad that hasn''t even been established yet for this big game. I wonder if the "Guardians of the Magical Tree" don''t place much importance on the "Dungeon of the Mine."
Lillianne has just taken over as guild president. She may be stuck at headquarters."
Don''t underestimate them too much, boys."
Arik said to the talking lieutenants, as if to taunt them.
Roland''s unit may be newly established, but its strength is well documented. Roland''s unit is new, but its strength is well-documented," Arik said to his lieutenants. They are a formidable opponent.
When Arik said this, his lieutenants fell silent.
(I can''t believe you''ve trained three A-class adventurers in such a short period of time. Your ability to nurture is certainly impressive, Roland. Perhaps in terms of overall strength alone, there is no unit in this city that can compete with you. However, the operation of the unit. I still have a day''s advantage over you in this regard.)
Arik looked at his unit again.
They all looked familiar, not only because they had fought in many battles before, but also because they were well versed in coordination.
It was probably the most well-organized unit in town.
(Adventurer class is not everything. I''ll show you that.)
Alik! Hey, Alik!"
Alik turned to the voice calling him.
''Lucius ....... What in the world is going on here?"
Arik looked surprised to see Lukius.
The guild leader came all the way to see off the troops before they entered the dungeon.
That alone was unusual.
However, what surprised Arik more than anything else was Rukius'' completely gaunt face.
His expression was completely exhausted, as if he had suddenly aged 10 years in just a few days.
Alik. Are you going to be okay? You''re definitely going to be able to conquer ''The Mine Dungeon,'' right?"
Arik''s troopers looked at Lukius with cold eyes. Have you come to do something extra again?
They wanted to say so.
"Rukius. Let us take care of this anyway. You still have things to do, don''t you?"
''What''s the use of doing anything else now! If we don''t get the "Mine Dungeon," there''s nothing we can do about it. Do you understand?"
I''ve been working with ...... for a while now. I know. I know. There''s no point in complaining about it now. Now, you go back to your work.
Please. It''s really up to you!"
Alik looked at Lucius with a pained look.
(Not at all. I can''t watch this. I can''t believe he''s come this far from his former self-possessed self. I never thought that not being able to decide one''s own fate could weaken a human being so much.)
As Arik and his team prepared to enter the dungeon, Roland and his team were hurrying to get ready.
Roland and the others were hurriedly preparing for the dungeon. Everyone, complete a final check of your equipment and items, group by group. If you find anything amiss, let the group leader know immediately.
Mr. Roland!
Lange!
Roland turned to look in the direction he was called and saw Ranju and other members of the "Arsenal of Spirits" arriving with heavy cases on a cart.
Mr. Roland. The new equipment you ordered is ready.
You''re here! All right. Monica, Shakma, Yuffine, Rick, Lelio, and Marina. Take off your gear and come over here. We have new equipment coming."
As Roland says this, the six of them gather around.
''You come here and change from your familiar equipment to new equipment?''
Rick looks doubtful.
''Well, don''t say that, just try it on.
But wouldn''t it be a problem if you suddenly changed equipment before the actual battle?"
That''s what we''re going to test, to see if it''s a problem.
This is armor made of iron mixed with ogre skin. The armor is thicker, so it is much more defensive than before."
Lange opens one of the cases and takes out the armor.
A staff member helps Rick put on the armor.
This is ......."
(The weight and feel aren''t much different from the armor I''ve been wearing. No, on the contrary, it''s ...... easier to move?)
As he puts on the armor and moves his arms and legs, Rick''s previously skeptical face changes in a flash.
He says, "Hmm. Looks like your status hasn''t dropped."
Roland said as he appraised the status.
Captain. Is this really more armored than before? Instead of getting heavier, it''s rather easier to move than before. ......"
''Oh definitely. Come on, Cheal, explain it to him."
Yes!"
Roland urges, and Cheal steps in front of Rick.
He said, "That armor is made of iron with a layer of ogre skin over it, which not only makes it more defensive, but also significantly more durable than conventional armor. Mr. Rick, take this."
Cheal pulled an oil finger from his pocket and handed it to Rick.
What''s this?"
It is the oil from the body skin of the "Armored Lizard. The oil from the body skin of the ''armor lizard'' has the effect of making the blade slippery, but it dries up while fighting, so please apply this frequently for maintenance. Also, you can get this sword at ......"
This is ......."
The sword Rick received had a jewel at the bottom of the handle.
The jewel was carved from a jewel that belonged to a fox who used wizard magic. If you hold the sword in your opposite hand, it becomes a staff and you can use support and recovery magic.
Rick. You have the mage knight''s qualities to be in charge of both the vanguard and the rear guard. With that sword, you should be able to seamlessly handle the roles of both vanguard and rear guard. I have high expectations for you.
I''m not sure. I will do my very best.
Lelio holds up the bow and arrow he received.
How does it feel to hold it?
Lange asks Lelio.
Ranju asked Lelio, "Yes. Not bad, I think.
(It is light. And it bends well. It''s lighter and more flexible than a wooden bow. What is this bow? (......)
The bow is made from the wing bones of a stormbird.
Stormbird''s! I see. That''s why it''s so lightweight and bendable."
I heard that Mr. Lelio is an orthodox archer, so I designed it with an emphasis on agility rather than offensive power. With that bow, there is little shake and there is no need to step on it, so you should be able to shoot it while running.
While running! That''s great."
It also allows for a wider field of vision so that you can fight while activating ''status appraisals.
Lelio. Try ''status appraisal'' while holding the position."
Roland said.
Yes. ...... I see. The bow doesn''t get in the way of the status display. Well done."
Good."
But I''ll have to try it out in a real fight to see if I can shoot while running."
All right, then, let''s try the rest in a real battle."
Marina was given a cane with a bag at the end.
''What''s this? It''s not just a wand for offensive magic, is it?"
The pouch is made from the stomach of a hippopotamus, which breathes cold air.
Blizzard Hippopotamus?
Yes, the stomach of the blizzard hippopotamus is also used as material for item holding bags. So the pouch can also be used to hold items.
To hold an item: ......"
Marina stared intently at the bag at the end of her cane.
''Yes,'' she said. The wand not only allows you to use offensive magic, it also allows you to transfer items and equipment that you possess.
I see. This certainly sounds convenient.
When you cast an offensive spell with the wand, the item is transferred to the location where you cast it.
Monica, Shakuma, and Yuffine''s weapons were also upgraded, respectively.
Monica, this time we have enhanced not only your bow, but your arrows as well.
And the arrows?
Yes," he said. In addition to conventional arrows, we have prepared specially made arrows called "Kushizashi. It is heavier, harder, and sharper than ever before, and has significantly improved attack power. This should be able to kill an ogre with a single blow.
I see. Thank you, Cheal. I''m sure you will defeat the ogre.
Yes, sir. The special arrow "Skewer" is kept in Marina''s staff bag, so please ask her to take it out when you want to use it.
What about my armor? Nothing in particular seems to have changed. ......?"
Shakma said suspiciously as he put on his new armor.
''Shakma. Your armor is made to be heavier at your will."
Depends on my will?"
''That''s right. A switch at the neck. When you push the switch there, it''s supposed to get heavier."
Hm. Indeed."
I heard that. I heard that you were able to suppress the urge to charge at the last boss by yourself.
Yes," he said. That''s right.
So this time I''ll leave it to your judgment. If you think you''re in trouble, hit the switch on your neck yourself."
Yes, sir. I understand.
Euphine. Your wand has the ability to conserve magic."
Save your magic?
Yes. Now that the "wide-range recovery magic" is A, it is no longer necessary to increase the hit rate. What you need now is to shoot recovery magic more often than you need to hit.
I see. Indeed.
If you wear that wand, you should be able to conserve your magical power. You will continue to play the role of healer.
Yes, sir.
Now, all members of the guild, please enter the dungeon in order as previously decided.
A person at the quest reception desk led the guilds crowded in front of the dungeon.
The first guild to be admitted was the one that had conquered the dungeon last time.
After that, they would enter the dungeon according to the size of the dungeon.
Thus, the first to enter the dungeon was the "Guardian of the Magic Tree," followed by the "Golden Eagle," and so on.
As soon as Roland and his team entered the dungeon, they immediately started running.
Thus began the battle.
As soon as they entered the dungeon, a swarm of flesh-eating ghouls appeared.
Monica. Let''s try a new weapon.
Yes, sir.
Monica, who was at the front of the troop, stopped and readied her bow.
She does not aim her arrow.
Marina. Transfer the ''skewer'' to Monica.
Yes!"
As Roland spoke to Marina, Marina pointed her wand at Monica''s hand.
A specially made arrow, a "skewer," appeared in Monica''s hand, and she nocked an arrow that was disproportionately long for a silver bow.
This was Monica''s new equipment, the "Kushi-Sashi," a silver iron-breaking bow.
Realizing the limitations of strengthening the bow part of the "Silver Steel Breaking Bow," Cheal came up with the idea of strengthening the arrow instead of the bow.
The problem was that the arrows were inconvenient to carry, but this was compensated for by using Marina''s "equipment possession" skill.
The arrows, which are long and heavy like spears, are fired at high speed thanks to the tension of the "Silver Iron Breaking Bow" and Monica''s power, and should be able to pierce even the strongest of bodies and hardest of armor, killing the enemy.
Marina''s "Equipment Holding" had been improved to A because of her training during dungeon management, and she could keep up to 100 pieces of equipment in her magic bag.
With a power of 90-100, Monica easily drew a long, heavy arrow from her bow and released it.
The spear-like arrow not only pierced the chest of the lead ghoul, it also pierced the bodies of the three ghouls behind it.
Next!"
As Monica says this, Marina again generates a "skewer" in Monica''s hand.
Monica shoots arrow after arrow, piercing the ghouls vertically and exterminating them.
In the blink of an eye, she annihilated 12 ghouls by herself.
(This is the power of the "Silver Iron Breaking Bow, Skewer. Amazing ....... But I can do it! (I know how to use it!)
(At any rate, the first stage of the test was a success.)
Seeing Monica''s shooting, Roland decided to rate it so for the time being.
(Now we''ll see if we can defeat more powerful enemies, ogres and golems from the 10th level onward, with a single blow. If we can do that, we can aim for first place for the first time in Archer''s number of kills!)
All right," he said. The "Skewer" test is over. From here on, the priority is marching speed. There is no need to annihilate the enemy. After kicking them out to some extent, we will ignore them.
Roland''s troops moved forward against the next horde of ghouls and goblins that appeared, using Monica''s arrows to open a windbreak, then breaking through from there, kicking the enemy to the curb.
The monsters pursued them from behind with flying weapons, but Roland''s troops had improved their defenses beyond comparison to when they were first established, so it did not matter if they were ambushed from behind, even if the enemies were only ghouls or goblins.
They did not need to use Shakuma''s support magic or Yufine''s recovery magic.
Thus, Roland and his team trudged through the dungeon at an uncommonly fast pace.
Every time Roland broke through an enemy in battle, he glanced at Shakuma.
(They are advancing quite violently, but so far they don''t seem to be losing themselves in excitement.)
From Roland''s perspective, Shakuma''s profile was perfectly calm.
(So his mental strength has improved after his experience in the dungeon attack.)
I found it! It''s a shifting magic circle."
Monica tells Roland that she has found a magic circle in "Hawkeye.
Roland says, "All right. Let''s hurry."
As soon as Roland and his group came to the side of the magic circle, Arik''s unit came up behind them.
Arik''s troop! You''re here already?"
Euphine''s eyes widen in surprise.
（We followed the shortest distance with Monica''s "Hawkeye".)
Not only that, but Arik''s troops were mindlessly less exhausted than Roland''s troops.
（Arik''s troops were less worn out than Roland''s. (That''s Arik''s troops, isn''t it? (That''s Arik''s troop, after all. They are the most experienced troop in the city.)
Roland was again impressed by the high level of skill of Arik''s team.
We''re going to go through the magic circle. Hurry!
As soon as Roland and his team dived into the magic circle, they started running again.
Arik''s unit also dove into the magic circle without a pause and ran after Roland and his group.
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