When the Grand Alliance reached the "Metal Line," the "Arsenal of Spirits" was steadily developing weapons for Hans and his team.


    Aina was working hard on the "coating" of the bow and arrow, remembering what Roland had told her.


    Is it a light and powerful bow and arrow ......?"


    I''m not sure I''m going to be able to do it," he said. Hans and his colleagues are archers with B-class or higher qualities. However, they are still in the development stage. They don''t have the power to kill an enemy with a single blow, and they can''t receive support from shield holders. So they employ hit-and-away tactics, but to do so they need to minimize the drain on their agility."


    Roland wrote the status of Hans and his team on the blackboard.


    Thus, their arm strength (power) is about 40 to 60, class C. Currently, they are using bows with a weight of 40, but we will make bows with a weight of 30.


    Weighs 30 ......"


    That would cut down considerably on power and durability.


    That''s where Aina''s ''coating'' comes in.


    Roland wrote out the specifications of the bow and arrow he was aiming for.


    [Bow and arrow


    Power: 60 (up20)


    Durability: 60 (up20)


    Weight: 30


    *The increase is due to "Exterior Reinforcement (Coating)


    The weight of 30 ...... is class D?


    So a bow and arrow with a power of 60 and a durability of 60, that''s class B, isn''t it? Another absurd spec.


    Roddy said in amazement.


    But the flip side is that even a D-class adventurer can see the potential for B-class equipment. And with Aina''s unique skill, ''Exterior Reinforcement (Coating),'' it should be possible."


    But there is only one type of status that can be raised by my ''Exterior Enhancement (Coating). Blue for durability, red for power.


    It is true that with ordinary weapons, only one type of status can be increased. But not for bows and arrows. Why don''t you paint the bows blue and the arrows red?


    Ah!


    I see. That would enhance both power and durability.


    Yes," he said. That is why Aina is again improving her "Exterior Reinforcement (Coating)" skill. Roddy is to ''product design'' a bow and arrow that meets this requirement."


    Yes!"


    Aina points her support magic wand at the red-painted arrow in front of her.


    (Let''s go. Coating"!


    As Aina casts the spell, the red paint begins to swell.


    Aina suppresses it.


    A red arrow filled with power is then created.


    (Well, it should be more powerful now, but ......)


    The red arrow glints and shines, showing off its sharpness.


    Aina touched the arrow fearfully with a hard glove.


    Pssst!"


    The gloves tear at the slightest touch.


    It''s no good. I can''t touch it.


    (For three days after Mr. Roland told me about it, I somehow managed to wear the "Exterior Reinforcement (Coating)" that increases the power, but this will hurt the owner, won''t it?)


    Aina. How are you doing?"


    Oh, Mr. Roland. That ...... "Exterior Reinforcement (Coating)" went well. ......


    Hm. I guess so."


    Arrow status.


    Power: 20 (up20)


    I''m not sure. It''s true that the power has been increased. Well done."


    It''s just that ...... this is going to hurt the archer too.


    I see. Indeed.


    Roland thinks for a while.


    I wonder if it would be possible to apply the ''coating'' only to the butt of the arrow? That way, at least the guarding hand is protected.


    Oh, I see. I''d like to see the bow in the hand that pushes the bow. ...... but that doesn''t cover the hand that holds the bow, right?


    Let''s use gloves to protect them. Just put a blue ''exterior reinforcement (coating)'' on regular gloves, and the durability should increase.


    I see.


    Can you get on with it?


    Yes!"


    Aina''s Unique Skill


    Exterior Reinforcement (Coating): B (up 1 rank)


    (With experience, "Exterior Reinforcement (Coating)" has been raised to B class. This one looks fine.)


    After Roland confirmed that there were no problems with Aina''s work, he moved on to Rodi.


    Roddy was holding up a model of a bow he had made based on his own blueprints and testing its comfort.


    Roddy, how does it feel?


    Oh, Mr. Roland. The anti-aircraft specialization that Mr. Roland ordered. It looks like we''re getting there. Would you like to try holding this up?


    Oh," he said. Let''s see. I see. ...... It''s easier to shoot if you hold it up in the air.


    Right? I''m confident this time."


    Roddy. Got a minute?"


    Hmm, Aina? What''s wrong?"


    Roland pointed out to me that we need to change the way the arrows are ''coated'' to strengthen the exterior. I''d like you to change this part of the design: ......"


    I''m like, "Ok, I''ll do it. No problem. I''ll do it.


    [Lodi''s skills


    Product design: B (up 1 rank)


    (Lodi''s skill has also moved up one rank to B. This will be ready by the time Hans and the others get back.)


    "Mr. Roland!"


    Hmm?"　Saki. What''s up?"


    Hans and his friends are here to see you.


    Oh, you''re back. I''m coming."


    After three days of searching, Hans and his team returned completely battered and bruised.


    Roland immediately appraised their status.


    Hans Bergamot''s status.


    Agility: 70-80


    Claire Bergamot''s status


    Agility: 60-70


    Alice Bergamot''s status


    Agility: 80-90


    (All the agility are within 10 errors and above B class agility. That''s good enough.)


    What do you think, Roland?　How agile are we?　Are you good enough to wear the new equipment?"


    I''m not sure I''m going to be able to do it. I look different. I''m not the same person I was a few days ago. What kind of magic did you use?


    "Huh. It''s no big deal. I just did the training you told me to do. It was you who cast the spell, wasn''t it?


    I can hunt just by doing a little damage," he said. Good boy.


    Alice took out the scales and bones of "Ptera" from her item bag.


    You hunted a ''pteranodon''?


    Roland was a little surprised.


    (It must be extremely difficult to defeat a dragon tribe with the attack power of these three. If they''ve managed to do that on their own, that''s more of an accomplishment than I expected.)


    Roland moves his eyes to the boots of the three men.


    The three men''s boots were completely worn and tattered.


    (You''ve done the training I''ve told you to do, you''ve been working yourself to death.)


    Now, we''ve made good progress," he said. I hope you''ve made your weapons.


    Of course. I have prepared special weapons for you and your "Heavenly Horse Arrows". It should be ready by now. ......"


    Mr. Roland, your new equipment is ready.


    Aina came out from the workshop (atelier) and said.


    I see," Aina said. Okay, let''s have them put on their equipment right away.


    Roland let Hans and the others through into the workshop (atelier).


    These are your exclusive equipment, ''red arrow'' and ''dragon-breathing sky. These are weapons to protect you from the dragon''s fire and to pierce the dragon''s thick skin.


    This is ......."


    Hans and the others each pick up a bow and arrow.


    The bow and arrow were embedded with a large piece of "fire-absorbing ore.


    Status of the red arrow


    Power: 60 (up20)


    Durability: 60 (up20)


    Weight: 30


    Special effects: Penetration, flame absorption, anti-aircraft correction


    *The increase is due to "Exterior Reinforcement (Coating)


    While Hans and his team were receiving the "Ryusenkyu", the Grand Alliance was advancing along the "Metal Line".


    Two fire dragons (Fafnir), a rock ogre, and ten lizardmen attacked them.


    These monsters were no match for the experienced infantrymen of the "Guardians of the Academy of Magic".


    They did not need to use their "dragon-headed cage hands (dragoon)" to defeat the enemy with their fire spears (javelins).


    Nevertheless, the members of the small guild had a tough fight.


    Since Thane did not distribute rare metals, they tried to form their own clique to cope with the situation without the help of "Guardians of the Academy of Magic," but their offensive and defensive capabilities were no match for the monsters in the "Metal Line.


    Here they come!


    Whoa.


    Somebody cover me.


    Arul, unable to bear to look on, decided to offer a helping hand.


    He said, "Any available men from Teams 5 and 6, help those people over there.


    When the available members of Teams 5 and 6 joined in, the struggling micro guilds quickly recovered.


    (The monsters are getting stronger, and the small guild can no longer keep up with them.)


    Arul glanced at Thane''s face.


    Whatever he had been thinking about earlier, Sein had not given any particular instructions, even though the micro guilds were in such a terrible state, and he was still pretending not to see them.


    (I was going to advise them to distribute the ore to the allied guilds as well, but I guess they won''t listen to me after this. But if things continue as they are, there will be a division between us and the allied guilds that we have gone to so much trouble to gather. What on earth are you going to do, Sei-chan?)


    Arul shot a questioning look in Sein''s direction, but Sein gave no answer.


    Thus, despite their uneasiness, the Grand Alliance somehow manages to cross 2/3 of the "Metal Line.


    Alul was not happy. That''s it for today''s search. Build a wall to protect us from the monsters, and get ready for the night camp.


    "Captain."


    Several representatives of a small guild stepped forward and knelt in front of Thane.


    Hm?　What is it?"


    On behalf of the Micro Guild, I would like to ask you a few questions.


    Say it.


    We, the small guild, have been doing what we can for the Grand Alliance, and we have been doing it with sincerity. But this is the limit.


    I see. Then you can go down the mountain. At daybreak, you must descend the mountain in groups of deserters."


    I would like to ask you a favor. Would you be willing to pay us our fee in advance?"


    Sein''s eyebrows twitched disapprovingly.


    ''I told you before, didn''t I?　As for the rewards for each guild, they will be distributed according to their work after defeating the "Giant Fire Dragon (Gran Fafnir)" and descending the mountain. The guilds that leave can wait in town until we finish our work.


    But, sir," he said. We, the small guilds, are already very poor due to this expedition. Our armor has been peeled off by the fire of the dragon tribe, our swords have spilled their blades on the skin of the rock tribe, and we are completely worn out. If we do not receive our reward now, we will not be able to pay for the maintenance of our weapons or explore the dungeon, and we will go bankrupt. We ask the captain for your generosity. ......"


    I''ll tell you what, I''ll tell you what!　I have no intention of reversing the decision!"


    But ......"


    Ruusse!


    The roar of the "dragon-headed cage (dragoon)" echoed through the air.


    The bullet snatched the side of the person who made the direct appeal and hit the slope of the mountain, creating a crater.


    "Hiccup!"


    ''If you''re going to slow us down, get the hell out of here!　If you keep on yammering on about it, I will expel you from the alliance!　Now, if you understand, get off your mountain and get the hell out of here!"


    The members of the small guild who appealed directly stopped preparing for the nightly camp and hurriedly began to descend the mountain.


    After witnessing this, Sein again looked around at the entire army and made a speech.


    Listen to me," he said. Listen to me, my friends. We expect to face even more formidable enemies in the future. We cannot afford to protect our foot soldiers. If we deem them useless, we will discard them on the spot. With that in mind, fight to the death!"


    The morale of the entire army was once again tightened by the ruthlessness of the commander.


    They began to work hard to once again show their loyalty to the "Guardians of the Academy of Magic.


    Thane returned to his tent when he saw that the morale of the entire army had returned.


    When he gets to a place where the other guild members are no longer around, he begins to complain.


    d*mn, that''s why they''re so weak. You make me have to go through all this trouble every time.


    Arul accompanies him and watches him.


    (You''re getting pretty crabby, Sey-chan. (You seem to be very irritated, Sei. The Alliance Guild is useless, but I think the direct cause is that girl Carla. She''s been on edge ever since we ran into her.


    Sein kicked the dirt on the ground in frustration.


    A cloud of dust rises for a moment and then disappears.


    (I hope nothing will happen to him. ...... I wonder if it will be all right.)


    The sound of gunfire echoing from the volcano carried over to the city.


    The adventurers in the cafeteria were buzzing.


    It''s the sound of the ''Dragoon''s Cage'' again.


    Roddy looks out the cafeteria window toward the volcano.


    This is the third time today," he said. It looks like the "Guardians of the Magical Academy" are on the rampage.


    Aina also put down her fork, stopped eating, and looked out the window.


    It''s been seven days since they entered the ''volcano dungeon. They should have reached the top of the mountain where the ''Giant Fire Dragon (Gran Fafnir)'' is located by now.


    Maybe they''ve already taken them down."


    Aina said.


    What?"


    ''Because it is, isn''t it?　That Sein''s "Dragoon''s Cage". The firepower was quite powerful. Roland-san seems to think that we will fail to defeat him this time. I think we will succeed.


    I really doubt that.


    Roland sits next to Lodi with a tray.


    Oh, Mr. Roland."


    (Oh my God, did they totally hear what I just said?)


    Aina hurriedly kept her mouth shut.


    I don''t think it''s going to work out that way for me, though.


    Roland also looked out the window.


    （Each and every one of the "Guardians of the Academy" was equipped with a fire spear (javelin). ) Despite this, they have been firing "dragon-headed baskets (dragoon)" wildly up to this point. In addition to firepower-driven dungeon attack, the alliance is a hodgepodge of poorly coordinated groups. How far can they go with that?)


    However, despite Roland''s observations, the Grand Alliance was about to reach the summit of the mountain.


    At the end of the mountain path, the long, sickle-shaped head of the "Giant Fire Dragon (Gran Fafnir)," encased in a rocky skin, could be seen leaning over.


    Look! It is the ''Giant Fire Dragon (Grand Fafnir).


    Thane chuckles and clenches his gauntleted fist.


    （I''ve finally arrived. I''ve finally arrived at the ''Giant Fire Dragon (Gran Fafnir)''. I''m going to defeat you and bring the title of S-class back to the ''city of mages''!)


    <>