The next day, Sein gathered adventurers and residents of the town in the plaza and made a speech.


    He made a major announcement about the recent defeat of the "Giant Fire Dragon (Gran Fafnir).


    Gentlemen. I thank you for your cooperation in the recent slaying of Grand Fafnir. Our great battle has only just begun. I intend to reassemble my troops and slay Grand Fafnir this time around. But first, there is something you should know. Do you know what it is? Do you know the darkness that holds the "Fiery Fire of the Dragon"? Their treacherous, vicious, outrageous, and cruel deeds. They are vile and shameless, and their deeds are shameful, even to the point of being beneath the dignity of human beings.


    The audience gasped.


    What atrocities had the "Dragon''s Fires" committed?


    They were supporting a guild of thieves while supplying equipment to a venerable guild like ours, preventing us from fighting monsters and advancing toward the crown of glory.


    They are the very merchants of death who spread misery along with their weapons. They are duplicitous bat-shits. What do you think when you see such filth? It is outrageous that the best alchemy guild in the island is connected with lowly bandits. Shouldn''t we take this opportunity to question them about their wrongdoings and force them to change their ways?"


    Sein raised the issue in this way.


    However, the response from the islanders was lackluster.


    It was no secret to the islanders that the "Dragon''s Fires" were connected to the bandits.


    The island''s adventurer community''s economy would not be viable otherwise.


    Thane began to get annoyed with the silent audience.


    He was irritated by the quietness of the audience. What are you doing? Don''t you think anything of it? We are being harassed by the threat to our backs. We are fighting for you.


    That''s not what I''m talking about!"


    An audience member attached himself to the podium and said.


    He was an adventurer from a small guild that had joined the Grand Alliance.


    When will I be paid? You said it yourself. You told me I would be paid after I descended the mountain. We are a small guild. If we don''t get paid soon, we won''t even be able to make this month''s payment.


    The problem is the ''Giant Fire Dragon (Grand Fafnir).


    Another resident took up the podium.


    Is the ''Grand Fafnir'' going to continue?　If so, how long will the outburst last?　You don''t think the damage will spread to the city center, do you?　You''re the one in charge, aren''t you? Explain yourself."


    Wait a minute. I haven''t even been paid yet.


    Another adventurer attached himself to the podium and pleaded his case.


    One after another, people crowded to the podium to voice their concerns and complaints, and the plaza became so noisy that it was impossible to control the situation.


    (Ahhhh............... I told you to stop making speeches.)


    Arul looked at Sein with some resignation on his face.


    (Sein-chan''s bad habit has come out, hasn''t it? A bad habit of not being able to see what''s going on around you when you''re cornered. He is completely spinning. I guess I''m screwed this time.)


    In the end, Sein''s speech was a failure, and instead, it made the islanders uneasy and created an opportunity for the "guardians of the magic academy" to be underestimated.


    While the speech was being made in the town square, a speech was also being made in the workshop (atelier) of the "Dragon''s Fires.


    What do you think Roland did to his subordinate who had so sincerely devoted himself to the guild?　He banished the guy. He literally shut him up.


    Gilbert was typing his speech in the dining room of "Dragon''s Fireside".


    The lunchtime staff listened to his speech with bated breath.


    Gilbert had been in and out of the "Dragon''s Fires" frequently after that, conducting incendiary maneuvers under the guise of inspections and tours.


    That''s a terrible story.


    There''s more. "There are countless other men and women he''s brought down and made to cry behind his illustrious list of decorations. He lies with impunity, he betrays people, he cheats.


    I''m not sure what to say. The more I hear about it, the madder I get. This Roland fellow must be a very bad man.


    I''m not. He''s the son of the devil, for sure.


    I''m sure of it.


    I would like to ask you all to make sure that this story gets to every corner of Fires of the Dragon from the top to the bottom. Never do business with Roland''s guild.


    Of course, I''ll be sure to spread the word within the guild as widely as possible.


    Yes," he said. We will never do business with Roland.


    Thank you. Gentlemen. Thank you."


    People applauded Gilbert.


    While everyone was having a good time, the door suddenly opened and Lisetta came into the dining room.


    Her eyes are flashing, her lips are tightly knit, and she looks chagrined.


    She walked straight over to where Edgar and Charles were.


    When she came to their table, she slammed the table as hard as she could, not even knocking over the plates.


    Hey, what''s going on here? What is that equipment of Jamil and the others, the White Wolf?"


    An?"　Isn''t that Lizetta?


    What''s the matter with you? What''s the matter with you? You''re ruining your pretty face."


    There''s nothing wrong with that. Why do you let the "White Wolves" carry equipment that disables my javelin? I''m in no position to do anything about it.


    I don''t care how you do it. We only manufacture them because the White Wolves asked us to.


    It is only natural for an alchemy guild to respond to the demands of its customers. We have the permission of the guild leader.


    I don''t care about the work you guys took on. All I''m saying is, why did you destroy my work?"


    The cafeteria is silent.


    Everyone had stopped eating at the sight of Lisetta''s swordplay.


    If you drag me down any further, you''ll be in big trouble.


    What the hell is all this mess?


    Edgar gets up from his chair in a mendacious manner.


    If you have so much to complain about," he said, "just make a stronger weapon than us. That''s all there is to it, isn''t it?"


    Have you forgotten what our guild stands for?　Competition is everything."


    My javelin is for use against Fafnir. If you take out the silver crusher, you''ll be no match for me.


    Then why don''t you just get out of the business?


    I''ll let the guild leader know that you want to get out of making javelins for the Guardians of the Academy.


    I''ve had enough of ......." I was a fool to expect anything from you guys. I won''t ask anything more from you. Excuse me."


    Lizetta turns herself around grimly and walks out of the cafeteria.


    A relieved atmosphere prevailed in the dining room.


    Everyone resumes eating.


    Gilbert observed the scene carefully.


    (I see. This is how this guild earns its money? In other words, they are merchants of death. They pretend to rely on outside guilds, and then make them fight with the guild of thieves so that they will never be able to settle their disputes. (Moreover, these guys probably don''t even realize what they are doing.)


    Gilbert grinned.


    (We could use this guy.)


    The "Dragon''s Fires" promised the "Guardian of the Academy" that they would finish the maintenance and manufacturing of the equipment in a week, but the "Guardian of the Academy" had to go back into the dungeon in less than three days.


    The reason was that the small adventurers'' guild, which wanted to receive a reward, and the town''s influential people, who wanted to deal with the "Giant Fire Dragon (Gran Fafnir)," crowded into the "Guardians of the Academy of Witchcraft" accommodations.


    Arul was forced to deal with the situation on behalf of the unfaithful Thane from start to finish.


    The fact that the captain did not appear in person to explain the situation caused the small adventurers'' guild and the town''s residents to distrust him.


    Hearing this, the "Dragon''s Fires" also began to feel uneasy about the finances of the "Guardians of the Academy of Magic.


    The "Dragon''s Fires" demanded that the "Guardians of the Academy" pay their fees in advance, collect their resources, or mortgage their weapons.


    In the end, the "Guardian of the Academy" had to dive into the dungeon with equipment that was not even properly maintained in order to acquire new resources.


    The results were disastrous.


    Without the "Dragoon''s Baskets" and the "Javelin," he was no match for the "Fafnir," and after running for his life in the dungeon, he was chased down by the "White Wolf," and once again had to flee to the city.


    In the meantime, a new ship arrived at the port on a scheduled flight.


    On the ship hung a flag insignia with a crescent moon and a sword.


    It is the emblem of the "Knights of the Crescent Moon," one of the leading guilds on the southern continent.


    Upon hearing the news of the arrival of the "Knight of the Crescent Moon," the "Dragon''s Fires" immediately convened the quartet and held a meeting.


    It seems that the "Knight of the Crescent Moon" will be arriving on this island soon. It is difficult to fulfill all the orders of both guilds, the "Guardians of the Academy of Magic" and the "Knights of the Crescent Moon. I would like to hear your opinions on this matter. What do you think?"


    The head of the "Guardians of the Academy," Sein, made a speech in public condemning us. I think we can safely regard this as a hostile action.


    Raul said.


    ''They''re already broke, aren''t they? It''s not safe to get too deeply involved, is it?"


    Edgar said.


    They are off-islanders, after all. We don''t have any assets to seize except their armaments and equipment.


    Charles said.


    I don''t think we can expect much more support from them. If they can defeat the ''Giant Fire Dragon (Gran Fafnir),'' they are no match for even the ''White Wolf.


    The javelins were useless.


    Edgar said casually.


    I have to tell you this," Edgar said casually. The reason my javelin was not able to exert its power was not because of the equipment itself, but because the ''White Wolf'' was equipped with a ''Silver Crushed Stone'' shield. ......


    Hey, don''t talk too much about things that aren''t on the agenda.


    Raul chastised Lisetta for speaking in a manner that made her sound like she was trying to make a scene.


    d*mn."


    Well, anyway. No one thinks that the "Guardian of the Academy" should be prioritized over the "Knight of the Crescent Moon. Is that what you''re saying?"


    Medes looked around at the four faces, but no one objected.


    (I guess that means we''re out of time ......)


    Mm-hmm. I understand what you guys are thinking. The contract with the "Guardian of the Academy of Magic" is now terminated.


    At the port, the "Knight of the Crescent Moon" was greeted with cheers from the islanders.


    It is the Knight of the Crescent Moon.


    There''s Yugan, the double S who has slain S-class monsters on two continents."


    I''ve been waiting for you. "Master Yugan. Save us."


    The "guardians of the magic academy," clad in tattered equipment, were being shouted down as they tried to leave the harbor at the wrong time.


    You''re just talking to me, you know.


    You just pissed off Grand Fafnir, didn''t you?


    You''re just going to walk away without taking responsibility?　Is that what knights do?"


    Don''t ever come back here again, you idiot.


    Yeah, I ain''t coming. I''m not coming back to this island. You cheating islanders!　Crescent Moon will curse you, you idiot."


    Sei-chan. Let''s leave the wrestling to that. If we don''t get out of here soon, we''ll miss the boat.


    God of the sea. Sink their ships."


    God. Let that piece of shit be a floating floating piece of sea weed."


    I said, "What the hell, man? Who''s a clunker? Whoever said that, come forward.


    Wow. He''s out of his mind.


    Run!


    Sei-chan. We''re going overboard.


    Soon the stern line is released, and the boat with the knights on board is pulling away from the shore.


    d*mn. I don''t get it.


    We''ll try again next year.


    Arul said smilingly.


    The banner of the "Guardians of the Academy of Magic," which had flown over the city''s best accommodations, was removed, and the banner of the "Knights of the Crescent Moon" was hoisted in its place.


    <>