At the "Arsenal of Spirits," a morning meeting was held with new members and an additional workbench, and with a renewed spirit.


    Now, Wayne, Pato and Leena, you are going to develop your unique skills.


    Yes, yes, yes. Unique skills.


    Wayne said, annoyed.


    Aina saw his attitude and frowned.


    (This guy still doesn''t trust Mr. Roland''s appraisal skills? (Come on, admit your power, Mr. Roland.)


    You''ve already given Wayne an assignment. "You have already given Wayne an assignment: to use ''cutting'' to make A-class mage equipment. From now on, in addition to that, you will compete with the two of us in unique skills. Take a look at this."


    Roland points to a lyre (harp) and used armor on a stand beside him.


    First, Pato. I need you to fix the sound of this harp.


    Sound?"


    Oh. This is a lyre (harp) that a certain minstrel in this town asked me to repair, but the scale is out of tune. I will ask you to fix it.


    Roland played the lyre (harp).


    It was a terrible sound that even an amateur listener could tell was out of tune.


    He said, "I''m not sure what you mean when you say you''re going to fix the scale. ...... I''ve never played music before.


    What? What you have to do is alchemy after all.


    [Explanation of the skill "Tuning"].


    Alchemy restores a musical instrument''s deranged pitch.


    Doing this to equipment may give it a special effect.


    You can do "metal molding," right? Try it on this lyre (harp)."


    "Huh."


    Pato tries hitting the lyre with a hammer, without quite getting the hang of it.


    (Ugh. What?)


    Pato played the instrument and felt the lyre''s scale change without needing to confirm it.


    When Roland played the lyre (harp), the sound was clearly improved.


    Yes," Roland said. It''s getting better.


    (It''s a strange feeling. It''s as if the moment I hit it, I had a sensory understanding of what was happening inside the instrument ....... It''s a feeling I never had when I was hammering steel.)


    I hope you now have some idea of what it feels like to use the skill ''tuning''."　Well then, keep trying until the sound of the "lyre" is completely fixed. Next, Leena.


    Yes, sir.


    You will regenerate the iron from this armor.


    Is it ......?


    Yes. That''s your unique skill, "Scrap Reclamation."


    Description of the skill "Recycle".


    The metal can be restored by refining it again after it has been formed.


    The process is simple and straightforward. First, this used armor is broken down to a size that can be put into the refining kiln. Then we refine it. Would you give it a try?"


    I understand. I will try.


    Leena began to work on it without any particular questions.


    First, she hammered the armor, crushed it to a good size, and put it in the kiln.


    (She''s an honest girl, isn''t she? This one looks easy to handle.)


    Pato was playing the lyre (harp) on the workbench he was given by trial and error.


    (I can sort of sense that the sound is changing, but I''ve never molded a musical instrument before, so I don''t really know how to do it.)


    Pato sighed and became pensive (he had a habit of becoming pensive when he was stuck at work).


    (Was I really the right person to come here? I had left "Dragon''s Fires" on a spur of the moment, but this was a clear violation of the contract. No matter how coldly I was treated, such a thing is ......)


    Then Wayne came to the workbench next to me and put down the iron.


    He said, "Yo. Pato. You''re here too?"


    Wayne ......"


    ''I guess Edgar''s bastard set you up anyway. What the hell is wrong with that son of a b*tc*?


    I ...... couldn''t stand the way they worked over there.


    What?　What''s that? Well, but yeah. That''s unbearable, isn''t it? Edgar had his eye on you.


    "......"


    But it''s all the same here. The guild leader, Roland, is a bit of a jerk in terms of his instructions and training policies.


    Is that so?"


    Yeah, that''s right. I''ve had a bad experience because of him. I mean, there are so many shitty places to work in the world. It''s true.


    ...... That''s what I''m talking about, Wayne. You were ordered by the guild leader to work on the magic stone, weren''t you?


    Oh?　It''s okay. I have to beat Edgar''s guy. I don''t have time to follow Roland''s orders. What the heck is "cutting magic stone"? I didn''t even see such a skill in "Dragon''s Fires. Unique skills don''t just appear that easily, you know. What does a connoisseur know about alchemy? You have to be careful about that too. ......


    Just as I was about to say that, I heard Leena''s voice at the refining kiln.


    Roland-san. The iron has been regenerated.


    Which one?　Oh. This is iron C. Well done.


    Roland looks sullenly at the iron that Leena brought.


    (That armor was originally made of iron B. (That armor was originally made of iron B. Was it impossible to reproduce the original quality of the stone? (However, this can be reused well enough.)


    [Leena Hart''s Unique Skills


    Recycle": C (↑2)


    (As I said, skills that haven''t been tapped yet grow fast. I went from an E class to a C class with just a few hand-holding.)


    I''m great," he said. Leena. With this kind of performance, you can save as much iron as you want just by accepting used goods."


    Yes," he said. I never thought I could do this myself."


    Let''s keep up the good work and keep on ''recycling''!"


    Pato was impressed when he saw Leena''s recycled steel.


    It''s amazing," she said. She was able to perfectly regenerate iron from such tattered armor. I''ve never seen such skill before.


    (I can''t believe that Leena had that kind of skill in her. And Roland, an S-class appraiser who saw it in her first meeting. He was treated as a fraud in "Dragon''s Fires," but he may be a skilled appraiser.)


    Hey," he said. Wayne, is Mr. Roland from ......, Wayne?"


    When Pato tried to talk to Wayne, Wayne had put away the iron he was hammering at an odd pace and was beginning to sharpen the magic stone.


    The rough magic stone was quickly sharpened to a smooth surface, and a sparkling brilliance covered its body.


    Wayne, breathing on his shoulder, submitted the finished stone to Roland.


    Hahaha," he said. Hey there. Roland, the ''magic stone cutting'' is done. Appraise it.


    Which is it?　You can do it if you try. Your unique skill is working.


    Storm magic stone.


    Magic: 50 (up 40)


    I''m not going to say it again. This is nothing compared to what I can do.


    But it''s still not enough for an A-class wand component. Let''s keep working on it.


    Saying this, Roland handed Wayne a new magic stone.


    Tch. I''ll make you an A-class equipment in no time!


    Wayne returned to the workbench and worked on grinding magic stones as if his previous laziness was a lie.


    （I''m already losing to Aina," Wayne said. (I''ve already lost to Aina, and I''m not going to lose to Leena, too!)


    Pato chuckled at Wayne.


    （Wayne, you haven''t changed. (Wayne, you haven''t changed.) When it comes to competition, you change the color of your eyes.


    Roland," she said. Can you recycle this into steel too?"


    Aina brings a large amount of rusted tools on a cart.


    She says, "Oh?　What''s wrong with that?"


    I left it in storage in the back. When I saw Leena''s unique skills, I thought it might be a good idea."


    I see. Well then, Leena, will you give it a try?"


    Yes, sir. Yes, sir.


    (Leena is also in good spirits. (Lina is also in good spirits.) This workshop has a nice atmosphere.)


    I can work here for a while.


    Pato thought so, and got himself back on track.


    Wayne Merza''s Unique Skills


    Cutting": C (up2)


    [Patrick Garcia''s unique skills


    Tuning": C (up2)


    Lawsuit?"


    Raul was quizzical when he heard the unfamiliar word come out of Medes'' mouth.


    ''Mm. The other day, Roland was in and out of our workshop (atelier). I had already banned him from the studio. Moreover, it seems that he encouraged a member of our guild to break his contract and join his own guild. This is unacceptable, and I think we should file a lawsuit against the Arsenal of Spirits.


    I think you''re being a bit hasty, don''t you?　First, we''re going to call those two disappeared people and find out what the facts are. ......"


    Not so fast. What is more, this is the proposal of none other than Mr. Gilbert.


    Raul frowned at the mention of Gilbert''s name.


    Raoul frowned when he heard Gilbert''s name. Raul frowned when he heard Gilbert''s name.　I haven''t even received an advance yet. ......"


    The amount of work is the amount of money," he said. Besides, Mr. Gilbert has said that this is the last request he will make regarding the "Arsenal of Spirits.


    I''ll take ...... on that one."


    Raoul, think about it. The fact that some people have actually violated their contracts by following Roland''s lead is a problem that cannot be overlooked. We can''t guarantee that the same thing will not happen in the future. We have no choice but to deal with it.


    I think it''s enough just to stuff the two people who violated the contract. ......


    Raul. I''ve already made up my mind about this. Don''t talk about it now. More importantly, the "Knight of the Crescent Moon" will be back soon from his dungeon exploration. You should be fully prepared for that.


    I know."


    Raul looks out the window toward the "Volcano Dungeon.


    （It''s quiet. I guess Yugan didn''t fight the "Giant Fire Dragon (Gran Fafnir)" as he had originally planned.)


    While the "Dragon''s Fires" and the "Arsenal of Spirits" were repeatedly skirmishing, the "Knights of the Crescent Moon" led by Yugan were not simply passing the time doing nothing.


    They had already led their local guild to explore the dungeon for the first time.


    Let''s turn back the clock a bit and look at their footsteps.


    Upon arrival at the "Dragon''s Fireside," Yugan and the "Knight of the Crescent Moon" were politely received.


    Welcome, welcome. "Welcome, Knights of the Crescent Moon!


    Medes greeted the "Knight of the Crescent Moon" with a charming smile as usual (he always behaved amiably only at the beginning).


    Thank you for your hospitality, Mister Medes. Hello. Raul. I hope you haven''t lost your touch.


    Of course. I''m glad to see you''re doing so well.


    Raul also greeted Yugan with his usual condescension.


    He was basically pompous to everyone, with the exception of S-class adventurers.


    He respected them as one of the few special people who could use the equipment he had made.


    Yugan entrusted his sword "Granir" to Raul.


    Raoul said, "Well then, I''ll leave the maintenance of this one to you.


    Yeah, I''ll take care of it."


    So, Mr. Yugan. I have some new equipment to be manufactured at ......."


    I''ll tell you about it in a moment. First of all, we would like to investigate the dungeon and the movement of the "Grand Fafnir.


    In that case, we can provide you with the information we have gathered on our own, and then we can make some suggestions for equipment.


    Thanks," he said. I''ll be happy to hear all about it later. But we at Knights of the Crescent Moon would like to gather some information of our own as well.


    I am sure that a major adventurers'' guild would not go out of its way to do such a thing. Local people know best about local matters. Please leave this to us.


    I''m sorry, but I can''t do that.


    Yugan snapped.


    I''m not doubting you guys. Information can be falsified. Especially between the Alchemy Guild and the Adventurers'' Guild, there is a discrepancy in their stance.　We need to have our own sources of information to correct for such errors. For us adventurers, misinformation can be fatal. We can''t trust strangers too much in our profession. No hard feelings.


    But it is the custom for adventurers who come here to use equipment manufactured by us. In fact, our proposal has been very well received by the adventurers. For the time being, we are going to start with a fire spear (javelin) as a countermeasure against the fire dragon (Fafnir). ......


    The "Guardians of the Academy" made a huge blunder by accepting a proposal that was so well received by adventurers, didn''t they?"


    Medes pulled his cheeks in a bit of discomfort (the change was slight enough that even a fairly observant one might or might not notice it), but somehow managed to maintain his smiling face.


    He somehow managed to maintain a smiling face. Then, let''s limit ourselves to presenting a budget for maintenance orders for existing equipment and for new production.


    Yes, thank you.


    The "Knight of the Crescent Moon" left his equipment with "Dragon''s Fireside" and went to the city to gather information.


    The adventurer with the double-S title is indeed very calm. They are different from the youngsters in the magic academy.


    Raul said, impressed.


    Raoul looked impressed. I don''t know. I don''t know," Raul said, impressed. You can''t trust your own long-standing intuition and accept what others say.


    What?　What are you getting so grumpy about?


    Nothing. I''m not in a bad mood.


    The "Knights of the Crescent Moon" researched and estimated that their funds would allow them to explore the "Volcano Dungeon" only three times.


    Therefore, Yugan collected the quota of ore from the guild on the first exploration.


    In the second search, he defeated the "Giant Fire Dragon (Gran Fafnir).


    The third search was a preliminary one.


    The problem was cooperation with the local guild.


    When they heard that the "Knights of the Crescent Moon" were going to explore the "Volcano Dungeon," adventurers from the local guilds rushed to their lodgings to ask for help.


    One of them said


    The "Volcano Dungeon" is so intricate that it is impossible to explore without the help of local people to guide the way. We also have to take into account that we will have to fight with the thieves'' guilds. Please use us as your guide or shield."


    Another said the following


    "We will need a lot of people to get the ore out of here," said one. I have heard that the "Knights of the Crescent Moon" is a guild that traditionally places importance on lightness. I have heard that they are not accustomed to hard work. Please use us as your manpower here, as we are well versed in the extraction, transportation, and handling of ores."


    One further stated


    If the "Knights of the Crescent Moon" were to go into the dungeon alone without the local guilds, they would be making enemies of all the local guilds. If this were to happen, it would be extremely difficult for the "Knight of the Crescent Moon" to bring back any results. The local guilds only want a reward to continue their business. As long as they are paid, they will not turn their blades against the "Knights of the Crescent Moon. However, we are not sure if we want to join forces with a bunch of random people. Therefore, we will select local guilds that we can trust and introduce them to you. We will try to adjust our interests accordingly. Why don''t you leave it to us?


    The local guilds, which were a thousand and one in all, pressured the "Knights of the Crescent Moon" in this way, and the "Knights of the Crescent Moon" had no choice but to allow more adventurer guilds to participate in the search than originally planned.


    However, Yugan and his group did not make alliances with all the local guilds that had volunteered, as did the "Guardians of the Magical Academy.


    They strictly screened the size of the guilds, the rewards they offered, their financial situation, their track record, and the skills and status of their adventurers, selecting only those guilds that would not slow them down (although their skill level was significantly lower than that of the "Knights of the Crescent Moon" adventurers, and the overall average was lower than that of the "Guardians of the Magical Academy"). (although it was inevitable).


    It took three days to finish all these tasks, make all the arrangements, and assemble in front of the "volcano dungeon".


    It was the same day that Monica and the others had defeated the first assassin sent from the "Dragon''s Fires".


    As they entered the dungeon, Yugan reminded them of the following


    We will now begin our exploration of the "Volcano Dungeon. As previously announced, we will conquer the dungeon in three parts. This time, we will concentrate on acquiring ore the first time, and defeat the "Giant Fire Dragon (Gran Fafnir)" later. Each guild should cooperate with each other in the search for the dungeon."


    And so, the "Crescent Moon Knights" and their allied guilds entered the dungeon.


    As soon as they entered the dungeon, "Fafnir" attacked.


    The alliance was slightly shaken.


    It''s Fafnir!


    d*mn, that''s out of the blue.


    Hey, you go."


    Adventurers from local guilds are scared and try to push each other into battle.


    They were not equipped to fight Fafnir, and a proper fight would have inevitably worn them out.


    I don''t want to be exhausted at such an early stage of the battle.


    Fafnir" flew leisurely around the area and exerted pressure on the adventurers, as if he could see through their fear.


    The adventurers were slowly falling back, their spirits being sapped.


    What the hell, I can''t help it."


    An archer, a "Knight of the Crescent Moon," and a warrior equipped with a "Javelin" leapt forward.


    When an arrow fired by the archer hits Fafnir, Fafnir becomes enraged and rushes toward the archer.


    The archer runs through with quick movements and acts as a decoy, drawing the fire dragon''s attention while the warrior jumps in from a blind spot and thrusts a javelin at the fire dragon''s throat.


    The tip of the javelin, heated to a high temperature, burned through Fafnir''s throat.


    The adventurers shouted with joy.


    "Oh, we did it!


    As expected of the Knight of the Crescent Moon."


    （d*mn it. They''re not as good as they say they are.)


    Inwardly, Yugan was dismayed by the local adventurers'' good mood.


    （He was dismayed at the good nature of the local adventurers, but he knew that making enemies with them would do too much harm. We have to somehow coax them out and use them well.)


    The "Knight of the Crescent Moon" will be in charge of the "Fire Dragon (Fafnir)" and other dragon tribes. Other small fry monsters and bandit guilds should be dealt with by the local guilds.


    Yugan gave these instructions, careful not to let his inner dissatisfaction show.


    The alliances with clearly defined roles and responsibilities cooperated with each other and proceeded through the dungeon without friction.


    While Yugan was leading the alliance, he also kept a watchful eye on the rear.


    (This feeling. I''m sure of it. I can''t see them, but those guys from the thieves'' guild are right behind us. They are waiting for us to show them an opening. They''re not very nice.)


    What''s wrong?


    The second-in-command of "Knights of the Crescent Moon" spoke to Yugan.


    No, it''s nothing. Let''s move on."


    （They may be hard to fight, but they are not our enemies. If they come at us, we will beat them.)


    Thus, Yugan and his team, with enemies at their backs, worked together to advance through the dungeon and reach the "Metal Line" in about a week''s time.


    Yugan instructed the local guilds to work on the extraction of ore, and they were free to mine for it.


    He said, "Well...we''ve got a lot of work to do. We''ve made it this far for now.


    Exploration is going well."


    That''s ......, I hope."


    ?"


    (The guys from the thieves'' guild just stick around and don''t try to set me up. Even if they want to, they can''t? Or are they after something? Well, either way, we''ll find out on the way home.)


    Even the Thieves'' Guild must spend a fair amount of money on dungeon exploration.


    It is hard to believe that it will end without incident.


    (We are now their prey, now that we''re carrying the ore. But so what?　If you''re coming, come. I''m gonna turn the tables on you.)


    Yugan put his hand on the hilt of his sword, "Granir," to strengthen his will to fight.


    The "White Wolf" bandits were also having difficulty in finding a way to attack Yugan''s troops.


    "d*mn. They don''t show any openings.


    I don''t see any signs of a struggle between the outside guilds and the local guilds.


    I was impressed with the double S. He has a lot of experience.


    According to our information, Yugan is not planning to fight the "Giant Fire Dragon (Gran Fafnir)" this time.


    If that''s the case, I guess they''ll come down the mountain as soon as they finish extracting the ore. What do you think, Jamil?"


    Rodo asks Jamil, who is relaxing against a rock.


    Jamil gave a thin smile.


    What the hell," he said. On the way back, they will be carrying a lot of ore and will be slow. That''s when the game is on. And ...... kukk. The only thing you have to do is to defeat the enemy, not to fight. I''m going to take the time to teach that to the guys from the outside.


    After a day of collecting a large amount of rare metals, Yugan and his group decided to descend the mountain.


    As soon as they left the "Metal Line," the "White Wolf" immediately set up shop.


    (Killing spirit!　(You''re here.)


    Multiple cries echo through the sky.


    It was the cry of "Fafnir.


    Fafnir" is here.


    From the left!


    Five, six, seven!


    Soon the "Crescent Moon Knights" deployed to the left and the local adventurers shifted to the right.


    Seeing this, the bandits also began to move.


    Arrows rained down on the right wing of the alliance.


    The local adventurers took this opportunity to make a good show and became shields against the sliding arrows.


    But no one was willing to step forward.


    Instead, they were slowly retreating.


    What are you doing, come forward and attack the enemy!"


    The "Knight of the Crescent Moon" second-in-command, who could not bear to look at them, scolded them, but they remained on the defensive and never moved forward.


    They were on the defensive and never moved forward, because they had already reaped enough harvest and did not want to wear themselves out further.


    Although he was ostensibly fighting for the "Knight of the Crescent Moon," his true intention was to pull up to the city without incident.


    The "White Wolf" archers gained momentum against them, who did not counterattack at all, and kept pushing forward.


    On the other hand, the local guild kept falling back, until finally their backs were touching those of the "Crescent Moon Warriors" who were fighting the "Fire Dragon (Fafnir)".


    At this rate, it would have a negative impact on the members of the "Knight of the Crescent Moon" who are fighting the "Fire Dragon (Fafnir).


    Tsk. It can''t be helped. I''ll take this one."


    Yugan draws his sword and walks past the Warriors of the local guild.


    Yugan comes out.


    Focus on him.


    The thieves focused their aim on Yugan, but he repelled a hail of arrows with his sword and kept moving forward.


    "Uh-oh!"


    Run!"


    Undeterred, the bandits were defeated.


    But there was no escaping Yugan''s agility.


    Yugan closed in on the fleeing archer''s back.


    However, just as they were about to enter the sword fight, the bandits threw down their weapons and turned toward Yugan.


    ?"


    The bandits raise their hands, ready to surrender.


    On top of that, they grinned and laughed frivolously.


    What the hell, boys? What the hell do you think you''re doing?"


    Heh heh heh. You''ll see. We surrender."


    "Island regulations forbid attacking those who have surrendered, sir.


    We would appreciate it if you would follow the rules and refrain from excessive pursuit of those of us who have been disarmed.


    We are prisoners of the "Knights of the Crescent Moon. Well, please treat us politely."


    "Tsk."


    Yugan punches them in the stomach after destroying the bow and arrow they threw out.


    "Argh!"


    "Guguet!"


    The bandits fell to the ground unconscious.


    (It ain''t no use taking down the zakos, where''s the enemy master?)


    By the time Yugan resumed his search, however, the bandits had left the war zone and disappeared from sight.


    ''Master Yugan. We have completed defeating the ''Fire Dragon (Fafnir). Where are the bandits?"


    I missed it. The ones lying there, they are prisoners of war. Tie their hands and drag them away.


    Yes, sir.


    （But this is a bit tricky. We can repel the enemy, but we can''t put the finishing touches on them. If we can''t decide who wins, we''ll have to be prepared for a long fight.)


    <>