After being removed from the ladder by the "Dragon''s Fires," Yugan hurriedly held a meeting with the adventurers belonging to the "Knights of the Crescent Moon" to gather their opinions.


    With the "Dragon''s Fires" being untrustworthy, he felt uneasy about following his original plan.


    He therefore wanted to solicit opinions from everyone to see if there was a better plan.


    The members of the team expressed their opinions one after another.


    We should be more strict with the local adventurers and impose heavier burdens on them.


    We should negotiate to get better conditions from the "Dragon''s Fires.


    The opinions expressed in the discussion were all based on the uncertainties of the situation, and all of them relied on changes in others.


    Yugan bit his teeth.


    (d*mn. I didn''t expect this. I''m not good at command in the first place, but the people in the upper echelons are making me feel like I''m in trouble. Oh, God.)


    The "Knights of the Crescent Moon" continued to meet late into the night, but did not make much progress.


    The "Arsenal of Spirits" was in a different place.


    When Aina went to the workshop (atelier), she passed by Pato.


    Oh?　You''re early. Good morning. ...... ugh."


    When Aina calls out to him, Pato turns his eyes to her.


    His eyelids drooped and dark circles formed under his eyes, making it easy to imagine that he was sleep deprived.


    Ah, good morning."


    Pato returned the greeting in a dark voice.


    (Ku, dark ......)


    ''Hey, are you okay?　You don''t look so good, do you?"


    I''m sorry. I didn''t sleep well."


    Why don''t you take the rest of the day off?　Shall I tell Mr. Roland''s side of the story?"


    No, I''m fine. Thank you."


    Pato walks dazedly and with an uneasy gait to his workshop.


    （I wonder if he''s okay.)


    Aina looked worriedly at Pato.


    (Hmmm. He doesn''t seem to be a bad boy, but he''s a little bit in the dark. I''m not good in the dark.)


    Pato''s mood did not improve as he began his work.


    What was bothering him was the matter of the "Knight of the Crescent Moon.


    （Oh," he said. The "Knight of the Crescent Moon" had returned. I guess he''s going to hunt the "Giant Fire Dragon (Gran Fafnir)" next. But as it is now ......)


    Pato sighed as he thought about this.


    (No good. I can''t help thinking about others. I need to concentrate on myself. I know, but ......)


    Pato inadvertently taps his finger with a hammer.


    Ouch."


    Hey, you okay?"


    Roddy, passing by, calls out to him.


    You''re hurt. Go get yourself fixed up.


    Yeah, but ......


    I''ll clean up the mess.


    Yes, sir. Excuse me."


    As Pato was being treated in the break room, someone came in.


    ''Hey, are you okay?''


    Oh, Mr. Roland.


    You don''t look happy. What''s troubling you?"


    ...... No, it''s nothing."


    I see."


    Roland looks at Pato with a downcast look on his face and ponders what to do.


    (You don''t open up to me very much, do you? He doesn''t like to talk about himself much, does he? ) Nevertheless, if he remains troubled, the development of his skills will be hindered. Is there any way you can open up? (......)


    Roland decided to change the question.


    ''You used to work for "Dragon''s Fires," as I recall, right?


    Yes.


    I was actually thinking of doing business with them before," he said. I was rejected. I''m still a little stuck on it. I can''t ...... put my finger on it, but I think they are a guild that has some problems.


    ......"


    I''d like to hear about it, if you don''t mind. I would like to hear about the time when you worked at the Dragon''s Fireside. What was daily life like in that guild?"


    I understand. Then, I will talk about it. It is only my subjective opinion. ......"


    Pato''s reticence seemed to disappear as he began to talk about "Dragon''s Fires.


    The "dragon''s fiery fire" has a tendency to make decisions that prioritize immediate profit over the future.


    They are prone to change their attitude depending on the situation of the adventurers, and it is not uncommon for them to take one side and then the other.


    This is due in part to the fact that the main customers of Dragon''s Fireside Restaurant are adventurers from outside the island.


    Outside adventurers, who can only stay on the island for a certain period of time, cannot continue to complain when the "dragon fire" removes them from the ladder, and they have no choice but to cry themselves to sleep.


    The competitive nature of the Dragon''s Fires also exacerbates the problem.


    Because of the need to achieve results in a short period of time, the corporate culture at "Dragon''s Fiery Fire" is rooted in the tendency to kick others down the road, and because of the constant changes in the people in charge, the people in charge tend to be self-preserving and neglect their subordinates.


    In addition, there is even a tendency to make a virtue of making adventurers, who are supposed to be one''s partners, cry for the sake of immediate profit.


    Furthermore, the relationship with the guild of thieves is deep-rooted, and the local guild tends to be uncooperative while relying on outside guilds.


    I am concerned about this, and I have been working with .......


    Pato was startled when he said that.


    （I''m sorry. Did I talk too much?)


    I''m sorry. I got carried away and started talking."


    No, it''s okay."


    (He suddenly became very talkative when it came to the problems of "Dragon''s Fires. I see. He is the type of person who can''t turn his eyes away from negative things. I can use ...... for this.)


    Pato, you''re funny."


    What?"


    I''ve always wanted to know more about that part of the Fires of the Dragon.


    "......"


    I''m trying to solve the island''s problems, starting with the dragon fire.


    Roland decided to ask about the problems in the "Arsenal of Spirits" as well.


    Wayne, who has been dragged down by the way he worked at the "Dragon''s Fires," has not been very cooperative.


    What should we do?


    Pato replied that Wayne might be afraid of being fired.


    Therefore, if we assure him that he will not be fired, Wayne will be able to concentrate on improving his skills.


    Hearing this, Roland immediately gathered everyone together and declared that Wayne would not be fired unless his contract was extended and there was a serious violation of the job rules during the term of his contract.


    Wayne wondered why his treatment had suddenly improved, but he quickly reacted and showed signs of change.


    (Are you going to extend your contract? If only I had time to improve my skills, I might be able to beat Aina. I''ll just have to work on it a little longer.)


    From that day on, Wayne''s attitude relaxed, the blatant hostility he had shown toward Aina faded away, and he visibly spent more time working on improving his skills.


    Pato was surprised at how quickly Roland responded.


    (How could he take in the opinions of a newcomer so quickly?)


    Pato recalls Roland saying he wanted to support adventurers.


    (If those words were true, this might be the ideal workplace for me.)


    Returning to the workshop, Pato looked awfully refreshed.


    Pato, are you all right now?"


    Aina asks.


    Aina asks, "Yes. Thank you.


    Pato adjusts the strings on his lyre harp with an ever sunny mood.


    （He is in a better mood than ever. I''ve never had anyone say that to me before. If I can work for someone, I''m ......)


    [Patrick Garcia''s Unique Skills


    Tuning": B (up1)


    While Roland was hard at work at the "Arsenal of the Spirits," he received a strange inquiry from a bard who had asked him to repair his lyre (harp).


    I want to meet the alchemist who repaired this lyre (harp).


    Roland nodded his head.


    I can''t believe you want me to meet the alchemist who repaired it. What is the matter with you?


    The repaired lyre (harp) produces a mysterious tone that is not originally produced," he said. This might be a magical tone that can calm monsters.


    The "magic tones ....... No way!"


    [Status of the lyre (harp)]


    Special Effect: "Ryu-in (dragon sound) C".


    (I knew it. It has special effects!)


    Excuse me, is something wrong?"


    A patrol hears the commotion and turns up at the entrance.


    Roland quickly appraises Pato''s skills.


    Tuning."


    Alchemy restores a musical instrument''s deranged pitch.


    Doing this to equipment may give it a special effect.


    The repaired instrument can be given a "dragon sound".


    (After all...). The description of "Tuning" has been updated. (I wonder if the direction of the skill has been set along with the rank up.)


    ''Is that you?　Who repaired this lyre (harp)?"


    Let''s see..." Yes, I am, but..."


    I''d love to hear more about it. ......


    Huh.


    Roland watched as the bard spoke enthusiastically to Pato and wondered how he should view the situation.


    (Pato''s unique skills are awakening. Should we try a little intensive nurturing here?)


    Is this ''Ryuin'' ......?"


    When spoken to by Roland in the workshop, Pato tilted his head at the unfamiliar special effect.


    Yes," he said. The instrument tuned by your unique skill "tuning" will have a special effect "dragon sound" that calms the anger of monsters and reduces their desire to fight. With Fafnir threatening adventurers even in the lower levels, a party with a bard who can control "Ryuin" will have an advantage over other adventurer guilds. You can help adventurers with your unique skills. That is the ideal that we, the "Arsenal of Spirits," are aiming for.


    (My unique skill has that effect: ......)


    Of course, it''s not easy. It is a delicate and nerve-wracking task to adjust the instruments to match the tone of the ''dragon sound''. But it is worth a try. If you are willing to try, the guild will do its best to support you. What do you think?　Are you willing to give it a try?"


    I understand. I''ll give it a try."


    Pato immediately set to work on creating a lyre harp that could play "Ryu-in" (dragon sounds).


    （I''m so tired of this. I don''t know how to make a better "dragon sound" even if I use a unique skill to make a "dragon sound. (For now, I guess I''ll just have to repeat the fine-tuning I''ve done so far and have Roland-san''s appraisal skills judge it for me.)


    As Pato was thinking about this, strumming the lyre (harp) and fine-tuning the tension of the strings and the shape of the soundboard, Loran brought someone with him.


    ''Pato. This is Nicolas the Bard."


    ''Hello. I''m Nicolas. Nice to meet you."


    I''m not sure. Hi.


    I thought he could give me some technical guidance. If he plays ''Ryuin'' directly and you learn the sound, you can judge whether the sound is good or bad without me having to appraise it every time, right?


    I see.


    I''ll play it for you right away. This is an ordinary lyre (harp). This is the harp with the ''Ryuin'' effect.


    Nicolas plays the two harps alternately.


    (I see. (I see. There is a subtle difference in the sound.)


    How''s that?　Can you tell the difference in sound?"


    Yeah, sort of.


    Good. Let''s ''tune'' it then. Nicolas. Help him with the tuning.


    I understand.


    After "tuning," Pato repeatedly asked Nicolas to play it to check the sound, and then listened to the sound himself.


    Then he would ask Nicolas to evaluate the sound.


    （I was gradually beginning to understand. I was beginning to understand the depth of the "Ryu-in" sound. (I am beginning to understand the depth of the "Ryuin" sound, and how to make it better.)


    (The patois seems to be going well. The melody is getting deeper and deeper. (This will complete the "Ryuin" B lyre harp without waiting for the skills to improve.


    As Roland watches Pato work like this, Aina approaches.


    She says, "Mr. Roland, may I have a word with you?"


    Hmm?"　What''s going on?"


    I''m here about Will and Lana''s cane. I was thinking of putting in a ''fire-repelling ore'' to prevent the ''fire breath'' of the ''fire dragon (Fafnir). This is the blueprint that Roddy drew for me.


    Aina handed the blueprints to Roland.


    He said, "...... I see. It is true that this can reduce the power of the Breath of Fire.


    The sound of their conversation could be heard in the patois they were working on.


    （The equipment that reduces the power of "breath of fire" (breath of fire). Hm?　So you have solved the "Fire Dragon (Fafnir)" countermeasure?　Don''t you need the harp I''m making?


    I''m not sure I''m going to be able to do that. I wonder if I should give the job to Ms. Aina here. It''s not good for roles to be shared within the same organization. ......"


    Huh?　What are you talking about?


    As Pato was muttering, Wayne, who was working next to him, took a bite out of him.


    Wayne, who was working next to Pato, took a swipe at him. Why are you backing down so easily? Roland told me to make it, so I''ll just finish it. Ora. Finish it quickly.


    Uh-huh. Okay."


    Pato rushes to complete the work.


    Mr. Roland, it''s done.


    Is it done? Which one?"


    Status of the lyre (harp)


    Special Effect: "Ryuin" B


    Yeah. It''s ''Ryuin'' B. Let''s try this."


    I''m not sure I''ll be able to do it again. Now the match between me and Aina is even, one to one.


    Wayne said smugly.


    ''Huh?　Why is that so? I mean, it was Pato who perfected the lyre (harp), right? Why are you getting points for that?


    It''s okay. Pato is like my little brother, so he gets my points."


    What''s with that governor''s decision? I''m not playing that game.


    While Aina and Wayne were arguing and gabbling, Roland was ruminating on the earlier exchange between Pato and Wayne.


    (Pato''s hand had stopped. Was he being reserved with Aina?　I guess I''m not the type of person who likes to compete with others. However, Wayne scolded him and made him complete it to the end. Are they a compatible duo ......?　(Let''s just pair them up for the time being, shall we?)


    Meanwhile, the "Knights of the Crescent Moon" were getting ready to explore the dungeon again and were gathering at the "Volcano Dungeon.


    They persistently negotiated to get better terms from the "Dragon''s Fires" and trained local adventurers whenever possible, but with no positive results.


    In the end, without any fundamental solution, the decision was made to take the same approach as before, and they entered the dungeon with no changes other than to increase the number of local guilds in the alliance.


    Yugan addresses the alliance.


    The content was as follows.


    It is the power of the mind that decides the success or failure of a project.


    There is no problem with interference by the thieves'' guild.


    We have already dealt a fatal blow to the Thieves'' Guild in our last dungeon raid.


    They will be destroyed with just one more breath.


    Their fate is now in the wind.


    I hope that the members of the Knights of the Crescent Moon and the local guilds that have joined the alliance will be even more determined.


    The audience cheered Yugan''s speech, and the morale of the adventurers was high.


    (Goodness gracious, I''m going to have to rely on my guts. I can''t even make fun of the ruffians now.)


    Yugan couldn''t help but mock himself, but quickly pulled himself together.


    （Don''t be timid. (Don''t be timid. If I am timid here, it will be just what the enemy wants. The number of prisoners we have taken from the bandits'' offerings is up to 20. This is not a small loss for them. I''m going to hold on somehow here.)


    Meanwhile, preparations for the second round were steadily being made in the "White Wolf" camp.


    Jamil. We''ve already recruited a new archer.


    Rodo pointed to a group of archers he had gathered from local guilds.


    All of them are C-class archers.


    This almost made up for the damage caused by the battle with Yugan.


    I see. Good. Good job. We''re ready to go. Zain.


    Oh, yeah."


    A man appears at Jamil''s call.


    The B-class mage, Zain, had a "dragon-headed cage hand" on his arm.


    Oh, you made it in time. The "Dragoon" was placed on Zain''s arm.


    The power is a little less than what Sein Orbesta was equipped with, but the performance is unmistakable. It was made by the genius alchemist Raoul, after all. Kukk."


    (Now we have a good countermeasure against Yugan. Wait for me, "Knight of the Crescent Moon". This time, I''m going to take all the ore you''ve collected!)


    <>