Before the "Knights of the Crescent Moon" entered the dungeon, Yugan addressed the audience, which included Pato.


    He had been asked by Roland to gather information on outside matters in his spare time.


    (There was no declaration in Yugan''s speech that he was going to slay the "Giant Fire Dragon (Gran Fafnir). Wasn''t he supposed to slay "Grand Fafnir" in the second search?　What circumstances forced you to change your plans ......?　No way. What''s the trouble with "Dragon''s Fires?")


    While Pato was pondering, the "Knight of the Crescent Moon" finished all preparations and was about to enter the dungeon.


    The local guilds allied with the "Knights of the Crescent Moon" followed one after another.


    As Pato looked at the faces of the guilds allied with the "Knights of the Crescent Moon" to get more information, he noticed a girl there who looked familiar.


    It was Carla.


    Surprised, Pato unexpectedly moved closer and spoke to her.


    Carla!　Aren''t you Carla of the House of Grazia?"


    Hmm?"　You are Patrick of the Garcia family ......"


    You don''t mean to tell me you''re joining the ''Knights of the Crescent Moon'' alliance?"


    ''Oh, yes, I do. I couldn''t join last time because the selection process was too strict, but I managed to get mixed up in this additional recruitment. I was not selected to join the team last time, but I managed to blend in this time. I will be able to join the team to defeat the "Giant Fire Dragon (Gran Fafnir).


    ''...... surprising. I didn''t expect you to help an outside guild."


    I''m not helping the "Knights of the Crescent Moon."


    What?


    To kill Yugan.


    Yugan?　But Yugan is S class. You can''t ......"


    What then?"


    Carla was horrified.


    The "Grand Fafnir" was originally supposed to be buried by us, the Dragon Burial Clan. If Yugan tries to touch Grand Fafnir, I don''t care if he''s Double S or not, I''ll kill him with this sword.


    Carla said as she gripped the sheath of her treasured sword with the dragon''s emblem on it.


    （The Dragon Burial Clan. They have been performing the ritual of burying the "Giant Fire Dragon (Gran Fafnir)" on this island for generations. But now they are extinct and forgotten. And yet, Carla, you are still ......)


    What are you doing about it?　I heard that the Garcia family, an alchemical family, went bankrupt, and you, the heir, are now working at the Dragon''s Fireside?"


    Carla looked suspiciously at Pato''s new attire.


    It was not the uniform of the "Dragon''s Fiery Fire.


    The clothes were engraved with the emblem of a spirit holding a hammer.


    I''m out of the Dragon''s Fiery Fire," she said. I couldn''t stand the way they worked there. Now I work for a guild called ''Arsenal of Spirits.


    The ''Arsenal of the Spirits'' ....... Roland''s alchemy guild.


    You know him?


    ''Yes, I visited him once. I went to ...... once, but they didn''t take me seriously. After all, they are a guild from outside the island. They don''t know how we islanders feel.


    The "Knights of the Crescent Moon" and allied guilds begin to enter the dungeon.


    The "Knights of the Crescent Moon" are on the move. Well, I''m off. See you.


    Wait a minute. Carla."


    Pato grabbed Carla''s arm and held her back.


    He said, "The ''Arsenal of Spirits'' where I work now is ...... kind of a nice place to work. The guild president, Mr. Roland, really puts the staff first. He is also involved in training the local adventurers'' guild. If you''d like to join us, you can also visit ......."


    If I join this ''Arsenal of Spirits,'' will I be able to slay the ''Giant Fire Dragon (Gran Fafnir)''?"


    Carla said with a cold smile.


    ''That''s ......


    They say things like that, but as soon as they get the resources, they leave. You''ve seen it all before, haven''t you?"


    "......"


    Help them. Have you no pride as the heir to one of the island''s great families?"


    I''m ......


    Tell Roland. Tell Roland not to touch the Giant Fire Dragon (Grand Fafnir). If you do, I will kill Roland.


    Carla shakes off Pato''s hand and follows the alliance.


    Pato had no choice but to simply let her go.


    Back at the workshop, Pato was again molding steel with a buoyant look on his face.


    (Carla''s argument is unreasonable. This island can no longer hold back the "Giant Fire Dragon (Gran Fafnir)" without the help of an outside adventurer''s guild. She must know that. However, it is also true that this is the root of the backbiting that the people of this island have toward outsiders. I am sure there are many people who would want to agree with Carla on the emotional side, even if they are convinced in theory. (If Roland''s local guild training is successful, then Carla will be ......)


    --Do you not have the pride of being the heir to one of the great families of this island? --


    (I couldn''t say anything back. I was ......)


    ''Everybody, hold up a minute and gather around.


    Roland called out.


    All those in the workshop gathered in front of Roland.


    The other day, I received an order for a ''Ryuin'' A harp from Nicolas the Bard, who came to the workshop the other day.


    A harp?"


    Aina asked back.


    Yes. As you know, Pato''s unique skill "tuning (tuning)" is showing signs of awakening. If he can make a "Ryuin" A instrument and calm the anger of "Fafnir," it will be a powerful aid in dungeon exploration for the "Shield of Dawn" and "Arrow of the Heavenly Horse. Therefore, we would like to concentrate on training Pato''s unique skills for a little while from now. Pato, from now on, you will concentrate only on "tuning. You don''t have to do all the other tasks. Aina."


    Yes, sir.


    Work related to ''metal molding'' of patos. Can you send someone else?"


    Aina had already been given the task of coordinating the workload of the other members of the team.


    Yes," she said. I think I can handle it if I can cut down on the time Wayne and Leena spend using their unique skills."


    Hey," he said. Wait a minute. What are you doing?


    Wayne tried to protest.


    Wayne tried to protest, "Okay. Well, then, you''re going to have to make some adjustments in that direction."


    Roland said.


    (d*mn, these guys ......)


    ''Guild leader. I will also cooperate to support Pato. Please tell me anything.


    Leena said.


    ''Thank you, Leena.


    ''Good for you. Pato. The head of the guild took notice of you."


    Leena expressed her joy honestly.


    Uh-huh.


    Pato looks complicated and depressed.


    Pato, what''s wrong?"


    Um, well, you know, ......."


    (I never thought I would be entrusted with such an important mission at such an opportune time. I would be honored ......, but ...... now I am ......)


    Pato still couldn''t get Carla out of his head.


    Pato. What''s troubling you again?"


    Um, that ......."


    You don''t have to hide. I''m not mad at you."


    "...... yes."


    Is it business-related?


    It''s ...... not directly related to me, but I couldn''t help but notice ......


    (Extremely personal, huh? (It''s very personal. Then, I can''t just step in without asking.)


    Does it conflict with this quest?"


    I don''t ...... know that either."


    Pato nodded.


    Roland chuckled.


    ''You seem to have a habit of going off on tangents.


    Ugh."


    Pato was struck by the figurehead and was speechless.


    This was something he had been warned about repeatedly since the days of "Dragon''s Fires.


    Pato. It is never wrong to pay attention to negative things. But it takes unusual concentration to master a unique skill. Especially when it comes to defeating the "dragon''s fiery fire."


    (Slaying the "Dragon''s Fiery Fire"?　Are you serious?　It''s like an ant taking down an elephant. ......)


    Wayne also responded to the words "slay the dragon''s fiery fire.


    You have to find a way to shake off the distractions and get into alchemy," he said. So, for now, can you just focus your attention on helping the adventurers and accomplishing this quest?"


    I understand."


    Pato said this while troubled.


    ''All right. Then let''s figure out a way to learn unique skills together."


    Roland and Pato immediately worked on improving their unique skills.


    Unlike ordinary skills, there is no established method for developing unique skills. The only way to get an idea is to actually use the skill. ...... What do you think, Pato?　Do you remember the last time you improved, what triggered it?"


    No, I was improving before I even knew I was doing it.


    I see. Hmmm. Then I guess I''ll just have to make it count after all.


    "Mr. Roland!"


    Aina came over to us, bringing a harp.


    Aina," he said. What''s wrong with your harp?


    I thought I could use it to improve my pato''s unique skills. I heard that the softer the lyre (harp) strings are, the better the sound, so I modified them a little.


    When Roland plucked the strings of the lyre (harp), they were indeed softer than normal ones.


    I see. Pato, let''s tune this harp.


    Yes."


    Pato tuned the harp.


    （I see. This one has a wider range of tones. (I see. This one has a wider range of tones. Perhaps even the "dragon sound" (......))


    After "tuning," Pato tried to play the lyre (harp) briefly.


    He could not play anything complicated, but he had already learned how to play basic sounds.


    The mysterious sound of "Ryuin" echoes through the studio.


    As Pato played the harp, he noticed something strange.


    （What is it?　Is the sound out of tune?　I see. I can tell more clearly with a good quality harp like this.


    (Pat. You''ve got a clue to improve your skills.)


    Roland saw signs of improvement in Pato''s condition.


    He decided to casually stand back and watch.


    Pato started "tuning" again.


    But the harp soon reached its limits.


    (d*mn. (Is it at the limit of its molding?)


    "Pato, are you at your forming limit?"


    After a pause, Roland asked.


    What?　Ha, yes."


    (I could tell the limits of molding without actually touching it. Is this the power of an S-class appraiser ......?)


    Good. Aina. Have Roddy draw up a blueprint for a lyre harp with more strings to tweak."


    I understand.


    Soon, the blueprints are ready.


    "Pato, how''s this?"


    Yes. This is perfect. I''ll try to make it right away."


    No, even Ize should be able to make this. Aina, tell Ize to make it as soon as possible.


    Yes, sir.


    When Pato was about to join in the production, Roland stopped him.


    Pato was about to join in, but Roland stopped him. You take a break. Save your stamina for the tuning session in the afternoon.


    Yes, sir."


    Pato takes a break, feeling a little uneasy.


    When Pato finishes his break and returns to the workshop, he is approached by Aina in passing.


    Oh, Pato. The harp is ready. I put it on your desk.


    Uh, yes.


    Good luck."


    Aina winks and heads toward the break room.


    When Pato returned to his work desk, he found that the lyre (harp) had actually been placed there.


    (A lyre (harp) is really being made. (They are really making a lyre (harp).


    If it were "Dragon''s Fires," the credit would have been taken here.


    All that remained was to complete the quest by tuning the music.


    (Are you really going to make me do nothing but "tuning"? I never thought I would be forced to focus so much on improving my skills. It''s a different kind of hardship from the "Dragon''s Fiery Fire.)


    Pato played a little on the lyre (harp).


    There seemed to be no problem with the quality.


    (In the little time we have to take a break from all this, we can go to ....... What a speed of development! And Aina is cooperating with me. In this guild, even aces go around supporting newcomers. Everything is different from "Dragon''s Fires. Roland''s passion for development is genuine. The generous support system, cooperative corporate culture, and appraisals by S-class appraisers. I see. No wonder even Edgar can''t win.)


    Pato will be ''tuned'' (tuned).


    (The second string is a little high. (The second string is a little high. This makes it out of tune at the crucial part of the performance.)


    Roland watched as Pato became increasingly enthusiastic.


    (You''re getting much more focused, aren''t you? He is absorbed in his work with somber contemplation. This is his true form ......)


    The quietness seemed to herald an awakening.


    As Pato was absorbed in his work, he was suddenly tapped on the shoulder from behind and called out.


    Hey, Pato. You''re getting hard, aren''t you?


    What?　Wayne?"


    I heard that. I heard that harp of yours is for defeating the ''dragon''s fiery fire''."


    What?　Uh-huh.


    I can''t keep quiet when I hear that. I''ll help you. I''ll help you with anything, from pilfering the materials to falsifying the finished product, okay?"


    What?　No, it''s the ......"


    Wayne. Don''t do anything you don''t have to!　And you don''t have to deal with every single pato."


    Roland''s reprimand flew.


    ''Tsk. Hey, hey."


    Wayne reluctantly stops spouting strange things to his patrol.


    Well, anyway. "Well, anyway. Just hit it with everything you''ve got. Let''s show the "Dragon''s Fires" who kicked us out what we''re made of. Don''t worry. I''ll take full responsibility.


    Uh-huh. Thanks?"


    (Wayne. What the hell are you responsible for? ......)


    Pato sighs and looks over his lyre (harp).


    (Oh dear. Just when you think you''ve escaped from the "Dragon''s Fires," you now have to defeat the "Dragon''s Fires." ...... Life is tough after all. No matter where you go, you can''t escape competition. I just want to do something for someone else.)


    Pato regains his grip on the hammer.


    The lyre (harp) was nearly finished.


    (I wonder if completing this lyre (harp) is really the right path to follow. I don''t know. What will happen to the island? I don''t even know if I will be able to defeat the "Dragon''s Fires. I don''t know. But I do know ....... Carla. I''m going to follow Roland. This is my path.)


    With a new resolve, Pato lightly strikes the lyre (harp) strings with a hammer.


    The thickness of the strings is slightly adjusted, thus completing the "tuning" of the lyre (harp).


    The strings of the harp begin to glow.


    Mr. Roland, it''s done. Please appraise it.


    Status of the lyre (harp)


    Special effect: "Ryuin" A


    [Patrick Garcia''s Unique Skills


    Tuning": A (up1)


    Yeah. It''s ''Ryuin'' A."


    Really?"


    ''Yeah, you''re in the class A alchemist''s league. Pato."


    "...... yes."


    I''m so glad you''re here. Yay. Pato."


    Leena hugs Pato.


    Leena?"


    I''m not sure I''m going to be able to do it. Now it''s two against one, and we''re winning.


    Wayne said.


    ''So why the hell are you being so snippy!


    Pato looks out the window toward the volcano.


    (Carla. I will continue to work here in the "Spirit Arsenal" no matter what you say. I will continue to help the local adventurers, no matter how little I can do. Next time I see you, I''ll be sure to face you squarely.)


    The "Knight of the Crescent Moon" and his party, who had once again dived into the dungeon, had arrived at the "Metal Line.


    The "Crescent Moon Knights" and the members of the local guild immediately set about collecting the sparkling ore exposed from the ground.


    (At least we made it this far without incident. The guild of thieves didn''t try to trick us either. But ......)


    Yugan looks back.


    (But they must be following behind. They''ll surely set us up on the way back!)


    Yugan crawls his eyes to the mountain range to look for enemies lurking in the lowlands.


    The mountains were quiet, as if nothing was lurking there.


    （The local guilds were not available to fight against the thieves'' guilds. (We can''t use the local guilds to fight the bandit guilds, and we can''t trust the "Dragon''s Fires" guys. If we just go down the mountain, we will lose the ore again. If that''s the case (......)


    Yugan called his second-in-command and overheard his plan so that no one could hear.


    ''What?　Single-handedly slay the Grand Fafnir?"


    I''m going to go out there alone while the guys from the local guild are busy mining. I''ll be back within three days. In the meantime, you keep my absence a secret and keep the troops together.


    But no matter how much you want to go it alone, ......


    But it''s even more dangerous to go in a group. I don''t think the locals will be much use to us in the wastelands. Even after we extract the ore, they will be on the defensive. On the other hand, if they are dragged down, our people will be unnecessarily worn out. If that happens, it will be just what the bandits want. That''s why I''m going to sneak out of the unit and go to Grand Fafnir on my own.


    Are you really going without telling everyone?"


    If I told the truth, it might upset the locals again. Besides, some of them have been trying to kill us since a while ago.


    Yugan said, looking sideways toward where Carla was.


    So, with the local guilds busy mining and the bandit guilds not setting up, now is our best chance to get close to the ''Giant Fire Dragon (Gran Fafnir).


    ......"


    It''s all right. Don''t push yourself. I''ll take care of the rest.


    Yugan pretended to go back to his tent and stepped into the "wasteland" by himself.


    Moving as swiftly as the wind with the agility of a god, he quickly reached the top of the mountain, right next to the "Giant Fire Dragon (Gran Fafnir)".


    <>