While Roland and his friends were still chasing after Alzea in the "Metal Line," Lisetta was wandering around town, pondering the cause of her defeat in the previous battle.


    （My ''Javelin'' lost. How in the world did that happen? ...... I don''t get it. Hmm?　(That''s ......)


    Lizetta saw a familiar figure on a street corner.


    "Aren''t you Leena Hart?"


    Huh?　Isn''t that you, Lizetta?"


    Lizetta took note of the coat of arms worn by Leena.


    (Is that ......, the crest of the "Arsenal of the Spirits"?)


    I''m not sure, Lizetta. You have given us so many treats."


    Leena''s eyes light up at the feast on the table.


    She had been invited by Lisetta to a diner in town.


    Yes. It''s fine. Please, feel free to eat.


    Well, I''ll take it without reservation.


    Lina begins to eat with gusto.


    Lisetta smiles, but with a sharp glint in her eye, she observes Lina.


    (I can''t believe that Leena has joined the "Arsenal of Spirits. But this is our chance. If I can find out more about the inner workings of the "Arsenal of Spirits," I might be able to find out something about Aina''s weaknesses. And also the reason why my "Javelin" was defeated. ......


    I see that you have joined the "Arsenal of Spirits. I was so surprised. How are you, Pato-san?"


    Yes, I am." Since I joined the Arsenal of Spirits, the guild leader has taken a good interest in me, and my work is going well.


    I have been doing good work secretly since I was at the Dragon''s Fireside. Losing Pato is a great loss for us.


    Yes," he said. But maybe this is for the best. Thanks to Mr. Roland, I was able to express my unique skills.


    (After all, it seems that the rapid progress of the "Arsenal of Spirits" is largely due to the skills of Roland, an S-class appraiser.)


    I envy you guys. I was finally defeated by Aina''s equipment. I was beaten so hard by Aina''s equipment, even in the Dragon''s Fireside Chat.


    I''m sorry to hear that," he said. I''m sorry to hear that. ......"


    Hey. Hey, Lena."


    Lizetta leaned over the table.


    Yes?"


    I wonder if you could tell me more. About Mr. Roland.


    Leena flinched at Lizetta''s mood, but began to speak.


    ''...... I see. She said she is good at developing the skills of alchemists and adventurers by using her appraisal skills. And she also makes use of the right equipment for the right training.


    Yes," he said. I and Pato have become easier to work with and have improved a lot since we were at "Dragon''s Fireside". Wayne, who was like a mad dog when he was in Fires of Dragons (although he was weak against superiors), is doing very well.


    Anything else?


    I guess so. He was also very good with equipment.


    Equipment operation?


    Yes, I am. Once I accompanied Mr. Roland on an adventurer''s search ......"


    Accompanying you on a search?　Are you guys in a dungeon?"


    Yes," he said. There, Mr. Roland was instructing the adventurers on the operation of equipment and troop behavior according to their needs. You all improved your skills very quickly.


    Can you tell us a little more about the operation of your equipment ......?


    I''m not sure what to say. I guess so. Oh, I should get going."


    Oh, that''s too bad. I was going to buy you another drink.


    Bon appétit.


    Leena sat back down.


    After all, she had told him all about Roland''s work in the "Arsenal of Spirits.


    By the time she wondered if she had spoken a little too much, she had already spit out all the information Lisette wanted.


    Lizetta left the restaurant feeling satisfied.


    （The reason Aina Burke has grown so rapidly is due in large part to the skills of Roland, the appraiser. And the operation of the equipment ......? If only I had the power of an S-class appraiser, or ......)


    Lizetta looked sharply toward the dungeon.


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


    It was indeed heroic, but it also sounded somewhat hollow.


    After defeating Alzea and the others, Roland took their equipment just as he had done to the "Winged Dragon''s Lamp".


    He took with him four B-class "dragon-headed cages (dragoon)," ten "magic-work" swords, ten suits of armor, and the "Arsenal of the Spirits Return to the


    When Aina saw them at the entrance of the "Spirit Arsenal," she realized that Roland and his team had won without even hearing the result.


    She was so moved that she couldn''t resist hugging and kissing Roland.


    Roland is taken aback by the thin lips pressed against his cheek and the fullness of the bulge pressed against his arm.


    Wow," he said. Aina?


    Oh, I''m sorry. I was just ......"


    Aina was embarrassed and backed away.


    The people around them laughed at the exchange between the two of them.


    Well, ...... anyway."


    Roland coughed as if he were trying to rearrange the situation.


    You''ve helped us win the whole quartet. Now you are the best alchemist on the island.


    What?　Are you the best on the island ......?　Well, I don''t really feel it. Haha."


    Wayne was astonished to see the "dragon-headed cage" and "magic-work" sword and armor that Roland brought back.


    (Seriously? This guy ...... seriously beat the whole quartet''s equipment. Even if four members of the quartet were to band together, they couldn''t beat Aina alone? (...... no, no)


    Wayne looks at Roland again.


    He was still praising the work of his subordinates and collaborators, leaving himself aside, despite the fact that he had achieved so much in the war.


    (Roland. Roland''s command. This guy''s command brought out the potential of Aina''s equipment many times over.)


    Raul was quietly going about his business as usual in The Dragon''s Fires.


    There were no words of defeat in his mind; victory seemed to be a promise.


    That is why he was speechless when he saw the brothers Aram and Liam return home stripped of their clothes.


    What the hell happened to your equipment?　No way. ......"


    I am sorry, Raul. We also tried our best to make use of the "Dragoon''s Baskets," but we were at the mercy of the enemy''s terrain-based tactics, and their armor was unexpectedly hard. ......


    In the end, we were overwhelmed by their unexpectedly high firepower, and all the equipment we were wearing was taken from us.


    ......"


    Raul staggered lightly.


    Suddenly, the ground seemed to lose its equilibrium.


    Finally, he uttered the next words.


    The old master is at ......, where is Mister Alzea?"


    The Master was wounded in the last battle and was unable to come here. ......


    He asked me to give this letter to Lord Raoul."


    Raul looks over the letter Aram offered him.


    ''I retire.


    Alzea."


    Raul''s hand shakes as he holds the letter.


    (That old man. It''s fine that you''re retiring, ......, but if you lost, come and say a few words about it. We''re the ones who paid for it. No, it''s more than that (......).


    Raul shakes his head and looks down at the floor.


    (I don''t care about the old man at this point. Why did I lose?　It''s true that the equipment made by Aina Burke is tricky, but I should still be a better alchemist in terms of overall strength. How could I lose?)


    Raul felt everything he had accumulated so far rattle and crumble.


    (The "Arsenal of Spirits," what the hell are these guys ......? What the hell am I ...... fighting?)


    It was fear of the unknown.


    The way things had been done before did not work at all.


    He was now like an apprentice alchemist who had just arrived at his first workplace and was at a loss as to where to start.


    Faced with the gap between the brilliant career he had built up and the shabby current situation, he was on the verge of self-destruction and was doing his best just to stand there.


    What the hell are you people doing?


    In the office of "Dragon''s Fires," Medes''s angry shouts were flying.


    The four members of the quartet could do nothing but stand in awe in front of the Medes.


    We have made a javelin, a dragon-headed cage, and even magical crafting equipment, and we have spent a lot of money to hire adventurers, but we haven''t accomplished a single thing?　Indeed. If I take my eyes off the road for a moment, this is what happens. Raul, you''re the one supervising him, and what are you doing?


    Raul remained mysterious as he was yelled at, but inwardly he was chagrined.


    （You son of a b*tc*! You''re so arrogant. We''re the ones who are cleaning up the mess you made.)


    However, Raul could not speak back strongly, since it was true that this time they had ignored the Medes and proceeded on their own.


    Since when did we become an adventurers'' guild?　Since when do we go outside the workshop (atelier) and interfere with what happens in the dungeon?　Since when do we imitate the Thieves'' Guild?　Raul, you, don''t get me wrong. An alchemist should only make good equipment. Don''t lose sight of your own territory by going the extra mile."


    Despite his yell, Medes was relieved in his heart.


    (Phew. Somehow I managed to regain the initiative over the quartet. At one point, I wondered what would happen if all the members rebelled against me, but I was saved. I''ll have to hold the reins even tighter from now on.)


    And?　What are your plans for the future?　Yeah?


    No, it''s ...... that ......


    What?　You do whatever you want, but when the time comes to get in trouble, you have nothing?　They''re a real pain in the ass!


    "......"


    No." "No," he said. I thought Raul''s way was not good either. He was too dogmatic."


    Edgar, who had been standing by Raul''s side, suddenly stepped forward and said.


    Raul opens his eyes and looks at Edgar.


    (This guy ......, what the hell ......?)


    ''Because, don''t you think?　Everything is decided by Raul''s single word. Even when I objected, the opinions of others were ignored. It''s no wonder we can''t raise morale and we can''t even win.


    Raul. You are responsible for this failure. Is that correct?


    (d*mn. I can''t say anything back.)


    ...... yes."


    Raul grudgingly agreed.


    From now on, Edgar, you will take the lead in dealing with the Arsenal of Spirits.


    Us. I''ll leave it to you. I''ll make sure I live up to your expectations.


    Edgar responded immediately.


    Yoshi!　Then the entire quartet is to follow Edgar."


    ("Yoshi!") I don''t think so. Why Edgar (this idiot) of all people? Is he crazy?)


    Raul looks at Medes reproachfully, then glares at Edgar.


    (This guy ......, he''s been up to some tricks behind my back again.)


    As Raul predicted, Medes and Edgar were showing off behind the scenes.


    Medes chuckled inwardly at the success of his plan.


    （Raul and Edgar are easier to control than Edgar is. (If it were Raul and Edgar, Edgar would be easier to control, and I don''t want the quartet to become too close to each other. I can''t be sure that they won''t form a clique and rebel again. I need the quartet to continue to fight with each other to some extent so that my position is not threatened. With Edgar holding the reins, we can keep Raul''s head down for a while. Furthermore, it will also increase the rivalry between the quartet and make them more competitive by making them fight with each other. Hmmm. I must say, I''m impressed with your management skills.)


    Raul knew exactly what Medes and Edgar were thinking.


    (You stupid idiots. This is no time to be fighting amongst yourselves. Don''t you know that the way you''ve been doing things up to now won''t work with Roland? (......)


    However, he too had not yet recovered from the shock of defeat.


    Fighting "The Arsenal of Spirits.


    Just thinking about it made his hands tremble and his legs shiver with fear.


    （I don''t know how I''m going to beat Roland. (I don''t know how I can beat Roland, either. I''m sorry, but with the way I am now, I can''t even win.)


    Raul was aware of all this and shrugged it off.


    Lisetta simply watched these scenes in silence.


    While the "Dragon''s Fires" was showing signs of internal collapse, the "Arsenal of Spirits" had just held a small banquet to celebrate the victory, and the next day they immediately began to make their next move.


    Roland held a meeting with the staff and Dylan.


    The other day, we finally achieved the feat of conquering the "dragon''s head cage (dragoon)," Roland said. I have shown through equipment manufacturing, dungeon exploration, and support for adventurers that if you can draw out your potential and join forces, you can defeat even a quartet. I will defeat the "Dragon''s Fires". You must have realized that what seemed like a pipe dream until now is not at all impossible. At the same time, everyone must have understood what I want to do and what I am trying to do. I will support the local guilds and make them strong enough to compete with the outside guilds."


    Roland looked around at the faces of those gathered at the meeting.


    No one seemed to have any objections.


    Roland continued.


    The Dragon''s Fires is by nature an individualistic organization. In addition to that, the quartet was defeated. The quartet''s identity as a strong and powerful organization, which was once thought to be absolute, is now shaking. Up until now, we have concentrated on increasing our strength, so we have had no choice but to simply defend ourselves against attacks from the other side. Now, however, we are about to seize the opportunity to counterattack. While the enemy is still wobbling, we will strike another blow against "Dragon''s Fires," and the "Arsenal of Spirits" will further increase its strength. As a first step, we are planning to extract excellent alchemists from the "Dragon''s Fiery Fire. Ideally, we would like to extract one of the members of the quartet.


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