While the "Arsenal of Spirits" alliance and the "White Wolf" were engaged in fierce competition, a cruise ship was anchored in the harbor.
The ship had just anchored after a peaceful journey, and one of the crew members, a baggage boy, was unloading the passengers'' luggage, feeling regretful that the voyage was coming to an end.
For this voyage had been one of the most enjoyable of his seafaring career.
The secret lay with a certain noblewoman on board.
Dressed all in black, with a black tongari hat, black clothes, and black knee socks, she looked like a mage from the "adventurer''s town.
He rushed to the guest room, inwardly thrilled each time she rang the call bell.
His heart was buoyed partly because she was so pretty and wore a charming smile that he couldn''t help but turn his head when he passed her, but also because this cheerful lady spoke so openly to him, a humble boy.
She was cheerful and intelligent, but she also had a certain sophistication about her.
She called him at a certain time every day, and he began to look forward to that time every day.
The time she spent delivering drinks to his room was a soothing reminder of the hard labor of a sailor.
But that was the end of such a pleasant time.
From now on, another day of arrogant customers, smug bosses, and tedious manual labor awaited him.
Thinking of this, he could not help but feel a sense of regret for the few days he had spent on the ship with the lady.
While he was reminiscing with the lady, the lady herself arrived with a cheerful smile on her face.
She was wearing her trademark all-black outfit, black miniskirt, black knee socks, and black pointy hat.
She said, "Excuse me. I''m here to pick up a package from ......, oh? You always delivered the drinks ......"
You remember me?"
Boy said as if he was impressed.
Yes, of course. Whenever I (I) was bored, you were always there to talk to me.
I am sorry to have to say goodbye like this. It was a very enjoyable cruise."
I''m sure we''ll meet again."
She winked.
The sailor was involuntarily smitten.
She winks at him and says, "Well, is this all you have ......?"
The sailor pulls out a sturdy-looking broom and a bag full of some sort of luggage and hands it over.
Yes, that''s it," he says. I would like to ask you, do you know where the alchemy guild called ''Arsenal of the Spirits'' is located?"
The ''Arsenal of Spirits'' ....... Oh, it''s an alchemy guild that was recently established on this island. There is a workshop (atelier) attached to the back of a restaurant on the outskirts of town. That''s where the "Arsenal of the Spirits" is based.
The boy gave detailed directions for the noblewoman.
Thank you."
Excuse me, ......, but what exactly is your business here, heading to an alchemy guild or something like that?"
The lady in black smiles mysteriously.
I may look like this, but I am an adventurer.
Adventurer? When you say adventurer, do you mean that adventurer?"
Yes, I am a witch by profession."
''No, I don''t believe it. Oh, if you like, I can call a mailing service for you. Your luggage is heavy, isn''t it?"
No, thank you. We can get there if we know the general location and direction. ......
But it''s pretty far, isn''t it?
I''ll be fine. I have unique skills.
"Unique skills?"
Before the boy can question her, the black-robed witch floats up on her broom and flies instantly into the sky, out of his reach.
Sailor. Thank you for a pleasant sail. Until we meet again.
She waved her hand and flew away.
The sailors look on in amazement.
(Mr. Roland, I hope you are well.)
Lilianne flew toward the workshop (atelier), her heart pounding for her lover whom she had not seen in a long time.
Roland was troubled by his head when he noticed that there was a mixture of shoddy armor.
(I could fool around for now, but what do we do after this?)
When Roland conducted an "item appraisal" of each member''s equipment, he found that, as a matter of fact, many of them were wearing defective equipment, especially those in the "D" training group, which had been intensively trained this time.
(Should we instruct the group of skill level D and the group of skill level E to change their equipment? No, no. We cannot let the troops become distrustful at this point in time when their equipment has been wrecked. (I''ll do everything in my power to conceal the inadequacy of the equipment here!)
Roland decided to cover not only those with skill level E, but also the majority of those with skill level D by placing them in the center.
This arrangement places an excessive burden on the skill level B and C groups.
Pato took one look at Roland''s arrangement and noticed something unusual.
（It''s not right. Why such an arrangement? No way! The armor with significantly low durability earlier. (Wasn''t that the only defective piece?)
When the alchemist pato saw that wrecked armor, he immediately noticed the corners cut.
It was inevitable that one or two defective pieces would be mixed in.
But if that is a large number of them, you can find them at .......
Um, Mr. Loran. ......
Pat!" Come here a minute."
Roland summoned Pato and began to whisper to him, forehead to forehead.
''We''ve found a number of new recruits with extremely low durability in their equipment.
! I knew it. ......"
In order not to damage the credibility of the "Arsenal of Spirits," we will somehow keep the defective equipment under wraps. You must keep this matter to yourself. Is that clear?
I''m sure you''ll be able to find the equipment of the new members of ......, Mr. Roland.
We will investigate the cause and pursue responsibility later. Right now, we just want to get through this crisis."
(Mr. Loran. d*mn it! (......)
When Pato looked at Wayne, Wayne was just looking down in the corner.
(Wayne. What the hell is wrong with you? When you were at the "Dragon''s Fireside," at least you didn''t cut corners like this. Have you really gone rotten?)
While Roland was rotting away at concealing the defective equipment, Jamil was tilting his head at the report from the returning stranded troops.
''What? Enemy armor wrecked?"
Yes, sir. I did see it with my own eyes.
What do you mean? The enemy''s armor is custom-made with special armor, right? I don''t think you can wreck them that easily. ......"
I don''t know. But I''m sure it was wrecked. Just a few attacks."
"Hmm."
(It''s a stranded unit that you poked around in distress, but you''ve brought back unexpected war results. But still, I didn''t realize that the equipment was wrecked. ...... Was it just poor maintenance? Or some equipment-related trouble? (Whatever it is, it''s worth a poke.)
Jamil decided to change his strategy.
(So far, the strategy had been to target those who had not yet adjusted their status ......, but if the enemy''s equipment was malfunctioning ......)
Rodo. I''m going to use Fafnir.
An?" Fafnir?
Yes, let Fafnir attack, and when the enemy''s attention is diverted, attack from the opposite side.
Then it''s the same attack as usual. I thought you were going to use "Fafnir" as a decisive factor this time. If I go first, the enemy''s ''dragon sound'' will stop me, right?"
It''s okay. It''s okay to be stopped. The goal is not to finish off the enemy, but to stop them in their tracks."
As Roland and his group hurried down the mountain, three "Fafnir" dragons flew in from the right side and attacked them.
Nicola tried to defend herself by playing a "dragon sound," but the "Fafnir" poured "fire breath" on her.
(d*mn, the "dragon sound" doesn''t work?)
Don''t worry about it. Keep playing."
Roland encouraged Nicola to keep playing the harp, and soon the "Fafnirs" began to fly around in circles in the air as if they were lost.
（The "White Wolf" had, after all, raised the loyalty of the "Fire Dragon (Fafnir)" in advance. I have to be prepared to take the first blow. But I can manage that much with potions and "Earthcraft. The problem is ......)
The enemy attack is coming from the opposite cliff. Leon. Please."
Oh!
Leon quickly deployed on the opposite side of the "Fire Dragon (Fafnir)" and prepared for the enemy''s attack.
Soon arrows and "Dragons'' Baskets" were flying in.
The "Heavenly Horse Arrow" should shoot down the "Fire Dragon (Fafnir). The D group will move back further."
Leon looked at Roland''s command and frowned.
(Oh, come on. You''re being too lenient with him, no matter how much of a "D" he is. (Hey, hey, you''re being too lenient with the Ds.) That''s going to put too much of the burden on the main force of Bs and Cs.
Jamil was watching the battle situation on the cliff, observing Roland''s command.
(As I thought, it''s not right. He is protecting certain adventurers. (It''s not just those whose status is in disarray.)
Jamil has someone who can use "Item Appraisal" appraise the armor of the one who is waiting in the center of the alliance.
''This is the equipment of those who are positioned in the center of ......, their equipment is significantly less durable.
How long?"
It''s below 40." Armor with a durability value of 20 or 30 is not uncommon.
"Hmm, I knew you were having trouble with your equipment."
(A painstaking strategy has led to an unexpected harvest. I don''t know what happened to the Alliance, but I''m going to make the most of this opportunity.)
After shooting down Fafnir and escaping from the bow fire of the White Wolf, Roland and his team descended the mountain again, protecting those with D and E skill levels.
Then, as they were going a little further, the "White Wolf" lashed out with a "Fire Dragon (Fafnir).
(The tactic of using "Fafnir" as a decisive factor changed to the tactic of letting "Fafnir" stop them in their tracks. That''s not good. This is a defective equipment, the enemy knows. ......)
Roland clenches his back teeth.
Jamil smiles wickedly as he watches Roland desperately try to hide the inadequacy of his equipment.
(This unnatural command of the alliance. (This unnatural command of the alliance, they are hiding the defective equipment from their friends too, aren''t they?)
Well, of course. I don''t want people to know that my equipment is inadequate. It''s a matter of credibility for the guild, isn''t it? Kukk.
After that, "White Wolf" continued to wear down the alliance''s main force by stalling them with "Fire Dragon (Fafnir)" and shaking them with "Bow Shooting.
When Roland and his men reached the plateau, the "White Wolf''s" white army also appeared in front of the Alliance, rallying all its forces and preparing to challenge them to a decisive battle.
Roland was forced to turn around and respond.
(d*mn, at this timing, when the status of the main force has been reduced, a decisive battle is ....... And on a plateau ......)
(The enemy''s circumstances are unique this time.)
Jamil, who has brought the situation to the point where it is just as he had hoped, carefully looks at the enemy''s lineup.
Roland wanted to avoid a clash with the "White Wolf" as much as possible in order to hide his equipment deficiencies, but this was not possible on level ground.
On the narrow, undulating roads, he could somehow manage to advance while protecting his skill level D and E groups, but on the wide plains of the plateau, he had to deploy his troops sideways for so long that he could not fully cover the weakest part of his force.
（The "D E" group had to repeatedly hit and away on the undulating terrain, slowly and steadily whittling away at the enemy''s physical strength (stamina). This is the original style of "White Wolf. But this time, they dared to fight a decisive battle on level ground!)
(Is this the true form of "White Wolf"? They will use any means to sway you, and if they find a weakness, they will relentlessly exploit it.)
Roland, who was helplessly lining up those with defective armor as requested by the enemy, still pondered what he could do and tried his best to find a way.
(Our defenses will almost certainly be breached. Then we must do it before they do it!)
Carla!
Hmm? What is it? Call out that loudly and suddenly."
[Explanation of Kaiten sword dance]
By releasing sword techniques while spinning, it extends the distance and power of the sword.
If the class is advanced, it is possible to shower a wide range of slashes.
(The unique skill "Kaiten Kenbai", which delivers slashes over a wide area, may be able to break ...... this situation.)
Carla. The basic tactics are as we trained. I''ll follow behind Erio and use ''shadow strikes'' and ''swordplay'' from the jump. But if there is a chance to get behind the enemy. You can use ''Kaiten Kenbu''."
I see. I see.
Roland gripped Carla''s shoulder as she said this without hesitation.
What? What the hell?"
I''m sorry to put pressure on you at a time like this. I know it''s a bit much, but I''m counting on you here. I''m counting on you.
What?" Yeah."
Carla takes her position without knowing the intent of the words spoken to her.
The same was true on the side of the "White Wolf" who had prepared their trump card.
Hey," she said. It''s your turn, boys.
Jamil called out to the newcomer who had recently joined.
He said, "Whew. Finally, it''s your turn.
A tall, lanky man with a spear-axe (halberd) said.
''Indeed. You''ve been running and jumping and dragging us all over the mountain path.
A burly middle-aged man with a spear said.
But I have finally seized the opportunity I have been waiting for. Let''s show Roland what we see."
A skinny, bespectacled young man said.
They uniformly wore masks or masks to hide their faces.
Rodo couldn''t help but look at them with a scowl.
Hey, Jamil. Are you sure you can handle these guys?"
It''s not okay, it''s as if these guys have been added to the group for just such an occasion as this.
But it''s suspicious to see. I don''t even know what kind of a horse I''m riding.
But its value as a white-arms force is real."
Gilbert''s status
Arm strength (power): 70-80
Toughness: 70-80
[Sebasta''s status
Arm strength (power): 70-100
Endurance (toughness): 70-100
(Gilbert is considered a B-class equivalent warrior (Warrior) and Sebasta is considered an A-class equivalent warrior (Warrior). A little bit of status disruption is a concern, but ......)
Gilbert: "Hey, Gilbert. Do we still have to hide our faces?"
Sebasta grumbled, shaking his fat-filled belly.
''Well, don''t be in such a hurry. You can always show yourself to Roland''s guy. Right?"
(Even though I was able to successfully blend in with the "White Wolf," it''s not a good idea to be out in the open now that the "Dragon''s Fires" have been exposed for their identity fraud. It is not necessarily true that my information will not be shared between the "Arsenal of Spirits" and the "Dragon''s Fiery Fire. (For now, we still need to make sure that no one concerned knows that we belong to "White Wolf.)
The two of you are ready for battle. Let us get into position.
The battle was opened.
While the alliance was trying to cut down the momentum by shooting with bows, the "White Wolves" were charging aggressively to attack with white weapons.
As the "White Wolf" warriors came within a stone''s throw of the Alliance''s lines, the archers dropped back and the white arm battle began.
While the "Arsenal of Spirits" alliance breaks the enemy''s line of battle centered on Elio''s "Shield Assault," the "White Wolf" side also breaks through, centered on warriors with spear-axes (halberds) and warriors with spears (warriors).
The battle seemed to be almost evenly matched, but the balance was gradually shaken as some of the allied camps began to suffer unnatural armor breakdowns.
The battle between the Alliance and the "White Wolf" continued for a while, but by the time the sun was setting, both sides were running out of stamina, so they both turned back.
The alliance and the "White Wolf" dealt blows to each other in this way, but the damage was greater for the alliance.
Most of the poor armor was destroyed, and most of the ore possessed by the D and E skill levels was taken away by the thieves of the White Wolf.
As for the "White Wolf," the damage was limited.
Erio was distracted by the expanding damage behind him and was unable to fully demonstrate the power of his "Shield Assault.
Roland was forced to regroup his troops.
Roland. Claire and Alice are not coming back."
Hans told me, looking completely exhausted.
Claire and Alice had stayed to the end to support the collapsing alliance and had been captured by the enemy.
[Hans Bergamot''s status.
Agility: 30-80
（Agility is down. Did Claire and Alice''s mentality collapse because of their captivity? (Hans is no longer of any use this time.)
Leon also comes under Roland with a bitter look on his face.
''Roland. More than 30 of us have suffered major damage to our armor and are mortally wounded and unable to fight. In addition, more than 20 of us have been taken prisoner by the enemy. The quest is almost a failure. d*mn. I never thought this would happen. What do we do now, Roland?"
"Whew."
Roland exhaled heavily.
(It''s not just Wayne. Elio and Hans are still half-human. So am I myself. I can''t believe I''m relying on the awakening of Carla, who just joined us at this critical juncture. I''m not ready yet. The newly joined micro guilds are not expected to be able to pay for their equipment, so the "Arsenal of Spirits" will not be able to avoid a loss during this search. The quartet pullout plan is also starting over from scratch. We should have listened more carefully to Pato''s advice that a grand alliance is premature.)
Loran, our side is almost destroyed, but the enemy has a lot of strength left. After recovering with potions, they will attack again soon. What do we do, Roland?"
"Hmm."
Roland had a smile on his mouth.
''...... what''s up Roland?
No, I just haven''t had a pinch like this in a long time."
"Oh, oh."
Roland glanced sharply in the direction from which the "White Wolf" had turned back.
（I''m sure the "White Wolf" guys must be thinking they''ve got us cornered pretty good right about now. But we won''t give up just because of this. I will surely get us out of this predicament.)
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