When Lillianne saw the lake at the end of the road, she gasped at its beauty.


    (Wow. Beautiful)


    The huge lake, stretched over a depression created by incessant volcanic activity, was spectacular, and the grandeur of the view was overwhelming.


    The clear surface of the water clearly reflected the outer rim of the mountain.


    Looking at the beauty of the lake, it was hard to believe that an evil monster was lurking in the area.


    Lilianne forgot the purpose of her visit and was mesmerized by the view.


    Lillianne is so lost in admiration that she forgets what she came here to do. The Flood Dragon is almost here.


    Lillianne huffed at Roland''s words.


    （No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. We are about to battle the "Flood Dragon". We have to be very careful.)


    Mr. Roland. I need information on the Flood Dragon.


    Yes," he said. While most dragons are lizard-shaped, the flood dragons are snake-shaped. They have a long body and use their fins to swim underwater. Its main attack method is "explosive magic," which spurts out high-powered water like a pump.


    A monster that lives in the water? That''s nasty.


    The problem is how to attack from here. It is difficult to attack an aquatic monster. If they dive into the water, there is almost no way to attack them. However, your "thunderbolt" is a different story. With your "Thunderbolt," which releases a high-voltage electric current, you can attack enemies hiding deep in the water from above.


    I see. Then, I should fight as usual. Is that what you mean?


    Yes," he said. That''s what I mean. I''ll leave all the attacking to you. Is that clear?


    Yes, sir. I''ll take care of it.


    Good. Go on, then.


    Lillianne straddled her broom and took off into the center of the lake.


    Leon. We''re going to secure a landing spot for Lilianne. The flood dragon will raise the level of the lake. Please occupy the high ground and use crustal magic to secure a foothold.


    All right.


    Leon immediately set about building a position with Lana.


    Elio, Hans, Will, come here for a minute.


    Roland took the three of them a short distance away.


    Elio. Hans. Hans. You''ve all been improving your abilities and have become excellent shieldmen, archers, and attack mages. I would say that you are now an indispensable part of the "Arsenal of Spirits" alliance. However, there is still something missing in order to become an A-class adventurer: something that A-class adventurers have that you don''t. What do you think it is?


    Hmmm. I guess it''s skill and status.


    Knowledge and experience?


    I agree. Of course those are important. But that''s not what you need most right now. It is arrogance.


    Arrogance. ......?"


    Remember all the Class A adventurers we''ve had from off-island? Thane, the Guardian of the Academy, Yugan, the Knight of the Crescent Moon, and Monica, the Guardian of the Magic Tree. All of them had not only exceptional skills and stats, but also a strong sense of pride that bordered on egotism, insatiable ambition, and absolute confidence in their own abilities. On the other hand, adventurers on this island tend to be extremely pragmatic and play it safe, perhaps because of their weak financial, skill, and equipment base. While it is important to be pragmatic and play it safe, they tend to choose to stay small as a result. This is one of the reasons why it is difficult to produce A-class adventurers on this island. Do your job well. That is important, too. To become an A-class adventurer, you need more than that.


    More than that......"


    Yes," he said. Class A adventurers are needed in all sorts of dangerous and critical situations, without exception. The responsibility that falls on their shoulders is heavy. Failure to do so could put the unit in jeopardy. In such situations, the Class A adventurer must lead the troop and perform a decisive role that will determine the course of the game. This requires a tough mentality that borders on arrogance.


    Elio, Hans, and Will gulped at the height of Roland''s demands and the awesomeness of Class A.


    The "Arsenal of Spirits" alliance will be in an increasingly difficult situation. The mark of the ''Dragon''s Fires'' and the ''White Wolf'' is only going to get tougher. The time is approaching when the "Grand Fafnir" will become active, and adventurers from the outside will arrive. The demands placed on you will also increase."


    Roland looked up toward Lilianne, who was flying overhead.


    Lily is an adventurer who has everything you need for Class A," he said. Take a good look at how she fights: ......"


    Roland, we have a problem.


    Jeff, who had returned from scouting the surrounding area, comes running up to me, looking panicked.


    Jeff," he said. What''s wrong?


    Some adventurers, hired by the Dragon''s Fires, are approaching.


    What did you say?　What''s your armament?"


    They are well-equipped. They''re really going to crush us."


    (After defeating them so completely, they still want to put up a fight? But that''s odd.)


    Jeff. Were they wearing any special equipment?　Dragoon''s Baskets, Javelins, and so on.


    What?　No, I didn''t see any equipment of that nature.


    I see. ......"


    (Isn''t the goal to beat our equipment?　(If so, ......)


    What are you going to do about it?　Shouldn''t we interrupt the fight against the Flood Dragon?


    No, let''s keep going here."


    ...... are you okay?"


    I don''t think my troops are so weak as to be upset by a crisis of this magnitude," he said. And ......."


    Roland looked again at Lillianne.


    We have the Witch of Thunderbolt over here," he said.


    Lilianne was drifting overhead around the center of the lake.


    (Really quiet. Where is the Flood Dragon?


    As Lillianne drifted through the air in search of her enemy, suddenly a huge shadow fell on the surface of the water.


    The shadow grew darker and darker, and soon the surface of the water rose to reveal the head of a water dragon with shimmering scales.


    The water dragon opened its mouth more than twice the size of its face and tried to swallow Lilianne.


    Behind its sharp fangs, one could see darkness like the depths of an abyss.


    Lilianne hastily gained altitude and took evasive action.


    In the nick of time, she was saved from being swallowed.


    (This is the Flood Dragon. (This is the "Flood Dragon," which is much larger than expected.)


    When the "Flood Dragon" confirms that it failed to devour Lilianne, it turns its head and flashes an oversized magic circle on the tip of its nose.


    A water cannon, like a waterfall, shot out toward Lilianne.


    Lilianne lowered her altitude and managed to dodge.


    The water cannon hit the slope that rises to the edge of the lake, knocking down about ten trees that had grown there.


    (It was a very powerful shot. (It was so powerful, my endurance (toughness) would be no match for a direct hit from that thing.)


    After dodging the water cannon, the "Flood Dragon" launched more magic.


    Countless magic circles were widely deployed on the surface of the lake, from which water pillars rose.


    Lilianne dodged the multiple pillars of water coming up from the surface of the water as she flew in a meandering motion.


    (This pillar of water was a decoy. The main story is at ......)


    Lilianne dodges the tail-slapping attack of a "flood dragon" that suddenly emerges from the water.


    （Lilianne dodged. (But this is also a decoy!)


    Lilianne raises her altitude sharply and dodges a "flood dragon" bite attack that comes from a blind spot.


    （Lilianne dodges the bite attack of the "flood dragon" from her blind spot.)


    Lilianne, having seen off all of the attacks, moves around above the "Flood Dragon''s" head and strikes it with a lightning bolt.


    (Good. (Good! It''s working!)


    The "Flood Dragon" twitches with the electric current running through its body, and glares at Lilianne with hatred.


    Lilianne faces him without timidity.


    （Lilianne faces him without hesitation.　I saw through the continuous attack. If I dive underwater, I''ll just slam another one in, won''t I?)


    The "Flood Dragon" stared at Lilianne for a moment, then let out a yell.


    What?


    As Lillianne wonders, she hears the rustling of wings from beyond the edge of the lake.


    (No way!)


    A group of "Fafnir" were approaching us from across the sky.


    While Lilianne was fighting the "Flood Dragons," the battle was beginning on land.


    The water level of the lake was rising, and amphibian-type monsters were crawling up from the water one after another to attack Roland and his men.


    Roland and his men had set up a position on high ground in advance and were prepared to defend themselves and intercept the monsters, so they kept them at bay with bows and arrows and attack magic, but there was no way to prevent the rising water level.


    Hey, the water level is rising rapidly.


    What are we going to do? Isn''t this place going to be under water soon?"


    Everyone, calm down. It still takes time for the water level to reach here. We have to trust Lillianne to keep this place safe."


    As Roland said this, the dismayed adventurers regained their composure.


    (though ......)


    Roland looks at Lillianne.


    She was doing her best to dodge the water column from the surface and the "breath of fire" from above.


    （Even Lily was on the defensive when she was being attacked from above, below, left, and right. (Even Lily can only defend herself if she is attacked from above, below, right and left.)


    Lilianne was having difficulty with attacks flying in from all directions.


    (Either "Flood Dragon (Flood Dragon)" or "Fire Dragon (Fafnir)" must be defeated first. ...... ) I was not able to do anything about it when the attacks came so incessantly.


    Lilianne felt wind pressure behind her.


    When she looked, she saw that "Fafnir" had opened his mouth and was about to spit out his "fire breath.


    (Shimaa: ......)


    Just when it seemed as if flames would engulf Lilianne, a fire arrow strikes the "Fire Dragon (Fafnir)".


    (This is ...... Hans!?)


    Hans'' "magic shooting" had a longer range than normal "bow shooting" and was able to hit the "fire dragon (Fafnir)" that was much further away.


    The "Fafnir" were enraged by the defeat of their comrades and headed toward Roland and his men.


    Roland, however, was ready for them.


    Will. Not yet!


    Okay. Blast magic!"


    The water, which had been looming over land, is temporarily lifted into the air by the backwinding tornado.


    Roland and his men, who have increased their land area and expanded their range of movement, prepare to intercept the "Fafnir" by deploying their archers on either side of it.


    The archers, now able to utilize their agility, took out the "Fafnir" one by one.


    (Well. I''ve secured the position and retreat route, Lily. If you need to recharge your batteries, come back.)


    Lillianne understood Loran''s intentions without words.


    (Quite a quintessence, Roland. Appropriate cover, perfect formation. You understand more about my skills than I do.)


    After all, it was he who raised me.


    Lilianne thought again.


    (Thank you, Mr. Roland. But it''s okay.)


    Lilianne looks sharply at the shadow of the "flood dragon" lurking in the water.


    (With all this support, we can''t just go back empty-handed. I will decide with this one blow!　(That is the role I must play as a Class A adventurer.)


    Lilianne dodged the "flood dragon" that was biting her in agony, and then she struck it with a lightning bolt.


    The "Flood Dragon" was drained of all its stamina, and it lay helplessly on the surface of the lake.


    <>