When the three members of the "Wise Man''s Crown" arrived at the "Dragon''s Fires," they were greeted by Medes, Edgar, and Raul.


    The six immediately moved on to business negotiations.


    This time, not only the "Wise Man''s Crown" but also the "Guardian of the Magic Tree" was here. If you want to use the quartet preferentially, you will have to pay extra for that.


    Medes said with a pouty smile.


    (Hmmm. I didn''t expect two major guilds to come at this time of the year. Lucky us. We''ll take this opportunity to squeeze as much as we can out of them. ......)


    Hey, the "Guardians of the Magic Tree" said they were joining the "Arsenal of Spirits" alliance.


    Neil said.


    ''Pyo?"


    Medes makes a funny noise.


    ''In the "Arsenal of Spirits" alliance?　Why ...... again?"


    Edgar said, really wondering.


    ''It seems that the head of the guild of the "Arsenal of Spirits" has a pipeline to the "Guardian of the Magic Tree."''


    Ian said.


    ''What?　Is that so?"


    ''Yes,'' he said. I was curious, so I had a listen in the plaza. Didn''t you know?"


    What?　Oh no. Well, how should I put it?"


    Medes is completely slack-jawed.


    So what?　What do you think? Are you going to accept the request on our terms? Are you going to accept it or not?


    Neil pressed in.


    What?　Of course I''ll take it, right?　We will accept. We have no reason to refuse a request from a venerable guild such as yours.


    Medes said hurriedly to mend the situation.


    Neil frowned at that.


    (Are these guys really all right? They should at least gather information on local rival guilds. I''ve been thinking for a while that the management here is a bit out of touch.　I guess Raul is the only one who can use this guild.)


    I''m not sure I''m going to be able to do it. Well then, please do me a favor, Raul. Make sure to make me some ''magic-work'' equipment as usual."


    What?　Uh, yeah."


    When Neil called out to Raul, Raul responded in a distracted manner.


    Seeing this, Neil was taken aback.


    (Hey, hey, hey, Raul. Even you, what''s with that feckless attitude?)


    ''Mr. Raoul, what''s wrong?　You don''t look well.


    Ian asked with concern.


    Oh, no. It''s nothing.


    Raul was troubled by this thought.


    （I never thought Lisetta would quit. She''s an excellent silversmith. I don''t know if it''s okay, but I don''t want to keep her. But I''m too busy doing my own thing right now. ......)


    After arriving at the "Arsenal of Spirits," Euphine and her colleagues underwent an evaluation by Roland.


    Roland quickly checked everyone''s condition.


    He checked everyone''s condition quickly. No decline in skill level. You did well. I look forward to seeing your work in the Fire Dragon Dungeon.


    Yes, sir. Then, everyone leave your equipment with the alchemist. After that, you can relax in the dining room out front.


    When Euphine said this, the team members relaxed and began to remove their equipment.


    The group of "Guardians of the Magical Tree" then began to remove their equipment. Please come to the front. You have the day to yourselves.


    Saki appears nonchalantly and entertains the troopers.


    Yufine, Shakuma, Rick, Lelio, and Marina. You stay here and we''ll discuss the dungeon strategy as soon as possible.


    The meeting was soon joined by local adventurers such as Leon, Hans, and Will, who were waiting for the meeting.


    The dungeon is for you to see for yourselves, but the issue at hand is how to deal with the ''crown of the wisest''.


    Roland writes the names of the three Class A mages belonging to "The Wise Man''s Crown" on the blackboard.


    Glen Ross, an offensive mage; Neil Dioclea, a support mage; and Ian Ugberg, a healer. All of them were typical Class A mages in both skill and status. Through standard training and standard quests, they naturally developed their talents. That''s about it."


    You mean the elite?"


    Leon said with a wry smile.


    He had been born and raised in a beat-up environment, a world he had never been a part of.


    But I found a weakness.


    You''ve already gone that far?"


    (In such a short time, you have gone through so many trends and countermeasures. (After all, this guy is different from ordinary appraisers. I can rely on him.)


    Their weakness is that none of the three has a high command capability. All of them are average at best. This is true of all guilds, and it can''t be helped, but those with the most skill and combat ability tend to take on the role of commander as well. Perhaps the same is true of "The Wise Man''s Crown. Because they are too strong, they tend to overestimate their own power. They will probably attack the dungeon by pushing their skills and power just like the "Guardians of the Academy of Magic.


    Roland adds the words "brains" and "gory" on the blackboard.


    There is another advantage here," he says. We''ve already finished procuring the ''Earthcraft.


    So you''re saying that some forced marching isn''t a problem."


    Lelio said.


    ''Yes, that''s right. So much for the analysis of the enemy''s weaknesses and ours. Now we just need to decide which route to take.


    Roland added two paths to the blackboard.


    The Crater Route and the Lake Route.


    The Wise Man''s Crown will surely take the crater route," Roland said. Last time, when the "Knights of the Hail" came, we took the "Lake Route" to avoid competing with outside guilds. This time, however, we too will take the "Crater Route. We''ll be competing head-on with the Crown of Wisdom."


    The "Guardians of the Magic Tree" came as reinforcements, didn''t they? Why don''t we take advantage of this opportunity?


    That''s not true, Leon. Even if the Guardians of the Magic Tree had not come, I would have been competing with the Crown of Wisdom.


    Local adventurers gulped at Roland''s awesomeness.


    Yuffine and the others were unperturbed.


    The first thing we need to do is to take out all the earthcraft distributed along the crater route. This will reduce the competitiveness of our enemies and keep the Crown of Wisdom out of the crater route.


    As the moon turned, new ore was exposed in the dungeon.


    The "Arsenal of Spirits" alliance and the "Grand Alliance" led by the "Philosopher''s Crown" began preparing to search in the plaza in front of the dungeon.


    In the meantime, Erio and his team were receiving equipment for defeating A-class monsters.


    Here is your new equipment, Mr. Erio. Here you go.


    The armor that Aina and Roddy brought in front of Erio was shimmering silver in addition to the blue "exterior reinforcement (coating)" that had been used until now.


    They had applied the blue "exterior reinforcement (coating)" to the armor made of Cheal''s silversmith''s silver work.


    When Erio put his body into the new armor, he felt a weight of a different dimension.


    (It is a heavy weight.) It is a heavy weight. This is the weight of A-class armor.)


    The new one is more powerful and durable than the old one, but it''s also heavier. What do you think?　Do you have any problem with the weight?"


    Yes," he said. I''m not used to the weight yet, but I''m sure I''ll get used to it.


    A new bow and arrow were also carried under Hans.


    Like Elio''s armor, it is made of silver.


    Based on Hans'' previous shooting records, we have tried to increase the power and accuracy of the ''magic shot'' as much as possible.


    As Hans received his bow and arrow, he remembered what Roland had told him.


    (The mental aspect, huh? I am the one who has the most anxiety about this issue. (In the last battle against the "White Wolves," I couldn''t do anything after Alice and Claire were taken captive.)


    Thank you. Aina. I''ll use it anyway."


    (Fight against this bow and arrow and the "Philosopher''s Crown of Wisdom. I will find the answer there.)


    Will and Carla had received the staff and sword from Wayne.


    Will touched the magic stone on the end of the staff.


    The magic stone, which was cut into a polyhedron shape, transmitted an enormous amount of magic power.


    I''m surprised," Will said. You''ve improved a lot in just a short time, Wayne. It is so different from the wand you gave me before.


    Will said, impressed.


    Carla swung the sword she had received.


    （It is light. (How can it be this light?)


    The sword was forged up to A class and further lightened by ''magic stone cutting. By sharpening the sword to the utmost limit, we have made it lighter and increased its cutting ability.


    When Carla wondered, Wayne began to explain.


    ''That sword should increase the power of your ''Shadow Strike'' and ''Kaiten Sword Dance. You guys."


    Wayne grabbed them both by the shoulders.


    Wayne grabbed them by the shoulders. "Please," Wayne said, grabbing them by the shoulders, "I need you to use this equipment. I don''t want to cause Roland any more trouble.


    Will and Carla look at each other curiously.


    As Euphine was making a final check of their unit, someone approached them from "The Wise Man''s Crown" and called out to them.


    ''Hey there. Reyes."


    You''re ...... sure, Ian.


    I am so glad you remember me. I''m honored."


    I''m the ace of a rival guild. I''ll be sure to check in on you. What can I do for you?"


    When Euphine asked this, Ian did not answer, but turned his attention to the group of adventurers who were getting ready.


    This atmosphere is unique to this island, isn''t it? The champions of different continents are entering the dungeon shoulder to shoulder with each other. But this time, among others, the scene is bizarre. The local adventurers on the island have split in half and are forming an alliance with outside adventurers. We of the "Wise Man''s Crown" have gathered as many local adventurer guilds as we can, but there are just as many of you as well. If you''ve gathered such a large group, I wonder if you''re aiming for the crater route.


    I can''t tell you that. That''s classified information.


    "......"


    If you''re here to make small talk, I''ll let you go. I''m a busy man.


    "Roland Gil."


    The name out of Ian''s mouth made Eufine stop what she was doing to walk away and turn around.


    He is the head of the "Arsenal of Spirits" guild and a well-known S-class appraiser who has trained many alchemists and adventurers. He is said to have played an important role in the battle for supremacy between the "Guardian of the Magic Tree" and the "Golden Eagle" in the "City of Adventurers. It was Roland, of all people, who discovered you as a "wide-range healer. Isn''t that right?"


    I was surprised by ......." Did you know Mr. Roland?"


    No, I did my research after I came to the island. Originally, I had heard about the S-class appraiser as a rumor, but I didn''t believe it. I didn''t believe that a single appraiser could do such a big job. It wasn''t until I spent the last few days investigating the connection between you and the Arsenal of Spirits that I was able to corroborate it."


    "......, you have great investigative skills."


    (If that Neil guy is the leader of the "Wise Man''s Crown", this guy is the shadowy powerhouse.)


    And?"　What in the world do you want with us and Mr. Roland, sneaking around like that?　From a moment ago."


    I get it. Let''s get straight to the point. How about we stop competing with each other and join forces?"


    What do you mean?


    I want you to think this through. If things continue as they are, the "Guardian of the Magic Tree" and the "Philosopher''s Crown" will be crushing each other. If that happens, who benefits?　The White Wolf."


    ......"


    The last time we came to this island, we had to compete with a major guild. Last time we came to the island, we were competing with a major guild called the Guardians of the Academy of Magic, a guild based in the same city as us, but since we were from the same hometown, we were so rival that we were dragging each other down. As a result, neither of us got good results. In both "The Wise Man''s Crown" and "Guardians of the Academy of Witchcraft," there were a lot of arguments blaming the other, but it was the local guild, "White Wolf," that actually got the better of the two. Now that I think about it, I feel that we were moved to their advantage at every important point.


    ......"


    The "Sage''s Crown" and the "Guardians of the Magickal Academy" are rivaling guilds from the bottom up, so there was no room for compromise. But we are different. It is not too late. If we can negotiate, join hands, and work together on the quest, ......


    I''m sorry. I can''t do that.


    ...... why?


    Our mission is to assist Mr. Loran. Mr. Roland wants us to fight you, so we are just following his orders. We have nothing against you in particular.


    You are new to the island, so you may not know this, but the ''white wolves'', they are dangerous. They are cunning and they will not miss an opportunity to get at you. But if we work together, we can ......"


    I have heard about the dangers of the White Wolf. But they''re not the only ones you''re worried about. The Dragon''s Fiery Fire. Apparently, Mr. Roland is concerned about them as well. You and the Dragon''s Fires are in charge of their equipment, aren''t you?　If you were to join forces with us, would you be able to cut ties with the Dragon''s Fires now?"


    It''s ......"


    Well, that''s why we can''t work with you. Sorry.


    I see."


    Ian sighed and shook his head.


    ''It''s a shame,'' he said. I thought you were a man who could talk. I didn''t know you could fight the ''dragon''s fiery fire. This Roland guy sounds like a crazy person. You''ll regret it. You will regret that you trusted the judgment of a mere appraiser so much.


    I don''t know what you''ll regret later.


    What?　What do you mean?


    There are people in the world who can''t be measured by you.


    <>