Hans, Claire, and Alice left home to go on their third dungeon quest this month.


    Hans left home with his sisters, and on the way to the workshop (atelier), he remembered Roland''s words.


    (Not enough mercy ...... or)


    Reflecting on the meeting.


    ''Roland. Could you be a little more specific?"


    Leon said.


    ''We''re getting better at fighting ''white wolves'', and when you say we''re not relentless enough, how exactly do we do that?''


    I agree. For example, when we fought the "White Wolf" in the last dungeon exploration, that scene when Elio and Rick pushed back the enemy''s offensive. If the rear guard had jumped out from behind to pursue the fleeing enemy, they could have inflicted more damage.


    I see. The rear guard jumps out.


    Yes," he said. To strike a blow to the enemy, it is not enough for the vanguard to provide solid support. The work of the rear guard becomes important. It is a difficult task because the danger increases if the thinly armored rear guard moves forward. ......


    (That order. (He didn''t name names, but I''m sure it was probably directed at me. It was up to me to determine if I could inflict fatal damage to "The Wise Man''s Crown" (......)).


    Hans!"


    Hans was startled by Will''s voice calling him.


    He found himself at the meeting place.


    Will or ......."


    There is still time before the search begins. Can we talk a little?"


    They decided to sit on a bench in the plaza until the order was given.


    What do you think of what Roland said at the meeting?"


    Will asked.


    ''Are you referring to the lack of mercy, ......?''


    Yeah, that."


    I know. He didn''t name names, but the bottom line is that Roland isn''t happy with the way I work.


    Ours.


    Will?


    It''s our fault that we, the rear guard, can''t win the game while Erio and the other vanguard are pushing back the White Wolf''s attacks.


    Will, what''s your take on this?　What are we missing?"


    I guess so."


    Will made a little thoughtful gesture and then began to speak.


    I''ve seen the way the Guardians of the Magical Tree fight, and it seems to me that they take risks differently than we do.


    Risk?"


    Yes," he said. From our point of view, they are very conscious of trying to get in front of us, to the point where it feels a little dangerous. But in the off-island guilds, even the rear guard may have to be that forward-thinking.


    I see. The awareness of taking risks and moving forward.


    Hans thought for a moment, then turned to Will.


    Will. "Will, I''m going to try to be more forward in my search this time. I''m prepared to take some risks.


    Are you sure?　It''s double the workload and double the responsibility, okay?"


    I''m ready.


    Good. If you insist, I''ll go along with you. Let''s go directly to Roland together."


    They told Roland that they wanted to raise awareness of the pursuit.


    Roland gave his permission.


    However, he did so on the condition that they fulfill their original roles, such as scouting and supporting the vanguard.


    After checking her own unit, Yuffine, accompanied by Lelio and Shakuma, looked toward the "Grand Alliance," the enemy side.


    The "Grand Alliance" was about to complete its preparations, with no particular change in armament or strategy from the last time.


    I thought they were going to try something, but they didn''t come up with anything special.


    Lelio said.


    I wonder if they couldn''t come up with anything effective?"


    Shakma said.


    I don''t know. We don''t know what''s out there yet. Stay on your guard. ......"


    Just as Yuffine was about to say this, she bumped into Ian.


    Reyes!


    Shakma, Lelio, we''re coming back."


    Yuffine, accompanied by the two men, tried to return to her own camp.


    Reyes. Wait!　I need to talk to you. ......"


    I don''t."


    It''s a later life." Please listen to me."


    I don''t like it. I''m not talking to you anymore.


    Wait a minute. If we don''t do something, it''s just what the White Wolf wants. We need to work together here. ......


    Yuffine looked at Ian with a cruel smile on her face.


    Hmph. You''re the only ones who should be worried about being attacked by the White Wolf. That''s what happens when you keep playing tricks. It''s your own fault. Come on, you two, let''s go. We have to finish our last preparations.


    Ian''s shoulders slump as he is brushed off by Yuffine.


    （Ian''s shoulders slump. (No good...) Ian''s shoulders slumped. As Neil said, we have no choice but to bet on a joint front between "White Wolf" and "Dragon''s Fires.)


    Ian glanced at Yuffine.


    (The current peace negotiations should be able to get her to let her guard down a little. We''ve done our best. All that remains is to wait for fate.)


    After Ian had been treated, Euphine went to report to Roland on her feet.


    I told him. I told him that I would not work with you.


    Yuffine said with a good smile.


    ''...... I see.''


    Roland does not look pleased, but rather thoughtful. Yuffine scowled.


    (Ian is an expert in gathering information. Ian is an expert in gathering information, and he should already know the contents of the "Spirit Alliance" meeting. And yet, he is negotiating for peace at this time?)


    Yufineh. Be ready to cast ''wide-area recovery magic'' as soon as you enter the dungeon. Something might happen."


    After that, the "Grand Alliance" finished its preparations and solemnly entered the forest at the foot of the mountain.


    A little later, the "Spirit Alliance" also entered the dungeon (this time, the "Grand Alliance" was able to complete its preparations more quickly than usual because it had significantly fewer people than last time. (This time, the "Grand Alliance" had a much smaller number of people than last time, so they were able to prepare more quickly than usual.)


    Roland and his team proceeded steadily through the forest at the foot of the mountain for a while.


    Sporadic small fry monsters attacked them, but they cleared them up without difficulty and resumed their search.


    The speed at which the "Grand Alliance" was advancing was so fast that they could not catch up with it, but it was not a big problem.


    We could continue our search as before.


    Once they reached the "Metal Line," the speed of the "Grand Alliance" would slow down anyway.


    There are plenty of chances to rewind.


    That''s what everyone thought.


    It was not until they reached the first plateau of the "Metal Line" that they changed their minds.


    Suddenly, a unit of the Grand Alliance deployed in front of the vanguard unit.


    They were stationed on the plain, ready and waiting.


    They attacked in one fell swoop in front of the panicked "Spirit Alliance.


    Although they managed to withstand the first blow, they were met with a powerful attack by Neil, a warrior clad in "magic-work" sword armor.


    The unit was forced to flee when it was hit by the "Attack Grant" and Glenn''s "Fire Blast Magic".


    After kicking out the vanguard of the "Spirit Alliance," Neil and his men ran down the hill at the speed of the wind and attacked furiously toward the main group with Roland.


    <>