The Kicked Out S-Rank Appraiser Creates The Strongest Guild - Chapter 18.1

Chapter 18.1   Support Mage and Armor

Charl was diligently working in the “Forest Workshop.”

In front of her was the blueprint for the “Iron Piercer Bow.”

“Ugh, as expected of Mr. Daevin. What an incredible design.”

She was currently engaged in weapon development.

This month’s challenge from Laurent was to develop a weapon that surpassed the “Iron Piercer Bow.”

Charl repeatedly drew lines on the blueprint, erased them, drew them again, and erased them again, revising the design over and over.

“But I will definitely surpass it. Although it’s difficult… Argh!”

Holding her head with one hand, Charl continued to draw lines with her pencil.

She felt like she was on the verge of overheating from thinking so hard.

Even so, her work, though slow, was progressing steadily bit by bit.

Laurent and his team, having passed through the teleportation magic circle, had reached the fourth floor.

The scenery had shifted from the ruins of a city to a forest with sparse trees.

Laurent was discussing with Shaqma, planning to make her the center of the squad.

“Alright, let’s start with the basics. What is the role of a support mage?”

“Yes, the role of a support mage is to minimize the unit’s wear and tear.”

Laurent was surprised by the unexpectedly precise answer.

It encapsulated the essence of a support mage.

(She’s smarter than I thought. But if she understands this much, why was she branded as a failed support mage?)

“Good. You pass. Now, show me how you fight. You’re free to command the unit as you see fit.”

“Yes.”

Laurent decided to observe Shaqma’s combat style.

From a skill and stats perspective, she didn’t seem to have any major issues.

If there was a fatal flaw elsewhere, they would have to confirm it in actual combat.

Laurent’s team advanced through the dungeon in their usual formation, with archers in the front line, forming three rows.

As they progressed, a roar that pierced the air came from deep within the forest.

It was the cry of a large Orc.

From the fourth floor onward, large Orcs, which were several times taller and stronger than Goblins, also appeared.

As Laurent’s team waited tensely, monsters soon emerged from all directions and attacked them.

This time, the group consisted of five large Orcs and twenty-five armed Hobgoblins.

The large orc was wielding an axe, while the armed hobgoblins had a variety of weapons such as bows, clubs, and swords.

However, for Laurent, they were the perfect opponents to gauge Shaqma’s abilities.

(A variety of armed monsters. Perfect opponents to test the judgment of a support mage. Show me your skills as a support mage, Shaqma!)

A support mage needed the tactical insight to properly grasp the situation on the battlefield.

Currently, there were archers at the front of the formation.

Should they continue to reduce enemy forces with the archers, deploy the shield unit for defense, or charge in for close combat?

Shaqma quickly assessed the enemy’s composition and formation.

The enemy troops were charging with the large orc in the center, flanked by goblins on both sides.

From this, Shaqma deduced that the enemy intended to forcefully break through the center.

“Archers, shift to the right. Shield unit, deploy and stop the large orc. Here we go. ‘Defense Enhancement!'”

When Shaqma cast ‘Defense Enhancement,’ the shield unit was enveloped in a blue light, increasing their defensive power.

The large orc, relying on its massive body and strength, charged at the shield unit.

The sound of a massive weight colliding with metal echoed through the air.

The orcs thought they could easily blow away the smaller humans with a single strike, but the shield unit withstood the orc’s charge without a scratch.

They even effortlessly blocked the axe that followed.

This was the effect of ‘Defense Enhancement.’

Next, the armed hobgoblins on the enemy’s flanks attempted to attack the shield unit from both sides, but they were met by the close combat unit, who engaged them in battle.

At that moment, the archer unit was on the right wing, allowing them to slightly weaken the enemy forces.

As the clash between the large orc and the shield unit became the center of the battle, the fight spread out, forming a battle line that stretched across the entire road.

Shaqma kept a keen eye on the battle lines from the rear.

She had to decide whether to cast ‘Attack Enhancement’ on the close combat unit to break through the flanks or prepare to recast ‘Defense Enhancement’ as the shield unit’s enhancement would soon wear off.

In fact, the shield unit was in a precarious situation.

Although they had initially withstood the attacks, the large orcs relentlessly continued their charges and axe strikes.

The blue light surrounding the shield unit was gradually fading, and if this continued, the orcs might break through.

The battle on both flanks was still evenly matched, and casting ‘Attack Enhancement’ wouldn’t necessarily guarantee an immediate breakthrough.

“Attack mages, target the large orcs!”

For the time being, Shaqma positioned the attack mages behind the shield unit and directed them to attack the orcs with fire magic.

The attack mages could strike the enemy from behind their own lines.

The attack mages unleashed fire magic on the large orcs.

Magic circles appeared at the orcs feet, spewing flames.

The large orcs, engulfed in fire, visibly lost momentum.

Though the fire from the D-class attack mages wasn’t enough to burn through the thick hide of the large orcs and inflict fatal damage, it was sufficient to disrupt their attacks.

Even the mighty large orcs had to lower their raised axes and retreat when flames suddenly erupted at their feet.

Seeing this, Shaqma was convinced that the shield unit could hold their ground. He then bestowed ‘Attack Enhancement’ upon the melee combat unit on the right wing.

The five members of the melee combat unit, now glowing red with ‘Attack Enhancement,’ swiftly dispatched enemies who had been evenly matched moments before. They now easily cleaved through enemy armor that had previously been impenetrable, scattering their foes.

(What a keen sense. She anticipated that the shield unit, enhanced with ‘Defense Enhancement,’ could stop the large orcs breakthrough, so she chose to focus on formation rather than reducing enemy forces or breakthrough. He used the shield unit, enhanced with ‘Defense Enhancement,’ and attack mages to hold off the enemy’s strong points, while the archers and melee combat units, enhanced with ‘Attack Enhancement,’ aimed to break through the enemy’s weak points. It’s a solid combat command. Up until now, she seems not just competent as a support mage, but rather exceptional… )

The melee combat unit on the right wing was decimating the enemy.

As the melee combat unit broke through the ranks of armed hobgoblins, they could encircle the large ogres, eliminating the enemy’s flank and rear.

In the center and left wing, the enemy was struggling to advance.

It seemed victory was about to fall into Shaqma’s hands.

However…