The Kicked Out S-Rank Appraiser Creates The Strongest Guild - Chapter 20.3

Chapter 20.3   True talent

Monica trudged back to Laurent’s side.

“I’m sorry, Laurent.”

“No, it’s okay. But Monica, when you went to take your position, you changed your destination halfway, didn’t you? Why didn’t you follow the answer you derived with ‘Hawkeye’?”

“Well, that’s… They were faster, and I got flustered…”

“You compete with precision despite having lower agility. Your training so far has been to build that style. It’s meaningless to change your style at such a crucial moment. Don’t you agree?”

“Yes… I’m sorry.”

“If you fail the next quest, I’ll have to remove you from the squad.”

“What!?”

“Skill-wise, you’re supposed to be on par with a B-class archer already. If you can’t even take down a Steel Eagle, it’s solely due to your mental weakness.”

“…”

“I’ve been very lenient with you so far. You should understand that. But if you can’t deliver results, I can’t afford to spend time on someone with no potential. If you’re not a reliable asset, I’ll have to train other A-class candidates.”

“But…!”

“Monica, can you believe in your own talent?”

“Um…”

“If you lose sight of your own way of fighting again, that’s it.”

“…”

“We must ensure the success of the next quest. Understand?”

“Yes.”

Monica answered firmly, tears welling up in her eyes.

Laurent’s group continued their march through the dungeon, aiming once again to conquer the quest.

As usual, the interference unit from the “Golden Hawks” was closely tailing them.

Laurent’s team was plagued by anxiety.

Would wandering aimlessly in the dungeon with them constantly trailing them result in futile efforts without conquering a single quest? Could they never defeat the “Golden Hawks” after all?

Sensing the tense atmosphere, Euphene approached Laurent to offer advice.

“Laurent, considering our forces, directly opposing them would be disadvantageous. Wouldn’t it be better to retreat temporarily and rethink our strategy?”

“It’s not disadvantageous!”

Laurent shouted loudly.

Euphene flinched at the unexpected outburst.

“We must conquer the quest at all costs! Until we do, we can’t go back!”

While the members of the team were surprised by the usually calm commander’s unusual behavior, they also understood the firm determination behind his words.

Naturally, despite their fear and anxiety, the hearts of the team members began to move towards a direction of determination.

Laurent glanced briefly at Monica.

She had been marching with a desperate expression since earlier.

(Sorry, Monica. I didn’t intend to put pressure on you like this. I wished I could have nurtured you more slowly. But if I were to apply pressure, it had to be now. Running away from facing the “Golden Hawks” head-on here would mean running away from them forever. That would be meaningless.)

Laurent gazed at Monica’s profile with frustration in his heart.

（In terms of skills, stats, and equipment, you no longer pale in comparison to those guys. It’s a battle against yourself now. You should know that, too.）

While battling their anxieties, Laurent’s group continued towards the nest of the quest for archers, “Stormbird,” prepared to hunt it down.

The Cotter brothers, accompanying Laurent’s team, were suspicious.

Despite their progress, there was no sign of encountering any quests.

What kind of quest were they attempting?

“Hey, isn’t the wind getting stronger?”

“No way. Are they heading towards the nest of the ‘Stormbird’?”

“What?! The ‘Stormbird,’ you say?! That’s the A-Class quest for archers!”

“Damn, they’re underestimating us.”

The “Stormbird” was a monster species of birds that could create storms just by flapping their wings.

Their feathers naturally generated wind, and when used by mages as items, they could manipulate the weather at will.

The feathers of the “Stormbird” were among the most expensive items traded in the market.

Belonging to the strongest category of avian monsters, there were hardly any adventurers with experience in defeating them.

(Thankfully, there was an unfortunate stroke of luck where a monster, even a B-Class archer, couldn’t defeat it in these lower layers. With this, no matter how much they try, they won’t easily interfere. Now…)

Laurent glanced briefly at Monica.

(Now it’s about whether Monica can conquer an A-Class quest.)

As the two teams progressed, they were increasingly exposed to fierce winds.

They had to brace themselves, keeping their posture low to the ground, or risk being blown away like paper.

Debris and branches had been flying incessantly since earlier.

The team had to hide behind the shield unit’s cover just to make any progress.

This meant that the “Stormbird,” surrounded by its strong winds, was nearing them.

Eventually, the nests of the “Stormbird” came into view for both teams.

Tangled layers of massive trees towered high into the sky.

As they approached, Armored orcs and Armored Wolves crawled out of the ground from underground storages, attacking the adventurers.

Presumably, these were the minions of the “Stormbird.”

The adventurers were forced into a defensive battle.

Thanks to the strong winds generated by the “Stormbird,” the enemy’s arrows had extended range and momentum, even gaining advantage in close combat.

Meanwhile, the adventurers’ arrows suffered from reduced range and power, putting them at a disadvantage in melee combat as well.

Monica, equipped with the “Silver Steel Piercing Bow,” seemed to be the only one capable of making a difference in this situation. However, she remained in the rear as she had the role of shooting down the “Stormbird.”

Though the adventurers struggled, they steadily approached the nest of the “Stormbird,” almost within range.

Seeing this, the “Golden Hawks” unit, who had been waiting in the rear, could no longer stay idle and joined the battle.

This was exactly as Laurent had anticipated.

If they could involve them in the fight, they might be able to hold out against the Class A monster for a while.

Growing impatient with the adventurers steadily approaching, the “Stormbird,” shrouded in the storm, took flight from its nest and swooped down to attack the adventurers.

From behind the shield’s cover, Laurent caught a glimpse of the “Stormbird” in action.

(That’s the “Stormbird” enveloped in the storm?)

It was a beautiful bird adorned with aquamarine feathers.

A white whirlwind constantly swirled around its wings.

Although the “Stormbird” launched attacks from above the troops, it was an unparalleled opportunity for the archers to defeat it.

Immediately, the archers from both teams, supported by the shield unit, moved to advantageous shooting positions.

Monica identified the most suitable shooting position with “Hawkeye.”

It was the highest point in the vicinity.

However, it was already occupied by the archers of the “Golden Hawks.”

(What should I do? How can I…)

The “Stormbird” launched its attack.

Flapping its wings, it unleashed a blast of wind pressure onto the troops from above.

Dense air masses descended upon the troops like bullets.

Shields and armor were destroyed, and those who tried to block with shields were easily blown away.

Enemy ground forces immediately followed up with an assault.

Both teams banded together, exerting all their strength to somehow repel the enemy’s attacks.

However, it was clear to everyone that maintaining the front line was reaching its limit.

Meanwhile, the archers continued to shoot arrows, but they were effortlessly repelled by the winds surrounding the “Stormbird.”

“It’s no use.”

“Let’s retreat. At this rate, we’ll be wiped out.”

The “Golden Hawks” unit began to lean towards retreat.

Monica panicked.

If the “Golden Hawks” retreated, the “Guardians of the Magic Tree” would have to fight the “Stormbird” and the ground forces alone.

That would mean the failure of the quest.

Monica desperately searched for clues using “Hawkeye.”

(Please, “Hawkeye.” I don’t want to give up yet. I still want to continue the adventure with everyone. I won’t lose sight of my fighting style again. So please, show me another chance.)

The surrounding winds surged, and the cries of the “Stormbird” echoed.

It seemed to be preparing for the next attack.

It would likely be the last chance to take down the “Stormbird.”

After being hit by the wind bullets once again, the unit had no strength left to continue the fight.

With a feeling akin to prayer, Monica continued to search for clues.

At that moment, something resembling the flow of a blue river suddenly appeared in her view.

The river covered the sky like a carpet.

Although it was called a river, it was transparent, and its flow could be captured more delicately than on the water’s surface, as if countless threads were spun to form a single flow.

The river was swirling around the “Stormbird.”

(Is this… wind!?)

Monica’s “Hawkeye” was now able to visualize the flow of the wind.

“This is the true power of ‘Hawkeye.'”

She was truly witnessing the view of a soaring hawk.

She could understand the flow of the wind.

She could figure out how to fly higher and more powerfully.

In the distance, she could see a red torrent approaching.

“A gust!”

The red torrent was about to collide with the blue flow created by the “Stormbird.”

Monica drew her bow, ready for the gust.

“I don’t believe in my own talent. But still…”

The two winds mixed, and for a moment, there was calm.

“If it’s what Laurent said… I can believe it.”

Laurent had told her.

That she had the talent to become an A-class archer.

Monica’s arrow, riding the gust, pierced the wing of the “Stormbird” without losing any momentum.

The “Stormbird,” which had never wavered despite any storm, finally faltered in the sky.

Monica’s eyes caught the glint of a decisive blow on the “Stormbird’s” body.

She quickly nocked the next arrow.

She could nock arrows faster than any other archer present.

Laurent appraised the archers of the “Golden Hawks.”

“All of them have ‘Bow Shooting’ and agility at B level. Indeed, they possess sufficient skills and stats as archers. But they’re just honor students after all.”

Then Laurent appraised Monica’s skills.

Her “Hawkeye” was at S-class.

“No matter what schemes, conspiracies, or pressures…”

Laurent looked at Monica with conviction.

“It can never cloud true talent!”

Monica’s arrow hit the vital point of the “Stormbird” with precision.

The “Stormbird” exploded, and sparkling turquoise feathers scattered all around.