The Kicked Out S-Rank Appraiser Creates The Strongest Guild - Chapter 42

Chapter 42   Alric’s Determination

Amidst the repeated internal conflicts such as Lucius’s absence, Savast’s downfall, and Jill’s rebellion, where many members of the “Golden Hawk” failed to adjust their status, there was one unit that maintained its power unchanged from before.

It was the main first unit of the “Golden Hawk,” led by the omnipotent mage Alric.

He had forbidden his subordinates from participating in these internal conflicts, making them focus solely on adjusting their status.

“We should leave the ‘Golden Hawk.’ This guild is finished,” one of his lieutenants said to Alric.

“Lucius only cares about the guild’s finances. On top of that, with all these frequent disturbances, look at the state we’re in. It’s a complete mess. We can’t even train properly. Let’s join another guild and start over. We have no obligation to pay any penalty. We’ve served this guild long enough. Despite that, Lucius has never acknowledged our contributions, nor will he ever in the future. Let’s leave the town. If you decide to do it, we’ll follow you.”

“No. It’s true that as long as I stay in this guild, I might not gain any more recognition,” Alric replied.

“Then…”

“But what would happen if I quit now? The guild would fall into even greater turmoil.”

“…”

“If that happens, those left behind would suffer even more. I can’t abandon my responsibilities and force them onto others.”

“Alric…”

“I won’t stop you if you want to leave the ‘Golden Hawk.’ But I intend to stay. I will fight here until the end.”

“You…”

“Captain. The unit is ready.”

Alric, lost in his recollections, opened his eyes when his lieutenant spoke to him.

“Alright. Good work.”

Alric stood up and personally inspected the assembled unit.

They were in front of the ‘Mine Dungeon.’

Alric’s team had just finished gathering to explore the newly appeared dungeon.

All the members were B-class adventurers, equipped with B-class gear, restoring the original state of Alric’s unit.

As he looked over the organized unit, Alric recalled the bitter experience of being defeated by Lilianne the last time.

(Last time, Lucius took the B-class adventurers from me, putting us at an unexpected disadvantage. But this time, there’s no worry about interference from Lucius. We won’t fall behind Lilianne like before. I’ll settle the score from last time!)

“Alright. Once we get permission to enter the dungeon, we’ll proceed in order from the first team… Hmm? What’s that cheering?”

“It looks like… the ‘Guardians of the Magic Tree’ have arrived.”

Alric’s lieutenant said.

“The unit’s leader is… isn’t that Lilianne? And that is…”

(Laurent…)

When Alric recognized Laurent at the head of the unit, Laurent also noticed Alric’s presence.

(Alric. So you came to the ‘Mine Dungeon’ after all.)

(To think I would end up facing you, Laurent.)

Alric recalled the time when Laurent was part of the “Golden Hawk.”

Back then, Laurent was just one of the unremarkable rookie trainers, unnoticed by everyone.

But Alric knew.

He knew exactly who was responsible for the sudden emergence of A-class adventurers in the “Guardians of the Magic Tree.”

The two exchanged a brief glance before turning away and resuming their preparations with their respective units.

“Bringing such a newly established unit to this crucial battle… Doesn’t the ‘Guardians of the Magic Tree’ consider the ‘Mine Dungeon’ important?” one of the lieutenants remarked.

“Lilianne just became the guild leader. Maybe she can’t leave the headquarters,” another suggested.

“Don’t underestimate them,” Alric cautioned his lieutenants.

“Laurent’s unit may be new, but their strength is unquestionable. They have three adventurers who are on par with A-class. They are formidable opponents.”

Hearing this, the lieutenants fell silent.

(To have trained three A-class adventurers in such a short time… Your training skills are indeed impressive, Laurent. In terms of overall strength, there’s likely no unit in this town that can match yours. But when it comes to unit operations, I still have the edge.)

Alric once again scrutinized his own unit.

They were all familiar faces, not only seasoned warriors but also exceptionally coordinated.

Probably the most well-disciplined unit in the town.

(It’s not just about the adventurers’ class. I’ll show you that.)

“Alric! Hey, Alric!”

Alric turned around at the sound of someone calling his name.

“Lucius… What on earth are you doing here?” Alric said, his face showing surprise at seeing Lucius.

The guild leader coming all the way to see off a unit before they entered a dungeon was highly unusual.

But what shocked Alric the most was Lucius’s haggard appearance. His face was completely worn out, as if he had aged ten years in just a few days.

“Alric. Are you sure you can handle it? Can you really conquer the ‘Mine Dungeon’?” Lucius asked anxiously.

Alric’s unit members looked at Lucius with cold eyes. It was as if they were wondering if he had come to interfere again.

“Lucius, just leave this to us. Don’t you have other things you need to handle?” Alric replied.

“What’s the point of doing anything else now? If we don’t take the ‘Mine Dungeon,’ nothing else will matter. Do you understand that?”

“Yes, I understand. That’s why there’s no use in discussing it further. Go back to your own tasks.”

“I’m counting on you. Everything depends on you!” Lucius pleaded.

Alric looked at Lucius with pity.

(Good grief. It’s unbearable to see. The man who was once so confident has been reduced to this. Not being able to control one’s own destiny can weaken a person to this extent.)

As Alric and his team were finalizing their preparations to enter the dungeon, Laurent and his team were also hurriedly getting ready.

“Alright, everyone, finish the final check of your equipment and items by team. If there are any issues, report them to your team leader immediately.”

“Laurent!”

“Ranju!”

When Laurent turned towards the call, he saw Ranju and the members of the “Spirit Workshop” arriving with heavy cases loaded on a cart.

“Laurent, we’ve finished preparing the new equipment you ordered.”

“It’s here! Alright, Monica, Shaqma, Euphene, Rick, Lerio, Marina. Remove your current gear and come over here. We’ve got new equipment.”

As Laurent said this, the six of them gathered.

“Are we really switching to new equipment at this point?” Rick asked, looking dubious.

“Just try it on,” Laurent replied.

“But changing equipment right before a battle could cause issues if there’s a problem.”

“We’re about to find out if there are any problems.”

“This is armor made by mixing ogre hide with iron. The armor is thicker, so your defense will be significantly improved,” Ranju said as he opened one of the cases and took out the armor.

Staff members helped Rick put on the armor.

“This is…”

(The weight and feel aren’t much different from the armor I’ve been using. No, actually… Is it easier to move?)

As Rick wore the armor and moved his limbs, his previously doubtful expression began to change.

“Yep. It looks like your stats haven’t decreased,” Laurent said while checking the stats.

“Captain, is this really thicker than the previous armor? It’s not heavier; in fact, it feels easier to move in.”

“Absolutely. Charl, please explain,” Laurent said, prompting Charl to step forward in front of Rick.

“Yes!”

“The armor not only enhances defense by layering ogre hide over iron but also significantly improves durability compared to traditional armor. Here, Rick, take this,” Charl said as she handed Rick an oil flask from his pocket.

“And this is?” Rick asked.

“It’s oil extracted from the skin of the ‘Armor Lizard.’ This oil helps blades slide off, but it dries out during battle, so you’ll need to apply it regularly for maintenance. And take this sword…”

“This is…”

The sword Rick received had a gem embedded in the hilt.

“The gem is from a magic stone used by a summoning wizard fox. When you hold the sword in reverse, it acts as a staff, allowing you to use support and healing magic.”

“Rick, you have the potential to be a magic knight who can handle both front-line and back-line roles. With this sword, you should be able to seamlessly switch between those roles. I’m counting on you.”

“Yes, I’ll do my best,” Rick replied earnestly.

Lerio nocked an arrow and tested the feel of the bow he received.

“How does it feel?” Ranju asked.

“Not bad,” Lerio replied.

(It’s light and very flexible. Lighter and more flexible than a wooden bow. What kind of bow is this?)

“That bow is made from the wing bones of a Stormbird.”

“A Stormbird!? No wonder it’s so light and flexible.”

“Lerio, you’re known as a traditional archer, so we’ve designed the bow to prioritize agility over attack power. With this bow, you should experience minimal hand shake and won’t need to brace yourself, allowing you to shoot even while running.”

“Shooting while running? That’s impressive.”

“It also offers a wider field of vision to allow you to use ‘Status Appraisal’ while fighting.”

“Lerio, try appraising while holding the bow,” Laurent suggested.

“Yes… I see. The bow doesn’t obstruct the status display. It’s well-designed,” Lerio said.

“Glad to hear that.”

“Though, I’ll need to test shooting while running in actual combat to be sure.”

“Alright, let’s test it in battle then.”

Marina received a staff with a pouch at the end.

“This is? It’s not just a regular attack magic staff, is it?”

“That pouch uses the stomach of a Blizzard Hippo,” Charl explained.

“A Blizzard Hippo?”

“Yes, the stomach of a Blizzard Hippo is also used to make item storage pouches. So, this pouch can be used for item storage as well.”

“Item storage…”

Marina stared intently at the pouch on the staff.

“Yes. This staff can cast attack magic and transfer stored items and equipment,” Charl continued.

“I see. That sounds incredibly useful.”

“When you cast attack magic with this staff, it will transfer items to the targeted location.”

Monica, Shaqma, and Euphene’s weapons were also upgraded.

“Monica, we’ve not only enhanced your bow but also your arrows.”

“My arrows too?”

“Yes. In addition to your usual arrows, we’ve prepared special ‘Impaler’ arrows. These arrows are heavier, harder, and sharper, significantly increasing your attack power. You should be able to take down an ogre with one shot.”

“Got it. Thanks, Charl. I’ll be sure to take down an ogre with these.”

“The special ‘Impaler’ arrows are stored in Marina’s pouch, so ask her for them when you need them.”

“What about my armor? It doesn’t seem any different…” Shaqma said, looking puzzled as she donned the new armor.

“Shaqma, your armor is designed to become heavier based on your will.”

“Based on my will?”

“Yes. There’s a switch at the neckline. When you press it, the armor will become heavier.”

“Hmm, I see.”

“I heard that during the last boss fight, you managed to control your urge to charge.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“That’s why this time, it’s up to your judgment. If you feel it’s dangerous, you can press the switch at your neckline yourself.”

“Understood.”

“Euphene, your staff has a function to conserve magic power.”

“To conserve magic power?”

“Yes. Since your ‘Wide Area Healing Magic’ has reached grade A and no longer requires improved accuracy, what you need now is to cast more healing spells rather than focusing on accuracy.”

“I see. That makes sense.”

“With this staff, you should be able to conserve your magic power. Continue to focus on your role as a healer.”

“Yes, I will.”

“Alright, guild members, please enter the dungeon in the pre-determined order!”

The quest receptionist directed the guilds crowded in front of the dungeon.

The first to enter was the guild that had cleared the dungeon last time. After that, guilds entered based on their size.

Thus, ‘Guardians of the Magic Tree’ went in first, followed by ‘Golden Hawk,’ and so on, each guild entering the dungeon in sequence.

As soon as Laurent and his team entered the dungeon, they started running.

Thus, the battle began.

As they entered, they were immediately confronted by a horde of flesh-eating ghouls.

“Monica, let’s try out the new weapon.”

“Yes.”

Monica, who was at the front of the squad, stopped and drew her bow. She didn’t nock an arrow.

“Marina, transfer the ‘Impaler’ to Monica.”

“Got it!”

At Laurent’s command, Marina aimed her staff at Monica’s hands. The special arrow, ‘Impaler,’ appeared in Monica’s hand, an unusually long arrow for a silver bow.

This was Monica’s new equipment, the ‘Silver Ironbreaker Bow and Impaler.’

Charl had felt the limits of enhancing the bow itself, so she decided to strengthen the arrows instead.

Carrying the arrows was inconvenient, but Marina’s skill “Equipment Possession” compensated for that.

The arrows, now long and heavy like spears, were expected to be fired at high speed due to the tension of the “Silver Ironbreaker Bow” and Monica’s power, capable of piercing through sturdy bodies and armor, killing enemies.

Marina’s “Equipment Possession” skill had been trained during dungeon management, and it had improved to A-rank, allowing her to store up to 100 pieces of equipment in a magical bag.

With Monica’s strength now ranging from 90 to 100, she effortlessly nocked and drew the heavy, long arrows before releasing them.

The spear-like arrows not only pierced through the chests of the leading ghouls but also mowed down the bodies of the three ghouls behind them.

“Next!”

As Monica spoke, Marina once again generated the “Impaler” in Monica’s hand.

Monica continued to release arrows, piercing through the ghouls vertically and annihilating them one after another.

In an instant, she single-handedly wiped out twelve ghouls.

(This is the power of the “Silver Ironbreaker Bow and Impaler.” Amazing… But I can do this! I’m mastering it!)

(For now, the first stage of the test is a success.)

Watching Monica’s shooting, Laurent decided to assess it positively for now.

(The next step is whether she can take down more powerful enemies, like ogres and golems on the 10th floor and beyond. If she can do that, she can aim for the top spot as an archer, with the highest number of takedowns!)

“Alright. The test of the ‘Impaler’ is over. From here on, prioritize marching speed. There’s no need to wipe out all the enemies. Once we scatter them to a certain extent, ignore them and move forward.”

Laurent’s squad, after creating windholes in the ghoul and goblin groups with Monica’s arrows, broke through and advanced, scattering the enemies.

Although the monsters launched projectile attacks from behind, Laurent’s squad had significantly improved defense compared to when it was first established, so they had no problem dealing with ghouls and goblins even if ambushed from behind.

There was no need for Shaqma’s support magic or Euphene’s healing magic.

In this way, Laurent and his team swiftly progressed through the dungeon at an extraordinary speed.

After each breakthrough in combat, Laurent would glance briefly at Shaqma.

(They’re advancing quite vigorously, but there doesn’t seem to be any excitement causing her to lose control.)

From Laurent’s perspective, Shaqma’s profile appeared calm and composed.

(Has her mental strength increased after experiencing dungeon conquests?)

“We found it! The teleportation magic circle!”

Monica informed Laurent of her discovery with her “Hawkeye” spell.

“Alright. Let’s hurry.”

As Laurent’s team approached the magic circle, they were immediately joined by Alric’s squad from behind.

“Alric’s squad!? Already here?”

Euphene widened her eyes in surprise.

(We followed the shortest distance using Monica’s ‘Hawkeye’…)

Not only that, but Alric’s squad seemed to be less fatigued than Laurent’s.

(Truly Alric’s squad. They are undoubtedly the most experienced team in this town.)

Laurent was once again impressed by the high level of Alric’s squad’s training.

“We’re diving into the magic circle. Hurry!”

As they dove into the magic circle, Laurent’s team immediately resumed running.

Without hesitation, Alric’s squad also dove into the magic circle, chasing after Laurent’s team.