The Kicked Out S-Rank Appraiser Creates The Strongest Guild - Chapter 45

Chapter 45   Status Depletion

At the headquarters of the “Guardians of the Magic Tree,” Lilianne and her team were bustling with activity.

While Laurent was conquering the dungeon, Lilianne, who had become the guild master, was gathering adventurers from outside to strengthen their forces.

“Secure capable adventurers before they sign contracts with the ‘Golden Hawk.’ Hire any adventurer of B-class or above, regardless of the cost.”

A messenger arrived.

“Guild Master, I have news. Laurent’s team has reached the 9th level.”

The people around Lilianne began to stir.

“The 9th level? They’ve already made it that far?”

“That was fast…”

“And what about Alric’s team?”

“They’re still on the 8th level.”

A cheer went up from the crowd.

“Everyone! We must not be complacent. The outcome of this competition is still uncertain. Let’s do our best to support the teams striving in the dungeon.”

(Laurent’s team is progressing through the dungeon at an extraordinary pace. They will surely return with their stats depleted. We must gather as many B-class adventurer replacements as possible before they come back…)

As Lilianne was giving orders, another messenger rushed in.

“Guild Master! A senior member of the ‘Golden Hawk’ is here to see you.”

“A senior member of the ‘Golden Hawk’? Who could it be…?”

“It’s Jill Irwin.”

“What!? Jill is here…?”

“Thank you for seeing me on such short notice,” Jill said, bowing to Lilianne.

“Jill, why would a senior member of the ‘Golden Hawk’ like yourself be here?”

“I heard that the ‘Guardians of the Magic Tree’ were recruiting adventurers widely from outside guilds. I came to offer my assistance, however small it may be.”

“We haven’t received any notification from the ‘Golden Hawk’ about you.”

“My participation with the ‘Guardians of the Magic Tree’ is my decision alone. It has nothing to do with the intentions of the ‘Golden Hawk.'”

“But is that okay? Our guild is currently…”

“My loyalty lies with the ‘Golden Hawk’ as it was under Laurent. Without Laurent, the ‘Golden Hawk’ is no longer worth my allegiance. No matter the harsh penalties or the immense debt I might incur, I have no intention of obeying anyone other than Laurent.”

“Jill…”

(Even though the ‘Golden Hawk’ is strict about breaches of contract, Jill must really care for Laurent.)

Lilianne found Jill’s dedication endearing.

“Understood. We will hire you.”

“Thank you very much.”

“Jill, please, there’s no need to be so formal. Since we are both guided by Laurent, I understand how you feel. Let’s work together to support Laurent.”

“I appreciate you saying that.”

Jill’s actions caused a stir within the ‘Golden Hawk,’ but it was Lucius who faced even harsher criticism.

“The insurrection of senior members like Savast and Jill is entirely due to Guild Master Lucius’s repeated blunders!”

Members who had been eyeing Savast’s position were now scheming to dethrone Lucius.

Frequent protests erupted within the guild.

The protestors exaggerated the issues to ensure the anti-Lucius movement reached investors and the public.

Lucius looked down at the demonstrators from the window of the guild master’s office.

(Coddling Jill was a mistake. Even after all the concessions I made, she still betrayed me.)

Lucius pulled back his bitter expression and allowed a dark smile to form.

(Well, fine. This makes things clear. Now I understand, Jill, that you have no intention of obeying my orders. If that’s how it is, then I have my own plans.)

Meanwhile, at the “Spirit Workshop,” Charl and Daevin were eagerly awaiting the completion of the new material’s shaping.

An S-class weapon was finally about to be completed.

Laurent, having reached the 10th level, found his team significantly exhausted and their supplies of Potions and Magic Potions running low. He decided to return to town, disband the party, and get some rest.

Twenty-four hours later, Laurent woke up at home. As soon as he stepped out of his room, he found Claria waiting for him with a cheerful smile.

“Good morning, Laurent.”

“Oh, Claria…”

“I heard you returned from the dungeon, so I’ve arranged a carriage and prepared a meal.”

Looking outside, Laurent saw a carriage waiting on the street.

(You always think of these things.)

“Thank you. Let’s head to the ‘Guardians of the Magic Tree’ then.”

While eating a sandwich in the carriage, Laurent received updates on what had happened during his absence in the dungeon.

“First, regarding the ‘Spirit Workshop,’ the production of the new ‘Impaler’ is going smoothly. Preparations have been made to immediately equip all team members with new Sword A, Shield A, Bow A, Armor A, and Staff A gear. As for ‘Earth stones,’ we currently have 150 units in stock.”

Claria said, flipping through the documents in her hand.

“I see.”

(Ranju seems to be doing well.)

“Claria, inform Ranju that we will be re-entering the dungeon at noon today. Have him bring a full set of equipment and ‘Earthstones,’ and make sure to bring maintenance personnel as well.”

“Understood.”

“How are things with the ‘Guardians of the Magic Tree’?”

“Lilianne has been successfully gathering replacement members. As of yesterday, she had already recruited about 30 B-class adventurers.”

“Wow, that’s impressive.”

(Lily is doing a great job too.)

“Oh, by the way, I heard something from Charl…”

“Hmm?”

“The S-class weapon is almost ready.”

“An S-class weapon!? Really? Finally…”

Laurent’s face lit up with a smile.

At last, he could equip Jill with an S-class weapon.

(An S-class adventurer deserves an S-class weapon.)

Seeing Laurent’s delighted expression made Charl happy as well.

(Laurent looks so pleased. Maybe this is my chance to make an impression.)

Claria shrewdly considered this opportunity.

She had not yet given up on becoming Laurent’s lover.

(Working alongside someone as esteemed as Laurent, I need to make the most of my chances.)

“Laurent, by the way, I met Daenna.”

“What? Daenna?”

As Claria had anticipated, Laurent immediately took an interest.

“Yes. We only talked briefly, but she seemed quite uneasy. The usually spiteful Daenna didn’t even make a single snide remark.”

“Really?”

“It seems like the ‘Golden Hawk’ faction is having a hard time.”

Claria casually winked at Laurent, causing him to momentarily lose his composure.

In reality, despite her frivolous demeanor, Claria was quite an attractive young woman.

“I-I see.”

Laurent tried to ignore her and looked away, focusing ahead once more.

“Laurent!”

“Huh? What?”

“Would you like me to extract information from Daenna? With ‘Golden Hawk’ in disarray, I’m sure I could uncover something useful. I’m quite good at getting people to talk.”

Seizing the opportunity, Claria grabbed Laurent’s hand to keep his attention. She leaned in close, her eyes shimmering as if on the verge of tears.

“I’ve been rude to you before, Laurent. I really want to make up for it and be of service to you.”

“Uh, well, um…”

Laurent appraised Claria’s skills.

Claria

• • • • ‘Secret Negotiation’: C → A

• • • • ‘Information Extraction’: C → A

(Hmm… I’m not sure if these skills are worth developing.)

Both were intelligence-gathering skills that could be advantageous for collecting information, but they also posed a risk of their own vital information being leaked to the enemy.

They could become a double-edged sword.

It would require a deeper, more intimate relationship with her to mitigate such risks.

“Oh, it looks like we’ve arrived.”

Seeing the carriage stop, Laurent eagerly opened the door and got out.

Claria’s face showed a momentary flash of displeasure, but she quickly reverted to her usual cheerful and amiable expression.

(He’s tough to sway. Laurent won’t fall for me that easily.)

Claria watched Laurent’s back intently.

(But there will be more chances. I won’t give up, Laurent!)

As Laurent entered the “Guardians of the Magic Tree” headquarters, Lilianne greeted him.

“Welcome back, Laurent.”

“Lily, you came to meet me?”

“Laurent, we’ve already prepared the B-class adventurer replacements.”

“You’ve done all that… Thank you. With your support behind us, we can focus on clearing the dungeon.”

Lilianne glanced humorously toward the carriage.

“Laurent, you’ve finally started arriving in style.”

“Well, it’s a bit embarrassing.”

“This is only fitting, considering your past achievements,” said Jill, emerging from behind Lilianne.

Seeing Lilianne and Jill together made Laurent’s heart skip a beat.

“Jill!? What are you doing here?”

“She is currently under our jurisdiction,” Lilianne explained.

“She volunteered, so I approved it. She came without notifying the ‘Golden Hawk.'”

“Jill…”

“At last, I can work under you, for you,” Jill said, her cheeks flushed with joy.

“Laurent, I’ll do anything. Just give the order.”

“I see.”

Sensing her determination, Laurent decided not to ask further questions. They exchanged a knowing glance, understanding each other without words.

Lilianne watched their interaction, feeling genuinely satisfied.

“So, what should we do with Jill? Should we assign her to your team for now?” Lilianne asked, seeking advice.

“That’s one option. But let’s wait and see. There’s something strange going on in the ‘Mine Dungeon.'”

“Strange?”

“Yes, unusually strong monsters are appearing in the lower levels. Probably S-class monsters.”

“S-class…”

Jill gasped. An S-class promotion was a long-cherished goal for both Jill and Laurent.

“Yes, so I want you to be on standby to take down the S-class monster. The ‘Spirit Workshop’ is about to complete the S-class equipment. Could you go there to discuss the final adjustments?”

“Understood.”

“So, Jill will stay with us. What about the replacements?”

“The shield bearers, swordsmen, and archers are heavily exhausted. I’d like to replace them with fully rested individuals.”

“Got it. I’ll arrange that.”

“That’s it for now. Jill, I need to talk with the guild master, so could you go ahead?”

“Yes, Laurent.”

“Claria, please take Jill to the ‘Spirit Workshop’ by carriage.”

“Understood.”

“Alright, Lily, shall we go?”

As soon as they entered the private room, Lilianne threw her arms around Laurent and gave him a passionate kiss.

She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, savoring the long-awaited kiss.

For a while, they fervently tasted each other’s lips.

When they needed to catch their breath, they would pause briefly and then dive back into the kiss.

The reason Laurent had sent Jill away to be alone with Lilianne was for this moment.

Lilianne had been maintaining a composed facade, but her yearning, heated glances towards Laurent had not gone unnoticed.

If they had stayed with Jill any longer, Lilianne might have lost control, so they retreated here for a private moment.

Several minutes passed before they finally broke their kiss.

Lilianne sighed deeply, her expression a mix of relief and longing. She took a moment to compose herself.

“Sorry. I intended to wait until the dungeon was cleared, but…”

“No, it’s fine.”

“I know this is a critical time, but… the guild master duties have been more demanding than I expected.”

“It’s okay. I’m sorry I haven’t been able to spend more time with you.”

As Laurent spoke, he gently brushed Lilianne’s hair aside and caressed her cheek.

“Laurent…”

Lilianne’s eyes glistened with emotion.

They shared another brief kiss.

“When I get back, I’ll make it up to you. Just hang in there a little longer with your guild duties.”

“Yes…”

When they left the room, Lilianne had fully regained her brisk, confident demeanor, looking even more refreshed as she walked down the corridor.

She waved and smiled as she saw Laurent off to the dungeon.

(Laurent, when you return, make sure to spend lots and lots of time with me.)

Laurent, having received reinforcements from Lilianne, led them to the dungeon entrance. There, Monica and other team members, along with the members of the “Spirit Workshop” led by Ranju, were already gathered, preparing for another dive into the dungeon.

“Rick, the ‘Armored Lizard’ oil on your armor has worn off quite a bit. Let me take care of the maintenance,” one of the young employees from the “Spirit Workshop” said.

“Thank you,” Rick replied.

The young worker reapplied the ‘Armored Lizard’ oil to Rick’s armor, diligently maintaining it. Meanwhile, Charl was busy with the maintenance of the ‘Silver Ironbreaking Bow’, Lerio’s bow, and Marina’s staff.

“Rick, we don’t have time to finish the maintenance on your shield. Please use this new one,” Ranju said, bringing a new shield.

“Thank you very much,” Rick responded.

(The support system of the ‘Guardians of the Magic Tree’ is truly remarkable. As expected from a major guild,) Rick thought, feeling satisfied as he received the support.

He then noticed Laurent talking amiably with Ranju.

(Laurent seems to get along well with the members of the ‘Spirit Workshop’ too,) Rick observed.

“Monica,” Rick called to her as she was preparing nearby.

“Hmm? Yes?” Monica responded.

“Laurent seems to be on good terms with the folks from the ‘Spirit Workshop’ as well,” Rick noted.

“Of course. Laurent is the guild master of the ‘Arsenal of the Spirits’,” Monica explained.

“What? Really?” Rick was surprised.

“Not only that, Laurent originally came from the ‘Arsenal of the Spirits’,” Eupehene added, joining the conversation.

“Originally, he was making weapons for the ‘Guardians of the Magic Tree’ at the ‘Spirit Workshop,’ but through Lilianne’s connections, he came here as a special advisor,” Euphene explained.

“I see,” Rick replied, still puzzled. (From the guild master of an alchemy guild to an executive in an adventurers’ guild and now a unit leader. What kind of background does Laurent have? He’s a mystery.)

Rick looked at Laurent with curiosity as Laurent began assessing the members’ statuses. He started with Monica, Shaqma, and Euphene.

“Hmm. It seems like there are no abnormalities in your statuses,” Laurent said.

“Yes,” Monica replied.

“Of course there aren’t,” Euphene added confidently, puffing out her chest.

Laurent then checked the statuses of Rick, Lerio, and Marina.

(Let’s see… Rick has some disturbances in his magic power. Support and healing magic might be difficult for him. Marina… doesn’t seem to be exhausted at all. Lerio…)

Lerio’s Status:

• • • • Strength: 20-70

• • • • Agility: 30-90

• • • • Command: 30-90

(His exhaustion is quite severe. It’s no wonder, really.)

“Lerio, you’ll be on standby,” Laurent decided.

“Ugh, I guess so,” Lerio sighed.

“Yes, your status hasn’t recovered,” Laurent confirmed.

“Alright,” Lerio responded, resigned.

“Don’t be discouraged. You’ve been commanding extensively. It’s natural for your status to fluctuate a bit. Focus on recovering. If possible, try to join up with the team returning from the ‘Forest Dungeon’ or the ‘Demon Realm Dungeon’.”

“Understood,” Lerio said.

Laurent, noticing the depletion of statuses among the shield team, swordsmen, and archers, replaced them with reserve members to enter the dungeon again with minimal damage.

“Alright. Monica, Shaqma, Euphene, same as always. Rick, focus on your vanguard role. Don’t use ‘Agility Enhancement’ or healing magic because your magic power is depleted. Marina, prioritize item supply. Provide Monica with ‘Impaler’ and ‘Earthstone.’ Specifically, we’ll encounter ‘Acid Slime,’ which accelerates weapon wear. Each person must always have an ‘Earthstone,’ and if someone’s equipment is damaged, Marina will immediately supply them with ‘Earthstone,'” Laurent instructed.

“Yes,” they acknowledged.

“Alright, let’s go.”

Upon reaching the 11th floor, Laurent’s group immediately encountered a ‘Tower Golem,’ seeming notably higher level.

“Ugh, a ‘Tower Golem’ right off the bat?” Rick grimaced.

“Deploy formations!” Laurent ordered, dividing into vanguard and rearguard and commencing a careful battle.

Mid-battle, Rick noticed a gap in the enemy formation.

“If I jump in there now, can I get behind them?” he pondered.

“Agility Enhancement!” Rick chanted, but instead of activating the spell, dizziness struck him.

“What’s wrong with Rick?” someone shouted for help, causing panic among the shield team.

“Seems like using magic is tough for Rick after all,” Laurent thought again, observing Rick’s condition.

Monica supported Rick’s shoulder, pulling him back to the rearguard.

“I told you, Laurent said not to use ‘Agility Enhancement,'” she scolded.

“Ugh… Yes,” Rick apologized sheepishly.

“I won’t do anything unless told otherwise,” Marina oddly said, puffing her chest proudly.

“You should be a bit more proactive!” Euphene chided.

Laurent chuckled.

“The rookies still have immature mental states. Can they really shake off Alric like this?” Laurent’s group, while shielding Rick who fell ill, had to march at a slower pace for a while.

Additionally, due to the lack of coordination with the newly added replacement members, the unit’s progress slowed down.

Meanwhile, Alric and his team, after the 24-hour interval, re-entered the dungeon and swiftly caught up to Laurent’s group.

“To rebuild the Golden Hawks, I have to defeat Laurent in this ‘Mine Dungeon’!,” Alric thought, further fueled by the incompetence of the Golden Hawks headquarters.

Although relieved to not receive unnecessary interference from Lucius, Alric was soon confronted with Lucius’ attempt to oust him.

He encountered a demonstration team. While he managed to calm them momentarily with a stern word, he knew the unrest would reignite once he entered the dungeon. (In the Golden Hawks, only Alric could assert authority like this.)

Alric’s experienced team, despite the high pace, fully recovered their statuses during the 24-hour break, and not a single member dropped out.

With sharpened coordination and the advantage of pursuit, they raced through the dungeon at tremendous speed.

During this, Alric led from the front, utilizing his support magic.

“Laurent, this feeling,” Monica said, looking flustered. “The pressure from behind has been immense since earlier.”

“Ah, Alric’s catching up,” Laurent remarked, feeling the pressure.

Finally, Monica’s ‘Hawkeye’ spotted Alric’s team.

“No way. Despite the difference of at least one floor. They’ve come this far already…”

Once again, Alric’s team closed in to within one kilometer behind.

Alric also visually locked onto Laurent’s team.

“I’ve got them, Laurent!”

Alric raced towards Laurent’s team at full speed.

“Darn it. Is it my fault we’re being caught up to?” Rick gritted his teeth, feeling the pressure from behind.

However, the speed difference was clear, and there was nothing they could do about it.

As they progressed through the 12th and 13th floors, Alric’s team gradually closed the gap.

Upon reaching the 14th floor, Alric’s team finally caught up to Laurent’s tail.

“We got them!”

Alric was about to give the order to overtake.

But then, unexpectedly, dizziness hit him.

“What’s happening?”

“Captain!?”

The vice-captain hurried over to support Alric, who seemed on the verge of collapsing.

“Are you okay? Someone! Use healing magic!”

However, even after receiving healing magic, Alric didn’t recover.

“No way!”

The vice-captain immediately appraised Alric’s status right there on the spot.

【Alric’s Status】

Magic Power: 1-120

(Alric’s minimum magic power is 1… This is beyond just a fluctuation. It won’t recover anytime soon.)

“Captain, please rest. Your status is at its limit.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. If I rest here now, Laurent’s team will keep advancing ahead, won’t they?”

“But you can’t cast magic anymore, right?”

“Dammit.”

Alric tried desperately to chant a spell.

However, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t concentrate enough to cast the spell.

Drinking magic potions was futile.

“Damn it. Right at this crucial moment.”

(It’s understandable. He’s been single-handedly leading the team at this high pace all along.)

The vice-captain grimaced.

While Alric’s team struggled, Laurent’s team moved forward.

The distance between them began to widen once again.

“Damn it.”

“Please calm down. Laurent’s team is also facing hardships. They’ve been leading at a high pace all along. In fact, they may have more burden than us.”

“Once we pass the 15th floor, the monsters will become even stronger. When that happens, even they won’t be able to maintain their pace.”

However, Laurent’s team did not slow down.

Laurent regularly appraised the status of his team members to ensure that the burden was not too concentrated and was distributed evenly.

As a result, Monica, Shaqma, and Euphene continued to maintain their high power.

On the other hand, Alric’s team, despite advancing through the dungeon without Alric at the forefront, experienced a significant decrease in marching speed.

The difference in the number of A-class adventurers they possessed became evident.

While Alric’s team struggled, Laurent’s team widened the gap between them, and eventually, the difference between the two teams expanded to two floors.