The Kicked Out S-Rank Appraiser Creates The Strongest Guild - Chapter 81

Chapter 81   Changing Attitudes

After the ‘Crescent Knights’ disembarked from the cruise ship that travels around the four continents, the general passengers began to disembark as well.

People lined up at the baggage claim area to retrieve their luggage.

A girl in traveling attire handed her baggage claim ticket to the attendant.

“Your luggage, please. One moment,” the baggage attendant said, then suddenly paused.

The girl’s silky blonde hair shimmered more gracefully than a pegasus’s mane, and her eyes sparkled a brilliant blue like the sea at sunrise.

Even through her plain traveling clothes, her extraordinary figure was evident.

Her youthful skin and innocent expression suggested she was still in her teens, yet she also exuded a mature allure beyond her years.

Most notably, she radiated an aura of presence that only famous people possess.

Overwhelmed by these dazzling visual cues, the baggage attendant found himself staring at her, mouth agape.

“Is there a problem?” the girl asked, tilting her head in confusion.

“Oh, no, my apologies,” the attendant quickly responded, hurrying to fetch her luggage.

“Wow, this is heavy,” he remarked.

The package, wrapped in cloth, was too heavy for one person to carry alone.

Reluctantly, he called over another attendant to help him carry it to the girl.

“There you go.”

“Thank you.”

“Phew, that’s incredibly heavy. What on earth is in there?”

It was only then that he wondered how such a young girl could possibly carry something so heavy.

“Shall we arrange for delivery? It must be quite a burden to carry such a heavy item to your lodging,” the attendant suggested.

“No, thank you. I can manage,” the girl replied.

She effortlessly hoisted the heavy package with one hand and walked away with a light, brisk stride.

The attendant stood in stunned silence, watching her go.

“So this is the ‘Island of the Fire Dragon’…” the girl murmured, her short, blonde hair fluttering as she looked around the unfamiliar surroundings with a pamphlet in hand.

Using her ‘Hawkeye’ ability, she surveyed the town from above and located the ‘Arsenal of the Spirits.’

“This distance seems walkable,” she concluded.

(I wonder if Laurent is doing well?) she thought, her heart fluttering at the thought of seeing her beloved again. She headed towards the ‘Arsenal of the Spirits.’

Meanwhile, in the town square, Yugan was delivering a speech from a podium. Upon disembarking at the port, he and his companions had been practically dragged to the square by the townspeople, though they had taken care not to display their weapons and equipment like the ‘Guardians of the Magic Institute’ had.

“I am Yugan, an S-class adventurer from the ‘Crescent Knights.’ I have heard about the rampage and disaster caused by the ‘Giant Fire Dragon Grand Fafnir,’ as well as the damage to the outskirts of the town. First and foremost, I extend my heartfelt sympathies to those affected. Now, regarding measures against the ‘Giant Fire Dragon Grand Fafnir’… Residents, you can rest easy. As long as I am here, this town will not be threatened by the ‘Giant Fire Dragon Grand Fafnir’ or any other dragon kin. Should those monsters attack, I will swiftly confront and repel them. Furthermore, I will soon delve into the dungeon to investigate the ‘Giant Fire Dragon Grand Fafnir.’ In the meantime, I urge you all to remain calm, avoid causing unnecessary commotion, focus on rebuilding the damaged homes, and maintain your usual economic activities and daily lives.”

The residents, relieved by Yugan’s words, erupted in cheers.

Thunderous applause resounded as they welcomed the arrival of the S-class adventurer.

“Good job,” the lieutenant of the ‘Crescent Knights’ said to Yugan as he descended from the podium.

“Damn it, this kind of thing isn’t my style. Those damn mages dumped extra work on me,” Yugan grumbled, cracking his shoulders to relieve the stiffness caused by the unfamiliar task of giving a speech.

“It seems that Sein Orbestar has greatly disappointed the residents.”

“The ‘Rambunctious Sein,’ huh? I thought he might have matured a bit after becoming a squad leader, but he’s still just a kid.”

“Indeed. Next up is the business meeting with the alchemy guild, ‘Dragon’s Ember.'”

“Yeah, Raoul from ‘Dragon’s Ember’ is the only one on this island who can maintain my magic sword, ‘Granir.'”

“Yes. As for the schedule after that…”

“Sorry, but keep it open.”

“What?”

“While I was giving the speech, I saw something that caught my attention. There’s something I need to check.”

With that, the group from the ‘Crescent Knights’ headed towards ‘Dragon’s Ember.’

“Oh, welcome back, Rody,” Aina greeted Rody as he returned to the Workshop.

“I’m back. Phew. It was tough. A sudden landslide out of nowhere.”

“So, how was it? Your relatives’ house?”

Due to the disaster caused by the ‘Giant Fire Dragon Grand Fafnir,’ both of them had been given time off by Laurent.

Rody had used this break to visit his home and check on his relatives.

“Fortunately, there was no damage. But everyone still seemed anxious.”

“I see.”

“Yugan’s speech helped calm people down a bit, but the situation remains unpredictable.”

The two shared a quiet, somber atmosphere.

This sense of unease was something only the islanders, not even Laurent, could fully understand.

“Rody, you’re back?”

“Oh, Mr. laurent.”

“Is it okay for you to return to work?”

“Yes, I can start right away.”

“That’s good to hear. We’re about to get busier.”

“Busy with work?”

“Yes, Dylan found a shop that wants to carry our equipment. They specifically requested items with our ‘Exterior Enhancement Coating.’ Once we’re ready, we aim to move into mass production. We might even hire new staff.”

“So, it’s finally happening.”

“This workshop’s profits will increase significantly.”

“Now we just need the ‘Dawn’s Shirld’ to recover.”

“Are they still not back on their feet?” Rody asked.

“No, their mental damage seems deeper than we thought.”

“Hmm. I wish we could find a way to cheer them up,” Aina said.

“It’s quite a predicament. Without them, we can’t get rare metals.”

“Yeah, they were our only source for rare metals,” Rody agreed.

“Hopefully, the funds from the ‘Adventurers’ Town’ will come through soon. It should arrive any time now.”

“If you’re talking about that funding, it’s right here.”

(Is that… Monica!?)

Laurent turned towards the workshop entrance, and sure enough, there stood Monica, dressed in travel gear, carrying a bag with her bow and another bag brimming with gold coins.

“Hehe, I made it.”

Aina and Rody were hiding behind a corner, eavesdropping on laurent and Monica’s conversation at the entrance of the workshop.

“Hey, Aina, what are we doing?” Rody whispered.

“Shh, I can’t hear them,” Aina replied.

“Why are we eavesdropping on them?”

“Rody, what do you think of that girl?”

“Well… she’s definitely a rare beauty.”

“Exactly. What’s her relationship with Laurent?”

“What do you mean?”

“The intimate atmosphere between them, the familiarity. It seems like more than just guild comrades.”

“…”

Rody stayed silent, avoiding further comment.

“It’s intriguing,” Aina said, straining to catch their conversation.

“So, you came to this island using your vacation time?” Laurent asked.

“Yes. When I applied for a vacation, the guild asked if I could do an errand in exchange for an extra day off,” Monica replied.

“I feel bad. It’s your vacation after all.”

“It’s fine. I’ve been wanting to visit this island for a while. For sightseeing.”

“Really? Now that you mention it, this island is a famous tourist spot, isn’t it?”

“Yes, especially the hot springs. They’re supposed to be amazing. Have you been to one yet?”

“No, not yet. I’ve been swamped with unexpected work.”

“I see. You’re really busy, huh?”

“Yeah, more than I anticipated. This ‘Fire Dragon Island’ is quite troublesome.”

“I see. If there’s anything I can do to help…”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s your vacation, after all. You should relax and enjoy the sights.”

“…Alright.”

As they were talking, a man dressed entirely in black approached and spoke to them.

“Hey, S-Class appraiser. So you did come to this island after all.”

“You… Yugan!?” Laurent’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected visitor.

“Long time no see, Laurent. Since the Skull Dragon, right?”

“Hello, Yugan,” Monica greeted him.

“Oh, Monica, the ‘Hawkeye Archer.’ Are you here to help slay the ‘Giant Fire Dragon, Grand Fafnir’ too?”

“She’s just here for sightseeing. But I’m surprised you found me here.”

“When I was giving my speech, I caught a glimpse of someone wearing ‘Arsenal of the Spirits’ gear in the crowd. I thought it might be you, so I checked it out and here I am. Figured I’d come by to say hi and spy on a rival.”

“Seems your skills haven’t dulled,” laurent said, appraising Yugan.

“And your eyes are still sharp,” Yugan replied.

The two spoke with the ease of those who respected each other’s abilities.

“So, are you here to take down the ‘Giant Fire Dragon, Grand Fafnir’?”

“That’s right. But…”

Yugan glanced around the ‘Arsenal of the Spirit’ branch.

“This workshop is pretty small.”

“Yes, we’re still growing.”

“Hmm. Need some work? We could pass some of the ‘Crescent Knights’ weapon maintenance your way.”

“No, we’re good. We’re focusing on supporting the local guilds over those from outside the island.”

“Really? So, are you giving up on taking down the ‘Giant Fire Dragon, Grand Fafnir’?”

“Not at all. We’re aiming to take down the S-Class monster ourselves.”

“What?”

“We’re currently nurturing the local adventurer guilds. Once we’re ready, I’ll call in Jill and the others to hunt the ‘Giant Fire Dragon, Grand Fafnir’.”

“Heh. I see. Well, I’ll be looking forward to it. Competing with Jill Irwin again should be fun. Last time, you managed to snatch victory, but I won’t be lagging behind this time.”

“I welcome the challenge.”

“Call Jill soon, or you might find the job’s already done by the time she gets here.”

Yugan casually checked the time.

“I’d better get going. I have a meeting.”

“Yugan, the ‘Giant Fire Dragon, Grand Fafnir’ isn’t the only enemy. Be wary of the Thieves Guild and ‘Dragon’s Ember’.”

“‘Dragon’s Ember’? They’re one of the world’s top alchemy guilds. Their quality is guaranteed.”

“They’re more troublesome than you might think. I can’t quite explain it yet, but…”

“You’re a worrier, aren’t you? Well, I’ll take your warning. See you.”

Yugan waved as he left.

“Will Yugan be alright?” Monica asked worriedly.

“He’s S-Class. He can take care of himself. Now, I should get back to work. Monica, you must be tired from your long journey. Why don’t you rest at the inn?”

“Um, actually…”

“Hmm?”

“Would it be alright if I took a tour of the workshop? I’d like to learn about the island’s alchemy while I’m here.”

“I don’t mind at all, but are you sure you’re not too tired?”

“I’m fine! I promise not to be a bother. Please let me study here.”

(And… I’d like to stay by Laurent’s side a little longer.)

Monica’s true reason for coming to the island was to see laurent. Sightseeing and errands were just excuses.

“Alright. I’ll inform the staff. You can come and go from the workshop as you please.”

“Thank you.”

Monica maintained a smile in front of Laurent, but inside she felt a pang of sadness.

(I really want to explore the island with Laurent. But I can’t trouble him by being selfish.)

After parting with Yugan, Leon and his group, “The Dawn Shiel,” soon arrived.

“You want to be retrained?”

“Yes, we realized just how lacking we are during the recent Great Alliance incident,” Leon said, lowering his head in shame.

“It was a complete misjudgment on our part this time. We should have listened more closely to your advice. It might seem selfish to ask for help after ignoring your warning, but we want to ask again, even if it means swallowing our pride. Laurent, will you give us another chance to grow?”

“I have no problem with that. But… are you sure? I heard that ‘The Crescent Knights’ have landed on the island, and most local guilds have already rallied under them. Wouldn’t your guild prefer to act with ‘The Crescent Knights’?”

“If our superiors oppose it, I’ll make sure to persuade them. I won’t waver anymore,” Leon assured.

“I also ask for your help,” said a figure entering the workshop. Laurent’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Jeff!? Weren’t you in the hospital?”

“Are your injuries okay now?” Cecil asked, concerned.

“Yeah, I can’t afford to stay bedridden anymore. I don’t want to hold Elio back any longer,” Jeff said with determination.

“I thought we could manage as we were, leaving the ‘Giant Fire Dragon, Grand Fafnir’ to the outside guilds. But after seeing ‘The Pegasus Archers’ in action, I finally understood. We need to become stronger; we need to grow.”

“Jeff…”

“We’re weak now, but we can get stronger. Right, Laurent?”

“…Yes, absolutely.”

(The blow they took during the Great Alliance changed their mindset. ‘Every cloud has a silver lining.’ If they can rise from this terrible situation, they, ‘The Dawn Shield,’ will become much stronger.)

Listening to Jeff, Laurent remembered Karla. She, like Jeff, had insisted they couldn’t rely on outside guilds. Where is she now?

“Alright. Let’s have a meeting. Aina, Rody, you two join us as well,” Laurent said, leading them to the workshop table to start the discussion.

“The dungeon’s layout has drastically changed due to the terrain alterations caused by the rampage of the ‘Giant Fire Dragon, Grand Fafnir’ and the massive migration of ‘Fire Dragons.’ Maps and monster distribution information that were useful until yesterday are now completely useless,” Leon summarized the current dungeon situation.

“So all the guilds are starting from scratch,” Elio added.

“Moreover, B-class monsters like ‘Fire Dragons’ and ‘Ogres,’ which usually don’t appear until you reach the ‘Metal Line,’ are now showing up in the forest areas. It’s dangerous for ordinary adventurers just to enter the dungeon,” Elio continued.

“The ‘Crescent Knights’ have already declared their intent to explore the deepest parts of the dungeon. Most local guilds are gathering to participate in the exploration alongside them,” Cecil said.

“Indeed, given the unclear information about the dungeon, teaming up with strong adventurers for exploration is the safest method,” Jeff noted.

“Laurent, considering this situation, how can we survive and grow?” Leon asked.

Laurent began assessing each member of ‘The Dawn Shield.’

(Regarding equipment, Aina’s ‘External Enhancement Coating’ can boost their combat power. The problem is their stats…)

[Conditions for Elio’s Strength Increase]

• • • • Land a Clean Hit C 10 times for 10 consecutive days

[Conditions for Leon’s Toughness Increase]

• • • • Perform a Guard C 10 times for 10 consecutive days

[Conditions for Jeff’s Agility Increase]

• • • • Execute a Quick Dodge C 10 times for 10 consecutive days

[Conditions for Cecil’s Stamina Increase]

• • • • Complete an Area Exploration once for 10 consecutive days

(If their stats don’t improve, they won’t be able to upgrade their equipment further… But it takes 10 days to improve each of their stats. With their current equipment, it would be difficult to stay in the dungeon for 10 days. If only we had ‘Earthcraft’… Damn, I’ve fallen behind. If they had collected ‘Earthcraft’ instead of joining the Great Alliance…)

“How about it, Laurent? What should we do to grow?” Leon pressed.

“I’ve assessed the situation. Everyone needs to stay in the dungeon for at least 10 days to improve,” Laurent replied.

“10 days… In the current dungeon conditions?” Leon asked.

“With your current capabilities, it’s tough to stay in the dungeon for 10 days. Your equipment won’t last, and encountering B-class or higher monsters would be game over,” Laurent explained.

“Ugh…,” Leon groaned.

“Does that mean we have no options right now?” Jeff asked.

“Are we just supposed to wait for the situation to change? Is there no other way?” Cecil questioned.

“Given our current scale, there’s not much more we can do…” Laurent said, trailing off.

Everyone fell silent, and the atmosphere grew heavy.

(If only I could dive into the dungeon myself, but I can’t leave the ‘Workshop’ right now… Damn, there must be something we can do…)

“Um, excuse me,” Monica, who had been quietly listening from the corner, spoke up.

Everyone turned their attention to her.

“What if I go into the dungeon with ‘The Dawn Shield’?” Monica suggested.

“What? Monica, you?” Laurent asked in surprise.

“Yes. With my ‘Hawkeye’ ability, I can scan the surroundings and manipulate the encounter rate with monsters, even in a dungeon I’ve never been in before. Plus, I think it would make it easier to find ‘Earthcraft,'” Monica explained.

“That’s true, but… are you sure? You’re on vacation right now,” Laurent pointed out.

“Yes. I’ve been wanting to study the dungeons on ‘Fire Dragon Island’ anyway. Besides, since ‘Guardians of the Magic Tree’ is a partner guild of ‘Arsenal of the Spirits,’ I can’t just ignore this problem,” Monica insisted.

“But still…” Laurent hesitated.

“Hey, Laurent, can I say something? I’ve been curious about this. Who is this young lady? Is she a friend of yours?” Leon interrupted their conversation.

“She is Monica Velmare, an A-class adventurer from ‘Guardians of the Magic Tree,'” Laurent introduced.

“Monica? Could she be…?” Jeff interjected.

“Jeff, do you know her?” Cecil asked.

“I’ve heard of her. Monica, the ‘Hawkeye Archer.’ She’s the record holder for the most monster kills across three dungeons in ‘Adventurers’ Town,'” Jeff explained.

“Really? Is she that famous?” Cecil exclaimed.

“To think Laurent knows such a famous adventurer. Who exactly are you, Laurent?” Leon questioned, amazed.

“Well, it’s not about me right now. Monica is on vacation. While her unique skill ‘Hawkeye’ could indeed solve ‘The Dawn Shield’s’ problems…” Laurent trailed off.

“If that’s the case, we would greatly appreciate her support,” Leon said earnestly.

“Laurent, I’m asking you too. Could you persuade Monica to help us?” Jeff pleaded.

“Monica, are you really okay with this? I can’t afford to pay you the high wages you usually get from ‘Guardians of the Magic Tree,'” Laurent said, concerned.

“Yes, that’s fine. I don’t need a reward. However… there is a personal favor I’d like to ask of you, Laurent. If you could consider it, I’d be happy,” Monica responded, looking at Laurent.

Everyone turned to look at Laurent.

“Uh…” laurent hesitated, caught off guard by their earnest gazes.

They all looked at Laurent as if clinging to him for hope.

“Alright, I understand. Monica, I’ll do what I can to fulfill your wish. So, I’ll support the strengthening of ‘The Dawn Shield,'” laurent finally replied.

“Yes! Monica Velmare will now support ‘The Dawn Shield,'” Monica affirmed.

“Yahoo!”

“Now we can enter the dungeon.”

“Really, this is a huge help.”

“This is like a lifeline.”

(Oh… I’ve definitely incurred a debt to Monica now. What a situation…)