The Kicked Out S-Rank Appraiser Creates The Strongest Guild - Chapter 97

Chapter 97   The Veteran

Monica and her team, having defeated the ‘Fang Dragon,’ returned to the ‘Spirit Workshop.’

When Laurent appraised the dragon core that Monica brought back, it turned out that the wolf dragon was indeed an A-class monster.

Laurent showered Monica with unreserved praise, which made her feel a warm glow in her chest.

Afterward, Laurent registered the new dragon species with the quest reception office, officially naming the monster the ‘Fang Dragon.’

Later, Monica would be awarded the title of Double A.

*

Leon’s request was unexpected.

“You want me to put up a quest?”

“Yeah, quite a few people got the short end of the stick with the alliance between the ‘Guardians of the Magic Institute’ and the ‘Crescent Knights.’ Those guys are saying they can’t keep up with the equipment costs from ‘Dragon’s Ember’ anymore. They heard our guild has been doing well lately. They want to switch to ‘Spirit Workshop’ gear, but they just can’t afford it.”

“I see.”

“These guys have been on good terms with our guild in various ways. I want to help them out somehow. Can’t the ‘Spirit Workshop’ put up some quests or something?”

“Hmm.”

While listening to Leon, Laurent recalled a conversation with Dylan.

*

“We’re short on Fire Repellent Ore Fire Rest?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

Dylan looked thoroughly troubled.

He was also in charge of procuring materials for the ‘Spirit Workshop.’

“Recently, when the ‘Crescent Knights’ retreated, they took most of it with them. ‘Dragon’s Ember’ has also exhausted their stock. The market in town is completely sold out. We’re stuck. I’m at my wit’s end.”

(The shortage of Fire Repellent Ore Fire Rest, and the declining influence of ‘Dragon’s Ember’—this could be our opportunity.)

“Alright, Leon. I’ll see if the ‘Spirit Workshop’ can come up with some quests for the adventurers.”

“Really? I’d owe you one.”

“So, which adventurers’ guilds are requesting these quests? And how many people are we talking about?”

“Well, brace yourself for this—it’s quite a story…”

“Equipment for 50 people?”

In the conference room of the ‘Spirit Workshop.’

Alchemists from the guild gathered, and Aina expressed her astonishment.

“That’s quite a sudden request.”

“Yes, but this is an opportunity.”

“An opportunity?”

“Not only can we switch a large number of adventurers from ‘Dragon’s Ember’ to our side, but there’s also a shortage of Fire Repellent Ore (Fire Rest) in the market. Fire Repellent Ore (Fire Rest) is an essential material for equipment used against the Fire Dragon. It’s also crucial for ‘Dragon’s Ember,’ which relies heavily on external guilds for revenue. If we can harvest all the Fire Repellent Ore (Fire Rest) from the ‘Volcanic Dungeon,’ we might gain a significant advantage over ‘Dragon’s Ember.'”

“I see.”

“So, what do you think? Can everyone manage this?”

“Well, if we have everyone working at full capacity, we might be able to pull it off.”

Aina looked around at the participants in the meeting.

“Let’s do it.”

Pat spoke up. He was eager to repay Laurent’s kindness.

(If we can handle this project, we can significantly boost the ‘Spirit Workshop’s’ sales. This is my chance to repay Laurent.)

“If Pat’s in, so am I…”

Lina agreed.

“I’m in too.”

“I have no objections.”

Rody and Aize followed suit.

“I think it’s a bad idea. The local adventurers are completely unreliable.”

Wayne voiced his concern.

“Alright, everyone is on board. Let’s get started right away.”

“Yes!”

“Hey!”

“Wayne, you don’t have any specific tasks right now. You should help out.”

“Ugh…”

Thus, the ‘Spirit Workshop’ began the project with full participation. Under Aina’s leadership, everyone enthusiastically tackled this opportunity.

Among them, Pat’s dedication was remarkable. He not only completed his own tasks but also helped with others’ work. As a result, the equipment manufacturing progressed rapidly, and the day came to hand over the equipment to the adventurers.

While Aina and the others were busy manufacturing in the workshop, Laurent was handling the coordination among the adventurers. He listened to their schedules, conditions, and needs, and then set the date for the dungeon expedition.

He framed this initiative as an alliance led by the ‘Spirit Workshop,’ inviting not just the guilds connected to the ‘Dawn’s Shield,’ but adventurers from all over the island. He reached out to ‘Pegasus’s Archers,’ the mage siblings Will and Lana, and the bard Nicola, all of whom were happy to join the ‘Spirit Workshop’-led alliance.

However, one issue remained: who would lead such a large-scale unit. The guilds, including the ‘Dawn’s Shield,’ ‘Pegasus’s Archers,’ the mage siblings, and Nicola, gathered to discuss who should be the captain.

“So, what do we do? Is there anyone on this island who can lead this many guilds?”

“Should we consider asking Monica Velmare?”

“She’s not really the type to lead a unit, and I think she’d decline if we asked.”

Laurent added.

“Hmm. So who should we ask?”

The meeting fell into silence.

“If we leave it to someone mediocre, it’ll just cause confusion. I’ll take on the responsibility.”

When Lautent said this, everyone in the room stared at him in surprise. They hadn’t expected Laurent to volunteer to be the captain.

“This alliance was initiated by the ‘Spirit Workshop.’ I’ll take responsibility until the end.”

Laurent said this with a smile that could be taken as either serious or joking.

The day of the dungeon expedition finally arrived.

The adventurers gathered at the ‘Spirit Workshop’ were putting on the blue armor that had been distributed to them.

“So, this is the ‘Spirit Workshop’ gear.”

“Wow, it’s better made than I thought.”

The adventurers exchanged their thoughts as they donned the equipment.

As Laurent observed this, he assessed the adventurers’ skills and statuses.

“Most of these adventurers are at best C-class. That means the ones I can really rely on are these seven…”

Leon’s Skills and Status:

‘Swordsmanship’: C

Strength: 70-80

Elio’s Skills and Status:

‘Shield Defense’: B

Endurance: 80-90

Jeff’s Skills and Status:

‘Bow Shooting’: C

Agility: 70-80

Cecil’s Skills and Status:

‘Dagger’: C

Stamina: 100-120

Hans Bergamot’s Skills and Status:

‘Bow Shooting’: B

‘Silent Step’: B

‘Magic Shooting’: B

Agility: 70-80

Claire Bergamot’s Skills and Status:

‘Bow Shooting’: B

‘Silent Step’: B

‘Far Sight’: B

‘Rapid Fire’: B

Agility: 60-70

Alice Bergamot’s Skills and Status:

‘Bow Shooting’: B

‘Silent Step’: B

‘Quick Shot’: B

‘Focused Hatred’: B

Agility: 80-90

“Elio, Hans, Claire, and Alice are undoubtedly B-class in terms of ability. Leon, Jeff, and Cecil have B-class stats, and it’s only a matter of time before their skills reach B-class too.”

“Laurent, the equipment distribution to the adventurers is complete,” Aina reported.

“Alright. Let’s head into the dungeon. ‘Dawn’s Shield’ and ‘Pegasus Archers,’ come here for a moment.”

Leon and the others gathered around.

“Our primary challenge in the dungeon is dealing with the ‘Fire Dragons.’ Given the number of people in our group, Monica alone can’t cover everyone. So, I need ‘Dawn’s Shield’ and ‘Pegasus Archers’ to also serve as our main forces against ‘Fire Dragons.'”

Leon, Elio, Jeff, and Cecil looked tense. None of them had ever taken down a ‘Fire Dragon’ on their own.

Laurent smiled reassuringly at them.

“It’s okay. With your strength, you can handle the ‘Fire Dragon.'”

He then provided tactical advice and gave a pre-dungeon speech.

“Everyone, thank you for joining the alliance led by ‘Spirit’s Workshop.’ I’ll be leading this alliance. My name is Laurent. From now on, I ask for your cooperation. What we need you to gather is Fire Repellent Ore (Fire Rest).'”

Laurent held up a piece of the red, glossy Fire Repellent Ore (Fire Rest).

“I promise that ‘Spirit Workshop’ will buy all the Fire Repellent Ore (Fire Rest) you bring back. Additionally, any guilds that perform exceptionally well will receive special compensation. That’s all from me.”

The local adventurers looked puzzled. Compared to speeches from other guild alliances they had been part of, Laurent’s was surprisingly brief. He didn’t boast of his power or speak about the future in grand terms.

Who exactly is this Laurent, the person giving the speech and leading the alliance in the dungeon? No one present knew his profession or abilities. All they knew was that he was associated with ‘Spirit Workshop’ and had a deep connection with ‘Dawn’s Shield.’ Despite their slight unease, they followed Laurent into the dungeon.

“Why do we have to accompany the dungeon exploration?” Wayne grumbled as he walked with a pickaxe.

Along with the local adventurers, alchemists from ‘Spirit Workshop’ were also part of the alliance. They, too, wore minimal armor and weapons.

“Wayne, I want to repay Laurent somehow,” Pat said. He was the one who insisted on joining the alliance. “This is our chance to contribute through ore mining.”

“But do alchemists really need to enter the dungeon?” Wayne argued.

“This is also your chance to strike back at ‘Dragon’s Ember.’ You’re the one who wanted revenge against them. Let’s work together and give it our all,” Pat urged.

“Still,” Wayne began.

“If you have complaints, go back. You can stay at the workshop,” Aina interjected.

“Fine, fine. I’ll come along,” Wayne conceded, though he was skeptical. (Can Laurent really lead a unit?)

While exploring the dungeon, Monica’s ‘Hawk Eye’ detected an enemy.

“Laurent, a ‘Fire Dragon’ is coming from the right,” she alerted.

(The right side, where ‘Dawn Shield’ is positioned.)

“Jeff, a ‘Fire Dragon’ is approaching,” Laurent called out.

“Yeah, I spotted it with my ‘Far Sight’ too,” Jeff confirmed.

Jeff quickly took his position and readied his bow. Concealed behind a rock, he was perfectly positioned to ambush the incoming Fire Dragon. Behind him were Elio, Leon, and Cecil, with Laurent also joining the group.

Soon, the Fire Dragon appeared. Its sudden emergence caused the allied adventurers to panic.

“Whoa, it’s the Fire Dragon!”

“Run away!”

Before the Fire Dragon could unleash its fiery breath, Jeff released an arrow. It struck the dragon’s wing, enraging it and causing it to dive rapidly.

Elio, recalling Laurent instructions, prepared his shield.

“Shield Bash?” Elio questioned.

“Yes, Elio’s Shield Bash. Right now, it’s the most effective attack you have against the Fire Dragon,” Laurent had explained earlier.

[Elio’s Skill]

Shield Bash: C → A

“Shield Bash has low lethality but a high chance of knocking the enemy out,” Laurent had said.

“But the Fire Dragon flies. How can a physical attack reach it?” Cecil had asked.

“That’s where Jeff’s Far Sight and Archery come in. The Fire Dragon has a tendency to charge when it’s injured. The key is for Jeff to hit it with an arrow to provoke it into diving. Then, Elio, you hit it with Shield Bash to knock it out,” Laurent had explained.

“Can we really do it?” Cecil had doubted.

“You can. I’ve instructed on Shield Bash before. When the time comes, I’ll guide you on the timing,” Laurent had reassured them.

(The time has finally come. Can I really do this?)

Jeff was ready. The Fire Dragon flew low, talons outstretched, directly toward Elio.

“Elio, now!” Laurent shouted, giving Elio a push on the back.

With his shield raised, Elio charged at the Fire Dragon.

“Uhhh, ooooooh!”

Elio slammed into the dragon’s head with his shield, putting all his weight into the impact. The Fire Dragon staggered, disoriented, and crash-landed onto the ground.

“Alright, Cecil, let’s go!” Laurent called.

“Right!” Cecil and Leon surged past Elio, attacking the Fire Dragon with daggers and longswords. Elio drew his knife and plunged it into the dragon’s belly.

“Grrraaaagh!”

With a final, anguished cry, the Fire Dragon collapsed, lifeless.

The silence that followed was profound. The local adventurers stared in disbelief.

(Who are these guys…?)

(They took down the Fire Dragon so easily…)

(They’re from around here, but they’re incredibly strong…)

Laurent ran over to Elio and the others.

“Elio, well done. That Shield Bash was perfect.”

“Yeah, it worked better than I expected,” Elio replied.

[Erio’s Skill]

Shield Bash: B (↑1)

(It’s already at B level. A good start. This will make future explorations much easier.)

“Jeff, Leon, Cecil, you did great too. You’ve got the timing for our wave attacks now. Next time a Fire Dragon shows up, you’ll handle it. I’m counting on you.”

“Uh, sure,” Leon replied, still bewildered by how easily they had taken down the Fire Dragon.

“Alright then…”

Laurent turned around and gave a stern look to the adventurers who had tried to flee earlier.

“From what I saw in the last battle, it seems many guilds here are worried about fighting the Fire Dragon.”

“Ugh…”

The adventurers shifted uncomfortably, feeling guilty.

“As we venture deeper into the dungeon, we’ll encounter the Fire Dragon more frequently. Sometimes, multiple dragons might attack us from different directions. But there’s no need to worry. When the Fire Dragon appears, I want ‘Dawn’s Shield’ and ‘Pegasus’s Archers’ to handle it. The real problem arises when there are too many attacks for these two guilds to manage alone. We can’t expect them to cover everything with such a large group. So, I want each of you to think about what you can do when faced with the Fire Dragon. I’m not asking you to defeat it. Just think about how you can support ‘Dawn’s Shield’ and ‘Pegasus’s Archer’. Can you focus on defense to buy time, or will you just run and leave it to the other adventurers? That’s all. There’s still some distance to the next rest point, so discuss it within your guilds and be ready to report your strategies to me.”

“Uh, okay.”

“Got it.”

The local adventurers, though puzzled by Laurent’s approach, began discussing and planning among themselves.

Laurent’s instructions were clearly different from the half-hearted directions they had received from other adventurers. As they continued their exploration, Leon found himself feeling a strange sense of calm.

(We’ve improved through training. Jeff has increased his agility, and Cecil and I have boosted our attack power. It’s no surprise we could defeat the Fire Dragon. But why do I feel so reassured? I’m not letting my guard down, yet…)

Leon felt a surprising sense of peace, even though they were in a dangerous dungeon.

Soon, another Fire Dragon attacked the alliance. This time, it came from the left, where Hans and ‘Pegasus’s Archers’ were positioned. They handled the threat without much difficulty.

“Laurent, are you sure it’s okay not to use my ‘Dragon’s Tone?”

The bard, Nicola, asked.

“Yes, let’s handle this with just the frontliners. I want to see how well the other adventurers can perform, aside from Leon and Hans. And besides…”

Laurent looked back.

(In this dungeon, we have to consider the return trip as well. With all this commotion, I doubt the thieves will just sit back and do nothing. They will definitely make a move. We need to save Nicola’s ‘Dragon’s Tone’ and the support of the rear guard for that.)

“This is so boring, brother,” Lana said, pouting.

“Only ‘Dawn’s Shield’ and ‘Pegasus’s Archer’ are doing any work. We’ve just been watching the whole time.”

“Haha, it’s fine, Lana. Let’s leave it to them for now. Besides, don’t you find it interesting?”

“What’s interesting?”

“Laurent’s leadership,” Will replied, glancing over at Laurent.

(With just one speech, he dispelled the anxiety that had been hanging over the entire alliance and restored calm. He’s clearly different from the adventurers we’ve encountered from outside. Is it just luck, or does he have the makings of a true commander?)

Will then looked over at Monica.

This time, she stayed close to Laurent, showing no intention of fighting.

(They’re keeping Monica Velmare in reserve. They’re planning to handle everything with the local adventurers. Interesting.)

“‘Golden Hawk’s’ S-rank appraiser Laurent. Let’s see how far you can go. Let’s see what you’re made of.”

Despite some lingering awkwardness, the alliance, more united than ever, continued their journey deeper into the dungeon.