Chapter 45

Roland stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.

---

Amidst the cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of the promise written there.

---

I have posted information about the book cover and special features of Volume 1 in the activity report. Please take a look.

At the headquarters of "The Guardian of the Magic Tree," Lillian and her team were busily working.

While Roland was tackling the dungeon, Lillian, now the guild leader, was gathering adventurers from outside to strengthen the team.

"Recruit capable adventurers. We need to secure them before they sign with the 'Golden Eagle.' For B-class and above adventurers, hire them without worrying about the cost."

A messenger arrived.

"Guild Leader, I have news. Roland's team has reached the 9th floor."

The people around Lillian started to buzz.

"9th floor. They've come this far already?"

"That's fast..."

"What about Arik's team?"

"They're still on the 8th floor."

A cheer went up.

"Everyone! Don't let your guard down. The outcome is still uncertain. Let's do our best to support the teams working hard in the dungeon."

(Roland's team is clearing the dungeon at an unusual pace. They must be exhausted and will likely return with depleted stats. I need to gather as many B-class adventurers as possible before Roland returns...)

As Lillian was giving instructions, another messenger rushed in.

"Guild Leader! A senior member of the 'Golden Eagle' has arrived."

"A senior member of the 'Golden Eagle'? Who could it be?"

"It's Jill Arwin."

"Wh-What!? Jill...?"

---

"Thank you for seeing me despite the sudden visit."

Jill bowed to Lillian.

"Jill. Why are you, a senior member of the 'Golden Eagle,' here?"

"I heard that 'The Guardian of the Magic Tree' is recruiting adventurers from other guilds. I would like to join and contribute in any way I can, no matter how small."

"…But I haven't received any communication from the 'Golden Eagle' about you."

"My decision to join 'The Guardian of the Magic Tree' is my own. It has nothing to do with the 'Golden Eagle.'"

"But is that alright? Our guild is currently..."

"I am loyal to the 'Golden Eagle' where Roland was. The 'Golden Eagle' without Roland has no value to me. No matter how severe the punishment or how much debt I incur, I will not follow anyone else's orders except Roland's."

"Jill..."

(The 'Golden Eagle' is known for being strict about contract violations. She must really admire Roland.)

Lillian began to feel a sense of admiration for Jill.

"Alright. I'll hire you."

"Yes, thank you."

"Jill, please don't be so formal. As someone who was also guided by Roland, I understand your feelings. Let's work together to support Roland."

"I appreciate that."

---

Jill's actions were met with disapproval within the 'Golden Eagle,' but Lucius faced even harsher criticism.

"The defection of senior members like Sebast and Jill is solely due to Guild Leader Lucius's repeated mistakes!"

Members who had once aimed to succeed Sebast were now plotting to replace Lucius.

Frequent demonstrations broke out within the guild.

They exaggerated the issues to ensure that the anti-Lucius movement reached the ears of investors and the public.

Lucius looked down from the window of his office at the demonstrators.

(Perhaps I was too lenient with Jill. Despite all my concessions, she still betrayed me.)

Lucius pulled a bitter smile.

(Well, it's clear now. I finally understand, Jill. You have no intention of following my orders. If that's the case, I have my own plans.)

---

Meanwhile, at the 'Spirit Factory,' Chial and Dowin were eagerly waiting for the new material to be shaped.

The S-class weapon was about to be completed.

---

Roland, having reached the 10th floor, found his team significantly exhausted and with few potions left. He decided to return to town, disband the party, and rest.

24 hours later, Roland woke up at home and immediately left his room, where Claria was waiting with a smile.

"Good morning, Roland."

"Ah, Claria..."

"I heard you returned from the dungeon, so I arranged a carriage for you. I also prepared some food."

He saw a carriage waiting on the street.

(As usual, she's attentive to these things.)

"Thank you. Let's head to 'The Guardian of the Magic Tree.'"

In the carriage, Roland ate a sandwich while receiving a report on what had happened while he was in the dungeon.

"First, regarding the 'Spirit Factory,' the production of the new 'Piercing' is going smoothly. We have prepared new equipment for all team members for Sword A, Shield A, Bow A, Armor A, and Staff A. We currently have 150 'Earth Crafts' in stock."

Claria flipped through the documents in her hand.

"I see."

(Lange is doing a good job.)

"Claria, tell Lange to bring a full set of equipment and 'Earth Crafts' at noon when we re-enter the dungeon, along with maintenance personnel."

"Understood."

"How is 'The Guardian of the Magic Tree' doing?"

"Lillian has been successfully gathering reinforcements. By yesterday, she had already gathered 30 B-class adventurers."

"Wow. That's impressive."

(Lillian is working hard too.)

"Oh, right. This is something I heard from Chial..."

"Hmm?"

"The S-class weapon is almost complete."

"S-class weapon!? Really? Finally..."

Roland's face lit up.

(Finally, I can give Jill an S-class weapon.)

Claria, seeing Roland's happy expression, felt happy too.

(Roland looks so happy. This might be a good chance to make a move.)

Claria thought quickly.

She hadn't given up on becoming Roland's lover.

(Since I'm working for someone as important as Roland, I need to make the most of this opportunity.)

"Roland, by the way, I met Dianna."

"Dianna?!"

Claria's plan worked; Roland was interested.

"Yes. We only had a brief conversation, but she seemed unusually tense. The usually sarcastic Dianna didn't even make a single snide remark."

"Really?"

"It seems the 'Golden Eagle' camp is having a tough time."

Claria winked at Roland casually.

Roland felt his heart skip a beat.

In fact, Claria was quite charming despite her frivolous side.

"Y-Yeah."

Roland looked away, trying to avoid the situation, and turned back to the front.

"Roland!"

"Hmm? W-What?"

"Would you like me to extract information from Dianna? The 'Golden Eagle' is in turmoil, so I think we can get some useful information. I'm quite good at it."

"Extracting information from people?"

Claria, not wanting to miss this opportunity, held Roland's hand and leaned in close, her eyes glistening.

"I was rude to you before. I want to make it up to you by being useful."

"Ah, um, yeah, well..."

Roland appraised Claria's skills.

Claria

'Secret Pact': C → A

'Information Extraction': C → A

(I see. Are these skills worth developing?)

Both were espionage skills that could be advantageous for information gathering, but they also posed a risk of leaking important information to the enemy.

They could be a double-edged sword unless they became closer.

"Ah, it looks like we've arrived."

Seeing the carriage stop, Roland quickly opened the door and got out.

Claria's face momentarily showed disappointment, but she quickly returned to her usual cheerful and friendly demeanor.

(You're tough, Roland. You don't give in so easily.)

Claria watched Roland's back.

(But there's still a chance. I won't let you go, Roland!)

---

When Roland entered the dormitory of 'The Guardian of the Magic Tree,' Lillian greeted him.

"Welcome back, Roland."

"Lillian. You came to greet me?"

"Roland, the reinforcements for B-class adventurers are ready."

"You did all that? ...Thank you. Thanks to your support, we can focus on clearing the dungeon."

"Hehe. Still..."

Lillian glanced at the carriage with a playful look.

"Roland, you're finally commuting like a high-ranking official."

"No, it's embarrassing."

"This is the least we can do, considering your contributions."

Zill, who appeared behind Lillian, added.

Roland felt a bit nervous seeing Lillian and Zill together.

"Zill!? Why are you here?"

"She is now under our command."

Lillian explained.

"I allowed her to join after she offered. She came without informing the 'Golden Eagle.'"

"Zill..."

"Finally, I can work for you and serve you."

Zill said, her cheeks flushed with excitement.

"Roland, I'll do anything you ask. Please give me orders."

"I see."

Roland sensed her determination and decided not to ask too many questions.

They exchanged a meaningful glance.

Lillian watched them, feeling genuinely satisfied.

"What should we do? Should we assign Zill to Roland's team for now?"

Lillian asked, feigning a bit of concern.

"That's an option, but let's observe for a bit. The 'Mine Dungeon' seems unusual."

"Unusual?"

"Yes, the monsters in the lower floors are abnormally strong. I suspect S-class monsters are appearing."

"S-class..."

Zill was taken aback.

S-class promotion.

It was a long-held wish for both Zill and Roland.

"Right. I want you to prepare for S-class monster encounters. The 'Spirit Factory' is about to complete S-class equipment. We'll need some adjustments, so could you go and discuss it with them?"

"Understood."

"Zill will stay here for now. What about the reinforcements?"

"The shield bearers, sword users, and archers are heavily exhausted. I'd like to replace them with fully rested members."

"Understood. I'll arrange that."

"Let's leave it at that for now. Zill, I need to talk to the guild leader. Could you wait for me?"

"Yes, Roland."

"Claria, could you take Zill to the 'Spirit Factory' by carriage?"

"Of course."

"Alright, Lillian. Let's go."

---

Once in the lounge, Lillian immediately hugged Roland and kissed him passionately.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and savored the long-awaited kiss.

They kissed hungrily for a while, pausing to catch their breath before diving back in.

Roland had separated from Zill to be alone with Lillian.

Lillian had been maintaining a calm facade but had been sending longing glances at Roland whenever she could.

If they had continued, something might have happened in front of Zill, so this was an emergency measure.

They finally stopped kissing after several minutes.

Lillian let out a deep, troubled sigh and took a moment to compose herself.

"I'm sorry. I was supposed to wait until we cleared the dungeon..."

"No, it's fine."

"I know it's an important time, but being the guild leader is harder than I thought..."

"It's fine. I'm the one who hasn't been able to spend enough time with you."

Roland said, gently tucking a strand of hair behind Lillian's ear and caressing her cheek.

"Roland..."

Lillian's eyes welled up with tears of gratitude.

They shared one more light kiss.

"I'll make it up to you when I return. For now, keep up the good work as guild leader."

"Yes..."

When they left the room, Lillian had returned to her usual energetic self, looking refreshed as she walked down the hallway.

She waved and smiled as Roland headed to the dungeon.

(Roland, when you return, I want you to spend a lot of time with me.)

---

Roland, having received the reinforcements from Lillian, led them to the entrance of the dungeon.

There, Monica and the team members, along with Lange and the 'Spirit Factory' staff, were already preparing to re-enter the dungeon.

"Rick, the oil on your 'Armor Lizard' has worn off. I'll maintain it for you."

"Thank you."

A young staff member from the 'Spirit Factory' reapplied the oil to Rick's armor.

Chial was busy maintaining the 'Silver Iron-Breaking Bow,' Rielo's bow, and Marina's staff.

"Rick, we can't maintain your shield in time, so please use a new one."

"Thank you."

(Indeed, the support system of 'The Guardian of the Magic Tree' is excellent. No wonder it's a major guild.)

Rick was satisfied as he received the support.

He noticed Roland talking familiarly with Lange.

(Roland seems to get along well with the 'Spirit Factory' members too.)

"Hey, Monica."

Rick spoke to Monica, who was preparing nearby.

"Hmm? What is it?"

"Roland seems to be close with the 'Spirit Factory' members..."

"Of course. Roland is the guild leader of the 'Spirit Factory.'"

"Really?"

"Not only that, Roland originally came from the 'Spirit Factory.'"

Yufine joined the conversation.

"He used to make weapons for 'The Guardian of the Magic Tree' at the 'Spirit Factory' but came to 'The Guardian of the Magic Tree' as a special consultant through Lillian's connections."

"Really?"

(Roland... What kind of background does he have? He's a mystery.)

Rick looked at Roland curiously.

Roland appraised the team members' statuses.

He started with Monica, Shakuma, and Yufine.

"Hmm. Your statuses seem fine."

"Yes."

"Of course."

Yufine said, puffing out her chest.

Next, he appraised Rick, Rielo, and Marina.

(Rick... His magic power is unstable. Support and recovery spells will be tough. Marina... She doesn't seem exhausted. Rielo...)

[Rielo's Status]

Strength: 20-70

Agility: 30-90

Leadership: 30-90

(He's quite exhausted. It's no wonder.)

"Rielo, you'll stay behind."

"Ah, I see."

"Yes, your status hasn't recovered."

"...Understood."

"Don't be discouraged. You handled the leadership well. Some status fluctuations are inevitable. Focus on recovery. If you can rejoin, meet up with the teams returning from the 'Forest Dungeon' or the 'Demon World Dungeon.'"

"Understood."

Roland replaced the exhausted members with reinforcements, ensuring the team entered the dungeon in nearly perfect condition.

"Alright. Monica, Shakuma, and Yufine, as usual. Rick, focus on the front line. Your magic power is depleted, so no 'Agility Boost' or recovery spells. Marina, prioritize item supply. Provide 'Piercing' and 'Earth Crafts' to Monica. Especially from here, 'Acid Slime' will appear. 'Acid Slime' accelerates weapon degradation. Each member should always have one 'Earth Craft.' If any member's equipment degrades, Marina should immediately provide them with an 'Earth Craft.'"

"Understood."

"Alright, let's go."

---

As Roland and his team descended to the 11th floor, they immediately encountered a 'Tower-like Earth Golem.'

And it seemed to be at a higher level.

(Great, a 'Tower-like Earth Golem' right away.)

Rick grimaced.

"Form the formation!"

Roland gave the order, and the team split into front and rear lines, starting the battle carefully.

During the battle, Rick noticed a weakness in the enemy's formation.

(If I charge in there now, I can get behind them, right?)

"Agility Boost."

Rick cast the spell, but it didn't activate, and he was hit with dizziness.

(What's happening?)

"Something's wrong with Rick."

"Someone, help him!"

The shield bearers quickly covered for him as they started to panic.

(Indeed, Rick shouldn't use magic.)

Roland watched Rick and reaffirmed his thoughts.

Monica carried Rick on her shoulder and pulled him back to the rear line.

"Roland said not to use 'Agility Boost.'"

"Ugh..."

"You need to follow the captain's orders."

"...Understood."

Rick said apologetically.

"I only do what I'm told."

For some reason, Marina said proudly, puffing out her chest.

"You need to be more proactive!"

Yufine scolded her.

Roland chuckled.

(The new members are still mentally immature. Can they really outpace Arik?)

Because they had to protect Rick, who was feeling unwell, the team's movement speed was significantly reduced.

Additionally, the lack of coordination with the new reinforcements further slowed the team's progress.

---

Meanwhile, Arik and his team, after a 24-hour interval, re-entered the dungeon and pursued Roland's team with fierce determination.

(I must defeat Roland in this 'Mine Dungeon' to restore the 'Golden Eagle'!)

Arik's resolve grew stronger as he saw the chaos at the 'Golden Eagle' headquarters.

He was relieved to be free from Lucius's interference, but he soon faced the movement to oust Lucius.

He encountered a demonstration.

Although he managed to calm the situation, it would flare up again once he entered the dungeon (Arik was the only one who could still command respect in the 'Golden Eagle').

Arik and his team pursued Roland's team with a torrential pace.

Despite the high speed, the experienced members of Arik's team had fully recovered their statuses after 24 hours, and no one fell behind.

Their well-honed coordination and the advantage of following allowed them to race through the dungeon at an incredible speed.

Arik, leading the charge, used his support magic to command the team.

"Roland, this feeling..."

Monica said, looking anxious.

The