Chapter 71

Roland forgot about Carla standing in front of him and continued with the appraisal.

【Carla's Status】

Strength: 30-40 → 40-50

Endurance: 20-30 → 30-40

Agility: 40-50 → 120-130

Health: 40-50 → 120-130

（Low strength and endurance, but high agility and health. Indeed, a typical thief's status... No, wait!）

"Hey"

【Carla's Unique Skill】

Reversal Sword Dance: E → S

（The unique skill 'Reversal Sword Dance' that can unleash wide-ranging slashes is at S-class potential! With this, she could be cultivated as an S-class swordsman?）

"Hey!"

（But, in any case, her low strength and endurance mean she will need support from a shield-bearer...）

"Hey!"

Roland was startled when Carla grabbed his shoulder.

He refocused his attention on the girl in front of him.

"Hey, how about it? Can you make the sword to defeat the 'Huge Fire Dragon'? Or can't you?"

"Huh? Ah, sorry. I got too absorbed in the appraisal..."

"Appraisal?"

Carla looked at Roland suspiciously.

"Yeah. I..."

"Excuse me, if you don't mind..."

Saki, who had been in the room all along, interjected between the two of them.

"Would you like to talk in the shop?"

Only then did Roland realize they were having a conversation right in the middle of the workshop.

"Please. Here's the specialty of 'Dragon Island'—'Dragon Tea.'"

Saki served tea to Roland and Carla.

The two had moved to the dining area.

"Sorry. We don't have a guest room yet."

"No, that's fine. It's more about the equipment."

"Yeah. You want to defeat the 'Huge Fire Dragon,' right?"

"That's right. If we don't do something, the 'Guardians of the Magic Academy' will defeat the 'Huge Fire Dragon.' I want to take it down with my own power first."

"First... You mean you want to compete with the 'Guardians of the Magic Academy'?"

Dylan was flabbergasted.

Even without appraisal skills, it was clear to him that she was underpowered, given her weak equipment.

"I also went to 'Dragon's Blaze' for advice, but they were useless. They said they were too busy preparing the 'Guardians of the Magic Academy's' equipment. But I heard that you can make equipment that can't be found anywhere else. Can't you do something?"

"Of course, we have unique-skilled staff who can create custom weapons tailored to you. However..."

"Really? Then, right now..."

"However, with your current strength, you can't defeat the 'Huge Fire Dragon.'"

Carla slammed her hand on the table and stood up.

"Why not? You won't know until you try!"

The shop fell silent.

Carla realized and sat back down.

"...Sorry."

"No, it's okay. But I don't understand. Why are you so fixated on the 'Huge Fire Dragon'? Wouldn't it be better to start with easier quests and work your way up?"

"I don't want to be outdone by those outsiders. We need to start solving problems with our own strength."

"Hmm."

(Whether it's local pride or stubbornness, if she has the will to defeat the 'Huge Fire Dragon,' she has the potential we're looking for. But...)

"Carla, right? From what I can see with my appraisal skill, you have the potential to become an A-class adventurer in the future. And we are currently looking for companions to defeat the 'Huge Fire Dragon' together."

"Then..."

"But, it's too early now. The 'Huge Fire Dragon' isn't an easy opponent to defeat in a day. Training, information gathering, and preparation are necessary. Here..."

Roland handed her a pamphlet.

"What is this? Skill and status guidance and cultivation by an S-class appraiser?"

"Exactly. Despite appearances, I've trained many adventurers, including S-class ones. With time, you could..."

"That's why it won't work. By the time we do that, the 'Guardians of the Magic Academy' will have defeated the 'Huge Fire Dragon.'"

"You can't."

"Huh?"

"They can't defeat the 'Huge Fire Dragon.'"

Roland said this with such confidence that Carla was momentarily speechless.

"Wh-Why can you say that? They are the strongest adventurers in the 'Western Continent,' right?"

"My appraisal skill says they can't. But, you also have potential right now."

"Appraisal skill? That's it? You're making such a hasty judgment based on that alone?"

"Hey, cut it out. You've been at it for a while now."

Dylan, who had been listening silently, finally spoke up.

"Besides, can you even pay for the equipment you want to make? Your equipment and status are weak, and has the guild approved your plan?"

"Well, that..."

Carla hesitated.

"Dylan, calm down."

Roland calmed Dylan, who reluctantly sat back down.

"Carla, I understand that you have a pressing reason and are serious about being here. But, you are still just a possibility. Why don't you focus on training your skills and status for a while? For your own growth..."

"...No."

Carla hung her head and said in a strained voice.

"Improvement is a distant future. It has to be now!"

With that, Carla ran out.

"Hey, wait a minute. ...She's gone, huh?"

By the time Dylan reached the shop entrance, Carla was nowhere to be seen.

"Is it okay, Roland? She has quite a bit of talent, right?"

"Yeah, but there's nothing we can do. All we can do is support her. If she doesn't have the will to grow, there's nothing we can do. Besides..."

"Hmm?"

"She will definitely come back."

(Such potential can't just lie dormant. Her talent will surely lead her back to me.)

A meeting was being held at 'Dragon's Blaze.'

Guild Master Medes and the Quartet were gathered around a round table.

"Alright, as a result of the negotiations, our guild will be responsible for the weapon maintenance and production for the 'Guardians of the Magic Academy.' Therefore, the Quartet will be assigned to this task."

A tense atmosphere spread among the Quartet.

Such a major job from an external guild would significantly impact their evaluations and salaries.

"Their request is for weapon maintenance and the production of 'Fire Spears' for their members."

(Fire Spears. Currently, the most effective equipment against dragonkin.)

Charles looked around the table.

(Unlike regular spears, they need to be designed to emit high-temperature magic from the tip. Such a job is usually handled by Raul...)

The four members of the Quartet watched Medes's every move.

"The maintenance and production of 30 sets of weapons and armor will be divided equally among the four of you. The issue is the Fire Spears. Normally, Raul would handle such a job, but this time, you need to maintain the dragon-headed gauntlets. Therefore, I think Rizetta should handle the Fire Spears this time..."

"Hey, hold on a minute."

Edgar stood up, dissatisfied.

"Why Rizetta? I can make Fire Spears too."

"My 'Silverwork' skill is better."

Rizetta responded defiantly.

"I think Edgar should handle the Fire Spears."

Charles said.

Rizetta glared at him.

"Indeed, Rizetta has been improving rapidly, but she still lacks experience. Assigning her such a major job is too early."

"Are you kidding? Can you two even make A-class silverwork?"

"What did you say?"

"Guild Master, I will definitely do it."

"Edgar, Rizetta, sit down. I understand your enthusiasm for such a major job, but this time, please let Rizetta handle it. Fire Spears require advanced silverwork skills. Silver is compatible with magic. The 'Guardians of the Magic Academy' are particular about magic. To satisfy them, we need to provide top-quality work. Competition and quality are the principles of our guild. The better craftsman should handle the job. Don't you agree?"

"Tch."

Edgar sat down.

"Does anyone else have an opinion? No? Then, let's move on to the next agenda item. The junior staff education program..."

After the meeting, Edgar and Charles walked down the corridor, chatting.

"Damn. The guild master assigned the Fire Spears to Rizetta after all."

"Despite our prior discussion."

In fact, the two had discussed beforehand and planned to suggest that Edgar handle the Fire Spears and split the profits.

"Trouble. We're already losing customers this month."

"The 'Dawn Shield'?"

"Yeah. I thought they would give up quickly, but they came to cancel their contracts."

"Ha. That's tough."

"Are you being casual? Are you just going to back down?"

"Of course not. It's not that easy... Speaking of which, here they come."

At the end of the corridor stood 'White Wolf' Jamil and Rod.

"Hey, what's up? You look gloomy."

"If you have any troubles, I'm here to help. For example, about the 'Grand Alliance.'"

Edgar smiled.

"Heh. We were thinking the same thing."

The day after Carla visited 'Spirit Workshop' and left, a new group of clients came to Roland.

A party of one man and two women, all carrying bows.

"Do you want to take on a quest?"

"Yeah, we got ambushed by the thief guild during our last dungeon exploration and are almost bankrupt. Ha ha ha."

"Almost bankrupt... Are you okay?"

"Not really. We're on the verge of going out of business. But, God didn't abandon us. We found your poster just in time."

The man showed Roland the 'Earthcraft' mining quest advertisement he had posted on the town square bulletin board.

"Don't be so casual, Hans. We'll end up on the streets if we keep this up."

"That's right. We'll have to give up our family's long-standing adventurer business and even lose our house, which we mortgaged to 'Dragon's Blaze.'"

"I understand, Claire. Alice. That's why we're here to consult with Roland, the S-class appraiser. According to the poster, Roland can develop skills, enhance equipment, and provide tactical guidance. It's exactly what we were looking for."

"You always believe everything you hear, which is why we end up in trouble."

(He seems quite carefree. These three seem to get along well, but are they related?)

【Hans Bergamot】

'Bow Shooting': C → A

'Quick Draw': C → A

'Magic Shooting': E → A

【Claire Bergamot】

'Bow Shooting': C → B

'Quick Draw': C → B

'Keen Eyes': C → A

'Quick Shot': C → A

【Alice Bergamot】

'Bow Shooting': C → B

'Quick Draw': C → B

'Fast Shot': D → A

'Hate Focus': D → A

(They have the same last name. They must be siblings.)

Hans seemed like a good-natured eldest son, Claire a diligent older sister, and Alice an energetic younger sister.

(Each has a B or higher aptitude for 'Bow Shooting' and possesses 'Quick Draw' and agility. They qualify as orthodox archers.)

"So, what do you think, Roland? Will you make new equipment for us?"

"Before I answer, I have a question. Why don't you respond to the call of the 'Guardians of the Magic Academy'?"

"Huh?"

"The adventurers on this island are divided over whether to join them. If you are in financial trouble, shouldn't you participate in their 'Huge Fire Dragon' hunt?"

"Hmm. Normally, that would be the case. But, their methods don't align with our principles. Think about it. In such a large group, our small guild would be overshadowed. I'd rather team up with other small guilds. I understand that my strength alone can't change the tide. The external guilds are getting stronger, while the island's adventurer guilds are weakening. We small guilds should seek alliances with external guilds. But, as locals, we want to show some pride. That's why I chose your quest. In the midst of many following them, choosing your quest is the only resistance I can offer in this wave of change."

"I see."

(Revolution might start from such small acts.)

"I understand. I will make equipment for you and assign a quest. However, there are conditions."

Roland provided them with a plan for growth.

A few days later, adventurers gathered in the square in front of the dungeon entrance, which was also the base of the volcano.

Almost all the island's adventurer guilds were present. The 'Guardians of the Magic Academy's' mages were equipped with polished magical armor and the 'Fire Spears' they didn't have when they landed on the island.

Most of the island's adventurer guilds had gathered in response to the 'Grand Alliance's' call over the past few days.

Sein began his speech at the right moment.

"Everyone, thank you for gathering. As the proposer of the Grand Alliance, I couldn't be happier. With this much strength, we can claim to be the strongest group of adventurers on this island. The path to dominance is open before us. Let's go. To the summit where the 'Huge Fire Dragon' awaits! I hereby declare the formation of the Grand Alliance!"

The second volume of S-class Appraiser is finally on sale tomorrow.

It's already available in some stores.

If you're planning to buy it, please look for it.