Chapter 72

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As Hans and his party were exploring the "Volcanic Dungeon," they heard the booming sound of the "Dragon-headed Gauntlet" from below.

(The sound just now... was that the cannon of the "Dragon-headed Gauntlet"? Has the Great Alliance started moving?)

"That was the sound of the 'Dragon-headed Gauntlet,' right?"

Alice narrowed her eyes and glared in the direction of the foothills.

"Yeah, I can sense a large number of people moving. When we go down, we should be careful not to cross paths with them."

"Hey, are you sure it was a good idea not to join the hunt for the 'Huge Fire Dragon'?"

"We've already made our decision, haven't we? We're betting on Roland and the 'Spirit Factory.'"

"I understand that, but..."

Alice sensed the movement of a monster in the nearby bushes.

Hans and Claire also noticed and crouched down.

A "Rock-skinned Wolf" leaped out from the bushes.

Hans and his party immediately ran to get away from the scene.

"Why do we keep running?"

As Hans ran, he recalled the training Roland had given him.

"Take off your equipment?"

"Yeah, your current equipment is suppressing your potential."

Hans and his party's main weapon was a bow and arrow, but they also wore armor, shoulder guards, daggers, and spears, making their equipment quite heavy.

"This heavy equipment is a hindrance to the agility that is the greatest strength of a bow user. Why do you wear such heavy equipment?"

"The 'Dragon's Blaze' recommended it."

"It's necessary. To protect against the fire attacks of fire dragons, flying dragons, and winged dragons, you need this level of equipment."

"I see. So it's for fire attack defense. Got it. I'll take care of that. In exchange, I want you to train your agility while I make the equipment."

"Agility?"

"Yeah. Your current agility is far from its full potential."

【Hans Bergamot's Status】

Agility: 50-80

【Claire Bergamot's Status】

Agility: 50-70

【Alice Bergamot's Status】

Agility: 60-90

(Despite having agility levels ranging from B to A class, the fluctuation of 20 to 30 points is very unstable. Dragging heavy equipment around the dungeon must have dulled their agility.)

"In the future, I want you to focus on agility-based tactics. To achieve this, we need to tighten your agility to within a 10-point range. This is the condition the 'Spirit Factory' requires in exchange for support."

"But what if we encounter a high-attack monster? How will we deal with it without armor?"

"That's right. You want us to fight without armor?"

"When that happens, run!"

"Run?"

"Yes, hit and run. That's the tactic you should aim for. Taking a superior position against the enemy with agility, delivering a single blow, and then retreating from the battlefield. By focusing on these two aspects, you can sharpen your agility and regain your dulled combat sense as bow users."

Claire and Alice exchanged glances.

They had consulted various people for survival, but this was the first time they had received such guidance.

Should they really trust him?

"You seem to have some doubts."

"I understand Roland's training plan and tactics."

Claire said.

"But is it really okay to take such a leisurely approach? Even if we improve our agility, what about after that? In this dungeon, we can only earn income by mining ores or slaying dragons. If we improve our abilities as bow users but don't earn any income..."

"That's something I've thought about."

Roland took out a map.

It was the result of his independent research on the "Volcanic Dungeon."

"As I mentioned earlier, I believe the Great Alliance led by the 'Guardian of the Magic Academy' will most likely fail. When that happens, there will probably be a gap in the vast 'Volcanic Dungeon' and its quests. We need to prepare for that..."

"Excuse me, can I ask something?"

Alice interrupted Roland.

"You've been talking with such confidence, assuming the 'Guardian of the Magic Academy' will fail. How do you know that?"

"That's..."

"Alice, he said it would fail. As an S-rank appraiser, if he says so, it will probably happen. Let's focus on our training and leave the future to him."

When Hans said this, Alice reluctantly stopped pressing the issue.

Roland was a bit taken aback.

(I've never been trusted this much on first meeting.)

"Alright, Roland, please continue."

Hans said with a clear smile.

(He's the kind of person who can't doubt others. The responsible older siblings support the optimistic and naive eldest brother. What a good party.)

If they receive proper support, this trio will grow.

Roland was certain of this.

"Alright. Let's put the future on hold for now. First, we need to survive in the dungeon. Survive in a gritty way! To do that, we need to improve your agility and master the hit-and-run tactic. This is the most effective strategy to enhance your skills, strength, and income."

"But why are we just running from monsters without any armor? Wahh."

Alice said, crying.

They were not wearing any special equipment except for their bows and arrows.

"We need to remember how to move without heavy armor. Combining it with actual combat will speed up improvement. I understand the logic, but..."

"Alice, Claire, try to keep running. According to Roland, there are no monsters with agility over 50 in this area. With our agility, we should be able to take a superior position and escape."

They delivered a single blow and then retreated.

This was the training method Roland gave them, which they continued for three days in the dungeon.

They managed to escape from the "Rock-skinned Wolf" and took a break when they no longer sensed the monster's presence.

However, they remained vigilant, taking turns to drink potions while the other two kept watch for monsters or bandit guilds.

Hans, despite the unfamiliar training, felt his body improving.

(My body feels lighter. It's not just agility; my field of vision has also improved. It seems we were wearing inappropriate equipment and hindering ourselves, as Roland said.)

"Ugh, I wonder if the people who joined the Great Alliance are getting rare metals or slaying big catches like the 'Fire Dragon.' Maybe we should have joined the Great Alliance?"

Alice said while treating her swollen legs.

"Alice, we've already made our decision. This time, we're betting on Roland's plan. It's too late to change our minds now."

"Ugh, but..."

"Claire, what do you think?"

"What is it?"

"Are you more invested in this than usual?"

Claire said.

"Am I?"

"Yes. You usually believe people too quickly and end up losing, but this time you seem more enthusiastic than usual."

"..."

"Why?"

"Hmm. What do you think of Roland?"

"Well, he doesn't seem like an ordinary person. Despite being around our age, he feels like someone who has been through many battles and is well-experienced."

"Right. I have the same impression. He doesn't need to help a small adventurer guild like ours. He can succeed anywhere. But he said he would support us, even though he could have teamed up with a larger guild."

"..."

"I'm deeply impressed by his sincerity. I'm willing to bet my adventurer life on the future Roland envisions."

"Hans..."

"If we go bankrupt after following his guidance, I won't regret anything. If that happens, I'll give up being an adventurer and focus on a serious job."

Hans said, looking a bit apologetic.

"I'm always dragging you into my whims. But this is the last time. If this doesn't work, I'll do my best to make it up to you for all the trouble I've caused."

Claire sighed.

"Alright. Your whims aren't new. I'll stick with you until the end."

"Thank you."

Just as he was about to say more, they sensed an enemy's presence.

"Claire, Alice."

"I know. That mixed forest. They're coming from above."

They readied their bows and arrows, positioning themselves to be able to escape at any moment, crouching and hiding behind trees and rocks.

They focused on the enemy's movements while remaining vigilant of their surroundings.

Claire felt her senses sharpening.

(Without the equipment, I can feel my condition improving. It's not just me; Hans and Alice are also improving. We were so dulled, and we didn't even notice until Roland pointed it out. Although I said that to Hans, Roland's advice might be accurate.)

A wyvern appeared from the mixed forest.

They quickly took a superior position.

Hans aimed his bow and arrow from a position where the wyvern's fire breath couldn't reach but was within their range.

While doing so, he could hear the distant sound of the "Dragon-headed Gauntlet" echoing in his ears.

(Damn, the "Dragon-headed Gauntlet" again. They're so noisy.)

Hans felt a mix of anxiety and frustration but tried to focus on the enemy in front of him.

(They probably can't hear our bow and arrow sounds, but still...)

While Hans and his party were running from minor monsters, the others might be having a grand battle with a big catch.

What are we doing?

Is this really the right thing to do?

(Still! While they are celebrating the slaying of the "Huge Fire Dragon," we will polish our stats and tactics. This is the only resistance we can offer as adventurers on this island!)

The wyvern approached Hans and tried to breathe fire.

Before it could, Hans fired an arrow, hit the wyvern, and retreated.

Meanwhile, the Great Alliance, led by the "Guardian of the Magic Academy," was progressing smoothly through the forest area (located at the lowest level of the "Volcanic Dungeon").

The gathered guild members were working hard to clear the path, trying to earn recognition from Sain.

"Look, Arle. They're clearing the minor monsters and guiding the way. Thanks to them, we can advance without exhausting ourselves. It was a good decision to ally with the islanders."

"For now."

"Don't worry. This journey will be smooth sailing from start to finish. Even the bandits won't dare to attack us. We'll reach the location of the 'Huge Fire Dragon' in no time."

"I hope so..."

Suddenly, a piercing cry echoed through the sky.

"What's that?"

"That cry... is it the 'Fire Dragon'?"

"No way. We're still in the forest area."

The cry caused a stir among the small guilds.

Many of them didn't have the equipment to withstand the "Fire Dragon's" "Fire Breath."

"The 'Fire Breath' is coming. Magic-armored unit, deploy!"

"Those with weak equipment, hide behind the rocks!"

A squad equipped with magic-embellished armor and shields deployed towards the source of the cry.

Soon, an excited "Fire Dragon" appeared and breathed fire at the squad.

The scorching flames seemed to burn the earth, but the "Magic Bullet Shield" held by the magic knights deflected the breath.

The flames were all blocked, and the "Fire Dragon's" attack failed.

The magic infantry aimed their swords embedded with magic stones at the "Fire Dragon" and cast "Explosion Magic."

Countless magic arrays flickered in the sky, turning it orange with flames (with the skill of these magic knights, creating magic arrays in the sky was no problem).

An "Explosion Magic" hit the "Fire Dragon" directly.

"Did we get it?"

"No... look."

The "Fire Dragon" flapped its wings from the black smoke and flew through the sparkling sky.

"What, unharmed?"

"What thick skin."

"Use fire lances!"

"No good, they're too high to reach."

"Archers, what are you doing? Hurry up and..."

"Stand back. I'll take care of it."

Sain stepped forward and readied the "Dragon-headed Gauntlet."

Seeing Sain without a magic shield, the "Fire Dragon" aimed its fire breath to burn him this time.

A massive flame, far more intense than the "Wing Dragon's" fire breath, approached Sain.

"Hmph. Take this."

The fire projectile cut through the "Fire Breath" and pierced the "Fire Dragon's" throat.

The "Fire Dragon" drifted in the air like a battery-dead remote-controlled toy before crashing to the ground.

The adventurers hiding behind the rocks were in awe.

"Did you see that? He took down the 'Fire Dragon' in one hit..."

"Wow, what firepower."

Sain grabbed the "Fire Dragon's" neck and held it up for everyone to see.

"Everyone, did you see the power of the 'Dragon-headed Gauntlet'? In the hands of the 'Dragon-headed Gauntlet,' even the scales of the mighty 'Fire Dragon' are no match. There's nothing to fear. Even if the 'Huge Fire Dragon' is incredibly strong, with the 'Dragon-headed Gauntlet,' we can defeat it in an instant."

Applause and cheers echoed among the adventurers.

In the face of the commander's combat power, everyone acknowledged his charisma and was confident in the success of the hunt.